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Date: 8/1/2020
Subject: LWV of Piedmont - The Voter
From: League of Women Voters Piedmont



Political Responsibility through Informed and
Active Participation

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government.  It influences public policy through education and advocacy.


This Week LWVP Kicks Off August 4th-7th Food Drive with the Latest on COVID-19 Food Insecurity from Alameda County Community Food Bank Leader Suzan Bateson

The League of Women Voters of Piedmont (LWVP) will host an event on food insecurity in the East Bay featuring an enlightened discussion with Suzan Bateson, Executive Director of the Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB) in conjunction with a League fundraiser for the Food Bank. This free event will be live-streamed on the LWVP YouTube channel from 4:00-5:00pm on Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

With the added health and economic strains of the Covid-19 pandemic, viewers will learn about Alameda County’s significant food insecurity issues and how to help achieve a hunger-free community.

Ms. Bateson, who has served as Executive Director of the ACCFB since 2001, will discuss the Food Bank’s dynamic programs, which include fresh food distribution to the community as well as work toward eliminating the causes of hunger in the East Bay.

During Ms. Bateson’s tenure, the Food Bank has tripled its annual food distribution to 32.5 million pounds. The organization’s success has been recognized numerous times and was awarded Feeding America’s national food bank of the year award in 2016. Notably, under Ms. Bateson’s leadership and bold approach, the ACCFB has ended the distribution of carbonated beverages while increasing its farm fresh produce from 1 million to 20 million pounds annually. 

Suzan Bateson was inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2017 and is currently chair of Feeding America’s Western Region. She attended the California College of the Arts and was a participant in the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.

This LWVP event will be live-streamed on the LWVP YouTube channel from 4:00-5:00pm on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. Viewers may submit questions through the YouTube livestream comments, or email to lwvpiedmont@gmail.org. The program will conclude with an invitation and instructions on how to join Team LWVP by donating to the Food Bank. For more information, visit www.lwvpiedmont.org.

Join LWVP for "Office Hours"

This year we will be launching LWVP "Office Hours" open to both members and non-members. These casual Zoom calls will alternate between coffee hours (at 10am) on the second Tuesday of each month and cocktail hours (at 5pm) on the fourth Thursday of every month. This is an open forum with a purpose of inspiring each other to become involved in all levels of public policy and governance, from Piedmont to Alameda County to California and to the United States.
 
Join us at 10am on August 11th for our first coffee hour. We look forward to seeing you!

Save the Dates for Upcoming LWVP Programs

We have amazing programs coming up this year.  See our calendar for more information and join us on Zoom.

  • September 20, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.: "How to Understand Polls and Polling Literacy" with Amy Simon, Goodwin Simon Strategic Research

  • December 6, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.: "Climate Change and Water Solutions in California" with Ashley Boren, Executive Director, Sustainable Conservation

  • January 13, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.: "COVID-19 Update: Are We Any Closer to the End?" with Dr. George Rutherford, UCSF

  • March 2, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.: "Homelessness and COVID-19" with Dr. Margot Kushel, Director of UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations

  • May 6, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.: "Perspectives on Women's Issues" with Nancy O'Malley, Alameda County District Attorney


Remembering John Lewis

The nation lost an iconic civil rights leader with the passing of Congressman John Lewis on July 17, 2020.  The LWV U.S. signed onto a letter through the Leadership Conference asking Congress to honor his legacy by passing the Voting Rights Advancement Act. Read more here.  Also, read John Lewis' essay published on the date of his funeral reminding us that "ordinary people" can make change.

Great Session on New Models for Social Justice: Police Reform Q&A

Last week, Anne Janks, organizer for the Oakland Coalition For Police Accountability eloquently described a new model of policing successfully used in Eugene, Oregon.  For the past thirty years teams of EMT’s and counselors have been dispatched to handle 911 calls which do not require an armed officer.  This is about twenty percent of 911 calls there.  A pilot program is proposed for Oakland and it could start this fall.  LWVP President, Lorrel Plimier, facilitated a Q & A session for 45 people on our YouTube Channel and on Zoom.  Watch it here.


Join LWV Oakland for an Online Celebration of Women's Equality Day

Join the LWV Oakland on August 26, 2020 from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. to celebrate Women's Equality Day.  More information here.

Please Help With LWVP Fall Election Activities and Voter's Edge

The Piedmont LWV Voter’s Edge Team would welcome one more volunteer for Fall 2020 election activities.  If you enjoy virtual work and would like to help with the LWV's voter education mission, please contact Winifred Walters.  This volunteer opportunity comes with great training provided by the LWV of CA in early August and a chance to "shadow" an experienced Voter’s Edge volunteer in the two months leading up to the November election.  If you're not familiar with Voter's Edge, you should get to know it.  It is a nonpartisan online guide to elections covering federal, state, and local races in California. More information here.


There's Still Time to Fill Out Your Census Form

Please fill out your census form if you have not already done so.  Thirty percent of Alameda County households have yet to respond.  If you've already responded, there is more to do!  You can become a community champion by making sure your friends, co-workers, and neighbors also respond.  Please spread the word that it is not too late to respond and that every response matters.  

LWVP Board Meeting August 5, 2020

The next Board Meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.  The meeting will be virtual.  Please contact LWVPiedmont@gmail.com for details, or check our calendar.  All members are invited to attend.  



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The League of Women Voters of Piedmont is a tax-exempt organization under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by law. Our federal tax ID is 94-6094831