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Winter 2026 News & Information |
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Christmas Tree at Michigan Theatre
LWVJA’s Christmas Tree, festooned by Martha Petry, JoAnn Goyings, and Ruthann Thulin, as part of Michigan Theatre’s annual competition to benefit local nonprofits. Holiday visitors voted with dollars, making our organization’s tree the top vote-getter. |
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Book Club
Our League’s Book Club will be reading some compelling books in the months to come, and we hope you will join us. Our meetings are on the fourth Monday of every other month, held at the Jackson Library’s Carnegie Branch at 5:00 p.m.
However, our next meeting at 5:00 p.m, March 23, will be via Zoom, in case of inclement weather. Our book for discussion will be James, by Percival Everett. This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel reimagines Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of the enslaved man, Jim, who flees after learning he'll be sold away from his family, and focuses on Jim's intelligence, his quest for freedom, and his experiences with racism.
We invite you to join us on Zoom and discuss this powerful work!
UP NEXT: On May 26, we will meet at the library’s Carnegie Branch at 5 p.m. The book chosen is Isabel Allende’s The Wind Knows My Name |
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Holiday Gathering & Gems of Jackson
On December 4th, Jackson League members and guests gathered at Soar Café for a holiday celebration. Guest Speaker and Director of Gems of Jackson Childcare and Education Center, Vittoria Jimerson, highlighted the mission of Gems—“to build resilience and cultivate hope by partnering with families, veterans, and youth to promote opportunity, dignity, and community wellness.”
Vittoria detailed how her belief in giving back to the place where you live led her to establish a 24-hour daycare for children from 8 weeks to 12 years. More than a child care center (located inside the WHO Building, 1203 First St. Jackson), it is a place where the foundations of lifelong learning begin, where families find peace of mind, and where every child is given the opportunity to sparkle with confidence and joy. Gardening, stem-based learning, bilingual education, bowling, and golf scholarships are all a part of Gem activities and resources.
The holiday luncheon included Soar’s delectable soup and sandwiches, table gifts of succulent plants and arrangements donated by Ed Peterson, and member contributions of art supplies, books, and clothing to Gems. |
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Meet New Member:
Katima Dickenson
Katima Dickenson joined the League less than one year ago, yet already her vibrant and passionate personality is impacting our understanding of and commitment to youth outreach. As the Assistant to John Willis, Jackson City Government’s Officer and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Katima helps support Jackson City Youth Council members in leadership development, community service, advocacy, and activism initiatives. Working with Youth Council Liaison Nacoya Davis, Katima engages these middle and high school students in their project creations. Katima participated in our League’s October 2025 Leadership Retreat and discovered new ways to partner with area youth, and shared information about the upcoming Jackson County Youth Invitational, March 26, 10-2 p.m, Jackson City Center. When asked about why she joined LWVJA, she talked about living her philosophy of “Don’t look down on a man unless you’re picking him up.” |
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LWVJA Members - 69 NEW Members - 10 Chantay Bollinger Angela Evans Beverly Fex Tyshon Gray Heather Holleque Anita Hoyt Barbara Ingalls Sarah Massey Georgia Tocco Sheila Wendorf |
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Jackson Area Events Calendar |
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January 31 Common Grounds, Hosted by LWVJA, 10:00am-NOON, Library, Eastern Branch, E. Michigan Ave., Mini-forum Topic: ICE and Immigration – Local Impact
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February
12
LWVMI President’s Meeting, 7-8 pm Zoom
14
LWV 106th Anniversary
15
LWVJA 11th Anniversary
19
LWVJA Board Meeting, 10 am-11:30 am, Ella Sharp Park Museum 19
My Democracy—My Vote Module 1. All 8th Grade Classes, Parkside Middle School 26
My Democracy—My Vote Module 2. All 8th Grade Classes, Parkside Middle School 28
Common Grounds, Hosted by LWVJA, 10:00am-NOON, Library, Meijer Branch Mini-forum topic TBD |
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March Women's History Month & Reading Month 2 Voter Services Meeting, 10-10:30 am, Meijer Branch Library, Planning 2026 Election Season 5 My Democracy—My Vote Module 3. All 8th Grade Classes, Parkside Middle School 8 Susan B Anthony/Harriet Tubman Dinner, 2:30-5 pm, Cascades Manor House 12 My Democracy—My Vote Module 4. All 8th Grade Classes, Parkside Middle School 12 LWVMI President’s Meeting, 7-8 pm Zoom 19 LWVJA Board Meeting, 10 am-11:30 am, Ella Sharp Park Museum 19 My Democracy—My Vote Module 5. All 8th Grade Classes, Parkside Middle School 23 LWVJA Book Club, 5-6:30 p.m., Carnegie Auditorium, Book: James by Percival Everett 26 My Democracy—My Vote Module 6. All 8th Grade Classes, Parkside Middle School 28 Common Grounds, Hosted by LWVJA, 10:00am-NOON, Mini-forum topic TBD |
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April Celebrate Diversity Month 9 LWVMI President’s Meeting, Zoom, 7 –8 p.m. 20 LWVJA Board Meeting, 10 am-11:30 am, Ella Sharp Park Museum 21 Symposium: Fraud in the Era of Artificial Intelligence, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Cascades Manor 25 Common Grounds, Hosted by LWVJA, 10:00am-NOON, Mini-forum topic TBD |
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Co-President’s Letter
Dear Members, Happy New Year, and thank you for your very active impact in 2025. 2026 has much to be watchful of: AI Data Centers ICE Implementation of Voter restrictions Getting out to educate and inform voters about elections/petitions/mail-in ballots/registering for AV ballots Misinformation Elections covering the governor, the new US senator seat (a closely watched race in the US), and statewide elections due to term limits Our country celebrates 250 years! Stay tuned for a true celebration!
2026 presents a year of many opportunities for our local League. So, where can you help? Observer Corp - we need people to sit in on meetings once a month - you get to pick. Text Banking - if you are unable to leave your home but are looking for a productive function - sign up! Even if you do get out - sign up! Voter Services - if you hear of a function that needs the League to be present, let us know. Neighborhood watch - Does your church need speakers? Would they like to learn more about the petitions circulating?
Make 2026 the year that we each bring a neighbor, friend, family member, or associate to join the LWVJA.
Train online to learn how the Board of Canvassers works and how you can observe. We will be observing both the August and November elections.
- Linda Furgason and Deborah Nagy, Co-Presidents |
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Care to join the facilitators this year? Each session is staffed by a facilitator and assistant. We could use your help! Contact Linda Furgason, 517-812-7965 or lindafurgason@gmail.com |
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My Democracy My Vote Program
Every eighth grader at Parkside Middle School will complete this rapid-fire and interactive course during the last two Thursdays of February and the four Thursdays of March.
The course consists of six modules; each is 15 minutes in length:
Module 1: Uninformed Voting Module 2: Democracy - Our Form of Government Module 3: Registration - Youth Register Module 4: Campaigning - What is it? Module 5: Candidates - Define Module 6: Informed Voting – Youth Vote on Mascot |
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Membership Renewal
Have you received a recent reminder to renew your LWVJA membership? You can do it online at the LWV national Portal or you can print the renewal form and send us a check payable to LWVUS. |
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M E M B E R P R O F I L E: Mr. Ed Peterson — A Life Rooted in Service By Sheryl Rose
Mr. Ed Peterson has built his life around service, and these days that dedication resonates clearly in his work with the League of Women Voters. Since joining, he has become a familiar face at candidate forums, voter information events, fundraisers, and especially the My Vote, My Democracy program at Parkside. For six weeks each year, he and fellow volunteers meet with eighth-grade social studies classes to talk about informed voting. “As an educator, it felt natural,” he says. “And it’s needed more than ever.”
His commitment to the League is rooted in a deep concern for democracy's health. “We need to educate voters, get them registered, and help young people understand the power of their vote. Nobody else is doing what the League is doing,” he says. What drew him in was the organization’s visibility and effectiveness. “I wanted to work with people who get things done — gitter done gals,” he adds with a smile.
The values that guide his League work were shaped long before he joined. Raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, he grew up watching his mother lead community fundraisers and events. After college, his early teaching experiences in Flint’s inner city schools opened his eyes to inequity and the importance of civic participation. After two years in Flint, he joined the Peace Corps from 1969 to 1971, spending two years in the Philippines training teachers. When he returned, he went back to Flint to continue teaching before later moving into leadership roles in Jackson Public Schools. That path through education from Flint to the Philippines to Jackson deepened his belief that opportunity and democracy must be actively sustained.
Today, he continues that work through the League, his church, and his volunteer commitments. His advice to anyone considering joining is immediate: “Do it. If you want to help people become informed, this is the best way. It matters.” And he hopes more men will recognize that the League’s mission belongs to everyone. |
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Friendship Tea Continues to Grow
With record member attendance, the participation of area Girl Scouts, and lots of fun, the Seventh Annual Friendship Tea on November 8 was a great success.
Ann Green and Martha Petry, with the help of Ed Peterson, lived up to the title of their skit, A Judicial Hubub, with a rousing program about Esther Morris, the first territorial judge in the U.S., in Wyoming. Girl Scouts from Jackson troops didn’t just serve lunch; they provided everyone with a recipe for the original Girl Scout cookie. The beautifully decorated jars of cookie ingredients, along with the attached recipe, were gathered and constructed by League members for the table favors. The Girl Scouts' participation aligns with a national effort between LWV and the Girl Scouts to help girls become better-informed citizens. Members of the newly formed Jackson Youth Council also attended, supported by several LWVJA sponsors.
The First Congregational Church was beautifully transformed by the Tea Committee, headed by Deborah Nagy, and members Linda Furgason, Mary Lee Clark, Marie Fisher, Ken Hollingshead, Martha Petry, Sheryl Rose, Bert Sexton, and Shirley Zeller.
The event netted over $4,300 that will cover local league expenses, support the state League, and assist local organizations. The Friendship Tea, once again, was a great way for members and nonmembers alike to share a good time together. |
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FAQ
2026 Michigan Midterm Election Year:
What will it look like?
Due to Term Limits, all of Michigan’s top state offices are without an incumbent. Our ballot will include races for: Governor – The primary fields for both major parties will have multiple candidates. The General Election is likely to include 3 major candidates: the Republican nominee, the Democratic nominee, and Mike Duggan, Detroit’s outgoing mayor, who left the Democratic Party to run as an independent. US Senate seat is currently held by retiring Senator Gary Peters. Secretary of State – Jocelyn Benson is term-limited and is running for Governor. Attorney General – Dana Nessel is term-limited. All 110 state House seats - Republicans now hold a 58-52 majority All 38 state Senate seats - Democrats now hold a 19-18 edge. All 13 congressional seats, which include some of the most competitive districts in the country. Two Michigan Supreme Court seats. A Ballot Proposal on whether to hold a state constitutional convention and rewrite Michigan’s foundational document. This happens every 16 years. The last time the state Constitution was rewritten was in 1963. Ballot Initiatives – groups are gathering signatures for at least 8 other ballot issues.
The following link to the LWVMI website provides information on current ballot proposals. |
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LWVJA plans to offer presentations to help you understand the ballots and their circulating petitions.
There will also be local races, including County Commissioner seats, City of Jackson Mayor and Council seats, and other local positions. |
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2026 Symposium: Fraud in the Era of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The League of Women Voters Jackson Area, AARP Michigan, and American One Credit Union have joined forces to present at this April 21 informative luncheon symposium.
Brenda Price, the keynote speaker is an AARP Associate State Director, with over 25-years’ experience serving Detroit and other Michigan communities. A panel of experts will round out the program by answering audience questions.
ARM YOURSELF by learning from these experts! |
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Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner
The Jackson County Branch of the NAACP held its first annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner on January 17 at the recently refurbished Masonic Temple, now the Jackson City Center. Mayor Dan Mahoney introduced the evening Keynote Speaker, the Rev. James L. Hines of Lily Missionary Baptist Church. LWVJA had a full table of members.
Below: Enjoying the MLK Jr dinner were LWVJA Members: Carol Schwinn, Nan Whitmore, David Schwinn, Betty Hall, Deborah Nagy, Ruthann Thulin, and JoAnn Goyings. |
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A time and place to discuss current concerns that affect our community
Mark your calendar, then come, share coffee and small bites as we search for Common Grounds. LWVJA invites you to attend these mini-forums. The first topic is: ICE, Immigration, and the Jackson Area’s Impact
Saturday, January 31, 10 a.m. – NOON Eastern Branch Library
Saturday, February 28, 10 a.m. — NOON TBD
Future Monthly Topics: AI Data Centers The Housing Crisis Voter Safeguards
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Linda Furgason, Co-President Deborah Nagy, Co-President Nan Whitmore, Secretary Pam Schultz, Treasurer Mary Lee Clark, Member Services Chair Ken Hollingshead, Communications Chair
Board Members Rosemary Edgar Louvenia Shack Seals Isabell Nazar Martha Petry Bert Sexton |
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Publisher: Mel Bice with Linda Furgason Designer: Mel Bice Editor: Mary Lee Clark Text Editors: Nancy Connell, Marge Duane, Martha Petry Writers: Nancy Connell, Linda Furgason, Deborah Nagy, Martha Petry, Sheryl Rose, Ruthann Thulin |
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