Dear Friends,

I’ve listed all the CTAs from Sunday’s Snippet at the end of this email. If you didn’t get to them yesterday, please tackle today.

Please note the NEW Call to Action against Environmental InJustice. Please take action now – the board will be meeting this evening.

I’ve included events through the weekend – do scan through. We are pleased to promote Empowering Equality, Expert Voices on the Equal Rights Amendments with some of our favorite crew at GMU’s the Hub. Full details below.

Getting it done,

Stair

PS: If you have something you would like to include in a future email, please let me know.

Environmental InJustice CTA – by Tuesday, February 20th

For Black History month, Roanoke City continues on their path of systemic racism with this past Monday’s Planning Commission vote to recommend the Evans Spring Master Plan to Roanoke City Council. The consultants the city hired didn’t include crucial information in their report such as climate risk and how the negative consequences of increasing the heat island effect and flooding could harm the surrounding predominantly Black neighborhoods. It also didn’t include Virginia identifying this area as a Conservation Priority and part of the Wildlife Action Plan. Learn more here.

• CTA1 Use this easy portal to send an email to the members of Roanoke City Council. They meet again this Tuesday, February 20th.
• CTA2 Sign this petition opposing the Evans Spring Master Plan.
• CTA3 Encourage others to take action to save the Black neighborhoods surrounding Evans Spring by sharing this social media post.

Events

Wednesday, February 21 – 5:00pm
Voter Readiness Working Group Meeting
Zoom Link: https://georgetown.zoom.us/j/98422844279
Wednesday, February 21st, 4:00pm

Steady Forward: Leadership in the Headwinds
Curious about how to make progress in the pursuit of social justice while facing headwinds of opposition? Join us for a panel of dynamic leaders at the forefront of racial justice and civil rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and equitable inclusion in high tech. Hear their perspectives on the importance of values-rooted leadership, crafting a compelling narrative, and playing the long game with short term gains. Learn how your strategic leadership can drive positive change in our communities and beyond. RSVP here

Wednesday, February 21st, 7:00pm
Loudoun Grassroots Coalition Meeting
Great guest speakers, including: Sam Signori with update on Spanberger Campaign; Matthew McCormick with update on Kaine Campaign; and David Reid, Michelle Maldonado and Atif Quarni Candidates for CD10.
Email to receive Zoom link: loudounactivists@gmail.com

Thursday, February 22nd, 3:00pm
Help the Michigan Dems and Help Dems Hold the White House, the U.S. Senate, and Win Control of the U.S. House!
Michigan is a must win for Democrats this year! But support is eroding in some quarters. What to do? The Michigan Democratic Party leadership is highly effective, and will help all of the Dem Candidates. Join us for a special session with Michigan Party Chair Barnes and Executive Director Christy Jensen to learn what’s happening and how you can make a difference.
RSVP here If you can’t attend, please click HERE to contribute to this important cause.

Thursday, February 22nd, 5:00-7:00pm

Empowering Equality: Expert Voices on the Equal Rights Amendment

The Hub Center, George Mason University, 10423 Rivanna River Way, Fairfax

Join a thought-provoking panel discussion on the Equal Rights Amendment hosted by Women and Gender Studies (WGST) and the Gender and Policy (GAP) Center. This event aims to foster an insightful conversation on the significance and implications of the ERA in the contexts of gender equality, physical autonomy, and LGBTQ+ rights with:

• Moderator, Bonnie Stabile, Director of Gender and Policy (GAP) Center and Associate Professor
• Eileen Davis, ERA Activist and Advocate
• Ella Duncan-High, Generation Ratify, National Organizing Director
• Amy Hinojosa, President and CEO, MANA, A National Latina Organization
• Zakiya Thomas, President & CEO, ERA Coalition and ERA Coalition Forward

Thursday, February 22nd, 6:30pm
Grassroots Leadership Call
Join Team Kaine’s field team as we celebrate YOUR tremendous work so far this year. We’ll provide an update on what we’ve done as a team, especially during this ballot access phase, and walk through where we envision the team going in the months ahead. We’ll also take time to answer any questions. RSVP here: https://www.mobilize.us/timkaine/event/604451/

Friday, February 23, Noon

Friday Power Lunch: We Did it Again! – Democrats Keep Winning

Saturday, February 24 from 3:00 – 5:00pm in Falls Church

Tea and Postcards for Briana Sewell hosted by the Postcard Community

Briana Sewell, one of Postcards4VA postcard writers is running for Congress in Virginia in CD7. Postcards helped Briana when she ran in 2021 and was elected as a Delegate to the Virginia General Assembly. Postcards helped her get re-elected in 2023. Now, she is running for the Congressional District where she was born and raised. She has dedicated her career to serving the people of Prince William County and Virginia. Briana is a perfect fit for the 7th Congressional District. She knows the issues. She knows the people.  She knows how to get things done. Check out this video about Briana. Once you watch it, you will understand why getting behind Briana’s candidacy is so critically important. If you are unable to attend, yet would like writing postcards for Briana, please contact RobbinWarner@gmail.com.

Saturday, February 24th, 5:00pm
M4A 101: Medicare For All Organizer Training Workshop
Join us for a virtual workshop and teach-in to help new organizers and activists learn about the dysfunctional US healthcare system, how Medicare For All would work to fix our broken system, and how you can join our campaigns in support of universal healthcare- including our efforts to pass Medicare For All Resolutions in Alexandria and Arlington. RSVP here

Calls To Action

Gun Violence Prevention

• SB100 Ghost Guns FULL House CTA – https://actionnetwork.org/letters/sb100-full-house/
• SB47 Firearms transfer FULL House CTA – https://actionnetwork.org/letters/sb47-full-house/
• SB273 Waiting Period to purchase firearms Full House of Delegates CTA – https://actionnetwork.org/letters/sb273-full-house/
• HB362 Save lives, Close the Boyfriend Loophole Full Senate CTA – https://actionnetwork.org/letters/hb362-full-senate/

Education

• SB105. Establish At-Risk Program Full House CTA – https://actionnetwork.org/letters/sb105-full-house/
• HB624 Improve the funding formula Full Senate CTA – https://actionnetwork.org/letters/hb624-full-senate/
• HB187 Raise Teacher Salaries Full Senate CTA – https://actionnetwork.org/letters/hb187-full-senate/
• HB398 Encourage Evidence Based discipline Full Senate CTA – https://actionnetwork.org/letters/hb398-full-senate/
• SB104 Raise Teacher Salaries Full House CTA – https://actionnetwork.org/letters/sb104-full-house/
• SB272 Help English Language Learners Full House CTA – https://actionnetwork.org/letters/sb272-full-house/
• HB625 Develop Community Schools office Full Senate CTA – https://actionnetwork.org/letters/hb625-full-senate/
• SB14. Give localities greater flexibility to improve school funding House Finance Committee CTA – https://actionnetwork.org/letters/sb14-house-finance/

Climate and Clean Energy

OPPOSE Charging Customers for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) before they are even built, with no cost-overrun protections.

CTA – Vote NO on SB454 House Labor & Commerce Committee

SUPPORT Solar-Ready Gov’t Roofs. Urge a key House committee to pass the Senate-passed SB79 to ensure that making roofs solar-ready becomes part of the planning process for new public buildings and those undergoing major renovation, including K-12 schools.

CTA – Vote YES on SB79 House GenRules Committee

SUPPORT Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Budget Amendments. SB30 (Item 4-5.12 #1s Surovell) and HB30 (Item 366 #1h Herring) that require Virginia to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the effective 11-state carbon trading program that reduces harmful emissions and generates funding for local flood prevention and energy efficiency programs. CTA – Vote YES RGGI Budget Amendment

SUPPORT Energy Efficiency Across the Commonwealth. Urge lawmakers to support the Savings Achieved Via Efficiency Act (SAVE) bills HB746 (Webert) and SB565 (Deeds) to increase the energy efficiency requirements that must be met by electric utilities and ties their profits to meeting targets. CTA – Vote YES on HB756/SB565 Savings Via Efficiency Act

SUPPORT Reducing Home Energy Costs. SB737 (Surovell/Sullivan). Wide scale adoption of heat pumps is a key climate solution and an energy-saving, money-saving and health-saving upgrade for homeowners who heat their homes with oil, propane or kerosene.
CTA – Vote YES on SB737

Good Governance

• HB 265: End misuse of the Removal Process – Please send email by noon Tues Feb 20 so that Senate P&E Committee members hear from you before they meet that afternoon! CTA – https://actionnetwork.org/letters/hb265-senate-p-and-e

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Compliments of Network NOVA & the Virginia Grassroots – When We Vote We Win