“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
 – Mark Twain

Indivisible-RISE Actions and Events
 

Counter Social Media Disinformation*

*even if you are not a regular user of social media

We’re partnering with the Acton and Andover Indivisible groups on Action Hours focused on countering the widespread disinformation on social media. Please join us to help spread the truth or  uncover and report the lies -- or try both! We’ll train on each process (including helping you set up a Twitter account if you do not already have one). If you already are trained in the Tweet Brigade or Common Cause Social Media Monitoring, feel free to skip the training but please join us to work together.  Register here for Wednesday 8/18 at 11 am or 8/25 at 5 pm, and save these future dates: 9/1 at 5 pm, 9/15 at 11 am, and 9/29 at 5 pm. Review our Countering Disinformation Action List for other ways to help stop the spread and influence of disinformation.

In Person Action Hour Is Returning!

We are excited to be planning our return to in person Action Hour with a new approach! Starting on Friday, September 10 at 4:00-5:00 pm, and the same time each week, we’ll gather at the Congregational Church on Titcomb Street. As always, we’ll have postcard writing opportunities. In addition, though, we’ll have opportunities to learn, observe, and participate in phone banking, texting, and countering disinformation. Let’s pick up where we left off when Covid began, with even more options at this critical time for our democracy!

Don’t Miss Our September Meeting 

On Tuesday September 21 at 7-8:15 pm (a new time!), we will hear from two speakers whose organizations are dedicated to getting big money out of politics to help clean up corruption in government and ensure free and fair elections. John Bonifaz of Free Speech for People and Ayden Nichol of American Promise each will discuss what their groups are doing to address this issue, including working to pass relevant Constitutional Amendments and taking other steps to end super PACs and excessive corporate influence in our elections. 

We are still planning to hold this meeting in person at the Congregational Church on Titcomb Street with a Zoom option for anyone more comfortable participating from home. If circumstances are such that an in-person meeting will not be appropriate, we’ll change plans and just meet by Zoom, but we’ve been looking forward to getting together again so hope we’ll be able to keep the current plan.   
 

Learn to Be An Upstander: Stand up Against Harassment

I-RISE is proud to support the Women in Action Huddle of Greater Newburyport as they respond to the rise in hate crimes by hosting Bystander Intervention training by Hollabak, a renowned organization dedicated to ending harassment in all forms. Please mark your calendar for Thursday, September 23 at 7-8:30pm at the Newburyport Senior Center (331 High St), with a Zoom option. 

Keep up the Work to Pass the For the People Act (S1)
 

Contact Representatives -  Again and Again!

Please keep the pressure on:

- Call and email Senators Warren and Markey to thank them for their strong support and ask them to make it a priority to take up S1 immediately after their summer recess. Contact Senator Warren at 202-224-4543, 617- 565-3170, or by email here, and Senator Markey at 202 224-2742, 617 565-8519, or by email here. 

- Stress to President Biden and VP Harris how critical it is to pass S1. Do so by submitting comments at whitehouse.gov, calling them at 202-456-1111, or writing to them at The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500.

- Impress upon your friends and family the importance of contacting their Senators. Information and scripts to use for key Senators are here, and Indivisible MA Coalition has a useful toolkit here. 

For the People Act Phonebanks  

Common Cause is continuing to make calls to connect  voters in targeted districts with their Senators to encourage them to end the filibuster so that we can pass the For the People Act. Quickly reaching as many voters as possible is critical. Legislators believe that every phone call from a constituent represents the opinions of between 3 - 5 thousand voters!!  

Register for Common Cause phone banks here. Choose Wednesdays to participate with I-RISE. Feel free to join one of the I-RISE phone banks to listen, learn, and ask questions if you want to observe before giving it a try. Registration is preferred, but feel free to drop in to the Zoom during one of our Wednesday sessions.  

Time to Start Helping with 2021 State Elections!

No matter what happens in DC, we have to win the States! There are critical elections coming up this November - that’s only 3 months to help make a difference! When I-RISE postcard writing resumes in September, we’ll have opportunities to write postcards to Virginia voters. Meanwhile, there are several ways to help with upcoming elections:

Pennsylvania has important state and local elections coming up, including three state appellate judge races (and we’ve seen what a difference state courts can make when it comes to voter rights). Let’s help elect Democrats to these positions: 

• The PA Dems are sending registration forms to over 300,000 likely Democratic voters. Make calls to follow up and help people register!

• Data shows that low-propensity Democratic voters who requested a mail-in ballot in 2020 were ten times more likely to vote than those who did not. Text voters to encourage them to request a mail ballot.

Virginia is electing a Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General and House of Delegates this year. With good turnout in communities of color, this election will safeguard fair voting practices that Virginians fought hard to secure. You can help:

• Join Sister District teams to call voters to help two Democrats running for VA Delegate, Lashrecse Aird and Wendy Gooditis. Each phone bank includes optional training and is led by a veteran phone bank leader. 

• Join the VA Dems Voter Protection team to help voters understand their voting rights and requirements by calling voters with questions and answering the hotline. This is very rewarding work, which includes training and all necessary resources. Learn more and sign up here.

Community Events

Click here to access the Indivisible-RISE Actions & Events Calendar listing upcoming interesting and informative events. Things are starting to pick up more with the summer winding down, so please check the calendar periodically as we add more events and activities.  

Please sign up here to volunteer with I-RISE.
Choose among numerous options and devote as much or as little time as you prefer!
Every bit makes a difference! 

• Bookmark our Event Calendar for events sponsored by Indivisible-RISE and allied organizations.
• Find us on Facebook  and visit our website. 

• Bookmark our Event Calendar for events sponsored by Indivisible-RISE and allied organizations.
• Find us on Facebook  and visit our website.