The Fountain Hills Democratic Club’s February meeting provided an educational opportunity on how citizens can take action on key issues, according to a club spokesperson Dave Long.

Speakers Cathy Sigmon and Linda Somo led the club program.

Sigmon, a 28-year Arizona resident, co-founded Civic Engagement Beyond Voting (CEBV), a statewide nonpartisan, nonprofit group focused on engaging citizens on state and local government.

Sigmon also helped launch Gavel Watch, a project that rates judges in Arizona and Save Our Schools Arizona, a nationally recognized public education advocacy group.

According to Long, Sigmon’s presentation was CEBV’s Civics Series: State Government. The session addressed the state legislature, statewide offices, the Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board, the Corporation Commission, community college boards and judges.

Sigmon explained the role of Arizona citizens in driving change in the state government and introduced CEBV’s Youth Fellowship Program, which provides hands-on experience for young people ages 16-22 to engage with local and state government.

The program focuses on issues important to young people and equips them with tools to lead civic engagement projects, Long said.

Linda Somo is president of the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans, an organization that advocates for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and seniors’ pensions.

Somo presented a “Tax Talk” webinar from the Arizona Alliance and Honest Arizona, focusing on the potential consequences of Congressional Republicans extending and expanding tax cuts for billionaires and corporations, said Long.

Somo encouraged club members to contact their Arizona representative and urge a vote against any budget that would cut Medicaid or other essential programs for vulnerable populations, according to Long.

For more details about the Fountain Hills Democratic Club, visit fhdemclub.org.