SOLVE Community Awards Grants to Southern Organizations

DURHAM, NC (September 18, 2023) — The Southern Leadership for Voter Engagement Network (SOLVE), which is part of Southern Coalition for Social Justice, granted $300,000 to 36 organizations throughout the South working on civic engagement projects.  

SOLVE is a regional network led by Southerners. Forged from a storied history of collaboration, the coalition shares best practices in advocacy, organizing, and communications to reduce barriers to voting in the American South. Regranting is a signature program of the SOLVE Network, providing an opportunity for grassroots and grass tops organizations in the South to receive funding to perform civic engagement work. 

This is SOLVE’s third regranting cycle, and the program continues to grow each year. Thirty-six organizations received $5,000 or $10,000 grants this year — their projects ranged from voter education seminars to the creation of educational materials for voters about what’s on the ballot in various states/localities or educating voters about particular issues such as felony disenfranchisement.  

“SOLVE has tremendous faith in the 2023 Southern Spark Grant grantees and the projects they’ve committed to working on over the next year as communities across the South prepare for elections this year and next,” said Mitchell Brown, SOLVE Network Coordinator and Senior Counsel for Voting Rights at SCSJ. “Many of the voting rights success stories across the South have been the result of small but mighty organizations working tirelessly and fearlessly to make sure all voices are heard, despite efforts from politicians in many places to suppress the vote, particularly among communities of color.”  

In 2021, SOLVE engaged in the “Adopt-A-Jurisdiction” grantmaking process, and in 2022, SOLVE engaged in the “Southern Movement Grant” grantmaking process. Previous grants have proven to be vital to grantees and the communities they serve. Grantees have engaged in robust advocacy for fairness and equity in voting rights, generally protecting the right to vote for thousands of people. Grantee organizations have also been instrumental in encouraging voter turnout and educating voters about electoral issues that are present in their communities. 

“Receiving the SPARK grant from SOLVE allows us to continue a much-needed work here in Louisiana,” said Dara J. Walters, with Miss Lou Progress. “While we primarily serve in rural areas, our grant’s project focuses on redistricting. Redistricting is impacting our state on every scale of government after the Supreme Court’s decision to create another congressional district that reflects the level of representation and equality that is deserved here. We know that our project will be successful because of SOLVE’s financial support and consistent training to ensure that we amplify our voices in an organizing and grass roots approach.”  

2023 Grant Recipients are: 

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Southern Leadership for Voter Engagement (SOLVE) is a regional network led by Southerners. Forged from a storied history of collaboration, the coalition shares best practices in advocacy, organizing, and communications to reduce barriers to voting in the American South. To learn more, please follow us on Facebook and Instagram.