Women Defending Democracy

Join Women Defending Democracy

Women Defending Democracy (WDD): Unite and Rise 8.5 is an initiative of the League of Women Voters of Minneapolis focused on mobilizing collective action to protect democratic institutions, civil and human rights, and civic participation.

Launched in June 2025, this ongoing series brings together League members and community participants from across Minnesota to learn, discuss, and take meaningful action in response to current challenges facing democracy.

Upcoming Women Defending Democracy sessions

Purple banner with the logo and name of the League of Women Voters in Minneapolis, and the text 'Women Defending Democracy (WDD)' in gold.
Events
Young Voters Are the Future. Are We Listening?
Sep 30
Young Voters Are the Future. Are We Listening?

Guest Panelists: Nile Blass, Regional LWVUS Organizer & Young Voter Power Initiative (YVPI) Program Lead Averie Younge, Co-Executive Director Vote16 MN, LWVMN & Senior at Shakopee High School in Minnesota

Advance registration required to receive your unique Zoom link.

Register HERE.

What do young people care about? Why doesn’t that always translate into voting? And how can we bridge that gap? Join Women Defending Democracy for a panel discussion with Nile Blass, Regional LWVUS Organizer & Young Voter Power Initiative Program Lead, and Averie Younge, Co-Executive Director of Vote16 MN and a senior at Shakopee High School. Together, they will explore what young people want and need from our democracy, why those concerns do not always lead to participation at the ballot box, and what we can do to make sure they know their voices matter and are heard.  

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Recordings of previous WDD sessions

Events
WDD - Betty Folliard, The ERA Today: Where Minnesota & the Nation Stand 
Aug 26
WDD - Betty Folliard, The ERA Today: Where Minnesota & the Nation Stand 

In honor of Women's Equality Day, Women Defending Democracy welcomes former Minnesota State Representative Betty Folliard, a longtime advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Betty served in the Minnesota Legislature from 1997 to 2003 and has spent decades working to advance constitutional equality for women. She will provide an update on the status of both the national ERA and the proposed Minnesota ERA, examine the legal and political challenges that have stalled their adoption, and discuss why constitutional protections for gender equality remain as relevant today as ever. LWVMN 2025 Priorities include the ERA here.

Watch recording HERE.

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WDD - Barbara McQuade, her new book, The Fix: Saving America from the Corruption of a Mob-Style Government
Jul 8
WDD - Barbara McQuade, her new book, The Fix: Saving America from the Corruption of a Mob-Style Government

Join us for this special session to honor one year of Women Defending Democracyand our shared commitment to collective action. We are proud of what we have built together and want to take this opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and remind ourselves of the difference we can make when we act together.

For this special session, we are thrilled to welcome Barbara McQuade as our guest speaker. McQuade is an American lawyer who served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan from 2010 to 2017. She is now a professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, a legal analyst for NBC News and MSNBC, and cohost of the podcast #SistersInLaw. She is the author of Attack from Within and her latest book: The Fix.

Watch recording HERE.

Pick up Barbara McQuade’s book at your favorite local book store!

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WDD - Under Threat: Freedom of the Press and the First Amendment
Apr 3
WDD - Under Threat: Freedom of the Press and the First Amendment

Under Threat: Freedom of the Press and the First Amendment

Watch recording HERE.

Featuring Guest Speaker: Jill Burcum, Strib Editorial Board and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Jill will spoke on the growing threats to the free press, as corporate consolidation increasingly affects both local and national newspapers. This trend often prioritizes cost-cutting and profit over public service journalism, leading to newsroom layoffs, reduced investigative reporting, and the hollowing out of once-vital community institutions. As local voices disappear, many regions become “news deserts,” leaving citizens with limited access to reliable, independent reporting. At the same time, national outlets face similar pressures, with consolidation narrowing the diversity of perspectives and raising concerns about editorial independence, as fewer corporate entities control what information reaches the public.

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WDD - The Building of American Detention Center: Profit, Power and Civil Rights
Feb 6
WDD - The Building of American Detention Center: Profit, Power and Civil Rights

Special guest Kari Hong, Appellate Attorney at Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project.

Professor Hong returned to LWVMpls to provide an overview of the rapid expansion of American detention centers as an extension of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the for-profit detention industry.

Watch recording HERE

She examined how this growth reshapes immigration enforcement and will address the potential long-term consequences of detention infrastructure on civil rights, due process, and democratic values.

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Advocacy Training with Kitty Westin
Jul 23
Advocacy Training with Kitty Westin

As part of the LWVMpls Women Defending Democracy (WDD) Initiative, an Advocacy Training session was offered with longtime advocate Kitty Westin. Kitty is the former President of the League of Women Voters of Minneapolis, one of the founders of the Eating Disorders Coalition, and a driving force behind the passage Anna Westin Act (2015). She brings decades of experience in civic engagement and advocacy, and shares our deep commitment to protecting our democratic institutions. In this 60-minute virtual session, Kitty walks us through the fundamentals of effective advocacy—what actions we can take, how to craft messaging that resonates, and what strategies help us make a real impact

Watch recording HERE.

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‍ ‍Kari Hong, Appellate Attorney

Kitty Westin

Past Session Summaries

If needed, contact vote@lwvmpls.org or office@lwvmpls.org for access information on past session recording.

Why Are We Doing This?

Women Defending Democracy was created in response to growing concerns about the strength and stability of democratic systems. By bringing people together to learn and act, the series helps translate civic concern into meaningful participation. The initiative is grounded in a shared commitment to:

  • Threat to Democracy: We acknowledge that our democracy is facing unprecedented, existential threats.

  • Commitment to the U. S. Constitution: We believe in upholding the rule of law, ensuring equal rights for all, and protecting the due process guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

  • Empowering Women as Leaders: As women and leaders within the League of Women Voters (LWV), we are committed to actively defending our democratic values.

  • Community Mobilization: We aim to mobilize our community to encourage active participation through education and grassroots collective action.

  • Building Resilience: We seek to build resilience to strengthen community bonds and safeguard our democratic rights

  • Protecting Our Rights: We are committed to defending our rights and ensuring that they are respected and upheld for all.

“We are in a constitutional crisis.” – League of Women Voters of the U.S., April 2025

The League describes a constitutional crisis as: “When the executive, the legislative or judiciary branches cannot or will not adequately protect the U.S. Constitution, when there are explicit attempts to dismantle a functional democracy with any of the three branches or when any level of federal government takes action to destroy democratic institutions in a manner that intentionally or purposefully jeopardizes the U.S. Constitution”. Check out what League of Women Voters US is doing nationally to defend democracy.

Become a Member

What Is Women Defending Democracy

Women Defending Democracy is a recurring virtual discussion and action series designed to move beyond conversation and into meaningful civic engagement. The group meets:

  • Via Zoom

  • With new participants welcome at any time

Each session focuses on a single issue, offering:

  • A deeper understanding of current democratic challenges

  • Opportunities for guided discussion

  • Clear, actionable steps participants can take

  • Ways to track and measure collective impact

Topics are shaped by participants, ensuring that discussions remain relevant, timely, and grounded in community priorities.

What to Expect from Each Session

Each Women Defending Democracy session is designed to be informative, focused, and action-oriented.

Sessions may include:

  • Expert speakers and guest presenters

  • Issue briefings on topics such as civil rights, public safety, and government policy

  • Guided discussion with fellow participants

  • Action steps participants can take locally, statewide, or nationally

Past sessions have explored topics like public safety policy, civil rights issues, and advocacy strategies, often featuring community leaders and subject-matter experts.

View Past Session Summaries

Get Involved

Women Defending Democracy is open to anyone interested in learning more, participating in discussions, and taking action.

You can:

  • Participate in discussions and action planning

  • Help shape future topics

  • Connect with others committed to civic engagement

No prior experience is required. Whether you are new to civic involvement or have years of experience, your perspective is welcome.

Stay Connected and Access Resources

Participants will receive:

  • WDD session follow up information and recordings

  • Advocacy resources and tracking tools to capture our collective action.

  • Action Items specific to the topic.

Check back regularly for updates or connect with the League to receive information about upcoming sessions.

Join the League

Join the League of Women Voters of Minneapolis

Support initiatives like Women Defending Democracy and help expand civic engagement across Minneapolis and beyond.

As a member, you can:

  • Participate in issue discussions and advocacy efforts

  • Help shape programs like Women Defending Democracy

  • Stay informed on key democratic issues

  • Be part of a network committed to protecting and strengthening democracy

Join today and take an active role in building a more informed and engaged community.

Join Today
A large room filled with audience members seated and facing a woman speaking at a podium. There are multiple screens displaying a presentation about incarceration and deportation. A table with informational materials covered with a blue cloth with white text is in the foreground.
A large room filled with audience members seated and facing a woman speaking at a podium. There are multiple screens displaying a presentation about incarceration and deportation. A table with informational materials covered with a blue cloth with white text is in the foreground.

Common Questions

  • Women Defending Democracy is an information and action series hosted by the League of Women Voters of Minneapolis. WDD is focused on protecting democratic institutions and encouraging civic participation.

  • The group meets monthly, 5:00 PM via Zoom. WDD is open to all but requires registration.

  • Anyone interested in learning about democracy, discussing key issues, and taking action is welcome to participate. You do not need to be a league member to participate. Email office@lwvmpls.org or vote@lwvmpls.org.

  • Topics vary based on participant interest but often include civil rights, public safety, voting rights, and government policy.

  • Yes. The League of Women Voters is nonpartisan and does not support or oppose political candidates or parties.

  • You can become a member of the League, participate in advocacy efforts, and help shape future WDD discussions and initiatives.