Bend your energy toward the future… if everyone who marched against the current administration went out and spent a four-hour shift knocking on doors in their neighborhood in a mass canvass…. Well, you do the math. Energizing folks to realize their power – the power to vote, the power to engage in community action – is the simple startup solution to a lot of complex problems.
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Bend your energy toward the future… if everyone who marched against the current administration went out and spent a four-hour shift knocking on doors in their neighborhood in a mass canvass…. Well, you do the math. Energizing folks to realize their power – the power to vote, the power to engage in community action – is the simple startup solution to a lot of complex problems.
STATEWIDE ACTION
We passed the paid sick leave bill last year. Then we overrode the Hogan veto this year. The law took effect yesterday. But the Governor’s weasel opposition won’t go away, thanks to the enablers in the Maryland Senate. Because Hogan, in denial, ignored the near-certain veto override and failed to instruct his agencies to prepare to help businesses to acclimate to a bill that helps 700,000 working Marylanders have peace of mind about caring for sick children or staying home when they are sick. So the Senate helped him out in his zeal to undermine this bill. SB 304, the bill that seeks to delay the implementation and accrual of earned sick and safe leave until July 1st, 2018, cleared the Senate last Thursday with a favorable vote of 29-17 and is in the House awaiting a public hearing in the House Economic Matters Committee (ECM) tomorrow, Tuesday February 13th at 1:00PM. Â
Call your legislators and let them know that this is their chance to say “didn’t you get it? We’re DONE with this. You lost.” And vote no.
Thursday, February 15th for an In- person meeting on Movement Politics mobilization 6:30-7:30 p.m. I want to thank you for the work last year! As you know, we are in the middle of a Movement--a Movement for Blacks Women, and Immigrants. You have volunteered, organized, and ran for office around the issues of the people. We are in a dangerous time politically where this administration is threatening all of our rights. There is good news. The American people are waking up and fighting. We have won Progressive victories in Alabama, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It is our chance to do the same in Maryland!
Progressive Maryland is looking for people to help with both issue and electoral campaigns to win victories all Maryland. In preparation for the June Primary, I am building Movement Politics teams all around the state. I am propositioning people to be leaders around data, canvassing, voter registration, training, and recruitment. If this sounds interesting to you, then complete the Movement Politics Team Survey. In addition to this survey, I will be holding an in-person meeting on Thursday, February 15th from 6:30pm-7:30 pm to talk about strategy around the 2018 Primary- RSVP! I will be calling you to talk about how I envision your role in the Movement this week!
-- Alexiss Kurtz, Progressive Maryland’s Movement Politics Director
OUR CHAPTERS AROUND THE STATE
Saturday, Feb. 15 Organizer 101 Training RSVP here
Have you ever wondered what it means to be an organizer? Do you want to organize around an issue in your community? Join us Saturday, Feb 17th at 10:30 a.m. You'll learn about what Progressive Maryland does, how we build power to influence issues and elections, and how you can get more involved in local organizing work. Greater Beulah Baptist Church in Capitol Heights, MD Get energized and engaged in the new year by joining us for the first Prince George's member orientation of 2018! Progressive Maryland's member orientation is a great way to connect . rsvp
PG Mass Canvass! RSVPÂ here Join us canvassing to build power and support progressive candidates!
Thursday, March 22 Mass Incarceration Listening Session
RSVP here We want to hear from you! On Thursday, March 22nd at 7 PM we'll be focusing on the problems and crafting community solutions to solve the problems in PG County.
Upcoming Events:
- District 5 Happy Hour at Nando's Peri-Peri in Silver Spring. There'll be great food, and even better company. RSVP here.Â
- District 3 Happy Hour at Greene Growler's in Gaithersburg. Don't miss the happy hour specials! RSVP here.Â
Photos:
- PMD Montgomery recently collaborated with the Montgomery County Chapter of the DSA and Brandy Brooks on an action at the recent Montgomery County Council Budget Forum. We asked Ike Leggett to reveal the deal at Amazon and to keep the negotiations open to the public. PMD Montgomery member Steve documented the event.Â
PMD Montgomery has been blogging.
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Two blogs from our enviro blogger Susan.
On Saturday, February 24 and Sunday February 25 we will be participating in the Progressive Maryland state wide canvass. The Saturday event is being held in conjunction with the Oakland Mills High School Young Democrats Club. The Young Democrats Club is having a candidate forum for council candidates in Howard county council districts 2 and 3. On Saturday we will be canvassing around Oakland Mills High School in Columbia, passing out fliers and registering people to vote. Â
On Sunday we will be canvassing in the Dorsey Search area of Columbia.Â
Details of both canvasses are on the Progressive Maryland Website.
Baltimore
Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 06:30 PM Movement Politics Team Interest Meeting  at The Startup Nest in Baltimore, MD
Come join us to dive deep in working on campaigns at the first Movement Politics Interest Meeting. Movement politics is the process of fighting for a democracy where people - not corporations -- come first. (show all) rsvp
Take Action Anne Arundel CountyÂ
Thursday, February 15, Monthly Chapter Meeting at 7 p.m. at the Edgewater Community Library
- Planning Actions for...
- 2018 Legislative Session, including Feb 26 Progressive Maryland Lobby NightÂ
- Issue and Election Canvassing on Saturday February 24 in AnnapolisÂ
- Rally and Public Testimony at Anne Arundel County Board of Education Meeting on Wednesday February 21 Â
Wednesday, February 21 at 6:30pm, Rally/Testimony at the Monthly AA County Board of Education Meeting 6:30 p.m. at 2644 Riva Road, Annapolis. Â
- The AA County Board of Education is in a business relationship with the Milestone Corporation of Reston VA. Milestone has a contract to lease school land to build 40 cell towers at school locations in Anne Arundel County.Â
- Rally at 6:30-6:45pm with the Coalition against Proposed Cell Tower at Shady Side Elementary School, the South County Huddle, and Take Action Anne Arundel County
- Testify at the 7pm BOE meeting. Speakers have 3 minutes for public comments. Please be courteous and peaceful while speaking. Speaking points will be provided if you would like to participate and need assistanceÂ
- RSVP here
Saturday, February 24 at 10am - Anne Arundel County CanvassÂ
- Take Action Anne Arundel County is hosting a canvass advocating progressive issues and Progressive Maryland endorsed candidates. RSVP here.
- Progressive Maryland will provide canvassing resources and candidate literature.Â
Lower Shore Progressive Caucus
EVENTS FROM OUR ALLIES
Sunday, March 11 --  Public Forum on Community Empowerment and Police Accountability 3-5 p.m., at Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church, 7400 Temple Hill Road in Temple Hills. Â
Speakers are  Mr. Jonathan W. Hutto, Sr., Social Justice and Peace Activist, and Major Neill Franklin (Ret.), Executive Director of Law Enforcement Action Partnership. Learn about the history and current status of police/community relations in the county and new possibilities for community involvement in policing. Take part in discussion about the next steps. More
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Thursday February 15 - Foam Ban Rally with Baltimore Beyond Plastics, Trash Free Maryland, and the Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club. 1:30 p.m. at Lawyer's Mall Share on Facebook. RSVP here.Â
Monday, February 19, Reel and Meal at the New Deal will commemorate Black History Month with a screening of  “Walking While Black: L.O.V.E. is the Answer.” The program will start at 7 pm at the New Deal Café, 113 Centerway in Roosevelt Center, Greenbelt, following an optional vegan buffet for $14 beginning at 6:30 pm.
Walking While Black: L.O.V.E. is the Answer is a documentary about improving police-community relations as a way of addressing the tragic consequences of racial profiling.
Following the film, representatives of the Greenbelt Police Department will explain their approach to ensuring racial justice in their policies and procedures and day-to-day actions. For more information on this month’s program contact Nancy Joy Allchin at [email protected].
Thursday, Feb. 15 Hearing on Prince George’s School Board reform legislation goes before the House Ways and Means Committee at 1 p.m., in Annapolis. The legislation (HB 196 and HB 207) broadly would return the school board to all-elected and allow it to choose its own leaders. If you would like to submit written testimony please email it to [email protected] or if you would like to testify in person, please contact the above directly at 301-858-3092.
Feb. 13 Public Hearing on the Prince George's County budget at 7 p.m. at Laurel High School.
Tuesday, Feb. 20 The Prince George’s County Council has scheduled an informational budget hearing on Feb. 20 in Council Hearing room, County Administrative Building in Upper Marlboro, 7 pm.
Friday, Feb 23 AFRICA VOTES - COUNTY EXECUTIVE FORUM
Date and Time 7-9 p.m. Add to Calendar "The House of Champions" / Victory Temple, 13701 Annapolis Road Bowie, MD 20720 View Map
Sunday, February 25 Progressive Neighbors MoCo Candidate Forums 7 p.m. : Piney Branch Elementary School, 7510 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park 20912. - Gubernatorial Candidates: : Ben Jealous, Kevin Kamenetz, Rich Madeleno, Alec Ross, Jim Shea, Krishanti Vignarajah
Baltimore comrades, Check in on Max Obuszewski’s highly useful calendar and tip sheet at http://baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/
To keep up with progressive events in and around DC consult the invaluable calendar at the Washington Peace Center, http://washingtonpeacecenter.org/alerts
It all happens for free… right? Not exactly. Organizing for change in our society and our high-maintenance politics requires both people and money. Keep change moving with a quick, secure impulse-buy contribution here. You know you meant to do it last week and now here you are again...
Reading the Progressive Maryland BlogSpace: our blogs for the previous week are shown below, but if you want a handy way to keep track – and never miss a blog post – you can sign up to get this Weekly Memo by email. Remember this is your blogspace and your participation is heartily invited. See something going on that you don’t like – or that you do like and hope to see more of? Send us your thoughts; submit to the moderator at [email protected]
February 09, 2018 Action Report: January 30 Women's State of the Union at the National Press Club
People's Action helped organize the Women's State of the Union event at the National Press Club Jan. 30, countering the SOTU by Pres. Trump. At the invitation of People's Action, Brandy Brooks organized a contingent from Progressive Maryland. Claire Miller from Take Action Anne Arundel County and Chrissy Holt, State Senate District 30 candidate in Anne Arundel, joined in attending this landmark event with Progressive Maryland organizers.
February 07, 2018 Thoughts, comforting and not so comforting, after Trump Year 1
Acting locally lets us touch the people we are affecting, HoCo activist Dave Bazell notes. And it allows them to touch us. And this feedback is essential in getting it right. Which is not to say activism on a national level is not important or essential, it is just harder. Harder to comprehend, harder to organize, harder to feel the immediate benefits of.
February 06, 2018 Long Game: Struggle to get big money out of Md elections continues at all levels
The struggle to get big money out of Maryland politics, at all levels, has gone on for many years. Still, the fact remains that big money – money from the wealthy, especially from big businesses doing business with the state or depending on state regulation to make them profitable, or from national and global corporations – pollutes the politics of Maryland. Here is news of progress on two fronts.
 February 05, 2018 Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for February 5-12
Canvass for Progressive Maryland’s candidates and issues – the June Primary is coming up and voters need to get their feet under them for this critical set of choices. You can help by speaking to your neighbors. And we'll be at hearings and rallies in Annapolis to keep Maryland on the right track for working families, not for the wealthy.
 Keeping up with the blogs is easier with the index. The blogs published in the PM BlogSpace from June 2015 through December 2016 are all available with descriptions and links here. You can follow blogs for 2017-18 starting from here
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