Civic and Voter Education Initiative

Civic and Voter Education Initiative (CVEI) – This is a nationwide project by HIAS-LOREO program participants and the World Congress of Russian Jewry (WCRJ).

The goal of the project is to foster comprehensive involvement of members of the Russian speaking community in the civic life in the United States

In 2005, membership in CVEI grew to more than 60 Russian-speaking grass-roots and community–based organizations; more than 80,000 Russian–speaking Americans attended some 113 events. In addition, 169 voter registration drives were conducted, with more than 12,000 Russian–Americans becoming registered voters.

Other accomplishments include the development and nationwide distribution of 60,000 copies of the Handbook for the Russian American Voter – WE VOTE, a comprehensive guide to the voting process in the United States, while the CVEI website (www.wevote.us) was visited by nearly 63,000 people.

The achievements of the CVEI project to date include:

• More than 40 Russian-speaking grass-root and community–based organizations have become CVEI partners.
• 136 Civic and Voter Education events including: Public Forums,
  workshop-training, seminars, conferences, etc - were organized and
  conducted City wide. More than 200,000 Russian–speaking Americans have
  attended these events.
• 175 voter registration drives were conducted. During the drives over 13,000 Russian–Americans became registered voters.
• 36,000 Voter Registration Forms; 40,000 flyers and information packages about the Project were distributed.
• 292 articles, 97 TV and radio shows about the Project appeared in both English and Russian language media.
• 60,000 copies of the new updated publication of Handbook for the Russian American Voter – WE VOTE a comprehensive guide to voting process in the United States were developed, printed and distributed nationwide.
• 10, 000 copies of second edition of Road to Success a guide for community leaders and 1,000 copies of first manual for community leaders who wants to run for a public office: I’m Your Candidate, were developed, printed and distributed nationwide.
• CVEI web site www.wevote.us has been visited by almost 76,000 people since its opening in September, 2004.