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Donate to support our work of empowering HBCU students

Our two campus coordinators, Michael Spencer and Vashti Hinton, work side-by-side with students recruited from North Carolina’s HBCUs to be Democracy Fellows. These students help develop organizing campaigns on their campus around issues of vital importance to their community and educational institution, as well as advocate for issues in the halls of state and federal government.

Michael Spencer
College Outreach Program Manager

Michael helps empower student-leaders at HBCUs in the Triangle and Fayetteville regions.

Vashti Hinton
College Outreach Coordinator

Vashti helps empower student-leaders at HBCUs in the Triad region.

Trey Gibson
Civic Engagement Organizer

Trey helps empower student-leaders at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte.

Jazmyne Abney
Democracy Fellow – NC Central University

"I am a Common Cause fellow because I want to influence policy through lobbying and activism. I enjoy being able to educate and engage my peers."

Love Caesar
Democracy Fellow – NC A&T State University
Kristian Carlyle
Democracy Fellow – Fayetteville State University

"I am a Common Cause fellow so that I can encourage civic education and student engagement on my campus because education is necessary for progress."

Martina Clay
Democracy Fellow – Winston-Salem State University

"Students on my campus are not always aware or informed about the elections, so I became a fellow to educate students and engage students in the political process."

Celeste Cornelius
Democracy Fellow – NC A&T State University

"Our campus is too big and too powerful for us not to make a large impact on policies and laws."

Kylah Guion
Democracy Fellow – NC A&T State University

"I want to dedicate intentional time to strengthening the political and civic engagement culture on campus."

DeQuan Isom
Democracy Fellow – Shaw University

"Being a Common Cause HBCU fellow provides me with the education and tools to effectively serve others and my community."

Ashley King
Democracy Fellow – Bennett College

"I want to do civic engagement work on my campus so that my sisters have the opportunity to do meaningful service in their communities."

Javon Moses
Democracy Fellow – St. Augustine’s University
Jaden Peay
Democracy Fellow – NC Central University

"I want to do civic engagement work to educate my community and empower them through the political system."

Marcus Ponder
Democracy Fellow – Winston-Salem State University
Mackeyla Davis Urbina
Democracy Fellow – St. Augustine’s University

"I am a Common Cause fellow because I want to get my peers active in voting whether it is a local election or presidential election. I want them to know every election is important."

Charles White
Democracy Fellow – Livingstone College
APPLY TO BE A COMMON CAUSE DEMOCRACY FELLOW

See some of the great work of our Common Cause Democracy Fellows:

St. Augustine’s University students march to the polls on Super Tuesday

"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.”

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NCCU students march to the polls in North Carolina's 2020 primary election

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.

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2020 HKonJ Moral March in Raleigh

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

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Column: The muted voice of millions

De’Quan Isom, a student at Shaw University in Raleigh, writes on how redistricting practices and city zoning impact the poor.

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Column: It’s time to make time for college students to vote

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

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Column: Gender Equality – When Will it Happen?

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

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NCCU students march to the polls for Durham's election

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.

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St. Augustine's students go vote in Raleigh 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.

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Shaw University students march to the polls for Raleigh’s election

“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.

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NC Central University students speak up for democracy

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.

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Students hold HBCU Lobby Day at the NC legislature

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.

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Bennett students on why voting matters to them

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

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FSU students educate Fayetteville residents about election

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

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