The United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations is a grassroots-led multiethnic human rights alliance mobilizing people, policy and ideals to drive societal transformation and forge unity for the equitable advancement of marginalized communities. We believe that all Illinoisans have the right to be healthy, wealthy, safe, educated and employed regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, income or citizenship status. Illinois' immigrant families and communities of color have been divided, disinvested and destroyed through inhumane and inequitable policies and practices. We call on Illinois' elected officials and community leaders to join the United Congress in its commitment to proactively address the state's growing racial disparities and ensure equity and justice for all.

The United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations Redistricting Committee (UCCRO) has worked with dozens of communities and organizations to develop a redistricting map that protects the voting rights and ensures fair representation for communities of color across Illinois. This map is currently supported by over 20 organizations. The United Congress will continue to work with communities to update this map to better ensure all voices are heard and represented.

This "Unity Map" includes 56 majority-minority state house and senate districts-an increase of 11 from 2000. While Chicago's African-American populations significantly declined over the last decade, the United Congress' proposed map protects the existing 24 majority-African-American state house and senate districts as majority-minority districts. Latino population has grown statewide. In 2000, there were 13 majority-Latino state house and senate districts. Our proposed map includes 17 majority-Latino districts-an increase of 4 majority-Latino districts. Asian-American communities have also increased. Our proposed map includes 3 districts with over 20 percent Asian populations.

Overview of Proposal:

• We are proposing 56 majority-minority state house and senate districts—38 house districts and 18 senate districts. In 200, there were 32 majority-minority state house districts and 13 state senate districts.
• While Chicago lost nearly 200,000 people over the last decade-a large portion of this loss was from African-American communities. Despite this loss, we are proposing the same number of majority-minority state house (18) and senate districts (8) on the west and south sides of Chicago and well as protecting the majority-African-American state house district in East St. Louis.
• We are proposing 2 new state house and 1 new state senate majority-Latino districts on Chicago's south side and one new majority-Latino state house district in Aurora.
• There are 9 new majority-minority districts outside of Chicago in Franklin Park, Evanston, Waukegan, Rockford, Elgin/Carpentersville, Schaumburg, West Chicago, Romeoville and Joliet as well as an Asian American Influence district in the Skokie/Desplaines area. There are 5 new majority-minority state senate districts outside of Chicago in these areas as well.

Link to Chicago Tribune Coverage:
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2011/05/coalition-proposes-unity-map-for-latino-black-and-asian-population.html

For more information email Josina Morita: jmorita@unitedcongress.org

Below is a map of these districts in the Chicagoland Area, as well as additional maps by region.

Chicagoland Area Map of State House Districts

Additional State House Districts: Waukegan, Rockford and East St. Louis areas

Chicagoland Area Map of Majority-Minority State House Districts

Maps by Region

African-American Districts on the West Side of Chicago
4 Majority-Minority State House Districts (BN01-04)
BN01-04


BN03-04

African-American Districts on the South Side of Chicago
13 Majority-Minority State House Districts (BS01-13)
BS 01, 03, 04


BS 02, 05, 06


BS 07-08


BS 09-10


BS 11-12


BS 13

African-American State House District Downstate
1 Majority Minority District (BB01 in East St. Louis)
BB01: East St. Louis

Latino Districts on the North Side of Chicago
3 Majority-Minority Districts (LN01-03)

Latino Districts on the South Side of Chicago
6 Majority-Minority Districts (LS01-06)

Latino Districts outside of Chicago
6 Majority-Minority Districts (LB01-04 in Waukegan, Elgin, Franklin Park, Aurora)
LB01 Waukegan

LB02: Elgin/Carpentersville

LB03: Franklin Park

LB04: Aurora

Asian-American Influence State House Districts in Chicagoland Area
3 Asian-American Influence Districts (LS1 includes Chinatown, AA01-02)

AA1-2: Westridge and Skokie/Desplaines

Coalition Districts in the Western Suburbs
6 Majority-Minority Districts (C01-06)
C01: Evanston

C02: Rockford

C03: Streamwood

C04: West Chicago

C05-06: Romeoville and Joliet