STEPPING UP FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION | | Marge Keller, LWVPBC Education Committee chair, and Brian Knowles, founder of Power Builders, host a seminar at Rohi's Readery on public education on Sept. 27. | Power of collaboration a key to future with fairness | The League was proud to help plan and support an impactful seminar on public education, held Sept. 27 at Rohi's Readery. The event featured Brian Knowles, founder of Power Builders. As an educator, historian and advocate for culturally inclusive curriculum, his deep insight and commitment to equity in education sparked thoughtful dialogue and inspired action.
A heartfelt thank you to Rohi’s Readery for hosting us in such an intentional and community-rooted space. At 630 Seventh St., West Palm Beach, Rohi’s Readery is a social-justice-driven children’s bookstore and learning center where children can experience freedom as their most authentic selves.
Events like these reflect the power of collaboration in shaping a more just and informed future. The Sept. 27 meeting was the monthly gathering of the League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County Education Committee, chaired by Marge Keller. | LEARN HOW TO UPLIFT FLORIDA GIRLS | As the League works to empower voters and defend democracy, we recognize that civic engagement begins long before someone casts a ballot. It starts with ensuring that every young person — especially girls — feels seen, heard and equipped to lead.
Girls who grow up in environments that nurture their well-being and leadership are more likely to:
* Register and vote as young adults
* Volunteer and organize in their communities
* Run for office or serve on boards
* Champion inclusive policies that reflect lived experience
Yet, the data is sobering. Over half of high school girls report persistent sadness, one in four have seriously considered suicide, and nearly half are not meeting grade-level math standards. These statistics — and more — are part of the Girl Scouts State of the Florida Girl Report. The report highlights key indicators of well-being — physical health, academic performance, emotional wellness and social support.
Join us for an upcoming presentation where we’ll unpack the data, explore actionable solutions, and discuss how we can collectively uplift Florida’s girls. Your voice — and your presence — can help shape a brighter future. This complimentary community program takes place at the Mandel Public Library on Thursday, Oct. 16, from 3 to 5 p.m. Please register on the League website.
— Janet Elinoff, Speakers Bureau Chair
|  | Reapportionment vs. Redistricting: What's the difference?
And what's Gerrymandering? | There is a big difference. Reapportionment, or reallocation of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives, happens every 10 years after the U.S. Census is completed, and it happens at the national level. Each state is assigned a certain number of seats based on its share of the total U.S. population.
Then redistricting happens at the state level. Each state, knowing the number of seats it has, draws the same number of districts within the state. States decide the electoral boundaries in accordance with the Constitution and federal and state voting laws.
The basis of redistricting should be fairness, with every voter having an equal and proportionate voice. When a political party draws maps to benefit itself, rather than the voters, it’s called gerrymandering.
— Kate Renchin, Voting Rights Coalition Co-chair
| League to help Common Cause reach less-engaged voters | The League of Women Voters of Florida is partnering with Common Cause Florida to call less-engaged or inactive voters in one priority county to remind them to request their vote-by-mail ballot for elections in 2025 and 2026.
We are seeking volunteers to make calls on:
* Friday, Oct. 3, from 2-3 p.m.
* Monday, Oct. 6, from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
What to expect
No phone banking experience is necessary. During the hour, you will receive training, a script to converse with voters, and have a chance to ask questions before you begin calling. Please plan to use your own calling device; we will not use an automatic dialer. This is a group of like-minded individuals who want to connect to voters. You can make calls from anywhere.
Where do I volunteer?
You may call from the comfort of a private space, as volunteers will meet virtually on Zoom. Please plan to use your home phone or cellphone. Otherwise, learn how to set up a Google number. It might be helpful to have two devices: your phone and a computer or tablet.
Why is this effort important?
Inactive voters are not often engaged by groups like ours, or political parties, because they are less engaged; this effort seeks to re-engage them. We are calling inactive voters to encourage them to sign up for vote-by-mail, which will do two things:
* Move voters to active status
* Ensure voters receive vote-by-mail for elections in 2025-2026
Volunteer sign-up
To sign-up for this volunteer opportunity, click here. | | Medicaid expansion
petition suspended | | | New law spurs sponsoring organization to shift ballot effort to 2028 | Please stop distributing the Florida Decides Healthcare petition immediately. The organization has announced that it will shift its Medicaid expansion ballot initiative efforts to the 2028 ballot. The decision comes after unprecedented barriers created by House Bill 1205, passed by the Florida Legislature and signed by the Governor this year; the bill changed the ballot initiative rules mid-campaign, undermining FDH’s 2026 effort.
Despite these obstacles, FDH collected more than 200,000 petitions, raised more than $6 million, and built a coalition of more than 100 grassroots organizations spanning labor, faith, healthcare providers, democracy advocates and community groups across Florida.
Florida already has 1.4 million people making too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private insurance and if ACA tax credit enhancements expire in January, more than 3 million Floridians — one in five — could be left uninsured.
Medicaid Expansion is still critical, which is why FDH intends to make full use of the next ballot initiative cycle, starting in February 2026, and will continue an education campaign in the meantime.
Read more. | PALM BEACH COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION
| Public Hearing
Thursday, Oct. 23
Wellington Community Center
12150 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington
10 a.m. – noon
| Local Bill and Public Hearing
Thursday, Nov. 13
Els Center of Excellence
18370 Limestone Creek Road, Jupiter
9 a.m. – noon
| | | Palm Beach County Day
Two days of advocacy, collaboration and connection are set for Jan. 13 and 14 in Tallahassee. Palm Beach County Day registration opens Oct. 22. Download the Whova app and follow it on Facebook and Instagram for updates. | UPCOMING EVENTS
Click on the flyer to see the event
| | At the Greenacres Health and Resource Fair Sept. 27, Alina Newman, Nancy Ballen and Pat Doman staff a Voter Registration table for the Palm Beach County League of Women Voters. | | CONSTITUTION DAY
AT KEISER UNIVERSITY
Our League chapter sent Voter Services volunteers to Keiser University’s Vista Campus to staff a Voter Registration table on Constitution Day, Sept. 18.
Seated: Sara Sikes and Nancy Zimmers
Standing: Pam Maldonado and Catherine Shore Martinez | | | | At Palm Beach State College's Club Rush on Sept. 17, Marcia Halpern, Louise Lahr and Jane Smith staff a Voter Registration table. | DID YOU NOTICE? CALENDAR IS NOW ON MAIN MENU | Did you notice the change to the Main Menu on the LWVPBC website? To make it easier to see what is coming up and to quickly get to the Zoom link for online meetings, Calendar is now on the Main Menu. Click Calendar and then click on an event to see the Event View page with complete information about that listing.
The identical information in text format is toward the bottom left side of the Home Page in the League Events section. Click on the bold title to go to the Event View page for that listing.
As you can see, there are two quick ways to get to the same Event View page for each listing.
— Daniel Lishansky, Web Team Chair | UPCOMING EVENTS ON THE WEBSITE | On the LWVPBC website, there are three ways to see what events are coming.
* On the Home Page, look at the flyers in the section titled Upcoming Events. There are usually three to five flyers at any time. Each will specify the event and the date. Click on a flyer to go to the Event View page and read the event details. If registration is required or recommended, you can do that on the bottom of the Event View page.
* On the bottom left side of the Home Page, you can look at the League Events. Coming events are listed in chronological order. Click on the name of the event to go to the Event View page for that event. If it is a team meeting or a Zoom presentation for members, members who log in will see the Zoom link on the Event View page.
* Go to the Calendar. It can be found in the Main Menu. If you want to know more about a listed event, just click on the title and you will be brought to the Event View page for that event. Want to see what is happening next month? While in Calendar view, click on the forward arrow next to the month to go forward one month.
— Daniel Lishansky, Web Team Chair
| THREE TIPS FOR NAVIGATING MOST WEBSITES | Most websites no longer use a Home button to return to the Home Page. Instead, click on the site logo at the top. It will return you to the Home Page no matter where you are on the website.
Most websites have a Contact Us page. This is helpful to send an email to ask a question or make a comment. This is often found in one of the drop-downs from the Main Menu. On the LWVPBC site, it is in the About Us section. In addition, on most websites you can also find the Contact Us in the footer, the area at the bottom of every web page, as you can on the LWVPBC site.
Not all links on a website or even in an email are blue and underlined. Sometimes a link may just be in a bold font, or it may be a different color than the other font. But one thing is consistent … when you move your cursor over a link, your cursor will change from its normal look, usually an arrow, to a hand with a pointed finger. Try it now. Put your cursor over one of the links, either a flyer or a button, and watch your cursor change.
— Daniel Lishansky, Web Team Chair
| MEET & GREET EVENT A SUCCESS
| The Membership Team hosted a Sept. 10 Meet & Greet event designed for new members and those interested in the League to meet each other as well as our board members and team chairs. The room pulsed with an abundance of enthusiasm as 45 attendees talked with one another about topics ranging from the personal sort to current events. Amy Kemp, our chapter president, gave a brief history of the League and answered many thoughtful questions from the attendees. Linda Sorenson, of the membership team, related her lengthy history and rewarding experiences with the League. Everyone left with new insights about the League and a fresh perspective of its members.
— Donna Colabella, Membership Co-Chair | A WARM-HEARTED WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS | Their contact information is available in the Member Directory at LWVPBC.org.
Linda Steckley (Juno Beach), Carole Frank (Delray Beach), Sunny Thayer (West Palm Beach), Rebecca Walton (West Palm Beach), Joan Waitkevicz (West Palm Beach), Andrea Stripling (North Palm Beach), Barbara Neuman (Boynton Beach), Jeannie Masterson (Hypoluxo), Joanne Kelly (Lake Worth Beach) and Asa Sealy (Fort Lauderdale).
— Linda Sorenson, Membership
| NEWS FROM STATE, NATIONAL LEAGUES | HOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS NAVIGATE COMPLAINTS
The League of Women Voters of Florida has released a comprehensive study of the library materials objections policies developed by Florida’s school districts.
| ED FUND IS ELECTION DAY HERO MANAGING PARTNER
Celebration, Nov. 3 this year, an important way to humanize and bolster
public trust of election systems.
| SCOTUS IMPERILS INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Its 2025 ruling allowing President to remove NLRB, Merit Systems officers
for political reasons dismantles 1935 ‘Humphrey’s Executor' protections.
| CONGRESS MUST ENACT MEANINGFUL GUN SAFETY
"The League stands in solidarity with HBCUs and all educational communities
impacted by threats and violence.”
| LWV MOBILIZES FOR NATIONAL REGISTRATION DAY
On Sept. 16, chapters from throughout the United States hosted
more than 750 voter registration events.
| ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY ESCALATING
Blog: What you need to know about the National Guard, the Insurrection Act
and Martial Law.
| LEAGUE VIEW ON CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION
‘We call on Congress to take action and put an end to gun violence and political violence once and for all … Every individual has the right to free speech and peaceful activism without fear of harm.’
| DEMOCRACY NEEDS VOICES OF NEW CITIZENS
USCIS policy restricting voter registration at naturalization ceremonies ‘an attempt
to keep new citizens from accessing their full rights.’
| UNNECESSARY BARRIERS TO VOTER ACCESS
Blog: ‘Use it or lose it’ purges threaten college students’ right to vote.
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