National Voter Registration Day grant brings acclaimed artist Corie Mattie’s public art project to NFC
 
MADISON, FL – North Florida College has been selected to receive a 2026 National Voter Registration Day Community College Grant sponsored by Levi Strauss & Co. and is one of only 15 schools nationwide selected for Project Hope, an interactive public art installation created by acclaimed artist Corie Mattie, known as the LA Hope Dealer. 
 
The $1,000 grant will support NFC’s National Voter Registration Day celebration on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, from 11AM-1PM an intentionally nonpartisan event designed to encourage voter registration, civic engagement and student involvement.
 
NFC’s application was recognized for its thoughtful approach to engaging students and its commitment to creating a meaningful National Voter Registration Day experience. The College’s plans stood out for emphasizing collaboration, creativity and student engagement as ways to build a stronger civic culture on campus.
 
The recognition comes during a historic year as the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. NFC is using the milestone as an opportunity to help students better understand the role they can play in their communities and the importance of making their voices heard.
 
NFC will celebrate National Voter Registration Day with “Built for This: Your Voice Builds the Future,” bringing together voter registration, civic education, student engagement and public art on the NFC campus.
 
“National Voter Registration Day gives us an opportunity to meet students where they are and show them that civic engagement is something they can be part of right now,” said Melanie Morgan, NFC Director of Student and Community Engagement. “As our country marks its 250th anniversary, it is especially meaningful to help students understand that democracy is not something that simply happened in the past. It continues through people who choose to get involved, stay informed and use their voices. We want our students to know that their voices matter and that they have a role in shaping the future of their communities.”
 
Bringing Project Hope to NFC
 
A centerpiece of NFC’s celebration will be Project Hope, a temporary interactive public art installation created by acclaimed artist Corie Mattie, the LA Hope Dealer.
 
Mattie is known for message-driven public art centered around hope and positive social change. Project Hope brings that concept directly to the NFC community by transforming the traditional experience of viewing art into an opportunity to help create it.
 
As one of only 15 schools nationwide selected for Project Hope, NFC will receive the materials and instructions needed to install the temporary mural on campus. On Sept. 15, students, faculty and staff will be invited to add their own contributions to the artwork as part of the College’s National Voter Registration Day celebration.
 
The collaborative installation is designed to transform National Voter Registration Day into a visual celebration of belonging, community and civic engagement. Each person can contribute to the finished work, reinforcing the idea that individual voices can come together to build something larger. 
 
That concept also complements NFC’s theme, “Built for This: Your Voice Builds the Future,” connecting the physical act of creating a collaborative work of art with the power individual voices have in shaping communities.
 
“We wanted this event to feel different from a traditional voter registration table,” said Denise Bell, NFC Coordinator of Student Activities & Student Center. “Project Hope gives our students the opportunity to physically add their mark to something that is being built together. That idea fits perfectly with what we want them to take away from the day: every person has a voice, every contribution matters and each of us has a role in building our community.”
 
Connecting Students with the Voting Process
 
The Sept. 15 celebration will also give NFC students an opportunity to meet local representative of the Madison County Supervisor of Elections Office, register to vote and learn more about the voting process.
 
The partnership gives students access to a local elections official who can provide information and answer questions about voter registration and elections. National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday dedicated to helping eligible Americans register to vote and ensuring voters have access to the information and resources they need to make their voices heard at the polls.
 
Through the event, NFC hopes to make civic engagement approachable, creative and relevant to college students while demonstrating the many ways they can contribute to their communities.
 
“Building a strong community starts with people understanding that they have a place in it,” Morgan said. “Whether students are registering to vote, learning about an issue, volunteering, becoming involved on campus or contributing to Project Hope, they are discovering ways to make a difference. We want them to leave knowing their ideas, experiences and voices have value.”
 
Event at a Glance
 
National Voter Registration Day 
Built for This: Your Voice Builds the Future 
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026 at 11AM-1PM 
North Florida College, Building 6, Madison, Florida
 
Event activities include:
 
  • Help complete Project Hope, the participatory public art installation created by acclaimed artist Corie Mattie, the LA Hope Dealer
  • Register to vote
  • Madison County Supervisor of Elections office will provide onsite resources
  • Learn more about voting and civic participation
  • Celebrate the power of individual voices to build stronger communities
  • Enjoy free sodas and water
 
NFC’s National Voter Registration Day activities are nonpartisan and focused on voter registration, education and civic participation.
For more information about North Florida College, visit NFC.edu.
 
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Project Hope Photo
Art installation by Corie Mattie, the LA Hope Dealer