Item 1. Ditch Spotify Because it's the time of year when Spotify users create their year-in-review "wrapped" playlists, there are several campaigns underway that tie the individual boycott – which might feel tedious, pointless, weirdly emotional, or all three – to a rewarding collective action. Here are a
Item 1. Deepa Iyer workshop I suspect that most people who read these emails are already well aware of 1) the role(s) you can and will play in movement/justice/grassroots/political work, and 2) your home base(s) for doing so (work, place of worship, collective, community space)
Item 1. Read and listen to Alice Wong The activist, writer, editor, community organizer, 2024 MacArthur Genius, and founder/director of the Disability Visibility Project died a few days ago. Some things to read: ➡️ Her memoir. With your book club if you have one. ➡️ Remembrances from Steven W. Thrasher (LitHub)
Item 1. TONIGHT Emergency call: Keep ICE Out of Childcare Centers and Schools. Related reading: Kyle Kingsbury's I want you to understand Chicago and Kelly Hayes's In Chicago, We Run Toward Danger Together and this Instagram slideshow.
Item 1. Take a moment If you have the luxury of taking a pause for a bit of ritual and wonder... ➡️ Learn why it's called the Beaver Moon (via wickedmystics.com): It marks the transition from autumn’s fiery glow to winter’s deep introspection, reminding us to
Item 1. Have a plan for AFTER Election Day. Maybe you'd like to join this 30 minute Working Families Party mass call tomorrow (Wednesday) night, for example. Or maybe you're winning in other ways. Just do something to take care of yourself and be with your
Item 1. Weekend wish That we access the antidote to despair, whether through... ➡️ an ICE Out of Home Depot protest ➡️ a Dia de Los Muertos #DisappearedinAmerica vigil ➡️ a local Get Out the Vote canvass, text, or phone bank Or whatever makes sense for each of us. Item 2. Food Some
Item 1. Halloween countdown Over the past decade, 18 year old Mari Copeny (aka Little Miss Flint) has done more for her community than many people do in a lifetime. Last week she posted: ...I want to purchase 150 costumes for kids that don’t normally get a Halloween costume.
Item 1. Weekend wish May we (those of us who have the time and space to do so) spend some time "speaking to people’s best selves, and encouraging them to lift their heads high and advocate for the things which matter. The people who matter." Loud and
Item 1. Today From GetFree: This Thursday, the Senate is going to decide whether to appoint MAGA sycophant Paul Ingrassia to lead the Office of Special Counsel, an independent watchdog group meant to prevent corruption and oversee discrimination cases in the federal government. This same person has voiced vile views
Item 1. Wish for the week Happy Diwali to those who celebrate! And kudos to everyone who took time this weekend to contend with the fear without exacerbating the chaos. May we continue to "Show an affirming flame." (Both via Chase Strangio's Instagram) Item 2. Quick
Item 1. Feed some helpers At the suggestion of friends in Rogers Park* in Chicago, a few of us just shipped a bunch of snacks to be distributed to rapid responders / anti-ICE patrollers. Want to be a snack supplier? I'd love to send another shipment and make it