Chris Carson will be taking the reins from Carol Moon Goldberg as LWVC president.

“Power & Possibility” was the theme of the 2023 Convention of League of Women Voters of California (LWVC), held May 19–21 in San Francisco. Our League was well represented by Martha Zavala, Veronica Jones, Peter Zavala, Katherine Gavzy, Robbie Davis, and Dorothy Keane, who were delegates to the convention. We were joined by our own Debbie Fagen, who served on the LWVC Board and chaired the convention planning committee.

Friday and Saturday were full of sessions, workshops, and caucuses, starting at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m. The final session, starting at 8:30 on Sunday morning, consisted of voting, and we adjourned at noon.

The sessions started with the presentation of the proposed program for 2023–2025. The program suggestions grew out of local Leagues’ suggestions for areas of emphasis by the LWVC. LWV-PA had already developed our list of suggestions at the January Program Planning meeting. The LWVC Proposed Issues for Emphasis for 2023–2025 included:

• Making Democracy Work in California, with a focus on election reform, voting rights, expanding the electorate, money in politics, redistricting, and civic education. (Links to the Advocacy work of the LWVC and current Legislative bills status were available.)
• Climate Change and Sustainability, with an emphasis on water resources
• Housing and Homelessness
• Criminal Justice/Juvenile Justice Reform, expanding our education and advocacy on policing and criminal justice/juvenile justice reform.

The LWVC Board–recommended areas of emphasis were adopted by a unanimous vote of the delegates.

There were several great educational workshops, including:

• Under the Hood: Advocacy with the League of Women Voters of California, an in-depth look at the negotiations and strategies used to drive legislative victories
• Seizing the Narrative around Homelessness and Affordable Housing in California
• Let’s Talk about Building and Supporting Stronger Local Leagues (League coaches are available to assist local Leagues)
• Countdown to 2024: Community Outreach for GOTV Success
• (Re)Districting—Changing the Political Landscape of California, Community by Community
• Social Justice Success—Innovative Approaches

Caucuses covered important topics like:

• The LWV and Immigration—State and National Advocacy
• League Communicators: In This Age of Social Media, What’s Up with Your League’s Voter Newsletter?
• Conversations about California Water
• The Power to Act Locally on Criminal Justice Reform
• Educate, Register, Participate! Engaging Young Voters! Youth Outreach Panel

You will be proud to know that your League delegates hosted three of the five caucuses noted above! To quote Veronica Jones, who participated in the Power to Act Locally on Criminal Justice Reform, “Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of the LWV California Conference. The conference was a . . . really positive experience for me. . . . The presentation for the Sheriff Oversight Working Group went well. . . . [W]e were able to build enthusiasm for what we are doing.”

This is but a short overview of a convention that focused on Power & Possibility. More information about the topics addressed at the convention is still available on the LWVC website: Click here. This gathering of Leagues from across our state was inspiring and motivating, empowering us to continue what we do and to implement new strategies focused on collaboration to make democracy work.

—Dorothy L. Keane

LWV-PA attendees at the LWVC Convention included (from left) Dorothy Keane, Robbie Davis, Martha Zavala, Peter Zavala, and Katherine Gavzy. Veronica Jones (not pictured) also attended.