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Matriarchs on sovereign lands are building the electorate we need for Democratic wins in Arizona. [1]

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Date: 2023-05-13

Northeast Arizona Native Democrats Family Votes program helps win elections in Arizona.

The rural community of Chinle is located in the center of the Navajo Nation, and is hours from the nearest cities. Services are limited, and word of mouth is the best way to learn about community events. The women of Chinle’s Navajo families are at the heart of communicating about key issues like health, education, and voting. It’s in remote areas like this that the matriarchs of our Family Votes program have the most impact. These women are from these communities and are deeply connected to family and neighbors who count on family leaders to share information

In remote communities on sovereign lands, rough roads, the many miles between homes, and lack of home addressing prevents us from getting to everyone. But our Matriarchs have access to family members who live well beyond the reach of our organizers on the ground. Matriarchs are able to reach voters at family gatherings, from birthday parties to weddings to family dinners. Every voter contact is important, but none is more powerful than a “relational organizing contact,” when someone you know and respect talks to you about voting.

Please consider donating to this important program!

The Family Votes Matriarchs are already preparing for the 2024 elections. They are registering first time voters and updating family and friends registrations who need to make changes. They are also talking about what’s at stake if we don’t elect leaders committed to real policy change. Earlier this month the Family Votes Matriarchs from Hopi came together to share stories about why getting family members to the polls is important. Everyone agreed that electing Democrats was the best way to ensure future generations have better opportunities.

Reetha, a Matriarch from the Village of Hotevilla, talked about how her daughters are moving on to college or work and it is important that her girls have the opportunity to find good work to support their families.

Family Votes Matriarchs in the field.

Della, a Family Votes Coordinator from the 2022 cycle, talked about the need to elect Democrats to the state legislature. In New Mexico and in Colorado orthodontia and vision are covered on the Medicare plans but not in Arizona, costing families thousands of dollars out of pocket that could be covered if Arizona had a Democrat-controlled state legislature.

These matriarchs are a critical relational organizing force in our winning strategy. In 2022 we had over 130 volunteer matriarchs who were trained to register family members and get them to the polls. These women expanded the electorate and helped win the top three seats in Arizona for Democrats. Indigenous women are grounded in community, family leaders who have the ability to create a family culture of voting. Because of that they make the best advocates.

Navajo & Apache Counties are the ONLY Arizona counties that increased voter turnout in 2022 over 2018. This increase was driven by Democratic voters on sovereign lands.

So far this cycle we have reached 49 women who are interested in becoming Family Votes Matriarchs. These women know their power and the power of their families. When families vote together they create an opportunity for powerful policy change that positively impacts the entire country. Arizona is a crucial swing state that will decide both the future of the Presidency and control of the Senate. With that vital role in mind, our program is already at work registering the voters necessary to win in 2024.

We are deepening our Family Votes program this cycle. We are using additional resources to increase our training time, to prepare Matriarchs for success in guiding family and friends to the polls. Our training educates volunteer Matriarchs to register voters, to get them to the polls, and how to teach family members what’s on the ballot in 2024. These training sessions also allow time to build peer relationships among these amazing women, so that they can lean into the support they need to be successful.

Family Votes Matriarch helping a family member register to vote.

We are debuting our 2023 program this month in Chinle. We have eleven women who will join us for a Matriarchs luncheon training and receive their Matriarchs kits, which include everything they need to become successful relational organizers. Our team will guide them throughout the cycle to ensure their efforts as Family Votes Matriarchs are rewarded with big wins in 2024.

This program will cost the Northeast Arizona Native Democrats over $4,000 this year, but the return in the number of ballots cast and the trust built between Democrats and our community is far greater. With your help we can reach our goal of training 100 Matriarchs for the 2024 elections. That is roughly 1000 more Democratic votes. In Arizona’s ultra-close races, 1000 votes can (and in 2022, did) tip the balance.

Help us fund more Family Votes Matriarchs across Navajo, Hopi and Apache lands to grow the electorate that will keep Arizona blue! https://secure.actblue.com/donate/nativeorgkos Please consider becoming a recurring monthly donor.

Checks may also be mailed to: Navajo County Democrats PO Box 144, Lakeside, AZ 85929. Checks should be made out to Navajo County Democrats

Our team relies on individual donors like you to sustain our programs. Thank you so much!

Missa Foy

Chair, Navajo County Democrats

Program Director, Northeast Arizona Native Democrats

[email protected]

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/5/13/2168954/-Matriarchs-on-sovereign-lands-are-building-the-electorate-we-need-for-Democratic-wins-in-Arizona

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