We Make Minnesota Deliver Black Dreams

Statewide Newspaper, Radio Ad Buy Focuses on Push to “Deliver Black Dreams” by Encouraging African American Voting in Record Numbers

Dropping just before “National Early Voter” day, the ads connect the fight for Black lives this summer to the fight for Black dreams at the ballot box this fall

SAINT PAUL – Oct. 23, 2020 — A statewide push is under way to continue boost in turnout by African American voters across Minnesota with ads in newspapers across the state and on targeted radio stations. The ads are part of work by the Barbershops and Black Congregation Cooperative (BBCC) and highlight how Black Minnesotans are the most politically active and engaged group of Black people in the United States.

“BBCC has already had thousands of conversations with Black Minnesotans across the metro this election season. We are hearing lots of the same things, ‘we’re ready for real change and I’m ready to make it happen’,” said Brian Fullman, lead organizer of BBCC. “We’re excited to be able to have these conversations with people on the phones, face-to-face, through texts, and now, over radio waves and in their newspapers.”

The newspaper ads, which you can see HERE, are running this week and next in Rochester, St. Cloud, Minneapolis and St. Paul, with radio ads playing in the metro area. All the ads are part of a nation-wide push where a coalition of groups called the Black Popular Front are working to heighten the awareness of the power in the “Black vote” and the political engagement of Black people through their brand “Deliver Black Dreams.” 

“For too long, we’ve talked about how much power there is in voting, but we don’t show people the receipts,” said JaNaé Bates, co-lead of Black Popular Front national and communications director of Faith in Minnesota. “It is hard to conceptualize how important a single individual’s vote is, when millions of people are casting ballots. But when you can show how the sheer number of Black voters have been determining every election in Minnesota since 2012, we can start to have a real conversation about how we want to wield that power to get all we need for our families and community.”

The ad buy comes ahead of National Early Voter day, which is Saturday, October 24th, where groups are coming together under the We Make Minnesota banner to hold a GOTV virtual rally headlined by Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. The rally is at 10 a.m. Saturday, and it can be streamed on the We Make Minnesota Facebook page. 

For more information on Faith in Minnesota’s Barbershops and Black Congregation Cooperative, visit BBCCStrong.org. 

###

Barbershops and Black Congregation Cooperative
BBCC is a coalition of Black barbers, beauticians and owners as well as Black Christians and church goers in Minnesota who are building people power to advance a more just Minnesota for their communities. BBCC is an initiative of Faith in Minnesota. 

Faith in Minnesota to Launch Major End of Legislative Session Mobilization

Faith in Minnesota to Launch Major End of Legislative Session Mobilization

Volunteers will knock on 30,000 doors in 9 key Senate Districts, talking to 5,000 voters

ST. PAUL, Minn. – May 10, 2019 – As we approach the final days of legislative session, Minnesotans from across the state are frustrated with the lack of leadership from the Minnesota Senate on key issues such as affordable healthcare, childcare assistance, Paid Family and Medical Leave and 100% Clean Energy. Leaders with Faith in Minnesota have planned an unprecedented push to mobilize voters to contact their Senators in the last days of the 2019 session to give them notice that it’s time to #LeadOrLeave.

Most Minnesotans – black or white, rural or urban, left or right – want pretty similar things. They value their families and need policies that allow us to care for each other and thrive. Sadly, the senate has gotten in the way of families being able to do that. The obstruction and blocking of policies for regular families have been to the benefit of big corporations and big pharma, while to the detriment of families across the state.

“Minnesotans across the state agree with our bold vision for our families and our future. They are ready for champions that will go to bat for our issues and make clear the choice between serving the interests of a privileged few or the people of Minnesota,” said Patsy Foster-Bolton, a FiMN leader in Minnetonka.

“We believe it will take strong leadership from the Governor and House along with maximum pressure on the Senate to deliver on the agenda that Minnesota needs,” said Khalid Omar, leader with the Muslim Coalition of Faith in Minnesota.

We believe that the best way to get the Senate’s attention is to get out of the Capitol and into key Senate Districts to make clear to voters the choices being made by their senator and generate hundreds of phone calls and conversations within the district.

Faith In Minnesota’s #LeadOrLeave Mobilization Plan includes:

  • Training 350-400 volunteers to filling over 700 volunteer shifts to knock on doors in 9 Senate Districts across the state to show the public demand for our agenda: affordable healthcare, childcare assistance, Paid Family & Medical Leave, 100% Clean Energy, and restoring voting rights and driver’s licenses.
  • Knock on more than 30,000 doors and talk to more than 5,000 voters, generating calls on the spot to senators.
  • Highlight via social media using the hashtags #LeadOrLeave and #NoIsNotAPlan.
  • In addition, we will conduct Spanish-language community canvassing and Muslim-to-Muslim door knocking in select communities.

###

Faith in Minnesota

Faith in Minnesota is a political home for people of faith who are acting boldly and prophetically to create a new, people-centered politics in our state — one rooted in abundance, where everyone is in and no one is out. www.faithinmn.org