When The League of Women Voters of Snohomish County (LWVSC) joined forces with Seattle and Bellevue Alumnae Chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. to Get out the Vote at the 33rd Nubian Jam Festival, they really didn’t know what to expect. The need to increase the participation of voters in local elections drew both organizations to the Snohomish County Black Heritage Committee (SCBHC) event.
Snohomish County has a healthy percentage of eligible voters already registered, usually somewhere around 90%. Of that number, only 35-40% actually vote in local elections. The two esteemed grass roots organizations, LWVSC and SCBHC, are determined to increase that statistic with an outreach program directed toward minority communities.
On July 25th, they got shout outs from mayor of Mountlake Terrace and Nubian Jam Emcee, Steve Woodard, that set the stage for their participation in the event. Chairperson of the Community Outreach Committee (COCO) of LWVSC, Nadine Shanti, said “We talked with well over 100 attendees about the August 4th election. Most said they had received their ballots and pamphlets. We urged registered voters to take that next step and cast their votes in this crucial election. We also emphasized the importance of returning ballots early, using County Drop Boxes.”
“The League’s partnership with Delta Sigma Theta Alumnae Chapters is an integral part of our plan to get out the vote in Snohomish County, Shanti said on Saturday. “These two nonpartisan organizations are committed to talking with diverse community members on the ground, where we celebrate, learn, worship, and teach.”
On July 12, there was a community outreach at Bailey AME, one of the oldest Black churches in Snohomish County. That led to an invitation for LWVKC (King County) and Sorority alumnae to participate in outreach at the AME Church convention in Tukwila in August. In addition to the Nubian Jam, they partnered again at SOAFEST, The Sounds of Africa Festival on August 15, sponsored by WAWAC, The Washington West African Center.
Both Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and LWVSC feel that partnerships are essential to the success of this voter outreach. Victoria Romero, co-chair of the Sorority’s Social Action Committee, wrote “Nadine, thank you for the data on the Nubian Jam event. From the feedback that Sorority members shared with us, they had fun supporting and meeting a new community in Snohomish County.”
One of LWVSC’s volunteers, Mrs. Schmidt, a member of both the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., exemplifies the power of collaboration. Reflecting on her experience volunteering at the Nubian Jam Festival, she shared, “Not every organization values the fullness of who a person is. I am grateful to be part of organizations that create space for people to bring their whole selves to the work of educating, empowering, and strengthening our communities. That is where meaningful change and lasting impact begins.”
Snohomish County regularly celebrates its minority communities in historic events like the Nubian Jam. These events are proving to be fertile ground for improving ethnic community participation in our democratic process. LWVSC sincerely appreciates the opportunities they provide to educate and engage voters.