This category showcases the work Leagues did in partnership with others and how those partnerships empowered our League work and supported our communities. This can include work in which the League was a lead partner, supporting partner, worked with one partner, or worked in coalition with several partners.  

LWV of Ohio

Honesty for Ohio Education is a nonpartisan, Ohio-based, statewide coalition that champions honesty in education, the empowerment of students, families and educators, and the affirmation of identities, cultures, and experiences. We serve as a centralized network for education, advocacy, resources, community focused on protecting honesty in education at the Ohio Statehouse, State Board of Education, and local school districts. Collectively, Honesty for Ohio Education opposes attempts to restrict and censor education around the history and legacy of racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, classism and other forms of discrimination. The coalition also opposes attempts to divest local control from school districts, school boards, families, and communities. Born from a grassroots effort of committed Ohioans, Honesty for Ohio Education proudly represents hundreds of students, families, educators, advocacy organizations, legal professionals, researchers, policy experts, and faith groups. League of Women Voters of Ohio is one of the founding and managing partners.

LWV of Pennsylvania

LWVPA is committed to rectifying the historical racism present in our organization, expanding and diversifying our state network, and creating a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In December 2020, League leaders created the LWVPA Equity Initiative to strategically implement these commitments. The Equity Initiative supports LWVPA local Leagues and members in building inclusive practices, diverse partnerships and taking collective action to further diversity, equity, and inclusion. Monthly Equity Initiative events examine the topics of race and bias and the unique mission of the League. A statewide Equity team, composed of local leaders from across the state, works to create action plans to build a more intersectional and welcoming organization. The equity team, under the direction of director Jennifer Hanf, worked to form a strong network of partnerships across the state to build our mission. This year, we welcomed an exciting group of partners: our statewide, off-board Equity Steering Committee. Committee members represent diverse perspectives and different experiences from across Pennsylvania, and their expertise enhanced our progress in our goal of implementing our DEI Policy statewide. LWVPA also recently created the “Building Equity is Local” small grant program. Through this innovative project, we awarded 9 local Leagues with grants between $500 and $1,000 to support their local DEI initiatives. These grants are a recognition of our collective League commitment to implementing DEI in our work.

LWV of Washington, DC

In 2020 the District of Columbia, became the fourth jurisdiction in the US to restore the right to vote to people convicted of felonies, pursuant to the Restore the Vote Amendment Act. The LWVDC actively supported passage of this landmark legislation to enfranchise incarcerated DC residents. To support this law the LWVDC established a voter information phone line for incarcerated District residents in federal prisons (BOP) across the county and local correctional facilities in the District. The launch of the Insider Voter Information Line in 2022 is an important strategy to ensure the “Restore the Vote” amendment is fully implemented.*   DC is the only jurisdiction in the country with a voter information phone line free to callers that includes nonpartisan candidate information available through Vote411. Staffed by LWVDC trained volunteers, the phone line receives callers 7 days a week. We also maintain an email account with CorrLinks for those unable to have phone access. * There are approximately 4,500 men and women from DC incarcerated locally and in the BOP. Since DC is not (yet) a state and does not have a state prison, our residents are scattered in 150 prisons across the country making the phone line even more important for information about voter registration, completing a vote-by-mail ballot, and candidates.