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The Impact of Building Grassroots Movements
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The Impact of Building Grassroots Movements
Karthick RamakrishnanProfessor of Public policy and Political Science/Associate Dean – UC Riverside
@socalgrantmaker#scg2016 #BeTheChange
Unequal VoicesCalifornia’s Racial Disparities in Political Participation
Presenter: Karthick Ramakrishnan (col laboration with John Dobard and team)
#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP
Summary Latinos and Asian Americans face greatest inequalities in voting
Racial disparities are worse in midterm elections and continue in local elections
Racial gaps persist in nearly all forms of participation beyond voting
To reduce racial gaps, political and community leaders should focus on community mobilization, policy design, and process innovation
#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP
#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP
With Automated Voter Registration,Future Focus on Citizenship and GOTV
#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP
Turnout in Statewide and Local ElectionsEspecially Important
#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP
Vote By Mail: Racial Gaps
#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP
Beyond Voting: Contact Officials
#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP
13%
12%
16%
9%
6%
5%
Nation
California
White
Black
Asian American
Latino
Beyond Voting: Hearings and Meetings
#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP
11%
12%
15%
11%
7%
6%
Nation
California
White
Black
Asian American
Latino
Beyond Voting: Protest (2008)
#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP
3%
5%
6%
4%
4%
3%
Nation
California
White
Black
Asian American
Latino
Beyond Voting: Consumer Activism
#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP
13%
14%
20%
7%
8%
7%
Nation
California
White
Black
Asian American
Latino
#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP
Gaps Remain Even AfterControlling For Education and Income
Data RecommendationsIf we don’t measure it, difficult to track and improve
Expand the range of participation data collected in regular statewide surveys (PPIC, Field, CHIS)
Collect data at multiple levels, including administrative dataCounty‐ and city‐level data collection on who participatesConsider ways to incentivize or mandate collection of local data
#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP
Remaining Challenges How do we get to scale? Investments are working, but big racial gaps remain
How do go from IVE to ICP? Integrated Civic ParticipationAttention being paid, but the measures and the prize still seems to be focused on Voting
How do we go from measuring participation to empowerment?
#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP
Thank You
Karthick Ramakrishnan
Professor and Associate Dean
School of Public Policy
UC Riverside
@karthickr
#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP
www.AdvancementProjectCA.org/UnequalVoices
The Impact of Building Grassroots Movements
Virginia MosquedaSenior Program Officer – The James Irvine
Foundation
@socalgrantmaker#scg2016 #BeTheChange
Virginia MosquedaThe James Irvine Foundation
#BolderTogetherCALIFORNIA CIVIC
PARTICIPATION FUNDERS
BUILDING LASTING GRASSROOTS
MOVEMENTS FOR CHANGE
10 Statewide
Funders for Civic
Participation in CA
OURVISION
A California where the electorate is representative of
its communities; all people have the ability to shape their
own lives, and realize their dreams; civic leadership
reflects the state’s diversity.
San Diego
OrangeRiverside
San Bernardino
HOW TO BUILD MOVEMENTS AND WIN
DEVELOP & SUPPORTLEADERS
INFLUENCE POLICIES
SUSTAIN LONG-TERM PROGRESS
RESULTS TO DATE
Photo by Ed Crisostomo
TAKEAWAYS FOR FUNDERS
The Impact of Building Grassroots Movements
James WoodsonOrganizing Coordinator – California Calls
@socalgrantmaker#scg2016 #BeTheChange
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau
WHY A FOCUS ON AFRICAN AMERICANS IN CALIFORNIA?1. California has the 5th largest African American population of any state in the country.2. African American continue to disproportionately suffer the pervasive affects of
discrimination and the growing economic inequality.3. The African American vote has historically been a key part of winning progressive policies
because of the high levels of voter registration/participation and voting as a block on social and economic justice issues.
4. The Likely African American voters is aging and not being replaced by younger African American voters.
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT
Training and supporting 12 African American Groups in adding integrated voter engagement to their power‐ building strategies.
CONTEXT Increased awareness and activism
around Police Violence & Mass Incarceration.
Declining African American Vote. Political Power Building aspect of
Movement-building.
KEY CONSTITUENCIES1. African American Young Adults2. African American Formerly
Incarcerated3. African American Women4. African American Immigrants
African American Civic Engagement Project Groups