APPENDIX M

Facilitator’s Redistricting Agenda & Talking Points

 Agenda

  1. Brief overview on redistricting

  2. Why is it important for our community to be involved?

  3. Small group discussion

    1. Have people split up into groups, answer discussion questions, and map their community (everyone will have their own map)

  4. Bring everyone back together to share out

    1. Map what everyone says on one big map while they share out

  5. Next steps

Agenda

  1. Brief overview on redistricting

    1. Every ten years following the Census, state and local electoral districts have to be redrawn to make sure each district has equal population. Redistricting ensures every person has equal representation by drawing districts with the same number of people.

  2. Why is it important for our community to be involved?

    1. How district lines are drawn determines who represents you. Elected representatives make decisions that are important to our lives, from ensuring safe schools to adopting immigration policies.

    2. If we get split in the map then our voice isn't strong. We have to make sure we stay in one group. Especially so elected officials and politicians know they have a powerful group behind them.

      1. When voters with similar interests are drawn into a district together, their combined voices give them a greater opportunity to express their views, to be heard, to elect candidates of their choice, and to hold their leaders accountable.

  3. Election districts include everyone, and anyone can get involved, regardless of age or immigration status.

      1. At the local level county political representation affects how much money goes to refugee resettlement program, how much money goes to schools, health care, hospitals etc

    1. We can map our own community, present and advocate to the commissions

    2. We decide our boundaries and tell our own narrative, not third party who draws it based on political interest instead of our community

  4. Small group discussion and mapping

    1. How would you describe where your community is? Where are the boundaries or borders? What are the main streets and landmarks? Where does it begin or end?

    2. What are your shared interests? What do community members have in common? What unites your community? What brings you together? What is important to your community?

    3. Ask people about times where they felt they weren't represented

  5. Bring everyone back together to share out

    1. Map what everyone says on one big map while they share out

  6. Next steps

  • We will be meeting with other community members and statewide partners to make sure the maps we drew today are included.

  • In the summer we will come back to you with the maps and see if we are kept in one district or split up.

  • Starting talk to your friends, family, etc., about redistricting

  • In the summer, turn out & testify to the commission on behalf of your COI

    • For example at the end of January we had community members call in to testify on the importance of language access during the redistricting process.

  • You can do the same by submitting written comments, calling in to the commission meetings (interpretation will be provided!), or emailing the commission.