america to the ballot box

During Spring 2022, Oxford to the Ballot Box [Ox2Box - est. 2019] – a project dedicated to civic and voter engagement, and to small dee democratic practice hosted by the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, created “America to the Ballot Box” [A2Box] in collaboration with the UM [University of Mississippi] - Andrew Goodman Foundation; Hawk the Vote at the University of Iowa with support from the Public Policy Center; and Governor's State University.
 

Although the A2Box collaboration is a new organization, its three university organizations and Ox2Box  have years of civic engagement experience. 

 

Students, faculty, staff and community members participate in efforts on campus and in community. For National Voter Registration Day including all the National Civic Holidays, A2Box works on voter registration initiatives, and on a range of engaging public programs focusing on the challenges and opportunities for democracy in the nation.
 

We collaborate on voter registration with the UM Voter Engagement Roundtable and UM chapter of the Andrew Goodman Foundation, with registration events at Oxford and Lafayette schools, the Farmers Market, Oxford’s legendary Courthouse Square, and UM’s  Memorial Union and dorms. We hope to work with Mississippi Votes and the Oxford Film Festival and the Oxford North Mississippi League of Women Voters chapter and other local civic organizations to widen the circle of engaged participants.

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Social media is also key to our public information efforts, including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and podcasts, with a plan to create public service announcements.

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Comparable efforts are in the works at Iowa. A2Box will promote intercollegiate, intercity collaboration, sharing best practices while encouraging community-building.

To date A2Box has received funding support from the 2022 Alliance for Youth Campus Take-over mini grant program and an award from French Connect UK - US Division.

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rev. april 28 15:00 cdt