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Add Your Name to Demand Equal Rights!
LWVUS is gathering signatures for a petition that calls upon the federal government to recognize the duly ratified Equal Rights Amendment. To add your name to this national petition, click HERE.
- Grassroots Action Now!
As we witness a barrage of assaults on our democratic processes, institutions, and values, it’s not surprising that many people feel overwhelmed and even frightened. Common reactions to these feelings are fight, flight, freeze, or fawn:
· Flight: Some people will avoid or minimize any political engagement;
· Freeze: Others feel so overwhelmed and powerless they will shut down, unable to do anything;
· Fawn: Fear may drive others to appease or give in to those in power; or
· Fight: We must fight back! Anti-democratic actors want us to feel defeated in order to make us compliant and/or immobile. Instead, everyone must commit to doing their part in defense of our democracy.
When we collectively rise up and challenge those in power, we make a difference. That includes you — because you have a voice. You have power.
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Spring 2025 Wildfire Preparedness Workshops
As wildfire risks continue to threaten communities in California, preparedness is more crucial than ever. To help residents take proactive steps in protecting their homes and families, the Santa Clara County Fire Department (SCCFD) is hosting a series of Wildfire Readiness Workshops this spring. These workshops are designed to educate the public on wildfire prevention, emergency planning, and evacuation readiness.
The location and hours are listed below:
- Tuesday, April 22 - Pavilion at Eastwood Estates, 21450 Madrone Drive, Los Gatos, 6 to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, May 3 - Joan Pisani Community Center, 19655 Allendale Avenue Saratoga, 10 a.m. to noon
If you're interested in attending, register online at sccfd.eventbrite. Additional questions can be directed to SCCFD at 408-378-4010.
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- LWVPA Lunch with League Speaker Event - Wednesday, April 23, 2025 - Featuring Guest Speaker Adam Dawes, CEO, Embarcadero Media Foundation speaking on Local news is in crisis: Does it have a future on the Peninsula? 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm at Sobrato Center for Nonprofits, Redwood Room, 3460 WEST Bayshore Road, Palo Alto
Local news is a cornerstone of our democracy, but it has been in crisis nationwide. At its 2024 convention, the League of Women Voters recognized that the decline of local news is a threat to democracy. Hear from Adam Dawes, CEO of Embarcadero Media, how the business has changed in recent years and how Embarcadero Media is evolving to meet these trends and preserve the Palo Alto Weekly, Almanac, Mountain View Voice, and Redwood City Pulse for years to come. Register Now
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Please indicate on the sign-up form if you want us to order a sandwich and beverage for you (bring $10 at the door),
or bring your own lunch. Register early to save your spot!
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- LWV SJSC Lunch with League - San Jose Housing Director Erik Louis Soliván on Thursday, April 17, 2025, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Sobrato Center for Nonprofits, 1400 Parkmoor Ave., San Jose
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Homelessness and affordable housing rank as the top two concerns for San Jose residents.
The top City official working on these important issues --Erik Louis Soliván, Housing Director,
will be the speaker for our April Lunch with League program. Click HERE to register with or without lunch.
Erik was born and raised in public housing, the grandson of immigrants from Puerto Rico.
He holds a B.A. in political science from Haverford College and a law degree from Rutgers.
He started his 17-year career with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and
Economic Development, followed by positions with the Philadelphia Housing Authority,
the Denver Mayor's Office of Housing and the Tulsa Housing Authority.
He was appointed the San Jose Housing Director in 2024.
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- We the People – Everyday Americans of Impact, April 23 – 1:00 PM (ET) CommonSense Americans and Congress
What's going on with Congress these days? Everyday Americans from across the political spectrum have joined forces together through CommonSense American (CSA) to bring common sense to American politics. Keith Allred, Exec. Director of the National Institute for Civil Discourse will share an update about what's going on in Congress, how CSA members are having an impact and offer an opportunity for participants to join in the process of weighing in on which issue CSA takes up in this Congress.
Register here.
- LWV SCC Civic Engagement Committee Event, April 29 – 12:00 Noon (PT) Stripped for Parts – American Journalism on the Brink
The loss of local news threatens democracy and communities. This film reveals the causes and consequences of the loss and lack of local journalism. Watch the film and join Rick Goldsmith, film Producer & Director, who will facilitate online conversation after the film.
Register here
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LWVCS Coffee Hour - Third Thursdays
11am, April 17, with LWVCS leaders and members to share your League-related experiences
and learn about LWV National, LWVCS and LWV activities
- Join here - or via our website calendar link
To catch up on previous Coffee Hours, check here.
Save the Date for May 15, Coffee Hour with Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein
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LWV California
Our Biennial Convention is Virtual!
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Every two years, the California membership gathers at the LWVC Convention to craft our policy priorities for the next two years, to enlighten each other by sharing our successes and learnings, to inspire a new generation of League leaders, and to celebrate our shared passion for making California a well-governed and vibrant state.
This year, our Convention will be held virtually from June 17-22, with workshops throughout the week. We will focus on bringing League members together to learn, share, and energize our membership as we continue to work toward strengthening democracy.
More information will be available at lwvc.org/convention. We hope to see you there!
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- LWVC News:
The 2025 legislative session has begun, and LWVC is already tracking key bills on reproductive rights, immigration, and voting rights.
We continue to lead in key areas. A few of our early sponsored pieces of legislation are:
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Find our latest bill positions in the Bill Status Report or check out the Advocacy Dashboard to learn more. Interested in joining our advocacy team? Email Savannah Jorgensen.
Coming Soon! In March, we’re launching a 3-part webinar series on key issues affecting California communities. Stay tuned for details!
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- SJR 1 (Wiener): Calls for California to rescind past requests for an Article V Constitutional Convention, which could threaten core protections in the U.S. Constitution.
- Campaign Finance Reform: A new bill aims to let voters decide in 2026 whether to lift California’s ban on public financing of campaigns, reducing special interest influence and increasing candidate diversity.
- Voting in Jails: After last year’s veto of AB 544 (Bryan), we are exploring bringing back in-person voting in jails as a state budget request.
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Get Active!
- Writing Family History With AI: A Hands On AI Assisted Writing Workshop, Sunday, May 6th, 2025, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Cupertino Library, Room 201
Write Your Family Story – Make It Part of Cupertino’s History! (Please bring your laptop or Chromebook)
Cupertino gave rise to many industry giants like Apple—but just as important are the personal stories that shape our community. As the City of Cupertino celebrates its 70th anniversary, we invite you to share your own family’s connection to this vibrant city.
Join "Writing Family History with AI," a unique storytelling and AI-assisted writing class sponsored by the Cupertino Library Foundation and the City of Cupertino. Led by Ron Chan, Executive Director of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group, this workshop will help you craft a meaningful family story using AI-powered writing tools. One of the session’s goals is to create a polished submission for Cupertino Stories, preserving your family’s legacy for generations to come!
Cupertino Stories is a digital effort allowing everyone to help create history by sharing their Cupertino stories online. Anyone who has lived, worked, been involved, or done business in Cupertino is welcome to share their Cupertino story. Please bring your laptop or Chromebook to the session. Laptops are available for checkout at the library for those with an SCCLD library card. .
- Cupertino Citywide Active Transportation Plan
Did you see us at the Earth and Arbor Day Festival? The City is kicking-off a Citywide Active Transportation Plan (ATP) to make getting around Cupertino easier, safer, and more comfortable for everyone—whether you're walking, biking, or using devices like scooters or mobility chairs.
Join us at an event this spring to share your voice! The next pop-up event will be the Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Memorial Park. For more information, visit cupertinoatp.org
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- Electoral College
How the Electoral College Works – from LWV: here
Thousands of supporters tuned in to watch the LWVUS panel on the Electoral College. It featured an all-women panel of experts and was moderated by Celina Stewart, Chief Counsel for LWVUS.
Check it out to hear what panelists had to say about:
- what makes a healthy democracy;
- wow the fight for fair representation is connected to the 2024 federal election; and
- how we can take meaningful action.
The fight for fair representation is more than just a battle for a new system — it is a crucial step towards saving our democracy.
Watch the "What's Not Right With the Electoral College" Video
The One Person, One Vote fight for fair representation is more than just a battle for a new system instead of relying on the Electoral College for a presidential election outcome - it is a crucial step towards saving our democracy. Learn how the fight for fair representation is connected to the 2024 federal election and how we can take meaningful action.
Watch the LWV organized panel on the Electoral College. Moderated by Celina Stewart, LWVUS Chief Counsel, Senior Director of Advocacy & Litigation, hear the thoughts from Na’ilah Amaru, Advocacy Strategist; Carolyn Dupont, University of Kentucky; and Keesha Gaskins-Nathan, US Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
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- Civic Listening Corps Signup
The League of Women Voters and the Algorithmic Transparency Institute have partnered to establish a volunteer program for League members and their community to combat mis- and disinformation. The Civic Listening Corps is a volunteer network of individuals trained to monitor for, critically evaluate, and report misinformation on diverse topics central to our civic life: including voting, elections, public health, civil rights. When you join, you will get training on how to monitor for and report examples of misinformation, and then you can sign up to participate in civic listening shifts where you commit to join fellow volunteers in actively identifying problematic content circulating in your community. You can read more about the program here: https://www.civiclistening.org/what-is-clc
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Certified Election Observer program Contra Costa County: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDr8q5qGRZs |
| __________________________________ | | From Fremont Union High School District
FUHSD News here | __________________________________ | | LWV Santa Clara County Council Civic Engagement Committee
(Yes, we changed our name to reflect the current environment!)
Planning and Practicing Working with Communities on any individual or group activity addressing issues of public concern.
Join our Planning Meeting to develop Future Events - we want your ideas and your participation!
Our focus is how we can battle misinformation and biases.
Join us to continue planning civil discourse events via ZOOM on Monday, April 21st, 1pm here.
We need your ideas, suggestions - and participation.
What are your burning topics for discussion?
What issues in our communities should we talk about - all sides? Elections? Immigration? Polarization? Economic inequity?
This 5-minute video with Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, addresses the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in a self-governing nation:
Why Have a Civil Dialogue?
You can view previous event recordings here.
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Stripped for Parts –
American Journalism on the Brink
Join us, April 29, at noon PDT via Zoom here.
The loss of local news threatens democracy and communities.
This film reveals the causes and consequences of the loss and lack of local journalism.
Rick Goldsmith, film Producer & Director, will facilitate online conversation after the film.
“Hedge fund Alden Global Capital is quietly gobbling up newspapers across the country and gutting them, but no one knows why-- until journalist Julie Reynolds begins to investigate. Her findings trigger rebellions across the country by journalists working at Alden-owned newspapers. Backed by the NewsGuild union, the newsmen and women go toe-to-toe with their “vulture capitalist” owners in a battle to save and rebuild local journalism in America. Who will control the future of America’s news ecosystem: Wall Street billionaires concerned only with profit, or those who see journalism as an essential public service, the lifeblood of our democracy?”
Register here. | __________________________________ |
Did you see us at the Earth and Arbor Day Festival? The City is kicking-off a Citywide Active Transportation Plan (ATP) to make getting around Cupertino easier, safer, and more comfortable for everyone—whether you're walking, biking, or using devices like scooters or mobility chairs.
Join us at an event this spring to share your voice! The next pop-up event will be the Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Memorial Park. For more information, visit cupertinoatp.org
- Latest News on The Rise (Vallco Center Development)
More information on the project can be found at: The Rise (former Vallco Town Center) | City of Cupertino, CA
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Council meetings are held at least two Tuesdays a month at 7 p.m., Council Chambers, 456 W. Olive Ave.
Viewing Options Council meetings are:
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To watch:
AT&T Channel 99
Comcast Channel 15
To stay informed:
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- LWV Bay Area Board Update
Our speakers were Supervisor Sylvia Arenas who represents District 1 on the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors and
Dr. Rachel Gilgoff, an advisor with the California Aces Aware Initiative. Watch the video here.
- LWV Bay Area’s Annual LEAGUE DAY 2025 on Regional Government: How Does It Affect You?
Saturday, March 8 via Zoom only, You can watch the recording here
Have you ever wondered how regional government works and how it affects your daily life? How do decisions made by MTC-ABAG affect a local jurisdiction?
We began with a keynote address by Rep. Josh Becker, continued with three panels and ended with an update on LWV Bay Area’s regional government and land use study now underway.
- Have you subscribed to the LWV Bay Area Monitor News? Get all the League regional news delivered to your email regularly here!
- If you missed the LWVBA Public Health Series, You can view the recordings here | __________________________________ | Members, Friends and Supporters, Help Us to Make Things Happen! | ___________________________ | | The Cupertino-Sunnyvale Event EBlast
Published 10 times a year by the
League of Women Voters of Cupertino-Sunnyvale.
This newsletter is posted on our website:
| | The LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
Permission is granted to reprint any part of this newsletter with credit to the League of Women Voters of Cupertino-Sunnyvale.
To get more information about the League, Join, Renew or Donate, click here. | | | |