Volunteers are the heart and soul of any volunteer organization, and the League of Women Voters of Alachua County (LWVAC) is no exception.

Dear Members,
It’s an exciting time to be a League member. The stature of the League shows itself at the national, state and local levels. One of my proudest moments, both personally and as League president, was speaking before the city commission on March 21, citing the breach of democracy and home rule when the state imposed the GRU Authority on our city. I stated “We have an opportunity to regain democratic processes and home rule in Gainesville. Let's do this...

At their April 9th meeting, the Oak Hammock Committee heard from April Hines, the UF College of Journalism and Communications librarian, who presented a program on Media Literacy: Evaluating and Finding Quality News. A recording is now available.

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.

On Friday, March 22, LWVAC members gathered at Jon Reiskind’s home in Gainesville to celebrate the Spring Equinox and our 2023 accomplishments. While the weather thwarted plans for a holiday party last fall, the Spring Equinox party went off without a hitch.

By Stefanie Gadalean: I had the amazing opportunity to go with the League of Women Voters to Alabama the first weekend in March to commemorate the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. During that time, we had the pleasure of attending the Martin and Coretta Scott King Jubilee Breakfast, the NAACP Bridge Crossing Banquet, a Southern Poverty Law Center event with John Lewis‘ nephew and Congresswoman Nikema Williams, and the Equal Justice Initiative's museums and memorials. I had the opportunity to speak at a joint event with the Alabama League of Women Voters and the NAACP on youth civic engagement.

Gainesville and Alachua County are in an "unprecedented" time of gun violence against its youngest community members, City Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker told a LWVAC committee last month.

Duncan-Walker, who says the issue often makes her lose sleep, urged members of the League's Gun Violence Prevention Committee to get involved with a community-wide task force that will attempt to tackle the problem at its roots.

A recording of the meeting is now available. Want to get involved with the League's efforts? Contact committee chair Gwendolyn Saffo.

LWVAC's very own VP Gwendolyn Saffo was recognized by the Alachua County NAACP at their 2023 Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet. Gwendolyn received the Community Service Award for her contributions to Gainesville organizations. We are grateful for her service and appreciate that she shares her time and talents with LWVAC.

The Alachua County Library District offers an Issues & Controversies Database which aims to provide the most accurate, accessible, and authoritative content about politics, government, business, education, and popular culture. The database presents arguments on both sides of every issue in a clear, balanced, and unbiased manner.