Hot Topics: Healthy Communities Equal Healthy Democracy

LWVOC Examines Connections Between Health and Democracy on Jan. 10, 2024

League of Women Voters of Orange County ”Hot Topics” Lunch Series
ORLANDO, Fla. (Dec. 18, 2023) — It’s a new year — traditionally the time when people make resolutions about health. Join the League of Women Voters of Orange County at the first Hot Topics of 2024, “Healthier Communities = A Healthier Democracy,” Wednesday, Jan. 10, in collaboration with the Central Florida Foundation and the Peace and Justice Institute. The lunch and panel discussion will take place at 11:30 a.m. at the Winter Park Events Center, 1050 W. Morse Blvd in Winter Park.

The moderator is Sandi Vidal, vice president of community strategies and initiatives with the Central Florida Foundation and a former LWVOC co-president. The panelists are Tracy Swanson, CEO of the Foundation for a Healthier West Orange; Freddy Morello, executive director of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Greater Orlando; Rachel Allen, executive director of the Peace and Justice Institute; and Dr. Bahiyyah Maroon, CEO of the Polis Institute.

Statistics show that communities with better mental and physical health care, access to good food, housing and education tend to have greater civic engagement and voter participation since residents believe they have a right and a need to make decisions about where they live. They are more invested in their communities and want to make their voices heard. Similarly, communities that are troubled by high crime rates, illiteracy, homelessness, physical and mental health problems tend to be less hopeful about their futures and less inclined to vote.

As we prepare for the 2024 elections, the public affairs forum and lunch will explore what a collaboration of resources and stakeholders in Orange County can do to empower communities and voters and give them greater hope for the future. “Hope,” as Emily Dickinson wrote, “is the thing with feathers –/ That perches in the soul –/And sings the tune without the words –/And never stops – at all.”

Tickets are $30 for League members, $37 non-members. Register at www.LWVOC.org/HotTopics
Doors open at 11 a.m., and lunch begins. The program starts promptly at 11:45 a.m. and concludes at 1 p.m. Hot Topics is streamed live on the League’s Facebook page Facebook and is available for viewing live on the League’s YouTube channel. League of Women Voters Orange County - YouTube