Pennsylvania Voice

State Photo: 
Contact
Name: 
Pat Clark
Title: 
Coordinator, Pennsylvania Voice
Phone numbers: 
Cell: (412) 853-3211
Mission: 

Pennsylvania VOICE (PA VOICE) is part of a growing network of nonpartisan collaboratives working at the state level to engage underrepresented communities in the democratic process, develop new leadership from within these constituencies, and take collective action on important policy issues.

2009 Highlights: 

With its Guyasuta Fellowship program, Pennsylvania Voice leads the field in open source public policy, where citizens identify issues in policy, collaborate on solutions, then bring recommendations to their elected officials for implementation. 2009 marked the fifth iteration of the program, which has been providing unique, innovate policy solutions in Pittsburgh since 2002. This year's focus was linking the emerging green economy to neighborhood priorities in the city's disadvantaged and underserved communities. In late summer, Pennsylvania Voice issued an open call for citizens of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania with a commitment to their region and a desire to have a voice in shaping policy to participate in the program, and 40 fellows from diverse backgrounds signed on to receive training in online organizing, field work and use of the VAN voter file software, equipping them with the tools to mobilize their communities. The fellowship also includes fourteen sessions where participants hear from more than 30 experts and experienced organizers, which are recorded and shared online and via local access television. As the program comes to a close, fellows are crafting a detailed public policy white paper to be presented in early 2010 to the Pittsburgh City Council and the Allegheny County delegation of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Partner Organizations: 
  • 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania
  • A. Phillip Randolph Institute - Philadelphia
  • A. Phillip Randolph Institute - Pittsburgh
  • ACLU Foundation of PA
  • Advancement Project
  • APIA Vote
  • Black Political Empowerment Project
  • Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia
  • Center for Community Change
  • Center for Nonprofits and Voting / NVEN
  • Center for Progressive Leadership
  • Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture)
  • Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
  • Committee of 70
  • Common Cause
  • Congreso de Latino
  • Democracia USA
  • Democracy Matters
  • Democracy Rising PA
  • Disabilities Voting Coalition of Pennsylvania
  • Domestic Violence Judicial Advocacy Project
  • Education Voters Institute
  • Everybody VOTE
  • Fair Elections Legal Network
  • Great Lakes Urban Exchange (GLUE)
  • Greater Pittsburgh Student Voices
  • Guyasuta Youth Policy Fellowship
  • Just Harvest
  • Keystone Progress Education Fund
  • Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
  • League of Women Voters Philadelphia
  • League of Women Voters Pittsburgh
  • League of Young Voters Education Fund
  • Mental Health America - Allegheny County
  • Mon Valley Providers Council
  • Organic Consumers Association
  • Penn PIRG / Student PIRG
  • PennAction
  • Pennsylvania Communities Organized for Change
  • Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition
  • People for the American Way Foundation
  • Philadelphia Area Black Radical Congress
  • Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO
  • Pittsburgh United
  • Planned Parenthood of Pennsylvania
  • Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania
  • Progressive Future Community Voters Project
  • Project H.O.M.E. / Vote for Homes
  • PSU Vote
  • Sierra Student Coalition / Earth Island Institute
  • Three Rivers Center for Independent Living
  • U.S. Students Association
  • VotePA
  • Women's Voices. Women Vote.

Program Outcome:

Our work focuses on three core outcomes:

  • Increasing the share of voters identified as historically under-represented, infrequent or socially responsible constituencies
  • Identifying core public policy issues of measurable concern among targeted constituencies through polling and community-driven policy input
  • Identification, recruitment and training of new leaders, volunteers and candidates from traditionally under-participating constituencies

Pennsylania Voice MEETINGS

Collaborative monthly meetings take place on the third Thursday of the month, every month, at 2:30pm, with meeting locations rotating between Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Harrisburg. If you're a nonprofit interested in building your own voter engagement initiative and networking with other organizations with resources, experience and their own active programs, join us at our next meetings:

  • February 2010 state table meeting will be held on Thursday, February 11 from 2:30 - 4:00pm in Pittsburgh in the conference room of the Union Project, 801 N. Negley Avenue, 15206. NOTE special date on 3rd Thursday of the month, this month only. Contact us for more information.

For more information, or for details on how to join our meeting by phone, e-mail us at PA VOICE

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FROM THREE RIVERS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Community Foundation has just released its Request For Proposals for 2010 funding. Download a copy of their RFP by clicking here.

THE 2009 GUYASUTA FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM LAUNCHES

PA VOICE, in conjunction with our affiliated Everybody VOTE program, is launching the fifth edition of our Guyasuta Fellowship Program, a citizen-driven public policy development program. This year we're planning to again attract 75 participants to train and build direct citizen power for public policy and community organizing, focused on the areas of CLEAN ENERGY, GREEN JOBS and COMMUNITY RECOVERY.

ELECTION PROTECTION TRAININGS

PA VOICE partners conducted election protection trainings and coordinated election day coverage across the state to protect the integrity of the vote in the May 19 Primary Election and November 3 General Election. PA VOICE partners' work in maintaining the integrity of the vote in Pennsylvania during the 2008 cycle was unprecedented in its scope and essential to securing our right to vote and to trust the outcomes of the Nov. 4 election. We offering trainings across the state and mobilized a multi-organziation collaborative that included over 1,500 volunteers. Look for our reporting on our work in January 2010 and be a part of our continued efforts in election administration and reform.

STATE-OF-THE-ART VOTER DATA FOR PA VOICE PARTNERS

The Pennsylvania Voice collaborative is excited to announce for a second year that state table partners will have access to some of the country's best available voter engagement technology and data. Thanks to grants from The Hull Family Foundation, the Civic Engagement Fund and the Tides Foundation, PA partners have access to the Catalist warehouse, the VAN web interface, and data staff resources. To find out more on how your Pennsylvania 501c3 can take advantage of these resources for voter targeting, list enhancement and street list generation, e-mail us at PA VOICE.

EVERYBODY VOTE NONPROFIT VOTER ENGAGEMENT

The Everybody VOTE program continues this year in partnership with B-PEP and the Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network in building voter engagement pilot programs with nonprofit service organizations. If you'd like to learn more about how your Pittsburgh region nonprofit organization can better serve your mission and constituents through civic and voter participation, e-mail us at PA VOICE

WOW, WHAT AN ELECTION --- THE HISTORIC 2008 PA GENERAL ELECTION IS ... HISTORY

The 2008 Pennsylvania Primary produced record turnout numbers in the Commonwealth - including large numbers of new and infrequent voters, the prime Pennsylvania Voice target demographic. PA Voice and our partners worked in an unprecedented, coordinanted effort to pump up voter participation and protect the vote on November 4. Take a look at the Election results and stay tuned for our initial reporting on 2008 work. Whether you're a 501c3 organization looking to get involved with civic participation, or an individual looking to do your part and volunteer to increase the vote, plan to join Pennsylvania Voice partners For more information, or for details on how to get involved, e-mail us at PA VOICE

REAL-TIME BLOGGING FROM ELECTION PROTECTION HQ

PA VOICE took a lead role in coordinating statewide election administration, election protection and anti-voter suppression work across the state. To take a look at the Election Day trends, issues and problems across the state, pull up our Everybody VOTE website on Election Day for the real deal on what went down.

 

COMMEMORATE THE NOV. 4 ELECTION WITH PA VOICE

Nov 4

November 4 and Everybody VOTE Merch

Pennsylvania Voice partners raised the profile of the 4.22 Primary Election and Nov. 4 General Election by providing thousands of free posters and t-shirts to community partners and nonpartisan organizations for use in their visibility and GOTV efforts. Remember the efforts of these historic elections and check out the wealth of new Everybody VOTE merchandise available thanks to our partners at Spreadshirt, buy some swell 2008 swag on-line and help support collaborative, nonpartisan voter work here in Pennsylvania.