The Eight State Strategy

Our year-round grassroots organizing is more than just strategy – it’s how we build the beloved community and keep our networks strong, regardless of political cycles, in our eight focus states and beyond.

1K Women Strong sits at the intersection of politics and communal care. From rural towns to digital spaces, we are forging strategic coalitions, deepening year-round education and engagement campaigns, deploying rapid-response communications and growing civic engagement.

Our policy work focuses on critical issues such as reproductive freedom, economic justice, education, civic power, environmental justice and belonging – elevating Black women’s voices as powerful agents of civic leadership. Through voter education, trusted messengers and community partnerships, we build sustained power that extends far beyond any single election cycle.

Our electoral work reflects a core truth: the governments closest to us often have the greatest impact on our daily lives. In 2024 alone, we engaged over half a million Black women and helped convert 10% of them into first-time voters. This year, we’re on track to reach nearly 600,000 potential voters across eight key states. We maintain these connections throughout the year, regardless of political cycles.

Because we know that strong representation starts with strong communities, and our mission is clear: mobilize Black women, amplify our collective voice and deliver real impact on the issues that shape our lives.

Here’s a sample of what we’re working on across our eight focus states in 2025 and beyond:

Alabama

Rooted in Rural and Voter Engagement

As part of our Rooted in Rural outreach, we’re partnering with Alabama Forward to develop a voter-centered election guide that equips Tuskegee residents with the information they need to participate confidently in this year’s municipal elections. The guide includes key dates and candidate responses to survey questions focused on public safety, economic development, and community resources. Through digital outreach, trusted local partners, and candidate education, this guide ensures every voter is informed on Election Day.

Looking ahead to pivotal 2026 elections, including U.S. Senate and statewide races, we are laying the groundwork for continued engagement in communities critical to our success across Alabama. In 2024, our program engaged more than 13,000 voters through phone banking and canvassing efforts. Our teams also participated in a major GOTV rally in Alabama’s newly drawn majority-Black congressional district (CD2), where Shomari Figures was successfully elected. This work reflects our deep commitment to sustained voter engagement and long-term civic power building across the state.

Texas

Voter Education and Community Engagement

In Texas, we empower Black women to strengthen their political influence through voter education, candidate engagement, and advocacy for voter protection. With a focus on cities such as Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin, we equip voters with clear information on municipal races and evolving election laws, while collaborating with trusted community partners to foster sustained civic participation.

Georgia

Sustained Organizing and Ambassador Training

In Georgia, we are training Ambassadors to engage Black women voters through peer-to-peer outreach and ballot pledge programs that ensure voters make it to the polls. In 2024, our rural Georgia program directly engaged over 35,000 voters through a combination of phone banking and canvassing. Our teams worked across rural counties and Black Belt communities, collaborating with partners such as FairCount, Stacey Abrams, and local organizations like Sisters in Service. This sustained organizing is laying the groundwork for expanded civic power in upcoming state and federal contests.

Looking ahead, Georgia voters will participate in significant elections, including several municipal elections across the state in 2025 and the 2026 gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races. These high-stakes contests will shape the state's political landscape, and our ongoing efforts aim to ensure that Black women voters are informed, engaged, and empowered to make their voices heard.

Pennsylvania

Judicial Power and Grassroots Voter Education

In Pennsylvania, we are empowering Black women voters with the knowledge and tools they need to participate in critical judicial and local elections. From Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and communities in between, we are partnering with local organizations to host voter education events, providing clear and accessible information about upcoming elections. In 2024, our teams knocked on over 4,000 doors across hard-to-reach areas in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, while also participating in targeted Get Out the Vote (GOTV) rallies to drive turnout. In a state where courts often decide outcomes on deeply personal issues, our work ensures that Black women’s voices are heard and that they are prepared to vote in every election that impacts their lives.

Virginia

Organizing for the 2025 Gubernatorial Election

In Virginia, we are mobilizing Black women voters ahead of the critical 2025 gubernatorial election, focusing strategically on high-population city centers such as Fairfax, Richmond, and Hampton Roads, as well as rapidly growing suburban areas in Prince William and Loudoun Counties. Through trusted messengers, relational organizing, and year-round voter education, we provide Black women with the information and tools they need to participate in important elections. In addition to our urban and suburban efforts, we remain committed to reaching Black women in rural and small-town communities across Southwest Virginia, where sustained engagement is crucial for building long-term civic power statewide.

Michigan

Local Elections and Community Organizing

In Michigan, our work is rooted in local leadership and community care. With fellows based in Flint, Detroit and Lansing, we’re engaging Black women ahead of the 2025 municipal elections through voter education and grassroots civic engagement. From highlighting school board and city council races to providing voters with clear, accessible information, our efforts this year are focused on local priorities. Earlier this year, we commemorated Earth Day with a community sustainability event in Flint, linking the ongoing fight for clean water to civic participation and accountability. This work reflects our belief that local elections are not small; they are where change begins.

North Carolina

Building Coalitions and Driving Voter Participation

In 2025, North Carolina will hold municipal elections across Mecklenburg, Durham, Guilford, Cumberland, and Wake counties, as well as in rural communities and small towns throughout the state. We are training local Ambassadors to engage, educate, and mobilize Black women voters. Through trusted peer networks, we are building voter registration efforts and securing ballot pledges. In 2024, our teams knocked on more than 5,500 doors, conducting focused outreach at barbershops, Black-owned businesses, places of worship, and community hubs. Student-led teams from NC A&T also mobilized voters in Winston-Salem and Greensboro. This work strengthens civic participation today while building sustained momentum leading up to the 2026 midterm elections.

Florida

Expanding Reach Along the I-4 Corridor

Building on our 2022 efforts, which engaged over 179,000 registered voters across Florida’s I-4 corridor, we are exploring more ways to re-engage Black women voters in the upcoming election cycles. In 2025, we will explore opportunities to partner with local organizations on voter education and registration efforts surrounding key municipal elections, while reconnecting with voters we reached in previous cycles.