Issue 3

Written By MIchelle Zagardo

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Hi friends! Wednesday is here and I’m wondering: how are you faring this week? I am relearning the head-clearing powers of even briefly stepping outside and staring up at the sun, after months of its absence.

(Shout “UNSUBSCRIBE” if you want to be removed from this list!)

Quote of the week:

“When everyone has just a little bit of courage, then no one has to be a hero.”

Sarah McBride quoting her dad, via Pod Save America (Instagram Link)

The Dark

(Here are a few hard truths this week – but remember, we’re in this together!)

The Light

(Yes, good things are happening -- here’s proof!)

  • Remember two weeks ago when the Monmouth-Winthrop police department was applying to partner with ICE in a force expansion effort? The PD announced it is withdrawing its application following significant pushback from residents! Your voice matters!

  • Colleges and universities are uniting against the administration’s coercive financial control, including four Maine colleges whose presidents signed on to a letter demanding the end of federal overreach.

  • Student climate activists around Maine gathered in Augusta to voice their policy priorities.

  • Mills signed into law a bill that will help prepare Maine for extreme weather caused by climate change. The bill received bipartisan support in both the Maine House of Representatives and the Maine Senate.

  • The Spark Map. This week Kirsten wrote in from Casper, Wyoming: “I pitched my idea for adding mental health services to my orgs CEO and my boss said I nailed it!” I was not expecting Wyoming to enter the Spark Map chat so that was a huge highlight of my week!

Your Maine Action Kit

Pick one. Then go sit in the sun.

  • 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. 

  • There are a few things happening this week:

  • A new blog post is up at The Kindling, outlining how to contact your reps at the federal level.

For when it all feels like too much

  • Pretend you’re a tourist in your town. Take a photo of one oddly beautiful thing. (Bonus: Post it to the Spark Map as a “Hope Spot” and I’ll share it in next week’s newsletter!)

  • Fill out the prompt: “Today, I survived ____. Tomorrow, I’ll fight ____. Right now, I need ____.” Jot it down on a piece of paper, tuck it in your pocket, take a look at it before you head to bed. You’ve got this!

  • Check out this video of the first colossal squid ever observed on camera - it’s a baby! (Youtube link)

Mark your calendar 

See a more extensive, and ever-evolving, list of events on The Kindling’s calendar here.

Things that gave you hope last week:

As for me, your emails in response to the newsletter light up my week. It’s incredible to see how folks are engaging around the country. For context, I received emails from Illinois and New York last week which blew me away. In non-Kindling news, my compost is starting to heat up and I’m excited to get it balanced for the season!

Hit reply and tell me what's good (or bad)!

Til next week,

Michelle

Logistical things: 

  • Have news you want highlighted?

  • Have an event you want included on our calendar?

  • Have a resource you want to share with the community?

  • Have ideas I should hear?

  • Want to write my subject lines?

  • Find typos you think I care about?

  • Want to become a regular contributor to The Kindling

  • Want to manage The Spark Map?

But seriously. If it's anything except typos, simply reply to this email or make a submission to the newsletter here.

MIchelle Zagardo
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