Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

Happy Sunday and a very warm welcome to the new members joining us for this week's email blast! Thank you so much for your commitment to social and environmental justice and your community. We are so happy to have you on board and we can't wait to see you at an upcoming event. 

Weekly Events February 20th-26th, 2017

Youth For Change
A project of The Root Social Justice Center
Monday, February 20th, 2017 from 6pm - 8pm at The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams St., Brattleboro, VT, 05301). First Floor. 
Youth for Change will be hosting a public gathering to write letters and postcards of welcome to Syrian refugees that are arriving in Vermont. The youth have been inspired by other efforts throughout Vermont to extend explicit welcome to war refugees. They feel that these gestures are necessary to counter the perception of nationwide hostility to refugees that has been popularized during the election cycle and it’s aftermath.


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99th Monkee Affinity Group: Mass Rally Gathering
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2017 at TD Bank (215 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 3.30pm. 
We invite you to participate in a mass rally (songs, chants, bring your great signs!) and be a witness to our peaceful, direct action (support us with your loving, no-risk presence).
Please show up and take a stand against:
•TD’s investments in tar sands, the Keystone XL & DAPL
•Trump’s green lighting the Keystone XL & DAPL
Express Your Solidarity with the People of Standing Rock and their courageous stand for their water rights, their sovereignty, and the protection of their homeland. Contact Tim for more information at [email protected] or 802.869.2141.

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Brattleboro Select Board Candidate Forum
Thursday, February 23rd, 2017 at the Municipal Center (230 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301, United States). The Select Board Meeting Room. 6pm-8pm.
Get to know your select board candidates and let them know what's important to you! The public is invited to join grassroots co-sponsors 350 Brattleboro, Brattleboro Community TV (media sponsor), Post Oil Solutions,Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity, Vermont Workers' Centerand Rights & Democracy VT (other co-sponsors pending). Each co-sponsor will submit 1-2 questions and each candidate will have 2 minutes to answer those questions. Members of the public may also submit questions during the forum, which will be broadcast live on BCTV.


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Living Planet Weekly Meeting
Friday, February 24th, 2017 at the Church in Westminster West (for physical address, please contact Caitlin Adair), Westminster, VT. 5pm.
We will be hosting Christina Fornaciari of VPIRG, who will update us on environmental bills before the Vermont Legislature this session. For more information, please contact Caitlin Adair at [email protected] or 802-387-5779.


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Protest Vigils at TD Bank
Sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Brattleboro
Friday, February 24, 2017 (and every Friday) in front of TD Bank Brattleboro (215 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301). Noon-1pm. Signs will be provided. 
Bellows Falls
Friday, February 24, 2017 (and every Friday) in front of the TD Bank Bellows Falls (2 Church St, Bellows Falls, VT 05101). 1pm-2pm. Please bring your own signs.
TD is a major investor in Tar Sands. TD helps to fund the Dakota Access Pipeline. The State of Vermont Keeps Most of Our Cash in TD.
What You Can You Do (besides attending the vigils):

·       If you’re a TD depositor, change banks!

·       If you’re a Vermonter, demand that state funds not be deposited with a bank investing in fossil fuels.

Contact your state legislators to support the bills in the House & Senate calling for a commission to explore the possibility of a State Bank. 
Founded in 2005, Post Oil Solutions is a 501c3 community organizing project in Southeastern Vermont whose mission is to help empower the people of the Central Connecticut River Valley bioregion to develop sustainable, resilient , collaborative, and socially just communities leading to a self- and community-sufficient post petroleum society. For more information please contact [email protected] or call 802.869.2141.


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Local Love Brigade Postcard Making
presented by the Local Love Brigade and The Dianich Gallery
Friday, February 24th, 2017 at The Dianich Gallery (139 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 3pm - 6pm.
Be Part of the Local Love Brigade! Come by The Dianich Gallery and make postcards to send out in an avalanche of love to support victims of hate. You'll be part of a movement that has begun to illuminate the power of fierce love. The public is welcome and children, of course, are welcome. The Dianich Gallery is located in the Hooker Dunham Building, 139 Main Street, down the alley and though the glass doors. 
To find out more and see the heartfelt messages of support that local folks are sending out into the world, join the Local Love Brigade - Vermont Facebook Group.

Facebook Event


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Healthcare Is A Human Right Campaign
Sponsored by the Vermont Workers' Center
Saturday, February 25th, 2017, the F.E.E.T Neighborhood (Frost, Elm, Elliot Triangle, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 10am-2:30pm.
We will be canvassing in F.E.E.T. neighborhood about people's experiences with healthcare and their fears and hopes for our healthcare system. Training provided. Canvassing is in pairs and is followed by a debrief.
For more information or to sign up please contact Ellen Schwartz at [email protected] or 802-257-4436.


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Talking Across Political Divides: A Skillshare
Sunday, February 26th, 2017, at the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church (29 South St., Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 1pm-4pm.
All are invited for this three hour skill share. Experiential and interactive activities provide space for attendees to practice strategies for creative, compassionate, and courageous communication across the political divide. 
Partnering to provide this skill share are: SIT’s Office of Diversity, ACT for Social Justice, 350 Brattleboro (a local group of 350VT), and The Root Social Justice Center. Other sponsors of the event are VBike, Post Oil Solutions, John Woolman College of Active Peace, and the Social & Environmental Action Committee of All Souls Church.
Free and open to the public. Light refreshments. Childcare will be provided. We ask that you do not eat or handle any nuts before or during the event and that you please come fragrance free.
For more information contact Angela Berkfield, Daniel Quipp, or Kara Hamilton at [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected].


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Brattleboro Time Trade's Annual Meeting 
Sunday, February 26th, 2017 at the Marlboro Grad Center (28 Vernon Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301), in classroom 2E on the 2nd floor. 12:00pm-3:30 p.m.
Current members are encouraged to attend, prospective members are invited! Potluck-stye food at 12:00 p.m. in lieu of our monthly potluck - please bring a dish to share if you can! MORE VOLUNTEERS/HELP NEEDED! Please contact [email protected] for more information.




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FUTURE UPCOMING EVENTS

Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up
Monday, February 27th, 2017 at the KidsPLAYce (20 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5.30pm-7.30pm. 
Join in in building solidarity amongst parents by taking action to protect the health and safety of our collective future. Inspired by Black History Month and using the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan as a case study, we'll connect the many ways in which climate justice is intertwined with racial justice. 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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Climate Change Café: A Community of Concerned Citizens 
featuring the Heartful Conversations meeting format. A project of Post Oil Solutions.
Tuesday, February 28th, 2017 at the Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 6:00pm. Free, light refreshments available. 
Through the localization movement a better world is not only possible; it’s within our reach. This world begins with people talking and listening to each other. When we have authentic, respectful conversations we strengthen our relationships and advance our understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and solutions before us.
Using a format called ‘Heartful Conversations’ Wendy Webber will facilitate a process that has the potential to support connection, to reach across differing perspectives, and inspire something new to emerge. At the end of the evening we will be looking to participants to explore with us if and how this kind of format may be used in an ongoing way to further the intention to bring community, meaning, and purpose to our lives. 
For further information call 802.869.2141 or email [email protected].


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Gallery Walk Pop-Up Exhibit to Depict January 21st Women's March
Friday, March 3rd, 2017. Peter Havens Restaurant (32 Elliot St, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 4pm. Free.
Peter Havens Restaurant is sponsoring a community interactive photographic exhibit by Brattleboro Area residents who participated in the January 21st Women's Marches. ANYONE may participate. Please bring a favorite photo or two (any size, any paper) of your “March” to donate to this exhibit, and 2 clothespins per photo. Most of the photos will be displayed on wire lines. Attach a short synopsis of your experience (optional). This exhibit will be hung in Peter Havens’ newest addition to the restaurant at 32 Elliott Street in Brattleboro. The future use of this open space is to accommodate private parties at Peter Havens and to house Jasmine’s Cakes.
On March 3rd, we’ll open the door at 4pm to welcome participants and to assist with hanging photographs under designated geographic headings: Brattleboro, Montpelier, Washington, D.C., Greenfield and Boston, MA, etc. Collages, signs, posters and pink hats are also welcome! The exhibit will be taken down on Saturday, March 4th; you may stop in between 1:30-3:30 to retrieve any items you want returned.
Come and meet others who may be interested in taking future action, share ideas on how to move forward, and learn about what is already planned locally and nationally. Please stop by to participate or just to view the exhibit. Thank you in advance!
Call Ro (802) 380-0284, Priscilla (802) 505-8925 or Louise (802) 258-8874 for more information.


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Brattleboro Time Trade's 3rd Annual Spring Forward Extravaganza
Friday, March 3rd, 2017 at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:00pm-8:30pm.
Come to the River Garden on Friday March 3rd's Gallery Walk evening for our 3rd Annual Spring Fundraiser and Celebration of Student Art Month in collaboration with the Arts Council of Windham County! We have two great youth bands this year: Nomad vs Setter (NVS) is our headliner and opening for them will be Raspberry Jam.
Dosa Kitchen will be serving up yummy food and 10% proceeds will be donated to the Time Trade.
Time Trade member and master Herbalist Cindy Hebbard will be offering short consultations, we'll have a collection of Silent Auction Items to bid on, and Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center & Edible Brattleboro are collaborating to offer a cool seed-bomb making activity for springing forward!
Bring yourself, your friends, and/or the whole family!  Help support the Time Trade and keep us up and running in 2017!
VOLUNTEERS/HELP NEEDED!
[email protected]


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Women Under Capitalism 4 Week Study Group
presented by Brattleboro Solidarity
Mondays, March 6th, March 13th, March 20th, March 27th at the Putney Public Library (55 Main St, Putney, VT 05346). 6pm-8pm.
Hello All ~  We are excited to start our new 4 week study group: Women Under Capitalism. Mondays in March, 6-8pm  atPutney Public Library. Dinner will be provided. Women’s lives are under attack - from health to reproductive rights, violence, harassment, and overall sexism, women in the U.S. have much to fight for.  The derogatory rhetoric from the pre and post Trump election cycle threatened many and propelled people across the globe to join on January 21st to rally against bigotry and stand up for human rights. The Women’s March on Washington, the day after inauguration, was to send a message in large part that women’s rights are human rights.  It was to become the largest rally in U.S. history, joined by 5 million worldwide to march and speak out.  The subordination of women is not new - in fact, throughout U.S. history violence against women has benefited those in power and is a necessary component to the functioning of capitalism.  
Brattleboro Solidarity is hosting a 4 week study group to explore how capitalism affects women’s lives and how we can work to fight back.
This is an open and free study group.  We ask that participants commit to all 4 Mondays:
March 6th
March 13th
March 20th
March 27th 
****Please email us at [email protected] to sign up.  
Readings will be sent out by February 27th.
FACEBOOK EVENT


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Town Meeting Day is Tuesday, March 7th.  Don't forget to show up and vote!

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Black Lives Matter VT Fundraiser and Membership Drive on Tuesday, March 7th from 5pm-8pm at Elliot St. Fish, Chips & More for their "Feeding Frenzy”.

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Brattleboro350 Regular Meetings
Meeting Times / Locations: 1st Wednesdays (Public Forum), 6 - 8 pm, Brooks Memorial Library 2nd Floor Mtg Rm (Brattleboro); 3rd Wednesdays (Leadership Team), 6 - 8 pm, Location Varies.


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Save-the-Date for the Sunday, March 19th WeCAN Action Fair!