Stories of Local Activism #6
Souls to the Polls Wisconsin
Turning Faith and Community into Civic Power
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Founded in Milwaukee in 2013, Souls to the Polls Wisconsin (STTP WI) is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization that mobilizes faith communities and grassroots partners to strengthen civic participation, particularly in historically underrepresented communities.
Rooted in the belief that voting is both a civic right and a moral responsibility, STTP WI works through trusted institutions such as churches, community organizations, and neighborhood networks to connect everyday concerns to democratic participation. By meeting people where they are and grounding civic engagement in lived experience, the organization helps translate civic knowledge into sustained collective action.
Mission
The core mission of STTP is to collaborate with faith leaders and their congregations to explain how voting impacts social policy in their local neighborhoods through the people they vote into public positions.
Grounded in faith traditions and community trust, STTP WI promotes year-round civic engagement that goes beyond turnout alone, empowering individuals to see voting as a tool for accountability, representation, and community voice. Souls to the Polls Wisconsin’s initiatives focus to educate, register, and activate voters by strengthening the connection between civic participation and the issues that shape community well-being.
Watch Their Story
STTP WI in Action
Founder Rev. Greg Lewis
Courtesy: STTP WI @Instagram
What They Do
Souls to the Polls Wisconsin’s work is organized around three core areas of action.
1. Faith-Based Voter Education and Outreach
STTP WI partners with hundreds of congregations across Milwaukee and surrounding communities to share accurate, accessible information about voting processes, key election dates, and voter rights.
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Faith leaders and trained ambassadors integrate civic education into church services, meetings, and community gatherings.
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Outreach emphasizes clarity, trust, and non-partisanship—helping voters navigate complex rules with confidence.
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“Souls to the Polls” events leverage collective participation to reduce barriers and normalize civic engagement.
2. Mobilization and Get-Out-the-Vote
STTP WI conducts large-scale, people-centered community mobilization efforts during local, state, and national elections.
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Door-to-door canvassing and neighborhood outreach
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Voter registration drives and early-vote education
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Transportation assistance to polling locations
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Distribution of culturally relevant educational materials
3. Leadership Development and
Civic Capacity Building
Beyond election cycles, STTP WI invests in developing local civic leaders.
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Training programs for volunteers and faith leaders
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Community forums linking policy issues to civic participation
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Ongoing engagement that encourages sustained involvement between elections
Theory of Change
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Trusted Institutions (Faith & Community Networks)
STTP WI works through churches and community organizations that already hold deep trust, allowing civic information to travel through credible, familiar channels.
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Collective Participation (Mobilization & Visibility)
Group-based engagement such as coordinated voting efforts and community events, reduces individual barriers and reinforces participation as a shared norm.
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Sustained Civic Identity (Beyond Election Day)
By linking voting to everyday community priorities, STTP WI helps participants see themselves not just as voters, but as ongoing civic actors with a stake in democratic outcomes.
IMPACT
Built and activated a major faith network
Since 2013, STTP has built an alliance of faith leaders and churchgoers from 450+ Milwaukee-based congregations committed to strengthening Black and Brown voting power.
During past election cycles …
STTP has activated over 450 church leaders and ambassadors in Milwaukee (ZIP codes 53216, 53210, 53208 & 53206) to communicate election dates, voting processes and locations, and bipartisan candidate information about the election.
Take Action
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Share this story with your network.
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Support Souls to the Polls Wisconsin’s work to strengthen democratic participation
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Ambassador Program: Volunteer leaders in Black and Brown communities of Wisconsin to be trained in the churches, neighborhood associations, and community organizations as go-to expert on voting in the community. ​https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxkdxvWGz_KzjZ2n-Hy-jbBd0mP5vyFbTPq2MYeUCNTX_0IA/viewform
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100 Women on the Move: A coalition of women in Milwaukee who are ready to help create change in our city. 100 Women on the Move is dedicated to getting out the vote through education, advocacy, and action. https://www.soulstothepollswi.org/100-women-on-the-move
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Contact Souls to the Polls Wisconsin: info@soulstothepollswi.org
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Visit Their Website: https://www.soulstothepollswi.org/
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