Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy
A Panel Discussion
The live panel will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 6:30-8:00 p.m (note the change in time).
About the Program
As we confront this critical moment in our nation’s history, when voting rights, civil rights, and democracy itself are under siege, the mission of the League of Women Voters to empower voters and defend democracy is more vital than ever. What can League members and the community do to support that mission?
Panel Speakers
Our March Community Education program will highlight the notable work of three leaders across our country, state, and city, to protect our democracy—through legislative lobbying, the legal system, and the ballot box:
- Jessica Jones Capparell, Director of Government Affairs of the US League of Women Voters, will discuss the National League’s efforts to defend democracy at the federal legislative level, while empowering voters to stand up and act.
- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, who in the past year has sued the federal government more than fifty times against assaults on democracy in our state, will talk about his office’s ongoing work to defend and preserve Oregon’s civil values.
- Esperanza Tervalon, founder and CEO of locally-based New Hope Consulting and author of Ballots Building Power, will look at the vital roles played by civic engagement and voter empowerment in creating and maintaining an equitable and thriving democracy.
About the League’s Community Education Programs
This webinar is one of the League’s community education programs, held free of charge and open to the public. Our programs are recorded for rebroadcast by MetroEast Community Media and available by video and podcast from our website, lwvpdx.org. To receive the Zoom link, register in advance.
Funding for production is provided by the League of Women Voters of Portland and funded by the Carol and Velma Saling Foundation.
