“The work to achieve equity is long, but we are grounded in our knowledge that it is righteous and liberating work.”
Power Coalition has a long history of working with faith-based institutions, clergy and their congregations. We have regranted more than $210,000 to support congregations across the state in their Get Out The Vote efforts. We want to continue this tradition by ensuring that congregations through Louisiana can access Power Coalition tools, training, mini-grants, sample ballots and swag.
We know that congregational leaders are important community leaders within their communities and we need your support to register and engage as many voters as possible. We are asking you to support in four key ways:
- We are asking church partners to get a commitment of 100% of their congregations to register and early vote. Register to Vote Voter Registration Training
- We are asking each church partner to host an early voting event on the first Saturday of early voting and provide transportation to an early voting location (add a date and consider church calendar).
- We are offering our mini grant program again this year and encourage congregations to apply. Apply for a Faith Mini-Grant
- Preach and Teach Sunday: We need our communities to be praying and fasting not just for Louisiana and the United States but the world. Preach and Teach Sundays creates space to use scripture to inspire their congregations about what we are all called to do around protecting our communities and hold those in leadership accountable.
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Galatians 6: 9-10 NKJV
Learn More About Preach and Teach Sundays
- Request the Souls to the Polls Toolkit which includes materials and resources provided by Power like sample ballots, tablet rental, etc. Request a Toolkit
How to Get Started
Community Organizing and Advocacy: Engaging congregations and community members in advocacy work that addresses social, political, and economic issues. This includes church leaders and members being proactive in shaping their communities and advocating for justice. E.g, court watchers, City council ambassadors, and advocates at the capitol
Power Voter: Activate Power Voters in your congregation. Power Voters vote in every election, hold their elected officials accountable, and fight for equity and justice.
Expand the Electorate: There are over 200,000 unregistered voters in the state we must expand the electorate by registering voters and getting them to vote. Host a voter registration drive and challenge your community and congregation to register to vote. Goal is 100% of members are register to vote. Register to Vote online.
Tools & Training
Souls to the Polls: providing church transportation to polls during Early Voting and Election Day. Mini grants are available.
NEW TOOL! VOTE FORCE: Vote Force is a peer-to-peer texting tool! It allows you to text your personal contacts a message from Power Coalition without the App or Power Coalition having access to your contacts' information.
Protect the Vote: Volunteer with our election protection program. Accessible and secure elections are a hallmark of a functioning democracy. Host an Election Protection training at your church to recruit more
Election Protection Volunteers for Election Day. 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
Texting Tuesdays: Every Tuesday the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice hosts a virtual text gathering to engage with voters and potential voters across the state.
Wednesday Outreach Training: Learn about canvassing, phone banking, and data quality control. Attend the training to receive all of the information you will need to be successful with your outreach efforts!
Thursday Voter Registration, Events, and Quality Control Training: Attend the training to receive all of the information you will need to be successful with your voter registration efforts!
- Run congregational list through the VAN
- Phone banking though Congregational List
- Canvass neighborhoods
Preach and Teach Sundays
Isaiah 1:17 says “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.”
This verse reminds us that we should work to bring about justice for those who are wronged, and intervene to stop the powerless from being oppressed by the powerful. By voting, staying engaged in our communities, and empowering people who have been left out in the past to be engaged in political processes, we will build collective power to make the changes in our community that guide our faith.
Proverbs 31:8-9 NLT “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless and see that they get justice.”
As we engage in community advocacy, we must remember to center the voices and experiences of those who are still not at the table and who are still being oppressed by the systems of power. Our work as we gain power is to bring more people with us, not to gatekeep systems of power and oppression as others have done to us.
Amos 5:24 NIV “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
The work to achieve equity is long, but we are grounded in our knowledge that it is righteous and liberating work.
II Chronicles Chapter 7 verse 14 “if my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land”