Charles Brown

The council meeting focused on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion across Wisconsin state government. The council reviewed the meeting agenda. The council also received remarks from the state offices. The Community Engagement Subcommittee discussed recommended changes to their work plan, including outreach to federal and state-recognized tribal nations for cultural events and interactions, and the goal of being more transparent. The Data and Policy Subcommittee focused on recruitment and had presentations from the Department of Corrections and DHS to gain a better understanding of state hiring practices.

The People's Maps Commission held a virtual public hearing for the 4th Congressional District. The hearing included testimony from subject matter experts on the Voting Rights Act and the impacts of redistricting on underrepresented populations. The commission members discussed the importance of fair legislative maps and working together with citizens to achieve them. They also announced a partnership with the MGG Redistricting Lab for data analysis.

The meeting of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Equity and Inclusion focused on providing strategic guidance to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across Wisconsin state government. The council welcomed three new members and discussed recommendations from subcommittees. Key topics included the need for recognition of regional organizations, strengthening the Department of Tourism’s community relationships by expanding the calendar of ethnic events, and supporting additional investments in Native American tourism.

The People's Maps Commission held a virtual executive session to discuss and vote on draft map-drawing criteria. These criteria, developed after gathering input from Wisconsinites and redistricting experts, will guide the commission in using 2020 U.S. Census data to create fair district maps. The criteria are divided into four groups based on importance and feasibility, including adherence to federal requirements, consideration of communities of interest, population tuning, and partisan fairness.

The meeting of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Equity and Inclusion included a roll call and celebratory announcements. Vanessa McDowell received the combined city county community humanitarian award, and the University of Wisconsin Green Bay sponsored the bias inside us exhibition. The meeting agenda was reviewed and the minutes from the November 2021 meeting were approved. The council discussed the equitable recovery grant program and heard from Governor Evers and Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld.