The Organizing Tour is Growing — New York Was Just the Beginning! |
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Dear friend, The You Only Get What You’re Organized to Take Tour kicked off across New York this month — and the energy was incredible. From Ithaca to Buffalo to Albany, Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, Noam Sandweiss-Back, Kairos staff, and grassroots leaders came together to lift up the stories, struggles, and victories that have shaped the fight to end poverty over the past 30 years — and to spark a bold new era of organizing. |
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Next, the organizing tour moves to Pennsylvania and Georgia — building power from the ground up. Together, we are organizing to take what we all deserve. In This Issue:
🚨 Urgent call to protect Head Start
📅 Upcoming events & actions
✊ 35 years since Takeover
✨ New tour stops in PA and GA
🙏 Freedom Church of the Poor’s new season
📰 Latest in news & media The future belongs to those who organize for it. Let’s get to work.
You only get what you’re organized to take, The Kairos Center |
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Take Action: Protect Head Start! |
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In the past week, head start families, teachers and advocates received alarming news that the administration is considering a budget proposal to eliminate Head Start entirely. While this proposal has not yet been formally released by the president or voted on by Congress, the very idea would be devastating for children, families, and communities across the nation. Now more than ever, it's crucial that Congress and the president hear our voices: Action #1
Parents and Caregivers: Sign the Letter to President Trump
The NHSA is gathering signatures from current and former Head Start parents, caregivers, and alumni for a powerful letter urging the President to protect and invest in Head Start. Sign the Letter to President Trump Action #2
Everyone: Email Congress to Save Head Start:
We’re asking all parents, staff, alumni, and friends of Head Start to email their members of Congress. It only takes two minutes. Email Your Members of Congress Now |
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Tuesday, April 29th, 7pm ET: Luke 10 Congregations! |
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Earlier this year, Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) and the Kairos Center launched Luke 10 Congregations: Equipping Churches to Do Justice. We’re excited to announce applications are now open for the next round, beginning in September! |
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Join us for an informational session! |
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Wednesday, April 30th: Faithful Witness Wednesday Vigil at the Capitol |
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Join a coalition of 29 faith-based organizations calling on Congress to exercise greater moral courage. Together, through prayer and witness, we can demand action. |
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Wednesday, April 30th: Livestream Premiere of You Only Get What You’re Organized To Take |
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Join us for a special livestream premiere of the launch event for You Only Get What You’re Organized to Take—just in time to gear up for May Day actions! We’ll dive into lessons from the book, lift up powerful stories of grassroots organizing, and build energy for the struggles ahead. |
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Also streaming on Facebook and LinkedIn! |
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Celebrate 35 Years Since the Historic Takeover Actions |
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This May Day marks 35 years since the National Union of the Homeless led powerful Takeover Actions, seizing empty federally-owned houses to expose a brutal truth: |
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“We’re dying in the street — that should be against the law.” – Ronald Casanova, NYC Homeless Union. (Ronald Casanova is featured in all of our tour stop posters) |
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Learn more about this historic moment through the full-length film Takeover by Skylight Pictures |
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May 2025: New Pennsylvania & Georgia Tour Stops Announced! |
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Rev. Liz Theoharis, Noam Sandweiss-Back, and Kairos staff are headed to Pennsylvania and Georgia in the next few weeks! Each stop is designed to build deep community relationships and organize for long-term change. |
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Freedom Church of the Poor: Gather with Us every Sunday & Wednesday |
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In the spirit of the early followers of the way movement — scattered, oppressed, yet liberated by truth and hope — we continue to gather for spiritual and political community. |
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The Nation: Trump Is Waging War on the Poor |
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“In every popular, pro-democracy movement, there is a leading social force that, by virtue of its place in the economic pecking order, is compelled to act first, because for them it’s a matter of life-or-death. And by moving into action, that force can awaken the indignation and imagination of others.” - Rev. Dr. Liz Theohairs & Noam Sandweiss-Back |
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Listen: New Podcast Episode |
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Catch our latest conversation on organizing to end poverty on the Poverty Unpacked podcast. |
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