Greetings! I hope you are all in good health and good spirits.
I am excited to tell you about the work our committees are doing to focus attention on the critical issues of today. On March 18 we hosted an event to showcase the work the City of Pasadena is undertaking to combat the negative effects of climate change. We were pleased to have several public officials attend. It really shows how important climate action is to the welfare of our communities. If you missed this event, watch it on our YouTube channel!
Although we are having a brief hiatus in April for our Thursday with the League and League @ Nite events, we look forward to continuing in May. These events provide a great opportunity to inform ourselves and the public. We encourage you to respond to registration links in our Voter issues and email reminders, sign up, and join us. Most of these well-planned and thought-provoking events are free to you as members!
In the March Voter I talked about the League’s People Powered Fair Maps National Day of Action on April 29. We will be giving you an opportunity to safely engage in a host of advocacy measures to ensure public awareness and support for expanding access to the ballot box and achieving equitable political power. You will have a wide range of choices, from drawing your own congressional district map to joining a car caravan that will draw public attention to our campaign. Not everyone we need to reach is connected to us now, so pass the message along to other members and interested friends and colleagues. Learn more about redistricting in California here, and watch the LWV-PA website for more information about April 29.
We want to make it easy for you to participate in our programs by creating contact lists on our website—one for individuals and one for our community partners. Together, we can use these lists to reach a wider audience and act in concert on issues of mutual interest. Please visit the LWV-PA website today and sign up to join us in action, request or offer partnerships, and receive information. Tell your friends and colleagues. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you!
Last month LWV-PA also introduced a new series of events, Speak Easy Saturdays, virtual “for members only” forums intended to encourage free speech, spark thoughtful discussion of current events, and ultimately inspire local action. Read about our first Speak Easy, held on March 6, in this issue of the Voter. And thank you to all who participated! Be sure to sign up for April’s Speak Easy, when we will take up the question of reparations!
There’s work to be done on many fronts. With the events of the past few years and current developments in our country, especially surrounding voting rights, it may seem overwhelming at times to put in all the work it takes to achieve and maintain a true democracy. But recall that we are not working alone. We are blessed to have many community partners who share our passion for expanding access to the polls, combating climate change, and tackling social inequity. Spring is here and it’s a great time to regroup and roll up our sleeves!
Stay safe out there,
—Martha Y. Zavala
