Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

“Study the past if you would define the future.”
-Confucius

     We hope you all have a purposeful and proactive start to March, WeCAN Readers! This week, we would like to bring your attention to a specific ACLU action that concerns Vermont. Customs and Border Protection is adding new surveillance towers in Vermont and, for a short time, are opening up public comments. If you would like your voice to be heard, please consider contacting your local and state representatives through the ACLU website. Details are below. 

IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED: 

SAY NO TO BORDER PATROL SURVEILLANCE IN VERMONT COMMUNITIES:
Write Your Representatives Now and Tell Border Patrol We Don’t Need Surveillance Towers in Our Communities
Border Patrol has been and remains a notorious, rogue agency – with a toxic internal culture, a track record of heinous human rights abuses, and no meaningful oversight or accountability.
In just the past few years, we’ve seen Border Patrol agents abducting protesters off of American streets, forcibly separating thousands of children from their parents, and routinely violating the rights and liberties of countless travelers.
Now, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is planning to build eight surveillance towers in northern Vermont, at sites across the towns of Derby, Franklin, Highgate, Richford, and Troy, along with two sites in Champlain, New York.
Make no mistake, these surveillance towers would accelerate the militarization of our region and threaten the privacy, civil liberties, and safety of countless local residents.
CBP is accepting public comments and needs to hear from Vermonters that we value civil liberties and that we reject this proposal. Make your voice heard HERE. Please note: this action is time sensitive so do not delay in visiting the ACLU site if you are able. Thank you. 

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TOWN MEETING DAY

REMINDER: TOWN MEETING DAY IS TUESDAY, MARCH 2nd. PLEASE REMEMBER TO RETURN ABSENTEE BALLOTS TO YOUR TOWN CLERK OR VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU ARE ABLE. THANK YOU! 

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HAPPENING TODAY, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH, 2021

Community Conversations with Representative Emilie Kornheiser
Sunday, February 28th, 2021, Online. 10am.
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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HAPPENING THIS WEEK, MONDAY, MARCH 1st, 2021-SUNDAY, MARCH 7th, 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 1st, 2021
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 1st, 2021-Thursday, March 4th, 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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The Windham County Democratic Committee Meeting
Monday, March 1st, 2021, Online. 6:30pm-8:00pm.  
Delegates on the committee represent the 22 towns of Windham County. Our meetings are open to the public and we are always looking for new ideas and perspectives, so please join us at  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrdeihqTkuGdbT2n0t5R2DSzDa5qU-P7Bv

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Town Meeting Day and Windham Southeast School Elections
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021
Register to Vote: Register to vote using the online registration page at olvr.vermont.gov or by contacting your town clerk at the number listed below.
Vote Absentee: All voters are encouraged to visit their My Voter Page (mvp.vermont.gov) to update their registration address, including physical AND mailing addresses, and request an absentee ballot be mailed to them. If you encounter problems logging into your My Voter Page, please contact your town clerk.
Note: There will be no on-person early voting in Brattleboro. 
Town Clerk Telephone Numbers:
Brattleboro 251-8157
Dummerston 257-1496
Guilford 254-6857
Putney 387-5862 ext 13

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Statewide LGBTQ+ Town Hall Series: LGBTQ+ Town Meeting
a collaborative project series with the LGBTQIA+ Alliance of Vermont- Outright Vermont, Pride Center of Vermont, and the Rainbow Umbrella of Central VT
Thursday, March 2nd, 2021, Online. 7pm. For more information and registration go to pridevt.com. To sign up, please click HERE. 
Join for a Statewide LGBTQ+ Town Hall Series starting on January 21st and going through March 2nd. There will be weekly Town Hall Sessions on- Health Justice, Housing, Rural Queerness, Youth, Aging, and Racial Justice. We'll be culminating the series with a Statewide LGBTQ+ Town Meeting.
Join to share what is important to you and explore ways we can build together across the state! We're looking forward to seeing you there.

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Marlboro Community Food Share
hosted by the Marlboro Community Center
Thursday, March 4th, 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 4th, 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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Online Forum: Inspiring Change for 2021
hosted in collaboration with Brooks Memorial Library and The Women’s Freedom Center
Thursday, March 4th, 2021, Online. 7pm-8pm. For more information on how to register, call the WFC at 802-257-7364, email [email protected], or contact Brooks Memorial Library at 802-254-5290 or [email protected]. Free and open to all.
The Women’s Freedom Center is hosting a month-long dialogue focused on reimagining and shaping a world where everyone is valued and everyone is safe to thrive.
We’ll outline the scope of our anti-domestic and sexual violence work in a broader social context, and invite your questions and best thinking throughout the series. Highlighting how different oppressions function in tandem, we’ll discuss various systems of power and their impact, not just on survivors of domestic and sexual violence, but on our whole community. The main focus will be on honing skills for the everyday social justice work facing us all.
The topics include aiming for economic and legal justice, media literacy across the lifespan, bystander empowerment to address all forms of oppression, and domestic and sexual violence.
The WFC bills itself as “a feminist organization working toward ending men’s violence against women while offering support and advocacy to all survivors of domestic and sexual violence, as well as prevention and educational activities to help create a community in which violence is not tolerated.”
The four-part series is an opportunity to learn how people can safely advocate for their families and friends, but it’s also about how the culture minimizes violence against women.
Part of the lens of the discussion will be about how we can be more informed to know exactly what survivors are up against.

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Putney Food Shelf
Saturday, March 6th, 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 6th, 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
Saturday, March 6th, 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 SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES

MILKWEED FARM NEEDS A NEW HOME

Dear Friends of Milkweed Farm, 
We are writing to put the word out that we are looking to purchase a farm and forever home for our family and vegetable farm, Milkweed Farm. We are a small diversified vegetable and flower operation. We are people-powered and community oriented to our core. We grow organically produced vegetables for our CSA and sell to local grocers and wholesalers in the Brattleboro Area. We are sweet and cute and fun and hardworking - we would love to be your neighbors! 
After several years of leasing and searching and getting our financials in order, we are finally ready to take the plunge - we just need the right spot. Maybe you can help us find it? We are now in a bit of a time crunch as we are on the third year of a three year land lease in Guilford that we recently learned will not be renewed. 
Here are the details: 
-We need a minimum 3-5 acres of FLAT open farmable ground, more than 5 is totally cool and we would be happy to steward a larger parcel that includes wooded land
-We currently live and farm in Guilford and would like to remain in the Guilford/Brattleboro area, but we would consider other places in Windham County and southern Windsor County or *maybe* even southwestern Cheshire NH county if it was the right thing. 
-A house and outbuildings are desirable, but not necessary, we would buy raw land if it was in the right place at and at the right price point. 
Please connect us with any possibilities you might know of for land/farm purchase. 
We love and miss you all! Please spread the word far and wide! 
Love, 
Jonah, Emily and Simon 
Milkweed Farm 
Sign up for our CSA!!! 

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LGTBQIA+ Resources via Out in the Open

Out in the Open is offering a lot of resources & virtual spaces for rural LGBTQ folks in this time, friends. We have a Community Care Offers & Asks list, and a list of Rural New England Mutual Aid opportunities, with specific resource links for LGBTQ and QTPOC folks. Out in the Open also has a Slack channel for rural LGBTQ folks to share resources and connect outside of social media. Email [email protected] for more information.

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120 Birge Street Collective
The 120 Birge St.  collective is a group of local artist/musician/poets/builders etc that have been sharing a collective art/music space in one of the old Estey buildings. It has been a wild year; Winter is on it's way and although there are so many causes we all need to be giving to in this world, we could definitely use a bit of help to keep our space alive and come out the other side of this all ready to host and promote and foster and keep the lights and heat on! People can donate via Venmo @minions. Thanks for your consideration/support!

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Rise Fund

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Social Justice Resources

ROOT SOCIAL JUSTICE CENTER MUTUAL AID & SUPPORTIVE NETWORK
The Root Social Justice Center is collecting a list of contacts and resources to help support and assist with the needs of their Root community members. Join if you are in need or are able to help.

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COVID 19 RESOURCES: VERMONT

CURRENT COVID19 CASE INFORMATION as of 12pm, February 26th, 2021

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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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Statewide Mutual Aid
organized by Brenda for Vermont
Localized Mutual Aid has been organized in Brattleboro and Putney and hyper local neighborhoods in Marlboro.  If your community does not have mutual aid or you can't find it, please sign up to volunteer or if you are in need of help.  All of us will likely be on the side of being able to help and needing help at times.  Please don't hesitate to ask for help.
Sign up here if you would like to help your neighbors or are in need of help:https://www.brendaforvermont.com/cms/help-your-neighbor/
The links below will take you directly to the mutual aid forms. 
To Volunteer: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkRnbDKtNX_SacVaHWPyIAnsSXDGLsDMZE8vys25nzTgUo5A/viewform
If You Need Help: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfw7gg12KNq6n4s7SDUxf1ghMx-0MD3S0RCWQtxqmPTJQI8QA/viewform

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Online Religious Services

All Souls U.U. Sunday Services
Sunday Mornings at 10am. 
To get the current information on an upcoming service or vespers check the All Souls web page at www.ascvt.org.

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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Food Discount Programs

Food Resources at Brattleboro Food Coop 
Our Shareholder Assistance Grant supports community members who could not otherwise afford to be a Shareholder at the Co-op. It covers $60 of the $80 cost of a Brattleboro Co-op Share. By joining the Co-op and paying the remaining $20 over the course of a year, a community member can enjoy all the benefits of being a Co-op Shareholder and qualify for our 10% Food for All discount. https://www.brattleborofoodcoop.coop/join/become-a-shareholder/shareholder-assistance-grant/

Food for All is our needs-based discount program. It gives eligible Shareholders a 10% discount on all food at the Co-op, with a few exceptions (such as alcohol). Food for All can apply to anyone that fits the criteria - WIC, 3 Squares Vermont, SSI, EBT, referral letter from a local organization. https://www.brattleborofoodcoop.coop/shop/food-for-all-program/ 

Contact the Shareholder Services department at the Brattleboro Food Co-op for assistance at 802-246-2821 or [email protected]

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Vermont WIC is Responding to Covid 19
We are moving to phone appointments to align with social distancing efforts. If you have opted in to email and text notifications, you will receive important program updates, including information about local office hours and changes in operations. Our website will be kept up-to-date as well. Contact your local office with any questions about breastfeeding, nutrition or shopping. Call 1-800-649-4357 or email [email protected] with any questions about WIC nutrition services and enrollment.

P-EBT (Pandemic EBT) is Available in VT
Many families in Vermont were notified that they would be receiving a food benefit called Pandemic EBT (or P-EBT). P-EBT is loaded on a card and can be used to purchase the groceries at many grocers and farmers markets. If you have school-aged kids, contact your school district to apply for free school meals. If approved, you'll automatically receive P-EBT. 
If you’ve already received P-EBT and also participate in WIC, use your WIC benefits first, as WIC benefits do not rollover month-to-month. dcf.vermont.gov/press-releases/P-EBT

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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.