The Andrew Goodman Foundation Joins with National Voting Rights Groups to Host 2020 HBCU Voting Summit
Posted By: Kia Presley on September 04, 2020 On September 10th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and September 11th from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., The Andrew Goodman Foundation, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to increase student voter participation and access to the ballot box, in partnership with Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and Students Learn Students Vote (SLSV) Coalition will host the inaugural National HBCU Voting Summit featuring over 40 Historically Black Colleges and Universities nationwide. This virtual event will honor the legacy of late Congressman John Lewis, civil rights champion and voting rights advocate. The summit will be hosted by Alabama A&M University and will, for the first time, bring together HBCUs from around the country to plan for an election and prepare students to vote in 2020 and in the future. “Ensuring that young people of color have full and equal access to the ballot box is crucial, especially in light of the widespread voter suppression efforts taking place across the country,” said Alexandria Harris, Esq., Executive Director of The Andrew Goodman Foundation. “As we continue to witness more and more schemes aimed at disenfranchising college students, particularly Black students, this summit is focused on informing, preparing, and equipping students with the tools they need to exercise their constitutional right to vote. HBCUs are anchor institutions in their communities, and their influence goes beyond their student bodies. Given the ongoing fight for racial justice and equity, this summit also serves to educate and advocate at the intersection of the modern-day lynchings of so many Black people, the global health crisis that disproportionately impacts Black communities, and the current economic depression.” “Alabama A&M University is delighted to host this inaugural National HBCU Voting Summit. It is imperative that our young people go out and vote to ensure that their voices are heard,” said Alabama A&M University President Dr. Andrew Hugine, Jr. “America began its great democratic experiment in the late 1700s by granting the right to vote to a narrow subset of society–white male landowners. As barriers to voting began to recede in the ensuing decades, many Southern states erected new ones, such as poll taxes and literacy tests, aimed at keeping the vote out of the hands of African American men. We should vote because many sacrifices, including lives, were made to give us this most important privilege and right. The United States has one of the lowest rates of youth voter turnout in the world. The youth vote has the potential to be extremely influential in this country. Therefore, young people–vote–as if your life depends on it because in the end it does.” The voting rate among college students more than doubled from the 2014 to the 2018 federal midterm elections according to the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) conducted by the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education at Tufts University. The goal of the summit is to continue this positive trend and ensure that this voting bloc has the means and accessibility to cast their votes in November. The summit is funded by a grant through the SLSV Coalition and underwritten by Facebook. It is an extension of AGF's commitment to supporting students of color and creating infrastructure to support HBCUs and their students. HBCUs who are interested in participating may register at www.andrewgoodman.org/summit/national-hbcu-voting-summit. About The Andrew Goodman Foundation The Andrew Goodman Foundation’s mission is to make young voices and votes a powerful force in democracy by training the next generation of leaders, engaging young voters, and challenging restrictive voter suppression laws. The Foundation's Vote Everywhere program partners with America's colleges and universities to provide resources, visibility, and mentoring to a national network of student leaders who involve their peers in participatory democracy through long-term voter engagement, public policy, and social justice initiatives. The organization is named after Andrew Goodman, a 20-year-old Freedom Summer volunteer, and champion of equality and voting rights who was murdered by the **** in 1964 while registering Black Americans to vote in Mississippi. To learn more about The Andrew Goodman Foundation visit andrewgoodman.org. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
Comments
More From This Author
Latest Polls & Voting
![]() |
MS-CC Needs Your Input! Complete Our 2023 Stakeholder SurveyThe Minority Serving - Cyberinfrastructure Consortium (MS-CC) is seeking input from our community to inform our planning in setting priorities for 2023. Please complete this short MS-CC stakeholder su ...more
Teniola Agbesanwa • 168 Views • February 27th, 2023 |
![]() |
Democracy was on the ballot and congress chose gay marriageDemocracy was on the ballot and congress chose marriage
During the Midterm elections, Democrats told the nation that “Democracy was on the ballot”. Just over a month after the Midterm elections the U ...more
Thomas Manning • 713 Views • December 2nd, 2022 |
![]() |
Soul of the Nation GOTV LIVE! featuring Kamala Harris, Samuel L. Jackson, Mary J. Blige,Tamela Mann & others.Biden for President presents..GOTV Live!
Sunday, October 25, 2020 at 1:30 PM EST.
Join us for a Get Out the Vote Soul of the Nation live extravaganza.
Hosts for the evening are actress Meaga ...more
Linda Peavy • 4,905 Views • October 23rd, 2020 |
![]() |
Conservative JSU AlumniI am a Child of God, first, my late parents daughter, who is a Proud Conservative Trump
Supporting American. Whatever you do, choose to vote. I strongly urge you to carefully read the Party Platfor ...more
Loretta Gilmore • 3,485 Views • October 13th, 2020 |
Popular Polls & Voting
![]() |
Vote on Which HBCU Homecoming We Should Attend!HBCU Connect will be taking a few road trips this year during homecoming season and since there are so many options to consider in a roughly 6 week homecoming bonanza frenzy in October and November, w ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 51,148 Views • August 1st, 2011 |
![]() |
HBCU TRIVIA GAME TIME! HERE IS QUESTION #2...QUESTION #2: Which HBCU was the first to have a fully implemented doctoral program in the field of nursing?
_______________________________________________________________________________
HOW ...more
Elynor Moss • 30,190 Views • November 26th, 2012 |
![]() |
THE HBCU TRIVIA GAME - PLAY NOW TO WIN!QUESTION #1: Dr. Leroy Walker was one of the most successful track and field coaches in the United States. He produced 111 All-Americans, 40 National Champions and 12 Olympians. In 1976, he became the ...more
Elynor Moss • 29,693 Views • November 26th, 2012 |
![]() |
Does the BLACK COMMUNITY wait too late to promote college to its YOUTH?As a parent of two, I was perusing a Parenting magazine and couldn't help but notice the numerous ads for preschool "prep" schools that boast of their impressive alumni. I was discussing with a friend ...more
Joan E. Gosier HBCUkidz.com • 20,468 Views • August 17th, 2010 |
![]() |
Last Week to Vote For The 2018 HBCU CONNECT Fall Scholarship Finalists Videos!Every Semester, HBCUConnect.com likes to offer a $1000 scholarship to one of our members to help out with books, tuition or room and board.
Please help us vote for the best video submission from ou ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 16,616 Views • August 1st, 2018 |