Issues:
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Equity Education Update
The Missouri House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee will be hearing testimony on a group of anti-equity bills, including HB 1474, sponsored by Rep. Nick Schroer, which is the so-called "Parents Bill of Rights" legislation.
HB 1474 seeks to ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory, the 1619 Project, Learning for Justice, Teaching Tolerance, We Stories, Educational Equity Consultants, and any similar curriculum. The committee will also be hearing testimony on bills HB 1995 (Parental rights in public schools) and HB 1747 (School board provisions). The hearing is Tuesday, January 11 at 8 a.m. in Jefferson City.
Read more here.
Freedom to Vote Act: Contact Your Senators to Ensure Voting Rights
The Freedom to Vote Act, a transformative bill recently introduced in the U.S. Senate, shows our voices have an impact. This important legislation will protect our right to vote, end partisan gerrymandering, counter undemocratic and dangerous election sabotage efforts, and help eliminate the undue influence of dark money in our elections.
Contact your senators at 1-888-453-3211 and tell them to support the Freedom to Vote Act! Read more & get talking points here.
Defend Access to Abortion Care
The Women's Health Protection Act would provide a nationwide safeguard against abortion bans and medically unnecessary restrictions that push abortion care out of reach. It would protect the constitutional rights of all people, no matter where they live.
Send a message to your representative urging them to vote “yes” on WHPA.
Acting on Our Mission
Limiting Access to the Trigger: Guns, Trauma and Suicide Prevention
Women's Voices focused our December program on the tragedy of suicide by gun. Our expert speakers, Kristen Mueller, MD, and Katie Ellison, noted that in 2019 more than half of U.S suicides involved a firearm, and over 60% of deaths involving firearms were suicides.
A Tale of Two Cities
At our December 7 Lunch and Learn, Cristina Garmendia gave us an informative overview of the “St. Louis Affordable Housing Report Card," which quantifies the need for affordable housing in the St. Louis region and provides guidance on how to assess the impact of programs and policies. Read the summary and link to the recorded version here.
Cathy Gilbert Reminds St. Louis Area Free Gun Locks Available
Women's Voices Takes Affordable Housing Advocacy to St. Louis County
On September 29, Barbara Harris, co-chair of the Racial Justice Committee (RJC), and Liz Sondhaus, co-chair of the RJC’s Affordable Housing Task Force, provided a PowerPoint presentation to the St. Louis County Equity Commission highlighting the challenges of finding affordable housing in the Central Corridor and offering our ideas to address this important community issue. Read more here.
Women's Voices Engages Partner Organizations to Distribute Gun Locks
Free gun locks are now available at all 30 St. Louis Fire Department firehouses. St. Louis area residents can also pick up free gun locks at four St. Louis County Library branches and four St. Louis Public Library branches. Read more here.
Women's Voices Lobbies for Voting Rights
Watch highlights from the MO Voting Rights Lobby Day here.
Women's Voices Featured on The Pulse of St. Louis
See co-president, Ruth Ehresman's interview on The Pulse.
Read our Emails
Up Next
Beyond Bathrooms: The Painful Story of Transgender Discrimination
Thurs., Feb. 10, 7 p.m. (CST)
Virtual event
Read more and register here.
Community Programs
Eviction is a Form of Violence: How Eviction is Both a Cause and a Condition of Poverty
Fri., Jan 21, noon
Virtual Friday Forum with Empower MO
Read more and register here.