Indivisible Meeting Feb. 8, 2021 Wright County Zoom 6:30
33 people attended the meeting.
1. Lori Cocking (Solar Energy) and Lani Brown-Worley (In Support of Gov. Walz) had letters to the editor published this week. They are attached.
2. Becker/Big Lake has a vacant seat on the city council. Four white males and Rev. Donna Pouliot are running. Rev. Donna Pouliot spoke and asked for our support. We can contribute to her campaign to get a minority elected. Special election is April 13. Rev.Donna.P57@gmail.com
PO Box # 717
Big Lake, MN 55309
3. Monticello Diversity meets Feb. 11 at 7:00pm, Feb. 18 at 7:00pm, Feb. 17 at 11:00am, Feb. 24 at 11:00am to discuss Jason Reynold’s Stamped: A Remix a book outlining Ibrem Kenndy’s work.
4. Ron Harris, a Resiliency Officers in Minneapolis, will hold a Zoom meeting on Feb. 25 at 7:00. Contact Sue or Darlene for more details.
5. Indivisible is sponsoring Third Monday Opportunities to Get Involved, especially in Civic Engagement. On Feb. 15 Scott Icus a MN Indivisible rep will discuss on the Zoom meeting how to write letters to the editor. 7:00pm. You will receive an invitation. Please join us. Watch for other Third Monday opportunities each month.
6. Three members are heading committees to keep our elected officials accountable to all their constituents. Lani chairs the State officials, Glennda chairs the federal, and Lori chairs the County Commissioners.
7. CALL TO ACTION: Lani’s group asked that all members call or write to support safety measures taken by Gov. Walz since the Republicans are denying the dangers of the virus and condemning him for his actions. She and Shawne wrote support letters to him, and Lani had a positive letter published in the newspaper.
How do I contact the governor of Minnesota?
Governor: Tim Walz.
Phone Number: 1-651-201-3400.
Toll Free: 800-657-3717.
TTY: 1-800-627-3529.
75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
130 State Capitol
St Paul, Minnesota 55155, US
8. Lori said her group is trying to figure out how things work in the county. She talks frequently with the new Commission Kaczmareck. Ann Bajari was appointed to the health and human services position in the county, so we will have opportunities to learn even more.
9. Glennda said her group is keeping the pressure on Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. They encourage them to push for strong legislation with all our support. She reported that Tom Emmer missed 86 votes in the House in 2018, the year he took over as NRCC fundraiser chair. They conclude that his new position with the party has negatively affected his job performance for the citizens of Congressional District 6. They noted that he challenges people at townhalls on their data, so be ready with evidence.
Feb. 17 at 7:00pm Wed. Brahma Lee from Amy Klobuchar’s office will meet with them.
Congress will be in recess Feb. 12-22.
10. We discussed redistricting. We will probably lose a district according to Jonathan Heinrichs who is serving on the Redistricting Committee.
11. Renee explained about a dance opportunity with the Hispanic community. Contact Renee if you are interested in bridging the gap between our communities through dance, from children to adults.
12. Speaker Dr. Mary Clifford St. Cloud State Criminal Justice on Racism and White Supremacy Culture
How to interrupt practices that elevated whites above other races.
Characteristics of White Supremacy
1. Perfection – making a mistake is bad.
2. Sense of Urgency – no time to be inclusive, must win victory for the whites.
3. Defensiveness – people in power are defensive when white privilege is mentioned.
4. Quantity over Quality – discomfort with emotion and feelings, large number of people in attendance is more important than the relationship among the members.
5. Worship of Written Words – strong documentation over conversations.
6. Only one Right Way – “right way is the white way”.
7. Paternalism – decision-making is clear to those with power and unclear to those without it, people in power make the decisions for the people who do not have power.
8. Either Or Thinking – it is either good or bad, you are with us or against us, no sense that things can be both.
9. Power Hoarding – Little value around sharing power, power is seen as limited, only so much to go around.
10. Fear of Open Conflict – people in power are scared of conflict, they ignore ir or run from it.
11. Individualism – desire for individual recognition and credit, creates a lack of accountability as organized values, they value those who can get things done on their own without needing help.
12. Progress is Bigger, More Growth – Exploitation of others
13. Objectivity – emotions are inherently destructive.
14. Right To Comfort – if whites are uncomfortable, you must stop (white woman discomfort).
How can we do the work of antiracism?
Read Black authors
Study History of Racism
Find your Skill Set
Find a way to bring joy to the world.
To continue these discussions, contact Sue or Renee for more opportunities to learn.
Contact Wright County Coalition Against Racism.
Contact Well Spring in Annandale that works on Diversity (coming to Huddle soon).
13.Next meeting is March 8
For all members joining the state and federal elected officials training will be offered on Zoom from 7:00-8:30 on Jan. 18. The course is called Government and Lobbying 101. Please contact your leaders for the invitation.
Indivisible Zoom Meeting Notes for January 11, 2021 7:00
1. Lori updated us about Line 3 Enbridge pipeline cutting through Minnesota carrying the worst oil in toxicity to our water as it is piped through indigenous lands. People who resist their progress are being arrested. All appeals have been exhausted. Our concerns are that the pipelines cannot be repaired if ruptured. We need to stop this by supporting the resistance.
2. 90 Seconds Sharing
a. Glennda shared about People Lead, a Wed., January 13 event of speakers: Attorney General Keith Ellison, a rep from Amy Klobuchar’s office, and a rep from National Indivisible. Topics include Washington DC admitted as a state and Democracy Reform.
b. Renee shared about the Monticello Diversity Book Club reading Stamped: A Remix by Jason Reynolds, a shorter read, similar to Ibrim Kendi’s book. Contact Pam Danes for the Zoom link for Feb. 11 and Fb. 18 discussions.
c. Darlene shared about Ron Harris, Chair of the Midwestern caucus at the DNC, speaking on Feb. 25 on resilience.
d. Bruce asked about ways to deal with Trump supporters. Lee said protect our 1st amendment rights but stop the lies in all public venues (FOX News esp.)
e. Lee invited people to the Climate group’s CCL meeting Saturday 10:30.
f. Renee invited people to the Delano Climate group’s meeting Tuesday night 6:30, contact Logan Rieder or Nikki Nau for an invitation.
3. Report from Accountability Groups
Lani explained that our new goal is to hold all elected officials responsible for their votes, their public new releases, and their comments in speeches, townhalls. To do that we need a team of individuals who will focus on one specific candidate/commissioner and follow their every action. We are in the process of setting up teams who will follow an individual and attend meetings with others on the team to discuss how we should respond. We want to build a relationship with him/her, communication often. Then we will give updates at our Indivisible meetings when we need your help (call-to-action). We will ask you to call or write or attend some meeting to increase our power base and strength.
Lani is organizing members who will follow State Senator Bruce Anderson, State Reps Joe McDonald and Maran O’Neill, and other Rep who cover our Indivisible members. Several people have joined, but we need a few more. Contact Lani if you can help.
Glennda is organizing members who will follow our Congressional District 6 Tom Emmer. If you would like to join her group, contact Glennda. (if you want to call one of his offices, both the Washington and Ostego should be included.)
Lori is organizing members who will follow the Commissioners. If you want to attend their meeting on Zoom, and work with this group, contact Lori. On Jan. 25 at 1:00 training on this will occur on Zoom. Lori is impressed with our new District 5 Commissioner Mike Katzmarek; he is someone who will listen to our concerns.
For all members joining the state and federal elected officials training will be offered on Zoom from 7:00-8:30 on Jan. 18. Course is called Government and Lobbying 101. Please contact your leaders for the invitation.
Call and email Tom Emmer:
Ostego office: 763-241-6848
DC office: 202-225-2331
Emmer. house.gov/
Possible message:
As your constituent, since YOU are MY representative...I am demanding that you vote for Impeachment of Donald Trump! He has incited his base to storm our capital where there was death, destruction, and peril to our elected representatives and officers. This is enough! YOU need to stand for justice....YOU need to vote to impeach DJ Trump. '
2: Join one of our accountability groups that will track what our elected officials do, vote on, support--so we can address our concerns & hold them accountable!
Wright County Commissioners--contact Lori at: loricockinghr@gmail.com
State Representatives/Senators--contact Lani at: lanibrownworley@gmail.com
Federal Representative/Senators--contact Glennda glennda.dalman@gmail.com
3. Learn More!!!
People Lead Zoom mtg: January 13th, 7:00 pm
contact: Glennda at: glennda.dalman@gmail.com
Government--how it works, what WE need to know training
Monday, January 18th, 7:00 pm
Contact: Renee at: rc.card@live.com
Speaker Vicki Barnes on American Promise
Imagine a government run by people, not money.
In 2016 a cross-partisan organization formed to advance the change to win an amendment reclaiming democracy from Big Money.
Power used to be in the hands of the people. People became inactive consumers and let big business and lobbyists take over Washington (buying Congressmen). For 30 years Corporations have had the power called Citizens United Supreme Court ruling giving unlimited money to dominate the political system. Money=Speech Corporations=People
American Promise is working to get rid of this. Corporations are not people.
Next meeting is Feb. 8, 2021 7:00