“Voting Rights, Laws and Trends:  A Look Ahead to 2020” is the topic at the February 4 Lunch with the League, presented by Dr Katie Cahill.  Lunch with the League is a public service program open to the community; membership in the League of Women Voters is not required and there is no cost to attend.

Dr. Cahill is an associate director of the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, and director of the Leadership and Governance Program.  She also holds a courtesy post as an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science, at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

The Howard Baker Center works to promote a participatory democracy and public service grounded in the principles of civility and integrity, through education, research and student initiatives. At the Center, Cahill helped establish the TN Campus Civic Summit, now in its third year, and has been a leader of the multi-organization coalition focused on voter education and engagement, known as Vols Vote. 

Cahill created a speaking series, “Leading Tennessee Forward,” to provide a forum for candidates for statewide political office to share their visions of the state’s future.  She leads the Appalachian Leadership Institute, a new initiative funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission, to provide economic development and leadership training to 40 regional fellows.  She also serves as the principal investigator in the Healthy Appalachia project.

Cahill holds a doctorate degree in political science from Purdue University.  She was associate director of the Purdue Institute for Civic Communication prior to joining the University of Tennessee staff.  Her work has been covered in local and national media.

The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The presentation will begin at 12:00 noon.  Lunches are provided by the Soup Kitchen and are available at 11:30 a.m. on a first-come basis for $10, or you may bring your own.  Coffee and tea will be provided.

The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, a nonpartisan political organization for men and women, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.