Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

Thank you, WeCAN Family, for your support at last week's WeCAN Cafe event! We were so pleased to see see so many familiar (and unfamiliar!) faces last Thursday evening and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making this Activist Cafe a huge success.

Now that you've had an opportunity to recharge, here are a few ways* you can meaningfully support (or continue to support) Social Justice where you live:

-Educate yourself on a particular movement or cause: read up on mission statements, look to see what kind of programs their donations fund, etc.
-Work on your own habits and beliefs: eliminate words from your vocabulary, learn to be a better ally, be an activist regularly.
-Take action in your community: Use your knowledge of your community to determine where your time might best be spent. Speak with your friends and neighbors to get a sense of the injustices affecting those around you and seek out a group or organization that may directly help your community grow and flourish. Write or call your elected officials  regularly to let them know you support or disagree with them. Use your voice whenever you can for as long as you can. 
-Go to a protest, vigil, or demonstration: 
Practice active resistance in your own community. Make signs, chant, march, and sing for justice with like-minded people. Be aware of your surroundings, follow a permitted route, stay on the sidewalk, and follow these safety tips. 
-Volunteer your time:
This is a simple one: donate your time without expecting compensation in return. 

* http://mashable.com/2016/03/26/social-justice-get-involved/#IA4vx7aDaGqY, accessed 10.21.17. 

Now, on to this week's events...
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HAPPENING THIS WEEK MONDAY, OCTOBER 23rd, 2017-SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29th, 2017

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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UPCOMING EVENTS

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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Winter Farmers’ Market
presented by Post Oil Solutions
Saturday, November 4th, 2017 (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 dogs allowed. 
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. Metered parking available within walking distance. Restrooms and cafe seating available on site. Family friendly. 
EBT customers can turn $10 into $20 with CropCash
INFO: contact Market Manager, Sherry Maher, 802.869.2141, [email protected].


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A Meditative Vigil of Lovingkindness
Sunday, November 5th, 2017 on the lawn in front of the Baptist Church (next to Brown & Roberts), Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 
12:30-1:30pm. 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. Please bring a chair, cushion, mat, or whatever you are comfortable with.
Under 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 its silent vigils of lovingkindness for the peaceful, socially just society we are all seeking on
At a time when basic values are being assaulted and abused, 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 that are the foundation of a wholesome society, and to speak up for the compassionate alternative that they represent.
For further information, or if you wish to be part of a contact list that will inform people of future Lovingkind Vigils, please forward your name, e-mail address, and phone number to: [email protected] or 802.869.2141.


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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