U.S. Poverty Weekly Update October 2, 2018
U.S. Poverty Campaigns
Weekly Update | October 2, 2018
“And then, almost instantly, I realize that this decision — to never have to deal with prolonged hunger — is quite possibly the most privileged outlook on the basic human need for food that anyone could ever have.”
– RESULTS REAL Change Fellow Hannah Phipps in a September 21 op-ed in the Connecticut News Junkie
Got Two Minutes? Prepare for Tonight’s National Webinar with Jackie Vimo of the National Immigration Law Center
Join us for the RESULTS October 2018 U.S. Poverty National Webinar tonight, October 2 at 8:00 pm ET. With SNAP and the farm bill on the back-burner until November, we turn our eyes to the election and a new threat to low-income families. We are pleased to welcome Jackie Vimo of the National Immigration Law Center as our guest speaker to give us an overview of the proposed new “public charge” rule, which would punish low-income immigrant families for seeking public assistance. She will explain the rule and its implications, as well as how you can take action to stop it. We’ll then review the October Action and how to use election season to talk to candidates about the issues and encourage new people to join our movement. We’ll hear shares from the grassroots and preview our upcoming Virtual Thanksgiving Feast. Join us!
TAKE ACTION: Take two minutes to prepare for the RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar tonight, October 2 at 8:00 pm ET. To join, login at: https://results.zoom.us/j/873308801 or dial either (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833 and then enter Meeting ID: 873 308 801. The slides for tonight’s webinar will be available later this afternoon on our National Webinars page. Confirm if, when, and where your group will meet for the webinar. If you are not meeting together, encourage people to join on their own. Plan to join the webinar no later than 7:55pm ET this evening. If you have questions or need help, please contact Jos Linn.
IMPORTANT: If you join tonight’s webinar by computer, please fill in both your FIRST and LAST names when prompted.
Got Ten Minutes? Attend Candidate Events to Talk about the Issues (October Action)
Election season has officially begun, and in many places is already well underway. The House is on recess until after Election Day (no one is quite sure when the Senate will recess). House leaders sent their members home for one reason – to campaign. Incumbents and candidates to unseat them – as well as those campaigning for an open seat – will be in a flurry over the next few weeks try to court voter support. Make them earn it.
Setting the agenda for the next Congress begins now. The questions candidates get from their constituents at local events this month will play a big part in that. If elected, what will they do to protect and expand SNAP, Medicaid, and other anti-poverty programs? If elected, what will they do about the lack of affordable housing in the U.S.? What is their position on tax credits for low-income Americans? Candidates need to hear these questions this fall. They need to learn that if they get elected, their constituents want poverty to be a priority in 2019.
TAKE ACTION: Take ten minutes to look for candidate events in your area using the October Action. Contact their local offices to ask about events, check their candidate Facebook pages and Twitter feeds, go to https://act.indivisible.org/event/recess-townhall/search/ and www.townhallproject.com to look for local events. Also, visit our Elections page for tools to resources to help you. Finally, when you find an event you plan to attend, contact Meredith Dodson for help on what questions to ask.
Got Twenty Minutes? Election Season is a Good Way to Find New Advocates (October Action)
In addition to candidate engagement above, when you go to events and ask questions, you’re an advertisement for effective advocacy. People notice when someone asks poignant questions; they want to learn more. And asking a question at a town hall is only one way to find new advocates. People are paying close attention to this election. Campaigns are getting new volunteers, people are posting political messages on social media, and people are talking more openly about the future and direction of our country. This makes them more inclined to want to take action. This is where you come in.
Election activities always garner a lot of support but they are finite. They end on Election Day. For those looking to do more after the election is over, RESULTS provides that next step. You can be the conduit for them to become great advocates. Make the most of it!
TAKE ACTION: Take twenty minutes to begin mapping out your strategy to engage new people in your RESULTS work during election season. Use the October Action as a guide. Also, tune into tonight’s U.S. Poverty National Webinar (see details above) to learn more about reaching out to people in your community during election season. If you need help with outreach this month, please contact Jos Linn for assistance.
Quick News
Take Action to Protect Immigrant Families. The Trump Administration has proposed a new rule that would force low-income immigrant families to forgo seeking food assistance, health care, and other services for their families – services they are legally allowed to use – to stay in the U.S. The rule is expected to be published this week, which will trigger a 60-day public comment period where Americans make their voices heard on whether the rule should be implemented. Help build support to oppose this latest attack on immigrant families. Read our RESULTS Blog post and use our new public charge letter to the editor to action to urge people to oppose this harsh new rule. Also, join tonight’s U.S. Poverty National Webinar (see above) to hear more about this issue and how you can weight in when the public comment period starts.
Join the Action Network Community of Practice Tomorrow Night. Are you wanting to engage more people in your community? Have people who want to do something but are not ready to be volunteers yet? Then join the Action Network Community of Practice. This group works together to identify the best ways to recruit, organize, manage, and inspire our local Action Networks. Join us for our monthly webinar tomorrow, Wednesday, October 3 at 8:00 pm ET. To join, log in: https://results.zoom.us/j/427674133 or dial in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 427 674 133.
House Passes New Tax Cut. Last week, House passed its $2.8 trillion in new tax cuts for the wealthy by a vote of 220-191. The Tax Alliance for Economic Mobility, of which RESULTS is member, issued a statement before the vote urging Congress to prioritize tax policy that helps low-income Americans build wealth, rather than rewarding those who already have it. Thanks to everyone who called to oppose the vote. Fortunately, the Senate is not expected to take up the bill.
November Webinar Moved Due to Election. To not interfere with Election Day, the November U.S. Poverty National Webinar will be Tuesday, November 13 at 8:00 pm ET
Save the Date for the 2019 RESULTS International Conference! Please mark your calendars for the 2019 RESULTS International Conference, July 13-16, 2019 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, DC. Learn more at www.resultsconference.org.
Upcoming Events
Go to the RESULTS Events Calendar to see a full list of RESULTS events. Also, find a list of the RESULTS U.S. Poverty staff with contact information on the RESULTS website.
Upcoming Congressional Recesses: House: October 1-November 9.
RESULTS New Advocate Orientation, Thursday, October 11 and October 17 at 8:30pm ET; Friday, October 26 at 1:00pm ET. Get started here.
RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar, Tuesday, October 2 at 8:00 pm ET. Join at: https://results.zoom.us/j/873308801 or dial (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 873 308 801.
RESULTS Action Network Community of Practice webinar, Wednesday, October 3 at 8:00pm ET. To join, log in: https://results.zoom.us/j/427674133 or dial in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 427 674 133.
Indigenous People’s Day, Monday, October 8. All RESULTS offices closed.
U.S. Poverty Free Agents Calls, Tuesday, October 16 at 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.
RESULTS Virtual Thanksgiving Feast Fundraising Campaign, November 2018. Contact Mea Geizhals, Grassroots Fundraising Manager, with any questions and look for more information soon.
RESULTS International Conference, July 13-16, 2019. Learn more at www.resultsconference.org.
Other Resources
Get Your RESULTS Promo Materials. If you need banners, pens, stickers, or business cards for your local RESULTS work, fill out our Materials Order Form and we’ll send them to you.
Got a Question for the RESULTS Board? If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for the RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund Board, please e-mail Steven McGee at [email protected]. View published Board minutes on the RESULTS website, as well as our Annual Reports.
Please Fill Out the Lobby Report Form. After any lobby meeting, please fill out the RESULTS Lobby Report Form to let us know how it went. When you have a meeting where both U.S. and global poverty issues are discussed, please fill it out twice.