Here’s a Friday update for a big weekend of statewide action, talking to our neighbors, and fighting back against Ike Leggett’s bogus “study” on the effects of a $15 minimum wage.

Note also that activists in Prince George’s Port Towns got a postponement till August 22 for the zoning examiner’s hearing on a dangerous concrete batching plant proposal for Bladensburg.

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At Progressive Maryland, we've been exploring ways to move beyond activist protest and break through the partisan silos that often divide everyday working people. After a summer spent exploring what changes people across Maryland want,  we're holding a weekend of action with a goal of having 100 volunteer canvassers talking to residents in every region of the state. 

We all want access to high quality affordable health care, jobs that pay fair wages and provide opportunities for upward mobility, safe communities, and elected officials who actually listen to our concerns. We may differ on how to get there, but it's important to come together around our shared values to forge solutions together. Are you ready to get involved?

Get in on our mass Weekend of Action starting Today, August 4 through Sunday, August 6th to connect residents across the states with fellow community members through deep canvassing. This is a unique approach that is about listening to residents about their concerns and values that is proven to improve voter turnout and change political opinion.

By building these relationships we can transform the resistance to something even bigger and bolder than before. The powers that be want us to remain divided over petty differences. To build real grassroots power that advances progressive values, we must overcome these divides. 

From western Maryland, to the DC suburbs, Baltimore, and the Eastern Shore, we'll be engaging in conversations about a range of issues including healthcare, wages, and ending community violence. 

This is the first step to transform our communities. Will you join us?

Click the link above to RSVP and one of our regional organizers will follow-up with additional information about canvasses in your area. And see below in individual regional and chapter entries for your local opportunities in this statewide push. Talk to your neighbors! Make change!

Fight for $15: Don’t Let Profit Over People Win

Wednesday The Washington Post took a bold, anti-worker stance towards the $15 minimum wage. In their article covering Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett’s commissioned study on the impact of the $15 minimum wage on local businesses, the newspaper chose to favor a pro-business slant and praised the biased study.

According to a living wage calculator by MIT, the living wage in Montgomery County is $15.80. But policy makers like Leggett and newspapers like The Washington Post would rather favor capital over the needs of workers.

This bogus study has been contested from many angles – experienced economic analysts and Progressive Maryland and its allies.

Will you let the voice of profit win over the rights of the people to have a living wage?

Join a day of action with Progressive Maryland (PMD) Montgomery County this Saturday to fight for the $15 minimum wage and healthcare access. Sign up now.

ENGAGING NEIGHBORS AROUND MARYLAND

  Friday, August 04, 2017 at 4 p.m. · Anne Arundel County Weekend of Action at Eastport Elementary School in Annapolis, MD -- Take Action Anne Arundel County chapter is hosting a deep canvassing event on healthcare in Eastport on Friday August 4, 2017. Meet at 4pm at the Eastport Elementary School parking lot (420 (show all)

  Friday, August 04, 2017 at 6 p.m · Salisbury Weekend of Action  Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD Salisbury University Camden parking lot F off of Camden Ave. A map will be posted to our Facebook event.

  Saturday, August 05, 2017 at 12 p.m. Montgomery County District 5 Weekend of Action  Marilyn J. Praisner Library in Burtonsville, MD  -- We will be conducting a deep canvass surrounding our primary issues of Fight for $15 and healthcare.

  Saturday, August 05, 2017 at 12 p.m. · Prince George's County Canvass - District 22 Greenbelt Library in Greenbelt, MD and 

 Saturday, August 05, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. Prince George's County Canvass - District 47A at Fairmont Heights Library in Fairmont Heights, MD

  Saturday, August 05, 2017 at 5 p.m. · Frederick August First Saturday Voter Registration Voter Registration: Southwest corner of Market & Patrick Streets at 5pm; RSVP on Facebook.
Sunday, Aug 6 1:30 p.m. Candidate Forum: C. Burr Artz Public Library Community Room from 1:30-2:30 pm Info and RSVP here
Also Sunday, Aug. 6 Healthcare Deep Canvass: Immediately following Candidate Forum in C. Burr Artz Library from 3-6pm . Info and RSVP here.

  Sunday, August 06, 2017 at 12:00 PM · Montgomery County District 1 Weekend of Action 10228 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD -- We are deep canvassing throughout the state of Maryland to assess the concerns of our community members. In order to knock on every door in District 1 of Montgomery County to assess the nee (show all)

  Sunday, August 06, 2017 at 12 p.m. · Howard County Weekend of Action at Oakland Mills Door-knocking in Columbia, MD. We will be doing a deep canvass, talking to our neighbors about the Fight for $15 and other issues. The area will be in Oakland Mills, west of Thunder Hill Rd. We will meet in the parking l (show all)

  Sunday, August 06, 2017 at 2 p.m.  Salisbury Weekend of Action Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD Salisbury University Camden parking lot F off of Camden Ave. A map will be posted to our Facebook event.