Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

“You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for (their) own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful.”
Marie Curie

Welcome to this week's Weekly Email Update, WeCAN family! We have lots of new listings this week, so take your time and give this email a careful read. 
We hope to see many of you this Thursday, October 19th at the WeCAN Cafe starting at 7pm (you can find more information below in the email) and are excited to connect with you amongst friends as we recharge our activist spirits. 

Have a productive, positive week and THANK YOU for all that you continue to do for our community. Your presence at events makes all the difference. 


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HAPPENING TODAY, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15th, 2017

The Putney Huddle Regular Monthly Meeting
Sunday, October 15th, 2017 at The Putney Public Library (55 Main Street, Putney, VT 05346). 1pm-3:30pm. To RSVP via Facebook click HERE.
This meeting will include working group updates, a discussion on fundraising for the Vermont Democrats, and guest speaker Bari Shamas talking "Sex and Politics".
Schedule
1pm-2pm: Updates and Dems
2pm-3:30pm: Bari Shamas


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HAPPENING THIS WEEK, MONDAY, OCTOBER 16th, 2017-SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22nd, 2017

Youth4Change Group Meeting
Monday, October 16th, 2017 at The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). First Floor. 5:30pm-8pm. For more information please email [email protected]
Youth4Change is a project of the Root that meets every 1st and 3rd Mondays. It is for youth 12-22, particularly those from historically disenfranchised groups who want to use education, art, and action to address racial and intersectional justice. The October 16th meeting is an organizing meeting to set a timeline and tasks toward local campaigns
Schedule:
5:30pm: Space opens for art and hanging out.
6:00pm: Food!
6:30pm-8:00pm: Group meeting/training/strategy session.


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Women’s Action Team Meeting
Tuesday, October 17th, 2017 at the Prouty Center (20 Austine Drive, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:30pm.
Calling all flavors of women! We’ll have light refreshments, nuanced conversation, and of course, bada$$ feminist action. This month we’ll focus on reproductive justice ACTION and more political art. We’ll admire the bomb ‘zine made by our Vermont ERA research team and plan for  the upcoming screening of our "Break the Silence: Reproductive + Sexual Health Histories" video project (created by Willow O’Feral), a fundraiser at the Latchis on Oct 29th. Hope to see you there!


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Brattleboro Town School Board Meeting
Wednesday, October 18th, 2017 at the Academy School (860 Western Ave, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 5pm.
This meeting will be discussing centering racial justice in our town schools including efforts to diversify and increase diversity training for the workforce and include social justice into the curriculum. Any interested community members are welcome and encouraged to attend!


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350 Brattleboro Public Meeting: Extreme Weather, Climate Change, and Taking Action.
Wednesday, October 18th, 2017 at The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). First Floor. 6pm.
We'll be discussing recent extreme weather, how it links to climate change and providing opportunities for action. You can also catch up with what 350 Brattleboro have been up to, find out how to get involved and hear about our plans for the coming months. Oh, and there'll be tasty pizza and friendly people! For more information, please contact: [email protected].




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YA Girl Power Book Talks
Wednesday, October 18th, 2017 at Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main St, Brattleboro, Vermont 05301) in the Community Meeting Room. 6:30pm-7:30pm.
Come to the library for a fun, fast-paced discussion about book titles that would be great for readers ages 12 and up! We will review fiction, nonfiction and graphic novels, giving you some great reading material, both new and classics, featuring stellar women.

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SIT Sustainability Speakers Series presents
Food and Farms for Progressive Social Action
Thursday, October 19th, 2017 in the Rotch Building on the SIT Campus(1 Kipling Rd, Brattleboro, VT 05301), Room 108. 1:30pm-2:30pm. Free and open to the public.        
Speakers include:
Tony Hillery- Founder and Executive Director, Harlem Grown
Abrah Dresdale- Coordinator of Farm & Food Systems, GCC/Franklin Jail
Tom Grasso- Environmental Defense Fund


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SIT Sustainability Speakers Series presents
Shade Crops Under Solar Arrays in Vermont
Thursday, October 19th, 2017 in the Rotch Building on the SIT Campus (1 Kipling Rd, Brattleboro, VT 05301), Room 108. 3:30pm-4:30pm. Free and open to the public.         
Speakers include:
Morgan Casella- Project Manager, Dynamic Organics
Tatiana Schreiber- Environmental Studies, Keene State College


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WeCAN Cafe: Recharge Your Activist Spirit
Thursday, October 19th, 2017 at 118 Elliot Street (Brattleboro, VT 05301). 7pm-9pm
Created as a follow-up to the Action Fair this past spring, the WeCAN Cafe is an evening designed to build community, learn from each other, share success stories and find out about the progress being made by organizations in the area -- and to remind ourselves that we're not alone! There will be food, music, poetry, information sharing, connection to others, and a cash bar. The goal is to head home feeling better than when we arrived. 

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New England Mass Meeting for the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival
Thursday, October 19th, 2017 at Trinity Church (206 Clarendon St, Boston, MA 02116). 7pm-9pm.
For carpools from VT and to get updates about the Poor People’s Campaign in Vermont, contact Ellen Schwartz: [email protected] or 802-257-4436. 
Join co-conveners Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis for a Mass Meeting for the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. You can hear about the inspiration, vision and strategy for the Campaign. 
Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival aims to build a broad and deep national moral fusion movement – rooted in the leadership of the poor, marginalized and moral agents and reflecting the great moral teachings – to unite our country from the bottom up. The call for a Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival has emerged from more than a decade of work by grassroots community and religious leaders, organizations and movements fighting to end systemic racism, poverty, the war economy, environmental destruction & related injustices and to build a just, sustainable and participatory society. We draw on the history, vision and unfinished work of the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign.
Find out more at www.poorpeoplescampaign.org and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy4yXxqGMrE&feature=youtu.be.

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Protest Vigil at TD Bank
Friday, October 20th, 2017 (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!
If you’re a Vermonter, demand that state funds not be deposited with a bank investing in fossil fuels.'
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, October 20th, 2017 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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SIT Sustainability Speakers Series presents
Change the Story
Friday, October 20th, 2017 El Café on the SIT Campus (1 Kipling Rd, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 4pm-5pm. Free and open to the public.         
Speakers include:
Cary Brown- Executive Director, Vermont Commission on Women


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Local Love Brigade Party at Avenue Grocery
Saturday October 21st, 2017 at the Avenue Grocery (82 Western Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301). 2pm-4pm. 
Join the Local Love Brigade! Drop by, get a cider donut, and make postcards to send out in an avalanche of love to support victims of hate. There will be plenty of materials to make a card, and no artistic experience is necessary. All are welcome.

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Divest the Globe Vigil & Speak Out
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions & 99th Monkey Affinity Group
Monday, October 23rd, 2017 at TD Bank Brattleboro (215 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 
Holding Vigil: 9am-4pm
Speaking Out: 4pm-5pm. BRING SIGNS!
We will be holding vigil all day, calling upon TD to divest itself of its investments in tar sands and fossil fuel infrastructure and to the rest of us who do business with the bank to end our relationship. Please join us at any time during the day, and especially during the Speak Out portion to express your feelings on how important it is to get banks and other financial institutions out of the business of investing in fossil fuels.
Indigenous leaders from Mazaska Talks are calling on climate justice activists throughout the world to take action for Divest the Globe. They are asking allies and activists everywhere to target the banks that are funding projects that “desecrate Mother Earth” - pipelines, tar sands extraction, fracking. In Vermont, TD Bank is our target, and actions will be happening in multiple locations: Burlington, Bennington, Manchester, Brattleboro, and more. TD Bank has long been a funder of tar sands extraction in Alberta, and they currently extend multi-billion dollar lines of credit to TransCanada - the company that wants to bring the Keystone XL pipeline back from the dead. A recent report shows that TD also financed over 3 billion dollars to companies engaging in extreme fossil fuel activities, from 2014-2016. TD Bank has many branches in Vermont, and up until this summer, held banking contracts with the state of Vermont. Recently, TD Bank lost its contract with Vermont, in part due to our demands! Now it’s time to boot TD out of Vermont completely.


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Progressive Party Windham County Caucus Organizing Meeting 
Monday, October 23rd, 2017 at The Root Center for Social Justice (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts,  28 Williams St., Brattleboro, VT, 05301). First Floor. 6:30pm.  
The Progressive Party is, steadfastly, the progressive agenda. Vermont has the strongest Progressive Party organization in the country.  We have seven House and three Senate seats in the state legislature and two state offices, David Zuckerman, Lieutenant Governor, and Doug Hoffer, Auditor.   There are also progressives scattered among city councils and Select Boards. Most of the progressive legislation in Vermont is either introduced or heavily sponsored by Progressives.  If you're ready to enlist in the political life of your democracy, where it counts, in the Statehouse or the local municipal arena, please join us.


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Climate Change Café
a project of Post Oil Solutions presents
International Climate Expert Calls for Agents of Sustainability
Tuesday, October 24th, 2017 at Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) in the Main Room at 6pm. Free. Light Refreshments Available
Note: It is strongly recommended that you make a reservation for this talk. Please email [email protected] to place a reservation. 
The Climate Café is honored to host Dr. Edward Cameron, an international climate expert, and one of the architects of the Paris Climate Accord. Dr. Cameron will focus his presentation on three areas: individuals adopting low carbon lifestyles; communities building resilience in the face of the growing climate impacts; and states like Vermont creating economic opportunities. Cameron is also acutely sensitive to climate justice, a consciousness that was undoubtedly enhanced during his time working for the government of the Maldives, where he was responsible for their public diplomacy and climate change, as well as the World Bank where he worked on human rights and climate change. “It’s no accident,” he states, “that people of color and low income populations are the people who are hit first and hardest by these events. They don’t have the necessary resources to prepare and rebound from an extreme weather event.” Ultimately, Dr. Cameron states, individual responsibility is essential to reducing emissions and building resilience. “I would like people to think about how they can become agents of sustainability in their own right. What type of action can they take on their own, that includes taking a closer look at their choices as a consumer.”


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SIT Sustainability Speakers Series presents 
Thursday, October 26th, 2017 in the Rotch Building on the  SIT Campus (1 Kipling Rd, Brattleboro, VT 05301) in Room 108. 1:30pm-2:30pm. Free and open to the pubic.
Speakers include:
KC Golden- Senior Policy Advisor, Climate Solutions


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SIT Sustainability Speakers Series presents
Secret of the Seasons Climate Co-Opera
Friday October 27th, 2017 at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main St., Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 7pm-8:30pm.Donations benefit Strolling of the Heifers.
Speakers include:
KC Golden- Senior Policy Advisor, Climate Solutions
John Ungerleider- Professor, SIT


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Film Screening 
Break The Silence: Reproductive and Sexual Health Histories Told by Local Women
hosted by the Women's Action Team and Planned Parenthood Defenders
Sunday, October 29th, 2017 at the Latchis Theater (Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 4pm. Donations accepted. 
Join us for a benefit for Vermont Access for Reproductive Freedom. All proceeds will help women in Windham County pay for abortion services. 

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Cross Class Dialogue Circle
hosted by ACT for Social Justice
Saturdays November 4th, 18th, and December 2nd, 2017 at the Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). First Floor. 9am-3pm. Registration Closes October 27th, 2017. Sign-up for the 3 day circle at www.act4socialjustice.com.
Economic Inequality is real and is hurting our communities. Be Part of the Solution! 
“The realities of class are so pervasive and yet so taboo to talk about and expose. It is so valuable to learn more about its structures and roots and feel empowered to break the silence.” - age 36, raised middle class, currently poverty class  
“Everyone should participate in this course. Our community would a better place.” - age 37, professional class
The divide between economic and social classes in our nation played a huge role in the recent election. It’s now more urgent than ever that we come together to bridge this gap and find ways to bring economic justice to all! What each person will pay is determined through an equitable cost sharing process we’ll do in the session, and is anywhere from $0-$500+ in direct donations, fundraising, and/or work trade. No one will pay more than they are able. In 2018 we are planning for circles in Bellows Falls and Upper Valley. This project is supported through fiscal sponsorship of Post Oil Solutions. Marlboro College Diversity and Inclusion task force, Youth Services, and Hilltop Montessori School are organizational sponsors. Organizational sponsors are important in ensuring the continuation of this community education opportunity. Contact us to find out more. Donate! We are currently looking for donations to keep these circles going and to ensure that people of all incomes can participate. https://www.youcaring.com/crossclassdialoguecircle-835266. For more information visit www.act4socialjustice.com or call 802.254.3400 or email [email protected].

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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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SKILLED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

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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VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES

Soup's On (Again)!
Please support our fun and delicious fundraising effort to support Sister District. Project and our two Virginia House of Delegates candidates: John Bell and Jennifer Foy. You can sign up to receive delicious soup monthly with pick up in Putney or Brattleboro, or if you are going to be out of area you can donate your soup to the Putney Foodshelf. Sign up, spread the word, and share with friends! Our last round raised over $3500 and our goal for the next 8 months is $10,000. If you are interested in cooking, you can volunteer by emailing us: [email protected].

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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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Your Friendly WeCAN Admins,
Ann and Joanna 


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