11/29/2021
On the close of this Thanksgiving weekend, it is the perfect time to give thanks - for each of you. Each one of you stepped forward nearly a year ago to engage in Arizona's statewide redistricting effort - something that is abstract, unfamiliar, and imprecise. But you knew that it would have profound impact on your community and our state. You made a commitment to your communities and our state. For today, tomorrow, and the next decade. Thank you.
Together we have monitored every step of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. Its business meetings, public hearings, and mapping sessions. We have commented. We have testified. We have researched, analyzed, networked, and strategized. We have had stunning impact in defining the discussion, promoting the issue to the public, even influencing the influencers. In many ways the Arizona Indivisible volunteer team has out-organized, out-managed, out-imagined, and out-performed the Commission itself. Team members have created an effective and compelling case for fair and competitive districts. We have embodied this truth in Margaret Mead's words: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
We are not done yet. And so, as is often the case, this Thanksgiving greeting comes with an ask.
Please stay engaged until the ink is dry on the final, final district plans. We are in the last few, very important weeks. All our efforts are needed in this period. There are four remaining public input sessions on the draft maps and then several meeting dates in December to adjust boundaries and create final congressional and state legislative district maps. Our voices must remain loud and clear - all Arizonans deserve fair and competitive districts.
HOW TO STAY ENGAGED
Step 1: Note These Dates on Your Calendar
Remaining public input sessions:
* Tuesday, November 30 - Avondale and Pinetop
* Wednesday, December 1 - Payson and Window Rock
* Friday, December 3 - Maricopa County - virtual
* Saturday, December 4 - Tucson and Maryvale
Planned map drawing/boundary adjustment meetings:
(All times to be announced)
* Monday, December 6
* Thursday, December 9
* Thursday, December 16
* Friday, December 17
* Monday, December 20
* Tuesday, December 21
* Wednesday, December 22
Step 2: Prepare to participate again and again - in person, in writing, or virtually. Use this LinkTree tool to find the details for in-person and virtual meetings; to submit comments online in any number of ways; and access additional information.
Step 3: Use these resources to develop your testimony or your written comments. These two resources (A and B) are not publicly posted. While the distribution is wide, these are resources for team members, friends, and allies.
A: District-by-District Summary - This Google presentation gives a snapshot pf each district and a few themes on each of the most relative criteria. Over 100 slides long, discussion of some districts are quite extensive; in other cases, it is quite modest. It is a living document, and we continue to build on it as we understand more about the districts and the impact.
B: Document - Last Push Talking Points - - This Google document provides prompts for your own written or public comments.
C: Team Meeting - Indivisible Redistricting Team Monthly Meeting - Just what it sounds like. Register Here
D: Small Group Discussion - Briefing on Countdown to Fair Districts - Thursdays at Noon. This zoom meeting is an opportunity to catch up and debrief the events of the week past and in anticipation of the week ahead. Register Here
Although our task remains unfinished, our accomplishments are worthy of acknowledgment and recognition in this moment of reflection and thanksgiving. Thank you for your commitment, your actions (past, present, and future), your imagination and creativity in applying your skills, experience, connections, talents, and knowledge - all in the worthy quest for .
Deborah Howard
[email protected]
