Voting Voices Campaign

Are You Registered to Vote? Registering to vote is the first step toward making your voice heard at the ballot box. In New York, you are required to register in advance of an election.

• First, check voting your status at nycvotersearch.com/.
• Already registered? Make sure your information is correct and make any necessary adjustments.
• Not registered? It’s a great time to register here!
• Then, create your voting plan! For more information on voting, check out WCC’s guide, How to Vote.

Hear what local New Yorkers care about this election below!

Sophia Perez is a Mexican-American graduate student working toward a master’s degree in public administration. Currently, she manages the Assistant to Migrants program, which is fully funded by federal resources dedicated to supporting immigration services. She lives in New Rochelle, Westchester.

Why are you voting this year?
This year, I’m voting to stand up for immigrant rights and advance policies that directly support the communities I work with every day. Supporting the democratic agenda aligns with my commitment to building stronger, more inclusive services for migrants, ensuring they have the resources and respect they deserve.

Joan Alexander-Bakiriddin is civically engaged across Brooklyn and NYC, serving as Secretary of her Block Association and Vice Chair of the Participatory Budgeting Project Board. A Training and Enablement Manager, she advocates for the disenfranchised through Participatory Budgeting (PBNYC).

What would you say to change the mind of someone who doesn’t plan to vote?
When someone is anti-vote, I remind them about the value of having the right person who understands and supports the needs of their constituents. It results in the programs that they need and deserve. For example, standing outside the YMCA, I remind folx that the program(s) that they enjoy would not exist without the funding and support of “X” elected official.

Celina Avalos Jaramillo serves as the Advocacy Campaign Strategist in the Elections and Government program, where she focuses on issues related to election security, election administration, and money in politics. Before joining the Brennan Center, Celina served as a policy consultant for the UC Berkeley School of Law Policy Advocacy Clinic on the impacts fees and fines have on adults in the criminal legal system in Oregon. She also served as the first voting rights trainer for the Prepared to Vote and Voting Rights Defender program at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

What changes do you want to see in your community?
Young people have faced the dire consequences of the pandemic, climate change, increasingly high cost of living, college debt, housing insecurity — and many more challenges — which have drastically impacted our livelihood. These are issues that I hope we can address head-on to continue building resilient communities.

Director of NYC IGA – Executive Chamber. Debbie Esther Louis has been recognized for her unwavering dedication to social change, advocacy, and education. Proudly of Haitian descent, she has made substantial contributions both as an educator and as an advocate for underrepresented communities. For the past nine years, Debbie has been a beacon of knowledge and inspiration in the Psychology Department at the City University of New York’s York College, where she imparts her wisdom in the fields of leadership and organizational behavior.

How do you feel about this year’s election and what’s on the ballot?
Nervous—this year’s election is pivotal, and the stakes are high. With so many issues on the ballot, including rights, safety, and livelihood, many people are feeling a deep sense of responsibility to show up and turn out. It sounds like you have a lot of confidence in the collective power of voters, which is great. Every election has the potential to shape the direction of the country, and civic engagement is key to ensuring that people’s voices are heard. Keeping that positive outlook.

Karen Wharton is the Democracy Coalition Coordinator for Citizen Action of New York, leading the organization’s democracy campaigns. As the Fair Elections Coalition facilitator, her leadership was instrumental in the successful advocacy for funding and implementation of New York’s Public Campaign Finance Program, which was used for the first time in the June 2024 primary elections.

What changes do you want to see in your community?
I want my community to be physically and emotionally safe. That means reducing physical and verbal attacks against the community, keeping the air and water clean and safe for consumption, housing people humanely and affordably, and improving the schools’ ability to educate the next generation properly. And everyone should earn a livable wage.

Jamila Fynes is a public servant who centers compassion and community in her work. She currently doing work to support startups. Additionally, she formerly served as President of a black women’s group in NYC, which she is a member of and formerly as the Regional Head of Government Affairs for a global food and beverage chain.

What would you say to change the mind of someone who doesn’t plan to vote?
I would say that for those who feel voting doesn’t matter, they should strongly consider that their voting influences outcomes around power in this country and this is a valuable privilege that is not available for all communities outside of our nation.

Dawn Celestine worked as a Billing Analyst at various publications and is now retired. She is a lifetime member of the National Council of Negro Women. Dawn has served as a poll worker since 2020. She is currently organizing a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, or NORC, at her co-op. Dawn was a member of Women Creating Change’s 2023 Workshop Design Team cohort, which created and facilitated civic leadership trainings for NYC women.

What’s your voting plan?
I plan to vote early on the first day of early voting.

Sharday Urtarte is a Dominican Communication Strategist from the South Bronx, dedicated to reshaping the landscape of social justice and community engagement. A graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Strategic Communications, she currently leads initiatives at Planned Parenthood Federation of America that champion Black and Latina maternal health, ensuring these vital issues are front and center in the fight for reproductive rights.

What changes do you want to see in your community?
I advocate for the enhancement of social services for individuals who have been formerly incarcerated, focusing on supporting women who wish to maintain their roles as mothers. Access to comprehensive reproductive health and mental health services is essential for mothers serving time, enabling them to address their unique needs. No woman or parent should be deprived of the opportunity to see their child, especially when they have committed no crime or inflicted harm. Our current system is structured in a way that often fractures families. I believe we must create a system that prioritizes family integrity and offers the necessary support to foster healthy familial relationships.

Tanya Cruz is a longtime community advocate. Originally from Spanish Harlem, Tanya has lived in Southeast Queens for a total of 41 years. She served for 22 years on Queens Community Board 13, including as1st Vice Chair (9 years), Transportation Committee Chair (6 years) and Seniors and Special Needs Committee Vice Chair (5 years).

Why are you voting this year?
Voting is the most important civic duty for me.

Jasmine Uribe is a dedicated advocate and social entrepreneur who founded Collab NYC, a business focused on empowering schools, nonprofits, and community organizations. As a proud Dominican hailing from the Bronx, she also holds the position of Director of Operations for The Bronx Collab.

What would you say to change the mind of someone who doesn’t plan to vote?
To change the mind of someone who doesn’t plan to vote, I would emphasize the importance of civic engagement and the impact of their vote. I would explain that each vote truly matters, especially in local elections where the results can hinge on a small number of ballots. I’d encourage them to think about the issues they care about, such as education, healthcare, and resources for youth, and how these issues are directly influenced by the elected officials we choose.

I would also highlight that not voting means allowing others to make decisions that affect our lives without our input. Participation in elections is an opportunity to support candidates who align with their values and advocate for change. Finally, I would stress the importance of setting an example for younger generations, showing them that civic engagement matters and can lead to real change in the community.

Jasmine Uribe is a dedicated advocate and social entrepreneur who founded Collab NYC, a business focused on empowering schools, nonprofits, and community organizations. As a proud Dominican hailing from the Bronx, she also holds the position of Director of Operations for The Bronx Collab.

How do you feel about this year’s election and what’s on the ballot?
This year’s election feels particularly significant because there’s so much at stake when it comes to advancing equity, justice, and inclusion in our communities. As a daughter of immigrants and a DEI practitioner, I see voting as a way to ensure the voices of underrepresented groups are heard. It’s about electing leaders who prioritize creating systems that work for everyone, addressing issues like access to affordable healthcare, reproductive rights, and economic opportunities and more.