By Christine Grantham, LWVBF member, Special Projects

In preparation for the LWVWA’s 2023 State Convention, I printed famous quotes as tabletop decorations.  This line by Abraham Lincoln stood out. “Nations do not die from invasion; they die from internal rottenness.”

My worst fear is that we may lose our democracy due to disinformation, lack of confidence in our electoral process and voter apathy. To encourage participation in what is still considered our most precious right as Americans, “The Vote,” I wanted to make a video directed at young people before the 2024 primary.

I wanted an effective “GET OUT THE VOTE” tool to encourage voters to turn out and vote.  We would produce two 30-second videos, one in English and one in Spanish.  

In the summer of 2022, I looked at short clips and videos mostly by professional entertainers promoting voting.  There were some that could possibly work, but there are always trademark and licensing restrictions. I would need just the right combination of actors for a play or video and/or background music. The whole project seemed overwhelming.

Then in the Fall of 2022 the LWVBF was asked to participate in the Pasco School District All Staff Welcome Back Expo. At the close of the event, I happened to hear some snappy music and spotted Pasco High School’s Dance Team—the dance team of my dreams! Their performance was impeccable, the choreography outstanding and each member unbelievably talented. They fit the bill right down to my wish for a multi-cultural group representing the America of the future. I found the coach and asked if they had ever done any performances like one to encourage voting.  The coach was all in and so was the team.  It was a GO!

The team selected the slogan “YOUR VOTE, YOUR VOICE, YOUR FUTURE” and had the slogan printed on their red, white, and blue tee-shirts. The Dance Team coach, Rebecca Schwan, has been with the Pasco School District for 24 years and is an outstanding choreographer.  She has coached semiprofessional dance and cheer teams and was inducted into the Washington State Hall of Fame for Dance and Cheer in 2015. Most importantly, she has a unique connection with her team. Together they create incredible routines. So now I could begin the project.  

The next piece of the puzzle was to find a videographer. Most of the professionals I interviewed were out of my price range, but I happened to find Tyler West who had just moved to the area. He understood the frustration of voter apathy and was eager to be part of the project.   

There was another bonus that came as a total surprise. At the suggestion of the dance coach, I talked to The Pasco School District Community Outreach Supervisor, Gracie-Valle Chimal.  Gracie was familiar with the League’s work and immediately offered to assist in any way.  She understood the importance and urgency of a community project to stimulate interest and turnout prior to the 2024 election.  Gracie has worked in radio and broadcasting, has public affairs experience, and also speaks fluent Spanish.

She and I hit it off immediately and I know my project would never have come to fruition without her professional guidance, suggestions, and advice. She critiqued our practices and proved to be a master of what to cut to keep us within our 30 second limit. Ultimately, she knew the importance of protecting the League’s name and the integrity of our project.  

The GOTV video was finally finished in June 2023. It was completed with the help of a $1,500 grant from the State League’s Education Fund, which paid the cost of the videographer. We had a lot of fun collaborating with the Pasco High School Dance Team for this video and look forward to promoting the video in the lead up in the 2023 Election!