Congratulations to AFGE Local 2192 President Keena Smith for being appointed by Missouri Governor Michael Parson to sit on the state’s House Bipartisan Redistricting Citizens Commission!
She will serve as the Democratic appointee for the first congressional district to help redraw electoral maps to make them fairer for everyone. District lines are redrawn every 10 years after the U.S. census is complete. Each state determines its own redistricting method.
Keena said she is excited and honored to be appointed as a commissioner and to serve as a voice for her community and the labor movement on this important issue.
“I look forward to serving on the House Bipartisan Redistricting Citizens Commission. I will work to end anti-worker gerrymandered districts to ensure fair and equitable maps,” she said. “Districts are redrawn once every 10 years, and we need to ensure resources are adequately allocated and your voice is heard.”
Keena was nominated to the position by the Missouri State AFL-CIO where she serves on the executive board.
“I’m excited to be a part of change,” she added. “Labor has an opportunity to be at the table which could have a great impact in our community.”
Keena has truly become a phenomenal union activist who’s passionate about social justice. She has been with the Veterans Benefits Administration for 11 years. She joined our union when she first started but became active in her local a few years later by volunteering at lunch and learns. She became her local’s steward and then its Legislative Political Coordinator. Now she’s the local president.
Keena also became active on the political scene, leading AFGE engagement with now-Congresswoman Cori Bush and the new mayor of St Louis, Tishaura Jones. Keena and Local 2192 became active in the St. Louis Central Labor Council where she’s now a board member.
Her activism and passion didn’t go unnoticed. She was the recipient of the 2021 Augusta Y. Thomas Civil Rights Award for Legislative and Political Action and the 2018 Bernice B. Heffner Women’s Achievement Award.