IC-SS Weekly Update: June 20, 2022
TONIGHT in Person: Come to Reinventing Public Safety
From our partner Neighbors Who Vote: Concerned about safety in Chicago? Eager for community-based solutions, NOT more surveillance, armed security, and punishment?
TONIGHT, find out what our elected leaders will actually do to keep us safe if we send them to Washington. Attend Neighbors Who Vote’s in-person community discussion at First Presbyterian Church, TONIGHT Monday, June 20th, 6:00-8:30 pm. Reinventing Public Safety: An In-Person Community Discussion. Get free tickets: bit.ly/nwvsafety
The format will be a quasi-townhall. Neighbors Who Vote is assembling a panel of question askers with a wide range of professional expertise in the area of crime prevention, violence reduction, criminal justice reform, police accountability, mental health treatment, and the like. Candidates won’t debate one another but will be pushed on their answers by the panel.
We will be hearing from candidates running for Congress in the 1st and 7th Districts in the IL primary. Candidates running in the 1st district: Kirby Birgans, Jahmal Cole, Sen. Jacqui Collins, Jonathan Jackson, Karin Norington-Reeves, Jonathan Swain, Charise Williams. Candidate running in the 7th district: Kina Collins (7th district).
Congressman Danny Davis (incumbent, 7th district) was invited and has not responded to the invitation. Ald. Pat Dowell (running in the 1st district) was invited and declined, citing a scheduling conflict.
WHAT: Reinventing Public Safety: An In-Person Community Discussion
WHEN: Monday, June 20th, 6:00-8:30 pm.
WHERE: First Presbyterian Church, 6400 S. Kimbark Ave.
TICKETS: Get free tickets for the event here: bit.ly/nwvsafety
Note from IC-SS: This community discussion is organized and presented by Neighbors Who Vote. Indivisible Chicago-South Side is one of multiple promotional partners.
People, Power, Progress: Make a Difference in 2022
We’re almost halfway through 2022 — you still have time to help fight back the MAGA Republicans and elect leaders who stand for voting rights, gun violence prevention, reproductive rights, health care for all, combating climate change, and more.
Be Like Steven! Help Elect Kina Collins, Endorsed by IC-SS
Steven Dornbusch has been a tireless volunteer, helping the effort to elect energetic progressive candidate Kina Collins to Congress for IL-07. Recently, Steven was out posting signs for Kina Collins to reach early voters in the Loop. But he’s been all over the district canvassing as well.
In addition to StevenD… Teri Watkins, Betsy Rubin, Julia Kline, and other IC-SS members have been canvassing, texting, or phonebanking for Kina Collins. With mere days to go until the June 28 primary, won’t you join us and help elect a progressive who will FIGHT for the causes we believe in?
- Tues., June 21, 6:00-8:00 pm: Phone voters for Kina Collins with Indivisible Chicago. Get training and support on Zoom while you phonebank from your own home. Lots of virtual story-sharing & camaraderie! Get info/sign up.
- Mon., June 27, 6:00-8:00 pm: Text voters for Kina Collins & Delia Ramirez with Indivisible Chicago. Get training and support on Zoom while you textbank from your own home. Lots of virtual story-sharing & camaraderie! Get info/sign up.
- Find other days and ways to help elect Kina Collins here: Volunteer or Donate
Find Your Way to Make a Difference in 2022
It’s 2022, and it’s time to act. Indivisible Chicago-South Side joins with Indivisible Chicago Alliance (ICA) to make a difference in the future of our nation. We simply cannot sit this election out. The future depends on us.
Find your way to make a difference. Are you someone who likes to get out in the world and talk to people? Sign up to canvass for a candidate. Prefer to work from home? You can phone or text voters.
Have you been feeling like you should do something, but don’t yet know what, where, or how? The Indivisible Chicago Alliance has got you! Whatever you choose, you’ll get all the training, support, and camaraderie you’d like. Explore the opportunities below and pick one to try:
- Phonebanks. Call for change without leaving home.
- Canvassing. Knock doors in Illinois, Wisconsin, and (soon) Michigan.
- Text team. Reach voters where they are.
- Sign up to volunteer and hear about many opportunities.
July 13: Join Us at the Nile, Write to Voters
Hey, remember our IC-SS Socials last summer at the Nile? Let’s meet there again! Mark your calendar now to meet your Indivisible Chicago-South Side friends for a Vote Forward Party on Wednesday, July 13th, 6:30-9:00 pm at the Nile, 1162 E 55th St. (on the patio, weather permitting). Register for our Vote Forward Party here.
Register for Our Vote Forward Letter-Writing Party, July 13
IC-SS member Steve Kagan is our event organizer (see Steve peeking through the piles of Vote Forward letters below). Through Vote Forward, Steve has written literally thousands of letters to voters over the past few years, and he’s an expert, ready to answer all your questions.
On Wednesday, July 13th, 6:30-9:00 meet us on the outdoor patio at the Nile. If you’ve already signed up with Vote Forward, please bring a supply of your own printed-out letters and envelopes to work on together with everyone else. But no worries! You are also welcome to just show up — Steve will be providing printed letters and envelopes for you to complete during the party.
We encourage attendees to donate first-class stamps and to bring along pens, highlighters, and stickers to personalize the letters you complete. But as noted, it’s fine to register and attend without bringing a thing.
What: IC-SS Vote Forward Party with Steve Kagan
When: Wednesday, July 13th, 6:30-9:00 pm
Where: The Nile,1162 E 55th St. – outdoor patio (indoors if it rains)
What to bring: You don’t need to bring anything. But you’re welcome to bring stamps, pens, highlighters, stickers, and/or your own letters/supplies if you already signed up with Vote Forward.
RSVP: Please RSVP to IC-SS by filling in this form.
Set Up Your Vote Forward Account – And Start Writing!
Did you know that Vote Forward letters can boost voter turnout by as much as 3.4 percentage points? This is enough to make a difference in an election! Writing handwritten letters to voters through Vote Forward, a non-profit 501(c)(4), is among the most effective ways you can help get out the vote.
Sign up here to start a free account with Vote Forward. You’ll fill in a brief form that Vote Forward reviews to ensure you are a real person, not a bot. Once you’re approved, you can choose a letter campaign and start writing letters. If you already have a Vote Forward account, you can log in and sign up for a letter campaign right away.
Vote Forward will provide all the information you need to print out letters on your home printer. Then you personalize the letters in your own handwriting and you mail them on the date that Vote Forward tells you. You will need to provide your own first-class stamps, envelopes, printer paper, and pens.
And remember to sign up HERE for Indivisible Chicago-South Side’s July 13 Vote Forward Party at the Nile!
Thanks, Josef Michael Carr & All Who Attended
Thanks to all who attended last week’s online Meet & Greet with Josef Michael Carr, who’s challenging Rep Curtis Tarver for the 25th IL State House seat in the June Democratic primary. Watch the recording of the Meet & Greet with Josef Michael Carr here.
NOTE: Indivisible Chicago-South Side does not plan to make an endorsement in this race, but we encourage group members to be informed voters.
June 28 IL Primary: Resource Roundup
Illinois primary day is Tuesday, June 28th. Whether you are voting by mail or in person (early or on election day), here are a few resources for you:
1. Illinois 1st Congressional district – Democratic primary (to replace retiring Rep Bobby Rush)
- 17 candidates are listed on the Democratic ballot. Find them all on Ballotpedia.
- IC-SS May 23 Candidates Forum – 14 of the Democratic candidates appeared. Read news stories in Block Club Chicago & Hyde Park Herald. Refer to Virtual Program PDF. Watch the Recording of IC-SS Forum (scroll to begin at minute 14:00. Hour #1: Group 1 candidates; Hours #2-3: Group 2 candidates – refer to Virtual Program)
- Neighbors Who Vote May 10 Candidates Forum – This forum included most of the Democratic candidates as well as Republican candidates. Read news story in The Triibe. Watch the Recording of Neighbors Who Vote Forum
2. Illinois State House 25th district. Candidates in Democratic primary.
- The incumbent representative is Curtis Tarver: Curtis Tarver campaign website.
- The challenger is Josef Michael Carr: Josef Michael Carr website. June 13 IC-SS Meet & Greet event recording
3. Voting for judges. Injustice Watch has compiled the ratings of 13 bar associations and included candidates’ responses to their own survey in the Injustice Watch judicial election guide.
4. Voting in Chicago:
- Key dates:
- Regular, in-person voting in your precinct: Primary day, June 28
- Early voting in person: Up to and including June 28 (you may vote at any early-voting site)
- Mail-in ballots via drop box or by mail: By June 28 (if mailed must be postmarked by June 28; check mailbox/post office pickup times)
- Find all Chicago voting info at Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.
- Find info on Voting by Mail, including list of Drop Boxes.
- Find info on Early Voting in person.
Organizations & Opportunities
Indivisible Chicago-South Side shares information and action announcements from other organizations on issues important in our country, state, city, and communities.
March with Citywide Indivisible Chicago at the Pride Parade, Sun., June 26
From Indivisible Chicago Alliance: Come show your colors with Indivisible Chicago. Indivisible Chicago will be marching at the Pride Parade on the North Side (Lakeview) Sunday, June 26, 10 am-4 pm alongside the WCPT radio float and would love to have you, your family, & friends join in for all or part of it. Sign up here, and Indivisible Chicago will send the details on where and what time to assemble that morning.
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Indivisible Chicago-South Side
Email: Indiv.Chi.South@gmail.com
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Co-Leaders: Sarah Lincoln, Esther Peters,
Betsy Rubin, Teri Watkins
About: Group & Co-Leader Statements
