VOTE! For
John Lewis
Civic Engagement Campaign | 2020
A campaign to help spread John Lewis' message across Georgia to increase early voter turnout and restore the "Soul of Our Nation."
Theory
The message and the messenger are equally important. By avoiding any mention of candidates or issues — which raise "political flags" and cause audiences to reject the message — we focused entirely on empowerment and information.
Embed early voting dates into a powerful, emotional call to action. Powerful targeted messages presented in public can possess significant meaning and have a dynamic impact — they invoke emotion, spark action and encourage leadership. If hundreds of thousands of people see "your vote is the most powerful non-violent tool we have" every day alongside the dates to vote early, we've turned inspiration into action.
INSPIRE
Voting is important and you have power
INFORM
Most important info = VOTING DATES
Philosophy
- Let data lead you
- The goal is VOTING — don't lose sight of that
- People vote for sense of belonging and community
Key Message
- Your vote IS powerful
- Be a part of history
- This moment is bigger than you
- All of your friends and family are voting
- The world is counting on you
Impact
We distributed 2,761 billboards, banners, posters, and yard signs in 7 crucial counties across Georgia. Every sign included the early voting dates (Oct 12-30), and we hope our signs have helped inspire & educate Georgia voters.
| County | Posters | Yard Signs | Banners | Billboards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton | 755 | 270 | 195 | 20 |
| DeKalb | 495 | 230 | 125 | 1 |
| Gwinnett | 190 | 25 | 10 | 0 |
| Cobb | 115 | 50 | 30 | 0 |
| Clayton | 95 | 30 | 25 | 0 |
| Henry | 50 | 15 | 5 | 0 |
| Douglas | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 1,710 | 640 | 400 | 21 |
Target Counties
- Over 2.6M registered voters
- 40% of registered voters in Georgia
- Over 1M registered black voters
- Over 450K registered black voters that didn't vote in 2018
What Happened?
Joe Biden declared the winner of Georgia. He will be the first Democratic President to win GA since Clinton in '92.
The state saw historic voter turnout and each county we targeted showed up in larger numbers than 2016... but the difference-maker was the resounding voice of Black voters who rejected hate, division, and lies.
Origin
On July 17, 2020 we lost an American hero and living legend. For the first time since 1986, Georgians didn't have the opportunity to vote for John Lewis... That's why in 2020 we were compelled to vote in honor of John Lewis, and the campaign "VOTE! for John Lewis" was born.
John Lewis
He dedicated his life to the never ending fight for social justice. He served in the United States House of Representatives for Georgia's 5th congressional district from 1987 until his passing. He was the personification of "walking the walk."
This campaign was a tribute to John Lewis' legacy and a continuation of his life's work.
"I have been beaten, my skull fractured and arrested more than forty times so that each and every person has the right to register and vote. Do your part. Get out there and vote like you've never voted before." — John Lewis
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Work
In partnership with Christine Adams & David Young.
Night of Good Trouble
A powerful celebration of art, activism, and community. The evening featured a moving drive-in screening of John Lewis: Good Trouble, a reenactment of John Lewis' speech from the March on Washington, and a poster art show honoring the Freedom Riders curated by Fabian Williams featuring 10 local artists. The event honored the legacy of Congressman John Lewis while bringing people together for a night of reflection, inspiration, and unity.
Senate Run Off
Since there was a run-off, we ran it back, and replaced hundreds of banners with new quotes from John Lewis that include the early voting dates for the Georgia Senate run-off.
We focused on the 7 key counties around Atlanta, including: Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Henry, Douglas, Gwinnett and Cobb, which represent over 40% of GA voters. High turnout in these counties was essential to the success of any campaign in a statewide election. Early voting is essential to voter turnout, yet most people still do not know early voting dates.
Impact
The 2020 Georgia Senate runoff was a historic moment, placing Georgia at the center of national attention as control of the U.S. Senate hung in the balance. Record turnout — driven by grassroots organizing and cultural mobilization — led to the election of Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, marking a generational and demographic shift. Their victories sparked civic pride and solidified Georgia's role as a rising force in political and cultural change.
