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Jailed for a crime she didn't commit, Dreama Caldwell is now taking on the system

Jaisal Noor

April 20, 2022 |

The Real News Network |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Alamance County, North Carolina

Community organizers are leading grassroots efforts for racial and economic justice in North Carolina. Dreama Caldwell is working with the Down Home North Carolina group to engage with local residents, participate in political races, counteract misinformation, and build “a political platform that emphasizes multiracial and cross-class solidarity.”

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How independent map-drawing commissions are transforming redistricting

Frances Nguyen

April 19, 2022 |

Prism |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, California

Many states are trying independent redistricting commissions to take politics out of the process and draw fair maps. The California Citizens Redistricting Commission has a rigorous process to select its 14 members and holds all commission deliberations during public hearings with lots of time for public comment built into the process. The state’s new election maps were unanimously approved and about one third of the new districts are Latino-majority.

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A busy intersection in Edmonton has been dominated by homophobic street preachers for years

Pamela Young

April 18, 2022 |

Xtra |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Edmonton, Alberta

Fearing that consistent homophobic street harassment by a resource center for queer youth was detrimental to their mental health and safety, activists set up a weekly counter protest to drown out the harmful messages. The counter-protest grew from a single person to the Pride Corner on Whyte movement with several hundred social media followers. Over time, the participation of dozens of unhoused and housed queer and trans youth provided opportunities for social service outreach, including a mentorship program that paired youth with older queer and trans participants who offer friendship and emotional support.

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Without the protections of the Voting Rights Act, many look to state solutions

Frances Nguyen

April 18, 2022 |

Prism |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Virginia

Virginia’s VRA protects voters from suppression, discrimination, and intimidation and has effectively stopped racial gerrymandering and intimidation. Its pro-voting measures include requiring materials in multiple languages, the provision of accessibility accommodations, and requiring public review of any local level voting changes. The legislation also creates a pathway for Virginians to bring civil lawsuits if a procedure negatively impacts economically disadvantaged communities or communities of color.

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Could the highly political redistricting process be more independent? San Antonio may find out

Megan Stringer

April 17, 2022 |

San Antonio Express-News |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Diego, California

San Diego’s independent redistricting commission has aimed to take politics out of drawing district maps since 1992 by preventing City Council from drawing or approving its own map. Instead, nine commissioners from over 100 applicants were chosen based on background and qualifications by three randomly selected retired judges. The member selection process, rules for transparency, open public engagement and no tolerance for conflicts of interest are keys to its success. There is more equitable infrastructure investment and greater voter turnout now, which are two positive signs of reduced gerrymandering.

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Que Viva El Barrio: One neighborhood's decades-long fight for a less-polluted future

Ana Ramirez

April 08, 2022 |

San Diego Union-Tribune |

Documentary |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Barrio Logan, California

Residents in Barrio Logan have been fighting for years for policy changes to minimize industry in the area and make the community less polluted. After a decades-long battle, the city council recently passed an act that no new industry can come to the area and created housing-only sections for residents to live comfortably.

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Red/Blue Workshops try to bridge the political divide. Do they really work?

John Burnett

April 06, 2022 |

NPR |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Braver Angels stages workshops in all 50 states to encourage civil discussion and active listening between polarized Democrats and Republicans. Through conversations that ask them to consider stereotypes and "humanize the other," participants say they come away with a better understanding of their commonalities.

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From scandal to scrutiny: How intense citizen oversight reshaped Oakland police

Nigel Duara

April 06, 2022 |

CalMatters |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

Since 2016, complaints filed against Oakland police officers have triggered parallel investigations by both the department's internal affairs unit and the city's Civilian Police Review Agency. When an outcome is disputed, the final decision is made by the Civilian Police Commission, a system that has resulted in the city sustaining complaints against officers at a rate more than double the state average between 2018 and 2020.

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Shiny new ballots: Record number of states eyeing ranked-choice voting

Amanda Pampuro

March 25, 2022 |

Courthouse News Service |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Alaska

More states and cities are adopting ranked-choice voting system, which are said to be friendlier and more inclusive. In a ranked-choice system, voters rank multiple candidates in order of preference and a winner must get over 50% of the votes. This often occurs by being a voter’s second choice, so many argue there is less political vitriol since, rather than ignoring voters committed to other candidates, politicians must appeal to them as at least their second choice. Data in the six California cities that use the system show slight increases in the number of women and people of color running for office.

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These rural organizers have found an answer to dog whistle politics: Multi-racial, working-class solidarity

Jaisal Noor

March 24, 2022 |

The Real News Network |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, North Carolina

Organizers with Down Home North Carolina use deep canvassing, a door-knocking strategy based on active listening and in-depth, nonjudgmental conversation, to spark political discussions with voters who are often left out of the democratic process. Canvassers are trained to center issues of race and class to build solidarity across demographics and recorded high levels of support from voters in 82% of conversations surveyed between November 2021 and January 2022.

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