INDIVISIBLE Lambertville NJ / New Hope PA

Category: ILNH FYI

  • ILNH FYI

    ILNH FYI

    Environmental Art Show to Bring Attention to Climate Crisis

    Do you want to get inspired about the environment? Then check out Love Mother Earth 2020, an environmental art and performance show on Saturday Feb. 29 from 12 – 5 p.m. at Prallsville Mills in Stockton.

    A joint venture between Indivisible and the Sunrise chapters of Hunterdon and Lambertville, the show will feature local artists in any medium, poets and performers whose topics are based around the environment. The exhibit will include traditional visual arts such as drawings, paintings, and sculpture, as well as song, dance, poetry and spoken word.

    More than twenty artists have already committed to the show. More are encouraged to participate. The deadline to submit an application to participate is Feb. 15.

    Volunteers are needed for set up on Friday, Feb. 28, parking during the event, and clean up on Sunday, March 1. If you are available and able to help, please sign up here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iNYeW6A45S1A8xmWWTrKjceYMA40Q_p0zYOUccKnM08/edit

    Sunrise Movement is a youth organization to end the climate crisis and advocate for the Green New Deal. The Hunterdon and Lambertville chapters, called hubs, are part of an international organization.

    More information about the exhibit:

    The exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information and to sign up to attend, click here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/love-mother-earth-2020-tickets-91449025497

    If you are interested in participating as an artist or performer, please apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepAIBmmcpQa-xTzLidW5Hk6EtKiAb386e5s4ekXCOgOE7lHA/viewform 

    Environmental or youth organizations are invited to have a table at this event.  Please apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc5kuZGOxfWyVyIR-ZtmlFRxQelizJHl1p298mPzZD1vE0HLw/viewform

    Did You See This? New York Times Covers Change the Conversation Bucks!

    Several of ILNH’s leadership team were captured and quoted in a recent NYTimes article that covered Change the Conversation Together and a recently held training and canvassing in Bucks County. In To Sway Swing Voters, Try Empathy, by Michael Massing, Cindi Sternfeld is quoted, Susan Shapiro and Elycia Lerman are in the photos. The piece has already heightened interest and attracted more people who want to join the cause. How about you? 

    Meet ILNH’s new co-Treasurer John Woods

    I started hanging around Indivisible LNH about a year and a half ago. I’m a 73 year old retired gay guy who worked in Human Services for many years. After the 2016 election results and what began to emerge, I became really worried about what was happening in our country. Our values as a democracy were under attack by super wealthy white guys who seemed to only care about money and power, no matter what. So I attended a couple of ILNH Community Meetings, got hooked up with a canvassing team before the 2018 elections, canvassed in Hunterdon and Bucks counties. I got involved early with Change the Conversation, a really unique way of connecting with potential voters. I got on the ILNH Slack site and began to be part of planning and feedback around various issues. 

    My experience with ILNH to date has been fantastic. I’ve been part of many kinds of organizations over my lifetime and I have never seen one with such constant, organic-like, communications that are so effective at accomplishing many objectives. I asked if there were other things I could do. The next day I was asked to help as an organization treasurer. Admittedly, I’m a bit overwhelmed at learning the specifics of the job, but feel great to be helping in an important way. Whether you are a joiner, a hermit, an angry citizen, shy, not a people person or whatever. . .there is an important place for you here, where you can make a difference in getting our democracy and values back. 

  • ILNH FYI

    ILNH FYI

    ILNH Gains 501(c)(4) Status. So What Does That Mean? – John Woods

    Recently ILNH was granted a Federal 501(c)(4) designation as a social welfare organization.
    The Internal Revenue Service Code section 501(c)(4) describes a social welfare organization as one not organized for profit, but operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare.

    These 501(c)(4) organizations are tax exempt as long as no more than 50% of their expenses are directly related to partisan politics. Donations to 501(c)(4)s are not tax deductible. The designation gives us at ILNH substantially more flexibility to pursue our mission than being a 501(c)(3) which allows no direct political activity. As we move forward, we will need to develop a way of documenting any political direct activity from our community service activity.

    Important Dates!

  • ILNH FYI – Updates and Upcoming

    ILNH FYI – Updates and Upcoming

    Ready to get busy? Check out our Action Group Activities and Opportunities to Get Involved!

    Environmental Action Team Update – Lambertville is a hub of environmental action fueled by volunteers and we are only getting started! Indivisible LNH members and community allies have fought climate change this year with tenacity and innovation. Below is only a snapshot of the incredible work folks like YOU have been up to!

    PennEast – ILNH worked alongside incredible Stop PennEast allies like Lambertville CAP, Hunterdon and Mercer CAPS, HALT, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Rethink Energy and Sierra Club NJ to support homeowners, urge legislators to act and demand permit denials from the NJDEP and DRBC. The NJ AG’s office won an important case in this fight, which will prohibit PennEast from taking state owned preserved lands along the route. The project is stalled, but we must remain diligent in advocating for NJDEP and DRBC to DENY all PennEast permits before them.

    Greening the Pipeline is an initiative and creative approach to fighting PennEast started by Lambertville resident Michael Heffler. Aggregation is a program available to towns to buy electricity. What the Greening the Pipeline program is proposing, is rather than just lower the cost, they change the mix of electricity to lower the natural gas used and increase the percentage of renewables. This hits PennEast in the wallet. Towns along the proposed pipeline route that have passed the ordinance to join the program are Frenchtown, Delaware Township, Kingwood and Lambertville. Pennington, Stockton and Alexandria are in the process of passage and discussions have started with Hopewell and West Amwell. This program will save all of us money, shrink our carbon footprint with no cost and no risk. Thank your town council for joining the energy coop, saving all of us money and taking it from the companies investing in Penneast.

    The Lambertville Environmental Commission in partnership with volunteers throughout the City launched the Ditching Disposables Initiative. The DD Initiative seeks to empower businesses and residents to minimize their consumption of single use plastics and transition to more sustainable alternatives. One of the kickoff events was the T-Shirts to Totes event, where residents turned unused t-shirts into reusable bags that will be donated to the local food pantries. The success of this event was due largely in part to the incredible dedication of Cindy Sternfeld and her team of ILNH volunteers who rocked it at the sewing machine! Ditching Disposables has continued to roll out with programs like the Sustainable Business Forum and Green Innovator Award! To learn more follow Lambertville Environmental Commission on Facebook.

    On Oct 1 the ILNH Environment Team was joined by Student Climate Strike Organizer Patrick Artur and Eric Benson from Clean Water Action NJ. Patrick shared what inspired him to organize the Climate Strike and how students can inform future Environment Team actions. Eric Benson from Clean Water Action shared about the top issues facing NJ today and what we can do to address them!

    Call to Action!
    Urge NJDEP and DRBC to Deny All Permits to the PennEast Pipeline
    Sign petition to the NJDEP https://www.greenactions.org/stop-penneast?sc=hlt&fbclid=IwAR2SlWQMpEGr9jPNtQg8EGX3BMoQE-3T-iK6PN6FPYc23xo6KYv_k955HF8
    Sign petition to the DRBC
    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZvhXXAppbzQKrZ_5s6lnIdHdUiyIg0hO0_2SN5FsV-8qUZQ/viewform

    Civil Rights Action Group is Active as Heck! – check out the upcoming events. Contact Shara Durkee for more information, locations and to RSVP.

    • Book Club Meeting – Wednesday, October 9 at 6:30 pm in Lambertville – Subject is Solitary by Albert Woodfox, who served more than four decades in solitary confinement – 23 hours a day in a 6-foot by 9-foot cell – for a crime he didn’t commit. Even if you don’t have time to finish or haven’t even started the book, please join us for a lively discussion!
    • Volunteer at Books Through Bars in Philadelphia – Saturday, October 19, 11 am – 2 pm
    • Civil Rights monthly meeting – Monday, October 21 at 6:30 pm in Lambertville.
    • Presentation and Discussion with Elaine Buck and Beverly Mills, authors of If These Stones Could Talk: African American Presence in the Hopewell Valley – Saturday, October 26, 3-5 pm – Methodist Church, 108 N. Union, Lambertville – A decade ago, Beverly Mills and Elaine Buck began formal collaboration into researching the lives of their African American ancestors, most of whom were likely to have been brought up the Delaware River as slaves to–what is now the Hopewell Valley region in Central New Jersey. Active community members, Mills and Buck both serve on the board of the Stoutsburg Cemetery Association, a burial ground for African American residents and veterans in the region.
    • Tour of Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia – Saturday, November 9, 11 am – This one hour tour highlights Eastern State’s fascinating 142-year history, revolutionary architecture, notorious inmates and world-wide influence. The tour will also focus on criminal justice. For the group tour, prices are $11/adults, $10/seniors, $8/students ages 7-12.
    • Workshop “Dismantling the Racism Machine: Myths, Taught to White People that Perpetuate White Supremacy – Wednesday, November 20, 6:30-8:30 pm, Lambertville Public Library – With Karen Gaffney, author of Dismantling the Racism Machine: A Manual and Toolbox.

    Join ILNH Leadership Team! We have roles to fill and need your help. We need to flesh out our GOTV team now, including an overall lead, NJ and PA specific leads, and those who want to focus their energies on righting the ship by educating and encouraging voters through November 3, 2020.
    We’re also looking for someone to head the Swag team, including identifying merchandise to sell, caring for and maintaining inventory and adding to the ILNH finances by successfully SELLING the stock at meetings and other appropriate locations and events.
    In addition, a Fundraising co-lead will join Diane Abatemarco to help plan activities and other mechanisms through which we can support the financial health of ILNH.

    Write for Us! The ILNH Take A Stand Newsletter needs writers. Part of the ILNH mission is educating our community and one of the ways we do so is through this newsletter. Contribute a single piece to express your passion and/or knowledge, or be a regular staffer who keeps their finger on the pulse of the incredible amount of news and subjects that help us be informed citizens – the choice is yours. Contact Deb Kline via email or Slack.

  • ILNH FYI

    ILNH FYI

    Join ILNH in the New Hope Celebrates Pride Parade!  Saturday, May 18 – Marchers meet on York Street between N. Union and Main St. in Lambertville at 11 am. Look for the ILNH crew and wear your rainbow ‘Vote’ shirts if you have them, or just wear the rainbow. We will have the big white truck again this year, but space is extremely limited and will only take those who have challenges making the trek through Lambertville and down S. Main, New Hope. Sign up on Facebook, and leave a comment if you need to ride.

    New Springboard event scheduled! Mark your calendars for June 3 to attend the Springboard on Dark Money. Heather Santos from America’s Promise will be our expert and speaker. Learn more about the work of America’s Promise and their efforts to make the 28th Amendment to get big money out of politics a reality. Location is TBD, so stay tuned!

    Support our Springboard partners and take action – ILNH has held three awesome SpringBoard events to date focusing on Immigration, Civil Rights and the NJ Budget. To hold these events, we rely on partner organizations for their expertise, and offer a means to amplify their work and support their organizations. Please consider taking on the calls to action or donating to these worthy organizations.

    If you live in New Jersey, call or write your three legislators and the governor. Residents of Lambertville, East or West Amwell, or the Mercer County municipalities of Ewing, Hopewell, Lawrence Township, Pennington, Trenton or West Windsor can find the contact info here:   https://ilnhclone.indivisible.blue/contact-state-level/.  If you live elsewhere in New Jersey, you can find your legislators for your municipality here: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp.

    Message:

    I support  A4743 / S3229, which expands access to driver’s licenses. This bill would make sure that more New Jerseyans, regardless of status, to be tested, trained, and insured for a driver’s licenses.

    It would create a safer New Jersey and allow residents to more fully engage in our economy and make our state stronger.

    Message:

    I urge you to support A-314 and S-3261 restricting the use of isolated confinement in correctional facilities. Isolated confinement causes lasting physical and neurological effects and PTSD. Your support in ensuring passage of this important legislation is necessary to effectuate meaningful and overdue prison reform.

    Message:

    I urge you to support the millionaires tax. Note: Senator Shirley Turner has endorsed the millionaires tax, write or call to thank her.

    • The millionaires tax would affect less than 1% of NJ residents.
    • It is supported by 70% of New Jerseyans.
    • The NJ Legislature already voted for the tax 5 times (and Christie vetoed it).
    • With the Trump tax scam, the richest 1% would still end up with a net tax cut, even with this tax.
    • Rich people will not leave NJ because of the tax.
    • The funds raised go into the Property Tax Relief Fund.

    Note: NJPP will hold their Tax Fairness Advocacy Training in New Brunswick on May 19, at 10 am. Sign up here:  https://njwec.salsalabs.org/taxfairnesstraining/index.html

    ATTENTION! JUNE COMMUNITY GATHERING –  The June Community Gathering will be held on Sunday, June 9, at the Lambertville Elks. The Elks building is around the corner from Cavallo Park where the “We Are One” picnic will be held the same day. The “We Are One” picnic celebrates the diversity of our community with music, food and childrens’ activities, and is organized by the Human Rights Council of Lambertville in partnership with Fisherman’s Mark. The picnic is held from 1-5 pm, so make plans to attend before or after you come to the Community Gathering.

    Civil Rights Action Group – Learn more about Mass Incarceration through Books and Movies – The group had a successful book drive for their Books through Bars initiative – see the pix of some of the members getting ready to deliver some of the collection. In addition, the group is convening their first Book Club meeting on Tuesday May 14th. Stay tuned for more information on more Book Club meetings and an upcoming screening of 13th – a film that explores the intersection of race, justice and mass incarceration in the U.S. at the Acme Screening Room in June.

    Indivisible Liberty T-Shirts are still available – If you didn’t get one, or you know someone who’s coveted yours, both the red and green Lady Liberty versions are available in both men’s and women’s. Contact Cindi Sternfeld or pick one up at the Swag table at the Community Gathering.