Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

“You cannot have maternal health without reproductive health. And reproductive health includes contraception and family planning and access to legal, safe abortion.” 
Hillary Clinton

There are lots of events to choose to participate in from this week, WeCAN Family. Let's get right to it:


HAPPENING TODAY, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8th, 2017

Civil Rights for All Banner Raising
Sunday, October 8th, 2017 on Main Street in Brattleboro, VT. 8am-9am. 
Let's Fly the "We Celebrate Democracy/Civil Rights For All" banner over Main Street in Brattleboro!

The Trump administration is holding an endless nation-wide "hate rally". We believe what the civil rights organization The Southern Poverty Law Center says about fighting hate: "Every act of hate should be met with an equal act of love". Otherwise hate will spread until it takes over the whole country, the way it did under Hitler in Germany. The result would be horrible for all of us. We firmly believe that "democracy/love versus tyranny/hate" is our winning battlefield. We must hold a nation-wide "love rally" to stand up to the Trump administration. Taken together all our small positive nonviolent public actions add up to a huge "love rally".  The "We Celebrate Democracy/ Civil Rights For All" banner says "I love you" to all people.  The banner raising is just a small part of our "love rally", but every part is an essential  part.   We need to be in the streets standing up for loving,  caring, sharing and helping, in a massive way. Unite! We can only win this together. Stand with the banner! Stand up to hate! Please help us by making a small donation to cover the $600 banner raising fee (sixty $10 donations) as we fly the "We Celebrate Democracy/Civil Rights For All" banner over Main Street on Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend. To donate via check please donate to "We Celebrate Democracy/Civil Rights For All" (WCD/CRFA), 1196 Lower Dover Rd, Brattleboro VT 05301 or visit our GoFundMe site here.

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VOLUNTEERS URGENTLY NEEDED!!


Share the Harvest
sponsored by Edible Brattleboro
Sunday, October 8th, 2017 at the Park on Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT. 11am-1pm.
We hope to be able to keep our Share the Harvest stand operating for the remainder of this month, but we NEED volunteers. Presently all we have are two volunteers who will be operating the stand this coming Sunday. In order to make that happen, we need two volunteers for this Saturday to collect donations from our incredibly generous farmers at the Farmers’ Market.
Then we will need 4 volunteers for each of the remaining three weekends in October, or we will have to close earlier than anticipated. If you are new to volunteering with us, don’t worry. We will pair you up with an experienced person and provide very detailed instructions as well. It’s actually fun and very rewarding to know that you are helping people enjoy the wonderful bounty from our local gardens and farms.
Here is a link to our sign up site. If you have any questions, please feel free to email or call.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK MONDAY, OCTOBER 9th, 2017-SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15th, 2017

AMERICA IN TRANSITION : Forging Families That Work for Us
A screening and workshop with filmmaker Andre Perez
Tuesday, October 10th, 2017 at the Marlboro College Graduate Center (28 Vernon St, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 6pm-8pm. Free. Trans folk and allies are welcome. 
America in Transition is a web series, interactive documentary, and community engagement campaign taking a real look at social change from the perspective of trans people in marginalized communities. Each episode explores one person’s story in depth, tackling intersectional issues such as HIV criminalization in Arkansas, black trans masculine (in)visibility in the media, and barriers facing trans Latina immigrants. Forging Families Workshop: Many trans folks have conflicted relationships with our families of origin. There are often layers of trauma, misunderstanding, and frustration. Some choose to craft chosen families of our own design. How much should we change for our families and how much can we expect them to change for us? In this interactive workshop, we share personal experiences and strategize about how to navigate the complexity of family in order to build a network of supportive relationships that will nourish us. 


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Indigo Institute
hosted by Brattleboro Solidarity
October 13th-14th, 2017. Multiple locations. For more information, please check out the Facebook event here.

Friday, October 13th, 2017
7pm-9pm
Dramatic Reading
Voices of Working Peoples
Headroom Stages (17 Elliot St, Brattleboro, VT, 05301)

Friday Event Details: Voices of Working Peoples
Brattleboro Solidarity and community members will read Voices of Working People's History, a play written by Western MA Jobs for Justice. There will be a dramatic reading of labor organizers, abolitionists, and civil rights organizers. Join us to remember the struggles of our ancestors and to have a discussion about current labor struggles and how this topic can be brought into the classroom.

Saturday, October 14th, 2017
9am-3pm
Social Justice in the Classroom
Location:  Marlboro Graduate Center (28 Vernon St, Brattleboro, VT 05301)

Saturday Event Details:
Morning (9am-12pm): Presentations by local teachers.
* Studying the Brattleboro Cotton Mill:  Using local history to meet Social Studies and Writing standards for 3rd Grade
* Bringing people's history into the classroom through research and role play 
* Teaching water justice through Science, Math, and Technology (Grades 3-6)
* From the massacre of Wounded Knee to Standing Rock:  Connecting yesterday to today
* Salt of the Earth:  Labor in the Classroom
* Bringing Palestine into the Classroom
~ Classroom resources, materials, and lessons will be provided. 
~ Professional Development credits are available through the Spark Teacher Education Institute (certified by VT Dept of Ed)

Afternoon (1pm-3pm): Discussion on how to teach current events in the classroom with attention given to the recent climate disasters both nationally and internationally and the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville late summer. 
We will have a chance to talk about what's going on in our classrooms and walk away with concrete ideas to use in your teaching. 



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Protest Vigil at TD Bank
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, October 13 (and every Friday) in front of TD Bank Brattleboro (215 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 12pm-1pm. Signs will be provided.
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 802.869.2141.

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Rights & Democracy's Movement Politics Training
sponsored by Rights and Democracy (RAD)
Saturday, October 14th, 2017 in Manchester, VT (location TBD). 9:30am-4:30pm. The training costs $50 or signing up as a $10/month sustainer (we will accommodate those to which the financial cost may be a burden). 
To move from protest to power we need to get serious about impacting elections, either by running for office ourselves or supporting campaigns run by our allies in the movement. Join RAD Political Director Isaac Grimm, RAD Comms Director Shay Totten, Bennington Representative Kiah Morris & former Manchester Rep. Steve Berry for a training on how to build powerful grassroots electoral campaigns.
If you'd like to join our day long movement politics training, fill out this registration form.  We will then follow up with a phone interview before accepting applicants. Training starts with a grounding in how we got to our current political situation, our long-term agenda, and a power analysis, and then delves how to build our base, the nuts & bolts of planning & executing a campaign, messaging & media, fundraising, and operating a field campaign.


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A Meditative Vigil of Lovingkindness
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Saturday, October 14th, 2017 on the lawn in front of the First Baptist Church next to Brown & Roberts (190 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 12:30pm-1:30pm. Please do not block walkway, door or driveway.
Under a banner that reads “May All Beings Be Free Of Pain And Suffering, May All Beings Know Peace And Happiness.” Post Oil Solutions is continuing its series of silent vigils of lovingkindness for the peaceful, socially just society we are all seeking. All too often, when we become caught up in the righteous practice of resisting the evil in our world, we can lose sight of the importance of also expressing and simply being our inherent heart values. Though silent, the Vigil of Lovingkindness is intended to give voice to these values that are the foundation of a wholesome society, and to speak up for the compassionate alternative that they represent. Please join us. All are welcome to join for a few minutes or for the entire hour. People may stand, sit or kneel, as they see fit. Please bring a chair, cushion, mat, or whatever you are comfortable with.
For further information, or if you wish to be part of a contact list that will inform people of future Lovingkind Vigils, please forward your name, e-mail address, and phone number to: [email protected] or 802.869.2141.

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The Putney Huddle Regular Monthly Meeting
Sunday, October 15th, 2017 at The Putney Public Library (55 Main Street, Putney, VT 05346). 1pm-3:30pm. To RSVP via Facebook follow click HERE.
This meeting will include working group updates, a discussion on fundraising for the Vermont Democrats, and guest speaker Bari Shamas talking "Sex and Politics".
Schedule
1pm-2pm: Updates and Dems
2pm-3:30pm: Bari Shamas


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UPCOMING EVENTS

WeCAN Cafe: Recharge Your Activist Spirit
Thursday, October 19th, 2017 at 118 Elliot Street (Brattleboro, VT 05301). 7pm-9pm
Created as a follow-up to the Action Fair this past spring, the WeCAN Cafe is an evening designed to build community, learn from each other, share success stories and find out about the progress being made by organizations in the area -- and to remind ourselves that we're not alone! There will be food, music, poetry, information sharing, connection to others, and a cash bar. The goal is to head home feeling better than when we arrived.

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New England Mass Meeting of the Poor People’s Campaign
Oct. 19th, 2017 at Trinity Church (206 Clarendon St., Boston, MA). 7pm-9pm. 
The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival has emerged from more than a decade of work by grassroots community and religious leaders, organizations and movements fighting to end systemic racism, poverty, militarism, environmental destruction & related injustices and to build a just, sustainable and participatory society. The Campaign, chaired by co-chairs Rev. Dr. William Barber and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, aims to build a broad and deep national moral movement, rooted in the leadership of poor people and reflecting the great moral teachings, to unite our country from the bottom up. The Campaign is holding mass meetings across the country. The New England meeting will be in Boston. The Vermont Workers’ Center and Justice for All are part of the PPC, and we are organizing carpools for the Boston Mass Meeting. For more information or to sign up for a carpool, contact Ellen, [email protected] or (802) 257-4436.

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Local Love Brigade Party at Avenue Grocery
Saturday October 21st, 2017 at the Avenue Grocery (82 Western Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301). 2pm-4pm. 
Join the Local Love Brigade! Drop by, get a cider donut, and make postcards to send out in an avalanche of love to support victims of hate. There will be plenty of materials to make a card, and no artistic experience is necessary. All are welcome.

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Film screening of documentary: Break The Silence: Reproductive and Sexual Health Histories Told by Local Women
hosted by Women's Action Team and Planned Parenthood Defenders
Sunday, October 29th, 2017 at the Latchis Theater (Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 4pm. Donations accepted. 
Join us for a benefit for Vermont Access for Reproductive Freedom. All proceeds will help women in Windham County pay for abortion services. 

 

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Cross Class Dialogue Circle
hosted by ACT for Social Justice
Saturdays November 4th, 18th, and December 2nd, 2017 at the Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). First Floor. 9am-3pm. Registration Closes October 27th, 2017. Sign-up for the 3 day circle at www.act4socialjustice.com.
Economic Inequality is real and is hurting our communities. Be Part of the Solution! 
“The realities of class are so pervasive and yet so taboo to talk about and expose. It is so valuable to learn more about its structures and roots and feel empowered to break the silence.” - age 36, raised middle class, currently poverty class  
“Everyone should participate in this course. Our community would a better place.” - age 37, professional class
The divide between economic and social classes in our nation played a huge role in the recent election. It’s now more urgent than ever that we come together to bridge this gap and find ways to bring economic justice to all! What each person will pay is determined through an equitable cost sharing process we’ll do in the session, and is anywhere from $0-$500+ in direct donations, fundraising, and/or work trade. No one will pay more than they are able. In 2018 we are planning for circles in Bellows Falls and Upper Valley. This project is supported through fiscal sponsorship of Post Oil Solutions. Marlboro College Diversity and Inclusion task force, Youth Services, and Hilltop Montessori School are organizational sponsors. Organizational sponsors are important in ensuring the continuation of this community education opportunity. Contact us to find out more.
Donate! We are currently looking for donations to keep these circles going and to ensure that people of all incomes can participate. https://www.youcaring.com/crossclassdialoguecircle-835266. For more information visit www.act4socialjustice.com or call 802.254.3400 or email [email protected].


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STANDING REGULAR MEETINGS

Lost River Racial Justice, Black Lives Matter-South, and People Of Color Caucus Regular Meetings
Reoccurring racial justice organizing meetings every 2nd Monday at The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio of the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) on the First Floor. 6pm-8pm. Childcare provided. Fragrance & nut free space.  

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SKILLED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Childcare as a Radical Act: Sign up to Provide Childcare! 
The Family Solidarity Action Network is moving forward with their next big effort to support families in local activism: a collective of folks to provide childcare for local activist meetings or events. If you or someone you know would be able and willing to offer childcare (as a volunteer, or paid) for meetings and events please fill out this spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YGVI8wECe4ZDdghtAG147j7ktwgB_J5ZoWUPkwGrOhM/edit#gid=0
We are looking for people young and old with varying degrees of experience.  Having a large pool of people to call on will make it much easier for organizers to arrange childcare for meetings, allowing for more voices of families with young children to participate in local activism!  We will then be making this list available to other local organizations so we can be sure that childcare doesn't have to be a barrier to participation for anyone. 

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VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES

Soup's On (Again)!
Please support our fun and delicious fundraising effort to support Sister District. Project and our two Virginia House of Delegates candidates: John Bell and Jennifer Foy. You can sign up to receive delicious soup monthly with pick up in Putney or Brattleboro, or if you are going to be out of area you can donate your soup to the Putney Foodshelf. Sign up, spread the word, and share with friends! Our last round raised over $3500 and our goal for the next 8 months is $10,000. If you are interested in cooking, you can volunteer by emailing us: [email protected].

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ONGOING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING

Indigo Radio
Sundays at 12pm on Brattleboro Community Radio 107.7FM
To stream live: Visit www.wvew.org 
Indigo Radio, deepening understanding and making connections!
IndigoRadio is a group of area educators seeking to learn through engaging with others in our community and throughout the world. We will be talking about educational and social issues both globally and locally and connecting them to our lives and Brattleboro community.
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indigoradiowvew/. For archive recordings of past shows: https://soundcloud.com/user-654648353

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Democracy, Eventually 
WVEW 107.7FM, Brattleboro Community Radio Station
You can listen to recorded and archived episodes here: https://soundcloud.com/democracy-eventually and you can find us on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/democracyeventually/ and on Twitter here @Democrazeee.
We are Democracy, Eventually a radio show covering local, state, and underreported national news stories from a progressive analysis. We air live on WVEW 107.7FM LP Brattleboro Community Radio Station. 

We can't wait to see you at an event this week, WeCANners. Thank you for all you do! 


Your Friendly WeCAN Admins,
Ann and Joanna