ATTENTION PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL: Let’s tell Youngkin not to mess with DEMOCRACY, today or any day! As we learned on this past week’s Friday Power Lunch with Senator Louise Lucas and Dr. Sabrina Ricks, the best way to confront bullying is to nip it in the bud, nail it immediately.
Get inspired by the many informative, power building events to keep our public schools and democracy intact.
Let’s get it done,
Stair
Call to Action: VOTE NO on the Governor’s amendment to HB1138
Don’t allow Youngkin to overturn the people’s will! Please ask state senators and delegates to vote NO on the Governor’s amendment to HB1138, which essentially overturns Loudoun’s recent school board election. Members of School Boards are elected by the people to serve the full duration of their designated terms. Instead, Governor Youngkin is arbitrarily calling for early elections of ALL school board seats for Loudoun County this in November — merely nine weeks before the filing deadline for what would be new candidates.
This is a blatant anti-democratic attempt to intimidate public servants by forcing them to run in an election before their seat’s scheduled election. This opens the door for any future majority and governor to undermine local control and elections. We have to nip it in the bud!
ACTION: Please use this link to contact:
1. All State Senators
2. All Delegates
3. Your Personal Representatives
SWEEP Salon: Book Bans Aren’t New – The History You Need to Know!
This is a can’t miss presentation! James Ford, an award-winning teacher and expert on equity in education. Book bans are spreading across the country but this is far from a new tactic. Come to hear from James Ford, an award-winning teacher and expert on equity in education, to learn the history of book bans in the U.S. and how they were used to marginalize Black citizens in the south. Knowledge is power as we put context behind what is happening today.
Mr. Ford is the Executive Director of the Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED) and a Principal Consultant at Filling the Gap Educational Consultants. He serves as a member of the NC State Board of Education and was NC Teacher of the Year in 2014-2015.
Troublemaker Training: Book Ban Edition
Ready to stand up to the anti-everything crowd and, specifically. against calls for book bans being pushed in your community?
How do you effectively get people to join together? What tactics can you use to impact issues in your community? Join us to discuss — and make your voices heard in your community!!
Discussion with Congressman Jamie Raskin
Join the discussion with Congressman Jamie Raskin at American Promise‘s monthly meeting where viewers will receive campaign updates from senior American Promise staff, shared strategies and success stories from American Promise chapter leaders and volunteers.
Take the American Promise Pledge and encourage your legislators and candidates to do the same!
Has Critical Race Theory Impacted PWC Public Schools?
Apr 21, 2022 07:00 PM
Listen to panelists have a “civil conversation” about this contentious topic. Two panelists will present what the influence of CRT has been, if any, and whether new initiatives since 2020 have positively affected the education provided by PWCPS. Two other panelists will present how these initiatives were influenced by CRT and whether they have negatively affected education in PWCPS. Join:
Martha Cutsinger, Haymarket business owner
Dr. Arvinder Johri, teaches English at PWCPS Independence Nontraditional School
Paul Lott, founder of National Society for the Advancement of Black Americans
Loree Williams, Woodbridge School Board member and representative on the County’s Racial & Social Justice Commission
The discussion will be moderated by Kate Masters, Reporter for The Virginia Mercury, an online newspaper.
Repeat Ask: Let’s Get it Done! AND encourage others to join the Power Map.
It is critical that we work together to maximize impact on the upcoming ’22, ’23 and ’24 elections. Knowing what strengths we have in each district – both individuals and organizations – is essential. The time is NOW to get organized.
Please take time to put yourself on the Power Map this week. It does takes a little time to look up your new district numbers, write them down with the incumbent and announced candidates. Yet it must be done as widely as possible now, as we fight for our democracy.
Use this handy form to map yourself here: https://tinyurl.com/2022VAdems, and please use as many of the social share options as possible. Groups/Orgs, please map yourselves here: https://tinyurl.com/2hm6jbyx For those who use ‘WHO IS MY LEGISLATOR please be aware they have not updated their database with the new boundaries.
Groups/Orgs, please map yourselves here:https://tinyurl.com/2hm6jbyx
Webinar- Fighting the Rage
April 21, 2022, 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Join to learn about the dark forces fighting against public education, their long-term strategy and what to do to combat them and win! Bring your questions and get ready to engage. Free, presented by 4PublicEducation.org local leaders.
YOUTH v GOV – Special Screening
Thursday, April 21st at 6:30 PM
YOUTH v GOV follows 21 young Americans suing the world’s most powerful government to protect their constitutional rights to a stable climate. If these young people are successful, they will not only make history, they will change the future. The film is the story of America’s youth taking on the U.S. government and asserts that America has willfully acted over six decades to create the climate crisis, thus endangering the youth’s constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property. The film shows the need for investments in the future right now and why It’s Time to Act on Climate justice.
Before the screening, there will be a panel discussion with plaintiffs from Virginia on the importance of intergenerational justice and what is being done for climate justice right now with the Build Back Better Act!
Thursday, April 21, at 8:30 pm: National Mobilization call: It’s time to get into step for the Mass Poor People’s & Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls! Come to get ideas and be inspired by fellow Poor People’s Campaign activists from around the country. The first National Mobilization All-Call and Rally is this Thursday, April 21st at 8:30 pm ET/5:30 pm PT! RSVP Here: https://actionnetwork.org/
There’s much to do as we count down to June 18 and the Mass Poor People’s & Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls!. Join as we get better educated, make music and art, organize in the DMV and work together with our partners. Come to our monthly meeting Tuesday April 26th to get all the details: https://actionnetwork.org/events/dc-poor-peoples-campaign-april-meeting
YWCA National Capital Area as we Stand Against RacismApril 23: 12pm-3pm Freedom Plaza1455 Pennsylvania Ave.
This year, the Stand Against Racism Campaign centers around a new theme, We Can’t Wait: Equity and Justice Now! Join YWCA National Capital Area and the following speakers:
Melanie Campbell, CEO, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
Alma Couverthie, National Organizing Director, League of Women Voters
Monica Gray, CEO, YWCA National Capital AreaMargaret Mitchell, CEO, YWCA USA
Elizabeth Schmelzel, Senior Attorney, CAIR Coalition
Zillah Wesley, DMV Mobilization Coordinator, The Poor People’s Campaign (DC)
Akosua Ali, President, NAACP DC Nia 2X, President, National Action Network (NAN) DC
Rose Brunache, Board President, DC NOW (National Organization for Women)
Takina Wilson, Vice President of Health Programs, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC
Jillian Burford, Communications Coordinator, Serve Your City/Ward 6 Mutual Aid
Kevin Cramer, Co-founder and Director of Community Engagement, The Palm Collective
The community fair will also feature representatives from the DC Board of Elections, The Washington Spirit & speakers’ organizations.
“Coffee with Karl” featuring Biden/Harris ad-maker Cliff Schecter
Karl and Cliff will take your questions about the state of the 2022 midterm elections, Trump’s lingering impact on our politics, the Biden/Harris agenda, and more. You won’t want to miss this discussion!
Congressional District 8 Democratic Forum
April 24, 3pm-5pm – Lake Barcroft
Please join Rep. Don Beyer and Victoria Virasingh, running for the Democratic nomination for the 8th Congressional District of Virginia in a forum co-sponsored by Progressive Democrats of America-Virginia, Virginia Grassroots Coalition, Network NOVA, Our Revolution Falls Church, Our Revolution Alexandria, and Our Revolution Arlington. Rep. Beyer and Ms Virasingh will answer questions from the moderators as well as the audience.
Mass Poor People’s & Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls
This march will be a generationally transformative and disruptive gathering of poor and low-wealth people, state leaders, faith communities, moral allies, unions and partnering organizations.
