FEATURED IN THIS WEEK’S MVCAN NEWSLETTER (7/1/20):

EDITORS’ NOTE: WELCOME NEW MVCAN NEWSLETTER RECIPIENTS!!

We at MVCAN are thrilled that over the last month our newsletter community has grown by 230 to more than 1,400 total! Through the powerful Black Lives Matter movement many Mill Valley stakeholders have expressed their deep interest in making Southern Marin a more just, caring and equitable place and in holding the City government accountable to making progress. To newcomers, reading our newsletter is a great way to become familiar with the many varied activities of MVCAN that are central to our mission of promoting racial and economic justice, and forwarding progressive policies and candidates at all levels. This week we will send our general newsletter today followed by a special email report and update on Mill Valley politics later this week.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIONS

MVCAN MONTHLY MEETING: PART III “LIVE FROM THE FRONTLINES: ARIZONA” VIRTUAL SPEAKER SERIES - Sunday, July 12 - 5pm to 6pm - JOIN US!
PROTEST AT MARIN COUNTY JAIL - DEFUND THE MARIN COUNTY SHERIFF - Friday, July 3, 5pm
MARIN ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (MOC) ONLINE ACTION WITH STATE SENATOR MAGUIRE - IMMIGRANT RELIEF ADVOCACY - Monday, July 6, 6:15PM
MILL VALLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING - Monday, July 6, 6:30 - PLEASE SAVE THE DATE
PARTICIPATE IN VIRTUAL PHONE BANKING TO SWING STATES W/ DEMOCRACY ACTION MARIN - Sat. July 11 and Sun. July 12
HELP SWING CRITICAL ELECTIONS: WRITE POSTCARDS TO VOTERS IN NORTH CAROLINA
SWING STATE VOTER TEXTING OPPORTUNITIES - NEW VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
MVCAN IMMIGRATION/CIVIL RIGHTS TEAM ZOOM MEETING Sunday, July 12, 4pm- 5pm

KEEP A LOOKOUT FOR MVCAN SPECIAL BULLETIN ON MILL VALLEY CITY COUNCIL/CITY BLM POLICY UPDATE - COMING SOON

WHERE WE’VE BEEN AND WHAT WE DID

MVCAN JUNE MONTHLY MEETING “LIVE FROM THE FRONTLINES PART II: NORTH CAROLINA” with POSTED VIDEO
SHOWING UP IN THE STREETS: RECENT PROTEST PHOTOS

1 MVCAN JUNE MONTHLY MEETING ONLINE

Once more, we’re kicking off this month’s MVCAN monthly meeting with two battleground state grassroots organizers. This month’s featured Airlift group is Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA).

MEET A FIERCE GROUP IN A CRITICAL STATE

LUCHA was born out of a vigil in 2010. It started with seven people and grew to include thousands on the lawn outside of the Arizona State Capitol. They prayed that an anti-immigrant bill, which had sailed through the Republican-controlled Legislature, would not be signed by the Republican Governor Jan Brewer. The enormous opposition to the “Show Me Your Papers” bill, which essentially turned the state’s police officers into immigration agents, laid the groundwork for LUCHA—now a political home for people of color.

Since then, LUCHA activists have brought hundreds of thousands of voters into the political process, increasing turnout among Latinos in Arizona from 32% in 2014 to 49% in 2018.

LUCHA is also a crucial statewide voice in Arizonans’ fight for economic justice. They were instrumental in passing Prop 206, which provides up to five days of paid sick leave for all workers and raises the minimum wage to $12 in 2020.

MEET TWO ARIZONAN LEADERS

MVCAN is excited to announce two inspiring speakers representing LUCHA, an Arizonan Latinx grassroots group, as the final part of a 3-part MVCAN meeting series themed “LIVE FROM THE FRONT LINES.”

Alejandra (Alex) Gomez

Co-Founder LUCHA

Tomas Robles

Co-Founder LUCHA

Update From the MVCAN Electoral Team:

Also at the meeting, our cracker-jack MVCAN electoral strategists from the Electoral Team will give an update about the national and state electoral landscape and our action strategies to make victories happen.

Plus, get an update on what’s happening with the latest Mill Valley City politics!

LOGIN TO MEETING:

Join our Zoom Meeting Sunday, July 12 from 5:00- 6:00 pm by clicking on this link:

JOIN ZOOM MEETING

PASSWORD: 794670

MEETING ID: 604 160 426

(We will be sending out 1 more reminders about our meeting on the “day of.”)

Need more help? During the meeting you can get assistance with Zoom:

Type into the Zoom Chat Box to reach Bernard Catalinotto.
Text 415-305-2024 to reach Leigh Ann Townsend.
Text or Call Larry Litvak 415-595-0030
Email scarsella@comcast.net to reach Lisa Scarsella.

Airlift is proud to be supporting this fantastic group LUCHA as one of its portfolio of grassroots organizations around the country in swing states - they make change happen 365 days a year!

2 PROTEST AND RALLY AT MARIN COUNTY JAIL - DEFUND THE MARIN COUNTY SHERIFF - Friday July 3, 5pm

For more background on the movement to defund the sheriff, see the Marin IJ article: “Marin Voice: Increasing Sheriff’s Budget Wrong Move as Protestors Ask for Change”

Local governments around the country are committing to decreased spending for law enforcement in order to reinvest in at-risk communities. The intention of [Marin] county supervisors to increase the sheriff’s budget is contrary to justice and racial equity….

Defund The Marin County Sheriff Protest/Rally
Marin County Jail
13 Peter Behr Dr.
Friday July 3, 5pm

Please show up if you can. It’s important to continue to demonstrate strength and perseverance in the cause of racial justice!

3 MARIN ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (MOC) ONLINE EVENT

July 6, 6:15PM

Join with the Marin Organizing Committee to lobby Marin’s State Senator Mike McGuire to expand the California Earned Income Tax Credit (Cal EITC) to include undocumented workers.

Register in advance for this meeting:

MOC Virtual Assembly with Senator MaGuire

Monday, July 6th 2020

6:15 - 7:45pm

Register via Zoom at tinyurl.com/MOCjuly6

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Undocumented immigrants represent 10% of the California workforce, pay over $3 billion in state and local taxes and add $180 billion to the economy. They comprise 33% of agricultural workers and 32% of healthcare workers in California, working at great personal risk during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit to include undocumented workers would put much needed dollars quickly back into the hands of working families. Studies show that for every 1 dollar invested in workers, the local economy generates 2 dollars.

At the meeting we will also be discussing additional issues of renter protection, healthcare access, affordable housing, and programs for an aging population.

This is a meeting of members of our Marin Community. The more people we have on zoom, the more impact and influence we’ll have with Senator MaGuire.

For more info or questions, please contact Ruth Jaeger at ruthjaeger94925@gmail.com.

4 MILL VALLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING - PLEASE SAVE THE DATE!

Mon. July 6, 6:30pm

Please join in with fellow MVCAN members at the next virtual MV City Council meeting on July 6. This is part of an ongoing effort to have input and show the council that we care about how reforms are proceeding. The agenda for July 6 has not yet been set, so stay tuned for more details closer to the meeting.

How to attend the city council meeting using Zoom in a webinar format:

Online: www.cityofmillvalley.org/watchonline or https://cmcm.tv/watch
(You may need to click on “Meetings and Agendas” first and then click on the July 6 agenda)

Please note there is a 20 second delay when you view the livestream.

Local television: tune in to Comcast Channel 27 and AT&T Channel 99

Please note, due to this meeting’s time change, it will not be listed in your program/T.V. guide but will be broadcast starting at 6:30 P.M.

COMING SOON

KEEP A LOOKOUT FOR MVCAN SPECIAL BULLETIN ON MILL VALLEY CITY COUNCIL TO GET AN UPDATE ON EVOLVING BLACK LIVES MATTER POLICIES.

5 UPCOMING VIRTUAL PHONE BANK

Saturday and Sunday, July 11th and 12th: 3 pm - 5 pm

We have less than 130 days until November 3, the most important election in our lifetime. This is the time to step up and get training and experience in having person-to-person conversations with voters. As President Obama said on Tuesday at the virtual grassroots event with VP Biden, “Whatever you’ve done so far to win this election isn’t enough.”
On Saturdays we team up to make phone bank calls with Reclaim Our Vote to register voters for vote-by-mail. Our priority right now is to make sure Americans can vote-by-mail so they don't have to choose between their lives and their right to vote on November 3.
On Saturdays we are also making calls for the North Carolina Coordinated Campaign to win a priority Senate seat along with defending Governor Roy Cooper, holding the House and flipping the North Carolina state legislature. At the Saturday Zoom Phone Banks Democracy Action Marin co-hosts with Sister District Marin.
On Sundays we lead phone banks for Biden For President.
To participate in the Zoom Phone Bank, please have your charged cell phone AND a laptop, iPad or tablet along with your earbuds with a mic.
Remember, our experienced coaches are always on hand to guide you from start to finish.
For more information on Democracy Action Marin’s wide variety of electoral activities, please contact Susan Bolle at swbolle@gmail.com.
THERE WILL BE NO PHONE BANKS JULY 4TH OR 5TH
Virtual Phone Bank, - Sat. July 11, 3-5 pm
Register HERE for details.
Co-Hosted by Sister District Marin
Biden Virtual Phone Bank - Sun. July 12, 3 - 5 pm
Register HERE for details.
For more info about the phone banks, please contact Marti Cermak at marti.cermak@gmail.com.
Here is another way to make a difference from home:
Letter-Writing With Vote Forward
REGISTER HERE with Vote Forward to get started
Letter-writing is a very effective tool. Once you register for an account with Vote Forward, you’ll be able to adopt voters in Swing States all over the country. It’s very simple: Vote Forward assigns you to a campaign and provides you with voters’ names & addresses. You’ll print out a 1-pg pre-written letter which you personalize and sign. All you need is a roll of stamps and envelopes.
6
WRITE POSTCARDS TO NORTH CAROLINA VOTERS
More than 1,500 MVCAN members and other supporters are now writing postcards at home (from all over the US) using voter data provided by RECLAIM OUR VOTE, which is a nonpartisan voter registration and Get-Out-The-Vote campaign. This campaign reaches out mainly to voters of color on Unregistered and Inactive lists in key voter-suppression states.
Brand new postcard writers please contact new team lead Casey Leones at politicalcasey@gmail.com.
Current writers please stay with your existing Team Lead.
The North Carolina “Pledge To Vote” campaign is coming. This will be our major effort going forward. The postcards ask registered voters of color to pledge to vote Nov 3. We are partnering with the North Carolina NAACP as the best way to get out the vote to elect Cal Cunningham and flip the Senate.
The “Pledge-To-Vote” effort has two goals: to elect Democrats in November and to develop an in-state activist army (as was done in Virginia) that will keep the state’s Democratic efforts moving forward. Studies show that acts such as pledging to vote are potentially the first step to becoming an activist. The North Carolina NAACP will follow up with those who pledge to encourage them to volunteer.
North Carolina is key to flipping the Senate. The Senate race there is close, and the Democrat will win if the Get-Out-the-Vote effort is strong.
THANKS TO THOSE WHO SENT POSTCARDS TO GEORGIA!
On short notice, MVCAN participants, along with many other activists sent more than 8,000 postcards to Georgia voters of color, adding to the tens of thousands of postcards already sent this year. These postcards provided information to senior voters about their ability to vote by mail. We know this effort was successful because the local registrar complained that he was getting so many calls! THANK YOU!
7
TEXTING OPPORTUNITIES WITH RESISTANCE LABS

Here is a great opportunity to participate through texting in promoting progressive change. Resistance Labs uses peer-to-peer texting to help support grassroots progressive activists, by connecting with voters on voter registration, mail in ballots, and increased participation in the Census.
From home, you can flexibly choose your own time to engage in texting activities that support progressive activism.
For more information, see ResistanceLabs.com.
Resistance Labs Text Squad has added to their texting program with a texting campaign to make sure the Census is a success in the face of many challenges brought on by the Trump Administration and the pandemic.
To get started with Resistance Labs:
Connect with staff and volunteers on their Slack channel: Sign up here.
Register here for weekly New Texter trainings on Saturdays at 10am PST
Join their Super Volunteer team or become a Squad Captain
8
MVCAN IMMIGRATION/CIVIL RIGHTS ZOOM MEETING
Sunday, July 12, 4pm- 5pm
This meeting will take place right before the MVCAN monthly meeting and has its own zoom link below.
The MVCAN Civil Rights/Immigration Team is working especially hard during Covid-19 to support the immigration community locally and statewide.
The meeting’s agenda will include census outreach, the George Floyd murder and Black Lives Matter, and support for the California Earned Income Tax Credit for undocumented residents.
Civil Rights/Immigration Team Virtual Meeting
Sunday, July 12, 4:00 - 5:00pm (right before MVCAN monthly meeting)
TO JOIN THE ZOOM MEETING:
Link to Civil Rights/Immigration Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 859 1516 5805
If you have questions, please contact team lead Barb Rowe at barbrowe@aol.com.

WHERE WE’VE BEEN AND WHAT WE DID

1 REPORT FROM MVCAN JUNE MONTHLY MEETING

with POSTED VIDEO

At MVCAN’s June monthly meeting during “Live from the Frontlines: II”, we were very fortunate to hear from the “Down Home North Carolina” a member-led grassroots group sponsored by AIRLIFT, MVCAN’s fund-raising project. We heard from two dynamic speakers, Brigid Flaherty, one of the founders, and Dreama Caldwell, a first-time candidate for local office, about what Down Home is accomplishing in North Carolina through their work to build power for poor and working people in small towns and rural communities. Down Home galvanizes the exact communities that will turn North Carolina blue. This state is on the path to electing a Democratic majority in the State Legislature, flipping a US Senate seat from Republican to Democratic, and becoming a swing state in the presidential race.

Click to see video recording of the MVCAN June 6 meeting: HERE

2 SHOWING UP IN THE STREETS: PROTEST PHOTOS OVER THE PAST MONTH

Young activist speaking to 1500 in front of Tam High.

The young woman who got the police to kneel on Miller.

Marin City rally.

Confronting the mayor. Waiting for her to "apologize."

*

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 Warriors 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 still hard at work to take back our country in battleground states all over the country...preparing for next year's general election. We're canvassing, calling, texting and sending letters & postcards to defend our hard-won House seats and take back the Senate. Our team of experienced electoral volunteers 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