Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

“There is no free expression when you have to pay extra to stand on the soap box.”
Thor Benson
author of "Net Neutrality Dies, Then Your Art Dies," May 7th, 2014

We hope our entire WeCAN family had a wonderful holiday week and are staying warm, cozy, and motivated as we move into the Winter season. There's a lot to cover this week so let's get right to it:


HAPPENING THIS WEEK MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27th-SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3rd, 2017

Brattleboro Time Trade’s November Potluck 
Monday, November 27th, 2017 at The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). First Floor. 5:30pm-7:30pm.
Bring a dish to share! For more information please go to www.brattleborotimetrade.org.

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Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up
Monday November 27th, 2017 at KidsPLAYce (20 Elliot St., Brattleboro). 5:30pm-7:30pm. RSVP helpful, but not required. Contact Abby Mnookin for more info at [email protected].
Mother Up!: Parents Exchange for Change 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 joined by Representative Mollie Burke and Senator Becca Balint (fingers crossed!) as we continue with this year's theme of ACTION! A simple vegetarian meal and childcare for ages 8 and under will be provided.
****350VT's Annual Convergence is coming right up - Saturday Nov 4th at Goddard. Childcare and kids programming will be available. Register today!****

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Letter-To-Editor Writing Party for Healthcare Rights in VT
Monday, November 27th, 2017 at the Brattleboro Co-Op (2 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) in the Community Room. Open drop-in from 5:30pm-8pm. Please use the 7 Canal Street Entrance. 
Contact: [email protected]
Drop-In space to come by and work out a letter to the media in support of funding and implementing universal healthcare in Vermont. Handy will be an LTE template based on personal stories, recent examples, folks to help work out the letter, and updates on the VT Workers Center's 2018 campaign plan. Keep the drumbeat of voices building! 


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Climate Change Café presents
a project of Post Oil Solutions
The Effects of Global Warming on Mental Health: Creating Resilience Before, During and After Extreme Weather Events
Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 at the Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) in the Main Room. 5:45pm. FREE. Light Refreshments Available.
How does global warming effect our mental health? How do we respond to these effects?
This workshop will give an overview of some of the national, state, and local initiatives addressing the negative psychological impacts of global warming. It will also explore practical skills to build resilience to enhance the capacity of individuals and groups to cope with the inevitable changes affecting all levels of society. The Climate Café is pleased to host Rebecca MacKenzie, a clinical social worker, and member of the NH Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team, who will lead the workshop. For more information please email [email protected].

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ACWC Annual Meeting and Pop Up Art Show
Presented by the Arts Council of Windham County
Wednesday November 29th, 2017 at 118 Elliot St. Brattleboro, VT 05301. 6:30pm.
This organization does a lot to support the arts.  The arts support the economy, resistance, free speech and more.  Come see what we are all about!
Come join ACWC for its annual meeting and enjoy the pop-up art exhibit! This year's annual meeting also includes a Pop-Up Art display featuring the work of current and former board members and trustees. The event will include light refreshments, an opportunity to learn more about ACWC and find out about how you can become a member. ACWC is an organization of artists for artists and ACWC would like an opportunity to share the highlights from the year and the creative work of its past and present leadership with you!  If you have any questions or interested in attending, please contact Marsha Bard by emailing [email protected]

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Protest Vigil at TD Bank
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, December 1st, 2017 (and every Friday) in front of TD Bank Brattleboro (215 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 12pm-1pm. Signs will be provided. For more information please contact [email protected] or 802.869.2141.
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!
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.

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The Bi-Weekly Solidarity Vigil
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, December 1st, 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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Greg Bennick: "Changing the World Without Having a Clue"
Friday December 1st, 2017 at Headroom Stages (17 Elliot St. Brattleboro, VT 05301). 7:30pm

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Winter Farmers’ Market
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Saturday, December 2nd, 2017 (and every Saturday through March) at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro. VT 05301). 10:00am-2pm.
Area musicians will perform from 11am-1pm. No pets allowed. Metered parking available within walking distance. Restrooms and cafe seating available on site. Family friendly. EBT customers can turn $10 into $20 with CropCash
For more information please contact Market Manager, Sherry Maher at 802.869.2141 or [email protected]
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.

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December Potluck
presented by The Hive Mutual Support Network
Saturday, December 2nd, 2017 at The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). First Floor. 5pm-7pm. Bring food to share if you can/want to, come anyway if you can’t!Childcare will be provided.
Join us as we share what is difficult and what is meaningful for us about the Holiday Season. There will be large group discussion, with option for smaller groups dealing with all the potentially problematic trimmings: families, food, finances, the weather, ghosts of past/present/future.
The Root Social Justice Center is wheelchair-accessible and has a gender-neutral bathroom. Please be aware that The Root strives to be a fragrance-free space (more info about that here, http://www.therootsjc.org/fragrance-free.html).
In closing, a reminder that the Buzzline is available as a support option in stressful holiday times -- and other times, too. More info at our website  http://hivemutualsupport.net/buzzline/.

ResisDANCE
presented by 350 Vermont
Saturday December 2, 2017 at the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center (10 Vernon St, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 7pm - 10pm
Grab your dancing shoes and join 350VT for a night of resistance, music, and fun at resisDANCE! Listen to the musical stylings of Billy Wylder, The Gaslight Tinkers, and Fidel Moreno while supporting some of your favorite organizations and grassroots groups. Do your holiday shopping with a conscience and find the coolest resistance merch to share with family and friends. Cost: $10 at the door or online (online has sliding scale)

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=39666543700

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Rights and Democracy's Annual Membership Assembly and Celebration: From Protest to Power: Organizing in 2018 And Beyond
Sunday, December 10th, 2017 at Lebanon High School (195 Hanover St., Lebanon, NH). 1pm-6pm. 
Join members of Rights & Democracy from across Vermont and New Hampshire for our annual membership assembly and celebration. We will celebrating RAD members for key victories in our states and DC this year and look to the movement organizing that lay ahead for us in 2018 and beyond, including our multi-issue People’s Platform for each state. If you are not a member of Rights & Democracy, but are interested in learning more about becoming  one or if you have child care or accessibility or interpretation needs, contact us at [email protected].

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Indivisible Brattleboro 2018 Agenda Meeting
December 13th, 2017 at the Brattleboro Food Coop (2 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) in the Community Meeting Room. 6pm. Please use the entrance at 7 Canal Street to access the Community Room.
This is a meeting to reboot, re-energize and establish our 2018 agenda. All are welcome. For more information, find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/1433897939967967/?ref=bookmarks or follow us on twitter @bratindivisible.


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Citizen Emergency Preparedness Workshop
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions & Vermont Emergency Management
Thursday, December 14th, 2017 at St. Michael Episcopal Church (16 Bradley Avenue, Brattleboro, VT 05301) in the Downstairs Meeting Room. 6pm-8pm. Handicapped accessible. Light refreshments will be available. For further information, contact Tim at 802.869.2141 or email him at [email protected].
Vermont Emergency Management (VEM) will present a workshop on how citizens and communities can best prepare themselves for the kinds of exceptional weather events we are increasingly experiencing (as exemplified by the horrific storms a few weeks ago that were experienced by people in Houston, Florida, and Puerto Rico). where emergency services are rendered unavailable, and people are basically on their own to take care of themselves and their neighbors.
One of the important lessons from these earlier storms is how much better off citizens would have been if they had made preparations for such an event well before any had occurred, and not wait until storms like Harvey, Irma, and Maria struck, and quickly overwhelmed them.
The workshop will offer very practical steps we can all take as individuals, families and communities in making a plan that can then be acted upon promptly in a time of emergency, VEM’ will also provide all attendees with a booklet on emergency preparedness.

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A Meditative Vigil of Lovingkindness
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Monday, December 18th, 2017 at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301), part of the Brown Bag Event. 12pm-1pm. 
With 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 to host  silent vigils of lovingkindness for the peaceful, socially just society we are all seeking.
At a time when basic values are being assaulted and ignored, 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—selfless love, personal integrity, service to others, moral courage, and a basic commitment to the sacredness of life--that are the foundation of a wholesome society, and to speak up for the compassionate alternative that they represent. 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. There are chairs, but please bring a cushion, mat, or whatever you are comfortable with.


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Non Violent Direct Action Training Opportunity: Call for NVDA Training Participants
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions and 99th Monkee Affinity Group
Saturday, February 10th, 2017 at the Brattleboro Food Co-op (2 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) in the Community Room on the 2nd Floor. 9:30am-5pm.
TRAINERS: Cate Woolner & Carol Lewis
The workshop is free. Bagels, muffins, scones, croissants, fruit, coffee & tea will be available throughout the day. For lunch, bring your own, eat in the Co-op Café, or elsewhere in town.
Though not required, a donation of $5-$20 would be most appreciated as our way of thanking our volunteer trainers.
There are only 25 places and some have already been taken; it is advisable to register early.
For information and to register contact Tim 802.869.2141 or email him at [email protected]. 
Participating in this training does not mean you plan to risk arrest while involved in a non-violent direct action. It is important for all of us in the environmental, social justice, racial & gender equality, peace, and democracy movements to be well-versed in non-violence. In addition to risking arrest, we need to consider all the roles necessary to make our efforts successful, including being a support person, a legal, police or media liaison.
Workshop Goals Include:
•To understand and become inspired by the spirit and history of non-violent direct action
•To prepare for participation in non-violent action that may be necessary as time goes on
•To deepen connections and build stronger community among activists in the greater Brattleboro area
•To consider joining an existing affinity group, or creating a new one.
The workshop is free. Bagels, muffins, scones, croissants, fruit, coffee & tea will be available throughout the day. For lunch, bring your own, eat in the Co-op Café, or elsewhere in town.
Though not required, a donation of $5-$20 would be most appreciated as our way of thanking our volunteer trainers.
There are only 25 places, and some have already been taken. So it is advisable to register early.
For information and to register contact Tim 802.869.2141 or [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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Youth4Change Regular Meeting 
The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). First Floor. 
Youth4Change (Y4C), a program of The Root Social Justice Center, builds the leadership skills of youth ages 12-21, especially those from/in historically disenfranchised communities who want to use education, art, and action to address issues of racial, class, gender, queer, immigrant and indigenous justice.

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SKILLED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

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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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. 

Thank you, once more, for all that you do for your community, neighbors, and loved ones every day. It doesn't go unnoticed! 



Your Friendly WeCAN Admins,
Ann and Joanna