The League of Women Voters Solano is a great, diverse and nonpartisan organization that encourages its members to be actively involved. By being all inclusive the organization is able to partner, collaborate and support other nonprofits as well as engaging youth and young adults in the democratic process.
I have been actively involved with the League of Women Voters Solano since 2018. During that time I have seen the organization grow and evolve. We continually seek new and different ways to serve the community. Prior to the last election we held a series of town hall meetings throughout the county to provide fair and accurate information to residents of Solano County using an interesting, interactive format. One workshop focused on ways to understand the various ballot initiatives. We partner with the Solano health hub to support the role an informed citizenry plays in a healthy community. The youth outreach program showcases the importance of providing meaningful ways to inform, inspire and create pathways for action for the young people of our Solano County.
I've been an active member of the LWV Solano County since 2016 and have had the opportunity to help it grow from a small Benicia-Vallejo League to a whole county league. During this time, I've worked with my fellow league and community members on all-volunteer projects such as non-partisan election candidate forums, community educational events, for example:
- LWVSC's very successful Democracy Matters Civics Education program focused on training youth on how to engage with local, state and national government
- Observer Corps training on how to observe, participate in, and report on local government meetings,
- how to register voters and be a poll worker
- educational events focused on climate change, Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity, voters rights
and much more.
Our members are focused and fun to work with and I've made many friends working on our league committees.
There are great opportunities for members to choose meaningful volunteer work that fits their skills and time and to participate at the executive level.
I love that our league is all-volunteer, there are no paid positions, which can be challenging but rewarding.
I especially like working with our small but mighty Communications Committee and in our youth programs.
My wife has been involved with the League for a few years. I have watched some of the videos the League has on their You Tube Channel. The videos have been informative, helpful and sometimes they have been eye opening. The You Tube Channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsWzzfO8WOe8GB1HCn6FvQ
One of my favorite videos was from Claudine Wong. Claudine Wong was the guest speaker at the Annual Meeting of League of Women Voters Solano County on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. She is a television journalist at KTVU FOX 2 in San Francisco. Claudine shares some of her personal story as an Asian American growing up in the Bay Area and then growing into her chosen profession.
Claudine talked about advocacy and action to address systemic racism and to more clearly identify our role in transforming our society into a more inclusive, just, and equitable place for all of our neighbors.
I was personally moved by Claudine's speech because she shared her personal stories explaining how words can be hurtful. She said, "We need to get to a point where people want to listen and want to understand. and want to have the conversation about racism." Claudine explained that, news reports show a piece of a persons life. We are able to then see each other and see a community and it starts a conversation. There is Hope in starting the conversation.
My name is Alice Fried and I am a member of the League of Women Voters. For 120 years, the League of Women Voters has provided citizens knowledge and tools to engage in the political process by educating citizens on how government works in order for citizens to live, work and play together in a healthy and safe community. By embracing this mission and accepting the challenge, The League of Women Voters Solano County (LWVSC) has enabled me to create its DEMOCRACY MATTERS: A LWVSC Civics Education Program, a series of selected project based, hands-on civics learning activities developed from League tools and procedures to demonstrate ways citizens can actually participate in the process of debating, consensus building, electing and governing. The program's activities and training focus on local government in that local public policies and laws have significan impact on everyday life. And because building strong communities is the foundation of the League's commitment to ensure a government, of, by and for the people, or a democracy that works for all. Please watch the video below to witness how understanding how your local government works can empower good citizenship that instigates public policies that improve everyone's quality of life.
As a Black grandmother, the League's mission has given me hope as well as practical ways and means to work to realize that vision so that my children and grandchildren can live, contribute and thrive in a strong, prosperous community.
Since I became of voting age, I've always encountered Candidate Forums sponsored by LWV in whatever jurisdiction I was living. When I came to Rio Vista, CA, I noticed there were no LWV forums being held for the 2022 election. I contacted LWV Solano, and was invited to help them set one up for online viewing. The local organization that normally does live candidate forums praised our efforts and asked if we could join forces for the 2024 election, especially since our attendance was significantly larger. I then joined the League and volunteered for the Communications Committee and it's been a great affiliation. Their voter education activities are ongoing, well-planned and well-received.