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League of Women Voters
of Jacksonville First Coast
Email: lwvjaxfc@gmail.com
(904) 355-8683
PO Box 330353
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Copyright © 2020 • All Rights Reserved • Terms of Use Privacy Policy • Powered by ClubExpress
Date: 1/29/2023
Subject: LWVJFC Newsletter February 2023
From: League of Women Voters of Jacksonville/First Coast



 
 The Voter
February 2023

President’s Message

Work to be done NOW
 
January afforded us many opportunities to collaborate with others, support restoration of rights services, speak at pro-reproductive health events, hear about the benefits of reading to our children at least 20 minutes each day, and the opportunity to register our newest fellow Americans to participate in our elections systems. It was a busy and well-spent month. January also brought us legislation and press conferences from our governor which has caused many Floridians to wonder what will become of K-12 public education and higher education in our state.

February is a month recognized as Black History Month and this year’s theme is Black Resistance. On Wednesday, February 1, we will have the honor of hearing Dr. Tameka Hobbs who is the author of Democracy Abroad, Lynching at Home: Racial Violence in Florida (2015) which won the 2015 Florida Book Award for Florida Nonfiction, and the 2016 Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Award from the Florida Historical Society. She is also a trusted voice on the history of voting rights in Florida, serves as facilitator and curriculum designer for the South Florida People of Color, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating racism through education and advocacy, and previously hosted “Antiracism Allyship at the Ballot Box” inviting the public into the work of removing barriers from voter registration and voting across the nation and especially in southern states. We hope you will join us for the short time we will spend with her.

While many speak of voter oppression and institutionalized racism as a thing in our nation’s past, many see the ongoing resistance of teaching accurate American history, the culturally and racially bias grooming standards of education institutions, the over policing of Black and Brown neighborhoods, the resistance to vote-by-mail, and the gerrymandering of redistricting as evidence that we have much work to do. While the Jacksonville City Council passed a bill that addressed digital graffiti on buildings, they have not addressed the racism, bigotry, antisemitism, or pockets of our community that are experiencing racism, and hatred. Or, that our systems of government are still impacted by legislation and legislators using Jim Crow mentality to oppress, negatively impact, or create barriers to people in our community and state. The work to address hate and ignorance falls on us, the community.

Florida is experiencing a time when our public education is at risk, our funding for public education is being manipulated, companies offering education options at a lower standard without being required to meet Florida standards are receiving our tax dollars, curriculum is being manipulated, teachers are at risk of being charged with felonies if they are not able to adhere to an ever changing list of restrictions, and the voices of teachers are being silenced as they attempt to offer our children quality education and a safe learning environment. While racism, bigotry and oppression are showing up in education, there is not enough space in this short article to address all the battles we are up against.

If you are not part of our Education Committee or Voter Registration Committee, I would ask that you get involved. While we have other work that is being done that impactful, these two committees are the bulk of our work. Separately, we need our members to write your elected representatives, call them, make appointments to meet them at their district offices and speak with them about the harmful bills they are generating and the long-term impact it will have on our children and the future of our state and nation. Drive to Tallahassee and speak at committee meetings during public comment so legislators can hear directly from voters how you and our children will be impacted by the votes they are casting to break public education, deny quality education, and drive high quality teaching professionals from our state.

The opportunity to do this work is NOW. Once these harmful bills pass and become law, the work to undo their harm becomes more expensive, more time consuming, and less probable.

“Every man of humane convictions must decide on the protest that best suits his convictions, but we must all protest.”
– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in his speech “Beyond Vietnam,” April 4, 1967, at Riverside Church in New York City.
 
His words were appropriate then, and they are appropriate now. To do nothing is to endorse the loss of our individual rights, to cosign the damage to our public education, and to give in to gerrymandering that erodes the will of the voter to elect their own representatives.

After attending or viewing Holocaust remembrances this past weekend, there is this ongoing dialogue that there were several opportunities for people to work together to resist the harm they saw taking place in different pockets of the government and the communities but individually people felt powerless. When we work together, regardless of political party, religion, tax bracket, zip code, orientation, or race, we can make positive change for all our neighbors and not just some. 

I look forward to you joining us in our work to create the elusive more perfect democracy. 
 
—Lanelle Phillmon, LWVJFC President

News & Events

First Wednesday Speaker Series with Tameka Bradley Hobbs 
 
Wednesday, February 1, 12:00 to 1:00 pm

Tameka Bradley Hobbs is an author, commentator, educator, facilitator, and consultant with expertise in African American history, public history, and antiracism education. She earned her undergraduate degree from Florida A&M University, and her doctoral degree in United States History and Historical Administration and Public History from Florida State University.

In addition to her sixteen years of teaching experience, Hobbs has served as coordinator of the African American Studies Program at Valdosta State University. She has also worked as a researcher, writer, consultant, and director for a number of public and oral history projects in Florida and Virginia. Her professional experience includes serving as Director of Projects and Program for the John G. Riley Museum and Center of African American History and Culture, located in Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2011 and 2018, she was Assistant Professor of History, Chair of the Department of Social Sciences, and University Historian for Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens, Florida. Between 2019 and 2022, she served as Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and the Founding Director of the FMU Social Justice Institute at Florida Memorial University.
Register Here

Her book, Democracy Abroad, Lynching at Home: Racial Violence in Florida, was published by the University Press of Florida and has been awarded bronze medal for the 2015 Florida Book Award for Florida Nonfiction, and the 2016 Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Award from the Florida Historical Society.

Hobbs served as founding president of the South Florida Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Inc. (ASALH, Inc.) and a member of the Board of Directors for the Florida Historical Society. She currently serves as the chair of the board of directors for the South Florida People of Color (SFPoC), a non-profit organization based in Miami.

We have a new Vice President!
 
We are very excited to welcome Kathleen Kane to our board as Vice President!
 
Some of you may know Kathleen as a former board member who was also our Education Director.  We appreciated her guidance and leadership before and we are happy to have her leadership once again as our Vice President.
 
Kathleen earned her Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education with Specialization in Early Childhood Education from Leslie University and her Masters of Education in Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services from University of North Florida.  She was an Educator at Duval County Public Schools from 1985 to 2018 where she taught First Grade, served as a School Counselor, and was an Exceptional Education Admissions/Placement Specialist.  She was formerly the Director of Social Media/Recording Secretary/Chairman of Children's Health and Education for the National Organization of Women - Jacksonville and she currently serves on the Fourth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee.

Kathleen was appointed by the board for the remainder of the vacant term which will expire in June 2023 at the annual business meeting.
 
We are fortunate to have Kathleen's leadership, guidance and council on the board and we look forward to working with her (again).

 



League Postcard Event February 11
 
We will meet at the Southeast Regional Library on Saturday, February 11, at 4:00 pm to address postcards to our fellow Floridians who are returning citizens.  These postcards help returning citizens connect with the League so they can receive pro bono legal services or resources necessary to restore their voting rights.  Our last event was so successful that our LWVFL Returning Citizens Committee was overwhelmed with responses.  Now that they have been able to address the initial respondents, we are ready to do more outreach. 
 
All materials for this project will be provided. Just show up ready to have a good time while doing good works. 
 
If you are able to join us for this event, please register here: 
 

 
Black Heritage & Civil Rights Tour of St Augustine
Sunday, February 19, 2023 @ 2:00 pm

The Black Heritage & Civil Rights Tour is a one hour riding tour on the Red Train. This narrated tour circuits the City, as the guide tells the history and points out sites. Your guide will narrate the stories of the significant residents and places in St. Augustine connected to the Civil Rights Movement.

 

We will explore St. Augustine's unique place in the Civil Rights movement as a precursor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. leading the marches in Montgomery and Selma. We will include information about Andrew Young's participation in the protests of 1964 as well as local organizers of the Movement, Dr. Robert Hayling and the St. Augustine Four. We will also look at the larger prism of history, the free Blacks who were part of St. Augustine's Spanish settlement, transition to the United States and the events that led up to the Civil Rights Movement.

 

Our guide will meet us at the trolley loading zone on the north side of the Visitor Information Center. We will park, then assemble in the plaza between the parking garage & the Visitor Center building.

 

We will need to arrive by 1:45PM at the Historic District Parking Garage, 1 Cordova St. SAF 32084. The parking fee is $15 per vehicle per entrance. There are restrooms available at the Visitor Center.

 

The tour cost is $30 per person and tickets are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled.

 

Deadline for registration is February 4th. If we do not get the minimum number of participants (25) you will receive a refund as the tour will be cancelled.

 

Ticket Purchase

You may purchase your ticket via the below Eventbrite link.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lwvjfc-black-heritage-and-civil-rights-tour-tickets-515608568107




Lobby Days Are Coming!
 
League members across the state of Florida will be heading to Tallahassee for Lobby Days March 7-8, 2023 and we hope YOU will join us.
 
For our members who have not experienced Lobby Days, we receive training and a legislative update from our lobby firm and Lobby Corps as well as state committee chairs.  There's an opportunity to hear directly from legislators and time to meet with local delegation members and their staff to address issues and concerns specific to the League and our communities. Its also allows us to meet League members from across the state, hear great ideas about ways we can engage here at home, and we learn more about the work of the League. 

For those League members who may be interested in attending but are not able to drive to/from Tallahassee or may want to make it more economically available to attend, please let us know if you are willing to share a ride or a room during Lobby Days:
 
 
If you did not receive an email from LWV Florida on January 26 announcing Lobby Days, please let us know so we can provide it to you. The announcement contains the registration link for Lobby Days and a separate link for hotel reservations. 
  


Education Committee

The Education Committee will continue to meet on the third Thursday of each month through May at 5 p.m. by Zoom. We will focus on the legislation currently being filed in Tallahassee and alerts as indicated by the LWVFL Education Action Committee. Contact Linda Mann for more information. 
 

 
Mayoral Candidate Meet and Greet - SAVE THE DATE - March 12 

LWVJFC will be holding a Meet and Greet for candidates in the Unitary Election for Mayor of Jacksonville. All qualifying candidates have been invited to participate. The event will be held Sunday, March 12, from 2-4 in the afternoon, in the Multipurpose Room of the Main Library, downtown Jacksonville, at 303 N. Laura Street.

Each candidate will be given 5 minutes to introduce himself or herself. After all introductions are completed, the candidates will have the opportunity for one-on-one interaction with voters at the candidates’ tables. 

This is a wonderful chance to meet the candidates and hear from them about their qualifications and their plans for the City of Jacksonville. It is open to the public, not just members of League, so please spread the word to your friends and neighbors.

Also, because this is a major undertaking for our League, we need lots of help from our members. Please contact Hattie Kaufman hek14874@gmail or Karen Parish lwvjfc.membership@gmail.com to join the committee working on this.

 
 

 
League of Women Voters Jacksonville First Coast Bylaws 

Please take time to review our League's local bylaws. While our bylaws closely mirror those of our state and national boards, we offer our members the opportunity to review our bylaws each year and offer suggestions for change.  Submissions for change will be reviewed and considered by the board. All changes to our bylaws must be approved by members during the annual business meeting (anticipated to be held June 2023).  Submissions may only be made by members of League of Women Voters Jacksonville First Coast.
 
 


In Case You Missed It

Replay of Last Month’s Speaker Event

Replays of many past speaker events are available on our YouTube channel.

Membership Update

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


New Members—Welcome aboard!
 
• Arlene Filkoff
• Genece Minshew and Sue Simpson
• Kathleen Ritchie
• Lori Ann and Sofia Santamaria
• Monika Volker


Returning Members—Thank you so much for choosing to renew!
 
• Monika Volker
• Gina Burrell
• Susan McCullough
• Janie Jones
• Genece Minshew
• Sue Simpson
• Judy Sheklin
• Paige Gottlieb
• Rhoda London
• Carol Hamilton
• Amy Mitchell and John Hatie
• Karen Parish
• Julia Theodore
 
Please email Membership Director Karen Parish at lwvjfc.membership@gmail.com if your name was missed. 
 

Be sure to check out our new website, lwvjaxfc.org, with an easy way to join or renew online, even if you prefer to pay by check. Click on the blue “Join Today” button at the top of the Homepage.

 
Members who wish to renew must log in. If you are using a Mobile device, you will need to select Desktop at the bottom of your screen to receive the Login prompt.

Donors

Our website, lwvjaxfc.org, offers an easy way to make donations to LWVJFC, even if you prefer to pay by check. Click on the red "Donate" button at the top of the Homepage.
thank you


Volunteers
Volunteers Always Needed 

Quite often, our League needs volunteers to help with small tasks that are not time consuming but vital to our leadership and membership.

If you are willing to help make phone calls, be trained to send text messages, or assist in other ways, please contact us and let us help you figure out how to invest your time in our League and our democracy.

Contact Lanelle at lwvjaxfc@gmail.com to discuss topics and abilities.  
 
For more specific volunteer tasks, click HERE.

Stay Connected

Local

Stay up-to-date on all local upcoming events on the LWV of Jacksonville / First Coast: 

 

• Website 

• Facebook

• LinkedIn


Regional
The Regional Facebook Group, LWV Florida North Region Leagues, includes Alachua, Bay, Jacksonville/First Coast, Okaloosa & Walton, Pensacola Bay Area, and Tallahassee.

 

State
For statewide news and action items, visit the LWV of Florida

  

National

The League of Women Voters of the United States


Contact Us

We look forward to hearing from you!

Phone: 904-355-8683

EmailLWVJAXFC@gmail.com

Postal Address:
Please use the address below even if a form or document you have received from the League gives a different one.

League of Women Voters Jacksonville First Coast
PO Box 330353
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. We influence public policy through education and advocacy.
Copyright © 2021 League of Women Voters Jacksonville/First Coast, All rights reserved.
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PO Box 330353, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233

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