A crucial measure of democracy is the extent to which elected leaders reflect the communities they serve. The more that elected bodies resemble the demographics of their districts, the more likely it is that lawmakers will share and champion constituent priorities over special interests. However, building a reflective democracy requires the implementation of key reforms that will make elected office more accessible and accountable to underrepresented communities. Across the country, advocates are making creative use of data to communicate the need for reform, while organizers are building momentum for a range of community policy priorities, such as bail reform, housing accessibility, and voting rights. In this conversation, we’ll hear from state and national leaders who will explore concrete examples of the role data plays in building a more reflective and representative democracy, and how organizers can use this information to push for a more community centered policy agenda.

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SPEAKERS

Sayu Bhojwani, New American Leaders

Jessica Wisneski, The Public Policy and Education Fund of New York

Michael Malbin, Campaign Finance Institute, a division of the National Institute on Money in Politics  

Moderated by Estevan Muñoz-Howard, Piper Fund

Helpful Resources

• National Conference of State Legislators’ 2018 Legislator Compensation Information
• These voters are using democracy vouchers to influence Seattle’s City Council races
• Our work on public campaign finance is not done
• People Like Us: The New Wave of Candidates Knocking at Democracy’s Door
• Paths to Power: How Every Member Got to Congress

Cosponsors: Piper Fund, Economic Opportunity Funders, Hispanics in Philanthropy, Philanthropy New York, and Philanthropy Northwest.