MIAMI – Local, state and federal governments have all set in place commissions or committees to help their citizens draw new district lines for themselves based on population shifts. This is a process that occurs every decade after the publication of the census results.
Learning from the past, major Haitian-American Civil Society organizations including: the Haitian-American Forum, Sant La, the Haitian-American Grassroots Coalition (HAGC) and other groups have consolidated their resources in order to serve as the collective voice designed to help guide the community’s interests. Serving under the umbrella of the Haitian-American Task-Force on Redistricting, this group is organized “ to inform and engage the Haitian community through participation in all public hearings in order to protect our collective interest”, said Gepsie Metellus, Task-Force Member and long time community advocate. “I am reminded of the damage caused by some policymakers a decade ago, as our community was emerging and attempted to seek fair representation”, said Carmeleau Monestime, a co-Chair of the Task-Force.
The State of Florida Redistricting Commission is holding hearings to hear the public regarding congressional and state redistricting. These hearings will be held this Wednesday, August 17, 2011. The first hearing will be held at the Miami-Dade College Wolfson Campus Downtown 300 NE 2 Avenue, Miami, Building 1000, Second Floor 10:00 am-2:00 pm; the second hearing will be held at the Florida International University South Campus at 8 Street SW and 16 Street.
