Community Outreach Spotlight: Connecting at White Earth

 

Throughout the summer, White Earth Behavioral Health hosts community picnics across the White Earth Reservation—a wonderful tradition we love being part of! After tabling at the Pine Point Picnic for the past few years, our League of Women Voters team decided to expand our reach this summer and attend as many picnics as possible.

We kicked off our summer tour on June 18 in Waubun, connecting with voters of all ages. We handed out "I Will Vote" stickers to inspire the little ones to vote when they turn 18, and we chatted with teens about Minnesota's automatic voter registration when they get their driver’s licenses. Alongside answering community questions, we distributed helpful guides on registering to vote, checking registration status, absentee voting, Vote411.org, restoring voting rights, and pocket Constitutions. 

 

Mahnomen picnic July 1st. 

On a warm July 10th afternoon, League members Monica and Deanna headed to White Earth for the Elder Community Picnic—and what an energetic afternoon it was!

Around 150 people stopped by our table to ask questions, with most focus centered on the upcoming primary election. While many visitors lived locally on the reservation and in neighboring towns, we also connected with tribal members visiting from the Twin Cities. It was wonderful hearing city residents share, "We know your League people back home—they’ve been a huge help with voting information!"

Nearly everyone we spoke with (an estimated 95–98%) was already registered, and many had either received or already submitted their mail-in ballots. The overall enthusiasm for participating in this election was truly inspiring.

The Real Impact of Community Outreach

What our volunteers love most is seeing the ripple effect of these conversations over time:

• Empowering New Voters: Two attendees stopped back by to share that they used our simple QR codes to help their 18-year-olds easily register to vote at home!

• Restoring the Right to Vote: We continue to meet neighbors who are just learning about Minnesota's updated voting laws. One woman shared that she hadn't cast a ballot in 25 years due to a past felony conviction—she was overjoyed to learn that because she isn't currently incarcerated, her right to vote is fully restored and she can participate this year.

A huge thank you to Monica, Deanna, and the rest of the team for braving the summer heat to educate, inspire, and empower our community!

Pat and Monica at White Earth picnic. 7/22