EXCITING NEW EVENTS by Eileen Olmsted

Transcription

1 Volume 22, No. 6 March 2016 EXCITING NEW EVENTS by Eileen Olmsted Our League is launching two informal social events designed to a6ract prospec8ve members. Our first "Get to Know the League" gathering was on January 13 at Eileen and John Olmsted s home. Designed to introduce new and prospec8ve members to the history and accomplishments of the League, the good eats and lively conversa8on resulted in two new members. If you are a new or con8nuing member and want to learn more about the League, keep an eye on the weekly Blasts and watch your s for future dates. If you have friends who might be interested in joining the League, bring them along to one of these gatherings. We are also launching "Civic Issues Circle," specifically aimed at young professionals and students who are interested in learning more about the important and cri8cal problems that need to be addressed by informed and commi6ed ci8zens. Mee8ngs will be held in the evening or on weekends. A6endees will be urged to share their concerns about the state of our Union and encouraged to come up with priori8es and ac8ons in which they would engage. More informa8on about the "Civic Issues Circle" will be published in the Voter and weekly Blasts. If you are one of our many members who works during the day and cannot a6end our regular local area mee8ngs, these might be the gatherings for you. ANOTHER GRANT TO LWVPA SHALE PROJECT by Heather Harr Congratula*ons! to the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Ci8zen Educa8on Fund's "Straight Scoop on Shale" project on receiving another grant from the Colcom Founda8on. Programma8c aspects of The Straight Scoop on Shale are based out of Pi6sburgh and our LWVGP Community Informa8on Center. The project will con8nue its efforts such as the highly successful "Shale & Public Health" ini8a8ve. The Straight Scoop is adding educa8onal and discussion ac8vi8es this year to build awareness of sustainable energy jobs and also about retraining displaced workers. A daylong symposium at the Energy Innova8on Center is planned, with presenta8ons and strategic planning on renewable/sustainable energy, jobs and economic development, for a group of about 40 League members and invited leaders. The symposium will likely take place in May. Under the leadership of Shale & Public Health commi6ee member Vera Bonnet, the Indiana County League Environmental Commi6ee is taking on this issue. The Indiana League is star8ng a county inventory of renewable energy and energy saving programs and job training opportuni8es. The Straight Scoop on Shale project will also be holding regional visioning sessions beginning this spring where people can learn about and discuss, compare and contrast two narra8ves for the future of the region: Ethane crackers and related petrochemical industrial development, including proposed Keystone Energy Enhancement Zones which would give tax incen8ves to encourage manufacturers and petrochemical makers who are heavy users of natural gas as a fuel and feedstock to locate in area brownfield sites Sustainable development ini8a8ves, such as Pi6sburgh's EcoInnova8on Districts and other plans and goals for the city of Pi6sburgh as laid out in Mayor Peduto's presenta8on at the Paris conference on climate change For more informa8on on The Straight Scoop on Shale, or to join the Shale & Public Health commi6ee, contact Project Director Heather Harr, heatherharr007@gmail.com.

2 LWVGP Voter March 2016 Page 2 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OUGHT TO There is a category of things that come to you when you are a League President. Ques8ons and issues flow con8nuously. Here are a few of the things on the current pile. Does the League have a posi8on and why/why not? On the ballot ques8ons? On mandatory re8rement age for Judges (the ballot has a ques8on about raising it to 75)? On poli8cal party conven8on delegates? On super- delegates? On gun control, climate change,? On inclusion of all candidates in debates? My brain responds Yes, no, somewhat, nuanced, they cover only part of the issue, some are carefully thought out. I want to shout, but self- control says No! well at least not in public. The League stands for respecrul conversa8on and dialogue. There are some things with a check mark in the completed column. For one, we have just completed program planning process for the year. Our na8onal conven8on, to be held in Washington, D.C. in early June, will complete the process. Facts for Ci,zens, our most popular publica8on, has been sent to the printers. Call Barb in the CIC to get your copy. Volume 22, No 6 March 2016 Published monthly September-June except January by League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh 436 Seventh Ave., Suite 350 Pittsburgh, PA The League is a nonpartisan organization whose purpose is to encourage the informed participation of citizens in government and to influence public policy through education and advocacy. VOTER Editor: Sue Broughton info@pgh.lwv.org To unsubscribe from the VOTER, send with subject Unsubscribe Hard copy subscriptions are available for $20 per year. In the mean8me we have a lot of Voter Service work to do. Follow the weekly BLASTS, which list our voter registra8on opportuni8es. It is not too late to join the Voter Service Commi6ee. Next mee8ng is Tuesday, March 8, 1 p.m. in the CIC (League office), Koppers Building, downtown. Enjoy! Anne6e Congratula*ons to Jackie Dixon on her reappointment to the Allegheny Regional Asset District Board. LEGISLATIVE INTERVIEWS It is not too late. Newcomers to the League may not know that each year local League members meet with legisla8ve representa8ves to learn where legislators stand on specific issues so the League can be a be6er advocate on our posi8ons, to educate legislators about issues the League cares about, and to let them know our posi8on on those issues. We are scheduling League members right now with this opportunity. You will be provided with a list of ques8ons along with background material. Please call or Judy Donohue or jrdono71@gmail.com if you would like to interview a representa8ve or accompany another member in doing so. NON-FICTION BOOK CLUB SELECTIONS March's choice will not be a specific book but ar8cles and books on the subject of Human Trafficking what ever is available. April: Notorious R.B.G.: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsberg by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik May: Between the World and Me by Ta- Nehisi Coates The book club meets the third Friday of the month, 10:15 a.m. at the Squirrel Hill Library. Mee8ngs are lively, informa8ve and s8mula8ng. Contact Judy Donohue: or jrdono71@gmail.com.

3 LWVGP Voter March 2016 Page 3 LWVGP Officers / Executive Committee Local Area Meeting Chairs President Annette Shimer Pgh. Central Martha Raak V. Pres. Development Nancy Naragon North Hills Shirley McIlvried V. Pres. Program Maureen Mamula South Hills Maureen Mamula Secretary Leagha Courtney Treasurer Preston Shimer Interest & Service Area Specialists Directors Housing Adelaide Smith Campaign Finance Reform Kathie Breckenridge Death Penalty Hazel Cope VOTER Editor / Website Sue Broughton Education Evelyn Murrin Voter Service Louise Cannon Legislature Reduction Mary Larsen Publicity Jackie Dixon City / Cty & Judicial Reform Nina Helbling Legislative Interviews Judy Donohue Non-Fiction Book Club Judy Donohue Education Billie Girard Transportation Barbara Simpson Health Care / Water Study Shirley McIlvried National / State Program Carol Walton LWVPA Convention Chair Eileen Olmsted Immigration Caryl Beal Communications Nyota Robinson Community Information Center Manager: Barbara Simpson Marcellus Shale Grant Manager: Heather Harr Staff League Phone Numbers, Websites, and Social Media Greater Pittsburgh lwvpgh.org Pennsylvania palwv.org National lwv.org Facebook Search: League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh

4 LWVGP Voter March 2016 Page 4 Standing Meetings Board Meetings Second Monday of the month. Lunch at 11:30 a.m., at Einstein Bagels in the Koppers Building. Meeting: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the LWVGP CIC (office) conference room at 436 Seventh Ave., Suite 350 Local Area Unit Meetings Pittsburgh Central: 2nd Friday, 1:30 p.m. at the Squirrel Hill Public Library, 5801 Forbes Ave., Pgh. PA Contact Martha Raak at or marbiker1@gmail.com North Hills: 3rd Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. at St. John s Lutheran Church, 311 Cumberland Rd., Pgh. PA Contact Shirley McIlvried at or howardmciii@comcast.net South Hills: 1st Thursday, 12:30 p.m. at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library, 16 Castle Shannon Blvd., Pgh, PA (unless otherwise announced). Contact Maureen Mamula at or mamula159@hotmail.com Other Ongoing Meetings Education Committee 4th Wednesday. Contact Billie Girard at or billiegirard202@verizon.net Voter Service Committee Dates TBD. Contact Annette Shimer at or ashimer@gmail.com Gun Safety Committee Dates TBD. Contact Nancy Naragon at or nancynaragon@msn.com Non-fiction Book Club 3rd Friday. Contact Judy Donohue at or jrdono71@gmail.com MARCH - APRIL 2016 CALENDAR March 03 Thu South Hills unit mee*ng: LWVPA Criminal Jus*ce Study 08 Tue Voter Service Commi6ee, 1 p.m., CIC 11 Fri PiHsburgh Central Unit Mee*ng: LWVPA Criminal Jus*ce Study 14 Mon Board mee8ng 16 Wed North Hills unit mee*ng: LWVPA Criminal Jus*ce Study 18 Fri Naturaliza8on, Federal Courthouse, 10 a.m. 18 Fri Non- Fic8on Book Club, Squirrel Hill Library, 10:15 a.m. 22 Tue Government Review Commission Full Commission, 5:00 p.m. 23 Wed Educa8on Commi6ee mee8ng, 1-3 p.m. Squirrel Hill Library 27 Sun Easter Sunday 28 Mon Last day to register to vote 29 Tue Government Review Commission Final mee8ng, 8:30 a.m. April 05 Tue Senatorial debate, WTAE, 7:00 p.m. 07 Thu South Hills unit mee*ng: LWVPA Criminal Jus*ce Study 08 Fri PiHsburgh Central Unit Mee*ng: LWVPA Criminal Jus*ce Study 11 Mon Board mee8ng 15 Fri Naturaliza8on, Federal Courthouse, 10 a.m. 15 Fri Non- Fic8on Book Club, Squirrel Hill Library, 10:15 a.m. 19 Tue Last day to apply for an absentee ballot 20 Wed North Hills unit mee*ng: LWVPA Criminal Jus*ce Study 22 Fri Passover begins today at sundown, ends 4/30 26 Tue Primary Elec*on Day 27 Wed Educa8on Commi6ee mee8ng, 1-3 p.m. Squirrel Hill Library

5 LWVGP Voter March 2016 Page 5 JUST FINISHED: PROGRAM PLANNING COMING UP: CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDY by Maureen Mamula We have finished program planning and will be reviewing member comments and sugges8ons for future programs. One member has made a dona8on for Ac8on and another member has suggested we do something as simple as using our computers to share informa8on and advocate for League posi8ons. This can also be done on social media sites such as Facebook. More on how to do that later! Next up the Criminal Jus8ce study that was approved at the League s state conven8on that was held here in Pi6sburgh last year. We have three months to review and come to consensus on the ques8ons related to the study. A commi6ee at the state level (which included Adelaide Smith from the Pi6sburgh League) has put together a 40- page document for us to read and think about. The group has also supplied a list of sources and suggested readings for members. The links for this informa8on are below. Please let me know if you don t have a computer that you can use to read the material. I can make some copies but I am trying to be green and not print things unless absolutely necessary. The material can be read on an ipad too that is how I read it the first 8me. We will be splizng the presenta8on and consensus ques8ons among the March, April and May mee8ngs. (The annual mee8ng has been moved to June, so there will be May units.) I expect that we will be doing some consensus ques8ons at each mee8ng, following a power point and discussion on specific topics each 8me. A{er the third mee8ng each month, we will send out an to solicit input from members who were not able to a6end one of the mee8ngs in person. Please remember that you are welcome to a6end any mee8ng that fits your schedule the rivers are actually fairly easy to cross! We have had members a6end mee8ngs not in their area due to other commitments: medical appointments, family commitments, etc. Going to another mee8ng is also a great way to meet other members too. Here is some background and the links for the Criminal Jus8ce study. LWVPA Criminal Justice Study At the 2015 League Conven8on in Pi6sburgh, the delegates approved a state- wide study of the criminal jus8ce system. A state- wide commi6ee was formed in August, and the members have been hard at work since that 8me. The issues are incredibly complex, and the commi6ee has tried to bring together the most important informa8on related to the elements of the study. The resul8ng Study Guide and Consensus Ques8ons are evidence of their hard work. Study Guide link: h6p:// content/uploads/2016/01/criminal- Jus8ce- Study- Guide- Revised.pdf Consensus Ques8ons link: h6p://files.ctctcdn.com/fe897e59001/1b1999a3- fc45-485d- be59-9d82b28d1f4b.pdf The March mee*ngs will cover the Study Guide Introduc*on and the topics of Bail and Bonding and Effec*ve Counsel. For background read Study Guide, pages The April mee*ngs will cover the topics Appropriate Sentencing, Alterna*ves to Incarcera*on, and Prison Condi*ons: Study Guide, pages The May mee*ngs will cover the topics Reentry and The Economics of the Criminal Jus*ce System (including Costs of Incarcera8on, Priva8za8on and Fees for Service and Changing the System): Study Guide, pages Pages of the Study Guide contain References and Addi8onal Reading.

6 LWVGP Voter March 2016 Page 6 REDISTRICTING IT S HOT AND THE LEAGUE IS INVOLVED by Preston Shimer Every ten years, a{er the census, Pennsylvania legisla8ve districts are redrawn to reflect popula8on changes. Ar8cle II, Sec8on 16 of the PA Cons8tu8on says that in the Pennsylvania legislature House and Senate districts shall be composed of compact and con,guous territory as nearly equal in popula,on as prac,cable and that (un)less absolutely necessary no county, city, incorporated town, borough, township or ward shall be divided in forming either a senatorial or representa,ve district. The U.S. Cons8tu8on requires that districts have about the same popula8on: each federal district within a state must have about the same number of people, each state district within a state must have about the same number of people, and each local district within its jurisdic8on must have about the same number of people. There is nothing in Pennsylvania law that mandates how congressional districts should be redrawn or what criteria should be applied to crea8ng district boundaries. Currently Congressional redistric8ng is done through the regular legisla8ve process. A bill defining the district boundaries is passed by both the House and Senate and signed by the Governor. Recent redistric8ng plans for both Congress and the state legislature have ignored the above requirements slicing townships, school districts and wards, and snaking across mul8ple coun8es in a6empts to divide voter groups and safeguard a compe88ve edge. A{er three cycles of redistric8ng under one party control of both houses and the governorship, Pennsylvania has become the poster child for gerrymandering and the dysfunc8onal governance that follows. The ci8zens are waking up and gezng involved because the dysfunc8on is hizng them locally, where it hurts and gets no8ced. Two years ago a group of concerned Allegheny County ci8zens decided to take ac8on and founded Pennsylvanians for Fair Elec8ons (PFFE). Several of the founders are members of the LWVGP and the LWVGP Board established an informal working rela8onship with PFFE. In order to develop local interest, PFFE turned to social media and were able to find Amanda Gillooly, a skilled newspaper reporter with excellent social media skills. Amanda keeps track of elec8on issues and posts a daily blog as well as maintaining the website. More recently, another ini8a8ve at the PA State level has created a coali8on of a growing number of organiza8ons interested and concerned about redistric8ng. The organiza8on is Fair Districts PA. The League of Women Voters of PA board just voted to endorse this organiza8on and appointed Carol Kuniholm to be our representa8ve. At the moment, Carol is in the thick of the ac8on using her organiza8onal and social media skills to build the organiza8on. Pennsylvanians for Fair Elec8ons has also endorsed Fair Districts PA and is voluntarily providing some of Amanda Gillooly s services to the organiza8on. Locally, a number of Pi6sburgh area nonprofits have decided to get involved because redistric8ng has stripped them of effec8ve representa8on as the majority party no longer represents the nonprofit centers of our state. As a result, The Greater Pi6sburgh Nonprofit Partnership which is a coali8on of over 400 nonprofit organiza8ons in Southwest PA is gezng involved. They want to educate their members and work for redistric8ng reform. Believing that we have both valuable knowledge to share and a desire to leverage our desire to achieve redistric8ng reform, your Board voted recently to join the Greater Pi6sburgh Nonprofit Partnership so that we can be suppor8ve of this effort. Anyone interested in redistric8ng should visit the PFFE and Fair Districts PA websites and sign up for the daily blogs and Facebook links.

7 LWVGP Voter March 2016 Page 7 EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORT by Billie Girard It is hard to believe that we are now in February and there is s8ll not a budget. However, HB880 with the full support of both par8es was approved and signed by the governor. The bill will delay the requirement that students have to pass the Keystone Exams in order to graduate from high school un8l the school year. The Pennsylvania Department of Educa8on, the Pennsylvania School Boards Associa8on, and the Pennsylvania State Educa8on Associa8on supported the bill. State officials will now begin to inves8gate other methods of tes8ng for gradua8on. This delay will also give school districts a chance to update curriculum and learning materials that are more in line with the new standards. In districts where new curriculum has been implemented students will be exposed to these new standards before taking the exams. It will also give state officials an opportunity to provide be6er guidelines. Educa8on Secretary Pedro Rivera has stated that the state will look at ways to gauge a student s proficiency in voca8onal and technical trades in order to graduate. Jamie Foster, director of curriculum for Harrisburg Schools said, we want to ensure that our children are placed in the best possible posi8on they can to, not just to be successful in Harrisburg, but ensure that they re earning a diploma that will meet the merits that Pennsylvania has set forth. In other news, the Pi6sburgh School Board has hired Perkins Consul8ng Group to lead the search for the new superintendent for a fee of up to $100,000. Perkins is the director of the Urban Educa8on Leadership Program at Columbia University s Teachers College. As part of the process, community forums were conducted in January. The purpose was to gather informa8on on the qualifica8ons a superintendent should have. A{er collec8ng feedback, a job descrip8on and evalua8on process will be developed. The board will then accept applica8ons for two to three months, three to five finalists will be selected for interviews in April. According to Dr. Perkins, the board hopes to announce a choice by May 18. CHARTER SCHOOLS - A REFRESHER" An excerpt from a report by Dr. Jeanne Diana to the LWVGP Educa8on Commi6ee for their January 27, 2016 mee8ng. Charter Schools emerged in the US as a movement in the late twen8eth century. Today they are legislated in 43 states and the DC area. They are defined in Pennsylvania law (1997) as follows: A Charter School is an independent public school established and operated under a charter from the local board of school directors and in which students are enrolled or a6end. It must be organized as a public non- profit corpora8on. Charters may not be granted to any for- profit en8ty. The purpose of charters is to accomplish the following: Improved student learning, increased learning for all, different and innova8ve teaching methods, teachers responsible for learning at the school site, expanded choice for parents, and accountability for mee8ng measurable standards. It is presumed that compe88on among school systems will bring about some of these desirable outcomes. Charter School legisla8on was reviewed, including Cyber Charter School legisla8on with appropriate pros and cons as thus far noted by readers and writers in the area of educa8on. While Charters have successes, the problem side of the equa8on appears greater. There are groups who recommend an end to new Cyber Charters un8l the problems inherent in the law are resolved. The Department of Educa8on has actually halted approval of new cyber charters as of The following problems need a6en8on: Charters are organized as non- profit, but they are able to hire for- profit management companies, (EMOs) Educa8on Management Organiza8ons to run the schools. Priva8za8on? Further, they can acquire property or money just so long as they do not ASK for it.? Cybers spend $3,000 less per month than regular Charters but they receive equal amounts of money. Charters generally are casual in regard to right- to- know laws and nepo8sm laws, and there is ques8on about selec8on and/or elimina8on of students. Possible future legisla8on will clarify some of these highly ques8onable ac8vi8es.

8 LWVGP Voter March 2016 Page 8 CAMPAIGN FOR FAIR EDUCATION FUNDING ADVOCACY EFFORT On February 1 of this year, the Campaign for Fair Educa8on Funding sent a memo to the governor and the legislature expressing the Campaign s concerns about educa8on funding. Below is a slightly edited version of that memo that highlights the important points made by the Campaign. ******** The Campaign for Fair Educa8on Funding is urging urges legislators to focus first and foremost on ensuring that all Pennsylvania's children receive the educa8on they need to succeed, no ma6er where they live. The Campaign is calling for a significant, long- term and equitable investment in our public schools to make sure all students have access to the resources sufficient for them to meet academic standards and move on to meaningful and produc8ve lives. Legislators can put the state on this path by: 1. adop8ng the fair funding formula recommended by the bipar8san Basic Educa8on Funding Commission (BEFC), 2. bringing the state's increased alloca8on for basic educa8on funding for the current fiscal year to $350 million to help schools recover from past funding shorralls and begin implemen8ng the formula, and 3. building on that investment by including $400 million more in the FY budget. The Campaign notes that: Pennsylvania has the widest funding disparity between wealthy and poor school districts of any state in the country. Those schools on the lower side of the fiscal gap o{en have higher propor8ons of children who need support the most. State funding is so unpredictable from year to year that school districts cannot effec8vely budget or plan for the future, even when a state budget is passed on 8me. Overall state educa8on funding has been insufficient to support what is needed to educate all students to state standards. Public schools, without the revenues sufficient to cover mandated and necessary costs, will con8nue staff layoffs, cutbacks in academic programs, and other measures to close their fiscal gaps. Wide economic, racial and ethnic student achievement gaps sap our state's economy because our public schools are an essen8al part of the pipeline of future workers. A year ago the Campaign proposed a blueprint for an equitable, sustainable, and transparent state school funding system that would eliminate funding dispari8es and provide the resources necessary for all students. It calls for a new funding formula and an investment of more than $3 billion in basic educa8on funding over six to eight years to address systemic under- funding, close funding equity gaps, and meet the Commonwealth's obliga8on to provide every child with the essen8al learning resources and supports that child needs. The funding formula unanimously approved by the BEFC in June closely aligns with, and includes many of the elements of, the Campaign's original proposal. Its approach addresses the concerns of schools across the state, whether urban or rural, large or small, experiencing changing student popula8ons or holding steady. Likewise, the increase of $350 million in basic educa8on funding that was at the center of budget nego8a8ons over the last few months is an essen8al first step toward reaching the long- term funding needed. Yet with both the BEFC formula and the $350 million funding increase s8ll not enacted, the outlook is grim for public educa8on in Pennsylvania. Schools con8nue struggling to meet obliga8ons that have been underfunded over the last few years. Each day that passes without ac8on, opportuni8es for children to benefit from those investments are lost. Each year we do not sustain and build on these investments will stall any effort to close the funding disparity and boost student achievement. The Campaign recognizes that fully and fairly funding our children's educa8on is no small challenge. But there is no more vital investment we can make to propel our economy forward than building a well- educated and properly prepared workforce. Even more fundamentally, there is no more important obliga8on than to give all of Pennsylvania's children a high- quality educa8on and a strong founda8on for full and produc8ve lives.

9 LWVGP Voter March 2016 Page 9 NEWS FROM STATE AND NATIONAL by Carol Walton LWVUS has outlined its priority issues for Voter registra8on and voter par8cipa8on con8nue to be an ongoing top priority. In addi8on to lobbying the 114 th Congress, work is being done on policy proposals from the President and agencies of the federal government. There will also be par8cipa8on in li8ga8on which could have a major impact on laws and regula8ons supported by LWV. A sample of areas of focus was outlined in a January 12 pos8ng. They include Vo8ng and Elec8ons (working to restore the Vo8ng Rights Act, expanding voter registra8on opportuni8es to include more social service agencies) and Money in Elec8ons (urging ac8on by Congress on the DISCLOSE Act, encouraging the Federal Elec8on Commission to redefine disclosure and independent expenditures ). Ac8on by state Leagues is being urged to build support for and promote compliance with the Environmental Protec8on Agency s Clean Power Plan and state redistric8ng modifica8ons. LWVPA announced in late November that it has joined a new nonpar8san coali8on called Keystone Votes. The coali8on is raising awareness about the need to update elec8on procedures and is stressing four changes which are in place in other states. Preregistra8on of 16- and 17- year old voters has been shown to increase par8cipa8on among young voters as soon as they turn 18. Early vo8ng provides polling op8ons in the days before Elec8on Day and would greatly benefit ci8zens whose work and family schedules make vo8ng difficult. Giving all voters the op8on of vo8ng by mail would provide another op8on to those with difficult work schedules and to those who find it hard to get to their polling places. Same day registra8on would make vo8ng possible for first 8me voters and voters who have moved and did not register at least 30 days prior to Elec8on Day. The Keystone Votes website ( currently lists 38 member nonpar8san advocacy and community organiza8ons. A sampling of those groups, in addi8on to LWVPA, includes ACLU of PA, Clean Water Ac8on, Common Cause PA, Disability Rights Network of PA, Just Harvest, Women s Law Project, Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts, Public Interest Law Center, Sierra Club PA Chapter. NEW MEMBERS Amy Covell- Murthy NH alcovell333@gmail.com Elizabeth Engleman NH englewoman@verizon.net Lora Medwid PC loramedwid@hotmail.com Elizabeth Perkins PC liz.f.perkins@gmail.com Jodi Siebert NH jodilynn421@comcast.net

10 LWVGP Voter March 2016 Page 10 FUNDRAISING FOR VOTE411 The following is an excerpt from an sent by Susan Almeida, the new execu8ve director of LWVPA to League members. Her first month on the job was full of firsts but she says The 'first' I'm most excited about is the launch of the first fundraising campaign to raise money for Vote411! Vote411 is state- of- the- art online voter guide so{ware which is used by Leagues across the country and that is quickly becoming a na8onal LWV brand. The cost for Vote411 so{ware is $2500, and we are hoping to raise an addi8onal $2500 to pay a consultant to do some of the heavy li{ing. Will you as individual members and local Leagues chip in to help us provide this service to all Pennsylvanians? I know some local Leagues worked incredibly hard to bring Vote411 to their region/county last year, and voters in those regions benefited immensely. But as many Leagues could tell you, it's a 8me- consuming, expensive and complicated process. Not to men8on, there are currently voters in 35 coun8es in Pennsylvania without a local League who did not get the benefit of Vote411. This year we are going to do things a li6le differently: we will be purchasing and managing Vote411 at the state level. Vote411 will cover all races down through the Pennsylvania House of Representa8ves. This should alleviate some of the burden on local Leagues as well as allow us to reach areas of Pennsylvania without the benefit of a League. There are lots of ways to support bringing Vote411 to Pennsylvania: We've launched a crowdfunding campaign where you can donate and easily share the project with friends and neighbors - just click here; Donate on our website at palwv.org/donate. Just make sure that you designate LWVPA- CEF and put Vote411 in the Descrip8on box. You can always send us a check to LWVPA- CEF and designate your contribu8on be used for Vote411. The LWVPA- Ci8zen Educa8on Fund has been the standard- bearer for nonpar8san, unbiased, accurate and complete informa8on about candidates and issues for nearly a century. We hope you will join us in furthering this mission through Vote411. SOME EVENTS OF INTEREST from Evelyn Murrin and Marcia Bandes A+ Schools is hos8ng the August Wilson Center Event on Wednesday, March 9th, 6-8 p.m. Monique Morris, founder of the Na8onal Black Women's Jus8ce Ins8tute, author of a new book, PUSHOUT, on criminaliza8on of black girls will address the topic and talk about her book. The League of Women Voters of Greater Pi6sburgh is a partner of A+ Schools. RSVP at pushout.eventbrite.com or by Mar. 9. Center for Urban Educa8on: Reflec8on into Ac8on session, Monday, February 29, 4-6 p.m. at Brashear High School. The student- led reflec8on and discussion will build on the themes of Dr. Maisha Winn's talk on restora8ve jus8ce (Thursday Feb. 25) searching for new ideas and strategies for integra8ng the process into school discipline. The event is free and open to the public. Center for Urban Educa8on: Brown Bag Lunch, Thursday, March 17, 12-1:30 p.m.,"when the Pipeline Begins at the End: How Inadequate Educa8on in Juvenile Facili8es Perpetuate the School- to- Prison Pipeline," with Visi8ng Assistant Professor Chaz P. Arne6 of the University of Pi6sburgh School of Law, Center for Urban Educa8on Conference Room (Posvar 4118). Center for Urban Educa8on: Brown Bag Lunch, Thursday, April 21, 12-1:30 p.m., "Suffering in Silence: Disrup8ng the Discourse on Gendered Discipline Dispropor8onality for Black Girls," with Assistant Professor Beze Ray Butler of the University of North Carolina at Charlo6e and Abiola Farinde, CUE postdoctoral research fellow. Center for Urban Educa8on Conference Room (Posvar 4118).