HBCU Student Action Alliance

See what our outstanding Democracy Fellows accomplished this past year

Johnson C. Smith University and voting rights groups hosted a town hall event to hear directly from students about effective ways to boost participation at the ballot box.

Students from across North Carolina came to the state legislature in Raleigh for an HBCU Advocacy Day.

See highlights of the great work done this year by our HBCU Democracy Fellows

Students from NC A&T State University in Greensboro went to the polls to vote in North Carolina’s election.

Students from FSU went to vote early together in Fayetteville

Students from the two historically Black universities in Raleigh made their voices heard at the ballot box

Students from NC Central University made their voices heard at the ballot box

Students from Johnson C. Smith University made their voices heard at the ballot box

Students from NC A&T State University and Bennett College marched to the polls together in Greensboro to vote in North Carolina’s 2022 primary election.

Students from Shaw University in Raleigh marched to the polls to vote during North Carolina’s May primary election.

Murals were designed to depict the urgency and power of young people’s vote.

Common Cause NC Democracy Fellows helped students at ECSU get registered to vote and get ready for the 2022 election in North Carolina.

Ja’Nylah Johnson and Ashley King, two Bennett College students and Democracy Fellows with Common Cause NC, organized a Greensboro City Council candidates forum on their campus

Our Democracy Fellows helped students at Winston-Salem State University get ready for this year's election

This semester marks the 15th anniversary of our HBCU Student Action Alliance

Common Cause NC and the NC Black Alliance host student leaders from North Carolina’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Ashley King writes that the NC Supreme Court could send a strong message that the days of prosecutors striking Black jurors with impunity are over.

Learn about redistricting, how it impacts you and what you can do to fight for fair maps

Learn about the crucial work and accomplishments of our HBCU Democracy Fellows during the spring 2021 semester.

Marcus Ponder, a student at Winston-Salem State University, writes about the need to help those struggling with homelessness in Charlotte.

Jazmyne Abney, a student at NC Central University, writes about educational inequalities facing our state and nation.

Jameliah Pinder, a student at Shaw University, writes about the hurtful stereotypes, injustices and inequalities that black women face in our society.

Meet Jacob Richardson, a student at NC A&T State University and a Democracy Fellow with Common Cause North Carolina

Meet Jazmyne Abney, a student at NC Central University and a Democracy Fellow with Common Cause North Carolina

Meet Nijah Williams, a student at NC A&T State University and a Democracy Fellow with Common Cause North Carolina

Meet Marcus Ponder, a student at Winston-Salem State University and a Democracy Fellow with Common Cause North Carolina.

The HBCU Student Action Alliance with Common Cause NC hosts a discussion on pro-democracy work and issues relevant to college students.

Meet Ashley King, a student at Bennett College in Greensboro and a Democracy Fellow with Common Cause NC.

Meet Jameliah Pinder, a student at Shaw University in Raleigh and a Democracy Fellow with Common Cause NC.

As we celebrate Black History Month, we recall the rich legacy of brave student activists, past and present, at North Carolina’s HBCUs who have played a crucial part in the civil rights and Black Lives Matter movements.

The 2020 election year was a rich and challenging environment for our HBCU Democracy Fellows program.

Led by the school's marching band, the SAU community walked together to the polls on Election Day to make their voices heard at the ballot box.

Our Democracy Fellows have a message for North Carolina: vote!

Students at HBCU campuses across the state registered to vote and got nonpartisan information about the 2020 election.

Common Cause NC and Black Voters Matter helped students at Livingstone College get registered to vote.

Students at Livingstone College met to exchange ideas on how to boost civic engagement among young voters.

Students at Saint Augustine's University in Raleigh registered to vote ahead of the 2020 general election.

Jazmyne Abney, a student at NC Central University, writes about the power college students have to be heard in the 2020 census and election.

De’Quan Isom, a student at Shaw University, writes that "our democracy, today, stands under pressure but in that pressure diamonds can be made."

Love Caesar, a student at NC A&T State University, writes about implementing institutes of politics on HBCU campuses to build student civic engagement.

Our Democracy Fellows went on social media to encourage students to be counted in the 2020 U.S. census.

HBCU students in Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville and around the state cast a ballot in North Carolina's primary.

"I was a little emotional. We learn about people who died for our right to vote. I don’t want what they did to be in vain.”

Students at NC Central University walked together to an early voting site on their campus to cast a ballot in North Carolina’s primary election.

Livingstone College students were at the polls to help spread the word that photo ID was not required for the 2020 primary election.

Our Democracy Fellows helped organize a Party at the Polls to encourage students to make their voices heard in the primary election.

Ashley King, our Democracy Fellow at Bennett College, helped students get ready for the 2020 election by registering to vote.

HBCU students made their voices heard as North Carolinians rallied for our democracy

Kylah Guion, a student at NC A&T State University in Greensboro, writes on how colleges can make voting more accessible for students.

Ashley King, a student at Bennett College in Greensboro, writes on the need to achieve gender equality now.

Led by the school's Sound Machine Marching Band, students at NC Central University walked together to the polls to vote early in Durham's local election.

"I hope that this helps students recognize that we need to vote," said Mackeyla Davis, a student at SAU and a Democracy Fellow with Common Cause NC.

“I hope that this will build a lifestyle of voting, where students will be encouraged to vote not just in this election, but in every election to come,” said DeQuan Isom, a Democracy Fellow with Common Cause NC.

Democracy Fellows at NC Central University are working to engage their fellow students in the democratic process and making their voices heard as HBCU student leaders.

Organized by the Common Cause HBCU Student Action Alliance, the lobby day allowed students to meet in person with legislators to discuss funding for their schools and protecting voting rights of students.

Students at Bennett College in Greensboro have a message for North Carolinians: go vote!

Students from Fayetteville State University canvassed the community, sharing nonpartisan voter guides with residents and encouraging them to go vote.