Volunteer
Ready to roll up your sleeves? Sign up below to volunteer! I'm looking for volunteers from all walks of life interested in community outreach to encourage voter registration and election participation. LAKEWOOD VOTE 2025 is what I am calling my passion project to provide resources and assistance to all members of our community to increase voter registration and election participation. There are opportunities for everyone with no minimal time commitment. If you're not comfortable engaging directly with individuals, there are lots of other opportunities to help out. If you're interested in volunteering in any way, please reach out!
According to the Lakewood City website, "Lakewood is home to nearly 64,200 residents (2023 estimate) and has one of the most culturally diverse populations in Washington. Lakewood is proud to be one of the few cities in the state with a majority, minority population. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, 54% of Lakewood residents identify as Black, Indigenous or people of color."
Yes, that's right! The MINORITY IS THE MAJORITY! While the City website provides options for many languages, the links are often broken and not properly maintained. It's not enough for the City to recognize that minorities are the majority in this town. People need better access to information in different languages. See the Voter Information link at the bottom of the page to access voter registration forms in over 20 different languages! After English, the two most common languages spoken in Lakewood are Korean and Spanish!
In order to find volunteers to reach out to their unique communities, I'm organizing a few different LAKEWOOD VOTE 2025 campaigns. My K-TOWN VOTE 2025 campaign recognizes the booming International District as a bustling part of our economy and a unique gift to the Lakewood community. While K-Town is most known for an abundance of Asian and Hispanic businesses, it is also a multicultural hub that is a significant part of our local economy here in Lakewood. People from all over specifically come to K-Town for the unique businesses, shops, and markets. K-Town gets its nickname from the large Korean community and many Korean businesses in the area. I lived in Korea from 2000-2002, and I have a special place in my heart for Korean language, food, and culture. See the "Meet Jennifer" page to learn more about me. If you are interested in volunteering for voter outreach specifically related to the K-Town area let me know!
Seniors are invaluable members of our community and hold the stories and memories of our history. Some seniors may have barriers to voting and need help from friends, family, and community to participate in elections and have their voices heard. I'm looking for volunteers to reach out to the senior community in Lakewood as part of my SENIOR VOTE 2025. If you enjoy engaging with elders in our community, let me know!
Are you part of the disability community? Do you work with disabled individuals or have disabled friends or family members? LAKEWOOD VOTE 2025 is about encouraging all members of our community who are eligible to vote to participate in the election of our local leaders. Many eligible residents are not registered to vote and need help with access to resources. People with intellectual, developmental, or mental disabilities have the right to vote in Washington State as long as they meet the standard eligibility requirements and are not disqualified from voting by a court order. Having a guardian does not disqualify someone from voting. Only a Superior Court order can declare a person ineligible due to mental incompetency. Power of attorney does not give someone else the right to vote on another's behalf.
As part of outreach to the disability community, I am also organizing volunteers for my AUTISM VOTE 2025 outreach. Individuals on the autism spectrum who are eligible to vote may not have the resources or assistance they need to have their voices heard. Help your community have a say in local government. Individuals with autism, friends, family, support systems, and advocates are encouraged to volunteer to help provide voter resources to members in the community.
Eligible voters with disabilities may need assistance with voting. Voters with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations or assistance to vote, including designating someone to help them mark their ballot. Resources are available to help voters with cognitive or physical disabilities vote privately and independently. If you are interested in voter outreach to the disability community, let me know!
Not everyone in our community is eligible to vote. Many residents are not US citizens, or they may be military families registered to vote out of state. They might be homeless and have no address to register to vote. They might have lost the right to vote due to a criminal or civil court order. They might not yet be old enough to vote. Even if they are not eligible to vote, they are still part of our community, and we need to vote to be voices for all those who cannot speak themselves.
Let your vote speak for your community and loved ones.
Volunteer and VOTE!