LWVBAE’s internship program has started up once again! Orientation was held for the four new additions to the team. At this meeting was President Kandea Mosley, Vice President Adena Ishii, Communications Director Linda Carothers as well as the interns: Communications and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Intern, Alec White, Climate Change and Social Justice Intern, Reena Rongstock-Kramer, Healthcare Intern, Frances Lebowitz, and Criminal Justice Intern, Cynthia Kamau. These interns will work tirelessly for the coming months to do their part to help the League make a difference. 

At the orientation on August 29th, the interns were presented with a League overview as well as some examples of what their work will look like over the course of their time working with the LWVBAE. When asked about what would stick with him and about what he was looking forward to the most, Alec said the writing.

“I think one of the things that I’m going to be looking forward to the most is the article writing because it’s going to be nice to not just be writing for the sake of writing but to also know that people are reading your work,” he said.

Soon after the orientation, the interns all met separately with League President Kandea Mosley to discuss their work plans for the coming months. One of the first main projects is the “Each 1 Reach 5” initiative the interns have begun participating in as part of the Get Out The Vote (GOTV) campaign and this isn’t just something that the interns can participate in. You can too! All you need to do is remind 5 people in your life to vote in the September 14th gubernatorial recall election, and you have made a big step to GOTV! 

Additionally, in two collaborations, one with Asian Health Services and the other with LWV of California, interns are also going to be text banking and encouraging people to vote. The LWVC has been granted some funds for GOTV efforts in certain demographic & geographic areas in California. One of the main goals of this initiative is to send text messages to African-American registered voters between the ages of 18 and 24, who have not yet voted in the recall election. Amazingly, the LWVC has already reached full capacity for volunteers for this initiative, but that does not mean you can’t still talk to those around you and remind them to vote. 

“Right now, it’s all hands on deck because too many simply are not tracking that we are right back in another important election season, in a time when much is at stake, and the right to fair, accessible elections is being threatened or dismantled across the nation,” Kandea said. “Democracy demands an actively engaged citizenry, and each generation must struggle to expand it.”

With the recall election approaching, it is imperative that everyone uses their right to vote and they understand that their voices matter. 

“As a woman of color, my ancestors fought and died for my right to vote. I don’t take that lightly,” Adena, who leads voter services, said. “It is my duty to exercise my right to vote.”

–Alec White

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