A Busy Week Ahead!

[John Helge]

We had a couple of great meetings last week!  

Manistee Indivisible hosted a large group on Monday evening to hear some organizing guidance around mutual aid and action items for the future.  They also had some great discussions on how people can get out and DO SOMETHING!  Great things will be happening in our community due to the activity and engagement from this fledgling group of community organizers. 

The Manistee County Democratic Party hosted three candidates live and in person at their monthly information meeting on Thursday. We had a standing room only crowd on hand as well as several joining via ZOOM.  US Senate candidate Rachel Howard,  US Representative candidate Jamie Hill, and Michigan state senate candidate Rebecca Amidon fielded great questions from the audience and provide us with insights into their campaigns and their platforms to win in the August primary and November general elections.   Key to success in all their campaigns is to build a grassroots organization of people willing to work for them by telling their friends, family, and neighbors about their campaigns and to work to get them to the polls to vote for the candidates that best represent their issues and concerns.  None of these candidates are taking big PAC money or big donations from wealthy individuals.  They are clearly working to represent all the people in their districts, not just those who pour money into them expecting favors in return!  We will be bringing more candidates for you to meet, listen to, and evaluate at our monthly information meetings that will be held on the third Thursday of every month at 7pm in the West Shore Community College building on River Street in downtown Manistee.  Come and bring a friend!

This week will have several opportunities for you to get involved, engaged, and better educated on key issues! 

On Monday, January 19th, the local MARJDI (Manistee Area Racial Justice and Diversity Initiative) will be hosting a free community meal followed by a presentation on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.  The event will start at 5pm at the First Congregational United Church of Christ (big church by the courthouse).  All are welcome to attend and celebrate Martin Luther King day!

On Tuesday, January 20^th from 4-6:30pm Manistee Indivisible will be gathering at the Outsider restaurant on River Street to write get together and send postcards to our US Representative and US Senators demanding that they defund the out-of-control ICE organization that is terrorizing peaceful, law-abiding residents Minneapolis and other major cities.  The federal government is facing another funding deadline on January 31^st and this action would be possible if we can convince enough politicians to have the courage to stand up and take action!

On Wednesday January 21^st at 5:30pm the Manistee County League of Women Voters will be hosting a community discussion about Democracy and Data Centers at the West Shore Community College building on River Street in downtown Manistee.  A panel of subject matter experts has been assembled to provide facts on the environmental and economic impacts of the large hyperscale data centers that have been in the news lately.

These are three great opportunities for you to get out and get engaged with important issues and concerns that will impact you, your family, friends, and neighbors in the very near future.    

John M. Helge

johnm...@gmail.com

616-915-2403