Social Impact Heroes: How Jahan Sharif of Commit2Five Is Helping To Increase Voter Engagement

We believe that if given the chance and the guidance, people will choose to live their life in ways that serve themselves and their communities. We find ways to reduce the barriers to impact change.

As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing, Jahan Sharif.

For nearly a decade, Jahan Sharif has leveraged his political campaign organizing experience to translate human stories for cable, network, and broadcast television.

What began as a chance volunteer opportunity, soon evolved into a staff position as a field organizer for President Obama’s re-election campaign in Broward County, Florida. Over 9 months, his volunteer staff mobilized their neighbors, and together turned out nearly 30,000 votes for the president. The following spring, he was recruited by then-mayor Cory Booker’s Senate campaign to lead the voter turnout effort in Newark, and Essex County. With a team of 13, Jahan developed and executed a strategy to organize nearly 250,000 voters and deliver all 22 municipalities in the county to Booker.