On September 28, 2021, we unveiled our Drawing Democracy Coalition Unity Maps. These maps, which include proposals for all 160 state House of Representative and 40 state Senate districts, would apply to voters for the next decade.
We are extremely proud of these maps for one key reason: they take dramatic steps to empower Black and brown, low income, and immigrant individuals across Massachusetts. For example, in our state House of Representatives map, we increased the number of majority-Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) districts from 20 to 29. This includes five majority-Latino districts and six majority-Black districts. These districts are located throughout the state, in communities most known for being diverse, like Boston and Springfield. But they are also in communities that have rapidly become more diverse, like Framingham and New Bedford.
Our state Senate map builds off this effort, increasing the number of majority-BIPOC districts from three to seven. This includes one majority-Black district in Boston, and a majority-Latino district anchored in Lawrence. Similar districts across the state would empower traditionally underserved voters in cities such as Brockton, Chelsea, and Revere.
With these maps, we hope to help create a government that is more attentive and responsive to the needs of its residents, especially its Black and brown, low income, and immigrant communities. For decades, the state's Black, Latino, and Asian-American residents have seen their needs and interests discounted by policymakers who do not understand them, or care to understand them. Multiple crises, like the COVID19 pandemic, rising rents, an unstable job market, and the impacts of climate change, have all exacerbated these inequities. Yet through these maps, traditionally underserved voters have the opportunity to elect individuals that better reflect their lived experiences.
We are only able to celebrate these maps - and celebrate them we should - because of all the hard work by every single organization in the Drawing Democracy Coalition. Over the past few years, numerous organizations helped get out the count for the 2020 Census: crucial because that data is used to conduct redistricting. They also spoke with community residents, gaining a better understanding of how said residents wanted to be represented in their democracy. They spent dozens of evening and weekend hours mining through the Census data to try and craft districts that pleased everyone.
Yet as we thank our partner organizations, one glaring fact remains: our work is far from done, as we must fight to make these maps a reality in Massachusetts. For that, we need your help. Can you contact the state's Special Joint Committee on Redistricting and urge them to pass our Unity Maps in full? You can contact House Chair Mike Moran at Michael.Moran@mahouse.gov or (617) 722-2014. You can contact Senate Chair Will Brownsberger at William.Brownsberger@masenate.gov or (617) 722-1280. Additionally, you can see the full list of committee members here.