The Senator, the Comedian, the Activist -- watch all three

 (click above to watch clip)

IT'S NOW OR (ALMOST) NEVER

Between now and 2016, we have a window of opportunity to add accomplished progressive women to the California legislature.  If we don't act now, we'll have to wait until 2022 when many seats will next be open. close the gap CA is a campaign to make the most of the opportunity we have now!

Stop the decline.

Women are only 26% of the CA legislature. There are fewer women there today than there were a decade ago.

Reverse direction.

Over the next two elections, half or more of the 120 seats will be open.  If you pitch in today, close the gap CA can recruit competitive women candidates in every seat that’s winnable for progressives.

More women legislators = More progress

Women in the 2013 CA legislature increased access to reproductive health while other states were dismantling theirs; expanded family medical leave and encouraged CA corporations to add women to their boards.  And much more.

Pick a perk!

We can’t do this alone and you can’t leave your day job (probably) and become a recruiter, so please check out our sweet perks and contribute.  With your help, we got this!

NO TAX BREAKS (sorry).  Contributions to close the gap CA are not tax deductible.

Your contributions help us organize search parties, evaluate prospects, pay for postage and much more.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT close the gap CA:

"I admire the vision, strategic sense, tactical expertise and just plain grit of close the gap CA." – Sally Seymour, Sustainable Napa

Political Director Mary Hughes is a "key force" in electing women. – San Francisco Chronicle

"close the gap CA is finding great prospects and they just don't quit!" -- Monica Rodriguez, Los Angeles, HOPE-PAC

"Keep up the great work!" -- Fran Sdao, Orange County activist

"Thanks for working on the front lines to increase the number of women in politics." -- Danielle Pritchett, PhD candidate in political science & consultant

Be a closer. Give now.

 

close the gap CA is a statewide campaign to find talented, progressive women to run for open seats in the California legislature in 2014 and 2016. With focus and a targeted strategy, we can ‘close the gap’ and not just the gender gap. When we elect progressive women, we take steps to close the school funding gap, the access gap to affordable health and reproductive care, and the growing gap between the wealthy and those in poverty.  www.closethegapca.org

Hilda Solis on Nov. 17

Join 

-Host Committee-

John Altschul * Cynthia Anderson- Barker and Tim Barker * Ed Begley Jr. * John Brown Bush, Gottlieb, Singer, Lopez, Kohanski, Adelstein & Dickinson * Liz Cheadle * Paula Daniels

Janet Dreiser Rappaport * Larry Frank * John Gibson * Gilbert & Sackman * Julie Gutman Dickinson Barbara & Douglas Hadsell * Honorable Tom Hayden * Dennis Hernandez * Ron Kaye * Sandra Munoz * NWPC LA Westside * Victor Narro * Elena Popp * Keith Rohman Rothner, Segall & Greenstone * Gilbert Saucedo * Peter Schey * Schwartz, Steinsapir, Dohrmann & Sommers, LLP. * Dan Stormer and Jan Breidenbach Terre Thomas * Laurie Traktman * Carol Watson * Henry and Debbie Willis * Kent Wong

Join us in support of a champion for labor, environment and women!

Hilda L. Solis 

Former United States Labor Secretary

For LA County Board of Supervisors, District 1

Special Guest: Art Pulaski, Executive Secretary-Treasurer California Labor Federation

Sunday, November 17th, 2013

3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

at the home of

Cynthia Anderson-Barker and Tim Barker 1448 Club Drive., Los Angeles, CA 90024 (West Los Angeles)

Co-Host (Individual) at: $500 Co-Host (PAC) at: $1,500

Ticket: $100

For more information or to RSVP by November 15th, 2013 please contact Ernesto Zumaya or Adrianna Babior at 310-477-8081 or rsvp4hilda@gmail.com

Contributions from LA County lobbyists are not permitted. Furthermore, Solis for Supervisor 2014 does not accept contributions from contractors or bidders doing business with the MTA. 

Reception Honoring Karen Bass on Nov. 22

Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the United Nations Foundation, and Planned Parenthood Los Angeles invite you to attend a reception honoring Representative Karen Bass with the International Family Planning Hero Award: Friday, November 22, from 3:30-5:30pm, at the Planned Parenthood Los Angeles Headquarters Office to celebrate her leadership on global women's health issues. Please RSVP to events@pp-la.org.

Ready For Hillary 2016

 

 

ARE YOU READY FOR HILLARY 2016?

 

Are you a supporter of Hillary Clinton for President? Would you like to get together with other supporters and show that the grassroots supports Hillary Clinton for President?

 

Please join hundreds of other Hillary Clinton for President supporters in Los Angeles on November 6th for a low-dollar fundraiser ($20.16!) to support the SuperPAC that's building a grassroots network to support Hillary Clinton for President in 2016 (Note this is for supporters, this is a SuperPAC, not Hillary Clinton herself, but some great special guests will be attending!)

 

WHEN

November 6, 2013

6:30-9:30pm

 

WHERE

The Exchange

618 S. Spring Street

Los Angeles, CA 90014

 

SUGGESTED CONTRIBUTION

 $20.16

 

 

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS HERE

 

URL:  https://www.readyforhillary.com/events/laisready

Breaking The Glass Ceiling: November 15 in OC

Breaking The Glass Ceiling: November 15

Join our sisters in Orange County as they host a "Breaking the Ceiling" event, spotlighting women who have broken through the glass ceiling to succeed in the world of business and politics. Honorees include:

Honorable Ellen Corbett, Senate Majority Leader, State of California

Karen Cebreros, Founder & CEO of Elan Organic Coffees

Honorable Martha Escutia, Former California State Senator

Honorable Ursula Ellen Kennedy, Former Mayor of Tustin

Allyson Sonenshine, Founding Project Director of OC Women's Health Project

DATE: Friday, November 15th

TIME: 6:00 - 9:00 PM

LOCATION: Private Residence (Address provided upon RSVP)

PRICE: $50 ($25 for students and $30 for seniors)

RSVP

Nov. 5 Event: Where are all the women at City Hall?

Just a few months ago, Angelenos were on the cusp of electing the city’s first female mayor. Instead, it’s one step forward, two steps back for women in Los Angeles city government.

With the election of Nury Martinez, there is just one woman in the 18 elected positions within City Hall. 





When Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa left office, fewer than half of the city commissioners appointed were female and just four council members had a female chief of staff.


With few women in the frontlines of Los Angeles politics, people ask:

• When women don’t have a seat at the table, what changes in the halls of power?
• What issues that are otherwise ignored do they bring to the table?
• Do women approach policy differently than their male counterparts?
• Why are fewer women running for office?
• What can be done to encourage them to step forward and take leadership positions in politics?

As councilwomen and candidates, Wendy Greuel, Nury Martinez and Joy Picus have met these challenges head on. Ms. Greuel fought a hard battle for L.A.’s top job of mayor, ending with a disappointing loss. A former member of the board of the Los Angeles Unified School District, Ms. Martinez was elected to the city council in July of this year after a tough campaign. Ms. Picus was a council member for sixteen years, from 1977 to 1993, when she took on some of City Hall’s “sacred cows,” and supported open space for parks, recycling, and policies benefiting working parents and their children. The three women share their experiences and concerns about women in government, or the lack there-of, as they sit down in the Crawford Family Forum with KPCC’s political reporter, Alice Walton.

You are welcome to be part of the discussion – just RSVP and we’ll save you a seat!

MODERATOR:
Alice Walton, KPCC reporter covering politics; she writes the Maven’s Morning Coffee blog at KPCC.org.

GUESTS:
Wendy Greuel, former Los Angeles City Controller and former President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 2nd District; she was a mayoral candidate in the 2013 election.
Nury Martinez, Los Angeles City Council Member, District 6, elected in July, 2013; she is a former member of the board of the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Joy Picus, Los Angeles City Council member for sixteen years, from 1977 to 1993; she was Ms. magazine Woman of the Year in 1985.

6:30pm - Doors Open
7:00pm - Program
Admission is FREE, but RSVPs are required.

RSVP

More Information:

http://www.scpr.org/events/2013/11/05/1213/women-in-city-hall/

Join Us Thursday October 24, 2013

Shari Davis
Community for Excellent Public Schools, Chairwoman
Francine Diamond
Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Board
Sandra Fluke
Attorney & National Social Justice Advocate
Cristina Garcia
California State Assemblywoman
Wendy Greuel
Former Los Angeles City Controller
Andrea L. Hevener
Doctor of Sports Medicine
Lisa Ling
TV Journalist & Producer
Capri W. Maddox
Los Angeles City Attorney
Kaya Masler
Women’s Student Assembly, Executive Director
Jan Perry
Former Los Angeles City Councilwoman
Angela M. Sousa
Attorney, Hunton & Williams LLP
Cathy Unger

Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Board

-------------------------------------------

Champagne & Light Buffet Meal Valet Parking

Ticket Information
NWPC Members $85
Non-Members $95

RSVP
Please mail RSVP card with payment enclosed, or pay online by October 10, 2013:
www.nwpclawestside.org/gala_event2013.html
 
Make checks payable to NWPC LA Westside and mail to:
9190 W Olympic Blvd., #236, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

-------------------------------------------

Questions?
Contact Robyn Ritter Simon at: nwpcla@gmail.com or 310.710.3112

Join Candidate Kathy Paspalis on Sunday Oct. 20

Join Us This Thursday, Oct. 13

Where Did L.A.’s Political Ladies Go?

Examining Why There’s a Dearth Of Elected Female Officials in Los Angeles;

There’s an ambition gap that must be tamed
by Linday Bubar

In 2012, political scientist Jennifer Lawless at American University published a study containing the only systematic, nationwide, empirical research into gender and political ambition. Through this research, we know that an “ambition gap” plays out in the following ways:

- Women are substantially less likely than men to demonstrate ambition to seek elective office
- Women are less likely than men to be recruited to run for office
- Women are less likely than men to think they are qualified to run for office
- Running for office remains a less attractive and feasible endeavor for women than for men

While it’s important to have the conversation about why we’re here, it’s even more important to do something about it. Organizations like Emerge California, the National Women’s Political Caucus, Close the Gap, California List, and others are working on addressing the underlying issues that cause fewer women to run and win.

Addressing those issues involves identifying and asking women to run, training them so they have the expertise it takes to overcome all of the unique challenges women face, connecting them to influential community leaders, political action committees, and donors so they have the support they need, and holding them accountable once they win to ensure they’re mentoring the next generation.

We can only make the progress we all want if we work together.

URL
--
Lindsay Bubar is currently working with Emerge California, serves as the vice president of political action of the National Women’s Political Caucus, LA Westside and as a Los Angeles advisory board member of Running Start. Lindsay also served as the political director for the Wendy Greuel for Mayor campaign, working to elect what would have been the first female mayor in Los Angeles’ 232 year history.

Claudia Vizcarra for School Board -- Candidate Volunteer Opportunities

Sunday, September 22, 11 am the candidate will be meeting at Syd Kronenthal Park, for Bagels and Pan Dulce and then walking in East Culver City.  The address of the park is 6459 McManus St. CC 90232
 
Saturday, September 28, 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday, September 29, 12 pm - 5 pm, the candidate will be phone banking to reach VBM voters, just prior to receiving their ballots.  The address for this event:  Woolner Mailing, 5280 W. Washington Blvd. LA 90016.
 
Sunday, Oct. 5, the candidate will be meetin for bagels and pan dulce, Park TBA. Email to below for more details.

RSVP:
http://vizcarraforccschoolboard.org

Kathy Paspalis: this Sunday: Sept. 22 -- Meet & Greet

September 22nd Meet & Greet 

3:30pm - Meet and Greet at the home of Laura Chardiet 

4128 Mildred Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90066 

Light refreshments and drinks will be served.

URL: 

http://www.paspalisforschoolboard.com

Search Party Sept. 10

close the gap CA is headed back to LA View this in your browser

Join the Search Party Be a “talent scout.” Help identify outstanding progressive women to run for open seats in the CA legislature in 2014 & 2016 When: Tuesday, September 10 6:30-8:00PM Where: Mount St. Mary's College - Donahue Center              10 Chester PL              Los Angeles, CA 90007 RSVP: alice@closethegapCA.org close the gap CA is a statewide campaign to find talented, progressive women to run and win open seats in the California legislature in 2014 and 2016. With focus and a targeted strategy, we can ‘close the gap’ and not just the gender gap. When we elect progressive women, we take steps to close the school funding gap, the access gap to affordable health and reproductive care, and the growing gap between the wealthy and those in poverty.

Women's Equality Day Aug 26

Join the West Hollywood Women’s Advisory Board for a special celebration commemorating both the Board’s twenty years of service to the West Hollywood Community and the 93^rd Anniversary of the 19^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted women the right to vote.

This year’s Keynote Speaker will be Helen Reddy, Grammy Award-Winning Recording Artist and Feminist Icon.  As part of the program, Ms. Reddy’s Iconic song, “I Am Woman,” will be honored by the United States Postal Service with a special pictoral postmark.   Additional guest speakers include including Kafi D. Blumenfield, Commissioner, California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.

The Event is Sponsored by: The City of West Hollywood and the West Hollywood Women's Advisory Board.  The event is co-sponsored by: California Commission on the Status of Women, Feminist Majority Foundation, Ms. Magazine, National Women's History Museum, California Women's Law Center, Hollywood NOW, National Council of Jewish Women - Los Angeles, National Women's Political Caucus L.A. Westside

Special thanks to Dama Tequila and Joia- All Natural Soda

Ms. Reddy’s appearance in collaboration with Jackie Stander, The Stander Group

The event is FREE and OPEN to the public! Free Parking with Validation in the 5-story parking structure. The program will be televised on WeHoTV and available on demand at

Register today: http://conta.cc/1bOEIOe
323-848-6823

For More information: www.weho.org

Program:

6:00 PM - Meet N' Greet with the Women's Advisory Board featuring a historical digital installation and select video shorts 7:00 PM - Women's Equality Day Program West Hollywood City Council and Women's Advisory Board with Special Guests including Kafi D. Blumenfield, Commissioner, California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. Keynote Speaker Helen Reddy, Grammy Award-winning Recording Artist and Feminist Icon U. S. Postal Service unveiling of a special pictoral postmark honoring Helen Reddy and her song  "I Am Woman" designed by the artist Nicolosi 8:00 PM - Reception

About the Women's Advisory Board The Women's Advisory Board (WAB) was created on December 7, 1992 and advises the City Council on policies and other issues pertaining to women, advocates on behalf of women's rights, and provides programming addressing women's concerns.

Help Elect Holly J. Mitchell to State Senate

The election to select Assm. Holly J. Mitchell as the next Senator for the 26th District is fast approaching, but there is still time for you to help!

-- Come out and meet Assm. Mitchell this Sunday!  Join me on August 25th, 2013 from 10 am to noon to meet Assemblymember Holly J. Mitchell and hear about her plans to represent the 26th District in the California Senate.  Please RSVP to Kate Anderson kate.anderson@ucla.alumni.edu for more details.

-- Volunteer to phone bank.  Help call residents of the 26th District and inform them about the election on September 17th.  It only takes a few minutes.

These final weeks we are activating our phonebanking and precinct walking activities to elect Holly J. Mitchell to the State Senate. This week voters will be receiving absentee ballots, so now is the time to remind voters to vote. While you may think this is an easy win, our most formidable opponent is voter fatigue. And we will need as many as possible to help us carry Holly across the finish line for good on Sept. 17th (which means no run-off). We will be phonebanking 2 nights a week each week for a couple of hours and precinct walking select communities throughout the 26th Senate District (westside, South L.A., Hancock Park, Silverlake area). If you are interested in phonebanking or precinct walking, please email me at skamlager@gmail.com, so we can get you signed up and ready to walk or phone for Holly. We are hosting phonebanking nights from Los Angeles and from Sacramento.

-- Be sure to vote!  Obtain a vote by mail ballot, or make sure that you encourage someone you know to vote.  The election is September 17th.  You can apply online to vote by mail through the Los Angeles County Registrar's Office at http://www.lavote.net/VOTER/Absentee_Voting.cfm.  

Please feel free to forward this email to your friends and neighbors.  Getting out the vote is critical, but with your help, we can elect Assm. Mitchell as the next 26th District Senator!

Visit Assm. Holly J. Mitchell's website for more information on her work, 

http://www.hollyjmitchell.com.

Women's Equality Day 2013: Aug 26

Celebrate Women’s Equality Day 2013:  A Night in Herstory!

Join the West Hollywood City Council and West Hollywood Women’s Advisory Board for a special celebration commemorating both the Board’s twenty years of service to the West Hollywood Community and the 93rd Anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted women the right to vote. The Women's Advisory Board (WAB) was created on December 7, 1992 and advises the City Council on policies and other issues pertaining to women, advocates on behalf of women's rights, and provides programming addressing women's concerns. 

This year’s Keynote Speaker will be Helen Reddy, Grammy Award-Winning Recording Artist and Feminist Icon.  As part of the program, Ms. Reddy’s Iconic song, “I Am Woman,” will be honored by the United States Postal Service with a special pictorial postmark. Special guest speakers also include

Kafi D. Blumenfield, Member, California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.

Sponsors:  

City of West Hollywood and the West Hollywood Women's Advisory Board. 

Co-sponsored by: California Commission on the Status of Women, Feminist Majority Foundation, Ms. Magazine, National Women's History Museum, California Women's Law Center, Hollywood NOW, National Council of Jewish Women - Los Angeles, National Women's Political Caucus L.A. Westside, June L Mazer Lesbian Archives

Monday, August 26, 2013

West Hollywood City Council Chambers

625 N. San Vicente Blvd

West Hollywood, CA  90069

6 pm – 9 pm

Free!

RSVP today: http://conta.cc/1bOEIOe

or call 323-848-6823

Free Parking with validation in the onsite 5-story parking structure. The program will be televised on WeHoTV and available on demand at www.weho.org

Program:

6:00 PM - Meet N' Greet with the Women's Advisory Board featuring a historical digital installation and select video shorts

7:00 PM - Women's Equality Day Program

West Hollywood City Council and Women's Advisory Board with Special Guests in including Kari Blumefiled, Member of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls

Keynote Speaker Helen Reddy, Grammy Award-winning Recording Artist and Feminist Icon

U. S. Postal Service unveiling of a special pictorial postmark honoring Helen Reddy and her song "I Am Woman" designed by the artist Nicolosi

8:00 PM – Reception