What Happened at Votemaxxing with EFC?

As with every InterGen Café, the inspiration and empowerment lie in the conversations and community-building in the breakout groups.

“The breakout groups provide a real opportunity to get to know people of different ages. You learn what they care about and what they are doing. I learned so much from Beatrice (a 2026 Encamper) about the work she is doing with a climate action group. I felt invigorated by our discussion and it reminded me that voting for representatives or ballot issues affects every area of social justice we can think about — including climate action.” – Margot Gibney, 71MT alum and former EFC executive director

On October 10, we held our “Votemaxxing with EFC!” InterGen Café. Board Secretary Maxx Guffey welcomed the participants and passed the mic to Roni King, ‘71MT alum, for an overview of the agenda. She acknowledged the recent passing of Bob Lubetsky, who was executive and program director from 1976–82. Several of the people present, Encampers or staff in 1981 at the Washington, D.C. Encampment, made comments. Here’s one from Board Member Elliott Black, who also supplied the group photo:

“Mr. Lubetsky was the executive director when I went through the Encampment during the summer of 1981 — a long, hot, and very intense summer in Washington, D.C. This was shortly after President Reagan was inaugurated, and a lot of social, cultural, economic, and political issues were changing very quickly, both domestically and overseas. Bob did an amazing job helping guide and inspire nearly 60 students about how to think through and articulate complex issues, how to ask probing questions, and how to engage effectively with people from vastly different backgrounds and perspectives. He was deeply devoted to the Encampment and its principles, and he was a master of the Socratic method as a way of getting youth to think for themselves and across historical intergroup boundaries.”

Roni explained the Café’s process, noting that the gathering was a place to both express feelings and learn about tools to guide people through voting in these difficult times.

She introduced a video from Miles Rapoport (’66 KY alum) and executive director of 100% Democracy. Click for his insights about the importance of voting.

Miles was followed by Program Director Jesus Salcido, who shared an inspiring personal reflection about why voting matters. Click here to read the transcript.

Following up on earlier comments and addressing the issue of voter disengagement and disillusionment, Executive Director Faith Kares brought in a quote from Al Black’s The Young Citizens:

“… Take the ballot! The vote was bought with blood and sweat through the generations. What happens when election day comes? Half the people of America do not bother to vote even in the presidential election … If you ask them, ‘Why don’t you vote?’ the answer is ‘It’s a free country, isn’t it?’”

This quote was from a speech to a group of college-age New Yorkers in 1938. Faith concludes that it’s been a constant struggle to get people to value the vote — one that continues today.

Breakout groups began by focusing on personal aspect of voting asking the question, “What is your experience of voting and why is it important to you?” From there, the groups moved to sharing what they are doing to participate in civic life. See our Resource List in next section.

Lively conversations were reported when everyone was back in the large group. Some of the topics included:

Roni: A shout-out for Miles’s book and organization, 100% Democracy.
Elliott shared Nik’s reflection: “When did we stop talking about fairness and start talking about power?”
Jaden: “It’s hard to not feel disillusioned when we look at the economic disparity.”
Several people suggested forming a group of people to go to polls if you are vulnerable. Nancy chimed in with “Bring your family!”
There was also a discussion about the legality of ICE or collaborating police officers standing outside of polling places. It was clarified that it is illegal. https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/federal-agents-at-the-polls
Maxx provided some options aside from voting: poll watcher, election judge, site manager. He also is having a midterm party requiring participants to bring an “I voted” sticker.
He also mentioned that your own county election office is a great place to get information about local elections.
Favio talked about working with Zohran Mamdani [who is now the mayor of New York City] — he wasn’t sure he could believe the changes they hoped for would happen. He also said he was looking forward to becoming a citizen and voting.
Audrey noted that Favio was a teenager and recent EFC alum when he was working with Mamdani, before anyone knew who Mamdani was.
Steve talked about working on the 1972 Shirley Chisholm campaign for president. “People would ask, ‘Why do this — she’s never going to win.’ But I’ve heard a lot of people talk about how she inspired them to get into politics — even AOC [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]. You’re voting in the present but you are also investing in the future — and the future of democracy. We don’t know the impact that we’re going to have, but we have to try.”
Dyanne added, “In my family, you have to vote. Given our history in this country, where we were brutalized for even trying to register to vote, we have this history behind us so we have to toe the line and vote.”
Roni said a great resource from Nancy is Ballotpedia. It’s an online resource that gives the reasoning statistically why it’s important to vote. They report how many votes swung an election or a ballot measure or proposition, which could be under 100 or even as few as 10 in a small local election. It’s a tool to show people why their vote matters.
Tony mentioned that having run successfully for office, his perspective changed. He realized he had power to make important decisions for the community and that was important to honor all citizens, no matter what they look like.
Last but not least, Jesus pointed folks to the Voting Resource List — compiled with many people’s help. Click here to view.

The Encampment is celebrating its 80th Anniversary!

We have an anniversary coming up. The Encampment is celebrating its 80th year since its founding in 1946. Come help the EFC celebrate strengthening democracy (and working for justice) through building community!

Virtual Event: Saturday, December 13, 10:00 a.m. Pacific/ 11:00 a.m. Mountain/ 12:00 p.m. Central/ 1:00 p.m. Eastern

Click to RSVP.

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