Harris County Department of Education Hosts Community Resource Fair to Promote Civic Engagement and Voting Awareness
Houston residents and their families gathered at the Irvington Conference Center on Oct. 3 for the inaugural “My Family, My Future” community resource fair. Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) teamed up with local organizations before the upcoming election season to inform residents about voting and volunteer opportunities throughout the community.
Representatives from the Houston League of Women Voters (LWV), VoteRiders, Mi Familia en Acción and NALEO Educational Fund were among the more than 20 organizations that spoke with guests about voting 101 and candidates on the ballot, provided resources for maintaining a Texas identification card and shared insight into citizenship for immigrants. Many led workshops in English and Spanish to ensure guests understood the content and felt comfortable asking questions about topics that impact their future.
The Department’s civic engagement team spearheaded the event as part of its ongoing effort to strengthen partnerships and educate students and families about government and policy.
“People are hungry for this information, and our team is working to fill the gaps in public knowledge,” said Avery Spranger, HCDE’s civic engagement coordinator. “Unfortunately, people are not thinking about election day until election day. So, we wanted to host an event where people can get the resources they need and still have time to meet the Oct. 7 deadline to register to vote, if they aren’t already.”
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As early voting and election day nears, attendees were eager to learn more about the voting machines brought by the Harris County Clerk’s Office. The group provided a demonstration for residents that offered best practices for election day, rules about machine usage and battled misinformation about the safety and security of the votes.
Leaders strived to create a wholesome environment for families as they sought information. Volunteers watched young children and began laying a foundation of civic engagement resources through various activities, such as coloring pages and bracelet making.
“Democracy should be fun, so that’s what we’re trying to do with government and policy,” Spranger said. “Rather than trying to educate people in a classroom setting, we are trying to provide a space where they can get a civic education through engaging activities.”
Learn more about getting involved in your community at hcde-texas.org/civic-engagement.
Source: HCDE
