Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

"Transgender people frequently face bias in court and are assigned unsupportive public defenders, factors which lead to more extreme sentences and longer incarcerations...Transgender people, especially transgender women of color, face pervasive discrimination throughout life, including by those sworn to protect us...I want to make sure that people understand that, behind this national conversation around transgender rights, there are real people who hurt when they're mocked, who hurt when they're discriminated against, and who just want to be treated with dignity and respect."
Sarah McBride (b.1990)
American transgender rights activist, currently the National Press Secretary of the Human Rights Campaign

     Happy Sunday WeCAN brothers and sisters! This week we’d like to shake off our Winter blues with a celebration of life and visibility. Today, March 31st, 2019, is Transgender Day of Visibility and we are here for it. 
     Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is a day to show your support for the trans community. In bringing attention to the accomplishments of trans people everywhere, this day-of-celebration aims to fight cis-sexism and transphobia by spreading understanding of trans people. Unlike Transgender Day of Remembrance, this is not a day for mourning: this is a day to be empowered and give the recognition trans folks deserve! Visibility is not always about being seen as an individual: it’s working together (transgendered and ally) to transform society.

History of International Transgender Visibility Day 
     TDOV was founded by US-based transgender activist Rachel Crandall of Michigan in 2009 as a reaction to the lack of LGBTQIA holidays celebrating transgender people. Rachel expressed her frustration that the only well-known transgender-centered holiday was the Transgender Day of Remembrance which mourned the murders of transgender people, but did not acknowledge and celebrate living members of the transgender community. The first International Transgender Day of Visibility was held on March 31, 2009. It has since been spearheaded by the U.S.-based youth advocacy organization Trans Student Educational Resources. The Trans Student Educational Resource has education videos that detail stories about trans people and how they experience life as well as infographics and informational articles written with transgendered youth in mind. This day encourages people to talk about the issues facing transgender people and why it’s important to talk about those issues. International Transgender Day of Visibility is about giving transgendered individuals the spotlight and educating others about what it means to be transgender. With these actions, participants hope to remove transphobia from the conversation and create an open dialogue. 

How You Can Celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility 

1. Go to Local Transgender Day of Visibility Events
    There are TDOV events all around the world! Attending one in your community not only shows your support but can inspire others to do the same! You can also join the Facebook event and use #TDOV, #DecolonizeGender, or #TransVisibility on social media if there isn't an event near you. In addition, you can take your cue from Vancouver, Canada and use their International Transgender Day of Visibility Guide to plan your own local event for next March. All you need to spark your creativity is located here. Take a look at a few ideas of positive messaging to place around your event from this excellent resource: 

2. Learn About Trans History
    Did you know that trans women of color were on the front lines of Stonewall? That a transgender man helped fund the New Age Movement? That a transgender woman exposed the U.S. government’s war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan? Our history is full of interesting facts and events. This research based e-book from the University of Massachusetts highlights individual stories from the extensive history of transgendered individuals in the United States starting in Jamestown in 1620 and does so with care and detail.*

3. Support Trans Led Organizations
     Less than 10% of grants going to LGBTQ organizations go to trans ones. Many trans organizations run on donations from people like you! The following are five trans organizations run by and for trans people that you can donate to:
1. El/La Para TransLatinas
2. Sylvia Rivera Law Project
3. Transgender, Gender Variant, and Intersex Justice Project
4. Trans Justice Funding Project
5. Trans Women of Color Collective

4. Don’t Out Your Trans Friends 
    It may be Transgender Day of Visibility but sometimes trans folks don’t want to be or aren’t safe being visible. Always ask first!

5. Know the Difference Between Gender Identity, Gender Expression, Sex Assigned at Birth, Sexuality, and Emotional Attraction
     Also know to ALWAYS refer to a trans person by their gender identity and not their sex assigned at birth. Gender is also much more complicated than the sex/gender/sexuality distinction. To help you better understand, please enjoy this graphic of the Gender Unicorn--they break down these differences as only a Gender Unicorn can.^ 

6. Recognize the Intersections of Trans Identity and Other Identities
     This includes race, sexuality, class, disability, citizenship, etc. Recognition does not just entail acknowledgment, it means action and centering trans women of color (for example).

7. Make Space Encompassing of All Trans Identities
     If you have access to “traditionally gendered spaces” (office restrooms, for instance), make sure it is not exclusionary of all trans and non-binary identities. Also recognize that we need to do more than just inviting people of all identities to these spaces, we need to ensure that these spaces are accessible to all folx as well.

8. Learn Trans Terminology

9. Tell People When They Say Something Transphobic or Cis-sexist

10. Celebrate Trans Lives
     Start a protest! Host a movie night! Organize a rally! Make the world a better place for transgender people. Read about these incredible young people making a difference in their communities and share their stories over social media or at your dinner table.+

Cited Resources:
*https://www.umass.edu/stonewall/sites/default/files/Infoforandabout/transpeople/genny_beemyn_transgender_history_in_the_united_states.pdf
+ https://www.hrc.org/blog/meet-10-emerging-young-transgender-advocates-who-are-working-to-change-the
^ http://www.transstudent.org/gender, http://transstudent.org/what-we-do/graphics
Additional Resources: https://www.hrc.org/resources/international-transgender-day-of-visibility

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HAPPENING TODAY, SUNDAY, MARCH 31st, 2019

Rights and Democracy (RAD) Organizing Event
Sunday, March 31st, 2019 at the Putney Friends Meeting Space (17 Bellows Falls Road, Putney, VT) from 6pm-8pm. RSVP TODAY. Save the Date & Share the Event! . This is a potluck meal, please bring a meal to share if you are able. 
Let’s keep the momentum going Windham County! With such great turnout at our Windham Together meeting in late February and at the Economy for All Town Hall with Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman earlier this month, it’s time to get together again and plan our next steps.
We'll start with a potluck meal, learn about updates on efforts to move toward a livable minimum wage and ensure everyone in Vermont has paid family and medical leave insurance, and hear directly from local legislators. You will also have the chance to connect with our new Vermont Organizing Director, Dan Fingas! We’ll host breakout sessions, and develop action steps, about some immediate ways we can ensure these measures pass, and what other issues matter to our communities and how we’ll work together on solutions. Please join us and invite your friends and neighbors.

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HAPPENING THIS WEEK, MONDAY, APRIL 1st, 2019-SUNDAY, APRIL 7th, 2019

Coffee with Coffey
Monday, April 1st, 2019 at the Guilford Country Store (475 Calvin Coolidge Memorial Highway, Guilford, VT). 5:30pm.
This spring, State Representative Sara Coffey will continue to host “Coffee with Coffey” hours. We have had great attendance and great discussions among neighbors. Please come at the time that works for you:
Mondays in Guilford: April 1st and May 6th at 5:30 at the Guilford Country Store
Saturdays in Vernon, April 6th and May 4th at 9:30 at the Vernon Free Library.
It’s been nice to have some Vernon folks join on Mondays in Guilford, and Guilford folks joining us on Saturdays at the Library in Vernon. If you can’t come feel free to be in touch via email: [email protected]

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Climate Change Café Presents: Climate Vision 2020
a project of Post Oil Solutions
Tuesday, April 2nd, 2019 at Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 6:30pm-8pm.  Free. Light Refreshments Available. For more information please email [email protected].
Returning to the Café after his well-received talk in 2017, Climate change specialist Dr Edward Cameron will present the key lessons from the 2018 IPCC 1.5C report and outline a vision for building a low-carbon, climate-resilient and inclusive economy in Vermont, throughout the United States and across the globe. He will look beyond the climate change challenge and explore how each of us can use this moment to build a just and sustainable world for all.
Edward Cameron is a Senior Advisor (Consultant) with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. He has worked with policy makers in the U.S, as well as internationally through the UN to be more ambitious on the climate.

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Protest Vigil at TD Bank
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, April 5th, 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 State Representatives: A Community Conversation
Saturday, April 6th, 2019 at Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 10am. Childcare available upon request via [email protected]. 
Please join your three Brattleboro State Representatives for a community conversation. This is the fourth in a series of monthly conversations scheduled for the first Saturday of the month.

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Guilford Community Food Initiative Brainstorm and Potluck
Sunday, April 7th, 2019 at Broad Brook Community Center (3940 Guilford Center Rd, Guilford, VT). 3:30pm-6pm. Childcare will be provided. Please bring a potluck dish (with labeled ingredients) if able.
In this forum, we will delve into discussion around the food needs of our community, and the capacity of our town to produce food to meet those needs. We can talk about ways we can support our local farmers, and how we can make local food more accessible within our community.
Localizing our food system and growing a resilient regional food economy has the potential to foster sustainability socially, economically and environmentally. Let’s pull our resources together & see what we can come up with.
Bring your ideas, bring your plans, but most of all, bring your enthusiasm for local food and food resiliency.
Can’t wait to see what will blossom from this initiative! (spread the word!)

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Mass Call for Climate Action in Montpelier
Tuesday, April 9th, 2019 at Christ Episcopal Church (64 State Street, Montpelier, VT, 05602). 1pm-3pm. Please RSVP using this link.
On April 9th, 350VT and a coalition of our allies including Migrant Justice and Sierra Club-VT Chapter will conclude our 5 day climate walk with a Mass Call for Climate Action in Montpelier. Join over 130 Next Steps walkers and our allies as we march to the State House to voice our shared demands for climate justice, migrant justice, indigenous rights, racial justice, economic justice and collective liberation:

• Keeping it in the Ground is Climate Justice - Now is the time for action. Specifically, we will demand that we keep fossil fuels in the ground: The Vermont legislature must act with urgency to pass H.51, S.66, or H.175, bills that would ban or limit the expansion of dirty fuel pipelines and infrastructure.
• Economic Justice is Climate Justice - Vermonters need heat, mobility, and meaningful work, and we must find ways to meet these needs with less, and eventually no dirty fossil fuels. We implore the legislature to dedicate more funding to weatherization for low-income Vermonters (H.439)
• Migrant Justice is Climate Justice - As more and more people are pushed to migrate because of the climate crisis, we urge legislators to strengthen policies that support and protect immigrants in our state, such as the Fair and Impartial Policing Policy.
• Racial Justice is Climate Justice - We invite the legislature to fulfill their commitment to dismantling systemic racism in Vermont by passing the constitutional amendment to completely prohibit slavery (PR.2), the bill that calls for a task force to study a State apology and a proposal for slavery reparations (H.478), and more (H.464/S.119, H.284, and H.465/S.145).
• Indigenous Rights are needed for Climate Justice - We recognize that we live in the original homeland of the Abenaki people and what is now called Vermont is one small portion of what the people term Ndakinna. We invite the legislature to pass the bill for Indigenous People's Day (H.119/S.68).
• Demilitarization is Climate Justice - Support a nuclear ban in Vermont! Citizens Against Nuclear Bombers in Vermont (CANB-VT) are pursuing a resolution in the Vermont House.

Action Details

• 12pm-1pm: Join Next Steps walkers at Christ Church, Montpelier.
• 1pm: Welcome & action preparation
• 1:15pm: March to State House
• 1:45pm: Sing-in at the State House
• 2:30pm: Closing Ceremony on State House lawn (weather permitting) or Christ Church

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Third Annual Diaper Dump
hosted by Parks Place Community Resource Center and WNESU Early Education
Friday, April 12th, 2019 at Dari Joy (140 Rockingham St, Bellows Falls, VT, 05101). 12pm-6pm. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Please sign up at the following link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050D48AAA92BA7FA7-third
Help us fill the truck with diapers! The Time for a Change Diaper Bank of the Greater Falls area is hosting their third annual diaper drive and we need your help! Stop by with diapers or wipes to donate and receive a coupon for a free cone from Dari Joy. 

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Common Ground for Climate Action
sponsored by Vermont Healthy Soils Coalition, Living Earth Action Group, and Edible Brattleboro
Sunday, April 14th, 2019, at Neighbors’ Hall at Solar Hill (229 Western Ave, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 2pm-5pm. Neighbors' Hall is at the back of the building on the top of the hill above the parking area. Suggested donation $10, no one turned away. All are welcome. Please bring snacks to share (if you like). Registration is not required but please do RSVP to let us know you're coming so we can be sure the space will accommodate us all well. RSVP by email to [email protected]. For more information Contact Cat Buxton 802-359-3330.
Join us in Brattleboro to advance the soil conversation and learn how to connect to actions for building the soil sponge and deepening resilience in your community. Soil is the glue that holds our landscape and our communities together. The soil carbon sponge is a critical component of adapting to our changing climate and mitigating the effects of flooding and drought. Join members of the Vermont Healthy Soils Coalition to hear about the overlooked superhero for climate correction: The ground beneath our feet!
Presenters include author, educator and organic consultant Grace Gershuny of Barnet, compost and soil health educator Cat Buxton of Sharon, and agroecologist and tree steward Tatiana Schreiber, Ph.D. of Westminster West.

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Climate Change Café presents
The House is on Fire: A Film and Community Conversation About Climate Crisis
a project of Post Oil Solutions
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2019 at Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05031). 6pm-8pm. Free. Light Refreshments Available. For more information please email [email protected].
We will begin with a screening of the excellent film, “The Wisdom to Survive,” and then move into a facilitated conversation about the climate crisis, and the growing potential for social collapse. Part I is an opportunity for people to share their thoughts and feelings about our shared situation. For interested parties, there is the possibility of starting an ongoing group to continue to read, share, explore, and, most of all, support each other as we come to accept and deal with this unfolding catastrophe.

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Camp for a Common Cause
Friday, May 17th, 2019-Saturday, May 18th, 2019 on the Brattleboro Common (intersection of Park Place, Route 5 and Route 30 in Brattleboro, VT, 05301). Pitch tents starting at 5pm Friday; we must vacate by 10am Saturday after a light breakfast. No alcohol and no fires please. Dogs are welcome, but must remain on a leash at all times. Contact Julianne with questions or to make a reservation: 802.490.2951, email [email protected], or go to GroundworksVT.org. 
Join us for this year’s overnight campout where we will raise awareness about homelessness in our community and raise funds to support Groundworks' efforts to house our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
The fun starts on Friday with live music and a community barbecue! Unable to camp overnight?  No problem! Join us for food and music! You can support Groundworks with a donation, and/or purchase a tent for a neighbor in need.
Fundraising: Teams and individuals are asked to fundraise a suggested minimum of $100 per person to support Groundworks.  PLEASE NOTE - all contributions are welcome and it costs nothing to camp.  We ask participants to try to raise some money on our behalf.  All contributions are tax deductible.
Register Online at https://groundworks.rallybound.org/Camp2018 and ask your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family for contributions to support your campout.

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JOB OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE 
(The entire text of the position is included in this listing because we realize many do not have access to the internet and this email is often printed out and viewed in paper form)

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 

Brattleboro State Representatives’ Updates and Community Conversation
First Saturday of the Month, alternating between 10am and 4pm (2.2.19 was at 10am). Location information to follow. Childcare available upon request by contacting [email protected].
As promised, all three of your Brattleboro State Representatives, Mollie Burke, Emilie Kornheiser, and Tristan Toleno, will gather in Brattleboro to host a community conversation and share updates from the first few weeks of the legislative session. Our series of monthly conversations— scheduled for the first Saturday of the month— will alternate between 10am and 4pm. 

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Women Veterans Weekly Coffee and Tea Social
Thursday Mornings at Brattleboro Legion Post 5 Inc. (32 Linden Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 9am-10am.
All female veterans are invited to join in the Women Veterans group coffee held at the American Legion.  All women veterans are welcome. You do not need to be a Legion member.

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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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Windham County NAACP Regular Meetings
Monthly community meetings are held on the third Thursday of every month at The Root Center for Social Justice (The Whetstone Studio for the Arts, 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) on the First Floor from 6pm-7pm. Upcoming Meetings: 3/21/19; 4/18/19; 5/16/19. For more information please email [email protected]. All are welcome.
The meetings are open to anyone interested in racial justice. The Mission of the NAACP is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.

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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, WeCAN friends, for your commitment to showing up for justice again and again. If you'd like to add anything to our Transgendered Day of Visibility information or resources, please don't hesitate to email us at [email protected]. Until next time...

Joanna and Leslie 

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