LWVMA is committed to identifying and advocating for the essential building decarbonization strategies, legislation, and regulations that will allow Massachusetts to meet its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets and get us to net zero emissions by 2050. Read the letter to legislative leadership that we signed with our partners Elders Climate Action Massachusetts and Climate Action Now Western Massachusetts here.
Four local Leagues received Scharfman grants in April 2022:
LWV Framingham: LWV Framingham was awarded a grant to create a website that will provide visitors easy access to information such as upcoming election dates, voter education events, how to register to vote, where to vote, information about local government structure and leaders etc.
LWV Hamilton Wenham: LWV Hamilton Wenham was awarded a grant to host a production of “Ruth Bader Ginsburg – I Dissent” on May 25th, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. at the H.W. Library. This live event is part of an effort to reengage with their membership and the general public. The event will be publicized in conjunction with the library and through the League’s monthly newsletter and social media platforms.
LWV Needham: LWV Needham was awarded a grant to work with the Needham High School (NHS) Social Studies Department to support students as they complete the required eleventh grade student civics projects. See details here.
LWV Worcester Area: LWV Worcester was awarded a grant to participate in the Central MA Conference for Women. Their table will offer voter registration, feature fun quizzes about voting rights and local state and federal government and promote use of Vote411.org. LWVWA is also collaborating with a Worcester Public Schools middle school, Forest Grove Middle School, in a pilot School Civic Celebration Project. This year, Worcester implemented civics education at the middle school level; civics will be implemented in high school starting in the 2022-2023 academic year.
The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts views the leaked Supreme Court opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, if it holds, as an attack on a fundamental right to health care and to the right of pregnant people to make their own decisions about what is best for them. In light of the probable overturning of Roe v. Wade, the League expresses its gratitude to the Massachusetts state legislature for passing, in 2020, the ROE Act, legislation that codified the right to an abortion in Massachusetts regardless of any U.S. Supreme Court decision. We salute our partners in reproductive health advocacy for their work in anticipating the need for this legislation.
We now urge the legislature to continue this work protecting the right to make one’s own health care decisions by passing without delay two additional bills:
- H.1196/S.673 An Act ensuring access to full spectrum pregnancy care. This bill would provide financial assistance for a full-range of pregnancy-related care. See our testimony.
- H.2399/S.1470 An Act to require public universities to provide medication abortion. See our testimony.
The national League of Women Voters continues to advocate for these rights on the federal level. Read their statement here.
The LWVMA Field Service program provides opportunities for local Leagues to interact within defined geographical areas. The goal of the program is to support local Leagues and encourage regional collaboration.
Here’s the schedule for the spring Field Service meetings:
- West: Monday, May 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
- Metro/South: Saturday, June 4, 10:00 a.m.
- Metro Northwest: Wednesday, May 18, 7:00 p.m.
- Metro West: Saturday, May 21, 10:00 a.m.
- Merrimack Valley/North Shore: Saturday, June 4, 10:00 a.m.
- South Shore, Cape Cod, and MV: TBD
For the current list of Leagues within each Field Service region and representatives click here.
For more information, please contact Field Service Director Lora Goldenberg.
Registration and hotel reservations for the 2022 LWVUS Convention are now open. Convention will take place June 23 – June 26 in Denver, Colorado and online. Find your number of delegates here. Find information and registration here. Find the full proposed program on the Convention platform. See the costs to register here. Registration deadline is June 6. See additional convention information in League Leaders section.