Dear League Members:

We are at a tipping point with our democracy. It was enough of a burden that we have over 400,000 who have died from the pandemic and millions out of work. Then, in shock and disbelief, we watched the events of January 6th at our own Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., our democracy’s seat of power. We know we are off balance.

Through our Priority Program Planning process, we have just initiated methods and focus to take on the challenges that our political climate requires. And we approved a motion that will eventually result in a reduction in property taxes for the Lafayette office due to our non-profit status.

A big thank you goes to Paul Derksen, Ann Flynn, Janet Hoy, Marian Shostrom, Marti Roach and all the members who contributed to the successful process of priority planning. Our discussions resulted in a very effective draft update to our current program priority:

“Given the impact of Covid-19 on our community, the League of Women Voters Diablo Valley will educate and advocate for a just and green recovery in both legislative and policy action of local governing bodies to ensure secure and equitable social safety net and other programs consistent with League Positions.”

At our Annual Meeting the final version will be presented for approval for our July 2021- June 2022 League year.

• We absolutely recommend involvement in the Action/Advocacy Team and Observer Corp to start building a comfort level to participate. First Saturday of the month is the usual Action/Advocacy meeting date.
• Consider joining our work in Community Outreach. Joanne Supersad and I have been working with NETO Concord and Monument Impact and Crisis Center to build a relationship with the Latinx community for public information and GOTV activity. We are looking for volunteers to work with the NAACP and the AKA in East County to build a relationship with the African American community to learn of their needs and work with them on new policy arising from the proposed Contra Costa County Equity in Health Care direction.
• Consider joining the Observer Corp to monitor a newly-forming county commission under Gilbert Salinas, Chief Equity Officer, a new county position.
• Consider helping with our work with the Budget Justice Coalition (BJC), an essential watchdog and advocacy organization providing understandable information about the county budget process. The BJC is a very diverse collection of non-profits working throughout Contra Costa County. They are also active in pursuing effective and appropriately-targeted funding from the recently passed Measure X sales tax. The Climate Action Network and 350 Contra Costa can help us frame and advocate for a just and green recovery.
• Consider volunteering as a mentor of our Student Interns, currently from Los Medanos College, Diablo Valley College, and St. Mary’s College. Student perspectives and methods of communication, action, and advocacy play into our work with student interns.

Don’t worry you will feel overwhelmed if you volunteer. We will help you find a comfortable match of issue/policy and volunteer activity.

Do talk to board leadership and especially our Membership Chair, Cathleen Kirk, to get support for your decision to volunteer with us. And bring along a best friend or two, or family members, who simply want to be part of this momentum and meet our desperate need for constructive change in our communities.

Isn’t it a powerful feeling to know you can be part of rebuilding good governance, encouraging effective voter participation, and creating racial equity and social justice as part of our economic recovery?

Suzan