Political Equity Project

“When we avoid difficult conversations, we trade short term discomfort for long term dysfunction.” -Peter Bromberg

Legislatures as we know them today, we’re built in a different time, with different public servants in mind. We need institutions that represent the society & communities we live in today.

Nevada's "citizen Legislature" is anything but – The Nevada Independent Nevada’s founding fathers, when they first drafted our state’s Constitution, had what they believed to be a cleverly progressive idea: What if, instead of having a professional body of legislators beholden to their own interests, Nevada instead elected citizens who legislated part-time?

“The exodus hasn’t gone unnoticed. Her Term, an Atlanta nonprofit that recruits progressive women in Georgia to run for public office, thinks making counseling services more accessible to candidates and elected officials could help.”

Her Term launches unique therapy initiative to help retain candidates, elected officials - Atlanta Civic Circle Focused on tackling Atlanta'smost pressing civic challenges

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/women-of-color-are-changing-the-dialogue-at-the-legislature/?amp=1

Women of color are changing the dialogue in WA’s Legislature – The Seattle Times Women of color are changing the dialogue in WA’s Legislature April 19, 2022 at 2:31 pm | Updated April 19, 2022 at 2:36 pm This image is currently not available State Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, left, and Sen. Manka Dhingra confer on the floor of the Washington state Senate on March 2, 2018. Saldaña a...

“While recent gains in diversity in US state legislatures are notable, state legislatures remain disproportionately white and male. In this critical perspective piece, we examine the gains in representation and entrance to office of a group legislators who comprise an important intersection of identity in American politics: q***r women of color.”

Legislating as Your Full Self: Q***r Women of Color in US State Legislatures (2022). Legislating as Your Full Self: Q***r Women of Color in US State Legislatures. Journal of Women, Politics & Policy. Ahead of Print.

DEIJ / Cultural humility training should be a core part of every elected official’s experience when serving in political institutions. We would challenge that it should happen as part of an on-boarding process and then annually - as cultural humility can take longer than one training to develop and winning an election doesn’t mean you know how to supervise or how to lead people who don’t share your lived experience.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/washington-insurance-chief-mike-kreidler-apologizes-for-using-racist-slurs/

Washington insurance chief Mike Kreidler apologizes for using racist slurs Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler apologized in a statement after a half-dozen state workers said he referred to people with slurs and belittled staffers.

If we really believe in representative democracy, and the value of a person’s labor, we must consider what we are asking of our elected officials at the local and state level and what we are willing to pay for it. The current system of public service values wealthy, older, non-parenting, retirees. That doesn’t sound like equity & inclusion to us.

Some state lawmakers calling it quits, can't afford to serve Various state legislators around the country are calling it quits this year, in part because of the low pay

https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2022-04-14/administration-unveils-steps-to-boost-racial-equity-in-govt

Biden Administration Unveils Steps to Boost Equity in Gov't The Biden administration has released hundreds of strategies it's taking or will take to boost equity across the federal government.

“In our politics, media, culture, but most particularly in our schools, we have made a virtue of diversity, drawing attention to it and celebrating it. This seems an obvious and laudable solution, but paradoxically incorrect when seen through the lens of the authoritarian disposition. “The things that multiculturalists believe will help people appreciate and thrive in democracy—appreciating difference, talking about difference, displaying and applauding difference—are the very conditions that encourage authoritarians not to heights of tolerance, but to their intolerant extremes,” wrote Stenner and Haidt .

Diversity, equity, and inclusion: What if we’re doing it wrong? No reasonable person wants anything other than for the United States to benefit from the diversity of its people. To call diversity a strength is more than a pleasant homily; it is a core civic value embraced by large majorities of our people. But what if we’re doing it wrong? And not merely a few...

Committed to helping women and people of color succeed beyond the campaign, once they’ve been elected?

Take a look at this great job opportunity!
Re:power, State Innovation Exchange, Local Progress

Hiring: Director, Civic Engagement Programs Position: Director, Progressive Governance Academy Status: Full Time Location: Anywhere in the U.S. convenient to regular travel Deadline: Open until filled About the Progressive Governance Academy The purpose of the Progressive Governance Academy (PGA) is to build and develop the lea