RESULTS Weekly Update May 16, 2023

Quote of the Week

“It turns out poverty is a policy choice.”

– RESULTS Wisconsin volunteer Sid Jacob in a May 11 letter to the editor in The Cap Times

Table of Contents

• Media 150: Tell politicians in Washington – no debt default AND no cuts to anti-poverty programs
• Co-sponsors needed for the End Tuberculosis Now Act
• Register for Thursday’s monthly policy forums
• Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
• Announcements
• Upcoming Events
• Grassroots Resources

Media 150: Tell politicians in Washington – no debt default AND no cuts to anti-poverty programs

If you have not submitted a media piece this week, please do so. Here’s why. The U.S. is about two weeks away from hitting the “debt ceiling” set by Congress. Without a new debt ceiling (or the courts intervening), the U.S. will default on its debt for the first time in history. This will trigger a deep recession, costing millions of people their jobs and cutting off funding for vital government services. Yet, the House is demanding deep cuts to core U.S. and global anti-poverty programs in exchange for not defaulting. This is a false choice (why not end reckless tax cuts that have driven up the debt?). A default would be catastrophic, but so would cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and other anti-poverty programs. If a deal can be reached, it will be soon. That’s why we need media now telling your members Congress and President Biden to reject the reckless House demands and to raise the debt ceiling immediately.

TAKE ACTION: We are halfway through our Media 150 campaign. And you are doing a fabulous job! With 86 published pieces since April 1, we need 64 more by June 30 to hit our goal. Make your contribution today by submitting a letter to the editor urging Congress to stop holding the economy hostage to ram through deep budget cuts. Make it clear that lawmakers must reject any budget cuts or policy changes that would increase poverty as part of any debt ceiling deal.

Once you’ve done that, send another letter urging Congress to pass the End TB Now Act. Then send a third one telling Congress to expand the Child Tax Credit. If you need help with your letters, please contact Jos Linn ([email protected]). When you get published, please complete our Media Report Form (see media already published here). Also, see more below about our op-ed training tomorrow.

Co-sponsors needed for the End Tuberculosis Now Act

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was making progress in battling the scourge of tuberculosis. Five years ago, at the United Nations High Level Meeting on Tuberculosis, the global community set ambitious goals to end the TB epidemic by 2030. This fall, we have the opportunity to redouble our efforts, in the wake of setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, at another UN High Level Meeting focused on tuberculosis. We are trying to put positive pressure on the U.S. to show up with bold leadership at this meeting.

As part of that, we need to urge members of Congress to co-sponsor the End Tuberculosis Now Act. The COVID-19 pandemic robbed us of progress in stemming the tide of tuberculosis, a cruel disease of poverty. The End Tuberculosis Now Act calls on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to be ambitious in reaching and treating the populations most vulnerable to this disease. The legislation is open for co-sponsorship in both the House (H.R.1776) and the Senate (S.288). Make your requests today!

TAKE ACTION: Gather your group and take action with the May Global Poverty Action Sheet. The action sheet is designed to help you ask your members of Congress to co-sponsor the End Tuberculosis Now Act. Then share our quick online action with others so they can ask their members of Congress to co-sponsor as well.

Register for Thursday’s monthly policy forums

Join our May Policy Forums this Thursday, May 18. On the U.S. Forum at 8:00 pm ET, RESULTS Emerson Hunger Fellow Gabe Haferman will lead an interactive discussion on how the tax code affects us all. On our Global Forum, RESULTS Manager of Global Health Partnerships Selamawit Bekele will continue our important discussion about combatting tuberculosis around the world.

TAKE ACTION: Join our U.S. and Global Policy Forums this Thursday, May 18. You must register for each forum to attend. Register for the U.S. Forum at 8:00 pm ET and the Global Forum at 9:00 pm ET today.

Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty

Ask your member of Congress to be a READ Act co-sponsor. Graduations abound this time of year. Education unlocks the future. To support basic education around the world, we are working on securing co-sponsors for the READ Act (H.R.681, S.41). This legislation focuses on enhanced strategies for the improvement of foundational literacy and numeracy, essential elements of a quality basic education. Tell your members of Congress why education and this legislation are important to you. Make your co-sponsorship requests today.

Urge House Democrats to support the AFA. The American Family Act would restore the Child Tax Credit (CTC) to its 2021 levels, which resulted in historic reductions in child poverty. We are trying to secure at least 175 original co-sponsors of the AFA before it is introduced in the House this summer. Read our RESULTS Blog post on how to get your representative to sign on.

Media hooks for the week. Use the hook ideas below to submit a letter to the editor this week. If you need a template, use our online media actions to edit and submit your letter today.

• U.S. Poverty: The clock is ticking for Congress to raise the debt ceiling before a U.S. default in June. Submit a letter to the editor urging Congress to raise the debt ceiling now without enacting devastating cuts to core anti-poverty programs.
• Global Poverty: Tuberculosis just made the Washington Post via an opinion piece by author and vlogger John Green. Write and submit a letter to the editor in response. Keep the conversation flowing!

Announcements

Vote in the Board election! We have three excellent candidates for two seats to represent you – the volunteers – on the RESULTS Board. The candidates are Aaron Carrillo, Allison Gallaher, and Randy Rosso. As with any election, participation is vital and makes our organization stronger. See our new RESULTS Blog post for candidate bios and how to vote today!

Join op-ed training tomorrow. As part of our Media 150 this month’s Media Office Hour will focus on op-eds. If you are a frequent letter to the editor writer and want to try your hand at longer pieces, this training is for you. If you have tried op-eds before but cannot seem to get any traction, this training is for you. And if you’ve never heard the term op-ed before reading this e-mail, this training is for you. All are welcome. Plan to join us tomorrow, May 17 at 2:00pm ET for the Media Office Hour – Writing an Op-ed training. Join via Zoom at https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 936 6800 5494. No registration required.

In-person events support. Connection and growth are vital to the RESULTS grassroots network. We have many new resources to help support our volunteer groups across the country as they make plans to gather in community this year. First, review our new in-person events resource guide. Second, join us May 19 or 26 at 12:00 pm ET to ask your event creation questions (see details below). Finally, RESULTS staff will host a webinar on Wednesday, June 7 at 8:00 pm ET to discuss resources and strategies for events that enhance our goals for leadership development, outreach, fellowship, awareness, and skill-building. Register today.

Anti-Oppression learning opportunities – don’t miss out! Did you miss Diversity & Inclusion 101 workshop last year? Join us for an encore session on Tuesday, May 23 at 8 pm ET. Learn more and register here. Diversity and Inclusion 101 is a foundational 90-min workshop for all advocates in the RESULTS network. This session will explore why diversity and inclusion are important to our grassroots movement’s success and how to apply these concepts to create our best advocacy. We will also host an encore session of “Oppression: The Missing Perspectives” on Friday, June 23 at 12 pm ET. Learn more and register today. This advanced workshop builds on previous learnings and will culminate in self-reflection and identifying race and class biases, including marginalized and oppressed populations. For all remaining anti-oppression workshops this year, please see our website.

The RESULTS Champion Scale with RESULTS Founder Sam Daley-Harris. Have you ever thought, “My member of Congress is opposed to our bills, what’s the point of meeting with them?” or “My member of Congress is good on our issues, there’s no reason to meet with them?” RESULTS founder Sam Daley-Harris will lead a workshop on “Moving Your Member of Congress Up the Champion Scale” from opposed, to neutral, to supporter, to advocate, to leader and eventually to champion. Join Sam for the fun on Wednesday, May 31, 8:00 pm ET. Register today.

Not enough Sam? Join the June webinar. In addition to the webinar above, RESULTS founder Sam Daley-Harris will also be our featured speaker on the June National Webinar on Saturday, June 3. He will be speaking about the history of RESULTS and how its focus on community has been a foundation of its success. Register for the webinar today.

New Advocate Orientation update. We will be taking a break from hosting New Advocate Orientations over the summer. Regular orientations will resume in August and can be found on the RESULTS events calendar. During this time, new or interested volunteers can schedule individual orientations with RESULTS staff member Alicia Stromberg.

Support RESULTS. Mother’s Day may be over, but our work to end child poverty isn’t. It’s not too late to honor the caregivers in your life while supporting the education, training, and research that make our work so powerful. Make a donation.

Upcoming Events

Congressional schedule: May 15-21. The House and Senate are in session.

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

Tuesday, May 16: U.S. Poverty Free Agents, 1:00 pm and 9:00 pm ET. Contact Jos Linn for information on how to join.

Tuesday, May 16: Together Women Rise partnership webinar with RESULTS, 8:30 pm ET. Learn more.

Wednesday, May 17: Action Network Managers webinar, 12:30 pm and 8:00 pm ET. (Choose your time.) Join the 12:30 pm ET session at https://results.zoom.us/j/93288388695. Join the 8:00 pm ET session at https://results.zoom.us/j/91531456676. No registration required.

Wednesday, May 17: Media Office Hour – Writing an Op-ed training, 2:00 pm ET. Join via Zoom at https://results.zoom.us/j/93668005494 or (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 936 6800 5494. No registration required.

Thursday, May 18: U.S. Poverty Policy Forum, 8:00 pm ET. Register today. 

Thursday, May 18: Global Poverty Policy Forum, 9:00 pm ET. Register today.

Friday, May 19: Event Planning Office Hour, 12:00 pm ET. Bring your questions about planning in-person RESULTS gatherings. No registration required. Join via https://results.zoom.us/j/99349167795 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 993 4916 7795.

Tuesday, May 23: Diversity & Inclusion 101, 8:00-9:30 pm ET. Read more about this learning opportunity and register today.

Thursday, May 25: Group Leader Office Hour, 7:30 pm ET. No registration needed; join any time during the hour at https://results.zoom.us/j/6602641580.

Friday, May 26: Event Planning Office Hour, 12:00 pm ET. Bring your questions about planning in-person RESULTS gatherings. No registration required. Join via https://results.zoom.us/j/99349167795 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 993 4916 7795.

Wednesday, May 31: The RESULTS Champion Scale with RESULTS Founder Sam Daley-Harris, 8:00 pm ET. Register today.

Saturday, June 3: Monthly National Webinar, 1:00 pm ET. Register today. Guest: RESULTS founder Sam Daley-Harris.

Wednesday, June 7: In-person Event Planning webinar, 8:00 pm ET. Register today.

Thursday, June 8: Global Allies RESULTS program for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, 8:30 pm ET. Learn more.

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 that you feel might inspire others, use our online form to tell us your story.

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

RESULTS Staff directory and job postings.