RESULTS Weekly Update October 24, 2023
Quote of the Week
“To help in the fight against tuberculosis, please reach out to your member of Congress to advocate for the End TB Now Act.”
– RESULTS St. Louis volunteer Joseph Mrazek in an October 18 letter to the editor in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Table of Contents
- Build the Buy-in: Working together is the solution to Washington’s ills
- Celebrate our advocates!
- Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
- Announcements
- Upcoming Events
- Grassroots Resources
Build the Buy-in: Working together is the solution to Washington’s ills
We are now 24 days from another government shutdown crisis. When Congress passed a continuing resolution (CR) on September 30, it’s doubtful many of them thought that half that time would lose to political infighting. With no Speaker of the House in place, Congress cannot function. And as we have seen in the last three weeks, the GOP-led House has yet to resolve this stalemate.
With Congress unable to finish a budget, respond to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, nor address important legislation to reduce poverty, this manufactured crisis is causing real damage.
But there is a way out. Instead of trying to one up each other politically, both parties could work together and end this crisis. Some House Democrats and Republicans have expressed interest in collaboration but so far, GOP leaders have been resistant. House Republicans are meeting today to choose a new nominee for Speaker. Will that person succeed on the floor? With such a small margin for error, it is hard to see that happening without help from Democrats. And even if they go it alone, Republicans and Democrats will need to work together to address the important issues mentioned above.
You have done an excellent job keeping our issues front and center with 95 media pieces in 34 states since September 1. While it’s hard to see progress when Congress is stalled, your media makes an impact. And for us to succeed, we have to keep it up.
TAKE ACTION: We need your media to Build the Buy-in for Congress to expand the Child Tax Credit, pass the End TB Now Act, and pass the READ Act Reauthorization this year. Use letters to the editor and op-eds to demand Congress work together on the issues that matter. Use our Child Tax Credit, End TB Now Act, and READ Act Reauthorization media alerts to send your letters \today. Once you get published, please send a copy of your published media to relevant aides in your congressional offices (and please let us know too) . If you have questions, please contact RESULTS staff for assistance.
Celebrate our advocates!
As a volunteer organization, our success is predicated on your success. Every month, you take the critical actions needed to enact practical solutions to poverty in the U.S. and around the world. And you have achieved amazing results over the years. While we see the impact you make in policy decisions, we need your help to hear about the stories and individuals that keep you and others inspired to make your voice heard. Help us recognize and celebrate excellence in grassroots advocacy by taking the actions below.
Nominate someone for the Bob Dickerson Leadership Award. Bob Dickerson embodied inspiration and persistence when it came to ending poverty. He was a bold leader who inspired everyone around him, and made everyone feel welcome and supported to do their best. The Bob Dickerson Leadership Award is awarded to a grassroots volunteer who shows extraordinary leadership and commitment to the mission of RESULTS. If you know a volunteer who demonstrated these qualities in 2023, please complete this form.
Nominate someone for the Cameron Duncan Media Award. Cameron Duncan, a former associate executive director of RESULTS, devoted his life to fighting poverty. The Cameron Duncan Media Award is given to a journalist, editor, or grassroots volunteer for outstanding work on issues related to poverty in the media. If you know a volunteer, journalist, or editor who demonstrated these qualities in 2023, please complete this form.
Celebrate new advocates. We are delighted to have so many new advocates in our midst who are taking powerful action and making positive waves. If you want to celebrate the actions of a new volunteer, share about the experience today.
Share your advocacy story. We want to hear from you about your experiences in advocacy. If you have a story about your own advocacy that you feel could inspire others, use our new online form to tell us your story.
Quick News on U.S. and Global Poverty
“Then I realized, I have a voice.” Advocacy not only changes policy, it also changes us. Read our newest grassroots spotlight blog post about how new volunteer Sal Vereen used personal experience (and fun) to get her first letter to the editor published.
Follow-up on the UN High-Level Meeting on tuberculosis. If you missed our special webinar, “Making an impact on the global stage: Behind the scenes at the United Nations General Assembly,” you can still watch the recording. See footage from the events and hear the impact of the powerful advocacy we did together.
Listen to our “Who Deserves to be Poor? webinar. The October National Webinar provided an in-depth look at the barriers and harm caused by work and income requirements. It featured a discussion on the harmful impacts of these policies and a training on how to talk about it with lawmakers. View the webinar recording and slides online. Use what you learn to push lawmakers to seek equity and economic justice in the tax code.
New video on our work to end the scourge of TB. Watch this wonderful new video featuring Rhea Lobo, tuberculosis survivor and advocate, as she tells her story. Her recent advocacy in Washington, DC, and her clear call for us to listen to people with lived experience of tuberculosis will be inspiring motivation for your work.
Announcements
Putting the “fun” in fundraising! Are you nervous about fundraising or looking for ways to make your Friends & Family Fundraiser more successful? RESULTS volunteers have tips for you! Read advice and lessons learned from Willie Dickerson, Buke Dube, Beth Wilson, and Nancy Gardiner.
RESULTS Experts on Poverty program is recruiting; join info session tonight. We are currently seeking new members to join the Experts on Poverty program. The program gathers a diverse cohort of advocates with firsthand experiences of poverty to push for more effective government policies to combat poverty. Experts receive training, support, and inspiration to become stronger leaders in the anti-poverty movement and help shape our U.S. poverty policy strategies and priorities. If interested, apply today. Applications are due November 30. We’re hosting EOP information sessions on October 24 and November 7 – register and join to learn more. For questions, please email Keisha McVey at [email protected].
Virtual Group Leader training continues tomorrow. Are you a current (or even aspiring) RESULTS Group Leader? You are welcome to join this learning series which will continue on successive Wednesdays through November 8. These interactive sessions will get you in touch with fellow Group Leaders, give you practical tools for leading a RESULTS group, and provide some fun along the way. Each session will last two hours. Register today! Questions? Contact Lisa Marchal.
What a weekend! On October 21, RESULTS volunteers on the East Coast and the Midwest met for Regional Conferences. These events allowed volunteers from various states to meet, get to know each other, and get trained for maximum advocacy success. St. Louis, MO, Winchester, VA, and Hickory, NC were all buzzing with RESULTS activity. Interested in creating and hosting a local or regional event? Get in touch with RESULTS staffer Joanna DiStefano.
Apply for the RESULTS Fellowship. If you know someone aged 20-35 who wants to harness their political power, sharpen skills, and take action on important issues, invite them to apply for the RESULTS Fellowship. RESULTS Fellows advocate at the intersections of poverty and anti-oppression and learn how to work with the media, their communities, and policymakers to create change. The application is open and extended through November 15. For more information, e-mail us at [email protected].
No policy forums in November. Due to staff and volunteer planning retreats in Washington, DC and the Thanksgiving holiday, we will not hold monthly policy forums in November. We will gather again on December 14 at 8:30pm ET for a joint U.S. and global policy forum to close out the year.
Upcoming Events
Congressional schedule: The House and Senate are in session this week.
Typically, registration ends one hour prior to the start of all webinars and trainings.
Tuesday, October 24: Experts on Poverty Information Session, 12:00 pm ET. Registration is open.
Wednesday, October 25: Group Leader Training Series, 8:00 pm ET. Register today for the remaining 3 sessions of this special series. Each session is two hours.
Wednesday, November 1: New Advocate Orientation, 12:00 pm ET. Register for this orientation today.
Saturday, November 4: National Webinar, 1:00 pm ET. Register for the webinar today!
Tuesday, November 7: Experts on Poverty Information Session, 8:00 pm ET. Register today to learn more about this impactful cohort.
Wednesday, November 8: Media Office Hour, 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.
Wednesday, November 8: New Advocate Orientation, 8:30 pm ET. Register for this exciting welcome to RESULTS.
Thursday, November 9: Oppression – The Missing Perspectives, 12:00 pm ET. Register for this advanced anti-oppression training.
Thursday, November 9: Event Planning and Outreach Office Hours, 2:00 pm ET. Drop in at any time to https://results.zoom.us/j/98524229370 or call (312) 626-6799, meeting ID 985 2422 9370.
Tuesday, November 14: Together Women Rise/RESULTS Advocacy Chapter, 8:30 pm ET. Learn more about the group today.
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.