Introduction

Discussion of the need for and importance of fair representation to establish a foundational understanding of the issues we are trying to solve. 

Time: 3:00 - 3:15 pm

Ranked Choice Voting

A live fireside chat style conversation between three women experts on ranked choice voting as a solution to the representation crisis in our current system. Here audience members will learn about viable, scalable, and transformative solutions directly from the experts themselves.

Time: 3:15 - 3:40 pm

The Fair Representation Act

A live fireside chat style conversation between two women experts on the Fair Representation Act as a solution to the representation crisis in our current system. Women experts leading the effort to advance the Fair Representation Act will share about why the FRA is viable, scalable, and transformative.

Time: 3:40 - 4:00 pm

Take Action Panel

Live panel discussion between three to five “on-the-ground” experts that will share their experience in working to advance ranked choice voting and the Fair Representation Act at the local, state, and national levels.  Here audience members will learn about tangible action steps they can take to join us in advancing these viable, scalable, and transformative solutions.

Time: 4:00 - 4:50 pm

INTRODUCTION

A'shanti Gholar

President of Emerge

A’shanti F. Gholar serves as the president of Emerge, the only organization dedicated to recruiting and training Democratic women to run for office. In this role, she leads the organization and steers its overall strategy and direction, overseeing a national staff as well as affiliates across the country. For over 15 years, A’shanti has been a grassroots organizer and activist for women, communities of color and progressive causes. 

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EXPERT DISCUSSION 1

Rebecca Chavez-Houck

Former UT legislator, Leadership Coach, and Ranked Choice Voting Expert

Rebecca Chavez-Houck holds a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication and a Master of Public Administration (MPA), both from the University of Utah (U of U). She represented Salt Lake City’s District 24 in the Utah House of Representatives from 2008-18, focusing on public policy related to health and human services as well as voter engagement and access.

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Nelsie Yang

Councilmember for the City of St. Paul, MN

Nelsie Yang serves as the elected Councilmember for the City of Saint Paul’s 6th Ward. At 27 years old and a daughter of Hmong refugees, she is the youngest and first Hmong American woman to be elected to St Paul’s City Council.

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Deb Otis

Director of Research and Policy at FairVote

Deb Otis is the Director of Research and Policy at FairVote. With a decade of experience in research and analytics, Deb is passionate about sharing the data-driven case for why our country needs election reform.

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EXPERT DISCUSSION 2

Charlotte Clymer

Charlotte Clymer is a writer, LGBTQ activist, communications consultant, and military veteran. She writes "Charlotte's Web Thoughts," a Substack blog/newsletter that was nominated for the 2023 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Blog.

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Charlotte Hill

Director of the Democracy Policy Initiative at UC Berkeley

Charlotte is the director of the Democracy Policy Initiative at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy. A trained political scientist, Charlotte researches how to expand democratic access and equity through public policy. She regularly advises organizations focused on improving election and voting laws and increasing civic participation.

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Sol Mora

Advocacy Director at Coalition of Communities of Color

Sol Mora was born in Tijuana, Mexico, and grew up in Salem, Oregon. Currently, Sol is the Advocacy Director at the Coalition of Communities of Color. 

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TAKE ACTION PANEL

Daniella Ballou-Aaers

CEO and Co-Founder, Leadership Now Project

Daniella Ballou-Aares is the CEO and Co-Founder of the Leadership Now Project, a national membership organization of business and thought leaders committed to renewing American democracy.

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Jackie Hope Glass

Delegate for the VA State Legislature

Certified Doer – Partnership Grower – Civic Connector

Jackie Glass is a self-proclaimed Certified Doer, Mama and Veteran from the Chicagoland area. She served in the United States Navy for eleven years as a cryptologist where she deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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Jeanne Massey

Executive Director of FairVote Minnesota

Bio coming soon!

Kenia Peregrino

Statewide Coordinator at Washington for Equitable Representation

Kenia is the statewide coordinator for Washington for Equitable Representation (WER), a project of the Washington Community Alliance. WER is a statewide, multi-racial coalition fighting to achieve equitable representation through proportional ranked-choice voting and other democracy reforms.

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April England-Albright

Legal Director of Black Voters Matter

For more than 24 years, April England-Albright has worked in the area of civil rights law, first as a partner at Chestnut, Sanders, Sanders, Pettaway, Campbell and Albright and institutions then through her own law firm, where her experiences  included serving as an attorney in the “Black Farmers Lawsuit”, which to date is the largest discrimination lawsuit against the United States, and litigating cases, which addressed race discrimination in the workplace, voting disenfranchisement caused by gerrymandering and other voter suppression tactics, and criminal defense.

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