WHAT IS THE POWER SHIFT?
The Power Shift is the Louisville Urban League’s voter engagement and mobilization campaign aimed at turning out 52,000 Black voters and increasing overall turnout by at least 3% in Jefferson County, Kentucky. It is a people-powered movement to move control of resources, safety, and opportunity back into the hands of the people most impacted by today’s systems. The Power Shift is built around three core pillars, each grounded in the truth voters already live every day:
- The Wealth Gap Is Not an Accident — Economic disparities, stagnant wages, and the high cost of living are not an accident. They are the direct results of historical systemic exclusion from economic opportunity and intentional, destructive policies like redlining. We cannot run from this truth; we must confront it.
- The System Is Not Equal — Mountains of research and data and lived experiences of so many are proof of the systemic inequity and institutional failures that plague us. We should not and cannot pretend our systems, particularly in areas like justice, education, housing, and the environment, have ever functioned well for everyone.
- Our Power Is Greater Than Their Promises — Despite what we have been taught or what political parties or talking heads tell us, the power still rests with the people. Mobilization, community empowerment, and moving people to vote, especially at the local level, is how we compel systemic change.
Together, these pillars speak to where people are, the realities of how many people feel, and what we can do. The Power Shift provides voters with the inspiration and tools they need to make informed choices at the ballot box. By connecting history, lived experience, and real-world impact, The Power Shift helps people understand not just what they are voting on, but why it matters for their families, neighborhoods, and future.
The Wealth Gap Is Not An Accident
The average White family in the U.S. possesses approximately $250,400 in median wealth, while the average Black family has around $24,520. This significant disparity is not a coincidence; it has been shaped by policies such as Redlining, which systematically restricted homeownership and investment in communities like West Louisville. These policies have created divisions among us.The average White family in the U.S. possesses approximately $250,400 in median wealth, while the average Black family has around $24,520. This significant disparity is not a coincidence; it has been shaped by policies such as Redlining, which systematically restricted homeownership and investment in communities like West Louisville. These policies have created divisions among us.
The System is Not Equal
Black Americans make up ~14% of the U.S. population but ~32% of the incarcerated population.
Our Power Is Greater Than Their Promises
Political mobilization messages delivered through social networks influenced not only those who received them but also their connections — demonstrating social influence on real-world voting behavior.
VOTE
Find Your Polling Place
As the state prepares for the election, the Secretary of State’s office will update all Kentucky polling locations. You can search for Jefferson County-specific polling places at the link below. Click here for Indiana.