Last month, Congressman Mike Thompson, D-Yolo, announced Karen Urbano as Yolo County's 2024 Woman of the Year for her tireless work to protect and expand voting rights for her community.
"She has served as both president and vice president of the Woodland League of Women Voters," Thompson emphasized. "Her work has included registering voters at local high schools to encourage young people to engage in our democratic processes and support local government. Her dedication to these issues and unwavering commitment to justice and equity for all make her exceptionally deserving of this award and I am proud to recognize all that she has accomplished."
Thompson's press release explained that the annual recognition ceremony was started in honor of Women's History Month to recognize the service of women in the community.
Urbano has been a member of the league for 13 years. She joined shortly after moving to Woodland in retirement.
She's held many roles and titles for the league including working on a water study in 2011 and 2012, and serving as the secretary, vice president and has been the president for the last three years.
When speaking about why Thompson selected her to be recognized this year, she speculated that it had to do with the work she and other league members have done in Yolo County's education system.
"Along with other stellar members of the league, I went into the high schools to register eligible new voters and encouraged them to use their voting power," Urbano said.
Additionally, she noted that the league is currently working with new Woodland Community College President Dr. Lizette Navarette to develop strategies that encourage students to participate in democracy.
"I worked with local government – city and county – to encourage passage of issues that either our local league or the state league has approved by study and member votes at our annual meetings," she added.
Urbano noted that the most recent study was about housing and a current study is being conducted focusing on mental health,
"I particularly try to keep in communication with elected and appointed officials in areas affecting elections such as Jesse Salinas and Armando Salud, for example, to see how the league can assist in having free and fair elections and encouraging all those registered and eligible to cast their votes," she said referring to the Yolo County chief election official and deputy of elections, respectively.
Urbano explained that the local league is important and should be supported because "democracy matters."
"If we do not keep up the good fight, then we stand the chance of losing it," she emphasized. "We are one of the few non-partisan organizations whose mission is to encourage all members of the public to participate in government. As we tell the students we register to vote, if you do not vote, then others will make decisions for you."
Furthermore, the league occasionally holds forums for candidates leading up to elections so that the public can make fair assessments of the people who will be governing.
"Although not always highly attended, we do our best to make the public aware of these events," she remarked.
One of these forums concerned California's Proposition 1, which amended the Mental Health Services Act to include treatment for substance use disorders changing how county mental health plans are required to spend revenue from the 1% tax on income about $1 million and increase the number of members on the oversight commission, according to ballotpedia.
"It was important to show both sides of the issue even though the League of Women Voters of California was opposed to its passage," Urbano highlighted.
Furthermore, the league also published pros and cons about Yolo County's Measure M in the Daily Democrat and presented speakers on topics on interest to the public during state and community events.
"This year's featured speakers were the Community Corrections Partnership," she added. "At last year's event our speaker was Gerardo Pinedo, Yolo County Administrator."
Notably, Urbano said the league's board does most of the work while she feels "like an orchestra conductor."
"I would like to single out Carla Cox, who has been our treasurer for the past few years and has stepped in to lead our voter services area forums," Urbano remarked. "Lorna Carriveau, our communications person and often speech writer, who has kept us all informed. Judy Wohlfrom, vice president and events coordinator for helping us continue to be a presence in the community. Faye Smith-Gee, a newer member who has served as secretary this year and always asks probing questions. Janet Ruggiero, leader of our issue studies and past president of the league bringing a historical perspective."
"Thank you to all for your dedication. I hope we can continue this work with integrity as we move into the fall election season."
Lastly, Urbano was part of five Women of the Year from four other counties in California's Fourth District including Lake County's Ana Santana, Napa County's Maria Cisneros, Solano County's Jill Orr and Sonoma County's Karen Collins.
"I was amazed at all of their achievements and felt humbled by them," Urbano said. "So many of those women had such varied areas of expertise and dedication over long time frames."
No comments:
Post a Comment