Weekly e-Newsletter 3/23/2022

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Art of the Week

graphic image of an organic farm

Original art by Alliance intern Helen Glover, who is majoring in Computer Science and Environmental Studies at Smith College. Helen grew up on her family’s organic farm in Connecticut, and this graphic artwork was inspired by the coming planting season.

Calendar

Food for Thought: Will Democratic progressives and moderates work together or lose?

Photograph of Representative Stephanie Murphy. FL
US Rep Stephanie Murphy
(D, FL). Source: Graeme Jennings/Pool via AP

Here’s our summary of this sobering Politico analysis:

If Democrats want to continue to hold a majority in Congress in 2022 they will need to find a way to welcome both progressives and centrist moderates.

Stephanie Murphy, a moderate from FL, will not seek reelection for her House seat due in part to pressure put on her by Democratic leadership.

“I think about people like Abby Spanberger [(D-Va.)], like some of these other members where in ’18, they were celebrities for helping us win the majority. And as soon as they went about taking the votes that would help them keep and represent the seat that they had won, they drew the ire of the Democrats.”

Can Democratic leadership secure the progressive vote while also protecting moderates?

Listen to the entire interview via Politico Playbook Deep Dive

Read the Interview transcript

Take Action:
Support the Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act

Pregnant woman giving a presentation at work and hoping she is hiding her pregnancy
Credit: Luci Gutierrez/ The New York Times

Pregnant workers should not have to balance their health and safety with their jobs, yet we so often hear about workplace discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, as well as employers refusing to provide basic accommodations for pregnant workers.

The U.S. has a comparatively abysmal record when it comes to pregnant workers’ rights, but the Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act is a step forward in the right direction.

The bill would introduce a new set of legal protections for pregnant workers, and would require employers to provide pregnant workers with reasonable accommodations, including additional bathroom breaks and lighter duty work.

It would also prohibit employers from discriminatory hiring practices against pregnant workers based on their need for reasonable accommodations.

The bill passed the House last May with a rare showing of overwhelming bipartisan support. This is an opportunity to move towards true workplace equity.

You can help keep this movement going by sending a message to your Senators backing the Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act using the ACLU’s template.

Q&A: Can we save money and gas?

Car at gas station refueling with gas pump
Credit: andreas160578 via Pixabay

Yes! You can save 40% on your gas consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and $2500 a year with any car by following the driving tips from world class “hypermiler” Wayne Gerdes featured on CBS Mornings. 

His simple steps include driving the speed limit, properly inflating your tires, and gentle acceleration and braking. Gerdes gets up to 110 miles per gallon equivalent with his Toyota Prius.

Weekly e-Newsletter

March 23, 2022
Editors: Amy Durr, Rae’Jean Alford
& Terry Gips

At the Alliance

We’d like to thank Metro State University intern Maddie Dorsey for her work on social media and foundation research and grants. It was wonderful working with you Maddie! 

It’s just a week to Earth Month! Please let us know if you’d like to have a presentation at your work, school or organization on SHE Kindness (Sustainability, Health, Equity and Kindness).

If you’re an educator who might be interested in reviewing our SHE Kindness School Program materials and helping in any way, please contact us.

Do you know a middle or high school (especially in an under-served community) anywhere in the US that would welcome a SHE Kindness presentation? Email us at info@afors.org.

Wonder Woman saving Batman and saying, "By the way, is it still true I get paid 70% of what you guys in the Justice League get paid?"
Credit: Mike Peters. All rights reserved.

Women’s History Month Spotlight: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson may be stepping into US history

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson testifies before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on pending judicial nominations on April 28, 2021.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee for her judicial nomination, April 28, 2021. Credit Kevin Lamarque/AP.

Hearings for the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court began on Monday, appropriately during the final days of Women’s History Month. If confirmed Judge Jackson will be the first Black woman and the first former Public Defender to ever serve on the Supreme Court.

A graduate of Harvard and Harvard Law School, she was the first Black woman to be an editor for the Harvard Law Review. Called extraordinarily accomplished and highly qualified, Judge Jackson clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer, was Vice Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, and would be the most experienced trial court judge to join the Supreme Court in almost a century. Judge Jackson has been confirmed by the Senate for previous positions on a bipartisan basis three times. 

As we support equity in its many forms, we support Supreme Court Justice nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Learn more about Judge Jackson.

Hear how three of Judge Jackson’s closest friends reacted to her nomination.

Sustainability Tip: 5 Ways to Cope with Triggering Events by Yvette Erasmus, PsyD

young woman in an outdoor crowd holding a sign that says "I am scared for my family" #SaveUkraine
Source: Dr. Yvette Erasmus

Thanks to Alliance Dream Team member and psychotherapist Dr. Yvette Erasmus for sharing her poignant post “5 Ways to Cope with Triggering Events,” on how we can respond to both the tragic, overwhelming events unfolding in Ukraine and the personal and professional challenges we face. You’ll feel seen and heard as well as empowered to do our essential work on a personal and collaborative level. Here’s just a sample:

The seeds and roots of these global crises start out small and personal, in our individual hearts and in each of our personal relationships. If you want to make a meaningful difference in creating a different world, let me suggest some personal growth tasks that you might want to consider taking on:

1. Focus on what you can directly influence

2. Apply the protective use of force when needed

3. Transform dehumanization

4. Act with integrity

5. Use language consciously

Peace begins with our relationship with ourselves: the ways in which we’ve made peace with our fullest humanity, become conscious and choiceful about our capacities, and aligned our actions with our deepest values and intentions.

Read the original blog post

What to Watch: How to Embody Nonviolent Power by Yvette Erasmus, PsyD

As a companion piece to 5 Ways to Cope with Triggering Events, Dr. Yvette Erasmus has also shared the outstanding video “How to Embody Nonviolent Power,“ which emphasizes ways in which we can all contribute to the work that needs to be done without feeling overwhelmed, always mindful of community which is a source of encouragement and strength.

“I am interested in bringing nonviolent, relational, life-affirming empowerment. And that means when I’m doing social change work I am committed to not harming the people who continue to try to harm me. And in order to do that I need a tremendous amount of awareness and consciousness and clarity and community. None of us can do this on our own.”

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