President's Message
You will also read about AAUW's new strategic plan and our top strategic priority: AAUW empowers women and girls by championing their success in higher education and pushing for policy solutions to create lasting change. This laser focus on higher education is even more important in the current educational and political climate. I look forward to working with branch members at our upcoming planning session on Saturday, July 12 to see how we might expand our support of this priority, especially in some of our monthly branch programs — thanks to our various scholarships, we already are doing quite a bit in direct support of students!
On behalf of the branch, I added our support to AAUW CA letters to Senators Padilla and Schiff requesting their opposition to the budget reconciliation bill H.R.1. You can see copies of those letters with the email sent to announce this issue of the newsletter. Although this devastating bill was passed by both the House and Senate and signed by the President, your advocacy for economic equity is still very much needed. Consider becoming a Two-Minute Activist! "Sign up to get regular alerts on when and how to engage, including sending letters to your legislators, writing letters to the editor and other timely calls to action."
AAUW Rocks!
Debra Valencia-Laver, President
Debra Valencia-Laver, President
THANK YOU! AND HELLO! Our 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 Leadership Teams
Heartfelt thanks to last year's leadership team. You did a great job at helping our branch meet its goals! A big Hello and Thank You to this year's leadership. As you can see below, several members have stepped up for another year -- on behalf of all our members, I am so grateful for your continued service. Special thanks go out to members Gina Kirk (Brown Bag 'n' Books) and Bette Kulp (Directory & Newsletter Ads), who are stepping down this year. Nancy Page will be stepping in to coordinate the Brown Bag 'n' Books interest group this year. Thank you, Nancy!
You will notice that there are still some vacancies. Check out the Help Wanted section to see how your interests and talents might fit with branch needs -- please note that these positions can be shared!!
Help Wanted
Check out these great Branch Volunteer Opportunities for 2025-2026:
Directory and Newsletter Ads Coordinator
Responsibilities: Connect with current advertisers about re-advertising for this upcoming year. Recruit new advertisers. Follow-up as needed. We have a form letter on file than can be updated and sent out!
Estimated Time Commitment: 20 hours over the summer. Programs Vice President
Responsibilities: Serve as the chairperson of the committee for monthly branch meeting programs. Make reservations for special branch meetings: contact the venue, coordinate arrangements for hospitality and publicity, inform the board of the count, etc. Coordinate programs with other local branches for joint meetings. Write an article for each issue of the branch newsletter recapping the last branch meeting and announcing the next branch meeting; create a monthly announcement for posting on the website. Attend monthly board meetings.
Estimated Time Commitment: 10 hours per month but can vary depending on the complexity of the program. Time includes 2 hours/month for both the board meeting and the branch meeting.
Publicity/Marketing/Social Media Coordinator
Responsibilities: Stay connected with AAUW's social media feeds. Revive our branch's FaceBook presence (3-5 posts per quarter) by reposting AAUW content and creating new mission-based content for branch activities. Write one newsletter item per quarter to include information from AAUW National. Other activities might include writing press releases, proclamations to be presented to governmental and other organizations (e.g., Women's History Month, Equal Pay Day), branch newsletter features, etc. Attend monthly board meetings at least once per quarter to provide an update on activities.
Estimated Time Commitment: May be as little as 5 hours per month, but could be more depending on your interests in creating new social media content, press releases, proclamations, branch newsletter features, etc.
CONTACT DEBRA IF YOU ARE INTERESTED OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!!
AAUW CA Tech Trek Update
As May gives way to June, the Tech Trek camp season kicks off 2025 at Fresno State and Whittier College in the third week of June, followed by Franklin at Sonoma State and our southernmost camp at the University of San Diego wrapping it up.
July camps start after the 4th with Hopper at Santa Clara University, followed by UC Davis, Carson at Santa Cruz, and Blackwell at Santa Barbara, and finally, virtual camp rounding out the month, for a total of nine camps serving 782 campers with more than 300 camp volunteers!
None of the above could be accomplished without the passion and dedication of more than 150 branch Tech Trek coordinators and committee members! Bravo!
AAUW SLO Tech Trek Update
The IBC (Interbranch Council) of San Luis Obispo County, comprising five branches, hosted an Ice Cream Social for all the girls from the county who will be attending Tech Trek this summer. 24 girls attended along with family members, totaling 81 people. After a brief history of Tech Trek by Linda Lidberg of the Five Cities branch, girls were asked to meet someone new and introduce themselves. After talking briefly, they introduced each other to the group. This exercise is a precursor to what they will experience when they go to camp and meet their roommates for the first time.
Next, the girls went outside to meet with 5 alumnae from last year. They were able to ask any question they might have and it was answered by someone who had lived the experience. At the same time, parents met with parents of the alumnae, also getting questions answered. Hopefully, some anxiety about going to camp was reduced for each group.
It is always a treat to meet the parents with whom I have communicated during the selection and registration process and to see the girls in a more relaxed setting than during their interviews.
We are sending four girls to Blackwell Camp at UCSB and five girls to Carson Camp at UCSC. Both camps will be held July 13 - 19.
The following girls will attend Tech Trek camp at UC Santa Cruz, known as Carson Camp:
Julianna Barbosa
Ridley Calloway
Nadia Ferris
Phoebe Miller
Claire Noland
Girls attending camp at UC Santa Barbara called Blackwell Camp are:
Luna Mutafova
Mary Steckling
Tori Teague
Lavani Chabra
We look forward to hearing about their camp experiences at our September AAUW meeting.
Susan Updegrove
June Branch Meeting - Member Highlights
Our June Branch meeting was a time for celebrating our members and our accomplishments!
The 18 members present unanimously elected the following four positions: President: Debra Valencia-Laver, VP Membership: Gail Wakefield, Secretary: Jenny Lapidus, and Finance Officer: DD Patrick. Special guest SLCUSD Board Member Erica Flores Baltodano oversaw the installation of these officers.
Diane Howard announced that Debra was selected as this year's Named Gift Honoree. The Named Gift Honoree was made possible by donations to AAUW Funds in 2024 by the following members: DD Patrick, Delfina Medina, Betty Tuft, Esther Pudlo, Gina Kirk, Mary Jefferson, Pat Gagala, Judy Riener, Maureen Dresp, Shelly Johnson, Susan Updegrove, Theo Jones, and Debra Valencia-Laver. The branch donated an additional $100 last December at the recommendation of the board.
Membership VP Gail Wakefield announced milestone anniversaries for Debra Valencia-Laver (15 years), Diane Reynolds (35 years), DD Patrick (35 years), Susan Updegrove (40 years), Gail Sears (40 years), Sandy Amborn (45 years) and Donna Perales (45 years)!
New member Nancy Pinkel was introduced. Welcome, Nancy!
Our Raffle Winner was Randy Murray!!
AAUW CA DUES INCREASE
Effective July 1, 2025 the dues for AAUW CA increased to $30 (it was $20).
NEW MEMBERSHIP FEE effective 7/1/25:
National $74 (this increased from $72 effective 4/1/25)
California $30
SLO $21
NEW MEMBERSHIP FEE effective 7/1/25:
National $74 (this increased from $72 effective 4/1/25)
California $30
SLO $21
Total for most members: $125 (Life members do not pay national dues.)
Renewal dues can be paid by logging in to AAUW's Community Hub at Login - AAUW (If you have not logged in recently, click on Forgot your password? to set a new password.) or by sending a check, payable to AAUW SLO, to Gail.
Renewal dues can be paid by logging in to AAUW's Community Hub at Login - AAUW (If you have not logged in recently, click on Forgot your password? to set a new password.) or by sending a check, payable to AAUW SLO, to Gail.
Gail Wakefield
Congratulations to our SLOHS Scholarship Winners!
We are happy to recognize ten SLOHS graduating seniors with college scholarships of $500 each! They are:
LAUREN FOUHY - UC Santa Barbara
EVELYN HEFFNER - Cal Poly SLO
EVIE KASPEROVICH - Cal Poly SLO
EMILY KOHLER - Wellesley College
JORDYN MCNABB - UC Irvine
JOANNA RAWLINGS - Harvard University
HOLLY SPEAKE - University of Vermont
HANNAH VAN DOREN - Biola University
MEREDITH WHITCHER - UC Berkeley
ADDISON WOODS - UC Santa Barbara
LAUREN FOUHY - UC Santa Barbara
EVELYN HEFFNER - Cal Poly SLO
EVIE KASPEROVICH - Cal Poly SLO
EMILY KOHLER - Wellesley College
JORDYN MCNABB - UC Irvine
JOANNA RAWLINGS - Harvard University
HOLLY SPEAKE - University of Vermont
HANNAH VAN DOREN - Biola University
MEREDITH WHITCHER - UC Berkeley
ADDISON WOODS - UC Santa Barbara
Many of these students presented at our May branch meeting where they impressed us with their dedication to a wide variety of curricular and extra-curricular activities; in addition to being outstanding scholars, they were active in the arts, in politics and public service, digital media, FFA, and more! In response to questions and comments from our members, they expressed their enthusiasm for their upcoming college experiences and their commitment to making a difference in our world.
We let them know that their schools may be AAUW Partners and encouraged them to look into an AAUW student membership. Meeting them and hearing about their plans reminded us that our future is in very good hands! Thank you to all who attended!!
AAUW Launches New Strategic Plan
AAUW National is excited to announce the launch of AAUW’s new strategic plan, reaffirming our commitment to advancing equity for women and girls through education.
AAUW was founded more than 140 years ago with this mission, and with the unprecedented attacks we’re seeing on higher education, we believe it is more important than ever to focus our efforts in this area.
AAUW’s strength lies in our collective power — our states, branches, and members are the heart of our grassroots movement. States and branches provide meaningful local support for women and girls, and for the policies that matter to their communities.
The Five-Star Program provides a framework for branches to align with AAUW’s strategic priorities, reinforcing a cohesive and collective approach to advocacy, community engagement, and financial sustainability. When AAUW National and our branches work in alignment, we maximize our collective resources, influence, and success to break down barriers for women in education and beyond.
PUBLIC POLICY NEWS: FOCUS ON PUBLIC EDUCATION
Amy Hom and Melissa Maceyko, Directors, CA AAUW Public Policy Committee Co-chairs, publicpolicy@aauw-ca.org
(This article was written in early June so some status information may be out of date.)
Legislative Agenda Update
Nineteen of the bills on our 2025 Legislative Agenda have passed out of committee and will soon be heard on the floor of the initiating house. Of the seven bills on the Agenda that we opposed, four are now dead. See the 2025 Bill Tracker for the latest status of all the bills on our Leg Agenda.
Highlighting “A” priority bill AB 1098
We would like to take this opportunity to tell you about AB 1098 (Fong) “Pregnancy Protections for All Students Act”, sponsored by AAUW California. The author’s office agreed to amend the bill to address some of our concerns, so this bill was recently moved up on our Legislative Agenda from “B” to “A” priority.
AB 1098 provides protections for pregnant undergraduate students akin to those offered to graduate students at public institutions in California. In addition, the bill strengthens protections for both groups and requires colleges and universities to have more robust and effective means of informing students about their rights under federal and state law.
AB 1098 has passed out of committee and will be heard on the Assembly floor soon. Text SIGN PGNJCJ to 50409 to contact your Assemblymember and urge them to vote YES on AB 1098.
Upcoming Anti-LGBTQ+ Supreme Court Decision: Impacts on K-12 Education in California
During LGBTQ+ pride month, we will get a decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, a case involving the LGBTQ+ community that is currently being considered by the Supreme Court of the United States. The outcome of this case may have an impact on the important legislative and on-the-ground work that
AAUW California has been doing (via the School Board Project (SBP)) to protect historically accurate, diverse, and inclusive curricula in K-12 education and schools.
To learn more about this case and how opt-out policies stress public school systems, harm children, and may potentially open the floodgates for opt-outs on any topic, see this article: Upcoming Anti-LGBTQ+ Supreme Court Decision: Impacts on K-12 Education in California. (Note that an updated version of the article will be available after the SCOTUS decision, expected at the end of June.)
We will continue to ask you to take action by choosing one self-focused, one other-focused, and one political-focused item from the list below. This month the topic area is..
TAKE ACTION: OPPOSE PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS
Self-Focused: Education
Learn how the Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025 (ECCA), H.R. 833/S. 292, would create a tax break for the wealthy to fund private school vouchers
Other-Focused: Education & Connection
Tell a few people (2-10) about ECCA and some of the potential impacts if it passes
Share with a few people (2-10) the letter opposing ECCA that AAUW National has signed on to along with 93 other organizations
Politically Focused: Outreach to Legislators (State/Federal)
Text SIGN PUBZVZ to 50409 to contact your U.S. Senators and Representative, urging them to oppose the Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025 which would divert funds from public schools and harm the most vulnerable students, while creating a tax break for the wealthy
AAUW California Public Policy is on Bluesky
We plan to use this account to send out state-level legislative action alerts, promote Resistbot petitions, and provide real-time updates. We encourage you to create your own account, if you have not yet done so, and follow us! You can find us by clicking this link or by following us on Bluesky.
Ask your Assemblymember to vote YES on AB 1098
AB 1098 (Fong) “Pregnancy Protections for All Students Act”, sponsored by AAUW California, recently moved up on our Legislative Agenda from “B” to “A” priority. AB 1098 has passed out of committee and will be heard on the Assembly floor soon. Text SIGN PGNJCJ to 50409 to contact your Assemblymember and urge them to vote YES on AB 1098.
DEI Focus: Honoring PRIDE Month
The more I’ve been able to learn about gay rights and equal pay and gender equity and racial inequality, the more that it all intersects. You can’t really pick it apart. It’s all intertwined.
— Megan Rapinoe, Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women's World Cup champion, podcaster, activist
June was PRIDE month, with the theme "Activism and Social Change." And although we can celebrate 10 years of marriage equality, among other important milestones and achievements, (see https://www.loc.gov/lgbt-pride-month/about/ for a brief history, as well as a link to a number of rich resources), we also need to be aware of the many ways that LGBTQ+ rights have been attacked and undercut, with many of those perpetrated in Pride month — the renaming of USNS Harvey Milk, the Supreme Court decision disallowing parent-sanctioned, gender-affirming care for trans minors in Tennessee, the transgender military ban, the removal of funding for the LGBTQ option from the national suicide hotline — there is even some strong speculation about revisiting the Obergefell v. Hodges decision that guaranteed same-sex couples the right to marry.
And the LGBTQ community is just one community being hit with a reversal of rights, lack of due process, and slashed funding. So, whether it's educating yourself and sharing what you've learned with others; contacting your representatives at the local, state, and national level; donating to organizations such as AAUW to support their lobbying and other efforts; participating in a march or other protest; signing up voters -- your voice needs to be heard in whatever way YOU can show up for LGBTQ+ rights, for women's rights, for immigrant rights, for health and reproductive rights, and more. Even a small action can help!
For a bit of inspiration about progress and reversals affecting individuals in the queer community, broadly defined, read about suffragist and dress reformer Mary Edwards Walker (1832-1919), the first female U.S. Army surgeon during the Civil War and only woman to receive a Medal of Honor.
Dine Out Update
It was great that so many of our Dine Out Group attended the AAUW Fund Raiser in May at Brooks Burgers. It was a big success and raised needed funds for our scholarships. For our final Dine Out Night for the 2024-2025 year, a group of eleven met at the Japanese Restaurant Kumi Ko located in the Vons Center at 3830 Broad Street on Wednesday, June 18th, at our normal time of 6 pm. We all enjoyed the delicious food and welcomed several new members to the group. We have had a very successful year and look forward to restarting in September.
Dine Out Coordinator
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AAUW Brown Bag ‘n’ Book Group 2025-2026
Readers in AAUW’s Brown Bag ‘n’ Books group met on May 13 and held a lively discussion about the Pulitzer Prize-winning book James by Percival Everett. The review was led by Miki Gillman, and the book received enthusiastic “two thumbs up” praise.
The eleven members present selected books to read and review for the 2025-2026 year, beginning in September after the summer hiatus. A bonus book was chosen to read during the summer, and will be dissected in a meeting in August, to be hosted by DD Patrick. The book is The Covenant of Water, by Abraham Verghese. (synopsis below) Information about the meeting will be forthcoming at a later time.
Nancy Page is the unanimously-elected “volunteer” contact person for the group for the coming year.
All members are invited to read The Covenant of Water and participate in the summer discussion. All members are also invited to join BBnB for an exciting year of a widely-varied selection of books. Most meetings are held in the library at Laguna Lake Mobile Estates in San Luis Obispo.
• The Covenant of Water, by Abraham Verghese (2023) 724 pages
Spanning the years 1900 to 1977, The Covenant of Water is set in Kerala, on India’s Malabar Coast, and follows three generations of a family that suffers a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning—and in Kerala, water is everywhere. At the turn of the century, a twelve-year-old girl from Kerala's Christian community, grieving the death of her father, is sent by boat to her wedding, where she will meet her forty-year-old husband for the first time. From this unforgettable new beginning, the young girl—and future matriarch, Big Ammachi— will witness unthinkable changes over the span of her extraordinary life, full of joy and triumph as well as hardship and loss, her faith and love the only constants. (Awarded New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2023, finalist for the 2024 Audie Award for Narration by the Author, Goodreads Choice Award Nominee)
June and July Birthdays
Fe Betita-Davies June 23rd
Sue Fong July 23rd
Miki Gillman June 25th
Lorie Johnson July 2nd
Judy Long Riener July 3rd
Gail Sears June 29th
Betsy Stoffel June 3rd
May Meeting
SLOHS Scholarship Winners
Monday, May 12 at 7 pm via Zoom
We are going to have another great evening talking with the San Luis Obispo High School girls headed for college. This is an amazing time in their lives, and we're so happy to be supporting 10 local students with our scholarships! Please join us by Zoom on Monday, May 12 at 7pm. I have already gotten thank you notes from all the girls. They are headed to amazing colleges, and I can’t wait for you all to hear their stories. Please mark your calendars right away!! Zoom information will follow via email.
DD Patrick
President's Message
Now is not the time to be silent. There are many ways to make our voices heard, and many issues that need our input.
First, important voting is going on at AAUW right now -- at both the National and State level -- and our votes count! Voting for AAUW National will continue through Tuesday, May 13th; for AAUW California, the voting period ends on Friday, May 16th. If you have already voted, thank you! If you haven't already voted, look for two separate emails (one for California and one for AAUW National). You should be receiving regular reminders via email, too. Those of you without email access will receive mailed ballots.
Among the items we're voting on at the state level is a California AAUW state dues increase of $10 per year (from $20 to $30). After reading AAUW California President Charmen Goehring's statement and reflecting on all the ways that our branch is supported by the hard work of all those at the state level -- from Tech Trek coordination and Lobby Days legislative action to the webinars and other support provided to help branches succeed -- I assuredly voted YES. I hope that you will join me in affirming the value of CA AAUW support. At the same time, I recognize the uncertain economic times we currently face. Do remember that our branch can support those members who need support with their dues.
Second, AAUW has announced two new targeted funds we can give to now-- the Public Policy Fund (4337) and the Defend Higher Education Fund (4513). These are in addition to the Greatest Needs Fund and highlight important advocacy needs at this point in our nation's history. You can find out about all these funds and how to give to them HERE. Our treasurer, DD Patrick, wrote to me just the other day with a report that we've already received $500 in donations to be sent to the Defend Higher Education Fund!
Third, just a reminder that our Spring fundraiser is taking place on Wednesday, May 21 from 4 -7 pm at Brooks Burgers in San Luis Obispo. More information is in this newsletter, and information will be sent out soon to share with your friends and family. We will receive 15% of each meal's price! This event will also serve as our May Dine Out event, so come enjoy some tasty food and good company! Proceeds will go towards our various scholarships, including our scholarships for young women from SLOHS who will be attending college. This year, we were again able to give ten $500 scholarships to very deserving students! Come hear those students talk about their backgrounds and their plans at our upcoming branch meeting on Monday, May 12 at 7 pm via Zoom. We really want a good turnout. Please attend to see how your participation as a member is transforming young women's lives!
A few more final thoughts and mentions.
The Six Triple Eight, "the only all-female unit of color to serve overseas in World War II" not only has been a topic in previous president's messages, but it was also the subject of the first film selected for our group watch. Happily, and appropriately, this group of Black women soldiers was also recognized on April 29, 2025 with a Congressional Medal of Honor on the 80th anniversary of their service (see the story from NPR HERE). Theirs are among the stories of women's history and Black history that cannot be erased.
Thank you to Morro Bay AAUW for hosting our branch at their April branch meeting. Although I wasn't around to attend, I did go to their 37th Annual AAUW Garden Tour and had a delightful time. I've included a picture of a fan aloe that Morro Bay AAUW President and SLO Branch member Mary Jefferson has in her back yard. I'm not much of a plant person (though I hope that will change in my retirement), but I'm definitely looking to add one or more of these to my yard!
And, finally, Happy Mother's Day wishes to all the mothers and caregivers, and in honor of all of our mothers.
Debra Valencia-Laver
President
California Elections - Your Vote Counts!
Elaine Johnson, AAUW CA Nominations and Election chair, nominating@aauw-ca.org
WE HAVE A STRONG SET OF CANDIDATES READY TO LEAD AAUW CALIFORNIA AAUW.
CA has eleven (11) board members. Six are continuing for the second year of their terms. That leaves five board positions to be filled. Co-presidents are allowed per our policies, but co-directors are not allowed.
Since we can only add five board members and one is reserved for CFO, that leaves four slots to be filled. Two will now be taken by the co-presidents-elect, who are running unopposed, and two will come from the four candidates running for director.
For President-Elect: Three-year term 2025-2028 (one year as President-Elect and two years as President). We have two candidates, Sigrid Moranz and Sharyn Siebert, who are sharing this position and therefore running unopposed. Each person will have one vote on the board.
For Chief Financial Officer (CFO): Two-year term 2025-2027. We still need someone to step forward! The CFO has one vote.
For Directors: Two-year term 2025-2027; Nominees are Gail Swain, Bev Van Citters, Melissa Maceyko, and Amy Hom. Members can vote for two. Each has one vote on the board.
All the candidates are experienced AAUW leaders and represent geographical regions across California. Click HERE to view the 2025 Candidates’ statements.
We are also voting on an AAUW California dues increase and the proposed 2025-2027 Public Policy Priorities. These are critical to our advocacy efforts.
Voting Period: April 26, 2025 – May 16, 2025
Each member who has an email address on file with AAUW should have received an email message in April containing a personal invitation to vote. There will be a link to click that will take you to your ballot. No password or code needs to be entered. Members who do not have an email address on file have received information and a ballot via postal mail.
Please review the candidate statements and the Public Policy Priorities AND VOTE!!
If you have additional questions, send them to: nominating@aauw-ca.org
PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE SETS AAUW CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Amy Hom and Melissa Maceyko, Directors, Public Policy Committee Co-chairs, publicpolicy@aauw-ca.org
The Public Policy Committee met over a weekend in mid-March for our most important meeting of the year, to set the Legislative Agenda for 2025. Prior to the meeting, our committee collectively evaluated over 60 bills related to AAUW’s mission and Public Policy Priorities. During our two-day marathon session, we carefully considered each bill. We then voted to select and prioritize the top 25 bills, leaving room to add a few more bills that we know will be coming to us in the next few weeks.
Our three “A” priority bills are SB 771 ”Social Media Platforms Endangering Californians”, AB 579 “Yaeli’s Law”, and SB 418 “Ensure Equal Access to Care for All”. All three of the “A” priority bills this year fall under the Social Justice pillar of our Public Policy Priorities.
The first “A” bill, SB 771 “Social Media Platforms Endangering Californians”, is authored by Senator Henry Stern and is sponsored by AAUW California. SB 771 clarifies that a social media platform may be liable for civil penalty under existing law if and when its algorithms or AI aid or abet individual users who are engaging in already unlawful intimidation of others in online spaces. While hateful speech is problematic, it is not illegal. However, it can cross the line into illegal action. When hate speech is “brought to the doorstep” of marginalized communities, for example, if someone maliciously posts anti-immigrant messages on the virtual Facebook wall of an immigrant family, they are engaging in unlawful intimidation, terrorism, and threats. While social media platforms are not responsible for the speech of individual users, aspects of their platform, such as algorithms or AI, can be complicit in the targeting of marginalized groups, which is unlawful. Social media companies have recently intentionally turned away from providing safeguards that they previously provided for targeted vulnerable communities. They should be held accountable for that decision, in light of the real-world impacts of the proliferation of online hate and their complicity in unlawful intimidation.
The second “A” bill, to which we are taking an opposition position, is AB 579 “Yaeli’s Law” authored by Assemblymember Leticia Castillo. This bill rests on the premise that denial of support for youth self-identity, including refusal to use a child’s name and pronouns, or refusal to provide or allow their gender-affirming care, is not harmful and therefore should not be considered child abuse under the law, and, accordingly, not be allowed as a basis for custody or removal decisions. This is problematic. Research shows that transgender children are more likely to experience anxiety and depression and are at greater risk of substance abuse and homelessness when they live in households that do not accept their gender identity. We oppose this bill because every child deserves to be protected from emotional and physical abuse, including the right to move from a harmful household to a more healthy environment.
The third “A” bill is SB 418 “Ensure Equal Access to Care for All” authored by Senator Caroline Menjivar. This bill would prohibit a health plan or a health insurance provider from denying coverage or denying benefits to a person based upon their race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex - including sex characteristics such as intersex traits, pregnancy, and gender identity. Access to gender-affirming care is a fundamental aspect of health equity and human rights. SB 418 will protect against discrimination on the basis of sex, while also sending a powerful message of support to the LGBTQ+ community, affirming that their needs matter.
Creating an environment where all individuals can express their identities without fear is foundational to a strong democracy.
To see the full 2025 Legislative Agenda, please go to the Bill Tracking Report. This report is a living document that will be updated as the bills move through the legislative process, so you will always be able to see the latest status.
NEW RESOURCE FOR TAKING ACTION! NEW ACTION AREAS!!
Amy Hom and Melissa Maceyko, Directors, Public Policy Committee Co-chairs, publicpolicy@aauw-ca.org
Find Ways to Take Action (There Are So Many Ways)!
As we outlined in a webinar in October 2024, the objectives of Project 2025 directly counter the Public Policy Priorities of AAUW California. With federal policy pronouncements and changes continuing to take place at a head-spinning pace, it is clear that changes are underway to make Project 2025 become reality (track implementation HERE).
To respond to the attack on the people and issues we care about, and to fulfill the mission of our organization, “to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research,” we have continued to compile resources to help you take action to fight back. And, with the help of our amazing Public Policy Interns, we are finally able to launch an interactive Take Action spreadsheet that will provide you with action options.
This spreadsheet attempts to create a clearinghouse for ongoing resistance activity, so that you can follow and join-in based on your passions and preferences. We also highlight successful political and legal actions, to give us both hope and a blueprint for moving forward. On the spreadsheet you will be able to click on the following areas:
- QUICK ACTIONABLE ITEMS if you are looking for general action resources,
- LITIGATION & LEGISLATION TRACKERS if you want to keep track of advancing legislation and/or legal challenges,
- PODCASTS if you want to learn more and/or encounter even more “good trouble,” and
- ISSUE AREAS if you are looking for information and resources in a specific issue area.
Please share this resource with anyone who you think will find it useful - inside or outside of AAUW California!!
TAKE ACTION: PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS!
We continue to ask you to take action by choosing one self-focused, one other-focused, and one political-focused item from the list below.
Self-Focused: Education
- learn more about the SAVE Act that is moving through Congress
- learn more about California Assembly Bill (AB) 25
- learn more about how voting rights challenges that target small or non-existent populations and issues, like SAVE and AB 25, serve to disenfranchise many others in the process
Other-Focused: Education & Connection
- tell a few people (2-10) something about the potential impacts of passage of the SAVE Act and/or AB 25
- tell a few people (2-10) something that THEY can do to oppose the SAVE Act, CA AB 25, and/or voting rights challenges more broadly
Politically Focused: Outreach to Legislators (State/Federal)
- use AAUW National’s 2-minute activities platform to voice your opposition to the SAVE Act
- watch the progress of California’s AB 25 and reach out to representatives in CA if/when the bill is being heard to make sure the bill is actively opposed.
TAKE ACTION: HELP KIDS FEEL SAFE AT SCHOOL!
Many of our members have expressed concerns about the potential for ICE raids in our local schools. These intrusions on school grounds are already happening in some places and are having a significant detrimental impact on these families, especially for their children. Some of the ramifications have included:
- Parents not showing up at school events, fearing agents might be there
- Students don’t want to come to school, fearing their parents will be taken while they’re gone
- Children not learning, consumed by fear of agents coming on campus to take them away
Here are some things you should know:
Current law (Plyler v Doe 1982) held that all children, even undocumented, have a constitutional right to free public education. In 2011, DHS issued the “Sensitive Locations” policy, which prohibited raids from certain places including schools. Although the President has attempted to revoke the order, Executive Orders and Actions cannot change statutes or regulations.
There are currently four lawsuits challenging the attempted revocation; three from churches have been successful so far, one from a school in Denver has resulted in a denial of a request for a temporary injunction.
Current law also prohibits ICE entry on campuses without a warrant. Even if they have a warrant to enter, that does not entitle them to have access to private/protected student records.
Here are two things you can do:
Urge your school boards/districts to issue a “Safe Zone” Resolution – template can be found here: Guidance on Immigration Issues | NEA
Engage your branch members in a postcard-writing campaign to their school boards with following message:
WE STAND WITH
Immigrant students
LGBTQ+ youth
AAUW California Public Policy is on Bluesky
We plan to use our Bluesky account to send out state-level legislative action alerts, promote Resistbot petitions, and provide real-time updates. We encourage you to create your own account, if you have not yet done so, and follow us! You can find us by clicking this link or by following us on Bluesky.
AAUW CA TECH TREK - APRIL SHOWERS BROUGHT CAMPER SELECTIONS!
Mary Isaac, Tech Trek Program Director and Tech Trek Committee chair, techtrek@aauw-ca.org
Over 1200 nominations with 1000 completed applications for nine weeks of Tech Trek camps were submitted for approximately 800 camper spots. 95% of branches had completed their selection process by the end of March, with the remainder expected to finalize their choices by mid-April.
Camps are now working feverishly to finalize their schedules and onboard the approximately 250 volunteer staff needed to ensure a safe and memorable experience for all. Contact camps directly if you wish to help out during the week by using the camp group address convention: techtrek-xxxxx@aauw-ca.org, where xxxxx is carson, davis, fresno, hopper, sandiego, santabarbara, sonoma, virtual, or whittier. (NOTE: The students selected by our SLO Branch will be attending camps at Santa Barbara or Santa Cruz - Camp Carson).
The next task for most branches is planning new camper meet-and-greets with past Trekkers. For now, catch your breath and relax, knowing the hardest part is done: choosing between MANY excellent nominees!
April Meeting Summary
Gail and Susan enjoyed meeting with the Morro Bay AAUW branch, learning about orchids. Two members of the Five Cities Orchid Society shared information about orchids, their origin and development as a marketable flower. The well organized presentation, which included numerous slides, left time for a question and answer period All in attendance left with the double orchid shown in the photo.
AAUW SLO Commemorates Denim Day 2025 at Cal Poly
Denim Day, which was held on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 closed out Sexual Assault Action/Awareness Month, which was sponsored at Cal Poly by SAFER. AAUW SLO Cal Poly Liaison Patricia Ponce and President Debra Valencia-Laver tabled in the University Union from 11 am - 1 pm. Students, faculty, staff, and even some campus visitors stopped by to spin the wheel, ask questions about the significance of Denim Day, learn about AAUW and Cal Poly as an AAUW University Partner, and pick up some AAUW and Denim Day stickers, buttons, and whistles. Some former Tech Trekkers dropped by, and we let them and others know about our May fundraiser, too. Overall, it was a successful event, reaching over 100 participants!
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