The RRT (Rapid Response Team) Action List compiles action items from the week and upcoming events into one place. If you would like to add anything to the weekly update, please send it to Dee Halzack at dee@solidaritylowell.com.
Solidarity Lowell Events and Actions
Urgent Support Needed for Asylum-Seeker Marius
Marius has a job. Our network has committed to financially supporting him with $500/month through January. Solidarity Lowell is specifically committed to his support for the month of January. Please chip in towards the $500 we need to meet our commitment to him. Any amount will be gratefully accepted.
If you are able to contribute, please send donations to Marissa Dupont.
Donations via:
CashApp – $gollygee17
Venmo – @owlnerd
Please put “Marius” in the notes.
Solidarity Lowell Election Committee
Would you like to help compile our Scorecard on the City Councilors who are candidates for Mayor in the next session, which starts January 1? If you are interested in helping to go through minutes and recordings of past City Council meetings and record councilor’s stances on issues important to progressives, including diversity/inclusion/equity, affordable housing, environment, and more, please contact lisa@solidaritylowell.com.
Solidarity Lowell Holiday Party
Saturday January 1, 4pm – 7pm
In person event – 52 Lawrence Drive, Lowell
Plans are under way now. Watch for more details.
Calling All White People Diversity Workshop
4 sessions beginning Friday, January 21, 6:30pm
Sounds weird doesn’t it? Doesn’t it seem really impolite to point out race – at least among us White people?
But it’s something we know affects every aspect of our lives, so Solidarity Lowell is giving the Unpacking Whiteness Workshop again starting Friday evening January 21st.
This is not your mother’s diversity workshop.
I – Win Flint – have facilitated this several times with national audiences. The participants are typically progressive and well educated – like you. And so many walk away saying “I had no idea” or “Why was I not taught this in college?”
This will be a place to reflect on our whiteness and to gain some knowledge. The format will be “deep listening” so everyone has time to speak without interruption. It will be 4 sessions starting on Jan 21 at 6:30pm. It won’t be more than 2 hours. If we have a smaller group it will likely only be 1 and half hours.
If you’re interested – send an email to Win Flint (winifred.flint@gmail.com) for more details.
Local Events
Lowell Litter Krewe Cleanups
Avenue C Sweep
Saturday, December 18, 9am-12pm
Meet at Avenue C
Other Events
Important Call to Action: Community Response to Homelessness
Friday December 17th, at 3pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/98380735494?pwd=YktNSDhXUVE1MTdRRWREcWRQYVBZUT09
Meeting ID: 983 8073 5494
Passcode: 054892
Winter is upon us and with that comes a crisis – finding shelter for our homeless neighbors We currently have a winter protocol in place in Lowell for homeless individuals. However, due to a lack of space and beds, more than 50 individuals are on wait lists and unable to receive shelter on the coldest of nights!
The need is URGENT.
Community Teamwork is reaching out to ask for your help in providing space, and possibly volunteers.
Please join The City of Lowell, Community Teamwork, Lowell Transitional Living Center and Life Connections in one of the virtual information sessions to learn and discuss ways you may be able to help. Together we can ensure that there is a bed available this winter for everyone who needs one!
If you are unable to attend either session and wish to discuss further, please contact Barbara Warren, Division Director of Housing and Homeless Services, Community Teamwork, 978-654-5803, bwarren@commteam.org.
Collaborative Governance – How We Build Power Together
Wednesday, December 15, 12pm
Click here to register https://tinyurl.com/2p89e5a7
Collaborative governance, or co-governance, refers to a broad range of practices that elected officials, community leaders, bureaucrats, and organizers are adopting as they figure out how to govern together. Going beyond demands, co-governance represents a willing shift of power and trust among two typically adversarial parties. Instead of representatives and those represented on either side of a line, both see themselves as partners working together to build the world we want to live in. For an article on co-governance, see https://tinyurl.com/yckpy7jr
Hear from folks in Pennsylvania, Florida, Wisconsin and Texas. They’ll be discussing best practices, identifying promising strategies, and highlighting lessons from their on-the-ground experiences with co-governance in the U.S. The conversation will attempt to move beyond the dichotomy of “inside” and “outside” power to how those in government can share decision-making with movement partners.
h/t Susan Labandibar – News-MAGIC team
Saving Democracy Through Local Journalism
Wednesday, December 15, 8pm
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcqcu2grDktGtxtSNqpaYnZyKmKnVX8Pgyp
Presented by Secure Elections Network and The Media and Democracy Project, Peter Shaplen, a nationally renowned, award-winning journalist and successful business executive will discuss with us the importance of supporting local journalism as individuals and as a society.
Vigil for Racial Justice
Sunday, December 19, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
In person, Littleton Commons
Group: Greater Littleton Interfaith Council
State-Level Actions
Our State Legislators’ Info
House Speaker Ronald Mariano: Ronald.Mariano@mahouse.gov 617-722-2500
Senate President: Karen E. Spilka: Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov 617-722-1500
Rep. Thomas Golden Thomas.Golden@mahouse.gov 617-722-2263
Rep. Vanna Howard Vanna.Howard@mahouse.gov 617-722-2800 x7302 / Google Voice: 978-272-9078
Rep. Rady Mom Rady.Mom@mahouse.gov 617-722-2460
Rep. Colleen Garry Colleen.Garry@mahouse.gov 617-722-2380
Rep. Tram Nguyen tram.nguyen@mahouse.gov 617-722-2425
Sen. Edward Kennedy edward.kennedy@masenate.gov 617-722-1630
Sen. Michael Barrett Mike.Barrett@masenate.gov 617-722-1572
Sen. Jamie Eldridge James.Eldridge@masenate.gov 617-722-1120
Sen. Barry Finegold Barry.Finegold@masenate.gov 617-722-1612
(… or find yours here: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator)
Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02133
National Actions
Our Federal Legislators’ Info
Senator Elizabeth Warren: 617-565-3170
309 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
https://www.warren.senate.gov/contact/shareyouropinion
Senator Edward Markey: 617-565-8519
255 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
https://www.markey.senate.gov/contact/share-your-opinion
Representative Lori Trahan: 978-459-0101 / 202-225-3411
https://trahan.house.gov/contact/write-your-rep.htm
Representative Seth Moulton: 978-531-1669 / 202-225-8020
https://moulton.house.gov/contact
Solidarity Lowell is a volunteer group of community members of Greater Lowell working toward social justice by defending the human rights, dignity, and equality of all persons against all forms of hate and discrimination.
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Visit the Solidarity Lowell website: http://solidaritylowell.com
For more events not listed here, visit the full Events calendar: https://solidaritylowell.com/events/
November meeting notes: https://tinyurl.com/fxzzbnzw
November meeting recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQYfI7C4vdA
See recordings of past Solidarity Lowell meetings on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCohwMIkVdabQdDHsVTLIGsQ
For positive news visit Solidarity Lowell Upbeat on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/326202548419687
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Solidarity Lowell is a chapter of Progressive Massachusetts. Click here to join: https://www.progressivemass.com/contribute