Weekly Update 06.17.18
“We must do everything in our power to keep families together, and to use common sense in our immigration laws. Children deserve better than to lose a parent because of an inflexible law.”
Representative Jose Serrano, (D-NY 15th District)
HAPPENING TODAY, SUNDAY, JUNE 17th, 2018
Brattleboro CBD/Hemp Farmers Market
presented by Heady Vermont and sponsored by Vermont Hempicurean
Sunday, June 17th, 2018 at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 10am-4pm (NEW HOURS!). Attendance is free to the public. Interested vendors can sign up here: https://goo.gl/forms/ba83snLnCpLeAH873.
Following the success of multiple CBD Hemp Farmers Markets this winter and the successful Grand Opening of Vermont Hempicurean (8 Flat Street) on Saturday, June 16th, 2018 Heady Vermont is proud to bring Vermont cannabis, CBD (cannabidiol), and hemp products and producers to the heart of Brattleboro.
Taking place the gorgeous River Garden on Main Street in Downtown Brattleboro on Sunday, June 17th from 10am to 4pm, the CBD Hemp Farmers Market will feature a diverse group of local CBD and hemp producers and cannabis advocates - all continuing their efforts to bring CBD education to the canna-curious public and foster positive dialogue between the burgeoning hemp industry and the citizens of Vermont.
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HAPPENING THIS WEEK MONDAY, JUNE 18th, 2018-SUNDAY, JUNE 24th, 2018
Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival: Week Six: A New and Unsettling Force
Monday, June 17th-22nd, 2018 at The Vermont Statehouse (115 State St, Montpelier, VT 05633). Rally begins at 2pm.
Starting on Monday, May 14th, 2018, the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival will launch a season of nonviolent moral direct action. By engaging in highly publicized, nonviolent moral direct action, the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival aims to bring about a serious national examination of the intertwined problems of systemic racism, systemic poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and our distorted moral narrative.
Each Monday, there will be a rally at the State House. People who have committed to taking direct action and been trained will engage in nonviolent direct action. If you are interested, but have not been trained, there will be a training each Sunday evening at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Barre, with solidarity housing provided. To sign up for the training contact [email protected] and for solidarity housing contact Avery Book: [email protected].
Each Monday's actions will also include a rally that includes people who are not participating in the direct action. The rallies will be at the State House and begin at 2:00pm.
Each week has a theme, but this is a fusion campaign, meaning that we understand these problems to be joined at the root and to come from the same underlying causes. The aim is to highlight ways that systemic poverty, racism, militarism and environmental degradation impact our communities, but not to separate them into silos.
The themes are:
Week 1 (May 13-19) – Somebody’s Hurting Our People: Child poverty, Women, and People with Disabilities
Week Two (May 20-26) – Linking Systemic Racism and Poverty: Voting Rights and Immigration
Week Three (May 27-June 2) - The War Economy: militarism and the proliferation of gun violence
Week Four (June 3-9) - Ecological Devastation and the Right Health
Week Five (June 10-16) – Everybody’s Got the Right to Live: Education, Jobs, Income and Housing
Week Six (June 17-22) – A New and Unsettling Force
June 23rd – Mass rally in Washington, D.C. and Global Day of Solidarity
To connect with others going up from Windham County contact Ellen: [email protected] or (802) 257-4436.
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Information and Public Input Forum, on Ticks: Prevention Strategies, Public Input on Tick-Borne Diseases and Next Steps
sponsored by Rep. Mike Mrowicki
Tuesday, June 19th, 2018, at the Putney Public Library (Main St, Putney, Vt). 6:30pm to 8pm.
For more information about the event or to sign up to offer your experience, please contact Rep. Mrowicki at ; [email protected]
Bradley Tompkins of the Vermont Department of Health will present- Ticks and Prevention strategies, from a Public Health Perspective.
The public will then be welcomed to testify to personal experiences with Tick-Borne Diseases, leading to a discussion on Next Steps- Is it time to go on the offensive to reduce the Tick population? Should State Government be acting to reduce the tick population, as another factor to reduce the risk for Vermonters?
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Elements of Success: Energy Efficiency, Ride Sharing, Accessible Biking, Healthy Soil
Wednesday, June 20th, 2018 at the Brattleboro Food Coop (2 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) in the Community Room. 5:30pm-7:45pm. Please use the 7 Canal Street entrance. We'll provide pizza from 5:30 on, and the program will begin at 5:45pm. Questions? Contact [email protected].
Join 350 Brattleboro for the presentation and celebration of four local successes in responding to climate change. After a brief introduction, we'll have short presentations of ideas you can use in your own life. Each of these is something we're already doing locally in some way, and you can too!
The Windham & Windsor Housing Trust will share tips for home energy efficiency; Becky Jones will talk about how carpooling can be subversive; Dave Cohen will introduce us to the local efforts of VBike; and Marilyn Chiarello of Edible Brattleboro will tell us about the many climate benefits of maintaining healthy soil. After our four short presentations, we'll challenge everyone to come up with one personal climate action they can take in the next month.
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Protest Vigil at TD Bank
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, June 22nd, 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.
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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The Bi-Weekly Solidarity Vigil
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, June 22nd, 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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Transition Dummerston Potluck & Program: Regenerative Agriculture, Hope in a Changing Climate
Friday, June 22nd, 2018 at the Dummerston Congregational Church (intersection of Middle and East-West Roads, Dummerston, VT), in the Basement. 6pm-9pm. All are welcome: Program is free and open to the public.
6:00pm: Potluck Supper
7pm-9pm: Program
Presenters
• Marilyn Chiarello of Edible Brattleboro
• Caitlin Adair of Living Earth Action Group
Main Feature
• Filmmaker & Ecologist John D. Liu’s film, Hope in a Changing Climate
Elements
• Summer Solstice Exercise for Wholeness
• Maximize Bio-Diversity • Minimize Soil Disturbance
• Benefits of Rotational Grazing of Farm Animals
• Improve How Soil Retains Water
Questions? [email protected]
Transition Dummerston is part of the international Transition Town network of local initiatives that support resilient community and well-being in the face of energy, climate, and economic challenge.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
First Day of No School Rally: Stopping Family Separation Now
Monday, June 25th, 2018 at the Vermont State House (115 State Street, Montpelier, VT, 05602). 6pm-7:30pm.
Children being ripped from their parents is an inhumane act and we are going to show up in solidarity with the families and to demand the end to the practice of family separation.
Our children will also be there in solidarity with the children separated. There will be an art making session for the children and speakers for the adults.
We will be sharing about national and local efforts to stop this atrocity.
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Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up
Monday, June 25th, 2018 at KidsPLAYce (20 Elliot St., Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:30pm-7:30pm. A vegetarian meal and childcare for ages 8 and under will be provided. RSVP helpful, but not required. 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. Kathy Urffer, MU! parent and River Steward with the Connecticut River Conservancy, will be joining us to talk about our local watersheds, how these watersheds are connected to the climate, and what we can do to support their health.
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Candidates Forum
presented by The ACLU People Power, Putney Huddle, and Rights and Democracy
Wednesday, June 27th, 2018 at Putney Meadows (17 Carol Brown Way, Putney, VT), in the Common Room. Snacks at 6pm, forum begins at 6:30pm. All are invited. Please use street parking.
Call or email Laura Chapman with any questions. @ 802-380-4379 [email protected].
Get to know the platforms and positions of candidates running for the two Vermont District 4 House of Representatives, Nader Hashim, Cindy Jerome, and Mike Mrowicki.
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Get Out the Vote Kickoff Party on the Brattleboro Town Common
Friday, June 29th, 2918 on the Brattleboro Town Common (Park Place, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 4pm-8pm.
hosted by Emilie Kornheiser for State Rep
Emilie’s campaign team is hosting a public party to kick-off this season’s Vermont primaries. On June 29th, from 4-8pm, we will have live music, food trucks, and lots of opportunities to connect, talk about what matters, and celebrate the wonder of democracy with folks fresh out of the voting booths. If you would like to table at the event please sign up here: https://goo.gl/forms/lTJy1bhQeWwhRGJF3. More information will be available closer to the event date.
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Carry the ‘Civil Rights for All’ Banner in the Fourth of July Parade
Wednesday, July 4th, 2018 at Brattleboro Union Hugh School (131 Fairground Rd, Brattleboro, VT 05301), in the Parking Lot. 9am.
Can we make our 4th of July Parade stand up to Trump’s proposed 4th of July Military Parade down Pennsylvania Ave.?
Let's do our best. "Civil Rights" is the answer. Stand up and march with the CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL banner at 9 am at the BUHS parking lot.
Make signs for Democracy and Equal Civil Rights for all people. Learn songs praising Democracy and civil rights with Woody Bernhard and his wife Susan Kunhardt who created the "We Celebrate Democracy/Civil Rights For All" banner, and their daughters Maggie and Rose at the Brown Bag Lunch Democracy Forum at the River Garden on June 27th. Stand up and march with the Civil Rights For All banner.
Contact: [email protected] or call (802) 464-3154.
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Green Mountain Gala
hosted by Defend Our Future and the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center
Saturday, July 14th, 2018 at the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center (10 Vernon Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 7pm-10pm.
For tickets: www.membership.onlineaction.org
Join Defend Our Future and special guest speakers for a night of community celebration and fun at our first ever Southern Vermont Fundraising Gala!
With a ticket, gala-goers can look forward to a night of live music, catered treats, and a photo booth! There will be a cash bar with beer and wine from Windham Wines available.
This fundraiser will be the first of its kind for Defend Our Future, bringing together local environmentalists and the Vermont community of all stripes to support the next generation of climate leadership.
All proceeds from the event will be used to expand and deepen the campus organizing work that Defend students and staff are able to do in their communities. Through hosting educational events, meeting with elected leaders, and organizing voter registration and education drives, our teams are helping to develop environmental activists across the country and you can help!
Tickets come in three levels: silver, gold and platinum. In addition to admission, gold and platinum sponsors will receive a special gift. Tickets can be purchased on the Defend Our Future website and above.
All gifts to Defend Our Future are tax-deductible.
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Southern Vermont Sister District Summer Soup Subscriptions Are Now Available and Summer Update!
The words Summer and soup may not sound like a good match, but our chef team (including WeCAN's own Joanna Wilson Phillips) is coming up with a selection of delicious warm-weather delights for the June - September subscribers. Sign-up to enjoy tasty homemade soups or “gift” your soup subscription to our local food shelf. ALL proceeds go to supporting progressive Democrats in strategic swing races. Sign up now as these subscriptions go quickly!
You can link directly to the order form here: Soup Subscription Form.
Raising money and providing support to progressive Democratic candidates in strategic races.
By subscribing to our SisterDistrict Soup Project you will receive delicious homemade soup selections from June through September, one per month. You also have the option to gift your subscription to the Putney Food Shelf (a popular choice for out-of-town supporters). Soup chefs volunteer their time and donate ingredients which means that ALL $$ goes to help move our political structures in the direction of sanity, compassion and justice. Currently our two "sister" race is a state level race in Pennsylvania that is critical to make blue inroads in the state.
More information about our PA sister candidate Melissa Shusterman can be found here: https://www.melissashusterman.com/about/
More information about SisterDistrict strategies can be found here: https://www.sisterdistrict.com/. Please sign up for SisterDistrict's email list while you're there so that the Southern Vermont SisterDistrict team can keep you informed about our work and ways that you can plug in.
About our soups: In addition to raising $$ to help get our nation onto a better trajectory, we are also committed to providing you the most delicious and locally-sourced soup that we can. All soups are vegetarian, gluten- and dairy-free, and delicious! There is no reason that you can't eat well and resist at the same time!
In other news: Save Our Nation Vacation (another Southern Vermont Sister District Project) is having an orientation for folks who want to share a meal (provided by the SONV team) with like-minded people who are committed to taking a(nother) small personal step that can have a LARGE, collective impact on flipping strategic races BLUE. Come learn about the project and get all the resources and support you need to find just ONE property for our fall catalog. The “Summer Sampler Catalog”, that lists available vacation properties, can be found at SaveOurNationVacation.org. Orientation will be at Putney Friends Meeting, June 3rd, 4:00pm-5:30pm, followed by shared meal. Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SVTSisterDistrict/.
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Southern Vermont Dance Festival Announces Early Registration and Performance Tickets Available:
Early Registration for the Southern Vermont Dance Festival is now open! Early Registration allows everyone to get the classes that they want before they sell out. Advance tickets for all the performances are now on sale including the Midsummer Night's Picnic and Promenade which will take place at the Retreat Farm nature trail. Southern Vermont Dance Festival was designed as a long term economic driver for the community as a response to Tropical Storm Irene. The festival returns for a 6th season with an exciting round of dance classes, community events and performances hosted in the one and only Brattleboro, VT. Festival attendees are invited to attend dance performances each evening as well as a choice of many different classes each day. For people who want to experience the beautiful town of Brattleboro, there are community events with live music and dance performance throughout the 4 days. For the third year in a row, SVDF will offer a Mid Summer Night's Picnic and Promenade, using Vermont's natural beauty as a stage for top notch performance. There are early registration discounts, advanced ticket prices and group discounts as well as opportunities to volunteer and sponsor the festival. Volunteers will be able to take classes and see performances. In addition there are internships available for people of all ages. see more at http://www.southernvermontdancefestival.com.
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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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Public Service Announcement
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 meets 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: June 18th, July 2nd, July 16th, Aug 6th, 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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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Inclusion Center is Looking for Assistance with Our Annual Reporting Requirements
As Inclusion Center grows we find we are in need of assistance with our annual reporting requirements. We all have different skills and if this is your skill, please do consider donating your time in this way to our wonderful program! Volunteering with Inclusion Center by helping us for (literally) one or two hours a year in this area would help IC very much!
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 2:00pm), 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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INTERNSHIP AVAILABLE
Internship with 350Vermont Available
If you are interested, apply online at 350vermont.org/internships and feel free to get in touch with Katherine ([email protected]) with any questions.
This summer 350Vermont is looking for two dynamic people to join our team starting June 4, 2018 for a ten week internship, ending August 10, 2018. These two people will work together to advance our Re)Generate New Solutions campaign and engage communities around the state in climate solutions. They will be integral to planning and implementing different outreach and engagement opportunities with 350VT staff, board, and volunteers. Most often, these internships are based in Burlington, but based in Brattleboro might be an option.
In each position, we are looking for someone with a commitment to and passion for the 350Vermont mission of building a local movement to stop the climate crisis. We seek self-starters with the passion, creativity, and drive to make things happen while working independently and in close coordination with a team.
Each position will be paid, 30 hours a week, with some work taking place during the evenings and weekends. This internship includes free housing accommodation (if wanted!) and 20 hours of training by our staff and facilitation team.
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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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