RESULTS Campaigns Weekly Update April 28, 2020
Quote of the Week
“As Kansans who believe the fight to end poverty is important, we believe that Congress must ensure that any future emergency spending package includes resources to help people experiencing housing and food insecurity.”
– RESULTS Kansas volunteers Matt Mohan and Mercedeh Tavacoli an April 17 letter to the editor in the Topeka Capital Journal
RESULTS Coronavirus Resources
Our coronavirus pandemic page is a great resource for you with information on conducting virtual meetings, advocating online, generating media, what’s happening on coronavirus and poverty in Congress, and more. 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 Write a letter on access to health care for all
Got Ten Minutes? Make plans to join the RESULTS United Webinar Saturday
On the Saturday, May 2 RESULTS National Webinar, we are delighted to welcome two distinguished guest speakers: Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Sen. Brown will join us for the first half hour of the 90-minute webinar to talk about Congress’ response to the COVID-19 outbreak and his efforts to make sure low-income renters get the critical financial assistance they need to make it through this crisis. Mr. Sands will join us in the final half hour of the webinar to discuss the impact COVID-19 is having on at-risk populations in Global Fund partner nations and how the Global Fund is responding. We are excited to hear from these two experts. If you have questions for us to ask Sen. Brown or Mr. Sands on the webinar, please send them to [email protected] by Thursday, April 30. Please make sure to indicate to whom the question is directed.
TAKE ACTION: Take a few minutes to reconfirm you and your fellow advocates’ participation on this Saturday’s webinar. The webinar is Saturday, May 2 from 1:00-2:30pm ET. To join the webinar, login at: https://results.zoom.us/j/994444828 or dial by phone at (669) 900-6833 or (929) 436-2866, meeting ID 994 444 828. Again, here is the schedule for the webinar:
- 1:00-1:30pm ET: U.S Poverty Campaigns with Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio
- 1:30-2:00pm ET: RESULTS Grassroots Actions and Inspiration
- 2:00-2:30pm ET: Global Poverty Campaigns with Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund
Got Fifteen Minutes? Write a letter to the editor on strong health systems
Have you gotten published lately? Now is the time. We are living through a challenging period, and we must sound the call – marginalized communities can’t bear the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic. This is the ideal moment to write about strengthening health systems. You may feel that your voice can’t make an impact, but it’s voices like yours that make all the difference. Strong, resilient health systems around the world become even more important – and even more endangered – in a crisis. We must lift up this issue to our communities and leadership.
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. (When you get published, please report your success at www.tinyurl.com/RESULTSMedia.)
QUICK NEWS ON GLOBAL POVERTY
COVID-19 pandemic underscores importance of strong global health systems. As Congress develops a next legislative package during the pandemic, we are urging the prioritization of marginalized communities:
- Supporting low-income countries and communities to respond to COVID-19, building on the progress we’ve made in global health.
- Ensuring other health programs that address diseases of poverty are not undermined by the COVID-19 response.
- Addressing the non-health impacts of the pandemic, particularly access to quality education and other areas that disproportionately affect the poor.
Scroll to our April 7, 5 pm ET blogpost to read more. To take the message to legislators via virtual meetings and the media, utilize our April action sheet.
#TheBeatContinues. The COVID crisis comes on top of many existing health threats, including deadly diseases like malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS. To fight all these diseases together, robust health systems are vital, particularly for the poorest and most marginalized people in the world, many of whom live in Africa, with a staggering 94% of all malaria deaths occurring there. To mark World Malaria Day, people from all walks of life across the continent – musicians, artists, midwives, nurses and many more – came together to drum it home that big efforts are needed to build strong health systems for the future. Check out these amazing musical video messages from ‘Youth Leaders for Health’ in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Tanzania, and from other campaigners around the world!
U.S. Poverty Campaigns Update
QUICK ACTION Generate media on COVID-19 and poverty
Got Sixty Minutes? Join Saturday’s National Webinar with Sen. Sherrod Brown
On the May 2020 RESULTS National Webinar, we are thrilled to welcome long-time friend of RESULTS Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) as our guest speaker. In his 27 years in Congress, Sen. Brown has tirelessly advocated for policies and resources to fight poverty here in the U.S. and around the world. He will join us to talk about Congress’ response to the COVID-19 outbreak and his efforts to make sure low-income renters get the critical financial assistance they need to make it through this crisis. After Sen. Brown’s section, we’ll hear about recent virtual lobby meetings you have had and preview the Virtual RESULTS International Conference in June. In our global section of the webinar, we are excited to have Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, as our guest to talk about the impact of the coronavirus on the work of the Global Fund. Please join us.
TAKE ACTION: Take sixty minutes to join the RESULTS this Saturday, May 2 from 1:00-2:30pm ET. To join the webinar, login at: https://results.zoom.us/j/994444828 or dial by phone at (669) 900-6833 or (929) 436-2866, meeting ID 994 444 828. Again, here is the schedule for the webinar:
- 1:00-1:30pm ET: U.S Poverty Campaigns with Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio
- 1:30-2:00pm ET: RESULTS Grassroots Actions and Inspiration
- 2:00-2:30pm ET: Global Poverty Campaigns with Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund
If you would like to submit questions for Sen. Brown or Mr. Sands, please send them to [email protected] by Thursday, April 30. Please make sure to indicate to whom the question is directed.
Got Fifteen Minutes? Last week for in-district virtual lobby meetings
Last week, Congress passed and President Trump signed a new COVID-19 relief package into law. Most of the $484 billion goes to help small businesses impacted by the economic shutdown, while hospitals and other health care priorities also get new funding. However, the package does nothing to help people pay rent, nor help anyone buy food. We must make sure the next one does.
For millions of renters in America, the rent comes due on Friday. Many will not be able to pay it. That means more debt and possible eviction. People are stressed, afraid, and angry already with not being able to work, not to mention the threat of getting sick from COVID-19. To then put the only safety net they have right now – their home – in jeopardy is unconscionable. Members of Congress need to understand how dire the situation is for many families (and, for landlords). Your lobby meetings will help do that.
TAKE ACTION: Take fifteen minutes to continue scheduling meetings with representatives and senators seeking $100 billion in emergency rental assistance, a national moratorium on evictions, and a 15 percent increase in the maximum SNAP benefit. If you’ve already requested a meeting, follow up to check on the status. The April 2020 U.S. Poverty Action and our Lobbying page have tips and resources to help you, including updated housing and SNAP leave behinds. Once you get a meeting, please contact RESULTS staff to help you get ready. After your meeting, please complete the RESULTS Lobby Report Form to let us know what happened.
QUICK NEWS ON U.S. POVERTY
New blog series looks at hunger and race equity. Bread for the World has released a new three-part blog series looking at race, hunger and COVID-19. Arguing that any response to hunger must racial equity into account, the series looks at the impact of hunger and COVID-19 on the African American, Latinx, and indigenous peoples communities.
New paper on increasing SNAP funding. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has a new paper on why funding for SNAP (formerly food stamps) needs to be increased in response to COVID-19. It is a helpful resource as you urge Congress to increase the maximum SNAP benefit by 15 percent in the next COVID-19 bill.
RESULTS Announcements
“Celebrating 40 Years of Advocacy” fundraising. The next peer-to-peer fundraising campaign will start on May 5, in coordination with #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of giving and unity in response to COVID-19. The “Celebrating 40 Years of Advocacy” fundraiser will celebrate RESULTS’ anniversary and help fund the next chapter of our work. Thanks to a group of generous donors, gifts from first-time donors and increased gifts from returning donors will be matched 1:1 up to $165,000! We are sensitive to the fact that many of our friends and family are facing a financial or medical crisis, or both, right now. But we also know there are many people longing for a way to make a difference in this moment – feeling isolated, cut off, and longing to contribute. Just like advocating, donating is a powerful way to do that from home. Visit results.salsalabs.org/40years for more information and to register, or contact Mea Geizhals at [email protected] with any questions. Thank you!
Join new organizing training next week. Since the coronavirus outbreak, we’ve had unprecedented interest in RESULTS. People want to break out of their personal confinement and do something that will make a difference. This is an opportunity for us, because we know that deep advocacy with RESULTS makes change happen. But we must help the newly interested chart a course for change quickly or their interest will be short-lived. We must demystify advocacy and provide immediate, transformational experiences to capture their confidence. Join us on Wednesday, May 6 at 8:30 pm ET for the “I Gotta Do Something! Engaging New Advocates in Uncertain Times” webinar where we’ll explore best practices and tools for engaging new advocates, including the Ladder of Engagement. We’ll also explore upcoming opportunities to engage new people, like the Virtual RESULTS International Conference. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/390106571 or join by phone by dialing the number closest to you: DC: (301) 715-8592; NY: (929) 436-2866; IL: (312) 626-6799; TX: (346) 248-7799; CA: (669) 900-6833; WA: (253) 215-8782. When prompted, enter meeting ID 390 106 571.
Join tomorrow’s New Advocate Orientation. If you or someone you know are new to RESULTS, join us for our next New Advocate Orientation tomorrow, April 29 at 8:30 pm ET. Interact with RESULTS staff and other new volunteers, learn more about our advocacy model and issues, and get information on getting involved. Sign up here.
Submit your Bob Dickerson Award nominations now. These are the last days to nominate a fellow advocate for this year’s Bob Dickerson Grassroots Leadership Award (learn more about Bob here). The deadline is this Thursday, April 30.
RESULTS Grassroots Board Member nominations extended. Ever thought of serving on the RESULTS board? Two Grassroots Board Member positions will be open this year. Please submit your nominee(s) by next Monday, May 4 to Jesse Marsden at [email protected].
RESULTS quarterly meeting with Grassroots Board Members. On Thursday, May 14 at 9:00 pm ET, come share your thoughts, concerns, and ideas about RESULTS with your RESULTS Grassroots Board Members. Join at https://results.zoom.us./j/427521404. Or dial (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, meeting ID 427 521 404.
Join Understanding Domination v. Partnership Culture webinar. Join our next anti-oppression discussion focused on the differences between domination and partnership culture and how these perspectives impact our view of gender, race, age, and economic status. We’ll also discuss how domination and partnership mindsets hinder or benefit our advocacy with RESULTS. The webinar is Tuesday, May 19 at 9:00 pm ET. To prepare, please review our discussion guide which includes a link to a video to watch before the webinar and how to join the webinar.
RESULTS Fellowship. The RESULTS Organizing and Advocacy Fellowship (formerly known as REAL Change) is a hands-on, year-long advocacy program for people 20–30 years old who learn how to create change through advocacy. Learn more and apply today. Applications are open until September 30. The new class will start in December.
Upcoming Events
Congressional recesses. Congress is on recess for the month of April. Submit your remote meeting requests today.
Wednesday, April 29: New Advocate Orientation, 8:30 pm ET. Sign up online.
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.
Wednesday, May 6, “I Gotta Do Something! Engaging New Advocates in Uncertain Times” training webinar, 8:30 pm ET. Join at: https://results.zoom.us/j/390106571. You can also join by phone by dialing the number closest to you: DC: (301) 715-8592; NY: (929) 436-2866; IL: (312) 626-6799; TX: (346) 248-7799; CA: (669) 900-6833; WA: (253) 215-8782. When prompted, enter meeting ID 390 106 571.
Tuesday, May 12: 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. Focusing on pp. 150-218.
Thursday, May 14: RESULTS Quarterly Meeting with Grassroots Board Members, 9 pm ET. Come share your thoughts and ideas with your RESULTS Grassroots Board Members. Join at: https://results.zoom.us./j/427521404. Or dial (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, meeting ID 427 521 404.
Monday, May 18: 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, May 19: 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.
Tuesday, May 19: Understanding Domination v. Partnership Culture webinar, 9:00 pm ET. Please review the discussion guide which login information and a link to a video to watch before the webinar.
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.