The Work Never Ends!

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with many of our seasoned League members about the work and activism they have participated in over the years. It’s often disheartening to hear that much of the work we to do today is very similar to the work they did in the days of their youth.

Our founders fought for women to have the right to vote which was very much born out of concerns regarding education, housing, healthcare, and the work to eradicate the world of cruelty and injustice. As we look around our state and nation today, we see the need to continue their work by registering citizens to vote and then providing education about voting dates, locations, and voting guidelines and restrictions. 

I have enjoyed listening to the stories of our League members who took part in the civil rights work in our state to see all eligible citizens able to register to vote and then not only cast their vote but also run for elected seats of government. And today, our Leagues across the nation have been working diligently to create awareness and engage members and the greater community about the need to pass the Freedom to Vote Act, S2747, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, H.R. 4, and For the People Act protecting the right to vote, expanding voter registration, and voting access. For more information on these bills and the League’s position, go to: https://www.lwv.org/voting-rights.

And, I have listened in awe of those who worked locally in the 1960’s and 1970’s to provide services and support to women in need of reproductive rights and abortion services that were not available in the local community. These same women met with local representatives, marched in the local community and in our capitol and fought for the reproductive rights we have today which are once again under attack. 

This past week, House Representative Webster Barnaby, District 27 filed HB 167 which “Requires physician to conduct test for, & inform woman seeking abortion of, presence of detectable fetal heartbeat; prohibits physician from performing or inducing abortion if fetal heartbeat is detected or if physician fails to conduct test to detect fetal heartbeat; provides exceptions; authorizes private civil cause of action for certain violations; provides for civil remedies & damages.” We encourage our members to support the Women's Health Protection Act that would guarantee a pregnant person's right to access an abortion on a national level and to oppose HB 167 here in Florida.

The dates on our calendar have changed since the 1960s but too often, there are those in our community and elected positions of government who aren’t comfortable with change and seek to go back to the “good old days.” In many instances, those days were only good for a small portion of our society and not good for too many, mainly women and minorities. The “good old days” did not include equality, voting rights, affordable safe healthcare, quality education for all, a clean environment with renewable energy, a livable wage, safe working environments, safe affordable housing, and too many other issues that we continue to work towards today.

If you have been hesitant to contribute your time and talent to our local or state League, I would encourage you to find an issue that you are passionate about and get connected to the work. Creating a more perfect democracy requires the work of many and we cannot do it without you.

Please continue to practice COVID health and safety protocols, seek out information regarding vaccination options available to us and maintain awareness about testing sites, symptoms, and treatments. 

 

Join us on the first Wednesday in October to hear from Manny Velásquez-Paredes, director of UNF's LGBTQ Center. 
 
Manny Velásquez-Paredes (MVP) is an award-winning, experienced marketing and personal branding manager, with nearly a decade of experience working in professions focused on multicultural diversity and LGBTQ communities. He is a dynamic, bicultural and bilingual (English/Spanish) professional.

His experience includes providing training and education to organizations, communities, and government agencies on gender identity, how to serve the LGBTQ community and advocacy. In addition, he has years of experience working with and mentoring young people, as well as developing programming and workshops to help students with gender identity issues, coming out, bullying, financial literacy and selfcare.

 

Register Here

We can't do it without you! Please join in recognizing our new and returning members from September.


New Members—Welcome aboard!

 

 

 

Be sure to check out our new website, lwvjaxfc.org, with an easy way to join or renew online. Click on the blue "Join Today" button at the top of the Homepage. Members who wish to renew must log in. 

 

• Chesa Famularo 
• Amy Mitchell

 

Be sure to check out our new website, lwvjaxfc.org, with an easy way to make donations to LWVJFC online. Click on the red "Donate" button at the top of the Homepage.