Your Voice Matters: Voting and Our Communities

Dark blue rectangle with red and white stars along the borders and white text in the center that reads: Your Voice Matters

This NYC election season will shape the future of our city. Your vote is important!

Check out these panel discussions, held in advance of the NYC primary elections on June 22, 2021, to find out more about key issues and legislation, the offices up for election, and the new Ranked Choice Voting system. Join leaders and experts from local community organizations and government agencies as they share their knowledge about the issues that matter most to New Yorkers at the ballot box.

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Your Voice Matters: Voto Latinx, tu voz cuenta

This panel discussion, first broadcast on June 8, 2021, touches on voter registration, how Ranked Choice Voting works, and the significance of the Latinx vote, and features:

  • Raul Preciado, Civic Engagement Program Manager, NALEO Educational Fund
  • Emely Paez, Director of Government Relations and Civic Engagement, Hispanic Federation
  • Violeta Gomez-Uribe, Deputy Director of Outreach and Organizing, Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA)
  • Alfredo Gutierrez, Outreach Services, The New York Public Library (moderator)

 

This video has captions in English. Please note captions were generated live at the time of recording and may not be a completely accurate reflection of audio commentary.

 

Useful Resources

 

 

Your Voice Matters: Voting and Older Adults

Broadcast on June 9, the Library’s second voter engagement panel focused on civic engagement for older adult communities. Topics included information on researching candidates and their platforms, how Ranked Choice Voting works, and ways older adults can get involved in their communities. The panel consisted of the following guest speakers: 

  • Diane Burrows, Co-President, League of Women Voters of the City of New York
  • Molly Krakowski, Senior Director of Legislative Affairs, JASA
  • Sarah Sanchala, Director of Government Affairs, New York City Department for the Aging
  • Rachel Bloom, Director of Public Programs and Policy, Citizens Union (moderator) 

 

This video has captions in English. Please note captions were generated live at the time of recording and may not be a completely accurate reflection of audio commentary.

 

Useful Resources

 

 

Your Voice Matters: Voting for Communities Impacted by Incarceration

The broadcast on June 10 focused on communities impacted by incarceration. Panelists shared their experiences and discussed key issues such as voting rights, criminal justice reform, and education. The following guests participated in the panel event: 

  • Angel Solis, Project Coordinator for the Youth Empowerment Project at the Alliance of Families for Justice
  • Brandon J. Holmes, Co-Director of Freedom Agenda
  • Victor Herrera, Campaign leader with Freedom Agenda
  • Louise Stamp, Correctional Services, The New York Public Library (moderator) 

 

This video has captions in English.Please note captions were generated live at the time of recording and may not be a completely accurate reflection of audio commentary.

 

Useful Resources

 

 

Your Voice Matters: Voice Your Vote (Young Adults)

Get all your questions answered about Ranked Choice Voting and key issues facing young adult voters. The June 15 broadcast focused on opportunities for civic engagement through the vote, finding trustworthy news sources, and more. Panelists included: 

  • Isabella Araya, Filmmaker, Educational Video Center
  • Olivia Brady, Youth Engagement Coordinator, NYC Votes at the New York City Campaign Finance Board
  • Taylor McGraw, Executive Director, The Bell 
  • Ambreen Qureshi, Executive Director, Educational Video Center
  • Ben Weinberg, Policy Manager, Citizens Union (moderator)  

 

This video has captions in English. Please note captions were generated live at the time of recording and may not be a completely accurate reflection of audio commentary.

 

Useful Resources

 

 

Your Voice Matters: Black Communities and the Vote

The June 17 broadcast focused on voting rights, the new ranked choice voting system, and key issues facing Black communities, and features:

  • Josh Gray, Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Policy for National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
  • L. Joy Williams, President of the Brooklyn NAACP and Legislative Coordinator for the New York State NAACP Conference of Branches
  • Sean Dugar, Education Campaign Program Director with Rank the Vote NYC
  • Sydney Renwick, Government and Community Affairs, The New York Public Library (moderator)

This video has captions in English. Please note captions were generated live at the time of recording and may not be a completely accurate reflection of audio commentary.

 

Useful Resources