Washington CAN (Washington CAN)

HEALTH CARE: Washington CAN and our fiscally sponsored project, Health Care is a Human Right Washington, had a huge legislative victory with the advancement of the Keep Our Care Act at the State Legislature. This bill had renewed energy thanks to member engagement when we joined the fight. During the legislative session, 541 members signed in pro to show their support for the Keep Our Care Act. Washington CAN had 81 members attend a Lobby Day at the capitol with legislators to ask them to support the Keep Our Care Act. Washington CAN also involved our members in holding the insurance commissioner accountable for approving massive premium hikes. During discussions about premium hikes, we had conversations with 3,833 people who support Universal Healthcare, and we delivered 337 handwritten letters to the insurance commissioner and 212 emails to him. In 2023, Washington CAN spoke to 17,036 members on the issue of health care through the phone and door-to-door canvasses on the need for health care as a human right, not a privilege. 1,260 letters and calls to action were made by members and advanced our work toward universal health care access. Additionally, 24 Washington CAN members are leading our continuing health care advocacy work.

PACIFIC COUNTY: Pacific County Voices Uniting (PCVU) is a fiscally sponsored project of Washington CAN that aims to shift, balance, and develop a culture of healthy civic engagement. In a county with large disparities, PCVU is uniting cross-cultural and multi-generational demographics to participate in collaborative social movements that increase civic engagement through education, create more reflective representation and build political power. In 2023, through door-to-door canvassing, Community Engagement Organizers knocked on 3,192 doors to Get Out The Vote. Focusing on disability justice, 65 community members joined PCVU for free showings of Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution. Community Outreach Navigators helped to distribute over 34,843 pounds of food to Pacific County families through community grants.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: In 2023, Washington CAN spoke with 6,126 voters about local/city initiatives and helped increase turnout in the Seattle Special Election in February by over 6%. 5,068 people spoken with, pledged to vote in the February Special Election. The field canvass received a commitment to vote from 2,723 people at the door, and the program team received 2,345 commitments to vote via text. This year Washington CAN engaged with 26,029 unique voters. Washington CAN also activated 541 members to email their elected officials during 2023, a record high for online engagement in this new digital age.