League of Young Voters Education Fund 2009 Annual Report

8/14/2019 League of Young Voters Education Fund 2009 Annual Report

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annual report 2009


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The League of Young Voters Education FundAnnual Report 2009 2

When the going gets tough, the tough get going... Billy Ocean

Powerul. Nervous. Let down. Hopeul. Pissed o.

All o these words describe how I elt in 2009. On one hand our generation has an

amazing opportunity to transorm the world; on the other, the obstacles to truly mak-

ing America a more just and open society have never been so stark.

But we never expected changing our country to be easy. Im inspired everyday by LY-

VEF members who are ready to have the tough conversations with each other, to nd

common ground on our belies and tactics and work toward the world we believe in.

Even though you might not see this work on the prime time news, we are on the ront

lines everyday ghting or our countrys uture. Our leaders arent waiting or anyone

to give them permission to x their communities. We cant. The world needs us now.

Whether it is acilitating meetings with community members, registering voters ortraining young people, LYVEF members across the country are working step by step to

transorm the country we live in.

O course, any true change must rst come rom within. So to ensure that we were

walking the walk, in 2009 LYVEF took a long hard look internally. We ended programs

that werent ocused on our core purpose, let several sta members go, and ocused on

building systems so that we will have a big infuence in 2010. And we did all o this

while training hundreds o new leaders and standing up or the causes most important

to our generation. It has been a lot o hard work, but in the long run we know it will

pay o.

Going into 2010, we are stronger than ever. During the winter and spring, we will

be working hard to make sure that our olks participate in the census and in the all,

we will be there making sure young people dont drop o voting in record numbers.

Weve been around the block a couple o times, so were not rookies anymore. We

have a lot to oer the world and we arent araid to get our hands dirty.

But we cant do it alone. We need your help. Check out our annual report and see how

you can get involved in supporting us.

We continue to be the ones weve been waiting or,

Biko Baker,

LYVEF Executive Director


3/13

The League of Young Voters Education FundAnnual Report 2009

Growing Up and Sticking With It

2009 was a watershed year for us at the League of Young VotersEducation Fund (LYVEF), but as I write these words I cant help but thinkdont wesay that every year? Is it possible that every year in our young organizations lie has

been a monumental turning point? The answer is yes. When LYVEF was ounded in

2004, we were ounded with a mission bigger than the organization. We were ounded

with the mission o a movementto build a base o engaged young people across the

country strong enough to solve the problems in our communities and the problems

acing our country. This mission was, and is, ar too broad to guide organizational pri-

oritiesso year by year we have specied and narrowed the pieces o this mission to

nd where we uniquely add value. We went rom having a shallow presence in 65 cit-

ies in 2004, to having deep roots in 8 cities in 2009. We went rom training thousands

o young people in one-day trainings, to doing weekend long trainings with hundreds

o young people. We track, support and ollow up with each trainee aterward. Thenarrowing o the organizations priorities has been tough. We eel the urgency o all

the problems across the country and we want to be there or any young person who

needs our support.

Our niche is developing and training young leaders rom marginalized communi-

ties and supporting them to rebuild their communities and use their voices to have

infuence. Ater the 2008 elections, our organization was pulled in many directions.

Uncertain nancial times pushed us to make dicult stang and spending decisions.

We knew we had amazing opportunities to make our voices heard in a rapidly chang-

ing political landscape with open lanes or groups that could continue to engage our

constituency post the 2008 election. We knew i we could spend smarter, we would

have the opportunity to have great impact in 2009. So that is what we did. Unleashingthe creativity and talent o LYVEF members across the country, we managed to work

at a reduced level in 2009, while having some o the most important infuence our

organization has had to date.

Read on to get the ull scoop!

Heather Box,

Outgoing LYVEF Deputy Director


4/13


2009 Overview

LYVEF empowers young people nationwide to participate in the democratic process with a ocus on non-

college youth and youth rom low-income communities and communities o color. We make civic engage-

ment relevant by meeting young people where they are, working on the issues that aect their lives, andproviding them with tools, training, and support to become viable players in the civic process. We do our

work in the eld on a national level and through our aliates in Maine, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, New

York, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Caliornia. Alliances are a key part o our work, so we also work closely

with other youth organizations across the country to train and partner with their members.

Our integrated youth civic engagement model combines best practices rom community, campus and cul-

tural organizing with sophisticated voter engagement techniques. During election cycles, we run targeted

data-driven, precinct-based voter contact and turnout programs. But we do more than elections. The rest

o the year we organize our constituents around issues that make sense to young people. By ocusing on

relevant local issues like green jobs, juvenile justice and access to education and healthcare; we engage and

mobilize new and drop-o voters who would otherwise not be active in o election years.


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Green Jobs and Climate Change

In Preparation or our work on Green Jobs and Climate Change, seven LYVEF leaders were invited toGreen or Alls Academy program. The Academy is an invite-only intensive training program. It is designed

or those identied leaders with an established constituency in low-income communities and communi-ties o color. Leaders receive green technical assistance, build skills and develop their network in order to

enhance the green work they are doing in their local communities. Biko Baker, Camille Cyprian, David Dix,

Shahn Hayes, Jayme Montgomery-Baker, Khari Mosley and Gigi Traore all participated in the training and

have brought the skills and tools back to their sta and communities to build out their base o people call-

ing or the creation o green jobs. They also used their training to start monitoring where recovery dollars

were being released and lobby or these dollars to be spent on building a new green economy in urban cen-

ters. LYVEF members have since ounded urban gardens, started green coalitions and run a series o block

clean-ups tied to education workshops in their communities.

A closer look at our 2009 green accomplishments:

LYVEF members successully lobbied on the Federal level

in conjunction with 1Sky Education Fund and Green For

All to include provisions ensuring equitable access to the

jobs that would be created in the American Clean Energy

and Security Act climate bill (ACES) that passed through

Congress. We are now working to make sure a strong bill

is passed through the Senate and signed into law.

LYVEF Wisconsin organized the Milwaukee Common Council to withdraw the proposal to Privatize

Milwaukees drinking water through the Keep Public Our Water (KPOW) Campaign. LYVEF Wisconsin State

Director, Jayme Montgomery accepted Midwest Environmental Advocates (MEA) Lightning Rod Award or

the LYVEFs role in organizing this campaign.

LYVEF Maine played a major role in putting pressure on the Maine Department o Transportation (MDOT)

to stop the widening o a turnpike in Southern Maine. We are continuing to pressure MDOT and local

elected ocials to re-allocate resources rom the turnpike to public transportation.

LYVEF Maine was also a primary partner in passing the New Energy Jobs Alliance - Aordable Green

Housing Bill in the Maine State Legislature.

Power Network, LYVEF Ohio, launched Green, in Communities o Color Campaign - where college stu-

dents will complete green service projects as well as research, compose and publish policy bries ocused on

environmental justice.

Although the League of Young Voters Education Fund are new to the

climate change ght, they did an impressive job moving key legislator

adopt stronger environmental provisions in the climate change bill. I a

very impressed and look forward to working with them in the future.

Gillian Caldwell, Campaign Director, 1Sky


6/13


Copenhagen

LYVEF is a new player in the green landscape. And new eyes

bring an important perspective. The perspective o young people

rom communities traditionally shut out o the environmentalconversation, but shouldering the biggest burden o bad environ-

mental policies in America.

We eel this perspective must be central to any environmental

discussion. That is why when two o LYVEF leaders were asked to

join the international environmental discussion at the UN Climate

Negotiations in Copenhagen, we jumped at the opportunity.

Heather Box and Jayme Montgomery-Baker went to Denmark not only to elevate our communities voices

on an international stage, but convened round tables with young leaders rom countries across the world

India, Trinidad and Tobago, Kenya, Botswana, and China - to share stories and discover how our work can

strengthen one another. They also produced media about their experiences on the ground. Through blogs,

publishing articles and guest appearing on radio shows back in the states they helped the young people at

home stay inormed on the complicated process o international negotiations. It was an exciting step or

LYVEF. Copenhagen strengthened our conviction that it is up to our generation to push or bold climate

legislation strong enough to lit up our communities here and abroad.

We cannot wait for our leaders to lead on this

issue, we need to take action and continue to solve

the problems in our communities with innovation,

commitment and determination.

Heather Box, Outgoing LYVEF Deputy Director

Meeting and working with young leaders as part of a global

movement in Copenhagen showed me that together, we quite

literally are saving the world, city by city.

Jayme Montgomery-Baker, LYVEF Wisconsin State Director


7/13


Juvenile Justice and Violence Prevention

Violence is a serious issue in the communities we work in. According to the Federal Bureau o Investiga-

tions (FBI) crime statistics in 2008, there were 14,180 homicides in the United States, o which people

under 35 made up 68 percent o victims and 74 percent o known oenders. For young people o color, thestatistics are even grimmer. The homicide victim and oender rate or young, non-white people is over six

times that o their white peers. This is why one o LYVEFs chie objectives is Juvenile Justice and Violence

Prevention. Some examples o our work:

We lobbied our Representatives on a National level to co-sponsor The Youth Promise Act. The Youth

Promise Act is a crucial piece o Federal Legislation that would provide ederal unding or evidence based

gang and violence prevention strategies to be implemented in cities across the country. These eorts would

serve at risk youth and the juvenile justice system and help them nd productive alternatives to these risks.

In their states and in DC, LYVEF members lobbied their reps to co-sign onto this bill.

NBA player Baron Davis o the Los Angeles Clippers, pro surer Stacy Peralta and actor Cash Warren

produced the documentary Crips and Bloods, a riveting look at gangs in the city o Los Angeles. As part o

their documentary release they partnered with LYVEF to serve as the action center or their viewers. LYVEF

accompanied the producers or a screening with house members on Capitol Hill and spoke in ront o the

Representatives on the importance o their leadership on this issue.

LYVEF Milwaukee, also known locally as Campaign Against Violence (CAV), put together our 5th annual

Put Down the Guns Rally drawing out 550 people o all ages to call or peace in Milwaukee and cities

across the country; while additionally in Maine we organized a similar youth-led peace rally.

Put Down the Guns Rally

Putting together the Put Down the Guns Festival is a

unique experience that many volunteers and mysel look

orward to each summer. Theres something about provid-

ing a space or LOVE and PEACE to control the day thatmakes it special each time. The event includes a rally/march

through a violent neighborhood shouting: Stop the Vio-

lence with Peace and Love! To attend is to experience a day

o celebrating lie and community at its best: People United

to Promote Peace and Love. You know that it has been a

good day when people are looking to help out in any way

they can!

Shahn Hayes, former LYVEF Wisconsin Field Staff

Anti-Violence Rally

Ive grown up in Portland, Maine and seen all kinds o

violence and the impact on the immigrant youth. It wasvery powerul or community members and amilies to rally

or peace ater a atal shooting in our community. I elt

it raised our citys awareness and provided the necessary

energy or elected ocials and decision makers to address

problems acing youth in our city.

Genet Gebrewahd, LYVEF Maine Volunteer


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In 2009, 4 out of 5 Tunnel Builder

Institute graduates said that they would

strongly recommend LYVEFs training

programs to their friends.

LYVEFs Training Program

Youth empowerment is an integral part o all the work we do across the country. That is why in 2009 a key

program was The Tunnel Builder Institute (TBI). TBI is the League o Young Voters Education Funds ocial

training and leadership development program. LYVEFs training is innovative, accessible and combines best

practices rom arts and community organizing. TBI is exclusively customized towards young people who are

let out o other opportunities or training and civic involvement.

TBIs program bases its modules on a series o simulated and interactive organizing games that are speci-

cally tailored to empower youth, people o color and low-income persons to become eective electoral and

community based activists. Training Director Carey Jenkins has trained over 300 young people across the

country in 2009 and launched an exciting alumni network, the Tunnel Builder Network, as a way or trainees

to stay in contact with LYVEF and to build their network as organizers.

Art is an integral component to making the Tunnel Builders Trainings unique.

Carey Jenkins had this to say on Arts Organizing:Art inuences youth to organize. I see it every time I train: that moment when art becomes the

form that touches a nerve, sparks the emotion, and draws out the desire for organizing. Every

time that spark is lit; a bridge is built. Art is the bridge that unites the youth we train to their

reality, to their possibilities and to the impact they create in that reality. In the hands of the youth

at our trainings, Hip-Hop and spoken word become more than just an escape. They become

integral devices to the organizing process. They are the voice of our trainees. With means as

simple as a web design, a ip video camera, or an email blast - the authenticity of these youths

artistic roots can be incorporated. The arts impact when combined with active organizing...shines.

Art has been used to ght ordinances, lend power to campaigns, and organize town halls, it is a

truly amazing process to be blessed to shepherd and observe.

Why I do this work by Training DirectorCarey JenkinsWhen I wake up in the morning, the importance o this work motivates me to push harder

than the day beore. My son motivates me. The mothers who have cried on my shoulder

or the children they have lost motivates me. The impermanence o the present motivates

me. I know there is no time to wait or someone else to do this work. I know I owe my

motivation to everyone rom Gandhi to Dr. King, that I am in repayment to each and every

one who came beore me, raising their voices and taking action in support o justice. In

continuation o their work, as a willing recipient o that torch, I wake up each morning,

provoked to action. I am so motivated by the youth in the communities I train in; I am

motivated by that rst moment when I see them realize, that even without a lot o money,

and without a lot o people, they can still be agents o change.

I am inspired to help open their eyes and show them how they

can make an impact. I am inspired by all o those who put othersbeore themselves, spreading their genius and knowledge, and

acting or the greater good o humanity. The humble. The sel-

less. Leaders o change.


9/13


Online EngagementIn January o 2009, we evaluated our strategy or reaching non-college

youth online. We identied that we needed a space where we, as a genera-

tion, could go to share our stories. And a space to gure out how we can

build our collective power as a generation. 99problems.org was launched as

a place or urban America to interact with each other across state lines. And

it wasnt just the youth who wanted to join the conversation. Leaders like

Van Jones, the ounder o Green For All, Marshall Ganz, the legendary civil

rights activist and even celebrities such as Sarah Silverman, Xzibit, Snoop

Dogg, Lauren Luckett and Cash Warren had something they wanted to say.

These voices are relevant to the youth o America, people they know and

respect. 99problems.org continues to build and grow and we now have over

1400 weekly visitors.

EvaluationsIn 2009, ISSI, a nonprot organization whose mission is to provide

data management support to campaigns and organizations, helped

analyze the eectiveness o our 2008 Get Out The Vote Program in

Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In April, we got the results. The news? ISSI

reported that in our target wards, where we targeted young and rst

time voters o color, 76% o the people we contacted turned out to

vote, a 2% increase in turnout among our registrants and a 5% in-

crease in down ballot voting in our wards. See the ull report here:

http://youngvoter.org/cav-2008

More 2009 Highlights: from 99 Problems to Evaluations

We are excited by the results of our hard work.

These results validate our models of engagement.

We have always known that peer-to-peer contact

works. We look forward to engaging these folks

during the 2010 elections and beyond.

Jayme Montgomery-Baker,

LYVEF Wisconsin State Director

What I like about this site is its emphasis

on solving problems, and the responsibility

thats necessary to do this. The best part of

the site, in my opinion, is its focus on those

non-college youth who arent on the receiving

end of many resources and attention that the

government, political parties, and/or media

gives to college students. LYVEF has a long

history of advocating for that forgotten group

of people, and 99Problems is a fantastic tool

to continue their work.

Mike Connery of Future Majority
http://99problems.org/http://youngvoter.org/cav-2008http://youngvoter.org/cav-2008http://99problems.org/


10/13


Training leadersLast year, CIRCLE (The Center or Inormation and Research on Civic

Learning and Engagement) approached us with an oer to evaluate

LYVEFs training curriculum. They will be evaluating our work as part

o their noncollege civic engagement studies.

Powershift 2009In February 2009, 12,000 young people rom across the coun-

try assembled to demand bold action on climate and energy

in 2009 at Energy Action Coalitions Powershit Conerence.

Young people met all week disucssing the solutions to climate

change and our demands or our Representatives. The last day

we stormed the Capitol or meetings with elected ocials rom

every state in the Union.

Equity in EducationFor a little over a year, LYVEF Maine has been working with the MCLU,

ormer Portland schools students, the NAACP, and community members

to improve transparency and access to equitable education. Recently

they sat down with the Superintendent o Portland Public Schools to

encourage better tracking o drop-out and completion rates, discipline

rates, and student achievement- especially as it impacts minority and

low-income students.

More 2009 Highlights: from 99 Problems to Evaluations...continued

LYVEF brought 181 young people to Powershift

to join 12,000 other young people in demanding

robust climate legislation that both addresses the

needs of the planet and spurs economic growth in

our communities with green jobs. It was SO fun! I

have gained a whole new level of condence that

young people will be the ones to really push the

country in the direction we need to go, its exciting.

Ali Uscilka, LYVEF San Francisco Coordinator

I became involved in the ght for equitable education

in the Portland Public Schools when young parents and

former students approached LYVEF to take action. After

requesting accurate data and suggesting initiatives to

help improve the quality of education for minority and

economically disadvantaged youth for almost a decade,

they were still shut out of the system that failed to provide

real accountabil ity to the community. Last year, LYVEF,

with other education advocates, stepped in to work with

the new superintendent to address some of our deepest

inequities facing our most vulnerable youth.

Jenna Vendil, Former LYVEF Maine Field Director

We still know far too little about what worksto engage marginalized youth. Society has

invested too little in even trying to engage

them, let alone rigorously experimented with

different approaches. However, a small group of

nonprots have track records of work that shows

real promise. One of those nonprots is the

League of Young Voters Education Fund, whose

projects impressed us enough that we asked

their director, Biko Baker, to join the CIRCLE

advisory board.

Peter Levine, Director of CIRCLE, a research

center that conducts research on the civic and

political engagement of Americans between the

ages of 15 and 25.


11/13


A look ahead to 2010

Our 2010 plans are stronger than ever. This year will prioritize two campaigns: our Spring campaign is o-

cused on popular education around the Census, and our Fall campaign is ocused on civic engagement and

Get Out The Vote programs or the mid-term elections. 2010 is a critical year or young voters and LYVEFis here to make sure that young voters continue to participate ater the historic 2008 election.

Why the Census is key in 2010.Currently, one o the big problems with the Census is the lack o

young peoples participation. A youth undercount results in incor-

rect population estimate results, which leads to inaccurate disburse-

ment o unds, and ultimately ewer resources and opportunities

going into low-income, highly-populated areas that youth oten re-

side in. Some o the actors that contribute to young people opting

out o the census are a distrust o government, transient lie styles

and heavy skepticism about the good government can do.

To this end, representatives rom LYVEF aliates have been attending trainings to amiliarize themselves

with the basics, so they take a leadership role in ensuring a complete and accurate Census count.

Our main goals are making sure that our target constituencies understand that the Census is an essential

step in repairing and rebuilding marginalized communities. Misinormation surrounding the Census is

one o the greatest hindrances to its completion. We are here to dispel the myths! We have a wide range

o tactics we use in our civic engagement work that we are ready to deploy in our Census work, including

peer-to-peer outreach, online organizing, and targeted canvassing to boost youth participation.


12/13


Financials

Salary, Taxes and Benefits

Contracts

Professional Fees

Supplies, Phones, Copying, etc.

Travel

Rent & Utilities

Grants to other orgs.

Conferences, Staff Development, Advertising, etc.

Insurance

$658,855.46

$40,758.90

$23,004.04

$28,299.74

$77,820.82

$51,360.63

$500.00

$14,570.23

$1,309.53

LYVEF 2009 Expense Breakdown

Program

Fundraising

Management

73%

1

LYVEF 2009 Departmental Expenditures

LYVEF 2009 Income Breakdown

$-

$50,000

$100,000

$150,000

$200,000

$250,000

$300,000

$350,000

$400,000

Carry Over

From 2008Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4

Income

Expenses

2009 Income vs. Expenses


13/13


In Closing...

I came in to LYVEF as an intern in April 2009, and what I walked into was an organizationdeep in contemplation over their sustainability. LYVEFs work is just as invaluable to young

people in America today as it was during its inception in 2004. But I had the privilege o

being able to watch one o its growth spurts. Throughout 2009, we concentrated on what we

have accomplished over the years and why. We took a hard look at what works or us and

what needs to change in order to enhance our work. LYVEF is good at many things, but this

streamlining provides an opportunity to be great at a ew things and thereore urther solidiy

our permanence or the young people who depend on us.

We have a rich history o people whose lives we have changed, infuenced and impacted or

the better. Many o these people have become donors, supporters and recurring volunteers.

Reconnecting with those we may have lost touch with in the renzy o the election year was

one o the best and most amazing things about 2009. We took a step back and were verydeliberate in our aims, and set clear goals or what was next. I am proud o the big growing

pains we overcame in 2009, and even more so o our determination to stay right here. Weve

reduced spending and buckled down in order to survive a year that many organizations un-

ortunately did not, in order to fourish in the years ahead.

We have many more victories to claim and many more inspirational stories to write. 2010 is

going to be another huge year or LYVEF; more developed, more strategic, more ocused and

thereore more dynamic. In 2010, we look orward to sharing our successes with you - rom

CIRCLEs evaluation, to our upcoming work in the Census. So heres to 2010 and working

with you on our new eorts in the uture!

My projected theme or LYVEF in 2010? To borrow some popular catchphrases rom todays

youth; LYVEFGrown and Doing it Big.

Monica Brown,

LYVEF Development Associate


League of Young Voters Education Fund 2009 Annual Report

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Transcript of League of Young Voters Education Fund 2009 Annual Report