YALLA VOTE ‘08 Our Voice. Our Future.

The last ten days have been truly amazing and a great learning experience. One of the main things from the “Yalla Vote” campaign has been distributing the National Petition. This petition embodies everything that Arab Americans are looking to change.  Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, foreign policy that lies so close to our hearts, whether first generation or third… and closer to home, we are concerned about civil liberties, equality, honor. That is why I believe that no convincing is needed for a person to sign, the petition speaks for itself.

I am really passionate about this petition because I believe it is one of the few things that has united the Arab American community on one issue. Yes Arabs, can never agree to disagree but the issues in the petition have brought together the community. For me, going from the coffee shop to the Halal market place , I observed how just mentioning the petition sets up a debate of how Arabs need to be more active. Hence my job as a Yalla Vote intern is fulfilled by awakening the community and having them realize it. Yes not every one feels strongly about this but when you keep on hearing the same message over and over again, it tends to sink in.

• There have been several tactics , I have used in order to get signatures from people and now i will advise my fellow Yalla Vote interns. So read, implement and watch the numbers grow.
• First off, anytime we have guests at our house, I make sure to have clip boards sitting right on the table and leave it for them to pick it up and than question what it is. This way , It wont seem like I’m soliciting my own guests and this way, once one person signs it , it will be passed all to the other guests. This is one ways I successfully was able to get signatures and not annoy the guests while their busy eating. Another tip is , if for example your at your friends house thats hosting a party, make sure to talk to people before they start eating. Once they eat, you lose their attention and they go through food comas.
• The second tip is whenever I go to a gathering I bring my lap top and have people put in their information, this way some people will sign it on paper with the clip board and others who don’t trust to give you their information(cause they might think im selling their information to companies ), would just input their information themselves.
• In addition take advantage of picking up your house phone and talking to your parents friends. Im always like ” Taunt, before I give the phone to my mom , I would like to know if you will sign this petition and than i briefly explain it!). This way, the parents really can’t say no to such a worthy cause and you tap into a resource other wise wouldn’t be available.
• Finally ( TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR FAMILY !). I asked my dad and sister to be my volunteers for friday prayer . I had them go to our local mosque and pass the petition around. They were more than willing to help, since they were already going to the mosque anyways.

So here they are , the tips that i can give to my fellow interns. Until next week until i can come up with more. Salam to my fellow bloggers

Samar