News / Articles

Can Indiana really make a dent on climate action through public policy? Hear an energetic talk by Hoosier Environmental Council E.D. Jesse Kharbanda & then take action!
https://fb.watch/5EToLDmnj0/

Join us on Zoom on October 13 at noon! Our featured speaker will be Heidi Beidinger-Burnett.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85224444542?pwd=Lzd2Y2pwNU9tV1F2cG9VUU1GNDgzUT09

Lead Poisoning continues to be a significant and devastating problem in our community, especially among very young children. While great strides have been made to educate and create awareness about this problem, children are still not being tested for lead poisoning and families are unaware of available resources. The Lead Affinity Group, a community coalition of civil servants, health providers, educators, researchers, and community leaders, will be conducting community presentations this fall to raise awareness and education. The focus of the presentation is three-fold: (a) to educate the community about lead poisoning, (b) to share recent, important policy changes in Indiana that will help children and families, and (c) to provide information about resources that are locally available.

Join us on Zoom on September 8 at noon! Our speaker will be Dr. Susan Elrod, Chancellor, Indiana University of South Bend.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83883886268?pwd=cDU5USsvQml0THVCQkdacVBRM29vUT09

IU South Bend is the only public university in the region, and serves an 8-county region in Indiana and several southwestern Michigan counties. As a comprehensive university, IU South Bend offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees that help residents in our region get the education they need to transform their lives and the lives of those around them. This talk with provide an up-to-date overview of the university, its current priorities, and significant community engagement initiatives.

Join us on Zoom on July 14th at noon! Our Lunch with the League speaker will be Lety Stanton-Verduzco from the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86780067447?pwd=dVhEdUN0MXpVbWI5TENXUkthUkl0UT09

Lety Stanton-Verduzco is Director of Mission Integration for the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County.

Lety will share what the Clubs are currently doing to serve the youth of St. Joseph County as well as their vision for a community where youth are loved, safe and thriving.

Join us on Zoom on August 11th for Lunch with the League: Forgotten Fathers of Michiana!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86364962145?pwd=U3oyMWdhQWlBVEtubE4zV3JldXAvdz09

Aaron Helman is an adventurer, historian, storyteller, and author. He will be sharing stories about some of the fascinating and forgotten figures in Michiana's history, including Richard Carlisle, Edward Bonney, and Pierre Moran.

Join us on Zoom on June 9th, at 12pm, for Lunch with the League with Professor Michael H. Morris.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88469909237?pwd=bzBLcnh3cVU4d1pWS0ZMeGNFM1IzQT09

The City of South Bend suffers from a poverty rate of over 21%, almost double the national average. Another 10.5% have income below 50% of the poverty level. Further, the rate of poverty experienced by the local African American community is close to 40%. This presentation will explore entrepreneurship as a pathway out of poverty. Notre Dame's South Bend Entrepreneurship and Adversity Program will be introduced. Experiences in working with over 300 disadvantaged entrepreneurs from the local area over the past four years will be shared. We will discuss ways in which the community can support and nurture these entrepreneurs.

State Representative Maureen Bauer gives “A Legislative Recap” of the most recent House session. She will talk about being a female representative, about actions that were taken in the legislature, about bills that did not pass and about issues for the future. A question and answer period follows her remarks.

Join us on May 12th at 12pm on Zoom!

Use this link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83934896477?pwd=V2VzaW5rM3NxaEk3cGhmYk82UFlFdz09

Our speaker will be State Representative Maureen Bauer. Her talk will be “A Legislative Recap” of the most recent House session. She will talk about being a female representative, about actions that were taken in the legislature, about bills that did not pass and about issues for the future. There will be a question and answer period following her remarks.

Join us on April 14 at 12pm on Zoom!

Use this link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82184242783?pwd=MVRCZXNldEtjalM4aTMrREppNjg5Zz09

Julie Olson-Tobias (she/her/hers), Director of the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), will give an overview of the services available through the Community Action Program, Area Agency on Aging, and Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana.

Join us on Zoom on Friday, March 10, at 12pm!

Use this link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88483520808

This month we will celebrate women - some known, some unknown to most - for and with the help of our own members. Join us to this special program showcasing women who have made a difference!

Join us on Zoom on Friday, Feb. 10, at 12pm!

Use this link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89782247309?pwd=MHV5UEdxYVpURmwzbVZSQmYzQXk4UT09

In this talk, Neil will discuss the origins of the Kroc Center, touch on the development of current arts and education class and program offerings, and the future of the Kroc.

Use this link to join the meeting:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83842480109?pwd=VXNlUTRGVW10QVV0MFpvYk02Z1JiZz09

Our featured speaker will be Dr. Darryl Heller, Director of the IU South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center and Assistant Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at IUSB.

Dr. Heller will discuss how reparations, as part of the process for healing racial injustice, is most meaningful when regarded within a restorative justice framework.

We had a wonderful time at our holiday party at Traditions on December 8. Click to see a photo!

Join us on Zoom! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89816470039?pwd=LajLjjeHyNb4Urk26XuXPjhvMrLW4B.1

Friday, July 8, at 12pm

"Preparing for 21st Century Climate Change in Indiana: An Overview of the IN Climate Change Impacts Assessment"

This talk will give an overview of the Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment, highlighting some of the most important impacts of climate change on our region, including extreme heat and humidity, river flooding, and urban stormwater impacts.

Speakers:
Alexandro Bazán, Sustainability Project Manager for City of South Bend.
Dr. Alan F. Hamlet, Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at the University of Notre Dame.

Talk at 7:00 • Walk at 6:30 p.m. or Whenever You Want

Take a walk along the beautiful St. Joe River near downtown South Bend, then join us at Howard Park Public House for an informal discussion of the podcast, “United States of Anxiety: A History of Voter Suppression.” Dr. Elizabeth Bennion, LWV Voter Services Chair, will guide the discussion.

This is an informal meetup but we do ask you to RSVP so that we can reserve space at the Public House. Click Here to RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgQUjLyU68n5dM1clYrH85BQy2qqsGTjPy5GRaMZtePz3Lcg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Click here to join the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85958592506?pwd=UzE2YzRrQU9wdmMrVTFjRzB3YnZtQT09

In June, the League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area will welcome Juan Constantino, Executive Director of La Casa de Amistad, for Lunch with the League on Zoom. The event takes place on Friday, June 10 at 12:00pm.

The mission of La Casa de Amistad, a youth and community center, is to empower the Latino/Hispanic community within Michiana by providing educational, cultural and advocacy services in a welcoming, bilingual environment, and Constantino will speak about the broad range of programs and services offered by La Casa as well as its newly renovated facility and changes over the past year.

Join us on Zoom! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86794712846?pwd=S2hlS3lLbFZSVjdTVDlGZzVEUFhyQT09

FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2022 AT 12 PM

The Robinson Community Learning Center: Changing Lives One Relationship at a Time
An initiative of the University of Notre Dame, the Robinson Community Learning Center (RCLC) provides educational programs that reach thousands of youth and adults in the South Bend community each year and has engaged hundreds of college student volunteers since its inception in 2001. It has recently moved into a new facility, right across the street from its original location in the Northeast Neighborhood.
The speakers will provide an overview of RCLC programs with a particular focus on the Robinson Shakespeare Company, which has been empowering local youth for more than a decade!

Join us on Zoom!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81481551387

Our February speaker is Dr. Dan Graff, Director of the Higgins Labor Program at the Center for Social Concerns and Professor of the Practice, Department of History, University of Notre Dame.

Dr. Graff will address the long-term labor crises confronting our country, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic, and he'll introduce the Just Wage Framework, an online tool for multiple economic stakeholders to deploy with the aim of producing a fairer, more inclusive, and more just economy.

Join us on Zoom on Friday Jan. 14 at 12:00 PM
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88520671655

Dr. Kent Laudeman, Director of United Health Services, Suicide Prevention Center, will be our speaker. Dr. Laudman will discuss some challenges and his thoughts regarding Mental Health and Suicide; national, state, and local statistics; warning signs we can watch for; and various programs as resources such as the crisis line and text line. The presentation will include a free downloadable iPhone app(s) that can be used by youth or adults. Everyone in our community has a role in stopping this most preventable form of death!

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82850548043?pwd=RVdqOXJLUWVLVU5BdlFsalliTlpjZz09

Please join the League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area at our virtual Friendraiser! We will present the 2021 Making Democracy Work Award to Karen White, who will join Elizabeth Bennion for a conversation on a range of topics, including diversity, leadership, education, and politics. The entire community is welcome at this free event, where we’ll share news about the League’s work and treat you to a performance by Jessica O’Brien and music by Kevin Scott Joiner and Abby Joiner of The Ember Jar. Guests will also have the option of visiting in small virtual groups following the program.

Join us on Zoom, October 1 at 12pm!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86069352513?pwd=bFhNcmsxcG1ha3dZVTI0Q0t1bk5aQT09

We are rapidly nearing the FY 2022 Budget deadline for local governments. Decisions will soon be finalized for planning on affordable housing and care for the homeless. The window for citizen input will soon close!
The Advocacy Committee on Equitable Housing League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area has invited a panel of city and county speakers for an extended “Lunch with the League” event via Zoom. The discussion open to LWV members and the general public with time for questions and answers after brief comments from local government officials.
Speakers will will provide a summary overview of expenditures, programs, special projects funding sources directed to homelessness and affordable housing for the fiscal years 2021 and 2022, plus projections for 2023, if known.

Join us on Zoom, September 10 at 12pm!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86328543189?pwd=191393

Debra Futa, Executive Director of St. Joseph County Public Library, will talk about the Main Library project. Although the finished spaces will be truly beautiful, the library has much more to offer than the building itself. Deb will share her ideas about where SJCPL would like to take their services in the next few years.

Join us on Zoom, August 13 at 12pm!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83920037189?pwd=dHNYQlhvcGthaFNhOVJzR0tYY1VqQT09

The past year exacerbated and brought to the forefront the pain and oppression that has plagued our communities for ages. In the midst of so much suffering and injustice, how can we build a new world?
This virtual talk invites us to explore the foundational tenets of Restorative Justice and abolitionist work, and will highlight stories of Restorative Justice in action here in South Bend. As a way to build relational accountability, Restorative Justice can provide a path that centers dignity, shared power, and mutual concern for the transformation of harm.
Dalila Huerta is an educator and Restorative Justice consultant living in South Bend.

Watch the recording of our July Lunch with the League conversation with Ranjan Rohatgi and Leigh Morris on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yqdRHXNeK9Y

Join us on Zoom, July 9 at 12pm!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81359524226?pwd=UUtNcjYvQnNnRTFqL1pkRituVHBUZz09

Leigh Morris and Ranjan Rohatgi are our District Two Republican and
Democrat members of the Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission Indiana (ICRC). The ICRC advocates for redistricting reform in Indiana. It was formed in December 2010 by Common Cause/Indiana, Downs Center for Politics at IPFW, the League of Women Voters of Indiana, and AARP Indiana. The ICRC is a diverse and multi-partisan group of Indiana voters composed of nine members: three Republicans, three Democrats and three members who are neither Republican nor Democrat. We will learn what has gone on until now, what to anticipate from this commission going forward, and how we can benefit and help!

Check out the recording of our June Lunch with the League conversation with Aaron Perri on YouTube: https://youtu.be/geZmbGSzjjA

Join us on Zoom, June 11 at 12 noon: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86321652322?pwd=ZG9YZFZmMkxJZ3NPOCtkQ0tQdjRzQT09

Our guest speaker will be Aaron Perri, Executive Director of South Bend Venues, Parks and Arts.

He will discuss the underlying strategies and models that inform our public placemaking efforts here in South Bend - including examples of recently completed and pending projects. You’ll leave with a bit of information about South Bend programs and facilities, including much of the “why” behind what VPA does.

Join us on Zoom, May 14 at 12 noon: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82106308403?pwd=290830

Our guest speaker will be Alan Achkar, executive editor of the South Bend Tribune.

Newspapers and other local media outlets have faced unprecedented challenges in recent years. The South Bend Tribune, other newspapers and other local news outlets have reacted to the Digital Age with a host of changes. How can they carve out a future in the era of mobile phones, social media and changing consumer habits? Can traditional news platforms, such as a printed newspaper, survive? How can impactful journalism still be produced and delivered to you? And what does a digital news future mean to readers?

The LWV's Citizen's Guide to Representative Government for St. Joseph County, 2021-2022, is now available on the LWV website.