Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

Before you dive into this week's Windham County events (of which there are many!), we just wanted to take a moment to profoundly thank the 300+ people that attended the WeCAN Spring Into Action Fair last Sunday. You filled not only the parking lot and the auditorium to the brim with your voices, open minds, and compassion, but you also filled your neighbors' hearts with hope. 
One comment we heard frequently was "I haven't seen this many smiling faces in quite some time and it's giving me hope that we can get through this!". That, my friends, is all because of YOU. 
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your attendance and for your ongoing commitment to justice. As always, we look forward to seeing your smiling faces at an upcoming event.

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Happening TODAY, Sunday March 26th, 2017

Song and Solidarity
Sunday, March 26th, 2017 in the Atrium at Winston Prouty (formerly the Austine School) (209 Austine Dr, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 
4th Floor, 3pm. 

WHAT IS SONG & SOLIDARITY?
We’ve got a marathon ahead of us, not a sprint. Song & Solidarity is about sustaining ourselves for that marathon, about keeping our spirits up so we can push harder. So we sing, as have so many who have come before us. There is a simple reason why song has always played a role in the struggle for freedom, equality, and justice: it works.
It’s simple: Song & Solidarity is about building morale and community through song, and then connecting with opportunities to take action. We’ll gather regularly to sing songs of hope and freedom and we’ll generally have a speaker give short presentations on their work and activism, with an emphasis on providing direct, concrete and accessible actions that we can take during the week. We’ll close with a few more songs. That’s it. Simple as pie.
This isn’t a campaign, so there’s no obligations, no expectations. Come when you can, come when you need, we’ll be there. This isn’t a group for “music people,” either: none of us are professional singers. But somehow it doesn’t matter when you put enough voices together. It always comes out beautifully. Nor is this an activist group, per se: we’re not looking to reinvent the wheel. Song & Solidarity is about helping people connect with what’s already out there. It’s about giving people--and ourselves--the support we need to stand up for what we believe in.


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Weekly Update March 27th-April 2nd, 2017

Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up
Monday March 27th, 2017 at KidsPLAYce (20 Elliot Street., Brattleboro, VT, 05301).
5:30pm-7:30pm
Join in building solidarity amongst parents by taking action to protect the health and safety of our collective future. We'll be talking about "how to stay outraged without losing your mind." We'll also explore ways we can participate in local, state, and national climate legislation and action. A simple vegetarian meal and childcare for ages 8 and under will be provided. RSVP helpful, but not required. Contact Abby Mnookin for more info at [email protected].

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Rally to Free Farmworkers' Rights Leaders Enrique Balcazar and Zully Palacios and farmworker Alex
sponsored by Justicia Migrante/Migrant Justice
Monday, March 27th, 2017 at the JFK Federal Building, Boston (15 Sudbury St, Boston, MA 02203). 11:30am-2:30pm.
Carpools from Brattleboro & Western MA: contact [email protected] or 802-257-4436.
This will be the first of several Migrant Justice Actions Kicking of National Farmworker Awareness Week!

Call to action by Migrant Justice-Vermont and Endorsed by Movimiento Cosecha, Real Food Challenge, Vermont Workers' Center, Massachusetts Jobs with Justice! United We Dream, T'ruah, Vermont Interfaith Action, Peace & Justice Center, immigrant service providers Somerville, MA, The FANG Collective, @Women's March on Montpelier: Next Steps, @ACLU of Massachusetts, The Answer Coalition, Boston, Franklin Alliance for Rural Ministries (FARM-VT), March Forward Massachusetts, Food Solutions New England, NOFA/Mass, Unitarian Universalist Mass Action, Pioneer Valley Workers Center, and NASW-VT.
We will stand together to call on ICE to stop tearing apart our families and stop targetting farmworker's rights leaders ahead of an important bond hearing for 3 Vermont workers at 1pm for Enrique, Zully, and Alex!!!
We may--if all goes well--have a group that spends the night to pick up Enrique, Zully and Alex the next day!!!  
More information on their cases: www.migrantjustice.net
For a ride from Burlington, VT or (south on 89 we can do some pick ups) sign up here:
https://goo.gl/forms/wxa2JxhyswuEfUto1
Background:
Jose Enrique “Kike” Balcazar Sanchez, 24, and Zully Palacios Rodriguez, 23, were surrounded by four undercover ICE vehicles soon after leaving the Migrant Justice office in Burlingto, VT on Friday March 17 after being followed from a Migrant Justice organizing meeting. Migrant Justice organizers arrived on the site of the arrest in time to see the two being loaded into separate vans and driven away. The detention came two days after agents arrested dairy worker Cesar Alexis Carrillo Sanchez, 23, outside the Chittenden County courthouse Wednesday morning. At the time, Mr. Carrillo, known as Alex, was accompanied by his wife, Lymarie Deida, a U.S. citizen. The two have a four-year-old daughter together.


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Today is the WeCAN: Spring Into Action Fair! 

Woo Hoo!! We are so excited to see you this afternoon. To plan your time with us please check out the schedule of panels and kids’ activities HERE. 
Help us spread the word that today's the big day by sharing the Facebook Event this morning and this afternoon, and use the hashtag #weCANSpringIntoAction when you post those awesome pictures you took at the Fair to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. WeCAN’t wait to see you at 12pm!


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Happening TODAY, Sunday, March 19th, 2017:


Song and Solidarity 
Regular weekly meeting. 
Sunday, March 19th, 2017 the Atrium at The Winston Prouty Center (the old Austine School). The Atrium is on the fourth floor of the big building in the center of campus. 3pm.
We're meeting the same time this Sunday as usual, 3pm, but at 3:30pm we'll go down and join the fair and close it out by leading a few group songs. We are looking forward to seeing you there! Please email Fred at [email protected] with questions or for more information.


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As we gear up this week for the WeCAN Spring Into Action Fair on Sunday, March 19th, we'd like to take a moment to thank all of the panelists, organizers, and volunteers who are working tirelessly behind the scenes to make this event truly meaningful and memorable. As Elizabeth Andrew said, "Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart".
Please, join us in offering a resounding THANK YOU to all who have come together to make this event (and, indeed, every event in these weekly email blasts) possible. Your time and effort is so very much appreciated! 

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ONE WEEK until the WeCAN: Spring Into Action Fair! 

You can now RSVP for the Sunday March 19th Action Fair and check out the packed schedule of panels and kids activities HERE. Help us spread the word. Forward your friends the link to RSVP or invite them to the Facebook Event.


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Happening Today March 12th, 2017

Song and Solidarity 
Sunday, March 12th, 2017 at the Root, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 3pm.
Regular weekly meeting. 

Brattleboro Huddle: Action Army 
Sunday, March 12th, 2017. 6pm.  
Meeting and potluck. 
For more information, please consult the Facebook Event, here: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/259284994531961/

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Weekly Update March 13th-19th, 2017

Vermont Workers' Center Organizing Committee Meeting
Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 at the Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 
First Floor. Doors open at 5:45pm, meeting is from 6pm-8pm. 
Organizing for economic justice and the right to health care. All are welcome. For more info: [email protected]


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Happy March, friends! There are lots of events taking place this week--surely something for everyone. In celebration of this bounty of information we invite you to bring a friend to an event during the coming week. With the Spring upon us, it's the perfect time to plant some seeds of knowledge and watch them grow in the coming summer months. Happy learning! 

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Two Weeks until the WeCAN: Spring Into Action Fair! 
You can now RSVP for the Sunday March 19th Action Fair and check out the packed schedule of panels and kids activities HERE. Help us spread the word. Forward your friends the link to RSVP or invite them to the Facebook Event.

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REMINDER: Town Meeting Day is this Tuesday, March 7th, 2017. Don't forget to cast your (informed) vote! 

All polls in Vermont open between 6am and 10am and close at 7pm.

Resources: Vermont Secretary of State Citizens Guide to Town Meetings    Locate Your Polling Place    Vermont Secretary of State Town Meeting and Local Elections Website    Act 46 Legislation    VT Digger Act 46 Archives   

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Happening Today: Sunday, March 5th, 2017

Parenting 4 Social Justice Chat 
Sunday, March 5th, 2017 at the Putney Public Library (55 Main St, Putney, VT 05346). 10am-12pm. 
We will talk about why we are organizing - what is it all for? And then we will make a plan for increased family presence at marches, meetings, and events.
Free, Childcare and snacks provided.


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Public Witness and Vigil
sponsored by the The Brattleboro Area Interfaith Clergy Association 
Sunday, March 5th, 2017, in front of Centre Congregational Church (193 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 1:00pm.
We will gather to stand in solidarity with our Jewish and Muslim sisters and brothers and to speak up against the alarming increase in hate and hate crimes against them. Please bring appropriate signs and banners ("Love Not Hate", etc.). 
PLEASE JOIN US!

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