RESULTS Weekly Update August 13, 2024

Quote of the Week

“I’m deeply saddened that our leaders would criminalize people suffering poverty, as if we were living in a Charles Dickens novel.”

– RESULTS West Virginia volunteer and Expert on Poverty Christiana Stalnaker in a July 30 op-ed in The Progressive Magazine

Table of Contents

• Election engagement – we have the tools; you have the talent
• Urge reps to sign global nutrition letter; join Thursday’s malnutrition policy forum
• Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Grassroots Resources

Election engagement – we have the tools; you have the talent

Currently, RESULTS is deep into our Election Engagement campaign, which runs through the November election. From making a legislative priority to educating lawmakers and voters on the issues to strengthening democracy, there are ample reasons for talking to candidates right now. RESULTS volunteers need little prodding to take action – you want to make a difference. It’s why we’ve had 40+ years of successes.

In advocacy, the challenge is not always motivation. We all feel passion for something. But feeling and doing are two different things. This again is where RESULTS shines – we break the advocacy process down into easy, manageable steps that anyone can do. Our Election Engagement campaign is no different. We would not ask you to do something without giving you the tools to succeed. For this campaign, here are our tools to help you:

• Election engagement guide. This helpful resource has tips on finding candidates and preparing for public events. It also has sample U.S. and global poverty questions to ask candidates.
• Election support office hours. Join RESULTS staff during our election engagement support office hours to get your questions answered. Each week in August, RESULTS staff will be available for two hours to talk to you. The next office hours are tomorrow, August 14, 12:00-2:00 p.m. ET. Find info how to join and other offerings this month in our Upcoming Events.
• National webinars. From July to November, our National Webinars will focus on election advocacy. From guest speakers to staff trainings, these webinars contain a wealth of information to help you make poverty an election issue. Preview upcoming webinars and find recordings and slides from past webinars on our National Webinars page.
• Website “how-to” resources. The RESULTS website has a plethora of resources for almost any advocacy situation. See our Lobbying How-To’s and Media How-To’s for step-by-step guides on taking action.
• Ask RESULTS. If the above resources don’t have the answer you need, reach out to RESULTS staff directly. We are happy to answer questions you have or set up an individualized coaching session. E-mail us at [email protected] and we’ll get back to you ASAP.

TAKE ACTION: Take action to make the 2024 election about poverty. Meet with candidates, attend public events, generate media, speak to people in your community, and more. The more we push poverty during election season, the closer we get to making poverty history. Use the above resources and others found on our Community of Change page (under “Make Elections about Poverty”) to take action now.

Urge reps to sign global nutrition letter; join Thursday’s malnutrition policy forum

Every four years, the host of the Olympics also hosts the Nutrition for Growth Summit. During the Summit, world leaders will make pledges and commitments towards ending malnutrition. If the U.S. shows strong positive pledging signals early, it will inspire increased commitments from others. This is why we are currently asking for signatures on a House Dear Colleague letter that is only open through August 29. This short timeline will help ensure the U.S. signals a strong pledge to fight global malnutrition when the United Nations General Assembly meets in September. Last year, almost five million children died before their fifth birthday. Malnutrition was the underlying cause of almost half of those deaths. The time to act is now.

In addition, please join our Global Policy Forum this Thursday, August 15 to learn more about the state of nutrition around the world and how your advocacy will ensure the U.S. plays its part in the global fight against malnutrition. The forum starts at 9:00 p.m. ET. Register today.

TAKE ACTION: Urge your representatives to sign the House Dear Colleague letter of support for the Nutrition for Growth Summit. We need as many signatures as possible. Will you ask your representative to sign now? Then register for the Global Policy Forum for the Global Policy Forum this Thursday, August 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET and learn more about this critical issue. Finally, use our August Action Sheet to take action and to support others to take action as well.

Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty

More Gavi resolution co-sponsors needed. The number is climbing! Almost 30 House members have put their names behind a resolution on Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. This is an exciting start, but we need more in the House as well as in the Senate. These key resolutions will help support the fulfillment of the Biden Administration’s pledge of at least $1.58 billion over five years at the recent Gavi pre-pledging conference. We are now hearing that the full Gavi pledging conference will happen later than expected, perhaps in early 2025. That gives us more time to build support for Gavi by getting more co-sponsors for the resolutions. Please ask your legislators to co-sponsor the Gavi resolutions currently in the Senate (S.Res. 684) and the House (H.Res.1286). Use our online action today to make your requests.

Take action on housing. If you are upset with the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass decision giving states and localities permission to criminalize homelessness, consider writing a letter to your members of Congress. Urge them to take action now to overrule the decision and to work on the underlying problem – the lack of safe, affordable housing. Use our new August U.S. Poverty Outreach Action to write letters with friends about this terrible decision. You can also submit a letter to the editor publicly calling on Congress to take action on housing.

Announcements

Learn more about the RESULTS Fellowship tomorrow. Every year, a cohort of emerging leaders ages 20-45 come together to form the RESULTS Organizing and Advocacy Fellowship. These emerging leaders spend 11 months growing their advocacy skills to end poverty and oppression. Fellows meet with lawmakers, work with the media, and engage with their communities to affect change. To learn more about this unique opportunity and how to apply, please join our RESULTS Fellowship Information Session tomorrow, August 14 at 6:00 p.m. ET. Register today.

Join the AO learning community call this Friday. Join us for our next AO Learning Community discussion on the importance of building community and nurturing relationships to create the world we envision, one without oppression and poverty. The Anti-Oppression (AO) Learning Community offers a brave space where no matter where you are in your understanding of anti-oppression topics, you are welcome. This community is open to any RESULTS volunteer. What better way to grow and learn as advocates and people than to do it together! The 90-minute webinar is this Friday, August 16 at 12:00 p.m. ET. Register for the webinar today. For questions, please contact Karyne Bury at [email protected].

Motivational Interviewing begins in September. Want to build bridges with lawmakers? Want to effectively talk to people who disagree with you? Please join us for our updated “Motivational Interviewing: Getting unstuck with your members of Congress” series. We are thrilled to welcome back Dr. Dave Christian, Ph.D., P.C., who has trained in Motivational Interviewing (MI) for years. In six monthly sessions, you will gain skills using MI for effective dialogue with lawmakers you struggle to move into action. These trainings include new and impactful research conducted on MI, so even if you have taken the MI training before, you’ll learn something new. Register today!

Join the September webinar with Rep. Derek Kilmer. For the September National Webinar, we are thrilled to welcome Rep. Derek Kilmer. He will speak about how we can enhance and execute our continuing election engagement, getting our poverty policy priorities in front of candidates. We’ll also highlight new opportunities to use the media to make poverty an election issue. Come along and join your fellow advocates for what’s sure to be an invigorating conversation. The webinar is Saturday, September 7 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Register today!

Need election advocacy coaching? In August, we are offering weekly office hours in August to provide you coaching on making poverty an election issue. Dial in to ask RESULTS staff on how best to find and talk to candidates, use the media to influence candidates, and other strategies to help you make the most of election season. The next office hours are tomorrow, August 12, 12:00-2:00 p.m. ET. Join anytime during those hours via https://results.zoom.us/j/97873811515 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 978 7381 1515. No registration needed.

Keep up those summer meetings! Thank you to all of you who have gathered in-person this summer to take action. It’s not too late to plan your own gathering. Schedule your next in-person meeting to help build the political will to end poverty. Find resources to help on our Community of Change page. And after your meeting, please let us know how it went by completing our new Outreach Report Form.

Upcoming Events

Congressional schedule: The House and the Senate are on recess until September 9.

Find these and other events on our website Events Calendar.

Wednesday, August 14: Elections Support Office Hours, 12:00-2:00 p.m. ET. Join via https://results.zoom.us/j/97873811515 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 978 7381 1515.

Wednesday, August 14: RESULTS Organizing and Advocacy Fellowship Information Session, 6:00 p.m. ET. Register today.

Thursday, August 15: Global Poverty Policy Forum on Malnutrition, 9:00 p.m. ET. Register here.

Friday, August 16: Anti-Oppression Learning Community, 12:00-1:30 p.m. ET. Registration is open.

Tuesday, August 20: U.S. Poverty Free Agents, 1:00 p.m. ET and 8:00 p.m. ET. Contact Jos Linn for more information.

Tuesday, August 20: Together Women Rise Advocacy Chapter, 8:30 p.m. ET. Learn more.

Wednesday, August 21: Elections Support Office Hours, 12:00-2:00 p.m. ET. Join via https://results.zoom.us/j/97873811515 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 978 7381 1515.

Wednesday, August 21: Action Network Manager Calls, 12:30 p.m. ET and 8:00 p.m. ET. No registration required. Join via https://results.zoom.us/j/95416781155 or call 312-626-6799, meeting ID 954 1678 1155.

Wednesday, August 21: Media Office Hour, 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 936 6800 5494.

Wednesday, August 21: The RESULTS Organizing and Advocacy Fellowship Webinar welcomes Dr. Madhu Pai, 9:00 p.m. ET. All welcome. Register today.

Monday, August 26: Elections Support Office Hours, 5:00-7:00 p.m. ET. Join via https://results.zoom.us/j/97873811515 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 978 7381 1515.

Monday, August 26: Global Poverty Free Agents, 7:00 p.m. ET. Contact Lisa Marchal for more information.

Tuesday, August 27: New Advocate Orientation, 1:00 p.m. ET. Registration is open.

Monday, September 2: Labor Day. RESULTS offices closed.

Saturday, September 7: National Webinar, 1:00 p.m. ET. Guest: Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA). Register for the webinar.

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

Grassroots Resources

• EOPs: Learn about the RESULTS Experts on Poverty.
• Actions and volunteer resources: Visit our Volunteers Hub, including our anti-oppression resources. To join the RESULTS listserv for more RESULTS conversation, send an email to [email protected].
• Please report your actions. Remember to please report your recent advocacy successes in lobby meetings, media, and outreach activities. Also, use our form to add to/edit your info and to sign up for updates and alerts.
• Share your story. If you have an inspiring story about advocacy, please tell us about it. Also, if you want to celebrate the actions of a new volunteer, sharing about the experience.
• Questions for the Board? If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for the RESULTS/REF Board, please e-mail [email protected]. View Board minutes and Annual Reports.
• Staff and jobs: RESULTS Staff directory and job postings.