The Art of Democracy: Pole-2-Polls Workshop
The Art of Democracy: Pole-2-Polls
Saturday, October 12
Workshop: 11am-2pm / Discussion: 2-4pm
Venue: Brew House Arts, 711 S 21st St #210, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
MAKING WORKSHOP: 11am-2pm
Brew House Arts is hosting artist Penny Mateer for a Pole-2-Polls making workshop. Pole-2-Polls is a volunteer-run and community-led project for the creation of nonpartisan lawn and garden VOTE! signs. It originates from the recycling of cloth from past projects, including the enveloping of the railings of the Andy Warhol Bridge in downtown Pittsburgh. Come as you are for a day of arts and crafts, talks, and community celebration! This is a free, drop-in event. Everything will be provided, and no skills necessary. Learn more about the event here.
COMMUNITY DISCUSSION: 2-4pm
Although voting is a fundamental right and a powerful tool to facilitate social change, the U.S. has a long history of disenfranchising political power from marginalized communities, barring voters from effectively participating in electoral politics. In addition to a complex history with voting, in 2024, on the cusp of a critical presidential election, voters continue expressing growing disinterest in voting, given the ongoing lack of trust in the presidential election caused by a recurring cycle of false hopes and broken promises. Every four years, we are asked to “save democracy.” And every four years after ballots are tallied, no one comes back to save us.
We invite you to join us imagining and demanding more, while learning how to understand and navigate our current electoral process. Please join New Voices in exploring the apathy, reservations, hopes, and aspirations surrounding the upcoming General Election. We'll discuss what Voter Apathy is and what tools, resources, and opportunities are available to help curb disinterest and build community power within and beyond the limitation of elections.
Please register for the community discussion at the form below.
About the Panelist:
New Voices is a Reproductive Justice organization that supports and builds power for and alongside Black women, Black queer folks, and Black marginalized people through leadership development, community care, resourcing, and mutual aid. The spark for New Voices was ignited in 2004 when four Black women, La'Tasha D. Mayes, Bekezela Mguni, Maria Nicole Dautruche, and Lois "Toni" McClendon, gathered women of color and allies from Western Pennsylvania to attend the Women’s March in Washington. New Voices staff currently work in three cities: Cleveland, Ohio and Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.