October 27, 2026
With November fast approaching and Election Day around the corner, our guests are preparing to exercise their right to vote.
“I used to vote years ago—I’m sixty years old—but I had a period where I stopped voting. I couldn’t vote because I was incarcerated,” shared one guest. “At Broad Street Love, I just kept getting the voter registration card in my mailbox, and I said, ‘Let me start voting again.’”
At Broad Street Love, our mailroom is home to over 4,000 active mailboxes, making 315 South Broad Street host to the most registered voters at any single address in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. With such a high concentration of registered voters at our address, we recognize our unique position to help our community advocate for their needs and exercise their rights. We are proud to host an active civic engagement program year round – not just during election season.
While the American Psychological Association formally defines civic engagement as “individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern,” at Broad Street Love, the results mean helping guests feel empowered to articulate their interests, advocate for themselves, take action, and seek autonomy.
Our staff and program partners regularly lead civic engagement focused activities. Over the past year, guests have participated in:
- Group discussions focused on community concerns and voter education
- Letter writing projects where guests penned their concerns, hopes, and dreams
- A voting machine demonstration in our multi-purpose room to practice for Election Day
- Art activities that encourage speaking up through artistic expression
- Regular informal one-on-one and group discussions about why their voice matters
In addition to our onsite programming, Chyna Parker, BSL’s Director of Community Engagement, spends several hours each week canvassing throughout the community. During these outreach efforts, she distributes non-partisan civic education materials, engages community members in conversations about civic participation, and works to build stronger bonds and rapport with our neighbors and guests.
“Our last election, we were very successful, with record-breaking numbers of people registering to vote,” Parker explains. “We went real full-throttle, making sure people knew about the candidates, what was going on, what was at stake with each candidate. Of course, we’re nonpartisan and we don’t discuss our personal political views. But if you ask questions about a candidate, we’ll tell you.”
One guest reflected, “Voting gives me an opportunity to voice my opinion, you know, my situation. I have a civic duty to vote. What’s happening around me, I have a say in it.” Another guest echoed the sentiment. “Voting is important in my community, for obvious reasons—we were denied it for so long.”
After Election Day in 2024, one guest described his voting experience as “peaceful.” He noted, “There was no violence. I didn’t feel it, I didn’t see it. Nothing like ill will.” He grinned, and then added, “Going out to vote is good. Don’t nobody play about that.”
Every day, our guests encounter situations and systems beyond their control. Having the opportunity to make their own choices is a restorative practice as essential to wellbeing as eating a fresh meal or receiving personal care items. As we look ahead to November and beyond, Broad Street Love remains dedicated to making sure our community is seen, heard, and fully equipped to shape the future they deserve.