We combine issue organizing with non-partisan voter registration and mobilization to mobilize immigrant, Latinx, and African American voters and engage them in non-partisan issue organizing. We help community members overcome barriers to civic participation — such as language barriers — and work to engage the thousands of immigrants who become citizens in New York every month.
We work with partner organizations to transform the culture of civic participation and government accountability by nurturing grassroots participation and leadership in working-class communities of color. This work also includes training emerging community leaders and mobilizing voters to the polls, supporting hundreds of neighborhood activists to engage their fellow residents.
Studies of Make the Road New York’s civic engagement work have demonstrated that our non-partisan Get Out the Vote efforts boosted voter turnout in key elections. In 2016, our Get Out the Vote efforts reached more than 25,000 voters. That, along with spirited public candidates forums that won concrete commitments from candidates, has had a substantial impact on civic participation by communities of color.
With anti-immigrant sentiment on the rise nationally and locally, MRNY’s nonpartisan civic engagement work and voter power work is increasingly important.
- We have registered nearly 30,000 voters of color and immigrant voters with our allies since 2011.
- With allies, we knocked on approximately 25,000 New Yorkers’ doors before 2017 special and general elections to increase voter turnout in our communities.
- We have helped lead organizing and advocacy efforts across New York State and in New York City and Long Island for fair redistricting.
- We continue to fight for a full, fair, and accurate Census that includes our all of our communities.
Marcy Suarez arrived in the US at age seven with her younger sister and aunt. Originally from Honduras, they endured an excruciating four-day trek across the Mexican desert to reunite with Marcy’s mother.
At first, Marcy struggled to fit in. She persisted, becoming fluent in English and achieving high grades in high school, where she began registering voters and educating her peers about the importance of standing up for their rights. Marcy’s immigration status disqualified her for state tuition aid, but she didn’t give up. Eventually, with our help, Marcy secured support from TheDream.US fund to attend college. She has shared her story in national media outlets. Now, Marcy is the MRNY Long Island youth organizer, supporting our civic engagement work.
Help build political power in immigrant communities.
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Yesterday marked the end of Latiné Heritage Month. But, between us, with the relentless wave of violent, racist rhetoric targeting the Latiné community right now, who has the energy to celebrate? I’ve been cringing my way through this election season, always on edge, waiting for the next attack.