RESULTS Campaigns Weekly Update June 9, 2020
Quote of the Week
“I think the stress of being black in America and all the laws that have been against us has caused the stress that you see.”
– RESULTS Detroit volunteer Delores Lyons on the June 2020 RESULTS National Webinar
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 to the editor on prioritizing global health and education during the COVID-19 crisis
Stand in solidarity and take action against racism and oppression
As Executive Director Joanne Carter has said, RESULTS recognizes the persistent burden of racism and police brutality, especially on Black people, including our grassroots volunteers, partners, staff, and board who are directly impacted when society fails to recognize that Black lives matter. But condolences aren’t enough. As advocates we must confront racism and fight to change the policies that perpetuate it.
TAKE ACTION: Follow the expertise, leadership, and guidance of Black-led organizations and community networks focused on racial justice and donate to support their work. As a RESULTS advocate, you know how to write to the media and push your member of Congress into action. Use those skills. At RESULTS we’re not experts on legislative solutions to police violence or criminal justice reform, but we encourage you to lend your support to local, state, and national organizations that are (such as the Movement for Black Lives, Color of Change, the NAACP, and the Equal Justice Initiative). If you have feedback on how else RESULTS should be responding, please let us know.
Got Fifteen Minutes? Register for the RESULTS 2020 International Conference and prepare for the Week of Action.
The RESULTS International Conference (June 20-21) is fast approaching. During this virtual event, hear from poverty experts and receive training to be a more powerful advocate. Then be part of our virtual Week of Action (June 22-25). Many of you have had recent virtual lobby meetings with congressional offices to talk about our priorities for the next COVID-19 response bill. Meeting with offices during the Week of Action, with an emphasis on getting face-to-face virtual meetings with your representatives and senators, will be key. Marginalized communities can’t bear the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic – we must make this clear. Let RESULTS help you prepare beforehand to make sure you have everything you need for successful meetings.
TAKE ACTION: Take fifteen minutes to get ready for the RESULTS International Conference (June 20-21) and the advocacy Week of Action (June 22-25). First, please register for the virtual RESULTS International Conference today. If you registered by May 27 and are lobbying during the Week of Action, schedule face-to-face virtual lobby meetings. Coordinate with your local RESULTS group members about which day(s) you want to have lobby meetings and who will request them. Reach out to schedulers now to set up your meetings. Use our virtual lobby meeting request letter as a template for your requests. Please let us know each of the meetings you get scheduled in our conference meeting tracker. RESULTS staff will be in contact with you soon to set up a prep call with you and others from your state, if you haven’t already been contacted. Then consult our conference resources for a policy brief, our anti-oppression values, an IC prep checklist, and more.
QUICK NEWS ON GLOBAL POVERTY
Finding My Voice with RESULTS in 1982. Enjoy the tale of Lenny Chorazy, veteran RESULTS advocate, as he reflects on his start with RESULTS 38 years ago.
Power and Passion. “Last July, I was making my way across Capitol Hill, attending meetings with Minnesota’s congressional offices. I was nervous. It was my first time in DC, and my first time on the Hill. But then I bumped into a member of Congress in a hallway – and she recognized me.” Read more in this grassroots spotlight on Farhia Ali, advocate with RESULTS.
ACTION applauds Gavi replenishment. Remarkably, the world has committed financial resources that will help deliver more than 3.2 billion doses of life-saving vaccines, reaching 300 million children by 2025. Read more online.
U.S. Poverty Campaigns Update
QUICK ACTION Tell Congress to provide emergency rental assistance
Take action on racism in America
The May 25 killing of George Floyd while in police custody, coupled with many other examples of police violence, has justifiably sparked a fierce outpouring of anger and sadness. RESULTS unequivocally stands in solidarity with Black Americans in this moment, and all those who experience racial violence, injustice, and inequity.
RESULTS knows that poverty cannot end while oppression exists and committed to dismantling all forms of oppression in our work. However, we also know that our knowledge is limited. When we want to better understand issues of race and equity, we turn to organizations who have greater expertise in this area.
TAKE ACTION: Read our June Action today for information on groups and actions you can take on addressing racism in America.
Got Fifteen Minutes? Set up lobby meetings for June 22-25
We are less than two weeks away from the 2020 RESULTS International Conference. As part of the conference, RESULTS volunteers will meet virtually with members of Congress and their staff to discuss our current poverty campaign priorities. These will take place during our Advocacy Week of Action, June 22-25. Lobby meetings this month are important. Despite an unemployment rate nearly 10 points higher than just a few months ago (and likely higher), the Senate continues its wait-and-see attitude on more COVID-19 legislation. Tens of millions of Americans struggling each day to make ends meet cannot wait. Your meetings this month will remind your members of Congress that our economy is still in crisis and it is imperative they act now to mitigate the damage.
TAKE ACTION: If you registered for the Conference by May 27 and plan to lobby during the Week of Action, please coordinate with fellow volunteers in your state to request face-to-face meetings with your members of Congress now. Find sample meeting requests, the IC prep checklist, issue briefs, and other Conference resources on our website. As you get meetings scheduled, please add them to our lobby meeting tracker. Finally, please watch your e-mail for instructions on scheduling a lobby prep call with RESULTS staff (the subject line will say “RESULTS Advocacy Week”) to get you ready for your meetings. Please respond promptly so we can help get you ready.
QUICK NEWS ON U.S. POVERTY
Sign your RESULTS group on to SNAP letter. Help us move the Senate and White House to take action to boost SNAP benefits in response to COVID-19. Sign your local RESULTS group onto this letter today.
Watch housing webinars. Join Habitat for Humanity’s “Housing is the Prescription We Need” webinar on the connection between housing and health this Friday, June 12 at 12:00 pm ET. Also, if you missed the National Low-Income Housing Coalition call with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, author or How to Be an Anti-Racist, you can register to watch the recording here.
Housing disparities widening. A new report from the Urban Institute shows that housing disparities based on race and income are growing worse as a result of COVID-19.
Poll shows Americans are worried about housing. A new poll commissioned by the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign reveals that many Americans are worried about their housing situation as a result of COVID-19. More than half polled are concerned they will lose their housing and eight in ten expect Congress to take action to help.
Meet Jessi and ViaFaith, our new interns. RESULTS is thrilled to announce the arrival of our summer U.S. poverty interns. Jessi Russell was raised by her grandmother in East Tennessee and recently graduated Wesleyan University with a double major in English and Government. She also acts as Executive Director to the First Generation, Low-Income (FGLI) Wesleyan Student Fundraiser with the goal of helping students affected by COVID-19. She is excited to learn how anti-hunger advocacy in D.C. alters the programs that she benefited from as a child. ViaFaith McCullough is a senior majoring in political science at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas. She serves as the student chair of the Panther Pantry and Fresh Market, public relations coordinator of the Political Science Club, and a member of the Social Justice Institute. From a young age, ViaFaith’s roots in activism were cultivated by her clergy family’s activism in the local Oklahoma City area. Her work in the community has inspired her passion for human rights and community advocacy. Welcome, Jessi and ViaFaith!
RESULTS Announcements
Listen to Saturday’s National Webinar recording. If you were unable to participate in last Saturday’s RESULTS National Webinar, please take time to listen to it. We heard powerful stories from RESULTS volunteers about their experiences of racism. It was one of RESULTS’ most moving webinars. You can access the recording and slides on our National Webinars page.
Register for the International Conference. Join us June 20-21 for the virtual RESULTS International Conference and invite someone to attend with you! Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, Dr. Joia Mukherjee from Partners in Health, and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, will be joining us, among others. Go to https://results.org/conference/about to register today.
Join “How to Be an Ally in the Fight for Racial Justice” this Wednesday. The agony and outrage of racism has boiled over in the US. Many white people are asking themselves how to be allies to their Black peers. One thing white people can do is take it upon themselves to get educated and find meaningful actions that do not place additional burden on people experiencing racism. Join us on Wednesday June 10 at 9:00 pm ET to discuss what you can do. Join via Zoom: https://results.zoom.us/j/390106571 or dial (929) 436-2866, meeting ID: 390 106 571.
Join discussion on non-partisan advocacy this Thursday. Attend our “Bridging the Partisan Divide: How to Lobby Those Who Don’t Agree with You” webinar this Thursday, June 11 at 9:00 pm ET. RESULTS activist Jim Driggers will present highlights from Jonathan Haidt’s book The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion. Come learn how to be a more effective advocate with people who think differently from you. Join here with meeting ID 821 9427 5109. Password: 690480.
Join webinar on policy solutions to racism. The Brookings Institution is hosting a webinar this Thursday, June 11 at 2:00 pm ET on policy solutions to upend racism and inequality. Register here to watch the webinar.
Grassroots board elections. RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund are looking to fill two of the four grassroots board positions to serve a term of three years beginning in August 2020. Grassroots Board Members represent the volunteer body on the Board of Directors and on the Executive Committee of the Board. For information on candidates and how to vote, check out the RESULTS Blog.
Find coronavirus resources on our website. Our coronavirus pandemic page is a great resource for the latest policy and actions on poverty and COVID-19.
Receive action alerts via text. We are setting up a system to send some of our action alerts via text. If you’d like to receive text action alerts, please text RESULTS to 50457 to sign up for text action alerts.
Upcoming Events
Congressional schedule. The Senate is in Washington this week while House members are working remotely. Submit your remote meeting requests today.
Wednesday, June 10: Join “How to Be an Ally in the Fight for Racial Justice,” 9:00 pm ET. Join via Zoom: https://results.zoom.us/j/390106571 or dial +1 929 436 2866, meeting ID: 390106571.
Thursday, June 11: Bridging the Partisan Divide: How to Lobby Those Who Don’t Agree with You, 9:00 pm ET. Join here with meeting ID 821 9427 5109. Password: 690480.
Monday, June 15: Global Poverty Free Agents Webinars, 1:00 pm and 8:00 pm ET. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/464361707 or, by phone, (669) 900-6833 or (929) 436-2866, meeting ID 464361707.
Tuesday, June 16: 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.
Saturday, July 11: RESULTS National 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, July 15: Hit “Send”: Write and Submit a Letter to the Editor in an Hour, 9:00 pm ET. Read more about the grassroots-led training here. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/390106571 or dial in to (929) 436-2866 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 390 106 571.
June 20-21: RESULTS International Conference. Register 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, including our anti-oppression resources.
Remember to please report your recent grassroots successes in lobby meetings, media pieces, and outreach activities.
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.