Civic Engagement

The Civic Engagement Committee of the NYCHA Branch of the NAACP leads efforts to increase political participation among the over 500,000 residents of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), a population that has historically experienced low voter registration and turnout. Recognizing that civic education is essential to creating lasting change, the Committee developed Connecting the Dots: What Voting Means to You—a nonpartisan voter registration and education initiative tailored specifically to NYCHA communities.

This program combines interactive workshops with voter registration drives, empowering residents with knowledge about the electoral process, the role of elected officials, and the direct connection between voting and the quality-of-life issues that impact public housing residents, such as funding, safety, education, and infrastructure. The workshops are conducted across NYCHA developments, community centers, and virtual platforms, reaching multigenerational audiences and encouraging year-round civic involvement.

To institutionalize this work, the Committee authored and introduced a resolution calling for the creation of New York State Public Housing Voter Registration and Education Day, to be observed annually on May 1st. This proposed day of action seeks to formalize statewide efforts to reach public housing residents with critical voting information and support, advancing equity and representation for one of the city’s most underserved constituencies.