50 for 50: Meet David Andersson

"As a humanist activist, my connection to QCH is diverse and has spanned over 2 decades.

In 2008, as head of the NYC Humanist Party, I served as chair of the New York Coalition to Expand Voting Rights—a coalition formed to advocate for noncitizen voting rights in city elections. We were fighting to give 800,000 New Yorkers—people who live here, pay taxes, contribute to the economy, and have children in our schools—the right to have a say in how their city is run. A bill had been introduced in the City Council a few years earlier but failed to pass, and many of the people who had worked on that earlier effort had lost hope.

I spent a lot of time trying to convince organizations, political groups, and unions why this campaign mattered—not just for those denied the vote, but for the health of our city and democracy as a whole. Most were skeptical or thought it was just a pipe dream. But when I presented the idea to QCH staff, they got it immediately. They joined the newly revived coalition and became one of our most active members. Together, we organized candidate forums, street canvassing, mock elections, and other public events to build support and raise awareness. QCH staff showed up to countless meetings with City Council members, working hard to win them over. I can honestly say that without them, the campaign would probably have died. I stepped away from the coalition in 2017, but by that time, other groups were able to carry the baton and eventually get the legislation passed in 2021.

In 2009, I was the NYC Coordinator for the World March for Peace and Nonviolence. QCH not only endorsed the march but turned out staff and volunteers for the mobilization and even presented a beautiful patchwork they had created to the march delegation.

I've never encountered another organization of its size with the ability to engage in diverse projects without making their own agenda the priority. QCH doesn't just talk the talk—they walk the walk. They genuinely understand the bigger picture, and that has always impressed me."

— David Andersson