NCJW Weekly Advocacy Wrap-Up: December 17
Welcome Circle to Help Afghan Refugees
We need your help.  
NCJW GLB & WOC is forming a Welcome Circle for an Afghan refugee family. Do you have expertise or knowledge in any of the following areas?
  • housing 
  • accessing government benefits 
  • education
  • ESL
  • legal
  • health and mental health access
Contact Co-VPs Advocacy Cynthia Gordon and Deb Lelchuk at advocacy@ncjwlongbeach.org for more information on this opportunity to welcome these refugees.
Volunteers Needed for Homeless Count
in Long Beach
The City of Long Beach is seeking 250 volunteers to help conduct the 2022 Homeless Count—also known as the Point-in-Time Count—which is a community-wide street count and survey of unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness in Long Beach. The upcoming Long Beach Homeless Count will take place on the morning of January 25th, 2022. The Homeless Count is vital for determining the scope of homelessness, defining existing resources available, and identifying gaps in the Long Beach region.
Here are the big take-aways from recent cases including Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, on Wednesday, December 1st and today’s US Supreme Court ruling on Texas SB 8:
  • NCJW’s work is more urgent than ever before. Based on the questions asked by the six conservative justices in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, it is widely assumed that the Court will overturn the protections of Roe v. Wade. 

  • In addition, the recent US Supreme Court rulings in Texas’ six week abortion ban only heightened those anxieties. In these rulings, the US Supreme Court has allowed SB 8 to remain in effect, continuing to fail millions of Texans. You can read NCJW’s full press statement, on today’s decisions.

  • 73Forward will position NCJW to make an impact in the coming months. As it stands today, more than half the states in the US have laws that could immediately go into effect should Roe be overturned that would ban most abortions. We expect a decision by late June in this case.

  • As we await a decision and regardless of the outcome, a top priority will be working to increase access to medication abortion and urging Congress to pass WHPA to ensure federal protection for abortion care.

  • In one proud moment in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Justice Sotomayor lifted up religious freedom arguments similar to those NCJW prepared in an amicus brief filed earlier this year. We know that restrictive abortion laws, rooted in just one understanding of when life begins, limit our ability to fully practice our religious tradition. We are grateful to Justice Sotomayor for ensuring these critical questions are asked and on the record.

  • NCJW was the largest faith group at the December 1st rally with advocates across the country joining virtually. We are already changing the narrative and ensuring our voices are heard. Read a recap from the day, beginning with our Interfaith Gathering featuring members of Congress, and then Rabbi Mira Rivera and NCJW CEO Sheila Katz speaking powerfully on the steps of the Supreme Court.
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Questions about anything you have read or related to our Section’s advocacy? Email advocacy@ncjwlongbeach.org.