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Georgia State University’s (GSU) Clarkston Campus, University of La Verne, and Xavier University of Louisiana are the latest of 59 campuses to join The Andrew Goodman Foundation’s Vote Everywhere (VE) program. Strategically selected based on our recently revamped expansion strategy, these new partners add to Vote Everywhere’s growing national network and broaden our ever-growing team of young leaders. Each of these campuses represents a milestone in fulfilling our vision of creating an inclusive, participatory democracy.

While Georgia State University’s Atlanta Campus is already a part of our VE network, the university’s multi-campus setup revealed a need for additional Vote Everywhere support. The expansion to GSU’s Clarkston Campus will allow Vote Everywhere to engage with a larger portion of the GSU community. Similarly, the University of La Verne expands our presence in California, joining the University of California – Berkeley and the University of San Francisco. Lastly, Xavier University of Louisiana, an HBCU located in New Orleans, provides an opportunity for collaboration with Dillard University, another Vote Everywhere campus partner in the New Orleans area. Vote Everywhere Program and Recruitment Manager, Nicole Costa, says, “given the restrictive nature of the Louisiana voter ID law, which only includes 4-year public universities at the moment, we wanted to connect with more private institutions to find ways to expand voting access to their students as well.”

The upsurge in youth voter turnout in the 2018 Midterm Election proved that young voters are capable of making a difference and influencing politicians. Though the midterms have passed, we plan to keep the momentum going in anticipation of the upcoming 2020 election. Our Vote Everywhere campuses will be at the heart of our efforts to reach young voters. From educating students about the civic process to increasing voter accessibility, these campuses will be in a position to inspire lasting change in their students and the country.

We welcome our newest partners as they help us engage the next generation of leaders.

To read more about our newest campus partners, check out their profiles below.

Georgia State University – Clarkston Campus

Located in Clarkston, Georgia, one of the most diverse cities in the country, Georgia State University’s Clarkston Campus is a two-year institution noted for its excellence in academic programs. These include offerings in nursing, fine arts, and American Sign Language. In addition, the campus has evolved into a community hub of culture and the arts for its estimated 5,000 students, serving as the home to art exhibits, theatre, and the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra.

JP Peters, Civic Engagement Advisor and Campus Champion at Georgia State University’s Clarkston Campus is excited to join the Vote Everywhere network. “Joining Vote Everywhere will allow us the opportunity to impact students here as well as at our four other perimeter campuses about why it is important to get involved in the voting process. Ultimately, our team hopes to bring awareness and a new passion for why our civic duty is so important, how it will impact our future, and why every voice matters.”

University of La Verne

The University of La Verne, a federally-recognized Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), serves over 8,000 traditional age and adult learners across its 10 campuses. Approximately 45% of the campus community identify as Latino/Hispanic and 44% are the first in their immediate families to attend college. The university’s core values include ethical reasoning, diversity and inclusion, lifelong learning, and civic and community engagement.

“The University of La Verne’s Office of Civic and Community Engagement welcomes the opportunity to partner with Vote Everywhere,” says Julissa Espinoza, Director of Civic and Community Engagement and the University of La Verne’s Campus Champion. “Given the University’s core value of civic and community engagement, this partnership provides a civic platform for students to better understand what it means to be democratically engaged leaders.”

Xavier University of Louisiana

Xavier University of Louisiana is a Catholic and historically Black institution, founded in 1925.  Located in the city of New Orleans, the university has a student population of over 3,000 students. Its mission is to, “contribute to the promotion of a more just and humane society by preparing its students to assume roles of leadership and service in a global society.” Alumni of the university include the first female Mayor of New Orleans and the first African-American U.S. Secretary of Labor.

“Xavier University of Louisiana is excited to join the Vote Everywhere network. The Xavier team will work towards increasing voter awareness and encouraging civic responsibility through active participation in local elections. Joining the network will allow students to uphold our university’s mission while working in communities as advocates and agents of change,” says Dr. Timothy Glaude, Assistant Professor of Science Education and Vote Everywhere Campus Champion.

About the Author

Erica Meline is the Communications and Development Intern at The Andrew Goodman Foundation. She is currently a student at Ramapo College, where she is perusing a degree in Communication Arts with a concentration in Global Communications and Media. Throughout her college career, Erica has served as the News Editor of the college’s newspaper. Previously, Erica was a Development Intern at Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region in Philadelphia.