Skip to Main Content

Issue Areas

  • Education Clearing pathways to a meaningful education
  • Environment Building solutions at the intersection of climate innovation and environmental justice
  • Health Accelerating cancer research and empowering patients
  • Immigration Helping aspiring Americans and new immigrants succeed
  • Media & Journalism Provoking thought and strengthening democracy
  • Equity & Justice Elevating leaders and models at the forefront of change
  • Bloomhouse Co-creating a thriving East Palo Alto with the community
  • Chicago CRED Creating real economic destiny in Chicago
  • E Pluribus Unum Building a more just, equitable, and inclusive South
  • XQ: The Super School Project Rethinking America's high schools

About Emerson

  • About Us A letter from Laurene Powell Jobs
  • Our Team Meet the members of the Collective
  • Our Fellowships Amplifying extraordinary voices
  • Careers Join the Collective

Share this page

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin

Inside Out/Vote: Celebrating the Power of the Vote

Equity & Justice

Posted November 2018

The Inside Out Project, a global initiative from French artist JR, hit the road this summer to inspire, educate, and celebrate the power of the vote.

Sarah is from Yemen, where women aren’t often in decision-making roles. Growing up, she never saw herself as a voter. This year as a first-time voter in Houston, that has changed.

In Aurora, Colorado, a homeless voter said he had never been asked to register to vote. But this year, thanks to voter registration activists, he was prepared to cast his first ballot.

Momentum surrounding this year’s midterm elections resulted in record levels of voter registration. Motivated by the issues that are most important to them, people across the country—some for the first time—rallied around the chance to make their voices heard. In celebration of that spirit, this summer the Inside Out Project traveled to 20 cities to create community art projects, register voters, and celebrate the power of the vote. A project of JR’s global art initiative, Inside Out/Vote partnered with local organizations in each city to register nearly 1,000 voters, particularly young people and people of color in communities often skipped over by candidates and the media.

Harnessing Passion for Civic Participation

At each stop, we encountered advocates passionate about a range of issues that will impact the future of their communities and the country, from the environment and education to protections for women, minorities, and people with disabilities. And for many voters, immigration was top of mind. In Texas, voters discussed the harmful effects of policies like racial profiling associated with SB4 and with the need for better policies around resources to support immigrant families and those seeking asylum in the United States. In Miami, young voters spoke about their desires to represent their friends and family members whose immigration status prevents them from casting votes.

At each stop, people of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences showed up to take their portraits, share the ideas they're most passionate about, and celebrate the power of democracy with Inside/Out.

The Power of Mobilization

Inside Out/Vote relied on the energy and enthusiasm of local organizers and volunteers at every stop. From longtime activists to students on college campuses and even non-citizens unable to cast their own votes, these organizers demonstrated what it means to be civically engaged.

Volunteers and voter registration partners

Beyond registering new voters, Inside Out/Vote had a unique effect in communities across the country: it brought people together, gave joy to families, educated young people, fostered new collaborations, highlighted local issues, gave strength to undocumented families, and inspired everyone involved—whether participant or bystander. This is the type of ripple effect that will surely be felt beyond Election Day.

Connected Stories

  • Democracy’s Frontlines

    These poll workers are ready to pass the baton of civic duty and ignite action across new generations and communities.

    Equity & Justice
  • Scapegoating Undocumented Immigrants Threatens Our Democracy

    Justifying voter suppression by falsely claiming that undocumented immigrants commit voter fraud disenfranchises citizens of color; unconstitutional efforts to depress immigrants’ participation in the census undercounts entire communities.

    Immigration, and Equity & Justice
  • The “Illegal” “Essential” Workforce

    When the pandemic decimated the American economy, an indispensable undocumented workforce was left to risk contracting coronavirus on behalf of a country that remains fixated on deporting them.

    Immigration, and Equity & Justice

From Our Network

  • From Katrina to Ida, what has Louisiana learned?

    Mitch Landrieu, founder and president of E Pluribus Unum, former mayor of New Orleans, former lieutenant governor of Louisiana, shares his thoughts on lessons from past hurricanes.

    CNN

Stay Informed

Join our mailing list and follow us on social.

Email address is not valid. Email addresses should follow the format user@domain.com and must originate from a valid domain.

You may unsubscribe at any time. By submitting information, you accept our Privacy Policy.

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • linkedin

Copyright © 2023 Emerson Collective

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Unsolicited Submission Policy
  • Fraudulent Requests