Good morning!

This is Brandyn Buchanan with your weekly Metro Atlanta DSA update. It’s been one of the busiest weeks we’ve had in a while - we’re tuning up for what’s going to be a pivotal year for MADSA and the country as a whole:

1. General Meeting Report
2. Endorsement Results
3. American Socialist Screening
4. Sunrise Movement Launch Party
5. Membership Mobilizer Training
6. MADSA for Bernie Meeting/Canvass

1. Meeting Report

We're coming off the heels of a general meeting that had over, 100 visitors - that's by far the largest general meeting in the history of this chapter. 

We invested a LOT of time and energy in spreading the word - and Atlantans are absolutely thirsty for change. Luckily, this meeting was all about DSA looking for ways they can have a direct impact on the policies of our state. 

If you weren’t there: We held a short presentation on. the electoral process how bills are passed, and how citizens can lobby and track those bills. 

We also had a lot of partner organizations come in and give presentations on what their priorities were going to be for the new year: 

The general meeting also featured breakout groups, where people could get more information on the direct strategies that the chapter is using to push forward through our working groups. Getting people directly involved in the causes that they care most about is a good way to make sure that we are just putting our trust in leadership but creating leaders of our own. 

You should absolutely contact the chapter and get involved if you haven’t.

We also considered a pair of congressional candidates in the state. Hopefully, no matter where you stand on the endorsements yo got to hear a fresh set of ideas that made you better equipped to talk about the movement with your friends and peers. 

2. Endorsement Vote Results

With that said, the chapter has overwhelmingly supported both Nabilah Islam for GA-7 (by a vote of 82%-19%) and Micheal Owens in GA-13 (89%-12%). 

There’s going to be a serious uphill battle in the halls of Congress - getting those seats filled by folks who support the common good is critically important. 

The campaigns themselves will be rolling out the endorsements on a more formal basis in the days ahead - but we figured you'd waited long enough. ;) 

We’ll be discussing their candidacy in more depth on our other digital outlets, and hopefully you'll be inspired to donate and get involved with their campaigns. 

3. American Socialist Screening

Last night, we also had the free screening for American Socialist at Georgia State University. This film was a fascinating portrait of the life of Eugene Debs, and around 30 people showed up to learn from his life. We also held a moderated discussion on what could be learned from his life, how we can apply it today, and what DSA as a whole is doing to follow up on his legacy. 

Hopefully all of us remember the importance of organizing face-to-face, grounding our political speech in the common values and worldview we share with our neighbors, and having a dogged determination in fighting for change.

4. Sunrise Movement Launch Party

Tonight, the Sunrise Movement North Georgia is holding their 'Plan to win the Green New Deal' 2020 Launch Party at 52 Fairlie Street downtown.

Anyone is welcome to come and admission is free - they’ll watch and discuss two new films from Sunrise Movement about the Green New Deal and what we need to do in 2020 to win it, and then together we can figure out what we need to do to make this year count.

You should absolutely be there. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/174705713629372/?notif_t=event_invite_reminder&notif_id=1580256772091504

5. Membership Mobilizer Training

Saturday, February 1st! If you missed our first Membership Mobilizer Training, this is the time to get up and rolling - Mobilizer is really designed to get new members and bring them closer to the core of the organization. Get this training and you’ll be meeting new folks and showing them the way. If you’ve ever really wanted to deepen your investment, this is how - Mobilizer is some of the most critical work we do. 

South Bend Commons, this Saturday at 12.

https://www.facebook.com/events/599376400849318/

6. MADSA for Bernie meeting + canvass

MADSA for Bernie is REALLY in high gear and hitting record numbers. MADSA for Bernie’s next biweekly meeting is tomorrow at the Georgia Beer Garden. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/773753916444008/

There’s also a canvass at Glenwood Hills Park 

https://www.facebook.com/events/218689435811656/

Knock some doors to register voters and talk with folks about Bernie and Democratic Socialism! We will meet up at 12pm to give a canvassing training and hand out literature. Be sure to bring a smartphone and download the MiniVAN app ahead of time!

That's all for this week!

It’s never been a more exciting time to be a MADSA member - as you can tell, we’re doing a LOT at once and doing it at full bore. It’s practically impossible to get to everything that we’re doing in town - we have some folks that try ;) - but everyone can be a part of the cause.

Your donations REALLY make all the difference. $100 helps chip into our monthly payments for the rental hall. $20 helps us buy union made shirts and equipment. Even $5 can help us get a student organizer from one side of town to the other. 

The organization and enthusiasm is there, so your support will make all the difference. 

https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/donate-to-metro-atlanta-dsa

In Solidarity,

Metro Atlanta DSA