February 19, 2019 04:58 PM UTC

What you can do to fight back this week (February 19)

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• by: ProgressNow Colorado

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It’s a short but busy week in Colorado politics! Let’s get right to a few important bills up for debate this week in the Colorado legislature that you can help pass:

On Wednesday, help SUPPORT equal pay for women in Colorado. Senate Bill 19-085, the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, makes important changes to Colorado law to enforce wage discrimination complaints based on sex, giving women power to protect their own rights in court. It’s up for debate in the Senate Judiciary Committee at 1:30pm.

Also on Wednesday morning, the House Public Health Care & Human Services Committee will hear testimony on a bill to help prevent youth suicides. SUPPORT House Bill 19-1120, which allows children 12 and over to obtain psychological counseling on their own terms–and requires educators to make mental health information available to students.

On Thursday, help SUPPORT one of this year’s most important public safety bills. House Bill 19-1177, up for debate in the House Judiciary Committee at 1:30pm establishes a system for extreme risk protection orders to give law enforcement the ability to temporarily collect firearms from persons judged to be a danger to themselves or others. This bill protects the public while providing due process protections for persons subject to the protective order.

Also on Thursday in the Senate Health & Human Services Committee, SUPPORT Senate Bill 19-004–legislation to establish a pilot program to bring relief to residents of Colorado mountain communities suffering from extremely high health insurance premiums. This bill authorizes a pilot program in hard-hit areas of the state allowing residents to buy into state employee health plans.

Thanks for your help with these important pieces of legislation. To everyone who takes time out of your busy day to come to the state capitol and speak out, we’re grateful for your assistance. Here are a few more great ways to take action in Colorado for the week of February 19:

GoodCinema Activations: Zero Weeks

What do the United States and Papua New Guinea have in common? They’re the only countries in the world without paid family leave. With 78% of Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck, families are often forced to choose between taking time off to care for a loved one or continuing to work in order to keep their jobs and health care benefits. While Zero Weeks aligns with GoodCinema’s value of humanity over greed, the film also explores how paid family leave benefits businesses as well as individuals. Join GoodCinema for a screening of Zero Weeks followed by an interactive panel discussion on how the family leave crisis affects local Coloradans and what you can do to help.

Where: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Sloans Lake, 4255 West Colfax Avenue, Denver
When: Tuesday, Febnruary 19 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Indivisible Lobby Day at the Capitol

Local officials affect our lives and our communities most directly. There is nothing more powerful than a citizen-led lobby, and that’s what this is. You don’t need to have ever been to the capitol before to join us. We want to let our elected officials know that we are here, we care, and we are watching!

Where: Colorado State Capitol, 200 E Colfax Ave, Ste 136, Denver
When: Wednesday, February 20 at 8:15am

Click here to RSVP.

Housing Justice Lobby Day/Dia de abogacia sobre vivienda

Come learn how to lobby your legislators for housing justice issues! This year we are focused on two major bills. The first is the bill to strengthen the current warranty of habitability through the Safe & Healthy Homes Act HB19-1170. The second bill we will be prioritizing is a bill to repeal the statewide prohibition on rent control and give local control back to municipalities to address the housing crisis as they see fit. We hope by this point there will be a bill to support mobile home owners as well that we can lobby on as well.

Where: 1500 Grant St. Denver
When: Wednesday, February 20 at 8:30am

Click here to RSVP.

Women’s Lobby of Colorado: Legislative Committee Meetings

Join us for our legislative committee meetings for the Colorado 2019 Legislative Session. Members and representatives of organizational members are invited. At these meetings we learn about legislation introduced and coming, as well as vote on our positions on them (members vote).

Where: Colorado Center on Law and Policy, 789 N Sherman St Ste 300, Denver
When: Wednesday, February 20 at 12:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

ACLU of Colorado and Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition – CIRC: Phone Bank for Virginia’s Law

We need volunteers who can call voters in Boulder and encourage people to reach out to our champions to support Virginia’s law, which would protect undocumented domestic violence survivors from being turned over to ICE when contacting local police for help.

Where: 2525 W. Alameda Ave. Denver
When: Wednesday, February 20 at 3:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

The Cost of Being a Woman: Gender and Homelessness

From lack of access to reproductive health, to pay inequity, to domestic violence and everyday safety, the cost of being a woman while experiencing homelessness adds up quickly. This month’s panel will discuss the different hurdles women experiencing homelessness must overcome and what we can do to help ease the burden.

Where: Stout Street Health Center, 2130 Stout Street Community Room, Denver
When: Wednesday, February 20 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

UndocuMonologues at DU

The mission of Motus Theater is to create original theater to facilitate dialogue on critical issues of our time. In 2019 Motus is launching the UndocuAmerica project that aims to interrupt dehumanizing portrayals of immigrants, and instead encourage thoughtful engagement on the challenges facing the undocumented community and the assets they bring to our country.

Where: 2000 East Asbury Ave. Denver, Lindsay Auditorium, Sturm Hall 281
When: Thursday, February 21 at 5:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

350 BoCo Monthly Mtg: Fracking & Air Quality in Boulder County

Concerned about air quality in Boulder County? An air quality monitoring study at the Boulder Reservoir has concluded that oil & gas drilling in Weld County has worrisome effects on air quality in Boulder County. At this meeting, the leader of that project, Dr. Detlev Helmig of CU’s Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), will present the results of that study, including how certain indicators allow air pollution to be traced to the oil and gas industry.

Where: Unity of Boulder Church, 2855 Folsom St, Boulder
When: Thursday, February 21 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

I Am Denver Storytelling Lab – Northeast Park Hill

Everyone has a story, but ours is incomplete without YOU. What was it like growing up in your neighborhood? How is it now? Or tell us about your family, your culture, your hero. Whatever it is, we want your voice in Denver’s history. Let us help you find it. Please join I Am Denver and 303 ArtWay for a morning of instruction and inspiration that leads to you recording your story.

Where: 3333 Holly St, Denver
When: Saturday, February 23 at 9:30am

Click here to RSVP.

$15 for DIA Canvass Kickoff!

We are less than 10 weeks away from the first votes being cast in the May 7 Denver municipal election. Join us as we start going door to door asking voters to support our ballot measure and make a $15 minimum wage a reality for thousands of Denver airport workers.

Where: Mi Familia Vota, 4730 Oakland St, Denver
When: Sunday, February 24 at 10:

Click here to RSVP.

We’ll be back next Monday with more ways to fight back! See you then.