The Year for Change

2020 has brought many obstacles to our lives and has shed light on many arising issues. Despite these unforeseen circumstances, communities have learned to find a way to cope, adjust, and adapt to the ‘new normal’ and concurrently many have found their voice to stand up for what they believe in.

Many may see our current state in disarray, but one thing that TerraVida VOWD (Victims of the War on Drugs) wants to highlight is that there is an opportunity in all of this. An opportunity for thoughts, ideas, and passions to fuel change. And the first step to making large change happen? Making sure each voice is HEARD!

VOWD is continually working to help get resources available to local communities to enable every American to (1) register to vote, (2) fill out the 2020 census, (3) fill out the mail-in ballot application, and most importantly, (4) empower them to find their voice, create change and help others do the same!

VOWD began this initiative by producing instructional/educational voting involvement videos with TerraVida Holistic Centers, sharing voter information via social media, and now began partnering with Everybody Eats Philadelphia to help other members in the community. During these events, VOWD offers ways to register to vote, helps people complete the 2020 census, and offers mail-in ballot applications.

This initiative aligns with VOWD’s mission, “to advance cannabis legalization initiatives on a local and national level, expunge cannabis-related records, and assist those who have been impacted by the war on drugs”, by starting at the core to empower people of all communities to get more involved in creating change & stressing the importance of being involved with causes as important as voting that lead to the future legislative decisions such as this.

If you are unable to attend events like this, the good news is, there are several ways you & members of your community can get involved on your own:

(1) Register to Vote

• Visit https://www.votes.pa.com to complete your voter registration online

• Download & print the PA Voter registration application from the above link, fill it out, and send to your county voter registration office by mail
• Visit your local county registration office or any of the government agencies listed, and fill out the application in-person

(2) Complete the 2020 Census

• Visit https://www.pa.gov/census/ to complete the 2020 census and be counted!
• What is the Census? “The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for you and your community. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on census data.”

(3) Apply for a mail-in ballot

• Visit https://www.votespa.com/Voting-in-PA/Pages/Mail-and-Absentee-Ballot.aspx
• When you receive your ballot, fill it out and drop off at your local county official’s office or local post office

to complete your mail-in ballot application online, or download, print and fill out to drop off at your local county official’s office or local post office

(4) VOTE

• Vote in the 2020 November 3rd election!

• By mail deadline: Don’t wait, send your ballot in right away!
• In-person: November 3rd

(5) SHARE!

• Share all this information with other members of your community to help empower others to make a change and care about getting involved!

Our world is only as strong as the individuals in it, and VOWD hopes to empower all individuals of all communities to band together and be the change this world needs.

What is VOWD?

TerraVida VOWD (Victims of the War on Drugs) Fund is a non-profit organization “VOWD” to providing education to community leaders and legislators on the value of cannabis in regards to the health and economic development of our communities.

To stay up-to-date on future, local VOWD events follow their Facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/TerraVidaVOWD/

This post is an advertorial piece contributed by a Patch Community Partner, a local sponsor. The views expressed in this post are the author's own.

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