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Power the South

The text Power the South on a purple background

Power the South (PTS) is a campaign for Leagues, alongside regional and local partners, to strengthen our people-powered organizing as an antidote against the rising systemic threats to our democracy, such as white supremacy, patriarchy, classism, and authoritarianism. 

It does so by centering people and power, deepening relationships with voting rights and democracy partners, analyzing trending issues, developing capacity through trainings, and building a groundswell to mobilize voters, especially in marginalized and BIPOC communities. 

The South is the cradle of the Civil Rights — and other people-powered — movements. It has also suffered decades of political and economic divestment as bad actors continue launching egregious voter suppression legislation and strategies. These bad actors particularly target the New Majority — Black, brown, New American, LGBTQIA+, female, Indigenous First Nation, disabled, and low-income communities. 

League members from Power the South North Carolina

With so much at stake, including the attacks on reproductive rights, voting rights restrictions, voter disenfranchisement and purges, gerrymandering, the criminalization of activism, racial injustice, book banning, and the rise of mis- and disinformation, we must build healthy movements and ensure more leaders have seats at the table. 

Throughout 2022, LWV partnered with Leagues and voting rights partners to hold convenings in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee. In 2023, as we prepare for the most critical election year we will face as a democracy, we are organizing convenings in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Arkansas.  

2023-4 Campaign

In 2023, LWV gathered with Leagues and democracy partners in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida to build a people-powered, relational movement and make our democracy more inclusive, equitable, and participatory. The campaign will crescendo in North Carolina and Arkansas in early 2024.

LWV members including Rommel Sandino and Luana Chaires at Power the South in 2023

They did so by: 

  • Developing a shared understanding, vision, and on-the-ground efforts; 
  • Training and equipping Leagues and partners with organizing resources, including our mobile app League iin Action; 
  • Strengthening the relationship between the national and local Leagues; 
  • Fostering partnerships and coalitions with BIPOC-led organizations; and 
  • Focusing on state and local issues and strategies connected to democracy and voting rights. 

Partners for Power the South 2023 included:

  • ACLU Georgia
  • ACLU South Carolina
  • Alianza Center
  • Alpha Kappa Alpha Florida
  • Black Voters Matter Florida
  • Common Cause Georgia
  • Engage Florida
  • Generation Vote
  • Omega Si Phi Florida
  • Poder Latinx 

  • Voteriders FL 

Members of LWV Florida at Power the South in 2023

2022 Campaign

 

In September 2022, the League of Women Voters launched a tour to build power across the south. The tour's first year crescendoed to a South Region Movement Building Training that brought together leaders from the Southern States to cast a collective vision, develop a shared analysis and strategy, and deepen relationships to manifest the Democracy that our communities deserve. 

Tour stops included: Huntsville, Alabama; Raymond, Mississippi; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Nashville, Tennessee.

Partners included:

  • 10K Women
  • ACLU Alabama
  • ACLU Louisiana
  • Alabama AARP
  • Alabama Arise
  • Alabama Disability Voting Rights Advocacy Program
  • Alabama Forward
  • American Association of University Women
  • American Muslim Advisory Council
  • Black Voters Matter Alabama
  • Black Voters Matter Louisiana
  • Equity Alliance
  • Goodwill
  • Greater Birmingham Ministries
  • Hometown Action
  • Human Rights Campaign Alabama
  • I Vote Madison
  • Interfaith Ministries
  • Lift Our Vote
  • Louisiana Progress
  • Mississippi NAACP
  • Mississippi Vote
  • NAACP Legal Defense Fund Louisiana
  • National Federation of the Blind Alabama
  • NPHC Divine 9 Sororities and Fraternities
  • One Voice Mississippi
  • Organize Tennessee
  • Poor People's Campaign Alabama
  • Power Coalition for Equity and Justice
  • Salvation Army
  • Southern Poverty Law Center Alabama
  • Southern Povery Law Center Louisiana
  • Southern Poverty Law Center Mississippi
  • Students Against Voter Suppression Alabama
  • Tennessee Coalition on Open Government
  • Tennessee Disability Coalition
  • Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition
  • Think TN
  • United Way Madison County
  • United Women of Color Huntsville
  • University of Alabama Huntsville
  • Vote Huntsville

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