Edison McDonald commented on #EverydayLeaders
posted 2020-12-10 10:52:59 -0800
John Cartier’s civic engagement covers a broad scope of issues and has been tremendously effective in creating change. His day job he is the Voting Rights Director for Civic Nebraska, which runs an Election Protection Program that has changed the face of Nebraska Elections to help ensure that they are more equitable and accessible. In particular, this year, with COVID, we have faced unprecedented challenges to our elections, and Cartier has been at the front of working with election officials to ensure fair and balanced elections. I have seen how his sharp mind and dedicated advocacy has made significant systematic differences.
But that’s just a part of his role as a valued leader in our community. He also has served in a variety of roles and is regularly engaged in public life in systematically vital ways. In particular, the moment that inspired me to nominate him was when civic unrest turned into large scale protests, he saw the discriminatory practices used to limit free speech. So he dusted off his law degree and agreed to represent anyone who needed an attorney to ensure the protection of their civil rights. This shows the kind of true leader that he is.
His work on Election Protection has helped create a far more engaged and knowledgeable state that has ensured that our election statutes are properly followed. His leadership in creating a broad coalition ensured the most extensive data set in the nation on election accessibility for people with disabilities. This, in turn, helped to provide our elected officials with valuable information that ensured Nebraska passed the most disability-friendly election statutes in the United States.
Then he took his passion for access to healthcare for people with chronic conditions and helped to lead the ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana. His role as a unique thought leader and work in communities helped to ensure surprising levels of participation even faced with the limitations of a pandemic.
If that wasn’t enough when civic unrest turned into large scale protests, he saw the discriminatory practices used to limit free speech. So he dusted off his law degree and agreed to represent anyone who needed an attorney to ensure the protection of their civil rights.
But that’s just a part of his role as a valued leader in our community. He also has served in a variety of roles and is regularly engaged in public life in systematically vital ways. In particular, the moment that inspired me to nominate him was when civic unrest turned into large scale protests, he saw the discriminatory practices used to limit free speech. So he dusted off his law degree and agreed to represent anyone who needed an attorney to ensure the protection of their civil rights. This shows the kind of true leader that he is.
His work on Election Protection has helped create a far more engaged and knowledgeable state that has ensured that our election statutes are properly followed. His leadership in creating a broad coalition ensured the most extensive data set in the nation on election accessibility for people with disabilities. This, in turn, helped to provide our elected officials with valuable information that ensured Nebraska passed the most disability-friendly election statutes in the United States.
Then he took his passion for access to healthcare for people with chronic conditions and helped to lead the ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana. His role as a unique thought leader and work in communities helped to ensure surprising levels of participation even faced with the limitations of a pandemic.
If that wasn’t enough when civic unrest turned into large scale protests, he saw the discriminatory practices used to limit free speech. So he dusted off his law degree and agreed to represent anyone who needed an attorney to ensure the protection of their civil rights.