The recording of the April LWVSP Our St. Paul: Learn with the League program is now available. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3pALzmrnqo

"Looking Beyond the Headlines of Firearms Violence" program featured a discussion about firearms and society. Guest speaker Marti Micks provided context and background to the League's update study on firearms. The common misconceptions of firearm violence was highlighted, along with a review of statistical information the committee found and a discussion about possible solutions to reduce deaths from firearms. Marti Micks is the Co-Chair of the LWV MN Firearms Update Study Committee and president of LWV Golden Valley.

Resources mentioned:

The Gun Violence Archive: https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/

Cartoon citation: http://clipart-library.com/clipart/6cr5dj5zi.htm originally from Mother Jones magazine

The recording of our March program, Expanding End-of-Life Options in Minnesota, is now available on YouTube.

Guest speaker Dr. Rebecca Thoman directs the Doctors for Dignity program for Compassion & Choices and is a member of LWV Minneapolis. The Minnesota End-of-Life Options Act, modeled after the Oregon Death with Dignity law, is a bill to authorize medical aid in dying, which gives terminally ill adults of sound mind the option to receive medication they may self-ingest for a peaceful death if their suffering becomes intolerable. It is currently available in 10 states and the District of Columbia. 

You can now read the LWV UMRR Newsletter for April 2022.

• The most recent issue of The Voter includes a lively interview with Diane Power, a longtime LWVSP member, who gives a fascinating account of how she and 200-some Ramsey Country volunteers helped provide early election results to the media, back in the pre-digital era. 
• Book club news, including a summary of the recent memoir by Russia expert Fiona Hill.
• Photos from our recent new member meet-up.
• A letter from Co-Presidents Amy and Heidi.

You can reach the March 2022 issue of the LWVUMRR newsletter here.

Redistricting Update Program, February 22, 2022

A recording of the live program from Tuesday, February 22, 2022. Paul Huffman shared the next steps in the legislative redistricting. Huffman has been the League of Women Voters Minnesota Redistricting Coordinator since 2019. He works with national and state organizations to provide information, resources and support to LWV Minnesota Leagues, members and community groups to educate and engage the public and encourage participation in Minnesota redistricting efforts. Huffman walked participants through what has happened with redistricting thus far, what are the next steps, and how you can get involved.

Download the presentation slides and related resources.

Huffman also shared additional resources related to general redistricting and Minnesota, Ramsey County, and St. Paul specific resources. He also suggested these resources during the presentation: 

• Saint Paul Charter Commission meeting: Thursday, February 24, 3:00 pm at City Hall Room 330 (e-mail: chartercommission@stpaul.gov)
• Ramsey County: Submit a Redistricting Question or Comment
• Brennan Center for Justice
• LWVMN Review of Congressional and Legislative Maps (Blog post and link to recording)
  
• Huffman's March 2021 presentation "Redistricting: The Good, the Bad and the Dirty Work"

The February newsletter for the Council of Metropolitan Area Leagues is now available.

The recording of the Our St. Paul: Learn with the League January program, "What is the ERA and Why does it Matter?" is now available on our LWVSP YouTube channel. Suzann Willhite, current president of ERA Minnesota shared updates and information about the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Long involved in human rights, voting rights, and other activism, Willhite has been focused on enacting the ERA as a foundational Constitutional right needed for all persons. Willhite walked through the amendment, its history, current status, and share why this matters.

You can read the December 2021 issue of the LWVUMRR Newsletter here.

Happy December! Fall flew by and we’re happy to wrap up another successful season. As we look back over the year, we are grateful to our members, supporters, board members, and volunteers who contributed so much.

Here are some of the year’s highlights:

• We held online broadcast programs about equity and accessibility in voting, the redistricting process, social studies standards, and rebuilding University Avenue.
• Partnered with SPNN to host mayoral and school board forums that have been viewed over 9,000 times!
• Engaged St. Paul youth in the electoral process through our Student Leaders program.
• Published and distributed our Voter Guide (our most popular online stop) in English, Spanish and Hmong.
• Grew our social media presence by increasing election-related messaging