LWV Charleston Area Newsletter | February 2025

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The League rolled out its new ChapterSpot portal for members this month. If you have not yet had a chance, please go to LWVCharleston.org on your desktop computer, click on the 'Member Portal' box on the top left of the screen, enter your email, and follow the instructions to verify and update your profile on the site. Future renewal notices will be generated through this site. Any questions please email chapterspotlwvca@gmail.com.

ELECTIONS: On Feb. 25, LWVCA hosted a virtual candidate forum for the 10 candidates running for Mt Pleasant Town Council. The election is March 25, with early voting from March 10-21. See ChsVotes.com for poll details.. The forum recording is posted to LWV Charleston's YouTube page and the Candidate Forums page on our website.

LWV: Defending Democracy,

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots nonprofit dedicated to empowering everyone to fully participate in our democracy. Founded in 1920, LWV US is celebrating its 105th anniversary this month. Today, the League has expanded its vision of a more inclusive democracy where all Americans, regardless of gender, sex, race, ability or party can see themselves represented in our government. We bring an anti-racist, social justice lens to the issues.

We are nonpartisan but hold firmly to the positions we adopt, among them a clear understanding of the purpose and benefits of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our society. Women, veterans, people with disabilities, people of color, those in the LGBTQ+ communities, and businesses themselves have benefited from well-developed DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies.

In recent weeks, the leadership of the national League has issued statements in support of diversity policies, has called on Congress to exercise its oversight powers in the face of overreach, and has pushed back on anti-democratic executive orders.

Please take a moment to read recent posts from LWVUS CEO Celina Stewart:

We stand together and appreciate the work you're doing to make your voices heard.

• Sat. March 1, 1:30 pm - LWVCA Book Club discusses threats facing public education from right-wing movements. Come to discuss School Moms by Laura Pappano or They Came for our Schools by Mike Hixenbaugh, or bring your knowledge from other sources or experience. Email Nancy Barry for Zoom link.

• Sun. March 2 at 2pm: Terrace Theater on James Island: Majority Rules, a thought-provoking documentary screening and Talkback about ranked choice voting reform hosted by LWV Charleston with Better Ballot SC. Open to the public. Walk-ins are welcome, RSVPs preferred! Details and sign-up below.

• Tues. March 18, 5:30 pm: Ashley River Library, Summerville - How to Know What's True: A Panel Discussion with Post and Courier journalists, moderated by Executive Editor Jeff Taylor. Details below.

• Lunch and Dinner Get Togethers at two women-owned restaurants - Tuesday, March 11 (lunch) or Thursday, March 26 (dinner) . Details below.

• May 16 and 17: LWV South Carolina Biennial Convention, Greenville. League members will convene for speakers, workshops, business, and awards. Sign up deadline is April 16, and LWV Charleston will help cover registration costs. See details and sign up here on the LWVSC website. Contact Paula Egelson for information.

• Save the Date: Thursday, May 29th, 6 pm: Park Circle Community Center - Members' May Meeting and Dinner with guest speaker - Details to come.

• Arts opportunity: Award-winning playwright August Wilson's Two Trains Running will be performed at Gaillard Center on March 13. Orchestra seats are still available on the Gaillard site for $15!

LWV Charleston continues its collaboration with The Post and Courier on Tuesday March 18, at the Ashley River Library, 2824 Bacons Bridge Rd, in Summerville, starting at 5:30 pm. Executive Editor Jeff Taylor will moderate a panel of journalists discussing 'How to Know What's True', a critical topic for citizens looking to become more knowledgable about how credible journalists do their jobs, and how the rest of us can avoid mis and disinformation.

We held a successful event on this topic in Charleston in the fall and expect another lively discussion including a new panelist! Come again or for the first time!

The event is free and open to the public. RSVP here to save your seat!

In honor of Women's History Month (March), LWVCA invites you to celebrate women's owned businesses in our community. We are organizing two gatherings at local women's owned restaurants, to allow members to socialize and show support.

Tuesday, March 11 at 11 am: Lunch at My Three Sons, 5237 Dorchester Rd, North Charleston 29401. OR Wednesday, March 26 at 5:30 pm, Dinner at Ms. Rose's Fine Food & Cocktails, 1090 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., Charleston 29407

If interested in attending, please RSVP to Nikki Claibourn by March 6 and indicate which date and location you're signing up for!

Highlights of Recent Activities

LWVCA Supports Septima Film

LWVCA is pleased to announce our participation as a producing sponsor of the documentary Septima: From A to Z, inspired by the play Septima that was commissioned by LWV Charleston and first presented at PURE Theatre two years ago.

LWVCA member Leah Pedersen is the Director and Producer of the documentary, which focuses on Zania Cummings, the actor who has played the title character in PURE Theatre's production about civil rights icon Septima Clark since 2024. The film captures her insights and revelations as she and the PURE Theatre troupe bring the play to schools, community centers and venues throughout the region. Commentary by community members as well as her friends and family will be interwoven in the film. The premiere of the film is scheduled for the fall. More information regarding screenings will be shared when available.

Our January 25 meeting was moved to virtual for weather but that didn't dampen the spirit! Brandon Fish of the Charleston Jewish Federation and Sharina Haynes of NAACP Goose Creek accepted the Spirit of Democracy Awards from LWV Charleston. Both were commended for their community activities in voter education, voter registration, getting out the vote, and candidate forums, and spoke eloquently about their work. Paula Egelson met with each of them afterwards to present the award plaques.

Advocacy Training Session

On February 22, LWVCA offered Advocacy Training at the Charleston Main Library for 20 local League members and partners. Materials for this pilot program were adapted from LWV Columbia SC's advocacy toolkit. They included an introduction to advocacy, demonstration of effective tools, and a sharing of experiences and online resources.

We have had requests from other League supporters and nonprofit organizations to offer this training again. If interested, please contact Paula Egelson or Judy Peper.

Program Planning Update

This month, members participated in a virtual meeting to assess LWVSC State program priorities, and an in-person meeting to drill in on LWVCA Local priorities for 2025-2027. The input is being assembled and will be reviewed by the Board and shared with the full membership in advance of our May 29th Member meeting.

Black History Month Tribute

As we close out Black History Month, we celebrate individuals making an impact in our communities today. The Post and Courier recognized 12 Black Leaders to Know in South Carolina, and this year Dr. Youlanda Gibbs was among them, for good reason. Dr. Gibbs saw a gap in healthcare access and founded The Palmetto Palace in 2006 to support underserved communities. What started as a resource for families with hospitalized loved ones expanded into mobile healthcare, food distribution, and public education. Its mobile health unit provided more than 8,000 COVID-19 vaccines to rural areas in 2019!

We also salute two other Charleston leaders cited for this recognition: KJ Kearney, founder of Black Food Fridays, and David White Jr., creator of The Dropping Pin.

The next virtual LWV Charleston Board meetingwill be held on March 4, 2025 at 6pm. Please contact Paula Egelson for Zoom link if you'd like to observe.

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We are now linking the monthly newsletter to the front page of LWVCharleston.org where it can be referenced throughout the month. We're keeping the website current with events and announcements (thanks to Jennifer Metts!). Please visit the site!

Issue Contributors:

Jeri Cabot, Nikki Claibourn, Paula Egelson,

Cara Erickson, Judy Peper

Newsletter Editor: Cara Erickson