Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

“The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can.”
Neil Gaiman

Save the Date, WeCAN Friends! 
The next WeCAN Cafe will take place on Thursday, February 15th, 2018 at 118 Elliot (118 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) from 7pm-9pm. Join us for an evening of storytelling, discussion, food, music, and poetry about health justice designed to build community and help activists “fill their spirits” through information sharing, celebration, and connection. Free and open to the public. For more info, contact [email protected]. We hope to see you there! 

HAPPENING THIS WEEK MONDAY, JANUARY 29th, 2018- SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4th, 2018

Southeast VT Early Childhood Council Legislative Forum
Monday, January 29th, 2018 at The Winston Prouty Campus (20 Austine Drive, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) in Holton Hall. 4th Floor. 8:30am-10am. Coffee, tea, and light breakfast will be provided. RSVP here.  For more information, contact [email protected].
Building Bright Futures released the How Are Vermont's Young Children & Families report on January 10th.
The Report covers recent successes and challenges facing Vermont's young children and families in five different topic areas:
Family & Social Relationships; Safety; Health & Development; Early Care & Learning; and Family Economic Well-Being.
The morning will include:
• Review of the HAVYCF data, focusing on southeastern Vermont and BBF recommendations regarding how we can move forward to best serve young children and families
• Presentation by Kay Curtis, Coordinator of The Welcoming Place--a childcare program for parents who are receiving medication and care for opioid addiction
• Chloe Leary, Executive Director of the Winston Prouty Center and BBF State Advisory Council member, regarding childcare as a critical piece of economic development
• Local legislators sharing up-to-date information on key early childhood issues this legislative session
Join us for a legislative and community breakfast to connect around the opportunities and needs within our early childhood system. All community members are encouraged and invited to join us. Please share this invitation.

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

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Public Hearing on Firearms and Victim Safety
Tuesday, January 30th, 2018 at the VT State House (115 State St, Montpelier, VT 05633) from 5:30pm-7:30pm. There's a bus leaving Brattleboro (with a stop in Putney) at 2pm. Please email [email protected] if you would like to take the bus.
IMPORTANT Public Hearing Tuesday, January 30th to consider the three gun violence prevention bills up for debate this legislative session:
-S. 6-Background Checks
-H.422-Removal of weapons from people cited with domestic violence
-S. 221-Extreme Risk Protection Order
We are mobilizing to turn out in force, and we need YOU there.

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Local Love Brigade Monthly Family Night: Meeting Waters YMCA
Wednesday, January 31st, 2018 at Academy School Art Room,(860 Western Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301) in the Art Room. 4pm-5:30pm. We will have supplies and a healthy snack to share.
The Meeting Waters YMCA Y-ASPIRE after school program at Academy School in Brattleboro is having a postcard party for our monthly family night! Our theme for January is “Kindness and Justice” and we have spent the month discussing ways to stand up, speak out, and spread love. In an effort to help the children see that they are part of a bigger community of people who are also spreading kindness we are opening the event to the entire Love Brigade community.
Please join us Wednesday, January 31st from 4:00pm-5:30pm in the Art Room at Academy School in Brattleboro. We will have supplies and a healthy snack to share. Hope many of you can make it!
And in the meantime, please enjoy this video of our Y-ASPIRE participant, Eason, explaining the LLB last year when we set (and met!) a goal of 1,000 postcards to victims! Keep spreading that love!! 

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Brattleboro Time Trade Community Discussion About Potlucks and Community Potluck 
Wednesday, January 31st, 2018 at the Brattleboro Food Co-op  (2 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) in the Community Room. 5pm-7:30pm. Please use the 7 Canal Street entrance near the Co-op Kitchen.
Agenda:
-Discussion at 5:00pm (for folks with time conflicts: late-comers/early departure OK!)
-Potluck 6pm-7:30pm
If you are staying for or only attending the potluck please bring a dish to share!
This month, the potluck committee has created an opportunity for members to offer and discuss feedback about BTT's potlucks in an open discussion format with the potluck committee, facilitated and planned by Donna FK Brooks, Laura Evans and Philip Coolbeth. Coordinator and Board will also be present. All are welcome to one or both!

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"Fossil Fuel Free Fast: The Climate Resistance" Live-Streamed Event Watch Party
sponsored by 350 Brattleboro
Wednesday, January 31st, 2018 at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (10 Vernon Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 7:30pm-9:30pm. 
This event is free and open to the public. Live-streaming begins at 8 pm. RSVP and get last-minute details at https://actionnetwork.org/events/350brattleboro-fossil-fuel-free-fast-livestream-event. Questions? Contact [email protected]
This live-streamed watch party will feature movement leaders like Senator Bernie Sanders, 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben, Reverend Yearwood, Varshini Prakash of the Sunrise Movement, and many more. These speakers will lay out their plans to resist the current administration’s ongoing attacks on our climate, win back power in the 2018 and 2020 elections, and secure the lasting change we need through local action.
Meet others in our community who want to organize to build local power and take climate action. Working together, we will end the use of fossil fuels and transition our world to 100% renewable energy for all! Find out what you can do in Windham County to begin to build the Fossil Fuel Free future we need -- and connect with other activists equally passionate about this work.

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Protest Vigil at TD Bank
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, February 2nd, 2018 (and every Friday) in front of TD Bank Brattleboro (215 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 12pm-1pm. Signs will be provided.
TD is a major investor in Tar Sands. TD helps to fund the Dakota Access Pipeline. The State of Vermont Keeps Most of Our Cash in TD. What You Can You Do (besides attending the vigils):
If you’re a TD depositor, change banks!
Founded in 2005, Post Oil Solutions is a 501c3 community organizing project in Southeastern Vermont whose mission is to help empower the people of the Central Connecticut River Valley bioregion to develop sustainable, resilient , collaborative, and socially just communities leading to a self- and community-sufficient post petroleum society. For more information please contact [email protected] or 802.869.2141.

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The Bi-Weekly Solidarity Vigil
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, February 2nd, 2018 at the Windham Hotel Corner (across from Flat Iron Café, Bellows Falls, VT). 1pm-2pm.
A vigil of community, solidarity and diversity.
We are one cause of peace, freedom & social justice for all living beings.
Bring signs expressing your passion and concerns.

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The Three Questions with Adrian Segar: ”A facilitated opportunity to learn what matters about and to each other, and the gifts that we share.”
presented by the Living Action Group
Friday, February 2nd, 2018 at Westminster West Congregational Church (44 Church Street, Westminster West, VT 05346). 5pm-6:30pm. Please RSVP to [email protected]. Bring Friends!
Adrian Segar, Founder, Conferences That Work, Marlboro, VT ( www.conferencesthatwork.com ) will lead The Three Questions, an exercise for participants to share about themselves, their needs and wants, and their experience and expertise. Come and get to know your peers in ways that are useful and meaningful for you and the group. If you belong to or lead any groups you will want to come learn with us how to make your meetings more meaningful for all.

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Winter Farmers’ Market
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Saturday, February 3rd, 2018 (and every Saturday through March) at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 10am-2pm. 
Area musicians will perform from 11am-1pm. No pets allowed. Metered parking available within walking distance. Restrooms and cafe seating available on site. Family friendly. 
We are beginning our 12th Season! Join us every Saturday for vegetables, fruits and meat from local farms, a variety of baked goods, locally and regionally produced artisan crafts, and freshly prepared food in the beautiful River Garden building on Main Street in downtown Brattleboro. 
EBT customers can turn $10 into $20 with CropCash
INFO: contact Market Manager, Sherry Maher, 802.869.2141, farmersmarket@postoilsolutions.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Investing in Clean Water for Vermont Webinar
presented by the VT Chapter of the Sierra Club, Conservation Law Foundation, and Lake Champlain International
Monday, February 5th, 2018 from 1pm-2:30pm. Use this link to register: 
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4221157468720827649.
Join the Vermont Chapter of the Sierra Club, Conservation Law Foundation and Lake Champlain International on Monday, Feb. 5^th from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm for a virtual discussion on the history and current state of water quality in Vermont, the status water quality funding, and what policies have shaped the challenges and opportunities we have today. This presentation will give context for those who want to take action for their water resources but would like more information before speaking out. Use this webinar as a precursor to Clean Water Day at the State House on Feb 22nd, 2018. This webinar will help community members enter the conversation. 
Agenda for the Webinar:
1:00pm–1:20pm: Lake Champlain International Executive Director James Ehlers presents "Threats to Water Quality Past and Present".
1:20pm–1:40pm: Conservation Law Foundation Lakekeeper Rebekah Weber presents "What You Need to Know About Water Policy in Vermont and What the Implications Are for Our Future".
1:40pm-2:00pm: Vermont Chapter of the Sierra Club Organizing Representative Robb Kidd presents “How You Can Get Involved to Make a Difference”.

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

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Mother Up! Day at the State House
Thursday, February 15th, 2018 at the Vermont State House (115 State St, Montpelier, VT 05633). 10am-2pm. Contact Abby Mnookin for more info at [email protected].
Mother Up!: Families Rise Up for Climate Action is a project of 350Vermont that brings together families to talk about the tough realities of climate change and to participate in the transition to a healthier and safer world. This day will be an opportunity for parents and families throughout Vermont to come together to let our legislators know that not only is climate change a top priority for us, but also that NOW is the time to lead the way with bold climate solutions. After all, our children are counting on us. 
Tentative schedule for the day:
10 am - Arrive, visit Committees, alternative meeting with Legislators
11 am - Meet with Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman (His office)
11:30 am - Alternative meeting with Legislators
12 pm - Present to Climate Solutions Caucus (Room 10)
12:30 pm - Alternative meeting with Legislators
1 pm - MU! recognized on the House Floor (House chamber)
Parents and kids are welcome, and pizza lunch and childcare will be provided! RSVP’s strongly requested, but not required. 

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WeCAN Cafe: Fueling Your Activist Spirit
Thursday, February 15th, 2018 at 118 Elliot (118 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 7pm-9pm.
An evening of storytelling, discussion, food, music, and poetry about health justice designed to build community and help activists “fill their spirits” through information sharing, celebration and connection. Free and open to the public. For more info, contact [email protected].

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Vermont Clean Water Day
Thursday, February 22nd, 2018. March from the Unitarian Church (130 Main St, Montpelier, VT 05602) to the State House in Montpelier, VT (115 State St, Montpelier, VT 05633). 10am-4pm. For more information and to RSVP click here.
We can no longer take clean water for granted. Pollution has impaired many of our waterways, some of which no longer meet our basic water quality standards. You’re invited to Vermont Clean Water Day on Thurs., Feb. 22nd from 10AM to 4PM in Montpelier to celebrate our lakes, ponds, rivers and wetlands, and call on lawmakers to invest in cleaning up and protecting our waterways. This is a great opportunity to hear from Vermont water advocates and then meet with your lawmaker to share your perspective on why it’s important to invest in clean water. 
CLEAN WATER DAY AGENDA (schedule subject to change):
10AM: We will meet at the Unitarian Church in Montpelier for issue overview and lobbying 101;
11:15AM: We will march to the State House for a press event and to meet with lawmakers;
3PM: We will end the day with a reception in the State House. 
Clean Water Day 2018 is co-sponsored by: Connecticut River Conservancy, Conservation Law Foundation, Lake Champlain Committee, Lake Champlain International, The Nature Conservancy of VT, Sierra Club VT, Vermont Clean Water Network, Vermont Conservation Voters, Vermont Natural Resources Council, and Watersheds United Vermont.

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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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Youth4Change Regular Meeting 

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

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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteer Sister District Soup Makers Needed
Volunteer soup chefs provide the time and the ingredients so that 100% of subscription fees went directly to support candidates. We distribute soup on the third Mondays of each month - February 19, March 19, April 16 and May 21.  All soups are vegetarian, dairy free and gluten free. We need cooking volunteers each month during the weekend before distribution Monday. Volunteers receive a simple recipe the weekend before they cook and pick up containers and labels the next Friday.  Soup makers cook in their own kitchens and purchase ingredients which should cost around $20/4 quarts. If you want to cook but can’t cover that expense, we will hook you up with an ingredient sponsor. Once prepared, the soup is delivered cold to our refrigerators in Putney or Brattleboro. From there, it is picked up by subscribers or donated to the Putney Food Shelf according to the subscriber’s instructions. 
You can sign up to make soup as many months as you want. If you would like to cook or have questions, please email Diane Shamas at [email protected] or call 802-579-8294.  We will need to know which months you’d like to cook, whether you’d like to make a single (4-5 quart) or double (8-10 quart) batch, and whether you want to pick up/drop off in Brattleboro or Putney. 
A Little About Southern VT Sister District:
Subscriptions to our SisterDistrict Soup CSA raised $10,000 for progressive Democrats in strategic races! We helped elect two fine candidates, John Bell and Jennifer Foye, to the Virginia House of Delegates and our third candidate, Margaret Good, is running for Florida's House of Representatives on February 13, 2018. Read more about her here. Many many thanks to all of you who’ve cooked so far and donated the soup that makes it possible!!!

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Childcare as a Radical Act: Sign up to Provide Childcare!
The Family Solidarity Action Network is moving forward with their next big effort to support families in local activism: a collective of folks to provide childcare for local activist meetings or events. If you or someone you know would be able and willing to offer childcare (as a volunteer, or paid) for meetings and events please fill out this spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YGVI8wECe4ZDdghtAG147j7ktwgB_J5ZoWUPkwGrOhM/edit#gid=0
We are looking for people young and old with varying degrees of experience.  Having a large pool of people to call on will make it much easier for organizers to arrange childcare for meetings, allowing for more voices of families with young children to participate in local activism!  We will then be making this list available to other local organizations so we can be sure that childcare doesn't have to be a barrier to participation for anyone. 

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Inclusion Center is Looking for People Who are Interested in Helping our Organization Grow and Mature in Various Directions
Inclusion Center is an amazing program that works with all people who have disabilities or medical issues, and everyone else who has an interest in being with us. 
The possibilities for what Inclusion Center could be in the future are endless: A drop in center within another program! Have our own space with our doors always open. Offer classes. Offer services as well as being a drop in center! And those are just a few of our ideas! 
However, in order for us to grow, we need a few more people who can either come to our board meetings (the second friday of each month at 2:00), or come to a work group each month (generally Friday mornings). 
At Inclusion Center we all matter. Everyone helps make decisions. It doesn't matter if you want to join the board or just drop in as often as you can. Either way, your ideas and input matter just as much as everyone else's.
Please contact us ([email protected] or 802-387-5285) to discuss how we could work together. 

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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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Democracy, Eventually 

WVEW 107.7FM, Brattleboro Community Radio Station
You can listen to recorded and archived episodes here: https://soundcloud.com/democracy-eventually and you can find us on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/democracyeventually/ and on Twitter here @Democrazeee.
We are Democracy, Eventually a radio show covering local, state, and underreported national news stories from a progressive analysis. We air live on WVEW 107.7FM LP Brattleboro Community Radio Station.

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Have a great week fellow activists and we look forward to seeing you soon!