GREETINGS!
We hope you enjoy this month's features as we continue to highlight groups and activities that educate and unite our greater community. With you and your passion we will continue to reflect the true meaning of democracy and community activism!
Drop us a line if you have topics you would like to see covered in future editions or have links to progressive groups and activities that you would like your fellow activists to learn about.
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Enjoy!
| Grassroots for America Newsletter Team |
Glimpse What’s Inside!
Click on a title to jump to the story below.
NEWS for the ROOTS
Support the Mothers of Fallen Soldiers, Calling for Peace on Wednesday, August 17 at your state capital.
Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a fallen soldier who is camped out in Crawford, Texas, and those who support her are making news each day and the crowd that is joining her in Texas is growing rapidly. People, from all walks of life, are traveling from every part of the country to aid in the call for peace. Cindy and her fellow comrades will camp out in Texas until either the President speaks with her or until the last day of August – assuming she is not evicted before then.
Cindy's request to speak to the President is not just a symbol of one mother's quest for answers, it is the quest for all who have been opposed to the war and those who have lost a loved one during it. Cindy's resolve has also provided a key to the lock that keeping so many who were unwilling or unable to speak up about the wrong nature of the war silent; they have born witness that Cindy's stand has made a huge impact on their lives. The Lone Star Iconclast, a local Texas newspaper, has been keeping the National public updated on the chain of events.
For those who cannot go to Crawford but wish to join the call for peace– Move On, True Majority and Democracy for America have joined together in coalition to organize peace vigils across the country.
To join a Peace Vigil in your area, or start one if there isn't one organized– please visit the MoveOn Vigil Page.
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Hold onto those on-line purchases, socially responsible online shopping is coming August 22nd!
Submitted by Joe Magid of GFA.
We at Grassroots for America are just about jumping out of our shoes with excitement about the new shopping Web site due to launch next Monday, August 22nd, .
Alonovo will make it possible for you to buy products online from companies that share your social values. At alonovo.com you define the social and environmental values you feel are important and see how different merchants perform in those areas using data from KLD Research and Analytics. The areas include labor relations, animal rights, fair trade, charitable giving, clean-energy use and recycling, among others.
Alonovo – the word alonovo is Latin for "sustainable change" – earns a commission of between 5% and 7.5% for every transaction and will donate 20% of that to a nonprofit organization of your choice. The list includes American Red Cross, The Sierra Club, UNICEF and Global Exchange, and yes, Grassroots for America (sorry for the shameless plug).
Move over Working Assets, alonovo is coming!
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MVMV's Blog Collaboratives offer a wide variety of Interactive Experiences!
Submitted by Charlene Johnston of My Vote is My Voice and Root Camp.
My Vote is My Voice (MViMV) recently announced an interactive Spanish guest blog added to its regular interactive guest blog rotation. This project is another collaboration between MViMV and Latinos for America (LFA).
Kety Esquivel, LFA Communications Director, will be guest blogging regularly in Spanish at the MViMV Blog. Kety's posts will be interactive allowing for an hour of Spanish dialogue to occur during her scheduled appearance. For those interested in learning what the Hispanic community has to say, Kety will return, at a later time, and summarize the discussion in English.
This Spanish blog is incorporated into the regular live interactive guest blog series that MViMV hosts. The interactive guest blog occurs every Monday night from 8 PM – 9 PM EDT. At that time, the guest posts and gives you an opportunity to comment. The purpose of these events is to allow the grassroots to ask questions and discuss progressive issues with the leaders of the Progressive Grassroots and other progressive activists.
For instance, on August 29th, MViMV blogs in conjunction the Backbone Campaign's Conversations with the Cabinet. That event will include a phone conference with John Cavanagh, whose topic is “Alternatives to the Wal-Mart Economy.” Past MViMV guests included Howard Dean, Jim Dean (DFA Chair), Greg Palast (author & BBC investigative journalist), Quintus Jett (African Americans for Democracy), Ralph Miller (Latinos for America) and many more. Background on MViMV Bloggers are available at MViMV Blogger Biographies.
Find out more about MViMV and our work at www.myvoteismyvoice.com.
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SCOTUS Ads from LFA
Judge John Roberts has been nominated to the Supreme Court by President Bush. It is anticipated that the Senate Judiciary Committee will be conducting its hearings soon.
We at Latinos for America are committed to ensuring that democracy is served and that the confirmation process is followed. A few weeks ago, we sought our membership's opinion about the resignation of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and the responses, which came in overwhelming numbers, reflected a desire for a democratic nomination process.
“I think it is critically important that regardless of who is nominated, that all of us progressives-- Latinos and all-- conduct the necessary due diligence, etc on the nominee before throwing our valuable support behind a nominee.”
-Catalina Ruiz-Healy
The members of the Senate Judiciary Committee should not give Judge Roberts a free ride. They need to ask Judge Roberts the tough questions that will help us understand his positions on key issues, such as a woman's right to make decisions about her health care.
“It is important that the Judge appointed to the Supreme Court has the capacity to deal with the Supreme Law in an ever-changing country. It is a time when we … seek the strengthening of our country and of our rights to secure a more healthy future for all.”
-Ana Nájera Mendoza
In order to support a strong, democratic nomination process, LFA has created a series of radio ads in English and Spanish to encourage people to call key Senate Judiciary Committee Members like Senators Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer and Diane Feinstein. Consequently, the bulk of these ads will be played in Illinois, New York and California, the states represented by these key senators.
We will be circulating these spots via internet for free now because we want to spread them as far and wide as possible, and we encourage you to do the same. But we need your help to put them on the air today! To contribute to this effort, please click here and make a contribution to LFA.
“I would support anyone, regardless of ethnicity, who holds independent and moderate views; who is experienced in analyzing and interpreting the law; and who will not turn back the clock on the many advances our country has made.”
– Frank Vigil
Help us send the message that the Latino/Hispanic community is engaged in this process!
Thank you for all that you do! – ¡Juntos Si Podemos!™ (Together we can!)
Ralph, Nathan, Kety, Steven and the rest of the Latinos for America Team
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State Field Briefs– a variety of news sent in from across the country!
City of Fayette passes the Social Security Birthday Resolution!
Submitted by Bill Monroe of Democracy for Missouri.
The resolution recognizing the 70th Birthday of Social Security passed the Fayette City Council today with the minor change of dropping the last two paragraphs.
Find out more about the Fayette Social Security Resolution.
Congratulations Howard County Progressives ...Special thanks to Harry Hill who dreamed up this event and recognition and spearheaded its passage. See you all at the party!
What Party You ask?
Fayette's Celebration for the 70th Anniversay of Social Security– of course!
Wed, 08/17/2005 - 6:30pm
St. Joseph Catholic Church, 306 S. Cleveland Ave. (Hwy 5), Fayette MO
Keynote Speaker – Gov. Roger Wilson with Wes Shoemeyer, Jeff Harris and other office holders and seekers. Catered Dinner – $10 per Plate Sponsored by: Howard County Democrats Write checks payable to – Howard County Democratic Women’s Club.
Tickets available at Boone County Democratic HQ (912 Walnut) or see – Sharon Himmelberg (Howard County Collector) Charlotte Frevert at (660)248-2224 Harry Hill at (660)248-9950.
We hope to see you there!
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Historic Day for California Progressives: California Democratic Party Grants Formal Recognition
Submitted by Ralph Miller of Latinos for America and Grassroots for America.
Sacramento, CA. Sunday was a historic day for California Progressives. The Executive Board of the California Democratic Party granted formal recognition to the Progressive Caucus, culminating a seven month journey from idea to success. Highlights along the way include two very well attended caucus meetings (more than 450 people attended the caucus meeting during the April Convention of the California Democratic Party), the caucus support for a Single Payer health insurance bill pending in the California Senate and a bill authorizing same sex marriage pending in the California Assembly.
The new, 600 plus member caucus, a great many of whom are DFA members, wants to move the dialogue in California politics to more progressive issues, to establish a home for the progressive grassroots of the Democratic Party, to support progressive legislators and legislation and to urge the party to support progressive candidates in all possible races.
The Progressive Caucus is seeking members to join its many committees and to get involved in it's work. For more information contact progressivecaucuscdpinfo@hotmail.com , and visit the CA Progressive Caucus web site!
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A Lesson Learned at the Democracy For Vermont State Convention
Submitted by Jessica Falker of Democracy for Vermont and My Vote is My Voice.
Democracy For Vermont has an unusual membership. We have a very strong third party in Vermont so many of our members are Progressives and many of them are Democrats.
So what happens when you put people from two different parties together to talk about politics? Democracy For Vermont was determined to find out.
We invited speakers from both parties, and invited both parties to table. Then we threw in a bunch of issues like health care, the war in Iraq, the environment, and election reform to make things interesting.
So what do you think happened? The two parties competed for the attendees' volunteer time and money? The parties critisized each other or blamed each other for losing elections? A food fight broke out at the potluck lunch?
Nope. Instead we learned that we all want universal health care, we all want to end the war in Iraq, we all want a clean environment, and we all want election reform so the candidates who share those values can represent us in our government.
We learned that we can concentrate on what we have in common instead of concentrating on our differences, and together, we can take our country back!
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MontoCo (PA) DFA Hosts Social Security Birthday Party
Written by Kevin Shaw, MontCo DFA
Well, the weather was favorable and provided about 150 regional activists and honored guests a great day to celebrate 70 years of a great program, Social Security, with music, food, games and liberal politics. It was pretty warm but not dangerously hot and the violent thunderstorms that knocked out power in parts of the region missed us entirely. And Governor Dean was with us in spirit, at least. Attendees were afforded an opportunity to hear remarks from several US Congressional candidates, Lois Murphy, Paul Scoles, Lois Herr, and Patrick Murphy. We are very excited about their chances to unseat Republican congressman next year and are looking forward to working with these excellent Democratic candidates to take back the House of Representatives in 2006. Ms. Murphy came within two points of winning her race in '04 in an unfavorably gerrymandered congressional district. Mr. Scoles articulates the progressive position on the issues well and always gets the crowd excited with his message of economic justice and fair play. Ms. Herr, author of Women, Power and AT&T and Winning Rights In the Workplace, brings extensive business experience to the table tempered by a supportive, compassionate nature. Mr. Murphy, an Iraq War veteran, former West Point professor, and criminal prosecutor, declared himself "the Paul Hackett of Pennsylvania" and will bring a youthful vigor to his race and the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. |
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Over 10,000 Take to the Streets in Support of the Voting Rights Act
Written by Alysia Fischer, PDA Policy Director
August 6, 2005--August in Atlanta is hot and muggy, but that didn't stop over 10,000 marchers determined to voice their support for the strengthening and reauthorization of the 1965 Voting Rights Act (VRA). The event was organized by Rainbow/PUSH, and the crowd was made up of various civil rights organizations, labor unions and peace and justice groups. Marchers and rally speakers spoke of the need to reauthorize the VRA, and addressed other concerns such as the failing economy and the need to end the occupation of Iraq. Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) was proud to play a part in this historic event as a co-sponsor.
The Voting Rights Act, created under pressure from the Civil Rights movement, has been called the most successful piece of civil rights legislation ever adopted by the United States Congress. President Johnson issued the call for this legislation following the unprovoked attack by state troopers on peaceful marchers crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, on March 7th 1965. Five months later, President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law. This Act ended the use of a variety of disenfranchisement schemes, including literacy tests, poll taxes and constant moving of polling sites in many southern states. It made racially gerrymandered districting plans in those states subject to scrutiny and rejection. Where necessary, it authorized the Attorney General to appoint federal voting examiners and observers.
Later additions to the Voting Rights Act in 1975 made certain that Hispanic voters had access to ballots in Spanish. What makes the Voting Rights Act so important is that it put restraints on states and counties where discrimination was historically proven to affect the vote. Removal of these restraints significantly increased the numbers of African Americans registered to vote, and the 1975 addition has also increased the percentage of Hispanic voters. In Alabama, for example, in 1965 less than 20% of the African American population was registered to vote, contrasted with almost 70% of the White population. By 1988, almost 70% of African Americans in Alabama were registered to vote, compared with 75% of Whites.
The speakers in Atlanta on August 6th recognized that the Voting Rights Act is not simply an historical document, it is still important and necessary. They reflected the broad range of Americans working in the struggle to ensure that all Americans have access to the vote. In addition to luminaries from the civil rights movement, nine members of congress were in attendance. Members of the Congressional Black Congress, including Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) were joined by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) in their call for reauthorization of the VRA.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) both spoke in support of reauthorization at the rally, and their presence indicates the Democratic Party is taking both the Voting Rights Act and the South seriously. It is our hope that paying attention to the disenfranchisement of southern voters is an indicator that the Democratic Party will be putting more time and resources into these states. PDA Advisory Board Member John Bonifaz gave a rousing speech in support of strengthening our democracy near the close of the afternoon.
Visit the Progressive Democrats of America site to find out more!
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Recent Verified Voting State Victories
With everything going on these days it could become very easy to forget about the voting fiasco which occurred during the General Election in 2004. Verified Voting.Org is working around the clock to keep us all from forgetting.
Recent Victory news from Verfied Voting.Org:
In North Carolina: After passing in the House by a unanimous vote (103-0), North Carolina's VVPR bill, S.223, returned to the Senate where the relatively minor changes the House made to the bill were approved on August 13. The bill now awaits the Governor's signature.
In Oregon: a voter-verified paper record (VVPR) bill, H.B.2169, introduced by Oregon's Secretary of State, Bill Bradbury, passed in the Senate on August 1, 2005, and is currently pending signature by the Governor.
In Mississippi: Secretary of State Eric Clark received objections from the public and from some counties to his selection of a paperless touchscreen system. The Diebold AccuVote-TSX recently failed a certification test in California due to a significant rate of problems in a mock election, including screen freezes which required re-booting the machines.
In Wisconsin: Wisconsin legislators have drafted a verified voting bill that would require electronic voting machines in Wisconsin to produce a VVPR.
In Florida: In a victory for Florida's Volusia County Council, which has been involved in an on-going legal battle centered around their up-coming purchase of voting machines, a federal court in Florida denied the motion of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) that would have required Volusia County to purchase unreliable e-voting machines.
In Vermont: Disabled voters in Vermont will now be able to vote by phone. Vermont will be the first state to implement Inspire Vote-by-Phone. The system's licensing, maintenance, and operating costs will cost about $110,000 annually.
Visit Verified Voting.org for more news and to find out how you can become involved in efforts to preserve voter integrity!
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GET INVOLVED
Oklahoma Grassroots Activist Training
Submitted by Linda Wade of Democracy for OKC and Root Camp.
Please join us on Saturday, Aug 20th & Aug 27th from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. at the IBEW UNION HALL: 1700 S.E. 15TH (SE 15TH & I-35), OKLAHOMA CITY, OK • 405-427-3366.
Democratic activists have worked hard to put together training sessions that will benefit all who attend. By using a collaborative of ODP, Root Camp and other resources, the participants will receive highlights of each of the following topics as well as a prepared handbook and a Training CD.
Topics covered:
Please R.S.V.P. to attend the Oklahoma Grassroots Activist Training. If you live in the Oklahoma City area you should attend this grassroots inspired and organized event!
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Pennsylvania Grassroots Organizing and Campaign Training
Do you wonder how Republicans always seem to have their message together? It's skills. They have them. Now its our turn to take back our country.
The solution? Create a team of trained citizens prepared to respond. Are you ready to be part of the solution?
Please join us for Grassroots Organizing in Gettysburg, PA September 10-11, for an integrated 2-day campaign training course specifically geared to Pennsylvania politics. Together with experienced DFA trainers, we will learn the nuts and bolts of running an effective grassroots organization.
We are calling on potential candidates, aspiring campaign managers and workers, and grassroots citizens just itching to jump into the political fray, to sign up and show up. The fee is minimal ($50 for TWO WHOLE DAYS of training), and the skills are invaluable.
For more information please contact Roger Lund or visit Gettysburg Area DFA.
See you in Gettysburg!
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The Nuts and Bolts of Grassroots Activism
Submitted by Dottie LeMieux. Dotty has more than 20 years of grassroots activism under her belt, and currently runs progressive political campaigns and trains grassroots activists throughout Northern California. She served as California Political Director for Dennis Kucinich's Presidential Campaign.
Learn effective political techniques whether you are running for office, lobbying elected officials or creating a "buzz" for your cause. Topics include:
Handouts and a bibliography will be available.
Read George Lakoff's Don't Think of An Elephant before class if possible. Widely available in paperback. Handouts and bibliography will be provided. Please bring a bag lunch.
Call (415) 485-9305 to register or register online at http://marincommunityed.org/regist/resources/index.htm.
Please join us!
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Saturday, September 17th, a public forum on National Health Insurance in Roanoke, VA.
Public Policy Virginia & Virginia Grassroots Coalition are sponsoring an event in Roanoke, VA, on September 17th at William Ruffner Middle School, (3601 Ferncliff Ave NW, Roanoke, VA) around the issue of National Health Insurance. The goal of the event is to inform people of the scale of problems inherent in our current health care system and about viable alternatives to the current system.
When people leave this event, organizers expect they will be more comfortable with the idea of a single payer system and able to communicate the advantages of such a system to others. This event will help make citizens aware that there is a solution to the fact that 45 million Americans lack health insurance and millions more are underinsured.
Please visit Public Policy Virginia to volunteer to help with the event in Roanoke or for more information.
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Texas Candidate Training Program
Hosted by Democracy for Texas
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Inspiration Point
Oklahoma: Many Shades of Red
by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz who has given us permission to reprint her writings. Roxanne is a long-time activist, university professor, and writer. In addition to numerous scholarly books and articles, she has written three historical memoirs, Red Dirt: Growing Up Okie (Verso, 1997), Outlaw Woman: Memoir of the War Years, 1960–1975 (City Lights, 2002), and Blood on the Border: A Memoir of the Contra War (forthcoming October 2005 from South End Press) about the 1980s contra war against the Sandinistas.
I'm writing a preface for a new edition of my memoir, Red Dirt: Growing Up Okie, which first appeared in 1997 -- it's about my life growing up poor, rural, super-patriotic, and Christian fundamentalist in Oklahoma, and still becoming anti-imperialist, Marxist, anti-racist, and feminist. I am trying to deal with the red-state (the South and Midwest) / blue-state (the two coasts) dichotomy that reared its head during the 2004 presidential election as a part of the post-911 traumatic stress syndrome. Of course, nothing is that simple -- some states have razor-thin majorities of one or the other, while other states have significant regions or cities colored opposite to the state as a whole. Yet, one thing is certain: Oklahoma, electorally, fits comfortably into the red state category, and has for some time, long before the signifiers were coined.
But, that was not always the case. "Red" in the title of Red Dirt predated the label "red" for Republicans, though it can be added to the litany of reasons I chose it. I was thinking, first, of the red soil in rural Canadian County where I grew up and where my father tried to scratch out a living as a tenant farmer. Secondly, Oklahoma originally was territory that the federal government established as a homeland for the Indians that it forcibly removed from the Southeast during the 1830s. My mother was in part descended from those "red" people. Third, my paternal grandfather was a Socialist and a Wobbly, active in the Socialist Party and in the Industrial Workers of the World. He and other Reds were victims of the Wilson administration's "red scare." Not only my grandfather, but also at least twenty percent of Oklahomans during that time were "reds," and many more were sympathetic. The Socialist Party won local elections all over the state, and a significant percentage of voters supported their own presidential candidate in five elections. Their activity and general pro-unionism in Oklahoma created the most progressive state constitution in the country.
By the time I was coming of age in the 1950s, Oklahoma had been for three decades a tightly run proto-fascist state, with oil and wheat keeping a small ruling class super-wealthy and the rest of the population poor and ignorant. That ruling class controlled every institution, including the media. Those of us who disagreed were expected to leave, and those of us who were able did so, leaving a hard core of Baptist and corporate control and a fearful population. Oklahoma's transition from traditional Dixiecrat Democrat to right-wing Republican, like the South as a whole, happened with the Republican Party's "southern strategy" of the Nixon era.
How I came to disagree can be attributed to two family secrets that were whispered in oblique stories. One was about my mother's mother being part Indian. The other was about my father's father being a Red -- a radical socialist and member of the IWW. The secret about being part Indian was kept, because it was both dangerous and shameful to be an Indian in Oklahoma before the 1960s. My father warned me to keep secret stories about his Wobbly father that he told me, because it was dangerous and shameful to be a Red at the time, the communist witch hunting time of "McCarthyism." Somehow, those secrets became the core of my imagination and identity.
This experience has informed me in assessing the present red-blue configuration, with Protestant fundamentalism, laissez-faire capitalism, and super patriotism linked with war being the ruling political ideology. Having grown up Southern Baptist and super-patriotic, I know what it is like to view the world that way, and how powerless I felt to effect change, but I also know how alternate information can be transforming.
(Some may wonder what would have become of me had I not moved to California and experienced the "Sixties." But, people do not have to leave oppression to be free; they can -- and often do -- resist it where they are.)
It's amazing to me how many otherwise intelligent leftists and liberals of the two coasts believe there is a growing surge of voting masses in the South and Midwest that are reflections of Ann Coulter and Ralph Reed. Yet, some sixty percent of eligible voters -- citizens -- do not vote in national elections. And in polls, the majority of people say they do not want Roe v. Wade overturned, say the Iraq war is wrong, favor domestic partners, etc. Only twenty percent of the U.S. population claims to be fundamentalist Christians, surely a whopping figure when mobilized, but why blame the other eighty percent of us for the power of the right wing agenda that the Christian right offers? The results of the 2004 election brought out class hatred of the white working class that must be embedded in the minds and emotions of many liberal/left activists and gatekeepers. Thomas Frank's What's the Matter with Kansas? was embraced as an oracle for telling us about the dumb working-class white people who vote against their economic interests (Kerry's capitalism vs. Bush's capitalism?). Surely, some did vote for Bush, especially the aroused fundamentalist ones, but most of them -- like most young people, women, Blacks, Latinos -- did not vote at all. They just don't see voting as an effective means of resistance. Maybe they aren't so dumb after all.
– Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
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SITE SEEING
Family To Family Feeds Families Across the Country
Taking Root covered the Family to Family group several months ago and we are pleased to report that the group is continuing on successfully in their work to fight against hunger in the United States.
Family-to-Family is a not-for-profit hunger relief program for profoundly poor and hungry families in the US. The program, which is community based, connects families with more with families who have less. Each month the "sponsoring" family prepares a box of food for shipment to their own "adopted" family.
Additionally, each month "the community" of sponsors sends clothing, books, medicines etc. to the adopted community's food pantry for general distribution
F-to-F was featured in the American Heroes segment of the CBS Early Show, a profile of F-to-F was aired on Good Morning America and Pam Koner, Fed-Ex and F-to-F were named "Best of America" by Reader's Digest Magazine May 2005 issue.
Please visit the F-to-F web site and consider helping them help OUR country in the fight against hunger!
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NCLB Leaves Behind A Trail of Disaster Across the Country
The reports of the atrocities that are coming in from teachers, parents and those involved in academics are absolutely overwhelming.
One site which Taking Root has previewed before: Susan O'Hanian.org, has pages and pages of documented stories and facts which expose how flawed the NCLB Act really is. Overcrowded class-rooms due to closing schools, repeated testing which redirects time and energy to keep our children properly educated, and failed funding for all this non-essential work.
Just in case you didn't find enough heart-wrenching stories on that site we have another one for you.
NCLBgrassroots.org currently monitors how communities across the U.S. are addressing the challenges of the controversial No Child Left Behind Act. While the law's goals of improved student achievement and school accountability have been embraced by many, there is growing concern that NCLB's implementation and its emphasis on labeling schools as failures undermine children's learning and weaken local control of schools. Their Web site seeks to capture and convey the sentiments of the growing concern about NCLB by tracking related developments in all 50 states.
One can only hope that enough states across the country join together and break the ties to this poorly supported program and they can fix the problems it has created.
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Where do your tax dollars go?
The National Priorities Project (NPP) offers citizen and community groups tools and resources to shape federal budget and policy priorities which promote social and economic justice. NPP is a nonpartisan and nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization.
The National Priorities Project:
- provides data on the impact of federal spending policies for states, cities and counties;
- educates and trains citizens, activists, media and elected officials on the federal budget, the budget’s local impact and community needs;
- collaborates with national groups on federal budget initiatives; and
- facilitates dialogue and action between national social justice and security policy groups.
Read the NPP's recent publication which shows how the average household's tax dollars are spent for every state and 193 cities, towns and counties.
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Can You Envision a Civil Society? The Civil Society Institute Can!
Many of society’s most pressing problems have been researched, debated and inadequately addressed for decades.
Insight into programs that have and have not worked in recent years has led Civil Society Institute to a unique model for addressing society’s most pressing problems.
CSI's approach lies in the way they serve as catalysts for change, especially in five areas of critical need: kids and learning, health care reform, science policy and regenerative medicine, climate change and global security and economic change.
In each of these areas, CSI seeks out examples of creative thinking and activities already underway, including those of individuals, community groups, businesses and the nonprofit and public sectors. They create interactions between people, communities, government and business in order to link successful programs to groups who can use them, to eliminate obstacles to success and to encourage informed debate of the issues. They also support these efforts with strategic planning and, on occasion, funding.
Be sure to visit the Civil Society Institute!
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THE TOOL SHED
SPIN Project
In today's crowded media environment, organizations working to build a fair, just and equitable society can scarcely be heard. Organizations hoping to shape debates and shift public policy must embrace strategic communications to achieve their goals. The SPIN Project strengthens nonprofit social justice organizations, small and large, to communicate effectively for themselves.
The SPIN Project provides accessible and affordable strategic communications consulting, training, coaching, networking opportunities and concrete tools. Our skills and expertise are blended with our commitment to strengthening social justice organizations and helping them engage in communications to achieve their goals.
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The League of Pissed Off Voters– still going strong!
The League of PISSED OFF Voters is doing national voter-organizing out of New York City. Their mission is to engage pissed off 17-35 year olds in the democratic process to build a progressive governing majority in our lifetime.
In 2004 they built more than 60 local groups that organized 1500+ volunteers to persuade and turn out progressive young voters in 21 states. Their Political Action Committee, The League of Independent Voters PAC supported 147 local voter guides in 31 states, and printed 350,000+ copies in key districts. They helped win local victories, from school boards to state legislatures, and hey organized nationally-broadcast post-election hearings in Ohio on November 13 documenting voting irregularities to lay the groundwork for future election protection and reform.
2005 has been hustle and bustle for this group of committed activists. Visit their web site to catch up on their recent work and to find great organizing tools and resources for campuses or other targeted young communities!
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Movies as a great organizing tool!
Submitted by Todd Smyth of Root Camp and the Virginia Grassroots Coalition.
Activists in Virginia just had a great event showing the Wellstone DVD at the headquarters of the governors race in Virginia. We had a packed house and a lot of fired up people. It is a very inspiring movie. Perfect for ramping up the base.
The key point of the Virginia event was getting people to learn how to get to the HQ so they can find their way back to volunteer. We will be doing movies weekly to recruit more volunteers and help "keep it fun!"
I have put together the following list of titles you can use to organize and recruit, and build community: WELLSTONE the documentary (carryitforward.org), How Democrats & Progressives Can Win (winwithlanguage.com), All The Presidents Men, Fahrenheit 9/11, Weapons of Mass Deception (Media), Orwell Rolls in His Grave, Outfoxed – (Media), Uncovered – (Iraq War, Unprecedented – (2000 Election), Bush's Brain (Karl Rove), Control Room (Media), Bush Family Fortunes, The Fog of War (Vietnam,The Corporation, The Hunting of the President (Clinton), The War Room (Clinton), Road to the Presidency (Clinton), A Perfect Candidate (Oliver North), Hijacking Catastrophe (Iraq War), Going Upriver – John Kerry (2004), Staffers (2004), Path to War (2002) (Vietnam), Truman (Harry Truman 1995), A Bright Shining Lie (Vietnam 1998), American Experience – RFK, Primary (JFK 1960), Kennedy (1983), JFK – A Presidency Revealed, Thirteen Days, and RFK (2002).
Consider using this form of organizing to help gain new volunteers and as an effort to re-build community in your local area!
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ScoreCard.Org
Environmental Defense has developed an excellent tool, called Scorecard.org, for concerned citizens to learn more about what is in their air, water and soil, and who put it there. You can search by zip code, toxin, or company.
There is more information than you can absorb in one sitting about those who are the polluters in your county, what toxins are in your air and water, local superfund sites, and almost anything else you can want to know about the quality of your environment. The site also arms you with tools for taking action, like contacting your governor, representatives, and joining local action groups.
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GFA News
Looking For A Few Great Volunteers!
Grassroots for America is putting out a call for activists who wish to contribute your creative abilities to our newsletter!
In order for us to gather a full spectrum of experiences and stories we would like to build upon the already awesome team of writers we currently have.
All it would entail is a few hours a month and your desire to share your writing and/or editing talent!
Please contact Pam-at-grassrootsforamerica.us if you wish to become part of our team!
We thank you for your support!
About Our Newsletter
Newsletter Informational, Writing and Editing Contributors: August Issue
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VISIT OUR WEB SITE
Grassroots for America is a resource for progressive grassroots organizations across the nation, connecting groups and providing services, infrastructure and consulting to:
- Energize their ideas and bring them to life
- Connect with like-minded teams across the country
- Mobilize bodies of voters for active citizen engagement
- Publicize their projects utilizing a professional PR and Media team
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