NYCFC Announces Youth-led voting campaign
September 25, 2020
New York City FC (NYCFC) has launched a new youth-led voting campaign, POWER the Vote, originating from the necessary conversations around social injustices across local communities and across the United States. POWER the Vote is created, managed and executed by ambitious young leaders who design and implement free soccer initiatives that promote health, education and youth enterprise across the five boroughs of New York City.
Using the power of soccer, the campaign aims to educate and mobilize young adults, teens and other members of the New York City community to exercise their civic right to vote. In partnership with Vote.org, the campaign will work to register voters, allow people to check their registration status and amplify a pledge-to-vote initiative that will sign up New Yorkers under the voting age to receive a text message from Vote.org on their 18th birthday to remind them to vote.
NYCFC Youth Leadership Coordinator and Co-Founder of POWER the Vote, Kwame King, says "Much like the rest of the world, the young leaders and I watched earlier this year as people joined in the streets to fight for the shared goal of equality. We launched the POWER the Vote initiative to ensure that the young people we serve and our fans are equipped, educated and empowered to go out and actually vote.”
Since the Club’s inaugural season, NYCFC has focused on youth-development through its City in the Community (CITC) foundation, a past Beyond Sport partner, and young leaders training programs. POWER the Vote builds on this history of uplifting the next generation of New Yorkers by providing leadership roles within community programs.
“I think it’s important for young people to know what’s going on in the world today. If you want change, voting is the way. To make yourself heard, I think you should go and vote,” says NYCFC Defender, Tayvon Gray.
NYCFC’s support for the new campaign will come to life in several ways, from First Team player engagement to amplifying messaging across Club platforms, and more. Additional activations include:
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City Halls – A series of virtual townhalls with diverse speakers, such as players from Sky Blue FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), to discuss topics around civic engagement. September 24 was the first City Hall of the series.
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National Voter Registration Day – Alongside the campaign, NYCFC and CITC hosted voter registration events on September 22 at five NYCFC mini-soccer pitches throughout the city.
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In-Game Recognition – During the 2020 MLS season, the Club will integrate POWER the Vote messaging during game presentations.
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Staff Volunteering – NYCFC will recognize Election Day (November 3) as a corporate holiday to empower staff to get out and vote. NYCFC staff will also be volunteering on Voter Registration Day to get fans, youth and other New Yorkers registered to vote.
As the POWER the Vote campaign continues to grow, NYCFC has also joined Rally the Vote, a nonpartisan coalition led by the NBA's Sacramento Kings, alongside When We All Vote and RISE. The coalition will bring together professional sports franchises across the country committed to encouraging fans to register to vote and participate in elections.
NYCFC CEO, Brad Sims says: “As a professional soccer Club, we want to continue using our platforms to empower young people, give them tools to practice civic engagement and emphasize how important it is to vote.”