Democratic Women's Council

Georgia Heroine Mrs. Lillian Miles Lewis

Admin — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 22:15:11 +0000

AJC file photo of Cong. John Lewis and wife Lillian Lewis

The Democratic Women’s Council, an Affiliate of the Democratic Party of Georgia, would like to acknowledge the remarkable life of Mrs. Lillian Miles Lewis, the late wife of U.S. Representative John Lewis. Mrs. Lewis passed peacefully on December 31, 2012.

It was an honor to benefit from Mrs. Lewis’ political acumen in Democratic events in Georgia over the decades.

Of special significance to us was Mrs. Lewis’ role in the visits to Georgia by First Lady Hillary Clinton and by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. One example was the Democratic Women’s Council’s co-sponsorship of a DCCC Atlanta Luncheon hosted by U.S. Representative John Lewis. Mrs. Lewis was a thoughtful advisor on making events in Georgia great successes. She was always meticulously dressed and carried herself with great dignity.

Mrs. Lewis faced life’s challenges with thoughtful solutions, unafraid and unbowed. She was a stalwart partner to our nation’s great civil rights hero, U.S. Representative John Lewis. She was a dedicated wife and mother who set a special example of leadership in her community, state and nation. Mrs. Lewis will be greatly missed.

If you wish to make a memorial donation in honor of Mrs. Lewis, please join the DWC in making a donation to;

American Kidney Fund
11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300
Rockville, MD 20852

Please note that the donation is for the Mrs. Lillian Miles Lewis Fund for the Georgia AKF office.

Meet Valerie Jarrett this Saturday in Atlanta

Admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:47:13 +0000

Join other supporters of President Barack Obama on Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 5:00 to 6:00pm for a briefing by Democratic Strategist Valerie Jarrett. This is a free event, doors open at 4:30 at 2752 East Ponce de Leon Ave., Suite H, Decatur, GA 30030. Valerie Jarrett is a senior advisor and assistant to the president for Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Obama administration. She is a Chicago lawyer, businesswoman, and civic leader. Don’t miss this free opportunity to hear from this remarkable woman!

Delegate Selection Caucuses — Saturday April 21

Admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:57:41 +0000

Caucus Overview

On Saturday, April 21, 2012, Democrats from across the state will gather to elect delegates to represent Georgia at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. Every four years we come together for this important task, and we could not do it without the help of citizen voters, dedicated candidates and generous volunteers. This is a very long, but very fun and interesting day, especially for first time participants.

There are no special requirements to vote, but you must be registered to vote in the Congressional District where you take part. In other words, if you live in the 5th Congressional District, that is the only Caucus where you may vote. Please bring photo ID to confirm your identity.

Registration will be open at 8:00am. All doors close at 12 Noon. Please arrive by 11:00am. Once the doors close and the Caucus is convened, each candidate will be allowed a short speech (the number of candidates determines the length of your Caucus), then ballots will be passed out for voting. Note: candidates have already been qualified for each District and the submission deadline to run has passed. Only qualified candidates will appear on the ballot.

Please take the time out of your busy Saturday to go to the caucus in your district, listen to the speeches, and cast votes for the people that you believe best represent your district and Georgia.

Below are the Caucus locations for the four largest Congressional Districts in Georgia. Don’t see yours? Scroll down for other locations around the state. If you have questions, please email us at dwcgeorgia@gmail.com or leave your question in the comments.

Caucus Locations

4th Congressional District
Omega World Center
3951 Snapfinger Parkway
Decatur, GA 30035 [MAP]
Registration opens at 8:00. Doors close at 12 Noon. Please arrive by 11:00am and bring photo ID.

5th Congressional District
IBEW Auditorium
501 Pulliam Street SW
Atlanta GA 30312 [MAP]
Registration opens at 8:00. Doors close at 12 Noon. Please arrive by 11:00am and bring photo ID.

6th Congressional District
Sedalia Park Elementary School
2230 Lower Roswell Road
Marietta GA 30068 [MAP]
Registration opens at 8:00. Doors close at 12 Noon. Please arrive by 11:00am and bring photo ID.

13th Congressional District
Benjamin Banneker High School
5935 Feldwood Road
College Park GA 30349 [MAP]
Registration opens at 8:00. Doors close at 12 Noon. Please arrive by 11:00am and bring photo ID.

Find your District

Not sure which Congressional District you live in? Find out here.

For other District Caucus locations around Georgia, see the Delegate Information Station on the Georgia Democrats website here.

DWC Legislative Lunch Briefing 2012

Admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 03:34:30 +0000

Please join us:
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Georgia State Capitol
206 Washington Street Southwest | Room 216
Atlanta, GA 30334

Join us downtown at the Capitol or online from wherever you are!

This is a free event, but an RSVP (registration) is required for lunch at the Georgia Capitol.

Reserve your place by clicking here! Please bring friends!

Featured panelists:
Senator Nan Orrock
House Democratic Leader Stacey Abrams
Representative Pat Gardner
Representative Yasmin Neal
Representative Stacey Evans
Nikema Williams, Vice President for Policy, Planned Parenthood Southeast
Cindy Zeldin, Executive Director, Georgians for a Healthy Future

The recent Georgia Legislative session was little more than a sustained attack on women and our families. Please join the Democratic Women’s Council for an important Legislative Briefing from our Democratic Women Legislators and Progressive policy experts. Come learn about the extent of the damage to our families, our health and our rights, and what we should do now to prepare for November.

If you live outside the Atlanta area or can’t attend the event, we invite you to join us online on our UStream channel here for a live webcast beginning at 12:00 Noon. There you can watch the event and post questions or comments for speakers. The UStream channel will also be visible on our facebook page here.

We know you are busy. That’s why we’ll always make it easier for you to participate in our events and programs, no matter where you live. We look forward to seeing you, online or off.

The Georgia Capitol is handicap accessible from street entrances on three sides. Parking is available at the Freight Depot and Underground Atlanta surface lots nearby. For questions about this event, please email dwcgeorgia@gmail.com.

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Is now the time for the Equal Rights Amendment?

Admin — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:50:35 +0000

A recent spate of news stories, blog posts, protests, press conferences and television appearances are clear signs of a growing movement to finally ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Although the Equal Rights Amendment was passed by Congress on March 22, 1972, women still do not have equal rights with men. In order to become law, the Amendment needed to be ratified by 38 state legislatures by March 1979. Only 35 states ratified the amendment, and Georgia was one of the states that failed to do so.

Below are just a few of the news stories about a movement some are beginning to call the Fourth Wave of Feminism:

The Equal Rights Amendment: Now Is the Time
by Paul Abrams for the Huffington Post

But, the best defense is a good offense. Now is the perfect time to press for enactment, finally, of the Equal Rights Amendment. Since Republicans took over state houses and the House of Representatives, they have waged an open war against women. The same Republicans who rail against any public regulation of the boardroom as a matter of principle of “small government,” are perfectly content to extend government into the privacy of the bedroom and the examination room.

Senate Dems propose reviving moribund Equal Rights Amendment to Constitution
By Pete Kasperowicz for The Hill

Nine Senate Democrats this week proposed that states be given another chance to ratify an amendment to the Constitution affirming the equal treatment of men and women, 30 years after the amendment fell just short of being added to the country’s founding document. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and eight other Democrats proposed a joint resolution that would remove the 1982 deadline for getting 38 states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). By 1982, the ERA had been ratified by 35 states, three short of the 38 needed to become an amendment.

Equal Rights and the war on women
By Karen Graham, Richmond Community Issues Examiner

And it is just one more log to be added to the bonfire of dissension that is brewing. Here in the metro-Richmond area, there is an undercurrent of activity going on, women’s groups signing people up for the cause on a daily basis. One such group, the Alliance for Progressive Values, has seen a 10-fold increase in membership since the ultrasound bill was signed.

The Democratic Women’s Council counts among our membership many women who were involved in the original fight to ratify the ERA in Georgia. We are a multi-ethnic and multi-generational organization and this is a fight we are ready to wage. We invite women and men, young and old, expert and novice, to join us for the Fourth Wave as we fight for equality, fairness and justice in support of our Democratic values and candidates.

It’s time.