What Is the League of Women Voters' Mission?
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
What Does the League Do Now?
The League of Women Voters is a peoples' organization that has fought since 1920 to improve our government and engage all Americans in the decisions that impact their lives. We operate at national, state and local levels through more than 800 state and local Leagues, in all 50 states as well in DC and the Virgin Islands. We never endorse or oppose political parties or candidates, but we are political.
Formed from the movement that secured the right to vote for women, the centerpiece of the League’s efforts remain to expand participation and give a voice to all Americans. We do this at all three levels of government, engaging in both broad educational efforts as well as advocacy. Our issues are grounded in our respected history of making democracy work for all Americans.
Why Should I Support the League of Women Voters?
The League is different from many organizations in that what it accomplishes comes directly from the involvement of its members. It is a grassroots organization providing every member with opportunities to learn and educate others about government, and take action on public policy. We walk our talk: we believe that we need everyone to participate in order for our community to be strong, safe and vibrant. Whether you contribute your time, your money, or both you can feel confident that your investment in democracy goes further in the League.
Groups of League members meet to discuss topics in a respectful setting. They learn effective techniques for public discussion, how to advocate on specific policies, and what the issues beneath the rhetoric are. Our study and consensus process ensures that we are fully informed on issues before we take a stand. We also host public forums and debates which are well known for being fair, transparent and civil. This approach has earned the League a global reputation for integrity and thoroughness.
Your participation in League will expose you to a breadth of experiences and issues that will not only inform you but create greater possibilities for civic engagement than you might imagine. You can spend as much or as little time as you wish. Whether you aspire to leadership or are keen to follow the lead of experienced members, the League will excite, use, and nurture your civic curiosity, ideals, or desire for action. We offer our members webinars, conference calls, workshops, other events and mentorship opportunities throughout the year, at the local, regional, state and national levels.
- Attend an event on our calendar
- Contact us to get involved
What is the History of the League of Women Voters?
"The League of Women Voters is not to dissolve any present organization but to unite all existing organizations of women who believe in its principles. It is not to lure women from partisanship but to combine them in an effort for legislation which will protect coming movements, which we cannot even foretell, from suffering the untoward conditions which have hindered for so long the coming of equal suffrage. Are the women of the United States big enough to see their opportunity?"
Maud Wood Park became the first national president of the League and thus the first League leader to rise to the challenge. She had steered the women's suffrage amendment through Congress in the last two years before ratification and liked nothing better than legislative work. From the very beginning, however, it was apparent that the legislative goals of the League were not exclusively focused on women's issues and that citizen education aimed at all of the electorate was in order.
Since its inception, the League has helped millions of women and men become informed participants in government. In fact, the first league convention voted 69 separate items as statements of principle and recommendations for legislation. Among them were protection for women and children, right of working women, food supply and demand, social hygiene, the legal status of women, and American citizenship.The League's first major national legislative success was the passage of the Sheppard-Towner Act providing federal aid for maternal and child care programs. In the 1930's, League members worked successfully for enactment of the Social Security and Food and Drug Acts. Due at least in part to League efforts, legislation passed in 1938 and 1940 removed hundreds of federal jobs from the spoils system and placed them under Civil Service.
During the postwar period, the League helped lead the effort to establish the United Nations and to ensure U.S. Participation. The League was one of the first organizations in the country officially recognized by the United Nations as a non-governmental organization; it still maintains official observer status today.
See the History section of the League of Women Voters of the US website.
League of Women Voters of New Orleans
Transformation Roadmap Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy
Policy: The League of Women Voters of New Orleans (LWVLNO) affirms that the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion are the cornerstones and complementary fundamental components in sustaining the organization chapter wide. The League advances, supports and advocates the LWVUS’s policy positions to better incorporate, expand and practice diversity principles in the broadest scope. Participation in the LWVNO shall be barrier-free, open and transparent for all people without regard to gender, gender expression, gender identity, race, ethnicity, political or religious beliefs/perspectives, age, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability and/or socio-economic status. (See Definitions for expanded listing.)
Purpose: To prescribe the collective commitment to continuously work toward creating a more perfect democracy in our communities with a broad citizen presence, including key stockholders and organizations, to strengthen, improve and sustain innovative and sound decision-making practices. The LWVNO values, welcomes and encourages different perspectives, backgrounds, experiences and cultures, believing that multifaceted views contribute to its mission.
Responsibilities: ● Leadership positions, executive roles, board membership, programs, operations and volunteers shall reflect, share and work toward evolving diversity relationships in changing environmental landscapes and needs.
● All LWVNO volunteers, executive directors, associates, persons or staff affiliated with the LWVNO will adhere to these policies and procedures.
● The Board of Directors:
o Will take required actions within the scope of the by-laws, policies and procedures that promote and foster actions, collaborations and associations which enhance and support, in practice and principle, diversity, equity and inclusion, and incorporate them into the fabric of the organization.
o Will assure that LWVNO programs and operations are fully accessible, affordable and welcoming for all stakeholders by building “bridges” and “re-thinking” how League-like behaviors/actions might appear stultifying.
o Will provide adequate education, training, networking opportunities and resources that reflect and incorporate diversity principles.
o Will assure that all policy initiatives of LWVNO include a narrative that clearly states the impact of public policy on marginalized communities.
o Will implement goals, strategies and tools to further its understanding of the community and to effect real change by:
▪ Surveying landscape (use of census and geographic data) and identifying incentives for membership and leadership opportunities.
▪ Tasking the Nominating Committee with identifying areas to enhance diversity recruitment.
▪ Developing data measurements in decision making to focus efforts in diversifying membership and leadership.
* * * * * Diversity, equity and inclusion are mutually reinforcing principles that leverage each other to create a healthy, high-performing organization and community.
Definitions: ∙ Diversity: Diversity includes all of the similarities and differences among people. It refers to a collective or group and can only exist in relationship to others. (A team can be diverse and so can organization. A person is not diverse. A candidate is not diverse—they are a unique, individual unit. They may bring diversity to your team, but they in themselves are not diverse. They are a woman; they are a person of color; they are part of the LGBTQ community.)
Examples include but are not limited to:
o Native or indigenous origin, generation, culture, religion, belief system, marital status, parental status, language, accent, ability status, mental health, education, geography, nationality, work style, work experience, job role function, thinking style, personality type, or physical appearance.
o Population groups that have been historically underrepresented in socially, politically, or economically powerful institutions and organizations, such as populations of color, including African Americans and Blacks, Latinx, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations; people with disabilities; and women.
● Equity: Equity is not equality. Equity seeks to balance needs with resources to achieve fairness of opportunity for success. This is accomplished by:
o Recognizing individual needs, taking into account the various advantages and disadvantages that people face, including a system of oppression and privilege that limits access to resources.
o Requiring an understanding of the root causes of outcomes that result in disparities within our society. o Increasing justice and fairness within the procedures and processes of institutions or systems and the distribution of resources.
o Ensuring that the most underserved and marginalized people have the same opportunities to succeed as the most well-served and advantaged.
● Inclusion: Inclusion is the degree to which diverse individuals are able to participate fully in the decision-making processes within an organization or group. It is a dynamic, ongoing process. While an inclusive group is by definition diverse, a diverse group is not always inclusive. Greater demographic diversity results in higher inclusion and equity within communities and groups. An inclusive environment:
o Ensures equitable access to resources and opportunities.
o Enables individuals and groups to feel safe, respected, engaged, motivated, and valued for who they are and for their contributions toward organizational and societal goals