Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

Here's to you, here's to us! We'd like to acknowledge a small milestone for our Weekly Email Update: last week's email collection was our 75th consecutive weekly email. A big shoutout and thank you to all the groups and entities that continue to submit events and listings, to all the subscribers-turned-event-goers who open and read our little email each week (we see you and we adore you!), and to all the tireless volunteers that fight for justice each and every day. Though we look forward to a time when this email is not needed, we are grateful for the opportunity to help bring citizens of Windham County and Vermont together. Thank you. 

HAPPENING TODAY SUNDAY, APRIL 29th, 2018

Cool the Planet: Food, Water, Soil, Climate, Hope
Sunday, April 29th, 2018 at Main Street Arts (37 Main St, Saxtons River, VT 05154).  4pm-6pm. 
Annual Meeting of the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association with Living Earth Action Group, present Cat Buxton and Henry Swayze, founders of the Vermont Healthy Soils Coalition. What can we as individuals and as planetary citizens DO to cool the planet now? Learn about surprising new information about the ways water cycles and soil affect our climate, and how to change it for the better, no matter where you live. 

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HAPPENING THIS WEEK MONDAY, APRIL 30th, 2018-SUNDAY, MAY 6th, 2018

Workers Rights Day
Tuesday May 1st, 2018 at the Vermont Statehouse (115 State St, Montpelier, VT 05633). 10am-4pm.
This is it folks--the final mobilization! Haven't yet showed up for the economic justice issues in our communities? Come build the collective power of Vermonters by packing the VT Statehouse with our lifted up, unified, voice!
We all know it's far past the time to raise the wage to $15 AND create a paid family and medical leave program here in Vermont. So, what can YOU do to make it happen? Join the Vermont Raise the Wage Coalition for a May Day celebration of economic justice, worker's rights, and holding our governor accountable to the people of Vermont on May 1st! 
Come pack the Statehouse with working Vermonters who want to end poverty wages, improve family life, and see their interests represented by their elected officials. Expect a full day of lobbying, a press conference, and workshops on a variety of topics concerning the state budget and human rights. Follow this page for the forthcoming agenda.
Can't make it to the whole thing? Join for what you can. There will be a May Day rally immediately following afternoon workshops hosted by the Human Rights Council of Vermont on the Lawn.
AGENDA!
10am: Registration and Refreshments at Vermont Pavilion
10:30am: Citizen Lobbying 101 Training and S.40 Q+A Session with RAD staff
11:15am Begin transition into Statehouse
11:30am: Petition Drop in Governor’s Ceremonial Office
12pm: Lobby Lunch - Cafeteria Meetings
1pm: Press Conference (1:15 maybe)
2pm: Workers' Rights are Human Rights: Panels and Discussion
3:45pm: Closing Remarks
4:30pm: Human Rights Council Rally on Statehouse Lawn 

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May Day Rally
Tuesday May 1st, 2018 on the Vermont Statehouse Lawn (115 State St, Montpelier, VT 05633). 4:30pm-6pm.
Join us for an afternoon of music, poetry, street theater and art as we rally to advance pressing issues for human rights and to celebrate working class power and unity. More details to follow.
Also, earlier in the day, the Vermont Raise the Wage coalition will be bringing Vermonters into the Statehouse to lobby for economic justice this session!
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Ven a una manifestación en frente del capitolio en Montpelier. Habrá música, poesía, teatro, arte y discursos avanzando los derechos humanos y celebrando el poder y la unión de la clase obrera! Pronto se publicará más detalles.
Además, la coalición de Subir el sueldo Vermont estará en el capitolio durante el día hablando con los oficiales elegidos sobre la justicia económica!

Register for Raise the Wage "Workers Rights Day" / Registrarse al día de Subir el sueldo: https://goo.gl/forms/DyHNAisFwPueq4yb2
Raise the Wage facebook event / Evento de facebook de subir el sueldo: https://www.facebook.com/events/345488639276846/
Evento sponsored by VT Human Rights Council // Evento patrocinado por el Consejo de derechos humanos de Vermont:
Vermont Workers' Center, 350 Vermont, Migrant Justice / Justicia Migrante, Vermont Center for Independent Living, UE Local 203, United Academics UVM, Green Mountain Self-Advocates, Vermont Interfaith Action, Justice For All, Peace & Justice Center, Rural Vermont, Rights & Democracy VT, Pride Center of Vermont, Green Mountain Labor Council, Burlington DSA

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May Day! Voices of Working People
hosted by Brattleboro Solidarity
Tuesday, May 1st, 2018 at Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 6pm-8pm. Soup and bread will be served. For more information please contact [email protected].
Brattleboro Solidarity is hosting a reading of  Howard Zinn's Voices of a People's History.  Brattleboro community members will represent historical figures with a focus on labor struggles in Vermont and beyond. After the dramatic readings, audience members are encouraged to share their stories.The facilitators will lead a discussion connecting everyone's experiences to Dr. King's Poor People's Campaign, the teacher's strikes in Oklahoma and West Virginia, gun violence, and other struggles. This event will be part of a string of events that will lead up to Diversity Day at Brattleboro Union High School.  Diversity Day is an eleven year old event at Brattleboro Union High School that allows teachers and students to engage in meaningful learning around topics related to curricula and becoming lifelong learners. Topics have included food security, biodiversity and diversity, Malian cooking, Media & diversity, the power of perspective, and the road to marriage equality.

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Brattleboro Democracy Forum
Wednesday, May 2nd 2018 at The Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT,  05301). 12pm-1pm. Part of the Brown Bag Lunch Series.
Nick Biddle, of Artrageous1 on Elliot Street in Brattleboro, VT, will be presenting on Weds. May 2 from 12pm-1pm.
Americas Bargain With The Devil. The Founding Fathers (George Washington et al) spent more than three months creating the Constitution. Throughout their deliberations, the Founders embraced the principle of privileging money with political rights while recognizing that doing so risked enabling the wealthy to flip the republic into an oligarchy. This talk will highlight the Founders’ prescient insights and fears […]
Please make a date to Speak up for Democracy: May: 16th;  June: 13 & 27;  July: 11 & 25;  August 8 & 22,  September: 12 & 26;  October: 10 & 24:  November: 14 & 28;  December: 12 & 26 are available. Contact Woody Bernhard: [email protected] -  802 464 3154,  or [email protected]. - 802 246 0982 to arrange to make a presentation at the Democracy Forum.
When you present at the "Democracy Forum" you are making a public statement that you care about democracy and civil rights for all people. Democracy can't stand up for itself so, we the people (all of us!) have to stand up for democracy.  Thank you for presenting. In order to stand up to the bullies in our society we say at all our events: All who attend this event agree to behave nonviolently in word and in deed.
2017 Democracy Forum Presenters:
06/05/17-  Nick Biddle: Democracy's Fatal Flaw. 07/19/17-  Dan DeWalt: Restorative Justice in the Age of Trump.  07/26/17-  Woody Bernhard: All About The We Celebrate Democracy/Civil Rights For All Banner.  08/02/17-  Bill Pearson: Government For The Wealthy. 08/23/17-  Woody Bernhard: Redefining Democracy . 08/30/17-  Nick Biddle: Democracy Round Table. 10/04/17-  Tim Kipp & Nick Biddle: The New Jim Crow. 10/11/17-  Wendy Weber: The Heart of Change is We the People. 10/18/17-  Woody Bernhard: Positive Nonviolent Public Action.   11/15/17&11/22/17-  Kurt Daimes: The State of Democracy in Brattleboro. 11/29/17-  CJC Mel Motel & Jackie Trepanier the COSA program. 12/06/17 & !2/13/17 & 12/20/17- Woody, Margaret, Susan: Songs for the peaceful revolution. If Democracy could talk, Democracy would say "Thank You". Organized by WE CELEBRATE DEMOCRACY/CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL.

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Protest Vigil at TD Bank
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, May 4th, 2018 (and every Friday) in front of TD Bank Brattleboro (215 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 12pm-1pm. Signs will be provided
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 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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FREE WORKSHOPS 
presented by The Make! Radical Arts Intensive in Coordination with VT Poor Peoples’ Campaign 
Friday, May 4th, 2018-Sunday, May 7th, 2018 at Goddard College (123 Pitkin Rd, Plainfield, VT 05667). 1pm-6pm daily. Childcare provided.
Saturday, May 5th, 2018- Party at 7pm.
Join us for a weekend of Banner Painting, Printmaking, Giant Puppets, Stenciling, Music, and more! For more information or to volunteer please contact [email protected] or visit www.poorpeoplescampaignvt.org/arts-and-action. Check out our Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/123themake and our Instagram page here: www.instagram.com/123themake.

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Raised Voices Opening Reception
Friday, May 4th, 2018 at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5pm-8pm. 
38 local artists express their outrage, hope, and vision in the face of the current political climate.  Show opens May 4 and runs through May 26. All sales benefit American Civil Liberties Union of VT, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, and the Vermont Workers’ Center. Sponsored by Local Artists Resist.

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2018 Unsung Hero Award
Friday, May 4th, 2018 at the Centre Church (193 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301) in the Parlor. 6:15pm. For more information and questions, please contact [email protected].
Come and celebrate the Brattleboro Area Dentists Helping Families in Need as they accept the 2018 Unsung Hero Award. These Dentists and staff go above and beyond to help those in our community without adequate dental coverage to access necessary care. This annual secular award is given to an individual or group demonstrating selfless and valuable service to Brattleboro area residents not otherwise acknowledged or celebrated. This award is being presented by the Brattleboro Area Interfaith Initiative with space kindly donated by Centre Church. 

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Green Up Day Vermont
Saturday, May 5th, 2018, throughout Vermont.
Click HERE to find your nearest Green Up home base location and Green Up Day organizer contact information for 2018. 
What is Green Up Day? Green Up Day, always the first Saturday in May, was launched in 1970 by Governor Deane Davis. In 1979, the non-profit organization Green Up Vermont was formed to carry on the tradition of Green Up Day. It is an annual statewide event, when over 22,000 volunteers come together to remove litter from Vermont’s roadsides and public spaces.      
In addition to Green Up Day, we have two free downloadable educational booklets designed for grades K-2. To download them, visit the Contests page. Our poster design and writing contests, for grades K-12, also engage children in a hands-on way about the importance of litter-free living. Congratulations to this year’s overall poster design winner, Uma Chirkova, Grade 8, of Newbury. Congratulations to this year’s Writing Contest winner, Eden Morris, Grade 8, of Northfield. You can read and view all the 2018 winning contest entries on our 2018 Winners page.
How is Green Up Day organized? Green Up Day happens all over the state and wouldn’t happen without the dedicated help of our coordinators. Each town has a coordinator that volunteers can contact to get their Green Up bags. To find your town’s coordinator, go to the Get Involved page.
Green Up Day App! Volunteers for Code for BTV, who donate their time to create apps for nonprofit organizations, chose Green Up Day as one of their volunteer app projects this year. The app focuses primarily on bringing people together, such as small groups of friends or business employees who can coordinate their group clean ups. It also enables users to pin where they are dropping their full Green Up bags, and to see where bags have already been dropped, potentially creating less overlap on areas that have already been cleaned. Learn more about it here: GreenUp Flyer  For download instructions for both the Android or IPhone version click here: Green Up Vermont for Mobile devices  or visit the Code for BTV website. 
Support Us! Individuals can support us by Clicking Here to Donate Online. Consider including Green Up Vermont in your planned and legacy giving. Green Up Vermont works directly with the Vermont Community Foundation on this, so please contact them if you are interested. Did you know that you can give to Green Up Vermont on your Vermont State Income Tax Return on Line 29?  Click here for more information!
Green Up’s mission is to promote the stewardship of our state’s natural landscape and waterways and the livability of our communities by involving people in Green Up Day and raising public awareness about the benefits of a litter-free environment.

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Lean Left Vermont Canvassing Training
Saturday, May 5th, 2018 in Hanover, NH. 10:30am-1pm. Space is limited so registration is required. https://goo.gl/forms/MgfsNme77xUCfesD2. For those interested in carpooling, we will meet at the Montpelier Park and Ride at 9:00am.  Feel free to bring drinks and food.  
Lean Left VT is excited to partner with Let America Vote to offer canvassing training! Personal conversations have special political potency whether it’s for a candidate or for an issue. And, by far, they are the most effective way to turn out voters. In June, there will be opportunities to canvass in New Hampshire, one of LAV’s 2018 target states. 
Participants will leave with:
• An understanding of Let America Vote's mission and methods
• Confidence that you will be able to canvass after role playing, discussion and Q&A
• Best practices for effective canvassing
• A framework for next action steps and contacts to get involved
New Hampshire is a Republican trifecta state.  In 2016, in addition to retaining control of the State House and Senate, the Republicans won the governorship to complete the trifecta. Once the Republicans seized control they wasted no time in enacting conservative policies including voter suppression measures targeted at Democratic constituencies. In 2016, the presidential, house and senate races went to Democrats by narrow margins of a few hundred to a few thousand votes.  New repressive voter laws could tip this balance in the other direction.  
More about LAV: LAV is a national organization that is committed to fighting efforts to make it harder for citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote.  They fight against extreme identification requirements, questionable purges of voter rolls, voter intimidation, new and extreme voter registration processes, or anything that makes voting harder. 
About Us Lean Left is a group of local activists who came together after the 2016 election through a shared desire to undo the Republican hold on our country.  We formed Lean Left to leverage the talents and resources of our Vermont community to help elect Democratic and Progressive candidates elsewhere in the United States.  We work to flip seats from red to blue, or keep them blue, at the state and federal levels.
Why the U.S. House and Senate Matter Well, you know why those seats matter! #RedtoBlue!
Why States Matter Today’s political crisis is a direct result of decades of Republican efforts to gain control of state legislatures.  Their strategy worked: by controlling state legislatures, Republicans have advanced regressive policies to gut the minimum wage, limit women’s right to choose, and block Medicaid expansion. They have also gerrymandered state and congressional districts and enacted voter suppression tactics.  As a result, they have been able to control congressional delegations, even in states where Democrats are a  majority.  The key to reversing the erosion of voting rights, civil rights, and women’s rights, and restoring progressive policies to the national agenda, is regaining Democratic control of state legislatures.  
What We Do Lean Left supports campaigns in other parts of the country in various ways.  In 2017, we raised over $4500, wrote over 3000 postcards, sent tens of thousands of texts and placed several thousand phone calls for candidates in Virginia, Alabama, Georgia and Montana.  We even knocked on 700+ doors! 
Our Impact (so far!) In November of 2017, a blue wave swept through Virginia as Democrats won all three state executive elections, including the governorship, and leveled the playing field in the House of Delegates by picking up 15 seats. The wave, fueled by grassroots organizations like Lean Left, included numerous women and minority candidates, including first-time candidates with strong progressive agendas.  The House of Delegate wins included our Sister District candidates, John Bell and Jennifer Carroll Foy. In December, Democrat Doug Jones pulled out an exciting win for a Senate seat in Alabama, a seat that had previously been considered solidly red. Lean Left members actively supported his campaign. The Doug Jones win makes clear that any Congressional seat with a red-leaning tendency will be ripe for turning blue in 2018. Earlier in the year, we supported two special-election Congressional candidates, Rob Quist (MT) and Jon Ossoff(GA).  Both lost by a few percentage points, but their strong candidacies and grassroots support (such as ours) forced Republicans to spend mightily to defend ‘safe’ Republican seats.  How We Work To accomplish all of this, we have formed strong partnerships with local Vermont activist groups and individuals who want an easy way to plug into out-of-state campaigns. Our group has grown from 7 to more than 120 members, all of whom are reaching out to their own communities and encouraging involvement in Lean Left activities. Lean Left is also affiliated with several national groups—such as Sister District Project (SDP)—whose work aligns with our goals and who offer us different and exciting ways to get involved.
What’s Ahead in 2018: Lean Left’s Strategy
Jan, Feb, Mar
Special Elections

• SDP-endorsed Margaret Good (FL 72); election Feb. 13; more info at https://www.sisterdistrict.com/margaret-good-florida-72/ 
• Other special elections (eg: PA Congressional special election on Mar. 13) 

• Training: phonebanking, textbanking, postcarding, canvassing 
• Identifying races to support

April, May, June (non-candidate-specific since many primaries won’t be held until later)

• Deep canvassing and voter registration in targeted states
• Building partnerships in districts we believe we will support
• Continued emphasis on training 

July, Aug, Sept

• All hands on deck working for the candidates we’ve picked—remotely AND on the ground in the district
  

How to get involved? Whether you are an individual looking for a way to get involved or a member of a local activist group, we welcome anyone who wants to work with us. Lean Left will do the research on the candidates, set up actions to support, and help you get the tools you need to help flip our country #RedtoBlue! Join us on Facebook at Lean Left Central Vt. Or email us at [email protected] to receive regular updates and information about our activities.

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Awakening Our Gardens: Garden Bed Prepping and Planting
sponsored by Edible Brattleboro
Sunday, May 6th, 2018 at Turning Point (the Corner of Frost Street and Elm Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 
Between the hours of 9am-4pm. There is no need to sign up, but you can let us know you're coming by dropping us an email at [email protected]. Co-op shareholders and Brattleboro Time Traders can log hours.
Edible Brattleboro has set two dates for "Awakening Our Gardens" and prepping the beds for planting: 4/21 and 5/6. If you can spare a little time between the hours of 9am-4pm, on either of the dates we welcome your support.
If you have any garden tools that you can loan (or donate), please bring them. Please clearly label any tools you loan us with your name and phone number and/or email address. Here are some items we could use: wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes or other garden tools. If you cannot stay either of the days, you may drop off and pick up your tools at a specified location.
Tasks at each garden include:
- Clean up and pile up debris/trash for hauling.
- Renew compost and soil layers on the beds
- Lay down more wood chips on the coop paths
- Set up pea fencing and plant peas
- Plant other suitable early seeds
- Create and fill several container gardens
- Put up new signs (if they are back from the printer)
- Hand out brochures and ask for new volunteers to sign up
So get your garden gloves and shoes ready and let's get digging!

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The Putney Huddle
Sunday, May, 6th, 2018 at the Putney Public Library (55 Main St, Putney, VT 05346). 1:30pm-3:30pm.
Early Bird Local Love Brigade Action at 1:15pm. All are welcome! You can find out more about this event here.  
We will welcome Commons Editor, Jeff Potter and Rep. Valerie Stuart to speak with us about their work. Followed by a Sister District campaign action. 
There are Mueller Firing Rapid Response Events now scheduled to take place in both Putney and Brattleboro. If Trump fires special counsel Robert Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversees Mueller, or attempts to compromise the investigation by other means we will be called to action. 
Our response in the hours following a potential power grab will dictate what happens next—whether Congress will stand up to Trump or allow him to move our democracy toward authoritarianism.You can sign up for either Brattleboro, Putney or other participating communities through THIS LINK. 
In Putney if the event is triggered BEFORE 2 p.m. local time —> events will begin @ 5 p.m. local time If Mueller is fired AFTER 2 p.m. local time —> events will begin @ noon local time the following day. We will meet in front of the Tavern Green and spread out on the sidewalk down Main Street. Please use Kimball Hill Street parking and parking down Main Street near the library. PLEASE be respectful of the limited storefront parking and DO NOT use the Tavern Parking lot or park in front of the local businesses. If you choose to attend an event, you agree to engage in nonviolent, peaceful action, to act lawfully, and to strive to de-escalate any potential confrontations with those who may disagree with our values.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Intentional Peer Support Training
Monday, May 7th, 2018-Friday, May 11th, 2018 at the Winston Prouty Campus (20 Austine Drive, Brattleboro, VT, 05301), in Holton Hall on the 4th Floor. 9am-4:30pm daily. Free admission, wheelchair accessible, lunch provided daily. People who are interested should contact Malaika Puffer directly at (802) 591-7291.
There will be an opportunity for any interested community members to attend an Intentional Peer Support training in Brattleboro. Intentional Peer Support is a framework for inviting and thinking about mutually transformative relationships. The training also shares some alternative perspectives related to mental health. The training is being offered by the HCRS (Health Care and Rehabilitation Services of Southern Vermont) peer support team and there is funding available to sponsor community members to attend, with lunch included.

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The 2018 Sandanona Conference at School for International Training 
Monday, May 7th, 2018 - Wednesday, May 9th, 2018 on the SIT Brattleboro Campus. Conference presentations are free and open to the public. Click here for a full schedule.
The 2018 Sandanona Conference at School for International Training takes place May 7-9 on the Brattleboro campus. This annual conference is the culmination of the on-campus phase of the MA in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Students plan and present a professional presentation that explores in depth a chosen area in the field of second-language teaching/learning.

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Boys Unboxed: A Book Talk
Tuesday, May 8th, 2018 at Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301), in the Community Room. 6pm-7pm.
The "Boys Unboxed" book talk focuses on books about boys being true to themselves and will happen in the Brooks Memorial Library Meeting Room. Often boys are put into a box about what they can like and what emotions they are allowed to have. Local author, Ann Braden, Everyone's Books Owner, Nancy Braus, and Youth Services Librarian, Lindsay Bellville, will discuss picture books, chapter books, and YA novels with boy characters who break away from stereotypes and other's expectations. For all parents, educators, and kids who want to expand the types of boy characters they read about and challenge the idea that there is just one right way to be a boy.

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Incarceration in America: Immigration Detention, Part of the CAPA Symposium
Friday, May 11th – Saturday, May 12th, 2018 at the Center for the Advancement of Public Action (1 College Drive, Bennington, VT, 05201). Free and open to the public. For more information please contact [email protected] or 802-447-4267.
Panel Discussions
-General Trends in Immigration Enforcement
-Immigration Detention and Private Prisons
-Local Government and NGO Involvement

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The Community Asylum Seekers Project Potluck and Info Session
hosted by The Putney Huddle and Putney Friends Meeting
Saturday, June 9th, 2018 at the Putney Friends Meeting House (17 Bellows Falls Road, Putney, VT, 05346). 6pm-8:30pm. For more info about CASP please visit- http://caspvt.org/. For more information about the event please contact Mike Mrowicki at 802-387-8787 / [email protected] or Francie Marbury at [email protected].
The Community Asylum Seekers Project’s mission is to provide basic needs and a supportive community for those in the process of seeking asylum in the U.S.
Steve Crofter of CASP has now visited both Putney Friends Meeting house and The Putney Huddle to spread the word on the good work CASP is doing and ask the Putney Community to get involved. Many of us in both forums agreed that we would like to help. If you are interested in supporting this project please join The Putney Friends Meeting House on June 9- 
Agenda:
6:00pm Potluck
7:00pm Mtg for Gathering for Information in building a Support Network and possible host families for asylum seekers/ refugees.

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Brattleboro CBD/Hemp Farmers Market
hosted by Heady Vermont and sponsored by Vermont Hempicurean
Sunday, June 17th, 2018 at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 10am-2pm. Attendance is free to the public. Interested vendors can sign up here: https://goo.gl/forms/ba83snLnCpLeAH873.
Following the success of multiple CBD Hemp Farmers Markets this winter, Heady Vermont is proud to bring Vermont cannabis, CBD and hemp products and producers to the heart of Brattleboro.
Taking place the gorgeous River Garden on Sunday, June 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the CBD Hemp Farmers Market will feature a diverse group of local CBD and hemp producers and cannabis advocates - all continuing their efforts to bring CBD education to the canna-curious public and foster positive dialogue between the burgeoning hemp industry and the citizens of Vermont.

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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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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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Alternatives to Suicide meets 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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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Designers & Doodlers: Create an Image for Our Bag Share Program!
sponsored by 350Vermont and Downtown Brattleboro
The Bag Share Project is a coalition of residents, downtown Businesses, 350 Brattleboro, Mother Up!: Families Rise Up for Climate Action and Downtown Brattleboro.
Due Date: Earth Day (of course), April 22nd. 
Please email [email protected] with your submissions.
What would your dream design on a cloth bag be? Okay now draw it, submit it and help launch the town's plastic bag ban, which goes into effect on July 1st! 
The voters were clear: ban plastic bags in Brattleboro. The Select Board ironed out all the details and the ban will take effect July 1st, 2018. Now, a group of us have created a Bag Share Program to make it happen!
This is where you come in: A fantastic image for the bag will be the secret to the success of this Bag Share Program. We want it to convey:
*the urgency of banning plastic bags
*the commitment Brattleboro has to protecting our Earth
*the commitment we have of doing it as a community
*the hip factor of this bag share program
Why would you do this:
*it feels good to help your community rise up 
*your design will be hanging from the arms of 1,000 people
*Mother Earth will smile on you
Details:
-2 colors
-print on only 1 side of the bag

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Volunteer Sister District Soup Makers Needed

Volunteer soup chefs provide the time and the ingredients so that 100% of subscription fees went directly to support candidates. We distribute soup on the third Mondays of each month - February 19, March 19, April 16 and May 21.  All soups are vegetarian, dairy free and gluten free. We need cooking volunteers each month during the weekend before distribution Monday. Volunteers receive a simple recipe the weekend before they cook and pick up containers and labels the next Friday.  Soup makers cook in their own kitchens and purchase ingredients which should cost around $20/4 quarts. If you want to cook but can’t cover that expense, we will hook you up with an ingredient sponsor. Once prepared, the soup is delivered cold to our refrigerators in Putney or Brattleboro. From there, it is picked up by subscribers or donated to the Putney Food Shelf according to the subscriber’s instructions. 
You can sign up to make soup as many months as you want. If you would like to cook or have questions, please email Diane Shamas at [email protected] or call 802-579-8294.  We will need to know which months you’d like to cook, whether you’d like to make a single (4-5 quart) or double (8-10 quart) batch, and whether you want to pick up/drop off in Brattleboro or Putney. 
A Little About Southern VT Sister District: Subscriptions to our SisterDistrict Soup CSA raised $10,000 for progressive Democrats in strategic races! We helped elect two fine candidates, John Bell and Jennifer Foye, to the Virginia House of Delegates and our third candidate, Margaret Good, is running for Florida's House of Representatives on February 13, 2018. Read more about her here. Many many thanks to all of you who’ve cooked so far and donated the soup that makes it possible!!!

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Inclusion Center is Looking for People Who are Interested in Helping our Organization Grow and Mature in Various Directions
Inclusion Center is an amazing program that works with all people who have disabilities or medical issues, and everyone else who has an interest in being with us. 
The possibilities for what Inclusion Center could be in the future are endless: A drop in center within another program! Have our own space with our doors always open. Offer classes. Offer services as well as being a drop in center! And those are just a few of our ideas! 
However, in order for us to grow, we need a few more people who can either come to our board meetings (the second friday of each month at 2:00), or come to a work group each month (generally Friday mornings). 
At Inclusion Center we all matter. Everyone helps make decisions. It doesn't matter if you want to join the board or just drop in as often as you can. Either way, your ideas and input matter just as much as everyone else's.
Please contact us ([email protected] or 802-387-5285) to discuss how we could work together. 

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INTERNSHIP AVAILABLE

Internship with 350Vermont Available
If you are interested, apply online at 350vermont.org/internships and feel free to get in touch with Katherine ([email protected]) with any questions.
This summer 350Vermont is looking for two dynamic people to join our team starting June 4, 2018 for a ten week internship, ending August 10, 2018. These two people will work together to advance our Re)Generate New Solutions campaign and engage communities around the state in climate solutions. They will be integral to planning and implementing different outreach and engagement opportunities with 350VT staff, board, and volunteers. Most often, these internships are based in Burlington, but based in Brattleboro might be an option.
In each position, we are looking for someone with a commitment to and passion for the 350Vermont mission of building a local movement to stop the climate crisis.  We seek self-starters with the passion, creativity, and drive to make things happen while working independently and in close coordination with a team. 
Each position will be paid, 30 hours a week, with some work taking place during the evenings and weekends. This internship includes free housing accommodation (if wanted!) and 20 hours of training by our staff and facilitation team. 

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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.

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We look forward to seeing you at an event this week, WeCANners, and we encourage you to bring a neighbor or friend with you if possible! Have a great week!