In summary
CalMatters election events sparked lively discussions in Los Angeles, Riverside, and online.
Last week, VotingMatters went to public libraries, colleges, and a museum to talk about California’s ballot propositions. So far, VotingMatters has reached more than 750 people across 20 events, bringing crucial election information to voters around the state.
At Cal State Los Angeles, more than 170 students and staff joined CalMatters and the Pat Brown Institute to learn about Propositions 32, 33 and 36. When we asked who in the audience would be voting for the first time this year, more than 20 hands went up.
At two back-to-back VotingMatters events at the Los Angeles Public Library, Californians at the Arroyo Seco and Jefferson branches shared personal family stories as they discussed the propositions. When the discussion moved to Prop 36, which would increase penalties for theft and drug trafficking, librarians also shared their own experiences assisting community members who needed mental health help.
In Riverside, more than 60 people joined VotingMatters at The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture. This week, we also held three virtual events, including our first bilingual English and Spanish event, involving around 25 community members calling in from across the state, with the Parent Institute for Quality Education. We also held virtual events with California for the Arts and College of the Desert.
This week, VotingMatters is coming to the Central Coast:
SCHEDULE TK10/14 at 6 pm – Santa Barbara – We’re teaming up with the local publication Noozhawk at Third Window Brewing.
10/15 at 12:30 pm – Santa Cruz – Organized with the Santa Cruz Local team, this event will be at Cabrillo College’s Horticulture Center. Register here.
10/16 at 7 pm – Santa Cruz – Organized with the Lookout Santa Cruz team, this event will be at Bookshop Santa Cruz.
10/17 at 5:30 pm – San Luis Obispo – We’re teaming up with the Latino Outreach Council for a session at Ludwick Community Center.
10/18 at 10:30 am – Monterey Bay – CalMatters is presenting a VotingMatters session at California State University, Monterey Bay, at the Otter Student Union.
10/18 at 2 pm – Los Angeles (Boyle Heights) – Matthew Reagan, CalMatters College Journalism Network’s assistant editor, is presenting a shortened VotingMatters session at Boyle Heights Beat’s VoterChat, with LAist.
Please monitor our events page as details can change on short notice.
Interested in hosting your own VotingMatters event? We’ve created an event kit to help anyone host similar events for their own communities. For questions about the event kit, or specific events we’re hosting, please contact dhu@calmatters.org.