ACTIVISM TODAY

We are kicking off a national effort to invest in children and invite you to join us and a large group of national organizations to support critical investments in children. We invite you to join us for this media event. The directions attached provide important information about parking for the press event. Please let me know if you have any questions. Best regards, Ellie


Maine and National Leaders Back Renewed Progress for Children
Coalition Calls for Greater Investments in Maine's Children and Youth to Help Prepare Them for School, Work and Life
Thousands of children in Maine live in poverty, have no health insurance and are abused or neglected. But these children have been largely invisible during these times of economic crisis. In response, the Children's Leadership Council (CLC) will launch its "Invest in Children, Strengthen America" campaign.

What: Press Conference

When: 11:00 a.m. on December 17, 2008

Where: Casey Family Services, 75 Washington Avenue, Portland.

Why: The CLC is calling on Members of Congress, and President-elect Obama to make a commitment to specific economic recovery measures as well as long term investments that can keep more children and youth from falling into poverty. Making this kind of investment now will go a long way toward securing our future, providing real solutions to our short and long-term economic challenges, and strengthening America.

Speakers will include:


· Chellie Pingree, US Representative - elect

· Tania Reed, working mother

· Elinor Goldberg, President/CEO Maine Children's Alliance

· Members of many national groups will speak and/or be available for interviews

The launch coincides with a week of similar events across the country and with the national launch on December 18th at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.


BACKGROUND:
The CLC is a coalition of child advocates representing 36 leading national policy and advocacy organizations, with members and affiliates in every state in the nation. These groups are working everyday to improve the health, education and well-being of children and youth in order to prepare them for school, work, and life. For the first time, there is a strong, unified group of organizations speaking with one voice to achieve a singular mission - building the public awareness and creating the political will necessary to make greater investments in America's children and youth a reality. The "invest in Children, Strengthen America" campaign will focus on both short and long term investments that are proven effective and save taxpayers money in the long run, all while preparing children and youth for school, work and life by improving the health, education, and well-being of children across America.



DIRECTIONS TO CASEY FAMILY SERVICES:


From the South:
From Interstate 295 take Exit 7 (Franklin Arterial)
* Proceed straight through first set of lights.
* At second set of lights, take a left (Fox Street).
* Proceed straight up to the top of the hill and take a right onto Washington Ave.
Casey Family Services is a ½ block up on the left. We are located in the old J. J. Nissen Building. It is a large brick building with blue metal awnings. Entrance is on the bottom level.
* We are located on the 3rd floor. Please sign in.

From the North:

* From Interstate 295 take Exit 8 (Washington Avenue South)
* Proceed for about a ½ mile.
* Casey Family Services is on the left. We are located in the old J. J. Nissen Building. It is a large brick building with blue metal awnings. Entrance is on the bottom level.
* We are located on the 3rd floor. Please sign in.

Parking:

There is no on site parking. A satellite parking lot is available for Casey Family Services' visitors. This is located at 107 Washington Avenue (formerly 3 G's Garage). The parking lot is on the left hand side (driving towards Congress St.), diagonally across from Fasulo's Market and a pottery business and is approximately a ½ block before 75 Washington Avenue. Parking is available on either side of the building. Please disregard signs indicating parking by permit only.

10 Things to Make You Happer

YES Magazine offers 10 things to increase our happiness

In defense of Teasing

A friend shared with me an interesting NYT article about the hidden benefits of teasing. I have mixed feelings about it, since I think young children are very literal and the idea of using teasing as a way to have nuanced or cloaked critique is pretty sophisticated. But, the authors make a strong argument for the importance of humor as a way of softening blows, and the importance of having some strategies for herding us humans down the road of community living. I'd love to hear other peoples thoughts...

In contrast, GLSEN is sponsoring a creative expression contest for students to express what teasing has meant to them and strategies for ending hurtful words. And, No Name Calling Week has been set for January 26 - 30. Many have written about the oddness of setting aside one week to limit name calling, but access to resources, and a set time to intentionally involve students in reflection about teasing makes some sense to me.

Great Joy

Kate DiCamillo's picture book Great Joy is a poignant one to read during this time of economic crisis. I am a bit miffed at how heartless the mom seems, but I also recognize that hurried and tunnel-vision element of middle-class adulthood, while Frances, the child, is in the moment and connects with the person she sees.

Judith Warner article

This is an interesting perspective on how to shield our kids from horrible news, and the dilemmas of not being able to all the time. (Thanks Naomi!)

More about toxic toys

NPR had a story this morning about the outrageous levels of toxins in children's toys -- 1/3 of those tested had alarming levels of lead, arsenic or pvc.

The HEALTHY TOYS website lets consumers search to see the record on many toys and products. However, it is vital that we pressure legislators into placing the burden for safe toys on manufacturers and distrubtors -- not parents. (see below!)

Take Action from Prevent Harm

Environmental Health Strategy Center - PREVENT HARM

Preventing harm where we live, work and play

Action Needed Tonight
Tuesday, December 2

Take 2 Minutes Tonight (December 2) to Protect Maine Kids from Toxic Chemicals

Maine's newly elected Legislature will meet for the first time on Wednesday, December 3.

Our new Senators need to hear from us on their first day of work that we expect them to protect Maine's brand new Kid-Safe Products Law (which will help get the worst toxic chemicals out of everyday consumer products) from chemical industry attacks.

On Tuesday evening, December 2nd, please take just 2 minutes to call the Maine Senate toll free number and leave a personal message on the answering machine for your Senator to receive the next day.

Call 1-800-423-6900 on Tuesday evening, December 2 and leave this message for your Maine Senator on the answering machine:

• Your name and town and your Senator's name.
• "Please support Maine's new Kid-Safe Products Law and the rules needed to fully implement it."

Not sure who your Maine Senator is? Use this link to look it up:
(enter your zip code in the "Find Your Representatives" box)

Maine's kids will thank you.


©2008 Environmental Health Strategy Center, P.O. Box 2217, Bangor, ME, 04402.
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Casa Planeta

We had the pleasure of hearing and singing with the Family Folk Chorale last Saturday at a fundraiser for Clean Your Desk for Nicaragua and Safe Passage.

Clean Your Desk is a project of Quest for Peace and provides a really easy and concrete way for elementary school kids to think about the challenges facing children in South America and a way to be connected to them. Clean Your Desk collects lightly used school supplies for children who do not have any. We started a box, and it did raise some interesting conversation about why we might feel "done" with a half-used notebook and what that means for our consumption. There is a way that I somehow would feel better about sending NEW crayons, but I also think there is something really smart about recognizing how much gets wasted in our culture and building a bridge -- not just buying more new stuff because "new" feels so important.

Safe Passage provides resources and opportunities for children who work in Guatamala's garbage dump area. Guatamala is one of the poorest Central American countries and small donations of U.S. dollars can make a world of difference to children living in Guatamala. Families can sponsor a child for $50 - $200 a month or can make one-time donations.

The act of singing with the Family Folk Chorale and seeing people of all ages and from all different ethnic backgrounds sign in Spanish was incredibly joyful and moving. It really did help me see the world as smaller and that our children and the children of Nicaragua and Guatamala are connected.

Here are the lyrics for a few of the songs :

Des Colores

Mu Cuerpo Hace Musica on YouTube

and Somos El Barco

Trouble the Water playing in Portland

Recently short-listed for the Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary,
Trouble the Water opens Wednesday at The Movies on Exchange at 10 Exchange
Street in Portland.

Directed and produced by Fahrenheit 9/11 producers Tia Lessin and Carl Deal,
and executive produced by Danny Glover, the film won the Grand Jury Prize at
the Sundance Film Festival. The directors will be present for a Q & A after
the 5 and 9 p.m. screenings on Friday, November 28th.

Here's what critics are saying:

"...one of the best American documentaries in recent memory."-- Manohla
Dargis, The New York Times

"...an endlessly moving, artlessly magnificent tribute to people the
government didn't think worth saving." --Richard Corliss, TIME

"...essential, unique viewing: a stunning experience." --Lisa Schwarzbaum,
Entertainment Weekly

"Indelible! Will pin you to your seat!" - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone.

It is an uplifting story about one family's survival of the flooding of New
Orleans after Katrina, and their journey into a new life. A true story about
navigating through difficult times, Trouble the Water takes on particular
meaning and significance as we enter into this holiday season.

Log on to watch the theatrical trailer
and then make a plan to see the film.

Please buy your tickets for the November 26th opening today!

The Movies on Exchange


Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

P.S: Please forward this email to your contact list. And consider bringing
members of your local faith based organization, school or community group to
a screening. Call the theater to arrange for group discounts: (207)
772-9600.

From Meg Cox

Meg Cox's Ritual Newsletter
Special Holiday Edition for 2008

I stopped the monthly editions of this newsletter in September, but I haven't stopped thinking about tradition and celebration. It occurs to me that this holiday season brings a poignant and unusual mix of contradictory realities: great hope combined with desperate need.
How do we embrace these conflicting truths and make them part of our family celebrations this year?
Here's one idea: create a "Giving Tree" for your family. You're probably all familiar with the Shel Silverstein book of that name, about all the ways in which a single tree helps one human being throughout his life, providing shade, apples, and so forth. But this is more like a special Christmas tree that isn't hung with ornaments but with mementoes of all the different ways a family finds to give to others in need during the holiday season.
You can make a paper Giving Tree and tape it to a wall or door.
Or you might get one of those cute small, live evergreens in a pot (which you could plant in your garden next spring). Cut out paper hearts of red and white from construction paper and use pretty holiday ribbons to tie them to branches of the tree. Have a bowl of pre-cut hearts all ready to put on the tree.
Add another heart every time you put some change in a Salvation Army Christmas pot, or when you buy a book or a toy for a needy child in your community. Add a heart when you collect canned goods for your church or town hall to help insure a needy family gets to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. Add a heart after your choir sings carols at a nursing home or hospital. Add a heart when you volunteer at the local animal rescue shelter.
Let the Giving Tree provoke family discussions about who else needs help in your town and throughout the world, and how you might respond right now. Maybe the kids would like to send a card to a soldier who won't be home for Christmas. Maybe they want to pitch in to help with a seasonal community service project at their school. Collect some money from allowances and then have a family vote to pick the charities that receive help.
There are many variations on the ritual: decide whether you want to add hearts to the tree every time a family member does a good deed, or you might add hearts once a week, on Sundays after dinner.

Like all of you, I'm looking at ways to make my family's holiday mean more and cost less this year. In that spirit, I want to share a few online resources that I find especially helpful:
www.redefineChristmas.org
I've always been a huge fan of the organization Alternatives for Simple Living (www.simpleliving.org), which got started years ago as an effort to make Christmas less commercial. Alternatives works within a religious, Christian context and produces excellent resources such as its annual Advent guide, Whose Birthday Is It Anyway?
But there are a number of other excellent nonprofits that don't deal with the religious element but also provide great resources. The website above, redefineChristmas.org, is an effort to harness the internet as a way to encourage individual philanthropy and it's a great tool for finding good charities and then getting money to them. You can send e-cards to friends telling them you gave in their name and you can create a gift registry where you tell your friends that you'd prefer they donate money rather than give you another sweater. You can zero in on causes you care about deeply, whether it's global warming, poverty and hunger, helping to clear landmines or encouraging budding artists.
Three other web resources I highly recommend:
The Simple Living News has a good website that includes an online bi-monthly newsletter. The November-December issue has good holiday ideas.
www.simpleliving.net
I'm a fan of the organization Center for a New American Dream, which promotes simple living with an emphasis on environmentalism. They've also got good resources and recently updated their materials on holidays.
www.newdream.org/holiday/index.php
Finally, there's a Canadian Mennonite group that started a Christian inititative in that country to make the holiday less materialistic and one result is a detailed, self-explanatory website, www.buynothingChristmas.org

May your holidays be full of love and presence!
love, Meg



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Bringing Arts into the Classroom

The Kennedy Center offers a fabulous looking searchable database of lesson plans that connect arts education with other subjects, including math, social studies, and science.

Take Action Today from Mothers Acting Up

Welcome the 111th Congress with a card....
On November 18th, mothers and others across the country will be delivering "welcome" cards to their local Congressional offices, reminding their elected officials that they voted on November 4th to make climate change a priority. Tackling climate change is not only a priority for us, but has more significant implications in terms of the world that our children will inherit.

Gather up your kids, friends and family and join 1Sky and others or organize your own visit to your Members' offices. While you're there, leave behind information about the Mother Agenda and a plate of cookies (always welcomed by the staff!). Click here to sign-up and get all the necessary information.

Read the MAU blog and watch a clip from their new play

Magical Thinking 'till age 8

A study from the University of Michigan found that children do not connect their beliefs and their behaviors until they make a cognitive leap around age 8. This has implications for parenting and teaching -- apparently helping kids "know" what they should do doesn't make it any easier for them to do it until age 8. The study doesn't provide a lot of concrete suggestions for helping younger children change behavior (other than a traditional carrrot/stick approach) and I wonder if it doesn't lay the groundwork for reflection to begin practicing it even before they can effectively do it on thier own, but it is useful to remember that when a young child fails to abstract or behave as they say they will, it is more about immaturity than a character flaw... The study also pointed out the ways that magical thinking could help young children, because they can still imagine themselves as "practically perfect in every way" which is a gateway for all kinds of possibility.

Bibliography about Media, Marketing & Kids

The resource page from Diane Levin and Jean Kilbourne's new book, So Sexy, So Soon provides a great bibliography on issues like "children and commercial culture," media literacy, and gender.

TRUCE GUIDE

TRUCE -- the Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children's Entertainment -- has published their 2008-2009 annual toy guide.

Progressives Gotta Keep on Organizing

I'm at a conference in Boston and heard a very provocative speech by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva (author of "Racism Without Racists" among others) about the ways that the Obama presidency might prove even harder for progressives to make fundamental and systemic change. It was depressing, but made a lot of sense -- he argued that as people dig in to the idea of a post-racialized America we will have an even harder time organizing around racial justice, and by extension other kinds of social justice, in part because there will be even less openness for dissent from the left, as people either want to protect Obama ("don't wreck his chances at succeeding"), have too much faith that he'll simply do the right thing without pressure, or that the right will make sure to co-opt Obama's centrist language and name progressive ideals/action as crazy and radical. Finally he argued that white progressives will face a lot of criticism from people of color and face being called "racist" for criticizing Obama. I think he (Bonilla-Silva) underestimated how cyncial progressive groups are - how much we understand that we always have to fight for every bit of change -- but I also think about how horrible it was that we let welfare reform occur under the Clinton presidency and failed to really push for economic justice at that time, and think we do need to figure out what a progressive movement looks like without the clear "enemy" that helped us have a stronger identity even without good resources in the last decade. I wonder if there are lessons from Maine, given the challenges in passing a progressive agenda despite having democratic control of our State Legislature.

A small opinion piece from Bonnila-Silva is here and a longer blog post, with interesting comments, is here

Multicultural Book Festival in Portland Maine

MANY VOICES: A multicultural book fair for families

Saturday, November 22, 10:00 – 1:00

Breakwater School gym, 856 Brighton Ave., Portland

EXPLORE BOOKS that take your child around the world. The fair
features the latest children's books and classics depicting the
cultures of China, Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin
America and the Middle East, as well as African American, Native
American, Latino American, Jewish American, Muslim American and
immigration books.

MAKE YOUR OWN ORIGAMI BUTTERFLY just like in the book Butterflies
for Kiri! We'll also offer face painting, balloon tying and other
kids' activities.

MEET THE AUTHOR: Cathryn Falwell, author and illustrator of
Butterflies for Kiri and other children's books, will be on hand to
meet the children and autograph books.

COME AND SHOP! The fair will also sell bake sale treats, gently used
traditional Chinese clothing for kids and adults, and our special
limited-edition tote bag by Maine artist Betsy Thompson.

THE BOOK FAIR IS FREE and open to the public.

EDUCATOR DISCOUNT Educators receive a 20% discount on all books.

FOR MORE INFORMATION email bamboo@... or visit
cafamchineseschool.org.

Presented by the Chinese and American Friendship Association of
Maine's Chinese School.

Titles selected by Curious City (www.curiouscity.net) and provided
by Books Etc.


*ABOUT C.A.F.A.M. AND CHINESE SCHOOL*
The Chinese American Friendship Association of Maine (C.A.F.A.M) is
a non-profit cultural organization whose members include Chinese-
Americans, Americans who have lived or worked in China, parents who
have adopted children from China, and others with an interest in
Chinese history and culture. In addition to the Chinese School,
C.A.F.A.M. offers lectures, holiday celebrations, and an annual
Chinese New Year celebration (slated for January 31, 2009--more
later!).

PBS Family Page

PBS has new web site for parents and a web site for kids, about families and I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, PBS has adopted a lot of the creepy "cool" look of pop culture and it adds an edge that is offputting to me (the drawings look a lot like BRATZ for example). On the other hand, they do pull from an interesting group of experts and address topics that I care about.

They have a site specifically directed towards helping parents think about media literacy -- not sure if there is any tounge-in-cheek there, since they are the media, but hopefully it is good stuff...

I spent some time on their sibling rivalry page and am going to bring their book list to the library with me -- it seems like books are always a good way to start conversations in our house, although so many books about siblings -- starting with the new baby books -- stress the negative (think, The Pain and The Great One) . I wonder if part of my attempt at learned optimism should be to focus on books that emphasize the good things -- any suggestions anyone?

Practicing Gratitude

My children attend a Friends School and I look forward to the weekly Friends Meeting that I am invited to attend with them. We sit in silence (sort of) on Monday mornings and practice hearing our own inner voice and the quiet around us. Each month the school offers a theme to ground our thinking and November's theme is gratitude. After chewing on the concept for a few silent minutes this moment, I began to really think about what a complicated concept gratitude can be. It is a little different from what we are glad about, I think, because in funny ways we can be grateful for life's losses and dark experiences, for the silver linings and wisdom that comes from hard times; still, we don't want the hard times, wouldn't wish for them or look forward to the next tough turn our life takes. Gratitude breeds wisdom, or vice versa, I think. All the happiness research seems to indicate that gratitude is also a cognitive pattern -- once we begin optimistic self-talk we can maintain a brighter outlook in general. I am looking for strategies to help my family -- a family a bit pulled toward emphasizing injustice, large and small, personal and global -- practice gratitude without it being too contrived. I'm curious if others have family traditions or rituals that help members notice and articulate appreciation.

I haven't found any great web sites, but am putting Happy-Go-Lucky on my netflix list.

On Beliefnet, the author makes an interesting point about not teaching "reverse envy" ("you should be thankful that you have food when other people are starving") which might cultivate guilt over gratitude -- gratitude is somehow more internal and intrinsic to the person and experience, not relative and interpersonal.

MA retreat opportunity for teachers

Subject: Courage to Teach Arts, Nature & Renewal Day for Educators at Walden Woods

Courage to Teach Arts, Nature & Renewal Days for Educators,
at Walden Woods, Lincoln, MA
Date: Saturday, December 6, 2008 and Saturday, June 6, 2009,
9:00am - 3:00pm
Location: The Thoreau Institute, Lincoln, MA www.walden.org
Contact: Lisa Sankowski, lsankows@wellesley.edu or 781-283-2861

We invite you to participate in a special Courage to Teach experience.Â
These one-day retreats, which can be enjoyed singly or together, are open
to all educators. They will combine a taste of Courage to Teach, based
on the work of Parker J. Palmer, with an opportunity to reflect on our
lives and teaching through an exploration of the arts and nature—all in
the lovely setting of Henry David Thoreau’s Walden Woods. This event
is offered in collaboration with The Walden Woods Project.

We will come together to learn from and honor our unique qualities,
experiences, and gifts as educators, strengthening our commitment to
nurturing the hearts and minds of our students. These gatherings will
focus on “the person in the profession,” reconnecting who we are with
what we do. Please join us.

WHAT WILL THESE RETREATS BE LIKE?
In the morning, we will invite you into a quiet, focused, and disciplined
space—a circle of trust—in which the noise within us and around us can
subside and we can begin to hear our own inner voice. In large group,
small group, and solitary settings, we will explore the intersection of
our personal and professional lives, making use of stories from our own
journeys, the writings of Thoreau, and insights from other poets,
storytellers, and wisdom traditions.

In the afternoon, in a fun and supportive environment, we will explore and
enjoy a particular art form as a way of deepening our morning explorations
and of seeing ourselves, our work, and our world with fresh eyes.

We are offering two events:
• December 6th, 2008, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.—Winter Storytelling: Sharing
Tales by the Fire. Facilitators: Pamela Seigle, Executive Director,
Courage & Renewal Northeast & Margie Zohn, The Ariel Group
• June 6th, 2009, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.—Summer Seeing: Joys of a
Naturalist’s Journal. Facilitator: Lisa Sankowski, Associate Director,
Courage & Renewal Northeast & Susan Frey, Director of Education, Walden
Woods Project

COST
The cost for each retreat day, with breakfast treats, lunch, and all
materials, is $50.
If you sign up now for both retreat days, the combined cost is $90.Â
Certificates of Participation towards PDPs will be provided.

TO REGISTER
Please download attached registration materials.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lisa Sankowski
Associate Director

Courage & Renewal Northeast
Wellesley College, Billings Hall
106 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02481

email: lsankows@wellesley.edu
website: www.CourageNE.org
phone: 781-283-2861

Safe space for LGBTQ students

Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQ Youth
Hardy Girls Healthy Women and Communities for Children and Youth are offering four regional trainings for adults working with youth. The trainings will help adults learn to create safe, supportive environments for lesbian and gay youth to grow. These trainings are free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided.

Creating Safe Spaces Training Dates and Locations:
November 12- Farmington, UMaine Farmington Campus, 10am-3pm
November 13- Portland, USM Glickman Library, University Events Room, 10am-3pm
November 18- Bangor, Sea Dog Brewing Company Conference Center, 10am-3pm
November 19- Belfast, UMaine Hutchison Center, 10am-3pm

For more information please email Hardy Girls Healthy Women or you can register online.

StoryWalk on Mackworth Island

The Friends School of Portland has brought a storywalk to Mackworth Island. Storywalks engage children in literacy by combining the text and pictures from children's books with activities to do as they walk through the story (a winding walk by large posters from the books.) The storywalk on Mackworth is of Cathryn Falwell's newest book Scoot. The walk will be up through October and is just along the trail -- come check it out. Friends is offering admissions events in November for those wanting more information about the school.


Admissions Events

Parent Information Session

Who: Prospective parents, friends and supporters. Adults only, please.

What: Meet administrators & current parents

Where: Friends School of Portland on Mackworth Island, Falmouth, Maine

When: 6:00 to 7:00 pm, Wednesday, November 12

Please call to let us know you are coming, but last minute drop-ins are welcome.

Family Open House

Who: Prospective families, friends and supporters. Children welcome!

What: Meet teachers, administrators, & current parents

Where: Friends School of Portland on Mackworth Island, Falmouth, Maine

When: 10 to 11:30 am, Saturday, November 15

Parent Class Visits

Who: Prospective parents, only.

Childhood Education International

The Association for Childhood Education International is an advocacy group that combines research and writing directly for educators with opportunities for global activism on behalf of all children. They advocate for the right to play for all children, but provide unique insight into the struggles to provide space to play in different regions and contexts.

Of special interest is a new publication, Children and Families of African Origin: A Guide for Educators and Service Providers, could be especially useful to Maine childcare providers and teachers who are integrating classrooms and creating welcoming spaces for immigrant children and families.

Children's Book Review / Find a Book Tool

Zuckerman's Barn is an incredibly cool interactive search tool for finding kids books about any possible topic. Children write reviews and share book titles, too.

Live Blogging About Poverty

Today, October 15, is Blog Action Day with a focus on poverty. Thousands of bloggers have shared information and views about global poverty.


Feministing called attention to the U.N. post about the relationship between gender and poverty.

Create Books for Children in Uganda

My dearest friend, Sara Shifrin, is spreading the word about this opportunity for U.S. children to create books for children in Uganda. The program is called Books of Hope. The program fee is $225 per group, so it is best to involve lots of classrooms or children in the project.

Mojo Mom

Amy Tiemann is part of my generation of highly educated mothers who've been "off-ramped" and yet still have professional ambitions. She combines her experience of mothering with a personal-is-political analysis. She has written a book, The Mojo Mom, has a podcast which is free on itunes, and offers resources on her web site. I like her approach because she focuses on the support that individual women need (although I thought this was overly stressed in her 1st book and hope that there is a more political tone in the new edition) but also pushes women to think about advocating for mothers and families more broadly through political change.

Her latest podcast introduced a project called the op-ed project, an organization that encourages women to bring our voices into the political mainstream through participation in editorial pages and other forms of public debate. I am going to try to pull some of the facts and figures about child poverty together into an op-ed, and hope others might think about doing the same !

Resources for Columbus Day

With Columbus Day around the corner, and my e-mailing of bits of info increasing, I decided I should try to resurrect this blog. I may not be able to keep it as updated as I'd hoped, but most of the links are still current.

Columbus Day can get all of us thinking about how to talk with kids -- and ourselves -- about the genocide committed against American Indians in a developmentally appropriate way. It doesn't help that so much of the media maintains an idealized and stereotypical perspective. And, it doesn't help me that I am missing huge chunks of knowledge -- so the first step is definitely for me to educate myself more and model that for and with my kids (I'm guessing Grace knows more than I do about a lot of pieces of history now).

Here is a general resource for thinking about teaching about Native American history, avoiding the "tourism" trap.

American Indians in Children's Literature offers many fabulous suggestions for books - I'm going to get the new Louise Erdrich book for Grace and myself to read.

For resources for learning about / teaching about Maine, check out the website that was developed to support LD291, a law to teach about Maine's Native Americans.

Contact Governor Baldacci

To leave Governor Baldacci a comment (especially about the new budget cuts!), click here.

New Report from See Jane

Gena Davis as moved her institute for gender equity in film to Los Angeles. Her research team recently released a new report. The found that males outnumber females in feature films, 3 to 1. They also examined the hypersexualization of both male and female characters in film and tv aimed at kids.

They invite youth, ages 13 - 26 to submit a PSA for the "I Want to See Jane campaign. (Win a trip to hollywood!)

Older findings include:

THE NEEDS DR.SMITH AND HER RESEARCHERS FOUND
G-rated movies and certain TV categories need more females as main characters, minor characters, narrators, and in crowds.
3 out of 4 characters in G-rated movies are male.

This pattern remains steady even when the data is analyzed from multiple perspectives (major characters, characters in groups, movies released in the 1990s versus the 2000s).

In TV made for kids 11 and under, the bad news is that in TV-Y and TVY7 there are twice as many males as females, while the good news is, TVG is almost balanced at one for one.

G-rated movies and certain TV categories need more characters of color, especially female characters of color as main characters, minor characters, narrators, and in crowds.

In the 101 highest grossing G-rated movies 1990-2005 characters of color are most often sidekicks, comic relief, or villains. In TV aimed at kids 11 and under, three-fourths of all the individual, speaking characters are white. Girls of color are least likely to see themselves reflected in media made for kids.

G-rated movies need to create more female characters with aspirations beyond romance.
In G-rated films, Dr. Smith and her researchers discovered that often female characters have no personal aspirations beyond romance i.e. romantic love or marriage.

G-rated movies need to create more women and girl characters that are valued for their inner character, too.

In G-rated films, Dr. Smith and her researchers discovered that most often plots with female leads revolve around physical appearance and ability to attract a mate.

CeleSoiree

Immigrant Legal Advocacy Pproject's (ILAP)
4th annual
CeleSoirée: Celebrating Immigration through the Arts.

Friday, March 28th from 5-9 PM
at The Portland Company, 58 Fore Street in Portland.

Featuring:
DELICIOUS INTERNATIONAL FOOD from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Greece donated by Portland's best restaurants

A silent auction you won't want to miss with outstanding JEWELRY, PHOTOGRAPHY, PAINTINGS, SILK SCARVES and so much more

Plus LIVE WORLD MUSIC including AFRICAN DRUMMING by Jordan Benissan and Sankofa!

TICKETS are only $25 in advance or $30 day of. Children 14 and under are free. Advance tickets can be purchased online starting March 1st at www.ilapmaine.org or by calling 780-1593.

CeleSoirée is a celebration of Maine's immigrant communities and the valuable contributions they make to the economic, political and cultural life of Maine. ILAP is dedicated to improving the lives of Maine's immigrants by providing expert legal assistance and advocacy. Proceeds raised will support ILAP's direct legal services program, education and outreach program and impact project.

Please feel free to forward this email to friends and family who would enjoy attending the event.

Beth Stickney
Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project

If you have questions or want to buy a ticket, contact www.ilapmaine.org or by calling 780-1593

Stop Maine Budget Cuts!

Dear MAIN members and friends:

Current state budget proposals will hurt many Maine people and weaken our communities. MaineCare, education and important services for women, children and the elderly are all on the table to be slashed.

We need you to take action NOW to stop these cuts. Please help! Join with thousands of others to let our legislators know that Maine Can Do Better. Together, we can make a difference. Here's how!

Go to Maine Can Do Better

Click on 'Take Action'. Then:

1. Sign the petition: This petition will be presented to legislators to let them know that Maine people want them to stop budget cuts that weaken our communities and hurt our neighbors, family and friends.

2. Contact your legislator: By clicking on this link on the website, you can send an email directly to your State Senator and State Representative. Don't worry if you don't know their names. The website will know from your home address.

A Few Hints:

Change the subject line: The current subject line for the email says 'Maine can do better'. We ask that you put your own words on the subject line so that the thousands of emails that legislators receive won't all look the same. Here are some suggestions: Stop the budget cuts; Protect Maine people;
Save our communities; People first, stop the cuts; Cuts hurt real people; or Cut now, spend more later.

Use your own words in the message: We encourage you to change the text of the e-mail and write a message in your own words. Tell your legislator to protect health care for people in the MaineCare non-categorical program (childless adults living in poverty) and stop any other cuts you are concerned about. This will only take a few minutes but will make a huge difference.

For more information about the cuts click here:

That's it! Now that you've taken these simple action steps, please forward this email to others - friends, family, coworkers, groups - so that they, too, can take action to stop the cuts. Help us reach our goal of getting 50,000 Maine people to contact their legislators.

Thank you. Together, our actions will make a difference!


+++++++++++++++++++++
This message has been sent by:

Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods (M.A.I.N.)
P.O. Box 69, Hallowell, ME 04347
www.peacebreadjustice.org
and

Maine Equal Justice Partners
126 Sewall St.
Augusta, ME 04330
Toll-free: 1-866-626-7059
In Augusta: 626-7058
www.mejp.org

Margaret Chase Smith picture book

Children's book author (author of the wonderful Wild Child and tons more) http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif has a new children's book featuring Margaret Chase Smith - first woman Senator from Maine.

MARGARET CHASE SMITH: A WOMAN FOR PRESIDENT-Just in time for an election year is this picture book biography of Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to run for president on a major party ticket back in 1964. When Margaret Chase Smith was born in 1897, in the small town of Skowhegan, Maine, women couldn’t even vote. She rose above poverty and other obstacles to become one of the most important women in U.S. history. The book features illustrations by David McPhail and timelines charting key events in American history. (published by Charlesbridge, 32 pages, hardcover-$16.95, paperback-$7.95, for ages 8 & up)


This book is a great resource for 4th graders learning about Maine history, for kids and adults of all ages who are interested in Smith as a venerable Mainer or glass-ceiling breaking woman.


Other resources for women's history month can be found at the National Women's History Project.

The Margaret Chase Smith library has many resources specific to Smith.

A short newspaper story about Smith is archived here.

Sestina for the Working Mother

Garrison Keillor featured this poem on the Writer's Almanac on Friday February 11th - I've been pondering it since... Click here to listen (scroll down to Friday)

FRIDAY, 15 FEBRUARY, 2008
Listen (RealAudio) | How to listen

Poem: "Sestina for the Working Mother" by Deborah Garrison, from The Second Child: Poems. © Random House, 2008. Reprinted with permission. (buy now)

Sestina for the Working Mother

No time for a sestina for the working mother.
Who has so much to do, from first thing in the morning
When she has to get herself dressed and the children
Too, when they tumble in the pillow pile rather than listening
To her exhortations about brushing teeth, making ready for the day;
They clamor with "up" hugs when she struggles out the door.

Every time, as if shot from a cannon when she shuts the door.
She stomps down the street in her city boots, slipping from mother
Mode into commuter trance, trees swaying at the corner of a new day
Nearly turned, her familiar bus stop cool and welcoming in the morning.
She hears her own heart here, though no one else is listening,
And if the bus is late she hears down the block the voices of her children

Bobbing under their oversized backpacks to greet other children
At their own bus stop. They too have come flying from the door,
Brave for the journey, and everyone is talking and no one is listening
As they head off to school. The noisy children of the working mother,
Waiting with their sitter for the bus, are healthy and happy this morning.
And that's the best way, the mother knows, for a day

To begin. The apprehension of what kind of day
It will be in the world of work, blissful without children,
Trembles in the anxious and pleasurable pulse of the morning;
It has tamped her down tight and lit her out the door
And away from what she might have been as a mother
At home, perhaps drinking coffee and listening

To NPR, what rapt and intelligent listening
She'd do at home. And volunteering, she thinks, for part of the day
At their school-she'd be a playground monitor, a PTA mother!
She'd see them straggle into the sunshine, her children
Bright in the slipstream, and she a gracious shadow at the school door;
She would not be separated from them for long by the morning.

But she has chosen her flight from them, on this and every morning.
She's now so far away she trusts someone else is listening
To their raised voices, applying a Band-Aid, opening the door
For them when the sunshine calls them out into the day.
At certain moments, head bent at her desk, she can see her children,
And feels a quick stab. She hasn't forgotten that she is their mother.

Every weekday morning, every working day,
She listens to her heart and the voices of her children.
Goodbye! they shout, and the door closes behind the working mother.

Safe Toys Bill / Initiative

February 14, 2008

Your help is needed immediately to protect our children from known toxic chemicals in toys and everyday products.

LD 2048 - "An Act to Protect Children's Health and the Environment from Toxic Chemicals in Children's Products" (sponsored by Representative Hannah Pingree) - would stop the unrestricted exposure of our children to known unsafe chemicals.

The bill is under attack by the chemical industry. Your Maine legislators need to hear from you immediately.

Please take a moment right now to send a message to your representatives.

Click here to act.

(Or cut and paste this link: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1305/t/2705/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=22957)

If you'd like to learn more about the legislation, visit this page.

Thanks for your prompt action on behalf of our children.

There are also other important opportunities to support this legislation:

- Thursday, February 28: Public hearing on LD 2048 in Augusta
Email us if you are interested in attending at kjenkins@gwi.net

- Tuesday, March 4: Environmental Health Day at the Capitol
Click here to sign up to attend!

The Environmental Health Strategy Center Team

Join Our Mailing List!
The Women's Environmental Health Initiative is a project of the Environmental Health Strategy Center, affiliated with the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine
Visit EHSC on-line by clicking here
Learn more about the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine by clicking here

Paid Sick Leave

Kate and I spent a few hours at the legislature last week handing out apples to Representatives in an effort to call attention to the importance of paid sick leave. I thought Kate was pretty irresistable, but not every one agreed, with one Representative dismissing the importance of healthy workers and famlies as "too expensive". It is hard for me to understand that perspective, and I got a bit of a mom-voice as I tried to argue him down (not politic, it turns out, but kind of fun).

Here's the full story :

For Immediate Release: February 12, 2008
Contact: Sarah Standiford, 207-622-0851 (office) 207-837-2609 (cell)



Hundreds of Apple-Grams Delivered to Maine Legislators

Moms to Elected Officials: "An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away, but We
Need Paid Sick Days for When that Doesn't Do the Trick!"

(Augusta) "An Apple a day doesn't do the trick when I am at work and my
children are sick!" That's the message that one MomsRising.org member sent
to legislators on Tuesday on a specially wrapped Maine "Apple-Grams."

Moms converged on the 3rd floor of the Maine State House on Tuesday to
Apple-Grams in support of paid sick days. MomsRising.org members emailed
the messages they wanted to send to legislators, and the Maine Women's
Lobby worked with moms to wrap and deliver them to legislators.

Christina Griffin, of Portland, came to the State House to tell her
representatives to pass L.D. 1454, the paid sick day bill. "When parents
don't have sick days, children pay the price. My son had to go to the
emergency room at night with a fever of 102, simply because my husband and
I couldn't take a paid sick day to take him to the doctor during the day
when he needed attention. No parent should be forced to choose between
their job and their child."

Thousands of workers in Maine lack the basic protection of a paid sick
day. For low-income working parents without sick days, a child's ear
infection of case of the flu can mean no money for rent or food on the
table...or even losing a job. A full 86% of people working in the food
and public accomodation industry have NO sick days, so are forced to come
to work sick - or risk pay or even penalties at work. The bottom line is
that Maine workers should have the right to recover from illness without
endangering public health. And children deserve the protection of parents
who can take time to care for them when they're sick.

"We're delivering these Apple-Grams on behalf of all the sick people who
had to work today," said Sarah Standiford, Executive Director of the Maine
Women's Lobby. "Mainers deserve the right to recover from illness without
endangering public health. They need paid sick days to stay healthy, and
so do all of us."

"The inability to take even one paid sick day is a huge liability for
public health, for workers, and for businesses," said Kristin
Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director of MomsRising.Org, a national
grassroots organization building support for a family-friendly America.
"When employees have to go to work sick they risk spreading their illness
to their co-workers and their customers-as well as getting sicker
themselves and ultimately having to take more time off. Do you really
want someone with the flu working in the kitchen of your favorite
restaurant? It's not fair to you, and it's not fair to the worker. The
Act to Care for Working Families will help to ensure that Maine workers
aren't forced to choose between going to work sick or losing a day's
pay...and possibly a job."

L.D. 1454 An Act to Care for Working Families would allow workers in
businesses with 25 or more employees to accrue one hour for every 30 hours
they work. Both part-time and full-time workers would benefit from this
bill which caps the amount of paid days off to five.

The Maine Women's Lobby is a non-partisan, non-profit membership
organization working since 1978 to increase opportunities for women and
girls through advocacy and legislative action.

Lunar New Year Picture Books

The Maine Humanities Council Born to Read program published a list of great picture books for children that explains the ideas and ideals of the Lunar New Year.

Also, an event:

When: Saturday February 9th from 11:00am-4:00pm
Where: Catherine McAuley High School
631 Stevens Avenue, Portland
♦Chinese Crafts for Children
♦Exciting Chinese Music & Dance
including Authentic Dragon Dance
♦Interactive Workshops &
Demonstrations
♦Yummy Chinese Food & Chinese
Merchandise Available
Cost for Adults $5/$3 for CAFAM members
Children 2 & over $3/$2 for CAFAM members (children under 2 free)
Questions? Call 207-799-0684 or watch our website for specific
events and times as they are finalized

CAFAM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
CHINESE AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION OF MAINE
Twentieth Annual
CHINESE NEW YEAR
CELEBRATION
The Year of the Rat

It's all right to cry...

I struggle with how to teach my kids that they can and should have and feel their feelings, but also that they can moderate their behavior - that they don't need to have a huge melt down over every little thing, but they don't need to stuff their feelings either.

The old Free To Be You and Me song, It's All Right To Cry (see the youtube video) is a great resource -- beautiful pictures of people young and old crying, with the words "it's all right to cry, crying gets the sad out of you... "

Kate and I recently got another book about Little Rabbit from the library. Why Do You Cry? (Not a Sob Story) by Kate Klise and illustrated by her sister Sarah Klise, features Little Rabbit (from Shall I Knit You a Hat fame, reviewed earlier) on the eve of his 5th birthday. Little Rabbit assertst that he won't cry anymore, once he is 5, and only wants those who don't cry to come to his birthday party. Of course he finds out that all his friends still cry, and comes to see crying in a different way. This is a book we're going to buy.

A Better World - inspiring coloring pages

A Better World has an incredible number of inspiring and free print-outs around social justice issues.

I printed Martin Luther King Jr. info, an Alice Paul quotation for International Women's Day and some non-violence coloring sheets for a Season of NonViolence.

UNE MLK Events

From the University of New England

2008 Election Year: "Constructing Democracy"

UNE's Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Features Staff from the Highlander Research and Education Center
As part of the 21st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, the University of New England will host a residency with staff from the Highlander Research and Education Center in New Market, Tennessee.

The Highlander Center, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last fall, has a long history of supporting social justice movements, grassroots activism, and bringing individuals and groups together to envision and effect social change. It was one of the leading training centers for many of the country’s best-known activists during the civil rights movement.

All of the Highlander Center’s programs are unified by the common theme of “Constructing Democracy,” which means building a society in which all people can participate in the decisions that affect their lives.

Featured Speakers
Elandria Williams, a youth and community organizer on the Highlander’s Education Team, will be the featured speaker on the University Campus in Biddeford January 22-24th.

Anasa Troutman, a Highlander staff member who uses arts and culture for activist organizing and social change will be the featured speaker on the Westbrook College Campus in Portland January 30-February 1st.

Calendar of Events
University Campus - Biddeford

All MLK, Jr. events on the University Campus in Biddeford will be facilitated by Elandria Williams from the Highlander Center and are free and open to the public.

Tuesday, January 22 at 7:00 p.m.
Socrates Café: Racism and Oppression in our Community?
St. Francis Room, Library, UC Campus in Biddeford

Wednesday, January 23 at noon
UC Keynote Address: “Constructing Democracy”
Elandria Williams from the Highlander Center
Multipurpose Rooms, Campus Center, UC Campus, Biddeford
A Service & Community Involvement Fair will be held at the same time and location.

Wednesday, January 23 at 7:00 p.m.

“Leadership for Activism” Workshop
Multipurpose Rooms, Campus Center, UC Campus, Biddeford.
To register for this workshop email ehavu@une.edu

Westbrook College Campus - Portland

All MLK, Jr. Events on the Westbrook College Campus in Portland will be
facilitated by Anasa Troutman from the Highlander Center and are free and open to the public.

Wednesday, January 30 at noon
WCC Keynote Address: “Why We Can’t Wait”
Anasa Troutman from the Highlander Center
Ludcke Auditorium, WCC Campus, Portland

Wednesday, January 30 at 5:00 p.m.
Socrates Café: Racism and Oppression in our Community?
Cahner’s Lounge, Hersey Hall, WCC Campus, Portland

Thursday, January 31 at 1:00 p.m.
“Initiating Conversations: Tools for Change” Workshop
Alexander 07, WCC Campus, Portland

Thursday, January 31 at 6:00 p.m.
“Engaging Communities through the Arts” Workshop
Alexander 07, WCC Campus, Portland

Talking Openly About Diversity...

The 14th Annual Changing Maine Presents:

"Talking Openly About Diversity, Oppression & Racism in Maine" one day workshop

Saturday, February 9, 2008
Pine Tree State Arboretum
153 Hospital St.
Augusta, ME
9:30 AM - 3: 30 PM

(In case of hazardous driving weather on February 9, the event will be re-scheduled to a later date, same time and location)

*$25 suggested (but any donation is welcome, consider sponsoring a slot for another to attend)

Presented by Cultivating Multicultural Alliances (CMA) of Maine and New England

Developed by a Social Worker in Maine, CMA is a Whole-listic Approach to Multiculturalism Based on Alliances, Equity, Reciprocity and the Elimination of Racism & Tribalism

"Diversity is nothing new, but equity & multiculturalism are."

To register or more info (see below) contact Larry Dansinger, 525-7776 or rosc@psouth.net.
Changing Maine is sponsored by ROSC (Resources for Organizing and Social Change).


To Contact Cultivating Multicultural Alliances (CMA):
P.O. Box 7831
Portland, Maine 04112
USA
Phone: 207- 232-3092
Web: www.callcma.net (currently under construction until mid Jan)
Email: callcma@gmail.com

CMA is beneficial for all ages, races and ethnicities, including individuals, groups, and organizations.

CMA DID (Dialogues in Diversity) dialogues and Anti- Oppression Peer Education Trainings are especially beneficial for Grades 6-12 and College Students.


Why this day to look at issues of diversity, oppression, and racism in Maine?

Diversity in Maine is nothing new, but multiculturalism and equity are.

Maine and most of New England are currently experiencing growing pains due to increasing international adoptions, international students, refugee resettlements, bi- racial and multiracial families, and relationships.

CMA was established by a social worker in July 2007 after working with numerous individuals, groups and organizations as they struggled with trying to manage these life transitions.

Participants trained in the CMA approach learn to value themselves in relationship with others.

These trainings are especially valuable for educational institutions, NGOs, social workers & grass roots community organizers wanting to organize anti- racism initiatives more affectively across class and racial divides.


Event Schedule

This one day workshop is an introduction to CMA weekend retreats and trainings.
9:00-9:30 am
Registration /Coffee/Tea--PLEASE ARRIVE BY 9 AM SO WE CAN START NO LATER THAN 9:30.

9:30- 10:00 am
An overview & introduction to CMA
Ice Breakers

10:00 -12 Noon
Dialogues in Diversity level I-
The practice of critical cross-cultural engagement in action

Noon-1:30 Potluck Lunch and Reflections
[Please provide food for 8+, keep in mind dietary concerns, e.g., no dairy, no meat, or no pork. Labelling incredients in whatever you bring will help. Potluck allows us to keep the conference cost to a minimum]

1:30- 3:00 pm
"His"- Story, Racism in review and a multicultural society

3- 3:30 closing remarks
CEU certification pending approval by the ACSW licensure board


Registration Form (You can fill out on line and email back)

Cost: $25 per person (but any suggested donation is welcomed, consider sponsoring a slot for another to attend)
Name:
Address:
City/ state/zip
Phone
Email:
Organization (if any)
____I need a ride; contact me re; carpooling
____I can offer a ride
____I need childcare, register by January 26

*Directions and handouts will be sent to pre-registrants. Registration at the door may be available as space permits (call first).

*The location and bathrooms are fully wheelchair accessible. For special needs/requests, please state below:

____I am mailing a check (made out to ROSC) to ROSC, 161 Stovepipe Alley, Monroe, ME 04951

____Hold a space, I will pay at the door:


For event logistics or last-minute questions about weather, contact Larry Dansinger, Resources for Organizing and Social Action, 161 Stovepipe Alley, Monroe, ME 04951, (207) 525-7776 or rosc@psouth.net.

Teen Materialism and Self-Esteem

From Dads and Daughters:

TEEN MATERIALISM LINKED TO SELF-ESTEEM
New research indicates that materialism in children and adolescents is directly connected to their self esteem.
The University of Minnesota’s Deborah Roedder John and University of Illinois’s Lan Nguyen Chaplin found that materialism increases from middle childhood (8 and 9 years old) to early adolescence (12 and 13 years old) but then declines by the end of high school (16 to 18 years old). This mirrors patterns in self-esteem, which instead decreases in early adolescence but increases in late adolescence.

"The level of materialism in teens is directly driven by self-esteem," said John. "When self-esteem drops as children enter adolescence, materialism peaks. Then by late adolescence, when self-esteem rebounds, their materialism drops."

In a second study, John and Chaplin boosted self-esteem by giving children positive information about peer acceptance. In a summer camp setting, children were given paper plates with positive descriptors about them, such as "smart" and "fun," which were provided by their peers. This simple gesture drastically reduced the high levels of materialism found among 12- to 13-year-olds and the moderate levels of materialism found among 16- to 18-year-olds.

“By simply increasing self-esteem in teens, we see a decreased focus on material goods that parallels that of young children,” said John. “While peers and marketing can certainly influence teens, materialism is directly connected to self-esteem." Read more

Vigil Update

"CANDLELIGHT" VIGIL NEW TIME AND PLACE:
5:00 P.M. STATE HOUSE HALL OF FLAGS

SEE DETAILS BELOW


Please join us to STOP proposed cuts that hurt:

Victims of domestic violence
People with mental illness
Elders in need of care
People living with HIV/AIDS
Health care for some of Maine's most vulnerable people
Foster children

WHERE AND WHEN:


The vigil will begin at 5:00 pm in the Hall of Flags – 3rd floor of the State House. We expect it will end at approximately 6:30.

DETAILS:

We have reserved Room 105 of the CROSS STATE OFFICE BUILDING (just behind the State House--first floor) beginning at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, January 9th to gather and make signs.

Signs- If you want to make a sign to hold at the vigil, come to Room 105 of the Cross State Office Building between 4:00 and 4:45 pm. There will be sign-making materials there.

Candles- Since we are now going to be INSIDE, we are NOT able to use real candles. We are planning to have a supply of glow sticks available to represent candles. Please do NOT bring candles.

Parking- There will be parking available in the parking lot behind the Cross State Office Building or in the parking garage across Capitol Street from the State House.

PRESS CONFERENCE AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE REVIEW OF CUTS:

If you also can come for the afternoon of the 9th, there will be a press conference at 12:30 pm just outside of the Health and Human Services Committee Room 209 – in the Cross Office Building. At 1:00 P.M. the Health and Human Services Committee will meet in Room 209 to review the cuts made by the Governor. There is not likely to be opportunity to testify on Wednesday before the Commitee but a strong show of support in the room is important. There will be an opportunity to testify on these cuts at a later date.

We apologize for the last minute change to the time and location for the rally. Changes in the legislative schedule make it far more likely we will get press at this new time. Also, with a forecast for rain we will be warmer and drier indoors

If you have any questions, please feel free to email or call.

Crystal M. Bond
Paralegal/Organizer
Maine Equal Justice Partners
126 Sewall Street, Augusta, Maine 04330
Toll free: 1-866-626-7059 x 205
Local: 626-7058 x 205; Fax: 207 621-8148
cbond@mejp.org
www.mejp.org

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Martin Luther King, Jr.

Maine Vigil

Candlelight Vigil--A Circle of HOPE Around the State House in Augusta

Wednesday, January 9th at 6:45 P.M.

Please join us to STOP proposed cuts that hurt:

Victims of domestic violence
People with mental illness
Elders in need of care
People living with HIV/AIDS
Health care for some of Maine's most vulnerable people
Foster children

WHERE AND WHEN:
We will gather in Room 105 of the CROSS STATE OFFICE BUILDING (just behind the State House--first floor) beginning at 6:15 PM on Wednesday, January 9th. The vigil will begin at 6:45 and we will gather outdoors between the State House and the Cross State Office Building.

DETAILS:
Signs- If you want to make a sign to hold at the vigil, come to Room 105 of the Cross State Office Building anytime after 5:00 P.M. There will be sign-making materials there. We are NOT allowed to put signs on stakes on State House grounds, so we will have to hold the signs.

Candles- Please bring a candle if you have one, but if you do not, there will be candles available at the vigil.

Parking- There will be plenty of parking in the parking lot behind the Cross State Office Building or in the parking garage across Capitol Street from the State House.

PRESS CONFERENCE AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE REVIEW OF CUTS: If you also can come for the afternoon of the 9th, there will be a press conference at 1:00 P.M. in the Welcome Center on the first floor of the State House. At 2:00 P.M. the legislature's Health and Human Services Committee will meet in Room 209 of the Cross State Office Building to review the cuts made by the Governor. There may be opportunity for some limited public testimony at that time.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email or call…

Thank you.


Janine Corbett
Maine Equal Justice Partners
Training and Policy Specialist
126 Sewall St.
Augusta, ME 04330-6822
tel 207.626.7058 x207
fax 207.621.8148
jcorbett@mejp.org


Giveline: online shopping with a purpose - and a new way to support Maine Equal Justice! http://www.giveline.com/default.asp?v=V063834125