Playlist for all of the events in the Judy Brooks Conversation Series, hosted by LWVA's Racial Justice Committee.
Know Our Commonwealth Offices
Stan Rosenberg discusses the down-ballot statewide offices: Governor's Council, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Secretary of State and Attorney General. Co-sponsored by the LWV of Amherst and the Northampton Area LWV on October 20, 2022.
Tote2Vote
Judy Brooks Conversation Series (10/17/22) discussion with Dr. Shirley Jackson Whitaker, about her Tote2Vote Project that aims to help eliminate voter suppression by providing voters with basic nourishment for long voter lines and education on how to overcome draconian restrictions that often make it impossible to exercise one's right to vote.
LWVA Opening Meeting 2022
LWV Amherst's Opening Meeting for 2022-2023 features Pattye Comfort, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, talking about "LWVMA and Local Leagues: Their Work Together".
Amherst Media
Judy Brooks Conversation Series, 9/27/22, with Artie McCullum, President of the Amherst Media Board of Directors, and Jim Lescault, Executive Director of Amherst Media.
Hampshire County Sheriff Candidates Forum
Cosponsored by the Amherst and Northampton Area Leagues with the Daily Hampshire Gazette, 8/25/22.
Version with audio in Spanish here.
Community Responders in Amherst (CRESS)
Judy Brooks Conversation Series, 7/13/22, with Earl Miller, Director of the Town of Amherst's Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Service (CRESS).
Homelessness in Amherst
Judy Brooks Conversation Series, 5/19/22, with Kevin Noonan, Executive Director of Craig's Doors in Amherst.
Voting Rights and Election Integrity
A discussion with Congressman Jim McGovern, 4/2/22.
Reparations for Amherst
Judy Brooks Conversation Series, 3/13/22, panel discussion.
The Future of Reproductive Rights
LWVA's annual Birthday Lunch with speaker Professor Carrie Baker, Smith College, 2/12/22.
Changes and Hope for the Amherst Schools
Judy Brooks Conversation Series, 2/10/22.
How Single Payer Healthcare Combats Racial Disparities
Judy Brooks Conversation Series, 1/11/22, with Barbara Pearson.
Judy Brooks Conversation Series, 12/4/21
A presentation and dialog with members of the Amherst Community Safety Working Group
Judy Brooks Conversation Series, 10/23/21
In this second event in the Judy Brooks Conversation Series, members of the LWVA Racial Justice Committee review their work to date, followed by discussion.
CSWG final report to Town Council
Candidate Forums for 2021 Municipal Elections
Town Council At-Large Candidates 10/7/21
Town Council District 3 Candidates 10/10/21
Town Council District 4 Candidates 10/10/21
School Committee 10/14/21
Library Board of Trustees 10/17/21
Town Council Districts 1, 2 and 5 10/17/21
Housing Authority Candidates 10/21/21
Oliver Smith Will Elector Candidates 10/21/21
Opening Meeting 9/23/21
Speaker: Sudha Setty on "Democracy and the Rule of Law: the Challenge of Restoring, and Restoring Faith in, U.S. Institutions."
The Future of Housing in Amherst 9/2/21
A program of Amherst Neighbors, cosponsored by LWVA, the Affordable Housing Advocacy Coalition (of which LWVA is a member), the Amherst Affordable Housing Trust, and the Town of Amherst.
LWVMA DEI Peer Discussion 8/13/21
The LWVMA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) peer discussion group is a statewide group of League members who meet online several times a year to share ideas, experiences, and resources. Marcie Sclove, chair of LWVA's Racial Justice Task Force, spoke at their August 13, 2021 meeting.
Judy Brooks Conversation Series
Featuring Jennifer Moyston, the Community Participation Officer for the Town of Amherst, speaking on: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Foundations in Amherst Town Government. Jennifer's presentation is followed by Questions and Answers and Discussion. Program date: July 10, 2021. [Note: originally this series was known as the Racial Justict Committee's Brown Bag series. The name was changed in April 2022 to honor long-time LWVA member and Amherst citizen Judy Brooks with the permission of her family.]
Climate Change in the State House
With Launa Zimmaro, LWVMA Legislative Action Committee. Moderated by Susan Millinger with Cynthia Brubaker. Program date: May 13, 2021.
Getting to Zero Emissions: The Path Forward (recording)
Slides (PDF)
Additional links (PDF)
Redistricting 101: Then and Now
With Massachusetts Special Joint Committee House Redistricting Chair Michael Moran and former [2001 and 2011] Senate Redistricting Chair Stan Rosenberg. Program date: April 29, 2021
Running for Elective Office in Amherst
LWVA's new guidebook: Running for Elective Office in Amherst.
Part1: Nomination Procedures and Campaign Issues
With Susan Audette, Amherst Town Clerk, Sarah Barr, Jim Pistrang and Eric Nakajima. Moderated by Jessica Ryan. Program date: April 8, 2021.
Part 2: Campaign Finance Regulations and Reporting
With Jason Tait, Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF), MaryAnn Grim and Bonnie MacCracken. Moderated by Phyllis Lehrer. Program date: April 15, 2021.
One-minute video prepared for LWVMA Convention 2021 local League Showcase.
Working Toward Racial Equity
A roundtable featuring six grassroots organizations working on racial justice in our community. Program date: March 23, 2021.
Statements from Racial Equity Groups
Film Discussion: Standing on My Sisters' Shoulders
A discussion led by Andrea Battle and moderated by Jessica Ryan. Program date: November 12, 2020
The documentary film Standing on My Sisters’ Shoulders tells the story of the achievements of the heroic women of the Civil Rights Movement from the fields of the Mississippi Delta to the floor of the U.S. Congress.
Parts of the film are available on YouTube, but to see the entire film use Kanopy, which is available to Amherst residents through the Jones Library (start here) and at many other libraries. If this service is not offered by your local library, all residents of MA can get a Boston Public Library e-card here and access Kanopy though their Online Resources/Streaming and Downloadable Media links.
Opening Meeting 2020 with speaker Traci Parker
LWVA's Opening Meeting on September 17, 2020, featured Traci Parker, Assistant Professor of Afro-American Studies at the University of Massachusetts, speaking on "Race, Gender, and Voting in the Age of Trump".