Volunteer to help immigrants in our county
LWVAAC PROGRAM FOCUS:
Action on immigration position
LWVAAC has had a public policy position on immigration since 2010 (see below). In our League's recent discussion of program priorities, members asked that we focus on achieving immigration policy goals and on supporting the immigrant population of Anne Arundel County.
OPPORTUNITY:
Volunteer at Center of Help/Centro de Ayuda
The Center of Help’s mission is to empower, educate and connect immigrants with resources to promote self-sufficiency and to advocate for the successful integration of the immigrant community into Anne Arundel County and the surrounding areas.
Center of Help is looking for the following volunteers:
• Tutors and teaching assistants
• One-on-one mentors
• Teachers for STEM lessons, cultural activities, reading groups, career research and skills
• Yoga and Mindfulness teachers/coaches
• Drivers to transport students Monday-Friday 3:15pm-3:45pm and 6:30pm-7:00pm
Fluency is Spanish is not required. The Center of Help website is centerofhelp.org.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Abby Root, LWVAAC Action chair at [email protected].
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Books for Learning
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.
Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner
You're invited • May 1, 2025 • 5 to 8 pm • Severna Park
The LWVAAC Board cordially invites members of the public to join League members and their guests at the 2025 Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner on Thursday, May 1 at Cafe Mezzanotte in Severna Park.
The event will begin at 5pm with registration and an official meeting to present and vote on important League business, including electing officers and adopting a budget. The items that require member approval may be reviewed ahead of time by clicking here.
The social part of the evening will commence around 6pm. We'll enjoy drinks, dinner and the chance to meet or catch up with friends. Over dessert, Maryland State Board of Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis will talk to us about the future of election processes, the Board's efforts to combat dis- and misinformation and protect voters' rights, and ways the public can help. The event will conclude by 8pm.
Tickets are $55 in advance; $60 at the door. Reservations close April 22. Scroll down to purchase.
What's on the menu?
| Caesar Salad | Seasonal Vegetables | Penne Primavera |
| Chicken Parmigiana | Shrimp Truca | House Ciabatta |
| Assorted Desserts | Cash Bar |
Please notify us of any food allergies or dietary restrictions on the ticket purchase form or by email to Niecy at [email protected].
Learn about our speaker: Jared DeMarinis
On September 1, 2023, Jared DeMarinis became Maryland’s State Administrator of Elections after the unanimous selection by the bipartisan 5-member State Board of Elections. Previously, he served for 18 years as the Director of Candidacy and Campaign Finance. In that position, he took a proactive approach to election administration in campaign finance making Maryland a model state for the use of new technologies by campaigns, campaign disclosure and enforcement.
Jared has served as an election observer in various countries such as Estonia, North Macedonia, and Armenia. He has been published in New York Times for a piece on texting campaign contributions, written a book on the history of the Electoral College in Maryland and presented at national conferences on important election issues including deep fakes, regulating online campaign ads, and enforcement of campaign finance laws.
Jared has a law degree from Rutgers School of Law-Newark and a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University.
Members, please click here to download preliminary annual meeting materials.
RSVP by April 22. No refunds for cancellations received after April 22.