Did you know that today, June 19th - Juneteenth, is a federal holiday honoring the African-American experience in culture? Our DEIA Committee encourages you to view these resources to help you learn more about this special day.
Juneteenth is more than a holiday; it's a celebration of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for racial equality. It serves as a reminder of the historical legacy of slavery and the long journey towards freedom and justice. The DEIA Committee invites you to commemorate the emancipation of the final enslaved people in the US on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas by participating in a Juneteenth event: https://www.eventbrite.com/d/fl--orlando/juneteenth/
|  | | We can't know where we're going unless we know where we've been.
On a day that will claim its own place in history, June 14, DEIA Committee members took a look back on the "Paving Pathways Juneteenth Black History" bus tour, exploring historic landmarks and neighborhoods that played a pivotal role in central Florida's black history.
Leaguers shown l-r: Maureen Witwer, DEIA Co-Chair Virginia Meany, Patricia Beebe-Pres. of Paving Pathways, Alicia Homrich, Co-President Jane Hursh |  | On Friday 6/13, LWVOC Board Member Saudi Ellis attended a FL Legislative Debrief hosted by Equal Ground at the African American Chamber of Commerce in Orlando. It was very well attended by local community advocates. The panel included members of the Central FL Legislative delegation from L-R: Rep. Leonard Spencer, Rep. Rita Harris, Rep, Johanna Lopez, Rep. Dr. Anna Eskamani, Rep. Lavon Bracy Davis, and Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith; they reflected our diverse community in ethnicity, gender, and age. The panel named voting rights, housing affordability, immigration, public education, public transportation, and poverty as pressing concerns in our community and reminded attendees to stayed in contact and engaged with your representatives; check your registration status; and VOTE!
| | |
| Marilyn Baldwin (shown upper right) and Debbie Dietz discuss Disability Voting at the 27th Annual Family Cafe Conference.
Marilyn Baldwin from the League of Women Voters of Orange County and Debbie Dietz from the League of Women Voters of Miami-Dade were honored to present at the 27th Annual Family Café Conference this summer which draws more than 13,000 attendees yearly. Their session focused on the Disability Vote, highlighting the critical role of voters with disabilities in shaping policy and promoting inclusion and as a state sponsored event is one of the largest statewide gatherings for families of individuals with disabilities.
| | |  | | It's time again to celebrate another of our "League Treasures," longtime members who have made significant contributions to our League and community. Suzanne McGovern has authored this piece about Leaguer Susan Simasek, a pioneer in environmental protection for the LWVOC, shown above holding the 1985 booklet that she produced, "Preserve Florida Waters."
Susan recalled: “During my time as a League activist, we helped preserve the environment, including county parks and recreational areas. We emphasized ‘planned growth.' We helped establish bike paths and nature trails. We helped keep local citizens informed, and we still do.” |  |
We welcome back Jennifer and Phil Anderson as returning Visionary Sponsors for 2025. They're ready to challenge you to another WINNING match! Thanks to their generosity, we are pleased to announce that any gift you make this summer by July 31st will be doubled by a matching grant up to $25,000.
Your gift can provide twice the resources that will be greatly needed as we face a tumultuous summer of our democracy being tested in ways that most of us have never seen. We seek to EXPAND our fight against the spread of mis- and disinformation, contribute more to voter education, and advocate for our top priorities. Read more about our work here.
You're doing it! You're on the way to "win this match" and we are so grateful to the following donors who are stepping up to the baseline for this summer matching campaign.
| | Margo and Steven Hamel
Pat Rumph
Harold Rhoads, Giving Society
Christie Mitchell
Martha O. Haynie
Suzanne H. Starling
|
| Lee Rambeau Kemp, Giving Society, in honor of Terry Gilliam
Alissa Torres
Sandra A. Pettis
Ellen Prague
Carolina R. Lofgren |
|
| Mark and Nancy Freeman, in thanks to Jennifer and Phil Anderson
Rosemary Durocher, in gratitude to Jean Siegfried
Eugene Stoccardo, in honor of LWVUS
Jeanette Lockington
Ken Blanning |
|
Check the calendar for all upcoming Committee meetings (most on Zoom) and become an active Leaguer!
JUNE 26, 11:30am
Government Comm. Mtg.
|
Check Volunteering Opportunities page often and sign up. *We table and sometimes provide power points to provide voter registration and civic information at the following opportunities. You must have taken and passed the League voter registration test HERE
JUNE 21, 11:00am VOLUNTEER
Jones High School "Be a Player" Student Physicals
| | | | Special Primary Election for State Senate District 15 and State House District 40
Dates: Early voting thru June 22
Times: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Locations:
1. Supervisor of Elections Office - 119 West Kaley Street - Orlando, 32806
2. West Oaks Library - 1821 East Silver Star Rd. Ocoee, 34767
3. Apopka Community Center - 519 South Central Ave. Apopka 32703
4. Eatonville Town Hall - 307 East Kennedy Blvd. Eatonville, 32751
| | |  | RECAP for the June 14 Hot Topics, Pride under Attack, is now available including calls to action, photos, and a VIDEO of event that is posted on our YouTube here. Shown above, Co-Chairs Karen Estrin and Diana Smith, who diligently work together with their team building these successful programs. |  | Hot Topics will be on summer break in July.
The next program will be AUG 13, a back-to-school edition considering "Diverted Dollar$ The Real Cost of School Choice," moderated by Beth Kassab.
| | |
 | |
Stephen Miller
Grace Appelbaum
Visit JOIN HERE and learn about becoming a Leaguer!
SHARE this newsletter with your social and family circle so they can see the great benefits of becoming a Leaguer! |  |
See all this week's donors above under matching campaign.
REMEMBER, if you're joining or renewing on the national site, COME BACK and
| | |
Sponsors are vital to our work to empower voters by providing timely information for the benefit of non-partisan civic engagement in our community and we have a range of sponsorship levels available. To further explore how to become a sponsor, please contact LWVOC Vice President and Fund Development Chair Lee Rambeau Kemp HERE
|  |  | SPECIAL "Take Action" Alerts Now Available from Pres. Kathy Schmitz
“Alert lists” are open to both LWVOC members and non-members. They are a way to share timely opportunities, for example, upcoming rallies, volunteer needs, or urgent legislative actions. To keep email volume down, only I, or someone I specify, will be posting to this list.
“Sharing lists” are an additional option for LWVOC members. Within guidelines that will be posted, anyone who joins one of these lists will be able to post. Guidelines will focus on posting actionable information, avoiding debate, and maintaining a respectful tone.
Current topics are Immigration, Housing & Poverty, Women’s Issues & Health Care, and Defending Democracy
To sign up for any of the lists, fill out this simple form HERE.
| |