FROM KENDRA LOVE
ALABAMA VALUES
Local grassroots organizations have teamed up for a CommUNITY Block Party & Election Fair this Saturday in Montgomery as a get out the vote event complete with food, entertainment and prizes.
The event is sponsored by Rollin to the Polls, Alabama Forward, ACLU Alabama, 21 Dreams Arts & Culture, Black Voters Matter and the King’s Canvas, and will be held Saturday, April 30, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m., the King’s Canvas located at 1413 Oak St., in Montgomery.
“As the election draws closer, Black Voters Matter, Rollin to the Polls Voting Initiative, ACLU Alabama, Alabama Forward, 21 Dreams Arts and Culture, and King’s Canvas invites all residents, political candidates, organizations, partners and friends to the CommUNITY Block Party and Fair Election,” said Kynesha Brown of Rollin to the Polls. “Beginning at 2 p.m., be prepared to expect a fun day of inclusion, excitement, artists, information and resources, free food, and live music. Let’s call it a little day party to highlight the importance of voting and community engagement.”
Brown said the event is a party with a purpose to create a sense of empowerment around voting and civic engagement.
“We are asking for community organizations, vendors, and candidates running for office to participate in our event,” she said.
There will be something for everyone at the event, including free food provided by Who’s Hungry Food Truck and Brenda’s BBQ along with live entertainment, giveaways and a chance for attendees to hear from political candidates.
Alabama Values is a state-based 501(C)(3) communications hub seeking to amplify the efforts of grassroots civic organizations advocating to build power and break down barriers to civic participation for communities across the state.
Rollin to the Polls’ mission is to provide information, resources, and tools to help engage communities to become active voters. Once we empower communities with the ability to be an informed voter, their issues gain significance in the eyes of politicians and decision makers. They become actively engaged in the voting process and politicians will work harder to gain their votes during elections by supporting their issues.
Alabama Forward is a state-based 501(C)(3) civic engagement coordinating table committed to advancing movement towards greater freedom and progressive, solution-oriented policy among a diverse coalition of Alabama-based partner organizations, so that every Alabamian can engage in the democratic process. In pursuit of this mission, Alabama Forward will prioritize race and gender equity to engage every Alabamian in all aspects of our democracy.
ACLU Alabama’s mission is to preserve and protect the civil liberties and civil rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, especially the principles contained in the Bill of Rights.
Black Voters Matter goal is to increase power in marginalized, predominantly Black communities. Effective voting allows a community to determine its own destiny. We agree with the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when he said, “Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”
21 Dreams is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization committed to the advancement of creative and cultural arts in Montgomery. Our artist collective consists primarily of artists with visual and digital art disciplines. Our programs, events and initiatives are implemented by and feature members of the collective.
The King’s Canvas is a “creative placemaking” space providing opportunity and access for underdeveloped and underexposed artists in Montgomery, Ala.
