PITTSBURGH —
The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh hosted a “Party at the Polls” event on Thursday night to rally voters ahead of the Pennsylvania voter registration deadline on Oct. 19.
The event was held at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Jennifer Thompkins, the president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, said the purpose of the party was to bring people together and encourage them to vote on Nov. 3.
“Voting is our right in this United States of America. And how are we, a civil rights organization at the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, not going to be in the fight to make sure that folks know what their rights are? And so, our God-given right here in the United States of America for everyone is to get to the polls and to vote and make your voices heard,” Thompkins told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 Reporter Jordan Cioppa.
Guests were able to register to vote on site and check their polling locations.
During the event, the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Foundation announced the winners of their Viva Grants.
The organization gave away $110,000 to Hispanic small businesses with the help of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and Duquesne University.
“When we were looking at our Viva Grants, we couldn’t just include the Hispanic community. We wanted to make sure that we were bringing all underestimated and underserved groups together,” said Melanie Marie Boyer, the foundation’s CEO. “And the same with voting, because when you help one group or multiple groups, you help everyone rise together.”
Polls will open at 7 a.m. on Nov. 3.