LWVAAC continues its Books for Learning program with a discussion of How To Stand Up To A Dictator by renowned international journalist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Maria Ressa. The book is a personal memoir and a portrait of a country’s struggles to battle the forces of populism and social media. Through her own experience, Ressa seeks to understand the rise of authoritarianism around the world and to offer ways to fight back.

Maria Ressa is the co-recipient of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for her work defending freedom of expression and democracy. She is CEO, cofounder, and president of Rappler, the Philippines' top digital news site, and has been a journalist in Asia for over thirty-six years. She was TIME Magazine's Person of the Year in 2018 and won the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize in 2021. Ressa grew up in the Philippines and the United States and currently lives in Manila.

Cynthia Barry, Anne Arundel County College adjunct faculty and LWVAAC member, will moderate the discussion. How to Stand Up to a Dictator is available at county public libraries. Email [email protected] to borrow a copy from the LWVAAC lending library.

Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025

Time: 2:30 to 4.00 p.m.

Place: Busch Annapolis Library, 1410 West St, Annapolis

RSVP below

Books for Learning, past and present

Since 2016, LWVAAC members have met to discuss current topics and writings through our Books for Learning program. How to Stand Up to a Dictator is our 17th title. Click here for a list of prior readings.

LWVAAC invites you to make the League Connection (TLC)

Connect with members of our League and learn more about what our organization does to support democracy.

TLC events are regularly scheduled informal gatherings for conversing and idea sharing. They're held at a local coffee shop or restaurant on the first Saturday of each month, unless there's a conflict with another League event. The next TLC will be held Saturday, June 7 at Glory Days in Edgewater. Anyone interested in connecting with our League is welcome to stop by between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. LWVAAC members are encouraged to bring a friend who is curious about the League and might like to join. Just look for a table with an LWVAAC sign!

LWVAAC's Annual Retreat is a casual planning and brainstorming session. At Retreat, we map out our League's calendar of activities for the coming year, assign leadership responsibility and recruit team participation based on individual member's interests and availability. Retreat is also our time to think creatively about the future. What do we want LWVAAC to look like in five years and how do we advance toward that goal? Equally important, Retreat is an opportunity to meet and share a meal, to ask questions, make suggestions, and build friendships.

The Retreat agenda will be posted on this page prior to the event. and will be emailed to anyone who has RSVP'd.

RSVP below. Questions? Email Amanda at [email protected].