 |  | Dear ~~first_name~~,
Greetings from LWV-Wake.
February is Black History Month. Originally recognized by city mayors across the country as "Negro History Week", the civil rights movement in the 50's and 60's elevated awareness, and soon after, it evolved into Black History Month. In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month, and every U.S. president since has recognized this important month and endorsed a theme.
This year's theme, "Black Resistance" is fitting for the times in which we are living. An excellent article from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, explains how black resistance throughout our history, organized at faith centers and cultural centers as well as through education, music and culture, remains an important form of advocacy.
There have been many black activists who practiced "Black Resistance" and paved the way in the fight for equality, economic and social justice. From Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Rosa Parks, and Fannie Lou Hammer, to those still making history like Alicia Garza, Melanie Campbell, and Ruby Bridges, we are inspired to resist and work for positive change.
LWV-Wake Needs YOU!
As we plan for our annual meeting in May, where we elect LWV-Wake Board of Directors and discuss other official League business, our nominations committee is beginning its work of determining board and leadership vacancies and identifying new leaders. However, we know there are members who may be interested in a board or leadership positions who have not been engaged in committee work, or may not be on the "radar".
If you are:
--passionate about advocacy work,
- committed to attending monthly board meetings,
- eager to help implement strategic priorities, and
- interested in learning more about becoming a LWV-Wake board member, we want to hear from YOU!
In addition to board positions, we also need individuals who are interested in chairing or co-chairing committees for the League. Please consider sharing your talents with the League and let us know how you can help. Click on the link below to complete our Board/Leadership Interest Form. The form describes current opportunities. However, if you would like more details, including job descriptions, please contact LWV-Wake Nominations Co-Chairs, Jackie Giordano or Judee Lonnee.
|  | | VOTER Girl Project
Saturday, April 1st 9am-4pm
The VOTER Girl Project, a one-day event where Leagues collaborate with their local Girl Scout councils to help girl scouts earn a Democracy badge, is coming to Wake County! The program consists of civic engagement, advocacy and voting projects designed for all scout levels- Daisies to Ambassadors, with a curriculum appropriate for each level. The curriculum guide provided by LWV of Kent Ohio, where the program was initially created, has been developed by teachers and communicators with backgrounds in diversity and elementary and higher education.
While this program has been successfully implemented with many Leagues and Girl Scout Councils around the country for several years, this is the first program collaboration for LWV of Wake County and Girl Scouts of Coastal Pines NC. We anticipate hosting as many as 120 Girl Scouts at our inaugural event on April 1st. Since this is our first event, we will initially focus on two age groups. The full-day event will consist of a morning program (9:00am-11:30am) for grades K-3 and afternoon program (1pm-4pm) for grades 4-8.
Program success relies on a large number of League volunteers as well as participation from elected/appointed government officials. We have started inviting local officials to participate and have had a fabulous response.
We Need Your Help!
We need League members wishing to use their knowledge of voting and advocacy to help scouts earn citizenship badges that promote the ideals that Leagues cherish. Laurel Voelker, VOTER Girl Project leader, has created an extensive list of volunteer opportunities with a variety of time commitments, from a just a few hours with simple tasks prior to the event, to part- or full-day participation the day of the event. These opportunities can be viewed here:
We invite any member interested in helping with this event, to attend one of two upcoming information meetings. To register, click on the link below (Make sure you log in). PLEASE NOTE: YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO ATTEND AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING IN ORDER TO VOLUNTEER. If you cannot attend one of the meetings, detailed instructions and outreach will be provided by event organizers.
This is a great opportunity for new members, as well as those who want to re-engage, to get involved with the League! |
- February 16th 12pm-1pm - Timely Topics Guest Speaker: Lisa Sorg - Join us as we welcome NC Policy Watch Investigative Reporter, Lisa Sorg. In April 2022, Sorg was awarded a Thomas L. Stokes Award by the National Press Foundation. Register here.
- February 21st 10am-11:30am - LWV-Wake Member Meetup - LWV-Wake Membership Committee is hosting an informal gathering at the Longleaf Hotel in Raleigh for ALL members. Leaguers are encouraged to bring friends interested in joining the League. The hotel’s specialty coffee station will be open for drink and pastry purchases. For more details, click here.
- March 2nd 3:30pm-4:30pm - League Leaders Roundtable - At this month's roundtable, member Kirsten Howard will discuss how data can support the League's advocacy efforts. To register, click here.
- March 16th 12pm-1:30pm - Timely Topics: Improving our Democracy with Ranked Choice Voting - Join us IN-PERSON for a discussion about ranked choice voting with Better Ballot NC guest speakers, Lennie Friedman and Vicky Ryder. For more details and to register, click here.
- March 31st 1:30pm-3pm - Affordable Housing Committee - Join us as we welcome guest presenter Dan Sargent of Rebuilding Together of the Triangle. Mr. Sargent will discuss how Rebuilding Together is working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing home repair and renovation services free of charge to those in need. This meeting is open to the public, however, registration is required. Register here.
- April-Date TBD- Timely Topics: Why Are Library Books Making Headlines? - Join us for our last Timely Topics presentation of the (League) year. Guest presenters, Dan Brooks, Materials Selector Manager for Wake County Public Libraries and Michelle Underhill, State Librarian for the State of North Carolina, will discuss current trends and responses in making book selections for public libraries. This virtual event is open to the public, however, registration is required. Registration will open soon. Please check the website for updates.
| To see all upcoming LWVNC sponsored events, please view their Events Calendar
|  | | NCGA Legislative Update
This legislative session has begun with a slew of bills being filed, as is usually the case. In addition to new legislation, NCGA leaders are also looking to retry previously decided cases that were decided against them, in an effort to obtain a different outcome now that a new NC Supreme Court majority appears to be more sympathetic to gerrymandering and other state legislature power plays.
The latest blow came late Friday, when the NC Supreme Court, going against decades of precedent, agreed to rehear Harper v. Hall, a partisan gerrymandering case effecting legislative and Congressional maps, and Holmes v. Moore, a Voter ID case. Both cases were decided in December in favor of the plaintiffs, citing partisan gerrymandering and disadvantaging African American voters. You can read more in the press release from Southern Coalition of Social Justice. For additional perspective, here's a great article from WRAL' s @NCCAPITOL.
Some interesting bills filed since the beginning of the 2023-2024 legislative session include:
The Good
H.B. 4 Increasing Engagement in Stem Program - Sponsored by Rep. Paré. Establishes a grant program, administered by The Superintendent of Public Instruction, to increase engagement of students in STEM education programs. Seems like a good idea. Thank you Rep. Paré.
H.B. 9 Fair Maps Act - Sponsored by Rep. Harrison. Establishes an Independent Redistricting process. While unlikely that it will advance due to NCGA leadership's lack of interest, we sincerely appreciate legislators who continue to advocate for fair maps. Thanks Rep. Harrison et al.
H.B. 19 Codify Roe and Casey Protections - Sponsored by Rep. Reives. Likelihood of advancing is low due to (see above). However, THANK YOU Rep. Reives and all our legislators who champion women's rights and continue to push for abortion access.
H.B. 42 Honoring NC's Contributions to Civil Rights - Sponsored by Rep. Lofton. Authorizes the African American Heritage Commission to study the feasibility of creating monuments (place markers) dedicated to those who advanced civil rights in NC. Finally, NC civil rights activists may get the recognition they deserve.
The Bad
H.B. 40 Preventing Riot and Civil Disorder - Sponsored by Rep. Moore. Increases penalties for persons involved in civil protests causing damage, as well as increases property damage limits that can be recovered. The bill is problematic as currently written, as many believe it attempts to include those peaceful protesters that happen to be present when damage occurs. In addition, many argue it prevents black and brown communities from exercising their constitutional rights by protesting against police brutality. Read more here. Most people really don't like to break things so maybe NCGA should focus on the REAL problem.
The Ugly
| League Advocacy
Encouraging effective advocacy on issues that align with our mission of Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy is the heart of what we do. And while we can send emails and provide public comment, we must also advocate to our family, friends and neighbors, social groups, etc. and encourage them to contact their representatives as well.
Find your representatives here.
Find 2023-2024 NC House Leaders here.
Find 2023-2024 NC Senate Leaders here.
Reproductive Freedom Advocacy
While we have not seen specific bills filed yet that limit abortion access, it has been communicated by NCGA leadership that it is coming.
Here's a great 14-minute interview with Tara Romano, executive director of Pro-Choice North Carolina, discussing the current state of reproductive freedom in NC and why we must protect abortion access.
Even though many of our Wake County delegates support the right for women to make their own reproductive health choices, as well as other League-supported positions, they still need to hear from us! We must also communicate with NCGA leadership and remind them that polls show the majority of North Carolinians do not want further restrictions on abortions (Carolina Forward).
If you are interested reproductive freedom and other women's issues, we encourage you to attend our monthly Women's Rights Committee meetings. You can see upcoming meetings on the League Calendar (make sure you first log in to the website to see committee meetings.)
| | Thank You Politica NC!
Politica NC, an organization that since 2013 worked to educate, advocate, and encourage voting in North Carolina, dissolved in December.
At a final December gathering, founding members Sandra Birckhead, Vicky DeGroote, Sherry Essig, Dana Jennings, Jessica Lamb and Naomi Lambert invited their supporters to celebrate Politica NC's decade of achievements. They also distributed their organization's remaining financial resources to other organizations in the form of donations. LWV-Wake was invited, and I graciously accepted a generous donation of $1000 on behalf of our League.
While we will miss the vital resources this organization provided, we know these fearless women will continue to share their talents with the League and other organizations to educate and advocate. Thank you Politica NC! | | | In Memoriam
LWV-Wake League President (2008-2009)
Joan H. Robertson 1930-2023
Joan Robertson passed away on January 8, 2023 at Glenaire Retirement Community, Cary, NC. According to her obituary, "In retirement Joan volunteered at the N.C. Museum of Art at the information desk and as a docent and as a tutor for Communities in Schools. Her interest in social justice issues led her to membership and leadership roles in the League of Women Voters, Church Women United, United Methodist Women and American Association of University Women." To read Joan's complete obituary, click here.
| Looking for information from a past newsletter? Previous League Updates can now be viewed on our website's home page. Look for the "League Updates" blue tab on the top menu.
Thank you for continuing to support the League of Women Voters of Wake County.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Tung
President | | The League of Women Voters of Wake County is a designated 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization by the IRS. Donations and membership dues are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. | |