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Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. | |
“Democracy is a process, not a static condition.
It is becoming, rather than being.
It can easily be lost, but never is fully won.
Its essence is eternal struggle.”
- Federal Judge William H. Hastie
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Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative
Welcome to the ARDI landing page, where you can stay up to date on the implementation of this Board of Supervisors-approved initiative.
In July 2020, the Board of Supervisors adopted a motion that created the Board’s eighth Board-directed priority known as the Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative. The Board’s motion boldly articulated that ARDI create an anti-racism policy agenda to guide, govern, and increase the County’s ongoing commitment to fighting racism in all its dimensions across Los Angeles County.
PARKS.LACOUNTY.GOV/BHM
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santamonica.gov: Black History Month Take & Make Kit: Garrett Morgan, Inventor Black History Month Festival/Celebration Youth Teen Adult Senior Programs Library Arts, Culture & Fun Places T\to Visit. Mon, Feb 3, 2025 10:00 AM to Fri, Feb 28, 2025 5:00 PM in honor of one of Garrett Morgan’s many life-saving inventions
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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF SANTA MONICA | |
WOMEN WHO SHAPE SANTA MONICA 2025
2025 Theme
Moving Forward Together!
Women Educating & Inspiring Generations
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INTRODUCING THE 2025 RECIPIENTS OF LWVSM YELLOW ROSE AWARDS
Stay tuned for the History of the Yellow Rose Award in our next issue
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Joanne Whitcomb Berlin has served as the Coordinator of the Committee For Racial Justice (CRJ) since its founding in the summer of 2011 when a racial incident involving a noose at SAMOHI went public and it became clear that folks were trying to discount the significant racism involved. Since that summer, CRJ, a totally volunteer organization which is predominantly black & white folks, has been organizing, lobbying local leadership, and having monthly workshops to educate and offer ways to get involved in attempts to change the racist culture in policies and practices in all the institutions that impact the lives ot black people.
Joanne is also active in the local Coalition for Police Reform (CPR) which brought local organizations like CRJ, NAACP, and ACLU together in the wake of the death of Travon Martin and the subsequent killings of black young men and women that were highly publicized for a while in the US.
In Oct. of 1999, she transitioned into volunteer work at the Venice Family Clinic in addition to a number of non-medical involvements, such as the Days of Dialogue sponsored by Avia
Ridley Thomas and working against the death penalty (as chair of the LA chapter of Death Penalty Focus she helped bring together the LA Coalition Against the Death Penalty in 2005 when CA was about to execute 3 men 3 months in a row after a long hiatus on executions).
An ordained minister in the United Methodist, she currently chairs the Administrative Board of the Church in Ocean Park.
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Ana Gioconda Jara is a visionary public policy professional and tireless advocate for youth and families, with over two decades of experience shaping programs and policies that promote social equity and community well-being. With a career that began in youth development, Ana has continuously expanded her expertise to include areas such as housing policy, human services, police reform, economic development, and educational access.
Ana has dedicated her career to creating community-driven solutions that empower working-class families, promote social equity, and challenge systemic barriers—especially for marginalized groups, including women and youth. Her work is deeply rooted in feminist ideals, advocating for the dismantling of inequities that affect historically oppressed communities and striving to create spaces where all individuals, particularly women and youth, have the opportunity to lead, thrive, and be heard. She believes that lasting change comes when communities are at the center of decisions that shape their lives.
Ana is rooted in her belief that systemic change is essential to creating lasting opportunities.
Ana currently serves as the Youth and Family Services Program Administrator for the City of Santa Monica, within the Santa Monica Police Department to lead youth-focused initiatives that build stronger community connections, empowerment, and foster positive youth and officer development. She is the pioneer of the LEAD Program (Leadership, Engagement, Action, and Discovery), an evidence-based youth development initiative that focuses on building leadership and social competencies in young people, particularly in under-resourced communities.
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Shari Davis, a long-time advocate for children and education, has chaired numerous successful ballot measures campaigns now generating over $40 million per year for Santa Monica and Malibu public schools as well as significant funding for facilities in SMMUSD and at Santa Monica College. When it comes to chairing these kinds of ballot measure campaigns, Shari has limitless energy and profound commitment.
In addition to being a League of Women Voters of Santa Monica Board member, Shari is on Santa Monica’s Early Childhood Task Force, Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS) executive committee where she served for 15 years as chair or co-chair, and was President of the Santa Monica-Malibu PTA Council. Her now-grown three children went all the way through Santa Monica public schools.
Shari is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Santa Monica College (SMC), co-director of SMC's Public Policy Institute, and serves as Project Manager, Special Projects, which includes coordinating efforts that launched the Santa Monica Early Childhood program and led to the February 2023 opening of the SMC Malibu Campus.
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Carla Fantozzi is a seasoned community leader with over three decades of experience in youth services and cultural programming. As Principal Supervisor/Park Director at Virginia Avenue Park in Santa Monica from 2005 to 2024, she supported community-driven programs that served several thousand local youth and families annually.
Fantozzi established model youth services, combining arts, academic support, and leadership opportunities as well as formed partnerships with over 20 agencies annually to provide access to social services, and produced cultural festivals in collaboration with community members.
During her tenure, Virginia Avenue Park grew into a vibrant community hub, offering after-school programs, teen center initiatives, and economic recovery projects. Working at Virginia Avenue Park was the highlight of her career. She was honored to work alongside community members in presenting cultural events such as Greens Festival, La Posada and the Arts & Literacy Festival, as well as championing economic recovery projects such as the soon to be constructed VAP Commercial Kitchen that will support local entrepreneurs in starting their own food businesses.
Previously, she held leadership roles at ARTScorpsLA and The Museum of Television & Radio. Recognized by the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, Fantozzi consistently leverages arts and culture to create meaningful community connections. Currently, she serves as Art Center Director for Barnsdall Art Park and the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery in Hollywood.
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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS of the UNITED STATES | |
The League's Birthday - Celebrate with Us
It's hard to believe that in less than a week, the League will be 105! The LWVUS will celebrate our legacy and honor our commitment to empowering voters and defending democracy with a virtual rally on Friday, Feb. 14 at 11am ET (8am PST). Tune into the event on our Facebook. We’ll also share a recording of the event on YouTube shortly afterward.
LWVUS Federal Judiciary Study Committee - Update
Recently, the Federal Judiciary Study Committee hosted a town hall for members to learn more about the study, pose questions, and hear from leading experts. New materials, including consensus questions, discussion prompts, and additional resources are now available to members — make sure to check it out on the League Management Site! The Study has a relatively short timeline. Study materials will be sent out in early February for discussions and consensus in March and April.
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Contact Your Representatives:
The House and Senate introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require citizenship documentation to register to vote despite the fact that voters in every state are already required to affirm or verify their citizenship status when registering.
It is already illegal for non-citizens to register and vote in federal or state elections. Additionally, we have processes to ensure our elections are secure and that only eligible voters are casting ballots. State election officials have systems to verify an individual voter’s eligibility and ensure voter rolls are accurate.
The bill’s requirement of a document to prove American citizenship to register to vote in federal elections is unnecessary and seeks to divide us. Further, it creates one more barrier to the voting process, as many eligible voters do not have easy access to the necessary documents. Compared to white US citizens, citizens of color are three times more likely to lack documents such as birth certificates, passports, naturalization certificates, or certificates of citizenship or face difficulties accessing them. For example, while approximately half of all American adults possess a passport, two-thirds of Black Americans do not.
Legislation like the SAVE Act is another in a long list of tactics, like strict voter photo ID requirements and limitations on voter assistance in languages other than English, which seek to make it more difficult for voters of color and naturalized citizens to vote. Americans do not need MORE obstacles to vote.
Congress must act to ensure that every eligible US citizen has the freedom to vote unimpeded by discriminatory rules rooted in fear and division.
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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA | |
Making Democracy Work® engages Leagues nationwide in advancing core democracy issues. The campaign includes ensuring a free, fair, and accessible electoral system for all eligible voters.
Voting Rights: Voting is a fundamental right and all eligible voters should have the equal opportunity to exercise that right. The League is dedicated to ensuring that every eligible voter has the freedom to vote.
Voter Protection and Service
The League has worked to foster civic engagement and enhance access to the vote since our organization was founded in 1920. We protect voters by battling legislation that challenges democracy for all and impedes access to the ballot. We serve voters through education with unbiased information about the voting process, candidates and ballot measures.
Election Reform
Reforming Elections to Promote Inclusivity and Representation ... Election reform is a vital issue in today’s political climate ... We work on legislation and ballot measures designed to make our electoral system more accessible, fair, and representative for all citizens.
Money in Politics
- Elections should be about the voters, not big money interests. It’s time to limit SuperPACs and secret donors to protect representative democracy.
- Reducing the influence of big money in our politics makes our elections fairer. Voters have the right to know who is raising money for which political candidates, how much money they are raising, and how that money is being spent ...
- Our elections should be free from corruption and undue influence. They should work so that everyday Americans can run for office, even if they aren’t well connected to wealthy special interests.
- We fight to reform money in politics in Congress, with state legislatures, the executive branch, and, where appropriate, the courts. We are deeply committed to reforming our nation’s campaign finance system to ensure the public’s right to know, combat corruption and undue influence, enable candidates to compete more equitably in public office, and allow maximum citizen participation in the political process.
Redistricting
- We oppose partisan and racial gerrymandering that strips rights away from voters... We believe responsibility for fair redistricting should be vested in an independent special commission, with a membership that reflects the diversity of the unit of government.
- The League of Women Voters of California were leaders in the movement to create California’s independent Citizens Redistricting Commission ...
- Furthermore, we built in rules to guarantee that Commission members reflect California’s diversity. We continue to work to promote independent redistricting commissions and fair map criteria in local jurisdictions across California. Read More About California Redistricting and Fair Maps
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For your calendar: LWV California is planning for its annual convention to be held June 17-22 by Zoom. Now is the time to be thinking about the overriding issues that LWVC should be addressing for the next 2 years. More information to follow. | |
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF LA COUNTY
An InterLeague Organization
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Welcome to the January 2025 issue of the
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Our heartfelt love and prayers go out to all our League members and families whose homes have been in danger, damaged or destroyed.
We know many in greater Los Angeles, Pasadena Area, and Santa Monica have been under severe duress during these fires and a few have lost their homes. Such tragic circumstances are due to ever increasing climate change, heat, lack of rain after abundant rain, and ongoing burning of fossil fuels to power our lifestyles.
LWV LA County is setting up a GoFundMe site for the League members and families in the Pasadena Area League who have lost their homes. Look for the GoFundMe on the County League website.
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WHAT OTHER LEAGUES ARE DOING | |
...shared by Teri Mufic Neustaedter of LWV Beach Cities
Here's the link to LWV Beach Cities newsletters (VOTERs). This is an ongoing link and will be updated as new issues are posted. We publish our newsletter, The Voter, four times a year.
Read and download the current and past issues. https://lwvbeachcities.org/newsletters.html
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LEAGUE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS NEVER STOP LEARNING
NEVER STOP SEEKING KNOWLEDGE
NEVER STOP ENGAGING
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New Year, A Renewed Commitment
Freedom to Read Statement
...from the Santa Monica Public Library
Sincerely, Erica Cuyugan
Director of Library Services
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President: Barbara Inatsugu
Editor: Barbara Inatsugu
Email: league@lwvsantamonica.org
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Our Mission...
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. We never support or oppose any political party or candidate.
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LWV Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy:
Discrimination or harassment of any kind will not be accepted within the League, including but not limited to race, socio-economic status, age, ability status, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, or marital status.
Read more here.
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Acknowledgement of Native Lands:
The geographic areas this League represents are the traditional lands of the following Native People: Chumash; Tongva; Kizh. Find more information here and here.
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