DEI IN Action: Local and State LeaguesIntegrating DEI initiatives into our work can take many forms. Here are some examples of how local Leagues and the State League have recently woven DEI into their operational plans. Local Leagues in ActionLWV Spokane Area 4/22/20
LWV Thurston 3/26/22 LWVTC co-sponsored 'Race Dialogue and Leadership Development Conferences’ over the last two years. These conferences have brought together speakers, sponsors, organizers, and community to examine race relations, confront racism and work together strengthening civil and human rights. The goals of the dialogue were to inform people of what actions are being taken and could be taken to dismantle or impact these systems, empower everyone with the tools they may need to have subsequent, uncomfortable yet constructive conversations in the context of their own communities unique lived experiences, and form collaboration with other like-minded organizations and individuals. Event leadership has been provided by the Asian Pacific Islanders Coalition-South Puget Sound Chapter with LWVTC providing program planning, donations, publicity, and attendance for the events. LWV Tacoma-Pierce County, September – November 2021 LWVT-PC co-sponsored ‘Racism Evolution: History to Hope’ a virtual forum series of 5 cultural groups within the Pacific Northwest. Each forum focused on one cultural group: African- Americans, Asian & Pacific Islanders, Indigenous Peoples, Latinx/Hispanic, and New Immigrants. The presenters on the panel discussed both historical and personal experiences related to their cultural group. A 6th forum discussed the Science and Application of Hope. The series was co-sponsored with NAACP 253 and Vibrant Schools. LWV Mason County 2/12/21 LWVMC organized ‘Celebrating Past and Present Women Leaders of Mason County’ to celebrate women’s suffrage (a year late due to Covid) and the significant contributions of women in Mason County. The League chose to research the lives of seven women, both past and present who made a different in Mason County by pushing boundaries as they overcame limitations and expectations of women in their time and persisting through adversity, setting an example of citizen participation as they helped build the communities in Mason County with their unique skills and talents. and representing the diverse cultures and communities of Mason County.The research project culminated in a celebration of these women, their contributions and their cultures. Over 100 attended the celebration and family members proudly held the posters of the honored women in their families. Not only was this a(delayed) celebration of the centennial of women’s suffrage, it became a celebration of the diverse cultures of Mason County. Local Leagues have organized many other activities with a DEI focus In the first 4 months of 2022 (plus 1in May) Local Leagues throughout the state held many activities with a DEI focus. These activities were published on-line or otherwise reported in meetings. See 2022 LL in DEI Action.docx Local Leagues are invited to continue to submit short reports on DEI focused activates to jsarkissian@lwvwa.org to serve as models for other leagues. State League in ActionAdvocacy/Lobby Team The Goals of the Advocacy Program and Lobby Team are to
The principal means that the Lobby Team works is through Legislative Lobbying: The dedicated (volunteer) lobby team members write issue papers before each legislative session that provide the background behind the League's position on each issue as well as outline the anticipated plans and legislation for the upcoming session. The Lobby Team only supports or opposes legislation based on its relationship to adopted state and national League positions (see Program in Action and Impact on Issues). League lobbying is closely connected to the League’s strong DEI policy. It is safe to say that much of the legislation the LWVWA lobbies for or agains tcomes from a concern for diversity, equity and inclusion. During the weekly meetings during the legislative session these points are discussed. The Lobby Team issues an excellent Legislative Newsletter to assist citizens in understanding and advocating for legislation they support or oppose. Use this link to sign up: http://participate.lwv.org/c/9163/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=7468 Civic Education TSWI Steering Committee plans to print civics textbook, "State We’re In: WA” (TSWI), into Spanish as well as add an addendum on the history of Latino communities in WA and the issues they have encountered. “State We’re In: WA” (TSWI) Steering Committee, chaired by Karen Verrill, recommended May 2022 that the TSWI 8th edition textbook (6 – 12 grade) be printed in Spanish. The Spanish version is currently online at OSPI. It was translated by teachers in the Language Department in Seattle School District. The Committee, comprised of retired educators, school administrators, and school librarians, and other League members believes the print edition would be welcomed as a resource by teachers seeking a Spanish edition of the textbook for students whose first language is Spanish. The Committee also supports students taking this textbook into the homes of Spanish-speaking families for information on civics, Washington State and tribal history. The Committee sought and obtained LWVWA Board approval for research, translation and printing. The printing of TSWI in Spanish is a multi-staged project and an important and visible DEI project for the LWVWA. A critical, first step is researching and writing an addendum to the TSWI textbook to provide more information about Latino communities in Washington State. This information is being researched and written by the author of our civics books and will include the history of Latino communities in the State and the issues that Latinos have encountered. The addendum will be available in Spanish and English and will be included with orders of the books in those languages. LWVWA Land Acknowledgement Developed LWVWA acknowledges that the land known as the State of Washington is on the homelands of Native peoples who have lived here from time immemorial and who have long resiliently resisted the ongoing harms of colonialism. The LWVWA expresses its deepest respect for and gratitude towards these original and current caretakers of the region. While we honor the past, we will diligently work to listen to and amplify the voices of Indigenous people, to partner with tribes and Indigenous people on policy and other issues important to their welfare, to educate the public about tribal/treaty government issues and welfare and to respect the sovereignty of tribes and their rights to self-determination. Land Acknowledgment Considerations.docx Note that ‘Resources for Land Acknowledgments to Honor Native Land’ https://usdac.us/nativeland is an excellent resource for creating Land Acknowledgments. LWVWA Uses DEI Policy in Redistricting Project The LWVWA Redistricting Committee uses DEI values to develop criteria for redistricting maps. The Washington State Redistricting Committee, half Republican, half Democratic appointees, meets every 10 years after the U.S. census to decide how to redraw the state’s political districts. In preparation for this, the League of Women Voters of Washington (LWVWA) Redistricting Committee developed the Fair Maps Campaign to educate citizens across Washington State to about the redistricting process (Speak Up Schools) and to engage them in providing testimony to the Washington State Redistricting Committee’s public meetings. The campaign also developed and released sample Legislative and Congressional redistricting maps that put communities of interest first. To guide the decision-making process, the LWVWA Redistricting Committee led by Alison McCaffree, intentionally ranked the criteria defined in Washington State law and prioritized the maps in the following ways, keeping DEI values in mind.
The hope was that the Washington State Redistricting Commission would study the LWVWA district lines and would use them to develop the best solution for the people of Washington. They can be viewed at lwvwa.org/redistricting, lwvwa.org/maps and lwvwa.org/speakup. As we now know, the Washington’s Redistricting Commission has admitted that it broke the law last year by conducting its negotiations in secret with little to no public deliberation. On 2/23/22 The commission agreed on a settlement on two lawsuits that attested they did not follow the Open Public Meetings Act. A lawsuit attesting that the maps passed violate the federal Voting rights Act is ongoing. The maps will not change for the 2022 Elections. The LWVWA Redistricting Committee now turns its efforts towards legislative reform with the goal of creating a nonpartisan redistricting commission and other activities to support public input and transparency https://lwvwa.org/redistricting . If interested in these efforts contact Alison McCaffree, LWVWA Redistricting Issue Chair amccaffree@lwvwa.org Voter Services Voter Services Committee develops tools and took kits to reach diverse communities The Voter Services Committee obtained a grant from LWVUS (2022) to print and distribute ACLU brochures to inform citizens concerning the new Washington State law that restores the right of formerly incarcerated people, known as returning citizens, to vote. The grant also enabled the committee to research and expand the list of diverse communities that we provide outreach and voter services tools to. A state wide Voter Services workshop was held that included a session on outreach to Latino voters, as well as a sharing ‘Be A Voter’ and other voter outreach materials in Spanish. The committee is continuing to translate a variety of voter services material in Spanish. Local Leagues continue to provide voter outreach services to DEI groups at naturalization ceremonies, in low-income neighborhoods, tribal and ethic events, Pride festival, and food banks. |