Voting Matters

A Newly Formed Voter Advocacy Group Is Formed To Help Community Get Engaged

By Tiffany Young

Many experts are saying that the next election cycle may be the most important in American history – because democracy itself will be on the ballot.

A group of county residents are gathering to help promote more awareness of the voting process and getting people engaged.

When the Prince George’s County Voter Information Advocacy Coalition (VIAC) was created in November 2021, the mission was simple: to create a safe space for the community to get information regarding voter registration and, in return, create a coalition of community leaders. These leaders would be able to identify pockets of issues and concerns within a community that has historically been under-respected and to address issues that have a detrimental effect on its residents.

The VIAC coalition is comprised of a group of Prince George’s County residents who are not only community leaders, but they are fathers, business owners, thought leaders, pastors. On April 28, the coalition is inviting the community to its first roundtable discussion.

Robert Johnson, who is the executive director of My Brother’s Keeper and the Prince George’s County Network, along with five founding partners have been working to nail down areas in which the coalition will not only be successful, but resourceful. The non-partisan group wants the community to be engaged in the process of voting and improve the county beyond utilizing the methods it once was. The founding partners have been selected as; James Alsobrooks, Ray Butler, Pastor James Robinson, Kelvin Daval and Dr. James Dula.

“We want to engage and inform the community on voter registration and issues and community concerns,” Johnson said.

How It Works

 The coalition will arrange discussion sessions for and around the community. The purpose of these monthly sessions will be to provide opportunities to information, engage, inform, and communicate with community members regarding voter registration, voting issues and community concerns.

“We will host a series of information sessions throughout Prince George’s County that will provide community members the opportunity to obtain information and engage in dialogue regarding issues that have both direct and indirect impact on their lives,” Johnson says. “As a result of taking part in the information sessions and panel discussions it is our expectation that Prince Georgians will increase their knowledge base in the following areas:

●       Functions of Government

●       Economic Development

●       Education

●       Community Engagement

●       Public Safety / Health Care

“These sessions will allow the community to obtain the information and then have a dialogue that indirectly or directly impacts their lives,” he said.

James Alsobrooks, a member of the coalition, says the importance of the group is for residents to be informed about polling locations, registration and more. A resident of the county for over 50 years, he wants to see the county thrive. He knows that the political and social structure is vitally important to reach those goals.

“I want to see this county reach its full potential,” Alsobrooks said. “I believe that the coalition will really be impactful in other areas such as schools and the crime rate in the county.”