Critical Vote Theory
A Moral Mandate for Voting Rights
Resources for voters and those who want to start voter drives.
Find out ways to counteract common reasons people choose not to vote.
The Symposium
September 15, 2022
6:00-7:30PM CST / 7:00-8:30 EST
The third annual KMS Foundation virtual symposium.
About the Symposium:
The symposium brings together leaders and organizations from faith-based, academic, corporate and civic communities, and the community-at-large who recognize this moral imperative for equitable access and full participation in the electoral process. The symposium will provide a plan of action for increasing voter participation and addressing voter suppression in their communities.
Today’s leaders have the power to make a difference one community,
one congregation, and one vote at a time.
We use the term Critical Vote Theory (CVT) to show that voting is more than a civic responsibility. It is a moral imperative. Voting ensures inclusion of the values of all citizens in the governing process. Protecting voting rights is also a moral imperative requiring individuals and organizations to fight the injustices brought by governments, institutions and other structures seeking to deny people their right to vote.
Speakers
Valerie Jarrett
Valerie Jarrett is an American businesswoman and former government official. She served as Senior Advisor to U.S. President Barack Obama and oversaw the White House Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs from 2009 to 2017. She currently serves as board chair of When We All Vote, a nonpartisan organization.
Karen Grigsby Bates
Karen Grigsby Bates is the Senior Correspondent for Code Switch, a podcast that reports on race and ethnicity. A veteran NPR reporter, Bates covered race for the network for several years before becoming a founding member of the Code Switch team. She is especially interested in stories about the hidden history of race in America—and in the intersection of race and culture. She oversees much of Code Switch's coverage of books by and about people of color, as well as issues of race in the publishing industry. Bates is the co-author of a best-selling etiquette book (Basic Black: Home Training for Modern Times) and two mystery novels; she is also a contributor to several anthologies of essays. She lives in Los Angeles and reports from NPR West.
Panel
NsÉ Ufot
Nsé Ufot is the Chief Executive Officer of the New Georgia Project (NGP) and its affiliate, New Georgia Project Action Fund (NGP AF). Nsé leads both organizations with a data-informed approach and a commitment to developing tools that leverage technology with the goal of making it easier for every voter to engage in every election.
Deirdra Reed
Deirdra Reed is a 20-year veteran of community organizing and has spent over a decade in national campaign organizing. Deirdra’s commitment to fairness and building “Beloved Community” anchors her policy change work. She has worked with communities across the country on issues of education, poverty and economic justice, criminal justice reform, healthcare, and immigration reform. She has worked with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) organizing faith leaders and Community Change. She has supported Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in the formation of their social justice ministry and platform; she sits on the Board of Directors for The Black Church Center for Justice (BCC) and Equality and The Multifaith Initiative to End Mass Incarceration (EMI). She is the Senior Strategist for The Progressive National Baptist Convention’s (PNBC) National Social Action Commission.
Currently, Deirdra is a Policy and Advocacy Partner at TNTP, helping to reimagine how education equity conversations happen in communities to build power for impacted families. Her passion for this work stems both from her love for children and her own journey to support her children through the inequitable education system.
Opio Dupree
Opio Dupree is currently serving as a Macy’s fellow for CEO Action for Racial Equity. Prior to his role as a fellow, Opio was Vice President of Government and Public Affairs in the Law Department at Macy’s, Inc. In that position, he led the company’s efforts to impact public policy in state and municipal governments in the western half of the U.S. while serving in leadership positions and managing the company’s relationships with several national, state and local business associations. Prior to working at Macy’s, Inc., Opio was a Chief of Staff to two California Assemblymembers from 2009 to 2016, including holding the position of Senior Consultant to the California Legislative Black Caucus. Opio has taught Masters-level university courses and elementary and high school special education classes in Washington state. He earned his M.Ed. in special education from the University of Washington and his B.S. in environmental policy and assessment from Western Washington University.
Featured Artist
Poet Gold
Poet Gold is a published writer, spoken word performance artist, poet, and community “artivist”. She is an active member of the Arts Mid-Hudson and the “Arts & Community Action Group”. Her work is driven by the desire to triumph over personal challenges and the belief that everyone has greatness inside of them. Through Gold’s performance and writing, she grabs you by the heart and says “Recognize.”