The nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Washington is organizing free “train-the-trainer” sessions to teach people how to help others make a difference. The goal is to get residents ready to tell the five-member Washington State Redistricting Commission how district boundaries for elected officials should be drawn in the spring of 2021.
The League is recruiting volunteers to train Speak-up School leaders to prepare the public to testify, and is seeking people who can represent Southwest Washington’s broad cultural, ethnic, political and religious diversity.
The requirement is an interest in helping and a dedication to the mission of empowering voters and defending democracy.
Once trained, the volunteers will be able to facilitate Speak-Up School sessions in early spring that will prepare people to testify before the commissioners, who will take testimony as they travel throughout the state in late spring.
To register to be a train-the-trainer, visit speakup.brownpapertickets.com
Training consists of three classes, each offered twice over two weeks to accommodate a variety of schedules. Interested volunteers should sign up for one of each of the three classes and do not need to attend the classes in order. All trainings are from 6 to 8 p.m. Volunteers should be prepared to devote additional time in the early spring to leading the Speak-up School sessions.
Class 1, which will give an overview and discuss why redistricting is important, will be offered on Tuesday, Dec. 8, and Monday, Dec. 14.
Class 2, “How to write testimony and choosing what to say about redistricting,” will be offered on Wednesday, Dec. 9, and Tuesday, Dec. 15.
Class 3, “Testifying and facilitating a practice session” with a final question-and-answer session, will be held on Friday, Dec. 11, and Thursday, Dec. 17.
For more information, email Alan Unell at alan unell@gmail.com.
