RESULTS Campaigns Weekly Update April 7, 2020
Quote of the Week
“What I like about RESULTS is the emphasis on reaching to members of Congress and directly engaging with them. It’s a relationship.”
– New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof on the April 4 RESULTS National Webinar
RESULTS Coronavirus Resources
Our coronavirus pandemic page is a great new resource for you. Read recommendations on remote meetings for grassroots, information about office functioning, media messaging for these times, and regular updates from Capitol Hill on coronavirus legislation. Visit the page regularly to get the latest news on our work during the outbreak.
Table of Contents
- Global Poverty Campaigns Update
- U.S. Poverty Campaigns Update
- RESULTS Announcements
- Upcoming Events
- Grassroots Resources
Global Poverty Campaigns Update
QUICK ACTION Ask the Senate to invest in global health and education
Got Ten Minutes (or a bit more)? Send in appropriations requests
Time is running out! Three Senate “Dear Colleague” letters are open for signatures, but they close this week and next – a letter on maternal and child health/Gavi/nutrition as well as letters on basic education and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. These letters help us exert positive pressure for support of robust global health and education funding. Need to find out who’s already signed? Check our online tracker for updates on signers. Plus, all Senate members must have their appropriations funding requests in to the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee of Appropriations by April 24, which means we must speak to them now.
TAKE ACTION: Use our comprehensive FY21 appropriations page (which includes deadlines, memos/backgrounders on our requests, sign-on letter details, and more) to ask your senator to sign onto one or all three appropriations letters right away. And use our March action sheet to ask your senators to support our global health and education appropriations requests.
Got Fifteen Minutes? Get published on supporting strong healthcare systems
In this unprecedented time, we need to tell the story and sound the call – marginalized communities can’t bear the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic. You may feel that your voice can’t make an impact, but that’s not true – it’s voices like yours that make all the difference.
TAKE ACTION: Use our online alert to write a letter to the editor today. Read more on our blog about how to get started and how to write well in this critical moment. Strong, resilient health systems around the world become even more important – and even more endangered – in a crisis. We must speak up.
QUICK NEWS ON GLOBAL POVERTY
Help with virtual lobby meetings. Before and during the recent RESULTS United Webinar, we talked about advocating virtually and inviting new advocates along to be part of it. On Wednesday, April 8 at 3 pm ET, Jos Linn will host a repeat of the “Planning Virtual Lobby Meetings with Members of Congress” training to help you to plan and schedule remote lobby meetings in April. If you have held lobby meetings online before, please join us to share about your experience. Join this webinar at https://results.zoom.us/j/390106571 or dial by phone at (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, meeting ID 390 106 571.
Letter to the editor training. Want to hone your writing skills? Join an LTE training on Thursday, April 16 at 8:30 pm ET. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/390106571 or dial by phone at (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, meeting ID 390 106 571.
U.S. Poverty Campaigns Update
QUICK ACTION Generate letters to the editor on housing impacts of COVID-19
Got Five Minutes? Get lobby meetings to talk housing
Last Saturday, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof spoke to RESULTS volunteers on our April National Webinar. He talked about the importance of advocacy in the fight against poverty and said that what makes RESULTS stand out is that we don’t just send e-mails or sign petitions, we also actively work to build relationships with member of Congress. He knows, as do we, that relationships are what create change.
This month, Congress is on recess and they need to hear from you. As RESULTS Hunger Fellow Alexa Angelo outlined so well in this RESULTS Blog post, it is imperative for individual and societal health and well-being that we keep Americans housed during the pandemic. Set up virtual lobby meetings this month urging Congress to invest more in helping low-income renters during this crisis. In addition, as food insecurity increases as a result of the pandemic, tell your members of Congress to increase SNAP benefits as part of the next COVID-19 response.
TAKE ACTION: Take five minutes to submit requests for virtual lobby meetings in April. Use the April 2020 U.S. Poverty Action for guidance and visit our Lobbying page for sample meeting requests, updated leave behinds, and much more. If you need guidance on planning a virtual lobby meeting, join our Planning Virtual Lobby Meetings training tomorrow at 3:00 pm ET (or listen to a recording of the same training from last week). Once you get a meeting, please contact RESULTS staff to help you get ready.
Urgent! Sign onto SNAP letter. Please sign your local RESULTS group (e.g. “RESULTS Topeka”) onto a letter supporting an increase in SNAP benefits in the next COVID-19 bill in Congress. The deadline to sign on is today at 5:00 pm ET.
Got Fifteen Minutes? Amplify your message with media
With members of Congress at home this month, you have an added opportunity to influence their decision-making on what issues to prioritize when they return to Washington. In this new reality, members of Congress are cut off from many of the usual ways they hear from constituents. That makes their local paper even more important – it tells them what matters to voters.
What we publish now can help back up your specific asks of Congress in meetings this month. By getting media published now, you will be making a difference and set the stage for what happens on Capitol Hill.
TAKE ACTION: Take fifteen minutes to submit your letter to the editor today urging Congress to prioritize housing and hunger in the next COVID-19 response bill. The April 2020 U.S. Poverty Action has a sample letter to the editor (LTE) to get you started, or you can use our online LTE action. When you get published, please let us know at www.tinyurl.com/RESULTSMedia.
Join media trainings. If you are new to writing letters to the editor or just want to brush up on your media skills, join our Letter to the Editor media training on Thursday, April 16 at 8:30pm ET and again on April 22 at 1:00 pm ET. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/390106571 or dial by phone at (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, meeting ID 390 106 571.
QUICK NEWS ON U.S. POVERTY
Expert on Poverty Highlighted in Huffington Post. RESULTS volunteer and Expert on Poverty Asia Thompson is highlighted in a new video story on the Huffington Post called “How Poverty Becomes a Cycle”. Watch her moving story here.
New analysis on rental assistance. The National Low-Income Housing Coalition has a new analysis on what is needed to help low-income renters through the economic crisis created by COVID-19. Their research shows that $100 billion over the next year will be needed help cost-burdened households stay in their homes.
RESULTS Announcements
Learn how to do virtual lobby meetings on Wednesday. On Wednesday, April 8 at 3:00 pm ET, Jos Linn will host the “Planning Virtual Lobby Meetings with Members of Congress” training to help you to plan and schedule virtual lobby meetings in April. Learn how to continue your powerful advocacy even when sheltering at home. If you have held lobby meetings online before, please join us to share about your experience. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/390106571 or dial by phone at (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, meeting ID 390 106 571. Note: this is a repeat of the training Jos did last week.
RESULTS United Webinar recording. We had a fantastic conversation with Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times during our RESULTS United Webinar on April 4. Missed it? Want to hear the conversation again? Go to our website for the recording and slides.
RESULTS Grassroots Board Member Elections. Ever thought of serving on the RESULTS board? Two Grassroots Board Member positions will be open this year. Please submit your nominee(s) by May 2 to Jesse Marsden at [email protected]. Questions? Contact Willie Dickerson at [email protected].
Bob Dickerson Award nominations open. Nominate a fellow advocate for this year’s Bob Dickerson Grassroots Leadership Award (learn more about Bob here). Deadline for nominations is April 15.
RESULTS Fellowship. The RESULTS Organizing and Advocacy Fellowship (formerly known as REAL Change) is a hands-on advocacy training program for people 20–30 years old. During the year-long program, fellows learn how to work with the media, their communities, and policymakers to create change. Learn more and apply today. Applications are open until September 30.
Upcoming Events
Congressional recesses. Congress is on recess for the month of April. Submit your remote meeting requests today.
Wednesday, April 8: Planning Virtual Lobby Meetings with Members of Congress (encore session), 3 pm ET. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/390106571 or dial into (669) 900-6833 or (929) 436-2866, meeting ID 390 106 571.
Tuesday, April 14: New Advocate Orientation, 12:00 pm ET. Sign up online.
Tuesday, April 14: Book Discussion: The Righteous Mind, 9:00 pm ET. Join via Zoom online or dial (669) 900-6833 US or (646) 876-9923, meeting ID 655 036 085, password: 641539.
Thursday, April 16: Letter to the Editor Training Webinar, 8:30 pm ET. Want to hone your writing skills? Join this LTE training at https://results.zoom.us/j/390106571 or dial by phone at (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, meeting ID 390 106 571.
Monday, April 20: Global Free Agents Webinars, 1:00 pm ET and 8:00 pm ET. Join a great conversation via https://results.zoom.us/j/464361707 or, by phone, dial (669) 900-6833 or (929) 436-2866, meeting ID 464 361 707.
Tuesday, April 21: U.S. Poverty Free Agents Webinars, 1:00 pm and 8:00 pm ET. Join at: https://results.zoom.us/j/324294681 or dial by phone at (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, meeting ID 324 294 681.
Wednesday, April 22: Letter to the Editor Training Webinar (encore session), 1:00 pm ET. Want to hone your writing skills? Want to hone your writing skills? Join this LTE training at https://results.zoom.us/j/390106571 or dial by phone at (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, meeting ID 390 106 571.
Monday, April 27: Combatting Oppression in a Pandemic, 9:00 pm ET. To join, log in at: https://results.zoom.us/j/807783478 or dial (669) 900-6833 or (929) 436-2866, meeting ID 807 783 478.
Saturday, May 2: RESULTS United Webinar, 1:00 pm ET. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/994444828. You can also join by phone at (669) 900-6833 or (929) 436-2866, meeting ID 994 444 828.
June 20-21: RESULTS Virtual International Conference. Read more here.
Grassroots Resources
Learn about the RESULTS Experts on Poverty.
Do you have a new person in your RESULTS group or info to update? Use our Volunteer Information Form to add them.
Find actions and volunteer resources on our Current Volunteers page.
Please let us know about your recent grassroots successes for lobby meetings, media, and outreach.
If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for the RESULTS/REF Board, please e-mail Steven McGee at [email protected]. View Board minutes and Annual Reports.
RESULTS Staff directory.