YEO October Newsletter

Redistricting and Immigration-
Policy Academy Recap

Last month, more than 50 YEOs representing 19 states gathered in Los Angeles for the YEO Redistricting and Immigration Policy Academy. It was a powerful weekend of advanced policy study aimed at encouraging a more inclusive democracy.

YEOs had the opportunity to gain critical skills to help ensure fair representation in the 2011 redistricting process and to discuss policies and programs for immigration reform at the local and state levels.

The redistricting conversation centered on the fundamental elements of the process – how to draw districts that will promote fair representation and ensure an accurate representation of America’s diverse political voices.  YEOs also learned about the severe consequences, both politically and financially, for communities if non-citizens are excluded from redistricting considerations and, thus, the underlying need for positive and integrative immigration reform.  As the conversation moved to immigration, YEOs discussed the comprehensive reform measures being proposed at the federal level and the immigration climate in the states, and studied concrete ways to fight punitive immigration policies and encourage positive and integrative solutions.

Session Topics included:

• In-Depth Redistricting Overview – Participants discussed key issues of redistricting and reviewed the legal, political, technical, and demographic issues associated with this process.
• Redistricting for an Inclusive Democracy – This session provided YEOs with the information they needed to draw fair and legal redistricting plans. This session also covered the federal law and state limitations that apply to the redrawing of district lines following the decennial census, and provided a discussion on Latino and immigrant populations as they relate to the redistricting process.
• Hands-On Redistricting Simulation – YEOs had a chance to try their hand at drawing fair and legal districts in a simulation setting.
• Protecting Immigrants, Empowering Communities – This session discussed the various punitive and anti-immigrant state and local laws, administrative rules, and enforcement policies that can make daily life in America difficult for immigrants.
• Measure for Immigrant Integration – YEOs were presented with information on pro-immigrant and integrative measures available to state and local governments that maximize the economic, social, and cultural benefits of immigration on towns, cities, counties, and states.
• Coalition and Consensus Building – This session was led by two leading community-based organizations. The trainers provided real-life examples from national, state, and local campaigns for immigration reform, and provided recommendations for elected officials on how to reach out to community organizations, advocacy groups, and their communities as a whole to build coalitions and public consensus on advancing immigrant rights.
• Winning the Messaging War – Led by Media Matters and Dr. Drew Westen, this session provided participants with the principles of strategic messaging and how to use everyday “kitchen table” language to effectively get their messages across.

Supporting YEOs:
If you were unable to attend the Policy Academy
and would like training materials from any of the sessions,
please contact Elisabeth at epope@pfaw.org.

Coming soon…Policy Academy Creates Change

YEOs are inspiring agents of change, and Policy Academy participants are already working on implementing exciting policies and programs around redistricting and immigration in their communities. Here are a few of the examples of what they’ll be working on in the coming year:

• Defeating and lessening the impact of Arizona SB1070 copycat bills.
• Passing bills that limit the police enquiry into the immigration status of crime victims and witnesses.
• Helping to get U.S. citizens registered to vote and participate actively in elections.
• Educating the immigrant community about the legalization and naturalization process by hosting immigration and citizenship forums with free legal consultations.
• Working to make the redistricting process more transparent.
• Educating the community about the complexity of redistricting in committees and at public forums.
• Stopping the Secure Communities Program locally.

We look forward to seeing all the amazing reform our YEOs will bring about in their states, cities, counties, and school districts!

YEOs Tips! GOTV Recommendations From Fellow YEOs

Election Day is November – just a few weeks away! As we have seen in the media, this year’s midterm elections promise to be hotly contested.

In these last few weeks of their campaigns, many YEOs are deeply engaged and everyone has one thing on their mind – GOTV (Get Out The Vote)! So, naturally, since this is a nationwide network of support for young electeds, several of our YEOs have decided to share some of their GOTV best practices with you:

“Start building your team EARLY! GOTV is incredibly hectic (your goal should be to talk to every supporter you’ve identified throughout your campaign within about 5 days), and you need a big team to do it. A month or so away from Election Day, start asking people to sign up for shifts and request off work. Ideally, delegate someone to be in charge of tracking shift sign-ups, and confirm them with people as GOTV approaches. Keep asking until they say no. Then ask them to bring at least one friend.” – State Senator-Elect Angie Buhl, SD

“Organize with your volunteers to provide vans/transportation from college campuses and other heavy traffic locations to the polls.” – State Representative Kesha Ram, VT

“Always exceed your goals! If your field plan calls for you to knock on 60 doors a day, aim for 100. If you need 10 canvassers for a weekend canvassing blitz, aim for 20. It’s much better to work harder and feel confident about your chances than to wonder if you could have done more as you await the election results. Besides, you can sleep after Election Day!” – Conservation Supervisor Anders Ibsen, WA

“Assign strong voter supporters to be street/building complex/block captains to be responsible for getting their fellow voters to the polls (reminder calls, knocking on neighbors’ doors, carpooling to the polls).” – Alderwoman Gina Calder, CT

Click here to review more GOTV Best Practices>>

YEO Spotlight:
Councilman Alejandro Bejarano
(Wellton, AZ)

"Why I Became an Elected Official"

When I ran for office, I ran on the basis of enthusiasm and energy. I promised fresh, new ideas and that's exactly what I have brought to the Wellton Town Council. If public service is done right, you are helping people, and for most people that comes down to us – we are their last resort. Having the ability to help others motivates me to do my job. I have had so much support from my constituents and the feeling of them rallying behind me is extremely gratifying.

However, I have found that my youth has been a bit of a barrier to people taking me seriously. In my short time in politics, I have developed many relationships and built a solid foundation for constituency services, and I am really proud of that. I have done tremendous outreach with the hopes that people will understand that although I am only 20, I may have the ability to help them – whether it be about paying a water bill, questions about zoning and public services, or where the local park or pool is. But, I also think that my youth has been an advantage. I am more accessible and very rarely take no for an answer.

The YEO Network has been a great guide for me, not only professionally, but personally as well. The relationships I have built have helped me understand that I am not alone in the fight for progress and change. Representing a small, but growing, community can be tough, because people are so set in their ways about how things should be done. The YEO staff has been so helpful and so accessible, I could not be more grateful to them. I really do appreciate all of the support from my fellow YEOs and from the Network that helps us be the leaders we want to be.

To see a profile about Councilman Bejarano from his local paper, click here.

You're Invited!

YEO Policy Academy on Foreclosure and Neighborhood Stabilization
December 2-5, 2010
Baltimore, Maryland
Register today!

We’ve all heard reports that the recession is over. Well, this is certainly news to the many individuals and families across the country who are still reeling from rising unemployment, losing their homes to foreclosure, and living in unstable and deteriorating neighborhoods.

The effects of the economic crisis are part of daily life for millions of Americans. There is much work to be done, but the Young Elected Officials Network is here to help progressive young electeds restore America’s faith in good government and put our country on a true and equitable track to recovery.

On December 2 – 5, 2010, the YEO Network will host the YEO Policy Academy on Foreclosure and Neighborhood Stabilization to help empower YEOs to take an active role in effectively addressing the economic crisis and work to prevent foreclosures and predatory financial practices, as well as to stabilize neighborhoods and build sustainable communities.

Register today!
Questions? Email Ryan at rhurst@pfaw.org.

Mentors Wanted:
Civic Opportunities Initiative Network

The YEO Network is looking for individuals who have a history of leadership within the progressive movement and who have the time and skill set necessary to mentor one of our COIN fellow. Civic Opportunities Initiative Network (COIN) are high school students who have recently been given college scholarships and the promise of guidance to become the next generation of progressive leaders.

If you think you have the ability to offer guidance through your experience, then becoming a COIN mentor is perfect for you!

If you know of a young person that would be an ideal mentor, email Raquel at rsimon@pfaw.org with their name and contact info. We’ll help you reach out to them and encourage them to apply!

• Are you a college student or recent grad (5 years) who has an idea of what progressive leadership looks like and what it takes?
• Are you looking to give back to and advance the progressive movement?
• Could you help direct a young leader in identifying and harnessing their political and personal power?
• Are you someone who can offer advice, listen to, and work well with high school grads who are about to enter college?
• Do you have a connection to any of the following cities, in order to visit your mentee at least twice a year?  (Los Angeles, CA; Albuquerque, NM; Miami, FL; New York, NY; Alexandria, VA)

If your answer is YES, then COIN is looking for you! Click here for more info and here to apply>>

Young People For - Pepsi Refresh Challenge

Exciting news! YEO’s sister program, Young People For, is in the running for a Pepsi Refresh grant of $50,000 for the month of October! At the end of each month, the projects that receive the most votes online and via text receive grants from Pepsi. If YP4 receives a grant, that funding will support Fellows’ Blueprints for Social Justice, provide training materials for Fellows and alumni, and help cover some of the day-to-day costs of running the program.

To find out more about Young People For (YP4), visit their website at www.yp4.org.

To win, they’re going to need your help in becoming one of the top ten vote getters by the end of October! You can sign up for short, daily reminders to vote here. Or you can vote for YP4 in the following ways:

1. Directly on the Pepsi Refresh Website>>
2. Facebook through the PepsiRefresh Application>>
3. Text your vote to PEPSI (73774)

We encourage you to vote at least once a day and up to three times a day! Your support is appreciated as we embark on this exciting month

Progressive Policy Corner

Municipal ID Cards
Drum Major Institute for Public Policy
New York, NY
A resident card is available to any resident of New Haven, regardless of their legal status.  The card is an official ID card. It includes the holder's photo, name, address, date of birth, date of issue and expiration, signature, and an identifying nine-digit number. The card is accepted as identification when dealing with city government or the police and grants access to the library, city parks, and recreation services. The card also has a debit function that holds up to $150 to be used at participating New Haven business, as well as city parking meters and garages. It is available to children with the option of listing both emergency contact and allergy information. In year two, the program will allow users to make deposits and withdrawals at ATMs and other locations, use a free bill pay and payroll direct deposit service, and wire money to Mexico and Guatemala at lower cost than what commercial services currently offer. 
Read more about this policy >>

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Language Access
Drum Major Institute for Public Policy
New York, NY
New York’s language access policy consists of three separate measures – each employing a different lever of power – passed over a five-year period. First, in 2003 the City Council passed Local Law 73, an ordinance requiring the Human Resources Administration/ Department of Social Services (HRA/DSS) and all agency contractors to provide interpretation and translation services to individuals who are not proficient in English, and translate all documents into six languages. Second, a Chancellor’s Regulation (A-663) by the New York City School Chancellor required that schools determine within 30 days of a student’s enrollment the primary language spoken by the parents and whether the parents require language assistance. Third, Executive Order No. 120 directs all city agencies that provide direct public services to provide language assistance in the six most common languages in the city, requiring that each agency designate a Language Access Coordinator to oversee the creation and execution of an agency-specific internal language access policy and implementation plan.
Read more about this policy>>