Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

"We long to have a home where civil freedoms are respected, where our children will not be subject to mass surveillance, abuse of human rights, political censorship and mass incarceration. We stand with all the free peoples of the world and hope you stand with us in our quest for justice and freedom."
-Joshua Wong b.1996
Hong Kong activist and politician. He served as secretary-general of the pro-democracy party Demosistō until it disbanded following the implementation of the Hong Kong national security law on 30 June 2020

   Hello WeCAN readers and Happy Sunday! When you are finished perusing this week's Email, friends, we'd like to encourage you to take on a small, easy activism action. Community Voices for Immigrant Rights would like to remind Vermonters that CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) is still taking public feedback about its plans to install surveillance towers in Northern VT communities; CVIR and we here at WeCAN encourage you to submit an email to CBP TODAY.

From Community Voices for Immigrant Rights' Facebook page:
“Anyone who doubts the impact that surveillance towers would have on Vermont communities can look to the other border regions where similar towers—accompanied by Border Patrol checkpoints, roving patrol stops, surveillance drones, and other increasingly intrusive measures—have profoundly deteriorated the quality of life and resulted in widespread abuses to the point where these communities are virtually unrecognizable. Vermonters should not allow the federal government to do the same thing to our communities under the false pretense of ‘border security’.” (ACLU VT)

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EDITOR'S NOTE:
Some Covid 19 resources have been relocated to a permanent home on our website, HERE. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. Thank you. 

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HAPPENING TODAY, SUNDAY, MARCH 14th, 2021

Community Conversations with Representative Emilie Kornheiser
Sunday, March 14th, 2021, Online. 11am.
Please register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtce-grD4rGNxo9FEE3R8zKpRSj_qBTz03 . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Emilie Kornheiser, State Representative for Windham 2-1, invites you to join her weekly office hours: Sundays at 11am. We’ll talk about what’s happening in the legislature and in our town. Open conversation format-- come for the full hour or just stop by for a few minutes to share a particular concern or question. 

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Community Voices for Immigrant Rights: Honk Protest at the ICE Data Center in Williston
Sunday, March 14th, 2021. Meet at the TD Bank Parking Lot (2300 St George Rd, Williston, VT 05495). 1pm.
The Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) Data Center in Williston is central to Washington’s racist system of mass incarceration and empire of borders. It has the gall to celebrate that in 2019 it received 1.61 million biometric and biographic inquiries from law enforcement agencies; managed 323,000 criminal warrants from I.C.E; confirmed 4,870 National Crime Information Center matches; and responded to 108,000 calls from police across the country. These activities violate the spirit of Vermont’s Fair and Impartial Policing Policy (FIPP). As Vermonters, we have an important role to play in protesting I.C.E. because we house the data center that ICE uses to coordinate hundreds of thousands of unjust deportations each year. 
We must draw attention to the existence of this data center. Join us for a honk protest on March 14th at 1pm, starting at the TD Bank parking lot in Williston. 

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HAPPENING THIS WEEK, MONDAY, MARCH 15th, 2021-SUNDAY, MARCH 21st, 2021

Vermont Food Bank’s Veggie Van Go Upcoming Schedule
The First and Third Mondays of Every Month in the parking lot across the street from the main entrance to Brattleboro Union High School (131 Fairground Road, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 10am-11:30am. 
Veggie Van Go is a program through the Vermont Foodbank that gives out free produce and local food for people to take home.
Monday, March 15th, 2021
Monday, April 5th, 2021
Monday, April 19th, 2021
Monday, May 3rd, 2021
Monday, May 17th, 2021
Monday, June 7th, 2021
Monday, June 21st, 2021

Important information:

• Drive through model- please stay in your vehicles
• If you are walking there: see a Vermont Foodbank associate but please make sure to stay 6 feet back.
• There are no income requirements, registration or paperwork to participate
• You do not need to be present to get food: you may ask someone to pick up on your family's behalf.

For questions, please contact the WSESU VVG Program Coordinator:
Kira Sawyer-Hartigan, WSESU
53 Green Street
Brattleboro, VT 
[email protected]
(802)254-3730

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Everyone Eats! 
Monday, March 15th, 2021-Thursday, March 18th, 2021 at the C.F Building (80 Flat Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 4pm-6pm. Masks required. PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE EARLY.  If you have any questions visit https://www.brattleboro.com/everyoneeats/ or contact Frances Huntley [email protected]. Organizational ordering information is listed under our Free and Nutritious Food in Windham County section further along in this email. 
Everyone Eats! is a program which will distribute meals from Brattleboro restaurants to anyone in need who lives in Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, Putney, or Vernon, free of charge, through December 11th. There will be 850+ meals/day available Monday through Thursday to serve our community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pick up for individuals will be at the C.F. Church Building at 80 Flat St in Brattleboro and group/institution orders can be picked up at Mama Sezz in West Brattleboro. All meals are available Monday-Thursday between 4pm and 6pm until supplies run out.
If you have extra produce from your garden, there will be a wheelbarrow you can drop it off in on your way out of the pickup site. Participating restaurants will use the donated produce in making more meals.
The meals are free, but if you would like to make a monetary contribution to help make more meals possible for others, it will be gratefully received. The base cost of each meal is $10 but any amount will be appreciated.
Each restaurant will contribute meals two or more days a week. You will receive one individually packaged cold ready-to-eat or heat & serve dinner for each person you request a meal for. Meals will be distributed cold, so if you are driving a distance, delivering to other households, or distributing through your organization, consider bringing a cooler if you can.

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Coping During Covid19: How Students are Handling the Challenges of the Covid19 Pandemic, with Senator Bernie Sanders
Monday, March 15th, 2021, Online. 7:30pm.
For more information on how to register, visit: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/coping-during-covid-9-student-town-meeting
Senator Bernie Sanders invites Vermont students to participate in a statewide virtual town hall meeting to discuss their experiences and the challenges they have faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will feature a conversation with a panel of Vermont high school students, followed by a question and answer session with all participants. Students will have an opportunity to speak about the issues that matter most to them and hear from Senator Sanders about ways to address the needs of students and families.
The virtual event only holds 1,000 participants. Students are encouraged to register for the event to reserve their spot so they can fully participate. 
The event will also be livestreamed on Senator Sanders’ Youtube page for family members, educators, school staff, members of the media, and the general public. If participation via WebEx reaches its maximum capacity, students are also welcome to attend via the livestream: https://www.youtube.com/senatorsanders

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Youth 4 Change Says NO to School Resource Officers at Brattleboro Union High School: The Campaign Continues!
Tuesday, March 16th, 2021, Online. 6pm-9pm.
The agenda with Zoom link should be posted on Wednesday 3/10 here: https://sites.google.com/wsesu.org/wsesdboard/agenda
Youth 4 Change, a youth activist program of The Root Social Justice Center continues with their campaign to create safer schools by removing School Resource Officers from Brattleboro Union High School.
Y4C and allies made an impact when we spoke at the previous WSESD School Board meeting and now a discussion on SRO’s in the school district has been added to the agenda for the next meeting on Tuesday March 16th starting at 6pm (link info at the end).
Members of Youth 4 Change are in agreement with many of the nation's youth that SRO’s do not make their schools safe, and argue that instead their presence causes direct harm to the youth of this community. That is why Y4C wants all local representatives to know that youth voices matter even when they can’t vote and that they are saying no to SRO’s.
This is a Call To Action to all impacted youth! We want your voices and the voices of the youth in the community to be elevated and heard!
Trynity, a youth leader of Y4C states “There’s such a focus on the misbelief that we need SRO’s to respond to threats such as school shooters, instead of addressing the actual root issues that cause people to act out, or even harm themselves or others. Whether it be mental health related, a stressful/unsafe home life, lack of resources to address any problems, etc. We shouldn’t wait for the worst case scenario when we may be able to help them before. This help doesn’t come in the form of someone with a gun.”
Youth, we encourage you to come speak at the WSESD School Board meeting on the 16th. We understand that some of the most impacted might not feel safe or comfortable with speaking at this event. In an effort to ensure your voice is still heard and your safety is recognized we invite youth to send us your written statements and testimonies to [email protected]. You may share your name or remain anonymous and we’ll happily read them at the meeting on your behalf.
Adult allies please support the youth of this community by sharing with the youth you know and showing up on the 16th to let the WSESD School Board members know that you stand with youth in removing SRO's from their schools!

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Disability Awareness Day Legislative Panel
hosted by the VT Center for Independent Living and VT Coalition for Disability Rights
Wednesday, March 17th, 2021, Online. 4pm-5pm.
Register in advance: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZIqdOyupjstGtYijKWRJ8QKHl9Wh...
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
The Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights is holding a panel featuring Vermont legislators (including Sen. Anthony Pollina, Rep. Anne Donahue and Rep. John Killacky). They will share their personal experiences with disabilities as it relates to their legislative work and the legislative response to the COVID pandemic. VCDR Past President Ed Paquin will moderate the panel.

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Marlboro Community Food Share
hosted by the Marlboro Community Center
Thursday, March 18th, 2021, and every Thursday, at the Marlboro Community Center (524 South Road, Marlboro, VT, 05344). 4:30pm-5:30pm.
Every Thursday from 4:30pm-5:30pm the Marlboro Community Center invites you to fill a grocery bag with non-perishables and fresh local produce. No registration or eligibility required. This weekly opportunity is available for anyone who could use an extra bag of groceries or knows someone who does.
Food will be set up in the entry-way to the Marlboro Community Center. For proper social distancing, please enter one person at a time. Bring a grocery bag or use ours. Masks are required. Deliveries will be made through Marlboro Cares for those needing assistance. Please call Marlboro Cares at 802-258-3030 in advance to arrange a delivery.
To donate food:
Leave non-perishable food in the donation box at the Marlboro Post Office. It will be collected on a weekly-basis. (Please note that this box previously supplied the Deerfield Valley Food Pantry, which is now distributing food exclusively from VT Food Pantry) 
Gardeners and farmers are welcome to donate produce. Wear masks and wash hands when harvesting and handling food. Fresh produce can be dropped off at the Community Center on Thursday between 1pm and 4pm. (Any leftover produce will be taken to FoodWorks the following morning)

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Guilford Cares Food Pantry
Thursday, March 18th, 2021 (and every Thursday) at Broad Brook Community Center (3490 Guilford Center Road, Guilford, VT, 05301). 5pm-6pm. If you have questions, concerns or would like to donate groceries or monetary gifts please contact Pat Haine 802-257-0626. For additional questions or more information call 802 579 1350 or email [email protected].
The Guilford Cares Food Pantry will continue to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure food security for all our citizens and vulnerable populations. They are well stocked with the staples you need for your family and are following viral guidelines to limit risk.
They ask that shoppers to remain in their car. A volunteer will greet you and give you a "shopping list" for you to  mark with the items you would like. Another volunteer will fill your bag  and bring it to porch where you will be asked to pick it up. Please  bring a bag for the items and a pen to fill out the shopping list. If you have questions, concerns or would like to donate groceries or monetary gifts please contact Pat Haine 257-0626
If you cannot come to the Pantry due to illness or high risk, you can call also call Pat to arrange for food delivery by a volunteer.
We know that supplemental food can make such a big difference in one's budget. That is why we are stocking our shelves for our neighbors. All are welcome to come and take home fresh produce, staples, meat, dairy.
Guilford Cares welcomes anyone in need of supplemental food for themselves or their families.

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From Restorative Justice to Transformative Justice: Foundations of Restorative Justice
co-hosted by Vermont Legal Aid, Outright Vermont, ACLU, Rights and Democracy, the Vermont Human Rights Commission, Root Center for Social Justice, and The Education Justice Coalition of Vermont and various community members
Thursday, March 18th, 2021, Online. 5pm.
Don't forget to pre-register on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZUpcOGopzgjG9UAQ...
In this event we will develop a common understanding to differentiate between punitive justice, restorative justice, and transformative justice. The event will include hands on scenarios to differentiate between practices that are and are not aligned with restorative justice. This event is the first in a series of restorative justice events organized by the Police Out of Schools Coalition.

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Vermont Wild Kitchen with Missisquoi Abenaki Chef Jessee Lawyer
hosted by Rooted in VT
Thursday, March 18th, 2021, Online. 5pm
Join Rooted in Vermont and Vermont Fish and Wildlife in the Vermont Wild Kitchen on Facebook Live! This episode we have a special guest, Missisquoi Abenaki Chef Jessee Lawyer! He will be preparing traditional Abenaki ingredients with a modern twist including deer shank, bear fat, garlic, sumac, and more.
Bring your friends, appetites, and questions and join us in the Vermont Wild Kitchen!

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I Am…2021: Behind Creation: Discussing the Creative Process
Thursday, March 18th 2021, Online. 7pm.
Please register for this event HERE. For more information and to pre-register, visit vermontartscouncil.org/iam2021. Closed captioning will be provided for these events. We invite you to contact us with specific accommodations you need to facilitate your participation in the workshop. We will make every effort to honor your requests when they are made two weeks prior to the event. Contact Michele Bailey, 504/ADA coordinator at [email protected].
Five featured artists take us “behind the scenes” in a discussion of their creative process. Artists will share the good, the bad, the uncomfortable, and more on the journey from conception to completed work.
Nineteen artists from the I am a Vermont Artist series will exhibit work in our new online gallery from Feb. 16 through April 30, and on the third Thursday of each month we will host a Zoom gathering so that audiences can engage with the artists directly.
The virtual exhibit will consist of a group gallery with select work from each featured artist and individual galleries with up to five pieces from an artist. 
Part of the Vermont Art Council’s mission is to expand access to the arts for all people, regardless of background. Vermont is not often thought of as a diverse state, but people of every stripe call this place home, and the different experiences they bring make our communities rich and vibrant.
To celebrate Vermont’s diversity and deepen our state’s creative identity, the Council began publishing the I am a Vermont Artist interview series in early 2019. Two years on from the series’ launch, the Council has published over 30 interviews with artists, exploring how their creative expressions reflect their experiences of ethnicity, gender identity, religion, disability, or age—and the group continues to grow.

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Putney Food Shelf
Saturday, March 20th, 2021 (and every Saturday until April 4th, 2021) at 10 Christian Square (Putney, VT, 05346). 9am-11am.
Curbside Open Hours. All are welcome - we just ask you to provide your town of residence and number in household for our data tracking purposes.
Stay in your car, please. Volunteers will take your order and bring out boxes of food, including nonperishable items, fresh produce, paper goods, meat, and dairy products.

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Winter Farmers' Market Online Shop
Saturday, March 20th, 2021 at the C.F. Church Building, 80 Flat Street, Brattleboro ,VT, 05301). For the most up to date info on current market operations or other market information go to www.brattleborowinterfarmersmarket.org, or sign up for our newsletter. Order Monday through Thursday morning for Curbside Pick up from the Brattleboro Winter Farmers' Market. 
The Brattleboro Winter Farmers’ Market is home to a diverse mix of market vendors bringing local farm produce, meats, syrup, fresh baked goods, local cheeses, fruits, cider, pickles, preserves, handmade soaps and artisan crafts. 
SNAP/EBT customers can turn $10 into $40 each week through January with market match coupons thanks to grants from NOFA-VT, C&S Wholesale Grocers, New England Grassroots Fund, Brattleboro Savings & Loan, and gifts from caring community members.  
Due to COVID19 the market is currently NOT open for in-person shopping.  However, you can select from a wide variety of farm products, locally produced foods and other goods from over 20 local producers in one convenient place. While the shopping experience is different, you still go home from your curbside pick up with all the same wonderful local goods market customers are used to! 
For more information, visit their website at https://www.brattleborowinterfarmersmarket.org

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Community Conversations with Representative Emilie Kornheiser
Sunday, March 21st, 2021, Online. 11am.
Please register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtce-grD4rGNxo9FEE3R8zKpRSj_qBTz03 . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Emilie Kornheiser, State Representative for Windham 2-1, invites you to join her weekly office hours: Sundays at 11am. We’ll talk about what’s happening in the legislature and in our town. Open conversation format-- come for the full hour or just stop by for a few minutes to share a particular concern or question. 

March for Climate Change: Brattleboro
Saturday, April 17th, 2021, starting at Living Memorial Park (61 Guilford St, Brattleboro, VT 05301) and ending at Pliny Park (corner of High Street and Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 1pm. Masks required, social distancing guidelines will be in effect.
The March will start at 1pm at Living Memorial Park and go down Western Avenue to Pliny Park, then slowly along Main Street to the Brattleboro Food Co-op. Those who are unable to walk a mile in 15 minutes should join the March at Pliny Park. In case of heavy rain the march will be postponed. If in doubt about the weather check ValleyPost.org after 9 a.m. on April 17th. For more information email  Eesha Williams at [email protected] or call them at (802) 254-2531.
On Saturday, April 17 in Brattleboro there will be a march calling on local, state, and federal politicians to do more to address climate change. Marches are a big part of the reason Vermont Yankee closed, the civil rights movement had the successes it did, apartheid ended, women won the right to vote, and the labor movement built the middle class. In recent years, 9 million people a year have died of starvation. Droughts, floods, and unseasonable heat and cold -- all caused by climate change -- make it harder for farmers to grow food.  
Let us draw attention to these facts by Marching the streets of Brattleboro, together! 

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COMMUNITY SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES

From the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance:
Your Vermont State Legislators need to hear from YOU on the following Bills and Resolutions:
1) Racism is a Public Health Emergency (Joint Resolution)
2) Abolish Slavery (PR.2)
3) Healthy Equity (H.210)
4) Economic Equity (H.406)
5) Land and Home Equity (H.273)
6) Cannabis Market Equity (H.414)
7) Reparations Task Force (H.387)
Please click HERE to find out more information and to email your representatives! Thank you. 

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Lean Left Survey for VT Activists
Lean Left volunteers contributed to some outstanding victories through determined and dedicated work at all levels—local, state, and federal—and as we gear up for another election season, we’re taking stock of our members' experience with Lean Left actions in 2020 and gauging interest in our upcoming efforts in 2021/2022. 
Why? Because there are no off years when it comes to building democracy!
Your input on this survey will help us gather information that will inform our 2021/2022 strategy for leveraging the talents and resources of our Vermont community to build a stronger, more just democracy.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfIwKt_OubXiosTvHtpCD6FVhF2IR0hJduiAiuBtsUS3JiHeQ/viewform?ct=t(EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_3_3_2021_8_10)&mc_cid=2d195d5b8e&mc_eid=e4f039b25c

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Vermont Prison System Vaccinations
1 minute action to make a difference: Please call Governor Scott at (802) 828 3333 and ask that Prisoners in Vermont's system get vaccinated NOW. These folks are in a congregate system, many have underlying conditions with little to no control over their environment. Save a life today and make the call please. You can also email him HERE. 

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COVID 19 RESOURCES: VERMONT

CURRENT COVID19 CASE INFORMATION as of 12pm, March 12th, 2021

New cases: 121 (16,623 total) 
Currently Hospitalized: 23
Hospitalized in ICU: 4
Hospitalized Under Investigation: 1
Deaths: 212 

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Covid 19 Pop-Up Testing

Testing is available for all. 
If you need testing, there are a variety of options available to you: your primary care provider, pop-up test sites and pharmacies. The Test Site Finder below can help you find other testing near you.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT POP-UP TESTING LOCATIONS
Here are the steps to set up a testing appointment at a pop-up testing site:

• Register to get an account
• Receive an email with your patient ID and use that to confirm your account (check your spam folder if you don't see the email)
• Log in with your patient ID
• Set up an appointment

Register for Pop-Up Testing Here

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FREE HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD IN WINDHAM COUNTY

Brigid’s Kitchen, St. Michael’s Church, 47 Walnut Street, Brattleboro 802-254-6800 or 802-558-6072 
Grab-and-go lunches and fruit/nuts on Mon, Weds, Thus, and Sat, 11:30am-12:20pm.

Loaves and Fishes, Centre Congregational Church 193 Main Street, Brattleboro (802) 254-4730
Grab-and-go lunches on Tuesdays and Fridays at 12pm.

VT Foodbank and Veggie Van Go will be at Brattleboro Union High School (Fairground Ave, Brattleboro, VT, 05301), in the parking lot, on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, from 10am-11:30am. Drive up, touchless pickup. Walkers welcome, too. Call VT 211 for more information. 

Foodworks, the food shelf program of the Groundworks Collaborative https://groundworksvt.org (802) 490-2412, [email protected] 
Households in need of food are asked to call or email to coordinate delivery. There is an urgent need for volunteers, and Foodworks has set up protocols to keep staff, volunteers, and clients as safe as possible. Please email us at [email protected] if you are able to help.

Guilford Food Pantry 
Every Thursday at the BBCC (3940 Guilford Center Road, Guilford, VT, 05301). 5pm-6pm.
We know that supplemental food can make such a big difference in one's budget. That is why we are stocking our shelves for our neighbors. All are welcome to come and take home fresh produce, staples, meat, dairy. Guilford Cares welcomes anyone in need of supplemental food for themselves or their families.

Everyone Eats! at the C.F Building (80 Flat Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 4pm-6pm. Masks required. PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE EARLY.  If you have any questions visit https://www.brattleboro.com/everyoneeats/ or contact Frances Huntley [email protected]. Organizational ordering information is listed under our Free and Nutritious Food in Windham County section further along in this email. 
Everyone Eats! is a program which will distribute meals from Brattleboro restaurants to anyone in need who lives in Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, Putney, or Vernon, free of charge, Monday-Thursday through June 2021. 
Pick up for individuals will be at the C.F. Church Building at 80 Flat St in Brattleboro and group/institution orders can be picked up at Mama Sezz in West Brattleboro. All meals are available Monday-Thursday between 4pm and 6pm until supplies run out.
If you have extra produce from your garden, there will be a wheelbarrow you can drop it off in on your way out of the pickup site. Participating restaurants will use the donated produce in making more meals.
The meals are free, but if you would like to make a monetary contribution to help make more meals possible for others, it will be gratefully received. The base cost of each meal is $10 but any amount will be appreciated.
Each restaurant will contribute meals two or more days a week. You will receive one individually packaged cold ready-to-eat or heat & serve dinner for each person you request a meal for. Meals will be distributed cold, so if you are driving a distance, delivering to other households, or distributing through your organization, consider bringing a cooler if you can.

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ADDITIONAL COVID 19 RESOURCES CAN BE FOUND AT THEIR PERMANENT HOME ON OUR WEBSITE, HERE: https://www.wecantogether.net/covid19_resources

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RESOURCE FOR WeCAN

Rapid Response Text Alert System

When WeCAN began, Song & Solidarity set up a Rapid Response Text Alert System for WeCAN Groups. Directions for signing up are on WeCAN's website, here: https://www.wecantogether.net/rapid_response. We are grateful to Song and Solidarity for providing this service.

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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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Thanks so much for your continued support, WeCAN readers. Until next week! 

Your Friendly WeCAN Admins,

Joanna and Sam