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Billy Wimsatt vs the Tea Party
The League's founding Executive Director, BIlly Wimsatt (pictured at left), has a new Q&A with Mother Jones titled Can the Youth Brigade Stop a GOP Takeover? It's a fascinating article, full of insight about the 2010 Election and beyond. Check it out right now, here's an excerpt: MJ: What's the end game here? WW: The most eloquent way I've heard it was, "Free people living in fair society and a healthy planet."
Russell Simmons shouts out the League
Hip Hop mogul and entrepreneur Russell Simmons (twitter.com/UncleRUSH) retweeted an article that went up in the Huffington Post yesterday written by the League's founding executive director and current coordinator of TheBallot.org, Billy Wimsatt, along with Van Jones. Russell Simmons, Van Jones, Huff Po AND TheBallot.org? Awesome Thursday.
LYVEF's Election Central: November2nd.org
Our sister organization, the League of Young Voters Education Fund, just released November2nd.org, a one stop shop for Midterms 2010 news. Visitors to the site can pledge to vote, sign up to receive a beautiful Vote November 2nd reminder postcard (free!) and more. Check it out at november2nd.org right now!
LYVEF Announces IGNITE 2010
On October 1st, 2010, the League of Young Voters Education Fund is hosting IGNITE 2010: From the Blogs to the Blocks, in Atlanta, Georgia - right before the BET Hip Hop Awards weekend. Ignite 2010 is a first of its kind event, a chance for artists and activists to get together in the same space and share organic and realistic solutions to building youth urban power from the 2010 Midterms and beyond. Check it out right here!
Help us win $50k and you could win an iPad!
Our sister org LYVEF could win $50,000 in Pepsi's August contest, and your vote is crucial. Plus, our coalition will raffle off a FREE IPAD to one lucky daily voter! Go vote online now and text 101489 to 73774 to vote via text. Thanks so much.
Maine League hits 5,000 petition milestone for Legal Immigrant Voting Rights
The Maine League of Young Voters passed a major milestone for Legal Immigrant Voting Rights in Portland, delivering 5,080 signed petitions to put Voting Rights on the November ballot. The proposed charter amendment will allow immigrants to register to vote and cast ballots in municipal elections so long as they can provide proof of identity, age, residency, and legal status. Check out some press coverage of this victory:
Biko tears it up on C-SPAN
Well, honestly - does anyone ever tear it up on C-SPAN? Yeah, the League does!
Probably one of the livelier, more provocative discussions the public service tv station has witnessed in recent years, our sister org LYVEF's Director Biko Baker moderated a panel at the just-concluded America's Future Now conference titled Politics Beyond the Beltway. Watch it.
The Best Kept Secret of the June 8th Election...
There's a lot at stake on June 8th! The best kept secret of the election is that bond questions 2, 3, 4, and 5 will help support more sustainable communities in Maine. These bonds are Maine's homegrown economic recovery package, helping to create jobs while at the same time helping to protect the environment. Voting "YES" on 2, 3, 4, and 5 will provide critical funding for green jobs, energy conservation, sustainable transportation, community revitalization and clean water.
Do or Die on Don't Ask, Don't Tell
From our allies at the Courage Campaign: The time for action is now. We're closer than we've ever been to ending what the New York Times editorial board on Friday called a "culture war scar on military honor that finds the nation alone among the major Western allies."
The Great Cost of the Gulf Coast Oil Spill
Too tragic to be ironic, less than a week after Earth Day, the Gulf Coast Oil Spill has reinvigorated environmental advocates and provided a sickening reminder of the unsustainability of our current energy consumption practices. Our hearts and thanks go out to all the people working to mitigate this man-made disaster. Click the title for more images from the Huffington Post.
Change the future on Earth Day!
From LYVEF: TODAY, Thursday,
April 22nd is Earth Day! The economic and
environmental policies of the past are unsustainable. This Earth Day, stand up for the future by writing your Representatives to tell them the youth of America want Green Jobs, Clean Air, and Safe Streets!
NOI Bootcamp 2010 - Apply now!
The New Organizing Institute is accepting applications for their 2010 New Media Bootcamp and we strongly encourage you to apply. We snap up every chance we can to attend an NOI training, they are the leaders of the field. Bootcamp is free for all accepted participants, so you should really go apply right now.
LYVEF takes a stand for Youth Employment!
Check out this hysterical video from our sister organization, the League of Young Voters Education Fund. Last week the Senate voted to defeat a proposition that would have provided $1.3 billion for summer jobs for young people. LYVEF is pushing back with their petition, which has already garnered hundreds of signatures.
Click here to urge your representatives to Lead on Youth Employment!
Biko's Reflections from Rootscamp 2010
Our executive director Biko Baker was one of a handful of Leaguers who attended Rootscamp 2010. For those who don't know, Rootscamp is an open-source DIY weekend of panels and discussions moderated by the attendees of the event. In other words, the New Organizing Institute provides the space and the catering and the activists do the rest! Check out Biko's take away from Rootscamp 2010.
How does the League make endorsements?
The San Francisco League is busy gearing up for the June 8th, 2010 election. In the meantime, we thought you might be interested to know how the Pissed Off Voter Guide endorsements get made: "The SF League's endorsement process starts with the Political Education and Action Committee, AKA PEAC. PEAC is made up of volunteers..." Click through for details!
HBox's Goodbye Grassroots Donor Drive!
On Feb 15th the League will say goodbye to one of our strongest voices: Heather Box, our Development Director, Interim Deputy Director, and friend. If you're down with the League, if you've ever been touched by Heather's passion, her vision, or her dreams, then celebrate her work with a contribution to the organization so near to her heart! Donate to Hbox's Goodbye Campaign:
Your vote can keep kids out of jail
Our sister org, the League of Young Voters Education Fund, contributed an idea to Change.org's Ideas for Change in America Competition.
Their entry is an endorsement of the Youth PROMISE Act, a groundbreaking piece of legislation that can counter the debilitating effects of over-incarceration on urban American youth.
Helping our Haitian Brothers and Sisters
Most of the world is following the recovery efforts in Haiti after a massive earthquake killed thousands of people and upset much of the country's infrastructure. If you can help, please do, and to make the most of your efforts, the White House Office of Public Engagement released some excellent information on ways to contribute the Haiti's rebuilding, all of which you can read right here. This is our story, too. The global community has the power to heal. Click here to help Haiti recover.
2 Movement Makers: Grace Boggs and Biko
Flashback: the DNC Convention, 2008. The League's E.D. Biko Baker was on the scene to see Barack Obama get the Democratic Party's Presidential Nomination. Inspired, Biko sent an email to everyone on the League's mailing list. One of the people that received it is legendary activist Grace Boggs, who was so moved that she decided to publish Biko's words in her new book about the youth movement. How cool is that?
We're Hiring! New Media Organizer
We're looking for a smart, funny, dedicated and pop-culturally literate New Media Organizer to join the well-oiled social justice machine that is The League of Young Voters. Click on the link above to check out the job description. Deadline to apply: January 31st, 2010.
