RESULTS Campaigns Weekly Update May 5, 2020
Quote of the Week
“We don’t talk about the issues of poverty nearly the way that we should, nearly as often as we should, and as deeply as we should. RESULTS is there at the barricades all the time.”
– Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) on the May 2020 RESULTS National Webinar
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? Ask your legislators to speak to congressional leadership about global priorities during COVID-19
As a leader in global health and development, the United States must urgently respond to contain and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and protect hard-fought gains in global health and education in low-income countries. Although the virus threatens near universal disruption, it’s the communities facing poverty, already pushed to the margins, that face the greatest risks. And it’s not just the direct effects of COVID-19 that are of concern. It’s the impact on other health services and education as well as the toll COVID-19 will take on fragile economies. As Congress considers additional emergency COVID-19 funding, we must urge support for specific priorities as part of a larger emergency international relief package of at least $12 billion.
Read our latest blogpost on this issue, which contains an outline of and rationale for our global COVID-19 policy priorities. Take these priorities to your legislators and ask them to forward them to House and Senate leadership, particularly of the Appropriations Committee and of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee of Appropriations, so that these provisions are included in the next COVID-19 emergency funding bill.
Next, onto the media. Utilize our May Action Sheet to underscore our top action by getting published. You can also use the action sheet’s accompanying outreach guide to engage your action network and other RESULTS supporters in writing and submitting letters to the editor.
TAKE ACTION: Read our latest blogpost which contains an outline of and rationale for our global COVID-19 policy priorities. Take these priorities to your legislators and ask them to forward them to House and Senate leadership, particularly of the Appropriations Committee and of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee of Appropriations, so that these provisions are included in the next COVID emergency funding bill.
Got Another Ten Minutes? Register for the RESULTS Virtual International Conference by May 26.
The pandemic means we can’t all be together in Washington, DC, but we will still host a weekend of learning, action, and connecting with advocates across the country and around the globe. The RESULTS Virtual International Conference! On June 20 and 21, we’ll have a special digital program. Then we’ll have a week of action, with coordinated, powerful advocacy meetings with members of Congress. We’ll miss the benefit of being together in-person, but we hope this also means we can have even more people participate, without the barrier of travel. Stay tuned for new speaker and workshop announcements as well as plans for advocacy week.
TAKE ACTION: Register today for the RESULTS Virtual International Conference! If you’d like to participate in advocacy meetings during the week of action, the deadline to sign up is May 26 to allow enough time to prepare together. Then, after you’ve registered, work with your groups to book your virtual lobby meetings with your senators and representatives. If you are not planning to participate in these meetings, the sign-up deadline for the virtual conference is Friday, June 19.
QUICK NEWS ON GLOBAL POVERTY
Congratulations on your outstanding work. Did you know that the sign-on letter urging $1 billion emergency funding for the Global Fund (in the context of the COVID-19 crisis) garnered 105 signers? Did you also know that this year’s set of House and Senate sign-on letters across our campaigns – all 8 letters – were a clean sweep in terms of having more signatures than last year? That’s down to your hard work, and we couldn’t be prouder. Thank you for your stellar advocacy!
A new advocacy program for African diaspora leaders. On Thursday April 16, RESULTS kicked off the African Leadership Cohort. This program is aimed at increasing African Diaspora representation within the RESULTS movement through new advocate recruitment, new leadership development, and building a creative and safe space for African Diaspora community. The African Leadership Cohort (ALC) will center the voices and elevate the power of African immigrants within the RESULTS movement. Read more on our blog.
U.S. Poverty Campaigns Update
QUICK ACTION Tell Congress to provide emergency rental assistance
Got Ten Minutes? Use media to those hit hardest by COVID-19
On last Saturday’s May National Webinar, we welcomed Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) who highlighted the importance of Congress continuing to help people hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussing the racial housing disparities which have existed for decades, and are getting worse because of the pandemic, Sen. Brown talked about his work to get emergency rental assistance in the next COVID-19 relief package. He and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) are introducing legislation this week allocating $100 billion for emergency rental assistance for low-income renters impacted by the pandemic.
You can support their efforts by generating media about the necessity of helping low-income renters and families struggling to put food on the table during this crisis. Media creates public pressure for members of Congress to act and is a great follow-up to your lobby meetings in April.
TAKE ACTION: Take ten minutes to submit letters to the editor urging Congress to assist low-income renters in the next COVID-19 response. The May 2020 U.S. Poverty Action has sample letters on emergency assistance to renters, SNAP, and the renters’ tax credit. Providing you several options allows you and your group to increase your chances of getting published by submitting multiple letters at the same time. Coordinate with your group on who will submit which letters to which publications. If you need assistance, please contact Jos Linn. Once you get published, remember to leverage your media to maximize its impact.
Got Fifteen Minutes? Push for lobby meetings in May and June
RESULTS volunteers have done a great job at scheduling virtual lobby meetings with members of Congress and their staff over the last month. Your meetings have helped us get closer to providing relief to millions of low-income Americans currently struggling to pay rent and put food on the table. As news reports preview a harder fight to get the next relief bill passed, we must continue to push for lobby meetings.
The Senate is back in DC this week while House members are working remotely. Your lobby meetings are the best way to remind members of Congress that their constituents expect action on housing and hunger in response to COVID-19. Don’t assume others will send this message – know that it’s sent by scheduling your own meetings. If you’ve had meetings with all your members recently, confirm that your follow-up is complete (and that you’ve filled out your lobby reports) and start planning for meetings during the RESULTS Virtual International Conference week of action.
TAKE ACTION: Take fifteen minutes to continue scheduling meetings with representatives and senators and/or their staff (being virtual makes it easier). In your meetings, tell them to support $100 billion in emergency rental assistance, a national moratorium on evictions, a 15 percent increase in the maximum SNAP benefit, and an expansion of the EITC/CTC as outlined here (new request; see more below in Quick News). Use the April Action and our Lobbying page for background and materials. Please contact RESULTS staff to help you get ready for an upcoming meeting and afterward, let us know what happened by filling out the RESULTS Lobby Report Form.
QUICK NEWS ON U.S. POVERTY
Senators push for EITC/CTC expansion. Last week, Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent a letter signed by 39 senators to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) urging them to include expansions of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) in the next COVID-19 relief package. Citing the importance and effectiveness of these credits in reducing poverty, they urged the leaders to use the Working Families Tax Relief Act (which RESULTS supports) as a template for expansions of the credits until the crisis passes. RESULTS is adding this request to our list of topics for lobby meetings.
Impact of anti-poverty programs. Learn why investing in SNAP and housing assistance programs is not only important for the health and safety of families, but also for the advancement of our economy in Emerson Hunger Fellow Alexa Angelo’s new blog post here.
RESULTS Announcements
“Celebrating 40 Years of Advocacy” fundraising begins today. In coordination with #GivingTuesdayNow, the “Celebrating 40 Years of Advocacy” fundraiser begins today! 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 made between May 5 and May 31 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!
Register for the RESULTS Virtual Conference. Registration for our 2020 RESULTS Virtual International Conference is now open! On June 20-21, join us online to hear from top speakers get advocacy skills trainings, and prepare for lobby meetings during our local advocacy week of action (June 22-25). Go to https://results.org/conference/about to register today. Note: if you want to participate in virtual lobby meetings for the week of action, you must be registered by May 26.
Join new organizing training this week. Join us tomorrow, May 6 at 8:30 pm ET for the “I Gotta Do Something! Engaging New Advocates in Uncertain Times” webinar, where you’ll learn best practices and tools for engaging new advocates, including the Ladder of Engagement. You’ll also learn of upcoming opportunities to engage new people, like the RESULTS Virtual 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.
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.
RESULTS United Webinar recording. If you missed our May National Webinar last weekend with Sherrod Brown and Peter Sands, please go back and listen to it. It is well worth your time. Find links to the recording and slides on our National Webinars page.
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. The webinar is Tuesday, May 19 at 9:00 pm ET. Our discussion guide includes a video to watch before the webinar and how to join.
Don’t forget to report your actions! It’s the start of a new month. Are you all caught up with reporting your lobbying, media, and outreach actions for the first part of the year? Click through for report forms for your lobby meetings, media pieces, and outreach activities.
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 schedule. The Senate is in Washington this week while House members are working remotely. Submit your remote meeting requests today.
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: New Advocate Orientation, 12:00 pm ET. Sign up online.
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.
Saturday, June 6: 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.
June 22-25: RESULTS Week of Action. 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.