Click here to read our Nonpartisan and Diversity,

President’s Message

Happy New Year! Whew, we made it to 2023. It’s time for all those worn-out resolutions: lose weight, eat better, come to complete stops at stop signs, stop smoking, exercise more, etc.

I attended the matinee of Hamilton on New Year’s Eve. Of course, it was wonderful. The genius of Lin-Manuel Miranda was evident throughout. The chaos, arguing, differences of opinion, duels, affairs and dealmaking are still alive and well in our government. Toward the end of the show I actually became emotional. This fragile democracy our founders crafted is still too fragile. As I write this, the House of Representatives is still trying to choose a speaker. They are in total disarray. And this is 2023!

If you were unable to attend the Holiday Brunch, you missed a lovely event. Our speaker and also member, Kim Gruenwald, provided an excellent review of the birth of our democracy. Our table decorations, provided by Sara Ashley-Cook, were beautiful and festive, and the food provided by Laziza was

excellent.

There's still time to make plans to attend the NONPARTISAN Kent rally/vigil to remember the Jan. 6 insurrection on our Capitol. Our League is one of the sponsors. See the brief below to register. I just heard an interview with author Bradley Onishi whose new book, Preparing for War, talks about the rise of White Christian nationalists and the pathway to the January 6 attack. It sounds like a really good read.

Another pressing date is Jan. 8 to register for attending in-person the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast hosted by the Portage County NAACP. Join our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee at the event. See below to RSVP.

In Ohio, there is a lot on the horizon that will guide the work of our League in upcoming months. The Ohio Legislature was very busy during the lame duck session. Some of the bills have passed, some have stalled and some are waiting for the governor’s signature. Fortunately, HR6, Frank LaRose’s initiative to make ballot initiatives more difficult to achieve, was defeated. We anticipate that this will rear its ugly head again in the new general assembly.

If it is to make the May ballot, it needs to be passed by Feb. 1. Keep your eyes on this and contact your representative to vote “NO!”

The Comprehensive Voting Bill, Sub HB 458, has not yet been signed by the governor. It has good and bad components, adding voting restrictions but also bolstering election security. Contact his office to also voice your disapproval. Stay tuned.

Please plan to join us for our Jan. 12 All Member Meeting. We are beginning discussions about media literacy. This is a very important time to become shrewd consumers of all the facts, views and mis/disinformation that bombard us on a daily basis.

This is going to be an important year for all of us to communicate with our legislators, both local and national, to make our voices heard. Pay attention to the action alerts that come from our Ohio League office and take action. As I have said before, our democracy only works when we work for our democracy.

In League, peace, and unity

Debbie

LWV Kent and community groups to rally for nonpartisan Jan. 6 remembrance

January 6th marks the second anniversary of an insurrection against our democracy. The support for democracy rally on Jan. 6, 2023, will be an all community event co-sponsored by several local nonpartisan groups, including the League of Women Voters of Kent, the Kent Interfaith Alliance for Racial Reconciliation and Justice and Portage County NAACP, to bring awareness of and mobilize action against forces that create insurrections and voting restrictions.

The rally will focus on vigilance and a call for protecting voters and election officials and to support a free, fair and open lection process.

Meet Jan. 6, 6:30 p.m., at the First Christian Church, 335 W. Main St., Kent, for a nonpartisan gathering. The group will briefly go outside for a public ceremony of remembrance and dedication.

All League members are invited to attend.

Jan. 8 deadline to RSVP for in-person NAACP Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast

The Portage County NAACP has set its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast for Jan. 14 from 9 a.m. until noon for in-person attedance and 10 am to noon for virtual. The deadline to RSVP for the in-person event is Jan. 8, 2023. Pastor Patricia Dennison will be the featured speaker.

EVENT LINK: https://www.portagecountynaacp.com/events2.htm l

Dr. Martin Luther King Prayer Breakfast

January 14, 2023

Breakfast 9 AM (in-person)

Program (in-person & Zoom): 10 AM - 12:00 Noon

Zoom & In-Person at Kent United Church

1400 E. Main Street, Kent

$15 per individual attendee in-person

$15 per household for Zoom participation

Proceeds to NAACP Scholarship Fund for Portage County

How to Register:

NOTE: Registration is required for everyone for meal count at the event and for Zoom link for those attending virtually

Registration Deadlines:

In-person - Jan 8 (or earlier if seats are filled)

Zoom - no deadline

PAYING:

Step 1: Register here (required of ALL participants, in-person & virtual)

Step 2: Pay by Credit Card (PayPal) or by Check

PayPal option: PayPal accepts most credit cards and does not require a personal account. To access PayPal after registering, follow the PayPal instructions at the end of the registration form or come back here and use the PayPal button below (or by clicking this link).

Check option: If you would rather pay by check, please make checks payable to Portage County NAACP and send to:

Portage County NAACP Branch 3211-B,1400 E. Main Street, Kent, OH 44240

Questions? Email us portagecountynaacp@gmail.com or call (330) 657-8564.

Know the difference and what to do next,

January 12 All Member Meeting

Do you know how to spot fake ads? Fake photos? Misinformation? Are you sure? Even the keenest eyes are quick to be fooled especially when we WANT to believe the alleged source.

We can't wait to see you on Thursday, Jan. 12, as we begin the first of a series exploring news literacy:

How to spot it
How to talk to others about it
How to share the information without being confrontational.

News literacy is the ability to determine the credibility of news or information and to recognice the standards of fact-based journalism to know what to trust, share and act on.

Presenter is Kent league member Sherry Rose. The AMM starts at 7 p.m. at Kent Social Services, 1066 S. Water St., Kent. Here is a MAP. It is open to the public.

Attending the Jan. 12 meeting? Please consider bringing nonperishable food items for Kent Social Services. A special request is for peanut butter and ramen noodles. Thank you, good people!

ATTENTION, NEW MEMBERS!

Member Orientation, Jan. 12, 6 p.m.!

Join Membership Chair Sherry Rose for all you need to know about getting the most out of your LWV Kent membership. She also will answer any questions you may have. The All Member Meeting will follow at 7 p.m. at Kent Social Services, located at 1066 S. Water St., Kent, Ohio.

Next in KIFA Series on Feb. 7, 2023:

How do teachers respond to the intersection of

race and education?

Save the Date!

How do teachers respond to the intersection of race and education? Hear the thoughts of a panel of current and retired teachers of students in grades K-12 from the local area. KIFA (Kent InterFaith Alliance for Racial Reconciliation and Justice) will host this public event on Thursday, Feb. 7, at 7:00 PM.

The event will be available on Zoom and in-person at Hobbs Hall, behind the Unitarian Universalist Church at 228 Gougler Ave., Kent. More details will be available in January. Questions? Contact Kent LWV member Christie Anderson at christiea@neo.rr.com.

LWV Kent Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee shares notes from first KIFA education series event

Not able to make it to the first Kent Interfaith Alliance on Racial Reconciliation and Justice education panel presenation? A number of DEI committee members attended. LWVK member Fay Ann Sebaly submitted this report that you can access here.

The committee is now working with a new chair, Kim Gruenwald. Email her here to join or find out more about the committee's work!

Interested in how the justice system works in Portage County and how the League can have an impact?

The Portage County Justice System Committee is now looking for new members as the group gets going again under the leadership of Board Member Renee Ruchotzke. Read more about the scope of the committee's work here. Then email Renee at reneeruchotzke@gmail.com to join.

Have talents you want to share with LWV Kent? Head to this page to see the committees you can learn more about and join!

Here's a head start for February LWVK Book Club!

The next LWV Kent Book Club meeting is set for Wednesday, Feb.1, at 1:30 p.m. All are welcome to join. Contact Jane Preston Rose for details about the meetings. Click here to email her.

The February 1st selection is Lady Justice, Women, The Law, and The Battle to Save America by Dahlia Lithwick. The group will meet at the home of Rhonda Richardson, 1411 River Edge Dr., Kent.

KSU Martin Luther King Jr. Event 2023

Bernice A. King, J.D., a global thought leader, strategist, solutionist, orator, peace advocate and CEO of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia, will kick off Kent State University’s celebration of Black History Month by serving as the keynote speaker at the university’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, which honors the life and legacy of her father.

King continues to advance her parents’ legacy of nonviolent social change through policy, advocacy, research, education and training. Under her leadership, the King Center has implemented numerous initiatives reaching more than 500,000 people around the world.

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will take place on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom. This ticketed event is free and open to the public. Tickets will be available on Jan. 11, 2023. To redeem your ticket, visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration 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

Jan 6 | Friday | 6:30 p.m. | Support Democracy Rally | Meet at First Christian Church, 335 W. Main St., Kent

Jan 8 | Sunday | RSVP deadline for attending Jan 14 Portage MLK Prayer Breakfast | Click here.

Jan 14 | Saturday | 9 a.m. - Noon | Portage NAACP Annual Martin Luther King Jr Prayer Breakfast | Click here to register.

Feb 1 | Wednesday | 1:30 p.m. | LWV Kent Book Club |

1411 River Edge Blvd., Kent | Click here to email for details.

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