Quote of the week
“Trump Accuses Voters of Trying to Meddle in the Midterms” – Article by The Onion
Member Meeting, May 6th: Lessons from Minneapolis — Organizing micro-neighborhood groups
Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6th, 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. via Zoom to learn from two longtime Minneapolis residents who have been part of the city’s now-famous micro-neighborhood groups. We’ll identify transferable lessons for establishing or strengthening community groups. The session will be structured around questions submitted in advance by participants. Please register now and submit your questions.
Call for Volunteers with Mad Web-Related Skills
Are you looking to leverage your expertise to make a big impact? We are working on important projects concerning the mid-term elections across the country, and need volunteers with the following skills:
- Email, calendar management, and content updates for websites
- Website content creation and research (written and video)
- PHP/Web back-end development
- CivicCRM/CRM
- Managing letter-writing sessions to voters in districts outside of Massachusetts
- Recruiting and managing volunteers with a wide range of web-based skill levels
Email the organizers at bdrs@newton-indivisible.org with your questions. Or jump right in by completing this form to sign up.
Democracy Theater
On Monday, May 11th, at 7 PM, at Newtonville Books, join the Massachusetts Chapter of Writers for Democracy for a new play. Their Democracy Theater Project offers very short plays open to all (downloadable) with the purpose of bringing history and the present together— and bringing community together. Discussion to follow.
Forum on the Threat to Free and Fair Elections
Join the Indivisible Weston Speakers Forum on Monday, May 18th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at First Parish Church, 349 Boston Post Road, Weston, to learn about the threat currently posed to free and fair elections and what to do about it. This forum brings together an expert on protecting elections and a researcher on the attitudes of Americans, especially young people, about civic engagement for a discussion about what could happen and how we can prepare. Space is limited. Click to learn more and register.
Elections Action Team
This week, in response to the Supreme Court’s recent Callais decision, which guts Voting Rights Act protections and enables partisan gerrymandering that dilutes Black voters’ representation, we are calling on members to channel their concern into concrete action. The centerpiece is the launch call for the Good Trouble Lives On (GTLO) Weekend of Action on Thursday, May 14th. Visit the Elections Action Team page on our website for a complete listing of ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE THIS WEEK to make a difference.
Commonwealth Advocacy Team
Reject data disclosure requirements disguised as protection of children! Last month, the Massachusetts House advanced H.5366, an amendment to S.2581 that would ban minors from social media and require everyone to provide identity verification before use. Requiring everyone to verify that they live in our state and are over the age of 16 before using any social media is extreme. Let your legislators know that social media bans on and mandated identity verification are not the solution.
Watch Kade Crockford, the Director of the Technology and Liberty program at the ACLU of Massachusetts, explain how we can take back our privacy rights, protect democracy from Big Tech barons, and pass agenda-setting legislation in Massachusetts.
Laughtivism Action Team
We are preparing to present as part of Newton Open Studios, on Saturday, May 30th, and Sunday, May 31st. We invite dancers, movers, and shakers to perform or to assist in other ways. On Saturday, we will present two Laughtivism pieces at 2:00 p.m. and then again at 4:00 p.m. Location to be announced. Email us for more info: laughtivism@newton-indivisible.org.
Newton Bridge Brigade Action Team
Sign up to help us reach our nationwide goal of messaging from 1,000 overpasses on D-Day Democracy Day (June 6th). We especially invite veterans and artists to contribute and participate. This will be the biggest Visibility Brigade nationwide action yet. We will engage millions while honoring those who fought fascism long ago on the beaches of Normandy. We are out at several locations weekly. Visit the Bridge Brigade Action Team page for groups, dates, locations, and how to join one of the local Signal chats to stay up to date on these actions.
Youth Engagement Action Team
We are starting to have success making connections with area schools. We recently participated in Civic Engagement Day at Newton South High School and helped with voter registration at Brandeis College. We are looking for other opportunities to work with other schools. If you have contacts at any area colleges and would be willing to facilitate a connection for us, please contact our Action Team Coordinator, and they will connect you with our Youth Engagement Action Team leadership.
Rallies Action Team
We will hold our 60th RESIST standout in Newton Centre Green at the intersection of Beacon and Center Streets on Saturday from noon to 1:00 p.m. We request that photographers introduce themselves before taking any pictures. Bring your own signs. Check out The Big List of Protest Signs for ideas. Contact us at rallies@newton-indivisible.org for more information. Registration is optional.
More opportunities to take action
Visit our Opportunities to Take Action page for a listing of important ongoing initiatives. The list is updated weekly along with our newsletter.
Contribute to this newsletter
To submit items for our Newsletter, please send them to newsletter@newton-indivisible.org and include an image if possible. Submissions will be edited for brevity and clarity. The submission deadline is Monday at 10:00 a.m. The newsletter goes live on the website and is sent to our mailing list on Tuesday mornings.
Please share photos and videos with our Storytellers Action Team
If you have photos or videos related to Newton Indivisible activities that you are willing to share with our Storytellers Action Team, please use our upload page to share them for use in our newsletter and social media channels.
Donate to Newton Indivisible
You can donate to Newton Indivisible to help defray our operating expenses. To donate via credit/debit card, click here. To donate via Venmo, pay @newton-indivisible. To donate via check (minimum $50), make a check out to The Indivisible Project with Newton Indivisible in the memo line and mail it to:
Newton Indivisible
c/o Larry Denenberg, Treasurer
31 Ripley Street
Newton, MA 02459-2209
Donations to Newton Indivisible are not tax-deductible.
This weekly newsletter is brought to you by the Newton Indivisible Executive Committee: Kia, Rachael, Larry, Pat, Erica, Karen, and David. To send a message to the leadership team, use our Contact Form or email info@newton-indivisible.org.