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Date: 5/3/2022
Subject: The VOTER Newsletter - May 2022
From: LWV of Johnson County




Spreading Empathy - Fighting the Mental Health Stigma
One in five U.S. adults experience mental illness each year (NAMBI). Mental illness is a condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling, behavior or mood and impacts day-to-day living. The LWVJoCo has been working since the 1990s to support comprehensive mental health services in JoCo. This panel discussion, moderated by Co-Vice President Andrea Vieux, includes Tim DeWeese, the Director of the Johnson County Mental Health Center, Alicia Bredehoeft, a Counselor at Johnson County Community College, and Helenna Shcherbinin, a member of the Zero Reasons Why Teen Council. 
 
Saturday | May 7 | 9-11 a.m.
Atonement Lutheran Church
9948 Metcalf, Overland Park
 
Attend in person (hooray!) or watch live on YouTube
 Coffee, tea and water will be served.

Help defeat the abortion ban: Join the ‘Vote No’ campaign

It’s going to take a true grassroots effort to keep abortion safe and legal in Kansas and protect Kansans’ right to to make personal health care decisions free from government interference. 

LWV of Kansas has joined forces with Kansans for Constitutional Freedom (KCF), a bipartisan coalition of reproductive rights advocates and allied organizations, to defeat the proposed constitutional amendment on the 2022 primary ballot. If passed, the amendment would pave the way for a total ban on abortion in Kansas. 

Take part in KCF’s Vote No Kickoff on Saturday, May 14. Volunteers will be knocking on doors and working phone banks to encourage voters in Johnson County who are supportive of reproductive choice to show up on Aug. 2, 2022 to vote no on the proposed amendment. We need you! Sign up here.

To see what other opportunities and events the coalition has coming up, check out our calendar of events here.

In this battle for reproductive rights, voter turnout will be crucial. Join LWVJoCo’s Voter to Voter team to encourage people in your personal networks to cast their vote in the August primary. Contact Jill Quigley to find out more. 

 
KCF JoCo Launch

Kansas Legislative Session: The Highs and Lows. What do we know?

Moderated by Clay Firestone, Kansas Reflector Opinion Editor, Kansas legislators will help us make sense of the 2022 session. Our discussion will center on legislation affecting redistricting, voting rights, public education and LGBTQ rights.

Free and open to the public. The event is presented by the League of Women Voters of Johnson County, Mainstream Coalition, and the Voter Rights Network of Wyandotte County.

Saturday June 11 | 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Johnson Country Central Resource Library, Carmack Room
9875 W 87th St, Overland Park, KS 66212


Celebrate Good Times!

I joined LWVJoCo to meet and advocate with others who care about local and state government. While living in Illinois I spent seven years lobbying officials at the State Capitol. One State Representative joked (I hope) that I was relentless.

League members can also be described as relentless because neither the pandemic nor litigation nor disappointing legislation prevent us from encouraging informed and active participation in government.

Twenty-five League members volunteered at the April 9 Voter Girl event and were inspired by girls in  kindergarten through fifth grade as they enthusiastically examined government at the local, state and national levels. The Kansas State Olathe Campus provided the beautiful venue. Under the guidance of Fred Sherman, Election Commissioner for Johnson County, the girls held a mock election, complete with registration, ballots and casting their votes. Together with their parents, they also learned about safeguards of the election process. League members served as “poll” workers, educators, and teachers aids. Kansas State Representative Christina Haswood spoke to the scouts about government and communities. Lead teachers Vicky Trott, Patty Dykman, WaterOne Board Member Kay Heley, and Karen Wiederaenders designed and executed a creative program, earning the scouts a badge. Debbie Kitchen and Marie Hernandez were relentless in their planning of the event! 

Also on April 9, our League participated in the KC Regional Climate Action Summit 2022 Indoor Expo with another valued partner, CAKC, by staffing an exhibit that included information about voter registration and upcoming elections. We discovered that many were unaware that the proposed constitutional amendment on reproductive rights will be on the primary ballot rather than the general election ballot. We need to be relentless in getting that message out!

We are especially excited about piloting a Civic Engagement Initiative with the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection (COR) to promote voter registration and engagement with the 20,000+ metro area COR members as part of our shared vision of civic engagement and social justice. We will be seeking volunteers to help staff the League table at all five COR locations on the weekends of June 18/19 and June 25/26. Additionally, COR and the League are partnering with St. James United Methodist Church on a Juneteenth Celebration on June 26 at the COR Leawood campus and will use that opportunity to engage voters and celebrate our commitment to DEI.

We are proud to be relentless in our mission to empower voters and defend democracy. Volunteers are always valued and needed, especially now with the August and November elections. Visit our website Events page and Get Involved page to see how you can lend your talent and your voice. 

I look forward to seeing you at our in-person meeting on Saturday, May 7. Please be sure to say hello!

With appreciation,
Janet Milkovich
jocoleague@gmail.com



Spring Social at Antioch Park

Brushing aside relentless storm forecasts, 24 Leaguers remained eager to see old faces and meet new ones, and came anyway! Time at this purely social April 21st event went all too fast. Leaguers munched on refreshments amid tables with splashes of patriotic pansies and chatted with folks, some we hadn’t seen in-person in two years. Kudos once again to Special Events' incredible leader Ellen Porter and her team! 
Submitted by the Membership Committee

It's a Fact: May Is AAPI Heritage Month

May was chosen for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month because May 7, 1843, marked the first day Japanese people were allowed to immigrate to the United States and on May 10, 1859, the transcontinental railroad, built largely by Chinese workers, was completed and recognized as Golden Spike Day. This month, we celebrate all the contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander people as well as acknowledge the increase in reported hate incidents.

Did you know that in 1882, Congress enacted the Chinese Exclusion Act banning Chinese immigration for 20 years? Did you learn that between 1942 and 1945, over 120,000 persons of Japanese descent (2/3 of whom were U.S. citizens) were incarcerated in U.S. internment camps?  Did you know over 100,000 Hmong people who had assisted the U.S. in Vietnam have immigrated to the U.S.? To date, over 70,000 Afghan refugees have arrived and the U.S. has pledged to welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. The lack of affordable housing in Kansas City is a huge problem that blocks getting a green card or work permit for new immigrants.

The Stop AAPI Hate Coalition tracks and responds to reported hate incidents of violence, harassment, discrimination, bullying and shunning. Between March 19, 2020 and Dec. 31 2021, the group received 11,000 hate incident reports – 61.8% reported by women.

Stop AAPI Hate “believes that resources should go towards long-term community-centered solutions including education, culturally-competent victim services and prevention programs that get at the underlying causes of racial bias.

Action Step: Helping Refugees: Consider donating to or volunteering with:

Jewish Vocational Service – jvskc.org

Della Lamb Community Services – dellalamb.org

Catholic Charities of NE Kansas – catholiccharitiesks.org

Action Step: Training to Safely Intervene When You Observe Hate Incidents: www.Righttobe.org 

Learn More:  Stop AAPI Hate:  www.stopaapihate.org.

NPR: A Look at Anti-Asian Violence One Year After the Atlanta Shootings: https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1087536315 

AAPI Heritage Month History 

AAPI Heritage Month Resources: https://fapac.org/AAPI-Resources 

Notable Asian American/Pacific Islander Kansans – 

Mitsugi Ohno: https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/mitsugi-ohno/17047.

State Representative Rui Xu – elected first in 2018, he is the first Asian American legislator elected to and the only naturalized citizen currently serving in the Kansas Legislature representing House District 25. http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/members/rep_xu_rui_1/  

Submitted by the DEI Committee


More Events in Jam-Packed June
Super PACs and the Courts: The Impact of Citizens United

Thursday, June 16 from 12-1 p.m., at the Tomahawk Ridge Community Center, 11902 Lowell Avenue, in Overland Park. Join us for a lively and engaging discussion about the landmark Supreme Court case, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. We'll analyze the Justices' opinions and their impact on campaign finance trends. Our event is led by Meg Shadid and Kim Wahaus, AP high school government teachers with the Olathe Public School District, who participated in the Harvard Civic Course. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Limited seating. Bring your own lunch and non-alcoholic beverage. 


 
Kansas Legislative Session, Spotlight on Wyandotte. The Whys and Lows.

Saturday, June 25, details TBD. What do we know? Moderated by Mike Taylor, legislators and activities will help us make sense of the 2022 session. Presented by Voter Rights Network of Wyandotte County, Mainstream Coalition, and the League of Women Voters of Johnson County.


Redistricting Update

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has filed a petition to the Kansas Supreme Court to review the Kansas legislative maps for validity. The Kansas Supreme Court has 30 days from April 25 in order to complete the Kansas constitutional requirement. Read more here. For more information on this case and how interested parties may submit a written statement, visit the Kansas Supreme Court website.

In addition, the Kansas Supreme Court will also hear an appeal from Attorney General Derek Schmidt following Wyandotte County District Court Judge Bill Klapper’s ruling that the Congressional maps violated the state’s constitution. Read more here.


DEI Committee Kicks It Up A Notch

Kudos to DEI Committee leaders Jeannine Linnane and Kay Heley and their team for furthering our mission to embed diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) into everything LWVJoCo does. From #DEI Moments in our emails to presentations during our programs, DEI Committee members continue to find ways to present an array of perspectives on timely topics.

The team’s educational efforts also extend to its monthly meetings. Kay and Jeannine have invited several community leaders to their meetings to talk about their work and share ideas of how LWVJoCo can be more inclusive. Recent speakers include:

  • Audé Negrete Banos, executive director of the Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission

  • Stacey Knoell, executive director of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission

  • Dawn Rattan, member, Johnson County Community College Board of Trustees

At the end of LWVJoCo’s May program about mental health at Atonement Lutheran Church, Missouri Rep. Emily Weber will speak briefly about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and the increase in anti-Asian hate incidents.

Also on the horizon is a LWVJoCo field trip to the Johnson County Arts and Heritage  Center to see the special exhibition, “Redlined: Cities, Suburbs and Segregation.” 

If all of this activity has piqued your interest in joining the committee or you would like to join us on the field trip, contact Kay at kayheley@gmail.com.

Submitted by Amber Stenger


Barbara Lisher

Kathryn Messer

Member Spotlight: Andrea Vieux
  • What can I do to support information and internet literacy?
  • What can I do to encourage younger folks to get involved in the community?
  • Now is a good time to join the League.
Learn more about Andrea

Inspire Voter Engagement With LWVJoCo Merchandise

  • Car Magnet - $5
  • Yard Sign - $10
  • Rhinestone VOTE pin - $20
  • Red T-shirt - $15

 Contact Ann Norbury to make arrangements to pick up your purchases. (She's willing to meet at any JoCo library parking lot.)


Observer Corps Reports

 Catch up on the actions, decisions and proposals of our local public officials. 

  •  Update on discussions for proposed solar farm
  •  Welcome to Ann Schuster, our new Observer for Blue Valley Board of Education
  •  We take clean water for granted, but Water One does not
Read the latest summaries by League members who attend several public meetings in our area.

FAQs from Kansans For Constitutional Freedom about the amendment on the 2022 primary ballot.

Board and Committee Briefs

🗳️ Voter Girl – We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Girl Scouts of NE Kansas and NW Missouri and furthering our strategic plan to cultivate relationships with community groups. Here is the link to Channel 5’s coverage of the event.  https://www.kctv5.com/2022/04/10/metro-area-girls-scouts-get-lesson-voting-democratic-process/

🌎 Climate Action -The League has long supported preservation of our natural resources and has established positions on water strategies, solid waste management and land use. For more information about what you can do to help mitigate climate change, visit Climate Action KC at https://climateactionkc.com/plan

✅ Vote in the August 2, 2022, Primary Election – Unlike a traditional primary election where voters are required to choose between political parties, any Kansas voter can participate, regardless of party affiliation. For more information, visit Kansans for Constitutional Freedom https://kansansforfreedom.com/ and the Reproductive Rights page on our website. To volunteer as a poll worker, contact the JoCo Election office at https://www.jocoelection.org/

💡 LWVUS 55th Annual Convention: LWV’s next national convention will be a hybrid event in Denver, Colo. from June 23-26, 2022. Several LWVJoCo members typically serve as delegates, and our League helps pay for delegates’ expenses. Start thinking about whether this is something you’d like to attend and watch for information here

🇲🇽 May 5 | 5-7 p.m. Cinco de Mayo at KCK Library South Branch, 3104 Strong in KCK.

🌳 June 18 | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Juneteenth Event at Thompson Park. Gather at OP City Hall at 10 a.m. and walk to nearby Thompson Park for an afternoon of music, speakers and dance. Bring a lawn chair.

🚗 Souls to the Polls! Mark your calendars! Saturdays July 9 and October 15. Gather at KCK Community College to caravan through neighborhoods with recent low voter turnouts to encourage people to vote in the primary and general elections. Informational leaflets will be distributed to these neighborhoods ahead of the car caravans. Watch for more info!

📰 Stay current: Read about latest work of Leagues throughout the state in the latest issue of LWVK’s VOTER Notes newsletter.


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