Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

"Health is the crown on the well person's head that only the ill person can see."  
Robin Sharma, Canadian writer and leadership expert

     Happy Sunday, WeCANners, and Happy World Health Day! In 1948, the World Health Organization held the First World Health Assembly and decided to designate April 7th of each year as World Health Day, beginning in 1950^. World Health Day is acknowledged by various governments and by non-governmental organizations with interests in public health issues. It is held to mark the World Health Organization's founding and seen as an opportunity by the organization to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health each year. The WHO organizes international, regional, and local events on the Day related to the particular theme that has been chosen for the year. This year’s theme is “Universal Health: Everyone Everywhere” and worldwide celebrations will concentrate on all people having access, without any kind of discrimination, to comprehensive quality services, wherever they need them, without facing financial difficulties. Making this a reality requires the definition and implementation of policies and actions with a multisectoral approach to address the social determinants of health and promote the commitment of the whole society to health and well-being. Universal health is not just about ensuring everyone is medically covered, but that everyone has access to care when they need it, wherever they are. As an expression of Health for All in the 21st century, universal health requires the involvement of all sectors of society in order to combat poverty, social injustice, educational gaps, and poor living conditions, among other factors that influence people’s health.

     Everyone has a part to play, sparking conversations and contributing to dialogue on policies that can help your country achieve and maintain universal health. Take a look below to see how you can play a role in promoting Universal Healthcare this World Health Day. 

Decision-Makers in Your Community Can:
-Engage in structured conversations with various community stakeholders who are both affected by and essential to ensuring universal health.
-Listen to the population’s demands, opinions, and expectations regarding universal health in order to improve policy responses. 
-The population can be consulted through face-to-face dialogue, surveys, or a referendum, -among other methods.
-Collaborate with grassroots organizations and advocates for universal health to explore feasible solutions.
Health Professionals in Your Community Can: 
-Discuss intersectional policies to ensure the availability, accessibility, relevance, and competence of human resources for universal health are available to ALL in the community. 
-Discuss the needs of qualified, motivated inter-professional teams, which are essential to serve the health needs of the people wherever they may live.
-Raise their voices so that health workers can enjoy stable and decent employment, as this strengthens both the health system and the social and economic development of the country.
-Create movements that foster high-level agreements between the educational and health sectors, in order to achieve quality standards in the training of health workers, based on specific community needs.
-Advocate for the gender perspective to be incorporated into new organizational models and when hiring in the health services.
People and Entire Communities Can:
-Raise their voices in order to exercise their right to health and organize national movements toward universal health.
-Communicate their needs, opinions, and expectations to local policy-maker, politicians, ministers, and other public representatives.
-Make themselves heard through social media in order to ensure that community health needs—and other needs—are taken into account and prioritized at the local level.
-Invite civil society organizations to help raise their community needs with policy-makers.
-Share their stories, as affected communities and people, with the media.
-Organize activities such as discussion forums, policy debates, concerts, marches, and interviews to provide people with an opportunity to interact with their representatives on the topic of universal health via the mass media and social media.
-Advocate for governments to implement strategies to motivate health teams, using economic incentives, professional development, and quality of life measures to encourage them to stay in remote and neglected areas.
The Media in Your Community Can:
-Highlight initiatives and interventions that help improve access to quality services and financial protection for people and communities.
-Show what happens when people cannot obtain the services they need.
-Hold policy-makers and politicians accountable, e.g. through documentaries on the commitments they have made to universal health, focusing on strengths, weaknesses, and new challenges to be addressed (e.g. increase in noncommunicable diseases or population aging).
-Create platforms for dialogue between beneficiaries, communities, their political representatives, and policy-makers, e.g. through debates, interviews, and talk radio*.

* https://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12933:world-health-day&Itemid=72498&lang=en
^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Day

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HAPPENING TODAY, SUNDAY, APRIL 7th, 2019

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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HAPPENING THIS WEEK MONDAY, APRIL 8th, 2019-SUNDAY, APRIL 14th, 2019

Racial Justice Organizing Meeting 
hosted by The Black, Indigenous, & People of Color Caucus and Lost River Racial Justice
Monday April 8th, 2019 at The Root Social Justice Center (28 Williams St. Brattleboro VT) on the First Floor. 5:45pm-8:00pm. Dinner is provided; Childcare is available; Fragrance-free, nut-free, wheelchair accessible space.
All those who wish to join the movement for racial justice are encouraged to attend our monthly RJO meetings. We will hear updates on our ongoing campaigns and work together on next steps and new projects.

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Red Roll Red
hosted by Windham County Safe Place Child Advocacy Center and SUSI
Monday, April 8th 2019 at Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 6:30pm-8:30pm.
Free screening of the documentary #RollRedRoll. Sponsored by Safe Place Child Advocacy Center and Women's Freedom Center, we will be sharing this documentary for FREE at Brooks Memorial Library with a panel for questions afterward.

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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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UPCOMING

My Body, My Country
Thursday, April 18th, 2019 at Landmark College (19 River Road South, Putney, VT, 05346) in the East Academic Building Auditorium. 7pm-8pm. This event will be located in the East Academic Building in the auditorium (marked EAB-Auditorium). For directions and a map of the Landmark College campus, please visit: https://www.landmark.edu/about/directions-to-campus.
In every era, there are some bodies that are more policed or “owned” than others. This is what perhaps makes defining our internal and external geographies so challenging. We often undertake an exploratory journey attempting to separate our identity and sense of becoming from social, cultural, and other pressures. Often, these explorations shift throughout our lives. We ultimately are our own countries, and we carry our geography within us.  
What are the lines of distinction in terms of who has the freedom or choice of their body? How do we begin to explore the self as topography?  My Body, My Country introduces the following artists who will be exploring these topics in a live performance of their written work. This is a National Poetry Month event sponsored and hosted by Landmark College's Education Department, Student Affairs, and Centers for Diversity and Inclusion.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS 
-U-Meleni Mhlaba-Adebo is a Leominister, MA born Zimbabwean American grown poet, author, actress, singer and educator who has performed nationally and internationally in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Nigeria, Portugal and Ireland. She was featured on “WGBH Suitcase Stories.” Her poetry collection “Soul Psalms” (She Writes Press) was described by David Updike as “written in a fearless female voice tempered with optimism and healing possibilities of love.”
-Shanta Lee Gander is an artist and multi-faceted professional. As an artist, her endeavors include writing prose, poetry, investigative journalism, and photography. Her poetry, prose, and personal essays have been featured in Rebelle Society, on the Ms. Magazine Blog, The Commons weekly newspaper. Shanta Lee is the co-author of ‘Ghosts of Cuba: An Interracial Couple’s Exploration of Cuba in the Age of Trump—Told in Images & Words’ (Green Writers Press, September 2019).
-Desmond Peeples' fiction, poetry, and nonfiction have appeared in Five [Quarterly], Big Bridge, Goreyesque, Hunger Mountain, and elsewhere, and their original music is released independently. They were the founding editor of the literary arts magazine, Mount Island, and currently consult for Green Writers Press.

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Dangerous Leaders Spawn Dangerous Followers: a Psychiatrist’s Perspective with Neil Senior, MD
part of the Brattleboro Democracy Forum; produced by We Celebrate Democracy/Civil Rights for All
Wednesday, April 10th, 2019 at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden (157 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 12pm-1pm.
As a psychiatrist practicing for 35 years, Neil has had ample opportunity to evaluate dangerous people. His talk will cover both dangerous individuals and the people who follow them with a particular emphasis on our political process. Please join the discussion.

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Protest Vigil at TD Bank
sponsored by Post Oil Solutions
Friday, April 12th, 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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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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Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up 
Monday April 22nd, 2019 at KidsPLAYce (20 Elliot St., 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. We'll talk about how racial justice and climate justice are interconnected. We'll also reflect on 350VT's Next Steps: A Climate Solutions Walk and hear stories from local walkers.

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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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Diversity Celebration 2019: Voices of the People
sponsored by the Windham Southeast Supervisory Union Diversity and Equity Committee, WSESU Schools and the Town of Brattleboro
Friday, May 3rd, 2019 at 118 Elliot Gallery (118 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) and at the intersection of Main Street and Elliot Street. 5pm-8pm.
The theme of the celebration is Voices of the People, highlighting perspectives and experiences of historically marginalized peoples. This year’s event will include a block party at the Main Street end of Elliot Street from 5-8pm with food vendors, performances, and tables with community organizations, and children's activities and show of student work on our theme, as well as other Voices of the People-themed art works, at 118 Elliot Gallery.
We are asking for individuals, groups, and business to be involved in the celebration. You can be involved by volunteering for activities (groups and Individuals are encouraged to offer a kid friendly activity based on our theme. This could include interactive games, demonstrations, crafts, face painting, art or other creative ideas to get people thinking and doing) or tabling (Tell people about the work you do and offer a kid friendly activity or interactive display). If your group would like to participate in any way, please fill out this google form and someone from the Diversity and Equity Committee will be in touch. Thank you for helping us carry on and grow this annual celebration!

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Coffee with Coffey
Monday, May 6th, 2019 at the Guilford Country Store (475 Calvin Coolidge Memorial Highway, Guilford, VT). 5:30pm-6:30pm.
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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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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Rootskills Spring Workshop
Saturday, May 18th, 2019 at the School for International Training (SIT 1 Kipling Rd, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 8am-6:30pm. Find out more about schedule, registration, scholarships etc on our website: https://grassrootsfund.org/tools/2019-workshops
The Grassroots Fund's RootSkills workshops are day-long gatherings where grassroots organizers, colleagues and supporters convene to network, share stories and dig into both issue- and process-based skills-building sessions. We work with a planning committee ahead of each event to ensure a broad range of lived experiences and perspectives weigh in as we set agendas, select workshop topics and invite speakers. 
This event's theme will focus on racial and economic disparities as we discuss in/equity in rural, New England communities.

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Pride Family Picnic
hosted by Green Mountain Crossroads
Sunday, June 2nd, 2019 at Living Memorial Park (61 Guilford Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301) at the Kiwani’s Pavilion at the top of the hill. 11am-2pm.
The much anticipated PRIDE FAMILY PICNIC hosted by Green Mountain Crossroads is back! One of the only events each year in southern Vermont where LGBTQ parents and kids (of all ages!) come together and get to celebrate the community, visibility, knowledge, and power of LGBTQIA+ people with their families. Bring a dish to share! GMC will provide watermelon, drinks (kid-friendly), hot dogs (meat, turkey, and tofu), buns, and condiments. Find us all the way at the top of Living Memorial Park! 

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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 

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 for reading the Weekly Email Update this and every week, friends! Feel free to forward this email on to anyone who may benefit from being a bit more involved in our County's quest for equality and justice. Until next week...

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