Local
Demonstrate, Drink, and Discuss
Friday, February 15th, 6:30-9pm, The Ladd and Whitney Memorial, 309 Merrimack Street, Lowell
Join us for Solidarity Lowell’s monthly fun social visibility event! Special local theme TBA. At 6:30pm, join us at the island in front of City Hall to rally and celebrate peacefully and make a positive imprint on the community. Bring warm hats, gloves, and signs! After the rally, at 7:30pm, we’ll walk to Big Poke (96 Merrimack Street) to have some food and/or beverages, and get to enjoy each other’s company! All are welcome! Bring a friend, neighbor, and/or a local student!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/313074082652480/
Campaign Training with Mass Alliance
Saturday, February 9th, 10am-2:30pm, First Parish Church United of Westford
This training introduces progressive candidates and campaign workers (paid or volunteer) to the theory and practice behind successful grassroots campaigning. Attendees will learn from some of the best progressive campaign operatives in Massachusetts. The curriculum is a condensed version of a longer, two-day training offered by Mass Alliance and will focus on the basics you will need for a Spring 2019 municipal campaign.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/932126153650940/
RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwuNSt0BxFNbeyTQ7H1hgyJGLW4j0Ini4ymHMZlQSAaeJ1Mw/viewform
Lowell Talks: LGBTQ History
Sunday, February 10th, 2-3:30pm, Boott Cotton Mills Museum Events Center, 115 John St, Lowell
Join us for a community conversation on LGBTQ history. Hosted in partnership with History UnErased. Free and open to all.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/309182863070728/
Volunteer at the New Lowell Justice For Our Neighbors Clinic
Wednesday, February 13th
Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON) is looking for volunteers for their new clinic in Lowell. They are in need of:
Clinic Coordinators: Coordinate clinic operation
Intake Volunteer (2-3): Complete confidential client paperwork at clinic
Hospitality (2-3): Prepare and serve light supper / refreshments for clinic
Child care (1-2): Supervise (as needed) young children during the clinic
Interpreters (2-3), as needed (Spanish, Portuguese, Other)
Additional volunteers will be needed to support ongoing fundraising, marketing and outreach.
If interested, contact pam-brewster@comcast.net
Lowell Naturalization Ceremony: Help Register New Citizens
Wednesday, February 13th, 9am-1:30pm, Lowell Memorial Auditorium, 50 E Merrimack St, Lowell
Come join the League of Women Voters (Greater Lowell & Haverhill Chapters) and help up to 1000 new American citizens register to vote. It’s a very rewarding experience! Before the ceremony, help table in the lobby. Then, enjoy the ceremony. After it’s over, return to the lobby to collect forms from brand new citizens!
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/550688542113887/
Develop Your Leadership Skills and Make Your Community A Better Place
By February 16th
Empower: Building Leaders, Strengthening Communities is an interactive nine-week workshop series presented by Lowell Alliance and Coalition for a Better Acre that provides participants with the knowledge, skills, and resources to help them create and lead change at the grassroots level. Workshops are Thursday evenings for nine weeks starting in March.
More information: https://www.lowellalliance.org/empower-leadership-program
Chelms-FED Up Postcarding
Every Tuesday, 9:30-11:30am, The Java Room, 14 Littleton Rd, Chelmsford
Fed up in Chelmsford? Come join us to write postcards to voters and to our elected officials! 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
Celebrate the election wins and shake off the losses with your postcarding friends from Solidarity Lowell and Indivisible Westford Progressive Massachusetts!
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. If you are interested in helping out with local sanctuary efforts, either with accompaniment, food, laundry, or otherwise, please email 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).
More information and to sign up for training: marissa@solidaritylowell.com
State
Civics Education Lobby Day
Tuesday, February 12th, MA State House, 24 Beacon Street, Boston
Last session, the legislature passed the civics education bill to fanfare and cheers. But the Governor’s proposed 2020 budget does not include the necessary funding for the Civics Project Trust Fund, which would implement that legislation. Join us to lobby our legislators in support of civics education!
Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdV2-HUDsiaQeW33oMXBe1HMOdOJ-lGQRrLJkih4xXU9S3u5A/viewform
Call Out Your Rep for Not Supporting Transparency
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
Please challenge, question, and chastise those who voted NO against the transparency amendments. They need to know that voters are paying attention to this issue and will continue to pay attention come next election cycle. If we want them to stand up to the Speaker on this and other issues, we the voters must stiffen the politicians’ backbones. They will likely tell you that these amendments would have stalled efficiency of house operations. The answer to that is to ask: “Since when does efficiency trump transparency, accountability, and informed voting in a democracy?”
Sample Script: “Hello, I’m [Name] from [ZIP] and Solidarity Lowell calling to express my disappointment that you did not support Rep. Jon Hecht’s amendments to make common sense changes to the way a bill is passed in Massachusetts. I was alarmed to learn that representatives sometimes are not given enough time to read what they are voting on and that so much of the process happens behind closed doors. I feel strongly that you as my representative should be making informed decisions, and time to read the bill and notification of who has testified for and against it are the bare minimum. I also find it outrageous that some of the votes you take in my name – those in committee – are not available for me to see. In the future, I hope you will support increased transparency and accountability in the legislature. Thank you!”
More information: https://www.indivisible-ma.org/newsletter
Write a Letter to the Editor in Support of Common Sense Transparency
Last week, the Massachusetts House voted down three common sense transparency amendments to its rules package. These amendments were simple, good government proposals, requiring that: 1) representatives be given a reasonable amount of time to read the final language of any bill they’re voting on, 2) representatives be given a reasonable amount of time to read any amendment submitted on the floor that they’ll be voting on, and 3) hearing testimony (for/against) a bill and all votes taken in committee to be publicly available. Unfortunately, they all failed, as most rank-and-file Democrats voted with House Leadership against them. Please sign up to write a letter to the editor of your local paper explaining why the status quo Dems are wrong and why this legislation should have passed. If you’re an experienced letter writer, awesome! But if not, we’re happy to help provide you with the tools you need to succeed.
Sign up here: https://www.progressivemass.com/transparency-lte?utm_campaign=excuses_excuses&utm_medium=email&utm_source=progressivemass