As Audre Lorde famously wrote, “When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard nor welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak.”
That spirit is at the heart of the second annual People’s Solutions Lab: 2026 Midterm Election Edition, a free community event designed to help Cleveland residents learn about the upcoming elections, connect with neighbors, and gain practical tools to strengthen civic participation in their communities.
The event will take place on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Care Alliance Health Center – Central Neighborhood Clinic. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.
The People’s Solutions Lab is an opportunity for residents to reclaim and build civic power by learning how elections, public policy and community organizing shape everyday life in Cleveland.
The event will feature discussions examining the connections between community well-being, civic health and the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.
Participants will explore what’s on the ballot, learn how to register or update their voter registration, request a vote-by-mail application and access resources to research candidates and issues.
Attendees will leave with practical activation tools, including voter education materials, outreach strategies, and community organizing resources that can help them engage neighbors, friends, and family members.
The event is also intended to spark ongoing action. Following the gathering, a limited number of participants will have the opportunity to apply for a paid community activation program that will support residents as they put what they have learned into practice.
The People’s Solutions Lab is supported by Cleveland VOTES and the Cleveland Freedom Dreams Coalition and is hosted in partnership with Care Alliance Health Center, Cleveland Documenters, Kings & Queens of Art, the NAACP Cleveland Branch, and Neighborhood Connections.
The event is free, but registration is encouraged as space is limited.
Register online: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-peoples-solutions-lab-2026-midterm-election-edition-tickets-1989094716843?aff=oddtdtcreator
Questions can be directed to peoplessolutionslab@clevotes.com.
