SOMA Action’s ‘Vanquish the Villains’ campaign empowers community

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — SOMA Action, the South Orange/Maplewood–based grassroots organization focused on driving progressive change, provides fun, easy and effective opportunities for community members to make a difference in the upcoming election.

With fewer than 60 days until the election, many people want to make a difference, but don’t know how. SOMA Action’s “Vanquish the Villains” campaign provides an answer. It makes it easy for volunteers to get involved, on their own time, from the comfort of their couch.

This get-out-the-vote campaign is aimed at defeating GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Martha McSally of Arizona and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Participants are asked to commit a minimum of one hour per week for fun, team-based initiatives designed to flip the Senate, which could greatly impact the nation, regardless of who wins the White House.

“I’m really motivated by the passion and determination of our community members,” SOMA Action President Ritu Pancholy said. “Through friendly, team competition, we’re able to maintain that motivation by tracking our progress and measuring our effect in real time.”

Becoming part of “Vanquish the Villains” is simple. It means signing up to participate in designated activities, including phone-banking, texting, sending postcards and/or fundraising. The teams coordinate weekly actions that members can do alone or in smaller sub-groups, for motivation and support.

“My first work with SOMA Action was phone-banking and text activism during the midterm elections, but this crucial election has compelled me to do more,” volunteer Allison Posner said. “I was unsure of how much of a difference I could make while working and homeschooling during a pandemic, but thankfully, SOMA Action makes it easy to sign up for activities that I can do on my own time.”

In just one month, more than 200 participants have written nearly 1,300 postcards, sent more than 9,000 texts, made more than 850 phone calls, donated more than $2,000 dollars to campaigns and conducted almost 300 hours of campaign activities, for more than 11,000 voter touchpoints. 

Anyone interested can learn more and join the effort here. For more information, contact [email protected].

  Election Day, SOMA Action