Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

"I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to someone else’s whim or to someone else’s ignorance." 
bell hooks
(Gloria Jean Watkins, better known by her pen name bell hooks, is an American author, feminist, and social activist.)

Friends,

     Before we dive into this week's Email Update we'd like to send a big ol' THANK YOU to those that used their bodies and voices to protest against ICE in Williston, VT this weekend. A dozen or so activists chose to risk arrest and block the road to ICE's call center, which is located in our state. While some were arrested by a sympathetic Williston Police contingent, approximately 200 people attended the legal rally, calling attention to the dubious practices ICE has been a part of -- especially since the Trump administration took office. 
Civil liberties advocates say hotlines, like the one Homeland Security operates from Vermont, can lead to racial profiling, escalate over-policing and cultivate an environment of fear*. For more information check out this story from Local 22 WVNY and mychamplainvalley.com HERE.
Thank for speaking up and speaking out for those that do not have a voice, Vermonters! You are truly inspiring. 

* https://vtdigger.org/2018/07/01/tipsters-call-ice-phone-rings-vermont/

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HAPPENING TODAY: SUNDAY, JULY 29th, 2018

Share the Harvest
sponsored by Edible Brattleboro
Sunday, July 29th, 2018  at the Turning Point Garden (the corner of Elm Street and Frost Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 11am-1pm. Please bring your own bags.
Join Edible Brattleboro from 11am-1pm in our garden at Turning Point, on the corner of Elm and Frost Street (diagonally across from New England Youth Theatre) for free, locally grown veggies, herbs, and more. Please bring your own bags. All produce is free thanks to the generosity of local gardeners and farmers. We welcome donations from your garden.

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HAPPENING THIS WEEK: MONDAY, JULY 30th-SUNDAY, AUGUST, 5th, 2018

Capturing the Flag, A Film by Anne DeMare
organized by The Committee to Elect Emilie Kornheiser
Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at the Hooker Dunham Theatre (139 Main St #407, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 7pm.  For more information on the film, visit www.capturingtheflag.com.
Capturing the Flag, a film by Anne DeMare is making the circuit of independent film festivals this summer and it’s coming to Brattleboro on August 1 in a free community screening organized by the Committee to Elect Emilie Kornheiser.
The film follows a group of unlikely activists on the road in North Carolina and nearby states, where they throw themselves into the mire of voter restrictions and suppressive practices. In a short time, they discover that marginalized voters are being purposefully excluded from participating in elections, and that the problem of voter suppression is much bigger than a few bureaucratic fumbles in one state. 
“There are enormous challenges to our democracy right now, with fierce battles over election laws being waged in legislatures and courts all around the country. The film is about those challenges, but it’s also a more personal and emotional story about the power of citizen action and the fact that we don’t need to feel hopeless in the face of those challenges.” - Anne DeMare, filmmaker. 
The Committee to Elect Emilie Kornheiser will screen the film on August 1 at 7pm at the Hooker Dunham Theater, two weeks before the close of the Vermont primaries on August 14. Summer is voting season! The Committee hopes that the film will inspire Vermont voters to get to the polls early and consistently, and to begin thinking about how to help their friends and neighbors do the same. 

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Kids Out Loud Flash Mob
hosted by Let’s Grow Kids
Friday, August 3rd, 2018 during the Brattleboro Gallery Walk in Downtown Brattleboro, VT. To practice the song and dance at home go to https://www.letsgrowkids.org/kids-out-loud-flash-mob-toolkit.
Learn the dance with your fellow Flash Mob Performers at 4:30pm at the Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT). Performances of the dance will be held at the Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301) at 5:30pm, The Brattleboro Museum and Art Center (10 Vernon Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301) at 6pm, and the Boys and Girls Club (17 Flat Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) and 6:30pm. 
This is a great opportunity for children and families to come together, have fun, and demonstrate our support for high-quality, affordable child care in Vermont. We will be meeting outside the Brattleboro Memorial library to learn the song and dance at 4:30pm and FREE pizza will be served. Children will also receive a Let’s Grow Kids super hero cape while supplies last. 

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Share the Harvest
sponsored by Edible Brattleboro
Sunday, August 5th, 2018  at the Turning Point Garden (the corner of Elm Street and Frost Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 11am-1pm. Please bring your own bags.
Join Edible Brattleboro from 11am-1pm in our garden at Turning Point, on the corner of Elm and Frost Street (diagonally across from New England Youth Theatre) for free, locally grown veggies, herbs, and more. Please bring your own bags. All produce is free thanks to the generosity of local gardeners and farmers. We welcome donations from your garden.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Nuclear Holocaust Peace Pilgrims: Join the Grafton Peace Pagoda Walk in Our Local Area
Monday, August 6th, 2018 starting at The Brattleboro Coop (2 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) to Vermont Yankee (546 Governor Hunt Rd, Vernon, VT 05354). For information during the walk, please call Rose: (201) 956-5702 or Alex: (518) 605-3929. You may also email: [email protected]
The Grafton Peace Pagoda walks from August 4 - August 11. Walk some or walk it all. Start Saturday, August 4 in Lexington, MA (Leave at 1 PM) – Hanscom Airforce Base. End Saturday, August 11 at Grafton Town Square (6:30 PM) – Grafton Peace Pagoda. Monday, August 6 from Brattleboro Coop, VT to Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant. Before Peace Walk, Contact Grafton Peace Pagoda: (518) 658-9301.

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Youth 4 Change Meeting
Monday, August 6th, 2018 at The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:30pm-8pm.
Upcoming meeting: Aug 20th
For more information please contact Youth 4 Change at [email protected].
Agenda:
5:30pm: Drop in homework time and art making
6:00pm: Food
6:30pm: Meeting and Organizing
Youth 4 Change is for local-area youth 12-22 interested in political organizing around local/state/national social justice issues that are important to them. Brattleboro area advocates and educators are holding a space, and assisting youth in building a strong personal tool kit to organize for change.  Using a variety of creative methods, we aim to enable youth with tools for resilience, courage and compassion, while fostering their ability to speak up about issues that matter to them, and to take action in the name of love and liberation for all people.  Come explore issues of racial, economic and gender justice through art, movement, first-hand accounts and contemplative practices. Connect with area youth around the issues that matter to you and strengthen your tool kit for action! 

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School for International Training (SIT) Study Abroad Program Fair
Wednesday, August 8th, 2018 at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 3pm-5pm.
SIT takes thousands of students around the world each year and now SIT is bringing the world to Brattleboro. On Wednesday, Aug. 8, visitors to the SIT Study Abroad Program Fair at the River Garden will have a chance to chat with more than 50 academic directors from across the globe. The event, from 3-5 p.m., is free and open to the public.

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Advanced Backyard Composting
sponsored by the Living Earth Action Group of Westminster West and made possible by a grant from New England Grassroots Environmental Fund
Sunday, August 12th, 2018 at Main Street Arts (5 School Street, Saxtons River, VT). 2pm-5pm.
Suggested Donation: $5-10. No one turned away for lack of funds. Main Street Arts is at the intersection of School and Main Street. The house is the 2nd house on the right, but please park cars at the elementary school. Bring a chair, and, if it is hot, bring an umbrella to create shade. For more information and to register call Caitlin Adair at 802-387-5779 or email her at [email protected].
Crafting a recipe for the backyard compost system is a critical element for success in making a healthy soil amendment and for protecting wildlife. Cat Buxton, master composter and well known Vermont community educator, will give an overview of the soil food web to help you understand how and why to create compost that benefits your soil while managing kitchen and yard waste. 
At this backyard workshop Cat and friends will take apart an existing compost pile, analyze it and then rebuild it according to best principles as taught by Dr. Elaine Ingham with whom Cat studies.  
Learn about the spectrum of practical compostable ingredients and how to construct a pile that applies principles of structure and density to ensure that your living compost can hold air and water, creating the conditions that diverse microbial populations need to thrive. Suitable for all levels of understanding, and applicable for all sizes of family and neighborhood compost systems. 

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FUTURE EVENTS

Healing Our Collective Trauma and Reconnecting with Our Spiritual Source & 
Healing Our Divisions and Biases and Unifying Our Movements: Two Workshops by Sherri Mitchell, an Indigenous Rights and Environmental Justice Activist
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Saturday, October 27th, 2018 and Sunday, October 28th, 2018 on the Winston Prouty Campus (209 Austine Drive, Brattleboro, VT) in Croker Hall on the 4th Floor (with elevator access). 9am-5pm, both days. 
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS:
Healing Our Collective Trauma and Reconnecting with Our Spiritual Source:
This one-day workshop will take participants on a journey into Native American mythology and cosmology, as a means of healing our collective wounds and reconnecting with spiritual source. We have all been impacted by histories of violence. The oppressed, the oppressor, and the witness alike bear the wounds of our collective past. Together, we will look at the psychic and spiritual wounds that we all share and learn how we can untangle their hold on our hearts and minds. Participants will be asked to look at the history that led to this traumatization and explore how it continues to impact their lives. We will also learn how to hold sacred space for one another while our trauma is present. In this process, we will learn that there is a safe space for us to occupy together, whole and intact. Then, we can begin the process of healing our divisions, so that we can go back and claim a new future for all living beings.
Healing Our Divisions and Biases and Unifying Our Movements:

This one-day workshop provides participants with an opportunity to look at the divisions and biases, including hidden biases, that have been built into our societies and ideologies. We will look at the divisions created by our shared history, the biases informed by that history, and the ways that they prevent us from joining our movements. We will learn how to find interest convergence points that enable us to work with one another across these divisions, and how to manage the intersectionality of the emerging movement of movements. 
-We will only accommodate the first 50 people that register, with a wait list beyond.
The minimum participants are 20; we will cancel if we get less than this, and reimburse registrants accordingly.
-People are encouraged to bring a bag lunch and snacks for themselves, or to share
-Registration: $125.00
-REFUND POLICY FOR PARTICIPANT CANCELLATION: People can get a refund of the full price if they cancel 10 days prior to the event; after that they can get 50% up to 5 days before the event. If they fail to cancel before that time they will get a 25% refund up to 48 hours before the event and no refund within 48 hours. 
Write & Mail Check to
Post Oil Solutions, P. O. Box 431
Townshend, VT  05353
Note “Sherri Mitchell”  in Memo line and please include e-mail address and phone number.

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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 were reminded of the Rapid Response text alerts system as President Trump moves towards firing Mueller. In the event Mueller is fired, MoveOn is planning a nation-wide simultaneous protest. The trick will be to get the word out fast if/when the time comes. We are grateful to Song and Solidarity for providing this service.

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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.  

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Alternatives to Suicide 
Every Wednesday, 6pm-7:30pm at the Hive Space (24 Flat St, Suite 202, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). Second Floor, up one flight of stairs.

Alternatives to Suicide is a mutual support group open to anyone who has experienced thoughts of suicide. The group is guided by a charter of values provided by the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community. The group is non-clinical and does not link suicide with illness.  Participants are free to talk about and find meaning in their experiences in/on their own terms. 

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Youth 4 Change

Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month from 5:30pm-8pm.
Upcoming: Aug 20th
For more information please contact Youth 4 Change at [email protected].
Agenda:
5:30pm: Drop in homework time and art making
6:00pm: Food
6:30pm: Meeting and Organizing
Youth 4 Change is for local-area youth 12-22 interested in political organizing around local/state/national social justice issues that are important to them. Brattleboro area advocates and educators are holding a space, and assisting youth in building a strong personal tool kit to organize for change.  Using a variety of creative methods, we aim to enable youth with tools for resilience, courage and compassion, while fostering their ability to speak up about issues that matter to them, and to take action in the name of love and liberation for all people.  Come explore issues of racial, economic and gender justice through art, movement, first-hand accounts and contemplative practices. Connect with area youth around the issues that matter to you and strengthen your tool kit for action! 

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A Note for Brattleboro Justice of the Peace Candidates, Present and Future:
Brattleboro Independent Candidates for Justice of the Peace Filing Deadline
Friday, August 17th, 2018
The deadline for filing as an independent candidate for Justice of the Peace is rapidly approaching – Friday, August 17th.  The Town Clerk and current Chairman of the Board of Civil Authority urge you to consider becoming a candidate for Justice of the Peace (JP) on the November ballot.
While a historic back page in the election process and often the subject of humorous anecdote, JPs serve a vital role in the conduct of critical town responsibilities. A JP is a member of the Board of Civil Authority (BCA).  Along with the Selectboard members, and Town Clerk, they function as the Board of Elections by assisting in the maintenance of the voter checklist, determining key issues related to election day and voting, and serve as polling place officials on these days.
Serving on the Board of Tax Assessment Appeals, JPs act as a quasi-judicial body hearing and ruling on the merits of cases brought to the Town by property owners seeking valuation changes.  In addition to tax appeals, the BCA is part of the Board for the Abatement of Taxes a statutory function that addresses specific problematic matters affecting properties on the Town Grand List.
JPs do not meet on a regular basis. There are generally one or two meetings prior to any election, a series of tax appeal hearings in late summer/early fall and usually one or two abatement meetings annually, in winter and summer.
We ask that you consider these mandatory responsibilities and consider service to the town as Justice of the Peace.  Based on town population, parties in Brattleboro may nominate up to 15 candidates. JPs serve vital roles in our community and those seeking to serve must be committed to attending meetings and participating in the mandatory functions of the Board of Civil Authority.
Please feel free to contact us if we might be of assistance or if you have questions about Board of Civil Authority’s responsibilities, of if you need direction on how to file as an independent candidate for Justice of the Peace.

Sincerely,
Hilary Francis         
Brattleboro Town Clerk and Clerk of the Board of Civil Authority
[email protected]
ph 802-251-8129
Elliott Greenblott
Chairman, Brattleboro Board of Civil Authority

Additional information, supplied from the VT Secretary of State website:

-Major and minor party justice of the peace candidates are nominated by town caucus or town party committee in order to be placed on the ballot in the General Election (November 6, 2018). The caucus must be held on or before the Primary Election. If a town fails to hold a caucus, nominations may be made thereafter by party committee. In either case, the committee chair or secretary must file the statement of nomination with the town clerk no later than 5 p.m. Friday, August 17, 2018 (three days after the primary). No financial disclosure or consent of candidate form is required for justice of the peace nominations.
Justice of the peace Statement of Nomination by Party Committee:
https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/865898/2018jppartynominationfinal.pdf
- 2018 Justice of the Peace Party Committee Nomination Form
Independent Justices of the Peace
Independent justice of the peace candidates file a statement of nomination (petition) and consent of candidate form with the town clerk in order to be placed on the ballot in the general election (November 6, 2018). These statements of nomination and consent forms must be filed no sooner than Monday, April 23, 2018 and no later than 5 p.m. Friday, August 17, 2018 (3 days after the primary).
- Independent justice of the peace candidate Statement of Nomination, Consent of Candidate, and instructions: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/865904/2018independentconsent-jpfinal.pdf

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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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Thank you once again, WeCANners, for your empathy and compassion. Your voices stand out when you raise them together. 

Your Friendly WeCAN Admins,

Ann, Joanna, and Leslie