Accomplishments
Major accomplishments by the Win/Win Network in 2010 and 2011 include:
Redistricting Advocacy: Promoting Fair Representation for People of Color
To engage in redistricting advocacy, Win/Win created an ad-hoc coalition, United for Fair Representation. The primary objective was to advocate for as many majority people of color congressional and legislative districts as possible. Through this effort, the network and key partners, particularly OneAmerica, mobilized over 600 people to attend hearings of the WA State Redistricting Commission, of which 200 testified in favor of our “Unity Maps”. Our aggressive earned media campaign resulted in over 60 stories in major media outlets. Ultimately, our advocacy efforts led to the creation of Washington’s first majority people of color congressional district (CD-9) and four majority people of color legislative districts, including a majority Latino district in Yakima County.
Strategic Campaigns: Changing the Voting System
In 2011, Win/Win’s affiliate, Central WA Progress (CWP), ran two campaigns to change voting systems in Yakima County, where people of color are the majority. Both of these campaigns centered on dismantling at-large voting systems in favor of district-based voting at the city and county levels. The work included a massive signature gathering effort, an aggressive earned media campaign and direct voter contact through door-to‐door canvass, phone banks and direct mail. Though both proposals were ultimately defeated, these campaigns were part of a long-term base-building and leadership development effort.
Ballot Initiative Network: Achieving Efficiency through Coordination
In 2010, Washington voters faced seven statewide ballot measures related to the role of government. In response, the network provided staffing to a central, coordinated ballot initiative campaign. This resulted in outreach to 279 organizations, a speaker’s bureau covering over 70 events, and coordinated communications reaching over 3.1M residents. Though our primary focus, passing a high-earners’ income tax, was defeated at the polls, the network set a new precedent in coordinated ballot initiative organizing.
civic|space: a Multi-Purpose Hub of Activity
In 2010, Win/Win Network established civic|space, a 3,000 square foot office suite in downtown Seattle, as our new home and multi-functional space for partners. First, we sub-leased suites to Rock the Vote, Equal Rights WA Education Fund, WA Progress Fund and the Ingersoll Gender Center for lower than market rent. Second, we built out a call center (phone lines, computers, tables, chairs) in the conference room to support an 18-person phone bank. In our first year, this facility was used by Statewide Poverty Action Network, APIAVote, Washington Bus Education Fund and Equal Rights WA Education Fund to generate almost 50,000 attempted calls and 10,000 completed calls. Finally, the conference room has been used extensively for meetings and events for non‐tenant partners.