El Dorado Progressives General Meeting

Parkland, One Year Later

Sunday, February 10, 3:30pm
Town Hall, 549 Main St., Placerville
 3pm       Chat with friends, make new friends, eat, drink, nosh, etc.
3:30 to    Meeting
5pm  
 
The theme of our February General Meeting is "Parkland, One Year Later." Come down and get an update on the student movement that formed out of the tragedy on 2/14/18 and on the progress toward sensible gun control.

Speakers will include Kathleen West from Folsom Foothills Moms Demand Action and Annabel Maguire who went with seven other El Dorado County students to join in the March for Our Lives in Washington, DC. 

We’ll also have an update on local issues, and our own Sean Frame will introduce himself as a candidate for Congress in 2020.

Civil Rights Now! Workgroup

A group from EDP’s Civil Rights Now! Workgroup met at the County Library on Saturday, February 2 to donate books in honor of Black History Month. Over the past several months, Michael Saunders and Melinda Velasco researched a list of books pertaining to Black History that were not at our local library Then they created a wish list on Amazon for people to buy from and also solicited money to purchase books. In all, $600 were raised and 32 books were donated.

Immigration Rights Workgroup

The monthly meeting for the Immigration Rights workgroup is Thursday, February 7, 6pm at Tijuana Taqueria. We will have a guest speaker from Norcal Resist who will speak about their trip to the border, their work with the refugees, and what they learned. A representative from Unite Here will also be there to explain the work they are doing. They need volunteers. This volunteer job takes some training and willingness to give time.
 
We will also be holding a Spanish-language Know Your Rights event on February 21. Volunteers are welcomed. If you want more details contact RebeccaBGuinn@gmail.com or call 530-903-0402.
 
Immigration Rights is looking for volunteers for various ongoing jobs. One entails visiting the Yuba County Detention Center (a jail) to visit asylum-seekers without a US sponsor who are being held there. Many speak English; some have had no visitors for over a year. Volunteers would also be welcomed to go to a Sacramento bus depot to provide food, drinks, clothing and more to immigrants en transit to their US sponsor. The group is called Abueles Responde (grandmothers respond). You can learn about these volunteer opportunities at the meeting, or by clicking here to send an email.

Healthcare Workgroup

We welcome you to join a Community Conversation: What's Going on with Our Health Care? What is Guaranteed Health Care for All Californians?

Saturday, March 2
6pm               snack and chat
6:30 to 8:30   speakers, program,
                      discussion
3025A Cambridge Rd. Cameron Park
RSVP to Paul Burke, paulb1221@sbcglobal.net

Learn more about both State and National efforts to improve our health care system. Expert speakers and a film: Fix: It Health Care at the Tipping Point, and discussion about Great Expectations: California’s First Steps Toward Universal Health Care - Medicare For All.
 
Sponsored by El Dorado Progressives Health Care Workgroup and Foothill Progressives.

Protecting Public Lands Workgroup

WANTED: Progressives concerned about environmental issues. The Protecting Public Lands Workgroup needs your input and energy to develop and implement local activities. Whatever time you can spare is welcome. To join us, contact Patty at patty.wilson5@gmail.com.

Vote Smart Workgroup

Mary Elliott-Klemm
 
The EDP VoteSmart workgroup has been very busy! We joined forces with Sierra Forward, the United Democrat Club of Placerville, Indivisible groups, other members of El Dorado Progressives, and friends to Get Out the Vote for the Primary election. We had many successful Postcard Parties and members were involved in phone banking or canvassing activities prior to the June 5 election. 

High school student essay contest to attend March for Our Lives in Washington, DC

Thanks to the generous support of community members and members of El Dorado Progressives there is now an opportunity for El Dorado County high school students who are committed to the cause of ending gun violence and mass shooting in our schools to attend the 3/24 March for our Lives in Washington, DC.

To be considered for this trip, students must complete and return this application and submit a 300-word essay no later than March 16, 2018. This contest is open to high school students of Union Mine, El Dorado, Ponderosa, Oak Ridge, Virtual Academy, and High School aged students of El Dorado County Charter Schools (CCP, CUP, and CCA).  The selection committee will select the best essays and will notify qualifying students on 3/19/18 if they have been selected.

The application form can be found HERE.  

All essays and applications must be sent to: eldoradoprogressives@gmail.com with the subject line “March for Our Lives.”

All donations to EDP though March 19 will support the students' trip. To donate for the trip, click here. 

EDP Newsletter Feb. 2018

New Work Group

Civil Rights Now Work Group

This group was formed in January, spurred by strong negative responses to a racist opinion column in the Mountain Democrat. After meeting and laying out actions to take, the group decided to form the work group to support education in EDC about diversity, white privilege, to help businesses welcome tourists of all backgrounds, and more. So far the group has participated in a meeting with the staff of the Mountain Democrat, held weekly picketing near the MD offices, and mounted a march down Placerville Drive to the MD offices. In addition, the members are working to remove racial exclusions from CCRs and are dealing with an incident between two local high schools.

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Here is just some of what our many work groups accomplished in 2017.

(Apologies if a group has been omitted.)

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Protest Art/Sign Making Work Group

Over 100 signs made and collected for events throughout the year. Topics include: Woman’s March, Environment, Health Care, McClintock’s office protests, Pride Parade, Solidarity with Charlottesville

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Health Care Work Group
Held regular calling campaigns to prevent ACA repeal. Held six rallies in Placerville. Held Community Conversations on Health Care in California event, open to the public. Produced and distributed wallet cards to promote access for young people to birth control services.
 
In 2018: Hold at least two more speaker series sessions; continue advocacy at local, state, and federal levels; support register to vote and Get Out the Vote efforts.

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Communications Workgroup

Created the following: EDP website, EDP Newsletter, numerous special mailings. In 2018, we want to expand the EDP membership of young people, strengthen our online presence in select formats such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and to continue improving the newsletter so that it meets EDP members’ needs.

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Social Organizing Work Group

Held regular social meetings to discuss the political situation we are facing and provide support to each other; coordinated the summer picnic in Coloma; Coordinated EDP’s Charlottesville Response with vigil, march and non-violence training.

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Workers Solidarity Network Work Group

Worked on campaigns to support striking union members, shared information on increasing the power of workers, attended Diversity Training, and put together an ongoing Driscoll Boycott campaign. Worked on organizing the memorial part of the “We Still Have a Dream” march. The group has attended marches at State Capitol for immigration rights and labor rights.

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Organizer Training Work Group

Held a number educational events on diversity, community organizing, privilege and merit; held two trainings by Imigrant Watch and Know Your Rights in English and with immigrant workers in Spanish. Have also met with vineyard managers about their rights to protect their workers.