Chop Wood, Carry Water 2/17

A dynamic universe

By Monica Canilao of @amplifierart

Hi, all, and happy Thursday!

Yesterday, on my every-other-week messaging call, I had the opportunity to hear an astonishing pep talk by a man named Maurice Mitchell—he’s the head of the Working Families Party and a longtime activist. Mitchell was there to talk about burnout, exhaustion, and demoralization—all things many activists and regular Americans who’ve been fighting MAGAism for 5 years are feeling.

I didn’t take notes, as I hadn’t known I’d need to, and frankly as soon as Mitchell started speaking I was mesmerized. But I did jot down one thing he said towards the end:

“Things may be bleak, but we live in a dynamic universe.”

We live in a dynamic universe. Meaning things are changing ALL the time. Our reality now will feel like a distant memory in a month, let alone ten. And our work, no matter how insignificant-feeling, is helping to change things, even when it feels like it’s not.

His takeaway: don’t quit before the miracle. AND…remember that miracles are the result of lots and lots of people doing the work.

But also pausing for rest. So that more work is possible.

I’ve asked for a recording of his talk, and the second I get it I’ll share it with you. Suffice it to say I was reminded once again that there are so many incredible people out there doing incredible work. We are truly on the best team imaginable.

And yes, we are tired. That is real. This is a “forever war,” after all.

But we are joined by millions of heroes. We can’t always feel them walking by our sides, but it’s true nevertheless.

I’m here to remind you that they're out there.

And that you’re one of them.

So let’s go make some change one more time.

Call Your Senators (find yours here)

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

I’m calling to ask the Senator to push Gigi Sohn’s nomination for FCC chair NOW! She is the right person for the job. Sohn is a super strong advocate for net neutrality, and personal and data privacy, issues important for every American. 

I’m also asking the Senator to make a public statement of their support. Thanks. [More info here and here]

[If GOP add] I also want Republican Senators to stop blocking the confirmation of President Biden’s Federal Reserve nominees, especially Sarah Bloom Raskin, whom I strongly support. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here)

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

I am strongly in favor of Members of Congress being barred from privately trading stocks while in office. I support H.R. 336: the TRUST in Congress Act and H.R. 6490: the Banning Insider Trading in Congress Act. Is the Congressmember yet a co-sponsor on both? [H/T]

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished 😳

OK, so here’s the thing. About a week ago I heard about a little organization in Missouri called In Purpose Education. I read that they were working to counteract the book bans happening across the country by offering to send a banned book a month (starting with Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye”) to anyone who applied.

Then I heard they were expanding the program nationwide.

So I emailed them and asked if I could do a TikTok about their work. They said yes. I should have warned them that this might lead to a lot of requests…perhaps I assumed they knew that. ANYWAY. I did a TikTok. It went wide—at this point it has 60K views. And a LOT of people requested books. Over 2K on the first day.

Now they’ve had to pause the program due to lack of funds. 😬 And they’ve asked me to fundraise so they can re-open it. They need 30K!! AGH!

Y’all, can anyone help? And spread the word? I made a tinyurl to their donation link. It’s https://tinyurl.com/bookbread.

Get Centered! 📚

DoTheMostGood is kicking off 2022 with a webinar called “Sustaining Our Activism with Self-Care.”

It’s on Monday, 2/23 from 6:30-8 PM EST.

Featured speakers are Congressman Jamie Raskin, Reggie Hubbard, (Founder of Active Peace Yoga), and Mike Podhorzer, Sr. Advisor, AFL-CIO (he’s also a regular presenter at my “secret” messaging meetings—he’s awesome).

This meeting is focused on anyone exhausted by 5 continuous years of struggle against authoritarian forces trying to break down our Democracy.

“We know there is still more work to be done, and our goal in this meeting is not only to describe the work but to give you hope and the tools to integrate wellness and mindfulness that will allow us all to continue our work with more energy and joy.” YES PLEASE!

Register here!

Win Races! 🗳

Join VoteRiders and the Texas Turnout Coalition for a virtual text bank ahead of the 2022 Texas primaries! You can help ensure that every Texas voter has the information and ID they need to cast a ballot that counts. Tonight from 6-7PM CST.

Register here.

Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.)

[to President Biden] [H/T] [Write to President Biden using the White House contact form or send a Resistbot by texting SIGN PRFXPI to 50409 ]

Hello, I’m contacting you in support of an end to offshore drilling. At a time when the climate crisis is nearing catastrophe, we must protect our public waters from the destruction of oil and gas drilling, which disproportionately harms low-income communities and communities of color. To protect the nation from catastrophic climate impacts, and to ensure this administration continues to meet its historic commitments to environmental and racial justice, I am joining climate and environmental justice organizations in urging you to: 

• stop all remaining offshore lease sales planned in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska, and 

• issue a new five-year offshore lease plan that includes no new leases after the current five-year plan expires this year.

Climate change is here and I’m scared. We need you to do more. Thank you.

---

OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk tomorrow.

Jess