Weekly Update 11.11.19
“Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief, and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake Up and Live.”
Bob Marley (b.1945, d.1981)
Jamaican singer, songwriter, and political activist
This week's email boasts at least eight new entries, WeCAN readers, so please take a moment to scroll through to the end to get a full picture of what's happening in Windham County. We look forward to seeing you at an event soon!
HAPPENING TODAY, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2019
Songs For Our Times: Concert by Southern Vermont Ukulele Ensemble, with Lisa McCormick
Sunday, November 10th, 2019 at 118 Elliot Gallery (118 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 3pm-4pm. All are welcome. Venue is accessible. Sliding scale: $12-$25.
Tickets available online here, or at the door: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4403714
Directed by Lisa McCormick, the Southern Vermont Ukulele Ensemble will present an uplifting concert of songs promoting Care of the Planet, Community-building, Welcome, Justice, and Peace.
The ukulele may be small, yet she is a mighty instrument of unity and change!
This 30-voice-and-ukulele ensemble will delight you with some rousing classics, as well as several lesser-known songs (that should be KNOWN and PLAYED in these times!)
Partial ticket proceeds to be donated to Groundworks Collaborative, a local organization providing food, housing, health assistance, and other services to community-members in need.
Audience sing-alongs will be encouraged.
MUSIC is POWERFUL and so are WE. Come be a part of this empowering and joyful community event!
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Show Trump the Door! Planning Event
hosted by Windham County Democrats and The Stone Church
Sunday, November 10th, 2019 at The Stone Church (210 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 3pm-5pm.
Come out to the Stone Church and contribute your creative energy in a strategy session. Whether your issue is the environment, social justice, labor, foreign affairs, or good governance, there will be groups and people planning on how to end this presidency. Along with the information tables, we are asking all attendees and group representatives to participate in the World Cafe style discussion groups. All are welcome.
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HAPPENING THIS WEEK, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11th, 2019-SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17th, 2019
Brattleboro Democracy Forum: Impeachment and the Rule of Law with Tim Kipp
sponsored by We Celebrate Democracy / Civil Rights for All
Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 and
Wednesday, December 11th, 2019 at the Robert H Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 12pm-1pm.
This is a 2 part lecture /discussion: The first will be Wednesday November 13, 12pm-1pm and the second will be December 11th, 12pm-1pm and will be hosted by Tim Kipp, retired US history and political science teacher of 39 years and a political activist since the 1960’s.
The concepts of a “nation of laws and not of people” and the “rule of law” are as old as the nation-state itself. Elbowing aside the “divine right of kings” this new system would become the very foundation of democracy.
What happens when the president violates the oath of office? Through the lens of history and contemporary politics this lecture/discussion will examine the roles of the Constitution, the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Council, the 25th Amendment, and impeachment in addressing presidential misconduct. The conclusion will ask, “How well is the US living up to the principle of the Rule of Law?”
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Transparency Tour: Brattleboro
Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 at Brattleboro Town Hall (230 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301), in the Selectboard Meeting Room. 6pm-8pm.
Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos is pleased to announce the dates and locations for his fifth biennial Transparency Tour. Throughout late October and November Secretary Condos will travel to several locations across Vermont to provide training and facilitate discussion on Vermont’s transparency laws; Vermont’s Public Records Act, and Open Meeting Law.
Government officials at all levels, from local volunteer board and commission members, to elected officials and state employees, and interested members of the public, are invited and encouraged to attend.
For the first time, this year’s Transparency Tour will include an overview of Vermont’s election procedures, and the steps the Secretary of State’s office is taking to ensure the integrity and security of our elections, titled “Defending Our Democracy.” With the 2020 elections just around the corner, Vermonters increasingly want to know that their votes are safe, secure and will count on Election Day.
As a longtime proponent of transparency and openness in government, Secretary Condos looks forward to engaging attendees in an informative discussion on the requirements of government officials, and the rights of Vermont citizens.
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Protest Vigil at TD Bank
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, November 15th, 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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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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Film Screening and Discussion: Venezuelan’s Under Siege
hosted by Brattleboro Solidarity
Saturday, November 16th, 2019 at 118 Gallery (118 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5pm. The event is free and open to the public.
U.S. sanctions block the Venezuelan people from obtaining food and medicine. The sanctions resulted in at least 40,000 deaths between mid-2017 and the end of 2018, according to a study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research – and that was prior to the most severe sanctions, announced in January 2019.
What exactly is happening in Venezuela? What can be done? Please join us for the Vermont premiere of a new documentary film Venezuelans Under Siege and a discussion with the film’s co-director, UMass Amherst history professor Kevin Young. Venezuelans Under Siege documents the impacts of the sanctions plus the ways that ordinary Venezuelans are organizing to survive the crisis and to build new institutions of participatory socialism.
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Climate Reality November Huddle
hosted by The Putney Huddle
Sunday, November, 17th, 2019 at Putney Public Library (55 Main Street, Putney, VT, 05301). 1:30pm-3:30pm.
Doug Grandt will present Climate Reality “24 Hours of Reality: Truth in Action” in a World Cafe style format. World Café facilitates small groups of 3-4 people discussing 3 or 4 questions, in a musical chairs type rearranging of groups so different groupings of people address each subsequent question. Questions begin broadly (high level) and progressively get more specific and local, maximizing individual closure on the topic. It’s fun, engaging and productive!
Climate Reality - OUR MISSION IS TO CATALYZE A GLOBAL SOLUTION TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS BY MAKING URGENT ACTION A NECESSITY ACROSS EVERY LEVEL OF SOCIETY. The Earth is facing a climate crisis, driven by fossil fuels. At Climate Reality, we’re here to make urgent action a necessity. In politics. In business. In every aspect of our lives. Everywhere.
Urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions and speed the global shift to renewables. Urgent action to halt the Trump Administration’s radical fossil fuel agenda. Urgent action to make world leaders strengthen and honor their Paris Agreement commitments.
Led by former US Vice President Al Gore and CEO and President Ken Berlin, we do it by empowering everyday people to become activists, equipped with the tools, training, and network to fight for solutions and drive change planet-wide.
The result is over 20,000 Climate Reality Leaders mobilizing communities in over 150 countries. Branches in 10 critical nations and regions around the Earth. 100 activists chapters (and growing) pushing for practical clean energy policies across the US.
Together, they add up to a powerful movement growing by the day. One by the people. Of the people. For the planet. Join us.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up
Monday November 18th, 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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Climate Solutions Caucus Forum
Tuesday, November 19th, 2019 at St Michael’s Episcopal Church (16 Bradley Avenue, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 7pm.
Members of the Vermont Legislature’s Climate Solutions Caucus are organizing a series of climate policy forums all over the state to share their legislative priorities for 2020 and bring more Vermonters into the climate conversation.
As we saw during the youth-led Global Climate Strikes on September 20th, Vermonters are demanding a response to climate change commensurate with the scale of the problem. In order to build on the momentum sparked by the recent Climate Strikes, Vermonters need to continue to show up and demand bold climate action from their elected officials.
Don’t miss these opportunities to learn about how Vermont can do its part to combat the climate crisis while protecting air and water quality, spurring innovation and economic development and helping all Vermonters — and in particular vulnerable Vermonters — save money.
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Green Burial Workshop
sponsored by Windham Regional Woodlands Association
Thursday, November 21st, 2019 at UVM Extension Service (130 Austine Drive, Brattleboro, VT, 05301), in the 3rd Floor Conference Room, Holton Hall. 6:30pm-8:30pm. For more information contact [email protected].
More and more people are asking for environmentally responsible burial options that reflect their personal values. The practice of burying bodies without embalming with toxic chemicals, encasing in metal or rainforest wood caskets, or cement or plastic outer vaults—truly body to earth—is timeless, interrupted only over the past century. This workshop will show how efforts to return to these ancient, eco-friendly ways are gaining momentum across the country as people are finding a way to let their bodies return to the earth.
Lee Webster, noted author and national leader in the field of Green Burial will present the current status of green burial in Vermont and the movement towards developing conservation burial grounds on lands protected by conservation principles. These cemeteries support sustainable management while restoring and protecting the ecological integrity of the land. Land trust entities with the interest and capacity to partner with and support conservation burial projects come in many forms, from local conservation groups to state and regional land trusts to national chapters of prominent organizations, such as The Nature Conservancy. Vermont landowners can have questions answered regarding steps towards creating natural burial grounds on their land.
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Critical Mass Ride
hosted by 350 Brattleboro, 350 VT, Brattleboro Community Bike Clinic, and VBike; Image credit: Hugh D'Andrade
Friday, November 22nd, 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. Note: We *usually* meet on the last Friday of each month, but moved this one a week earlier to avoid conflicting with the holidays.
Kids and families 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 OR continue on to film screening & discussion of "Paris to Pittsburgh" (location TBD).
Help us spread the word & make this another successful critical mass ride!
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Dinner Together
Friday, November 22nd, 2019 at The Winston Prouty School (209 Austine Drive, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:30pm-7:30pm. All welcome! Free dinner: GF and vegan options available. All options are nut free. Childcare will be available as well. More info: [email protected]
Join us for a community dinner and casual facilitated conversation about mental health and wellness. It's for those of us who are working on our mental health and those of us who are supporting folks who are struggling (or both). This is a chance to connect with peers and gain connections.
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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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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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Brattleboro Common Sense Open Meeting and Orientation for New Volunteers
Every Sunday at 16 Washington Street (Brattleboro, VT, 05301). For more information please call 802.490.9363 or go to www.BrattleboroCommonSense.org.
In 2019 our petition for a sustainability coordinator was approved, but other terms of our Climate Crisis forum and common sense conservation lost their first vote.
CURRENT AGENDA :
We are very glad to improve our unique and aggressive DECLARATION of CLIMATE EMERGENCY with Selectboard input that sets all Americans equal across the political divide, establishing compassion and unity for the sake of climate rescue;
Local Wall Street Tax; police safety; basic social research; the 2010 EMDOVY v Brattleboro: Superior Court order that ends censorship of petitions by the Selectboard; in 2014 We promoted Brattleboro's Declaration that climate change is a real and human-made, and that carbon be listed as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act; in 2019 Renewable-sourced municipal electricity was approved September 17.
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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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Thank you for your participation in our democracy this and every week, Windham County brothers and sisters. We look forward to seeing you at an event or meeting in the near future.
Joanna and Leslie
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