Blog Reaches Out to Immigrant Voters and Activists

A new blog, HaitianVoices.com, has joined a growing number of blogs and websites focusing on politics, grassroots advocacy and current events.

(PRWEB) July 6, 2004 -- A new blog, HaitianVoices.com, has joined a growing number of blogs and websites focusing on politics, grassroots advocacy and current events.

Blogs have been on the rise since former Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean used his blog to build support and raise millions of dollars for his campaign. Often used as online journals, opinion columns and discussion forums, blogs are being used by many individuals and organizations for reporting and commenting on politics and policy issues, grassroots advocacy and community organizing.

A first-of-its kind collection of links, news and commentaries on Haitian American civic and political involvement, HaitianVoices.com features online voter registration, opinion polls and an action center where readers can respond to advocacy alerts posted by nonprofit organizations.

Judy Lubin, a Haitian American who has developed online advocacy and community outreach strategies for several national nonprofit organizations, first conceived the idea for HaitianVoices.com after the recent ousting of Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide.

Everyone I spoke to had strong opinions about what was happening in Haiti. I wanted to create a forum where Haitian Americans could both voice their opinions on issues affecting the community, and find the resources to take action on these issues," she said. There are many Haitians and Haitian Americans online discussing everything from music to politics. HaitianVoices.com is reaching out to them, as well as nonprofit organizations and advocates who share HaitianVoices.coms mission of organizing and empowering Haitian Americans to be engaged citizens and effective advocates," she added.

With the backdrop of the 2000 presidential election - one marred with controversy and numerous reports of voting irregularities and disenfranchisement of minority voters including Haitian Americans – a major focus of HaitianVoices.com is voter education. The blog includes news briefs and links to resources on voting rights, electronic voting machines and other 2004 election concerns.

Content development plans for the site include articles from guest columnists, an advocacy toolkit and Creole translation of some of the sites content.

For more information visit: http://www.haitianvoices.com. Visitors can add the HaitianVoices.com blog feed to their own website or subscribe to the HaitianVoices.com email list to receive periodic updates via email.

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