RAD Leaders in Action
This month our staff across the Renew New England Alliance met for the first time in person to strategize our overall strategy moving forward. It was so moving to share space and strategize the next steps for our growing movement with our regional leaders, organizers, and Renew electeds.
RAD in the Media
“Don’t be afraid to invite yourself to the table when you feel the time is right.” RAD Electeds and board members speak about the next generation of leadership.
Our allies at Energy Action Network break down the potential benefits of clean energy for low-income Vermonters.
RAD Leaders helped support a “Rally for Togetherness” in St. Albans to show solidarity.
In Case You Missed It....
With housing costs far outpacing wages and few rentals available, VT tenants face a harsh reality as pandemic protections end.
We are thrilled to endorse Joe Magee for the Burlington Ward 3 City Council seat!
We leave you with an episode of the 70 Over 70 podcast some of us on staff have been enjoying with Congressman Jim Clyburn about the balance between optimism and pragmatism.
Over the past month, RAD really stepped into the heart of our work. The through line of our movement is ever present, and we really felt it this month as we continued our blend of in person organizing and our remote operations.
In truth, Rights & Democracy has always been working under a hybrid model. Not just in the way we work, but in how we work. Our movement has been forging its own path between the world we’re in and the one we could have when we win a true multi-racial democracy; on all levels, from the school board to the Oval Office.
This isn’t always easy, but with the wealth of knowledge and experience from our members it’s now second nature. Binding us all together is a commitment for working towards the world we want, and at the center of that commitment is a quiet, tenacious joy.
Thank you to all our members who continue to make our movement as robust and thriving as it is today. We can’t wait to see you at our annual membership assembly (which has changed dates, so mark your calendar for Sunday, November 14th), either in person or virtually.
August is when we’re taking a lot of our grassroots work to the national level, so stay tuned for ways to get involved as we keep up the pressure on the new administration.
In solidarity,
Kiah Morris
VT Movement Politics Director
Upcoming Events
- How to Run & Win Virtual Candidate Training, Tuesday, August 3rd, 6:30-8pm
- The Traverse: The Struggle for Livable Wages for All Workers, Wednesday, August 11th, 6-7pm
- RAD Essex Area Chapter Meeting, Thursday, August 19th, 6-7:30pm
- RAD Burlington Chapter Meeting, Wednesday, August 25th, 5:30-7pm
- Wednesday Phonebanks for Justice, every Wednesday, 5pm-7:15pm
Together, we will get out into our communities to talk with our neighbors about housing, food, climate, and education justice and build momentum for our ongoing campaigns. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in door-to-door canvassing, tabling at events, and other ways of holding these important conversations.
You can learn more and register for the following two August Days of Action:
Raise your voice! Activist Songbook Composer Byron Au Yong and Lyricist Aaron Jafferis are partnering with Hopkins Center for the Arts and Rights & Democracy Institute to offer a free, virtual community gathering for folx looking to enhance their activism and resilience with the practice of collective song and mindfulness.During this three hour intensive, we will discuss music and its role in activism and democracy, while also providing tools to create your own activist music practice.Learn more and reserve your place.
Healthcare Justice
Do you have a story about medical debt? The Office of Health Care Advocate wants to hear from you! Complete their online survey to support efforts to advocate for Vermonters facing debt, and be entered to win a $25 VISA gift card.