"Feels good to lose your voice over something you believe in." 

- Tweet by Tim Ryan, U.S. Representative from Ohio, referring to his impassioned speech about H.R.1 given on the floor of the House, 3/9/21

Events Listed in this Edition

Join Us on Tuesday

Don't miss our meeting this Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 6:30-7:30 pm to hear about legislative developments and how we can help push for progress. We’ll hear about Federal voting reform efforts, voter suppression efforts by states around the country, and legislative developments in Massachusetts. We’ll also discuss how teams of I-RISE volunteers are helping to make a difference in these areas. Come join us on Zoom for an informative hour!

Cheers!

Our first Persistence Happy Hour was filled with laughter interspersed with talk about politics, home renovations, vaccinations, and more. Please plan to join us next month, on Friday, April 9 at 5:30-6:30 pm. We’re hoping the weather will be nice enough to start gathering outside even as soon as next month. We’ll update you on those plans as the date approaches, but please add the event to your calendar in the meantime! 

Special Postcard Writing Opportunity - Act Fast!

We have a special project to write postcards in support of the For the People Act (passed as H.R.1 in the House and now pending as S1 in the Senate), which will prevent voter suppression, end gerrymandering, and reduce corporate interference in our elections. We’ll be sending postcards to Arizona activists encouraging them to call their Democratic Senator, Kyrsten Sinema, to ask her to support this bill.

Please commit to ordering a packet or splitting a packet with a friend. Packets are $21 for 50 cards, stamps, script and pre-printed address labels. Supplies are limited, so reserve your packet now by emailing Indivisible.rise.newburyport@gmail.com.

For the People Phone Banks

Indivisible-RISE has partnered with Common Cause to run weekly phone banks on Wednesdays at 4 pm. We’re calling voters in targeted states and connecting them to their Senators to support the For the People Act (S1). We’re excited to be working together to demand bold changes to our democracy to create a government that represents all of us, not big corporations or special interests. Sign up for a shift here. We’ll start each week with training for newcomers, and you can get started calling right away once you have been trained. 

Deep Canvassing

Deep canvassing engages people in open-ended, listening conversations to explore their positions about certain hot-button issues like abortion, immigration, and climate change. Many grassroots organizations are using this approach to help open people’s minds. Alix Smullin of Swing Left North Shore / Cape Ann is developing a team of deep canvassers to work with grassroots partners. Please join Alix on Zoom for a discussion about this in-depth work on Tuesday, March 16 at 7:30-8:30 pm. Sign up here to participate and contact Alix at alix.smullin@gmail.com with questions.  

Spread the Truth

Indivisible has formed a “Truth Brigade”, aimed at countering disinformation by spreading messages that correct the lies. Every two weeks the Truth Brigade publishes a "Truth Sandwich," which is a three-part statement that starts with the truth, explains the circulating lie, and then reconfirms the truth.

We'll post each Truth Sandwich on the I-RISE public and private group Facebook pages, and we ask that you watch for those, and then copy and post each one on your personal social media platforms to help spread the messaging far and wide. If you would like to get involved, please sign up for the Truth Brigade / Proactive Posting here.

Defending Voting Rights

Last week, an I-RISE Letter Writing team leader wrote a letter to the editor of the Newburyport Daily News stressing the importance of the recently passed For the People Act (H.R.1). The letter encourages readers to contact our Senators and ask others to do the same for S 1. When passed by the Senate, this legislation will be an important first step in restoring faith in our electoral system, and it establishes minimum national standards for voting access for all citizens, no matter where they live. Read the letter to the editor here for talking points to use when encouraging support of this law. 

Activist Hub

Every Saturday at 3-5 pm, Mass Dems holds a weekly virtual Activist Hub at which people connect with other Massachusetts activists and participate in various volunteer projects supporting Democratic candidates and causes. You can bring your own activist project or volunteer for one of several opportunities. The two-hour Hub is followed by a social gathering. Register here for one or more of these weekly Zoom events. 

Make a Difference Quickly!

The New Georgia Project has launched a campaign to send emails to the CEOs of corporations that support voting rights in their commercials, but have also donated to GOP legislators that support voter suppression bills. Simply complete the form in this link, and CEOs of several Georgia corporations, including Coca Cola, UPS, and Home Depot, will get your letter instantly demanding that they stop funding those legislators. You don't need to be a Georgia resident, and it takes less than a minute to complete the form and send your letters. 

Turning North Carolina Blue

On Monday, March 22 at 2:30 pm, Rebecca Hart Holder, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, is moderating a conversation with an impressive panel of North Carolina leaders who will discuss how we can help turn NC blue. The meeting is co-sponsored by Swing Blue Alliance (a Swing Left Greater Boston program) and All in for NC. It will be the first of three monthly conversations with North Carolina activist leaders. Sign up here to join the Zoom meeting.
 

Protect Democracy Speaker Event

Force Multiplier is sponsoring free events where thoughtful, analytical, accomplished writers, journalists, and legislators share their perspectives. Their next event, on Tuesday, March 23 at 7-8 pm, will feature a conversation with Justin Florence, the co-founder and Legal Director of Protect Democracy, a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting efforts to undermine our right to free, fair, fully informed self-government. Register for the Zoom event and learn about additional upcoming events here.

Reinventing Democracy for the 21st Century

Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS) are hosting a discussion of Our Common Purpose, a report issued by the Commission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship. The Commission, which was launched by AAAS, spent two years engaging with communities all over the U.S. to explore how best to respond to the weaknesses and vulnerabilities in our political and civic life. Their report offers 31 recommendations for achieving a democracy in which active and responsible citizens participate in trustworthy and responsive political institutions. Learn more and register here for the virtual conversation with Danielle Allen, Stephen Heinz and Eric Liu on Wednesday, March 24 at 4-5 pm.

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.