‘Vogue The Vote’ Campaign Aims To Increase Registration In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Vogue The Vote. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Newark Pride Inc., Dollhouse Unlimited, and The City of Newark’s Advisory Commission for LGBTQ+ Concerns partner to produce the VOGUE The VOTE campaign, a non-partisan initiative aimed at increasing voter registration, education, and civic engagement for eligible constituents between the ages of 17-34. This effort is led by Alonzo S. Blalock who not only serves as the Executive Vice President of Newark Pride, but is also a recording artist (Prince Derek Doll) and award-winning LGBTQ advocate who is truly “unlocking POWER beyond the performance” – which happens to be the theme of this year’s campaign. The campaign registration technology is powered by Vote.org, the largest 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan voting registration and get-out-the-vote (GOTV) technology platform in America who has set an ambitious goal of registering 8 million new voters in 2024.

VOGUE THE VOTE’s aim is to provide Newark’s LGBTQ+ community voter registration and education through informative seminars and grassroots campaign experiences in the final weeks leading up to National Election Day on November 5th, 2024.

Alonzo S. Blalock, Executive Vice President of Newark Pride Inc. and Founder / Chairman of #VOGUETheVOTE campaign states “We know that voting is a tool that can be used to support policies that secure funding for the agencies we rely on for healthcare, protect our civil liberties, and demand equity in areas where equality just isn’t enough. There’s so much at stake in this election so this platform was created to both inform and empower our community to take pride in being part of the democratic process – regardless of their political ideology.”

VOGUE The VOTE is designed to promote voter registration and civic engagement amongst young adults ages 17-34, specifically within the LGBTQ community of Newark.

Our campaign series was crafted to capture this demographic in a festive, yet empowering way:

FRIDAY, October 4th, 2024 | 6:30PM-10:00PM | Menta Venue, 378 Broad Street, Newark, NJ

Hosted by Prince Derek Doll the event will include remarks by Mayor Ras J. Baraka and other key Newark officials, voter registration and education. OPENING REMARKS BY MAYOR RAS J. BARAKA SLATED FOR 6:30PM.

VOGUE The VOTE “The American Dream Kiki Ball” 7:00PM-10:00PM

The evening continues with a traditional “KiKi Ball”, which is a performance-based event that celebrates queer identities and is inspired by LGBTQIA ballroom culture. The event will blend education, empowerment, and entertainment, featuring appearances from political leaders, community advocates, and influencers, with a patriotic-themed KiKi ball as the centerpiece. On-site voter registration continues with refreshments and special guests. MUST BE 17+ to attend FREE EVENT.

SATURDAY, October 19th, 2024 | 12:00PM-3:00PM | Canvassing, Social & Text/Phone Banking

Volunteers will meet for a brief workshop about political canvassing, and then complete an hour-long experience of door-knocking while disseminating valuable information for registered voters to prepare for Election Day. Additional Volunteers will activate a text message and phone bank at HQ to encourage voter turnout as well as a social media #VOGUETheVOTE social media content “Hash-Tag-A-Thon”. This is a Day of Action and learning experience for a new generation of activists!

TUESDAY, November 5th, 2024 | The Poll Stroll 8:00AM-8:00PM | Watch Party 8:00PM-Until

Campaigners will storm the polls en masse, capturing exciting viral content of LGBTQ members participating in the process. leading up to an election night watch party. Volunteers will man campaign HQ phones and email to inquiries about issues at the polls, refer to transportation to polls and troubleshoot.

"The City of Newark is proud to support this effort to ensure that every member of our diverse city feels seen, heard, and represented” says Jennifer Moore, City of Newark LGBTQ+ Advisory Commission Chair. Moore continues “By promoting civic engagement and voter awareness, we're building a stronger, more inclusive Newark for all."

HOW TO GET INVOLVED!

Attend The Kickoff on October 4th: If you are 21+, RSVP to attend the cocktail reception and learn more about how you can help mobilize Newark’s LGBTQ+ Community to “Stroll To The Polls”. Stay for the all ages KiKi Ball and support our city’s youth.

Volunteer: Partner with us to help organize the events, from managing the program to organizing outreach and promotion. We’re also looking for speakers and facilitators!

Sponsorship: Contribute financially or in-kind to support the event's logistics, marketing, refreshments and programming. In exchange we will promote you as a partner on all printed and social assets.

Promotion: Help us spread the word through your networks, ensuring that the event reaches a broad audience. #VogueTheVote will serve as the official social media hashtag.

You can learn more about our VOGUE The VOTE campaign by checking out the guide by emailing dollhouseunlimitedllc@gmail.com or visiting www.thederekdoll.com/VogueTheVote

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