[Philadelphia, PA]—On August 13, the National Liberty Museum hosted a pivotal event, the “Equitable Voting Roundtable.” This gathering of community advocates and leaders moderated by Joanna McClinton, the Speaker of the PA House, was not just a discussion of strategies but a reaffirmation of our shared responsibility to foster community engagement in the democratic process.
The roundtable underscored the crucial role of voting rights and the need for practical and actionable solutions in empowering marginalized voters, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose in communities. Noting HB2369, which Speaker McClinton introduced in the March legislative session, discussants agreed that the plan for same-day voter registration and early in-person voting should allow many voters to participate in voting more conveniently through easier access. Speaker McClinton explained her commitment to “eliminating practices that hinder the transparent voting process, such as redistricting and increasing the integrity of the overall election system” through the Freedom to Vote Act.
Discussants continued by stressing the importance of collective responsibility and allied efforts in ensuring community members’ civic engagement in advocating policies that affect their communities, from job creation and economic development to healthcare and education. Mel Lee, Executive Director of Woori Center, highlighted the challenges Korean and other AAPI community members face in exercising their voting rights, such as language barriers, lack of culturally competent voter engagement, and mis-and disinformation. She further highlighted the need for systemic improvements, ongoing support of the local governments, and the role of civic organizations.
Woori Center is dedicated to year-round civic engagement, working to empower the Korean and Asian voters across Pennsylvania. By making voting more accessible and ensuring their voices are heard, the organization is inspiring a sense of dedication in the communities. This commitment includes phone banking, text banking, door-knocking, and voter registration drives on college campuses, at Asian stores, and at local events. Additionally, the organization is advocating for the inclusion of Asian languages on election materials in Montgomery County to support voter accessibility.
Woori Center is a grassroots organization based in Lansdale, PA, with a mission to organize Korean and Asian Americans toward social, racial, and economic justice. Woori means “we” and “us” in Korean, and reflects our collective commitment to uplifting all marginalized communities, including the low-income, recent immigrant, undocumented, limited English proficient, women, seniors, LGBTQ+, and young people. We envision a world in which these marginalized communities work together as change-makers to create a more just and equitable society. To achieve this vision, we build community power through five key program areas: immigrant justice, civic engagement, direct services, youth leadership, and arts & culture.
