Black Voters Matter Bus Tour & Block Party In Durham Friday, June 14th
DURHAM, NC – St. Joseph AME Church, in collaboration with BLACK VOTERS MATTER, the Beta Theta Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and the Durham Committee for the Affairs of Black People will conduct the “ID Me Bus Tour,” and Block Party. This event will be held Friday, June 14, 2024, and will begin at Hillside High School to canvas neighborhoods in and around the Fayetteville Street corridor. Volunteers will gather at 2:00 p.m. and board the bus at Hillside at 3:00 p.m. with the following Precinct stops:
- Parkview Mini Mart, 433 E. Pilot St. 27707 canvas Precinct 42
- Shepard Middle School, 2401 Dakota St. 27707 canvas Precinct 42
- Saint Titus Episcopal Church, 400 Moline St.canvas Precincts 55-49 and 56
- Corner of Fayetteville St. and East Piedmont Avenue, canvas Precinct 10
- McDougald Terrace, canvas Precinct 10
The canvassing will conclude at McDougald Terrace at 5:00 p.m. The Block Party, with FREE food, swag, and a DJ, will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Burton Park (1501 Sima Ave.), which is adjacent to McDougald Terrace.
The goal of BLACK VOTERS MATTER is to increase power in marginalized, predominantly Black communities. They believe that effective voting allows a community to determine its own destiny.
BLACK VOTERS MATTER seeks to achieve its goals with the following 5 core beliefs in mind:
- The key to effective civic engagement and community power is understanding, respecting, and supporting local infrastructure.
- BLACK VOTERS MATTER not only on election day but on the 364 days between election days as well. This means we must support individuals and organizations that are striving to obtain social justice throughout the year.
- BLACK VOTERS MATTER *everywhere*, including rural counties and smaller cities/towns that are often ignored by candidates, elected officials, political parties, and the media.
- In order for Black voters to matter, authentic messaging must be utilized that speaks to our issues, connects with our hopes, and affirms our humanity.
- The leadership, talent, and commitment demonstrated by Black women, in particular, must receive recognition and, more importantly, *investment* in order to flourish and multiply.
“We are very concerned about this upcoming election and want to ensure that we do everything possible to provide voter education and to ensure that people know how and where to vote and that they have their voter ID,” states the husband and wife co-chairs of the St. Joseph AME Church’s Social Action Committee, Richard Smith and Jacque Beatty-Smith. The couple is “retired,” but are known in the Durham community for their tireless efforts to serve others, particularly in all matters related to social justice issues.