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Date: 5/15/2021
Subject: LWV of Piedmont - The Voter 05/15/2021
From: League of Women Voters of Piedmont



Political Responsibility through Informed and
Active Participation

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.


Coffee Hour - Wednesday, May 19th at 10:00 a.m.

Join us for an informal conversation about LWVP: what are our recent events, what we're planning for the coming year and how you can help. The Zoom room will be open from 10am to 11am. You don't have to be a League member to join. Come for five minutes, the whole hour or anywhere in between. We hope to see you there!

Join Us at the LWVC Convention!

We have three open slots for delegates to the LWVC Convention June 7th to 13th. As a delegate, the cost of attendance is covered by LWVP.  The convention will be entirely virtual with business conducted Friday (6/11) to Sunday (6/13) and numerous events and workshops earlier in the week. You can see the full schedule here. The workshops are open to the public with a $25 registration. Attend the workshops for free by becoming a delegate!

Workshop Topics:
  • Local Redistricting: Engaging the Public
  • Top Water Concerns of 2021
  • Best Practices for League Treasurers
  • Join Our LWVC Climate Effort
  • Getting Out the Vote: Engaging Diverse Communities
  • The Basics of Local League Advocacy
  • And Justice for All: How to Make a Difference in Your Community through Criminal Justice Reform
 
Want to be a delegate and bring your voice to the state League?
Send an email to lwvp@lwvpiedmont.org.

What is LWVC Convention? LWVC Convention is a biennial gathering of League leaders from across the state who convene to provide direction to the California LWV for the next two years; who pass the LWVC budget for the next two years; who direct the LWVC/EF program for the next two years; and, who inspire and energize each other sharing best practices and proven solutions League to League.

What do you do at LWVC Convention? First and foremost, you engage with other Leaguers. You have fun. You learn. You appreciate the power and responsibility of being a Leaguer. And you use your voice to determine League’s direction for the next two years! What matters to you? What do you think League’s focus should be? You bring the weight and ideas from your local League to the state convention! 

Reforming Our Justice System with Shanti Brien on June 22, 2021

The League of Women Voters of Piedmont proudly presents attorney and advocate Shanti Brien, who will speak on "What can individuals and organizations do for criminal justice reform and racial justice?"  The Zoom discussion will be from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 and Shanti will take questions from the audience.

Her book, Almost Innocent: From Searching to Saved in America's Criminal Justice System (Amplify Publishing, 2021) is an engrossing read about her experiences growing up in the Central Valley, becoming an attorney, and representing people convicted of crimes. She reimagines the current criminal justice system as smaller, more fair and more humane.

 Shanti is an enrolled member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. A graduate of both U.C. Berkeley and Stanford Law School and former criminal defense lawyer, Shanti co-founded Fogbreak Justice, which collaborates with criminal justice professionals to reduce bias, build community trust, and create equitable outcomes. Shanti is also a writer and speaker on social justice issues and criminal law & policy. She lives in Piedmont, is on the Public Safety Committee, is a member of the Piedmont Anti-Racism & Diversity Committee, and participates in the Piedmont Race and Equity Campaign.

Register here to receive an email with the Zoom link information.  This program will be recorded, and you can also watch it live or at a later date on our YouTube channel.


Did You Miss Our Recent Events? Catch Up Here!

Asm. Wicks joined the League to discuss the state budget landscape including COVID recovery, and her 2021 legislative package. Her focus is on working families, housing and tenant protections, consumer protections, criminal justice, healthcare transparency, and childcare. She fielded League moderated questions on topics including housing shortages, climate change and wildfires, consumer protection, education funding, single payer health care, criminal justice, and gun violence prevention. A recording of the Town Hall is available on the LWVP YouTube channel.
District Attorney Nancy O'Malley joined the League of Women Voters of Piedmont to discuss her work with the Alameda County Family Justice Center and her history of helping women and children who are victims of abuse. She talked about the effects of COVID-19 on abuse cases both in the courts and for victims' receiving services.
 
DA O'Malley encouraged viewers to reach out to their legislators to urge them to support the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 and the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2021. The Crime Victims Fund supports thousands of victim service providers around the country. The VAWA Reauthorization Act extends programs that prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Following her presentation, DA O'Malley fielded questions from the viewers about the Family Justice Center, the shift away from victim blaming and how hope can be the key to recovering from trauma.

recording of the program is available on the LWVP YouTube channel. We hope that you can take the time to watch and forward to others who may be interested!

LWVBA Biennial Council

The LWV Bay Area met for its Biennial Council with presentations on climate change and housing strategies. You can also watch the League Town Hall with Bay Area Leagues sharing highlights and priorities. The video is available here.

Action Alerts!

Voter Registration Opportunity
Help us register voters at the voter registration table for The Gold + Black Unity Rally on Saturday, May 22, 2021 from 1-3pm in Embarcadero Plaza. This will be a fun event with lots of youth and some amazing speakers including Lateefa Simon who spoke to LWVP in May of 2019! Sign up on our website to help us at the voter registration table. Find out more about the Rally.
 
Stop Voter Suppression
The League is gearing up to take a stand in Congress, statehouses, and courtrooms nationwide to ensure no voters are left behind. Stand with the League in our fight to ensure our elections are always free, fair, and accessible. Take a stand.

Become Involved! | BART Bond Oversight

The League of Women Voters has two seats on the BART Bond Oversight Committee and is looking to fill one of those seats. In 2016, Bay Area voters passed Measure RR, a $3.5 bond measure to be used to rebuild the aging BART system. Learn more about the committee and see previous Annual Reports here. Find out more about the League's vacancy here.



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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