CCSWG featured as Secretary of State celebrates the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer with a podcast series

CONTACT:
SOS Press Office (916) 653-6575

The mission of Promote the Vote California is to create a strong civic culture within California communities. This initiative seeks to leverage the power of partnership and to nurture connections with businesses and organizations, paving the way for a stronger, more inclusive California.

This is Promote the Vote California, The Podcast, focuses on service, civic education, voting engagement, and equity in California communities, drawing lessons from Freedom Summer's collective action. Freedom Summer stands as a testament to the power of unity, as it brought together leaders and everyday citizens from across the nation to combat disenfranchisement. This historic movement served as the driving force behind the enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

During conversations with the podcast guests, the discussions will delve into a wide range of important topics, including gender, race, health, the environment, and the economy, to consider how Californians have opportunities to participate in civic engagement and use their votes to create greater equity in their communities and beyond.

Episode One - California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber Ph.D. (June 18)

In this inaugural episode of This is Promote the Vote California, The Podcast, California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., discusses voting equity. Secretary Weber has a long history of civic engagement - her family has roots in the Jim Crow South, so voting equity has always been a driving force behind her work as a professor, a State Legislator, and now as the Secretary of State. Tune in to hear more about disenfranchisement, improving access to voting, and why your vote matters.

Episode Two - Dr. Ilan Shapiro (July 16)

In this episode, the Promote the Vote California team speaks to Dr. Ilan Shapiro, Chief HealthCorrespondent and Medical Affairs Officer at AltaMed Health Services. Dr. Shapiro has an impressive background in advocating for health equity and civic engagement throughout his career. His work with the White House Hispanic Policy Group, the Mexican Secretary of Health, and the Board of Governors at L.A. Care Health Plan is just a glimpse of his extensive involvement. Dr. Shapiro is teaming up with the Secretary of State's Office to discuss how voting can help eliminate disparities in healthcare access and why civic engagement is the most effective form of advocacy.

Episode Three - Darcy Totten (August 20)

Darcy Totten, the Interim Executive Director for the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls (CCSWG) talks to the Promote the Vote California team about how she works to engage her voting community and beyond. Darcy was appointed as the Director of External Affairs for the CCSWG in 2023, having previously served as the Commission's Director of Communications since 2019. The CCSWG focuses on regularly evaluating gender equity in health, safety, employment, and education and ensuring equal representation in the military and the media. The Promote the Vote team is excited to have Darcy as a guest for the final episode of our summer podcast series, where she will
discuss gender equity and the power of civic action. We encourage Californians to tune in and hear Darcy's insights on why voting is important.

Podcasts are available on the SOS website or the California SOS YouTube channel.

###

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.