Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

“Love. That’s why I did it. Love as an action is more powerful than words, and love in the face of evil gives others hope. It demonstrates humanity. It reaffirms why we’re all here. The meaning of life is to give meaning to life, and love is the ultimate force that connects all living beings. I could care less what Robert Bowers thinks, but you, the person reading this, love is the only message I wish instill in you. If my actions mean anything, love means everything.”
Ari Mahler, R.N.
Ari Mahler is the Trauma Nurse in the ER who treated the individual that took 11 lives at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA. This quote is taken from a public Facebook post titled: I Am The Jewish Nurse

     Election Day is almost here, Vermonters, and we here at WeCAN are excited to get to the polls and make our voices heard and we hope you are, too. In preparation we've put together a collection of websites that can help you find your polling place, help you get to know those running on your ballot, and help you ROCK YOUR VOTE like our country depends on it (because it does!). 

-Use Ballotpedia (Ballotpedia.org/) or our State of VT website (https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/candidates.aspx) to get an idea of exactly who is running at our state and local level this midterm. VtDigger and Vermont Public Radio also have in-depth candidate interviews available on their websites. 
-You can find your polling place here: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/voters.aspx
-Were you unfairly unable to vote? Did you witness an illegal act at the polls? Are you disabled but weren't afforded the ability to vote? Report your situation to 866 Our Vote's Election Protection Hotline: (866) 687-8683 (in English) or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (en Español), The U.S. Department of Justice Voting Rights Hotline: (800) 253-3931 (TTY line (877) 267-8971), and/or to Disability Rights Vermont (800) 834-7890. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) will also be answering your calls on Election Day: ACLU staff will take calls at (804) 644-8080 from 6am to 8pm on Tuesday, November 6th, 2018. 
- Check your voter status on the State of VT's website: https://mvp.sec.state.vt.us. If you are not registered yet you can register UP TO AND ON ELECTION DAY in our Brave Little State. Those convicted of felonies and those currently incarcerated or on probation can vote, too....so there's no excuse! GO VOTE! 
- Use this site: https://vtelectionresults.sec.state.vt.us/Index.html#/state to get official election results from around the state on Tuesday night. 

     One final thought, friends: don't go to the polls alone. Make a plan to take a loved one, family member, friend, or colleague with you--and, if you're comfortable, ask around through social media to see if anyone in your community could use a lift to your polling place. The effort we put in on Tuesday could be the deciding factor in the climate of our town, state, and nation for the next two years. Let's do everything we possibly can to create a climate of love, inclusion, tolerance, and justice. Happy Voting! 

HAPPENING TODAY, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4th, 2018

Say No to Hate: Faith Communities Stand Together
Sunday, November 4th, 2018 in front of the Congregational Church on Main Street (193 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 1:30 pm.
Please join the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community and the Brattleboro Area Interfaith Leadership Association to commemorate those fallen at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, and to stand against antisemitism and hatred. Bring a sign that is specifically related to standing against antisemitism and against all hatred and bigotry. We will sing a little, pray a little, have some silence and some thoughts from faith leaders. This is your chance to let the Jewish people of our region know you stand with them, and for all of us to be visible in our rejection of the hatred that is so visible in our country today.

______

Get Out The Vote: Honk and Wave
Sunday, November 4th, 2018 in Putney, VT. 
Meet at the Putney Library (55 Main Street, Putney, VT) at 1:30pm for sign making.
Then, gather at the corner of Main Street and Kimball Hill at 2pm for the Honk and Wave. 
Join us at the library at 1:30pm make signs and then head to the corner of Main Street and Kimball Hill at 2:00pm to remind people to vote with a good old fashioned honk and wave. Candidate signs are welcome.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1865708200203916/

______

Save Our Nation Concert, Supper, and Vacation Action
Sunday, November 4th, 2018 at Next Stage Arts (15 Kimball Hill, Putney, VT 05346). 4pm. $15-$50, sliding scale. More info at SaveOurNationVacation.org. 
Bring your excitement (and anxiety) about the midterms to the Save Our Nation concert/supper/vacation auction, 4:00 in Sunday the 4th at Next Stage Arts in Putney. All proceeds to Sister District Project that has been working (and will continue to work) to flip very strategic races to BLUE across the country.

______

HAPPENING THIS WEEK, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5th, 2018-SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11th, 2018

Get Out The Vote - Meet and Greet with Christine & Becca Balint
Hosted by Christine Hallquist
Monday, November 5th, 2018 at Moon Dog Cafe (on the Square in Bellows Falls, VT). 1pm-2pm. 
Join Democratic Nominee for Governor and Senator Becca Balint for a Get Out the Vote themed meet and greet, to get Windham County excited and ready to vote for Christine, Becca, and the other Local Candidates on November 6th!

______

Protest Vigil at TD Bank
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, November 9th 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.

______

The Bi-Weekly Solidarity Vigil
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, November 9th, 2018 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.

______

Conversation with Rep. Carolyn Partridge, Chairperson of the Vermont House Agriculture Committee
Friday, November 9th, 2018 at the Congregational Church of Westminster West (44 Church Street, Westminster West, VT). 4:30pm-6pm. There will be snacks, especially if you bring some to share! For more info, contact [email protected] 802-387-5779  Note: This is a change from our usual meeting time of 5-6:30pm. Living Earth Action Group meets weekly and welcomes new members. To receive our weekly newsletter, contact [email protected].
Carolyn Partridge is a farmer, a Vermont legislator (Windham-3), and the chair of the Agriculture Committee of the Vermont House. Living Earth Action Group is interested in hearing what bills have the attention of the Ag Committee for the 2019 session, particularly the Regenerative Agriculture Bill that passed the House (but not the Senate) last session. If you are interested in improving agriculture in Vermont, please join us.

______

Fourth Annual Out in the Open Summit for Rural & Small Town LGBTQ Folks
Friday, November 9th, 2018-Sunday, November 11th, 2018 at Hilltop Montessori School (99 Stafford Farm Hill, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). Housing, childcare, and free/reduced registrations all available. The full draft agenda and registration are available at greenmountaincrossroads.org.
Full- and half-day optional Friday Field Trips include: prisons & repression in the LGBTQ community; nose-to-tail pig butchery; volunteering at The Root Social Justice Center; volunteering at Milkweed Farm; and oral history with Country Queers founder Rachel Garringer (currently accepting a waitlist).
Saturday and Sunday sessions include: emergent strategy, crafting a rural LGBTQ manifesto, food justice, bees have three genders, art for demonstrations, and more!

______

Brattleboro Winter Farmers Market
a project of Post Oil Solutions 
Saturday, November 10th, 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.

______

Edible Brattleboro at the Brattleboro Winter Farmer’s Market
Saturday, November 10th, 2018 at the Brattleboro Winter Farmer’s Market (80 Flat Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 10am-2pm.
Visit Edible Brattleboro’s table at the Winter Market for a free taste of one of the recipes from our upcoming cooking class (see listing below).

______

UPCOMING EVENTS

Edible Brattleboro’s Celebrate Winter Squash Cooking Class
Monday, November 12th, 2018 at the Brattleboro Food Co-op (2 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) in the Community Kitchen (Please use the 7 Canal Street Entrance). 6pm-8pm.
’Tis the season for winter squash. Join Edible Brattleboro chefs for a hands on cooking class celebrating winter squash in three plant-based recipes perfect for holiday gatherings. Recipes include soup, salad and dessert. https://www.facebook.com/EdibleB

______

Men, Patriarchy, and Capitalism
hosted by Brattleboro Solidarity
Thursday, November 15th, 2018 from 5:30pm-7pm.
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?

______

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.

______

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/.

______

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.  

______

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! 

______

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. 

______

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.

______

Have a fantastic week, WeCanners! We'll see you at the polls....