Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

"Every gift which is given, even though it be small, is in reality great if it is given with affection."
Pindar

Happy Holidays WeCAN Family! We wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you for a year full of resistance, camaraderie, and growth. We are truly inspired by your commitment to our county and country and we look forward to helping you accomplish great things in 2018. Have a happy holiday season and a healthy, justice-filled New Year. 

In Solidarity - Ann, Joanna, and Leslie 

HAPPENING THIS WEEK MONDAY, DECEMBER 25th, 2017-SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31st, 2017

Protest Vigil at TD Bank
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, December 29th, 2017 (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!
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.

The Bi-Weekly Solidarity Vigil
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, December 39th, 2017 at the Windham Hotel Corner (across fro the Flat Iron Cafe) in Bellows Falls, VT.
1pm-2pm.
A vigil of community, solidarity and diversity. We are one cause of peace, freedom & social justice for all living beings. Bring signs expressing your passion and concerns.

Winter Farmers’ Market
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Saturday, December 30th, 2017 (and every Saturday through March) at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 10am-2pm. 
Area musicians will perform from 11am-1pm. No pets allowed. Metered parking available within walking distance. Restrooms and cafe seating available on site. Family friendly. 
We are beginning our 12th Season! Join us every Saturday for vegetables, fruits and meat from local farms, a variety of baked goods, locally and regionally produced artisan crafts, and freshly prepared food in the beautiful River Garden building on Main Street in downtown Brattleboro. 
EBT customers can turn $10 into $20 with CropCash
INFO: contact Market Manager, Sherry Maher, 802.869.2141, [email protected]

Voter Petition Collection
Wednesdays, January 3rd, 10th and 17th, 2018 at the Democracy Forum at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 12pm-1pm.
We will be collecting signatures from Brattleboro residents at the Democracy Forum at the River Garden on three Wednesdays in January: the 3rd, 10th, and 17th.  On January 3rd we will and hand out petitions, instructions, strategies etc. On the 10th and 17th we will collect signed petitions etc. Please turn in the petitions on the 17th. Petitions are due at the Town Clerks office no later than 5 pm on Jan 18th. Contact Woody at [email protected] or call 802 464 3154 for more information. 
We propose the following:
The Article: "To see if the town will vote to waive the fees and hang the 'WE CELEBRATE DEMOCRACY/CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL' main street banner on Main Street in Brattleboro whenever there is no other banner scheduled to be hung."
We think the "WE CELEBRATE DEMOCRACY/CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL" banner makes a great public statement about our town and region, and to visitors. In 2017 local donations funded making the banner and hanging it over Main Street on the weeks of April 23rd, May 25th, September 3rd and October 8th.  At times, other banners take the spotlight, but during the perhaps 18 or 19 weeks when there is no other banner on Main Street in Brattleboro, we are asking the Town to waive the fee and hang the banner. We would like to see the "WE CELEBRATE DEMOCRACY/CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL" fill those vacant spaces. We need to collect 492 signatures of registered Brattleboro voters to get the article on the 2018 Brattleboro Town Meeting Warning for a Representative Town Meeting Advisory Vote on March 24th. If 42 of us each take one petition sheet and collect 12 signatures from registered Brattleboro voters, it should be reasonably easy. That will get us 504 signatures, 5%+  of the required # of signatures, to get on the Town Meeting Warning. Please bring a clip board and pens. Please ask people to only sign the petition once.

Public Hearing
Thursday, January 4th, 2018 at Brattleboro Union High School (131 Fairground Rd, Brattleboro, VT 05301) in the MultiPurpose Room. 
6pm.
Vermont's Public Utility Commission will hold a public hearing on the sale of Vermont Yankee (from Entergy to NorthStar) on Thursday, January 4 at Brattleboro Union High School's MultiPurpose Room. The formal notice is here:http://puc.vermont.gov/event/puc-case-no-8880-public-hearing 
Agenda: 6pm: Presentation; 7pm: Public Comments

Letter Writing and Storytelling Workshop and Potluck
facilitated by the Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign of the Vermont Workers’ Center
Saturday, January 6th, 2018 at the Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). First Floor. 5pm-7pm. Wheelchair accessible, all-gender inclusive bathroom. Fragrance & nut free space. As with all Hive activities, this event is open to the public. For questions and childcare/interpretation needs please contact [email protected] or call 802-257-4436.
The January Hive potluck will feature a letter-writing and storytelling workshop, facilitated by the Healthcare Is A Human Right Campaign of the Vermont Workers’ Center. The vision of the campaign is that our healthcare system should guarantee all of us access to care we need.
In addition to yummy food, we’ll have updates on the state of healthcare in Vermont and information and people and tools to help you write a letter or tell your story. Sharing our experiences with the healthcare system is an important way we can change the public narrative about healthcare to one that is human-centered, rather than being framed in terms of costs, profits, and policy that is divorced from our lives. Start the New Year by Changing the Healthcare Narrative. We hope to see you on January 6!

Indivisible Brattleboro Regular Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, January 10th, 2018 in the Holton Hall Conference Room at the Winston Prouty Campus (209 Austine Dr, Brattleboro, VT 05301). Fourth Floor. 6pm-8pm.
We will be addressing the 2018 Vermont legislative session and strategies for coordinating our efforts with other Vermont Indivisible groups. 

A Meditative Vigil of Lovingkindness
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Monday, January 29th, 2018 at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301), part of the Brown Bag Event. 12pm-1pm. 
With a banner that reads “May All Beings Be Free Of Pain And Suffering, May All Beings Know Peace And Happiness. Please Join Us” Post Oil Solutions is continuing to host  silent vigils of lovingkindness for the peaceful, socially just society we are all seeking.
At a time when basic values are being assaulted and ignored, it is essential that we both express and simply be our inherent heart values. Though silent, the Vigil of Lovingkindness is intended to give voice to these values—selfless love, personal integrity, service to others, moral courage, and a basic commitment to the sacredness of life--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. There are chairs, but please bring a cushion, mat, or whatever you are comfortable with. 

Non Violent Direct Action Training Opportunity: Call for NVDA Training Participants (REGISTRATION DEADLINE: FEBURARY 3rd, 2018)
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions and 99th Monkee Affinity Group
Saturday, February 10th, 2017 at the Brattleboro Food Co-op (2 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) in the Community Room on the 2nd Floor. 9:30am-5pm.
TRAINERS: Cate Woolner & Carol Lewis
The workshop is free. Bagels, muffins, scones, croissants, fruit, coffee & tea will be available throughout the day. For lunch, bring your own, eat in the Co-op Café, or elsewhere in town.
Though not required, a donation of $5-$20 would be most appreciated as our way of thanking our volunteer trainers.
There are only 25 places and some have already been taken; it is advisable to register early.
For information and to register contact Tim 802.869.2141 or email him at [email protected]. 
Participating in this training does not mean you plan to risk arrest while involved in a non-violent direct action. It is important for all of us in the environmental, social justice, racial & gender equality, peace, and democracy movements to be well-versed in non-violence. In addition to risking arrest, we need to consider all the roles necessary to make our efforts successful, including being a support person, a legal, police or media liaison.
Workshop Goals Include:
•To understand and become inspired by the spirit and history of non-violent direct action
•To prepare for participation in non-violent action that may be necessary as time goes on
•To deepen connections and build stronger community among activists in the greater Brattleboro area
•To consider joining an existing affinity group, or creating a new one.
The workshop is free. Bagels, muffins, scones, croissants, fruit, coffee & tea will be available throughout the day. For lunch, bring your own, eat in the Co-op Café, or elsewhere in town. Though not required, a donation of $5-$20 would be most appreciated as our way of thanking our volunteer trainers. There are only 25 places, and some have already been taken. So it is advisable to register early. For information and to register contact Tim 802.869.2141 or [email protected]. 

___________

STANDING REGULAR MEETINGS

Lost River Racial Justice, Black Lives Matter-South, and People Of Color Caucus Regular Meeting

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.  

Youth4Change Regular Meeting 

The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). First Floor. 
Youth4Change (Y4C), a program of The Root Social Justice Center, builds the leadership skills of youth ages 12-21, especially those from/in historically disenfranchised communities who want to use education, art, and action to address issues of racial, class, gender, queer, immigrant and indigenous justice.

SKILLED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

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. 

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

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.