Can you believe that election day is less than a month away?! Well, it’s almost here, meaning it’s time to make a voting plan, if you haven’t already done so.
I’ll be voting in style this election and proudly wearing my new embroidered ‘Defend Our Rights’ jacket from Civic SEWers. Not only is this denim jacket perfect for fall, but it also supports a good cause and benefits voter registration efforts. Whether you’re planning to use a mail-in ballot or vote in person, it’s a good idea to verify your voter registration and double-check your polling place. If you still need to register to vote, the deadlines are quickly approaching, so visit headcount.org to get started.
I first learned about Civic SEWers when I saw a friend sporting one of their jackets on Instagram. I went to their website to learn more about their work and how they’re supporting democracy by establishing a network of crafters, sewers, and makers to create accessible fashion to empower voters. In 2024, Julie Kay, from Northbrook, IL started this female-founded small business when she merged her sewing skills with her entrepreneurial spirit to create a company on a mission to spark conversations about civic engagement nationwide.
The ‘Defend Our Rights’ jacket makes a statement not only for this upcoming election but also when we think about what it means to be a citizen in a democracy and collectively use the power of our voices. There’s a lot at stake this election and every voice and vote matters. When I wear this jacket, I’m wearing it for all of the people before me who fought for women to have an equal voice and to be able to vote. And I’m wearing it for all the women in different parts of the world who don’t live in a country where their voices can be heard.
When my jacket arrived, the attention to detail was evident in every stitch. The jacket fits true to size (I’m wearing a size small in the light wash, and it also comes in a medium wash) and is made from high-quality denim. Check out this Instagram Reel to see it in action!
As a former family caregiver and a 2024 Caring Across Generations Care Fellow, I’m voting for care in this election because #CareCantWait, and nobody should be denied access to the care they need. During my decade as a caregiver, I watched as the United States faced a growing caregiver shortage. This is a situation that is only going to become more dire, as 10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 every day, according to AARP. When the last one reaches that milestone in 2029, who will care for them? But that’s only part of the problem. In the absence of professional caregivers, the demand falls on family caregivers, many of whom, like me, are untrained to address the needs of our aging loved ones and unsupported as we try to navigate work life and caregiver life in a country that values one, but not the other. AARP released findings that indicated millions of unpaid family caregivers provide 36 billion hours of care annually, valued at $600 billion. Yet family caregivers themselves are not compensated and often leave the workforce, as I did, jeopardizing their own financial futures (for more on my thoughts around the caregiving crisis and how we got here, read the piece I wrote for Next Avenue).
To me, this ‘Defend Our Rights’ jacket is more than a slogan. In a country such as the United States, it’s unconscionable that families are required to go into debt to afford childcare or go bankrupt trying to care for an aging loved one. So I’m voting for equitable access to healthcare and affordable long-term care for all in the 2024 election. Because in the end, everyone will either need care or become a caregiver. And who will be left to care then?
If you want to #VoteInSteil this November, get your jacket from Civic SEWers and use code Vanessa to get 15% off!
*Jacket c/o Civic SEWers
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