The Impact of Building Grassroots Movements · The Impact of Building Grassroots Movements KarthickRamakrishnan Professor of Public policy and Political Science/Associate Dean –UC

The Impact of Building Grassroots Movements

@socalgrantmaker#scg2016 #BeTheChange

The Impact of Building Grassroots Movements

Karthick RamakrishnanProfessor of Public policy and Political Science/Associate Dean – UC Riverside

@socalgrantmaker#scg2016 #BeTheChange

Unequal VoicesCalifornia’s Racial Disparities in Political Participation

Presenter:  Karthick  Ramakrishnan  (col laboration  with  John  Dobard and  team)

#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP

Summary Latinos and Asian Americans face greatest inequalities in voting

Racial disparities are worse in midterm elections and continue in local elections

Racial gaps persist in nearly all forms of participation beyond voting

To reduce racial gaps, political and community leaders should focus on community mobilization, policy design, and process innovation

#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP

#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP

With Automated Voter Registration,Future Focus on Citizenship and GOTV 

#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP

Turnout in Statewide and Local ElectionsEspecially Important

#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP

Vote By Mail: Racial Gaps

#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP

Beyond Voting: Contact Officials

#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP

13%

12%

16%

9%

6%

5%

Nation

California

White

Black

Asian American

Latino

Beyond Voting: Hearings and Meetings

#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP

11%

12%

15%

11%

7%

6%

Nation

California

White

Black

Asian American

Latino

Beyond Voting: Protest (2008)

#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP

3%

5%

6%

4%

4%

3%

Nation

California

White

Black

Asian American

Latino

Beyond Voting: Consumer Activism

#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP

13%

14%

20%

7%

8%

7%

Nation

California

White

Black

Asian American

Latino

#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP

Gaps Remain Even AfterControlling For Education and Income

Data RecommendationsIf we don’t measure it, difficult to track and improve

Expand the range of participation data collected in regular statewide surveys (PPIC, Field, CHIS)

Collect data at multiple levels, including administrative dataCounty‐ and city‐level data collection on who participatesConsider ways to incentivize or mandate collection of local data

#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP

Remaining Challenges How do we get to scale? Investments are working, but big racial gaps remain

How do go from IVE to ICP? Integrated Civic ParticipationAttention being paid, but the measures and the prize still seems to be focused on Voting

How do we go from measuring participation to empowerment?

#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP

Thank You 

Karthick Ramakrishnan

Professor and Associate Dean

School of Public Policy

UC Riverside

[email protected]

@karthickr

#UNEQUALVOICES @AP_CALIFORNIA @UCRSPP

www.AdvancementProjectCA.org/UnequalVoices

The Impact of Building Grassroots Movements

Virginia MosquedaSenior Program Officer – The James Irvine

Foundation

@socalgrantmaker#scg2016 #BeTheChange

Virginia MosquedaThe James Irvine Foundation

#BolderTogetherCALIFORNIA CIVIC

PARTICIPATION FUNDERS

BUILDING LASTING GRASSROOTS

MOVEMENTS FOR CHANGE

10 Statewide

Funders for Civic

Participation in CA

OURVISION

A California where the electorate is representative of

its communities; all people have the ability to shape their

own lives, and realize their dreams; civic leadership

reflects the state’s diversity.

San Diego

OrangeRiverside

San Bernardino

HOW TO BUILD MOVEMENTS AND WIN

DEVELOP & SUPPORTLEADERS

INFLUENCE POLICIES

SUSTAIN LONG-TERM PROGRESS

RESULTS TO DATE

Photo by Ed Crisostomo

TAKEAWAYS FOR FUNDERS

The Impact of Building Grassroots Movements

James WoodsonOrganizing Coordinator – California Calls

@socalgrantmaker#scg2016 #BeTheChange

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau

WHY A FOCUS ON AFRICAN AMERICANS IN CALIFORNIA?1. California has the 5th largest African American population of any state in the country.2. African American continue to disproportionately suffer the pervasive affects of 

discrimination and the growing economic inequality.3. The African American vote has historically been a key part of winning progressive policies 

because of the high levels of voter registration/participation and voting as a block on social and economic justice issues.

4. The Likely African American voters is aging and not being replaced by younger African American voters.

THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT

Training and supporting 12 African American Groups in adding integrated voter engagement to their power‐ building strategies.

CONTEXT Increased awareness and activism

around Police Violence & Mass Incarceration.

Declining African American Vote. Political Power Building aspect of

Movement-building.

KEY CONSTITUENCIES1. African American Young Adults2. African American Formerly

Incarcerated3. African American Women4. African American Immigrants

African American Civic Engagement Project Groups