Dear Members,
I love being the bearer of good news. And there’s plenty to share. For starters, on May 23, we had an energizing and fun in-person Annual Meeting. Then, on June 5, we had an informative, dynamic presentation and conversation about county elections and the question of at-large or single-member districts...

On April 17, Lincoln Middle School claimed the title to the 2024 Civics Challenge competition, prevailing over five other middle school teams from the Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) system. This year marks the seventh Civics Challenge competition, an event organized and co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Alachua County Public Schools...

On May 23, LWVAC hosted our first in-person Annual Meeting since the Covid pandemic. X members and guests gathered at Trinity United Methodist Church in North Gainesville and enjoyed camaraderie and a delicious meal. For the business portion of the meeting, Chair and LWVAC President, Janice Garry, called the annual meeting to order and welcomed members. There was a moment of gratitude and then members voted on...

Restrictions on reproductive freedom affect everyone, regardless of who they are or what they believe about abortion. The citizen-led ballot initiative, designated on the 2024 ballot as Amendment 4 and titled the “Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion,” seeks to create a constitutional amendment that would protect Floridians’ freedom to access abortion. Join Yes on 4 and LWV as we work to educate voters end government interference with abortion!

At their May 14th meeting, the Oak Hammock Committee heard an update on Florida's Gun Laws, with Gwendolyn Saffo, LWVAC VP and chair of the LWVAC Gun Violence Prevention and Safety Committee and Rebecca Darnell, Legislative Lead for Moms Demand Action Alachua County. A recording is now available.

Moms Demand Action Alachua County and BeSmart hosted a panel discussion focusing on the importance of secure gun storage. LWVAC's VP and Gun Violence Prevention and Safety Chair, Gwendolyn Saffo was one of seven panelists. In addition to advocating for laws that require secure storage of firearms in homes and vehicles, Moms Demand Action uses the Be SMART framework to have conversations with parents and caregivers about keeping children from accessing loaded firearms. The goal of this event was to discuss the strategies each group is using to promote secure gun storage and explore ways these organizations can increase our reach and effectiveness, both individually and in collaborative initiatives.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), passed into law in 2010, was designed to improve the health of Americans. A key strategy in the law is improving access to health care which, in America, means providing affordable high quality health insurance. Florida Medicaid eligibility is limited to specific populations like pregnant women and children, but the ACA offers the opportunity to expand Medicaid to low-income adults. Florida is one of only 10 states that has not expanded Medicaid, so it should not be surprising that it ranked 47th in the percentage of residents with insurance and 48th in the nation for access to care. This paper presents a summary of just a few of the many studies describing the reasons Florida should expand Medicaid.

Climate action plans (CAPs) are robust policy tools that outline the future of a community in the face of climate change. Research and focused case studies of Fort Collins, Colorado and Miami, Florida reveal that taking climate action can contribute to the growth of the green economy, avoid future losses in GDP, and reduce avoidable deaths due to air pollution and extreme heat. The economic costs are personnel and budget for creation and implementation, as well as the cost of shifting industries. By outlining small steps and quantifying savings for each initiative, cities can clear ambiguity and gain support for CAPs.

The Meet & Mobilize Collaborative Initiative was formed from the Meet & Mobilize event in January. The collaborative is made up of nonpartisan community organizations, including Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Delta Sigma Zeta Chapter, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Gainesville Alumnae Chapter, The Visionaires Club, The Links Inc. Gainesville Chapter, and LWV of Alachua County. The aim is to create meaningful partnerships as we enter the 2024 election season through education, engagement and empowerment. It is evident that our voices are more vital when we unite and collaborate; it is a testament to the power of collective action. Working together will strengthen and maintain our democracy and our community.