Keynote Speaker

Updates on National Issues including Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Virginia Kase Solomón, chief executive officer (CEO) of the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS), will bring us up-to-date on public policy issues being worked on by the League at the national level. Her talk will also include an assessment of where League stands in its journey toward becoming a more diverse, equitable and inclusive organization.

Virginia Kase Solomón's vision of an inclusive democracy is where every person in America has the ability and opportunity to participate and advocate for issues that matter to them. Since 2018, she has led the 100-year-old organization through a period of rapid transformation and growth focused on building power by engaging in advocacy, legislation, expanded litigation, and organizing efforts to ensure voting rights for all.

Breakout Rooms on National Issues

After the keynote, attendees will move to several breakout rooms, each with a knowledgeable facilitator to guide informal group conversation on a compelling National public policy issue. Information on the breakout room and faciliators is outlined below.

HR1 - For the People Act

The For the People Act is an incredibly important and transformative piece of democracy legislation. It is the goal of this session to help everyone better understand what reforms HR/S1 would implement, where it is in the process, and ensure attendees feel confident and informed when talking about the bill.

Jessica Jones Capparell is the Policy and Legislative Affairs Senior Manager at the League of Women Voters US, where she works to deliver the League's message around federal advocacy priorities through lobbying and the development of advocacy strategies. Jessica is an expert on League policy positions and works to implement grassrootsstrategies in coordination with League members and organizational partners around the country. 

Resources: Links to the LWVUS website for information on HR1-For the People Act

• For the People Act Summary
• For the People Act Talking Points 

Nonpartisanship in Partisan Times

It can be difficult to navigate the space between advocating for our policy positions and appearing to be partisan. This session will help you feel confident that your League can speak out for what we believe in without compromising our guiding principle of non-partisanship.

Lali Watt is a LWVUS Board member and liaison for LWVWI, is an activist whose perspectives have been deeply shaped by her experiences growing up, living, and working on four continents. She is committed to addressing root causes rather than treating the symptoms of injustice and inequality. Lali is a retired certified public accountant, and has served on the LWV Illinois Board, most recently as vice president of membership.

Program resource: Nonpartisanship - 2021 Convention

Is the $15 Federal Minimum Wage a Good Way to Fight Poverty?

One common moral argument for an increase in the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 per hour is that fairness and decency requires that human beings who work a full-year schedule should earn incomes that exceed federal poverty levels.  Full work-years at $7.25 and $15 per hour would provide annual incomes of $14,500 and $30,000, respectively. Even at the higher of these income levels, it is very difficult to meet expenses, let alone save, invest or meet emergencies; at the lower level, impossible. Opponents of this substantial hike to $15 warn of an "dis-employment effect:" i.e., to more than double the federal wage floor would induce entrepreneurs and investors to employ fewer workers, adding to the poverty rates among the very workers the increase in the wage-floor is intended to help. This breakout session will explore the pros and cons of this debate.

Dr. William Holahan, emeritus professor of Economics at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee (UWM), taught Principles of Economics to over forty thousand students during his 40 year tenure at UWM. His achievements in the classroom have been recognized in two university-wide awards for teaching excellence and another two from the UWM Lubar School of Business [for his teaching in the school’s MBA program in Beijing.] UWM’s Holahan Prize is awarded annually for teaching excellence in the UWM Economics Department. Dr. Holahan brings policy economics to the public through television and radio commentary, invited speeches, and guest editorials in major newspapers, most notably the New York Times, USA Today, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Tampa Bay Times.

Program handout: Slides for Minimum Wage Discussion

ERA - Where are we now?

Learn the latest Equal Rights Amendment news from a national advocate; brainstorm on strategy; and learn how you can be part of the final movement to add equal rights for all to the United States Constitution.

Michelle Thorne has been an Illinois attorney for 30 years and an active ERA advocate for 5 years. In 2018, prior to Illinois ratifying the ERA, she testified to the House Judiciary Committee, rallied thousands of witness slips, revised the phone banking script, collaborated on strategy and wrote over a dozen letters to the editor published all over the state. Since then, she has been part of ERA teams in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Utah and is a member of the ERA Coalition and Vote Equality US. 

Progam resources:

• The ERA's Amazing Recent History  ERA timeline with recent events.
• ERA: The Answers Are on the Page!  Primary documents that answer whether the ERA is now the 28th amendment.
• ERA:  Whos's in the Know?  Where to find ERA news and information.
• ERA: Your Group Can Make a Difference! ERA advocacy ideas for groups.
• ERA: Your Role in History!  ERA advocacy ideas for individuals. 

Drinking Water Safety

Drinking water safety is important to protect public health. This session will cover challenges and solutions regarding current threats to our drinking water including PFAS, lead, and nitrates. 

Steve Elmore is the director of the DNR Drinking Water and Groundwater program, overseeing the delivery of safe drinking water in Wisconsin. Steve has worked at the DNR for 19 years in the areas of drinking water, groundwater, and water conservation. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators. He has a bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from Purdue University.

Emerging Strategies for Decentralizing DEI at the Local Level

An 8-member Workgroup of the Community Alliances Committee (CAC) recently outlined potential diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategies for Leagues to apply at the local level.  This breakout session will discuss what decentralizing DEI within League means and ways it can be implemented in practice. 

Eloisa Gómez is the chair of the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County’s Comité por el voto latino/Latinx Voter Outreach Committee (CVL-LVO), which promotes voter registration and education to Latino and other voters on Milwaukee’s South side through League volunteers and community partners. Eloisa is also the co-chair of the LWVWI CAC and has held this role since 2018. Eloisa is  the co-author of Somos Latinas: Voices of Wisconsin Latina Activists and served as the Milwaukee County director for the University of Wisconsin Extension, Cooperative Extension for 11 years before retiring in 2018.

Jeanne Roberts just completed her fourth year as president of the League of Women Voters of Appleton.  She also co-chairs the CAC with Eloisa Gómez. Jeanne is a retired mental health counselor who specialized in the treatment of trauma.

Ann Batiza is a member of LWV Milwaukee County, where she serves as the VP for Organizatio, co-chairs the Natural Resources Committee and serves as the Milwaukee League representative on the City’s coalition on lead emergency.  Ann is an active member of a workgroup of the LWVWI Community Alliances Committee, which is focused on creating strategies for decentralizing diversity, equity and inclusion at the local League level.

Program handout: Recommended DEI Framework for local Leagues