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Dear John,
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, I’m thinking about the leaders and victories that have gotten us to where we are today, the fights we’re facing in this moment, and what our movements need in order to win the world we want to see.
In the past few weeks and months we’ve witnessed a cascade of bills targeting gender oppressed folks across the country, from Wyoming banning abortion pills to Florida outlawing access to trans healthcare to Tennessee banning drag shows. These attacks, which aim to enforce “traditional” gender roles and police people’s bodies, are the tip of the spear of an insurgent authoritarianism. Our opposition thrives on fear-mongering and control, on obliterating anything perceived as different, sowing division along lines of race, class, gender and more, and consolidating power among the few to exploit the many.
For those of us building a just, inclusive, and affirming world, we need our movements to be multiracial and feminist in their approach in order to dismantle the harmful narratives and violent systems that we encounter every day. This means recognizing people as full human beings who are workers, caregivers, renters, LGBTQIA+ folks, immigrants, formerly incarcerated returning citizens, living with disabilities, and many other intersecting identities. It means valuing the different gifts and skills that people have, and creating the infrastructure and resources for them to show up, learn, experiment, and become leaders in their own communities. It also means valuing the power and knowledge of the collective, rather than the individual.
Ella Baker once said, “Strong people don’t need strong leaders.” What she meant was that we do need leaders, but not in the charismatic, hierarchical sense that we’re used to. We need to see leadership in the small acts that everyday people take to help their neighbors, coworkers, friends, and community live freer by walking in their power. We need to defend our queer and trans siblings, people seeking abortions, and everyone impacted by these attacks on our bodies and our lives—not only because we're fighting for a world where everyone can live in dignity and safety, but because the folks who are resisting and surviving in spite of heteropatriarchy, racial capitalism, and other violent systems are the ones leading us there.
We know that the strength of our movements lies in the solidarity we build across issues, the diverse people and communities with whom we build power, and the collective leadership that arises out of our organizing.
Lauren Jacobs [[link removed]] With hope,
Lauren Jacobs
Executive Director
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Meet our two newest team members: Lena and Helen! [[link removed]]
In order to achieve our vision of a multiracial feminist democracy, one where everyday people hold the power to transform their communities, we know we need to scale up, build deeper relationships, and organize with even more people across the country. This was true last year when we welcomed eight new folks to our team, and we’re continuing to grow this year!
We’re excited to welcome Lena Afridi , our Chief of Staff, and Helen Powell-Busch , our Finance Manager.
Get to know them here [[link removed]]
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Building worker power for climate, jobs, and justice
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Earlier this month, The Alliance for a Greater New York (ALIGN) hosted a virtual town hall with union leaders from across the state to discuss how climate change is impacting workers and how we can move toward a renewable energy economy. More than 140 people attended the town hall (many of them rank-and-file union members) to learn about New York’s Climate Act and the new Climate, Jobs, and Justice Legislative Package. ALIGN has also launched a letter campaign [[link removed]] to continue building support for the package and move the state towards a pro-worker climate plan.
Supporting farmworkers in California
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A new study [[link removed]] highlights the health disparities that farmworkers in California face due to unsafe working conditions, environmental hazards, lack of access to healthcare, and more. Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) conducted in-depth interviews with farmworkers across Ventura County to contribute to the report, which found that half of farmworkers lack health insurance, 59% are excluded from unemployment benefits, and one in five experience wage theft. Recently, CAUSE helped to win a grant for Santa Barbara County that will create a Farmworker Resource Program and connect farmworkers with critical resources from healthcare to housing.
Making public transit accessible for all Massachusetts residents
[link removed] [[link removed]] Community Labor United convenes the The Public Transit Public Good coalition, which has been pushing for low-income fare legislation that will help make a public transit system that is accessible to all, regardless of income level. Thanks to the coalition’s advocacy, MA Governor Healey has included $5 million in her budget to advance a low-income fare at the MBTA. Just last week, MBTA staff signaled that a low-income fare would be included for the first time in the Authority's draft annual budget. Read the coalition’s statement here [[link removed]] .
A new performance in Detroit combines time travel, housing justice, and the power of community organizing
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Detroit Action is collaborating with Detroit-based ensemble theater company A Host of People to adapt Dot’s Home, the award-winning video game that combines racial justice, housing policy, and time travel, into a live theater performance. The video game is set in Detroit and follows Dot, a young Black woman living in her grandmother’s beloved home, as she confronts the racist housing policies her family has endured in every generation. The production, “Dot’s Home Live,” transforms the game’s story onto the stage and invites audience members to participate at critical moments in Dot’s journey. A work-in-progress showing [[link removed]] premiered earlier this month, and the first public performance will be later this June!
Low-wage workers in Oakland share their stories
[link removed] [[link removed]] East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (EBASE) worked with Centro Legal de la Raza, Street Level Health Project, Restaurant Opportunities Center-Bay Area, and the Chinese Progressive Association to organize a city-wide tour for staff at the newly formed Department of Workplace & Employment Standards to hear directly from low-wage workers who have experienced wage theft and other abuses on the job. Listen to their stories here [[link removed]] .
Fighting for transit equity in Atlanta
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Last month Georgia STAND-UP joined community groups and organizers in celebrating Transit Equity Day and raising awareness around the need for affordable and safe public transit. They joined the Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council, New Georgia Project, and other local organizations to march to the West End Transit Station to not only celebrate transit equity, but to demand transparency around where public dollars are invested and to continue the fight for transportation solutions that serve the local community.
Energizing and educating all Chicago voters
[link removed] [[link removed]] Grassroots Collaborative has been working hard to ensure that Chicago voters of all ages are excited and informed when they head to the polls. In January they co-hosted a nonpartisan mayoral candidate forum with the People’s Unity Platform which drew hundreds of attendees. In February they joined a Youth & Parents March to the Polls event where youth voters shared what issues are important to them and why they are voting. In March they are continuing to educate folks about where mayoral candidates stand on the issues that impact Chicagoans daily, and they’re building people power for election day and beyond.
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“Commentary: New York can tackle climate challenges while bolstering union jobs.” Lucas Shapiro, interim executive director of ALIGN, outlines protections that workers need to thrive in the transition to a clean energy industry. Read the full op-ed in the Times Union [[link removed]] .
“Massive strike shutters LAUSD as a sea of workers seeking higher wages rallies downtown.” Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) joined the massive three-day strike led by public school workers in the Los Angeles Unified School District, which drew more than 60,000 supporters. Read more in The Los Angeles Times [[link removed]] .
“Debate over proposed CID light rail station heats up.” Christina Shimizu, executive director of Puget Sound Sage, argues that the north/south option for Seattle’s light rail expansion plan would best serve the Chinatown International District (CID) community. Learn more via NPR [[link removed]] .
“Wage theft in San Diego returns to pre-pandemic levels as officials take aim at offenders.” Kyra Greene, executive director of the Center on Policy Initiatives, says that governments need to hold employers accountable and provide payments to workers. Learn more via inewsource [[link removed]] .
“Pandemic-boosted SNAP benefits can ease the pain of inflation, so why are they ending?” Branden Snyder, executive director of Detroit Action, explains that while SNAP isn’t a perfect solution, it has helped to keep working families and people of color above the poverty line. Removing those benefits would disproportionately harm Black and Latinx people. Read more in Reckon [[link removed]] .
“Lawsuits, town halls and a hunger strike: Bay Area landlords push to end eviction moratorium.” Kristi Laughlin with East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (EBASE) shares why tenants at risk of eviction need legal resources and rental aid. Read more in The Mercury News [[link removed]] .
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