Author: Christine Amsden

April 2022 Newsletter

Posted on by Christine Amsden

We are the Johnson County Democratic Women, North and South

We are sister organizations, working together to engage women in politics and help get Democrats in Johnson County elected.

North ZOOM Meeting

Thursday April 7,  2022

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 to hear from our speaker.

Zoom link

 

Topic: Afghanistan History, Culture, and Crisis

Special Guest: Sina Baha

Join Johnson County Democratic Women North as SIna Baha comes to tell us about Afghanistan refugees. SIna is an Afghan American who has been in the US for almost 30 years. She is the mother of four children and is involved in volunteer efforts helping refugees with settlement and translation. She will give us a history of Afghanistan and some cultural information.

South ZOOM Meeting

Thursday April 21,  2022

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 for the meeting.

This meeting is hybrid. Either join us at the JoCo Dems office or on Zoom.
Topic: Recruiting Great Candidates

Special Guest: Deann Mitchell, Chair of the Johnson County Democratic Party

Deann Mitchell was elected Chair of the Johnson County Democratic Party in November 2020. She ran for Olathe City Council in 2017 and House District 26 in 2018. Her husband, Greg Mitchell, was elected to the Board of Water One in 2019.
Professionally, Deann is a Wealth Manager with Frontier Wealth Management. She is a Certified Financial Planner and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst.
Deann holds a Bachelor of Art degree in Applied Organizational Leadership from MidAmerica Nazarene University and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Western Governors University.
Deann enjoys being involved in many civic and philanthropic pursuits. She is an active member in Central Exchange and is has been a board member of the Veterans Voices Writing Project for 10 years. Deann is a former member of the Kansas Credit Union Council and the Governor’s Behavioral Health Services Planning Council.
She lives in Olathe, KS with her husband, Greg and has two adult daughters.

Stories From the Fight

By: Dawn Olney

Laying nearly forgotten among countless painful abortion stories is another insidious problem caused when Republicans fail to treat women as humans or give them the freedom to make their own medical decisions: complicated miscarriages. Last weekend, as I made phone calls for the Democratic Party regarding the abortion constitutional amendment, I had the chance to speak to a woman named Carrie, who shared troubling insights into how we’ve chosen to make an already painful situation even worse.  

In Kansas, women suffering miscarriage cannot get the most effective treatment for a miscarriage unless they go to an abortion provider.  

The best treatment for miscarriage is a two-drug combo: one that detaches the tissue administered alongside a second that contracts the uterus. If an ob/gyn prescribes both, they must register as an abortion provider, which sets them up to be targeted by protesters.  Carrie took the contraction prescription drug for her miscarriage, but it was incomplete, forcing her to go back to the doctor. There she learned that it is not uncommon for women to have to repeat the one -drug dose because of incomplete passage. As she expressed frustration, her physician finally explained the real reason why she could not prescribe the more effective, two-drug regimen. At that point, her ob/gyn sent her to Planned Parenthood, where she had to run the protest gauntlet in order to receive appropriate medical treatment.

Carrie was no stranger to miscarriage. After the birth of her first child, she suffered four miscarriages, two of which required D&Cs costing (with insurance) $800 and $1200 respectively. A D&C is much more complicated than the simpler drug miscarriage, and involves sedation. She now believes these more invasive procedures were only necessary because she couldn’t get the two-drug option.

It’s hard for women who suffer miscarriage to talk about it and share their stories. It opens them up to insensitive comments, lack of emotional support, and outright dismissal. It is an emotional subject. It’s hard to go to a hearing or rally and tell this personal, painful story, made more painful by cruel abortion laws. So I’m telling it for her.

Now is not the time for silence. When we restrict women’s access to routine healthcare, we don’t value anyone. To help us win this fight, we need you do commit to two things:

1.) Vote NO on August 2nd.
2.) Volunteer to help us spread the word and get out the vote!

Become a Member of Johnson County Democratic Women!

JCDW North and South are PACs whose primary mission is to recruit, educate, and support candidates for state and local office. We’re also here to support, educate, and energize local Democrats, especially women, by providing top-quality programs and opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals.

In the past year, we’ve welcomed Vicki Hiatt (Chair of the Kansas Sate Democratic Party), Juliet Sinclair (to share stories from Wuhan, China), Senator Ethan Corson (District 7), Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, Rachel Sweet from Planned Parenthood, Sharon Rodriguez to share stories of local homelessness, Stacey Knoell (Executive Director of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission), and more! We like to bring in experts on current, relevant, and topical information such as combating misinformation and supporting schools, and elected officials (and supporting members) to help us stay current.

You can help us support these and other great programs by joining our organization. Joining either JCDW North or JCDW South makes you a full member of both, and you are always welcome to attend meetings on the first and third Thursday of the month! If you’re not sure which group to join, we refer you in very loose terms to 435; if you’re north of that loop, you’re more likely to want to join JCDW North. If you’re south of the loop, JCDW South might be your home. But this is only a guideline; if you’re unsure, try coming to both meetings to check them out.

Annual dues are $40. We use this money for facilities rental, website management, incidentals, and as our fundraising seed. If $40 seems like way too much money to you, we may be able to sponsor a membership; reach out to Cassie Woolworth with your (confidential) request.

Join or renew through the link below to help us keep these opportunities alive! (You will be asked which group you wish to join at the end, when you submit your payment.)

Join or Renew 

Speaking of great opportunities…

Banned Books Brunch

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first Banned Books Brunch on March 5. We kicked off our discussion of the 1619 Project with the general consensus that this book is fact, not fiction. Then we dug deeper!

This book is so full of wonderful information that we did not get quite as far as we expected. So in April, we’ll be discussing chapters 3-7, and we encourage anyone and everyone to join us (even if you weren’t able to make the first chat).

Next meeting: April 2nd (first Saturday) from 11-1.

Zoom Registration

KFDW Convention

 

KFDW’s annual convention, HEAR US ROAR IN THE 20S, will be held April 22-24 at the Topeka Country Club. For more information, visit the kfdw.org. 

Dates to Remember:

April 22-24: KFDW annual convention

July 9th: JCDW South’s annual Flip it Blue fundraiser from 4-8 PM at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park in Lenexa (family friendly). 

August 2: VOTE NO to “Value Them Both” and vote in the primaries!

November 8: VOTE in the midterm elections!

November 12: JCDW North and South team up to host a Costume Party and fundraiser (adults only).

 

About Us

Johnson County Democratic Women North and South are part of the  Kansas Federation of Democratic Women, which is part of the National Federation of Democratic Women. 

 

Our mission is to empower women to run for office and to support the election of like-minded Democrats to state and local office. We do this through education and training, but especially through donations to qualified candidates. Your financial donation to either of our organizations will go directly to Democratic candidates running in Johnson County. 

Donate Today!

JCDW South

 

Act Blue Link

JCDW North

 

Act Blue Link

Check out the Johnson County Democratic Party Event Calendar for more ways to get involved this month!

 

 

March 2022 Newsletter

Posted on by Christine Amsden

We are the Johnson County Democratic Women, North and South

We are sister organizations, working together to engage women in politics and help get Democrats in Johnson County elected.

North ZOOM Meeting

Thursday March 3,  2022

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 to hear from our speaker.

Zoom link

Special Guests: Ethan Corson, Stephanie Clayton, and Jerry Stogsdill

Ethan Corson represents Senate District 7 in the Kansas Senate. First elected in 2020, he serves on the Assessment and Taxation; Utilities; Redistricting; Judiciary; Joint Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice Oversight committees.

Stephanie Clayton represents House District 19 in the Kansas State. First elected in 2012, she serves on the Redistricting; Taxation; and Federal and State Affairs committees.

Jerry Stogsdill represents House District 21 in the Kansas State House. First elected in 2016, he serves on the Taxation; Education; and Federal and State Affairs committees.

South ZOOM Meeting

Thursday March 17,  2022

This meeting is hybrid. Either join us at the JoCo Dems office at 8971 W 75th St, Overland Park, KS 66204 or on ZOOM.

Zoom link 

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 to hear from our speaker.

Special Guest: Former Representative Nancy Lusk on Reconciling Faith and Politics in the Reproductive Choice Debate 

 

The Pro-Choice argument of “my body, my choice” always fell short for me against the counter argument that after a fetus becomes viable, there are two bodies to consider, not just one.  At the same time, I believe that there are philosophical and intellectual arguments that challenge and discredit the moral high ground claim by supporters of the Pro-Life position. Given the unknowns and many complications that can arise in pregnancies, I believe the best choice is to trust women. 

Nancy Lusk served in the Kansas House of Representatives for eight years representing an area that included downtown Overland Park and the Central Resource Library. In that role, she stood against unfair attacks on public education, and actively pushed for improved social services for children and the disabled.  She is proud of having been a part of turning around the state’s failed tax policy that bankrupted the state budget, and of the successful struggle in the legislature to increase K-12 public education funding.

Never Again: The Fight for Women’s Rights

By: Dawn Olney, JCDW North Programs Chair

Bill took ahold of the priest’s coat lapel and slammed him against the wall. “If my wife dies, I’ll kill you!”

His wife, Alice, had developed toxemia, and her doctor recommended ending the pregnancy to save her life. It was the early 1960s, before Roe v Wade. At that time, an abortion was only allowed to save the life of the mother, and it required the permission of two doctors, a pastor, and a priest. The two doctors concurred, as did the pastor. But the priest would not agree, so the abortion would not proceed. The government had forbidden Bill to make a medical decision on behalf of his wife, and had denied him the right to use his own faith and ethics in his own life.

Alice told me her story in the 1980s. She survived the pregnancy, as did her child. She said that, since they survived, people often told her that the priest had made the correct call. But I remember her face as she said, “They had no right! They had no right to interfere into our lives! We weren’t even Catholic! Who cared what that priest thought?”

At the time, I was secure in the belief that those days were over, and women would have control over their health and very life with the help of their doctor and family. Never did I dream that forty years later, women would again face death from a pregnancy they cannot end.

Thanks to Kansas Republican legislators, there will be a question on the ballot on August 2, 2022 that will take away women’s right to decide what is best for their own health and family. The question is to amend the Kansas Constitution to state there is no right to abortion in Kansas. Democrats tried to at least make exceptions for rape, incest, and to save the health and life of the mother. All were voted down by Republicans. Many other religions and denominations do not share the same attitudes towards abortion, and this amendment would infringe on their right to practice their religion. A simple majority of Kansas voters will amend the constitution.

Republicans want to control women, take away our autonomy; we are nothing but a vessel to them, our lives completely subordinate to any unborn fetus. This amendment is the first step to ban all abortion in Kansas with no exceptions. And our husbands and families will only be able to look on helplessly as the State prevents us from getting life-saving care.

We need all hands on deck to get out the vote and defeat this amendment. What can you do?

  • Donate to the Democratic Party, Planned Parenthood, and Kansans for Constitutional Freedom, which is a coalition of organizations mobilizing to defeat the amendment.
  • Volunteer with the Democratic Party to write letters, call, or canvass voters to get out the vote.
    Volunteer with Planned Parenthood and call voters every Tuesday.
  • Display yard signs, bumper stickers, bags, and buttons.
  • Learn about the amendment and talk to your friends and family.
    Share your story.

 

Johnson County Democratic Party

Planned Parenthood

Kansans For Constitutional Freedom

Banned Book Brunch Starts March 5!

First Meeting: Saturday, March 5 11 – 1
JCDW is starting our Banned Book Brunch and this month we’re talking about the 1619 Project – A brief History – the BLUE BOOK. NOT the shorter version (sorry) In our first meeting, we will go over chapters 1-5, and delve through Origins to Dispositions and the impact they are still having.
The 1619 project is a wide-ranging, landmark summary of the Black experience in America: searing, rich in unfamiliar detail, exploring every aspect of slavery and its continuing legacy, in which being white or Black affects everything from how you fare in courts and hospitals and schools to the odds that your neighborhood will be bulldozed for a freeway.
Join us the First Saturday of each month to dive deeper into what the @GOP and Rev. Shaw Moore don’t want you, or your kids, to learn.
You can get the book in print, ebook, and on audio. We will also have members copies for sharing.
Consider supporting LOCAL booksellers such as our own Kelly Stromberg  … message her on FB and she will set you up! You can also try Rainy Day Books (Fairway), Raven Books (Lawrence),  Green Door Books (Overland Park), or Blk + Brwn Bookstore in KC, MO
Special thanks to JCDW member Gayle Asher for organizing this book club! 

Save the Date!

 

 

Flip It Blue, JCDW South’s annual summer fundraiser, will be on Saturday, July 9, from 4-8 PM at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park in Lenexa. Last year’s event was an unparalleled success, with $6,000 raised to help fund local elections. This year, that’s the number to beat! And with every House District up for grabs, we’ll need every dollar we can get. 

Thank You

 

 

THANK YOU to everyone who helped make JCDW South’s Game Night a success. We had a lot of fun, a lot of laughs, AND we raised $1610.00 to donate to candidates running for office in 2022!

North January Meeting Recap

On February 3, Leslie Mark joined us to talk about messaging. It is very clear we need good strong messaging to defeat the abortion amendment and reelect Governor Kelly and Sharice Davids. If you buy one of the books she recommended, consider going to Rainy Day Books in Fairway or Bliss Books and Wine, which is Black-owned.

Here are two slides from her presentation.

 

 

About Us

Johnson County Democratic Women North and South are part of the  Kansas Federation of Democratic Women, which is part of the National Federation of Democratic Women. 

 

Our mission is to empower women to run for office and to support the election of like-minded Democrats to state and local office. We do this through education and training, but especially through donations to qualified candidates. Your financial donation to either of our organizations will go directly to Democratic candidates running in Johnson County. 

Donate Today!

JCDW South

 

Act Blue Link

JCDW North

 

Act Blue Link

Check out the Johnson County Democratic Party Event Calendar for more ways to get involved this month!

 

 

February 2022 Newsletter

Posted on by Christine Amsden

We are the Johnson County Democratic Women, North and South

We are sister organizations, working together to engage women in politics and help get Democrats in Johnson County elected.

North ZOOM Meeting

Thursday February 3,  2022

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 to hear from our speaker.

Zoom link

Special Guest: Leslie D. Mark

Born in Geneva, Switzerland at the height of the Cold War, daughter of American diplomats, Leslie spent much of her childhood in Europe, Africa and the United States.

She attended University of Maryland, College Park, MD while working on Capitol Hill for Rep. Les Aspin on the big push of the day: an All-Volunteer Military force. The congressman went on to serve as President Clinton’s first Secretary of Defense. Leslie transferred to Smith College, Northampton, MA., to pursue a Studio Art degree, leaving her home and politics in DC behind.

Hallmark Cards recruited Leslie from Smith, who was eager to work with internationally acclaimed calligraphers working at HQ in Kansas City. That quick answer to a first job has morphed into a thirty-eight year design and calligraphy practice. Leslie retains membership in several guilds, including the Washington DC calligraphy society.

In volunteer work, Leslie has focused on long-term, sustained alumnae development and participation for Smith College as well as mentoring many young women from high school through Smith and beyond. Until 2016, she also served the Kansas City community on projects supporting education, elder care, inter-faith dialogue and environmental awareness.

After the 2016 election, however, Leslie refocused on politics. She fell in with the local group of (mainly) women activists who stood up the Kansas City chapter of Indivisible. They committed to raising community engagement, training on harnessing power to change the political landscape and bringing more attention to the failures of media to keep citizens informed. Indivisible Kansas City (now Missouri Action Alliance) continues to focus on primary issue advocacy topics: voting rights and access to the ballot, Medicaid expansion (MO & KS), equitable school funding, including higher education, and implementing better gun safety laws. Leslie continues her work with a national grassroots group targeting messaging to better reclaim our national narrative and help activists as well as candidates use those tools to support relational voter outreach efforts.

South ZOOM Meeting

Thursday February 17,  2022

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 to hear from our speaker.

Zoom link 

Special Guest: Stacey Knoell, Executive Director of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission

Stacey Knoell is the Executive Director of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission. Stacey plans to speak to us about voter suppression, redistricting, bills attempting to subvert the teaching of history in our schools, and the upcoming abortion amendment. 

JCDW South Game Night

Looking for a fun way to support Democrats in Kansas? Join us for our GAME NIGHT on Saturday, January 29th from 7-9 p.m. Using ZOOM to stay safe, we’ll be playing Jack Box and Cards Against Humanity for honor and glory and for the future of Kansas! All proceeds will go to Democrats running in state and local races in 2022, when every seat in the House of Representatives is up for grabs. 

Tickets are $15 for members or $20 for nonmembers, but additional donations are welcome. 

 

Get Your Game Night Tickets

Urgent Redistricting Update!

HB 2522, which includes the blatantly gerrymandered Ad Astra 2 Congressional Map, has been voted out of committee and heads to the House floor.
Contact your representatives NOW.
Talking points:
  • You are an OPPONENT of HB 2522 as it puts Johnson County in with Miami, Franklin and Anderson counties.
  • We do not have close economic, culture, or social ties with Miami, Franklin, and/or Anderson counties.
  • Johnson County is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area and the core of the County needs to be included with Wyandotte County for the Third Congressional District.
  • VOTE NO on HB 2522.

For more information, visit The League of Women Voters Redistricting Page.

Exciting Volunteer Opportunity

Are you interested in writing a Letter to the Editor in support of Governor Kelly’s re-election? Reach out to Emma O’Brien, Communications Advisor with the Kansas Democratic Party to learn more. You can reach her at emma@kansasdems.org.

JoCo Young Dems Revival

In these troubled times, it is essential to engage and energize young voters early. This is why Johnson County Democratic Women proudly supports and encourages the Johnson County Young Democrats, which has faced many challenges in the past couple of years. Now, as we enter another critical election year, an effort to revive the Young Dems is underway. If you or someone you know is interested in helping to restructure and organize this group, contact JocoYoungDems@gmail.com. 

 

North January Meeting Recap

On January 6, Christina Haswood came to our meeting. She is one of three Native Americans to serve in the Kansas State House of Representatives. She serves District 10 in Wichita.

She discussed Native American issues that should be addressed in the legislature, such as changing Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day; finding and returning children’s remains that may be found in Indian boarding school grounds; and House Bill 2008 (which she cosponsored) which coordinates law enforcement agencies in investigations of missing and murdered Native American women.

Join us February 3 when Leslie Mark comes to talk about messaging. We have Governor Kelly’s reelection and the abortion amendment in August, and we need to find a way to motivate and engage voters.

South January Meeting Recap

On January 20, we held board elections. Congratulations to:

For Vice President of Programming: Allison Hougland

For Vice President of Membership: Kat Hooley-Lickteig 

For Treasurer: Carol Shimeall

*We are currently looking for someone to take over the role of Secretary. If you’re interested, contact Cassie Woolworth at cassiewoolworth@gmail.com.

We hoped to hear from Kat Hooley-Lickteig on campaign finance, but she was forced to reschedule due to illness. We wish her speedy recovery and will look for an opportunity to reschedule her in the future.

In the meantime, Cassie Woolworth spoke to us about Voter to Voter, an important voter outreach tool we’ve been using to engage our friends and neighbors in the political process. 

We also heard from Representative Linda Featherston about the blatantly gerrymandered map passed out of the Kansas Senate that very night. 

Continue reading “February 2022 Newsletter” →

December/January Newsletter

Posted on by Christine Amsden

We are the Johnson County Democratic Women, North and South

We are sister organizations, working together to engage women in politics and help get Democrats in Johnson County elected.

North ZOOM Meeting

Thursday January 6,  2022

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 to hear from our speaker.

This Meeting is Online Only

Zoom link

Special Guest Christina Haswood will tell us about Native American issues and policies.

Christina Haswood is a public health professional and lifelong district resident who represents District 10 (Lawrence) in the Kansas House of Representatives. At age 26, Christina is among the youngest members of the Kansas Legislature, and is one of three Native Americans elected to the 2021-2022 legislative session.
Christina’s parents moved to Lawrence from the Navajo reservation in Arizona in pursuit of a better life and more opportunities. Christina and her family struggled with poverty, and had to rely
on public resources such as WIC, Section 8 Housing, reduced-fee school lunch, and tribal clothing programs while growing up.
Christina graduated from Haskell Indian Nations University, where she earned an Associate’s Degree in Community Health. She then transferred to Arizona State University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health. Most recently, Christina graduated with a Master’s in Public Health Management from the University of Kansas Medical Center in May 2020.

South ZOOM Meeting

Thursday January 20,  2022

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 for the meeting.

**We will hold our annual board elections at this meeting. Members of JCDW South or North who identify as female may participate in these elections.

This Meeting is Online Only

Zoom link 

Special Guest Kat Hooley-Lickteig will speak to us about campaign finance.

Kat Hooley-Lickteig is a Texas native that has found her forever home. She is a mom to 6 wonderfully diverse children, wife to 2 incredible men, and an avid college football fan (Go Horned Frogs!) She has served as the JCCC Campus Election Engagement Fellow and the President of JCCC’s College Democrats. She is currently studying Political Science with a minor in Public Administration at the University of Kansas, with plans to graduate in May 2023. She first joined the JCDWS Board in December of 2020, and looks forward to seeing how this group of passionate women make a difference in our community. Rock Chalk!

Game Night Fundraiser

 

 

We are here to WIN!!

JCDW South invite you to GAME NIGHT, an evening of fun, fantasy, cards, and laughter. Join us for ZOOM Rooms where you’ll find Cards Against Humanity, You Don’t Know JACK, HASBRO, and others!

This is a fundraiser, our first of 2022. All proceeds will go to helping elect DEMOCRATS in local elections … and since every House seat is up this year, we’ve got a lot of amazing candidates to support. Come for the games, the fun, and the thrill of victory in November!

7-9 pm

Saturday, Jan 29th. 2022

$15/ Ticket Members

$20/ Ticket Non-Member

$10 per ticket after that

 

 Sign Up Now!

 

After donation you will receive the registration ZOOM link for entry.

Join NOW to become a member: New Member Sign Up – Kansas Federation of Democratic Women (kfdw.org)

Celebrating Our 2021 Election Victories

What an incredible election year! In 2021, JCDW (North and South) endorsed 24 amazing candidates for local offices from school board to mayor and INCREDIBLY, 18 of them won their races! That is a 75% success rate, and it is due entirely to the incredibly hard work of volunteers, donors, and most especially, the candidates themselves. 

JCDW North and South would like to offer a heartfelt thank you and congratulations to every Democrat who stepped up to run for office in 2021. We recognize you both for your courage and hard work. You matter, and you made a difference, whether you won your individual race or not. Year by year, we are moving the needle, and we could not do that without the efforts of our amazing candidates. 

And now, give it up for our JCDW-endorsed WINNERS:

 

Blue Valley School Board: Gina Knapp

Gina Knapp and her husband Christopher live in Overland Park with their three children. She has a business degree from the University of Kansas and an MBA in finance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Gina works remotely as the Vice President of Finance for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis. She currently serves as the treasurer for the Blue Valley Northwest Quarterback Club.

 

Desoto School Board: Calley Malloy

Public education can reach unrealized potential in all children, I have witnessed this on several occasions, even in my husband, whom was the first member of his family to graduate from college. He credits access to advanced public programs and superb teachers for his current career as a Medical Research Scientist at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. My passion for high quality public education led us to western Shawnee in 2015, as well as its small-town atmosphere and strong sense of community. As the mother of two young boys and Kindergarten mom, I feel now is the opportune time to put my passion, skillset, and talent to work by bringing a fresh perspective to our community.

 

Lenexa City Council: Melanie Arroyo

Melanie Arroyo is 29 years old and a Lenexa resident since 2016. Prior to that, she was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, moved to Kansas City at the age of 11, and is a graduate of Shawnee Mission Schools. Melanie is incredibly proud to have become an American citizen in 2018. She currently serves as Democratic Precinct Committeewoman for the 5th precinct in Lenexa, Ward 3.

Arroyo graduated from the University of Saint Mary in 2014 with a Bachelors in Studio Art and Psychology. She continued her education at Emporia State University where she graduated with a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and a Master’s in Art Therapy.

Arroyo is a clinical counselor and art therapist in private practice, with experience working with children and adults from a range of cultural backgrounds including inmates, individuals in substance recovery, at-risk youth, low socioeconomic status individuals, immigrants, survivors of domestic violence, LGBT and people with disabilities.

Arroyo will be the only Latina serving in local office in Johnson County, as well as the only person of color on the Lenexa City Council.

 

Mission Mayor: Sollie Flora

I am dedicated to transparency and community participation. I engage with my constituents through regular social media posts and quarterly Ward 4 meetings. I work hard to ensure that my neighbors and Mission residents understand my positions, and am always willing to explain the “why” behind my votes.

I believe that implementing good policy begins with being a good listener, and I’m always interested in engaging in meaningful dialogue on the important issues facing our city. But beyond talk, I’ve delivered results. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together over the next four years.

 

Merriam City Council: Amy Rider

As your City Council member, I would be committed to making Merriam a resilient, sustainable and comfortable community for all.
I want to:

  • Advocate for high-value gathering places, like community gardens and a dog park.
  • Make Merriam walkable
  • Support the development of affordable housing options in Merriam.

 

Olathe School Board: Julie Steele

Julie Steele grew up in the Olathe School District where she benefited from unique educational opportunities, compassionate teachers, and strong community support. That’s why, after receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at KU and then a Master’s Degree in Special Ed (Early Childhood) at Emporia, she returned to Olathe to teach and to give all four of her children the same great opportunities.

A strong supporter of public schools in general, Julie is passionate about our local Olathe schools. She has a great deal of respect for the qualified and dedicated decision-makers in the Olathe School District, from the administration through to the classroom teachers and staff who have always focused on providing a model of lifelong learning. As a member of the Olathe School Board, Julie’s focus will be to support the continued funding of our vital programs and exceptional staff. But she also recognizes that we need to meet the evolving demands of preparing our students for their future. Three areas that contribute to our district’s success are greater diversity engagement, safety for all students, and a more open channel of communication with our citizens. Julie is prepared to put words into action as she helps Olathe to grow into the future.

 

Overland Park City Council Ward 1: Logan Heley

Council Member Logan Heley was elected to the City Council in November 2017. 

Heley cares about our neighborhoods and he is active in our community. Sustainability being important to the future of our city’s quality of life, Heley is involved with the Overland Park Environmental Advisory Council and has served on the city’s Advisory Council on Parks + Recreation. He is also the Council representative of the Legacy of Greenery Committee.

Heley also serves on the advisory board of Climate Action KC and the board of the Metropolitan Energy Center. He previously served on the Shawnee Mission UU Church Board of Trustees and the Alumni Network Advisory Board for the Youth Volunteer Corps. Heley is a Johnson County Citizens Academy graduate.

Professionally, Heley works as the community engagement manager for Harvesters—The Community Food Network. At Harvesters, he engages people with Harvesters’ mission by giving their time, food, money, and voice to help feed the 360,000+ people in our region who don’t know when or where their next meal will be. He serves as Harvesters’ liaison to the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce. Previously, Heley was the press intern at the White House and worked in constituent services as a Congressional intern. To help pay for his education, he worked as a package handler for UPS and was a member of the Teamsters union.

 

Overland Park City Council Ward 2: Melissa Cheatham

Melissa Cheatham was elected to the Overland Park City Council in November 2021. Melissa is a mom, community advocate, and policymaker with experience solving problems at the federal, local and neighborhood levels.

Cheatham has lived in Overland Park since 2012. She and her husband,Chris, are the parents of two children, who are students in the Shawnee Mission School District.

Cheatham has been an active community volunteer during her years as a stay-at-home parent. She served on the Overland Park Environmental Advisory Council, where she was the group’s representative to the Residential Building Code Development Task Force and Incentive Policy Stakeholder Group. As a member of the Policy Committee for Climate Action KC, Cheatham was the primary author of the regional Climate Action Playbook. Cheatham previously served as Legislative Chair for her children’s school Parent Teacher Association, as an officer on her neighborhood’s Homes Association, and as a Board Member of Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City.

Previously, Cheatham worked at a national environmental advocacy group and as Professional Staff in the U.S. House of Representatives.

 

Prairie Village City Council Ward 1: Cole Robinson

It is with a deep sense of gratitude that I reflect on our campaign and last night’s election results. As a third generation Prairie Village resident, I am so proud to be a part of the future that voters have chosen for our city.
This election validates the tradition of service that has defined Prairie Village and gives us a clear mandate to continue the work of making our community a place that everyone can be proud to call home. As a member of City Council, I will strive to maintain the standards that residents have come to expect while upholding the values we share.
I would like to acknowledge Thorne Daimler and the time and effort he committed to this campaign. Running for public office is not easy and I respect that he stepped up to put his name on the ballot.
I look forward to working with residents, city staff, and fellow council members to address the issues that impact our everyday lives and create smart policy to guide the continued progress of our great city. Thank you for this opportunity.

 

Prairie Village City Council Ward 5: Greg Shelton

Greg and his wife Kim made Prairie Village their home in 2012, shortly after the birth of their first child. As a native of Prairie Village, this was a homecoming for Kim. And, soon after settling into their new home, Greg began to seek out new ways to support the community. His involvement with child advocacy centers lead him to the Sunflower House where he became a board member in 2017 and continues to be a staunch advocate for the Sunflower House’s work to support children and their families dealing with the trauma of abuse.

Greg’s community advocacy has opened several new opportunities, and most recently he was appointed to the Johnson County Charter Commission. This select group of citizens works for a year evaluating the County’s charter to assess how our government could and should work more efficiently for residents.

 

Roeland Park Mayor: Mike Kelly

A lifelong Johnson County resident, Mike was elected Mayor of Roeland Park on November 7, 2017, and began his term on January 8, 2018. Before being elected Mayor, Mike served as the Chairman of both the Roeland Park Sustainability Committee and the Community Foundation Advisory Board. Mike and his wife, Elizabeth, welcomed their daughter Virginia to Roeland Park in August 2017. The Kelly family live on Roeland Drive with their dog, Margot, who at the city-wide Bark in R Park event was awarded “Longest Tail in Roeland Park.”

Prior to joining the Roeland Park community, Mike attended Cure’ of Ars Catholic School and Rockhurst High School. A lover of sports and the outdoors, Mike attained the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America and was a high school All-America Rugby selection.

 

Roeland Park CIty Council: Tom Madigan

My wife and I chose Roeland Park for our home in 1985. We raised our children here and our grandchildren attended preschool at Roeland Park Community Center. We are now retired and enjoy taking our great grandsons to the Aquatic Center and City Parks.

I have a wide-ranging background in investigation, communication, and negotiations.

I am U.S. Army veteran and I have been engaged in public service for our city on a number of levels. I have served as Chairperson of Board of Zoning Appeals, Neighbor to Neighbor Strategic Planning, and Ad-Hoc Branding Committee. I will continue to be an active member of the Neighborhood Watch Captains.

One of my top priorities is the implementation of a convenient, 21st century, two-way communication application for our citizens. Open discourse is good for our democracy.

 

Shawnee Mission School Board: April Boyd-Noronha

I believe access to opportunities is the gateway to success in life. My motivation is to ensure all of our kids have pathways to fulfill their goals and dreams. Emerging technology continues to transform our world. It is vital for leaders in education to prioritize preparing students to thrive in the workforce of the future.

 

JCCC Board of Trustees: Lee Cross

Lee is a seventh generation Johnson Countian and is dedicated to preserving the broad range of opportunities the College offers to students. Lee is a father of two, proud husband and an attorney. Before attending the University of Kansas and UMKC Law School, JCCC provided Lee with the launchpad he needed to jump start his career.

 

JCCC Board of Trustees: Joy Koesten

I am thrilled that the people of Johnson County were able to see through the ideological absurdities of the campaign season and focus on the real purpose of our community college – providing affordable, world-class education that launches students to career success. As your Trustee, I will work hard to recruit, recognize, and retain the best teachers and staff, so that every student who passes through JCCC can have the same great experience that I did.

I look forward to working with Dr. Andy Bowne and my colleagues on the board to make sure that our community college is accessible and affordable to every student across their lifespan, creating the strongest and most resilient workforce in our region.

To every person who supported my campaign, THANK YOU! I am forever grateful for your support.

 

JCCC Board of Trustees: Dawn Rattan

Thank you to the voters of Johnson County. I’m honored to become a Trustee and look forward to keeping JCCC growing into the future! I’m also humbled to make history as the first Black Trustee in the history of JCCC! This is the cultural center of our county and I intend to honor it and make it the best it can be. I look forward to working with the administration, the faculty, the students, and the 6 other Trustees. I’m excited to learn more about the college and board responsibilities. The needs of students and the workplace are quickly changing and I’m excited about taking our strategic plan into our future!

Thank you to campaign supporters and volunteers. Your support came in many forms: prayers, putting up yard signs, phone and text banking, canvassing, sharing social media posts, encouraging me, donations, and hosting events! I am overwhelmed with gratitude for you. Thank you for believing in my ability to be a Trustee. We made history together and I’m committed to making you proud of your choice.

Finally thank you to my family and my business. My attention and time has been dedicated to the race and I’m excited to turn attention back to you! Your patience and encouragement lifted me up throughout the campaign.

 

WATERONE Position 3: Kay Heley

Hi, I’m Kay. I was elected to the WaterOne Board in 2017. During my first term, I have been an advocate for public health and fiscal responsibility while moving WaterOne towards increased use of renewable energy sources. I continue to support staff efforts to protect our source water, towards fleet electrification and for participation in Climate Action KC’s regional Climate Action Plan. Our Board has strengthened its commitment to environmental stewardship. As a result, WaterOne applied for and was awarded a 2019 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award by AMWA (Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies) for its years of proactive, energy efficient, educational and source water protection strategies. I am committed to WaterOne as an employer of choice that prioritizes diversity, equity and inclusion. I’m proud that my 2017 campaign and Board participation have helped raise community awareness of and engagement in the safe, reliable, affordable and delicious water that our essential WaterOne employees provide us daily.

 

WATERONE Position 5: Jill Westra

Not only am I passionate about protecting our planet’s natural resources, I do it for a living. As an environmental scientist with a 20-year career in environmental management and sustainability, locally and internationally, I will bring an important perspective and skill set to the WaterOne Board.

 

 

November Meeting Recaps

Every month, we hear from tremendous speakers who take time out of their personal schedules to come and share their expertise with our groups. This month, we thank Sherri Grogan and Alana Cloutier for their time, passion, and insights. 

  • Sherri Grogan joined JCDW North to discuss redistricting. She encouraged us to write the committee and urge them to make fair districts. You can download her power point here: 

Generic Redistricting_COI Presentation

  • Alana Cloutier joined JCDW South to discuss rural outreach. In order to flip Kansas blue, or even purple, we need to engage rural voters and make them feel like they have a home in the Democratic Party. You can help by donating to Kansas Dems. Among other things, these donations support staff across the state, and we need to get to the point where every congressional district has an organizer. 

JCDW South Board Elections

JCDW South will be holding its annual board election on January 20. Each year, half the board is up for election (or re-election), and the winners will serve a two-year term. In even years (such as 2022), we will vote for a Vice President of Programming, Vice President of Membership, and a Treasurer. 

Any Active Member may vote or nominate someone for the board. Nominees must also be Active Members. An Active Member Identifies as a female, Is registered as a Democrat, and Is current with annual dues. Nominations may be made from the floor and require a second.   

Join or Renew Membership

Current nominees for January 2022 are:

For Vice President of Programming: Allison Hougland 

For Vice President of Membership: Kat Hooley-Lickteig (she/her)

For Treasurer: Carol Shimeall

If anyone would like to put forward another name, please contact us at jcdwsouth@gmail.com. 

 

About Us

Johnson County Democratic Women North and South are part of the  Kansas Federation of Democratic Women, which is part of the National Federation of Democratic Women. 

 

Our mission is to empower women to run for office and to support the election of like-minded Democrats to state and local office. We do this through education and training, but especially through donations to qualified candidates. Your financial donation to either of our organizations will go directly to Democratic candidates running in Johnson County. 

Donate Today!

JCDW South

 

Act Blue Link

JCDW North

 

Act Blue Link

Check out the Johnson County Democratic Party Event Calendar for more ways to get involved this month!

 

 

November 2021 Newsletter

Posted on by Christine Amsden

We are the Johnson County Democratic Women, North and South

We are sister organizations, working together to engage women in politics and help get Democrats in Johnson County elected.

North ZOOM Meeting

Thursday November 4,  2021

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 to hear from our speaker.

Zoom link

Special Guest: Sherri Grogan

Sherri Grogan is active in the Kansas Democratic Party and has served as Chairwoman for Leavenworth County Democrats and 2nd Congressional District. She currently serves as Core Team Lead for the KDP’s leadership program, a partnership with Kansas Leadership Center. Sherri is also President of Rural Leavenworth, Inc., an organization focused on property rights and land use; a member of the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature and League of Women Voters. Sherri comes to us as a private citizen with expertise and is not representing any organization.

South ZOOM Meeting

Thursday November 18,  2021

Hybrid Meeting

Either join us in person at the JoCo Dems office (8971 W 75th St, Overland Park, KS 66204) or on Zoom.

Zoom link 

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 for the meeting.

Special Guest: Alana Cloutier

Alana Cloutier is originally from Northern California but now lives in small town Humboldt, KS. Her husband Paul is a native Kansan, and they moved from Oakland, CA to Southeast Kansas in 2017 to help start a non-profit after kind of freaking out after the 2016 election. (Didn’t we all?!) Currently they are restoring buildings and opening a bar and a bookstore, as the town currently has neither. Alana is a precinct person, the Allen County Democratic Party Vice Chair, and the Chair of the Second Congressional District.

Game Night — Mark Your Calendars!

JCDW South will be hosting an online game night Saturday, January 29th from 7-9 PM. We’ll be playing Jack Box and Cards Against Humanity (18+) and, if history is any indication, laughing until our sides hurt! The event is, in part, a fundraiser, a way to support the 2022 midterm races, so “tickets” will cost a minimum donation of $20 per person — or minimum $15 for JCDW members. 

Mark your calendars and watch for an e-mail next month with your official invitation to Game Night, along with a donation link. In the meantime, make sure you’re a member in order to receive updates and member benefits: 

Join or Renew Membership

Note: The link above will take you to the Kansas Federation of Democratic Women, our parent organization, which handles statewide membership. If you are already a member, you will be asked to renew. New members will have to answer a series of questions, then choose a chapter to join; membership in either North or South entitles you to member benefits and discounts. 

Merchandise!

If you’re looking for a fun way to support our organizations, check out our merchandise, available NOW at the JoCo Dems office at 8971 W 75th St, Overland Park, KS 66204.

JCDW South is selling t-shirts for $15 each celebrating the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote. 

JCDW North is selling yard signs for $10 each thanking Governor Kelly for her excellent leadership during the pandemic. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JCDW South Board Elections

JCDW South will be holding its annual board election on January 20. Each year, half the board is up for election (or re-election), and the winners will serve a two-year term. In even years (such as 2022), we will vote for a Vice President of Programming, Vice President of Membership, and a Treasurer. 

Any Active Member may vote or nominate someone for the board. Nominees must also be Active Members. An Active Member Identifies as a female, Is registered as a Democrat, and Is current with annual dues. Nominations may be made from the floor and require a second.

Join or Renew Membership

Current nominees for January 2022 are:

For Vice President of Programming: Allison Hougland 

For Vice President of Membership: Kat Hooley-Lickteig (she/her)

For Treasurer: Carol Shimeall

If anyone would like to put forward another name, please contact us at jcdwsouth@gmail.com. 

Forever the Free State Gala

 

This year, the Johnson County Democratic Party will be hosting its annual fundraiser, Forever the Free State, online on Saturday, November 6th. Representative Davids and her special guest Representative Colin Allred will be there to share insights and inspiration. 

Forever the Free State is the primary fundraiser for the Johnson County Democratic Party, and we need your help to make it a success. Next year, in 2022, we will be re-electing Congresswoman Davids and Governor Laura Kelly, as well as working to fill more seats in the Kansas House with Democrats. 

We hope to see you there! 

 

JCDW North October Meeting Recap

In case you missed it, here is the power point from Planned Parenthood: 

Johnson County Democratic Women, 10.7.21

JCDW South October Meeting Recap

Sharon Rodriguez has been photographing the homelessness of Johnson County since 2016 in order to share their stories and to awaken us to the truth that there are homeless people in our wealthy county. She has two books available for purchase, which you can get by emailing her. You can also find her on social media here: 

FB: Sharon Rodriguez Photography
Website: www.sharonrodriguezphotography.com

 

 

About Us

Johnson County Democratic Women North and South are part of the  Kansas Federation of Democratic Women, which is part of the National Federation of Democratic Women. 

 

Our mission is to empower women to run for office and to support the election of like-minded Democrats to state and local office. We do this through education and training, but especially through donations to qualified candidates. Your financial donation to either of our organizations will go directly to Democratic candidates running in Johnson County. 

Donate Today!

JCDW South

 

Act Blue Link

JCDW North

 

Act Blue Link

Check out the Johnson County Democratic Party Event Calendar for more ways to get involved this month!

 

 

October 2021 Newsletter

Posted on by Christine Amsden

We are the Johnson County Democratic Women, North and South

We are sister organizations, working together to engage women in politics and help get Democrats in Johnson County elected.

North ZOOM Meeting

Thursday October 7,  2021

Online Only

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 to hear from our speaker.

Zoom link

Special Guest: Rachel Sweet from Planned Parenthood

Join us on October 7 when Planned Parenthood will tell us about the ballot initiative to ban abortion in the Kansas State Constitution. Rachel Sweet will join us to explain the bill and procedure, and what we can do to fight it. Rachel has been with Planned Parenthood for several years, working in legislative action and lobbying. She was involved when we successfully blocked this bill in 2020.

South ZOOM Meeting

Thursday October 21,  2021

Hybrid Meeting

Either join us in person at the JoCo Dems office (8971 W 75th St, Overland Park, KS 66204) or on Zoom.

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 for the meeting.

Special Guest: Sharon Rodriguez on Homelessness

Sharon has photographed and interviewed the homeless of Johnson County, Ks since 2014.  She started documenting the homeless of Johnson County to dispel the perception that this wealthy county does not have a homeless population.  The images in this exhibition depict the face of the Johnson County Homeless.  Sharon takes this project a step further by giving her subjects the power to voice their personal story and the opportunity to write it in their own hand.  These personal stories are displayed next to their photographic likeness.  Throughout this work Sharon dispels the myth of “there are no homeless here (Johnson County)”.  I hope you will take the time to not only see the face but hear their stories tonight.

She has published “Homeless Not Invisible” and “Homeless With Honor” which include these photographs and hand written stories. Please enjoy these stories that are being read to you by Sharon Rodriguez tonight. You can get these books from Sharon Rodriguez by emailing her.

FB: Sharon Rodriguez Photography
www.sharonrodriguezphotography.com

Women’s Rights Protest

On Saturday, October 2, 2021 at 10:30 AM, please join the women of JCDW North and South as we join the march for women’s reproductive rights. Across this nation and in the state of Kansas, the right of women to make decisions for and about their own bodies is under threat. We’ll be handing out the postcards pictured below, designed by our own Kat Hooley-Lickteig.

Visit March for Reproductive Rights for more info.

 

Let’s Get Organized to Fight for Women’s Rights! 

The Johnson County Democratic party is gearing up to defeat the constitutional amendment to ban abortion, which will appear on next August’s ballot, and you have indicated an interest in joining our efforts. But we need your help NOW so we are prepared for the fight ahead.

We are testing a relational organizing platform for friend-to-friend outreach over the next 7 weeks to see if we can mobilize people to get out to vote in November. Our main focus will be on the two county-wide races: JCCC Board of Trustees and the WaterOne Board. But everything we do with this outreach initiative should help all Democratic candidates, if everyone works hard to reach out to their friends. If we are successful, we will continue to use the platform for the next 8 months to build our coalition to defeat the Constitutional ban.

While I know your passion is around the abortion ban, we can’t test this platform without your help right now. And local elections are super important. With this platform, it’s super easy to send specific messages (already created for you) to people we already know via text, email, and sharing on Facebook – whichever you choose!

Currently, we have 58 supporters on the platform, and we are meeting for about 30 minutes each Friday (on Zoom) to work through specific actions and talk about any problems people may be having. Once you understand how easy the platform works, you won’t spend more than 30 minutes each week (total) to change the outcome of the November election and to prepare for our bigger fight next year.

So…. Are you with us? If so, please click on the link below and create an account on OutreachCircle. Once you’ve joined you can see the Zoom Link for the Friend Banking event at 6:00 every Friday.

https://outreachcircle.com/KCK674

2021 Voter Information

The Johnson County Democratic Party has put together a terrific guide to all things election this November. Learn how to volunteer, check your registration, and most importantly — VOTE! 

You can see JCDW North and South endorsements here. Please note that we only endorse candidates who meet our strict criteria, which means that this is not an exhaustive list of all races or even all Democrats running this year. If you’d like to discuss the races or candidates, our Johnson County Democratic Women FB group is a good place to ask questions and seek opinions from like-minded people. This is a private group; if you would like to join, simply make a request — and don’t forget to answer the screening questions so we know you’re not a bot! 

Merchandise!

If you’re looking for a fun way to support our organizations, check out our merchandise, available NOW at the JoCo Dems office at 8971 W 75th St, Overland Park, KS 66204.

JCDW South is selling t-shirts for $15 each celebrating the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote. 

JCDW North is selling yard signs for $10 each thanking Governor Kelly for her excellent leadership during the pandemic. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JCDW South September Meeting Recap

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes came out to speak to us about the critical redistricting process taking place right now. We learned that thanks to population growth in Johnson County, we will be gaining 3-4 State House seats and 2-3 State Senate seats. This is great news, but it also means that we need to get busy recruiting candidates to run in those new districts. We might not have district lines until just before the filing deadline of June 1st, 2022, so recruiting excellent candidates for the House begins NOW. Contact Deanne Mitchell if you would like to run. 

Our legislators have only just received the final numbers, so we’re in a holding pattern right now while we wait for maps to be proposed. In the meantime, here are some things you can do to stay informed about this important democratic process: 

1. Sign up to get weekly updates from KS Senate Democrats. 
2. Visit http://www.KSLegResearch.org to research legislative action, past and present. 
3. You can submit written redistricting testimony at any time. Send testimony to: redistricting@klrd.ks.gov.

Message From JCDW North

We are sorry to report the September 2 meeting of JCDW North was cancelled due to an abundance of caution. We were going to hear from the candidates for the November 2 election, but the Democratic office had some disturbing incidents. Several people have called with threatening comments, and on the day of the meeting, a man called several times before coming to the office in person. Police were called and the man departed. The Shawnee Mission Post and Kansas City Star had articles on the incident.

 

 

About Us

Johnson County Democratic Women North and South are part of the  Kansas Federation of Democratic Women, which is part of the National Federation of Democratic Women. 

 

Our mission is to empower women to run for office and to support the election of like-minded Democrats to state and local office. We do this through education and training, but especially through donations to qualified candidates. Your financial donation to either of our organizations will go directly to Democratic candidates running in Johnson County. 

Donate Today!

JCDW South

 

Act Blue Link

JCDW North

 

Act Blue Link

Check out the Johnson County Democratic Party Event Calendar for more ways to get involved this month!

 

 

September 2021 Newsletter: Endorsement Edition

Posted on by Christine Amsden

We are the Johnson County Democratic Women, North and South

We are sister organizations, working together to engage women in politics and help get Democrats in Johnson County elected.

North ZOOM Meeting

Thursday September 2,  2021

Location: Online Only

Zoom link

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 to hear from our speaker.

This month we will hear from a panel of local candidates running in the November 2021 election. 

 

South ZOOM Meeting

Thursday September 16,  2021

Location: Online Only

Zoom link 

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 for the meeting.

Special Guest: Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes will speak to us about redistricting

Senator Dinah Sykes is serving her second term in the Kansas Senate and her first as Senate Democratic Leader. She is the ranking member on the Senate Committee on Education and the Vice-Chair on the Senate Committee on Confirmation Oversight. Prior to her election in 2016, she ran her own business as a personal chef and worked as a development officer in higher education. She is a graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she earned her BA in Business Administration with minors in finance and economics. Dinah has been active in her community and has a passion for serving others. She has served as PTA treasurer, PTA president, on the Kansas Children’s Cabinet, and is a member of Lenexa Rotary Club. Dinah lives in Lenexa with her husband, Jeffrey, and their sons, William and Tyler.

2021 Candidate Endorsements

Johnson County Democratic Women, North and South, are proud to announce our list of endorsements for the November 2021 local elections. These are nonpartisan races, but the candidates we endorse are members of the Democratic Party who uphold our values and principles. In order to earn an endorsement, a candidate must be an active member of either JCDW North OR JCDW South, must have the support of the party, and must be working hard to raise money, recruit volunteers, and earn votes. 

Blue Valley School Board: Gina Knapp

Desoto School Board: Calley Malloy

Fairway City Council: Susan Leonard

Gardner Edgerton School Board: Stacey Coleman

Lenexa City Council: Melanie Arroyo

Mission Mayor: Sollie Flora

Merriam City Council: Amanda (Amy) Rider

Olathe City Council: Dean Vakas

Olathe School Board: Julie Steele

Overland Park City Council:

Prairie Village City Council:

Roeland Park Mayor: Mike Kelly

Roeland Park CIty Council: Tom Madigan

Shawnee City Council:

Shawnee Mission School Board: April Boyd-Noronha

JCCC Board of Trustees:

WATERONE:

 

FLIP IT BLUE

THANK YOU to everyone who came out to Flip It Blue. We raised about $6,000 to give to candidates. All of that money is going to the candidates we endorsed THIS YEAR (see above) – so give yourselves a big round of applause!

Congratulations to the winners of the “Most Blue” contest: Tiff White won (of course…see pictures), Jesse Day took second, and our own Christine Morgan took third. Thank you to ALL who participated and to our judges (who should wear blue next year to avoid those balloon hats): Lori Slettehaugh, Teresa Wickersham, and Angeliina Lawson. Thank you to all the contestants and especially to Christopher the Amazing Balloon Man for providing the hats!

Thank you, too, to all those who made our raffle a fabulous success. We had Meg’s beautiful wine baskets, a BBQ Pit, Pie Goddess Pies, signed history books, two massages, photography, beautiful bags, and many, many other items – we couldn’t have done this without you: Meg Shimmels, Cate Eighmey, Melba Nicolaisen, Allison Hougland, Kelly Stromberg, Angelina Lawson, Crystal Davids, Carol Shimeall, and Gayle Asher. 

Lastly, a very special thanks to Executive Director of Kansas African American Affairs Commission Stacey Knoell, Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, the distinguished Doctor Barbara Bollier, and the Great Kathleen Sebelius who all donated lunches for our Silent Auction. Ladies, it means everything to us we have you on board!

 

North August Meeting Recap

On Aug 5, JCDW North welcomed KS Senator Ethan Corson, who spoke about the value of labor unions. Union workers tend to make better salaries and have better benefits than non union employees. Kansas is a Right to Work state so union growth is limited. The Democratic Party supports unions across the country.

South August Meeting Recap

On August 19, we hear from Dr. Tina M. Ellsworth about combating misinformation in school and supporting our students.

We also welcomed Juliette Sinclair to our JCDW South board! She will be taking over the position of Fundraising Vice President — stay tuned for details about an upcoming fall fundraiser just after the election. 

Fighting the Abortion Amendment with Planned Parenthood Great Plains

We have two opportunities to connect with Planned Parenthood to prepare for the amendment fight in 2022:

September 1 organizational meeting presented by PP (see link in the invitation below).

October 7, Johnson County Democratic Women North will have Planned Parenthood’s Leslie Butsch come to our meeting.

An invitation from Planned Parenthood:

Over here at PPGP we’ve been keeping busy:

  • We’re planning out our organizing work to defeat the constitutional amendment that would remove the right to abortion from the Kansas constitution in August 2022.
  • We’re on the phone, calling supporters like you, to connect and hear what your community needs to join the fight for reproductive freedom.
  • We’ve been keeping tabs on the things that intersect with our work, including the Kansas redistricting town halls, threats to Roe v. Wade, and Texas’ SB 8, which would effectively ban abortion in the state — including a terrifying provision that debutizes private citizens to “enforce” the law.

In exciting news, we’ve scaled up our team, adding Rachel Stoutamire and Leslie Butsch to the organizing team, who cannot wait to connect with you!

That’s why we’re inviting you to our virtual Meet Your Organizers event at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 1!  Join us on Zoom to meet the team, learn about our current political moment, and hear our invitation to help build a better future in Kansas together.

Register for the event here, and don’t forget to send this link to three of your friends!

See you on Wednesday,

Leslie Butsch
Advocacy and Organizing Manager
Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes

 

About Us

Johnson County Democratic Women North and South are part of the  Kansas Federation of Democratic Women, which is part of the National Federation of Democratic Women. 

 

Our mission is to empower women to run for office and to support the election of like-minded Democrats to state and local office. We do this through education and training, but especially through donations to qualified candidates. Your financial donation to either of our organizations will go directly to Democratic candidates running in Johnson County. 

Donate Today!

JCDW South

 

Act Blue Link

JCDW North

 

Act Blue Link

Check out the Johnson County Democratic Party Event Calendar for more ways to get involved this month!

 

 

August 2021 Newsletter

Posted on by Christine Amsden

We are the Johnson County Democratic Women, North and South

We are sister organizations, working together to engage women in politics and help get Democrats in Johnson County elected.

North Hybrid Meeting

Thursday August 5,  2021

Location: Hybrid

In person at Bistreaux  

8725 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66212 (please wear a mask)

Zoom link

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 to hear from our speaker.

Special Guest: Senator Ethan Corson

On August 5, Ethan Corson will speak at the JCDW North meeting about unions, laws that have been passed that have weakened unions, and laws we could pass to strengthen them. Collective bargaining could increase wages and benefits for workers, reducing the need for social safety nets.

Ethan is serving in the Kansas State Legislature for Senate District 7. Over the course of his career, Ethan has worked at the highest levels of law, government, and politics.
He served as Executive Director of the Kansas Democratic Party from August 2017 to August 2019, leading the Party through its most successful election cycle in a decade, including the election of Governor Laura Kelly and Congresswoman Sharice Davids.
Prior to serving as Executive Director, Ethan was appointed by President Barack Obama to two senior leadership positions at the U.S. Department of Commerce. 
Before entering government service, Ethan practiced law for seven years in the Washington, D.C. office of one of the country’s top law firms, focusing his pro bono practice on voting rights litigation and earning recognition as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers magazine.

South In Person Meeting

Thursday August 19,  2021

Location: Johnson County Democratic Party Office — 8971 W 75th St, Overland Park, KS 66204 (in person only; please wear a mask)

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 for the meeting.

Special Guest: Dr. Tina M. Ellsworth

On August 19, Dr. Tina M. Ellsworth will speak to us about combating misinformation and supporting schools.

Dr. Tina M. Ellsworth is an Assistant Professor of Education at Northwest Missouri State University. She holds a BA in Secondary Education, an MA in History and a PhD in Social Studies Education. She has taught middle and high school social studies, taught under/graduate education courses, served as an economic education specialist at the Federal Reserve Bank of KC, and as a K12 Social Studies Coordinator. She serves on the Board of Directors for the National Council for the Social Studies and is the 2019 National Social Studies Supervisor of the Year. She is published in Social Education, Social Studies and the Young Learner, Theory and Research in Social Education, among others and presents at national and state conferences. Her research interest includes teacher education, teaching with primary sources, and racial pedagogical content knowledge. Dr. Ellsworth and her husband reside in Platte City with their two children.

Important Meeting Location Information

 

SOUTH:

In August, JCDW South will be meeting at the JoCo Dems Office at 8971 W 75th St, Overland Park, KS 66204. This is a temporary location — we are working on finding a new permanent home for our return to in-person meetings. Watch the newsletter, FB, and your e-mail for updates.

NORTH:

In August, JCDW North will have a hybrid meeting, meaning you can either ZOOM in or join us in person at Bistreaux, 8725 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66212.

 

Until further notice, masks are required for all indoor, in-person events.

Vaccinations are strongly encouraged.

 

Let’s Flip It Blue!

On August 7th from 4-8 PM, we’re going to Flip It Blue! Join us at the Grand Pavilion at Sar-Ko-Par Park in Lenexa, KS, where we’ll have food, music, prizes, and games for the whole family. Tickets are a $25 donation in advance or $30 if you wait until August 7th. Kids under 10 are $15. 

Check out these highlights:

Bring on the blue! Consider this to be your official challenge to wear as much blue as you can. Dye your hair. Paint your nails. Add some bling. The bluer the better! And if bragging rights are not motivation enough, there are prizes (pictured) for the best three outfits. 

 

 

Thanks to some of our generous members, we’ve got fabulous raffle items to offer! There’s a one-hour massage at Key To Massage, two pies from the Pie Goddess (raffle separately), two wine baskets, a Cate Eighmey photo package, a Junque Drawer basket, a beautiful hand-made quilted travel bag made by Melba Nicolaisen, and more to come. Raffle tickets cost $2 each (buy 5, get 1 free), but you can get one raffle ticket for free if you wear one of our JCDWS 100th Anniversary t-shirts. (It’s blue — so you can work it into your outfit!.)

T-shirts cost $15 and will be on sale at Flip It Blue. (Yes, buying a t-shirt at the door will get you a free raffle ticket.)

 

The Amazing Christopher will show off some of us fabulous balloon creations! This is truly a reason to bring the whole family, including the kids and grandkids. This man is talented — it was almost impossible to choose just one picture from his Facebook page.

The event space is also adjacent to a fabulous playground with slides big enough for teens as well as options for the little ones. To help with the heat, we will have water guns available (for kids or adults). 

Food. Fun Fellowship.

One of the best reasons to come to these events is to connect with candidates, elected officials, party leaders, and like-minded Democrats in a casual setting. 

Buy Tickets Now

Thank You, Governor Kelly

JCDW North is selling yard signs thanking Gov. Kelly. Signs may be purchased for $20 each at Jo Co Dems office, 8971 W 75th St. JCDW members get a 50% discount if you buy your signs before Labor Day!

North July Meeting Recap

On July 1, Megan McGee from Safehome came to the Johnson County Democratic Women North meeting. They are the only domestic violence center in Johnson County.

A note from Megan McGee:

I wanted to share this list with you and your group. I heard from so many interested people wanting to know what our needs are at Safehome. We are currently in need of new twin size sheets and comforters, as well as new towels and pillows. I have included a link below for you to share with your contacts. We appreciate the interest your group has shared in supporting the survivors and children living here at Safehome. This link will take you to our Amazon wish list for easy access to ordering online. We are ALWAYS in need of new towels and bedding. We provide the new items to our residents and we allow them to take them when they leave. Having these brand new items in stock makes a huge difference to our survivors.

Summer Stock Up

Additional highlights include:

Safehome’s core purpose is to provide a healing atmosphere where survivors of domestic violence can gain inner strength, explore options, and be empowered to live a life free of abuse. Safehome strives to break the cycle of domestic violence and partner abuse for victims and their children by providing shelter, advocacy, counseling, and prevention education in our community.

Domestic violence is a pattern of physical, emotional, sexual, and economic abusive behaviors used by one individual to maintain power and control over a partner in the context of an intimate or family relationship.

1 in 3 three women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.

Services include, free of charge:

  • 24 hour crisis hotline
  • Emergency shelter
  • Clinical counseling
  • Legal assistance
  • Case management
  • Healthcare advocacy program
  • Lethality assessment
  • Healthcare navigation
  • Economic education
  • Bilingual outreach
  • 24 hour hospital response
  • DCF Dept of Family Services
  • Housing
  • On-site child care

Domestic violence is a significant cause of homelessness in Johnson County. 58% of homeless adults in JO Co have experienced domestic violence. Lack of affordable housing creates additional barriers to survivors as they work to achieve independence.

Get involved:

  • Be the Love with Safehome
  • Event committees
  • Volunteer opportunities
  • Young Professionals Board
  • Donate financially or via essential needs list on website

South Meeting Recap

We had a wonderful time with Juliet Sinclair discussing what’s happening in Wuhan.

Wuhan lies on the Yangtze River and is a hub for cross country railroad lines. It’s been at the center of many battles, one of which pushed the Yangtze River south by 100 miles and killed over 15 million people. Today, Wuhan is considered the “Chicago” of China with its bustling infrastructure and technologies.

Wuhan is also famous for building two GIANT hospitals, God of Tender Hill and God of Fire Hill, in just ten days! Wuhan kicked the virus in ten weeks by:
• isolating anyone with mild and moderate symptoms
• contract tracing with high compliance
• using social media tools to display health codes
•having drones mock those without masks

As of April 8, 2020 they returned to normal life. In June 2020, Wuhan tested 11 million people in ten days and had zero cases. This stands today.

“Wuhan is doing fine. I’m worried about America. Democracy is precious. I knew what it was like without democracy – I

 

About Us

Johnson County Democratic Women North and South are part of the  Kansas Federation of Democratic Women, which is part of the National Federation of Democratic Women. 

 

Our mission is to empower women to run for office and to support the election of like-minded Democrats to state and local office. We do this through education and training, but especially through donations to qualified candidates. Your financial donation to either of our organizations will go directly to Democratic candidates running in Johnson County. 

Donate Today!

JCDW South

 

Act Blue Link

JCDW North

 

Act Blue Link

Check out the Johnson County Democratic Party Event Calendar for more ways to get involved this month!

 

 

July 2021 Newsletter

Posted on by Christine Amsden

We are the Johnson County Democratic Women, North and South

We are sister organizations, working together to engage women in politics and help get Democrats in Johnson County elected.

North Hybrid Meeting

Thursday July 1,  2021

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 to hear from our speaker.

Zoom link

Special Guest: Megan McGee from Safehome

On July 1, JCDW North will host Megan McGee from Safehome, which is a nonprofit organization and the only domestic violence shelter in Overland Park. Megan is the director of community engagement.

Their core purpose is to provide a healing atmosphere where survivors of domestic violence can gain inner strength, explore options, and be empowered to live a life free of abuse. Safehome strives to break the cycle of domestic violence and partner abuse for victims and their children in our community. Come see what their services entail and how we can support them.

South In Person Meeting

Thursday July 15,  2021

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 for the meeting.

Zoom link 

Special Guest: Juliet Sinclair, who will share stories from Wuhan

Juliet Kaihui Sinclair, born and raised in Wuhan, China. Came to the US for an MBA education in 1995. After working as an IT Project Manager for several corporations, she is happily retired and now devoting her time to volunteering in the fair redistricting process in Kansas.

She has been in touch with her friends and family since the virus started ravaging Wuhan in January of 2020, and obtained a lot of facts and stories along the way. Tonight, she is going to share these stories with you, so you will have the chance to get to know her hometown and its brave people.

Flip it Blue!

 

Our annual FLIP IT BLUE fundraiser will be held on August 7 from 4 to 8 pm at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park in Lenexa. That’s right – we’ll be live and in person, our first chance to meet face to face as an organization since February of 2020!

We’ll have food, games, a raffle, and friendly, like-minded Democrats. All coming together in support of some amazing local candidates. 

Flip it Blue is our biggest and most important fundraiser. This is how we make the money that we turn around and donate to candidates. JCDWS is a PAC, so our primary mission is to raise money to help local, Democratic candidates get elected to public office. We’ll be sending those checks in mid-to-late August, but first, we need to FLIP IT BLUE!

Our last Flip it Blue brought in over $2,500 for candidates, and this year, we hope to make it even bigger and better. That’s why we’re pulling out all the stops – we’ll have games, prizes, and a fabulous raffle.

This event is kid-friendly. Bring the whole family – the kids can enjoy a bottle flipping contest, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and a nearby playground.

But wait, there’s more! We’re challenging you to show your Democratic pride by wearing as much blue as you can. Plus, if you wear one of JCDWS’s right to vote 100th Anniversary t-shirts, you’ll get one free raffle ticket. T-shirts are on sale NOW for $15 each while supplies last. 

Buy Tickets Now!

Ticket Donation Levels: 

Cerulean $25
Sapphire $50
Royal $100
True Blue: $250
Kids 10 and under $15

Tickets include admission, an entree provided by Sancho Streetside’s food truck, water, lemonade, and games. Soft drinks, raffle tickets, and silent auction are extra.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US KICK THE GOP TO THE CURB!

North Meeting Recap

In June, Vicki Hiatt, president of the Kansas Democratic Party, was our speaker. Some highlights:

Vicki’s duties include fundraising, coordinating Kansas county parties, recruiting candidates, and supporting the Democratic message.

We need to support President Joe Biden’s legislation, and we need to help the party. Here are some shots from her powerpoint:

South Meeting Recap

We want to thank Jae Moyer, Oz Powell, and Amanda Powell for speaking at our June meeting. Their strength is awe-inspiring, and we really appreciate both Oz and Jae speaking about their very personal journeys.

Jae introduced us to the Genderbread Person, a simple way to explain gender and gender identity:

We asked how we can support the LGBTQIA community. Some recommendations are:
• Give space to speak
• Active listening
• Ask questions
• Don’t make the person feel like an outlier, like they are weird
• Intervene with KIDS. “I like you no matter what. It has nothing to do with what you wear or how you dress. It’s still you. I love you.”

Conversation is the bridge to understanding. Understanding is the bridge to change.

Congratulations

Governor Laura Kelly named Stacey Knoell as Executive Director of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission.

“Stacey has a proven track record of working hard for her community, and I know she will be a great advocate for Black Kansans.” — Governor Kelly.

Stacey is a strong community organizer. Last year, during her run for the Kansas State Senate, she proved herself to be the kind of person who leads through hard work, compassion, and absolute integrity no matter the provocation. 

Mega congratulations, Stacey! You’re making us all proud.

About Us

Johnson County Democratic Women North and South are part of the  Kansas Federation of Democratic Women, which is part of the National Federation of Democratic Women. 

 

Our mission is to empower women to run for office and to support the election of like-minded Democrats to state and local office. We do this through education and training, but especially through donations to qualified candidates. Your financial donation to either of our organizations will go directly to Democratic candidates running in Johnson County. 

Donate Today!

JCDW South

 

Act Blue Link

JCDW North

 

Act Blue Link

Check out the Johnson County Democratic Party Event Calendar for more ways to get involved this month!

 

 

June 2021 Newsletter

Posted on by Christine Amsden

We are the Johnson County Democratic Women, North and South

We are sister organizations, working together to engage women in politics and help get Democrats in Johnson County elected.

North ZOOM Meeting

Thursday June 3,  2021

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 to hear from our speaker.

Zoom link

Special Guest: Vicki Hiatt, chair of the Kansas Democratic Party

Vicki Hiatt, chair of the Kansas Democratic Party, will be our speaker. She will address rural outreach and other policies and programs the Kansas Democratic party is pursuing.
Vicki has a Master’s degree in Special Education and Teaching, and taught in the Shawnee Mission School District. She has been a CASA volunteer, and member of Democratic Party organizations.

South ZOOM Meeting

Thursday June 17,  2021

Come at 6:00 to socialize or at 6:30 for the meeting.

Zoom link 

Special Guest: LGBTQ Rights Activist Jae Moyer

Jae Moyer (They/Them/Theirs) is a candidate for the Johnson County Community College Board of Trustees, and a local Johnson County LGBTQ+ rights activist. Jae currently serves on the board of Equality Kansas of Metro Kansas City, where they have helped speak up in favor of non-discrimination ordinances across Johnson County. They also serve as one of the two committee members to the Kansas Democratic Party’s state committee, on behalf of the KDP’s LGBTQ+ caucus. Jae served as a Joe Biden delegate to the 2020 Democratic National Convention on behalf of KS’ third congressional district.

Save the Date

JCDW South is having our annual fundraiser on Saturday, August 7th. This will be OUTDOORS, IN PERSON — our first chance to meet face to face as a group in over a year. Details are still being worked out, but be sure to mark your calendars. You won’t want to miss it!

 

PRIDE MONTH is held in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall uprising that took place in Manhattan. More than fifty years later, we continue to need more LGBTQ representation at every level of government who can speak out against the groundswell of attempts by radical Republicans to undermine the rights and, in some cases, the very humanity of people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. 

In honor of Pride, JCDW South has invited Jae Moyer to speak to us. Jae is an LGBTQ activist and will hopefully be voted onto the Johnson County Community College Board of Trustees. JCDW North, meanwhile, will hear from Vicki Hiatt, the chair of the Democratic Party, to talk about the recent legislative session, including attacks against transgender individuals. 

If you’d like to get involved, here’s what’s happening around town:

JoCo Pride June Meetup

Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 6 PM CDT – 8 PM CDT
JUNE MEET UP: https://fb.me/e/2ksfmH4YC

PRIDE MONTH AT SERVAES BREWING CO:

10921 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS

EVENT INFO: We have so much fun planned for you for Pride Month! Throughout the month, we’ll release FOUR rainbow-inspired beers and NEW pride merch, host food trucks and raise money for the Kansas City Pride Community Alliance and I Support the Girls Kansas City! We hope to see you in June to help us celebrate PRIDE!

WEEK 1: Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 11 AM CDT – 10 PM CDT
WEEK 2: Friday, June 11, 2021 at 2 PM CDT – 10 PM CDT
WEEK 3: Friday, June 18, 2021 at 2 PM CDT – 10 PM CDT
WEEK 4: Friday, June 25, 2021 at 2 PM CDT – 10 PM CD

Servaes brewing: https://fb.me/e/2j5qUuaGg

South May Meeting Recap

I cannot tell you how excited I was for Prairie Roots to launch and for JCDW South to be one of the first to gather info!

A great deal of thanks is due Peyton Browning – she was informed, excited, engaged, and handled the Q&A like a pro. We learned about “Deep Canvassing” to build solid relationships with voters that endure over time (as opposed to traditional canvassing, where we drop by to remind people to vote every year or so). If that sounds like something you’d like to learn about, let me know – we’ll be assisting Prairie Roots in the coming months.

GIFT CARD

Each month we have a drawing for a $10 gift card if you bring a friend. These gift cards are NOT DONATED, they are purchased in order to support our local businesses. 
If you know of any Johnson County, Progressive, Women-Owned businesses – let us know!! We’d love to direct business their way. The participants must agree to have their business promoted across all of our Democratic platforms.

Our May winner was Laura Wiltanger, who received $10 to Junque Drawer.

ACTION

In honor of Pride month, our action for June is to sign up for Amazons SMILE program using Johnson County Pride. Every time you shop at Amazon, you’ll be supporting this organization (at no cost to you). Sign up here.

See you online soon!

Cassie Woolworth
President, JCDW South

North May Meeting Recap

Suzanne Gladney from Migrant Farmworkers Assistance Fund told us about the issues and challenges our migrant farmworkers face. Workers travel a circuit around the US as crops ripen in different seasons. They usually spend only a few weeks at their homes every year around December to January.

A partial list of services provided by Migrant Farmworkers Assistance Fund includes:

Dental and medical needs. including prenatal care, immunization, and Medicaid applications

Legal assistance such as naturalization, migrant and immigration issues, and public health eligibility

Weekly food bags, meals and snacks for educational activities, classes for healthy food preparation, food assistance applications

Education such as GED classes, ESL, Head Start, financial aid applications, translation services for school conferences

There are 7 students graduating from high school this year, and they are very proud of these students. Most are attending college.

Migrant workers pay taxes in the form of sales, FICA and Social Security.

JCDW plans to have a supply drive as the workers arrive in a few months to start the peach and apple harvest.

This is a diagram from a talk I saw in September:

About Us

Johnson County Democratic Women North and South are part of the  Kansas Federation of Democratic Women, which is part of the National Federation of Democratic Women. 

 

Our mission is to empower women to run for office and to support the election of like-minded Democrats to state and local office. We do this through education and training, but especially through donations to qualified candidates. Your financial donation to either of our organizations will go directly to Democratic candidates running in Johnson County. 

Donate Today!

JCDW South

 

Act Blue Link

JCDW North

 

Act Blue Link

Check out the Johnson County Democratic Party Event Calendar for more ways to get involved this month!