The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Lompoc-Vandenberg Branch has received a $10,000 Movement Building Grant from the Fund for Santa Barbara to fund two nonpartisan dual language candidate forums.

As in the past, AAUW will be collaborating with the League of Women Voters of Northern Santa Barbara County and the city of Lompoc for use of the venue.

In addition, new collaborators at the forums will include Future for Lompoc Youth and Allan Hancock College. The new groups will engage younger, diverse voters, AAUW said.

“We are honored to be awarded this Movement Building Grant from the Fund for Santa Barbara,” said Lucy Thoms-Harrington, AAUW Lompoc-Vandenberg Branch co-president.”

“This grant will allow AAUW and our collaborators to create and support systemic change through the engagement of voters who, in the past, have not had a voice in local elections,” Thoms-Harrington said.

“For Lompoc, a majority minority community, dual language and younger voter engagement at these nonpartisan forums are vital to unlocking political and social change hindered by language and age barriers,” she said.

The first forum will be Thursday, Sept. 26 for candidates running for Lompoc City Council (seats in Districts 1 and 4) and candidates running for mayor (at large).

The second forum will be Thursday, Oct. 3 for candidates running for Lompoc School Board positions (Districts 1, 2, 4 and 5).

Both nonpartisan forums will include live interpretation in person and via Zoom webinar. The forums will be simulcast via TAP TV and KPEG radio.

The forums will be recorded and available in English and Spanish so that community members can access the forums at their convenience.

AAUW encourages community members to participate in the forums by registering online where people can prioritize issues and ask questions, which will be consolidated and provide the basis for questions posed at the forum by the moderator.