02-09-2009, 01:05 AM
They do not publicly endorse a particular candidate but they do by implication, as their issues are identical to Guzman's. It's a bit conspicuous when they stress that they are "running a non partisan campaign" several times. they certainly do admit to their desire to "change the course of an election". I think they may be flirting with a violation of their not-for-profit status.
Projects
New Americans Democracy Project 2008
The New Americans Democracy Project is another program intended to increase immigrants' participation in the electoral process. Through this program, which is organized by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrants' and Refugees' Rights, the Waukegan Leadership Council registered 1,084 voters in the Waukegan area and mobilized immigrant voters to the polls for the November 2008 elections. This program was executed successfully by having a strong volunteer base. Throughout the summer and into September, volunteers helped by standing out at the churches, stores, and other locales to register new voters in our community. By October, the New Americans Democracy Project (NADP) had switched its focus to mobilizing and turning out voters. Again, our volunteers spent countless hours making phone calls and walking door-to-door, reminding eligible voters to get out the vote. The strategy and tactics of this campaign were the very same as those used by major political campaigns and high-profile non-partisan campaigns which have proven to increase voter turn out election after election.
Waukegan Leadership Council decided to participate in this program in order to begin building electoral power in the immigrant community. There are many improvements and changes that we would like to see happen in the Waukegan community, however, many of these changes depend on the decisions of local elected officials. We know though, that the elected officials will only listen to the voice of the immigrant community, once they see that this community has the power to keep them in office or take them out of office. Therefore, for Waukegan Leadership Council to effectively work to improve our community, it is essential that we build our electoral power. The New Americans Democracy Project has been a first step and a learning experience for us in building this electoral power.
Waukegan Democracy Project 2009
We have now begun our next electoral program. On February 24th, 2009 Waukegan will hold the primary election for the mayoral race, followed by the general election on April 7th, 2009. Once again, this is an opportunity to show that immigrants have the power to change the course of an election. To design our field plan we have used a similar model as we used in the New Americans Democracy Project, however, modified for these specific elections. We will once again run a grassroots, volunteer-based non-partisan campaign aimed at mobilizing the immigrant vote. For this election we are also forming a broad media strategy to increase awareness of the date of the election, since municipal elections are less publicized than national elections. Lastly, we will hold another candidates' forum for the mayoral candidates on Sunday February 8th, 2009. Since we are running a non-partisan campaign, we must give voters the chance and the information necessary to decide for themselves who the best candidate is for them.
Projects
New Americans Democracy Project 2008
The New Americans Democracy Project is another program intended to increase immigrants' participation in the electoral process. Through this program, which is organized by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrants' and Refugees' Rights, the Waukegan Leadership Council registered 1,084 voters in the Waukegan area and mobilized immigrant voters to the polls for the November 2008 elections. This program was executed successfully by having a strong volunteer base. Throughout the summer and into September, volunteers helped by standing out at the churches, stores, and other locales to register new voters in our community. By October, the New Americans Democracy Project (NADP) had switched its focus to mobilizing and turning out voters. Again, our volunteers spent countless hours making phone calls and walking door-to-door, reminding eligible voters to get out the vote. The strategy and tactics of this campaign were the very same as those used by major political campaigns and high-profile non-partisan campaigns which have proven to increase voter turn out election after election.
Waukegan Leadership Council decided to participate in this program in order to begin building electoral power in the immigrant community. There are many improvements and changes that we would like to see happen in the Waukegan community, however, many of these changes depend on the decisions of local elected officials. We know though, that the elected officials will only listen to the voice of the immigrant community, once they see that this community has the power to keep them in office or take them out of office. Therefore, for Waukegan Leadership Council to effectively work to improve our community, it is essential that we build our electoral power. The New Americans Democracy Project has been a first step and a learning experience for us in building this electoral power.
Waukegan Democracy Project 2009
We have now begun our next electoral program. On February 24th, 2009 Waukegan will hold the primary election for the mayoral race, followed by the general election on April 7th, 2009. Once again, this is an opportunity to show that immigrants have the power to change the course of an election. To design our field plan we have used a similar model as we used in the New Americans Democracy Project, however, modified for these specific elections. We will once again run a grassroots, volunteer-based non-partisan campaign aimed at mobilizing the immigrant vote. For this election we are also forming a broad media strategy to increase awareness of the date of the election, since municipal elections are less publicized than national elections. Lastly, we will hold another candidates' forum for the mayoral candidates on Sunday February 8th, 2009. Since we are running a non-partisan campaign, we must give voters the chance and the information necessary to decide for themselves who the best candidate is for them.