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LWVOC Team Fights Prejudice with the The Villages LWV

Ann Patton | Published on 3/9/2022

LWVOC team fights prejudice with The Villages LWV

 

LWVOC Warriors took their stories on the road this week, as guests of The Villages / Tri-County League of Women Voters. Their goal: learning to fight prejudice and change hearts.

 

LWVOC ambassadors were spotlighted in Tri-County’s program, “Uprooting Prejudice: Conversations for Change,” on Saturday afternoon, March 5, in Wildwood, FL. More than 165 people attended.

 

The LWVOC’s history book, Warriors for Democracy, had a place of honor on the book table, manned by LWVOC’s Joan Erwin and Joy Dickinson, co-chairs of the LWVOC History Committee.

 

Others in the LWVOC delegation included Sue Foreman, Mary-Slater Linn, and co-president emerita Gloria Pickar.

 

LWVOC’s Ann Patton was a keynote speaker, telling stories about overcoming hate with understanding from one of her books, UNMASKED: The Rise & Fall of the 1920s Ku Klux Klan.

 

The second keynote speaker was Stephen Poynor, education curator at the Florida Holocaust Center, speaking on “Conversations for Change.” Moderator was Lou Sasmor, founder of The Villages Civil Discourse Club. They led the audience in learning experiences for conversations to bridge the divides in our society. 

 

“It was a joy to work with the Tri-County League and the Holocaust Center to create this meaningful program,” said Patton. “I hope we’ll find more chances to collaborate. We owe special thanks to Tri-County’s Charlene Griffin, who was program chair, and her splendid Tri-County team.” 

 

The Tri-County League represents Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties, including The Villages retirement community.

The LWVOC is highlighting its history book, Warriors for Democracy, throughout March, women’s history month.  Click to Purchase a copy of our "Warriors for Democracy"

 

 

 

Photos l. to r.

 

LEFT- LWVOC Warriors on the move, sharing their stories at Tri-County LWV’s March 5 event, included (l to r) Joan Erwin, Gloria Pickar, Sue Foreman, and Mary-Slater Linn. Not shown: Joy Dickinson.

CENTER- Ann Patton speaking

 

RIGHT– The March 5 program team included, l to r, Lou Sasmor, Stephen Poynor, Ann Patton, and Charlene Griffin. (Mick Griffin photo)