starbuck
Emerald
Posts: 12,464 Likes: 81,139
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Post by starbuck on Jan 21, 2021 7:10:08 GMT -6
Hey ladies! There's a lot of work to do in 2021. I know different people will have different priorities - racial and gender equity, criminal justice reform, gun control, climate change, LGBTQ+, native communities, and much more. Let's use this thread to talk about our projects, support one another, share resources, and ensure that we keep pushing in 2021.
I was thinking we could maintain a running list of resources in this thread, organized by topic, so that it's easy to find & share what's important to you. I've gathered up a few and will keep on it, but please share yours and I'll add to the list.
*****
Elections
Climate Change citizensclimatelobby.org/ - Focuses on bipartisan climate change action (negotiating the two sides to achieve agreement forward momentum) www.ienearth.org/ - Indigenous Environmental Network is an alliance of indigenous communities devoted to reducing contamination and exploitation of natural resources
Gun Control
LGBTQ+
www.thetrevorproject.org - Trevor Project is devoted to crisis intervention and suicide prevention among LGBTQ+ youth; they have volunteer & advocacy resources
Criminal Justice
innocenceproject.org - Innocence is dedicated to freeing innocent people who have been wrongfully incarcerated, and to bring reform to the system responsible for their unjust imprisonment www.schr.org - Southern Center for Human Rights is working for equality, dignity, and justice for people impacted by the criminal legal system in the Deep South. SCHR specifically focuses on: mass incarceration, the death penalty, the criminalization of poverty, and racial injustice. Lots of research and info here, and some volunteer opps.
Religion interfaithalliance.org/ - Interfaith Alliance champions individual rights, separation of church and state, and cultural and religious diversity. They value uniting diverse voices and individuals to combat extremism.
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Post by notblanche on Jan 21, 2021 7:59:07 GMT -6
It's a gubernatorial election year in Virginia, with a primary in June. I need to learn more about the candidates and decide which someone not named Terry McAuliffe to support. VA's general assembly is also in session right now through February, which I think is where I'd like to direct my immediate attention. dc2london can you share resources for state leg bill tracking?
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iruntodrink
Sapphire
Mostly namaste. A little bit fuck you.
Posts: 4,579 Likes: 22,616
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Post by iruntodrink on Jan 21, 2021 8:14:39 GMT -6
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jaygee
Diamond
Posts: 28,211 Likes: 219,382
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Post by jaygee on Jan 21, 2021 8:42:04 GMT -6
This is great. Thank you.
I’ve been starting to think about my next moves. But I’m resting right now. I think I would like to work on local issues as we start to recover from the pandemic. There is a non profit that I’ve financially supported for years that I would like to get more involved in potentially. I also have a longer term goal of being on the board of a nonprofit and want to start taking steps to make that happen.
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Rebel
Gold
Posts: 934 Likes: 9,437
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Post by Rebel on Jan 21, 2021 8:54:39 GMT -6
Love this!!!! I’m resting in January. I am BEAT. lol
But I told myself in February it’s back to business as usual. First up is our local school board election. So many of our members didn’t take Covid seriously and it put our teachers lives in danger. We currently have a VERY white conservative board.
We have 2 black women running for seats that are incredible and have wonderful ideas. I have already sent money, but Feb 1, rest time is over and I am going to reach out to them and see how I can help them.
I encourage you all to look into local elections - school board, city council, mayoral, etc in addition to the amazing resources above! We can have huge impact on our communities which directly impacts our children’s world views ❤️
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jkjacq
Ruby
Posts: 21,737 Likes: 94,324
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Post by jkjacq on Jan 21, 2021 9:01:05 GMT -6
A friend is starting a movement locally with Reclaim Idaho for education funding. Idaho ranks 51st in the nation so thats a focus for me. Reclaim was the push behind Medicaid expansion here so its established framework already. I'm also working with our local/state Moms Demand group and we're FINALLY having a meeting next week after non since October! And continuing to work with our district dem group.
I need to be better about focusing locally and making sure I'm putting my $$ there now that nationals is over.
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starbuck
Emerald
Posts: 12,464 Likes: 81,139
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Post by starbuck on Jan 21, 2021 9:10:08 GMT -6
I think I am going to focus primarily on climate change + biodiversity (incidentally, I need everyone on the west coast to plant milkweed like right now because the Western Monarch population has completely collapsed and is on the verge of extinction).
I also want to support organizations that fight to expand voting access and restore voting rights. Now is the time to lay groundwork to ensure we aren't having these fights a few months before elections are happening.
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dc2london
Admin
Press Secretary
Posts: 61,573 Likes: 418,972
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Post by dc2london on Jan 21, 2021 9:14:21 GMT -6
It's a gubernatorial election year in Virginia, with a primary in June. I need to learn more about the candidates and decide which someone not named Terry McAuliffe to support. VA's general assembly is also in session right now through February, which I think is where I'd like to direct my immediate attention. dc2london can you share resources for state leg bill tracking? lis.virginia.gov
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Post by notblanche on Jan 21, 2021 9:15:55 GMT -6
It's a gubernatorial election year in Virginia, with a primary in June. I need to learn more about the candidates and decide which someone not named Terry McAuliffe to support. VA's general assembly is also in session right now through February, which I think is where I'd like to direct my immediate attention. dc2london can you share resources for state leg bill tracking? lis.virginia.govLOL at myself that it's that simple. Thank you for sharing.
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beaf12
Silver
Posts: 424 Likes: 2,056
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Post by beaf12 on Jan 21, 2021 9:17:00 GMT -6
I think I am going to focus primarily on climate change + biodiversity (incidentally, I need everyone on the west coast to plant milkweed like right now because the Western Monarch population has completely collapsed and is on the verge of extinction). I also want to support organizations that fight to expand voting access and restore voting rights. Now is the time to lay groundwork to ensure we aren't having these fights a few months before elections are happening. Milkweed! I think common milkweed is most liked by the monarch. If you transplant from another location, it’ll look pretty dead the rest of the season, but it will come back the next year.
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hawkward
Global Moderator
Loss, Infertility
Posts: 19,637 Likes: 123,085
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Post by hawkward on Jan 21, 2021 9:22:34 GMT -6
I’m trying to be involved in my hometown politics as much as I can from a distance (with the long term goal of moving back some day).
I have a five-ish year goal of being on the school board of my horribly awful hometown school. Does anyone have advice about moves I can start making now? But keeping in mind I’m approximately 1200 miles away?
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Post by sheilathetank on Jan 21, 2021 9:24:36 GMT -6
If anyone knows of a national paid family leave organization, I'd love to get on board. I worked with our state won to help pass paid family leave locally.
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sullivan
Platinum
Posts: 1,886 Likes: 7,292
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Post by sullivan on Jan 21, 2021 10:37:43 GMT -6
If you’re interested in Environmental advocacy, I recommend the Nature Conservancy, or local non profits. The SC does some great things, but is also not entirely efficient and sometimes makes some upper level decisions that are not always great.
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starbuck
Emerald
Posts: 12,464 Likes: 81,139
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Post by starbuck on Jan 21, 2021 10:39:46 GMT -6
If you’re interested in Environmental advocacy, I recommend the Nature Conservancy, or local non profits. The SC does some great things, but is also not entirely efficient and sometimes makes some upper level decisions that are not always great. Awesome! I added them to the resource list.
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jaygee
Diamond
Posts: 28,211 Likes: 219,382
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Post by jaygee on Jan 21, 2021 10:43:46 GMT -6
I think I am going to focus primarily on climate change + biodiversity (incidentally, I need everyone on the west coast to plant milkweed like right now because the Western Monarch population has completely collapsed and is on the verge of extinction). I also want to support organizations that fight to expand voting access and restore voting rights. Now is the time to lay groundwork to ensure we aren't having these fights a few months before elections are happening. I do not garden but MH does and he’s looking for plants as he’s slowly redoing our yard. I will put in my request. I did recently here that about the monarchs and it is very devastating. It’s been years since I’ve been but my favorite beach has a monarch habitat next to it and it was my favorite thing growing up.
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ktg
Moderator
Posts: 5,947 Likes: 32,962
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Post by ktg on Jan 21, 2021 11:53:23 GMT -6
I think I am going to focus primarily on climate change + biodiversity (incidentally, I need everyone on the west coast to plant milkweed like right now because the Western Monarch population has completely collapsed and is on the verge of extinction). I also want to support organizations that fight to expand voting access and restore voting rights. Now is the time to lay groundwork to ensure we aren't having these fights a few months before elections are happening. Looks like everyone just about anywhere in the US can do their milkweed part! monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the-monarchs/milkweed/milkweed-regions-seed-needs/
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cythe
Moderator
Posts: 2,718 Likes: 11,586
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Post by cythe on Jan 21, 2021 11:57:35 GMT -6
If you’re interested in Environmental advocacy, I recommend the Nature Conservancy, or local non profits. The SC does some great things, but is also not entirely efficient and sometimes makes some upper level decisions that are not always great. Nature Conservancy is my Smile organization!!
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dc2london
Admin
Press Secretary
Posts: 61,573 Likes: 418,972
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Post by dc2london on Jan 21, 2021 12:02:12 GMT -6
LOL at myself that it's that simple. Thank you for sharing. Haha happy to help
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starbuck
Emerald
Posts: 12,464 Likes: 81,139
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Post by starbuck on Jan 21, 2021 12:21:32 GMT -6
I think I am going to focus primarily on climate change + biodiversity (incidentally, I need everyone on the west coast to plant milkweed like right now because the Western Monarch population has completely collapsed and is on the verge of extinction). I also want to support organizations that fight to expand voting access and restore voting rights. Now is the time to lay groundwork to ensure we aren't having these fights a few months before elections are happening. Looks like everyone just about anywhere in the US can do their milkweed part! monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the-monarchs/milkweed/milkweed-regions-seed-needs/Yesssss I have a few coming in a few weeks.
When we bought this house I went kinda deep into trying to figure out butterfly gardens and it's surprisingly complicated because some butterflies only lay eggs on one plant, but eat the nectar of others. The balance of host plants v nectar plants can take time to figure out. Milkweed is kind of in a class of its own.
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Post by catspajamas on Jan 21, 2021 12:49:49 GMT -6
I think I am going to focus primarily on climate change + biodiversity (incidentally, I need everyone on the west coast to plant milkweed like right now because the Western Monarch population has completely collapsed and is on the verge of extinction). I also want to support organizations that fight to expand voting access and restore voting rights. Now is the time to lay groundwork to ensure we aren't having these fights a few months before elections are happening. Looks like everyone just about anywhere in the US can do their milkweed part! monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the-monarchs/milkweed/milkweed-regions-seed-needs/The previous owners of our house (in the Midwest) planted a ton of milkweed for this reason. I didn’t know and pulled a bunch of it out when we moved in. A neighbor mentioned it to me this past fall, so now I’ve got plans to plant more this spring.
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milano
Emerald
Posts: 10,914 Likes: 36,993
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Post by milano on Jan 21, 2021 12:51:19 GMT -6
I thought I would want a break once we finally got Him out of office but I feel so motivated to keep the momentum going!
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stringy
Opal
Posts: 8,306 Likes: 22,157
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Post by stringy on Jan 21, 2021 15:52:31 GMT -6
I'm working local for now. I think I mentioned here so local race-related attacks on our school committee members - so there is momentum around the issue here in our mostly white and Asian town. I'm helping the school district's parent advisory committee on DEI make surveys for parents and teachers - since that's what I do. The bureaucracy is astounding though.
Two local select board members are up for re-election and need to go, so I should see who (if anyone) is running against them.
This last 9 months or so has really opened my eyes up to local stuff and how it is where you can make a difference and how easily it flies under everyone's radar.
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Post by bunnyfungo on Jan 21, 2021 16:04:26 GMT -6
Yesssss I have a few coming in a few weeks.
When we bought this house I went kinda deep into trying to figure out butterfly gardens and it's surprisingly complicated because some butterflies only lay eggs on one plant, but eat the nectar of others. The balance of host plants v nectar plants can take time to figure out. Milkweed is kind of in a class of its own.
Hello, monarch nerd here. I would check out the Monarch Joint Venture in addition to Monarch Watch. You want to make sure you plant the right variety of milkweed for your area. For example, I have common milkweed in my yard here in Wisconsin, but I had honeyvine in Nebraska. I’m in a few monarch groups so if anyone has questions I can usually find resources pretty quickly.
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Sundae
Builder
Graphics Guru
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Post by Sundae on Jan 21, 2021 16:55:08 GMT -6
I really want to hire someone to come and replant my entire yard in natives that I don't need to do anything with. I've tried. I suck at it. And we had a shitty lawn mowing crew that "pulled our weeds", ie. pulled out three monarch kits I'd planted a few weeks earlier. The Wild Ones are a good resource for those that are interested - check out your local chapter. Our entire lot is under 4,000 SF, so it shouldn't need much.
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iruntodrink
Sapphire
Mostly namaste. A little bit fuck you.
Posts: 4,579 Likes: 22,616
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Post by iruntodrink on Jan 21, 2021 17:18:28 GMT -6
I'm running for public office. My intelligence has never been more validated by those I have seen (and continue to see) these past few years.
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jkjacq
Ruby
Posts: 21,737 Likes: 94,324
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Post by jkjacq on Jan 21, 2021 17:24:13 GMT -6
I'm running for public office. My intelligence has never been more validated by those I have seen (and continue to see) these past few years. and what can we do to help?
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Post by bunnyfungo on Jan 21, 2021 17:34:55 GMT -6
I'm running for public office. My intelligence has never been more validated by those I have seen (and continue to see) these past few years. This is exciting! What office? How can we help?!
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richard
Emerald
Posts: 13,699 Likes: 128,724
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Post by richard on Jan 21, 2021 17:46:10 GMT -6
This is great. Thank you. I’ve been starting to think about my next moves. But I’m resting right now. I think I would like to work on local issues as we start to recover from the pandemic. There is a non profit that I’ve financially supported for years that I would like to get more involved in potentially. I also have a longer term goal of being on the board of a nonprofit and want to start taking steps to make that happen. Being on a non-profit board is one of my longer-term goals too. Board/committee support is my lane so I'm happy to provide any insight I can.
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richard
Emerald
Posts: 13,699 Likes: 128,724
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Post by richard on Jan 21, 2021 17:50:30 GMT -6
I'm lucky that I made a job switch last year that allows me to address issues that are really important to me in my day job. But I'm trying to proactively support BIPOC women as political candidates outside of work too. So far this has been monetary support for local candidates but I'm looking to broaden my involvement moving forward to get more involved in campaigns or volunteering with non-profits that support these candidates.
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starbuck
Emerald
Posts: 12,464 Likes: 81,139
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Post by starbuck on Jan 21, 2021 19:12:31 GMT -6
I'm running for public office. My intelligence has never been more validated by those I have seen (and continue to see) these past few years. Time to change your user to irunforoffice Also, yay! Tell us more!!
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