DDI Advocacy Alert October 2023
Presidents message – Boots to the Booth
It is October and General Election campaigns are running in high gear. There are candidates running for city council across the region. There are campaign events and functions where you can meet and talk to the candidates to determine which candidate best understands and represents you and your communities’ interests. There are a series of candidate forums for these races. Please look for additional information about these events and other opportunities to meet and talk with candidates. DDI will post events and activities as we become aware on our Facebook page.
It is key that you take advantage of these advantages to learn more about the candidates to see how they represent you. Be ready to vote. Confirm you are registered to vote. You can check your registration status by going to My Voter Information – King County. You can register to vote by going to Register to vote – King County, Washington.
Look for YOUR Ballot in your mail. Ballots are being mailed out October 18 th . Be sure to return Your ballot. You can mail it via US Mail, or you can drop it off at Ballot Boxes located throughout King County. The locations of these ballots are found at this link:
Ballot drop boxes – King County, Washington.
Please be sure to vote and Return YOUR Ballot in No Later than November 7 th , but it is best to vote prior to then to be sure your ballot gets postmarked or in a ballot box, so it counts.
YOUR VOTE is YOUR VOICE!!! Use Your Voice and VOTE!
Candidate Forum series
Candidate Forums are being set up across the region. Look at the DDI Facebook page for exact dates, times, and locations for forums in Federal Way, Kent, Renton, and Seattle. Check your local newspapers and community blogs for additional information as well.
National Voter Registration Day
National Voter Registration Day was September 25 th . DDI and other community partners supported activities and events to get more people registered to vote. It is not too late to register to vote for this year’s elections. You can register online at Register to vote – King
County, Washington.
You can register up to election day, but it is best to register in advance, so you get your ballot mailed to you. Young people can register at age 16 although they cannot vote until the elections after their 18 th birthday. Do not delay – Register today.
Seattle Democracy Vouchers
Democracy Vouchers are certificates Seattle residents can give to the candidate of their choice to support that candidates campaign. These vouchers are available to any Seattle resident over the age of 18. Please find your vouchers and use them to support the candidate of your choice. For more information about the Seattle Democracy Voucher please go to Information for Seattle Residents – DemocracyVoucher | seattle.gov
If you can’t find your voucher you can get a replacement voucher at this link Request Replacement Democracy Vouchers – DemocracyVoucher | seattle.gov.
Happy Vouchering!
PCO Training and Support
One of DDIs goals is to support and assist PCOs in their role of supporting and representing their communities. DDI is already in the planning stage of preparing a variety of ways to support and assist PCOs as they prepare for the 2024 election cycle.
DDI will be preparing PCOs for the future opportunities in 2024 including, but not limited to, the Presidential Primary, National Delegates selection, Democratic National Convention, and of course Elections 2024.
Keep an eye out for these events and activities to support you in your role as a community activist and leader and PCO.
DDI Membership Campaign
Look for some exciting information and opportunities to become a DDI member and become an active representative of your community. At DDIs monthly meetings we have a series of presenters that provide our members with the latest information and trainings to help them be up to date and have tools and resources to do their job as a
representative better.
As a member you have access to elected officials, party leaders, and policy decisions makers on a regular basis. If there are community issues of matters of concern these are often discussed at DDI meetings, and we work with and partner with community organizations to help create solutions.
If members have issues or concerns, they want to see addressed we discuss those and determine the best path to move forward on those. If members have someone with resources and valuable information, they think will help them they can let us know and
we will see if this person or organization can come and make a presentation at DDI.
JOIN DDI Today and be prepared for the coming year. You can join DDI by going to Join DDI – DEMOCRATS FOR DIVERSITY (democratsfordiversityandinclusion.org)
DDI Newsletter July 2023
Presidents Message
A 4th of July Reflection and A Call to Action
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness.”
While these words are stirring, they did not include the slaves in America, as evidenced by the recent celebration of Juneteenth, when slaves in the South finally found out they were free in 1865, more than 100 years after the Declaration of Independence. The lives of the slaves were not their own, but rather were property. There was no liberty and no opportunity to pursue happiness.
Fast forward to today, while liberty has been won, each day there are instances that show the direct denial of the right to life due to daily assault and attacks resulting in injury and deaths of Black people and minorities. While freedom has been won, the opportunity to pursue happiness has been denied by redlining, inferior quality schools, inadequate healthcare systems, lack of access to capital, and other measures, rules, legislation, etc. to restrict and limit black. These directly impacted Black people in America reducing their Opportunity to pursue happiness.
That the Bad – The Good I that no there are Primary Elections that can change the elected officials and force them to address and resolve the matters and concerns that impact Black, brown, and other historically neglected communities. Read the article about the importance of the Primary Elections being held August 1t. Be sure to return YOUR Ballot to make YOUR VOICE count and is heard!!
Look for several exciting opportunities to get involved beyond the Primary Elections to increase the power and impact of our communities! The Communities must ban together to overturn and address the recent travesties and actions.
Become a DDI Member today and stay tuned for updates!!!
Primary Election Endorsements (AZ)
who did them (id team), what was process (brief overview of requirements and process), why endorsements matter (why do we do endorsements), and who DDI endorsed (send to website)
DDI Endorsements
DDI’s Endorsement Committee made multiple recommendations that were approved by the membership. City, county, and judicial races were considered covering Seattle, King County Council, Port of Seattle, and other cities across King County.
For the complete list of endorsed candidates go to the DDI website. 2023 DDI CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS – DEMOCRATS FOR DIVERSITY (democratsfordiversityandinclusion.org)
DDI Was There – DDI members have been active across the region representing DDI in numerous community events and activities. The response has been overwhelming.
At the May Washington State Democratic Party Committee Members meeting DDI members advocated for a responsive and equitable plan for the election of delegates to the National Democratic Convention. DDI members will be following the implementation of this plan closely to ensure the election of representative delegates from Washington to the National Democratic Party Convention. DDI Had a table at this State Party meeting and there was a huge interest in the work of DDI.
At the Juneteenth event in Renton DDI members registered more than a dozen new voters and passed out literature about DDI membership.
In July, DDI members were active and attended several Community Candidate Forums to provide the voters in different regions of Seattle and the County opportunities for local voters to hear directly from candidates running for local city council races.
Later this July, DDI Members will be active in the Primary Election campaigns of the endorsed candidates, supporting them with community outreach and engagement activities as well as Ballot return activities.
What have you been doing this summer to increase diversity and inclusion? DDI wants to know so we can acknowledge your work and support and assist you in these efforts. Let us know by sending us photos and background information about your actions. We will highlight them in coming editions of the Advocacy Alert.
New Website – The DDI Website has been revised and updated, thanks to the hard work and leadership of Yvonne Brandon. DDI members supported these efforts and provided feedback.
Check it out at www.democratsfordiversityandinclusion.org.
Please send us your ideas and suggestions for content. The website is a work in progress and needs your thoughts and ideas to meet your needs.
Member Spotlight – Who? What? and why a member of DDI?
Time for Membership – request for action and membership (with correct link to membership form)