Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

"The prosecution [of impeachments], will seldom fail to agitate the passions of the whole community, and to divide it into parties more or less friendly or inimical to the accused. The subjects of its jurisdiction are those offenses which proceed from the misconduct of public men, or, in other words, from the abuse or violation of some public trust, and they relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself."
Alexander Hamilton (b.1757-d.1804)
Founding Father of the United States, American statesman, politician, legal scholar, military commander, lawyer, banker and economist. 

     New editions to this week's Weekly Email Update include a listing for the New Hampshire People's Presidential Forum (featuring Bernie Sanders, Tulsi Gabbard, and Andrew Yang), two free film screenings, a climate change community conversation, and a few items that have been updated since last week's email. Please take a moment and scroll through to the end of the email to find a new meeting or event to attend this week. We look forward to seeing you there!

HAPPENING TODAY, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6th, 2019

Share the Harvest 
hosted by Edible Brattleboro
Sundays through October 27th, 2019 at the Edible Garden at Turning Point (corner of Elm Street and Frost Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 11am-1pm. For information please email [email protected]. Please bring your own bags.
Edible Brattleboro’s "Share the Harvest" stand is open every Sunday from 11am-1pm, in their help-yourself garden at Turning Point, corner of Elm and Frost Street (diagonally across from NYET). All produce is free. 
Thanks to the generosity of local farmers and gardeners, Edible Brattleboro distributed approximately 2500 pounds of free produce last summer. Feel free to drop off produce from your garden during the Sunday hours. You may also visit either of Edible Brattleboro's two public help-yourself gardens to harvest whatever is ready. Simply look for the green flags and instructions on how to harvest. The two public gardens are located at the Co-op (rear parking lot) and Turning Point. Edible Brattleboro is fully volunteer run. If you would like to help out or would like more info, contact Marilyn at [email protected] or visit www.EdibleBrattleboro.org.

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HAPPENING THIS WEEK, MONDAY, OCTOBER 7th, 2019-SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13th, 2019

*DATE CORRECTION*
Nobody is Above the Law—Really? with Tim Kipp
part of the Brattleboro Democracy Forum/Brown Bag Lunch Series 
sponsored by: We Celebrate Democracy / Civil Rights For All
Wednesday, October 9th, 2019 at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 12pm-1pm. The 2nd Wednesday of every month. 
The concepts of a "nation of laws and not people" and the "rule of law" are as old as the nation-state itself. Elbowing aside the "divine rights of kings" this new system would place the law above all else and establish the very foundation of democracy. This presentation will assess how well the United States is upholding these essential democratic values. Tim Kipp is a retired U.S. history and political science teacher of 39 years and a political activist since the 1960's.

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Protest Vigil at TD Bank
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, October 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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BEYOND WINDHAM COUNTY

Celebrate the Harvest with the Original Vermonters
Saturday, October 12th, 2019 at the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum (1 Ethan Allen Homestead, Burlington, VT, 05408). 10am-4pm. Included with the price of admission to the homestead.
Join the Vermont Indigenous community in celebrating the harvest as they prepare and cook Abenaki foods in traditional ways over open fire in the Vermont Indigenous Heritage Center's historical village while wearing their ancestral clothing and using historic implements. Special behind the scenes tours will also be offered.

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The New Hampshire People’s Presidential Forum
hosted by Rights & Democracy, New Hampshire Youth Movement, and People’s Action
Sunday, October 13th, 2019 at the University of New Hampshire (145 Main Street, Durham, NH) in the Field House. Doors open at 9am; Forum runs from 10:30am-1:30pm.
To ensure that candidates respond to the top priorities of the people.
In addition to hosts Rights & Democracy, New Hampshire Youth Movement, and People’s Action this event will feature members and leaders from Center for Popular Democracy Action, Demos Action, Maine People's Alliance, Our City Action (Buffalo), MHAction Votes, Neighbor to Neighbor MA Action Fund, Make the Road Action CT, Connecticut Citizens Action Group, VOCAL-NY Action Fund, CVH Power, Keystone Progress, Reclaim Philadelphia, and dozens of in-state, New Hampshire grassroots organizations and their members.

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ICE Protest: Close the Camps Sponsored by Women’s March Vermont & Peace and Justice Center Sunday, October 20, 2019, 188 Harvest Lane, Williston, VT 05495 12:30-2:00pm
Act together against those who would give us a future of division and white supremacist hate. Let us unite together people of faith, unions, anti-racist fighters, climate activists, youth activists and other progressives to target Trump’s anti-immigrant, deportation machinery. See the list of demands, signup here to co-sponsor or to volunteer on the Facebook event page here. Route & Logistic details: Gather at Vermont Technical College (201 Lawrence Pl, Williston). There will be two stops on the march, one at the ICE offices at Sycamore Street and one at Hannaford.
The march will culminate at the ICE Data Center on 188 Harvest Ln, Williston. The full march is 1.6 miles. People are welcome to join us at any point along the way.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Film Screening: Dawnland
Monday, October 14th, 2019 at the Hilltop Montessori School (99 Stafford Farm Hill, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) in the Arts Barn. 3:30pm. Free; All are welcome. This film is appropriate for most middle school aged children with parent discretion for younger children. Here is a link to the trailer: https://vimeo.com/227346667. Childcare provided.  Please RSVP for childcare or if you or your mature youth want to volunteer to help with childcare.
Please join us on Indigenous Peoples' Day for a free screening of DAWNLAND, an Emmy Award winning documentary. The feature-length film follows the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to contemporary Wabanaki communities to witness intimate, sacred moments of truth-telling and healing. With exclusive access to this groundbreaking process and never-before-seen footage, the film reveals the untold narrative of Indigenous child removal in the United States.  
If you are interested, but unable to attend in person there is an online screening happening on 0ct.14th at 3pm. This documentary is normally not available for streaming.  Click this link to sign up for the online screening: https://ovee.itvs.org/screenings/em6ic

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Film Screening: Undeterred
co-sponsored by Brattleboro Area Not in Our Name, the Putney Huddle, and Landmark College's Center for Diversity and Inclusion
Monday, October 14th, 2019 at Landmark College (19 River Rd S, Putney, VT 05346) in the East Academic Building Auditorium. 6:30pm to 8:30pm. A panel discussion will follow the film. Admission is by donation, with all proceeds going to immigrant justice work. Refreshments will be available.
If you missed the first sold-out local screening of the film Undeterred, the Film at the Latchis Theater last Spring, you have another opportunity!
Shot during the Obama Administration, Undeterred examines the effects of increased militarization at our southern border, and the resulting humanitarian crisis. It is also a story of resistance, and how the town of Arivaca, Arizona fought back. To view the film's trailer CLICK HERE.

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Windham County People's Health Care Forum
sponsored by Vermont Workers' Center
Wednesday, October 16th, 2019 at the Rockingham Public Library (65 Westminster Street, Bellows Falls, VT, 05101). 6pm-8pm. 
Refreshments and childcare provided. Transportation or language interpretation on request to [email protected] or (802) 257-4436.
- Do you and your family rely on Medicaid (Green Mountain Care) or Dr. Dynasaur?
- Are you forced to buy health insurance or do without because you make more than the Medicaid income limit?
- Do you have health insurance, but avoid receiving care because your deductible is too high?
Join us for a forum on the fight to protect Medicaid and win healthcare for everyone in Vermont.
Health Care is a Human Right Platform
1. Protect Medicaid and Dr. Dynasaur: No cuts, hurdles, or exclusions.
2. Increase funding for home health and community based services.
3. Keep our rural hospitals and clinics open and thriving.
4. Implement a financing plan for Act 48, Vermont’s universal healthcare law

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Community Forum for a Hate-Free Vermont
hosted by Attorney General T.J. Donovan
Thursday, October 17th, 2019 at Oak Grove School (15 Moreland Avenue, Brattleboro, VT, 05301), in the Cafeteria. 5:30pm-7:30pm. For questions please contact 802-828-3171 or email [email protected]. 
Please join the Vermont Attorney General's Office and others for a conversation about hate crimes, bias incidents, and how to respond as a community. 
This will be the fourth Forum for a Hate-Free Vermont and will take place at the Oak Grove School Cafeteria in Brattleboro. Community members are encouraged to attend to tell their stories, learn, provide support, and share in a vision for a hate-free Vermont.

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Climate Cafe presents
A Facilitated Community Conversation: Learning to Live with Climate-Induced Societal Collapse
a Project of Post Oil Solutions
Tuesday, October 22nd, 2019 at Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301), in the Community Room. 6pm-8pm. Free, light refreshments will be provided. For further information please call 802.869.2141 or email [email protected].
We need to talk!
Though we are a people who are well beyond the “hard” denial of climate skeptics, and are doing whatever we can to mitigate the most extreme consequences of the growing catastrophe, there are many of us who are afflicted with “soft” denial, the unwillingness to accept the scale and urgency of the problem, and the imminent prospect of climate-induced societal collapse that it signals.
It is not a question of ignorance for most of us. We know that the climate is passing critical tipping points. We know that scientists are stating that the climate crisis is proceeding more rapidly and with greater severity “much sooner than expected,” “faster than thought,” and “decades ahead of schedule.” We know that official and individual responses, though well intended, are woefully inadequate to making the profound changes in our entire way of life that needs to be made, right now. We know that Big Oil has no intention of walking away from the bloated profits they anticipate realizing from continued drilling. We know about the climate-related calamities that are happening in the world today—the devastating weather events, droughts, food crisis, disappearing sources of water, wildfires, climate refugees, the vanishing species, and so on--and that tomorrow will be more catastrophic, no matter what we do today.
In other words, we know what is happening. And yet, we go on with our lives as usual.
There are perfectly good reasons why we remain in this state of the proverbial inactive frogs in the pot of increasingly boiling water. The problem we face is unprecedented, overwhelming, seemingly beyond our power to effect. It is understandable why we are stuck on dead center.
What is to be done?
The purpose of the Community Conversation is to begin breaking the silence around the real possibility of social collapse. In order to get off dead center, we need to talk with one another about the most important thing that is happening in our lives. This is the essential  first step we must take if we are to move on with our lives in a positive fashion. To share our fears and hopelessness, rage and sorrow, guilt and anguish with others who are compassionate and supportive because they, also, are coming out of their closets of “soft” denial.
Then we can begin to explore with each other how we might live in these times in proactive ways, perhaps how we might bring friends and neighbors together to talk about our situation and what we can do in our communities to adapt to our new reality, engaging in emergency preparedness, being of service to others, reclaiming our interconnection to nature, engaging in heartfelt, activities of passion, living a values-inspired way of life—in short, doing all we can, right now, to living a way of life in the present moment that we find both worthwhile and rewarding, hopeful in the best sense of the word.

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Benefit Concert for Community Asylum Seekers Project
Friday, October 25th, 2019 at All Souls Church Unitarian Universal (29 South Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 7:30pm-10:30pm. $20 advance/$25 door. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. For more info, email [email protected] or call 802-490-2052. Tickets are available at Everyone’s Books in Brattleboro and Village Square Booksellers in Bellows Falls and online HERE.
Join Emma's Revolution for a #Resistance Concert to Benefit Community Asylum Seekers Project (CASP)!

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Critical Mass Ride: Halloween Mass!
hosted by 350 Brattleboro, 350 VT, Brattleboro Community Bike Clinic, and VBike; Image credit: Hugh D'Andrade
Friday, October 25, 2019 at The Brattleboro Common (Park Place, the intersection of routes 5 and 30, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:30pm-6:30pm. 
We're continuing with our monthly rides with rotating themes on the last Friday of each month. This month's, it's Halloween Mass! Kids, families welcome, and costumes 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: 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.
6:00pm: Begin Critical Mass ride. This will be a high-visibility downtown route!
6:30pm: End ride back at the Brattleboro Common
Help us spread the word & make this another successful critical mass ride!

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Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up 
Monday October 28, 2019 at KidsPLAYce (20 Elliot St., Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:30pm-7:30pm. A vegetarian meal and childcare for ages 10 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.

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Windham County NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner
hosted by the Windham County NAACP
Saturday, November 16th, 2019 at the American Legion (32 Linden St., Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5pm-9pm.
Tickets are now LIVE for our first annual Freedom Fund Dinner. This is our first Windham County NAACP fundraiser. All proceeds go to fund the branch and our youth scholarship initiative.  
To buy tickets and RSVP visit the link! https://windhamnaacp.app.rsvpify.com/
Agenda:
5pm-6pm: Public Lecture
6pm: Reception 
6:30pm: Dinner and Formal Reception

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US Immigration Policy in Historical Perspective
hosted by Vermont Humanities Council 
Wednesday, December 4th, 2019 at Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, Vt, 05301). 7pm-8:30pm.
One would think that current anxieties about immigration in the US have never been more intense, but history teaches us otherwise. Dartmouth professor Richard Wright examines the present-day contradictions of US immigration policy and places them in historical perspective. Part of the Vermont Humanities First Wednesdays free lecture series.

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Inclusion Center Needs Your Help: Volunteer Grant Writer and Fundraiser Needed ASAP
Inclusion Center is doing very well as far as programs and participants goes. We are not doing well with fundraising as we don't have any one person who has taken the lead on this. One of us recently stepped in and organized all the attachments, background information and so on that go into a applying for a grant. She also did research on what grants are out there. We now have a list of 22 possible sources specific to Inclusion Center. Now it's time for someone to take the grant writing process to its next level. If you are hearing about this new topic for the first time, please consider working with IC to raise some money (through grant writing or otherwise) and think about who else we should contact, others who might be interested in helping IC in this way. IC is an amazing and extremely unique program. Please help us to continue our success story by donating time, money or goods!
If you are interested in learning more, please contact [email protected] ASAP. Thank you! 

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JOB OPPORTUNITY

Restorative Community Justice of Southern VT is Hiring
We're hiring a community outreach & development coordinator! Join our small team of dedicated  restorative practitioners and contribute to RCJSV's community-driven work in Windham County.
See attached job description for more details. Feel free to forward this to any groups, lists, and/or individuals who might be interested. Questions (and applications) can be sent to: [email protected].

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Southern Vermont Sister District Project Soup Subscription Information
     In addition to raising funds to help get our nation onto a better trajectory by turning red districts blue, Souther Vermont Sister District is also committed to providing you the most delicious and locally-sourced soup that they 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!  For a $50 donation, you will receive 1 quart a month for four months, and for $100 donation, you will receive 2 quarts a month. Soups are available for pick-up either in Brattleboro or Putney on the third Monday of the month.  (Dates for this subscription are: 10/21, 11/18, 12/16, & 1/20.)  You will receive an email reminder shortly before the pick-up date each month.
     By subscribing to our SisterDistrict Soup project you will receive delicious, monthly, homemade soup selections from October through January.  You also have the option to gift your whole subscription or a single month to the Putney Food Shelf (a popular choice for out-of-town supporters or those traveling during soup time).  Soup chefs volunteer their time and donate ingredients which means that ALL funds go to help move our political structures in the direction of sanity, compassion, and justice. Currently our "sister" race are state level races in Virginia that are critical to making blue inroads in the state. 
     Your subscription fees will go directly to these Sister District Project candidates who are running for election to the Virginia House of Delegates this year:
Larry Barnett - VA House of Delegates, District 27 (Richmond area)  https://sisterdistrict.com/candidates/larry-barnett/  
Hala Ayala - VA House of Delegates, District 51, incumbent (Northern VA, Prince William County) for more information, go to: https://sisterdistrict.com/candidates/hala-ayala/
     More information about SisterDistrict strategies can be found here: https://www.sisterdistrict.com/.  Please sign up for SisterDistrict emails 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. 
-- Thanks from the Southern Vermont SisterDistrict crew 
(Editor’s Note: I cook regularly for Sister District and these soups are not only DELICIOUS, but they are also health promoting and made with love and care. We hope you can join us for this Fall’s subscription cycle! -Your Friendly WeCAN Admin Joanna)

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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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STANDING REGULAR MEETINGS  

Women Veterans Weekly Coffee and Tea Social
Thursday Mornings at Brattleboro Legion Post 5 Inc. (32 Linden Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 9am-10am.
All female veterans are invited to join in the Women Veterans group coffee held at the American Legion.  All women veterans are welcome. You do not need to be a Legion member.

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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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Windham County NAACP Regular Meetings
Monthly community meetings are held on the third Thursday of every month at The Root Center for Social Justice (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) on the First Floor from 6pm-7pm. For more information please email [email protected]. All are welcome. 
The meetings are open to anyone interested in racial justice. The Mission of the NAACP is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.

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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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     We look forward to seeing you at a meeting or event this coming week, friends. Thank you for your activism this and every week. Your community is so grateful for all that you do. 

Joanna and Leslie 
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