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League of Women Voters Wayzata-Plymouth Area
July Update 2021 Book Club Launch Thursday, July 15 th , 7-8 pm via Zoom Come join local League members as we read, discuss, and share our thoughts on current literature – both non-fiction and fiction – that illuminates societal issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Book Club will meet bi-monthly on Thursday evenings via Zoom from 7-8 pm. Our inaugural meeting will be held on Thursday, July 15 th and feature a discussion of Louise Erdrich’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Night Watchman. Additional dates: Thursday, September 16 th and Thursday, November 18 th Book selections will be finalized by Book Club participants. Please feel free to extend an invitation to friends and colleagues beyond the league. The more, the merrier! You are invited to add books to our book list – either non-fiction focusing on DEI issues or fiction written by Minnesota authors of color. If you are interested in participating, please contact Becky Monson at becky.mormor@gmail.com. A zoom link will be sent to you prior to each meeting. Next Steps The Just Deeds Project helps property owners remove the racially restrictive covenants from their property deeds and educates the community about this hidden history and its contemporary impact. Eleven communities including Minnetonka, Robbinsdale, Crystal, and Golden Valley support the work of this project. The LWV Wayzata-Plymouth Area worked recently with community partners to host two educational events on racially restrictive covenants in our communities. Links below: Session One: https://www.facebook.com/wpscommunityed/videos/3840675162698359 Session Two: https://www.facebook.com/wpscommunityed/videos/826532554960801 League members are invited to take two steps to raise awareness of institutional racism and advance racial justice in our communities. First, send an email to your local mayor and city council members. A sample message: I recently learned that many property deeds in Wayzata/Plymouth contain racially restrictive covenants. I think it's important to acknowledge this history, educate our community, and address the vestiges of housing discrimination that may still exist here. Please pass a resolution to become a community that supports the Just Deeds Project and its work. Wayzata City Council: Mayor Johanna Mouton johannamccarthy@wayzata.org Jeff Buchanan jeffreybuchanan@wayzata.org Alex Plechash AlexPlechash@wayzata.org Cathy Iverson cathyiverson@wayzata.org Molly MacDonald mmacdonald@wayzata.org Plymouth City Council: Mayor Jeffrey Wosje jwosje@plymouthmn.gov Ward 1 Alice McGregor amcgregor@plymouthmn.gov Ward 2 Nick Roehl nroehl@plymouthmn.gov Ward 3 Jim Davis jdavis@plymouthmn.gov Ward 4 James Prom jprom@plymouthmn.gov At Large Ned Carroll ncarroll@plymouthmn.gov At Large Jim Willis jwillis@plymouthmn.gov Second, learn more by visiting the Just Deeds project website and the University of Minnesota Library project at http://mappingprejudice.umn.edu. Wayzata Community Education will be hosting additional programs in the fall where you can learn more about what we can do to help build inclusive communities. Mapping Prejudice: Map of properties in Wayzata and Plymouth with racially restricted covenants. Supporting organizations: LWV Wayzata-Plymouth Area, Just Deeds, City of Wayzata, Wayzata Community Education, Unitarian Universalist Church of Minnetonka, Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners, Citizens 4 Racial Equity, DEI Plymouth Voter Services Opportunities to Walk the Talk Volunteer as a Parade Coordinator for Plymouth on Parade, September 18th, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm. Contact lwvwpa@lwvmn.org. Coordinator responsibilities include: Contact and confirm volunteer marchers; recruit fill-ins as needed Communicate expectations - Marchers wear white; flags, sashes and signs provided; non- partisan stance Set a designated meeting place to park and assemble as a group Collect all supplies at end of march and thank marchers! Volunteer to march in either the James J. Hill parade on September 12th or Plymouth on Parade on September 18th. Family members, friends and neighbors are welcome to join. Wear white! All supplies provided. Contact lwvwpa@lwvmn.org to sign up. Volunteer to support redistricting efforts - write postcards, participate in community mapping efforts (training available). Contact becky.mormor@gmail.com Volunteer to assist with planning additional community education events around Just Deeds and racial justice in our communities. Contact carolengebretson@gmail.com Volunteer to assist with the September Candidate Forums for Wayzata School Board (September 29th) and Westonka School Board (September 14th). Contact suedosal@gmail.com or mleadholm126@gmail.com. Sign up and respond to LWVMN (lwvmn.org) and LWVUS (lwv.org) Action Alerts to make your voice heard. Communicating with elected officials helps them understand the issues of importance to you. Take action! Contact Action Chair Becky Monson with questions: becky.mormor@gmail.com. Membership You can now pay your LWV Wayzata-Plymouth Area membership dues on our website. Visit lwvwpa.org. Go to the Membership page and fill in the blanks. Membership dues and additional donations support the work of the LWV Wayzata- Plymouth Area. Thank you for your support. |
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