Weekly Call To Action - January 5, 2025

Quote of the Week:

via GIPHY

---

​Indivisible Event:

Save the Date! 
Olympia Indivisible MLK Day All-Member Gathering and Potluck, Monday, January 20th, 10am-Noon

On Monday, January 20th, Olympia Indivisible invites all members to a special Martin Luther King Day gathering at the South Bay Grange, from 10am to noon. Please join us to celebrate Dr. King's legacy, get updated about strategic planning from Indivisible at national, state, and local levels, take action on on-the-spot opportunities for engagement, and share in a potluck lunch. More details coming soon!

---

​WA State Actions: 

​Get Ready for the 2025 State Legislative Session

The WA State Legislative Session begins January 13th. The Washington Indivisible Legislative Action(WILA) team has been preparing and we're ready to bring easy actions via Take Action Network (TAN) that will show your legislators your support for great bills and opposition to bad bills.
​
Action: Take a few housekeeping steps and get ready to join others around the state. 

---

Keep Track of Your Legislative Sign-in Actions

Our collective effort with WA Indivisible Legislative Action (WILA) helps us keep Washington State on the progressive path.

Make sure you are able to log in to the legislature’s website, leg.wa.gov. Your login helps you keep track of the actions you have taken and edit your sign-in action when you want to change a “Pro” vote to “Con” or vice versa. 

Action: Follow the steps in this TAN action: Create a leg.wa.gov account to keep track of your sign-in actions.

---

​Local Actions:

Join a Thurston County Board: Add a Progressive Voice to Thurston Government

To promote a progressive agenda and protect our environment in Thurston County, we need more progressives on the County Boards and Commissions. You can play a key role in helping shape, advise or oversee specific County programs, from elected officials’ salaries to water resources. Often, only one meeting a month is required. Advisory Board Openings
​
If you have any questions, please contact the Clerk of the Board. 

Action:

• Please consider volunteering to serve on a Thurston County Citizens Advisory Board. Advisory Board Openings 
• Online application links are on this page: Thurston Boards and Commissions 
• Some positions are district specific: County Commissioner District Map

---

Help Save Yelm Schools Levy Vote February 11, 2025 

The Citizens of Yelm group is on its third and final attempt to pass the Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy set for February 2025. The failure to pass the levy resulted in staff cuts for teachers, counselors, admin, paraeducators and special education. 

The levy is referred to as an “enrichment levy” by the state, but it funds many basic education activities. 

Action: Get informed on ways to support the campaign to pass the next levy. Please visit the Yelm.org website or the Citizens Support for Yelm Schools Facebook page. 

---

​Have You Scheduled These Events?

Stand Up for Immigrant Families: Join Our 1/9 Know Your Rights Training

The threat of mass deportations is real, but we’re not backing down. On Thursday, January 9, at 5 PM PT on Zoom, the ACLU is holding a Know Your Rights training to prepare you to take action in the face of mass deportation and protect immigrant communities. It’s time to show up, get organized, and make sure our neighbors are safe.

When: Thursday, Jan. 9, 5pm PT
Where: Zoom 
Who: Sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union
Register for Zoom: People Power: Immigration and Deportation Know Your Rights Training

--------

The League of Women's Voters, NAACP, and Olympia for All are sponsoring: "Housing Instability - A Solutions Forum"

With over 53% of area renters confronted with Housing Instability today, the Forum will feature a panel of diverse perspectives on how to reduce Housing Instability. 

The panelists will include: 

• Larry Jefferson from NAACP who will moderate the forum.
• Jessie Simmons Director of Governmental Affairs, The Master Builders Association, 
• Sen. Jessica Bateman Newly elected Washington State Senator (D- Dist.22), 
• Craig Chance Executive Director, Housing Authority of Thurston County, 
• Dave Toler, Chair, Olympia for All
• Ms. Kyle Taylor Lucas, Founder and Chair, Urban Indians Northwest 

The last 20 minutes of the forum the moderator will take questions from the audience.

When: January 15, 6:30 to 8:00pm
Where: Capitol Convention Center, 6005 Tyee Drive SW, Tumwater

------

Come to the Action Cafe!
Every Monday at noon the Action Cafe provides a virtual space where OI members meet, make new friends, and take actions together. Action Cafe comes with a side order of live music and a heapin’ helpin’ of good cheer!

Cafe patrons receive an email on Sunday with a Zoom link and a sneak-peek at what we'll do at the cafe the next day. On Monday morning, Chef Lisa will send you a pdf "Menu" which has links to the actions we'll take together at the Cafe. 
A few minutes before noon, use your Zoom link and join the Action Cafe lunch crowd! 

Action: Sign up to be on the Action Cafe email list.

---

Good News:

​Coastal Communities Receive Millions to Restore/Protect Shorelines

Source: DredgingToday.com December 27, 2024, by Eldin Ganic

Washington Senator Maria Cantwell has announced that six coastal resilience projects across the state will receive a total of $3.4 million in federal grants. 

The grant funds come from the National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF) and were awarded by a partnership of federal agencies and private companies. The NCRF invests in conservation projects that restore or expand natural features, which minimizes the impacts of storms and other naturally-occurring events on nearby coastal communities. 

Earlier this year, WA coastal communities received an additional $75.5 million from NOAA for coastal resilience projects.

------

Funds Awarded to Two Critical Forest Conservation Projects

$31.5 million in federal funding has been awarded to two critical forest conservation projects in Washington state, including $30 million for the Stimson Timberland Legacy Project in Eastern Washington.
​
The awards come from the Forest Legacy Program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service and are funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. The funding will advance efforts to conserve forests crucial to rural communities, mitigate wildfire risk, protect wildlife habitats, and provide public access to forests. 

------

New City of Olympia Youth Council

In October, the Olympia City Council appointed 16 members to the first-ever Olympia Youth Council. By creating this council, Olympia aims to provide a platform for the younger generation to contribute to local governance and decision-making processes. The Olympia Youth Council will hold its inaugural official meeting on Jan. 15, 2025. 

Source The JOLT, Dec. 27, 2024. “Olympia tackles housing, workers’ protection and community development.” Lorilyn Lirio.