As we draw near to the end of early voting season, we’ve been knocking on doors to get out the vote with naturalized immigrant and refugee voters. CWS is sharing information about how America can honor its proud tradition of welcome and elevating the voices of our new fellow citizens who may be voting for the first time in their lives.
“When naturalized immigrants and refugees exercise their right to vote, they empower themselves to fully participate in Durham’s civic life. Even immigrants and refugees who are not yet naturalized—and therefore cannot vote—can help their community learn about the democratic process,” said our Refugee Community Organizer, Valeria. “From the moment a family steps off the plane at RDU airport, CWS Durham staff and volunteers are working to set up the family’s new apartment, enroll their children in school, and help them secure their first job in the United States. It is a true collective effort.”
To celebrate these civic engagement efforts, CWS Durham, in partnership with Voice of Change of the Triangle, is co-hosting a Get Out the Vote party to encourage new Americans in the community to exercise their right and responsibility of citizenship by voting during this election.
Date and time: October 26th from 12-2:30 p.m.
Location: Durham County Main Library
300 N Roxboro St, Durham
All are welcome!
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In the spirit of civic engagement, team members shared reflections on this year’s elections.
Daniela, Operations Manager:
Voting in my first U.S. presidential election is truly meaningful to me. Thirteen years ago, when I moved here, I had just become eligible to vote in my home country. I missed the chance to participate in presidential elections back then. Years later, I made an 8-hour round trip to D.C. to cast my vote. This year, I’m thrilled to finally have my voice heard and to feel a genuine connection to the community and the place I’ve called home for so long. I am happy to express my values and lift my voice along with many other people in the country for a better future.
Madison, Migrant Services Coordinator:
This will be my fourth time voting in a presidential election and I know that my right to vote is thanks to great suffering and effort on behalf of my foremothers. I also know that the right to vote is still not fully available and accessible to all who should be able to exercise it. Incarcerated individuals, unhoused individuals, trans individuals, people without easy access to state IDs, domestic violence survivors, low-income folks, and individuals of color all disproportionately suffer from voter suppression tactics. Working in the refugee resettlement and immigrant advocacy space, I am acutely aware of the privilege it is to participate in the democratic process and express my views without fear or repercussion. As someone whose family has lived in North Carolina for around 400 years, I am deeply invested in the wellbeing of everyone in the state. I believe it is our civic duty to vote, and to vote for policies that support and protect our most vulnerable neighbors.
There are so many issues at stake in this election-inflation, the affordable housing crisis, reproductive justice, healthcare access, LGBTQIA+ rights, immigration and climate change, just to name a few. Huge swaths of this country, whether foreign-born or native-born, are worried about how they’re going to pay their rent or mortgage, keep the lights on and feed their children. I believe voting is an important part in working to create a more perfect union-communities of safety, opportunity, and flourishing for all.
The Durham-Chapel Hill area has over 30,000 naturalized immigrants who are eligible to vote in the November elections. As a 501c3 nonprofit organization, CWS Durham leads non-partisan voter education and civic engagement programming with refugees and immigrants.
The election falls at a landmark moment of celebrating 15 years of CWS Durham welcoming newcomers to the Triangle. Since 2009, CWS Durham has welcomed over 3,300 refugees in the Triangle, and provided legal services for 1,600 naturalized citizens. In the last year alone, CWS Durham has resettled 550 refugees and immigrants in Durham and Burlington.
