Maria Delgadillo Mena
Rebecca Razavi Ed.D.
MGMT 140
October 24, 2024
Letter Writing Campaign
The 2024 presidential elections are less than a month away, and there are many decisions on the line: for example, women’s reproductive rights, immigration, climate change reform, and others. The Southern Management Leadership Program (SMLP) recognizes the importance of voting as a form of making our voices heard and encouraging others to make their voices heard, too. In order to encourage possible voters, Dr. Rebeca Razavi provided a workshop on October 18, 2024, for SMLP students to write letters inspiring fellow Americans to vote. Recognizing the significance of swing states, we decided to write letters to Americans living in Michigan, a state with a substantial number of first-time voters in 2024. Additionally, many SMLP students are first-time voters, which makes this connection more personal.
We partnered with Vote Forward, a non-profit organization that motivates individuals to write letters to voters in other states. The initiative is particularly meaningful given the lack of representation from younger generations and first-time voters. In the article “Youth Voter Registration Rates Are Lagging Compared to 2020: See Map” by Sara Chernikoff for USA Today, it is revealed that over 8 million young Americans are eligible to vote in the upcoming election; however, there has been a decline in voter registration among this group. This is when it comes to the importance of uplifting others and encouraging them to have a voice in the upcoming election.
This experience was particularly meaningful and personal because I wrote letters to total strangers that expressed my beliefs. It felt like I was speaking to a classmate, encouraging them to make their voices heard and highlighting the power of sharing our opinions. Even though I don’t know the people who will receive these letters, I hope they feel inspired to express their views and motivate others in their communities to vote.
Photo by Maria Delgadillo Mena.
Works Cited
Delgadillo Mena. Maria. Untitled. 18 Oct. 2024.
Chernikoff, Sara. “Youth Voter Registration Rates Are Lagging Compared with 2020: See Map.” USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024, www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2024/10/17/youth-voter-registration-by-state/75595009007/.
