This Briefing is a bit late as I wanted to give you the most updated news about the 8th Annual Women’s Summit. We are still working on our sponsorships. If you know individuals who might be interested in sponsoring or just contributing to our efforts, please send them here.
As you may have seen on social media, Rachel Bitecofer will be joining us, along with many new and old favorites:
- Andrea Miller, Founder of Center for CommonGround
- Crys Matthews, Musician/Songwriter
- Heather Cox Richardson, American Historian/Author
- LaTosha Brown, Black Voters Matter
- Maggie O’Neill, Vote for Your Daughter
- Simon Rosenburg, Hopium Chronicles
- Tom Bonier, TargetSmart
- Virginia Senators Danica Roem & Ghazala Hashmi
Secure your spot at the 8th Annual Women’s Summit today! (We always sell out.)
Join us,
Stair
FRIDAY POWER LUNCH
Project 2025 
What’s Going On
May 10, Noon ET
A second Trump term would mean the unbridled implementation of Project 2025, also known as the Presidential Transition Project and rooted in the beliefs of Christian Nationalism. The goals, just to name a few, include banning abortion and books, taking away trans rights, and militarizing the border.
Scary? You bet.
This week on the Friday Power Lunch (5/10/2024) we will discuss Project 2025 and how it shapes today’s Republican politics and what we can do to stop it.
Andra Watkins (NYTimes bestselling author and founder of the Substack How Project 2025 Will Ruin YOUR Life, will explain how Christian Nationalism has infiltrated Republican politics and spelled out in Project 2025, the Christian Nationalist manifesto.
In 2023 the Samuel’s library in Warren County, Virginia had 143 books challenged and their funding was threatened and put on hold for three months. Kelsey Lawrence fought back against the extremism in her town by co-founding Save Samuels. Through persistence, sweat equity, and partnering with other groups, library funding was restored and the book ban challenges paused. Kelsey will discuss her fight to save Samuels library and how and why they were successful.
We will end the show with a lively exchange about mothers’ roles and influence with the Friday Power Lunch crew. As Finale Norton likes to remind us, “Our kids don’t drop out of the sky.” We all have access to them and are their greatest influencers.
REGISTER FOR FRIDAY POWER LUNCH 2024
More Events
Every Thursday from 6 to 8pm EDT
The Center for Common Ground is currently calling Georgia for their Congressional Primary on May 18. Early Voting runs from April 29 to May 17. Soon they will start making calls for the June 18 Virginia Primary as well. Early Voting in Virginia runs for 45 days(!) from May 3 to June 15. Here’s the Zoom Calendar link: https://tinyurl.com/CFCG2024 Join in!
Thursday, May 9, 2024, 7:00 PM ET
Exploring the Inclusive Democracy Act (S.3423) with Center for Common Ground
Tuesday, May 14, 7:00 – 8:15pm EDT
Working to Win in Arizona
Join NOPE Neighbors monthly meeting where they will be joined by Rep. Ruben Gallego, Arizona Senate candidate, who was recently endorsed by lifelong labor and civil rights organizer Dolores Huerta.
Tuesday, May 14th, 7:30pm
A Day in the Life of a State Legislator
Join Sister District and Red, Wine & Blue for an engaging panel discussion on the realities of state lawmakers’ lives! This lively panel will delve into questions about pay, staff, and the day-to-day experiences of progressive lawmakers in blue, red, and divided government states. Hear how progressive legislators are combating bad legislation, navigating the challenges of bipartisanship, and serving as a model for what is possible nationwide.
Thursday, May 16th, 6:00pm – Elections Working Group Meeting
Zoom Link: https://georgetown.zoom.us/j/98422844279
Thursday, May 16, 2024 08:00 PM – Empowering the Youth Vote
Please join Indivisible Evanston for a discussion of getting out the youth vote with Victor Shi, Youth Engagement Coordinator Biden Harris 2024 and Jill Wine Banks, Legal Analyst MSNBC and co-host of the Sisters in Law Podcast – recently announced as a Webby Award Winner – Best Podcast News & Politics. This meeting will be Co-hosted by Indivisible Illinois, Indivisible Chicago Alliance, NWSOFA, Indivisible DuPage, Indivisible Naperville and the Democratic Party of Evanston.
Saturday, May 18, 10:00am – 1:00pm
Save Democracy Summer
Summer is coming and many will head out across the country to weddings, reunions, and fun with friends and family. These are great opportunity to talk about our crucial upcoming elections with all kinds of people. Join WNDC for an energy-filled, information-packed series of sessions on how to inform and even mobilize friends and family members. Rally with activists from Diversity Matters, Sister District DC Metro Area, Do the Most Good, NOPE Neighbors and Network NOVA for a fun and empowering pre-summer event. RSVP
Wednesday, May 22nd, 5:00pm
GO CD2 Meeting (Hampton Roads Grassroots Coalition)
Zoom Link: https://georgetown.zoom.us/j/93568287203
Saturday, May 25, 10:30 AM – What’s Happening with MY DEMOCRACY? Criminal Justice Conversation
The Northern Virginia Democracy Center and the PWC-NAACP have formed a partnership of nonpartisan organizations committed to civic engagement. They plan to conduct a series of webinars titled “What’s Happening with My Democracy?” Each week, they will explore how various topics such as Women’s Health, Voting Rights, the Supreme Court, Economic Justice and Environmental Concerns can be impacted within a Democracy.
Wednesday, May 22, 6:00pm – Reception for Abigail Spanberger for Governor at the home of Shashi and Margaret Gupta. RSVP HERE
Fundraiser for North Carolina with Heather Cox Richardson as Keynote Speaker
All in for NC and friends are joining with the States Project to raise money for the States Project’s NC efforts. Democrats need to add only one more seat in the state legislature to break the Republican supermajority. President Biden is prioritizing NC which he lost by less than 1.4% in 2020. NC has a Supreme Court race and one of the most consequential Governor’s races in the country. The Republican candidate for Governor is racist, homophobic, anti-Semitic, a Holocaust denier, and anti-women. He wants a total abortion ban. He has said: “Once you make a baby, it’s not your body anymore – it’s y’all’s body.” DONATE & REGISTER
ICYM:
The special Democratic primary edition of New Rural Virginia’s newsletter, The Rural Angleincludes a survey to all 2024 Democratic candidates (both those with and without a primary) who qualified for the ballot in the seven congressional districts in Virginia with at least 10-15% rural areas (i.e., CD-01, CD-04, CD-05, CD-06, CD-07, CD-09, and CD-10), as well as to Virginia’s candidate for U.S. Senate.
Our very own Andrea Miller, Center for Common Ground built Activote. It checks your voter registration (have you moved, has your registrtation lapsed?), lists every bill in your states General Assembly, every candidate on your ballot, has position questions to help you know who aligns with your positions, it’s full circle info and civics in your pocket! It’s really quite remarkable; please check it out today and share with 10 friends!
In 2024, the Rural GroundGame aims to hold radical Republicans accountable as well as highlight the work Democrats are doing to meet the immediate and longterm needs of our communities. Voters deserve to make informed choices; we intend to do our part with your help. Contributions NOW will directly support the placement of the above billboard in the Shenandoah Valley, just one part of the ground work to hold Ben Cline accountable. Let’s Get It Done!
