Traction

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.

Friends,

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

We’ve collected the following links and recommendations:

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.

Fellow Tractivists,

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

Dear Tractivists,

Now that Festivus is over (see Q’s shout-out below), Xmas is behind us, and the Solstice has come and gone (woo-hoo for longer days!), we’re closing in on 2010.

If you’re in town, come out and bowl tonight!

WHEN: Tues, 6:30pm-ish

WHERE: AMF Lanes, 15-501 (near Garrett Rd.)

HOW MUCH: $15 for 2 hrs of bowling, shoes, and all the pizza you can eat

WHY: Why not?

Look for a couple folks in Traction T-shirts or call the cell: 919-Traction.  We’ll chat about holiday fun times, whether the final health care bill will be good for our health, 2010 plans, what you’d like to do with Traction in 2010 and whatever else is on your mind.

Then on Sunday, Jan 10^th, it’s our annual New Year / New Leaf potluck.  At my house this time – space is limited so RSVP to newleaf[at]getTraction[dot]org.  More info to come soon.

Today is the 4th day of Kwanzaa and today’s principle is ujamaa (cooperative economics).  Wikipedia describes ujamaa’s focus as “To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.”  Ujamaa also inspires me to think about my tithing / philanthropy today and decide about my end-of-year giving.  I can’t give as much as I did last year, but I’m shooting for 10% of my earnings, following Zephyr and Vito’s examples.

What progressive organizations are you supporting this year?  My tentative plan: Planned Parenthood of Central NC, Manbites Dog, Little Green Pig, ACORN, Color of Change, ACLU-NC, stone circles (h/t Zulayka), WLI, MuJERES (h/t Yesenia), Youth Ventures (h/t Marco), NAACP-NC, Traction of course!, and probably a few others that you suggest.  Let me hear from you!

Hasta pronto,

Lanya Shapiro
tither for social justice, softcore bowler, Tractivist

P.S. Festivus was amazing!  See our canned goods and personal hygiene tower on Facebook.  More Festivus pictures to come!

P.S. We’re also collecting canned food and personal hygiene items for the Durham branch of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC.  I don’t think that was part of the original Festivus, but I hear it’s more legit than George Costanza’s “Human Fund”…