April 2018 Week of Activism in DC, with #EnoughIsEnough Summit

Join the National Organization for Women (NOW) for a five-day event in Washington, DC, including a lobby day at the Capitol on April 26. This year’s NOW Civic Days at the Capitol will take place around our #EnoughIsEnough Summit, focusing on concrete solutions to dismantle the toxic system of sexual abuse and harassment. NOW will provide training and materials to activists at our National Action Center on April 24, so they will be fully prepared to meet with their members of Congress. NOW activists will lobby on legislation regarding sexual assault and harassment, abortion and reproductive rights, and other pertinent bills moving through the Congress.

Advertisements

Fine Tuning Our Message Together with AAUW-NC, 3/24/18

AAUW-NC invited leaders of many women’s organizations to various roles in their annual conference for 2018, “Strong Ws: Fine Tuning Our Message Together.” The event is Saturday, Mar 24, 2018, 10am to 3pm. NC NOW’s president is one of the presenters of the “Moving Your Message Through The Digital World” break-out sessions.

Rape Crisis Sensitivity Training in Fayetteville – March and May 2018

Upcoming ‘rape crisis sensitivity’ trainings in Fayetteville advertised at Fayetteville NOW’s Susan B. Anthony Celebration on 2/28/18. Become informed about rape and sexual assault, find out how you can help survivors.

Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County works closely with Fayetteville NOW. More on SBA Celebration and work that Fayetteville NOW and the Rape Crisis Center have done together on rape kits in next posts.

At a “Shine A Light on Sexual Assault” program in 2016, “Ze Surratt II, from the Cumberland County Rape Crisis Center, said the organization was founded in 1976 when there was a realization that sexual assault survivors needed additional assistance beyond police and doctors.” Read more about the event at Program seeks to assist survivors of sexual assault,” Fayetteville Observer, 5/1/16.  Surratt is still involved with the center, and with organizing these trainings.

Volunteers must attend both classes – one set in March 2018, and one set in May 2018. See more information on the flyer.

Busy Week in Raleigh, Starting Today

Busy week in Raleigh starting on Tuesday, Nov 7. Important events on Nov 7, 8, 9 and 10! Plus topic for next Tuesdays With Tillis is #MeToo. Do you have a story to share?

Tuesday, Nov 7, 2017

Be sure to vote on 11/7/17 in most municipalities! Local elections is where people have the most say. And many elections in NC have hinged on a single vote. See “Your vote matters: 31 NC elections decided by 1 vote, 69 elections by 5 or fewer,” News and Observer, 10/24/17.

Photo Credit: Jacalyn Engler

The weekly Tuesdays With Tillis protest is 11:30am-12:30pm at 310 New Bern Ave, in Raleigh. The theme is Defeat the #TrumpTaxCuts. Tuesdays With Tillis at 11:30am at the Federal Building on New Bern in Raleigh. We have a great new sign! I love this protest, also because it is done in an hour. This is the 42nd week. Find on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/526075321078863/.

Raleigh NOW meeting on Nov 7, at 7:15pm, at Cameron Village Library in Raleigh (note: new location). Topics are pro-choice signature ad, and planning for the January Roe event. 

Advocacy Basics Training on 11/9/17 Includes Using Social Media

Our Collective Voice: Understanding the Basics to Advocate for Change

Come learn the skills to help you to understand the basics of advocacy, including

• What you need to talk to state legislators and federal representatives (how to find them and look up bills)
• Using social media to boost your message to members and to officials
• Fundamental strategies of making your case

Date: November 9th
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Unity of the Triangle: 5570 Munford Rd., Raleigh NC
Register (Events): http://www.bpwtriangle.org
Cost: $10 

See facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/790803451091858/

Hosted by Business and Professional Women (BPW) of the Triangle, and NC NOW (National Organization for Women).

Mobilizing Women NOW – Totally Worth It! Summary.

This year’s NC NOW conference in Fayetteville occurred at a time when women’s rights and reproductive choices are under greater attack than they have been in decades. As we all attempt to adapt to an administration that has been hijacked by special interests including climate deniers, the evangelical extremists and forces hostile to women, the theme of Mobilizing Women NOW could not be more important.

Attendees got to choose what interested them the most. Some workshops focused on dangers – like threats to reproductive rights  and a hostage budget that hurts women. Other workshops ways to fight back – lawsuits against gerrymandering, planning programs that pop, and working with other organizations and legislators to pass commonsense legislation. All of our workshops were on topics of current interest and presented by people who were well prepared. See the agenda, keynote and speaker biographies, workshop summaries and more at 2017 NC NOW Conference Program – Updated.

2017 State Conference Reflections, by Ana Tampanna

It takes something to attend a conference. Arrangements must be made, decisions regarding travel are determined, cost figured in, and, invariably special events at home are missed. One must be committed to the perceived value of the conference in advance.

On October 21, 2017, I attended the state conference for NC NOW: women seeking positive change regarding women’s issues. Many of the women had traveled several hours, some had physical challenges and walked with canes, while young women had arranged for childcare to be able to attend. There were a variety of professions represented, including teachers, lawyers, life coaches, a doctor, a medical clinic manager, and an architect to name a few. Sessions and workshops were short, with carefully prepared presenters and lively engagement from the participants.

Women Mobilizing NOW Conference Photo Credit: Melanie DuPon

I returned with insights, new information, and impressions from the other women…increased awareness regarding women’s leadership. I felt comfortable in a safe space, the inspired energy from being around a strong team from the home chapter, and inspiration from the younger members who supported each other on their journeys as supportive women.

Upcoming events for May and June 2017

Here are some of the upcoming events around NC. 5/18/17 – Added the Health Care Moral Tuesday event on 5/23/17 and the Independent Judiciary Town Hall meeting on 5/25/17.

1) Tell Burr & Tillis: Special Counsel NOW!

There are many opportunities to reach Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis about the need for Congress to find Special Counsel to investigate Russian interference into the U.S. Presidential election. 

a) In May, people are protesting in front of Senator Thom Tillis’ office in Raleigh every Tuesday at 11:30am. Bring signs – and NOW signs are welcome! Go to 310 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh NC. You’ll see people. 

b) Senators Burr and Tillis are featured at an event in Raleigh on May 12, 2017 at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel. Some people are going to protest there all day, basically.

Protest permit was issued for 11:30am to 9pm on Fayetteville St, by the hotel. The press conference will be at 4pm – so go at 3:30pm if you can.

Burr/Tillis Town Hall – their presence in posters only – on 3/5/17. Photo Credit: Sarah Sydney

Protesters demand that NC senators support a call to

“Advocacy 101: The Basics” – 3/28/17

NC NOW is working together with League of Women Voters of Wake County, the ACLU-NC and Paula Wolf on a second presentation of Advocacy 101 training. Learn or review some basic skills for the Citizen Advocate with us on Tuesday, March 28, at the NCAE building in Raleigh. The “Do Your Job” theme must be reinforced with all levels of elected officials, especially Legislators (NC House and Senate), and Congress (US House and Senate). Click on the flyer below to get tickets or go directly to eventbrite. 

Note: the first Advocacy 101 event we held filled up in the first 3 days it was posted (filled up in January for showing on 2/16/17)! 

More events for March, 2017

This post is in addition to the many events posted on 2/2/17 for February and March, including a showing of Equal Means Equal on 3/26/17 with Durham NOW in Durham.

Rally to end gerrymandering – 3/1/17
Democracy NC set up a lobby day to end gerrymandering on 3/1/17 (listed in the earlier post). And they have added a rally afterward – maybe because they filled all of the lobbying appointment spots (9am-1pm) and people still want to have a say!

If you’re on facebook, mark yourself at https://www.facebook.com/events/274748426279577/

We Will Be Heard – Burr/Tillis Town Hall on 3/5/17, 2-4pm.

Community members in the Triangle area will be holding a Citizens Town Hall to gather and make our voices heard. We will speak out about issues that concern North Carolinians, and send our comments to US Senators Burr and Tillis if they do not attend. They were invited.