Next week we're exploring the influence of the largest ethnic minority in the United States!
UNIDOS: Honoring Hispanic Heritage and its Rising Influence
SEPT 10, Doors open 10:30am
Click HERE to register.
Hispanic Heritage Month comes this year at a critical moment for the community. At a time when Hispanics are celebrating their rising influence, they also face a political urgency. Their voices reflect both pride in their progress and concern about policies that threaten hard-won gains.
- Moderator: Ybeth Bruzual, Spectrum 13 News Anchor
- Florida Representative Johanna López
- Rene Gomez, Civic Engagement Coordinator for the Farmworker Association of Florida
- Ricardo Negron-Almodovar, Florida Senior Campaign Manager for All Voting is Local
|  | | FOOD DRIVE at next week's Hot Topics!
The Immigration Committee is reforming! They will be sponsoring another tabling of the Immigrants Are Welcome Here Coalition at the SEPT Hot Topics. Contact Jill Heroux if you're interested in becoming more active with this advocacy team.
One of the partners is the Mutual Aid Team which works with the immigrant community to assess the needs of the families and then work to find resources. In support of their efforts, the team encourages Hot Topics attendees to bring non-perishable food items and donate at the program.
Also, please circulate this effort as donations can also be made via an Amazon wish list:
| | |  | | LWVOC acknowledged by Orlando Sentinel columnist, Scott Maxwell
10th annual installment of “10 People Who Make Orlando a Better Place to Live.”
"Historically, I’ve avoided putting groups on this list meant to honor individuals. But so many people have nominated different League leaders throughout the years that I decided it was time to make an exception. This local league, currently led by co-presidents Jane Hursh and Kathy Schmitz, is one of the biggest and most active in the nation. And it personifies civic activism, hosting candidate forums and panels on topics ranging from the public education and gun violence to gerrymandering and the environment. Basically, they empower people who want to make a difference in their communities and hold elected officials accountable. In fact, whenever a frustrated reader asks me how one person can make a difference, I often suggest they get involved with the League — which seems like a perfect reason to honor this group of smart, passionate and indefatigable change-makers."
|  | | We are getting A LOT of requests for tabling at local events! It's great that the community is reaching out for our Voter/Election information BUT we find ourselves needing more and more volunteers. Check out the information below to sign up and help us empower voters. |
CLICK below to view a short "how-to video" on our YouTube channel and start your volunteering era with the League.
SEPT 15, Info Table at East River HS
Presentation & *voter registration
SEPT 15, Info Table at Jones HS
Presentation & *voter registration
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Check Volunteering Opportunities page often and sign up. *For voter registration, you must have taken and passed the League voter registration test HERE
SEPT 17, Info table at Cypress Creek HS
Presentation & *voter registration
SEPT 26, Info table at Innovation HS
Presentation & *voter registration
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Speaker: Cheyenne Drews, Progress Florida
Presenting the State of Medication Abortion and Discussion Points
|  | Join LWVOC members in marching in the Orlando Pride Parade on October 18 in the Lake Eola neighborhood. By participating, our League will have an opportunity to affirm our commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and to an inclusive democracy where all voices are heard.
Join the fun and march for a purpose. More than 230,000 people attended the Parade and Festival in 2024. We'll have a convertible, the LWVOC banner, "Votes for Women" sashes and giveaways. As always, we'll be reminding people about the importance of voting.
SIGN UPS coming soon on our Volunteering Page. | | |
| This special event will bring together local leaders, nonprofits, and experts to explore the critical intersections of heat, hurricanes, and health — and the solutions we can build together for a more resilient Florida. This future would be especially impactful for marginalized communities, who are disproportionately affected by harsher hurricanes and rising temperatures. The symposium will feature speakers from the CLEO Institute, the Miccosukee Tribe, Live Wildly, 1000 Friends of Florida, and Save Split Oak, along with Professor Ahmad of Barry Law. The government panel will include Commissioner Nicole Wilson, Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith, and Representative Anna Eskamani.
Date: Friday, October 17th
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Location: Barry University, Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law
Complimentary food will be provided!
Registration link: tinyurl.com/register4environment | | | | |  | | Kathy Sheerin (shown upper left with a Pine Hills rep) and Saudi Ellis attended Orange County Sheriff’s Office Annual National Night Out Vendor Expo at the beautiful Orange County Multicultural Center on August 27th. NNO is celebrated nationwide to focus on crime prevention/awareness.
Orange County neighborhoods participate and the LWVOC has supported this initiative for the past three years. Over 40 neighborhoods attended and volunteers will be needed for NNO events on October 7th. Learn more below:
|  | Our Adopt-a-Precinct volunteers served voters through another election this week on SEPT 2. Although voter turnout in the Special Election remained low, our teams were there to give all those eligible the opportunity to exercise their right to vote. We remain enthusiastic in our support of democracy!
Shown top from Precinct #633 at the Bethel Eglise Haitienne SDA Church: L-R, Rev Kathy Schmidt, Charlie Behrens, Terry Creighton, Melinda Wright, Ada Valentin (non-member), and Karen Willis.
Lower photo from Precinct #202 at the American Legion State Headquarters: L-R, Anne Packham, Jeanette Lambert, Kay Hudson Kathy Sheerin, Linda Dalton and Shirley Mead. | | |
 | | The Global Peace Film Fest Sept. 16-21 will host 20 films with 13 of them directed by women. LWVOC members/supporters can use a unique code L3@wv for online ticket sales. With the use of this code, both get 10% off each ticket AND GPFF will donate $4 from each ticket to LWVOC. Two movies listed below may be of particular interest:
Lilly starring Patricia Clarkson as Lilly Ledbetter (Tues. 9/16, 6pm at Enzian Theater). The film covers her story from working in the Goodyear Tire factory in Alabama, through her sex discrimination lawsuit that went to the Supreme Court, to the signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Act.
She Runs the World, about Allyson Felix, the most decorated track and field athlete in history, who fought for the rights of women athletes after her sponsor cut her pay by over 50% when she was pregnant. |  | The Immigration Committee encourages you to attend the upcoming screening of the documentary "Fostering Welcoming Communities" on Saturday, Sept. 13.
United by our human experience, Forever Welcome works to advance the American Dream by fostering inclusive and welcoming communities through awareness, advocacy, and action. We generate empathy and understanding for people who immigrate to the U.S. by bringing their personal journeys and contributions to light. | | |
WE WANT TO SEE YOU! When you're volunteering or attending a League event, take some pics and share them. Email: lisa.lwvoc@gmail.com
Our goal is to highlight as many of you as possible so send those selfies and quick pics of you and your fellow Leaguers.
Also, TAG us in your social media if you're sharing event pics or updates. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Threads as LWVOC or simply search League of Women Voters of Orange County. | | |  | | Heidi Pribell
Stephanie Murphy
Karen Ray
Catherine Perrault
Learn all about the benefits of League membership. Visit our JOIN page here. |  |
Brad Beemer
Sara H. Howard
Margie Varney
We have many different ways for you to $upport the LWVOC. Visit our Donate page for more information.
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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
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