League of Women Voters

Katie D.

April 9, 2010 - 3:21 PM

Next Thursday, April 15th, I will be speaking to the Eugene League of Women Voters about my experiences with No More Deaths. My presentation will be forty minutes long, and will also include twenty minutes of question and answer.

I've been excited about this since before I left on my trip: it's a chance to present what I've learned to a large and important crowd. I'll be able to share my stories with a group of people who are already committed to making a difference and to educating themselves on many issues.

As I wrote that first paragraph, I realized I'm also very nervous. I've never done a formal presentation of that length before. I've also never needed to plan for twenty minutes of question and answer. I've been to countless presentations by professors, politicians, authors, and activists, which might help me get ready for Thursday. I tend to prefer speeches with limited Power Point, unless the slides are pictures or graphs. I like speakers to provide a strong background for the audience, with enough information about the context that the audience can participate in the more detailed sections. And I also truly enjoy presentations that emphasize the speaker's own experiences, stories, and retelling of the stories of others. I have always had a hard time remembering numbers and statistics, so while a list of statistical facts might be powerful in the moment, what I remember in the long run is always the stories.

So there's the basic format of my presentation, based solely on my reaction to others. I've compiled background context and statistics from my Mexican Migration class, the No More Deaths educational materials, and independent research to provide a general understanding for the reasons for migration and the realities of the lives of the individuals who migrate to the US. I'm putting together a Power Point slide show of pictures from my three No More Deaths trips, which will allow me to discuss various pieces of the background and statistics (I have an incredible map of known border deaths you can access) as well as transitioning to my personal experiences and stories. My hope is also to reserve some stories and examples for the question and answer section. That is the most nerve-wracking portion of the presentation for me, since I cannot control what I will be asked.

Despite my nervousness, I am extremely honored and excited to about this opportunity. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that seeks to "make democracy work for all citizens." Their Mission Statement is: The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. My past experiences with this organization has been during election years, when the League publishes a voter's information packet with nonpartisan descriptions of ballot measures and candidates, including statements for and against from the parties themselves. On a national level, this group provides the essential service of educating the public about issues that impact us all. They also take special interest in certain issues, and have compiled a list of their position on many of the priority issues of the day.

For the purposes of my presentation, I was very excited to find the LWV position on Immigration. Essentially, their position represents a compassionate approach to secure borders and economic needs, recognizing both the rights of individuals to immigrate legally and the necessity of protecting the country. I am excited to add my voice to their discussion.

The local LWV website can be found here. Each month, the LWV hosts a "Third Thursday" presentation. Check out the newsletter to see a description of my talk, and please come if you're in the area!

I'll be sure to let you all know how things go on Thursday. My hope is to represent No More Deaths well, and to be informative and helpful to the LWV as well. I also am so excited to be in contact with this fabulous organization, and to have the opportunity to learn from them and to experience their expertise.

Wish me luck!