September 9, 2021
11 am PT / 2 pm ET

The Bay Area is one of the most diverse regions in the nation, but is this diversity reflected in our political leadership? While representation does not automatically translate into equitable policies, it matters. Leaders who come from communities that experience discrimination and structural racism firsthand bring that knowledge into governing and can be important advocates for policies that dismantle barriers and improve conditions. This is why the Bay Area Equity Atlas tracks the diversity of local electeds as an important indicator of community power. 

This webinar, co-hposted by the Bay Area Equity Atlas and Bay Rising, presents new research on the diversity of electeds in the region after the 2020 elections and a discussion about the barriers that communities of color face in running for — and winning elected office — as well as solutions at the program and policy level that can ensure inclusive, multiracial governance. You can find the analysis here. 

Panelists include: 

• Clarissa Doutherd, Parent Voices Oakland, former candidate for Oakland Unified School District board
• Shanthi Gonzales, Oakland Unified School District
• Michelle Huang, Bay Area Equity Atlas
• Kimi Lee, Bay Rising
• Ellen Wu, Urban Habitat