Hi Reader,

It's been a while since I've shown up in your inbox. That's because I've been hard at work on what I think is the most important resource I've created since my book Raising Antiracist Kids came out in 2019.

​Past and Present Fights for Voting Rights: An Activity Pack for Kids and Teens is now available!​

When we talk to young people about voting rights, we too often give the impression that the struggle ended in the 1960s. That's just not true! In the last twenty years:

• More than half of the states passed strict photo ID laws, which especially takes a toll on voters of color, elderly voters, disabled voters, and poor voters.
• The Supreme Court issued two decisions that have gutted the landmark Voting Rights Act (the crown jewel of the civil rights movement.)
• Secretaries of state in red states have illegally removed millions of voters from their rolls, particularly in Black and Brown communities. They've also shut down polling places in neighborhoods of color, creating hours-long lines in some areas.

And now, Trump and Republicans in Congress are trying to go even further with proposed legislation called the SAVE Act that could disenfranchise countless people who don't have the time, money, and energy to track down numerous documents before they register to vote.

We MUST teach young people about the often bitter history of the voting rights fight and help them understand how that struggle continues TODAY.

It's really important that we start this discussion - and deepen our own learning as caregivers and educators - before the midterm election on November 3rd. As historian Jemar Tisby has said:

You probably don't need me to convince you how important voting rights and fair elections are to democracy.

Still, figuring out how to break down complex history, confusing court cases, and government regulations to young people isn't easy.

​Past and Present Fights for Voting Rights uses age-appropriate books, videos, “explainer” pages, and a wide variety of activities to help elementary, middle school, and high school learners understand the history of voting rights and what attacks on voting rights look like today.

With learning and action activities for ages 7 to 18 (and beyond!), the activity pack explores questions like:

🛑 Who's been denied the right to vote at different points in U.S. history? What did Black people, other People of Color, and women have to do to win suffrage?

⭐ Why was the 1965 Voting Rights Act so important? How did it impact voting access and representation for decades?

✏️ What is gerrymandering? What does it have to do with race and how does it benefit the political party who holds the majority in your state?

⚠️What voter suppression tactics are being used today and who do they affect?

💡How can individuals (kids and adults 😀) and state governments uphold voting rights right now?

​Learn more about Past and Present Fights for Voting Rights​

​Past and Present Fights for Voting Rights is for:

1) Families who believe democracy only works if we all play our part.

You’ll find art projects, engaging book titles for various ages, a template for researching voting rights in your state, discussion questions, and “remember to vote” resources that your family can customize and share with others. There are activities for so many ages, whether you have kids in elementary, middle school, or high school.

2) Educators looking for civics or voting history resources, especially as the 2026 mid-term election approaches.

Learners can use the resources to build a timeline of how various groups have seen both expansions and restrictions in their voting rights throughout history. The explainer on the impact of the Voting Rights Act, activities for understanding what gerrymandering is, the straightforward explanation of recent Supreme Court voting rights decisions, and the comprehensive glossary of voting-related terms are all useful classroom resources.

3) Adults who are concerned about the state of voting rights and want to understand all that’s happened in the past few years.

In the whirlwind political era we’re living through, it’s easy to lose track of how various rights are under attack.

I learned so much while doing the research for this activity pack that I even recommend it for adults who aren’t parents or educators! You could use it for your own learning or invite a few friends to study the resources with you and then take action together.

What's inside Past and Present Fights for Voting Rights?

The activity pack has five sections that thoughtfully explore voting rights in history and today. (No, you don't have to use all five parts! Pick the sections and individual activities that are right for the young people in your life.)

Each of the five parts begins with suggested books and discussion starters for each age group (elementary, middle school, and high school), along with video resources for upper elementary and above.

The sections also include:

• Short one to two page “explainers” that use kid-friendly language to explore the main topic
• Art, drawing, and coloring activities
• Hands-on activities and mini research tasks for breaking down complex topics
• Action ideas and templates to use in your local community

You can download a table of contents and sample pages from the activity pack here.

I can't wait to see how you'll use this resource with your family, in your classroom, or in your community!

Happy learning,

Rebekah

P.S. Past and Present Fights for Voting Rights will help the young people in your life (and you!) understand how the long struggle for voting rights continues today and what you can do to support it now.

Because I believe that learning and action go hand in hand, I'm donating 10% of all purchases to The Equity Alliance's Tennessee Black Voter Project.

Rebekah Gienapp (she/her/hers) | rebekahgienapp.com | Connect on Instagram | Coffees for Gaza | Knit 4 Justice​