PUBLIC POLICY NEWS By Kathy Papst

Welcome to the 2025-26 year for the Sacramento Branch of AAUW.
I am excited to continue as director of Public Policy. I hope that everyone had a great summer and that you are set to begin a new year exploring our mission of equity for women and girls through research, education and philanthropy.

Last year, under the leadership from Program Vice Presidents Hedda Smithson and Barbara Smith, we presented programs of “Lights, Camera, Action!” the Right for Freedom To . . . on reproductive freedom, Title IX, pay equity, voting rights, and civil rights/DEI. These programs were very informative, and spurred discussion and encouraged actively getting involved. Thank you Hedda and Barbara for all your work and dedication to programs.

I will present a public policy program in October focusing on school choice. I will also present the March program, which will highlight another avenue of the future of our educational system. I will have more information on that later in the year.

This year I will have a display of PUBLIC POLICY NEWS at all of our programs, with informational pamphlets and a look into the research on aspects of public policy from AAUW fellowship and grant recipients. Please take a look when you attend these events. I will be available for questions before and after the program.

AAUW CA Public Policy News will resume with the October newsletter.

If there is a public policy topic that you would like to know more about as it pertains to the AAUW mission, please reach out to me. My contact information can be found in the Membership Directory.

I look forward to a productive year of exploration on the AAUW mission for equity for women and girls.