Thoughts on the Federal Election

By Eric Holzapfel

Chief Engagement Officer

 

I find myself in a state of déjà vu. Eight years ago, I stood in my office uncertain about what effects the federal election would have on the clients and community I served. At the time, I was in charge of an immigration program for LGBTQ+ Latinos at Entre Hermanos. Our clients expressed a great deal of fear around the anti-immigrant and mass deportation rhetoric coming from the Trump administration. Over the course of the Trump administration, many policies had dire effects on the clients we served but in turn were successfully defeated, specifically public charge and family separation. Public charge had a particularly detrimental effect on immigrant communities accessing public benefits. And family separation inhumanely, as I personally witnessed working with attorneys at a detention center in Laredo, separated thousands of children from their mothers and families. We also saw great victories on the state level to protect our immigrant communities, including Keep Washington Working (SB 5497) and a slew of successful legal challenges by then attorney general, Bob Ferguson. Read More

Washington Game Changers Podcast – Cindy Black of Fix Democracy First

Washington Game Changers with Lauri Hennessey features leaders who give back to our community, drive innovative solutions, and inspire others in making our state more equitable and just. This podcast is a one-on-one conversation with these powerful leaders in a time when we need to hear about more good in the world.

In this episode, League of Education Voters CEO Lauri Hennessey interviews Cindy Black, Executive Director of Fix Democracy First, an organization that is involved in everything from election reform to voter education for young people, from recruiting women to run for office to getting dark money out of politics.

 

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Podcast – Washington state Teacher of the Year Nate Bowling on Civics and Student Engagement

In our Putting Students First podcast, we interview policymakers, partners, and thought leaders to spotlight education policies, research, and practices so that together we can create a brighter future for every Washington student.

In this episode, League of Education Voters Communications Director Arik Korman interviews Nate Bowling, the 2016 Washington state Teacher of the Year and National Teacher of the Year Finalist, about how to engage students during this time of political upheaval, how to help educators and administrators better engage families, and why it’s so important to participate in state and local elections.

 

Listen to Nate Bowling’s Nerd Farmer podcast

Read Nate Bowling’s Bowlings Abroad blog

 

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Washington Game Changers Podcast – Olgy Diaz of the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington

Washington Game Changers with Lauri Hennessey features leaders who give back to our community, drive innovative solutions, and inspire others in making our state more equitable and just. This podcast is a one-on-one conversation with these powerful leaders in a time when we need to hear about more good in the world.

In this episode, League of Education Voters CEO Lauri Hennessey interviews Olgy Diaz, a longtime lobbyist and advocate who is President of the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington. Olgy talks about getting women of color trained and elected, working as a lobbyist during the pandemic, and how to still have hope in a challenging time.

 

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Listen on SpotifyApple Podcasts, or Spreaker.

Watch:

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