One win for Illinois’ immigrant communities: mobilizing new citizens
By Alexa Mencia Immigrant advocates linked arms in solidarity Wednesday morning to “resist and lead” following the jarring Election Day results. Many tried to inspire a renewed call to action for those feeling defeated by Donald Trump’s victory. Although the election of a political figure notorious for anti-immigrant rhetoric may seem like a setback, immigrant […]
Play election phone banking Bingo
By Jingzhe (Kelly) Wang Medill reporter Kelly Wang knows first hand what the frustrations and triumphs are in volunteering for an election phone bank. Play phone banking Bingo with her. [vimeo 190894817 w=474]
Banking on getting Asian American voters to the polls
By Jingzhe (Kelly) Wang This is what a phone bank sounds like. One difference is the potential voters are all Asian Americans.
Native Americans seek visibility in their vote
By Pat Nabong [Package of Standing Rock and the Dakota Access Pipeline stories here] In the run-down American Indian Center, fewer than 20 Native Americans are gathered to discuss issues that are important to them in this year’s election. Susan Power, one of the founding members of the center, looks around the room. She bellows, […]
Smart phones may be dumbing down tolerance in a polarized election
By Mariah Quintanilla With a polarized electorate decided the fate of the nation today, could smart phones have widened the divide? Voters and pundits alike are pondering the lack of trust between Republican and Democratic parties in the U.S. One recent study published in PLoS ONE reported a connection between cell phone use and lack […]
Behind the surge: Young Latinos can’t vote but urge others to do so
By Alex Ortiz Inside a Target in suburban Bolingbrook, about seven volunteers call hundreds of eligible voters urging them to the polls Tuesday, even though, at 14 to 17, these young Latinas can’t vote themselves. “We’re not just sitting around and saying ‘Oh we don’t want this president,’” said Claudia Garcia, 14, a junior high […]
LGBTQ voters in Lakeview parade to the polls
By Teresa Manring and Mariah Quintanilla Cars honked and pedestrians cheered and stared as local LGBTQ activists paraded from Replay Beer & Bourbon in Boystown to a local polling place for early voting Saturday. “Out of the bars and into the streets!” leaders yelled through megaphones. They invited passers-by and lingering Cubs tourists to join […]
Today I’m a citizen. Today I vote.
By Alexa Mencia Is there anything more empowering than a person becoming a citizen and immediately walking over to exercise the right to vote? You decide. (Alexa Mencia/MEDILL) Photo at top: Chicagoans vote early at the 15 West Washington Street location where many newly naturalized voters marched after their naturalization ceremony on November 3. (Alexa […]
A vote of faith: Converting Latinos to registered voters
By Alex Ortiz Just before the end of 1:30 p.m. mass at St. Agnes of Bohemia in Little Village Sunday, the congregation participated in a blessing for the Society of St. Toribio Romo, named for the patron saint of immigrants. The group is on a mission — not to convert others to the faith — […]
Chicago groups prepare for Nov. 8 election
By Christen Gall With six weeks until election day, organizations across the city are working to include voters that may otherwise be left out. “There’s a lot of energy in the Latino and Arab communities about what it [the election] means,” said Villanueva, youth engagement manager of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. […]
