Nonpartisan and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statements

Primary/Special Election FACE2FACE set for Sat., April 5! Share our flyer!

Saturday, April 5, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

United Methodist Church (Pierson Hall)

1435 E. Main St., Kent

Candidates for the following races have been invited to attend:

Kent City Council
Portage County Municipal Court
Kent Mayor

Help us promote the candidate forum!

Click here to download and print the event flyer.
Click here to download the flyer with live links to share in email.
Click here for an image file of the flyer to share on your social media.

Click here for link to downloadable League Voters' Guide for the 2025 Primary. Also find the Voters' Guide at vote.411.org.

Wondering how artificial intelligence could

affect your civic life? Learn more at the

April 24 All Member Meeting

Artificial intelligence (AI), a branch of computer science and engineering that aims to develop intelligent machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, has captured the public’s attention since it emerged in 2018. With impacts on social media and education, concerns are emerging about the effect of AI on accuracy, reliability and truthfulness.

Through his job as academic and medical librarian for Aultman College and the Aultman Health Foundation, Stow resident Mike Jundi began exploring how AI operated and was being used by researchers. Jundi will be the speaker at the All Member Meeting, Thursday, April 24, 7 p.m., at Kent Social Services. He will share general information about AI and how to identify and react to it in our digital lives. Read more about Mike here.

Goings on before the

April 24 All Member Meeting

New Member Orientation, Thursday, April 24, 6 p.m.

New to League?! LWV Kent President Sherry invites any new member from the past year to attend a new-member orientation, Thursday, April 24, 6 p.m. before the All Member Meeting. Sherry explains it all! You will meet other new members and then stay (we hope!) for the All Member Meeting that follows. Both events are held at Kent Social Services, 1066 S. Water St., Kent. Here’s a map!

TECHLab ready to help members with new system logins

The League of Women Voters of the United States is moving to a centralized dues processing system. Starting in 2025, instead of paying your dues to LWV Kent, you will be paying them to LWV US. For this to happen, members need to log in to the new system. You can accomplish this on your own by going to https://portal.lwv.org and following the prompts. See the graphic below for helpful tips.

If you are not comfortable proceeding on your own, come to the LWV Kent TECHLab Thursday, April 24, 6 p.m. (before the All Member Meeting at Kent Social Services). League members will be available to answer your questions and walk you through the process. Bring a laptop if you can. Need help at some other time? Call Jane at 330-678-9127, or email her here. Or, use our League email.

Hands Off! National Day of Action events for Kent, Ravenna, Portage County set for Saturday, April 5

On Saturday, April 5, we are using our constitutional right of free speech to fight back with a peaceful but crystal-clear message: HANDS OFF!

This mass mobilization day is a message to the world that we do not consent to the destruction of our democratic government and our economy. Alongside Americans across the country, we are marching, rallying and protesting to demand an end to the chaos and the start of building an opposition movement.

A core principle behind all Hands Off! events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values. Check out handsoff2025.com for more information. Register below at the site of your choice.

Portage County Courthouse Lawn

203 W. Main St.

Ravenna, OH 44266

1:30-2:30 p.m.

Map

Gazebo Downtown Kent

Franklin Avenue & W. Main Street

Kenr, OH 44240

3-5 p.m.

Map

What you need to know about the SAVE Act

Congressional Republicans are pushing Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act that would make sweeping changes to voter registration, including requiring those signing up to present documents proving U.S. citizenship as well as other voter suppression requirements.

Here is a link to a Fact Sheet from the League of Women Voters of Ohio specific to Ohio and the SAVE Act.

Democracy Dialogues: Property Taxes,

Bond Issues and Levies

Wednesday, April 16, 6:30 p.m.

Aurora Schools Conference Center

119 W. Pioneer Trail, Aurora

Join the League of Women Voters of Northern Portage for the next Democracy Dialogues session on property taxes, bond issues and levies. The discussion will focus on how these funding mechanics work and why they matter for the support of public infrastructure. The League of Women Voters will present general background information and then moderate a discussion with Portage County Auditor Matt Kelly, Portage County Treasurer John Kennedy, Aurora City Finance Director Tim Clymer and Aurora City School Superintendent Mike Roberto.

Topic of May 22 All Member Meeting is how current changes are impacting food and farm policy

ALL MEMBER MEETING

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 7 P.M.

NEW LOCATION! HOBBS HALL

217 N. Mantua St., Kent MAP

Join us for a discussion with Joe Logan, a fifth-generation farmer from Kinsman and president of the Ohio Farmers Union. The Ohio Farmers Union works to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of Ohio’s family farmers, ranchers and rural communities. OFU promotes a family farmer and consumer friendly legislative agenda and fosters cooperative business and community actions across Ohio and the United States. Joe regularly speaks to audiences across the country about impacts to food and farm policy.

The event is free and open to the community. Kent Haymaker Farmers' Market is our co-sponsor.

In-person and virtual book clubs

announce selections for April 16 meetings

The LWV Kent in-person Book Club meets on the third Wednesday of the month, April 16, at 1:30 p.m. at Hudson Grande Senior Living, 5400 Darrow Road, Hudson. All are welcome to join. Email Jane for details about the meeting.

The LWV Kent virtual Book Club also meets on the third Wednesday of the month, April 16, from 7-8 p.m. on Zoom. RSVP here if you are interested. A Zoom link will be sent ahead of the meeting.

The in-person Book Club selection for April is On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder.

The virtual Book Club selection for April is Woman Life Freedom by Marjane Satrapi.

Make your voice heard!

Want to take more action? Follow the sites below!

Click here for the Indivisible website.

Click here for the 50501 Facebook group.

Click here for the Mobilize website.

Read the latest from the LWV Kent Observer Corps. Click here. Interested in an outreach activity that puts you in the rooms where it happens? Click here.

SAVE THE DATE . . . All events are free except where noted

Apr 5 | Saturday | 1:30 p.m. | Hands Off Ravenna! | Portage County Courthouse Lawn, 203 W. Main St., Ravenna

Apr 5 | Saturday | 3-5 p.m. | Hands Off Kent! | Gazebo in Downtown Kent at Franklin Ave/W Main St intersection

Apr 16 | Wednesday | 1:30 p.m. | In-person LWV Kent Book Club | Click here to email for details.

Apr 16 | Wednesday | 7-8 p.m. | Virtual LWV Kent Book Club | Click here to sign up.

Apr 24 | Thursday | 6 p.m. | New Member Orientation | Kent Social Services, 1066 S. Water St., Kent

Apr 24 | Thursday | 7 p.m. | All Member Meeting: Artificial Intelligence and Your Civic Life; Mike Jundi, Atman College Academic/Medical Librarian, speaker | Kent Social Services, 1066 S. Water St., Kent

May 21 | Wednesday | 1:30 p.m. | In-person LWV Kent Book Club | Click here to email for details.

May 21 | Wednesday | 7-8 p.m. | Virtual LWV Kent Book Club | Click here to sign up.

May 22 | Thursday | 7 p.m. | All Member Meeting: The Impact of Current Changes to Food, Farm Policy and the Price of Eggs, Joe Logan, President of Ohio Farmers Union, speaker | Hobbs Hall, 217 N. Mantua St., Kent