Community Voting Zine celebrates individual experiences
From Washington Gorge Action Program:
By Tammy Kaufman
Bingen, Wash. Sept. 24, 2024 — Community members are invited to contribute to a Community Voting Zine, a unique project put together by Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) to capture the stories, reflections, and artwork of local individuals around the themes of voting, health equity, and civic engagement.
This zine (pronounced like “magazine”) will offer a platform for underrepresented voices, highlighting the role voting plays in shaping communities and futures. It is a small-circulation, self-published booklet that will collect personal stories, poetry, drawings, and other artistic and creative expressions that reflect on the importance of voting and its impact on social justice and equity.
The project will emphasize how voting is not just a civic duty but a powerful tool for improving community health and well-being. It is non-partisan and meant to encourage civic engagement in all elections, local, state, and national.
Submissions are open through Friday, October 4, 2024. The zine will be distributed both digitally and in print locally from October 15-18, aligning with local ballot mailings for the 2024 general election.
“We hope this project inspires community members to reflect on the importance of their vote and the role it plays in creating a healthier, more equitable society,” said Sasha Bentley, Director of Equity and Inclusion at WAGAP. “This zine is about amplifying diverse voices and making sure everyone feels empowered to participate in the democratic process.”
WAGAP is inviting local organizations, nonprofits, and community leaders to partner in this project by helping to spread the word and encourage submissions of individual expression.
Electronic submissions should be five inches by eight inches in JPEG or PNG format with at least 300 DPI, or a high-quality PDF. The zine will be in a vertical portrait layout. Horizontal, landscape format artwork submissions will also be accepted but appear smaller.
Files should be attached to an email addressed to zine@wagap.org with the subject line “Zine Submission – [Your Name].” In the body of the email, participants are asked to include their name, age (optional), contact information, and the title of their piece. A brief description (1-2 sentences) and its connection to voting is also welcome.
WAGAP is offering a $100 stipend for selected contributions that amplify diverse voices and underrepresented perspectives in this project. To be considered for a stipend or if a community member needs a stipend to participate, include this request in the submission email along with a mailing address. Regardless of stipend requests, WAGAP is committed to including a wide range of voices in the zine.
For more information or to get involved, visit https://www.wagap.org/zine for information in English. For Spanish, go to https://www.wagap.org/zine-el-voto. All submissions must be received by midnight on October 4, 2024.
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Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Community Action Agency that helps individuals, families, and communities. WAGAP addresses basic human needs, including food, shelter, energy assistance, and more, in Skamania and Klickitat Counties. For more than 50 years, WAGAP has helped people help themselves and reach self-sufficiency. Learn more at wagap.org, or contact WAGAP at (509) 493-2662 or info@wagap.org.
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