Getting out the immigrant vote: Or Tzedek’s Summer 2012 Reunion

By Hannah Lynch

The following in a blog post by Hannah Lynch, Or Tzedek Summer 2012 participant. Hannah is a sophomore at Chicagoland Jewish High School. During the 2012 summer reunion, Hannah showed herself to be a dedicated canvasser with a ferocious drive to register people to vote! 

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Or Tzedek members – Hannah, Shani and Joel – canvassing to register immigrant voters in Highwood, IL.

As a follow up to our Or Tzedek experience, the three 2012 summer session participants reunited in Highwood, IL to empower immigrant voices in this election. We spent the day canvassing. We divided into small groups and went from house to house, talking to people about registering to vote and getting involved in the upcoming elections.

Because Highwood has a large  immigrant population, it was a fitting place to begin spreading the word about the elections and get young people and adults involved in the process. Voting in elections gives citizens the chance to speak up and support what is important to them. However, in order to do this, they must be registered voters. While there are qualifications to register to vote, namely, being a citizen and eighteen years old by Election Day, everyone has the capability to get involved. Other Or Tzedek participants and I set out to do just that; to inform people on the ways they can be civically involved, whether or not they can vote.

Teens from Or Tzedek Work on Housing and Hunger in Rogers Park

By Leah Roth-Howe
Coordinator of Teen Programs, JCUA

Teen from Or Tzedek talking to Rogers Park resident about the RIF campaign

On Sunday, Nov. 7 teens from JCUA’s Or Tzedek program joined forces with Northside P.O.W.E.R. and A Just Harvest to examine issues of hunger and housing through advocacy, organizing and direct service.

After a workshop on community organizing and affordable housing, the teens canvassed the Rogers Park neighborhood and spoke with community members about their housing concerns.

They also door knocked to notify residents about the Rental Improvement Fund campaign to preserve and maintain affordable housing in Chicago’s 49^th Ward.

Teens from Or Tzedek canvass Rogers Park neighborhood

Following the canvassing efforts, Or Tzedek teens addressed the immediate issue of hunger and poverty in Rogers Park by serving hot meals to more than 150 people at the Community Kitchen.

Exploring issues of hunger and housing with Northside P.O.W.E.R. and A Just Harvest underscored the critical need to address the root causes of hunger and poverty while still engaging in direct service.

Learn more about Or Tzedek at ortzedek.org.

Or Tzedek teens serve food at A Just Harvest Community Kitchen