Month: April 2019

SOLIDARITY LOWELL RAPID RESPONSE TEAM ACTION LIST FOR 4/18/19

Local

Demonstrate, Dine, and Discuss: Solidarity with Stop & Shop Workers

Friday, April 19th, 6:30-9pm, STOP & SHOP, 299 Chelmsford Street, Chelmsford

Join us for Solidarity Lowell’s monthly fun social visibility event! At 6:30pm, join us at the Chelmsford Stop & Shop to stand in solidarity with the striking Stop & Shop workers. Bring signs! We will also have some sign-making supplies if you’d like to make one. Then at 7:30pm, we’ll head to Lao’De Cafe (108 Merrimack St, Lowell) to have some delicious food and/or beverages, and get to enjoy each other’s company! All are welcome! Bring along a partner, friend, neighbor, and/or a local student!

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/428742667929246/

Input Needed on the Solidarity Lowell Mission Statement

Please review the revised Solidarity Lowell Mission Statement and send any comments or suggestions tomarissa@solidaritylowell.com

View the mission statement here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bUfhjeVDznDiXH76mfs-rnzMI6iBwUhZ/view?usp=sharing

Mack Plaza Canal Cleanup

Saturday, April 20th, 9am-noon, Lowell National Historical Park, 246 Market St, Lowell

Our first cleanup of the season will be at Mack Plaza (where LNHP starts their tours). As always we’ll provide tools, gloves. Looking forward to seeing you.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/333097897347942/

Khmer New Year Celebration 2019

Sunday, April 20th, 8:30am-5pm, Lowell Senior Center, 276 Broadway St, and Roberto Clemente Park, 803 Middlesex St, Lowell

We would like to welcome you, your family and friends to join our Annual Celebration of Khmer New Year which will be held at Lowell Senior Center on Saturday, April 20th 2019 from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM.  The event will be followed by a parade at 11:00 a.m. to continue the celebration at Roberto Clemente Park between 12:00 till 5:00 PM. This exciting community gathering celebrates Lowell’s Cambodian community with delicious ethnic Khmer food, beautiful traditional outfits, live performance of Cambodian royal ballet dancers (which were only performed to the royal families), and other traditional folk dances.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/2162757153816911/ and https://www.facebook.com/events/1860048754121335/
 

Stand Up for Clean Energy in Lowell

Tuesday, April 23rd, 5:30pm, City Council Chambers, Lowell City Hall, 375 Merrimack St, Lowell

As you may know, Lowell buys electricity for all its residents (called Community Choice Aggregation) – and we want this energy to be renewable! Lowell’s contract will soon be renegotiated and we need to let the City Council know that this matters. Please come to the Subcommittee meeting about this at 5:30 pm, Tuesday, April 23 in the Council Chambers at Lowell City Hall. We need your support!

For more information, contact Jon Grossman at jgrossman@seiu509.org or (617) 312-7180

April CHOP Dinner

Wednesday, April 24th, 5:30-7:30pm, Lowell Senior Center, 276 Broadway St, Lowell

This upcoming CHOP dinner’s theme is “College 2 Community Night!” Middlesex Community College will speak about their first year, experience, dental, health, and business program. Their admissions and financial aid staff will also be present.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/2279450738782881/
 

SAVE THE DATE: Solidarity Lowell April Meeting

Sunday, April 28th, 5:30-7pm, Christ Church United (UCC), 1 Bartlett Street, Lowell

Join us for the monthly general meeting of Solidarity Lowell, featuring the Solidarity Lowell Coordinating Committee election. Four people are up for re-election, and there is one open seat. We encourage anyone who is interested to come and either nominate themselves or be nominated. Note: you must be a member in good standing (have attended at least three meetings) and not be currently running for Lowell City office in order to be nominated. We’ll also take a look back at where we’ve been and discuss where we want to go in the coming year.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1129620467219536/
 

Unpacking Whiteness Workshop Series

Date and location TBD

Solidarity Lowell is organizing an Unpacking Whiteness workshop to help our white members understand how to confront white supremacy and their own personal biases, and learn how to be better global citizens. This six-week workshop is presented by Felicia Sullivan. Sign up using the link below to help us decide on which night of the week this will be held.

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/tPp98rQY9y9ztg4R8

Chelms-FED Up Postcarding

Every Tuesday, 9:30-11:30am, The Java Room, 14 Littleton Rd, Chelmsford

Fed up in Chelmsford? Come join us at The Java Room! We will be writing postcards for upcoming municipal elections! Information, addresses, and supplies provided, but feel free to bring your own supplies and info as well. See you there!

For more information, contact Hope at hope@solidaritylowell.com

Thursday Postcarding

Every Thursday, 9-11am, Panera Bread, 2 Cornerstone Square, Westford

Join your postcarding friends from Indivisible Westford Progressive Massachusetts and Solidarity Lowell to write issue-based postcards to our reps and write directly to voters for an upcoming election! Join us every Thursday!

For more information, contact Hope at hope@solidaritylowell.com

 

Help with Sanctuary

Assisting our immigrant community is one of the most important things you can possibly do. Solidarity Lowell is part of the Merrimack Valley Interfaith Sanctuary Network, which helps provide a place to stay for immigrants at immediate risk of deportation. If you are interested in helping out with local sanctuary efforts, either with accompaniment, food, laundry, or otherwise, please email Solidarity Lowell’s Volunteer Coordinator at marissa@solidaritylowell.com. Training is provided. You can also donate to the cause here: http://www.merrimackvalleyproject.org/donate-1/ (please write “asylum” in the “special notes” part of the donation form). Also, since the sanctuary space was empty for so long, the MVISN decided to open it up to asylum-seekers, and we have a guest there currently. If you’d like to help with his living expenses, please donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/help-marius-stay-and-fight-for-asylum-in-the-usa?fbclid=IwAR3LDRCxbnncLMXBTul7dhAS73nc7mQHoNSMxrh8FfkYVdKlqs2Kp129liU

More information and to sign up for training: marissa@solidaritylowell.com

State

Progressive Mass Breaking Barriers Breakfast featuring Rachael Rollins

Wednesday, April 24th, 8:30-10am, Carrie Nation, 11 Beacon St, Boston

Rachael Rollins is making headlines. She is pushing the spotlight on criminal justice. She is breaking barriers. Join us on April 24th for a Progressive Mass celebration of continued success and ongoing mobilization in the commonwealth.Trailblazer Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins joins us as special guest for a Breaking Barriers Breakfast Progressive Mass fundraiser.

Purchase your tickets here: https://www.progressivemass.com/bbb2019_rsvp?fbclid=IwAR2AywESkF82nOgmTpKsD4X5A797w83Zq0-NNnsm4tUXtZHOvhx4Mzl88DI&utm_campaign=breaking_barriers_breakfast1&utm_medium=email&utm_source=progressivemass

Marcha Para Las Licencias (March for Drivers Licenses)

 

Friday, April 26th, 5:30-8:30pm, Lawrence City Hall, 200 Common St, Lawrence

The fight for licenses for immigrants have a history of more than 15 years but we are tired of empty promises from politicians. This year we must let everyone in Massachusetts know that we will continue this fight and win. Yes, it is important that legislators know the urgency of this campaign, but it is critical that our community feels it. The laws only change when the majority of the people want to change them. For this reason, we are going to walk through Lawrence to Andover. Afterward, we will join in car the rest of the circles in Cosecha Massachusetts in the Gran Pilgrimage from Framingham towards the capital in Boston.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1002629413269625/

Support the MVP Amendment for an Addiction Hotline and Transportation System

Please contact your state representative and state senator (find yours here https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator):

House Speaker Robert DeLeo: 617-722-2500

Rep. Thomas Golden 617-722-2263
Rep. David Nangle 617-722-2520
Rep. Rady Mom 617-722-2460
Rep. Colleen Garry 617-722-2380
Rep. Tram Nguyen 617-722-2425

Sen. Edward Kennedy 617-722-1630
Sen. Michael Barrett 617-722-1572
Sen. Barry Finegold 617-722-1612
Sen. Jamie Eldridge 617-722-1120

 

Sample Script: “Hi, I’m [Name] from [Address] and Solidarity Lowell. I’m asking that the Representative support House Budget Amendment #966 to help those struggling with substance abuse disorder in the Merrimack Valley. This amendment will create a pilot program that can provide access to a hotline and to a transportation system that will get people directly into rehabilitation services. This pilot program addresses a critical gap in treatment and can save dozens of lives throughout our region. Thank you again for your time and support of Amendment #966.”

If you call and speak to an aide or leave a message, MVP is asking that you email them at MValleyPR@gmail.com so they can track our progress.

Meet with Rep. Tom Golden about the Fair Share Amendment

As part of the Raise Up MA coalition, Merrimack Valley Project is working on coordinating in-district meetings with elected officials who have yet to sign on as a co-sponsor for the Fair Share Amendment. Fortunately, the majority of Valley legislators have signed on in support of this amendment; however, here in Lowell we have yet to receive an endorsement of Rep. Tom Golden and therefore MVP has been asked to set up an in-district meeting with the Representative. MVP has previously met with Rep. Golden in regard to our substance use disorder and criminal justice work but we are hoping to bring a broad coalition to this next meeting to show Rep. Golden how important Fair Share is for his constituents in all walks of life.

If interested, please email trevorlafaucimvp@gmail.com

 

Support the Amendment to Raise the Capital Gains Tax

Please contact your state representative and state senator (find yours here https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator):
House Speaker Robert DeLeo: 617-722-2500

Rep. Thomas Golden 617-722-2263
Rep. David Nangle 617-722-2520
Rep. Rady Mom 617-722-2460
Rep. Colleen Garry 617-722-2380
Rep. Tram Nguyen 617-722-2425

Sen. Edward Kennedy 617-722-1630
Sen. Michael Barrett 617-722-1572
Sen. Barry Finegold 617-722-1612
Sen. Jamie Eldridge 617-722-1120

 

Sample Script: “Hi, I’m [Name] from [Address] and Solidarity Lowell asking you to act RIGHT NOW to begin building the fairer tax structure that Massachusetts voters want. Raising the tax on long-term capital gains from 5.05% to 8.95%, for example, would put us in line with states like Vermont and New Jersey and raise more than $1 billion to invest in our commonwealth. The highest-income 1 percent of households receive approximately 80 percent of capital gains income in Massachusetts, while the bottom 80 percent of household receive only 3 percent. Please CO-SPONSOR Rep. Mike Connolly’s Budget Amendment #1357 (Long-Term Capital Gains) and STAND for a vote! Thank you!”

More information: https://www.progressivemass.com/tax-the-rich-2019

 

 

Posted by Greg

SOLIDARITY LOWELL RAPID RESPONSE TEAM ACTION LIST FOR 4/11/19

Local

14th Annual Lowell Take Back the Night

Thursday, April 11th, 6-9pm, Lowell City Hall, 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell

Take Back The Night represents a world-wide stand against sexual violence, especially violence against women. Take Back The Night events have been documented in over 36 countries, in over 800 communities, with more locations taking a stand every year. We have reached over 30 million people with our message of strength and support, and our commitment to ending sexual violence. Take Back the Night will begin at Lowell City Hall at 6:00 PM for a rally and speakers. From Lowell City Hall, we will embrace our voices and take to the streets to march from City Hall to The Middlesex Community College Library. At the library, there will be a closed-room speak-out and open mic for survivors to be able to share their stories.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/323542541595326/

 

 

UML CASA Presents: Khmer New Year 2019

Saturday, April 13th, 6-10pm, University Crossing at UMass Lowell, 220 Pawtucket St, Lowell

The Cambodian-American Student Association at University of Massachusetts Lowell proudly presents to you our BIGGEST event of the year, our annual Khmer New Year celebration! Khmer New Year marks the end of the harvesting season and is a special time where farmers can celebrate all of their hard work and efforts. We invite you, your friends, and family to come join us in the celebration of the new year! This year, we will be celebrating the year of the Pig. There will be countless traditional and modern performances as well as delicious Cambodian food to satisfy your cravings, as part of your admissions fee! Join us for a memorable night filled with traditions and culture!

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/322947691897300/

 

 

Demonstrate, Dine, and Discuss!

Friday, April 19th, 6:30-9pm, The Ladd and Whitney Memorial, 309 Merrimack Street, Lowell

Join us for Solidarity Lowell’s monthly fun social visibility event! At 6:30pm, join us at the island in front of City Hall to stand in solidarity peacefully and joyfully. Bring signs! We will also have some sign-making supplies if you’d like to make one. Then at 7:30pm, we’ll head down to Lao’De Cafe (108 Merrimack St, Lowell) to have some delicious food and/or beverages, and get to enjoy each other’s company! All are welcome! Bring along a partner, friend, neighbor, and/or a local student!

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/428742667929246/

 

 

Unpacking Whiteness Workshop Series

Date and location TBD

Solidarity Lowell is organizing an Unpacking Whiteness workshop to help our white members understand how to confront white supremacy and their own personal biases, and learn how to be better global citizens. This six-week workshop is presented by Felicia Sullivan. Sign up using the link below to help us decide on which night of the week this will be held.

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/tPp98rQY9y9ztg4R8

 

 

SAVE THE DATE: Solidarity Lowell April Meeting and SLCC Election

Sunday, April 28th, 5:30-7pm, Christ Church United (UCC), 1 Bartlett Street, Lowell

Join us for the monthly general meeting of Solidarity Lowell, featuring the Solidarity Lowell Coordinating Committee election. Four people are up for re-election, and there is one open seat. We encourage anyone who is interested to come and either nominate themselves or be nominated. Note: you must be a member in good standing (have attended at least three meetings) and not be currently running for Lowell City Council in order to be nominated. We’ll also take a look back at where we’ve been and discuss where we want to go in the coming year.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1129620467219536/

Chelms-FED Up Postcarding

Every Tuesday, 9:30-11:30am, The Java Room, 14 Littleton Rd, Chelmsford

Fed up in Chelmsford? Come join us at The Java Room! We will be writing postcards for upcoming municipal elections! Information, addresses, and supplies provided, but feel free to bring your own supplies and info as well. See you there!

For more information, contact Hope at hope@solidaritylowell.com

Thursday Postcarding

Every Thursday, 9-11am, Panera Bread, 2 Cornerstone Square, Westford

Join your postcarding friends from Indivisible Westford Progressive Massachusetts and Solidarity Lowell to write issue-based postcards to our reps and write directly to voters for an upcoming election! Join us every Thursday!

For more information, contact Hope at hope@solidaritylowell.com

 

Help with Sanctuary

Assisting our immigrant community is one of the most important things you can possibly do. Solidarity Lowell is part of the Merrimack Valley Interfaith Sanctuary Network, which helps provide a place to stay for immigrants at immediate risk of deportation. If you are interested in helping out with local sanctuary efforts, either with accompaniment, food, laundry, or otherwise, please email Solidarity Lowell’s Volunteer Coordinator at marissa@solidaritylowell.com. Training is provided. You can also donate to the cause here: http://www.merrimackvalleyproject.org/donate-1/ (please write “sanctuary” in the “special notes” part of the donation form). Also, since the sanctuary space was empty for so long, the MVISN decided to open it up to asylum-seekers, and we have a guest there currently. If you’d like to help with his living expenses, please donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/help-marius-stay-and-fight-for-asylum-in-the-usa?fbclid=IwAR3LDRCxbnncLMXBTul7dhAS73nc7mQHoNSMxrh8FfkYVdKlqs2Kp129liU

More information and to sign up for training: marissa@solidaritylowell.com

State

Jericho Walk at Burlington ICE Office

Tuesday, April 16th, 1-2pm, 1000 District Ave, Burlington

Join us for our monthly Jericho Walk at the ICE office in Burlington, MA. The Jericho Walk is a silent interfaith prayer and act of solidarity. The walk draws inspiration from the Battle of Jericho, in which the community marched around the city of Jericho seven times, causing the city walls to fall. The Jericho Walk of today is a silent, peaceful, and prayerful walk to bring down the walls of our unjust immigration system and is open to people of all or no faiths. Please bring signs calling for just treatment of those who are caught in our broken immigration system.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1152620201611726/

Our Taxes, Our Choices: Tax Day Demonstration

Wednesday, April 17th, 4:30-8pm, Upham’s Corner Health Center, 415 Columbia Rd, Boston

Wars, military spending and tax cuts for the rich are hurting our communities and destroying the planet! At least 60% of annual US “Discretionary Spending” goes directly to the Pentagon to finance wars and military spending; the Trump tax cuts overwhelmingly favor the wealthy and corporations while limiting potential spending that will benefit our communities. We say: NO to excessive military spending, NO to tax cuts for the rich, NO to nuclear weapons, NO to military bases all over the world, and NO to war. We say YES to HOUSING, YES to EDUCATION, YES to HEALTH CARE, YES to JOBS, and YES to COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE!

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/254096648829154/

 

 

 

Posted by Greg in Rapid Response Team

SOLIDARITY LOWELL RAPID RESPONSE TEAM ACTION LIST FOR 4/5/19

Local

First Planning Meeting for Cultural Exchange Potluck 2019

Monday, April 8th, 6:30-8pm, Eliot Presbyterian Church, 273 Summer Street, Lowell

Join the Solidarity Lowell Immigrant Rights Committee to help plan this year’s Cultural Exchange Potluck, part of Welcoming Week in Lowell. Feel free to bring guests!

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/424543331631612/
 

My Humility/Our Humanity: Overcoming Obstacles at the Welcoming Table

Sunday, April 7th, 3-6:30pm, First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 2 Westford St, Chelmsford

Join the Greater Lowell Interfaith Leadership Alliance (GLILA) at their annual interfaith gathering against violence. At 3pm, gather to share stories and participate in activities and discussion. Then at 4:45pm, join in celebration, song, prayer, and reflection. Refreshments to follow.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/573299936498753/
 

Lowell Naturalization Ceremony: Help Register New Citizens

Tuesday, April 9th, 9:30am-1:30pm, Lowell Memorial Auditorium, 50 E Merrimack Street, Lowell

Come join the League of Women Voters and friends, and help up to 1000 new American citizens register to vote. It’s a very rewarding experience!

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/275085066743553/
 

14th Annual Lowell Take Back the Night

Thursday, April 11th, 6-9pm, Lowell City Hall, 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell

Take Back The Night represents the earliest world-wide stand against sexual violence, especially violence against women. Take Back The Night events have been documented in over 36 countries, in over 800 communities, with more locations taking a stand every year. We have reached over 30 million people with our message of strength and support, and our commitment to ending sexual violence. Take Back the Night will begin at Lowell City Hall at 6:00 PM for a rally and speakers. From Lowell City Hall, we will embrace our voices and take to the streets to march from City Hall to The Middlesex Community College Library. At the library, there will be a closed-room speak-out and open mic for survivors to be able to share their stories.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/323542541595326/
 

Unpacking Whiteness Workshop Series

Date and location TBD

Solidarity Lowell is organizing an Unpacking Whiteness workshop to help our white members understand how to confront white supremacy and their own personal biases, and learn how to be better global citizens. This six-week workshop is presented by Felicia Sullivan. Sign up using the link below to help us decide on which night of the week this will be held.

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/tPp98rQY9y9ztg4R8
 

SAVE THE DATE: Solidarity Lowell April Meeting and Coordinating Committee Election

Sunday, April 28th, 5:30-7pm, Christ Church United (UCC), 1 Bartlett Street, Lowell

Join us for the monthly general meeting of Solidarity Lowell, featuring the Solidarity Lowell Coordinating Committee election. Four people are up for re-election, and there is one open seat. We encourage anyone who is interested to come and either nominate themselves or be nominated. Note: you must be a member in good standing (have attended at least three meetings) and not be currently running for Lowell City Council in order to be nominated. We’ll also take a look back at where we’ve been and discuss where we want to go in the coming year.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1129620467219536/

Chelms-FED Up Postcarding

Every Tuesday, 9:30-11:30am, The Java Room, 14 Littleton Rd, Chelmsford

Fed up in Chelmsford? Come join us at The Java Room! We will be writing postcards for upcoming municipal elections! Information, addresses, and supplies provided, but feel free to bring your own supplies and info as well. See you there!

For more information, contact Hope at hope@solidaritylowell.com

Thursday Postcarding

Every Thursday, 9-11am, Panera Bread, 2 Cornerstone Square, Westford

Join your postcarding friends from Indivisible Westford Progressive Massachusetts and Solidarity Lowell to write issue-based postcards to our reps and write directly to voters for an upcoming election! Join us every Thursday!

For more information, contact Hope at hope@solidaritylowell.com

 

Help with Sanctuary

Assisting our immigrant community is one of the most important things you can possibly do. Solidarity Lowell is part of the Merrimack Valley Interfaith Sanctuary Network, which helps provide a place to stay for immigrants at immediate risk of deportation. If you are interested in helping out with local sanctuary efforts, either with accompaniment, food, laundry, or otherwise, please email Solidarity Lowell’s Volunteer Coordinator at marissa@solidaritylowell.com. Training is provided. You can also donate to the cause here: http://www.merrimackvalleyproject.org/donate-1/ (please write “sanctuary” in the “special notes” part of the donation form). Also, since the sanctuary space was empty for so long, the MVISN decided to open it up to asylum-seekers, and we have a guest there currently. If you’d like to help with his living expenses, please donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/help-marius-stay-and-fight-for-asylum-in-the-usa?fbclid=IwAR3LDRCxbnncLMXBTul7dhAS73nc7mQHoNSMxrh8FfkYVdKlqs2Kp129liU

More information and to sign up for training: marissa@solidaritylowell.com

State

Bill Hearing for the Fair Share Amendment

Thursday, April 11th, 10:30am-1pm, Gardner Auditorium, State House, 24 Beacon Street, Boston

The Fair Share Amendment is a proposal to amend the Massachusetts Constitution, creating an additional tax of four percentage points on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million. With the the new revenue, Massachusetts will be able to invest in vital improvements to our education and transportation systems. Right now the highest 1% of income earners in the state are paying a smaller share of their income in taxes than any other income group. This tax will bring in new revenue and reinvest it into public schools for our children, affordable public higher education, and green and accessible public transportation for all.

More information: https://action.raiseupma.org/page/s/fsa-hearing

Take Action for Safer Communities

Please contact your state representative and state senator (find yours herehttps://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator):

House Speaker Robert DeLeo: 617-722-2500

Rep. Thomas Golden 617-722-2263
Rep. David Nangle 617-722-2520
Rep. Rady Mom 617-722-2460
Rep. Colleen Garry 617-722-2380
Rep. Tram Nguyen 617-722-2425

Sen. Edward Kennedy 617-722-1630
Sen. Michael Barrett 617-722-1572
Sen. Barry Finegold 617-722-1612
Sen. Jamie Eldridge 617-722-1120

A new Safe Communities Act (H.2573/S.1401) is before the state legislature. This bill would help restore community trust in law enforcement by disentangling local law enforcement from federal immigration matters and protecting due process for everybody.

Sample Script: “Hi, this is [Name] from [Address] and Solidarity Lowell. As your constituent, I urge you to protect immigrants across our state and increase public safety for all by supporting the new Safe Communities Act (H.3573/S.1401). The Safe Communities Act will protect everyone in our communities by focusing resources on public safety, rather than enforcing federal anti-immigrant policies. Massachusetts should join other states, such as California, Illinois and Connecticut, which have already taken similar action. Please urge the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security to advance the SCA and begin building a safer community for all Massachusetts residents. Thank you!”

More information: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/ma-safe-communities?ms_aff=MA&initms_aff=MA&ms=190401_Immigration_MA&initms=190401_Immigration_MA&ms_chan=eml&initms_chan=eml

 

 

Posted by Greg in Rapid Response Team