Meet the 2026 Party at the Polls grantees!

Posted by Goldhirsh Foundation Team on

Mariachis on the move. Skateboarders on a roll. An open mic in Skid Row. DIY ballot zines. And a tour of where Los Angeles County’s ballots get counted.

Those are the five creative, community-rooted, nonpartisan voter activations coming to Los Angeles this fall through LA2050’s Party at the Polls project. More on these winning events in just a moment. But first, some background:

Last month, LA2050 – an initiative of the Goldhirsh Foundation – asked organizations across Los Angeles County to share their bold ideas for making civic participation more accessible, relevant, and engaging. (More information available here.) LA2050 received 437 applications for nonpartisan voter activations to be held during the 2026 General Election.

"The Goldhirsh Foundation and LA2050 are inspired by the outpouring of ideas we received," said Tara Roth, president of the Goldhirsh Foundation. "This is more evidence of how democracy and civic engagement are a true lifeblood of Los Angeles."

The organizations selected to each receive a $5,000 Party at the Polls mini-grant – and bring their events to life – are:

  • Concrete Queenz will host Girl, Go Vote!, a community skate at the Venice Mini Park that brings young people together around movement, connection, and civic participation. Participants will skate together before rolling to a nearby voting center.
    • Saturday, October 24th
    • 9 am - 12 pm
    • Mini Park in Venice (1800 Ocean Front Walk Venice, CA 90291)
    • RSVP
  • Consejo de Federaciones (COFEM) will bring back its ¡Vamos a Votar! (Let’s Go Vote!): Mariachi Car Caravan, with musicians traveling through Huntington Park, Maywood, and Bell on Election Day. The caravan will use live music to bring energy and visibility to voting before culminating in an Election Day community fair.
    • Sunday, November 1st
    • 10 am - TBD
    • Newstart Housing Corporation (3355 E. Gaga Ave. Huntington Park, CA 90255)
  • Creating Justice LA will host two Party at the Polls events in Skid Row, A Day of Voter Education: What’s on the Ballot?, a community event focused on helping residents better understand and access election information, and Party at the Polls Open MIC: Why Is Voting Power?, an open mic bringing together local artists and community members for performances, conversation, and civic engagement.
    • Skid Row, A Day of Voter Education: What’s on the Ballot?
      • Wednesday, Oct 21st
      • 11 am - 4 pm
      • Skid Row People's Market (453 San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90013)
      • LEARN MORE
    • Party at the Polls Open MIC: Why Is Voting Power?
      • Thursday, Oct 22nd
      • 6 pm - 9 pm
      • Cafe Peace & Healing Center (116 E 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013)
      • LEARN MORE
  • LAist will host a ballot zine-making party where participants can learn about the election directly from LAist journalists before creating their own ballot breakdown zines. The event will also feature music, food, and button-making.
    • Tuesday, October 27th
    • 2pm - 7 pm
    • L.A. Trade Tech (400 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015 exact room TBA)
  • Zócalo Public Square will partner with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk for Is California Voting Fair?, offering a guided tour of the County’s new Ballot Processing Center. Participants will get a behind-the-scenes look at how ballots are processed and counted, followed by a Q&A with election experts.
    • Saturday, October 24th
    • 9:30am - 12pm
    • L.A. County Ballot Processing Center (13401 Crossroads Pkwy North, City of Industry)
    • RSVP

For updates on all the festivities, follow @LA2050 and the five winning organizations on social media throughout the 2026 General Election.

These five organizations will be saluted further by the Goldhirsh Foundation in person later this year during the annual LA2050 Grantee Showcase. In past years, scores of Los Angeles-area nonprofits and social impact organizations have received millions of dollars of grants, and state and local elected officials have been among the keynote speakers.This is far from LA2050’s first foray into Party at the Polls. In 2016, LA2050 launched the program, providing eight mini-grants. The Goldhirsh Foundation has a history of supporting voter engagement, celebrating contributions to a more democratic and just society, and empowering communities by investing in civic engagement, cultural initiatives, and social innovation that inspire collective action and strengthen society's fabric.

For nonpartisan information about voting in Los Angeles County, visit www.lavote.gov.