Welcome back to your exclusive, bi-weekly newsletter of the League of Women Voters of Wake County. If someone forwarded this to you and you'd like to become a member, or are interested in learning more, just click here. |  | Dear~~first_name~~,
Black History Month calls us to reflect not only on historic milestones, but also on the labor, intellect, and perseverance that have shaped our nation—and to recognize the work that remains. Black women have long been architects of justice, drafting ideas, shaping movements, sustaining communities, and pushing the United States closer to its democratic ideals.
The contributions of Black women such as Deborah Ann Turner, MD, JD, and The Rev. Dr. Anna Pauline “Pauli” Murray exemplify this legacy of leadership and service.
Dr. Turner volunteered with the League of Women Voters from 2010 to 2024, beginning in Iowa. She served as president of the Des Moines Metropolitan League, co-president of the Iowa State League, a member of the LWVUS Board of Directors, chair of the DEI Committee, and ultimately as President of the League of Women Voters of the United States until her passing in 2024. In addition to her civic leadership, Dr. Turner practiced and taught gynecologic oncology for 35 years—an enduring testament to service, expertise, and care. Her leadership stands on the shoulders of trailblazers like Murray, whose labor strengthened democracy across generations.
The Rev. Dr. Anna Pauline “Pauli” Murray was a lawyer, civil rights activist, scholar, and Episcopal priest whose legal thinking helped dismantle segregation and expand equality under the law. In 1944, Murray was the only woman enrolled at Howard University Law School—and graduated at the top of her class. Challenging Jim Crow laws, Murray advanced a bold legal theory questioning the constitutionality of segregation itself. That theory became the foundation of her 1950 book States’ Laws on Race and Color, which Thurgood Marshall later called the “bible” of Brown v. Board of Education.
Murray’s influence extended further, laying the groundwork for applying the Equal Protection Clause to sex discrimination and shaping future Supreme Court victories. As Murray once observed, the greatest achievement of many Black women was both simple and profound: survival.
This Black History Month, we honor all who have led and supported the fight for civil rights and justice, with special recognition of Black women whose labor has strengthened democracy across generations. We commit to telling these stories, honoring this work, and ensuring Black women’s leadership remains visible, valued, and central to our shared history.
|  |  | Building Civic Power: A Roadmap for Advancing Civics Education in North Carolina
Join us on ZOOM for a panel discussion exploring the current state of civics education in North Carolina and why strong, nonpartisan civic learning is essential to a healthy democracy. This session will provide background, research, and context to help League members better understand the landscape of civics education and its impact on civic participation.
Drawing on the work of the North Carolina Civics Coalition and Generation Nation, as well as insights from the series Civics Unlearned by Sara Michael of Carolina Public Press, the session will examine how gaps in civics education — driven by limited instructional time, competing academic priorities, and increasing polarization — affect students’ understanding of government and civic life. Participants will gain a clearer picture of how statewide collaboration and community-based efforts can help build informed, engaged citizens and strengthen civic power across North Carolina.
Virtual via Zoom Link in Registration Confirmation Email
REGISTER
|  | | Come meet for lunch with other League members and friends at the Bul Box in Morrisville. This is a great opportunity to get to know other members in an informal setting.
Please register so that we'll know how many seats we'll need!
Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 12:00 PM until 1:30 PM
Bul Box Grill Morrisville
1125 Hatches Pond Ln. #118
Morrisville, NC
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Vote411.org is an incredible year-round resource for voters across the country. As the mid-term primaries draw near, we turn our focus to the Candidate Guide within Vote411.
The 2026 elections include Federal, State, and County partisan races, as well as nonpartisan municipal races in Raleigh. Our Wake County Vote411 team have about 40 primary candidates to contact for the candidate guide (we cover local and county elections; the statewide and high-level judicial races are tracked by the statewide VOTE411 team).
Here are a few important dates to keep in mind for the upcoming Primaries:
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Jan 30 - VOTE411 voter guides go live in North Carolina
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Feb 6 - Voter Registration deadline (before early voting)
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Feb 12 to 28 - Early voting at 12 locations in Wake County
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March 3 - Election Day
It's important for us to remain active and visible to candidates and to the voting public.
Please share Vote411.org with your network!
|  | | Wondering what you can do to make a difference? Consider these opportunities:
February 12- March 3 Three (3) more Vote411 yard sign volunteers needed.
Hilltop Needmore Town Park in Fuquay-Varina
Northern Regional Center in Wake Forest
WE Hunt Rec Center in Holly Springs
February 15th, 2-4pm. Souls to the Polls - partnering with NAACP, Raleigh-Apex Branch
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Meet at the MLK Memorial Gardens, 1215 MLK Jr Blvd, Raleigh, NC.
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Walk from the Memorial Garden to the John Chavis Community Center where Wake County residents will be able to cast their early vote.
February 26th. Voter Registration at Wake Tech Community College - North campus (2 shifts available)
|  | | Members are welcome to attend committee meetings without joining the committee. We encourage you to come see what the committees are engaged in and explore any interest you have. We are here to help you find your place inside the League. Attending a meeting is a great way to see if you are interested in becoming more involved.
We will work with you to find the right way for you to engage.
The LWVWAKE.ORG calendar is the best way to see what is happening.
Currently scheduled January Committee Meetings:
February 9: Civic Education Committee Meeting
February 10: Women's Rights & Healthcare Committee
February 12: Membership Committee Meeting
Volunteering with LWV-Wake can be scaled to fit the time you have to commit to help us meet our mission. If you have an hour a week, we will help you find an impactful way to be involved. |  | Lynn Bonner, Senior Reporter, NC Newsline spoke to members and friends at the January 29th Timely Topics gathering in Raleigh. Lynn explored how to identify and combat misinformation ahead of North Carolina’s 2026 midterms. Monthly Timely Topics are open to the public. See future events on the LWVWAKE.ORG calendar. Register for the February event. .
| February 28, 11-1pm. POT LUCK at Celeste Stanley's home (Wake Forest). Register here.
March 15th, 1pm. Charlotte. SUFFS the Musical -group tickets still available, optional: ride Amtrak with LWV-Wake members.
April 22nd, 6-8pm. Meet & Chat - Join other League members and friends for cocktails at Hearsay (inside Matthews House) in Cary. Register here.
May 2-3. LWVNC Council (Durham) Contact Gaye Williams if you would like to attend, president@lwvwake.org.
June 25-28. LWVUS Convention (Columbus, OH) More information available in January. Registration now available.All members welcome. If you want to be a delegate, contact Gaye Williams, president@lwvwake.org
| EQUAL MEANS EQUAL V. TRUMP HEARING. Registration will open soon for the March 24th, 2pm livestream. (rescheduled from Dec 16) WATCH a 6 minute review of the case. |  | Action Alert: Tell Congress Federal Immigration Enforcement Has Gone Too Far
We join LWVUS and LWVNC in this ACTION ALERT regarding escalating federal immigration enforcement actions that violate constitutional rights and undermine democratic accountability.
At its core, this issue is not about immigration policy—it is about the protection of constitutional rights, the rule of law, and the principle that no government agency is above accountability. The use of intimidation, surveillance, and lethal force against people exercising their First Amendment rights threatens the foundations of our democracy and demands congressional oversight.
The League has a long history of defending civil liberties and civic participation. When constitutional rights are eroded anywhere, they are weakened everywhere.
Add your voice by using the LWVUS action tool to contact Congress and demand transparency, investigation, and accountability.
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To assure that every vote for President counts in every election, we urge the NorthCarolina Legislature to pass the National Popular Vote Bill, moving our state and the nation closer to making every vote count in all of America.
There are more than 500,000 elected offices in the United States. For all but one of them, the candidate with the most votes wins. The one exception is our one national office – the presidency. To sustain a healthy democracy every vote for president should count equally. Count all the votes, every vote equal, whoever receives the most votes wins – this is simple and fair.
Join us! Sign the LWV NC petition to make your voice heard.
This is open to non-Leaguers, so please share this link with your networks.
Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of North Carolina.
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| PARTNERSHIP NEWS & EVENTS | LWV-Wake is an organizational member of WomenNC and this annual fundraiser is open to all and a great opportunity to learn more about WomenNC. WomenNC advances gender equity through education, leadership development, and civic engagement with a focus on women ages 16 to 24.
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January 15, 2926 LWVUS: Federal Court Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Seeking California Voter Data
January 27, 2026 LWVUS: Win for Oregonians: Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Seeking to Seize Private Voter Data Read More | The League of Women Voters of Wake County is a designated 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization by the IRS. Donations and membership dues are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. | |