Journalist Redistricting Training
The workshop will be held from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 28, 2011
at the University Center, Chicago
Journalists will hear from Illinois experts on how Census 2010 numbers will impact political boundaries, what
communities will be most affected, how new state legislation will impact map drawing, and if reform efforts
would have had an impact. Also, get story ideas that will engage readers on the complex subject of redistricting.
Confirmed Speakers Include:
Mr. Orestes Aguillon, Mapping Expert & Consultant, Illinois Campaign for Accountable Redistricting.
Census 2010 data documented population shifts within Illinois. What communities gained and lost
population, and which ones became more or less diverse statewide?
Ms. Ami Gandhi, Esq., Legal Director, Asian American Institute. Illinois redistricting has historically
divided Asian American communities but Governor Quinn’s recent signing of the Redistricting Reform Bill
in Chinatown illustrates the gaining political voice of the Asian American community. What’s the impact?
Ms. Virginia Martinez, Esq., Legislative Staff Attorney, Mexican American Legal Defense and
Educational Fund (MALDEF). Ms. Martinez rejoined MALDEF in 2007 after having been their first
Regional Counsel in 1980. Ms. Martinez was lead counsel in the historic Illinois redistricting cases that
created the first Latino-majority wards and legislative districts in Chicago and is one of the premier Illinois
attorneys on the Voting Rights Act and redistricting. Can the Latino community gain districts in Illinois
without taking away from other minority groups?
Mr. Brad McMillan, Esq., Member, Illinois Reform Commission; Executive Director, Institute for
Principled Leadership in Public Service at Bradley University. Mr. McMillan was the lead member of the
Illinois Reform Commission in investigating Illinois’ flawed redistricting process and became the lead
convener of the Illinois Fair Map Campaign. Is there a Fair Map II on the horizon? What will be different?
Dr. Kent Redfield, PhD., Institute of Government and Public Affairs, University of Illinois. The way
political boundaries are drawn have a direct impact on who wins elections. In Illinois, the political party
that draws the lines has historically benefited in subsequent elections, prompting the question of who is
choosing who: are politicians choosing voters or voters choosing politicians? A frequent media
commentator, Dr. Redfield has studied the relationship between money and politics and has monitored three
redistricting cycles and subsequent campaigns. What is in store for this redistricting cycle and what will its
impact be on future campaigns?
Ms. Whitney Woodward, Redistricting Policy Analyst & Researcher, Illinois Campaign for Political
Reform. Governor Pat Quinn recently signed the Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011 and the Redistricting
Transparency and Public Participation Act. The legislation was received with praise and skepticism, and
Ms. Woodward testified before the Illinois General Assembly on the Bill. What will be the practical impact
of the new law on this redistricting cycle?
Workshop Topics will include:
- Demographic shifts in Illinois population throughout the State;
- The ways in which demographic changes will impact communities of interest throughout the State and the
- impact of this redistricting cycle
- The Voting Rights Act and its impact on ethnic and racial communities, and the likely political battles for
- representation that will be mounted;
- How new legislation will effect the redistricting process;
- Linking participants to an expansive resource network, reference materials and solid story ideas;
- Building the capacity of journalists to engage in a detailed and thoughtful conversation with policy makers
- and stakeholders about Illinois redistricting.
No Cost to Participants: Successful applicants will be reimbursed for travel. Meals will be provided during
workshops. Participants will not receive a stipend for their participation. | 
