This church year 2024-2025 we are restarting the Forum series.

Title

Building Power for Social Justice through Voter Engagement

Description

Voter participation will be key to what is arguably the most consequential election since the Civil War.  Unfortunately, residents of  frontline communities continue to experience a range of injustices because historically they have had so little influence on policy decisions. As a result many understandably feel alienated and have disengaged from the civic and democratic process.

The speakers will describe a process designed specifically to address — and reverse — this unfortunate and unfair situation.  That process is called Integrated Voter Engagement or simply IVE.  PIIN volunteers are currently using the IVE approach to canvass in Swissvale, Rankin, Braddock, and Clairton.

Research shows that about 4.5 million people have been registered by IVE groups and their allies over the last three election cycles.  This substantially increased the number of new voters in many swing states — and Pennsylvania is a swing state!

Speakers

Bob King is on the Board of the Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN) and is a member Calvary Episcopal Church.  Bob has led PIIN’s Integrated Voter Engagement program since 2020.

Karen Burns is also on the Board of PIIN and is a member of the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh. Karen is a leader in many PIIN activities including fundraising, voter engagement and environmental justice.

Schweitzer room