September 07, 2021 04:11 PM UTC

What you can do to fight for progress this week (September 7)

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• by: ProgressNow Colorado

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I hope you had a relaxing and safe Labor Day weekend. In addition to celebrating the traditional end of summer, this Labor Day weekend took place against the backdrop of new challenges–the end of expanded pandemic unemployment coverage for workers, the effects of human-caused climate change from fires in the West to devastating floods in the East, and an extreme, unconstitutional abortion ban allowed to take effect in Texas that puts Colorado on the front line of the national struggle for reproductive rights.

Let’s start this week with ways you can make a difference on all these fronts.

Building up American workers. The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act is an historic opportunity strengthen worker’s rights, level the playing field for organizing, hold big business accountable to their human resources, take concrete steps to implement lessons on workplace safety, and above all put more money in the pockets of working Americans. Click here to learn more about the PRO Act and contact your Senators.

Responding to human-caused climate change. Today, 20 national progressive advocacy organizations called on Congress to pass the “Climate Test” with respect to the current reconciliation budget bill by putting the country on a clear path to cutting in half planet-warming pollution by 2030. The climate investments in the Build Back Better Act as it exists today create a path to reduce climate pollution and achieve 100% clean electrical production in a timeframe that could actually make a difference. The alternative is even more devastating environmental consequences like we’ve witnessed this summer. Click here to learn more about this effort.

Defending reproductive rights. SB-8, Texas’ extreme, unconstitutional abortion ban is now law. This affects not just abortion providers but anyone at all who might be accused of helping someone access their constitutional right to reproductive healthcare. Colorado has been a haven for abortion care for years as other states have passed new restrictions, and our role in this critical civil rights battle is set to grow. If you haven’t already, click here to donate directly to select Texas abortion funds to empower those in need.

We’re getting closer to final maps of Colorado’s congressional and legislative districts. Over the weekend, the congressional redistricting commission released a new map that will be the subject of public hearings this week! Click here to get more information, and if you haven’t already click here to get on the list for future redistricting action alerts.

Finally, it’s a pleasure to headline my first weekly action alert as ProgressNow Colorado’s new executive director! ProgressNow Colorado has played such an important role in the political transformation of Colorado into a progressive stronghold and model for effective organizing in the digital era, and I’m excited to see what the next few years hold. Here are a few more great ways to fight for progress for the week of September 7, 2021:

Composting: What? Why? How?

Join The Climate Change Collective and Emcee Nick Campion on Tues Sept 7th to learn more about composting and get inspired to help with climate change and educate your friends and family. You’ll connect with like-minded folks (ice breakers provided!). Then we’ll hear from the founder of local company Wompost and the Executive Director of Recycle Colorado about the basics of composting and how Denver and Colorado is pumping out that black gold. Bring your most pressing composting questions!

When: Tuesday, September 7 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate: Tell Polis and the COGCC to Pause the Permits!

On Aug 30 a coalition of 30 health, environmental, climate and community groups, called on the COGCC to protect Coloradans and pause permitting until new financial assurance rules can be adopted. Instead the COGCC unanimously approved new siting permits. Tell Polis and the COGCC we need to pause all permitting and transfers until oil and gas have put up the funds to clean up after themselves!

When: Wednesday, September 8 at 6:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado People’s Alliance: We Are Home – Press Event for Citizenship

The House Budget Resolution that passed the House of Representative moves America one step closer to new pathways to citizenship for millions of Dreamers, TPS holders, farm workers and other essential workers. Momentum is on our side and we are moving full steam ahead. Congress is taking historic and long overdue steps to deliver on a visionary budget to modernize key sectors of our economy, including our immigration system. Our message to Washington: Bring solutions to the table and reject obstruction, half-measures or games. We urge Congress to reject controversial anti-immigrant amendments which would be a vote against immigrant communities who have been and will continue to be key to the robust economic recovery of the country.

When: Thursday, September 9 at 11:00am
Where: Colorado State Capitol, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Conservation Colorado: Annual Legislative Scorecard Event: Denver

Join Conservation Colorado and Protegete for our annual Legislative Scorecard Event! Find out if your representative is an environmental champion and discuss our environmental wins during the 2021 legislative session. Enjoy an evening with a special guest and an environmental champion, Representative Alex Valdez. We will end with a fun trivia game and swag prizes.

When: Thursday, September 9 at 5:30pm

Click here to RSVP.

History Colorado: “Building Denver” Speaker Series: Colorful or Colorblind w/ Dr. Tom Romero

Please join us for a conversation with Dr. Tom Romero, most recently the Interim Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Denver and the founding and current Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Institute for the Study of (in)Equality (IRISE). A native Denverite and advisory board member of History Colorado’s Lost Highways podcast, Dr. Romero will share with us the complex history of race and racism in “Colorful Colorado” and challenge us to directly confront what racism means for us today while providing ideas for us to move forward in our work to achieve equality and justice.

When: Thursday, September 9 at 7:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

Colorado WINS: Step It Up Colorado! Rally at the Capitol

Join us online for a rally to demand a living wage for *all* Colorado employees! It’s time to tell Colorado enough is enough. All workers, no matter what we look like, where we work, or what we believe, deserve a living wage!

When: Friday, September 10 at 12:00pm
Where: Colorado State Capitol, Denver

Click here to RSVP.

Have You Eaten Yet – A Dinner Conversation with CIRC (Muslim Panel Edition)

Have You Eaten Yet? – A Dinner Conversation with CIRC will be the start of an ongoing series where CIRC invites different community leaders to talk about the multiple movements happening alongside our work with immigration here in Colorado. This is a way for CIRC to explore the many complexities that immigration plays out for different communities while uplifting the work happening outside of our membership. Our first episode will be with Muslim community leaders to talk on topics ranging from what’s happening globally, the disconnect between immigrants and refugees communities, and many more!

When: Friday, September 10 at 6:00pm

Click here to RSVP.

We’ll see you next week with more ways to take action.

Sincerely,

Sara Loflin, Executive Director