EDUCATION

Grass roots advocacy is at the heart of what we do. Speaker forums and issue updates educate our members on the timely issues of importance to NCJW, those that effect women, families and children and those that are necessary to ensure the civil rights and quality of life for all. In this way our members are prepared to take action through community service and political advocacy.

Recent educational events sponsored or co-sponsored by Seattle Section have included forums on reproductive choice, gun control, hate crimes, trafficking in humans, and health care issues.

NCJW members are advocates for social justice. Seattle Section participates actively in the NCJW State Public Affairs (SPA) network, the advocacy arm of NCJW. Our Washington SPA committee tracks legislation on our priority issues through receipt of information from NJCW's Washington D.C. office, by participating in local coalitions and by following the news. That modern wonder, e-mail, lets our members know when it's time to contact their legislators by mail, letter or e-mail to ask for support on specific issues and it provides education on those issues.

Seattle Section members advocate in person by attending lobby days in Olympia every year and by lobbying our legislators in Washington D.C. every three years while participating in NCJW's premier public affairs conference, Washington Institute.

Day care funding, gun control, unemployment compensation for domestic violence victims who must leave their employment to escape abuse partners, adequate nursing home funding, separation of religion and state, reproductive choice and international family planning are all at the forefront of our work this legislative session.