RESULTS Weekly Update February 20, 2024

Quote of the Week

“Almost 15 years ago, a group of very ordinary Dallas folks joined RESULTS and learned how to advocate effectively with our elected officials… It has been a transformational experience and not something I ever thought I could do.”

– RESULTS Dallas volunteer Margaret Smith in a February 4 letter to the editor in the Dallas Morning News

Table of Contents

• Schedule your Community of Change lobby meetings
• Keep pushing Senators to support CTC expansion
• Register for this week’s Policy Forums
• Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Grassroots Resources

Schedule your Community of Change lobby meetings

The Community of Change campaign has launched! We’re ready to make sure you have the biggest impact possible. Your lobby meetings with members of Congress will grow the movement for equity and justice. Now that you have completed your planning roadmaps, let the meetings begin!

We want to meet with every congressional office covered by RESULTS between now and April. That means 346 meetings over the next three months. These meetings will help make the case for policies that will reduce poverty. We have the materials you need to help you talk with members of Congress about global poverty appropriations, global education and tuberculosis, the Child Tax Credit, and child nutrition everywhere.

Congress is on recess this week, but you can still start booking meetings. Don’t wait!

TAKE ACTION: Work with your local RESULTS group to request lobby meetings with your members of Congress. Use our 2024 lobby meeting request letter as a guide. Be sure to request face-to-face meetings with legislators first. Meet with staff if members of Congress are not available. Once you book a lobby meeting, please book a lobby prep meeting via RESULTS staff member Katie Fleischer. More support materials for your meetings are available on our 2024 Community of Change campaign page.

Keep pushing Senators to support CTC expansion

The Senate is on recess this week. This makes it an ideal week to talk to them about the Child Tax Credit. As you know, the House passed the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act last month with a large bipartisan majority. We need the Senate to follow suit.

But some senators want to slow down the process or change the CTC provisions included in the bill. For example, they believe the new CTC would go to immigrant children who are undocumented (it would not) or that the new CTC will encourage parents to quit their jobs (it will not). These objections are baseless and cruel. But if they gain steam, they could derail the entire bill. Likewise, any major changes to the bill passed by the House would derail it too.

The Senate will return next week with no plan for how to pass the tax bill. The Senate calendar is clogged with other matters (impeachment trial, finishing the FY2024 appropriations bills). That’s why it is so important to speak with Senate offices now, pushing them to support the bill and urge leadership to bring it to a vote. We must keep them focused on what’s best for children and families.

TAKE ACTION: If we want to secure a new expansion of the CTC, we must do all we can to make it happen. Please take these actions.

1. Contact Senate tax aides. Your Senate point persons should contact tax aides now urging them to support the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act. Also urge them to oppose any harmful changes or amendments to the CTC provisions. Be sure to share how many children in your state will benefit (bottom of page). Please contact David Plasterer with specific messaging for you particular senators.
2. Meet with senators this week. If you are able to get a last-minute meeting with senators or their tax staff this week, please do so and talk about the CTC. Use our new sample lobby meeting request letter (be sure to personalize) to request your meeting today. Once you get a meeting, schedule please contact RESULTS staff ASAP to help you get ready.
3. Urge your networks to call and e-mail senators. Continue to send message to your action networks and friends urging them to call or e-mail senators about the CTC.
4. Submit letters to the editor urging Senate support. Submit letters to the editor urging your senators by name to pass the new CTC expansion as soon as possible. Also, if your House member voted for the bill, please thank them in your letter.

Register for this week’s Policy Forums

On Thursday, join us for two helpful forums that will enhance your understanding of our U.S. nutrition work and our global appropriations work, respectively. For the U.S. Poverty Policy Forum, our focus will be nutrition programs. Whether it’s the Farm Bill or annual appropriations, we must be prepared to ensure that SNAP and WIC are fully funded. Join us as we discuss the history and importance of these nutrition programs and how you help protect and expand them. For the Global Poverty Policy Forum, we’ll be covering appropriations. What are appropriations? And how can we strategically advocate Congress to influence funding for our global poverty priorities? Join the webinar to get answers to these and other questions about the “approps” process.

TAKE ACTION: Join us for one or both of these informative policy forums this Thursday, February 22. Register for the U.S. Poverty Forum at 8:00 p.m. ET and the Global Policy Forum at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty

Help us make tax filing free and fair. A historic tax-filing service is coming that will allow eligible taxpayers to file their taxes for free directly with the IRS — and RESULTS helped make it happen! Learn about the program and see if you live in one of the 12 pilot states on the RESULTS blog.

Welcome to our newest Hunger Fellow. We are thrilled to welcome John Hoang, our 2024 Congressional Hunger Center Emerson Fellow. Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, John continues to cultivate what he has learned from the legacies and infrastructures left by justice and equity pioneers of the past and present. As a Bonner and McNair Scholar, John worked to expand community capacity concerning political action and civic engagement while focusing on identity, place, and policy. Previously, John has been a 2022 Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute fellow, improving his quantitative and qualitative skills toward public policy, and has been involved many organizations focused on public policy and justice. He is a recent graduate of Earlham College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government. John will be working on housing and nutrition issues through July 26. Welcome, John!

Are you sharing your media with congressional offices? Make sure you share your published media with congressional offices. If you get something published, please promptly send it to the relevant aides in your House and Senate offices. You can find a list of reported media here and copies of all our published media in our Grassroots Media Packets.

Watch the February webinar recording with Rep. Jim McGovern. As we focus on meeting with members of Congress over the next few months, take time to listen to the February National Webinar. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA-2), always a charismatic guest, highlighted the challenges nutrition advocates face this year and what we can do about them. His appearance also reminds us of the importance of building champions in Congress on the issues we care about. Check it out!

Announcements

Register for the March National Webinar. On March 2 at 1:00 p.m. ET, join us for the RESULTS National Webinar. This webinar will highlight the importance of programs and policies to advance health equity, child survival, and gender equity through critical interventions — like routine immunization and nutrition services. Our panel of speakers include Anne Kraemer, CEO of Wuqu’ Kawoq, Maya Health Alliance, as well as Dr. Deborah Ash, Director, Women’s Nutrition at FHI (Family Health International) Solutions, presenting a report on the Gender Nutrition Gap. In addition, we will have an invited speaker from our partners at Health Promotion Tanzania (HDT). Following the panel, we will guide you to a solidarity advocacy action taking place on International Women’s Day on March 8. At this webinar we aim to educate, energize, and inspire — invite others in your community join you for the webinar and take action in solidarity with women across the globe! Register for the webinar today.

Join Lobby 101 training tomorrow evening. Join this webinar to learn the basics of lobbying and skills for how to speak powerfully during your meeting. This training will cover the core components of a lobby meeting, how to build an agenda, roles, and review how to write an EPIC laser talk. This webinar is for new RESULTS volunteers and current volunteers who would like a refresher on the basics of lobbying. Please share this invitation widely with your networks! The webinar is Wednesday, February 21 at 8:00 p.m. Register today.

Group Leader Training starts tomorrow. Are you a current (or even aspiring) RESULTS Group Leader? You are welcome to register for this four-part learning series beginning Wednesday, February 21! These interactive sessions will get you in touch with fellow Group Leaders, offer encouraging information about leadership itself, give you practical tools for leading your RESULTS group, and provide fun along the way. Each session will last two hours (8-10 pm ET). We hope you can attend all four sessions. Can’t attend live? Register and the recordings will be sent to you. Questions? Contact Lisa Marchal.

The first Friends and Family Fundraiser of 2024 is live! Thank you Jacoby Gonzales, a member of the 2024 RESULTS Fellowship cohort. Jacoby is sharing his story and his work with RESULTS to inspire others to support our great mission. As a landscape architect and an advocate, Jacoby aims to “create spaces that are safe and inviting to their communities, develop routes that are accessible to those who can’t afford a vehicle, and to advocate for policies that bring financial stability and equitable transportation to those in need.” Learn more about Jacoby’s journey and support his fundraiser for RESULTS. Then consider launching a Friends and Family fundraiser of your own or as part of a team this year!

Join media office hour tomorrow. If you need help drafting, editing, or submitting a letter to the editor or op-ed, please join our Media Office Hour tomorrow, February 21, 2:00-3:00 pm ET. Come any time that hour with your questions. Join via Zoom at: https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID: 936 6800 5494.

Upcoming Events

Congressional schedule: This week, the House and the Senate are on recess.

Typically, registration ends one hour prior to the start of all webinars and trainings.

Tuesday, February 20: U.S. Poverty Free Agents, 1:00 pm ET and 8:00 pm ET. Contact Jos Linn for more information.

Tuesday, February 20: Together Women Rise advocacy chapter webinar, 8:30 pm ET. Learn more about this opportunity.

Wednesday, February 21: Action Network Manager Calls, 12:30 pm ET and 8:00 pm ET. 12:30 pm ET: Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/93412877476 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 934 1287 7476. 8:00 pm ET: Join via https://results.zoom.us/j/98134593550 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 981 3459 3550.

Wednesday, February 21: Media Office Hour, 2:00 pm ET. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 936 6800 5494.

Wednesday, February 21: Group Leader Training, 8:00 pm ET. Register today for this 4-part series.

Wednesday, February 21: Lobby 101 Training, 8:00 pm ET. Register and join this informative session.

Thursday, February 22: U.S. Poverty Policy Forum, 8:00 pm ET. Register to join.

Thursday, February 22: Global Poverty Policy Forum, 9:00 pm ET. Register today.

Monday, February 26: Global Poverty Free Agents, 7:00 pm ET. Contact Lisa Marchal for more information.

Saturday, March 2: National Webinar, 1:00 pm ET. Register for the webinar today!

Wednesday, March 6: New Advocate Orientation, 8:30 pm ET. Register and join!

Wednesday, March 13: Motivational Interviewing 101, 8:00 pm ET. Register today.

Thursday, March 14: Outreach and Events Office Hour, 2:00 pm ET. Join via https://results.zoom.us/j/94004748060 or call 312-626-6799, meeting ID 940 0474 8060.

Thursday, March 14: Global Allies (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers) webinar, 8:30 pm ET. Register today.

Thursday, March 14: Grassroots Town Hall meeting, 9:00 pm ET. Joining link forthcoming.

Friday, March 15: Anti-Oppression Learning Community, 12:00 pm ET. Register for this important 90-minute gathering.

Grassroots Resources

Learn about the RESULTS Experts on Poverty.

Find actions and volunteer resources on our Volunteers Hub, including our anti-oppression resources. To join the RESULTS listserv for more RESULTS conversation, send an email to [email protected].

Remember to please report your recent advocacy successes in lobby meetings, media, and outreach activities. Also, use our Volunteer Information Form to add or edit volunteer info and to sign up for updates and alerts.

If you have a story about advocacy you feel could inspire others, use our new online form to tell us your story. Also, if you want to celebrate the actions of a new volunteer, sharing about the experience today.

If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for the RESULTS/REF Board, please e-mail [email protected]. View Board minutes and Annual Reports.

RESULTS Staff directory and job postings.