The League of Women Voters, a non-partisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
It was shocking to hear of the vandalizing of the Assalam Mosque in Maplewood on July 29th. The League of Women Voters Roseville Area, which includes Maplewood, condemns this kind of harassment. In our democracy, we support everyone's First Amendment constitutional right to the establishment of and free exercise of their religion. We offer our total support to the Assalam Mosque.
The League of Women Voters Roseville Area marched Sunday, August 6th in the Canadian Days Parade in Little Canada. It was a wonderful, fun event and the people of Little Canada came out in full force to view it. Kudos to a fabulous community that is part of our Roseville Area LWV.
Refugee resettlement to the United States has been slashed over the last year and the number of new refugees entering the country is at a historic low. How are refugee resettlement groups navigating the political turmoil to help refugees start over in a new community?
In November 2016, 86% of Washington DC citizens voted to petition Congress for statehood for the residential and commercial parts of the city. Find out why statehood will give the residents of DC their first representation in Congress since 1801.
The LWV Minnesota is offering text reminders related to voting, including reminders of when early voting begins, candidates who have filed for office and other important dates and information. To use this service:
Parkland students were in the Twin Cities for events over the last week end of June which included a Town Hall Forum at Osseo High School. Two LWVRA members attended. A panel of Parkland and other student activists from Chicago, Milwaukee, and MN communities including, Rochester, Maple Grove, St. Paul, and Osseo responded to student moderator questions and audience questions. Discussion focused on reasons for gun safety and policies which need to be advanced along with ones (such as arming teachers) which the students believe make no sense nor positive difference. Gun violence occurs in many forms in addition to mass shootings ~~~ domestic violence, suicide, road rage, accidental shootings by and of toddlers, etc.
LWV Roseville Area will host a presentation by Sarah Walker, founder of Minnesota Second Chance Coalition. Second Chance is a nonpartisan coalition of over 50 organizations who advocate for policies and outreach to enable individuals who have been incarcerated to transition successfully into their communities and to prevent relapse into the criminal justice system.
Among Ms. Walker’s extensive background in social justice, is service as a board member of the William Mitchell Reentry Clinic Advisory Board and past member of Governor Dayton’s Minnesota Sentencing Guideline Commission. In 2016, she was named one of the “40 under 40” by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal for her contributions as a lobbyist, Second Chance founder and president of the Coalition for Impartial Justice.
The State of Minnesota has a program where individuals who contribute money in 2018 to a candidate for STATE office or a STATE LEVEL political party may get a refund of their contribution. The maximum refund is $50/individual. The goal is to encourage grass roots participation in the political process.
LWVRA received notice on June 1st that it had been awarded a Martin Brown Voter Services Grant in the amount of $1000. The LWV Grant Committee determined awards by reviewing proposed projects, budgeted expenses, treasury balance, local contribution toward voter service, and Education Fund balances (where applicable). The Grant application was spear-headed by Past President, Rita Mills, and completed in collaboration with June Stewart, Barb Anderson, Joyce Briggs, Cecilia Warner, and Karen Lake. There were 27 Grant applications and $30,352 in funds awarded.
