GCIV recently hosted Ms. Samantha Watson, Public Relations Officer with Operation Black Vote in the United Kingdom. She came to Atlanta February 2-6, and had the opportunity to meet with professional counterparts working in voter outreach, minority participation, and the protection of elections' validity. Ms. Watson was lucky enough to visit Georgia during "Super Tuesday," and was able to visit a polling place as an official observer. After visiting Atlanta, she had the opportunity to see New Orleans, San Antonio, and Dallas before returning home to England.

Ms. Watson began her professional program by visiting the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. She appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the origins of one of Atlanta's most famous citizens. After lunch she met with several leaders of the Young Democrats of Georgia. They discussed ways that the group

has worked to expand its membership, both in sheer numbers and its diversity. On the final meeting of her first day in Atlanta, Ms. Jones met with staff at the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, to discuss MALDEF's mission to provide political access to Latinos.

The following day, Ms. Watson met with staff at the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials. Here she learned about GALEO's voter educaction program, Georgia Latino Vote. Next she visited the Election Protection Command Center, located at the offices of Kilpatrick Stockton. The Command Center is a bipartisan effort manned by volunteers and representatives from Georgia non-profits working to ensure voter rights. Ms. Watson's last trip of the day was to a polling place in Dekalb County, where she had the opportunity to observe Georgia's presidential primary. She witnessed the excitement of Super Tuesday and appreciated the chance to see the voting process during such a publicized primary season.

GCIV was honored to have this distinguished visitor come to Georgia and meet with our many valuable professional resources. We feel that our professional resources in Georgia and Ms. Watson benefited from the exchange of ideas and best practices regarding minority participation in politics and fair elections. We eagerly anticipate hearing about the progress of the linkages made in Atlanta.