Tractivists!
The month of May is full to the brim with opportunities to celebrate revolutions and revolutionary ideas. May 1st, or May Day, is International Workers’ Day, a time to honor workers and celebrate the achievements of working class movements (minimum wages, the 8-hour workday, paid sick leave—oops, NC is still working on that one). Cinco de Mayo, the Fifth of May, is a celebration of the Mexican movement against oppressive and unjust financial policies of European nations in the late 1860s, and today is symbolic of the power of people and communities to shape their own futures.
Progressive folks have been the heart and soul of so many of the revolutionary social and political movements in the US. Today, progressives (like me and you) still form the core of countless local and national movements based on the values of community, freedom, human rights, equality, and collective action.
How did I come to know all this? I spent last summer working at Progressive Strategies in Washington, DC with political strategist, blogger, and author Mike Lux. Mike is coming to Durham next week to meet Triangle progressives and talk about the past, present, and future of the progressive movement and his new book, The Progressive Revolution: How the Best in America Came to Be. The book is a real eye-opener as to the power we have as progressives to change things for the better. You’ve got two chances to meet Mike and get in on this important and exciting conversation:
Mike Lux and The Progressive Revolution
What: Book signing and discussion at The Regulator Bookshop
When: Wednesday, May 13th, 7 PM
Where: 720 Ninth St. Durham
What: Drinking Liberally
When: Thursday, May 14th, 8 PM
Where: Bull McCabe’s Irish Pub, 427 West Main St. Durham
RSVP for either or both: cara@getTraction.org or on the facebook event page here .
This May, don’t just celebrate, participate. Come out, pick up a signed copy of the book, grab a pint, and share ideas about how to keep the progressive revolution rolling in our nation and our state. Join the conversation (and the revolution)!
Cara Wittekind
Crayon artist, revolutionary, Tractivist
P.S.: VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY ALERT!
We also need one or two superstar revolutionaries to sell books at the Drinking Liberally event. I’ve got a free Traction tee for the first two takers, so act fast!