U.S. Poverty Weekly Update October 9, 2018

​​​U.S. Poverty Campaigns

Weekly Update | October 9, 2018

“No one should ever have to pick between obtaining essential medical care and staying together with their family in this country.”

– RESULTS REAL Change Fellow Tanha Rahman  in a September 28 letter to the editor in the Miami Herald

Got Two Minutes? Make Poverty a Priority at Candidate Events (October Action)

With only a month left before the election, candidates are making the rounds in their districts and states talking to constituents about their concerns. Sadly, few seem to be talking about poverty. You can do something about that. By attending candidate events, you can make them aware of issues they are either unaware of or are choosing to ignore.

Be it a town hall, meet and greet, or fundraiser, take advantage of opportunities to meet with the candidates running for Congress in your area. They need to hear from you. Let’s make ending poverty a priority for the next Congress by talking to candidates now.

TAKE ACTION: Take two minutes to look for candidate events in your area.  Contact their campaign offices to ask about events (just Google their name to find campaign website), get on their mailing lists, check their candidate Facebook pages and Twitter feeds, and go to https://act.indivisible.org/event/recess-townhall/search/ and www.townhallproject.com to look for local events. The October Action has sample questions to ask at events. And when you find an event you plan to attend, contact Meredith Dodson for help getting ready.

Got Ten Minutes? Focus on Engaging New People during Election Season (October Action)

Election day is four weeks from today. People are paying close attention to this election, probably the most anticipated midterm election in recent memory. But we know that election day us just the beginning. People need to talk to lawmakers again and again long after the election to make sure their concerns are heard. This election presents a great opportunity for you to welcome a host of new advocates to do just that. People are hungry to make a difference; show them how. In addition to the new voices you can help usher into this work, think about the new energy you can bring to your local RESULTS group. The election is making it easy for you – let’s make the most of it.

TAKE ACTION: Take ten minutes to do the exercise below to reach out to people about the importance of staying involved in the political process after the election is over. Take a pen and paper, or your computer, and do the following:

1. Write down the names of at least 5 people (who are not part of your local RESULTS group) that you know are interested in this year’s election. Leave about 2 inches of space under each name.
2. Based on your relationship with each person, what is the best way to get in touch with them (phone call, e-mail, text, social media)? Write down the answers under each person’s name.
3. When will you reach out to each person to schedule a time to talk to them (in person, video chat, or phone)? Write down the date under each name.
4. Using the Laser Talk in the October Action as a guide, how would you phrase what you plan to say for each person? What things about your work with RESULTS do you want to highlight? What things about RESULTS do you think would interest them? Tailor what you say individually and write down your answers under each person’s name.
5. Once you have an idea of what you want to say. Start reaching out to people.
6. See the October Action for information on what to do after you’ve spoken to someone.

If you have questions or need additional coaching on your outreach this election season, please contact Jos Linn.

Got Twenty Minutes? Take Action to Oppose New Public Charge Rule (Starting Tomorrow)

As highlighted on the U.S. Poverty National Webinar last week, there is new “public charge” rule being proposed by the Trump Administration that could have harsh impacts on low-income immigrant families for years to come. The new rule would count the use of anti-poverty programs against immigrants seeking legal permanent status (i.e. “green card”) in the U.S. As a result, poverty among low-income immigrant families would increase as the government ransoms foregoing food, medical, or housing assistance, as the price of receiving a green card.

The rule is expected to be published tomorrow, triggering a period (likely 60 days) where the public can comment on the rule. Our goal is to garner as many negative comments as possible (the groups opposing this rule have a goal of 100,000 comments). Overwhelming opposition will send a clear message to the Administration to abandon this rule. Use our two-pronged strategy below to oppose this cruel new attack on low-income immigrant families.

TAKE ACTION: Take twenty minutes to oppose the new public charge rule. Do the following to help generate overwhelming opposition to it.

1. Comment Yourself. When the rule is published tomorrow, go to www.protectingimmigrantfamilies.org for instructions on how to comment. When you comment, please personalize yourself; do not cut and paste from sample comments or it may not count.
2. Urge Others to Comment. RESULTS will send an alert when the rule is published – please forward it to your action networks urging others to comment. In addition, use our online alert to send a letter to the editor urging your community and your members of Congress to stand up against this harsh and unnecessary new rule.

If you have questions, please contact Jos Linn for assistance.

Quick News

Sign Your Group Up onto New SAVE for All Principles. Strengthening America’s Values and Economy (SAVE) for All is a coalition of national, state and local groups “working to protect important services from harmful federal budget cuts and to save the federal capacity to spur economic recovery and progress for the benefit of all.” RESULTS has been a SAVE member for many years. SAVE for All has just announced their new principles for the next Congress. They include protecting low-income and vulnerable people, promoting job creation and strengthening the economy, increasing revenues from fair sources, and seeking responsible savings from wasteful spending in the Pentagon and elsewhere. Help build support for these principles by signing your local RESULTS group (e.g. “RESULTS Kansas City”) onto them. Go here to read the full principles and to sign your group on. If you have questions, please contact Jos Linn.

Join Webinar of Taxes and the Racial Wealth Divide. Join our friends at Prosperity Now for a webinar looking at how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017  widens the income and wealth gap not just between the wealthy and everyone else, but also between white households and households of color. They’ll also examine what an equitable tax code could look like and how to use it to reduce the racial wealth divide. The webinar is Thursday, October 25 at 2:00 pm ET. Register to reserve your spot today.

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.

U.S. Poverty Team members planned time off: Meredith Dodson, Tuesday, November 6; Jos Linn, Wednesday, November 21.

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.

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 Presentations in Greenville/Spartanburg, SC, Monday, October 22. Grassroots Manager for U.S. Poverty Campaigns will be doing several presentations at Wofford College about the importance of anti-poverty advocacy. For details, contact Jos.

Election Day, Tuesday, November 6. Be sure to vote!

RESULTS Action Network Community of Practice webinar, Wednesday, November 7 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.

Veterans’ Day Holiday, Monday, November 12. All RESULTS offices closed.

RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar, Tuesday, November 13 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 Virtual Thanksgiving Feast Fundraising Campaign, November 2018. Contact Mea Geizhals, Grassroots Fundraising Manager, with any questions and look for more information soon.

Thanksgiving Holiday Break, Thursday, November 22 – Friday, November 23. All RESULTS offices closed.

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.

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