History
The Ohio Industrial Areas Foundation has succeeded in building three permanent organizations – Faith Vote Columbus, Vote Dayton, and Reclaim Lorain – that build power for social justice, with non-partisan voter mobilization as a primary organizing strategy.
In 2008, the Ohio IAF organized the largest independent volunteer voter mobilization campaign in all of Ohio. We recruited, trained, and deployed 1,413 volunteers, canvassed approximately 120,000 homes, and spoke face-to-face with 30,556 voters in low-turnout neighborhoods.
Unlikely voters contacted by Ohio IAF volunteers were 80% more likely to vote than those not contacted. Somewhat likely voters contacted by Ohio IAF volunteers were 20% more likely to vote than those not contacted. These numbers, supplied by an independent analysis by the Information Services Group based on data entered into the Voter Activation Network database, speak to the effectiveness of our work and the urgency of expanding into other parts of Ohio and beyond.
In 2009, our organizations continued to engage clergy and volunteers by organizing on local issues:
- Reclaim Lorain has begun organizing parents to improve Lorain Public Schools, and has worked with the Mayor and delegation to U.S. Congress to build a local community center that can provide after school programs for kids.
- Vote Dayton has organized canvasses in blighted neighborhoods to educate residents at risk of foreclosure on foreclosure prevention programs.
- Faith Vote Columbus has convened anti-foreclosure workshops, organized for statewide health care reform, launched a petition drive in support of health care reform, and advocated for consumer financial protections.
