Weekly Update 12.17.18
"Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart."
Anne Frank
We hope you are enjoying your December, WeCAN friends. We have a few new events this week, so please take a moment and scroll through to the bottom of this Update.
In addition, WECAN reader Sheila Garrett would like to share with us her suggestions for a few cookbooks to get you in the spirit of activism:
Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi- Awesome recipes and dialogue about the food of all cultures in this troubled, amazing city. Ottolenghi runs a high end restaurant in London and has written several other cookbooks. Two are vegetarian - Plenty and Plenty More.
Happy Cooking!
HAPPENING TODAY, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16th, 2018
Fair and Impartial Policing Discussion
hosted by Nadir Hashim for State Representative and The Putney Huddle
Sunday, December 16th, 2108 at the Putney Public Library (55 Main Street, Putney, VT, 05346). 5pm-7pm.
The Putney Huddle is excited to cosponsor a discussion on race relations and fair and impartial policing in Vermont with Representative Mike Mrowicki and Representative-elect Nader Hashim. Join us, along with guest speakers, Steffen Gillom, president of the Windham County NAACP and Lieutenant Scott, chair of the Fair & Impartial Policing committee, Dec 16, 5pm, at the Putney Public Library, for what is sure to be an interesting and informative evening.
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HAPPENING THIS WEEK MONDAY, DECEMBER 17th, 2018-SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23rd, 2018
Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up
Monday December 17th, 2018 at KidsPLAYce (20 Elliot Street, 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. Cara Meinke will be joining us to talk about her work as a wildlife biologist in general and research on bats in particular. We'll also explore how to parent, slow down, consume more joy / less stuff, and connect to the natural world during the whirlwind of the winter holidays.
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Protest Vigil at TD Bank
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, December 21st, 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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Solstice Ride: A Critical Mass Bicycle Ride
Friday, December 21st, 2018 on the Brattleboro Common (Park Place, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:30pm-6:30pm. NOTE: This event is weather-dependent.
Join another fun and empowering community ride in celebration of the winter solstice! 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: This time, 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.
5:45pm: Begin Critical Mass ride. This will be a high-visibility downtown route!
6:00pm: End ride back at the Brattleboro Common. Celebrate with hot apple cider and solidarity in community.
The Critical Mass bike ride that occurred on Saturday, September 8th, 2018 as part of the Global Rise for Climate was the largest activist ride ever in the area & a sign of the emergence of a bike mobility revolution in our region. A second critical mass ride took place on Saturday, October 20th, 2018.
Help us spread the word to help make this another successful critical mass ride!!
Image credit: Hugh D'Andrade
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Brattleboro Winter Farmers Market
a project of Post Oil Solutions
Saturday, December 22nd, 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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Get the Word Out!: Non-Profit Showcase
hosted by Strolling of the Heifers and the Robert H. Gibson River Garden
Friday, January 4th, 2018 at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5:30pm-8:30pm. Contact Vicki Friedman for more information: [email protected] or call 802-246-0982.
Get the Word Out about your non-profit organization during January Gallery Walk! Organizations can distribute information, sign up volunteers, attract donors, and get event participants at Strolling of the Heifers' annual celebration of local non-profits. Sign up today! Space is limited. REGISTER HERE:https://www.strollingoftheheifers.com/get-word-registration-2019/.
Exhibitor Fee: $35.00.
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FURTHER READING AND ENGAGEMENT
Americans of Conscience Checklist: Week of December 9, 2018
Ever wonder if all those calls, postcards, and donations make a difference? They do. Here's proof:
Last week, one of our Acts of Gratitude was sending a note to Dr. Christopher P. Lehman. He sent me this message, "Thank you for including me in your list of Americans of Conscience. I appreciate it very much. It was a true labor of love to lead the drive to have my workplace building at St. Cloud State University named after the first African American graduate (Ruby Cora Webster)." We thanked him in droves, he thanked us in return.
Likewise, we recommended making donations of books in our Spread the Light Holiday Checklist. In return, I received a note from Katie Vhay from Prison Book Project: "85 books have been donated from the wish list this week, and hundreds of dollars were donated!! Thank you!"
Sometimes working for justice and equality can be lonely. Your choice to reach out lifted up good people doing good work. Take a moment to let that in. Speaking up reminds people they're not alone. Encouraging others inspires them to keep going. And occasionally it changes policy too. (Personally, I keep thinking about 85 books getting into prisons and get all misty.) So, this is a friendly reminder about the value of your voice: it makes a difference.
This week: We have two time-sensitive actions in this week's Checklist, so be sure to open it today and speak up for your neighbors being denied their rights.
Let's keep speaking up together and light the way toward a kinder future.
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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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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 107.7FMTo 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.
Your {{broadcaster.name}},
Joanna and Leslie
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