Weekly Update 11.26.18
"There is a grave danger in having the outrageous become common place. Gun violence should never be the norm or background noise. It is a public health crisis and doctors have every right to speak out. They are the ones on the front lines of the epidemic."
Dan Rather,
journalist (Facebook, 11.20.18)
We hope all of you, WeCAN readers, had a holiday filled with loved ones, hearty food, and reflection. Please take a moment to look through some of the new events we have listed below; we would love to see you at a meeting or event in the coming weeks and encourage you to bring a friend (or two) along.
HAPPENING THIS WEEK, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26th, 2018-SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3rd, 2018
Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up
Monday November 26th, 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. We’ll be talking about the Sherri Mitchell workshops on healing and decolonization that several MU! parents attended last month.
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Opposing the Criminalization of Poverty, Part 2: Take Action
hosted by Brattleboro Solidarity
Thursday, November 27th, 2018 at Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:30pm-7:30pm. The night will start with conversation and will be followed by exploring stations where people can find out specific ways to connect. Childcare will be provided.
Come out to learn how you can get involved in the community! In late August some of us in the community held a conversation panel called Opposing the Criminalization of Poverty in Brattleboro. Many people who came out asked for more; we, along with others in the community, are hosting a night to learn more about how to plug in. Those that have confirmed with us include: GroundWorks, Turning Point (NARCAN training), info on street medic training to come in early 2019, and the Brattleboro Community Justice Center. More organizations will be added to the list as they confirm.
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Brattleboro Democracy Forum: Jumpstart the Peaceful Revolution
with host Woody Bernhard
Wednesday, November 28th, 2018 at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Bratteboro, VT, 05301). 12pm-1pm. For info contact Woody at [email protected].
Join Democracy Forum host Woody Bernhard to talk about simple things we can do to keep us on the path to true democracy for all people. Woody will share his inspirational song "Everyone Help, Help Everyone' and we will share ideas about what we can do ourselves, right now, to begin the peaceful revolution and stay on track to a democracy which respects and includes all people. This is a continuation of Woody's 7/25 and 10 /10 presentations by the same name. Please join the discussion. WE CELEBRATE DEMOCRACY/CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL, WCD/CRFA, POB 6231, Brattleboro VT 05301: positive nonviolent public action for democracy and equal civil rights for all people.
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Men, Patriarchy, and Capitalism
hosted by Brattleboro Solidarity
Thursday, November 29th, 2018 from 6pm-7:30pm.
Thursday, December 6th, 2018 from 6pm-7:30pm
Thursday, December 13th, 2018 from 6pm-7:30pm
All meetings will take place at the Brattleboro Food Co-op (2 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) in the Community Room (please use the 7 Canal Street Entrance). Readings will be provided. Refreshments will be served. This is a free event. Please email us at [email protected] to sign up.
Men, please join us in doing this work! From the European witch hunts of the 1300's to rape culture, male violence has been a troubling theme of modern history. Thanks to the visibility gained by social mobilizations such as the MeToo movement, one would be hard-pressed to argue that we have made much progress in decreasing it. In mainstream discourse, male violence is explained away as the actions of deviant individuals, "bad apples." This explanation avoids questions that implicate the system in which we live. In order to really understand where male violence comes from, we need to situate our understanding in a larger analysis of history.
Grounded in readings from (but not limited to) Angela Davis, bell hooks, Silvia Federici, and Jackson Katz, we will focus on the following questions:
- Is male violence a men’s issue for men to analyze, discuss and end?
- What are the connections within the current political climate to historical events?
- How do our thoughts and ideology shape our actions and interactions?
- Does capitalism affect how men act in the world?
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Protest Vigil at TD Bank
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, November 30th, 2018 (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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Brattleboro Winter Farmers Market
a project of Post Oil Solutions
Saturday, December 1st, 2018 (and every Saturday thru March 30) in the C.F. Church Building (80 Flat Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 10am-2pm. Accepting credit, debit, and EBT. Crop Cash turns $10 EBT into $20 every week. Lunch cafe and live music. For info email [email protected], call 802-869-2141, or visit us at www.brattleborowinterfarmersmarket.org.
New Location! Larger and more accessible. Free Parking. All local - farm produce, meats, syrup, fresh baked goods, cheeses, fruits, cider, pickles, preserves, handmade jewelry, pottery, soaps and more. Building community every week.
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Panel: Addiction and Recovery in Our Community
sponsored by the Brattleboro Retreat and supported in part by the Vermont Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts
Thursday, December 13th, 2018 at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (10 Vernon Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 7pm-9pm. Free. For more information please go to www.brattleboromuseum.org.
Susan Avery of Nar-Anon, Lt. Adam Petlock of the Brattleboro Police Department, Susan Walker of Turning Point of Windham County, and Kurt White of the Brattleboro Retreat share their perspectives on addiction and recovery resources in our community. Moderated by Geoff Kane, MD, Chief Addiction Services at the Brattleboro Retreat.
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The Brattleboro Town ADA Committee is focusing their attention on parking issues for people with mobility issues in our downtown. If you, your friend or family member has a mobility issue of any kind, please take a minute or two to fill out the survey (below). The ADA committee encourages you to share the survey so that many people can give their input as well. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JWS8VJY
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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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Education Beyond Windham County, VT
The Sojourner Truth School offers FREE workshops for social change activists on a wide variety of topics, such as Change Happens at the Speed of Trust" "Unpacking the Man Box," and "Telling Your Public Story." Experienced trainers, Pioneer Valley locations. Pre-registration required. Check out the Fall offerings here: https://truthschool.org/fall2018classes/.
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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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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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Alternatives to Suicide
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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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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Until next week, friends. We look forward to connecting with you in December...
Your friendly WeCAN admins,
Joanna and Leslie
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