HELP FROM THEIR FRIENDS: Clockwise from top, Miami Prince Hall Shriners display Voter registration materials distributed to residents during voter canvassing. Members of Miami-Dade Graduate Chapters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. conducting phone calls to Miami-Dade County residents. Justin Jones, field manager for Equal Ground, directing volunteer canvass efforts. In addition, Members of Kazah Court #117 distributed voter education palm cards to households during the canvassing activity. Local NCNW youth members encouraged Opa-locka residents to become civically engaged. Other signature event partners conducted phone banking and voter outreach training.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIAMI PRINCE HALL SHRINERS

OPA-LOCKA, Fla. – Imperial Deputy for the Desert of Florida, Honorary Past Imperial Commandress Collette Wallace, reminded volunteers that "voting is our right, it is imperative that citizens participate in all elections," when the Nobles of Kazah Temple #149 and Daughters of Kazah Court #117 AEAONMS, Inc. launched a Voter Registration and phone banking campaign in the City of Opa-locka on Sunday, Oct. 8.

The Miami Prince Hall Shriners and Daughters adopted a multi-prong approach of phone banking, digital voter registration, voter education and distribution of voter access guides to raise awareness on the importance of voter preparedness and participation to Miami-Dade County residents.

The Shriners and Daughters coordinated the efforts of a dozen civic and fraternal organizations to increase voter engagement within Opa-locka and the greater Miami-Dade community.

"Given the city’s diversity and growing residential needs, it is important to promote collaborative partnerships amongst groups whose members look like the residents we are engaging," said event organizer Leslie Elus. The voter registration campaign’s premier sponsor was Black Voters Matter, a voting rights and community empowerment organization, whose mission is to uplift Black and Brown communities through its myriad of voter registration, advocacy and education initiatives.

Signature event partners included Equal Ground, Miami-Dade Young Democrats, and the Miami-Dade Branch of the NAACP which steered efforts with phone banking and voter education.

Canvass and phone banking volunteers consisted of members from the South Florida Area Chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Miami Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Eta Nu Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Beta Tau Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Theta Rho Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Sigma Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Top Ladies of Distinction, National Council of Negro Women, Miami Gardens Democratic Club, Miami Chapter Cupidette, and St. Philips Neri Catholic Church.

Collectively, voter registration event volunteers contacted more than 2,000 inactive voters by phone, registered 100 new voters, and distributed voter education materials to 500 households within the area.

"Voter registration activities will always be important as they elevate our community’s voices and concerns to the levels of government that will shape the reality and society we live in now and the future," said Diego Lazcano, Field Director for the MiamiDade Young Democrats.