NCJW Weekly Advocacy Wrap-Up:
Friday, May 20, 2022
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In this issue...
THIS SUNDAY -- Make a Difference Day – It’s Not Too Late to Register
Our Afghan Women Say Thanks
Abortion Access Is a Jewish Value
Want to do more for Abortion Justice?
Hear Sheila Katz: Roe v. Wade: Reproductive Freedom as a Jewish Value – May 31
LBCC Feminine Hygiene Drive – through May 31
HIAS: Uniting for Ukraine: Sponsoring Ukrainian Newcomers – May 23
Register to Vote by May 23
Join State Senator Lena Gonzalez for Brunch – June 4
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Make a Difference Day
Sunday, May 22, 11:30 am
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Festivities and Check-in
11:30 am
Marina Vista Park
Make A Difference Day is back and is going BIGGER than ever!
There are more than 32 DIFFERENT PROJECTS that benefit Long Beach non-profits and we need all the help we can get. This year we are in need of almost 650, that's right, 650 volunteers to make the biggest difference in the community. Some projects have limited spaces available, so register today.
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Our Afghan Women Say Thank You |
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Thanking Representative Slotkin
for Her Help
Monday evening was an Evening of Celebration with Champions of Change at Washington Institute. Among the many speakers was Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-NC). Section Board and Welcome Circle Team members Cynthia Gordon (l) and Natalie Swit (r) took the opportunity to bring notes from our Afghan refugee women, Hameeda, Reema, and Masoma to Congresswoman Slotkin. The women were able to leave Afghanistan due to Rep. Slotkin’s efforts.
Legislative Fellow Elissa Miller emailed the next day, ”Thank you again for bringing the letters to Congresswoman Slotkin last night at the NCJW event. I know she was very happy to receive the notes from Hameeda, Reema, and Masoma!”
She sent a link to a Washington Post feature story on the Congresswoman’s effort to help get that group out of Afghanistan.
UPDATE: We are thrilled to announce that generous donations will allow our Welcome Circle to fully furnish an apartment for the three women we've welcomed from Afghanistan. We are more grateful for the community’s generosity and support than our words can adequately express. Reema, Masoma and Hameeda will certainly be off to a good start.
To complete the needs of setting up a new apartment, we have created a Target Wish List which you can find here. You can have the items shipped to the home of team member Gail Levy or give them to one of the other Welcome Circle members for delivery: Cynthia Gordon, Michele Samit, Naomi Steinfeld, Natalie Smit or any NCJW member that you know who will be happy to deliver your gift!
Your ongoing support is what makes this project happen!
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Abortion Access is a Jewish Value |
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On Tuesday morning at The Jewish Rally for Abortion Justice, speakers ranged from abortion storytellers, reproductive justice partners, members of Congress, coalition partners to rabbis representing every denomination of Judaism. CEO Sheila Katz writes, That “was just the beginning. It’s time to act together as the Jewish community to make a powerful, collective impact.
NAF is dedicated to ensuring individuals have the information and resources they need when they seek to terminate a pregnancy. The Jewish Fund for Abortion Access through NCJW will help with their emergency relief efforts in three ways:
- Funding the largest hotline in the country, which helps individuals learn what they need based on where they live to access abortions. After reaching out to the hotline, the person calling is assigned a case manager who will help them through their journey.
- Funding travel over state lines for those who need it.
- Funding abortions at NAF approved clinics for those who need it.
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Want to do more for Abortion Justice? |
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Here are actions from Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties:
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Help Recruit for Decision Day Rapid Response Rallies: Help us spread the word and recruit supporters to attend one of our rapid response rallies we will organize after the Supreme Court releases it's final decision. Commit to taking action HERE.
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Share Your Story: Talking about and saying the word abortion is one of the best ways to fight the stigma surrounding abortion. Share your story or words of support HERE.
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Register to Vote & VOTE: Make sure your voice is heard in the upcoming Primary Election by voting on or before Tuesday June 7, 2022. Register to vote and learn more about the voting process HERE.
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Advocate for Access: Support state legislation that helps protect and expand access to safe and legal abortion care, send a message to your State Reps HERE.
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Get Engaged with the Political Arm of PPOSBC: Sign up with the Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties to learn about local electoral and advocacy opportunities. Sign up HERE.
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Hear from Sheila Katz:
Roe v. Wade Reproductive Freedom as a Jewish Value
Tuesday, May 31, 5 pm, Online
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Roe v. Wade: Reproductive Freedom as a Jewish Value
How do the values of the Jewish tradition, the sanctity of human life and the respect for human dignity figure into the role of reproductive freedom? American Jewish University welcomes Sheila Katz, our own NCJW CEO Women for a conversation about Jewish values and reproductive freedom and the recently leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade.
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LBCC Feminine Hygiene Drive – through May 31 |
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The Basic Needs Department of Long Beach Community College is conducting a Feminine Hygiene Drive through May 31. Scan the QR code to access the Amazon Wishlist or email: basicneeds@lbcc.edu.
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Uniting for Ukraine: Sponsoring Ukrainians
Monday, May 23, 4 pm
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Join us to learn more about the different avenues for support for Ukrainians entering the U.S. that HIAS is designing, in partnership with other national Jewish and refugee agencies. We will share details about HIAS Welcome Circles for Ukrainians, the ways that Jewish Federations, JCRCs, and social service agencies are engaging with Ukrainians, and how individuals, synagogues, and other Jewish communal groups can play key roles.
Advance registration required. Please click here to RSVP.
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All registered voters in California should have received their Ballots for the June 7, 2022 Primary Election.
If you have not yet received your ballot, click here.
You have multiple safe, secure, and reliable options for returning your ballot. Whichever option you choose to return your ballot, remember to sign the envelope in the space provided.
- Mail – No stamp is required to return your ballot through the US Postal Service. Make sure your ballot is postmarked by June 7, 2022, and arrives no later than 7 days after the election.
- Drop box – Counties offer secure drop boxes to return your ballot. Make sure your ballot is deposited by 8:00 p.m. on June 7, 2022.
- In person – You can return your ballot to a polling place, vote center, or your county elections office by 8:00 p.m. on June 7, 2022. One or more voting locations in many counties will be open prior to Election Day. Voting locations will offer voter registration, replacement ballots, accessible voting machines, and language assistance.
Remember to make a plan to vote! For more information on casting your ballot, go to vote.ca.gov.
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Join State Senator Lena Gonzalez for Brunch
Saturday, June 4, 11:30 am
Signal Hill, CA
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Senator Lena Gonzalez invites you to an in-person brunch event. You’ll be gathering for some delicious brunch foods and to talk about issues that matter to Signal Hill.
Do you have questions about state and local affairs? Would you like to know what services are available through her office or what's included in her 2022 legislative package? Do you have new legislation ideas to share with her? Then this is the perfect opportunity for to talk.
You can submit questions in advance and
The event will take place on Signal Hill Park, 2175 Cherry Avenue, Signal Hill, CA 90755. If you need assistance registering for the event, please contact her office at (562) 256-7921.
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