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AME Church Shield We'll Do It For Ourselves AME Church Shield
Connectional AME Church · Social Action Initiative · AME Freedom Summer
AME Church Shield We'll Do It For Ourselves! AME Church Shield

We'll Do It For Ourselves! is a Social Action Initiative of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and part of AME Freedom Summer, a Connectional call to every district, every conference, and every congregation to activate our collective power. Rooted in the mandate of the Free African Society, WDFO mobilizes the full strength of the AME Connection to secure representation, voter power, and civic leadership for our communities across America and the world.

✊ Self-Determination 🗳 Voter Mobilization 🏛 Civic Leadership 📋 Candidate Pipeline
20
Districts
50+
Annual Conferences
2.5M
AME Members
14
US Districts

A Connectional
Call to Action

The "We'll Do It For Ourselves!" (WDFO) initiative is the central component of the AME Church Connectional Social Action Agenda, and part of AME Freedom Summer.

Rooted in the founding mandate of the Free African Society, established by Richard Allen and Absalom Jones in 1787, this campaign calls upon every Episcopal District to activate its internal resources to identify, recruit, develop, and support AME-tradition candidates for elected offices, staff positions, and agency leadership.

We are organizing internally to maximize our external impact. By leveraging the collective strength of our congregations, Across 14 US Episcopal Districts, from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, from Chicago to Miami, the AME Church's 2.5 million members represent one of the most powerful untapped civic forces in America. WDFO transforms this latent power into decisive, measurable political influence in local, state, and federal elections and policy-making.

+25%
Voter Registration Growth Target
50
AME Political Assets to Identify
15
Civic Education Sessions
4
Formal Partner MOUs
"

We'll Do It For Ourselves! is a return to this original, powerful narrative, a commitment to building on our collective power to secure our own dignity and influence.

WDFO Connectional Initiative, AME Church
Executed in Partnership With
AME Social Action Commission RAYAC Lay Organization WMS YPD WIM The Anvil Institute
Scope

All 14 US Episcopal Districts · 50+ Annual Conferences · 2.5M members

AME Public Service Reporter

Tell us about the elected officials and public servants in your district: mayors, school board members, judges, county clerks, and state legislators. We'll add them to the Connectional political-asset database.

Connectional
Dates & Alerts

View Full Calendar →
Policy Alert
SAVE America Act: Senate Pending. All Districts Must Act
The SAVE America Act passed the House in February 2026 and is pending Senate action. If enacted, it would require documentary proof of citizenship to register, effectively ending online and mail registration nationwide. Every AME Annual Conference must register members now, under current law. Visit the Voter Alert Tracker below for full details.
Executive Order
Presidential EO on Elections: Signed March 31, 2026. Multiple Lawsuits Filed
President Trump signed an executive order directing USPS to control mail ballot distribution and DHS to compile federal voter lists. Multiple state AGs have sued to block it. Courts blocked a similar 2025 EO. Register members using current state processes while legal protections hold.
Connectional Training
WDFO Virtual Training Series: Open to All 14 Districts
The WDFO monthly virtual training series is open to members of every Episcopal District. Contact the Connectional Social Action Commission or your District Engagement Lead for access. Schedule a training for your Annual Conference or congregation below.
Find Your District
Locate Your Episcopal District WDFO Page
Each of the 14 US Episcopal Districts has its own WDFO page with district-specific voter registration deadlines, Annual Conference information, election dates, and local engagement opportunities. Contact your Bishop's office or the Connectional Social Action Commission for your district's link.
Enrollment Open
Connectional Leadership Pipeline: Now Enrolling Across All Districts
The WDFO Leadership Pipeline is enrolling civic leaders in every Episcopal District. Minimum 5 spots per Annual Conference. Apply via the WDFO Engagement Form.
New Tool
Civic Sorter & Root & Fruit AI Tools Are Live
WDFO's AI-powered civic placement evaluator (Civic Sorter) and candidate integrity index (Root & Fruit) are now available Connectionwide. Access through your Annual Conference Lead or Episcopal District office.

Voter Alert Tracker

Updated: July 2026

A running summary of the federal and state legislation, executive actions, and court rulings most likely to affect voter participation across the AME Connection. Reviewed and updated by the WDFO team so members always know where things stand.

Upcoming Trainings & Events

Registration deadlines 📅 Open in Google Calendar + Schedule a Training

Our full schedule of trainings and events lives on the WDFO Google Calendar. Tap Open in Google Calendar above to view everything and subscribe. Upcoming voter-registration deadlines are listed below.

Connectional
Core Objectives

01
Voter Strength Assessment
Establish a quantitative baseline of the District's political power. The goal: 75% of membership surveyed and a 25% increase in registered voters tracked across all AME congregations Connectionwide.
02
AME Political Asset Identification
Build a living database of AME members in elected office or mid-to-high-level staff roles. Target: minimum 50 identified, at least 5 per Annual Conference.
03
Civic & Political Education
Deliver 9 virtual trainings and 6 conference-level in-person sessions, plus tabling at 10 district events and engagement at 6 college campuses.
04
Recruitment for Civic Service
Build a pipeline of 30 civically prepared leaders enrolled in the Leadership Training Program, including candidates for elected office, commission members, and local board seats.
05
Student & Young Adult Engagement
Cultivate 50 trained young adult leaders through the College Convening, Summer and Fall Alternative Break Immersions, and year-round workshops across the District.
06
Strategic External Alignment
Formalize 4 MOUs (2 with faith-based partners and 2 with community-based organizations) and secure inclusion in at least 1 local political convening per Annual Conference.
07
Voter Turnout & Rapid Response
Establish fully trained Rapid Response Teams in all 6 Annual Conferences by Q3, executing coordinated GOTV drives and documenting a minimum of 20 logistical support actions on election days.
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