by Dianne Anderson

Civic duty, as demanding as ever, has the League of Women Voters out working the crowds, civic groups, with churches and forums, getting people up to speed on the big issues at stake for the most bang for their vote.

Along the way, they are also taking some time to appreciate how the community continues to grow at the hands of women who care.

Coming up, everyone is invited to participate in the people’s choice for nominees that the organization will spotlight for their commitment to the cause. This year’s honorees are Niki Dettman, Stacey Barnier, Nefertiti Long, Tansu Philip, Geraldine Foxall Kater, and The American Association of University Women (AAUW) of Redlands.

On Sunday, October 6, the event will be held from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Sterling Natural Resource Center.

Honoree Nefertiti Long is extremely excited about being recognized alongside so many other dedicated community servants.

“When getting the letter that I have been selected to receive the 2024 Citizens of Achievement Award from the League of Women Voters San Bernardino Area, I was excited and grateful to be considered for such an honor.  In our community, there are so many amazing people doing incredible work. I know they had many to choose from.  I am looking forward to attending the event in October,” she said in an email.

For many years, Long served on several regional boards and nonprofits, including as board chair of the Inland Empire Community Foundation and CSUSB, and chair of the Women’s Giving Fund. She counts them all as important, but feels her recognition from LWV may stem from her service in the Alliance of Black Women Accountants.

Of all her accomplishments, she is probably most proud of her fundraising impact on the lives of women with the Women’s Giving Fund, as well as mentoring young women of color with ABWA.

She said her passion for community comes from humble beginnings.

“I feel truly blessed to be where I am in life today which motivates me to help others reach success and stability. My passion is specifically in the areas of education, women, the black community, and the Inland Empire.”

Not long ago, Kathryn Ervin took her seat as local LWV president. She said the award recipients were nominated directly by the community for their extraordinary commitment and service.  At the event, the League will also unveil their local work, along with each of their achievements and accomplishments.

For decades, Ervin has been a a diligent LWV member, pitching in whenever possible to further the democratic principles upheld by the organization since she was introduced by the late community activist Dr. Juanita Scott.

Ervin emphasized that getting information out to the community will be critical in the weeks ahead, and the League is on the path to support voter registration.

Local elections are set to directly impact San Bernardino, but several ballot items are huge, like warehousing, and water usage, which has been an LWV focus for many years. Education, housing, and the struggles of the unhoused are also priorities.

“Frequently we know in politics there may be an attempt to cloak what’s being said or propose things in a way that is not clear of what is expected or asked of you – Are you voting yes for proposition no, or no for proposition yes.”

Many people turn to LWV for a basic understanding of propositions, measures, and often confusing language. Working together with local leadership, the team and members hold meetings and forums to break down the issues in an understandable way.

Although LWV Smart Voter information is available online, she said socioeconomics can prevent some people from equal access. Not everyone reads the morning email, but she has seen print copies available in libraries.

“Especially this year, what are the issues in front of us and beyond the presidential election, which is certainly huge and extremely important. All the local elections will impact us directly in San Bernardino,” she said.

LWV Member Twillea Carthen said their honorees and accolades will be highlighted at the event fundraiser. Tickets are $25 per person, which supports a great cause, while providing much deserved recognition for tireless community volunteers.

Anyone can contribute on their website to support local efforts. Also coming up, she said they are excited about collaborating with the Links on October 10.

“We are involved, community engagement is real critical,” she said. “We’re going to have voter registration in place. It’s really a forum for elected officials or those running for office from all parties sharing why people from the community should vote for them.”

For more information on how to support LWV and dates of other upcoming events, see

https://my.lwv.org/california/san-bernardino-area/event/2024-citizens-achievement-civic-engagement-awards-ceremony