2022-2023 Accomplishments
Our League programs focused on education issues and mental health issues in the 2022-2023 year. As we learned about the challenges our education, mental health and juvenile justice systems face, we were reminded of our mission to help voters make informed and self-interested choices at the ballot box and to help them stay engaged in civic affairs.
● Public events
A Snapshot of Rutherford County and Youth with data from the Tennessee Council on Children and Youth (in person)
Understanding TISA, the New Education Funding Formula with Ginny Pupo Walker of Education Trust (Virtual)
Community Book Club with 3 choices including Educated, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, and Who Put This Song On (Virtual)
Charter Schools in Rutherford County with Q&A featuring Tess Stovall, Caitlin Bullard, and Jared McLeod (Virtual and in-person)
Mental Health in Rutherford County with NAMI president Cherokee Rose Thomas, representatives from the Cold Patrol, and the Murfreesboro Police Department (in-person)
Student Mental Health and Wellness in Murfreesboro City and Rutherford County Schools with Amy Baltimore and Kim Frank (in-person)
The Intersection of Mental Health, Education, and Community with Juvenile Court Judge Travis Lampley (in-person)
(L) Local educators Kim Frank, left, and Amy Baltimore spoke to us in April about student mental health and wellness. Image credit: Kory Wells. (R) Rhonda Allen moderates the Q&A with (l to r) Tess Stovall, Caitlin Bullard, and Jared McLeod. Image credit: Kory Wells.
● Sponsoring Candidate Forums in Murfreesboro featuring candidates for Rutherford County Mayor, Sheriff, and select commission seats and in LaVergne featuring candidates for aldermen LaVergne mayor.
● Sponsoring MTSU Constitution Week: Grassroots Organizing is in Tennessee’s DNA, Highlander comes to MTSU featuring Rev Allyn Maxfield-Steel, co-executive director of the Highlander Center.
● Assisting in voter registrations and fielding questions from citizens, and educating others about the League through social media, presentations and more
● Involvement in state League meetings and the state board
● Providing VOTE411 with local candidate data for this national resource
● Increasingly engaging with and welcoming to our membership: younger members and people representing more ethnic and economic diversity
● Collaborations with various organizations across the county
● Proudly sponsoring Amanda Moore as our Athena Award nominee and Samantha Weir as our Young Professional nominee
● Celebrating Samantha Weir’s Young Professional Athena Leadership Award
(L) Local League members with Athena award nominee Amanda Moore (5th from right), May 2023 .(R) 2023 Rutherford County ATHENA winners, left to right: Samantha Weir of the League of Women Voters (Young Professional Leadership Award) and Dr. Chandra Story of AAUW-Murfreesboro (ATHENA International Leadership Award). Image courtesy Rutherford CABLE/ATHENA Awards.