We have been SO EXCITED to tell y’all about this!
A couple of weeks ago, inspired by Minnesota’s Singing Resistance, we started talking about putting together a community singing event in Austin.
“Wouldn't it be cool if Craig Hella Johnson and Conspirare were involved?” we all said to each other.
To be clear: Craig & Co. have won a GRAMMY AWARD. Of COURSE it would be cool if they were involved. Their performances are always beautiful and moving experiences (if you’re not familiar with them, here's a one-minute-long sample from their YouTube channel).
Fast forward a few days … Craig got phone calls from no fewer than FOUR different FORWRD members to talk with him about the idea. (Thanks, ladies 😉) And, surrounded by a Flock Of Reasonable Women, he agreed to jump in with us!
No big deal, just GRAMMY WINNERS SINGING WITH US
Here are the details:
FORWRD-ATX, Craig Hella Johnson, and First Austin invite you to
RAISE OUR VOICE
A Night of Solidarity through Community Song
Thursday, March 26
7 - 8:30 pm
First Austin
901 Trinity Street, Austin 78701
FREE — Everyone is welcome
Let’s sing together in an evening of joy, hope, and healing
Stay tuned for an RSVP link and POSTER ART to share on your social media platforms. This will be the perfect way to kick off NO KINGS weekend!
Now: Can We Cover the Costs?
This will be FORWRD’s biggest event yet! And thanks to everyone’s generosity, the production cost will be relatively low.
Craig and the musicians are donating their time❗️
The church is waiving their use fees ‼️
We'll have a few rentals and other expenses to cover. And we’ll need to pay the church custodian and the pro who runs the sound board.
Can you help?
(Let us know if you’d like to support but don’t do Venmo ….)
We’re THRILLED to be giving this gift to the Austin community. Events like this can become part of the lens through which we see the world and our place in it. We’ll see you there!
Baking In Solidarity
Last week's FORWRD-Hyde Park bake sale was another great success, raising more than $3,500 to support the Austin Mutual Aid Immigrant Support Fund.
HUGE thanks to all the volunteers who came together to make this event happen — the bakers, the planners, the folks who sat at the table and chatted with customers. It’s a fun way to spend a few hours that makes a real impact for our neighbors.
FYI: The Hyde Park group is willing to share their expertise with other neighborhood groups who are interested in hosting sales. If we can raise thousands in one neighborhood, how much could we raise all over the city?
Hyde Park DID IT AGAIN 🏆
LOVE TO VOTE Pop-Up Events
This happened QUICKLY. Here’s the backstory: recently, local powerhouse Joann McKenzie was chatting with a friend about what she could do to make a difference. (BTW, Joann’s Democratic Study Group emails are full of ways to show up and take action; you can add your name to the list here.)
Joann’s friend, Eileen Keller, happens to be an advertising executive. She jumped into action: she designed a logo, printed banners, and hosted a nonpartisan event in her neighborhood (Ridgelea) to promote voting in this year’s primary elections.
We were inspired! We got in touch with Eileen and she passed along her great materials to us. And last weekend, FORWRD members hosted three more LOVE TO VOTE events around town.
Outside the Yarborough Library — useful, nonpartisan info ✌🏽
Volunteers provided information on how to research candidates, find their sample ballot, and find polling locations.
Turnout is off the charts this year … people are paying attention and reclaiming the power we’ve always had. Today is the last day to vote early before Election Day next Tuesday. It’s gonna be a BANGER of a week.
FORWRD stalwarts Wendy & Margot at the Love to Vote event on Shoalmont
Big thanks to Eileen for jumping into action and doing something to make an impact! Assigning ourselves the task of doing what we can is a necessary first step.
🗓️ Calendar Highlights
For Friday, February 27th: Activism from Deep in the Heart of Texas 💟
💜= FORWRD member recommended
In Person Events
Saturday, February 28th 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ResistAustin Protest: ICE out of Austin Join ResistAustin to educate onlookers and passers-by about the damage that ICE is doing to our city, our community, and our country.
Saturday, February 28th 2-4 PM We Sing in Hope Join the New Hope Resistance in Cedar Park for a pop-up protest in solidarity with victims of ICE violence. We will sing in witness to the harm ICE is perpetrating in our communities and across the US. Our goal is to tell the story of a nonviolent civil resistance movement through song and community building. This will be an opportunity to connect, while drawing attention to the realities of the current administration.
💜Sunday, March 1st 4:00-5:30 PM Indivisible Rosedale Huddle Monthly Meeting Join our friends at the Rosedale Huddle for their monthly meeting to learn about issues and events of interest as well as way WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE in this intense and chaotic time!
♥️🤍💙Tuesday, March 3rd 7 AM - 7 PM TEXAS PRIMARY ELECTION DAY! Get your very own Sample Ballot and then head over to your nearest Polling Location and CAST YOUR BALLOT FOR DEMOCRACY!
Monday, March 9th 5:30-7:30 PM Indivisible Austin Monthly Meeting Because Democracy won’t defend itself! Come hang with your fellow Austinites, changemakers, and democracy-defenders in real life. This isn’t your average political meeting — we’re mixing action with energy and real talk with real plans.
💜Wednesday, March 11th Migration with Dignity: Prayer Vigil and Food Drive Join with local faith communities for an interfaith prayer vigil and food drive for refugees, asylum seekers, and other immigrants at St. David's Episcopal Church, 301 E. 8th Street.
Recurring Events
MONDAYS in March:
3-5 PM Bannering in Cedar Park Help show Cedar Park how many of us work to end GOP fascism and corruption -- ICE OUT! No War! No Kings & No Dictators, End GOP Corruption, Fund the ACA, and more.
💜💜 5:00-5:30 PM Weekly Protest at the Menchaca Library Join FORWRD members in holding up signs at the Menchaca Library every Monday. Bring your own sign or borrow one of ours!
7-8 PM Austin Resistance Choir Hangout Need a happy way to start your week? Join the Austin Resistance Choir for a pop-in, no-experience-necessary hangout every Monday night!
TUESDAYS in March:
4:00-5:30 PM West Side Banners Over Austin with the Rosedale Huddle. These are super fun, peaceful, energetic! We will be holding banners and signs over the interstate at peak traffic /visibility times - we wave flags, support our banners and thumbs up to the many honks and waves from cars and trucks below. (Fan favorite? “Stop Truth Decay!”) At Far West and MoPac
THURSDAYS in March:
💜💜5:00-6:00 PM Protest in Support of Those Being Terrorized by ICE A group of concerned citizens would like to continue to draw attention to the brutal tactics that ICE is using against our neighbors with a weekly protest. Bring a sign if you have one - or just join in. Plan to walk around the big intersection at 45th and Lamar during rush hour to keep this issue front and center in people's minds.
FRIDAYS in March:
4:00-5:30 PM East Side Banners Over Austin NEW TIME! Join the Indivisible Rosedale Huddle at the 12th St bridge over IH-35 to wave signs and bring attention to current events.
SATURDAYS in March:
11 AM - 1 PM Express Your Outrage in Round Rock What are you passionate about? Indivisible 1431 stands with you. Come out and join us every Saturday 11am-1pm at the corner of University Blvd and University Oaks Blvd (HEB side).
SUNDAYS in March:
12-2 PM ICE Out for Good in Pflugerville Join us on Sundays to protest the presence of ICE in Pflugerville
Online Events:
Tuesdays 6-7 PM: How We Win in 2026: Relational Organizing Training Join Blue Action in an interactive training session where you’ll learn the essentials of relational organizing—a proven strategy for building powerful, people-centered movements. Great for new and experienced organizers alike!
© Adam Zyglis, Buffalo News
