How Can Philanthropy Promote an Inclusive, Representative Democracy? (PEAK Northern Plains))

Join us to explore the crucial role of civic and voter participation in creating healthy and equitable communities. We will examine examples of community groups and health sector organizations joining forces to strengthen democracy and promote civic and voter participation. Additionally, we will discuss how philanthropy can contribute to strengthening democracy.

Speakers

Emilia Gonzalez Avalos is an immigrant born in Mexico City, raised in Minnesota, and an advocate for social justice and low-wage workers. As the Executive Director of UNIDOS MN, a statewide Latino institution, she promotes young people’s leadership through campaigns and programs to reduce structural harm and promote a multiracial democracy. Emilia has received several awards, including the 2022 Bush Fellowship and the 2020 Ohtli Award. She is an alum of the Hubert H. Humphrey Public Policy Fellows Program and attends the University of St Thomas.

Jeanne Ayers is the leader of Healthy Democracy Healthy People, a coalition comprising of 11 public health organizations. This coalition is committed to promoting health and racial equity by strengthening civic and voter participation and ensuring that all eligible voters have access to the ballot. Ayers has been recognized as a national leader in providing health and racial equity and improving population health. She believes that civic participation and an inclusive, representative democracy are essential for advancing health equity and creating healthy communities.

Lilly Sasse has worked on issues from climate and community resilience to human rights and racial justice. She is an experienced strategic campaigner who has been leading We Choose Us, a pro-democracy campaign coalition since June 2021. Their main focus is on passing pro-democracy legislation at the state level, which includes voting rights, voter access, and campaign finance reform. Their efforts have resulted in the recent passage of the Democracy for the People Act, which is the most comprehensive package of pro-democracy reforms that Minnesota has seen since the 1970s.

Registration

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