Neighborly actions this weekend/next week, and a pause

Body-affirming surgery, neighborhood cleanup, community reinvestment through defunding police, a reflection break for the list-maker, and more.

Hi everyone,

I’m going to take about a month away from the list to think about what it is/has been and what it could be (including the feedback that some of you kindly shared with me over a year ago). I will send out one more of these emails next week, before the pause: it will contain a list of other places you could look, if you’re not doing so already, to connect with neighbors and actions.

Anytime this week: Melanite, who works to help people find comfort and safety in their bodies, is now seeking affirming surgery to help them feel comfortable and safe in theirs! Please contribute if you can, before their surgery date of July 22.

6/6, 9-11am, starting at 122 Manton Ave, Providence: Join Olneyville residents in picking up trash and making the neighborhood feel more pleasant.

6/7, 7:30-8:30pm, remotely: Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) RI is holding an “action hour” to further or encourage some RI bills and campaigns that protect targeted people and places, including the campaign to stop propane company Sea 3 (more about that below) and the Senate version of a non-gender-specific bathroom bill, S0755, which could make life easier for many trans Rhode Islanders and has already passed the RI House. There will also be opportunities to support local fundraisers (many of which I’ve shared here and some of you have donated to!) and lend your weight to a few national campaigns, including the BREATHE Act (seems decent! I recommend reading the section-by-section breakdowns) and pressuring a private prison funder to back out (why not?). I’m pretty sure that during the action hour, if you attend, you can choose which of these you’d like to support—it’s not all or nothing. Email Ray at rachelbish91@gmail.com if you have questions, and sign up here if you’re interested. This will also be a good introduction to SURJ and what they do—especially if you are someone who benefits from white supremacy, see if their approach and methods appeal to you.

6/10, 6pm, Allens Ave at Terminal Rd, Providence: Join Southside residents for a vigil to oppose Sea 3’s plans for more polluting industry in the Port of Providence. If you can’t attend, this toolkit has some other useful actions and some background too.

6/12, 12-3pm, West Park (1266 Chalkstone Ave, Providence): Especially if you’re a resident of Providence’s Ward 6, join DSA members to see if their proposal for getting the city to reinvest in residents’ needs and wants is something you’re interested in and/or something you’d be willing to talk with your neighbors about.

With love,

Kate