The LWVD Newsletter
December 2023 - January 2024 | January Briefing
I-70 Corridor Air Pollution Issues
Speaker: Sam Brasch of CPR News
Tuesday, January 16
5:30 - 7:15 p.m.
 Sam Brasch covers climate and the environment for CPR News and will speak to us about his reporting on the air quality/pollution issues facing the people who live in the neighborhoods adjacent to the expansion of I-70. He will speak to the sources of pollution making this the "most polluted zip code in America." The planning for the highway expansion touted that it would address noise and air pollution issues, but how has that actually manifested itself? Is the construction of the park area over the highway achieving goals such as connecting the neighborhoods north and south of the highway? Is it truly a safely usable green space? What can be done to inform the people living nearby about the impact and their rights? Are there improvements that are feasible/planned?
We also hope to also to have someone from the neighborhood to give us the lived experience of people who reside, work, go to school and recreate in the area.
If you'd like to see his reporting before the briefing, here are a couple of articles written by Brasch:
Sue Stark, Program Co-Director | November 2023 Briefing Recap
Human Trafficking in Colorado
Marianna Kosharovsky, attorney, founder and director of ALIGHT (Alliance to Lead Impact in Global Human Trafficking), a Colorado non-profit that offers pro bono legal services to survivors of human trafficking, was the speaker for LWVD’s November 16 briefing. Kosharovsky helped us understand the complexity of the lives of someone trying to free themselves from traffickers, the vulnerabilities that make a person easy prey for exploitation of all kinds, and the myths that surround this oftentimes invisible, though prevalent, crime.
Crucially, public awareness about the need to address the problem of trafficking begins with dispelling the myths about who is trafficked, where and why the crime takes place, and who perpetrates it.
Here are some of the most poignant points Ms. Kosharovsky made:
- Sexual exploitation, though sensationalized in media, is not synonymous with trafficking. Theft of wages and unpaid labor can be found in over 20 different industries (e.g., construction, massage parlors, agricultural settings, day labor, restaurants, domestic workers) and of people of all ages and genders.
- Human smuggling is not the same as human trafficking. Trafficking is not about moving someone but about exploiting their vulnerabilities. It is about viewing humans as objects, as sources of profit or more efficient cheap labor. It is about taking advantage of a person’s isolation and multiple types of disempowerment (age, gender, economic, ethnic, racial, etc.) to create false dependence on the trafficker.
- The majority of victims in the US are not foreign nationals, but rather domestic residents.
- The majority of traffickers are not strangers, but people known to the victim: 27% are boyfriends; 36% are members of the immediate family; 14% are employers;14% are friends of the family or neighbors. Only 9% are strangers.
ALIGHT was established as a pilot project in Colorado in 2014. The organization has served over 500 people in 30 states by providing access to free legal representation and connection to other social services. Kosharovsky described the United States as a “legal desert,” where only 16 sites nationwide could be confirmed as providing legal services to victims of trafficking. ALIGHT recruits lawyers near where the victim lives to assist with such issues as child custody, labor exploitation, tax fraud, creditor problems, evictions, and restoring rights after a criminal indictment. Comprehensive legal services are often needed for victims to be able to move away from and sustain distance from a trafficker and toward true freedom to live their lives.
At the conclusion of her presentation, Marianna was asked how League members can help victims of trafficking. ALIGHT does not work on advancing legislation to address trafficking, but it urges organizations like LWV to advocate to change laws that affect foster youth, domestic violence victims, housing access, health and behavioral health care, education attainment and the many other barriers that contribute to people becoming vulnerable to being exploited. Service organizations that focus on the needs of homeless women and families, foster youth leaving that system and discrimination toward LGBTQ+ people, for example, are all helping curb trafficking. As we heard from our Denver City Auditor, his office helps people recover stolen wages.
Another question posed at the briefing was how to recognize a suspected trafficking situation. I found a good resource from a US Department of State website called “Identify and Assist a Trafficking Victim.” The National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888 or help@humantraffickinghotline,org.
Kosharovsky also offered us a resource for understanding a trafficking survivor’s story in this video made by Rocky Mountain PBS
Susan Stark, Co-Director of Program |  | | Lisa Haddox and McKenzie Rivet testing out our new LWVD canopy. | Annual Letter
Once again this December, LWVD is sending a letter to members and friends asking for support for our valuable work. The letter details all of the many voter education and voter registrations successes of our League this year and asks for a tax-deductible contribution. Please consider contributing or sending the letter (see below) to friends. | Voter Service Committee News
Upcoming Primary and Caucuses
The Colorado Presidential Primary will be held March 5. Unaffiliated voters can cast a ballot for any political party in the primary. For further information on primaries, please see the Colorado Secretary of State website: Primary Elections FAQs (coloradosos.gov).
The Democratic and Republican organizations traditionally set dates for their party caucuses. The Denver Democratic Caucus will be held on Thursday, March 7. As of late November 2023, the Denver Republican party has not publicized a date for a caucus. February 16 is the last day to affiliate with either the Republican Party or the Democratic Party in order to vote in the March precinct caucuses. Unaffiliated voters can vote in primary elections, but they cannot vote in party caucuses. For further information on caucuses, please see the Colorado Secretary of State website: Caucuses, Assemblies and Conventions FAQs (coloradosos.gov).
Youth Council – Coming in 2024!
The Voter Service Committee is putting together a Youth Council and 2024 will be the pilot year. The goal is to promote civic engagement for new and soon-to-be voters. The first year will focus on voter registration events. We are currently reaching out to find potential Youth Council members. If you know of a young adult, high school age or older, who might be interested in participating, please contact: Lisa Haddox, lisa.m.haddox@gmail.com, 303.495.4715.
Join the Denver Voter Service Committee
Looking to make a New Year’s Resolution? Please consider joining our committee! We focus on voter education and registration – both important for 2024. We meet virtually on the fourth Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m. To join, or for questions, please contact: Lisa Haddox, lisa.m.haddox@gmail.com, 303.495.4715.
Become a Trained Circulator
The State of Colorado requires that those individuals who register voters be trained Circulators. We will host Circulator training in January and February. We register voters at schools, clinics, residential facilities, and various community events.To get on our training list, or if questions, please contact: Anne Duncan, anned47@msn.com, 773.852.3197.
Lisa Haddox, Voter Service Chair | 
Join the brand new Book Club hosted by our Membership Committee where we will delve into thought-provoking literature while encouraging open discussion. These events are also a nice way to introduce the League to potential new members.
On February 5, we will be meeting in Denver (location TBD) to discuss Woman of Light by nationally bestselling author and former LWVD Office Manager Kali Fajardo-Anstine! Earlier this year, Kali spoke to us at a League Fundraiser. Now we will have a chance to dig deeper and discuss the book in-depth with fellow Leaguers and friends.
Check out her book today, and join us February 5.
Sign up online to stay tuned for more details.
Cassie Bishop, Membership Chair
| Program Planning
Our grassroots process for choosing the League Program for 2024-2026!
What is Program?
Program is the heart of the League of Women Voters and the basis for both education and action. Program consists of governmental and public policy issues chosen by members for study, consensus, and ultimate action. Action can be taken only after study, which must include factual research, member discussion, and member agreement (consensus). Ultimately, Program is the education and advocacy platform that the League of Women Voters adopts biannually at Convention to move our mission forward. Local and state positions must correspond to national positions. LWVCO reviews Positions for Action yearly, and LWVD can initiate study or adopt positions at Annual Meeting.
What is Action?
Action is a broad term; it can mean educating members and the public during briefings, testifying before a local governing body, expressing League opinions in the media or in letters to officials, holding town meetings, or simply talking to a friend about LWV positions. League action in support of League positions may be taken only in those areas where there is member understanding and agreement.
Where Can You Find Program?
National, state and local Leagues maintain Program documentation. These program resources provide the official statements of positions for each program area and briefly traces significant past actions and achievements and indicate links among positions. A clear understanding of LWV positions, how they interrelate and how they can complement and reinforce state, local and national positions, will strengthen the League’s ability to impact issues at all levels of government.
These are the program books from each level of the League:
LWVUS: Impact on Issues
LWVCO: 2022 Issues for Action LWVCO. Some past studies and important links are also collected on the Resources: Study Issues page.
LWVD: Denver Local Program and on our Advocacy page.
Program Planning Glossary (LWVUS)
What Happens Now?
In early 2024, we will work to choose our program recommendations to send to LWVUS. The LWVUS Program Committee carefully reviews the survey results and makes a report to the LWVUS Board which votes to support a selection of the program recommendations. The LWVUS proposed League program is then posted on lwv.org and shared with members according to the LWVUS bylaws. League delegates to the LWVUS Convention follow the process set by LWVUS bylaws to debate, consider, and vote to adopt recommended program items and non-recommended items. A similar review process will happen at the state level on Positions for Action. | Join Program or Observer Corps
We would love to have new ideas brought to our Program Committee. The Program Committee meets the fourth Tuesday of the month on Zoom. Call me for the link or if you have any questions.
We are also recruiting people for the Observer Corps to attend (virtually or in person) the meetings of the City Council and the Denver School Board and report back on issues that are important to League.
Sue Stark, Co-Director of Program | In Related Program News . . .
The League of Women Voters of Colorado has adopted the following local news position by concurrence (Agreement of League members with stated position). This position was made possible through the work of the League of Women Voters of Washington (LWVWA). LWVCO recognizes LWVWA for their dedication to local news and the ideal of an informed citizenry.
Read more here.
Local News Position
Position in Brief
The League of Women Voters of Colorado believes it is the responsibility of the government to provide support for conditions under which credible local journalism can survive and thrive.
The League of Women Voters of Colorado defines local news as accurate, in-depth coverage of government entities, including but not limited to, city councils, county councils, county boards of commissioners, health departments, schools, and school boards. | 
COP28
The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly referred to as COP28, is the 28th United Nations Climate Change conference and is being held from November 30 through December 12, 2023 at Expo City, Dubai. LWVUS observers are attending and providing updates.
Robin Tokmakian, LWVUS UN Observer for Climate, suggests these two reasonable newsletters to read to get a sense of what's happening daily at COP28.
Politico - sign up for the "Politico Global" here
Earth Negotiations Bulletin - Sign up here
Here are some links to updates from our LWVUS observers on the ground and virtually.
Kim Cameron - blog
Susana Hancock - Instagram blog
| In Memoriam
For all of us who were fortunate enough to know Mary Werner, it was with great sadness that we learned of her death at the end of October. Eight Denver Leaguers attended her Celebration of Life on November 3. It was so wonderful to hear from so many how she was loved and respected. After a long and noteworthy career in healthcare, Mary gave so much to the League. She was a member of the Southwest Unit and served on the board as secretary, but her primary contribution was in Program, serving on several committees which eventually were significant in developing positions at the LWVUS level. She received our Shirley Weaver Suffragist Award in 2016 for her outstanding work and dedication to the Denver League.
Marty Sloven | Holiday Office Closure
The office will be closed from December 15 to January 1. | Welcome New Members
Kailee Ackerman, 80238, kailee.ackerman@gmail.com
Natasha Felten, 80238, nfelten@colocomm.com
Jean Simpson, 80210, Jean.a.z.Simpson@gmail.com
Roxanne Jensen, 80209, roxannejensen@comcast.net
| VOTER Articles Welcome!
We welcome articles from all members. We usually publish the VOTER on the fourth Thursday, so the deadline to submit articles is the Friday before. However, we publish a December/January VOTER, so the next dates are:
| Article Deadline |
Voter Publication Date |
| Friday, January 19 |
Thursday, January 25 |
| Friday, February 16 |
Thursday, February 22 |
| Friday, March 22 |
Thursday, March 28 |
Please send your articles or ideas about articles to pzelarney@yahoo.com. | LWV Denver Unit CHOICE
Because we traditionally do not have briefings in December, the units decide what they would like to do in the way of a Unit’s Choice. These vary from lunches, potlucks, field trips, guest speakers, etc. Here are this year’s plans:
Cheesman Unit
Tuesday, December 12, the members will meet for lunch at noon at the Denver Art Museum Ponti’s Restaurant.
Cherrington Unit
Thursday, December 14, the members will meet at noon for lunch at Andrea Mitchell’s (36 S. Garfield) complements of Andrea. They plan to donate what they would have paid for their annual lunch out to the Newcomers Fund, which supports migrants arriving in Denver. They are also encouraged to bring warm clothing and personal items for the St. Francis Center to distribute to migrants and others in need.
Highland/Woodbury Unit
Wednesday, December 20, the members will meet at 1:00 p.m. at the home of Paula Stacy. Please call Sally Augden (303-455-5800) for location.
Observatory Unit
The unit decided December is just too busy for another meeting, so they are exploring ways to have a Units Choice in January and firm up plans for the rest of the year. Call or email Jeanette Scotland (jscotland@gmail.com, 303-479-4368) or Diane Young (dioyoung@comcast.net, 303-886-3365) for details.
The November VOTER listed the leaders, co-leaders, and time and date of unit meetings. Please consider joining a unit in the new year. We only have four units right now, but we’d love for some members to step forward to restart a Southwest Unit or a unit with another option of day and time. In spite of so few units right now, over 70 Denver League members consider themselves members of those units even though they may not consistently participate. They have joined through the years because units are a great place for meaningful conversations.
| Please Renew Your Membership or
Become a Member Today
If you received this email VOTER and are not a member, please consider joining us. If it's time to renew your membership, consider doing it online.
Follow this link to join or renew at one of our membership levels and remember that it covers Denver, Colorado and National membership. Also, please consider renewing at the sustaining or benefactor membership level. Membership dues are tax deductible.
| Regular Individual Membership |
$60 |
| Sustaining membership (includes an additional donation) |
$125 |
| Benefactor membership (includes additional donation)
|
$300 |
Two regular members at the same address
|
$90 |
| Two sustaining members at the same address (includes an additional donation) |
$150 |
| Two benefactor members at the same address (includes an additional donation)
|
$450 |
Member needing assistance with paying dues
|
$5 |
| Part or full-time student |
$10 |
Members: Forward this VOTER and encourage your friends and neighbors to join! | Consider a Sustaining or Benefactor Membership
We appreciate all those who pay $60 to be a member. However, the LWV Denver can only keep $8 of that $60 and the rest goes to Per Member Payments to the LWVCO and LWVUS. For those who are able, think about paying a sustaining $125 membership that gives the LWV Denver $73 or a benefactor $300 membership that gives the LWV Denver $248 to use for our education activities, to support our office and to continue our voter service resources for the city of Denver. Thank you!
Bobbie Heisterkamp, Treasurer
| | 1980 Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80220
303-321-7571 | | | |