Cleveland VOTES is a nonpartisan organization rooted in community power. We inform, connect, and mobilize people to take action for a more just and equitable democracy.
Mission
Where we’ve been.
History of Cleveland VOTES
Co-Founders Erika Anthony and Crystal Bryant created Cleveland VOTES to fill the voter registration void for individuals incarcerated and re-entering society. While our organization was founded in 2014, for the first couple of years we operated as a project and over the years have evolved into a critical organization in the democracy-building ecosystem.
“‘Civic engagement’ must be understood as a constant, sustained practice that outlives election cycles and stretches beyond voting.”
---Hollie Russon Gilman + K. Sabeel Rahman, "Building Civic Capacity in an Era of Democratic Crisis"
Why Cleveland?
Democracy extends far beyond elections and we are at a pivotal moment in Cleveland. Clevelanders have deep distrust in local government and elected officials, but there is still a lot of energy around and hunger for civic engagement. We want to harness that energy to not only strengthen our organization, but foster a social fabric that celebrates equitable democracy.
Our priorities.
While we prioritize voter engagement and registration, Cleveland VOTES also invests in civic education, partnering with nonprofits, schools, and other institutions. We also offer an annual grant program and community programming. Giving the community access to accessible information--whether in person or online through our communication channels--is always a priority. We want to remind all residents of their civic power constantly, not just during an election.
Here are some of the current donors whose generosity is helping to fund equitable civic engagement in Northeast Ohio:
