• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Board of Directors
    • LWV Mission Statement
    • Bylaws of the LWVN
    • LWVN Non-Partisan Policy
    • LWVN Diversity Policy
    • LWVN Handbook
    • Annual Meetings
    • Newton League Past Presidents
    • Jane Leighton Volunteer-of-the-Year Award
    • LWVN Scholarship Program
  • News and Events
    • News & Events
    • The League Presents…
    • Newsletters
  • New Member FAQ
  • Contact Us
LWV Newton logo
  • Facebook

Visit us on Facebook!

  • Learn
    • Learn
    • The League Presents…
    • Topic Meetings
    • Newton Civics Challenge
  • Act/Advocate
    • Act/Advocate
    • LWVN Positions and Program
    • Issues We Are Following
    • LWVN Observer Corps
    • LWVN Local Action Log
    • Consensus Studies
    • National and State Positions
  • Vote
    • Vote
    • How to Register to Vote
    • How, When and Where to Vote
    • How to Pick a Candidate
    • Massachusetts Voters Bill of Rights
    • Your Elected Officials
    • Tips for Contacting Elected Officials

Education

Banned Books Week: October 1-October 7

September 28, 2023

October 1 – October 7 is Banned Books Week

According to the American Library Association (ALA), “Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read and spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. For more than 40 years, the annual event has brought together the entire book community — librarians, teachers, booksellers, publishers, writers, journalists, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.”

ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. The unparalleled number of reported book challenges in 2022 nearly doubles the 729 book challenges reported in 2021.

PEN America counted school book bans in the 2022-2023 school year, and found 3,362 book bans affecting 1,557 unique titles, with more than 40% of the bans occurring in Florida.

We invite you to take action on “Let Freedom Read” Day – October 7, 2023!

To better explore the issue of banned books, LWVN is inviting all community members to join us in a December book group discussion on one of the most banned books of the last two years, Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe.  We will be discussing the book (and other books on the banned books list, if you are inclined to read others), why it has caused so many schools and libraries to remove it from the shelves, whether LWVN or any League should take a position on book banning, and more.

Following the discussion, we invite all to celebrate with us the holiday season and join in some holiday cheer.  More details to follow.

For more information on Banned Books, read below.

Read more →

Categories: ACT - Action & Advocacy, Education, LEARN - Topics of Interest, News, Racial/Social Justice

LWVN Signs on To Petition Supporting Funding for Early Education and Child Care

June 12, 2022

On June 12, 2022, LWVN signed on to the Common Start Coalitions’ Petition calling on state legislators from both the House and Senate to maximize funding in this year’s state budget for early education and child care contemplated in An Act to Expand Access to High-Quality, Affordable Early Education and Care, H.4795/S.2883. If the State Legislature passes this bill and the Governor signs, it will greatly improve the Commonwealth’s early education and child care system, ensuring high-quality early education and child care that is affordable and accessible for all families.

Read more information on the Common Start Coalition.

See President Marcia Johnson’s memo to the LWVN Board notifying it of this action and the reasons for taking it.

LWVMA Supports Funding for Early Education and Child Care

LWVMA is also supporting funding for early education and child care in this year’s state budget and providing affordable and accessible high quality early education and childcare in Massachusetts is a LWVMA priority bill that was featured at Day on the Hill. See League testimony here and fact sheet here.

Take Action Now

Please contact your legislators to ask them to encourage the Legislature’s budget conference committee to include the new early education and child care funding from both the House AND Senate budgets in their final conference budget. If the priorities of both chambers make it into the final budget, it would represent a substantial step toward implementing our full vision of a high-quality early education and childcare system that is affordable and accessible for all families.

Please call or email your state Senator and Representative; leave a voice message. Find your legislator’s contact information here.

Here is a suggested script:

I’m a member of the League of Women Voters of ________ and a constituent. I am contacting you about the Common Start early education and childcare funding provisions that are part of the House and Senate budget bills now in the budget conference committee. I am asking you to urge the Legislature’s budget conference committee to include the new early education and child care funding from both the House AND Senate budgets in their final conference budget, to advance the vision of a high-quality early education and childcare system that is affordable and accessible for all families in Massachusetts.

Thank you!

(Your name and your street address)

Categories: ACT - Action & Advocacy, Education, Local Action Log, LWV MA, News, no-front-page

2022 Civics Challenge

April 2, 2022

This year’s Civics Challenge has been postponed until October.  Look for more information on the date and how to register coming in August.

Celebrate your civics knowledge!  Join us for a fun and friendly event for students and adults. Compete for prizes while engaging in an exciting test of your knowledge of our government.  Individuals and teams of up to 4 are welcome.  Learn more and find resources to up your civics game on our Newton Civics Challenge page.

Categories: Education, LEARN - Topics of Interest, News

Book Group Discussion: Factfulness

January 11, 2021

January 10, 2021 (Sunday, 3:00-4:30pm).  An intimate group of LWVN members and members of the community participated in an interesting and lively discussion of the book Factfulness.

Read more →

Categories: Education, Topic Meetings

How Does the MA Legislature Work?

January 2, 2021

How the Massachusetts Legislature WorksJoin the Massachusetts League of Women Voters and Beacon Bloc on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 7:00 PM via Zoom for a briefing by current legislative staffers who comprise Beacon BLOC (Building Leaders of Color). Read more about Beacon BLOC and their mission.

Submit your questions ahead of time or bring them with you for an interactive discussion.

Register here.

Categories: Education, LWV MA, no-front-page

Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Support LWVN

Join/Renew
Donate

Upcoming Events

Oct 11
9:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Day on the Hill

Nov 4
All day

Saturday Night at the Races – 2023

View Calendar

LWV Mass. & US

LWV MA LWV US

Watch “The League Presents…”

The League Presents... is a monthly program on NewTV produced and directed by LWVN members about issues important to our community.

  • The League Presents: Zoning Redesign Part III; Village Center Overlay District Ordinance
  • The League Presents: Pride Month Edition – A Conversation with Newton Youth
  • The League Presents: Mental Health – A Community Conversation, Part 1

All past programs

Election Info

Newton Municipal Election - Tuesday, November 7, 2023 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Stay tuned for information on candidate forums, mail in voting and early voting.

  • Register to vote
  • How to vote
  • Vote by Mail and Absentee Ballots
  • Find your polling location

Take Action & Contact Your Legislators

  • Support Modernizing Firearms Laws
  • Support Climate Emergency Bills
Cover for League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
471
League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

The League registers voters and educates them about the important issues and challenges facing Newto

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

2 weeks ago

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
National Voter Registration Day is Sept 19!Make sure you're #VoteReady in 2023 by checking your voter registration status on MA's online voter registration site, especially if you haven't voted in awhile or your life has included any of the following:🚚 a move💍 name change🇺🇸 new US citizenship🎂 an 18th birthdayAnd, this is a good day to remind your family, friends, and neighbors to register & vote in the upcoming local elections! ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

2 weeks ago

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
In this month's episode of The League Presents, learn about the Village Center Overlay District Ordinance from Jennifer Caira – Deputy Director, Planning & Development Department and Councilor Deb Crossley – Chair Zoning & Planning Committee. ... See MoreSee Less

The League Presents - Zoning Redesign 111

www.youtube.com

Marcia Johnson, Jennifer Cairo and Deb Crossley discuss the Newton Zoning Redesign.

Video

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

1 month ago

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
The preliminary election for Ward 2 and 6 is September 12. Mark your calendar and make your voting plan. Learn about the candidates and get voting information here: lwvnewton.org/2023/08/newton-preliminary-election-tuesday-september-12-2023/ ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

3 months ago

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
In the last few days of Pride Month, check out these two informative programs by the League of Women Voters of Newton, MA1) The League Presents... Pride Month Edition - A Conversation with Newton Youth: lwvnewton.org/2023/06/the-league-presents-pride-month-edition-a-conversation-with-newton-youth/ 2) LGBTQ+ Backlash: What you can do to push back. View the recoding here: lwvnewton.org/2023/06/video-presentation-anti-lgbtqia-backlash-what-can-you-do-to-push-back/ ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

4 months ago

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
Anti-LGBTQIA+ initiatives are taking root throughout the country and Newton is not immune. Hear from the ACLU’s Ruth Bourquin about the context, consequences, and responses to the anti-LBGTQIA+ backlash at this month’s virtual topic meeting. This meeting is free and open to the community. Register in advance: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lfuyhrzwtGNTYlmG-GpCBxTa1Z5MS81Ga#/registration ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy.

© 2023 League of Women Voters® Newton | P.O. Box 610207, Newton, MA 02461 | info@lwvnewton.org

Site by Tech-Tamer | Log in