Dear Friends,
We have known for some time that we have our work cut out for us. The special session that Youngkin has called for on September 7th will prove to be one more obstacle that we will face in our struggle to keep our reproductive rights. Please be sure to sign up to join at the Bell Tower and/or participate in the virtual actions taking place that day.
Join us on Friday as we empower and inspire our inner boldness for the work ahead.
ALL IN,
Stair
Empower & Inspire Your Inner Badass
This week on the Friday Power Lunch we are spotlighting three bold women whose stories inspire your inner badass.
We will kick off the show with Gina Warner, founder of the Badass Women’s Book Club, Gina was inspired to start the book club after attending a three-day leadership workshop where she left feeling deflated and unworthy rather than inspired. Then in the airport gift shop when flying home, she saw a book whose title caught her eye: You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life. The book inspired Gina to start the Badass Women’s Book Club at her local bookstore Bards Alley in Vienna. We’ll talk to Gina about the book club and how reading about badass women helps you find your inner badass.
Being a badass means stepping up even when it is hard and the reward for your efforts might be a long way off. Casey Longenecker is the Chair of the Appomattox Democratic Committee. Casey will share what it’s like being a badass committee chair in a red district.
Our third badass woman is activist and organizer Carrie Short. She joined friends in the creation of MotherBoard, a grassroots group connecting smart, curious and action-oriented women to support progressive issues and candidates in Hampton Roads. Carrie helped run Norfolk’s NO CASINO campaign and is active in the local coalition of activist groups. She currently serves as Communications Assistant for Delegate Jackie Glass This region is known for its pockets of blue and red voters who became even more entrenched after the latest round of redistricting. Carrie will share what we can do to help this crucial region this election.
Carrie will also join Katherine for an exciting conversation about the upcoming Women’s Summit in Virginia Beach (September 16-18).
We all have a little badass inside us! It’s time to unleash that power right to the polls!
**Calls To Action**
- Sign up with the Democratic Party of Virginia to be a Poll Observer
- Pledge to act in Solidarity with Starbucks Workers United
- Congressional Recess Guide: How to Contact Your Members of Congress Directly with Planned Parenthood Action’s top tactics for getting in front of your U.S. senators and representatives — in person, in writing, and over the phone.
- Get your Free Roe Your Vote Sticker
- Volunteer with Rideshare2Vote – Rideshare2Vote is offering free rides to the polls for Democrats in Virginia. Register to volunteer as a driver, phone banker, or dispatch operator HERE.
Virginia Reproductive Equity Alliance (VREA) Abortion Ban Panel & Testimony Writing Party
Join the VREA as the Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice Virginia host a virtual panel discussion about abortion bans and the impacts of bans on Black, Brown and immigrant communities. We will be joined by the Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice Texas. Following the panel discussion, we will give a training on writing testimony so you can write testimony to have your voice heard!
Special Session Call To Action
Please join the Virginia Reproductive Equity Alliance in defending our reproductive freedom from anti-abortion extremists on September 7th during Youngkin’s special session to seek a 15-week abortion ban.
Hiring: Generation Ratify National Team Application
DEADLINE: September 2nd @ 11:59 PM EDT.
Generation Ratify is a youth-led movement of over 12,000 young people organizing to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and advance gender justice in the United States. We do this through legislative, judicial, and community-based organizing to advance feminist policies, empower the youth vote for progressive, pro-ERA candidates, and uplift young women and queer people to claim their power in all spaces. Applicants must be 25 years or younger.
Josh for Virginia & Generation Ratify Virginia Phone Bank
Join the Josh Throneburg campaign and the youth with Generation Ratify Virginia for a virtual phone bank to reach voters across the 5th District! Let’s have some involved conversations with voters to help them get to know Josh. There will be training at the beginning of the phone bank shift.
Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at 6 p.m. ETChat for Change Talking about race and racism can be daunting – but we need to communicate to better understand and make change. That’s why CommonBondz created a small discussion group to read, listen, and learn from each other. This month, they are digging into voter suppression and voting rights in a virtual event with guided small group discussions. This will be led by CommonBondz Board Members Sahiba Tandon, Maura McKenna, and Finale Norton.Register here.
Thursday, August 25, 2022 02:00 PMCongress.gov Webinar
This orientation is designed to give a basic overview of Congress.gov. While the focus of the session will be searching legislation and the Congressional member information attached to the legislation, the new features of Congress.gov will be highlighted.
RSVP HERE
Saturday August 27th, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Grassroots Canvass for Democracy! – Kickoff in Leesburg
Join Team Wexton at our big Weekend of Action Canvass for Democracy kickoff in Leesburg for the ’22 election cycle! Partnering with the Loudoun County Democrats and Loudoun Grassroots Coalition, we will be joined by local elected officials, special guest speaker Khizr Khan and Rep. Jennifer Wexton. We have all seen the news recently: gun violence in our schools and communities, the ongoing and very serious threat to our democracy, and now the stripping away of a woman’s right to control her own body and healthcare. Now more than ever, canvassing is critical for engaging with voters and sharing Jennifer’s vision for VA10 so we can fight back and win. We cannot do it without you. Sign up here.
Friday, August 26, 2:00-6:00 pm.
Join the Notorious RVG at The Outrage
14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Join the Artist’s for ERA Throughout Virginia, August 24 – October 3
NOPE Meeting with Jamie Perrapato, ED Turn PA Blue
Nope’s September meeting will be a deep dive into Pennsylvania with two dynamic speakers. John Fetterman is Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governorr and Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate. Fetterman is running against the Trump-endorsed Dr. Oz. Fetterman could become the Democratic senator who saves our majority or even tips the balance to overcome the votes of Manchin and Sinema. Sign up here.
Saturday September 24, 9am-3pm
Raise Your Hand 4 Education: A Leadership Symposium for Virginia
Get inspired, learn and network with experts and advocates from around the Commonwealth! We aim to ensure our public schools stay public as we strive for equity and an exceptional education for every child. Sign up here.
Be a BADASS, Power Map Yourself
