Make a splash this Memorial Day

May 25th, 2010

Greetings fellow Tractivists!

After a week of rain, the clouds are starting to clear to reveal full swimming holes and the warmth of late May.  Spend time with friends this Memorial Day swimming in the quarry and enjoying a Locopop, in celebration of the start of summer and everything that servicepeople have given to this beautiful country.

WHAT: Memorial Day swimming, community, and frozen treats
WHERE: Eno Quarry and then Locopops
WHEN: Mon. May 31st, 1:00 – 3:30 pm (swimming) + 4pm (Locopops)
We will meet at the Cabe Lands parking lot off Howe St. at 1pm.  Those who wish to carpool from Traction HQ (1018 Broad St.) should be prepared to leave at 12:40 sharp.  If you would like to set up a carpool from another area or need further directions, then please e-mail outdoors@getTraction.org.  We will follow up the fun in the sun with a trip to the Durham Locopops on Hillsborough Rd.

Keep in mind:

- The walk in is about a mile and there are no bathrooms nearby.

- The parking lot is very small, so you are strongly encouraged to carpool!

- The water is deep and rocky in places.

DO BRING: Walking shoes, water to drink, kids of all ages, snacks for yourself or to share, towel, sunscreen, and fun floating stuff
DO NOT BRING: Stereos and dogs.  I love ‘em, but it isn’t a good idea with leash restrictions and the presence of many others.

While bathing in the beauty of the Eno River State Park, we should not forget the reason for our day off: personal sacrifice.  Whether the large personal sacrifices that come with serving your country or the relatively smaller ones that come in the name of everyday community-building, it is personal sacrifice that helps to move our country forward.  Between the splashes and laughs, tell a friend about a sacrifice that you plan on making this year to help a neighbor, a park, or even a whole planet.

See you on Memorial Day!!

James Beidler
outdoor bather, Durham-lover, Tractivist

P.S. Upcoming…
Mon 5/31: Memorial Day at the Eno: swim@getTraction.org Wed 6/30: work / life / community balance workshop: balance@getTraction.org
Thurs 7/8: 538 Ways to Live, Work and Play Like a Liberal… with the awesome Drinking Liberally founder Justin Krebs
Plus a conversation group on race and privilege: race@getTraction.org, more outdoors events and more…

Posted in Environment, Events | No Comments »

What makes you fall in love with a city?

May 12th, 2010

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…

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Tomorrow: organic strawberry pickstravaganza! Friday, May 7, 2010 9:16 AM

May 7th, 2010

Good morning, Tractivists!

Strawberry season is a fleeting thing.  For barely four weeks, the little strawberry plants squeeze out plump, happy berries at incredible speeds. And then, before you know it, it’s all over, and all we have to eat are pale, watery berries from California. You think, “Is it over already? I totally forgot!”

Well, not this time, Tractiberries!

WHAT: Traction’s annual Strawberry Pickstravaganza
WHEN: this Sat, May 8th, 11am – 2pm
WHERE: Whitted Bowers Farm

WHO: You. And your kids. And your mom. And your neighbor. And that guy from work who always brings salads to meetings. Invite ‘em all.
PRICE: special Traction group rate of $2.50/lb.
RSVP: strawberries@getTraction.org
Non-organic strawberries are one of the infamous Dirty Dozen: the 12 most pesticide-contaminated fruits and vegetables, according to the Environmental Working Group, even after washing.  EWG testers found that 90% of conventional strawberries had at least one pesticide on them, and 70% had at least two.  All these pesticides aren’t very good foryou, farm workers, or the environment.
Yet picking local organic strawberries is a win-win-win situation (and a finger in the eye of the agricultural-industrial complex):

- You win because your strawberries are cheaper, fresher, tastier, and longer-lasting.
- Farm workers and the environment win because these strawberries were grown without heavy pesticide use.
- Local farmers win because your money goes directly to the farmer instead of through distributors.

Traction is excited to partner again with Rob and Cheri of Whitted Bowers Farm, a certified organic pick-your-own strawberry farm.  (More than organic, they’re also biodynamic.  ”What’s biodynamic?” you ask.  Stick around on Saturday — Rob will explain when he gets back from the Carrboro Farmers’ Market sometime after 1pm.)

So if you’re of a mind to fill a basket with sweet berry goodness before the season ends, drop an e-mail to strawberries@gettraction.org. Please include in your RSVP:
a. How many people you’ll bring (best guess)
b. Whether you’d rather carpool with us or meet at the farm.

Jake will reply to RSVPs with directions to the farm, the meeting point and carpool spots in Durham and Orange Counties; info on how to get the Traction group rate; etc.

Remember also that strawberry season marks the beginning of swimming season. On Memorial Day, Monday 5/31, Tractivists will be swimming, potlucking, and Locopopping together.  Look for more info soon, or write to swim@gettraction.org.

I look forward to plundering the berry harvest in your company.

Colin Cannell
Smuggleberry, libertine, Tractivist

P.S. Upcoming…
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, a workshop on work / life / community balance, and much more…  And anyone want to go to the National Hollerin’ Contest in Spivey’s Corner?  Holla back at holler@getTraction.org


Posted in Environment | 1 Comment »

Vote for Lanya!

April 26th, 2010

Dear Tractivists,

I’ve hijacked the listserve to toot Lanya’s horn!

Traction’s phenomenal founder and leader, Lanya Shapiro, is a finalist for a major award recognizing progressive activists.

LanyaShapiro

The Maria Leavey Tribute Award is given each year by the Campaign for America’s Future. The award recognizes a progressive who is:

  • A Convener
  • A Persistent Advocate
  • A Selfless Organizer
  • An Idea Generator

If you don’t think those four traits describe Lanya, then just read the nomination statement that Traction Board Chair Celeste Richie wrote on her behalf (the statement is below).

Personally, I don’t know a single person who is better qualified for this recognition. I was at the first organizational meeting that Lanya convened to share her vision for Traction. Over the last 5 years, I’ve seen how Lanya has thrown herself fully into creating a progressive movement that draws on the talents of young people who will make a difference in the long haul.  Traction has accomplished a ton already, and will bear fruit in so many ways for years to come.

There are five finalists for the award. We need you to show how much you value Traction and Lanya by voting for her in the online balloting.

VOTING ENDS THIS FRIDAY and it just takes one minute.  Please vote today!  And then please post this as your status on Facebook and send it on to anyone else you know who will support Lanya’s amazing progressive leadership.

Thanks,

Graig Meyer
Educator, Lanya-lover, Tractivist

Nominating Statement from Celeste Richie:
Lanya is a kick-ass social entrepreneur, a tireless activist and organizer, and part of the vanguard of the modern progressive movement.  Her most recent cutting-edge endeavor is Traction, a Durham NC-based offline social network designed to turn young voters into energized and engaged activists who will, over time, power the progressive movement as volunteers, donors, board members and elected officials.

Lanya’s work with Traction hits all your notes: she worked for years without pay (persistent advocate, selfless organizer) to launch this innovative organization (idea generator) which leverages the power of community (convener) in order to create more passionate activists.

Traction has made a name for itself with creative and provocative events and collaborations, and we think deserves partial credit for turning NC more progressive in 2008.  A few highlights: Electile Dysfunction (about the Voting Rights Act), Drop Beats not Bombs, Festivus for the Left of Us, Green My Ride, Speed CandiDating, and Below the Belt: Religion, Reproductive Rights and O.P.P.  Who else would think to educate young folks about mercury in NC’s waters by throwing a Radical Sushi-making workshop?

Lanya identifies and mentors young activists and “potential” activists. But Traction’s model is about more than just reaching individuals. It’s about advancing the movement. By putting a creative spin on classic progressive issues, Traction helps the forward-thinking nonprofits with whom it collaborates to reach and engage a younger audience, something these nonprofits and the movement desperately need in order to remain viable over the next 20-30 years.  Partners include Demos, Nat’l Women’s Law Center, the NAACP, Planned Parenthood, and MANY local orgs.

Lanya is no one-hit wonder. During the three years before she started Traction, her political organizing in the Dean grassroots earned her the respect of DFA staff; when Bush brought his Social Security privatization tour to Raleigh in 2005, Lanya organized the counter-rally.  Lanya served on Durham’s Citizens’ Advisory Committee, which advises local electeds on CDBG allocation and helped transform the CAC into a force that the council/commissioners are aware of and actually listen to.  She served on the NC Democratic Party executive committee and NAACP-NC’s political committee and currently serves on our local Planned Parenthood affiliate’s Action Fund board.

Her work in 2005 to elect a grassroots-focused NCDP chair (Jerry Meek) included an event which had DNC members and over 20 members of the state executive committee listening (!) to over 100 local activists’ hopes for the party, and was covered in US News & World Report.

Maybe the secret to Lanya’s effective political activism is her solid graduate and professional training in public health and social work. She spent years designing and managing award-winning large-scale behavior change programs. While the behaviors back then were health-related (condom use, cancer screening), she applies the same social marketing expertise to promote progressive activism through Traction.

P.S. Upcoming…
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, a workshop on work / life / community balance, and much more…

Posted in Tractivists in Action, Walk the Talk | 2 Comments »

todos somos ARIZONA — please take action today

April 23rd, 2010

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


The Future of Arizona

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

Click here

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.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Save $$, heal yourself, heal the world: freezer party

April 21st, 2010

Dear Tractivists,

Summer is on the way! For me, our sunny and hot season means lots of time outside enjoying long beautiful days. It also means I have less time in the kitchen to cook healthy homemade meals.

How is it possible to eat well AND have time to enjoy the great outdoors? Here’s a way to do both….

WHAT: potluck-style Freezer stock-up Party
WHO: health-, eco- and money-conscious Tractivists
WHEN: Sunday, April 25, 3:00pm
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 (at least seven servings) like a soup or casserole, one copy of 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. The next time you’d rather go for a walk or play frisbee than cook dinner, 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, would sometimes rather do something else.

I hosted Traction’s last freezer-stock-up party, and it was a huge success. I’m still eating delicious homemade meals from the freezer, and I know several other Tractivists who are too! And this time, feel free to bring questions or thoughts about the current primary election. It’s hard to stay informed about local races — we can swap info while we swap dishes.

I’ll make the same promise as last time: to try to use the most local and sustainably-grown ingredients — 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!
Enjoy those outdoors and I hope to share some culinary love with you this Sunday!

Jayme Johnson
scientist, teacher, Tractivist

P.S. Upcoming…
Sun 4/25: Return of the Freezer Party (aka the potluck that keeps on giving): freezer@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 strawberry-picking (at least once, maybe twice), a conversation group on race and privilege: race@getTraction.org, and much more…

Posted in Events | No Comments »

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