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Date: 7/10/2023
Subject: LWVJoCo Update: Candidate meetings, DEI
From: LWV of Johnson County


JoCo League logo

Hello ~~first_name~~:

In this issue:
🫱🏼‍🫲🏻 Candidate meet n greets
👀 Eyes on DEI  
And more!

Candidate meet and greets

LWVJoCo is co-sponsoring primary election meet and greets in partnership with Mainstream Civic Engagement and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Upsilon Rho Omega Chapter. The first happened this past Saturday, but there are two others this month: 
 
TODAY, July 10 | 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Olathe Community Center
1205 E. Kansas City Rd, Olathe, KS 66061
  • Olathe City Council Ward 1
  • Olathe City Council At-Large
  • USD 233 Member 7 At-Large
July 17 | 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Kansas City, KS Public Library, South Branch
3104 Strong Ave, Kansas City, KS 66106
  • Board of Public Utilities 1 and 3
  • Unified Government Commissioner 3 and 4
These are great opportunities to meet the people who could be representing you on local matters. Registration is not required.

Save the date: 9/9

Our next in-person meeting will be at a new facility (to LWVJoCo, that is) - Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church (SMUUC). This facility is easily accessible with ample parking, a kitchen, great audio-visual equipment, and the right price. We are excited to see you there in September!

 
SMUUC
9400 Pflumm Rd | Lenexa

DEI has been in the news a lot recently with the recent SCOTUS ruling on affirmative action and news of corporate DEI programs under fire. While the trend appears to be anti-DEI, the Johnson County Commission voted to create an advisory board to advance diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the County. (They also voted to create a board on sustainability.)

We hope to be able to share more about the board's composition and efforts in the future.
 
Within our own League, our DEI Committee urges all of us to apply a DEI lens to the groups and initiatives we're involved with. Questions to ask include:
  • Who will be impacted? Who benefits and who is burdened?
  • How diverse are the decision makers?
  • What are the intended and unintended outcomes?
You can find DEI resources on LWVJoCo's website here.

Stay engaged and informed

  
⚖️ SCOTUS supports checks and balances
On June 27, the US Supreme Court rejected a state legislature's exclusive and independent authority over federal elections as proposed through the "Independent State Legislature" theory in Moore v. Harper. National League CEO Virginia Kase Solomón stated, "[This] decision is a major victory for our democracy because it rejects the dangerous idea that state legislatures have free rein to determine the rules for elections in their states." Read the full National League article here, which also includes a link to a summary of the case. You can also learn more on the case and Independent State Legislature theory from the recording of our February session here.
 
🔐 Election security audit
According to the KS Reflector, an audit of election security in KS found that election officials in the counties studied maintained adequate security practices and management of election computers. It also offered suggestions around the security of ballots and vote tabulation machines. Read the article here.
 
⚕️Gun safety and public health
If you missed our June program, "Gun Safety Impacts Public Health," you can view it on our YouTube channel here. This conversation centered around gun violence impacts and prevention, and included facts and ways to personally advocate for improved gun safety.
Questions or concerns?

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