EmpowerBX: Building Civic Power in the Bronx

Do you have specific Neighborhood(s) in mind?

Yes, the idea will focus on neighborhoods in the Bronx with high rates of voter disengagement, misinformation, and underrepresentation. Specific neighborhoods include Highbridge, Morris Heights, and University Heights.

Which group(s) does your idea focus on? Select as many as apply.

Youth

Older Adults

Public Housing Residents

Limited English Speakers

Immigrants/ Migrants

Low Income People

Black, Indigenous and/or People of Color

Describe the challenge you want to address:

Many residents in the Bronx face barriers to civic participation, including a lack of accessible and culturally relevant civic education, widespread misinformation about policies and elections, low voter turnout in local and state elections, and limited understanding of how to advocate for community needs with elected officials. These challenges create a cycle of disengagement and misrepresentation in decision-making processes, further marginalizing these communities.

What is the solution to the challenge?

The Bronx Civic Empowerment Program addresses these challenges by hosting community workshops to educate residents on how government works, understanding ballot proposals, and contacting representatives. It will launch a Civic Awareness Campaign to combat misinformation and encourage informed voting, establish a Youth Civic Leadership Program to engage young people as advocates and leaders, organize Monthly Community Policy Fairs to provide accessible information on pressing issues, and create a Digital Toolkit with multilingual resources to reach diverse communities. These solutions are designed to empower residents to participate actively in civic life, leading to more informed and engaged communities.

Please provide your Zip Code

10452