Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

"True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it comes to see that an edifice which produces the beggars needs restructuring."
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
“Beyond Vietnam”, 1967

     We hope you are staying warm during this snowstorm, WeCAN readers. Take a moment between shoveling sessions, if you can, to make a plan for Monday, January 21st: this year's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service. Make it a Day ON, Not a Day Off! There are many ways you can participate in the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. You can join a project already planned in your community; you can develop your own project with family, friends, and neighbors; or if you work for an organization that mobilizes volunteers, you can make King Day the day you train new volunteers to be deployed throughout the year. 
     You may be asking (or will be asked by others): What is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Why is it a "Day of Service?" 
Legislation signed in 1983 marked the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a federal holiday. In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort. Each year, on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is observed as a "day on, not a day off." MLK Day of Service is intended to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, create solutions to social problems, and move us closer to Dr. King's vision of a "Beloved Community."

HAPPENING TODAY, SUNDAY, JANUARY 20th, 2019

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Main Street Banner Rising 
Sunday, January 20th, 2019 on Main Street in Brattleboro, VT (the banner will be raised until January 27th, 2019). For more information please email [email protected] or call 802-454-3154.
Honor Martin Luther King Jr. and all who stand up for our vanishing civil right. You are invited to see the banner raised by the Brattleboro Fire Dept. 
The fire company hangs Main Street banners in Brattleboro on Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. or a little after. The Works will be open.
We believe deeply in "Civil Rights For All" so we hope you will gladly take this opportunity to go down and stand with the banner when it goes up. We hope to see you there. Bring a song to sing, words to speak, a sign to hold. The banner is homegrown, made in Vermont, and funded by small local donations. Thank you all for your support. WE CELEBRATE DEMOCRACY/CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL. To contact: ”WCD/CRFA",  POBox 6231, Brattleboro VT 05302 positive nonviolent public action for democracy and civil rights for all people.

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HAPPENING THIS WEEK, MONDAY, JANUARY 21st, 2019-SUNDAY, JANUARY 27th, 2019

Brattleboro Food Co-op Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Social Activism Event
Monday, January 21st, 2019 at the Brattleboro Food Co-op (2 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 10am-6pm. Tablers are welcome for all or part of the time. Please contact Ruth, the Shareholder Services Coordinator on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays* at the Brattleboro Food Co-op at 802-257-0236 x821 or at [email protected]
We are beginning to book our third annual MLK Day tabling event at the Co-op on Monday, January 21^st, and your organization may have attended last year. 
Would you/your organization be interested in coming in to table, and if so during what hours? 
It’s a wonderful way to get the word out about what you do to a segment of the Brattleboro community that is motivated to help out, and perhaps get some co-op shareholder volunteers if that’s something that would be useful.  (As you may know, co-op shareholders are able to use community service at organizations such as yours as their co-op work hours (which gets them an 8% discount) for up to 8hrs/4 months per year.)

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The "Bag of Basics" (BOB) Drive
hosted by St. Michael’s Episcopal Outreach
Monday, January 21st 2019 at St. Michael’s Episcopal Outreach (16 Bradley Ave, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 12:30pm-2:30pm.
Through January 21, the Outreach Team is collecting items for The BOB Drive, an effort to supplement our parish’s ongoing food offerings with a special drive for non-food items that are much needed, often not supplied by existing programs, and too-rarely donated.  These include cleaning supplies, toiletries, band-aids and food wraps.  A full list of suggested items is in the photos posted under this event listing, and you may bring them to church any day through the 21st.  Please bring your donations in a reusable bag, for which there is great need also.
As part of Day of Service honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., on January 21st, 2019, everyone is invited to come help sort the BOB Drive donations and prepare them for delivery to Loaves and Fishes, Groundworks, and other local nonprofits. We will meet from 12:30-2:30pm in the Undercroft, St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 16 Bradley Avenue, Brattleboro, Vermont.  
Other opportunities on January 21st include:
11:30am, meet at Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro to help unload and put away food deliveries for Loaves and Fishes, a program offering free community lunches every Tuesday and Friday.
1pm, meet at Ledgewood housing complex to paint the community room (please contact Jean Smith to let her know you are coming and find out exactly where to go; her information is in the January 10th bulletin, available on the church's website).

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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration and Spaghetti Dinner
(DUE TO WEATHER, THIS EVENT WAS POSTPONED FROM SUNDAY, JANUARY 20th, 2019) 
hosted by the Guilford Community Church and the United Church of Christ and sponsored by the Brattleboro Area Interfaith Leadership Association
Monday, January 21st, 2019 at the Centre Congregational Church (193 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301).
4pm-7pm. Admission is free, but a goodwill donation will be taken with proceeds shared between the Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity and the Root Social Justice Center. Spaghetti dinner is $10 for adults and $5 for children. For more information about this event please contact Guilford Community Church, U.C.C. at (802) 257-2776.
On Monday, January 21st at 4:00pm there will be a celebration in honor of the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Centre Congregational Church, UCC, 193 Main St. in Brattleboro. The service will include representatives of many faith traditions, Brattleboro Town Manager Peter Elwell, members of Youth4Change, and featured speaker Kiah Morris. Morris is the former Vermont state representative from Bennington who resigned her seat last summer after repeated threats. The program will also include brief remarks from Nader Hashim, the newly elected state representative from Windham District 4, vocal celebration from jazz and blues singer Samirah Evans (and her Youth Vocal Trio comprised of Veronica Stevens, Mariam Diallo and Annabelle Thies, accompanied by Franz Robert), songs from a community choir under the leadership of Peter Amidon, and the lighting of candles by everyone in attendance. Singers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to come to the church at 3:00pm to rehearse songs for the service. 
This event is sponsored by the Brattleboro Area Interfaith Leadership Association and is a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages, faiths, races and ethnicities to come together to remember the work of Dr. King, to celebrate all that unites us and to learn about local community organizations working against racism.
A spaghetti dinner prepared by interfaith youth will follow the celebration on the lower level of the church. It is a fundraiser for their service project and is $10 for adults and $5 for children. The Root Social Justice Center, Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity, VT Poor People’s Campaign, Youth for Change, NAACP, People of Color Caucus, Lost River Racial Justice Group and other local groups working for racial justice will all offer information and make short presentations on how people can be involved locally to work against racism.

AGENDA:
3pm
Youth4Change Community Choir
4pm
Samirah Evans, jazz and blues vocalist
Franz Robert, piano
Nader Hashim, State Representative-Windham 4
Kiah Morris, featured speaker
5pm
Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser 

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Climate Café : From the Heart of the World: The Elder Brothers’ Warning
a project of Post Oil Solutions
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 at Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 6pm-8pm. Free, light refreshments available. For more information please email [email protected]
One of the best films of 1992 is a warning by a South American Indian tribe that people must give up their self-destructive ways and honor the planet before it is too late.
After four centuries of seclusion, the Kogi, descendants of a pre-Colombian civilization, asked BBC filmmaker Alan Ereira to visit their homeland in the Sierra Nevada mountains of northern Colombia. From the Heart of the World: The Elder Brothers’ Warning delivers their prophetic message to the world.
Seeing themselves as guardians of life on earth, the Kogi have a spiritual understanding of the bond between humankind and the natural world. This bond, they insist, must be honored.
The Elder Brothers, as they call themselves, are convinced that we, the Younger Brothers, have wounded the earth through industrial exploitation, mining, and clearing of forests. They have seen signs of an ecological crisis in changing bird migrations and the lack of snow in the highest regions of the Sierra Nevada. The Kogis warn that unless we change our ways, the world will end: “If we act well, the world can go on.”
There have been many articulate calls for citizens of this planet to live in harmony with the natural world. But this video stands out as an especially cogent and moving plea for ecological wisdom.

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Yoga & Chocolate Supports Local Planned Parenthood
hosted by Brattleboro's Reproductive Health Advocates
Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout January; Happening this Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 and this Saturday, January 26th, 2019 at 118 Elliot Gallery (118 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301).
Tuesdays at 5pm-6:30pm; Saturdays at 10:15am-11:45pm. No Reservations are necessary for yoga.  There is a $15.00 suggested donation per class and all donations will directly support the New Brattleboro Planned Parenthood opening in mid January.
YOGA & CHOCOLATE will kick off on New Years Day and run every Tuesday and Saturday throughout January. Yoga Locally classes are held every Tuesday (5pm)  and Saturday (10:15am)  at 118 Elliot Street in Brattleboro. After each class in January, Yoga students will receive an artisan chocolate nugget from Tavenier  Chocolate, and a chance to win a variety of gifts from GOOD BODY PRODUCTS. 
In addition, on New Years Day, community members can meet at Duo's Lounge at 7pm for a special drink to support the new health clinic. 

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Re-learning the Land: A Story of Red Crow College
part of the Next Stage [FRAMED] film series
Thursday, January 24th, 2019 at Next State Arts (15 Kimball Hill, Putney, VT). 7pm. Tickets are $12 or by donation. For more information please call 802-387-0102
Join SIT Sustainable Development faculty Udi Mandel Butler and Kelly Teamey, with Rich Holschuh, a resident of Wantastegok (Brattleboro) with Mi’kmaq, Wendat, and European heritage, as they present their film "Re-learning the Land: A Story of Red Crow College." The film tells the story of the Blackfoot First Nations community in southern Alberta, Canada, and how they were retaking control of their education system within Red Crow Community College. It traces the decolonization of their learning and the development of an innovative program, Kainai Studies, within Red Crow College, the same site as a former Residential School.

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Protest Vigil at TD Bank
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, January 25th, 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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Brattleboro Winter Farmers Market
a project of Post Oil Solutions 
Saturday, January 26th, 2019 (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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Groundworks Collaborative Huge Benefit Show
Saturday, January 26th, 2019 at The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 6pm-9pm. There will be a suggested donation of $5-$10 but if you can't swing that, other provisions would be super helpful as well (i.e. food, blankets, winter clothing, toiletries, etc.). For more information please visit https://www.facebook.com/GroundworksCollaborative/ and https://groundworksvt.org/
Come one, come all! This is a benefit show for the Groundworks Collaborative (Brattleboro's homeless shelters). The shelters can often become crowded during these winter months and it would mean so much to so many people if we could contribute enough to make this Winter a little more comfortable for those in need. 

The Rules!:
1. This is a sober show.
2. Be respectful of the people and the space; cast aside any presumptions, prejudice, and fear before entering.
The Bands!:

Space Camp:
Their blastbeats, disarrayed and frantic vocals, and scramz keyboard will blast you into the dimension in which everyone is moshing like crazy
https://spacecampct.bandcamp.com/album/force-femmed
https://www.facebook.com/SpaceCampCT/

Carinae:
Beautiful psychedelic songs from Western Mass
https://carinaeband.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.facebook.com/thecarinae/?ref=br_rs

Yellowfront:
Local sparkling heart-rock with earnest and real content
https://yellowfront.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/yellowfrontband/

I Love You!:
Heavy and intricate queer-punk/post punk Brattleboro heroes

https://iloveyoubandvt.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/iloveyouband/

Perennial:
Spirited and fast, their crunchy songs will knock u outta your socks

https://www.facebook.com/perennialCT/
https://perennialtheband.bandcamp.com/?fbclid=IwAR1eMn2qlAb01AHx6ZQBPi6ToFu0RryLB3_YvfvGQ87w-F4Nwe2hpjp5I9E

Lahnah:
Avant-punk from Brattleboro with birds, cpu bells, guitars, lyrics, and cello
https://father-spatter.bandcamp.com/album/walking-with-asa
https://www.facebook.com/lahlahnahnah/

MORE BANDS TBA

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Looking Inward at White Power and Privilege Film Series: BlacKkKlansman
presented by All Souls Church’s Social and Environmental Action Committee (SEAC)
Sunday, January 27th, 2019 at All Souls Church (29 South St, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 12pm. Before the film, the church will provide a free light lunch of chili and corn bread at 11:30am. Like other films in this series, this work includes some challenging content that is not appropriate for children. Child care is available upon request. Anyone with questions or who wants childcare may call Karen Tyler at 413-824-8960.
Enough with documentaries! This month All Souls Church will screen a full-length, commercial feature film on Sunday, Jan. 27, as the next offering in its series “Looking Inward at White Power and Privilege.”
"BlacKkKlansman," the acclaimed 2018 film directed by Spike Lee and starring John David Washington and Adam Driver will be shown for free starting at noon and will be followed by a discussion.
"BlacKkKlansman"  portrays the true story of Ron Stallworth, a black police officer who, in the 1970s, successfully infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan.  

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Brattleboro Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up
hosted by 350 Vermont and KidsPLAYce
Monday, January 28th, 2019 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]
Join us in building solidarity among parents by taking action to protect the health and safety of our collective future. Mother Up!: Families Rise Up for Climate Action is a project of 350VT bringing together families to talk about the tough realities of climate change and to participate in the transition to a healthier and safer world. What Joanna Macy calls the “Great Turning,” or the third revolution, is this unprecedented time where we are called to stop the destruction of our world, to build new life-sustaining practices and ways of being, and to shift our collective consciousness. We especially wish to engage young parents in this vital discussion of how we can make positive changes to protect our planet for our children's future.
Join us on Facebook ~ www.facebook.com/groups/1575656819412318
And thank you to KidsPLAYce for continuing to give us a generous discount and hosting our monthly meet-ups!

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How are Racial Justice and Climate Justice Connected? Workshop
hosted by 350 Vermont and 350 Brattleboro
Sunday, February 3rd, 2019 at The Root Social Justice Center (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 1pm-5pm. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebxHWWRNvJ1HSCFbwVYbiCM9ds1u5YchsHpUxT7Tvw_0_pUA/viewform. Admission is by sliding scale, $0 to $40. Please bring cash or check to the workshop, or mail a check made out to "350Vermont" 179 S. Winooski Ave, Suite 201, Burlington, VT 05401 with "RJ CJ Brattleboro" in the memo note. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Questions? Contact [email protected]
What does racial justice have to do with climate justice? What do we mean by intersectionality? This interactive workshop explores the foundations of these justice movements and how and why they are inextricably bound. Participants will have the opportunity to consider and reflect on their own experiences, listen to the experiences of others, and learn new language and concepts to help support a deepening investigation of climate and racial justice. This is 350Vermont's introductory workshop that offers a series of starting points and questions, rather than a conclusive or summative approach to this content. It will be facilitated by Phoebe Gooding and Abigail Mnookin.

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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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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 service to your community this and every week, WeCAN friends. We look forward to seeing you at a gathering or event soon!  

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