By Andres Barraza
Published April 6, 2011 on
San Diego’s redistricting process will have to keep a large community of refugees in mind as it looks to re-draw the lines, according to advocates for refugees. Local non-profit organizations will be holding an event Thursday aimed at educating San Diego’s refugee community about redistricting and how it affects them.
Organizations like Empower San Diego, Refugee Forum and Horn of Africa feel that the local refugee community, ranked largest among cities in the United States, needs better representation in regional, even national politics.
Emily Serafy Cox, Executive Director of Empower San Diego, hopes to provide the opportunity for refugees to become involved in civic discourse and the community. “They have everything to lose or gain from redistricting” she said. “They have been counted and are reflected in the census” and must take advantage of that.