Moving FORWRD Together

February 21, 2025

Dear Friends,

What a week it's been! There's already so much going on and so much to report:

  1. Our Email List has more than 220 names and is growing every day. If you know other folks who are interested in linking up, please share this link with them: https://forms.gle/tQZ4ztv1rqabUyGa9

  2. Our Signal Group has more than 70 names and is also growing fast and sparking some great ideas and conversation!  You can refer folks to the Signal group here: 
    https://signal.group/#CjQKIBoAQDwJulXk2DcT01_W21oZh6ixjItJH_XbbFiM_a2sEhDRP6elomVoO7A6wz5pfGiE
    (Please note: if we can't find someone on the email list or via a routine Google search, we will ask them for their name and the name of the person who referred them.)

  3. Our shared calendar is live! Wendy Salome stepped up and made it a reality! If you have events that you'd like to add, you can send an email to this address, [email protected], with the word "Calendar" in the subject line. Two thumbs up, Wendy!  You can access the shared calendar here:
    https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/[email protected]&ctz=America/Chicago

  4. Thanks to the conversation on Signal and fast-acting volunteer Libby Chennell, there's a growing list of local businesses to support and avoid: 
    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1aTbLMM3zDitfQqdkrqxptruxuwcu0o_8D-KXx2_W_-k/htmlview

    Way to go, Libby! Let's all add to and share this list. This is definitely a place where we are more powerful when we act together. 

  5. Eventually, these and other resources will be accessible online -- we're still working on building our platform so we aren't just sending emails. Stay tuned!

  6. The Austin Sanctuary Network is seeking local mental health professionals who can volunteer directly with their clients. Please reply to this email if you'd like more information.

  7. We're starting to plan our next meeting. If you have a lead on a space that will accommodate a big group, please let us know. 

  8. Upcoming Events & Actions: So many! A small group met with Rep. Doggett this morning to discuss upcoming actions in DC and how we can amplify his work and message. (Good news: he says they've built a rapid response messaging group that JAMIE RASKIN will be leading.) Another small group is meeting to zero in on messages and graphics, and another group is meeting to talk about purpose and branding.

    Wendy will keep updating the calendar, and we will announce our next meeting details as soon as we can nail them down. 

    If anyone is attending the Save Our Schools rally or the Greg Casar Town Hall tomorrow, let folks know in Signal. (We also appreciate the frontline reports from people who are there, if you feel like sharing.)

    And if you didn't know about those events ... check out our calendar!

  9. Rep. Doggett strongly recommends that we keep calling Congress, especially if we live in Republican districts. Reps. Mike McCaul and John Carter have been supportive of Ukraine in the past and haven't spoken out yet about Trump's about-face this week. He said that calls about Ukraine are especially effective, more so than on other issues. 

    Also: he said Congress will focus strongly on Ukraine this week, followed by the budget. They intend to make a big noise when the budget is released, and so we can begin brainstorming about action items focused on those cuts. He specifically mentioned groceries and public health cuts as potential big targets. (Could we paint ourselves with red dots and show up somewhere with signs that say MEASLES FOR TRUMP??) There will be lots of targets and ways to make noise.

  10. Finally, we want to welcome the newest member of this group, Kelly Holmes. You might have read about the protest Kelly organized in front of Senator Cornyn's office. She's been putting out a weekly email with great ideas and resources, and we're very excited to support her already-ongoing efforts. Welcome, Kelly! We're so excited to be in this TOGETHER!

It's been a bad week for Trump and DOGE ... their approval ratings are falling, the economy isn't improving, and GOP Congressmen are starting to feel the heat from their constituents.

The cracks are starting to show after only a month, and we're going to be ready to exploit them ....

More soon! 

Reply

or to participate.