Protesting in solidarity in Southern New Hampshire.
RAD Leaders in Action
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RAD Regional organizer Heather Stockwell, alongside allies at Monadnock Progressive Alliance supported BLM leaders in organizing a peaceful Juneteenth protest in Keene, NH, which included a musical performance and a roster of knock-your-socks-off speeches by Dr. Dottie Morris of Keene State, historian Katie Pomper, high school senior, Jonah Wheeler (pictured above), and other incredible luminaries.
RAD Board Chairs, Leadership Committee members, and volunteer leaders worked both behind-the-scenes and in the spotlight to make our regional Renew launches huge successes. At the launch, Sharlene Labore, Alison Nihart, Mia Schultz, Sebastian Fuentes, and Eric Rasmussen all spoke to the moment we’re in and announced our full slate of endorsed candidates in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Wow, 2020.
The days feel long, but the months seem to fly by, and suddenly we are in the heat of summer. With half of the year behind us, we’re looking towards what’s ahead with new energy.
For us at RAD, June was about finding our balance in a wild spectrum of emotions and responses to the crises and movements escalating around us – a balance between introspection and action, leading and listening; and transitioning while staying still. The world is moving fast – it has been quite a ride, and there’s more to come.
The demonstrations that exploded across the country in May added an acute poignancy to this year’s Juneteenth celebrations, vigils, and marches. The continued shows of solidarity with Black Lives Matter across Vermont and New Hampshire have been heartening, but the persistence of racist incidents in our country and in our communities reminds us of how much anti-racism work we still have to do in our small, yet largely white states. RAD stands with the Movement 4 Black Lives and local racial justice organizations, and we will continue to show up, educate ourselves, participate, and support actions as we commit to grounding our work in racial justice and equity.
After months of work, RAD, in coalition with allied groups and partner organizations, launched Renew New England, a region-wide policy blueprint to address the intersecting crises laid bare by the pandemic and build an equitable, just and ecologically sound future. At the launch, we also announced our slates of endorsed candidates in New Hampshire and Vermont, who have joined us in our commitment to renewing and restoring our states. As we gear up for an unprecedented election season, we are thrilled about these candidates who will champion our movement’s values and principles.
We are ready to dig into the next few months to get the people elected this fall who will work for the change we need. Our people powered movement is what gets us closer to our vision of an equitable and healthy future. But we can’t do it without your support. Please consider becoming a sustaining member of RAD today. Let’s keep building our power across New Hampshire.
Onward,
James Haslam
Executive Director, Rights & Democracy
Staff Updates
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Things are never still on the RAD team. We had more thrilling shifts in RAD staff this month. KJ Deyett joined the team as our Bistate Data and Technology Manager. RAD New Hampshire welcomed five Deep Field Canvassers: Colin Monahan, Katy Allen, Lauren Melchionda, Mickayla Aboujaoude, and Amanda McNelly.
And last but not least, we are excited to announce that Asma Elhuni is joining RAD as the New Hampshire Movement Politics Director. Please join us in welcoming everyone aboard!
We’re Hiring!
RAD is seeking a New Hampshire Regional Grassroots organizer for the Manchester/Nashua Region. Please share widely!
In the Media
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Renew New England’s launch featured in Common Dreams. Activist and author, Naomi Klein called Renew “precisely the coalition this historic moment requires.”
New Hampshire’s WMUR picked up RAD’s endorsement of progressive champion, Andru Volinsky for New Hampshire Governor.
Sebastian Fuentes was published for speaking out in favor of HB 712, granting paid family and medical leave for NH families.
Full coverage from The Keene Sentinel of the Juneteenth march in Keene, with some familiar RAD voices.
CAMPAIGNS
RENEW
With frontline communities, grassroots organizations, Indigenous tribes, and labor unions across the region, we launched Renew New England, a movement and policy platform designed to confront the interconnected crises of mass unemployment, racial inequity, climate disruption, and coronavirus pandemic. Keynote speakers included Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Ayanna Pressley, Reverend Mariama White-Hammond, Varshini Prakash of Sunrise Movement, and Representative Ro Khanna.
We also announced our slate of more than one hundred and fifty candidates we are endorsing in this year’s upcoming races. These candidates have committed to Renew’s vision to rebuild and renew Vermont and New Hampshire, and we couldn’t be more excited.
Missed the launch? We have you covered. You can watch a recording of the event and read more about Renew’s policy platform.
Click here for New Hampshire’s full list. Sign up to get involved with RAD and Renew New England.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
From struggling to pay bills and buy groceries to risking their health and safety every time they go to work, many Granite Staters have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. At 14.5%, New Hampshire’s unemployment rate is higher than the 13.3% national average. It is clear – we are in crisis. The people of our state need relief and our leaders must take swift and decisive action. On July 16, please join RAD for a special Town Hall to get facts and resources on Unemployment Insurance (UI). The talk will cover everything from who qualifies to tips for applying for UI. Register today to learn what you can do to take action to demand economic relief and improve New Hampshire’s unemployment system.
Staff Updates
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Things are never still on the RAD team. We had more thrilling shifts in RAD staff this month. KJ Deyett joined the team as our Bistate Data and Technology Manager. RAD New Hampshire welcomed five Deep Field Canvassers: Colin Monahan, Katy Allen, Lauren Melchionda, Mickayla Aboujaoude, and Amanda McNelly.
And last but not least, we are excited to announce that Asma Elhuni is joining RAD as the New Hampshire Movement Politics Director. Please join us in welcoming everyone aboard!
We’re Hiring!
RAD is seeking a New Hampshire Regional Grassroots organizer for the Manchester/Nashua Region. Please share widely!
In the Media
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Renew New England’s launch featured in Common Dreams. Activist and author, Naomi Klein called Renew “precisely the coalition this historic moment requires.”
New Hampshire’s WMUR picked up RAD’s endorsement of progressive champion, Andru Volinsky for New Hampshire Governor.
Sebastian Fuentes was published for speaking out in favor of HB 712, granting paid family and medical leave for NH families.
Full coverage from The Keene Sentinel of the Juneteenth march in Keene, with some familiar RAD voices.
In case you missed it…
We welcomed Asma Elhuni as our first NH Movement Politics Director!
Our petition urging Gov. Sununu to sign HB 712 in support of paid family medical leave has been circulated throughout the state, and is still wracking up signatures.
CHAPTERS
MONADNOCK
Down in Southern New Hampshire, Heather’s Monadnock Mutual Aid Mask Makers Group – which includes a dozen skilled and first-time sewers – have made 1,700 masks for families in need in the Con-Val school district over the past month! Amazing!
Looking to help out? Get in touch with Heather at heather@radnh.org.
GREATER NASHUA / MANCHESTER
Just because New Hampshire isn’t featured nightly on national news doesn’t mean we don’t have a long history of systemic injustice in our state. Regional Organizer Alissandra Rodriguez-Murray has been actively attending and supporting rallies, both as a safety coordinator and marshall. Rights & Democracy is focused on supporting BIPOC organizations hosting rallies and actions, which we amplify through our Facebook and Twitter.
We’re simultaneously deeply saddened yet incredibly proud of Alissandra’s next move – they are moving on from RAD to become the Co-Director of Organizing at New Hampshire Youth Movement! Alissandra is a beacon of progress in our state, and NHYM is lucky to have them as they continue into their next chapter of activism and strong leadership. Congratulations Alissandra!
LAKES REGION
Over in the Lakes Region, Kevin Pentz has been hard at work advocating for the needs of New Hampshire families experiencing the failings of our unbalanced education system. On top of tirelessly working towards education justice in our state, Kevin has been connecting those in need to mutual aid in the Lakes Region. Have you been affected by the transition to remote learning during COVID-19, or work within the education community? Fill out our survey to help RAD support the needs of educators and families on New Hampshire, or get in touch with Kevin at kevin@radnh.org.
UPPER VALLEY / SULLIVAN COUNTY
Ali Brokenshire, our effervescent and powerful organizer in the Upper Valley, in tandem with RAD member Matt Mooshian recently called out Claremont Councilor Jon Stone for public, racist comments regarding Black Lives Matter actions in the state. Stone’s career as Councilor has been problematic to say the least, and Matt delivered a powerful speech denouncing Stone’s incendiary behavior. Hate has no home in New Hampshire, and RAD will never stop standing up for the safety and wellbeing of BIPOC Granite Staters. We all deserve to not just survive, but thrive in our state.
A parting note.
We leave you with some final words by Nigel Tann, Director of Training at our national partner People’s Action Institute, that deeply resonates with all of us at Rights & Democracy:
“I am present to the privilege we have to spend our time building power to break down the world as it is and build the world we deserve, and we honor that privilege by our work having the maximum impact possible.”
Onward, in solidarity.