As we continue to explore civics and what that means, a very large part of it is tied to politics and political landscapes. When I think of “political landscapes,” I think of how the political maps are drawn for the state of Pennsylvania–and how those maps change depending on population swings and where those “swings” happen. It’s also about the Census count, and that’s why participating in the Census count every ten years is so critical.
After watching an Ethnic Media news briefing and hearing testimonials from several nonprofit leaders who monitored the redistricting process very closely, it sounds like they feel Pennsylvania didn’t do too poorly; in terms of our newly drawn voting map.
What does a reflective democracy look like? A multi-racial coalition of organizations achieved a redistricting success story for Pennsylvania’s voters of color despite intense partisan politics bent on restricting voter access. Speakers will share lessons learned and the next steps in fighting for fair maps and fair elections.
Sandy Close, Director Ethnic Media Services (EMS), stated, “Over the last two years, EMS has organized numerous press conferences to report on the 2020 census and redistricting campaigns to secure fair representation for rapidly growing communities of color. Experts and activists have discussed how despite robust organizing efforts, many communities were systematically excluded from map-drawing deliberations in many states. The maps that resulted in Texas, Alabama, North Carolina, Florida, and some other states, are actually less representative of the population that lives there than those used in 2011.
Today we focus on a success story. How Pennsylvania, despite intense partisan politics, bent on restricting voter access, managed to produce maps that genuinely reflect the state’s growing diversity. Behind that success is a multi-year effort by a multi-racial coalition of organizations determined to build. In the words of one of the activists, “This is what a reflective democracy looks like.”
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