In the room.
In the community.
In the work.

Preparing young voters.
Strengthening civic learning.

The purpose

The project prepared first-time voters to understand their civic rights, make informed electoral decisions, and participate with integrity. It also sought to strengthen civil society’s capacity to provide voter education and support accountable electoral processes.

My contribution

As Director of the David & Frances Brain Center for Community Engagement at Baldwin Wallace University, Marsita provided virtual and in-person technical support to GACC for the development of training content and publicity materials. The report documents her participation in student engagements in Techiman and Cape Coast, where she brought an international perspective on youth engagement and democracy.

Where the project worked

The report names four institutions: Holy Family Nursing and Midwifery College in Techiman; OLA College of Education and St. Augustine’s College in Cape Coast; and All Nations University in Koforidua. These are the project’s documented institutional engagements, with Marsita’s in-person participation specifically identified in Techiman and Cape Coast.

Learning that connects
to participation.

Content and engagement

Sessions addressed civic rights and responsibilities, the voting process, electoral institutions, accountability, and safeguards against vote buying and other electoral misconduct. Open discussions gave students room to ask questions and examine their responsibilities as first-time voters.

The project also held a cross-cultural X Spaces conversation on September 22, 2024, featuring students from Ghana and Baldwin Wallace University. Participants discussed voter preparedness, barriers to participation, and ways to engage young voters.

What students reported

The report records student feedback describing greater understanding of voting rights and responsibilities, clearer knowledge of how to vote, increased confidence, and a commitment to voting with integrity.

These are documented learning responses and intentions. The October 2024 report precedes the election and does not establish a measured change in voter turnout.

Capacity and continuity

Training content, publicity materials, and engagement with local accountability networks supported the wider voter-education effort. Because institutional vacations limited access to students, the report recommended social media outreach to sustain engagement.

The work.
On the record.

This account draws on the October 2024 project report, “The Youth Voice: Activating First-Time Voters for Ghana’s 2024 General Elections.” Public reporting also documents the initiative and Marsita’s contribution.

Ghana News Agency · Cape Coast ↗

MyJoyOnline · Techiman project coverage ↗

Connecting learning
and community.

At Baldwin Wallace University’s Brain Center for Community Engagement, Marsita led work connecting students, institutions, and community partners.

Her experience spans service learning, student leadership, civic participation, and partnership development.

Building what
comes next.

Marsita’s consulting and outreach work connects funding strategy with program development, operational systems, and reporting. The emphasis is on helping organizations deliver their work and plan for sustainability.

Participation.
Representation.

Clerk’s office & labor organizing

At the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts, Marsita participated in the employee union-organizing effort. Cleveland Scene’s 2015 reporting features her perspective on transparent hiring, employee voice, and stronger staff–management relationships.

Campaigns for Painesville City Council

Marsita ran for Painesville City Council in 2018, 2019, and 2021—first at-large, then for Ward 2, and later at-large again. In the 2021 at-large race, she received 617 votes—43.42% of votes cast in that contest.

The link below is an official election record, not a news article. The 2021 at-large result appears on page 5.