Students at Gateway Technical College will pick up chalk spray paint and stencils Tuesday to help build a participatory public art installation as part of National Voter Registration Day, the nation’s largest nonpartisan civic day of voter registration.

Gateway’s Kenosha campus, at 3520 30th Ave., is one of 15 community colleges nationwide taking part in Project HOPE, a public art project created by artist Corie Mattie — known as the LA Hope Dealer — in partnership with National Voter Registration Day and the Levi Strauss Foundation. Students will build an installation around five phrases: “Hope as a Verb,” “Love as a Verb,” “Joy as a Verb,” “Care as a Verb” and “Vote is a Verb,” adding their own mark to the artwork while registering to vote or verifying their registration.

What this means for Racine County residents

Gateway Technical College serves students across Racine, Kenosha and Walworth counties; Tuesday’s event and voter-registration help is open to any student, not just those at the Kenosha campus.
Community college students historically register and vote at lower rates than four-year university students — organizers say the event is meant to close that gap.

“Gateway has celebrated National Voter Registration Day for many years. We provide nonpartisan information to encourage students to use their voices,” said Sarah Marbes, Gateway’s impact program coordinator, according to the release.

Event details

What: Project HOPE public art and voter-registration event
When: Tuesday, Sept. 15, with the most active build time from noon to 2 p.m.; activity continues throughout the day
Where: Gateway Technical College, 3520 30th Ave., Kenosha

The project is supported by the Levi Strauss Foundation and Levi Strauss & Co. as part of the company’s Community College Commitment. More information is available at nationalvoterregistrationday.org/project-hope.

Links (primary): National Voter Registration Day, Project HOPE — nationalvoterregistrationday.org/project-hope. Racine County Eye has reached out to Gateway Technical College for comment on Racine County student participation and will update this story with any new information.

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