Action Kit Archive
Each issue of The Kindling includes suggestions of actions to advance equality, social justice, and lower case “d” democracy. Some actions are time sensitive. The ones that are not can be found below. Scroll down for ways to channel your energy to make a difference.
Contact Susan Collins. The BBB is egregious and we are learning more about the contents of its 1100 pages by the day. Tell Susan Collins to make it stop. Short backstory: A republican congressman from Nebraska admitted at a town hall this week that “this provision [about stripping the judiciary of its power] was unknown to me when I voted for that, and when I found out that provision was in the bill, I immediately reached out to my Senate counterparts and told them of my concern.”
Support Maine’s trans community. The full Legislature will be voting on three proposed anti-trans bills. Equality Maine has put together an action kit here.
Go to your local library. Sign up for a library card. Ask what your membership gets you (in Bethel you get free tix to the Gem Museum sooo....). Check out a book. Your library needs you.
Get involved in the community. Find local volunteer opportunities here.
Join a Maine-focused ICEwatch program training through the Maine People’s Alliance. Email Jodi directly at jodi@mainepeoplesalliance.org and she will get you on the email list for more information.
Get creative. What is the world you want to see exist in your wildest dreams? What are you willing to do in order to make it a reality? What role do you play in both upholding and dismantling the current system? Some pretty weighty questions but we’ve got to start somewhere. Paint it, write it, talk about it, dance it out. Bonus: Have kids? Do this activity with them!
Get comfortable contacting your elected officials. Never contacted your elected officials before? You’re not alone! Start slow: get to know your Maine state and federal elected officials (representatives here, senators here). Grab a piece of paper (or pin a note on your notes app) and jot down the contact information for your Maine State Senator and your Maine State Representatives. Better yet? Add them into your contacts!
Keep calling your representatives. I know, it’s a lot. But it truly matters. If you have call stress, dial first thing in the morning or after 5pm to reduce the odds of speaking to a live human. If you do get another person, remember they are exactly that and you can talk to them. (I promise, you can do it — and please tell Jenna at Jared Golden’s office, I said “hello!”) Check out The Kindling’s blog about contacting reps here. And don’t shy away from 5calls.org which is a go-to resource for talking points and scripts on a large number of issues.
Thank your elected officials. It’s easy to be grumpy at our elected officials but it’s important to acknowledge when they do things we appreciate. Call them, write them, let them know you’re watching! (For example, I called Senator Angus King’s office following this floor speech to thank him for using his voice to speak out.)
Check for ticks. I know. It sucks.
What actions should we add? Have an idea we can share with the community? Let us know here!