"The understanding of a culture comes from hearing the language, tasting the food, seeing personal interactions, experiencing the traditions, and so much more in context."

— Elizabeth Laval & Candice Pendergrass, Sikh Youth Public History Project

"The understanding of a culture comes from hearing the language, tasting the food, seeing personal interactions, experiencing the traditions, and so much more when it is in context."

— Elizabeth Laval & Candice Pendergrass, Sikh Youth Public History Project

Scenes from Sacramento: How Can California Overcome Its Voter Disillusionment?

Above (left to right): Chris Nichols (CapRadio), Tere Flores (Sacramento ACT), Mindy Romero (USC Price School of Public Policy), and Dr. Christopher Towler (Sacramento State, Director of the Black Voter Project) at How Can California Overcome Its Voter Disillusionment? at the Sacramento Public Library Galleria, October 3, 2024. Photo credit: California Humanities.

As we approach Election Day, we encourage everyone to get out and vote! This important day where we exercise our civic engagement was the subject of a public program California Humanities hosted last month, How Can California Overcome Its Voter Disillusionment? Taking place October 3, 2024 and kicking off Arts and Humanities Month, our dynamic panelists discussed the state’s election history and shared concrete steps for how these insights can improve voter participation here in California and across the country; a topic as complex as the beautiful ceiling at the Sacramento Public Library Galleria is high. 

Partners on this program included the James B. McClatchy Foundation, which focuses on education and promoting active civic participation in our democracy, and Capital Public Radio, both with an important regional presence in the Sacramento and Central Valley areas. Our panelists were a diverse group from across education and advocacy spaces: Tere Flores Onofre (Sacramento ACT), Mindy Romero (USC Price School of Public Policy), and Dr. Christopher Towler (Sacramento State, Director of the Black Voter Project), and moderator Chris Nichols (CapRadio).

Election Guide from our partners at CapRadio.
On Monday, September 30, California Humanities’ President and CEO Rick Noguchi talked about California Humanities’ work and the important themes of the Sacramento Public Library program on CapRadio’s Insight.

Below are scenes from this special gathering:

Three people pose for a photo inside a cavernous library atrium.
From left: Institute for the Future’s (and California Humanities’ Board Chair) Rachel Hatch , California Humanities’ President and CEO Rick Noguchi, and California Arts Council Executive Director Danielle Brazell on October 3, 2024. Photo credit: California Humanities.
The broadcast team at CapRadio, who were on hand to speak about their reporting work during the evening’s reception. Photo credit: California Humanities.
View of reception inside the Sacramento Public Library Galleria. Photo credit: Jenna Pontious, California State Library.
From left: Rick Noguchi, Rachel Hatch, James B. McClatchy Foundation’s Executive Director Priscilla Enriquez, and Kirsten Vega on October 3, 2024. Photo credit: California Humanities.
Three people on stage for a public program, banner for California Hmanities and JBMcClatchy Foundation behind them
From left: Tere Flores (Sacramento ACT), Mindy Romero (USC Price School of Public Policy), and Dr. Christopher Towler (Sacramento State, Director of the Black Voter Project) at How Can California Overcome Its Voter Disillusionment? at the Sacramento Public Library Galleria, October 3, 2024. Photo credit: California Humanities.

“Don’t necessarily get caught up in the national rhetoric, it can be so polarizing and turn people off to [message on importance of voting], and we can then lose so much engagement around the other things that are on the ballot that impact people’s every day lives in many ways that people don’t even realize. Remind folks of what’s at stake: our libraries, our schools. No one else is really talking about our school boards. There are all these other ways that local politics make a difference for people.”

Tere Flores
In person audience on October 3. Photo credit: California Humanities.

“We look at 2020, there were 6 million eligible [California] voters that didn’t vote, and that sounds like a depressing number but it is also a lot of opportunity. I think just reminding yourselves, every day, that it is NOT simple to vote for so many people.”

Mindy Romero

“A lot of progress that has been made is under attack right now. There are a lot of policies and groups out there that are wanting to remove rights, restrict freedoms, and take our country backwards. So voting can also be thought of as a defensive action, and when put in that framework you don’t always have to make the case that “hey this politician is going to deliver us something,” it’s more “you deserve the right to protect what you’ve earned or what your group has earned over years, over generations.” That can be another element to help people understand the power of voting, and that it has been a cumulative power that has come over time and not just something that just happened, especially for our underrepresented communities.”

Christopher Towler
Questions from the audience. Photo credit: California Humanities.
Two people sit behind podcasting equipment for an audio interview
CapRadio’s Allen Young, host of Insight, joined the outlet’s broadcast team on October 3 to do short audience interviews on the importance of voting. Photo credit: California Humanities.

“Reach out to a young person, to your kids (if they’re adult voters), reach out to your neighbors, reach out to your students, so that anyone that is within your environment that is young, you can help create a habit of voting and make the case for voting. Meeting young people where they’re at is so important, and connecting [voting] to all the other things they care about. You have to acknowledge their skepticism in the system.”

Mindy Romero
California Humanities staff on October 3. From left: Nancy Olivares, Marika Garcia, Beth Segura, and Kirsten Vega. Photo credit: California Humanities.
The Sacramento County Voter Registration and Elections Office were on hand to share voter resources and register people to vote. Photo credit: California Humanities.
ABC10’s Race and Culture team were also in attendance to talk about their work and voter resources. Photo credit: California Humanities.
Five people pose for a photo on stage in front of banners with California Humanities and JB McClatchy Foundation banners.

Please find a recording of the program below. Thank you to the team at Studio 611 for providing this and AV support at our event!

Thank you to The James B. McClatchy Foundation Central Valley Democracy Fund for their generous support of this program, and to Capitol Public Radio for their media broadcast sponsorship. Thanks also to Lagunitas Brewing Company for their donation of locally brewed beers for the occasion.  

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