As we argued in our January 6 update, our communities must step up, run and win more elected positions at local levels. We have the people and we have the votes to build a bench from local through state offices. Keeping the focus on these levels through 2022, we believe will be critical to maintaining our gains at the federal level.
Read MoreThe forces arrayed against US democracy right now can feel overwhelming. But those who believe in democracy vastly outnumber those who don’t. If you aren’t used to fighting for your right to vote: time to join us. And if you know just how hard it was to win the right to vote: we won’t go back again. Democracy in America isn’t over yet. In fact, it’s just getting started.
Read MoreRedistricting happens every few years with changes in population, with reapportionment happening every ten years due to the census. We need to be very, very careful not to use methodologies to create ‘fair’ maps that are ahistorical and acontextual. Redistricting must take into account the intentional and politically driven undercounting of certain communities. And it should avoid a false equivalence between measures intended to address this and restore equity, and those that reinforce voter suppression and exclusion.
Read MoreNext week, Diversity Matters is joining our partners in a Relay from West Virginia to Washington, DC, to fight for the Freedom to Vote Act. Even if you may not be able to participate in this relay in-person, you can still act to pass the Freedom to Vote Act by joining March On’s Virtual Relay Team to take online actions and help us defend democracy!
Read More…. we can’t give up and we can’t go back. One bright spot is that in the past month, Congressional Democrats have been busy building consensus around the new Freedom To Vote Act, to create national standards that will protect our communities who are now facing new state level assaults on their ability to vote. Just as we rose up to vote in record numbers in the midst of the pandemic last year, we now need to rise up to demand that our legislators pass the Freedom to Vote Act.
Hoan is an enthusiastic proponent of our Diversity Pipeline Pledge. In his own words: "In order for us to solve complex, multifaceted, and intersectional challenges of the 21st century, we must take a proactive approach in recruiting, hiring, and retaining diverse individuals within legislation, and I intend to continue amplifying diverse voices, push to increase individual participation in our voting process to ensure proper representation, and unabashedly fight for a more fair and just future for all Americans."
Read MoreVirginia is having a critical statewide election this year. Virginia's next Governor, Executive Team and entire state legislature are on the ballot. Join us to take action now!
Read MorePresident Biden highlights an explicit linkage between having diversity in government, and making policy that recognizes and addresses the needs of diverse communities. Yet this won’t happen automatically, and it won’t be easy. Even with the right guidance in place, workplace inclusion will require a different kind of leadership than we have ever seen in government. It won’t be enough just to bring diverse staff to the table. There are some hard steps leaders will need to take if we are to truly include their voices and perspectives.
Read MoreToday is Juneteenth, a day of commemoration that has finally received due recognition. This week we saw a ray of hope as Congress passed, and the White House signed, legislation declaring this day a national holiday. We take a moment to reflect, celebrate, and re-dedicate ourselves to the ongoing fight for equality.
While the Senate managed to agree on this symbolic gesture, they remain gridlocked over the fundamental issue of whether we should have the right to vote. That's why we have joined forces with Deadline for Democracy, and you'll be seeing regular messages from us supporting this national campaign for voting rights. Because when we mobilize, we win.
