EPISODE · Jun 2, 2026 · 13 MIN
Lorene Cary & Charissa Howard talk #VoteThatJawn | Midday Break Room w/ Tiffany Bacon - 6.2.26
from WURD Radio · host WURD Radio
Lorene Cary is the founder of #VoteThatJawn, a Philly initiative that aims to bring 18-year-olds and other first-time voters to the polls, and to advocate for youth safety, agency, and inclusion. #VoteThatJawn uses art, spoken word, and cultural expression to mobilize young people around voting, governance, and the issues that matter most to them.For 25 years, Lorene has taught fiction and non-fiction at UPenn. She created #VotethatJawn in 2018 for her students to write online and post to social media to encourage Philly youth to register and vote and to amplify the youth voice. Charissa Howard is a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied English and Political Science. As a former #VoteThatJawn program assistant, she is passionate about the impact that narratives can have on voting and policies. This Fall, she will be getting her master's in Media and Communications at the London School of Economics, with the hopes of returning to the U.S. to work in journalism or political communications. On June 3rd, #VoteThatJawn will be putting on a performance at the ArtPhilly festival, titled “HEAR AND NOW”. This performance will consist of College and high school poets and musicians, live and on-screen. This performance will detail the urgency of activism in today’s current political landscape. It will take place at the Performance Garage at 1515 Brandywine Street. Philadelphia, PA 19130. Lorene and Charissa join the show to talk about #VoteThatJawn’s performance at the Art Philly Festival on June 3rd.
What this episode covers
Lorene Cary is the founder of #VoteThatJawn, a Philly initiative that aims to bring 18-year-olds and other first-time voters to the polls, and to advocate for youth safety, agency, and inclusion. #VoteThatJawn uses art, spoken word, and cultural expression to mobilize young people around voting, governance, and the issues that matter most to them.For 25 years, Lorene has taught fiction and non-fiction at UPenn. She created #VotethatJawn in 2018 for her students to write online and post to social media to encourage Philly youth to register and vote and to amplify the youth voice. Charissa Howard is a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied English and Political Science. As a former #VoteThatJawn program assistant, she is passionate about the impact that narratives can have on voting and policies. This Fall, she will be getting her master's in Media and Communications at the London School of Economics, with the hopes of returning to the U.S. to work in journalism or political communications. On June 3rd, #VoteThatJawn will be putting on a performance at the ArtPhilly festival, titled “HEAR AND NOW”. This performance will consist of College and high school poets and musicians, live and on-screen. This performance will detail the urgency of activism in today’s current political landscape. It will take place at the Performance Garage at 1515 Brandywine Street. Philadelphia, PA 19130. Lorene and Charissa join the show to talk about #VoteThatJawn’s performance at the Art Philly Festival on June 3rd.
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Lorene Cary & Charissa Howard talk #VoteThatJawn | Midday Break Room w/ Tiffany Bacon - 6.2.26
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