Human Relations Commissioners Appointed
congratulations new commissionersSeven village residents are now members of the reinvigorated Village of Wilmette human relations commission. The HRC's initial task will be to conduct community engagement initiatives and community discussions on racism, social equity and community building to identify the needs of Wilmette and create a proposed two-year work plan to present to the Village Board Administration Committee for review and discussion. Click below for more information on the Human Relations Commission
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congratulations new commissionersSeven village residents are now members of the reinvigorated village housing commission. The Housing Commission makes recommendations for the alleviation of the shortage of decent, safe and reasonably affordable housing for the elderly and low and moderate income persons. The League looks forward to continuing its advocacy for affordable housing as the commission's work gets underway. Click below to read more about the Housing Commission.
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Commemorating the LWV
100 Years of league workAs a final commemoration of our centennial year, and the centennial celebration of the 19th Amendment, the League of Women Voters-Illinois' 100th Anniversary Celebration Committee completed a comprehensive, decade-by-decade history.
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Environmental Advocacy
what is ceja? why is it important?Passing CEJA (Clean Energy Jobs Act) would set an inspiring example for the nation. The bill was written with all stakeholders at the table, addressing fossil-fuel dependency, economic needs of BIPOC communities and the fight for the future of our planet. The January 2021 lame-duck session is our best chance to pass CEJA. Governor Pritzker needs to hear from us all!
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Congress Certifies Electoral College Vote
Abolish the electoral collegeThe presidential ballots cast by the Electoral College last month will be tallied in Congress on January 6. While this has historically been a perfunctory event, the League of Women Voters strongly believes that the direct-popular-vote method for electing the President and Vice-President is essential to representative government and that, therefore, the Electoral College should be abolished. The League has held this position since 1970 and has reaffirmed it several times, most recently in 2020. Find answers to your questions about the Electoral College here. Visit our Electoral College Reform page for further information.
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Energy and Environmental Commission
wilmette's plan for sustainabilityWith the goal of reducing the Village’s environmental footprint, the Environmental & Energy Commission (EEC) met on December 17 to continue developing Wilmette’s Sustainability Plan. Consider participating in this effort by attending a future meeting. If you have a strong environmental background, take your involvement up a notch by applying to serve on the commission, which currently has three openings. Click below for further details.
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Shaping Wilmette's Future
candidates file for april's local electionThank you to our community members who have filed as candidates for local government offices in the April 6, 2021 Consolidated Election. Check back later this winter for local voter guides and candidate forum dates.
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Holiday Book Event Follow Up
gift ideas from our eventA warm thank you to Rachel Garcia, from the Wilmette Public Library, for sharing her top fiction and nonfiction picks for 2020 at our holiday event. Please shop local! Follow this link to purchase items from The Book Stall in Winnetka. They have also provided recommendations for everyone on your gift list, including yourself! Happy reading one and all!
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LWV-Evanston Speaker, December 8 at 7 pm
criminal justice reformCriminal justice reform issues are being debated throughout the country and LWV-IL is creating a new position on criminal justice. LWV-Evanston is offering an opportunity on December 8 at 7 pm to hear speaker Benjamin G. Ruddell, Director of Criminal Justice Policy for the ACLU of Illinois. He will discuss the ACLU's portfolio and efforts to develop principles of a fair, constitutional and racially equitable system of pre-trial practices. Register for that event here.
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Election Results
2020 General electionThank you to everyone within our LWV-W community who registered voters, informed voters, brought them to the polls and served as poll observers and election judges. Record-breaking numbers of votes were cast in this election. This unprecedented turnout is a testament to the determination of the American voters and the strength of our democratic system. Click the link below for Suburban Cook County results.
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Affordable Housing
celebrate cleland placeHousing Opportunity Development Corporation (HODC) is hosting a virtual groundbreaking event on Tuesday November 17 at 11:30 AM for Cleland Place – the 16-unit affordable housing development being constructed on the former American Legion site. The program will be live-streamed from HODC's Facebook page and will include remarks from Village Board President Bob Bielinski as well as members of Jean Cleland's family and HODC leadership. LWV-Wilmette has a long history of support for Cleland Place, and we are thrilled to be celebrating this milestone! Click below for details.
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Cook County Needs Your Help
become an election judgeDue to the Covid-19 pandemic, there is an expected shortage of poll workers nationwide and here in Suburban Cook County. Nationally, the LWV has partnered with Power the Polls to address this issue. Locally, Suburban Cook County residents can contact the Cook County Clerk’s office directly to sign up.
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Attention Prospective Candidates
consolidated election filing process has begunThe consolidated election for our local government boards will be held April 6, 2021. If you've ever thought about running for local office, now is the time! Visit our Local Government page for links to filing information for each government board. There is a wealth of information available for prospective candidates on the Illinois State Board of Elections website and in their candidate guide.
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Co-Sponsored Candidate Forums
recordings for two forums now availableOn September 15th, a forum was held for the candidates vying to represent the 17th Illinois House District. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D) and Christopher Kruger (G) participated; Yesoe Yoon (R) was unavailable. On September 26th, a forum was conducted for the two candidates competing for the 9th Congressional District seat in the US House of Representatives. That race features Jan Schakowsky (D) and Sargis Sangari (R). Bookmark our Voter Guides page for the latest information on all candidates, including judges.
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Join Our Criminal Justice Team
MEMBERS needed for criminal justice studyWe are now seeking members who are interested in joining the Criminal Justice team at the local level in Wilmette to participate in the study. The action foci leaders will work with interested individuals to schedule the meetings in the fall/winter of 2020 and 2021 to turn in our results by January 31, 2021. Visit our Criminal Justice page to learn more or to volunteer.
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Suburban Voter Q&A
election update from the cook county clerkRepresentatives from the 12 Suburban Leagues recently participated in a Town Hall with the Cook County Clerk's office. Topics included vote-by-mail, Election Day voting, newly registered voters, election judges, election security and more. A special report on the LWV-Cook County website summarizes critical questions & answers. Stay up to date with the LWVW Election Information page and by following us on Facebook.
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