Weekly Update 01.07.19
Make New Year's goals. Dig within, and discover what you would like to have happen in your life this year. This helps you do your part. It is an affirmation that you're interested in fully living life in the year to come.
Melody Beattie, American author
We hope the first week of 2019 was manageable for you, WeCAN Friends. We have a few new entries this week so grab a cuppa coffee or tea, your January calendar, and scroll through this week's Weekly Email Update to find a new meeting or event to add to your schedule. As always, don't forget to email your Winter events to us at [email protected] Have a wonderful week!
HAPPENING THIS WEEK, MONDAY, JANUARY 7th, 2019-SUNDAY, JANUARY 13th, 2019
Training for Prospective Volunteers
Hosted by Youth Services
Monday, January 7th, 2019 at Youth Services (32 Walnut Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 6pm-9pm. Learn more at http://youthservicesinc.org/make-a-resolution-for-2019-become-a-youth-services-volunteer-learn-about-it-jan-7-from-6-9-pm/
Youth Services is offering a Volunteer Training on Monday, January 7 from 6-9 p.m. at their offices in Brattleboro for community members interested in becoming more involved with the nonprofit. Volunteer opportunities range from helping on an ad hoc basis with transportation, meal prep, sharing parenting and life skills to more formal roles such as volunteering as a mentor for a youth-led screen printing business, sitting on a once-a-month Diversion Panel, or serving as a temporary Host Home.
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Yoga & Chocolate Supports Local Planned Parenthood
hosted by Brattleboro's Reproductive Health Advocates
Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout January; Happening this Tuesday, January 8th, 2019 at 118 Elliot Gallery (118 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301).
Tuesdays at 5pm-6:30pm; Saturdays at 10:15am-11:45pm. No Reservations are necessary for yoga. There is a $15.00 suggested donation per class and all donations will directly support the New Brattleboro Planned Parenthood opening in mid January.
YOGA & CHOCOLATE will kick off on New Years Day and run every Tuesday and Saturday throughout January. Yoga Locally classes are held every Tuesday (5pm) and Saturday (10:15am) at 118 Elliot Street in Brattleboro. After each class in January, Yoga students will receive an artisan chocolate nugget from Tavenier Chocolate, and a chance to win a variety of gifts from GOOD BODY PRODUCTS.
In addition, on New Years Day, community members can meet at Duo's Lounge at 7pm for a special drink to support the new health clinic.
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Brattleboro Democracy Forum: Jump Start the Peaceful Revolution for Democracy
Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 at the Robert H. GIbson River Garden/Strolling of the Heifers (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 12pm-1pm.
Things you can do for a new day of Democracy and Civil Rights with Woody Bernhard, host of the Brattleboro Democracy Forum and organizer of the "We Celebrate Democracy / Civil Rights For All" main street banner will will share his inspirational song "I Pledge Allegiance” and his ideas about what we can do ourselves, right now, to begin the peaceful revolution and get back on track to a democracy which respects and includes all people. Please join the discussion.
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Protest Vigil at TD Bank
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, January 11th, 2019 (and every Friday) at TD Bank Brattleboro (215 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT). In front of the building. 12pm-1pm. Signs will be provided
TD is a major investor in Tar Sands. TD helps to fund the Dakota Access Pipeline. What You Can 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 in this era of global warming and climate change to develop sustainable, resilient , collaborative, and socially just communities leading to a self- and community-sufficient post petroleum society.
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Brattleboro Winter Farmers Market
a project of Post Oil Solutions
Saturday, January 12th, 2019 (and every Saturday thru March 30) in the C.F. Church Building (80 Flat Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 10am-2pm. Accepting credit, debit, and EBT. Crop Cash turns $10 EBT into $20 every week. Lunch cafe and live music. For info email [email protected], call 802-869-2141, or visit us at www.brattleborowinterfarmersmarket.org.
New Location! Larger and more accessible. Free Parking. All local - farm produce, meats, syrup, fresh baked goods, cheeses, fruits, cider, pickles, preserves, handmade jewelry, pottery, soaps and more. Building community every week.
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Coffee with Coffey
Hosted by Representative Sara Coffey
Monday, January 14th, 2019 at The Guilford Country Store (475 Coolidge Highway, Guilford, VT, 05301) from 5:30pm-6:30pm.
During the legislative session Sara will hold monthly "Coffey Hours" with constituents to share updates, answer questions and listen to ideas and concerns. Stop by for a few minutes or for the entire hour!
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Comfort Food Cooking Class
presented by Edible Brattleboro
Monday, January 14th, 2019 at the Brattleboro Food Co-op (2 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301), in the Community Kitchen (please use the 7 Canal Street entrance). 6pm-8pm. , 6-8pm. Snow date will be January 21st, 2019. Free, hands-on class. Open to all. Call Shareholder Services to reserve your place at 802-257-0236.
Join Edible Brattleboro chefs for a hands-on cooking class celebrating comfort food as we prepare and enjoy several plant-based recipes perfect for a winter meal.
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Winter Ride: A Critical Mass Bicycle Ride (NOTE: This event was previously rain-dated from December 2018. This event is weather-dependent.)
Friday, January 18th, 2019 on the Brattleboro Common (Park Place, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:30pm-6:30pm.
Join another fun and empowering community ride in celebration of Winter! Kids and families welcome! Critical (and "Kidical") Mass rides have a unique way of energizing folks around bike mobility, transportation solutions and amplifying our collective ability and power to begin reclaiming our streets and communities. We need this, and we need YOU!
Agenda:
5:30pm: This time, we'll be starting AND ending at the Brattleboro Common. We'll begin by getting organized, signing in, decorating bikes, and going over our route.
5:45pm: Begin Critical Mass ride. This will be a high-visibility downtown route!
6:00pm: End ride back at the Brattleboro Common. Celebrate with hot apple cider and solidarity in community.
The Critical Mass bike ride that occurred on Saturday, September 8th, 2018 as part of the Global Rise for Climate was the largest activist ride ever in the area & a sign of the emergence of a bike mobility revolution in our region. A second critical mass ride took place on Saturday, October 20th, 2018.
Help us spread the word to help make this another successful critical mass ride!!
Image credit: Hugh D'Andrade
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An Interfaith Dialogue on Resistance
hosted by Windham World Affairs Council and Centre Congregational Church - Brattleboro, VT
Friday, January 18th, 2019 at Centre Congregational Church (193 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 7pm-9pm. Free and open to the public.
This is a special event, seeking inspiration from Martin Luther King Day. Visiting presenter The Rev. Bryan Fulwider will recreate the format of his Florida podcast "The Three Wise Guys, Friends Talking Faith" with 3 distinguished local participants.
• Rev. Fulwider will represent a Christian point of view
• Prof. Amer Latif of Marlboro College will represent a Muslim point of view, and
• Jim Levinson, formerly spiritual leader of the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community, will represent a Jewish point of view.
• WWAC Board Member Minister Scott Couper of Brattleboro’s Centre Congregational Church will act as moderator and present the 3 participants with questions regarding King’s vision of resistance. They will answer through the perspectives of their different faiths.
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Third Annual Women’s March
Saturday, January 19th, 2019 at various locations throughout Vermont and in Washington, D.C. For more information please visit: www.womensmarch.com
Two years ago, we made history. On January 19th, 2019 we're flooding the streets again as a Women's Wave too powerful to ignore. #WomensWave is coming and we’re sweeping the world forward with us. Join us at one of these events or find your own here: www.womensmarch.com/.
Women’s March on Montpelier
Saturday, January 19th, 2019 at the Vermont State House (115 State Street, Montpelier, VT). 10am-12pm. For more information please visit: www.womensmarchvermont.com
Women’s March on the Pioneer Valley
Saturday, January 19th, 2019 in Northampton, MA (Gather at Sheldon Fields and march up Route 9 to City Hall. 12pm-3pm. For more information please visit www.pioneervalleywomensmarch.org. Rally followed by Activists Fair downtown.
Women’s March on Washington, DC
Saturday, January 19th, 2019 in Washing, D.C (gather on the National Mall between 12th and 3rd Streets). 10am-5pm. Rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to follow.
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3rd Annual Speak-Out Celebrating the Life and Work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday, January 19th, 2019 at the Brattleboro Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 3:30-5:00pm. Sponsored by Brooks Memorial Library and Brattleboro Solidarity. Free event.
Actor David Mills will embark on an engaging, dramatic presentation through the journey of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as he transforms from his early uncertainties about Civil Rights into the iconic figure he became.
The program will highlight Dr. King’s, Letter from a Birmingham Jail, I Have a Dream, Promised Land, If I had Sneezed, and Early Days. Mr. Mills’ stirring presentation will take a look at both the public figure and the private man. After the performance, community members of all ages are invited to share poems, speeches, quotations, thoughts and songs in the spirit of Dr. King’s work. The program will conclude with a communal supper of soup and bread. This event is FREE and open to the public through the support of the Friends of Brooks Memorial Library and the Brattleboro Retreat. This venue is wheelchair accessible.
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Brattleboro Food Co-op Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Social Activism Event
Monday, January 21st, 2019 at the Brattleboro Food Co-op (2 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 10am-6pm. Tablers are welcome for all or part of the time. Please contact Ruth, the Shareholder Services Coordinator on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays* at the Brattleboro Food Co-op at 802-257-0236 x821 or at [email protected]
We are beginning to book our third annual MLK Day tabling event at the Co-op on Monday, January 21st, and your organization may have attended last year.
Would you/your organization be interested in coming in to table, and if so during what hours?
It’s a wonderful way to get the word out about what you do to a segment of the Brattleboro community that is motivated to help out, and perhaps get some co-op shareholder volunteers if that’s something that would be useful. (As you may know, co-op shareholders are able to use community service at organizations such as yours as their co-op work hours (which gets them an 8% discount) for up to 8hrs/4 months per year.)
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How are Racial Justice and Climate Justice Connected? Workshop
hosted by 350 Vermont and 350 Brattleboro
Sunday, February 3rd, 2019 at The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 1pm-5pm. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebxHWWRNvJ1HSCFbwVYbiCM9ds1u5YchsHpUxT7Tvw_0_pUA/viewform. Admission is by sliding scale, $0 to $40. Please bring cash or check to the workshop, or mail a check made out to "350Vermont" 179 S. Winooski Ave, Suite 201, Burlington, VT 05401 with "RJ CJ Brattleboro" in the memo note. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Questions? Contact [email protected]
What does racial justice have to do with climate justice? What do we mean by intersectionality? This interactive workshop explores the foundations of these justice movements and how and why they are inextricably bound. Participants will have the opportunity to consider and reflect on their own experiences, listen to the experiences of others, and learn new language and concepts to help support a deepening investigation of climate and racial justice. This is 350Vermont's introductory workshop that offers a series of starting points and questions, rather than a conclusive or summative approach to this content. It will be facilitated by Phoebe Gooding and Abigail Mnookin.
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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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Youth 4 Change
Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month from 5:30pm-8pm.
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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ONGOING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
Indigo Radio
Sundays at 12pm on Brattleboro Community Radio 107.7FMTo 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 for showing up for your community this and every week, Friends. We look forward to seeing you at an event or meeting this January!
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