January 29, 2018 01:37 PM UTC

What you can do to fight back this week (January 29)

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• by: ProgressNow Colorado

The 2018 session of the Colorado legislature is underway right now! And unlike the gridlock and finger-pointing in Washington, there’s hope of actually getting some good things accomplished at the state level this year.

The Colorado House’s top priority this year is called FAMLI: the Family Medical Leave Insurance Program. Almost everyone at some point has to take time off work to care for a sick family member or a new baby, or need to recover from illness themselves. Unfortunately, almost 90% of Coloradans don’t have access to paid time off in these situations, putting their health, their family, and their financial solvency at risk. Instead of focusing on the Trump administration’s bad news next Tuesday, take a break for one afternoon to do something good for working families across Colorado.

Action item #1 this week: make a plan to help us support Colorado House Bill 1, the FAMLI Family Medical Leave Insurance Program at a rally the Colorado Capitol next Tuesday. Family leave supporters and lawmakers will lay out the details of the FAMLI Act on the West Steps, followed by a hearing where you can testify on the importance of paid family medical leave.

Where: Colorado State Capitol, 200 E. Colfax, Denver, West Steps
When: Tuesday, February 6 at 12:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

Thanks for taking action for Colorado’s working families! And here are lots more great ways to fight back for the week on January 29th:

Sustainable Green Mountain Climate Change Seminar

What is going on in the environment? Is the world getting hotter, colder, or is it one big global hoax crafted by Chinese tech giants trying to sell cheap green technologies? What does the data show? Do I need a PhD to read these graphs? Why is the world against us? Where do we look for the truth? What, if anything, can any of us do about it? If you’re interested, concerned or simply curious about the state of the environment and climate change today, then this seminar is going to rock your worldview.

Where: Dunstan Middle School 1855 S Wright Street, Lakewood
When: Monday, January 29 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Coffman: Stand with DREAMers & TPS!

Join CIRC, Indivisible CO CD-6, Indivisible HR, Indivisible Front Range and Organizing for Action Colorado to let Rep. Mike Coffman know that his constituents demand his support for DACA recipients and TPS. He’s talked the talk on protecting our Dreamers, but has done nothing when it has really mattered.

Where: Representative Mike Coffman’s offices, 3300 S Parker Rd, Aurora
When: Tuesday, January 30 at 12:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Truth to Power: Personal Storytelling for Social Justice

Across geography, culture, and time, storytelling has been an important tool to foster human connection. Today, being able to skillfully tell a personal story can be the difference between the status quo and making a positive impact. We all have a story to tell; and when we can own and effectively share this story with others, we can shift perspectives, attitudes and behaviors. In Truth to Power: Personal Storytelling for Social Justice you will hear the stories of 10 advocates in the field who have workshopped their stories with 3 storytelling experts from The Moth’s Education Program. These storytellers will share stories of resilience, hope, fear and more. You are sure to leave feeling inspired.

Where: Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver, 2148 S High St, Denver
When: Tuesday, January 30 at 5:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

State of the Union on Health Care and Immigration Rights Bingo

Join the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, the Protect Our Care Colorado Coalition, and Indivisible Denver to listen to President Trump’s State of the Union as a community. There will be bingo cards with “Trumpisms” and a space to come together. Together we will persist to resist any policies that hurt our communities.

Where: Capitol Hill Tavern, 1225 Logan St, Denver
When: Tuesday, January 30 at 6:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

350BoCo Fossil Free Watch Party and Meetup

On January 31st, the day after Trump’s first State of the Union, our movement will come together for Fossil Free Fast: The Climate Resistance. Movement leaders including Varshini Prakash of the Sunrise Movement, Rev. Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus, Jessica Lorena Rangel of Houston Eyes of a Dreamer, Bill McKibben, co-founder of 350.org, and many more will deliver the state of our climate movement. They will share stories on the urgency of the current political and climate crises, and light our path ahead: resist the Trump Administration’s ongoing attacks on our climate, build power towards the 2018 and 2020 elections, and secure the lasting change we need through local action.

Where: The Studio Boulder, 3550 Frontier Ave Ste A2, Boulder
When: Wednesday, January 31 at 5:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

Let’s Talk About Gentrification

Gain insight to better understand the impact of gentrification on Denver’s neighborhoods. What societal structures support gentrification? Discuss possible actions we can take to create and retain diversity in our community.

Where: Park Hill Branch Library, 4705 Montview Blvd, Denver
When: Wednesday, January 31 at 6:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

Drop-in Visit to Senator Bennet: Stand with DREAMers

Join us for a drop-in office visit to Senator Bennet’s office. The Senate is supposed to be working on bipartisan immigration legislation ahead of a Feb 8 deadline. We’ll be seeking an update on his plans to stand up for the DREAMers.

Where: 1127 Sherman St., Suite 150 Denver
When: Thursday, February 1 at 1:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

350 Denver: Public Hearing HB 18-1071 (Regulate Oil and Gas Operations)

Are you concerned about making sure the Martinez decision is codified into law to help require us to protect the health and safety of the people of Colorado as the top priority of regulating oil and gas? If so, you need to be at this hearing, testifying. We each get three minutes to tell them why they really must pass this important legislation for Colorado.

Where: Colorado State Capitol, 200 E Colfax Ave, Ste 136, Denver
When: Thursday, February 1 at 1:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

Poetry, Race, and Policing: A Community Conversation

“Everywhere were flashes, a siren sounding and a stretched-out roar. Get on the ground. Get on the ground now. Then I just knew. And you are not the guy and still you fit the description because there is only one guy who is always the guy fitting the description.” So writes Claudia Rankine in her award-winning book of poetry, Citizen: An American Lyric. As part of the Denver Talks Series, the Citizen Oversight Board will host a conversation inspired by Rankine’s text, with a focus on race in policing and incarceration. Bill de la Cruz, the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Denver Public Schools, will facilitate.

Where: Lighthouse Writers Workshop, 1515 Race St, Denver
When: Friday, February 2 at 5:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado Consumer Health Initiative: Patients for Affordable Drugs Training

We are partnering with the national organization Patients for Affordable Drugs and several local organizations to provide a patient advocacy training on Saturday February 3rd. If you or someone you know has struggled to pay for prescription drugs, experienced inexplicable drug price increases, or encountered other Rx issues, this is an opportunity to turn learn how to use those experiences for advocacy and change.

Where: 1001 Bannock St, Denver
When: Saturday, February 3 at 8:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

Arvadans for Progressive Action February Meeting: Labor Movement

Our meeting this month will focus on Key economic issues to highlight Employee owned business, worker cooperatives and the Colorado labor movement.

Where: Arvada United Methodist Church, 6750 Carr St, Arvada
When: Saturday, February 3 at 3:45pm

Click here to RSVP.

Dinner & Documentary: Saving Capitalism

A new year, a new documentary to watch! Saving Capitalism: former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich meets with Americans from all walks of life as he chronicles a seismic shift in the nation’s economy.

Where: Secular Hub, 3100 Downing St, Denver
When: Sunday, February 4 at 5:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Thanks once again for everything you do to fight back against Trump and the far right, and also to fight for progressive solutions to problems like the need for family medical leave. Everything you do makes a difference, and every minute you spend working to leave our state and nation better than we found it is time you can be proud to have spent.

We’ll be back next week with many more ways to take action, so keep your calendar clear!