The My City Votes 2022 campaign, sponsored by Voters Ed Fund, empowered over a million voters in 6 cities with information about their voting options and positive messaging about the importance of their political power at the ballot box. In 2023, we began laying the groundwork to expand this successful voter outreach program to reach even more communities historically marginalized in our democracy.
Enter, Lyndon DeFoe, the new Deputy Campaign Manager for Voters Ed Fund!
Born, raised, and currently residing in Southfield, MI, Lyndon joined the Voters Not Politicians team in August of 2023, after working for a civic education nonprofit in nearby Wisconsin. When he learned of an open position at VNP, he knew it would be the perfect opportunity to come home to Michigan and still continue that important work.
The first time I heard of VNP was when I applied for this role. I was working out of state at the time and had not had the chance to see the amazing work VNP was doing, but I knew that I wanted to come back home and be closer with my friends and family. This role not only allowed me to do that but it was also an opportunity to continue on the momentum from my previous work in expanding voting rights and ballot access in Wisconsin and bring some of those strategies to Michigan with the hopes of increasing my home state’s voter participation.
As the Deputy Campaign Manager, Lyndon has taken the lead in preparing our My City Votes program for the upcoming 2024 election cycle.
My main focus is the 2024 My City Votes Project, a mobilization program within Voters Ed Fund designed to increase voter education and turnout in select communities across the state (currently operating in Flint, Pontiac, Benton Harbor, Grand Rapids, and Muskegon Heights). I am responsible for forming many of our strategic partnerships and developing various programs in these cities to promote higher voter turnout.
Since joining the Voters Not Politicians team, Lyndon has come to learn (and enjoy) how VNP is different from similar organizations, and different from what many people may expect.
I enjoy how dynamic and diverse our team is, everyone comes from different backgrounds and experiences. I appreciate that though everyone is working on different things, our work blends well together and is connected by the common thread of strengthening democracy.
And the work at VNP feels truly nonpartisan. The issues we focus on and the battles we fight are intended to benefit ALL Michigan voters, regardless of political beliefs or background. From the various community events we put on, to our legislative advocacy priorities, and the partner relationships we form, VNP leads by centering pro-democracy values, something everyone can get behind.
