Get Engaged! New Developments in California's Civic Engagement Efforts

The California Civic Engagement Project (CCEP)

at the UC Davis Center for Regional Change

Engage!

CCEP Newsletter

May 27, 2016

Welcome to the CCEP's new monthly newsletter,

Engage!

Our civic landscape is heating up as we approach the June 7 California Primary. Take a look at some of the many exciting and inspiring civic engagement efforts that are happening around our state, including new developments at CCEP. Please read and share!

Mindy Romero, Ph.D.

Director

The CCEP is now on Twitter. Follow us!

Greg has joined the CCEP as Our New Research Associate!

Greg Keidan is a new Research Associate with the California Civic Engagement Project at the Center for Regional Change. Greg worked previously with the nonprofit organizations AmericaSpeaks , The Common Knowledge Group, and the Institute for Local Government. He studied public engagement strategies with The Institute for Sustained Dialogue & Fielding Graduate University. His articles on civic engagement strategies have appeared in Western Cities Magazine and The National Civic Review , and he authored several research reports for the Institute for Local Government including A Local Official's Guide to Immigrant Civic Engagement . He holds a B.S. in Biology from the College of Wooster and a Ph.D. A.B.D. from the University of New Mexico in Neuroscience. Greg enjoys live music, deliberative democracy, science fiction, the culinary arts and walking his dog.

Spotlight on the Civic Engagement Field

Each month, the CCEP highlights the work of a community organization that has made a meaningful impact on civic engagement.

2016 Primary California Online Voter Guide Released

All state and federal candidates featured at www.calvoter.org

Voters looking for reliable information to help them prepare to vote in California's June 7, 2016 Primary Election will find it online at www.calvoter.org.

The California Voter Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization recently released its new California Online Voter Guide, a comprehensive listing of all state and federal candidates on California's ballot. The guide lists all 39 candidates running in six different parties for President, 34 candidates running for the U.S. Senate, and hundreds of state and congressional candidates running for the State Legislature and U.S. House of Representatives.

National Institute for Civil Discourse Launches Revive Civility Campaign

The National Institute for Civil Discourse kicked off their Revive Civility Campaign this week in response to alarming levels of incivility in the 2016 presidential race. Recent polling by Weber Shandwick found that 95 percent of Americans think civility is a problem, with 74 percent reporting that it has gotten worse in recent years. Seventy percent think that incivility has risen to "crisis" levels, an increase from 2014.

The campaign will focus on defining civility, fostering conversations that will help candidates and elected officials transcend their political differences, and empowering the public to hold politicians accountable for their actions. There are three essential components to this campaign:

1. Standards of Conduct for Campaigns: NICD, in collaboration with political leaders, state legislators, leading researchers and civility experts, is rolling out a Standards of Conduct for Campaigns. The Standards should serve as a guide for candidates, the media, and the public as they bear witness to the election season. As the nation becomes consumed by the heated rhetoric of a divisive campaign season, having clear, research-backed definitions is essential to building a dialogue on this important issue.

2. Citizen Toolkits: We are empowering citizens to get off the sidelines. We must call on our elected officials to act civilly, denounce examples of bad behavior, and not compromise on this foundational element of our democracy. NICD's Citizen Toolkit provides actions that citizens can take to get off the sidelines and start Reviving Civility in our politics and in our everyday lives.

3. Text, Talk, Revive Civility: Through an innovative text messaging platform, Text, Talk, Revive Civility will bring together thousands of citizens across the country to educate them on how civility strengthens our democracy, how to advance a more civil discourse, and how to hold elected officials and candidates accountable when they do not uphold our ideals.

SeePolitical Releases Video Short on Prop 50

California Voters to Decide on Suspension of Legislators Initiative via June 7 Ballot

SeePolitical is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that makes the electoral process and ballot propositions entertaining and easy to understand. They recently released a very short video designed to help California Voters make an informed decision when they vote yes or no on Prop. 50 in the June 7 Primary Election.

Featured Events

The California Roast

Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin De Leon

Tuesday, May 31st, 2016

Sheraton Grand Sacramento

The California Roast, presented by the California Center for Civic Participation, is one of Sacramento's most prestigious political events. The spirited exchange provides humor and insights about participants and the history and future of California's politics. This year's roastee is Senate President pro Tempore Kevin De Leon. The M.C. will be Assembly Member Fabian Núñez and roasters include state Republican party chair Speaker Emeritus Toni Atkins, Speaker Anthony Rendon, and Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson.

Limited tickets are still available at $400 each. To reserve your seat call 916-443 -2229 or email muldavin@californiacenter.org.

Recent Events

Mindy Romero Delivers TEDx Talk on The Power of The Youth Vote

On Monday May 1, Mindy Romero was a featured speaker at the UC Davis annual TEDx conference. Now in its sixth year, this event was held at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts and the theme was "Igniting X." Check out Mindy's inspiring 15 minute presentation on the power of the youth vote, and please share it with young people.

Dr. Romero Presents New CCEP Research at University of California Center Sacramento

Talk Highlights Possible Impacts of California Election Reforms on Voter Turnout

On Friday May 6, Mindy Romero presented a lecture titled "What to Expect this June and November? The Effect of New Election Reforms on California's Voter Turnout" at the University of California Center Sacramento. This event marked the debut of CCEP's newest fact sheet, "California Turnout Rates in Primary Elections: 2004-2014."

Mindy Romero Featured Panelist at California State Association of Counties Conference

Mindy Romero participated in a panel at the May 18 California State Association of Counties Legislative Conference session, " November Election Action" at the Sacramento Convention Center. She spoke about voter registration trends and the impact election reforms have on voter turnout. For more information about the conference, visit the CSAC website.

CCEP Research on California Election Reforms Presented at State Capitol

Dr. Romero presented new CCEP research on recent California election reforms at the State Capitol building on May 20th. Her presentation examined the recent surge in online voter registration in the state, vote-by-mail use and the pot ential effect of possible new reforms on California's historically low national ranking in voter turnout.

Sierra Health Foundation Speaker Series Event

"Brown is the New White: Harnessing the Power of the New American Majority"

On May 25th, the Sierra Health Foundation's Speaker Series held an event, Brown is the New White: Harnessing the Power of the New American Majority . The event took place at the Sierra Health Foundation's Sacramento headquarters and was telecast live at the Center for Health Program Management in Merced. Dr. Mindy Romero was one of the featured panelists. Click here to learn more about the Sierra Health Foundation's Speaker Series.

Community Impact Success Story

Sonoma County Residents Successfully Push for Santa Rosa Rent Control Ordinance

Thanks to the combined advocacy efforts of students, faculty, faith and labor groups, the Santa Rosa City Council recently directed staff to draft a rent ordinance by a 4-3 vote. The ordinance would cap rent increases at 3% per year on apartments built before 1995, as well as passed a 45 day moratorium on rent control. This action by the Santa Rosa City Council couldn't be more timely, as Santa Rosa rents have increased nearly 40 percent in the past four years . The efforts of the hundreds who advocated tirelessly for this issue could inspire others to demand renters protection and affordable housing. Learn more here.

CCEP Outreach: In the Media

CCEP data and analyses on civic engagement trends are widely cited in the media. Take a look!

CCEP Participates in California Counts T own Hall

On May 17, Mindy Romero was a featured panelist at a San Francisco town hall meeting on California's role in the 2016 election . The event, hosted by KQED public radio, was held at the Brava Theater in San Francisco.

Los Angeles Public Radio Show "Press Play" Discusses Voter Engagement

CCEP Director Mindy Romero was a guest today on "Press Play" with Madaline

Brand on the Los Angeles based National Public Radio affiliate KCRW. She discussed engagement of Central Valley residents in the upcoming election. Listen here

New San Francisco Chronicle Article

CCEP Director Mindy Romero was quoted in a May 25 San Francisco Chronicle ar ti c le on the importance of the youth vote in this year's presidential race . While young people have historically voted at much lower rates than older Americans, things may be shifti ng this year as the number of eligible Millennials matches Baby-Boomers for the first time and young adults increasingly feel they have a stake in the outcome of this electi on.

Capitol Weekly Article on Voter Engagement

CCEP Director Mindy Romero was quoted in a May 24 Capitol Weekly article ti tled, " Hey Voters, Watch the Birdee ." The focus of the article is work being done by our partners at SeePolitical, a Los Angeles-based non-profit aimed educating voters and increasing election turnout.

I Didn't Vote! Civic DisEngagement and the DisInterested Voter

CCEP Director Mindy Romero was a featured guest on the Maddy Report on April 28. She discussed reasons behind voter disengagement with Maddy Institute Executive Director Mar k Keppler. View the brief discussion here.

Forum On The Road: Young Voters Speak Out

KQED's weekday morning show Forum invited Mindy Romero to participate in an "On the Road" panel discussion at Sonoma State University on April 27. The topic was courting the millenial vote, and included discussions with Sonoma State University students about the political buzz on campus and what issues are most important to them. Learn more here.

Should 16 Year Olds Be Allowed to Vote?

Romero was a panelist on Forum again on May 11th for a discussion about whether 16 year olds should have the right to vote in local San Francisco elections. The county and city Board of Supervisors recently approved a ballot measure for the November election that would lower the city's voting age to 16. Panelists also included members of the San Francisco Youth Commission , which heavily promoted the measure, arguing that a lower voting age will increase voter engagement. The discussion covered similar legislation that has passed in other cities and explored what voting at 16 would mean for elections and politics. Check out the story.

UC Davis California Civic Engagement Project

msromero@ucdavis.edu

CCEP Advisory Committee

Kim Alexander President and Founder California Voter Foundation	Matt A. Barreto Professor, Dept. of Political Science Professor, Dept. of Chicana/o Studies University of California, Los Angeles	Jonathan Fox Professor, School of International Service American University
Luis R. Fraga Arthur Foundation Endowed Professor of Transformative Latino Leadership Professor of Political Science University of Notre Dame	Lisa Garcia Bedolla Chancellor's Professor of Education and Political Science University of California, Berkeley	Bruce Haynes Associate Professor, Dept. of Sociology University of California, Davis
Jongho Lee Professor Dept. of Political Science Western Illinois University	Peter Levine Lincoln Filene Professor of Citizenship & Public Affairs Director of CIRCLE: The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service, Tufts University	Matt Mahan Cofounder and CEO Brigade
James Muldavin Executive Director California Center for Civic Participation and Youth Development	Karthick Ramakrishnan Professor of Public Policy University of California, Riverside	Ricardo Ramirez Associate Professor, Dept. of Political Science University of Notre Dame
J ason Reece Director of Research Kirwan Institute	Cruz Reynoso Professor of Law Emeritus University of California, Davis	Dan Schnur Director Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics University of Southern California

California Civic Engagement Project

The California Civic Engagement Project (CCEP) is housed at the UC Davis Center for Regional Change and was established to inform the public dialogue on representative governance in California. The CCEP is engaging in pioneering research to identify disparities in civic participation across place and population. It is well positioned to inform and empower a wide range of policy and organizing efforts in California to reduce disparities in state and regional patterns of well-being and opportunity. Key audiences include public officials, advocacy groups, political researchers and communities themselves.

UC Davis Center for Regional Change

The UC Davis Center for Regional Change (CRC). The CRC is a catalyst for innovative, collaborative, and action-oriented research. It brings together faculty and students from different disciplines, and builds bridges between university, policy, advocacy, business, philanthropy and other sectors. The CRC's goal is to support the building of healthy, equitable, prosperous, and sustainable regions in California and beyond.