Program Description

How can Missouri funders help to support an independent, transparent redistricting process that ensures that communities are fully and fairly represented locally, at the state level, and in Congress?

Political districts are redrawn every 10 years after the census to reflect population changes. The process is intended to ensure fair representation of all residents. The extent to which communities are fairly represented profoundly influences policies and resources around issues like education, health care, economic development, infrastructure, and the environment.

Each state has its own timeline and process for redistricting. Missouri is of special national interest due to challenges to the “one person, one vote” standard, which some argue allows the redistricting commission to ignore children and noncitizens when redrawing district boundaries.

Join us for a panel discussion to learn why and how philanthropy is mobilizing to promote fair representation in redistricting. This program will be of special interest to funders across the state who have participated in supporting census efforts to reach hard-to-count communities.

Guest Speakers

• Patricia A. Swann, Senior Program Officer, The New York Community Trust; Chair of the New York Census Equity Fund; Fair Representation in Redistricting Advisory Committee Member 
• Cathy Duvall, Founder, Democracy Ascent Advisors
• Jocelyn Bissonnette, Director, Funders Census Initiative at Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation

Conversation facilitated by Alexandra Rankin, Director of Government Affairs, Missouri Foundation for Health

Questions? Contact deb@centerforgiving.org.