Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

Happy Sunday, WeCAN family. Let's get right to it: 


HAPPENING TODAY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1st, 2017


Share the Harvest Stand 
sponsored by Edible Brattleboro
Sunday, September 24th, 2017 at the Elliott Street Park (on Elliot Street in Brattleboro, VT, 05301) from 11am-1pm.
You are invited to participate in Edible Brattleboro’s Share the Harvest stand where we will be sharing produce from our gardens as well as donated produce from local farmers and gardeners. The stand is set up at the Elliot Street Park every Sunday from 11am - 1pm; rain location - in front of Experienced Goods / Transportation Center on Flat Street. Everything is available to the community at no cost. 
We are happy to accept your donations from your garden - please drop off your surplus to our stand on Sundays as close to 11amas possible. We also need volunteers to keep this going throughout the season. Please visit http://signup.com/go/GmYCbae to sign up for a spot. It’s real easy to sign up, and your contact information is never shared. We need teams of two to glean at the Farmers’ Market on Saturdays or to operate the stand on Sundays. Brief descriptions of the tasks are on the sign-up site, and complete directions are provided via email. Brattleboro Time Traders can earn hours, too!
URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS: If we do not have sufficient volunteers in the coming weeks, we will not be able to continue to offer fresh produce every Sunday through October. I urge you to look over the schedule online and commit to offering several hours in the coming weeks so we can continue to provide this much appreciated service. We're using SignUp.com to organize our upcoming SignUps.'
Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1) Click this link to see our SignUp on SignUp.com: http://signup.com/go/GmYCbae
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.com.
Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.
Come Grow and Share with Us!


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Islam 101: An Educational Forum
Sunday, October 1st, 2017 at the Congregational Church of Westminster West (44 Church Street, Westminster West, Vermont 05346). 4pm-7pm. Free, donations appreciated. 
This Fall, the church will host an educational forum entitled "Islam 101," with special guest presenters Imam Sami A. Aziz and Margaret Robbins (bios below). Our congregation believes that interfaith dialogue and friendship is critical to establishing world peace, and we know that the first step to forming relationships with people of other faiths is to understand more about their beliefs and culture. We encourage our neighbors (of any or no faith) to join us for the educational event Sunday October 1, beginning at 4 p.m. After the presentation, we'll break bread together with a potluck supper. There is no admission fee for this event, but donations will be accepted. Here's a bit of background on our two presenters: Imam/Chaplain Sami A. Aziz is a public educator and spiritual peacemaker. He is the founder of Common Ground Institute & Services (www.CommonGroundServices.org), an Islamic consulting firm dedicated to educating the public on Islam and collaborating for peace. He also serves as the Chaplain for Wesleyan University as well as the Imam for Bloomfield Muslim Community Center. In the virtual world he is an Imam for PrayerSpark.com, a global interfaith prayer service as well as the founder and/or maintainer of many websites & Facebook pages including; Philly Muslims, Connecticut Muslims, and Lighthouse for Humanity and to name a few. In his capacity as Imam he represents the Muslim community at the Bloomfield Interfaith Association and the Interfaith Refugee Resettlement Committee of which he is a founding member. He is a graduate of the Master’s in Islamic Chaplaincy program at Hartford Seminary. Imam Aziz has been on an educational campaign since 2015 to fight against ignorance, hate, and fear of Muslims, while creating peace between faith communities. He has visited institutions across America to spread the message of peace, which is the core of Islam. Margaret Robbins has lived in West West for 40 years. She was raised in a Jewish family, and started becoming exploring various spiritual teachings in her mid-twenties. She engaged in Islam after becoming involved with Western Sufism (the mystical dimension of Islam). She has presented basic Islam to some churches in Vermont and has joined in training with Sami Aziz who has founded the Common Ground Institute. She is the coordinator for creating talks and discussion on Islam, Isis and Islamophobia in VT and NH. She works as a therapist in Bellows Falls.


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ACLU’s People Power Launch: Let People Vote
sponsored by Brattleboro’s Indivisible Chapter 
Sunday, October 1st, 2017 at the Oak Meadow School (132 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301) in the Conference Room. 7pm. 
Join us for a live stream training that will cover everything needed to immediately get to work in our state and county as well as make a plan to take action together to protect our voting rights. Please use this form to sign up: https://go.peoplepower.org/event/voting_rights/10272?source=map&akid=. We look forward to seeing you there!


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The Gathering Series Live Stream: Ecological Devastation with Rev. Dr. William Barber
Sunday, Oct. 1st, 2017 at The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301).  First Floor. 5:30pm-8:30pm.The Root is nut-free and fragrance-free.
The Vermont Workers’ Center and Justice for all are are sponsoring live streams of a program called “The Gathering,” which is being presented by Rev. Dr. William Barber. Dr. Barber, as president of the North Carolina NAACP, was a prime leader of the North Carolina Moral Monday movement. He is now leading the new Poor People’s Campaign for Moral Revival, which is reviving the vision and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, who was working with other activists on the original Poor People’s Campaign when he was assassinated. We’ll be live streaming the fifth in The Gathering series which Dr. Barber has been leading with Repairers of the Breach, an ecumenical organization that is part of the new Poor People’s Campaign. They describe their mission as building “a progressive agenda rooted in a moral framework to counter the ultra-conservative constructs that try to dominate the public square. Repairers will bring together clergy and lay people from different faith traditions with people without a spiritual practice but who share the moral principles at the heart of the great moral teachings.” The topic for this month is Ecological Devastation presented in partnership with 350.org, Appalachian Voices, and Our Children’s Trust. We will hear from people affected by ecological devastation around the world on how we can join the fight for climate justice. With millions of people struggling at this moment to recover from the extreme effects of ecological devastation, this topic could not be more timely.For more information: [email protected] or (802) 257-4436.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK MONDAY, OCTOBER 2nd, 2017 - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2017

Youth4Change Group Meeting
Monday, October 2nd, 2017 at The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:30pm-8pm.
For more information please email [email protected].
Youth4Change is a project of the Root that meets every 1st and 3rd Mondays. It is for youth 12-22, particularly those from historically disenfranchised groups, who want to use education, art, and action to address racial and intersectional justice. The October 2nd meeting is an organizing meeting for local campaigns, and coming to hang out with us is Madina Haji from the Civil Rights Program of the U.S. Dist. Atty. for the Vermont region.
5:30pm: Space opens for art and hanging out.
6:00pm: Food!
6:30pm-8:00pm: Group meeting/training/strategy session.

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Girl Power Fall Book Talks: Chapter Books and Middle Grade Books
Wednesday, October 4th, 2017 at Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main St, Brattleboro, Vermont 05301) in the Children’s Room. 6:30pm-7:30pm.

Join us at Brooks Memorial for an hour of fast-paced book talks from three local book superheroes: Local Author Ann Braden, Everyone's Books Owner, Nancy Braus, and Youth Services Librarian, Lindsay Bellville. For this book talk, the second in our three part series, we will go over books with strong, female characters that would be perfect reads or read alouds for kids in grades 1-8. For more information call the Children's Room (802)-254-5290 x110.


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"A higher rate of urgency does not imply ever-present panic, anxiety, or fear. It means a state in which complacency is virtually absent."
John P. Kotter

Happy Autumn fellow WeCANners! As we enter a new season we'd like to offer some tips and tricks that may help you deal with anxiety or stress that can arise due to global current events, Seasonal Affective Disorder*, or every day hurdles.

A few questions to ask yourself when feeling anxious or unsure include:(+)
1) If the event or circumstance were to happen in the future, how would worrying about it now help? 
2) What is the difference between cautious, fearful, and worried? How do you define each of these terms for yourself? Which do you most want to feel in this situation? What action(s) will help you achieve the desired feeling?
3) What is the information that is being presented to you and how valid is the resource delivering the information? Is it from a first person boots-on-the-ground perspective? Is it second hand accounts? Is it third person conjecture? What qualifications does the person, expert, or pundit giving you the information hold in the field in which they are speaking? How are they compensated for their opinions or what are they trying to gain from the conversation? 

Whatever your answers may be to the above questions  please know that you're not alone in the experience of anxiety or uncertainty. Don't be afraid to seek comfort in others (your community!) who feel the same way. Stay connected with the people you care about and reach out to those who give you support. 

* For more information please visit: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/seasonal-affective-disorder/index.shtml. For 24/7 help call the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at 1-800-950-NAMI (1-800-950-6264).
(+) For more information please click here. 

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HAPPENING TODAY, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th, 2017

Share the Harvest Stand 
sponsored by Edible Brattleboro
Sunday, September 24th, 2017 at the Elliott Street Park (on Elliot Street in Brattleboro, VT, 05301) from 11am-1pm.
You are invited to participate in Edible Brattleboro’s Share the Harvest stand where we will be sharing produce from our gardens as well as donated produce from local farmers and gardeners. The stand is set up at the Elliot Street Park every Sunday from 11am - 1pm; rain location - in front of Experienced Goods / Transportation Center on Flat Street. Everything is available to the community at no cost. 
We are happy to accept your donations from your garden - please drop off your surplus to our stand on Sundays as close to 11amas possible. We also need volunteers to keep this going throughout the season. Please visit http://signup.com/go/GmYCbae to sign up for a spot. It’s real easy to sign up, and your contact information is never shared. We need teams of two to glean at the Farmers’ Market on Saturdays or to operate the stand on Sundays. Brief descriptions of the tasks are on the sign-up site, and complete directions are provided via email. Brattleboro Time Traders can earn hours, too!
URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS: If we do not have sufficient volunteers in the coming weeks, we will not be able to continue to offer fresh produce every Sunday through October. I urge you to look over the schedule online and commit to offering several hours in the coming weeks so we can continue to provide this much appreciated service. We're using SignUp.com to organize our upcoming SignUps.'
Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1) Click this link to see our SignUp on SignUp.com: http://signup.com/go/GmYCbae
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.com.
Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.
Come Grow and Share with Us!




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HAPPENING THIS WEEK MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th, 2017-MONDAY, OCTOBER 2nd, 2017




Town of Brattleboro Democratic Reorganization Meeting
Monday, September 25th, 2017 at the Winston Prouty Center, Holton Hall, Top Floor, at 130 Austine Drive, Brattleboro, VT. 6pm (Before the Windham County Democratic Committee meeting at 7pm) 

The Agenda:

1. Election of Town Committee
2. Election of Officers by the Town Committee
3. Election of County Committee Member
4. New Business

The stronger an organization we have, the more prepared we'll be for the 2018 election. Come be part of the solution.

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Letters To Editors Drop-In Party for Healthcare Justice
Monday, September 25th, 2017 at the Putney Library (55 Main St., Putney, VT.). 6pm-8:30pm. For more information please email [email protected].
Drop-In space to come by and work out a letter to the media in support of implementing universal healthcare in Vermont. We need a steady drumbeat of public voices in the media, and local and state L.T.E. banks are building. Handy will be an LTE template based on personal stories, updates about Vermont healthcare initiatives and legislation, and folks to help work out the letter. 


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“I am not here for your understanding of who I am. I am here for your understanding of who you are. I am your mirror. How you feel about me, what you see in me, the thoughts that arise from your encounter of me, the judgements you hold about me are all reflections of you. They have nothing to do with me.”
Emily Maroutain

There are a number of new entries this week, WeCAN Family, so please scroll through the listings with fresh eyes. We encourage you, too, to bring a friend or loved one to an event this week and start a conversation with them about how we can work to improve Justice in our towns, county, and state. We are truly reflections of each other and weCAN strive to be the best reflections we can possibly be, together. 


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HAPPENING TODAY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th, 2017

VENUE CHANGE -- No Retreat- A Putney Huddle Mini Retreat - VENUE CHANGE!
Sunday, September 17th, 2017, at The Putney Public Library (55 Main Street, Putney, VT). 10am-2pm. 
The Putney Huddle presents a day of relaxed learning, fun, food, and connection. Whether you have been a part of the Huddle or are just interested in partaking, you are welcome to join us as we explore through listening and activity many aspects of being involved in local politics and activism, guided by those deep in the movements.
Featuring Vermont All Stars
-Poet, Activist, and Guilford Selectboard Member, Verandah Porche
-Senator Rebecca Balint
-Activist and Author, Ann Braden
-Environmental Activist and Contender for Governor James Ehlers
Along with representation from Rights and Democracy, Sister District, The Putney Democrats, The Local Love Brigade, and many more.
Chair Massages from Collin Leech, Tacos By Tito or brown bag lunch.

"Don’t just teach your children to read, teach them to question what they read. Teach them to question everything."
George Carlin

There's a lot of opportunities this week, WeCAN Friends, so let's get right to it:


HAPPENING TODAY, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th, 2017

Community Rights Awareness Workshop
presented by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) and sponsored by Post Oil Solutions & Rights and Democracy
Sunday, September 10th, 2017 at the Brattleboro Food Coop (2 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) in the Community Room (please use the entrance at 7 Canal Street). 10am-1pm.  FREE, but registration required: [email protected]. Refreshments will be provided. 
In this workshop, we take an in-depth look at how political and legal structures have been set up to protect the interests of an elite wealthy minority, at the expense of the majority of people and community self-government. We’ll look at how corporations have received more rights and protections than real people living in communities. Most importantly, we’ll look at how communities have pushed back against these oppressive structures to reclaim democratic self-government in their communities, and at the state level with a proposed Community Rights Amendment.


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Share the Harvest Stand 
sponsored by Edible Brattleboro
Sunday, September 10th, 2017 at the Elliott Street Park (on Elliot Street in Brattleboro, VT, 05301) from 11am-1pm.
You are invited to participate in Edible Brattleboro’s Share the Harvest stand where we will be sharing produce from our gardens as well as donated produce from local farmers and gardeners. The stand is set up at the Elliot Street Park every Sunday from 11am - 1pm; rain location - in front of Experienced Goods / Transportation Center on Flat Street. Everything is available to the community at no cost. 
We are happy to accept your donations from your garden - please drop off your surplus to our stand on Sundays as close to 11amas possible. We also need volunteers to keep this going throughout the season. Please visit http://signup.com/go/GmYCbae to sign up for a spot. It’s real easy to sign up, and your contact information is never shared. We need teams of two to glean at the Farmers’ Market on Saturdays or to operate the stand on Sundays. Brief descriptions of the tasks are on the sign-up site, and complete directions are provided via email. Brattleboro Time Traders can earn hours, too!
URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS: If we do not have sufficient volunteers in the coming weeks, we will not be able to continue to offer fresh produce every Sunday through October. I urge you to look over the schedule online and commit to offering several hours in the coming weeks so we can continue to provide this much appreciated service. We're using SignUp.com to organize our upcoming SignUps.
Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1) Click this link to see our SignUp on SignUp.com: http://signup.com/go/GmYCbae
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.com.
Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.
Come Grow and Share with Us!


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HAPPENING THIS WEEK, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11th, 2017-SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2017

Inclusion Center Activities
sponsored by the Inclusion Center 
Monday September 11th, 2017 at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church (16 Bradley Avenue, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 11:30am-3:30pm
Itinerary: 
11:30am  Lunch
12:00pm  Art
2:00pm    Discussion and Games
3:00pm    Hanging out

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Windham County VT Workers' Center Organizing Committee
Tuesday, September 12th, 2017 at The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams St., Brattleboro, VT, 05301). First Floor. 6pm-8pm. For more information please email [email protected]. 
We will review the Draft VWC 2017/2018 Campaign Plan -- to get Act 48, (VT universal healthcare), implemented with full and equitable funding -- and generate feedback for the state Coordinating Committee. Also, updates on trying to get expanded hours/services for the Brattleboro Free Clinic, and other projects. 


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