Meet Tanisha Manning | Founder of Engaged Voters

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tanisha Manning and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tanisha, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
(Disclaimer: Engaged Voters is not a for profit business.)

I believe that if you want to see real change in your community, the work begins AFTER elections. In 2020, as we were experiencing the initial stages of a worldwide pandemic along with political chaos and an explosive wave of publicized racial injustices, I recognized a missing link in America’s voting process. Elections are not promoted or deemed popular enough for major media outlets or widespread news reporting unless there is a Presidential Election. When there is a Presidential Election, the messaging is always simply, “Go Vote”. However, there are local elections every year and even more, during Presidential Election years, there are many other local, state, and federal positions on the ballot. I believe a lot of us have good intentions with wanting to demand change from the people in charge but many of us don’t realize that all issues are not relevant to every level of government, especially the federal government. Even more, many believe that voting alone will get the job done. I’m committed to changing the narrative and conversation around voting. Yes, you should vote – and do even more after voting.

I created Engaged Voters to provide vital civic engagement information to the average citizen who simply “does not know.” It is an organization and platform that teaches, encourages, and reaches all Americans, but especially those in Houston, Texas. Its mission is to inform citizens of not only the process of registering to vote and voting, but more importantly, what each position on the ballot is responsible for and how to engage public officials after they’re elected to those positions.

An ideal Engaged Voter knows the names of their elected officials and knows what each one is responsible for. They know when their neighborhood, city, county, and state meetings are held. They attend the meetings and raise concerns. They are up to date on what their elected officials are doing because they know the weight of their vote!

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
It was August 2014 and I was a week away from flying back to America after living in the Philippines for 2 months. Mike Brown had been shot and killed and I felt the wave of shock nearly 10,000 miles away. I committed myself to the movement for black lives after his death. For many people it was Trayvon Martin’s death, others Sandra Bland, and for many, many more, it is George Floyd’s and Breonna Taylor’s deaths. Every day I wake up asking myself what can I read, say, buy, or do that promotes the value and beauty in my blackness and black lives.

My first protest was Ferguson October in October 2014. Since then I have recognized the value in protesting and even planned and led a protest for Eugene Ellison (a 67 year old man shot in his home in 2010 in Little Rock, Arkansas). I have sat for hours with a phenomenal woman, Elaine Brown, former leader of the Black Panther Party. I have met Bree Newsome and learned from her the layers of organizing after she took down the Confederate Flag in South Carolina. It is the likes of Tuffy and Dr. Jones who have poured countless hours of time into teaching and molding me. I’ve read so many books, written so many words, and researched so much. I’ve cried so many tears. Yet, I believe I am just getting started. I feel like I have so much more to learn and DO. Black lives mattered way more than 400 years ago and they will continue to matter every single day.

When I tell someone to go vote, just know I mean well by it. I’m not perfect and I don’t try to be. I just keep going. My passion for my community to be more civically engaged stems from my commitment to ending the struggles of African Americans. One step towards our progression is to hold ourselves and elected officials accountable. I research and dig for answers. I read news articles, books, and reports to soak in more knowledge. I raise the red flags and sound the alarms. I’ll even call the White House if needed. I do this for every name that has been made known and for the thousand others that never made the news. I do it for all the fearless leaders who came before me and who live with me today. I do it for my family and for my future kids; I do this for all of us.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love my city so much. Yet I still feel like there are so many parts I need to explore. Nevertheless, the planner in me (if you know, you know!) has a list of places and activities for my best friend when she visits Houston.

Cultural Activities:

Black Market Houston: First Fridays and Second Saturdays; Houston Writer’s Block Open Mic Night on Thursdays; Houston Museum of African American Culture on Fridays and Saturdays; Houston Aquarium Downtown; Holocaust Museum Houston

You can also always visit my church: New Life Temple Church at 4828 Almeda Genoa Road

Fun Activities:
Art & Vibes Paint and Sip Lounge; Houston Rockets Basketball Games; Cidercade; Bowling at Bowlmor Lanes; Top Golf; and the Color Factory

Volunteer Activities:
Volunteer Opportunities Houston
https://www.volunteerhou.org/need/
Also: Houston Food Bank, Goodwill of Houston, Recipe4Success Foundation

Cute/Good Happy Hour Locations:
Boheme, Blanco Tequila, Grooves (Fridays), WonderBar, Z on 23 Rooftop, Brellas and Spring Street Beer and Wine Bar

Good Restaurants:
Gringos, Glorias, Pappadeaux, Taste Bar, Turkey Leg Hut, Thirteen, Neyows, and Moxies

Seafood:
Lotus Seafood, BB’s Café, 7 Spice, Crafty Crab, Willie G’s, and Sam’s Boat

Cute/Good Brunch Spots:
Upper Kirby, Phil and Dereks, Present Company, The Breakfast Klub, Rouxpour, Snooze Eatery, Lucille’s, Graces, Travelers Table, State Fare, and Nomad

Hookah Spots:
Nubia Hookah, Nomad (BYOB), Café Layal (BYOB), Local Seat (BYOB), and Uptown Hookah

Social & Nightlife Spots:
The Address, Seaside, Playground, Prospect Park, Kamp, Parma, Belle Station, Lost and Found, Amahle, Ador, Bar 2200, 5015, Locker Room and Urban Social

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First, shoutout to God! I’m so undeserving, yet He still favors me.

Next, I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to every individual who is uninformed about the elections process and civic engagement but still has a desire to see change in their community. A lack of knowledge does not invalidate or discredit your petitions.

I honor past and current activists, elected officials, advocates, and movers and shakers who inspire me to continue this work: Tamika Mallory, Angela Rye, Bryan Stevenson, Stacey Abrams, Cardi B, Shirley Chisholm, Michelle Obama, Rodney Ellis, and Ayanna Pressley to name a few.

Finally, I give thanks to my vast network of friends, sisters/brothers, colleagues, former classmates, supporters, and most importantly, my family, who motivate me, encourage me, and push me when I need it the most. Thank you for seeing me. For lending your ears to my venting or brainstorming sessions, your shoulders to cry on, and your time. Thank you for still following me on my journey. Thank you for reading my long captions on social media (and following my many pages). Thank you for the check ins, the prayers, and the feedback, but overall, thank you for the LOVE.

I’ve never felt like I was in this alone and for that, I am grateful.

Website: www.engagedvoters.org

Instagram: @engagedvoters

Image Credits
Zetrik Marves and Breana Bradshaw