Global Poverty Campaigns Weekly Update April 9, 2018
Global Poverty CampaignsWeekly Update | Week of April 9, 2018
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Quote of the Week"I am passionate about serving young people due to the poverty I grew up around while in Malawi. It continues to motivate me to do better by my fellow citizens. I enjoy being part of a solution." – Shem Ngwira, REAL Change Fellow Quick ActionTake Action: Write a Letter to the Editor Rejecting Cuts to Foreign Aid
National Grassroots Webinar on Saturday: Creating an Anti-Oppression CultureRESULTS wants to play an active role in calling out and dismantling systemic forms of oppression. RESULTS realizes that if we are to achieve our mission of ending poverty, we must open our ranks to everyone, especially those experiencing oppression, and we must actively work to dismantle the built-in mechanisms of oppression. The challenge for many of us is that, if we are not part of an oppressed group, we may not recognize when oppression is occurring nor understand the experiences of those affected. Therefore, part of our anti-oppression effort must be our own personal learning. We must understand what is going on, how oppression affects others, and how we can undo the structures that perpetuate it. Our Global Poverty Campaigns National Webinar on April 14 (just as the U.S. Poverty Campaigns National Webinar did on April 3) will focus on understanding this issue, what RESULTS is doing about it, and how to address these issues locally. We’re also planning additional trainings the evenings of April 17 and May 15 to keep this conversation going. We hope you will join us. This will be the start of a journey for some of us, and the continuation of a journey for others. Our goal is to give everyone in RESULTS an opportunity to learn about systemic oppression and how we can be allies and activists in dismantling it. April 14, Global Poverty Campaigns National Webinar, 2 pm ET. Login: http://fuze.me/30204806. Or to join by phone only, dial (201) 479-4595, meeting ID 30204806. April 17, 9 pm ET. Dialogue: "The Invisible Knapsack." Just as fish don't see water and humans don't see air, we are often unaware of the society and culture that dictate our privileges. Please join RESULTS volunteers for a discussion of the concept of the Invisible Knapsack as explored by Peggy McIntosh. McIntosh's short article explores white privilege and asks us to consider how our skin color plays a role in our life experiences. In our discussion, we will consider our own privileges, how they impact our experiences, and how they impact our work as RESULTS volunteers. Please read this brief article prior to the discussion. Log in to http://fuze.me/33986526, or dial (201) 479-4595, meeting ID 33986526. Senate Appropriations Deadline Fast Approaching, and Looking Ahead1. The State and Foreign Operations Committee of the Senate has called for FY19 appropriations requests by April 26. This means we need to get our requests in to our own legislators well ahead of that date. Ask your senators to weigh in individually with funding level requests on our key issues: child health and nutrition; tuberculosis; the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and the Global Partnership for Education. Use our appropriations action sheet and laser talk designed to help you make your requests to your senators and to enlist others into action as well. 2. Senate Sign-on Letter on Maternal/Child Health, Gavi, and Nutrition Closes April 20. We have two key ways we weigh in on the budget/appropriations process every year: funding level requests and sign-on letters which emphasize the importance of a spending area/issue. We use the power of the sign-on letter. A sign-on letter (also called a “Dear Colleague” letter) is like a petition in Congress. Sign-on letters are circulated by champions in Congress to ask other members to join them in showing their support for an issue. We have one sign-on letter available in the Senate on the issue of maternal and child health/Gavi/nutrition, and we are in the process of getting all details on our other anticipated sign-on letters. 3. Keep Track of Senate and House Approps Via Our Website. You have already weighed in in on the FY19 appropriations process in the House, and your work has been terrific. In fact, we broke our own records by getting more congressional signers on all the House sign-on letters than ever before, including marvelous increases in bipartisan support. Take a look at the round-up of the FY19 process in the House, including some wonderful signature numbers on the sign-on/Dear Colleague letters, and our on-going work in the Senate. (You can also read about the long-awaited resolution of the FY18 appropriations process.) 4. LettersGet LOUD Can Add Power to Your Senate Advocacy. Take a look at this fantastic video demonstrating what #LettersGetLOUD can mean for your local group. Organize your community to write letters to Senators related to the appropriations process. See if someone would read their letter aloud and video it, then post it on social media (particularly on Twitter, with the hashtag #LettersGetLOUD). Amplify your Senate appropriations requests with the power of the community by taking these letters with you to Senate meetings you book for the recess starting April 30. Go to our #LettersGetLOUD page for complete support materials. Looking Ahead: Our work on maternal and child health will move more specifically to the front row. During the second half of April, we'll begin our work in earnest to secure additional cosponsorships on the House and Senate versions of the Reach Act. Additionally, we'll prepare ourselves for a robust Friends and Family Fundraising Campaign on the theme of helping mothers and kids here and around the world. Earlybird Rate Available: The 2018 International Conference is July 14-17What makes the International Conference such a special event? YOU! The earlybird rate ends May 15! Have you registered?
Struggling to Write a Letter to the Editor? Grab a Pen and a Cup of Your Favorite Coffee.From Portland advocate Janet Brumbaugh: "How do I get started with my letter to the editor? To which paper should I submit my letter? What's my hook? What exactly IS a hook? My letter will never be good enough . . ." So it goes (or did go) for me. For nine years, this was my conversation: "I never get published, so why bother?" But after working with Snohomish advocate Willie Dickerson, I got published! I absolutely never thought it would happen. And I know there are others out there just like me. If you had the right support, you could write that letter to the editor and send it off, not worrying about absolute perfection, right? If this sounds like you, join us for two 30-minute "virtual coffee break power sessions." We'll support each other, chat, and have fun. Bring your favorite brew and let's write a letter. Share your ideas, get ideas, hone your direction . . . together, we'll develop a sure-fire way to create something simple you can send off to your paper. Why? To make a difference in the world! April 12 and 19 (Thursdays) at 1 pm ET/10 am PT. RSVP to RESULTS Portland's Janet Brumbaugh (503-697-7992) or just show up. Note: The first 10 folks who RSVP and attend both calls might find themselves with a coffee surprise to enjoy later! Log in to https://fuze.me/37038942, or dial (201) 479-4595, meeting ID 37038942. For best video functionality, download the Fuze application. Questions? Contact RESULTS Portland's Janet Brumbaugh. It doesn't get better than this: community, compassion, and empowerment. The game's afoot. Who's in? Upcoming Opportunities and Calendar ItemsApril 12, 1 pm ET. Letter-writing "Coffee Break." Log in to https://fuze.me/37038942, or dial (201) 479-4595, meeting ID 37038942. April 14, 2 pm ET. National Webinar/Conference Call for Grassroots. Login: http://fuze.me/30204806. Or to join by phone only, dial (201) 479-4595, meeting ID 30204806. Focus: Embracing the values and practices of anti-oppression. April 16, 1 pm ET and 8 pm ET. RESULTS Global Free Agents Webinars (choose one). Login: http://fuze.me/35703902. Or to join by phone only, dial (201) 479-4595, meeting ID 35703902. April 17, 9 pm ET. Dialogue: "The Invisible Knapsack." Just as fish don't see water and humans don't see air, we are often unaware of the society and culture that dictate our privileges. Please join RESULTS volunteers for a discussion of the concept of the Invisible Knapsack as explored by Peggy McIntosh. McIntosh's short article explores white privilege and asks us to consider how our skin color plays a role in our life experiences. In our discussion, we will consider our own privileges, how they impact our experiences, and how they impact our work as RESULTS volunteers. Please read this brief article prior to the discussion. Log in to http://fuze.me/33986526, or dial (201) 479-4595, meeting ID 33986526. April 19, 1 pm ET. Letter-writing "Coffee Break." Log in to https://fuze.me/37038942, or dial (201) 479-4595, meeting ID 37038942. April 20, 1 pm ET. RESULTS Introductory Call. Learn more about us! Dial (712) 775-8972, passcode 761262. April 30-May 4. House and Senate Recesses. May 3, 8:30 pm ET. Spring Friends and Family Fundraising Campaign Kick-off. Log in to http://fuze.me/37000190, or dial (408) 610-1042, meeting ID 37000190. May 15, 9 pm ET. Dialogue: "Intersectionality." Who are you? How does who you are impact your experiences? Please join RESULTS volunteers for a reflection on the many aspects of ourselves – our age, religion, ethnicity, income, gender, and sexual orientation, for example – that impact our work as RESULTS volunteers. We will complete "cultural sketches" of ourselves to understand how our identities influence our values, decisions, behaviors, and opportunities. There is no need to prepare for the discussion – just come open to exploring your identity! Log in to http://fuze.me/33986526, or dial (201) 479-4595, meeting ID 33986526. July 14-17, 2018. RESULTS International Conference. Resources at Your FingertipsSubscribe to the Weekly Update Advocacy Resources (Weekly updates, action sheets, online action alerts, and more) Global Poverty Campaigns Background Report 2018 Actions 115th Congress Congressional Scorecard: See global poverty actions your members of Congress have taken. Contact the Grassroots Board Members of the RESULTS Board. Also, you can view the most recently published minutes from Board meetings on the RESULTS website, as well as download RESULTS’ most recent Annual Report.
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