RESULTS Weekly Update October 17, 2023

Quote of the Week

“Instead of fighting, Congress should refocus on the people’s priorities, not the political preferences of its members,”

– RESULTS Nevada volunteer Salvacion Vereen in an October 7 letter to the editor in the Las Vegas Sun

Table of Contents

• Build the Buy-in: Use Speaker vote as hook for taking action on poverty
• Join U.S. and Global Policy forums on Thursday
• Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Grassroots Resources

Build the Buy-in: Use Speaker vote as hook for taking action on poverty

Today the House returns to begin its search for a new Speaker. With only 31 days remaining to fund the government, crises in Israel and Ukraine, as well as a host of other issues to deal with, whoever is chosen will have their work cut out for them. The new Speaker will be pulled in 435 different directions, all with different priorities. That’s why your advocacy right now is so important.

Despite what cynics say, constituent voices matter. Politicians are sensitive to what voters want and what voters think about their performance. And with a huge election next year, lawmakers would be foolish to ignore the people they represent. That is your superpower. When you make your voice heard, you nudge things in a certain direction. When you combine your voice with others, that nudge becomes a push. And when all the voices do it continuously, the push becomes a movement.

What will you do this week to push the new Speaker in the right direction? Since September 1, RESULTS volunteers have gotten 75 media pieces published in 29 states. This is excellent work, but more is needed. If we want lawmakers to expand the Child Tax Credit, prioritize ending global tuberculosis, or expand access to global education, they need to hear from you. It is only in silence that we fail.

TAKE ACTION: As we continue our Build the Buy-in campaign, work to get more media published about the Child Tax Credit, the End TB Now Act, and the READ Act Reauthorization. Use the search for a new House Speaker as your hook for letters to the editor. Tell readers that the new Speaker must ditch the partisan fights and work to pass meaningful legislation on these important issues. Once you get published, please send a copy of your published media to relevant aides in your congressional offices (and please let us know too) . If you have questions, please contact RESULTS staff for assistance.

Here are some tips to help you get more media over the next week.

1. Don’t stop at one. When you submit a letter, start working on your next one. If you don’t get printed, keep sending them in. If you do get printed, keep sending them in.
2. Try other media outlets. We tend to submit media to the closest paper. That’s good, but other papers in your state (and even other states) are also looking for good content. Look for other papers to submit to, especially in rural areas. If you are not sure what papers are out there, Wikipedia has a list of newspapers by state.
3. Encourage others to submit. Ask other people to submit media as well – members of your local RESULTS group, friends, family, and colleagues. Recently, a RESULTS staff person asked her dad to submit a letter to the editor – his first one ever – and he got printed! Now, he wants to do more. Getting media can be infectious. Share the experience.
4. Submit in other states. As part of the Build the Buy-in campaign, you’ve gotten published media in 29 states. If you want to expand your reach, submit in states where we have no published media. Sometimes papers will print out-of-state authors. Even better, offer to help someone in one of those states submit their own letter (using our online media alerts makes it easy). Be sure to celebrate when they get published.

Join U.S. and Global Policy forums on Thursday

Register for our October policy forums to be held this Thursday, October 19. On the U.S. Policy Forum, we’ll focus on strategic actions volunteers in specific congressional districts (our “Tax Justice League”) can take to help get a Child Tax Credit (CTC) expansion across the finish line. The webinar will be particularly important to our Tax Justice League members, but it will be open and helpful to all volunteers. On the Global Policy Forum, RESULTS staff will provide an update on the global poverty bills we are working on and key actions to move things forward.

TAKE ACTION: Register for the U.S. Forum at 8:00 pm ET and the Global Forum at 9:00 pm ET today.

Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty

Listen to our “Who Deserves to be Poor? webinar. This past Saturday’s National Webinar provided an in-depth look at the barriers and harm caused by work and income requirements. The extended webinar featured a panel discussion on the historical context, policy background, real-life experiences, and harmful impacts of these policies in combating poverty. RESULTS Indiana volunteer and Expert on Poverty Kazmyn Ramos led an EPIC laser talk training on the topic (EPIC is an excellent tool for written media). You can access the webinar recording and slides online. Use what you learn to push lawmakers to seek equity and economic justice in the tax code.

Follow-up on the UN High-Level Meeting on tuberculosis. If you missed our special webinar, “Making an impact on the global stage: Behind the scenes at the United Nations General Assembly,” you can still watch the recording. See footage from the events and hear the impact of the powerful advocacy we did together.

New video on our work to end the scourge of TB. Watch this wonderful new video featuring Rhea Lobo, tuberculosis survivor and advocate, as she tells her story. Her recent advocacy in Washington, DC, and her clear call for us to listen to people with lived experience of tuberculosis will be inspiring motivation for your work.

Announcements

Virtual Group Leader training begins tomorrow. Are you a current (or even aspiring) RESULTS Group Leader? You are welcome to this four-part learning series to be held on four successive weeks starting October 18. These interactive sessions will get you in touch with fellow Group Leaders, give you practical tools for leading a RESULTS group, and provide some fun along the way. Each session will last two hours. Register today! Questions? Contact Lisa Marchal.

Join media office hour tomorrow. Grassroots media is a vital component of any advocacy campaign. If you are stuck working on a letter to the editor, need help finding a media hook, or just want to learn more about using media to influence Congress, join our Media Office Hour tomorrow, October 18, 2:00-3:00 pm ET. Come anytime that hour with your questions. Join via Zoom at: https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID: 936 6800 5494.

RESULTS Experts on Poverty program is recruiting new Experts. We are currently seeking new members to join the Experts on Poverty program. The program gathers a diverse cohort of advocates with firsthand experiences of poverty to push for more effective government policies to combat poverty. Experts receive training, support, and inspiration to become stronger leaders in the anti-poverty movement and help shape our U.S. poverty policy strategies and priorities. If interested, apply today. Applications are due November 30. We’re hosting EOP information sessions on October 24 or our November 7 – register and join to learn more. For questions, please email Keisha McVey at [email protected].

Nominate volunteers for grassroots awards. RESULTS believes in celebrating excellence in grassroots advocacy. The Bob Dickerson Leadership Award is awarded to a grassroots volunteer who shows extraordinary leadership and commitment to the mission of RESULTS. The Cameron Duncan Media Award is given to a journalist, editor, or grassroots volunteer for outstanding work on issues related to poverty in the media. If you know a volunteer, journalist, or editor who demonstrated these qualities in 2023, please complete this form. Nominations are due by October 31. Nominees and winners will be announced in December.

Celebrate new volunteers or share an advocacy story. If you have a story about advocacy you feel could inspire others, use our new online form to tell us your story. Also, if you want to celebrate the actions of a new volunteer, share about the experience today.

Attend an October 21 Regional Conferences. On October 21, RESULTS volunteers on the East Coast and the Midwest will be meeting for Regional Conferences. These events allow volunteers from various states to meet, get to know each other, and get trained. The October conference will take place in St. Louis, MO, Winchester, VA, and Hickory, NC. If you live near any of these cities, plan to attend. All are welcome. See the Upcoming Events below for details and registration links.

Apply for the RESULTS Fellowship. If you know someone aged 20-35 who wants to harness their political power, sharpen skills, and take action on important issues, invite them to apply for the RESULTS Fellowship.  RESULTS Fellows advocate at the intersections of poverty and anti-oppression and learn how to work with the media, their communities, and policymakers to create change. The application is open and extended through November 15. For more information, e-mail us at [email protected].

Upcoming Events

Congressional schedule: The House and Senate are in session this week.

Typically, registration ends one hour prior to the start of all webinars and trainings.

Tuesday, October 17: U.S. Poverty Free Agents, 1:00 pm and 8:00 pm ET. Contact Jos Linn for more information.

Tuesday, October 17: Together Women Rise/RESULTS Advocacy Chapter, 8:30 pm ET. Learn more.  

Tuesday, October 17: New Advocate Orientation, 8:30 pm ET. Register today.

Wednesday, October 18: Action Network Managers webinar, 12:30 pm and 8:00 pm ET. (Choose your time.) Join the 12:30 pm ET session at https://results.zoom.us/j/93288388695. Join the 8:00 pm ET session at https://results.zoom.us/j/91531456676. No registration required.

Wednesday, October 18: Media Office Hour, 2:00 pm ET. Join via Zoom at https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 936 6800 5494. No registration required.

Wednesday, October 18: Group Leader Training Series, 8:00 pm ET. Register today for this special 4-week series. Each session is two hours.

Thursday, October 19: U.S. Poverty Policy Forum, 8:00 pm ET. Register today.  

Thursday, October 19: Global Poverty Policy Forum, 9:00 pm ET. Register today.  

Friday, October 20: Anti-oppression Learning Community Meeting, 12:00 pm ET. Register today for this 90-minute conversation.

Saturday, October 21: RESULTS Midwest Regional Conference, 10:00am-4:00 pm CT. Parkway United Church of Christ, 2841 N. Ballas Road, St. Louis MO. Contact Jos Linn if you would like to attend.

Saturday, October 21: RESULTS Capital Region Conference, 10:00am-4:00pm ET. Rotunda of the Health and Life Sciences Building at Shenandoah University 720 Wade Miller Dr., Winchester, VA. Register online to confirm your attendance: https://bit.ly/CapRegionConference.

Saturday, October 21: RESULTS Western and Central NC Fall Advocacy Social, 12:00 – 2:00 pm ET. Patrick Beaver Memorial Library, 375 3rd St NE, Second Floor, Hickory, NC. Register for the social today.

Monday, October 23: Global Poverty Free Agents, 7:00 pm ET. Contact Lisa Marchal for more information.

Tuesday, October 24: Experts on Poverty Information Session, 12:00 pm ET. Registration is open.

Wednesday, November 1: New Advocate Orientation, 12:00 pm ET. Register for this orientation today.

Saturday, November 4: National Webinar, 1:00 pm ET. Register for the webinar and join us!

Tuesday, November 7: Experts on Poverty Information Session, 8:00 pm ET. Register today to learn more about this impactful cohort.

Thursday, November 9: Oppression – The Missing Perspectives, 12:00 pm ET. Register for this more advanced-level 90-minute anti-oppression training.

Thursday, November 9: Event Planning and Outreach Office Hours, 2:00 pm ET. Drop in at any time to https://results.zoom.us/j/98524229370 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 985 2422 9370.

Grassroots Resources

Learn about the RESULTS Experts on Poverty.

Find actions and volunteer resources on our Volunteers Hub, including our anti-oppression resources. To join the RESULTS listserv for more RESULTS conversation, send an email to [email protected].

Remember to please report your recent advocacy successes in lobby meetings, media, and outreach activities. Also, use our Volunteer Information Form to add or edit volunteer info and to sign up for updates and alerts.

If you have a story about advocacy you feel could inspire others, use our new online form to tell us your story. Also, if you want to celebrate the actions of a new volunteer, sharing about the experience today.

If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for the RESULTS/REF Board, please e-mail [email protected]. View Board minutes and Annual Reports.

RESULTS Staff directory and job postings.