FEATURED IN THIS WEEK’S MVCAN NEWSLETTER (1/18/21):
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIONS
MVCAN MONTHLY MEETING - Sunday, Jan 24, 5pm- 6pm
GEORGIA SENATE VICTORIES: EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT BY THE ELECTORAL TEAM & PARTNERS
AIRLIFT PROVIDES CRITICAL SUPPORT TO GEORGIA VOTERS
MILL VALLEY DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI) TASK FORCE UPDATE
MVCAN HEALTH CARE TEAM REPORT AND REQUEST
COMING SOON: SPECIAL FOUR YEAR MVCAN ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF THE NEWSLETTER - STAY TUNED!
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MVCAN MONTHLY MEETING - Sunday, Jan 24, 5pm - 6pm
Join us for our 2021 New Year January monthly meeting. Come celebrate run-off successes in Georgia and the Presidential Inauguration on January 20.
At the Meeting:
Hear reports from our electoral leads and Airlift about the huge Georgia Senate victory our efforts helped to achieve!
Also, get some Insights into what’s coming up this year in MVCAN planned actions.
Hear an important update on the Mill Valley Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force and learn about their comprehensive and outstanding December report, as well as community support needed for the next steps..
Finally, get a preview taste of our 4-year anniversary retrospective - What a long, strange and successful trip it’s been!
HOW TO JOIN THE ZOOM MONTHLY MEETING - SUNDAY, JAN 24, 5PM
Please note there is a new meeting ID for the Jan 24 meeting.
Meeting ID: 978 6426 9908
Passcode: mvcan
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GEORGIA VICTORY: EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT BY THE ELECTORAL TEAM
Illustration by MVCAN member Susan Stanger
In the Georgia 2021 Senate run-offs, our MVCAN Electoral Team went all in with a terrific effort (as usual) to help flip the Senate and fire Mitch McConnell. With the two new Democratic Senate seats in Georgia, we have changed the direction of our country from crisis to a path of hope.
We partnered with Democracy Action Marin - Susan Bolle and her extraordinary team - and held many, many Georgia Senate Run-Off phone banks. We also partnered with Sister District Marin to offer Reclaim Our Vote calls to deregistered Georgia voters.
In addition, our postcarding team, led by Bob Haar and using Reclaim Our Vote data, made a huge push and in a short time wrote 256,900 postcards to voters of color to mobilize Georgia voters. It worked!
Our work is far from done. We’re going to keep at this! There will be Special Elections throughout the coming year as Biden cabinet posts are filled, Virginia and other state elections in November and the 2022 Midterms are right around the corner. We need to defend our democracy now more than ever!
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AIRLIFT SUPPORTS CRITICAL VICTORIES IN GEORGIA
BlackVotersMatter.org - A grassroots group that Airlift supports in Georgia
With hundreds of millions of dollars going to the Ossoff and Warnock campaigns, it was Airlift's job to fund the grassroots groups that Georgia voters know and trust. The results were massive increases in voting by people of color over 2016.
ALTOGETHER, 520 AIRLIFT DONORS GAVE $174,000 TO GEORGIA GRASSROOTS GROUPS!
Get all the details at our MVCAN monthly meeting on Sunday!
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MILL VALLEY DIVERSITY, EQUALITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI) TASK FORCE UPDATE
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force was created by the city of Mill Valley in the summer of 2020, to address critical issues of racial justice being expressed by the Black Lives Matter protests. The new DEI Task Force issued a comprehensive report in December with a profound analysis of the issues and major recommendations to the Mill Valley City Council. If you haven’t yet read this report, it’s a must read, covering multiple areas like racial justice in policing, affordable housing for people of color, multiculturalism, and educational equity and inclusion. (See the DEI Task Force Report.)
Going forward, we need to make sure the city commits to adopting the two main recommendations of the DEI Task Force: making the Task Force a permanent DEI commission and for the city to undertake a facilitated racial equity plan.
The city staff plans to bring their initial review and work plan to the council meeting on Feb. 1 or Feb. 18. Please attend these meetings to comment and support the recommendations of the Task Force.Link to City website.
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MVCAN HEALTH CARE TEAM
The MVCAN Health Care Team continues to be actively involved in addressing Marin's ongoing COVID crisis. The team meets regularly with Marin’s Deputy Public Health Officer Dr. Lisa Santora to discuss updates and issues regarding Marin’s COVID-19 epidemic, gaining many insights into the current situation and offering support.
In addition, members of the team have published five opinion pieces in the Marin Independent Journal in the “Marin Voice” column to offer expert opinions on the public health crisis and public health plans. Check out the latest article from Drs. Bob Goldfien and Elyse Foster from last Friday: https://www.marinij.com/2021/01/14/marin-voice-countys-plan-for-administering-covid-19-vaccine-makes-sense/
The team has also been involved in providing critically important support for families in the Canal District. We are encouraging donations to the Marin Interfaith Council fund for ongoing support to this population, who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. In coordination with the Marin Community Clinic and the Marin Interfaith Council (MIC), the MVCAN Health Care Team has coordinated support for undocumented families who are expecting or have delivered newborns.
Through their Sanctuary Relief Fund, the Marin Interfaith Council has donated more than $8000 to 28 families to help with rent, as well as other urgent needs such as transportation.
TO DONATE:
Please make out checks to “MARIN INTERFAITH COUNCIL” with "Sanctuary Network" in the memo line.
Donations, which are tax-deductible, should be sent to:
Marin Interfaith Council
1510 Fifth Ave.
San Rafael, CA 94901
Thank you for your support!
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COMING SOON : SPECIAL 4 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF THE NEWSLETTER
So keep a lookout in your email!
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JOIN AN ACTION TEAM
WANT TO GET MORE INVOLVED in a specific issue or support area? Much of MVCAN's work is done in one of our 10 awesome action teams. Click the team name to read their latest news and find their next meeting.
Civil Rights/Immigration battles for justice and fair treatment of women, immigrants, working people and followers of all faiths.
Communications works on strategy, branding, messaging and program development for MVCAN. They are looking for bright ideas and people who want to make them happen.
Eco Team are engaged in change at the local, state and national levels, to impact the CA carbon tax, climate change, and community outreach and action.
The Economic Action team runs AIRLIFT, our first national project. AIRLIFT funnels money to grassroots groups in winnable 2018 districts. These are seriously vetted groups that work all year round in their communities–they get tangible results without blowing through millions of dollars. Read about Airlift in the Huffington Post .
Electoral The Electoral Team is hard at work to take back our country in battleground states all over the country this November...voters start voting in September! We're calling, texting and sending letters & postcards to defend our hard-won House seats, win the Presidency, and take back the Senate. Our team of experienced electoral leaders will help get you started to talk to voters to make sure they are registered and ready to VOTE THEM OUT. We feature Voter Communication training and we'll coach you every step of the way. Join us to take back our country!
The Events team creates special events to engage our friends and neighbors to take political action with MVCAN.
Health Care is forging ahead after their successful fight over the repeal/replace of ACA.
Tech supports MVCAN through technology.
Women's Rights fundraises and canvasses for NARAL and Planned Parenthood; supports women in public office(s); and engages in local, state and federal legislation for women's protection and rights.
NEW TO MVCAN?
Visit MVCAN.org to learn about the organization and strategies, join a team, read past MVCAN newsletters, and gain helpful Resistance tools.
WANT TO VOLUNTEER YOUR SKILLS OR TALENTS?
Numerous positions and jobs are available – one-time or ongoing. Contact volunteer@mvcan.org.
Thank you for all you do!
– June, Bernard, Eileen, Rebecca, and everyone at MVCAN
MVCAN News brought to you by June, Annie and Eileen
