Spotlight on the News: Inside MI redistricting with Sue Hammersmith, Nancy Wang & Mariana Martinez wxyz.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wxyz.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
John Chamberlin
John Chamberlin, professor emeritus of political science and public policy at University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy, describes himself as a “redistricting junkie.” Not unexpectedly, he possesses a keen interest in and understanding of the efforts under way to develop Michigan’s new independent redistricting system.
Even though he claims to be “giving retirement a try, seven years after officially retiring,” he’s remained engaged: During the 2019-20 school year, he directed a student research project focused on “communities of interest” in the redistricting system.
Chamberlin, a faculty affiliate of the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) at the Ford School, is moderating a webinar on Thursday titled “The next big thing: Redistricting in Michigan and the role of communities of interest.”
Michigan’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission is expected to mull over ways to meet a constitutional deadline for district maps after the federal government announced last week it would delay census data integral to the map-drawing process.
But the commission s prospective closed-session deliberations on the issue have raised concerns about transparency in the new redistricting process. Barely out of the gate, and what was to be a fully open and transparent commission is now shrouded in closed door meetings. Interesting, GOP consultant and Allegan County Republican Jason Watts tweeted Thursday.
Census Bureau data crucial to the redistricting process won’t be available until Sept. 30, which creates a problematic delay with the constitutional timeline for redrawing Michigan’s state House, state Senate and congressional districts.
Nonprofit coalition will work to get underrepresented communities involved in MI redistricting
Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
DETROIT, MI - JULY 19: A view of Downtown Detroit looking south on Woodward Avenue is shown July 19, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit s emergency manager Kevin Orr filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy July 18, 2013 making Detroit the largest city to file for bankruptcy in U.S. history. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
By: Max White
and last updated 2021-02-18 08:31:46-05
(WXYZ) â The Michigan Nonprofit Association said it is working with a coalition to get underrepresented communities in Michigan involved in the redistricting process.
The MNA will work with several groups across the state to help promote racial equity as the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission meets throughout the year to redraw the state s political lines.
Nonprofit consortium launches campaign to give underrepresented communities voice in redistricting
Nonprofits will help engage local communities to participate in redistricting efforts
Goal is impartial districts that give underrepresented communities voice at local, state, federal levels
Michigan Nonprofit Association
Mariana Martinez, director of civic engagement initiatives at the Michigan Nonprofit Association, discusses the launch of a nonprofit campaign to engage underrepresented communities in the state s redistricting process.
A nonprofit coalition led by the Michigan Nonprofit Association on Wednesday launched a campaign to engage historically underrepresented communities in the state s redistricting process.
The campaign will raise awareness of the process and work to draw residents into efforts to develop impartial district maps for Michigan. By doing so, the consortium aims to promote racial equity, giving communities of color a voice in decision-making at the loca