Mission Votes! A Youth-Led Community Voter Education Rally
Voter Education in the Mission’s ‘Living Room’
Christine Wong Yap
November 9, 2006
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Marko Harps kicked off Mission Votes with singing and bluesy harmonica styling. Download JPG (1600x1200 pixels / 324 kb)
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Columbia Park Boys and Girls Club teen staff shared their perspectives on voting. Download JPG (1600x1200 pixels / 400 kb)
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A youth-made poster encouraging the Mission to go to the polls. Download JPG (1600x1200 pixels / 456 kb)
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On the eve of Election Day, the 16th Street BART Station was abuzz with energetic volunteers working to get out the vote. Teens spoke passionately about the importance of voting, while campaign workers reminded the Mission District to go to the polls.
At sundown, the “Mission Votes: A Youth-Led Community Voter Education Rally” kicked off with a rousing performance by Marko Harps, who played bluesy harmonica and sang a rendition of Joe Goodman’s “Good Morning America” and other songs of American rebellion.
Next, teens from Columbia Park Boys and Girls’ Club teen staff introduced the speakers. First, Karen Robertson Strain, of the American Heart Association, spoke on the benefits of statewide Proposition 86: Tax on Cigarettes. According to Robertson Strain, “Every 10% increase in the price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking 7%.”
Rene Cazenave spoke in favor of San Francisco’s Proposition 1C: Housing Shelter, to protect affordable housing. Cazenave was also critical of the “millionaire real estate speculator” behind statewide Proposition 90: Government Acquisition, Regulation of Private Property.
Antonio Diaz of People Organizing to Protect Environmental and Economic Rights (PODER) introduced two fiery young women. Yuyin Sanchez, a 17-year-old senior at Mission High School, addressed the Mission in Spanish about getting involved with PODER because Latinos are “growing in numbers but our voices are not being heard.” She encouraged other youth to become civic minded because, “Even though we may be ineligible to vote, we can still participate by informing our families, neighbors and friends.” Laura Melgarejo, a student at San Francisco State University, provided an English translation of Sanchez’ commentary.
“Mission Votes” was a youth-led community voter education rally organized by the Mission Community Council, a collaborative network of over 35 Mission non-profit organizations, businesses, faith groups, and public departments committed to promoting the vitality of the Mission District. The group hopes to create a safe and beautiful cultural commons through the activities, events and exhibitions at Plaza 16.