The NYC Votes Street Team convenes every summer to register people to vote across the five boroughs. 2016 marked the fifth year of the program.
In just 8 weeks this summer, the five members of the 2016 Street Team registered 1,039 New Yorkers to vote. They attended 32 events with nearly a dozen partner organizations, including:  
 
  • Department of Youth and Community Development
  • Dominicanos USA
  • Bronx Defenders
  • Catholic Charities
  • NYC Veteran’s Alliance
  • Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of Ameirca
With General Election Day on the horizon, when New Yorkers will elect new state and federal representatives, including the next President of the United States, the Street Team’s mission is more important than ever before. 
Let’s meet the members of the Street Team and learn why voting is important to them.

Sharon Bardales

Age: 19

Hometown: Bronx, New York

School: Borough of Manhattan Community College; studies political science and economics

On the importance of voting: “We need to restore our democracy and give power to the people. Voting is a human right and it allows us to collectively come together and voice our opinion about the issues that impact us on an everyday basis. Without high voter turnout, our nation can’t ever improve or prosper.”

Favorite Street Team moment: “My favorite moment in the field this summer was working and talking with the youth. It is my goal to touch the lives of young people because they are the future. I want to plant the seeds of tomorrow through education and that is something I’ll always stand by.”

Yint Hmu

Age: 20

Hometown: Yangon, Myanmar

School: Fordham University; studies political science and classical civilizations 

On the importance of voting: “I personally do not have the right to vote in this country and to see people not exercise the right that so many before them fought to have is sad. I grew up in Myanmar under a military regime where no one had the right to vote. So, this issue is very near and dear to me and to see people squander a right that people throughout the world cherish is unfortunate.”

Favorite Street Team moment: “My favorite moment is doing voter registration drives at naturalization ceremonies. You always get a crowd a newly minted and enthusiastic citizens eager to exercise their newly earned rights to vote. You don’t even have to ask these people to register to vote, they’ll walk up to you and ask if they could register to vote.”

Katherina Opazo

Age: 24

Hometown: Elmhurst, New York

School: College of Staten Island; studies communication media studies

On the importance of voting: “It was a right that was fought for and a right to make change in my community.”

Favorite Street Team moment: “My favorite moment from the field this summer is the event at the naturalization [ceremony] because the eagerness of newly made citizens of the United States made my job that more special.”

John Segre-Lawrence 

Age: 16

Hometown: Long Island City, New York

School: Winston Preparatory High School

On the importance of voting: “Everyone always wants change but most do not take that step to make change. I can't vote so those who can [but] don't use their right make me upset.”

Favorite Street Team moment: “My favorite moment was the Bronx Defenders where I really just got to chill out, have fun, dance yet still teach people about out voting.”

Kenneth Shelton Jr.

Age: 20

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia and Jamaica, Queens

School: St. John’s University; studies politics and government.

On the importance of voting: “The people we elect to our government affect us every day. Too often, we get wrapped up in national elections forgetting that local elections are the most impactful. We as a community have a duty, locally, to create the representatives who actually embody everything the community cares about. 

Finally, and most importantly, voting gives us an opportunity to advance the issues we care about the most. It is our voice on the political spectrum and that voice is not something that should be taken for granted.”

Favorite Street Team moment: “When you spend a summer working and collaborating with amazing individuals, it’s hard to specifically name just one moment or singular event. But if forced to choose, my favorite moment would be all of the times I’ve spent working and traveling with my coworkers. Actually, coworkers isn’t even the correct term anymore, they’re definitely friends if not family.  Another favorite moment is the point when I realized that this is more than a job, more than a paycheck, and more than something that goes on my resume. It’s an opportunity to leave an impact.”

**If you’re interested in volunteering to do voter engagement work year round, or you’d like to find out more about applying to the Street Team in 2017, contact Sean O’Leary: soleary@nyccfb.info.