For all who have been able to help pull through AAUW’s Public Policy and DEI priorities, your contributions — whether contacting elected officials via National’s Two-Minute Activist, attending a monthly branch meeting that helps cultivate our awareness, understanding, and action to support historically marginalized communities, writing nonpartisan postcards to help Get Out The Vote, attending a school board meeting or a candidate forum, showing up at a pro-democracy rally, donating to and operationalizing more equitable access to our local scholarships, and countless other ways — all are so particularly crucial in this time of unrelenting attack on our democracy.

Every single act is valuable and radiates compassion. I acknowledge and respect that sometimes it can be challenging to figure out an action that fits well with your interests and energy. I can help! Feel free to contact me (ogstrogatz@gmail.com) and we’ll find a time to talk through options to determine what works best for you.

Special events in the Public Policy/DEI space this month are:

Monday, Jan 19, 2:00-4:30 pm, San Ramon City Hall Rotunda: MLK celebration – the San Ramon Valley Diversity Coalition will honor DEI initiatives of our DAW and San Ramon Branches.

Click here for details about the MLK celebration.

Tuesday, Jan 20, 9:30-11:30 am, Orinda Community Church, “ICE Activity and Immigrant Rights in Contra Costa: What You Need to Know and What Can You Do” – This will be a panel discussion at the OML Branch’s January meeting. I am privileged to moderate the discussion, which promises to be an informative update that will include lots of options to support our immigrant communities.

Click here for details about the OML meeting.

Saturday, Jan 31, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm, online AAUW CA Public Policy Symposium: “The School Board Project: Defending the Frontline of Democracy” – free event, open to the public. This statewide event features a keynote address on the impact of new federal laws and policies on California’s protective laws, followed by a brief training on monitoring school board meetings, then a panel discussion on how AAUW members can support students, parents, and school board members in the face of challenges and misinformation, and the event will close with workshops on recruiting school board members and forming coalitions for greater impact.

I’ll be co-facilitating the workshop on coalition building, where we will showcase the work of the Lift Up Public Schools (LUPS) coalition. Spoiler alert: We’ll be announcing a LUPS community outreach initiative during the workshop; please sign up and join us virtually to learn more!

Click here to register for the symposium.

By Ogie Strogatz, DEI Coordinator and AAUW California Public Policy Team member