General Meeting: State Senate & Assembly Candidates
2020-08-18 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual Online, CA
Welcome to our State Senate & Assembly Candidates: Dave Min, Melissa Fox & Scott Rhinehart
Please join us for this unique opportunity to hear from our local candidates for State offices.
Join us live on Zoom (Registration required)
Watch live on our YouTube Channel (No registration required)
Download August’s Meeting Agenda and Consent Item Details
Download July’s Meeting Minutes
Dave Min is a candidate for the California State Senate District 37. He is running against incumbent John Moorlach in the November general election.
CA State Senate District 37 covers Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Orange, Tustin and Villa Park.
Dave is a nationally recognized expert on economic policy who has fought for economic opportunity for working Americans for nearly two decades. A first-generation Korean-American, he worked as an enforcement attorney at the Securities and Exchange Commission, as an economic and financial policy advisor to Senator Chuck Schumer, and as an economic policy director at the Center for American Progress. Dave and his wife, Jane, both teach at the UC Irvine School of Law while raising their three children.

Melissa Fox is a candidate for the California State Assembly District 68. She is running against Republican Steven Choi in the November general election.
CA State Assembly District 68 covers Lake Forest, North Tustin, Tustin and Villa Park, and portions of Anaheim, Irvine and Orange.
Melissa is a member of the Bars of the State of California and the United States Tax Court. She is a graduate of Brandeis University and Tulane University School of Law. She is the founder of the Fox Law Firm in Irvine. Melissa has practiced law in Orange County for more than 20 years. She lives with her husband, Dr. Michael Fox, and their son, Max, in Irvine.

Scott Rhinehart is a candidate for the California State Assembly District 73. He is running against Republican Laurie Davies in the November general election.
CA State Assembly District 73 covers Aliso Viejo, Coto de Caza, Dana Point, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Las Flores, Mission Viejo, RSM, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.
Scott is a community leader, businessman, husband, father and grandfather. He has participated in political advocacy, such as working to defeat The Briggs Initiative, Proposition 8 (the anti-gay California Marriage Protection Act) and fought to increase funding for HIV/AIDS prevention. Scott is also a passionate supporter of equal rights for all Americans, particularly workers’ and women’s rights.

Virtual Town Hall with Congressman Mike Levin
2020-08-27 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Online, CA
A zoom webinar hosted by the Canyon Democrats
Join us live on Zoom (Registration required)
Space is limited in our Zoom meeting.
Watch live on our YouTube Channel (No registration required)

The Canyon Democrats are delighted to present a special Town Hall with Mike Levin, Representative, 49th Congressional District. Mike has been an exceptional new member of Congress. He serves on the House Committees for Natural Resources and the Climate Crisis. He also chairs the Veterans Affairs Committee and serves on numerous sub-committees as well. We are very proud of the work he is doing for us in Congress. We look forward to hearing directly from Mike about what’s happening in Congress and his re-election campaign. There will also be time for questions.

Virtual Town Hall with Congresswoman Katie Porter
2020-09-01 18:30 - 19:30
A zoom webinar hosted by the Canyon Democrats
Schedule:
6:30PM – 7:00PM – Informal social time for Canyon Dems
7:00PM – 7:30PM – Katie will join us for a Town Hall update!

Our Zoom registrations have reached capacity.
Please join us on our YouTube channel at 7:00 PM to watch live!
Watch live on our YouTube Channel (No registration required)

The Canyon Democrats are delighted to present a special Town Hall with Katie Porter, Representative, 45th Congressional District. Please join us as we hear from Katie about her re-election campaign and the challenges we face as we move towards the General Election.

General Meeting: Local Candidates Night
2020-09-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Virtual Online, CA
Local Candidates Night & Special Update from an Orange County Educator

Please join us as we hear from candidates for local offices and receive a special education update from Barbara Schulman, a long-time Orange County educator
Join us live on Zoom (Registration required)
Watch live on our YouTube Channel (No registration required)
Download September’s Meeting Agenda and Consent Item Details
Download August’s Meeting Minutes

MEET THE CANDIDATES
Edward Wong, incumbent and candidate for Saddleback Valley Unified School District, Board of Directors
Ed was a professor at Concordia University in Irvine. He has served his community for over 38 years as a teacher, an elementary, junior high and high school principal and a district office administrator.

Pauline Hale, candidate for Mission Viejo City Council
Pauline is a commercial real estate consulting manager with over 25 years of experience. She is a board member and the Philanthropy Chair of the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), a member of the National Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force, and a founding member of the Chrysalis Orange County Advisory Council, a non-profit dedicated to job assistance and training for the homeless and disadvantaged. She was named as a 2020 fellow for the Equality California Institute Leadership Academy. She lives in Mission Viejo.

Beth Schwartz, candidate for Rancho Santa Margarita City Council
Beth is a public health nurse for the County of Orange serving on the COVID team, a group that works with the homeless. She is an instructor in the RN and Master of Public Health programs at Azusa Pacific University and West Coast University. Prior to this work, Beth was the women’s pastor at a large multi-site church with regional campuses all over the world. She stepped down from that role to pursue her mission of leading, mobilizing and healing the world around her in new ways. Beth holds a PhD in Nursing from Azusa Pacific University.

John Christopoulos, candidate for Rancho Santa Margarita City Council
John has worked as an officer in the financial services field for 30 years. He has been on the RSM Planning Commission for the past five years, serving both as Chair and Vice Chair. John has been involved in the Boy Scouts of America for over ten years, serving now in leadership roles. He is a volunteer for various community outreach activities through his church and for the city of RSM. John has lived with his family in RSM for over 23 years.

EDUCATION UPDATE
Barbara Schulman, member of the Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Directors
Barbara has been a special education teacher in the SVUSD for over 25 years, working with children ages 6 months through adults 22 years of age. Barbara sat on the advisory commission for special education for 12 years. She has two children, one in Chicago and one who lives locally. Her bio includes that she loves life, likes to joke and smile, and believes the Canyon Dems has given her another family.

Virtual Campaign Office
2020-09-21 10:00 - 13:00, 2020-10-12 10:00 - 13:00, 2020-10-26 10:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Online, CA
Please join us whenever you can at one of our Virtual Campaign Office meet-ups! Everyone is welcome, including those volunteering to write postcards; working on a candidate’s campaign; or if you just want to find out what is going on to win the election for all of our Democratic candidates.
Join during our virtual office meetings and ask your questions. There will be time at the start of the meeting to just visit.
Join us on Zoom
10 AM Meetings opens at 10am for visiting and business at 10:30am

Ballot Party!
2020-10-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Virtual Online, CA
Come Celebrate Your Right to Vote!
Voters will start receiving their mailed ballots on October 5th. This special meeting of the Canyon Democrats will focus only on helping members vote safely and making decisions on candidates and ballot measures.
Early voting is critical so that there will be a surge of Biden votes announced when the polls close at 8:00pm on Nov. 3rd sending a message to Trump to start packing up.
Join us live on Zoom (Registration required)
Watch live on our YouTube Channel (No registration required)

Election Day
2020-11-03 07:00 - 20:00
General Election, November 3, 2020

Got questions about how or where to vote? We’ve got answers!
MOST COMMON NEEDS:
Register to Vote Online (If you moved, you must re-register to vote.)
Check Your Registration Status in Orange County
16 and 17 Year Olds Preregister Here
Information on Military and Overseas Voting
WHEN AND HOW TO VOTE:
Orange County is changing to Voting Centers in 2020! You’ll no longer receive information about polling locations. Instead, you’ll have the convenience of Voting Centers that will be open for 5 days prior to an election day and hundreds of convenient ballot Drop Boxes. And every registered voter will receive a ballot in the mail!
Find out more about Orange County’s new Voting Centers
Find your nearest Vote Center or Drop Box
SEE OUR LIST OF ENDORSED CANDIDATES AND BALLOT MEASURES

Holiday Donation Drive
2020-11-16 - 2020-12-11
Help us give back to those most in need this holiday season! Our Political Outreach team, led by our Volunteers of the Year Ann Owens and Andrea Alexander, are coordinating a donation drive.
See details about Family Promise and their most needed items here.
You can drop off items at Ann’s home– 24586 Via Tequila, Lake Forest or email Ann to have items picked up.
Or you can deliver yourself to Family Promise, 310 W. Broadway, Suite 203-205, Anaheim, CA 92805.
The items are due to Family Promise by 12/11 or to Ann Owens by 12/10.
See the Family Promise website for more details: www.familypromiseorangecounty.org
If you have questions email Ann at outreach@canyondems.org

General Meeting: The Path Going Forward feat. 2 Chapman U. Professors
2020-11-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Virtual Online, CA
OUR FIRST POST-ELECTION MEETING!
The Path Going Forward to the January Inauguration
Please join us to learn what we might expect between now and Inauguration Day, January 20
Our guest speakers are Chapman University
Professors Michael Moodian and Fred Smoller

REGISTER ON ZOOM NOW
JOIN US ON YOUTUBE LIVE (No registration required)
Download Meeting Agenda

Dr. Michael A. (Mike) Moodian has served as a faculty member in various capacities for Chapman University since 2007. He teaches in Chapman’s leadership studies program, codirects Wilkinson College’s O.C. Annual Survey, and is a professor of social science at Chapman-affiliated Brandman University. Professor Moodian’s writings have appeared in the Voice of OC.

Fred Smoller is associate professor of political science at Chapman University, where he has been on the faculty since 1983. He received his Ph.D. from Indiana University. His major area of interest is American politics, with an emphasis on local government. Professor Smoller directs Chapman’s annual local government conference and is the author of the 2018 book From Kleptocracy to Democracy: How Citizens Can Take Back Local Government.

2020 Holiday Victory Lap Drive-Thru
2020-12-13 18:00 - 19:30
Thanks to everyone who donated! We can’t wait to see you at the Victory Lap!
Join the Canyon Democrats for a festive, celebratory drive-thru event featuring:

Our Pandemic Wine Wall: $20 for a surprise bottle of wine
Safe Distance Santa: $20 visit with Santa, take pics!
DIY Holiday Light Tour: $20 includes addresses and map of area light displays plus refreshments for 2 to go. ($5 for each additional person)

Donate for one, two or all three!! Location details will be provided upon receipt of donation.

Virtual General Meeting feat. Norberto Santana, Jr., Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Voice of OC
2021-01-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Virtual Online, CA
Norberto Santana, Jr. – Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
Voice of OC
How is Covid-19 impacting life in Orange County?
How did the Voice of OC become the County’s civic news leader?

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WATCH LIVE ON YOUTUBE

DOWNLOAD NOVEMBER’S MEETING MINUTES
DOWNLOAD JANUARY MEETING AGENDA

Join us for this outstanding program and special opportunity to hear from Norberto Santana, Jr., as he reports on the varying impact of Covid-19 on Orange County’s institutions and residents. He will also discuss how the Voice of OC operates and what he envisions for its future.
About our keynote speaker:
Norberto Santana, Jr. is an award-winning investigative reporter with nearly two decades reporting experience, most recently engaging Orange County government institutions and decision makers as the founding publisher of the nonprofit digital newsroom, Voice of OC.
A pioneering leader in the nation’s rising nonprofit news movement, Santana has established Voice of OC as Orange County’s civic news leader. As publisher and editor in chief, Santana oversees all newsroom, engagement and fundraising operations and also writes a weekly Opinion column about Orange County government.
In addition to journalism, Santana also teaches public affairs and investigative journalism as an adjunct faculty professor at Chapman University. Before founding Voice of OC in 2009, Santana was a lead investigative reporter for the Orange County Register, focusing on county government.
In addition to his experience as a journalist, the Southern California native has a master’s in Latin American Studies, has worked as an elections analyst on National Endowment for Democracy programs across Latin America and was one of the founders of CubaNet.org, a website featuring the work of dissident journalists inside Cuba that has operated since 1995.

Valentines's Day Car Parade Fundraiser
2021-02-14 15:00 - 17:00
Spread the Love Pandemic Style!

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH
3:00 – 5:00 PM
A donation of just $50 gets your loved ones a personal parade in front of their house and a box heart shaped box of chocolates.
*Parades limited to the Canyon Dems area

Virtual General Meeting feat. Susan B. Parks, President & CEO, OC United Way
2021-02-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Virtual Online, CA
ORANGE COUNTY UNITED WAY
Meeting the needs of individuals & families in O.C.
Keynote Speaker: Susan B. Parks, President & CEO
Learn about United Way’s programs to assist those suffering from the pandemic and homelessness, as well as other programs that benefit O.C. individuals and families

REGISTER ON ZOOM NOW

WATCH LIVE ON YOUTUBE

Download January Meeting Minutes
Download February Meeting Agenda
About our speaker
Susan Parks serves on the Commission to End Homelessness and is a member of the University of California, Irvine, Chief Executive Roundtable. She was the Vice Chair of the United Way Worldwide Health Campaign and serves in various leadership roles in several Orange County non-profit organizations.
Prior to joining United Way, Parks was Co-Founder and CEO of iCount Wellness™ at WalkStyles Inc., a leading corporate wellness program. She has also held executive roles in several Fortune 500 and 1000 companies.
Parks has received numerous accolades, including the O.C. Business Journal’s Women of the Year Award, the Pioneering Award from the local chapter of the National Association of Women in Business Organization (NAWBO), the Literacy Project Foundation Distinguished Humanitarian of the Year, Girl Scouts Celebrate Leadership Recipient, OC Register 2018 Top 100 Influencers and in 2018 was awarded a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for her work with the United To End Homelessness initiative.

VIRTUAL: Homelessness 101 with the United Way
2021-02-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual Online, CA
REGISTER HERE

Learn about Community Choice Energy
2021-03-10 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Online, CA
REGISTER NOW
Join our Political Action Committee chair, Andrea Alexander, and learn all about Community Choice Energy at this free, virtual Zoom event. This hot-topic issue has been discussed by most of our local city councils. This easy and informative discussion will cover all of your questions about Community Choice Energy and why so many other local areas are adopting it. Get informed on this critical, local issue!

Background:
Community Choice Energy (aka Community Choice Aggregation (CCA)) brings competition and consumer choice to the electricity sector with a focus on local, renewable energy. As not-for-profit agencies, CCEs are not beholden to multi-million dollar CEO salaries or shareholder returns, but rather to stable, competitive pricing for consumers and increasingly
resilient, clean, and local energy systems.
The OC Power Authority (OCPA) is OC’s first CCE program. Formed in December 2020, OCPA will begin serving member cities Irvine, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, and Buena Park in 2022. Other cities can join the OCPA after their city councils vote to do so and may begin service as early as 2023.
The Lake Forest City Council voted in December 2020 to join OCPA, but then voted to leave the program in February 2021.

Topics that will be covered:

Consumer Choice
Savings & Economic Impact
Clean Energy
Local Investment & Jobs
Protection from Wildfire
Local Control

REGISTER NOW

Virtual General Meeting featuring. Dr. David Snow, Distinguished Professor of Sociology at UCI
2021-03-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Virtual Online, CA
HOMELESSNESS: ORANGE COUNTY & BEYOND
Guest speaker: Dr. David Snow
Distinguished Professor of Sociology at UCI
Dr. David Snow, a renowned researcher of the social psychology of extreme poverty and homelessness, will discuss the causes of homelessness, who the homeless are, the challenges of living on the streets, and the costs of homelessness to Orange County.

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WATCH LIVE ON YOUTUBE
Download February Meeting Minutes
Download March Meeting Agenda
About our speaker
David A. Snow is a recently retired Distinguished Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Irvine, which he joined in 2001 following appointments at the University of Texas, Austin, and the University of Arizona. He has authored or co-authored well over 100 articles and chapters on homelessness, social movements and protest, religious conversion, framing processes, identity, and qualitative research methods in a range of sociological and social science journals, and 10 books including the award-winning Down on Their Luck: A Study of Homeless Street People (with L. Anderson). Professor Snow has conducted research on homelessness in numerous cities throughout the country, including Orange County, where he and Dr. Rachel Goldberg recently conducted a study of homelessness and its costs in the county. The study was co-sponsored by OC United Way, Jamboree Housing, and UCI. Professor Snow is past President of the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction and the Pacific Sociological Association, a past Vice President of the American Sociological Association, and a recipient of numerous scholarly awards. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Families Forward in Irvine and Share Our Selves (SOS) in Costa Mesa, and is a member of the Newport Beach City Council Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness

Housing Champions Advocacy 101
2021-03-19 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Online, CA
REGISTER NOW

Are you interested in learning how to be a powerful voice in your community to help end homelessness across Orange County?

About this Event

Join us to explore:

How to find the information you need to be an effective voice for more supportive & affordable housing in your community
How to move supportive & affordable housing developments toward approval
How to avoid shouting matches & instead find/join with like-minded people to engage in positive action
How to deliver strong public comments at key city council & commission board hearings

The Zoom link will be emailed directly to you prior to our event.
We will start promptly at 12:00pm on Friday, March 19.
All interested Orange County residents are strongly encouraged to attend this workshop!

Wine Tasting on the Vernal Equinox
2021-03-20 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual Online, CA
Details:

Starts at 4:00 PM
$65 per household, includes 2 bottles of wine, Educational session with a Sommelier, Tasting with friends via Zoom!

We have room for just a few more people!
BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW

Questions? Email info@canyondems.org

NOTES: Only available to locals who are 21 and over. Please drink responsibly.

Virtual General Meeting featuring. Michele Goodwin, UCI Professor of Law
2021-04-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Virtual Online, CA
Civil Liberties in a Pandemic: The Lessons of History
Keynote Speaker:
Michele Bratcher Goodwin, UCI Professor of Law

Legal & political concerns about the government’s exercise of authority during a pandemic & national health crisis
Professor Goodwin will address the need to balance the state’s authority to protect the public’s health and safety against encroachments upon civil rights and civil liberties. She will offer case studies to explain the history and political concerns related to the balancing acts the states must undertake. There will be time for Q&A’s.
REGISTER ON ZOOM NOW

NOTE: Professor Goodwin’s portion of the meeting will only be accessible via Zoom
WATCH LIVE ON YOUTUBE
Download March Meeting Minutes
Download April Meeting Agenda
About our speaker
Michele Bratcher Goodwin is a Chancellor’s Professor at the University of California, Irvine and founding director of the Center for Biotechnology and Global Health Policy. She is the recipient of the 2020-21 Distinguished Senior Faculty Award for Research, the highest honor bestowed by the University of California. She is also the first law professor at the University of California, Irvine to receive this award. She is an elected member of the American Law Institute as well as an elected Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Hastings Center (the organization central to the founding of bioethics). She is an American Law Institute Adviser for the Restatement Third of Torts: Remedies.
Click here to learn more about Professor Goodwin

EARTH DAY 2021: RESTORE OUR EARTH
2021-04-23 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Online, CA
VIRTUAL CELEBRATION OF EARTH DAY
RESTORE OUR EARTH
Friday, April 23, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
The Canyon Democrats invite you to celebrate Earth Day 2021 with presentations & workshops about our environment and sustainability

Presentation 1: Impact of toxic pesticides on our health & how to eliminate their use
Presenter: Ayn Craciun, Policy Advocate for the Climate Action Campaign
Presentation 2: Organic Landscaping: Best practices and policies in OC
Presenter: Vanessa Armstrong, Organic Land Care expert
Presentation 3: 18 Things you should NOT recycle curbside!
Presenter: Ann Owens, Educator and Canyon Dems member

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WATCH LIVE ON YOUTUBE

Following the presentations each speaker will host a break-out room for questions and discussion.

About the presenters
Ayn Craciun is a policy advocate for the Climate Action Campaign. She is a founding board member of Non-Toxic Irvine, a group which successfully advocated for the City of Irvine’s adoption of an organic landscaping policy to bring an end to Irvine’s use of fossil fuel-based pesticides.
Ayn began her journey as an environmental advocate in 2015 after she learned that three children in her Irvine neighborhood of 1,700 homes had been diagnosed with brain tumors.
Ayn is focused on facilitating the adoption of Zero Carbon Action and Adaptation plans and growing city participation in Orange County’s first ever Community Choice Energy Program – the OC Power Authority.

Vanessa Armstrong has successfully advocated since 2012 for the removal of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers in public municipalities by supporting the transition from conventional landscape to organic land care
practices. She helped to pass Costa Mesa’s organics first policy and consults with other OC municipalities for organic land care transitions.
Vanessa holds a certificate in Permaculture Design from The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano, an accreditation in organic land care from the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) and was a co-writer for the Organic Land Care Project (OLCP).

Ann Owens is a retired history teacher with over 20 years teaching experience. She is a passionate activist for all environmental issues and challenges, with a focus on their impact on the wellbeing of future generations. Ann is also a volunteer par excellence for the Canyon Democrats. Her contributions greatly contribute to the success and vibrancy of the club…they are truly invaluable.

Virtual Craft Beer Tasting Event
2021-05-01 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual Online, CA
BUY TICKETS NOW
Details- $50 per household includes FIVE-16 oz cans of various styles craft brews. Eric Ebel, Lead Brewer at Von Ebert Brewing in Portland OR will be live to take questions & walk through a variety of beers along with the brewing process itself. He’ll touch on ingredients, brewing techniques and review each beer sent home with the participants. Beer styles will include: IPA, Pilsner, Hazy IPA/Pale Ales, & a Fruited kettle sour. Whether you are a novice when it comes to tasting beer or a seasoned pro, all questions are welcomed, learning is encouraged, and drinking is required!!
Get chance opportunity tickets for $5 for additional swag!
www.vonebertbrewing.com
Questions? Email info@canyondems.org
NOTES: Only available to locals who are 21 and over. Please drink responsibly.

BUY TICKETS NOW

General Meeting feat. Dr. Peter Simi
2021-05-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Home of a Mission Viejo Member, Mission Viejo, CA, United States
The causes & consequences of political extremism, domestic terrorism and hate crimes
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Peter Simi

Our May general meeting marks our return to the Norman Murray Center in Mission Viejo for live meetings! Despite recent CDC guidance, masks and social distancing are required by the Norman Murray Center by all attendees regardless of vaccination status. We highly encourage everyone attending to be vaccinated to COVID-19. For information about getting vaccinated, please visit https://myturn.ca.gov/. Attendees will also need to sign a waiver upon arrival at the Murray Center. There will be NO snacks or drinks provided. Please bring our own recyclable water bottle.
Don’t forget to come early! Sign in starts at 6:30PM. And bring cash for the return of our 50-50 raffle (featuring wonderful prizes) as well as new items for sale like our Club-branded t-shirts ($20).

Download May Meeting Agenda
Download April Meeting Minutes

About our presenter:
Pete Simi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Chapman University and member of the Executive Committee for the National Counterterrorism, Innovation, Technology, and Education (NCITE) Center at the University of Nebraska, Omaha. For the past 25 years, he has been studying political violence, hate, and extremism. His fieldwork has taken him inside white supremacist groups across the United States where he has been embedded with racist skinheads, Klan members, neo-Nazis, and anti-government militias. He is co-author of an award-winning book American Swastika: Inside the White Power Movement’s Hidden Spaces of Hate and has published more than 60 articles and book chapters on issues related to political extremism, street gangs, and juvenile delinquency.
Dr. Simi provides regular consultation on criminal cases involving hate crimes and domestic terrorism and volunteers as part of several efforts to help develop prevention and intervention strategies aimed at countering violent extremism. He is currently serving as one of the plaintiff’s experts in the landmark civil case, Sines v. Kessler, aimed at holding the organizers of the 2017 Unite the Right rally accountable for the violence they helped incite and even commit in Charlottesville, VA. His research has been featured in media outlets such as Rolling Stone, New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal and he has also appeared on various television broadcasts including Good Morning America, Larry King Now, and CNN’s AC 360.
Please submit your questions in advance to programs@canyondems.org

General Meeting feat. special presentation on the Orange County Board of Supervisors
2021-06-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Home of a Mission Viejo Member, Mission Viejo, CA, United States
EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Who Are They, What They Do, and Why You Should Care
Presentation by Karen Hernandez and Lulu Hammad

Learn all about the O.C. Board of Supervisors (BOS), the governmental body that oversees the operations and management of the County. Their actions impact the lives of all Orange County residents. Get the answers to such questions as: What authorities do the BOS have? Are the budget priorities of the BOS the same as yours? Does the BOS adhere to the principles of good governance? How can YOU get involved??? Hear the answers to these questions and many more!!
Download June Meeting Agenda
Download May Meeting Minutes
Despite recent CDC guidance, masks and social distancing are required by the Norman Murray Center by all attendees regardless of vaccination status. We highly encourage everyone attending to be vaccinated to COVID-19. For information about getting vaccinated, please visit https://myturn.ca.gov/. Attendees will also need to sign a waiver upon arrival at the Murray Center. There will be NO snacks or drinks provided. Please bring our own recyclable water bottle.
Don’t forget to come early! Sign in starts at 6:30PM. And bring cash for the return of our 50-50 raffle (featuring wonderful prizes) as well as new items for sale like our Club-branded t-shirts ($20).

Our Guest Speakers:
Karen G. Hernández, Pronouns: She/ Her/ Ella
Karen is an immigrant from Guadalajara, Mexico with roots in Orange County since the age of 3. She began her passion for activism after participating in the fight against Props 187 and 209 while a student at UCLA. She remains an advocate for human rights and social justice. Her advocacy work centers on the idea that we need transformative justice with investment in people and community instead of punishment and social control. Karen is currently the Chairperson and Co-founder of People’s Budget OC Coalition and a member/volunteer with the Stop the Musick Coalition, Housing is a Human Right OC, NAACP-OC Chapter, OC Emergency Response Coalition, OC Rapid Response Network, and League of Women Voters.

Lulu Hammad, Esq., Pronouns: She/Her
Lulu is a human rights advocate who focuses on the intersectionality of social justice issues, centering the voices of her Arab and Muslim communities as well as those of Black, Indigenous and people of color. Before migrating to the US, she served as a legal consultant for UNICEF in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Defense for Children International — Palestine. Currently, Lulu is very active as the cofounder of Yalla Indivisible, OC Emergency Response Coalition (OCERC), People’s Budget OC (PBOC), and a member of Housing Is A Human Right OC (HHROC).

Canyon Dems Blood Drive
2021-07-01 - 2021-07-31 | Saddleback Medical Center, 24451 Health Center Drive, Laguna Hills, CA, 92653, United States
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT NOW

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT NOW

Pop Up Booth
2021-07-03 09:00 - 15:00
Come visit us at our Pop-Up booth on Saturday, July 3rd from 9:00am – 3:00pm.
Portola Plaza
27752 Marguerite Parkway
Mission Viejo
We will be registering voters and selling merchandise.
Stop by and support the Canyon Dems!

Red, White & Bleu Virtual Wine Tasting
2021-07-10 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual Online, CA
Details:

RED, WHITE & BLUE VIRTUAL WINE TASTING
Saturday, July 10 @ 4:00 pm
$50 per household, includes 2 bottles of French wine, Educational session with Sommelier Mitch Schroeder, Tasting with friends via Zoom

Zoom meeting info and wine pick-up location will be provided via email to participants. Get your ticket today!
Questions? Email info@canyondems.org
NOTES: Only available to locals who are 21 and over. Please drink responsibly.
TICKET SALES ARE NOW CLOSED. SEE YOU AT THE TASTING!

General Meeting featuring. Dr. Smoller & Dr. Moodian, Chapman U
2021-07-20 19:00 - 21:00
CANYON DEMS JULY IN PERSON! MEETING
Results of Chapman University’s
O.C. Annual Survey
Presented by Chapman University Professors
Fred Smoller & Michael Moodian

The O.C. Annual Survey is a yearly project conducted by Professors Fred Smoller and Michael Moodian on behalf of Chapman University’s Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. It is used to measure OC residents’ views on various topics, including Covid-19 policies, political trends, the potential Recall, climate change, etc. The purpose of the study is to help provide residents’ insights to policymakers and to spark informed debate among the public.
Download the July Meeting Agenda
Due to the unfortunate news regarding the spread of the delta variant, we are going to require faces masks at our meeting for all attendees – even those who are vaccinated. We highly encourage everyone attending to be vaccinated to COVID-19. For information about getting vaccinated, please visit https://myturn.ca.gov/. Attendees will also need to sign a waiver upon arrival at the Murray Center. There will be NO snacks or drinks provided. Please bring our own recyclable water bottle.
Don’t forget to come early! Sign in starts at 6:30PM. And bring cash for the return of our 50-50 opportunity drawing (featuring wonderful prizes) as well as new items for sale like our Club-branded t-shirts ($20).

Our Guest Speakers:
Dr. Fred Smoller is associate professor of political science at Chapman University, where he has been on the faculty since 1983. He received his Ph.D. from Indiana University. His major area of interest is American politics, with an emphasis on local government. Fred directs Chapman’s annual local government conference and is the author of the 2018 book From Kleptocracy to Democracy: How Citizens Can Take Back Local Government. His writings have recently appeared in the Orange County Register, L.A. Times and Voice of OC.

Dr. Michael A. (Mike) Moodian has served as a faculty member in various capacities for Chapman University since 2007. He teaches in Chapman’s leadership studies program, codirects Wilkinson College’s O.C. Annual Survey, and is a professor of social science at Chapman-affiliated Brandman University. Mike is a partner in an Orange County-based public affairs media group. His latest project is a television documentary that explores the causes and effects of coastal erosion on California’s beaches. Mike is co-producer, co-director, and lead writer of the program, which will air on PBS later this year. His writings have recently appeared in the Orange County Register, L.A. Times and Voice of OC.

Please submit your questions in advance to programs@canyondems.org

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BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE FOR LAURA’S HOUSE

We are starting our community outreach collections again since we are now in person! Since school now starts mid-August we will collect school supplies for Laura’s House Domestic Violence Victim’s families. Please bring any of these NEW supplies to the July 20th meeting.

Backpacks
Scientific calculators
Three-ring notebooks
Dividers for notebooks
Pencils/pens
Pencil boxes/pouches
Colored pencils
College ruled paper
Glue sticks
Sticky notes
Washable colored markers
Small scissors
Individually packed, healthy snacks/boxed drinks
Target gift cards for $20 to $25 (used for school clothes shopping)

Questions – Please email Ann Owens at annowens@cox.net

General Meeting feat. O.C. Fire Authority Division Chief Rob Capobianco
2021-08-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Home of a Mission Viejo Member, Mission Viejo, CA, United States
CANYON DEMS AUGUST IN PERSON! MEETING
WHAT DO WE REALLY KNOW ABOUT
CALIFORNIA FIRES???
How can we prepare for a fire?
Can the growth of fire disasters be controlled?
What do fire experts envision for CA’s future?
What can WE do to help CA?
Hear the answers to these questions & more
from the O.C. Fire Authority

July 2021 Meeting Minutes

Masks will be required for all attendees. We highly encourage everyone attending to be vaccinated to COVID-19. For information about getting vaccinated, please visit https://myturn.ca.gov/. Attendees will also need to sign a waiver upon arrival at the Murray Center. There will be NO snacks or drinks provided. Please bring our own recyclable water bottle.
Don’t forget to come early! Sign in starts at 6:30PM. And bring cash for the return of our 50-50 opportunity drawing (featuring wonderful prizes)!

Our Guest Speaker:
O.C. Fire Authority
Division Chief Rob Capobianco
Rob Capobianco joined the O.C. Fire Authority in 1988 as a paid call firefighter and was hired as a career firefighter in 1999. During his career with the OCFA, he has held the positions of Firefighter, Firefighter/Paramedic, Assistant Fire Training Officer, Fire Captain, Fire Investigator, Battalion Chief, and Chief Investigator and Division Chief. Chief Capobianco is currently assigned to Division 3 serving the cities of San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita.

DONATION REQUEST FOR AUGUST MEETING
This month we are collecting women’s products at the general meeting for Wiseplace, the only Orange County-based nonprofit leading the effort to end homelessness for unaccompanied women. Wiseplace provides women with safe shelter, counseling and mental health services, case management and addiction recovery, and employment assistance to help rebuild their lives.
We will be collecting feminine products (tampons, pads), bras (regular and sport bras), and underwear. Large sizes are appreciated. There will be a collection box in front of the Murray Center until the meeting begins. If you get there later or can not attend but would like to make a donation, please give your items to Ann Owens.
Thank you for your consideration.
