AOF Activities & Events
In celebration of the Centennial of California women gaining the right to vote, AOF welcomes Lola Acosta, President of the League of Women Voters of Sacramento County. Proposition 4 of 1911 (a.k.a. Senate Constitutional Amendment #8) guaranteed voting rights to women in this state fully nine years ahead of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It was a close and difficult vote, a story larger than life, full of high drama, and Lola will tell us just how it happened!
Born in Avalon, Catalina Island, Lola Acosta traces her roots through her maternal grandparents, who emigrated from Mexico to the United States. She attended public schools in Los Angeles, earning a BSN at California State University Los Angeles, and an MSN at the University of California Los Angeles. Her professional career began in nursing capacities, including as team leader at Orthopedic Hospital of Los Angeles and as a public health nurse in the inner city. She also volunteered on community health advisory boards, advocating for access to health services for poor women and children. After some years of practicing nursing, Lola became a tenured Associate Professor of Nursing at Rio Hondo College in Whittier. In 1977 she moved to Sacramento with her husband Mike and one-month old son, Miguel David. There she worked in various state government positions involving policy, program development and administration. In 1980, her daughter Francisca joined the family. In addition to working and rearing two children, she co-founded Madrinas, a charitable organization which raised funds and offered scholarships to inner city college bound students.
Lola joined the League of Women Voters (LWV) in 1999. Approaching retirement in 2006, Lola fully involved herself in LWV activities. After leading the League’s immigration study, Lola was nominated to serve on the Board of Directors. In 2009 the LWV of Sacramento County elected her as President. During her presidential tenure, she has focused on expanding voter election education to a more geographically and culturally diverse Sacramento, raising funds to support continuing League activities, and inviting new members to build the Sacramento League.
How could you miss a speaker like this? Come to AOF's September meeting!
