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don’t let ‘em say summer blue by you

Guest Blogger — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:22:15 +0000

Friendly Tractivist folks,

There are few things more enjoyable than the magnificent little blue fruit of the genus Vaccinium.

Whether they’re topping a tart, slipped into a salad, or sucked down by the sackful, the blueberry is a mouthwatering delight. And what is the best way to enjoy this tiny treat? Why eating them fresh off the bush at a local blueberry farm with your friends from Traction.

WHAT: Traction blueberry picking
WHEN: Sat, July 16th at 9:30am
WHERE: Herndon Hills Farm
RSVP: blues@getTraction.org
WHY: Eat blueberries until you turn into Violet Beauregarde

Herndon Hills Farm is a small family-owned farm just on the South edge of Durham that specializes in pick-your-own berries and grapes. You can pick until your heart’s content among rows and rows of blueberries and (if we’re lucky) blackberries all for $2.75/lb.

Family farming has a long tradition in this part of the state. Unfortunately, sprawl has destroyed many farms and much of the rural character, especially in South Durham where malls and large subdivisions have exploded from the ground in the past decade. By supporting these local farms, we not only reduce our dependence on imported produce that requires loads of fossil fuels to be shipped across the country only to deliver a mediocre product — we also maintain an important connection to this region’s agricultural history.

To reduce the environmental impact of eating produce from afar later, when it’s out of season, why not pick some extra blueberries right now? Blueberries do an excellent job of keeping their flavor and character in the freezer. Preserving them for a taste of summer in a winter dessert is as simple as washing the blueberries, putting them in a seal-able plastic bag, extracting as much air as possible, and freezing them. They can also be dried for a nice portable snack or canned into a delicious jam.

Great news: Toxic Free NC is partnering with Traction on this event — they’ll provide information about the impact of pesticides on people and the environment, and give us ways to make a difference. More great news: Herndon Hills Farm never sprays their crops with pesticides!

Because the picking will take place in a sun-soaked field, I strongly recommend sunscreen and a hat. We want to be there for the blue, not the red. To RSVP, or for more info including directions, preservation tips and carpooling information, email blues@getTraction.org. And be on the lookout for a chance to float down a river in the near future with your best (and/or newest) Tractivist buddies.

I look forward to seeing everyone out there!

James Beidler
local fruit chomper, pun lover, Tractivist

let me help you help yourself (to life balance… and pie!)

Guest Blogger — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:28:56 +0000

Tractivists,

Pie has always held a special place in my heart. Unlike cake, which is always sweet, pie is versatile — there are savory pies that are good for you and sweet pies that are just sinfully good.

Pie and life have some things in common — sometimes you want to gobble it up though you can only eat so much (see: Stand By Me), and sometimes you can’t even seem to get a piece of it (Jeffersons, anyone?). We all want to feel fulfilled without getting too full. So how do we strike a balance when it feels like our life-pie is filling the plate so fast we can’t eat it, but we want more than just a slice?

Find out at a special workshop next week (and eat yummy pie too)!

WHAT: Life of Pie: a Life Balance workshop (how to get the whole thing instead of just a slice)
WHO: Tractivists guided by Jenny Chafe, wellness coach and owner of Art of Embodiment
WHEN: Wed, June 30, 7–9 pm
WHERE: Traction HQ, 1018 Broad St. in Durham
RSVP: balance@getTraction.org (spaces are limited)

This evening is designed to help you take a step back from the chaos and into clarity, calm, and community.

What does it mean to be in balance — within ourselves, with the planet, and within our lives in this fast-paced, stressful, and sometimes fragmented world? How can our community life strengthen and sustain us more?

In this free workshop, we will:

Learn simple mindfulness skills for self-awareness and stress reduction
Take inventory to see how balanced we are among the three major states of being
Choose among the life map ingredients of Self, Home, Work, and Community that we want to bring into more balance
Define our values so we can take baby steps to align with them
Commit to one or more positive choices that strengthen our balance and our ties to our local and larger community

By the end of this evening of reflection, conversation, and brainstorming, we’re hoping you will walk away with some great pie in your tummy plus the following:

A sense of your basic level of balance between the areas of self, home, work, and community.
Three of your top values that can guide your commitments and intentions in life
One to three steps you can commit to that will improve your level of balance in one lagging area
At least one way to — in a future moment — bring yourself back to balance, or into awareness about what might be out of balance

Optional follow-up support after the workshop: buddy up with another Tractivist as accountability partners for your chosen goals, or choose to get email support.

Community, pie, and aligning more with your vision of what your personal Life of Pie looks like. What more could you ask for?

In wellness and enjoyment,

Jenny Chafe, MA
mbira player, organic pie maker, Tractivist

P.S. Upcoming Traction events:
June 22: Lobby Day and Reception w/ NCVCE. chase@getTraction.org
June 30: Life of Pie (how to get the whole thing instead of just a slice): a life balance workshop. balance@getTraction.org
July 8: Hang out w/ Justin Krebs: founder of Drinking Liberally and author of 538 Ways to Live, Work and Play like a Liberal
Plus more outdoors events, maybe a green brewery tour, a wine tasting, and other ways to quench your summer thirst!

P.P.S. Tomorrow is the last day to VOTE in the run-off primary! Click here to see what’s on the ballot in your county, then go to your polling place to vote. Find your polling place (and your voting history) here.

how to save culture and democracy: larry lessig and you

Guest Blogger — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:54:45 +0000

Dear Tractivists,

Do you believe that we, the producers and users of culture should be able to define the rules on how to create it, use it, and share it? Do you believe that our democracy should reflect such values, and be a truly participatory system? If so, this event was made for you!

WHAT: Advocacy Day and Reception with Lawrence Lessig
WHO: All North Carolinians
WHEN: Tues, June 22 at 11am and then 5pm
WHERE: NC General Assembly (map), then Busy Bee Cafe (map)
WHY: Because our democracy needs you!
RSVP: chase@getTraction.org

Lawrence Lessig is the founder of the group Creative Commons, and a pioneer in the open source and technology world. He spent a decade working in the free culture movement, promoting the freedom to distribute and modify creative works in the form of free content.

But after being defeated time and again by the large media conglomerates that make lots of money off of our outdated, creativity-killing copyright system, Lessig realized that his failure to implement change was due in large part to the disproportionate weight that these corporations have in our political system. So he turned his focus to democracy reform — founding the group Fix Congress, First and promoting an alternative, publicly financed election system called Voter-Owned Elections. Until we fix the broken campaign financing system, he concluded, it will be hard to fix our copyright laws, or really, anything else.

Lessig will be in Raleigh next week to boost the reform agenda of the advocacy group I work for, NC Voters for Clean Elections. He’ll be making a presentation at our Voter-Owned Elections Lobby Day at 11am, and then joining us for a reception that evening at 5pm. At both events, he’ll outline a vision for what democracy might someday mean, with the right, smart citizen investments. And he’ll talk about what we as citizens need to do to get our democracy back.

As you probably can tell by now, I’m a Lessig fan. And I think you will be too. Why? Because — unbeknownst to him — Lessig is really all about Traction: he takes a fresh and new tack on political problems, he embraces his inner work, and he believes that change starts from the bottom up. Plus, he does things with power point that are so compelling that they frankly shouldn’t be allowed.

One more reason to go to the lobby day: if you’ve never been to the NC General Assembly, here’s your chance! Come enjoy the amenities of a mid-century modernist building (sometimes lovingly mistaken as a Japanese steak house), eat really good fried okra and banana pudding, brush up on your Robert’s Rules of Order, and hear state legislators express their passion for everything from NASCAR to watermelon festivals.

Please RSVP for either or both events — I hope to see some of you on Tuesday!

Chase Foster
democracy activist, county explorer, billionaire provocateur, Tractivist

P.P.S. Tues, June 22 is the last day to VOTE in the run-off primary! If you’re registered Unaffiliated or Dem anywhere in NC, you can vote for the Dem nomination for US Senate, and certain districts have other run-offs on the ballot. (Durham has a non-partisan School Board district run-off.) See Early Voting info here — right-side of page and down a bit.

What makes you fall in love with a city?

Lanya — Wed, 12 May 2010 17:14:18 +0000

Tractivists,

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when you fall in love. And *love* is what I feel for Durham. When did I fall???

Well, 2005 was an important year in this romance. That’s the year Traction came into being. Locopops too. And 2005 marked the first time I took Preservation Durham’s Civil Rights Walking Tour.

What:    Civil Rights Walking Tour of downtown Durham
When:   Sat, May 15th, 10am
Where: Meet at Farmers’ Market (look for the Preservation Durham sign on Foster St.)
Cost:     FREE
RSVP:   race@getTraction.org

My heart went pitterpat to discover that Durham was home to the first sit-in. (Yeah, I said it. First. BEFORE Greensboro.) I swooned to hear about Martin Luther King’s visits to Durham, where he famously said, “Fill up the jails!” and his close relationship with Floyd McKissick, Sr., who went on to lead CORE (Congress Of Racial Equality). And when the tour guide told us about Black Christmas and the months-long economic boycott of downtown merchants, I knew it was love.

What you learn on this tour stays with you. (I can’t go to the Carolina Theater without relaying to my friends the clever tactics of the students who got it integrated.) I’m forever grateful to Preservation Durham for introducing me to the strength and overall badassness of this city I now call home.

Join me and other Tractivists this Saturday morning for 60-90 minutes of walking, talking, and maybe even falling in love. Lunch afterward at Beyu Caffe?

Lanya Shapiro
mulberry enthusiast, stander on the shoulders of giants, Tractivist

P.S. Upcoming…
Sat 5/15: Civil Rights Walking Tour of Durham: race@getTraction.org
Mon 5/31: Memorial Day at the Eno: swim@getTraction.org
Plus a conversation group on race and privilege: race@getTraction.org, a workshop on work / life / community balance, another fruit-picking and much more…

todos somos ARIZONA — please take action today

Guest Blogger — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:37:44 +0000

Fellow Tractivistas,

No soy muy bueno para escribir, pero cuando veo tanta injusticia y odio, y gente que se aprovecha de la ley para crear un terrorismo local con algunas personas solo porque lucimos diferentes, me siento triste y molesto. Creo que no puede ser posible que este mundo esté lleno de más gente mala o ignorante dispuesta a actuar que de personas buenas, o personas que sólo piensan, “O qué mal está esto,” y se preguntan, “Por qué existen leyes tan malas?” pero al final deciden NO HACER NADA al respecto. En verdad me da tristeza pensar que vemos tantos correos pasar, donde lo único que tenemos que hacer para apoyar es o reenviar un e-mail o hacer una corta llamada a algún político.

[I'm not a very good writer, but when I see so much injustice and hatred, and people who take advantage of the law to create a local terrorism among some people just because we look different, I get sad and frustrated. I think it can't be possible for this world to be full of more bad or ignorant people ready to act than good people, or people who just think, "Oh, this is so awful," and ask themselves, "Why do such bad laws exist?" but at the end of the day decide TO DO NOTHING in response. Truthfully it makes me sad to think that we see so many emails go by, where all we have to do to help is forward the message or make a short phone call to a politician.]

Tal vez pensamos, “O, eso a mí no me afecta.” Tal vez no nos damos cuenta que SI nos afecta, porque cuando le niegan los derechos humanos a un peque n~o grupo de gente sólo porque lucen diferentes, es sólo el principio. Si no actuamos, después nos tocará a nosotros.

[Maybe we think, "Oh, that doesn't affect me." Maybe we don't realize that it DOES affect us, because when human rights are denied to a small group of people just because they look different, that's only the beginning. If we don't act now, it will be our turn next.]

Esta ley en Arizona está dando poder a personas que ya discriminan, para que sigan odiando. Porque no importa si eres un residente legal o no, solo porque luces brown es motivo suficiente para detenerte, y si por algún motivo olvidaste tu tarjeta en casa, es motivo suficiente para que te den un cargo por delito menor.”

[This law in Arizona is giving power to people who already discriminate so they can continue hating. Because it doesn't matter if you are a legal resident or not, just looking brown is reason enough to detain you, and if for some reason you left your ID at home, it's reason enough to give you a misdemeanor charge.]

Por favor ayúdame a contactar a la gobernadora de Arizona para pedirle que no encienda esta mecha que generará más odio racial y discriminación.

[Please help me contact the governor of Arizona and ask her not to light this fuse that will generate more racial hatred and discrimination.]

Julio Cesar Olmos

community organizer, soccer player, Tractivista

“What we perceive and what is reality can drastically change once we start to educate ourselves and base our beliefs and opinions on the truth.” JC.

P.S. Upcoming…
Sun 4/25: Freezer stock-up Party (aka the potluck that keeps on giving): freezer@getTraction.org
Sat 5/8: Pick your own organic Strawberries! strawberries@getTraction.org
Sat 5/15: Civil Rights Walking Tour of Durham: race@getTraction.org
Mon 5/31: Memorial Day at the Eno: swim@getTraction.org
Plus a conversation group on race and privilege: race@getTraction.org, and much more…

P.P.S. Gracias to Luke Hirst for translating!

———- Forwarded message ———-

Arizona is on the verge of creating a dangerous standard

Tell Arizona’s Governor: Don’t Legalize Racial Profiling

Dear Tractivist,

Imagine driving through the neighborhood you grew up in and being pulled over for no apparent reason. Your crime? Being brown in Arizona.

This might seem unimaginable in the 21st-century United States, but the Arizona State Legislature is on the verge of passing a law that would authorize officers to pull over, question, and detain anyone they have a “reasonable suspicion” doesn’t have proper documentation. The legislation would essentially legalize racial profiling, creating a police state for immigrants.

The bill will be on the Governor’s desk as soon as today.¹ This is a moment for all of us to stand with the people of Arizona against this injustice. Please join us in telling Governor Jan Brewer to do the right thing and veto this bill, and ask your friends and family to do the same:

http://presente.org/ref/ad/31/campaigns/arizona

According to the LA Times, “The bill, known as SB 1070, makes it a misdemeanor to lack proper immigration paperwork in Arizona. It also requires police officers, if they form a ‘reasonable suspicion’ that someone is an illegal immigrant, to determine the person’s immigration status… Immigrant rights groups say it amounts to a police state.” ²

If this bill passes, Arizona is declaring itself an apartheid state, where people who “look” undocumented are treated differently than the rest of the population. Leading police chiefs and sheriffs have even come out against the bill, saying that it will cause immigrants to avoid reporting crimes, and divert officers’ attention from going after violent offenders.³

The future of Arizona is now in the Governor’s hands. Please join us in telling Governor Jan Brewer to veto this bill.

http://presente.org/ref/ad/31/campaigns/arizona

Thank you and ¡Adelante!

Laurie, Favianna, Roberto and the rest of the Presente.org team

References
1. “Backers defend AZ crackdown on illegal immigrants,” Associated Press, 4-15-10,
http://bit.ly/a47Yjc
2. “Arizona passes strict illegal immigration act,” L.A. Times, 4-13-10
http://bit.ly/b6f9IL
3. “Racial profiling, SB 1070 will go hand in hand,” Arizona Daily Star, 4-16-10
http://bit.ly/cnoLiP

Subscription Management:
This is a message from Traction and ACORN and Presente.org. By taking action you are agreeing to occasional updates from Presente.org. To change your email address or update your contact info, send an email to subscriptions@presente.org.

segregation, childhood, Blood Done Sign My Name

Quinton — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:31:49 +0000

Tractivists,

I grew up in an almost completely white town. During only a few years (8th grade, 10th grade, 12th grade) did I have ANY African American classmates; they never stayed more than a year. Can’t say that I blame them, not one bit. And I know I’m the poorer for the lack of diversity in my childhood.

It’s different here. When it’s working, kids in NC grow up with opportunities to build friendships across difference, to learn from each other’s experiences, to benefit from shared community resources. So when the new conservative majority of the very divided Wake County School Board won a vote this week to reverse Wake’s nationally recognized diversity policy, they hurled us toward resegregation. Tuesday’s 5-4 vote, assuming it passes a second reading later this month and survives a threatened lawsuit by the NC NAACP, will deepen the gap between rich and poor schools. It’s an enormous step backwards.

For a child’s perspective of racially segregated North Carolina life during a different era, don’t miss the film Blood Done Sign My Name, now in theaters.

What: Blood Done Sign My Name
When: this Sunday @ 3:50pm
Where: Southpoint Cinemas (meet in front of the box office)
RSVPs appreciated: blood@getTraction.org

Tim Tyson’s award-winning memoir of his childhood in Oxford, NC tells of the murder of a black man and how it galvanized and radicalized the African American resistance movement in our state.

Join us this Sunday afternoon — RSVP so we can find each other. Stay tuned for more info on Wake County Schools and how you can help. And for an opportunity to deepen your understanding of race and privilege, write to circles@getTraction.org.

Keep Hope Alive,

Lanya Shapiro
film buff, anti-racist, Tractivist

P.S. Don’t forget to check the NC Public Campaign Fund box on your state tax return. It won’t change your tax bill or refund, and it WILL help take big money out of politics and move us toward voter-owned elections.

pre-weekend update, with Jon Stewart and free T-shirts for HK on J

Quinton — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:55:51 +0000

Hey Tractivists,

Lots of big headlines this week, what with racy Olympians, yesterday’s bipartisan-curious health care summit, today’s gorgeous weather and tomorrow’s HKonJ…

If you missed yesterday’s health care reform summit and you’re bipartisan-curious (like Jon Stewart), see the Daily Show here where Stewart condenses seven-plus hours into ten minutes. Preview: he’s optimistic, saying “That sh*t was Jedi!”

For all of us going to H K on J tomorrow (Saturday), it’s going to be beautiful! Make sure to get your free Traction T-shirt. Write hkonj@getTraction.org to join up with Tractivists or to get in on the T-shirt offer, and read below for more info.

And coming up not this Sunday but NEXT Sunday (March 7th), mark your calendar for Blood Done Sign My Name, a film based on Tim Tyson’s memoir about the murder of a black Vietnam-era veteran in Tyson’s hometown of Oxford, NC, and the uprising that followed. We’ll head out to a Sunday matinee. Write blood@getTraction.org to let us know you’re interested.

Enjoy this beautiful day,
Lanya

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HK on J info:

The HK on J rally starts at 9:30am is taking place in front of Estey Hall, which is #7 on this map of Shaw’s campus. Then we’ll all walk to the General Assembly on Jones St.

To carpool from Durham, meet at Traction HQ (1018 Broad St.) at 8:15am. To meet up in Raleigh, one of us will be waiting at the corner of South St. and Blount St. (next door to the McDonald’s) at 9:30am. And if all else fails, call the Traction cell (919-Traction or 872-2846).

Because there’s always a lot of Tractivists there, spread out across the many different progressive organizations that you support, and we want you to meet each other, Traction is offering free T-shirts to any Tractivists who will be marching tomorrow.

What YOU need to do:

1) Write hkonj@getTraction.org to confirm that you’ll meet us, and at which point (Durham or Raleigh), so we know when/where to look for you. And include a cell # if you have one.

2) If you want a Traction T-shirt to wear, figure out the following and include that in your email:
- size
- standard vs. tight fit
- color (white, purple or gray)
- sleeve length (long or short, or tight tank) (Long sleeves not available in purple.)
No promises that we’ll be able to get the perfect one for you but we’ll try!

3) If you’re NOT meeting us at Traction HQ in the morning, but you want us to bring you a T-shirt to wear that day, you must email your preferences to hkonj@getTraction.org by 11pm.

4) Hold on to the Traction cell #: 919-Traction (872-2846). Call if you’re there and can’t find us, or if you change your plan from whatever you’ve confirmed in step #1.

Still more HK on J info here… See you tomorrow!

the potluck that keeps on giving: homemade meals straight from the freezer

Quinton — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:45:54 +0000

Dear Tractivists,

I love to eat. I also love being healthy, supporting our local economy, and making conscious choices that help reduce my ecological footprint. One of the ways I express these passions is by making and eating healthy homemade meals. But I don’t always have the time or energy to cook. So I came up with a way to get homemade meals even when I can’t cook…

WHAT: Potluck-turned-freezer-stock-up party
WHO: health-, eco- and money-conscious Tractivists
WHEN: Monday, Feb 22, 7:30pm
WHERE: Traction HQ (1018 Broad St. in Durham)
RSVPs appreciated (and for more details): freezer@getTraction.org

Here’s how it works: You bring a big dish to share (like a soup or casserole), the recipe, and empty tupperware containers. You taste lots of other dishes made by fellow Tractivists and take home the ones you want, along with the recipes. (We’ll have PB&J to supplement the tasting so you don’t go home hungry.) The next time you’re too busy or tired to cook, voila! you have healthy, homemade options right in your freezer.

Why is this a great idea? In addition to having convenient frozen dinners without all the packaging, you save on money, time, and dirty dishes! You get to make one dish once, yet enjoy the flavors and nutrition from many different meals over many days. You get to meet other Tractivists who like to cook but, like you, don’t always have the time to do it. I’ve hosted a freezer-stock-up party before, and it was a huge success. I ate delicious homemade meals for weeks from my freezer.

I will personally try to use the most local and sustainably-grown ingredients in my dish (even some from my own garden!). But you don’t have to. Homemade food made with conventionally grown ingredients is still healthier and more eco-conscious than pre-processed frozen dinners. So whatever your angle, we welcome your creative culinary license!

Keep it real, keep it homemade, keep those taste-buds jumping,

Jayme Johnson
homesteader, bike commuter, Tractivist

P.S. Don’t forget: this FRIDAY the 19TH we’re screening the documentary The Order of Myths. RSVP to mardi@getTraction.org or we’ll be short on moonpies!

P.P.S. More upcoming events:
Fri Feb 19TH: The Order of Myths film screening.

Mon Feb 22nd: Freezer party foodshare event. freezer@getTraction.org
Sat Feb 27th: Historic Thousands on Jones St. aka HK on J (new date). hkonj@getTraction.org

plus Blood Done Sign My Name, conversation circles on race, a trip to the brand new Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro and more!

behind the masks: Mardi Gras and the persistence of segregation

Luke — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:13:45 +0000

Tractivists,

Until last year, I thought Mardi Gras was just about getting drunk at a crazy parade and catching as many beads as you can. Turns out, there’s a lot more to it for people engaged in Mardi Gras culture — balls, mystic societies, coronations, and more.

Unfortunately, as is too frequently true when you dig into the history of Southern culture, there’s an underbelly of harsh racial and class divides. The city of Mobile, Alabama, has been celebrating Mardi Gras since 1703, longer than anywhere else in the country (including New Orleans). More than 300 years later, the celebration is still very much divided along lines of black and white. A documentary film made by a member of one of Mobile’s old families calls it “the last stronghold of segregation.”

What: Film screening of “The Order of Myths”
When: Fri, Feb. 19th, 7pm
Where: Traction HQ (1018 Broad St.)
RSVPs appreciated: mardi[at]getTraction[dot]org

I first saw this film last year in Mobile itself, while on a road trip through the South. Some of you may have seen it at Full Frame a couple years ago. I’m looking forward to sharing it with more folks, and doing some thinking about the places in our lives that are still strongholds of segregation.

Luke Hirst

Pancake Day celebrator, first-time Lent observer, Tractivist

p.s. Upcoming events:
2/19, Fri: Mardi Gras movie mardi@getTraction.org
2/22, Mon: freezer party foodshare event (email coming soon) freezer@getTraction.org
2/27, Sat: Historic Thousands on Jones St. aka HK on J (resched. to 2/27 due to snow) hkonj@getTraction.org
plus conversation circles on race and a trip to the brand new Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro!

10 reasons to be at HK on J this Saturday

Lanya — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:13:41 +0000

Each year, lots of Tractivists march at HK on J, either with Traction or another group that they’re involved with. What’s HK on J and why be there? Rob Schofield lays it out, below. (Rob is the awesome progressive activist and writer who blogs at Progressive Pulse.)

Bonus: ANY Tractivists going (no matter who you march with) can have a free Traction T-shirt to wear. Write hkonj[at]getTraction[dot]org for T-shirt info OR carpool/meet up info.

Stay tuned for info on a movie night later next week, a freezer-pleaser food share event on Monday the 22nd, and a conversation circle on race… And congrats for helping raise nearly $2000 for Haiti relief last weekend!

Keep hope alive, Lanya

Ten reasons to attend the fourth annual “HK on J” event

This coming Saturday morning, thousands of North Carolinians will gather in Raleigh for the fourth annual HK on J march and rally. Here’s how the organizers describe what this event is all about:

“Three years ago this week, a diverse and extraordinary collection of thousands of North Carolinians gathered in Raleigh for what the group called a “People’s Assembly.” The Assembly took place on Jones Street, in front of the State Legislative Building, where our elected representatives craft state laws and choose how to spend our tax dollars.

The new movement that was launched that day (”HK on J” for “Historic Thousands on Jones Street”) was and is the first modern coalition of its kind – a movement organized by the state’s 100 NAACP Branches and featuring for the first time since the 1960’s, a broad Black, White and Brown progressive agenda supported by over 88 state and local organizations, with more than one-million members.

Now, the HK on J People’s Assembly gathers each February on the Saturday nearest the NAACP’s anniversary and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday to witness the miracle of God’s diverse human race, to feel the warmth and strength of thousands of our friends and allies gathered together in a common purpose, and to push forward the People’s Agenda for poor and working people across the State.

This year’s event will be especially uplifting, with celebrations of important victories and the unveiling of new plans to bring home more progressive change this coming spring and summer – both through direct advocacy on Jones Street and the work oflocal People’s Assemblies across the state.”

In other words, HK on J is North Carolina’s most visible and important public event dedicated to progressive policy change - the place where the state’s often fractious and too-frequently-divided progressive movement can come together to march under one common, reform banner.

And if this fact alone is not enough to assure your attendance this weekend, here are ten more reasons to devote a couple of hours to the cause this Saturday:

#10 - To respond to the assorted “Tea Party” nuts – We all know that this noisy and misguided group represents much of the worst in modern America and receives more coverage and attention than it deserves. What better way to demonstrate to the world what truly patriotic political activism looks like?

#9 – To connect to (and carry on) the 20th Century civil rights movement - This year’s HK on J event will start at Shaw University on the south side of downtown Raleigh. The Shaw campus, of course, was the birthplace of one of the stalwart organizations of the American civil rights movement, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee or SNCC. This connection is especially appropriate in 2010 because it marks the 50^th anniversary of both SNCC and the Greensboro lunch counter sit-ins.

#8 – To stand up for health care reform - Despite the bizarre case of inside-the-beltway myopia that seems to have afflicted large segments of official Washington, one quirky special election in Massachusetts has not altered the underlying facts that a) Americans desperately want and need health care reform, and b) elected officials are in the position to deliver it. Come to Raleigh and help convey this message once and for all.

#7 – To show that most Americans are not anti-immigrant haters - The United States is a nation of immigrants. Immigration is in many ways the bedrock of our republic. Unfortunately, one need not look too far beneath the surface to see the kind of grip that fear, intolerance and even hate, have on those who want to halt progress in its tracks. Courageous people of all races and ethnicities owe to our future to speak up for comprehensive immigration reform.

#6 – To learn more in a few hours than you might normally absorb in as many weeks.Though HK on J is first and foremost about speaking out, it is also about education. For progressive North Carolinians looking for a “hands on” crash course in what’s really at-issue in the 2010 policy debates, there is no better place to hear from a large collection of passionate and informed speakers or collect large quantities of insightful, to-the-point literature and talking points.

#5 – To feel like you’re truly a part of something big and good – Face it, in our busy, computerized, cell “phone-ized” society, how many opportunities does the average North Carolinian really get to walk down the middle of the street, arm in arm, with an incredibly diverse crowd of thousands of people (rich and poor, young and old, Black, Brown and White) for the purpose of building a better world. There’s almost guaranteed to be a moment that sends chills down your spine. Speaking of which…

#4 – To hear the President of the North Carolina NAACP, the Rev. William Barber II, speak – Right now, there simply is no other public figure in the state of North Carolina with the passion, presence or oratory skills of the NAACP’s dynamic president. If you have a caring bone in your body, it’s impossible to hear Barber address a crowd on the issues of the day in his inimitable style and not to feel inspired and more determined to keep fighting for what’s right.

#3 – To demand better and fairer economic policies – Last year’s federal recovery legislation has made an important impact in blunting the worst effects of the Great Recession. Unfortunately, the light at the end of the tunnel remains a long way off. North Carolina’s unemployment and poverty rates remain at unacceptable levels even as bailouts and giveaways to large, profitable corporations continue unabated. Come and show your support for aggressive, intentional solutions that put the creation of jobs and the strengthening of the social safety net ahead of tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy.

#2 – To say “no” to the re-segregation of North Carolina’s public schools – If there’s a candidate for “most disturbing public policy trend in North Carolina” in recent years, it’s been the steady, drip-by-drip abandonment of socioeconomic diversity in the state’s public schools. Most recently, the battle over this issue has been joined in Wake County, where a small faction of reactionaries has captured control of the local school board and sought to undo several decades of progress. Participants in this year’s HK on J event will be delivering a simple and straightforward message in response: “Well never go back!”

And #1 – To help celebrate past successes and to recommit oneself to a progressive agenda for change – Last year, despite a record $4.6 billion budget hole, state leaders made some progress on the H K on J 14-point agenda – including the passage of the Racial Justice Act, modest advances on compensation for forced sterilization victims, expansion of Children’s Health Insurance, and real progress on a number of important housing and consumer protection laws. Most of the agenda, however, remains a work in progress.

Come to Raleigh this Saturday to help make sure that next year’s march in February of 2011 has a shorter agenda to champion.

For more information about the event, including logistics, click here.

See ya’ Saturday!

unidos hagamos la diferencia para Haiti

Guest Blogger — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:54:44 +0000

Amig@s,

It’s been a while… Let’s go dancing this Friday! Don’t let the snow stop you!

What: Latin dance party benefit
When: Fri, Feb 5th 10pm-2:30am
Where: Club Luna in Durham
Why: to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti

Enjoy Salsa, Merengue, Bachata and other Latin beats — including LIVE MUSIC! Your donation will support Partners in Health (Paul Farmer’s organization) — providing direct medical services to the survivors in Haiti.

If you have not given yet or if you just can’t give enough, come donate, volunteer, and dance!

Volunteers are needed! This party is part of a 2-day effort. Please help for a 2-hour shift at some point. Volunteers get T-shirts, maybe food and definitely a huge warm feeling for doing the right thing!
Fri, Feb 5: 1pm-10pm — donations accepted at the door and 10pm-2am — latin dance party
Sat, Feb 6: 11am-2pm — carwash

No, I have not given yet… but not because I’m a slacker. Because I was waiting for the right opportunity – and here it is! What will you be doing this Friday night? Nothing can be better than coming out to donate and dance the night away for a great cause!

Invite your friends, and I’ll see you Friday night!

Yesenia Polanco Galdamez
attorney, warrior for social justice, Tractivist

your move, Barack

Lanya — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:07:33 +0000

It’s President Obama’s move. Tonight in his State of the Union address, he’ll signal his intentions on many of the key issues. What do YOU hope to hear?

What: Hoping for Audacity watch party — food, drink, community
When: TONIGHT, Jan 27 at 8:15pm
Where: Traction HQ (1018 Broad St., Durham)
RSVP: sotu[at]getTraction[dot]org or on facebook

Whatever Obama says, this speech is just one move, and it’s only talk. The key is action. Tonight — between beers and popcorn — you’ll be able to take a few simple actions on your top issues. And you’ll meet two incredible people who roll up their sleeves and work for change every day: Rep. Grier Martin of Wake County (endorsed by Traction Action Fund in 2008) and Jenn Frye of Democracy NC. (Did I mention they’re both hot??)

I’m not going to lie — with health care reform up in the air and the economy still struggling, it’s been rough lately. But we WILL move this country forward. Tonight is Barack’s move. Tomorrow, it’s all of ours.

Go Team, Lanya

P.S. Looking for inspiration? Take 10 min. to watch this fantastic video of my one of my heroes, the much-maligned Van Jones. Short-cut: start from the 3:00 mark.

P.P.S. Upcoming:
Fri Feb 5: Latin dance party for Haiti at La Luna – haiti[at]getTraction.org
Sat Feb 13: HK on J in Raleigh – hkonj[at]getTraction.org
Interested in playing co-ed volleyball? volley[at]getTraction.org

State of the Union: hoping for audacity

Lanya — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:07:16 +0000

One year into Obama’s presidency, and it’s turned out differently than many folks imagined… What will Obama say on Wednesday in his speech? Will he cowtow to the teabagger crowd or be the bold progressive leader we want to see? Me, I’m hoping for audacity.

What: State of the Union watch party
When: Wed, Jan 27 at 8:15pm
Where: Traction HQ (1018 Broad St., Durham)
RSVP: sotu[at]getTraction[dot]org or on facebook

Come watch with other Tractivists — you’ll hear from amazing progressive state Representative Grier Martin, the awesome Jenn Frye from Democracy NC and other organizers about what’s happening closer to home, including what we can do besides cross our fingers for some audacity from Obama.

–> We need a few volunteers! Join the inner circle: write sotu[at]getTraction[dot]org w/ volunteer in the subject line.

And mark your calendars for a latin dance benefit for Haiti next Friday night 2/5 at La Luna in Durham. Traction is co-sponsoring along with El Centro Hispano, La Conexion and others; proceeds go to Partners in Health. Volunteers get in free: haiti@getTraction.org.

It’s been a hellish couple of weeks but as MLK said, the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice. Let’s see if Obama is audacious enough to lean into his (still-considerable) power and bend 2010 toward progressive change and justice for all.

Keep Hope Alive,
Lanya
for Traction Action Fund

*Traction Action Fund is affiliated with Traction, but is separate. While Traction focuses on non-partisan civic engagement and leadership development, Traction Action aims to change North Carolina’s political landscape via legislative advocacy and electoral action. Opt in to TAF’s mailing list: reply to this email or write action[at]getTraction[dot]org.

Traction Action Fund
progressive movement. faster.

help Haiti — donation links here

Lanya — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:39:53 +0000

Friends,

Please give to help Haitians who are suffering from Tuesday’s devastating earthquake.

We’ve collected the following links and recommendations:

Partners in Health (by ColorOfChange.org, The Nation magazine and others)

Doctors without Borders’ Haiti Earthquake Response (by CREDO Mobile, MoveOn, The Nation and others)

Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund (by MoveOn and others) Yele Haiti is Wyclef Jean’s foundation.
Give at that link or text “Yele” to 501501 and $5 will be charged to your phone bill for relief projects through the organization.

The Nation recommends some of these groups and more, and explains what they’re doing in this column.

Also, you can double your donation tonight if you give while dancing at Cuban Revolution. Read more here. However, I don’t know how/where they’re directing their donations.

Thank you for digging deep and giving in this truly desperate hour of need.

Keep Hope Alive, Lanya

P.S. Don’t forget to RSVP to see Invictus with Traction on MLK, Jr. Day this Monday: mlk[at]getTraction[dot]org.

a day on, not a day off, for Martin Luther King, Jr.

Luke — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:05:34 +0000

Fellow Tractivists,

In 2006, the UNC MLK, Jr. Memorial Scholarship committee recognized my work to address the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on Black folks in the U.S. I don’t know what was better — the $1500 check, being honored with a scholarship in the namesake of my fraternity brother, or the recognition of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the Black community as one of our nation’s most pressing social issues.

Dr. King’s legacy of fighting racial discrimination and working to increase civil rights has forever ignited passion and desire in my work as an activist. For that reason, I celebrate Dr. King’s life all year, but especially on MLK, Jr. Day.

WHAT: movie (Invictus) + conversation about social justice and racial equality

WHEN: Mon 1/18 at 1:20pm
WHERE: the Wynnsong (on MLK, naturally)
RSVP: mlk[at]getTraction[dot]org

Last year, on MLK, Jr. Day (the day before Pres. Obama’s inauguration), I volunteered at a DC soup kitchen and went to a movie on Bayard Rustin, King’s adviser on nonviolent resistance, who was also openly gay. This year I’ll be with my Traction family for a “day on and not a day off.” I hope you’ll join us with your friends and families as we come together for a movie (Invictus) and coffee conversation about race, equality and social justice.

Invictus (Latin for “unconquerable”) is an often-quoted poem by William Ernest Henley, which I first encountered as a fraternity pledge. And while I’ll spare reciting the poem, you may recognize ‘I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul’ as more famous lines from the poem. Invictus is also Clint Eastwood’s new film about Nelson Mandela, from his release from prison on Robben Island to his unorthodox quest as President to unify newly post-apartheid South Africa as the nation prepared to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Both King and Mandela devoted their lives to advancing equality, social justice and opportunity for all — a desire that should ignite passions in each of us, and compel us all to reach toward the most supreme ideals of our country. They inspire me to work, serve, strengthen and lead in communities to which I belong, including alongside my Traction family.

Please join me this coming Monday, on MLK, Jr. Day for a matinee of “Invictus” and good conversation afterwards. RSVP to mlk@getTraction.org so we can make sure to connect up and sit together.Quinton Harper
Carolina alum, classic soul and funk enthusiast, Tractivist

P.S. Stay tuned for future events, including HK on J, watching the State of the Union, a mushroom walk and more…