October Calls To Action:

US Voters: 30 Seconds to make sure you’re registered to vote!

1. Register to vote on the form below, or click here to register.
2. Make sure your voter registration is still active (you may be surprised to see you’ve been recently unregistered without your consent!)
3. Find out who is on your local ballot, and get a quick summary of issues and candidates.
4. Find more helpful tools on Vote.org

Want to discuss voting with your kids? Check out our November Elections resource

You can register to vote and check your voter registration here. If this form doesn’t show up in your browser, click here.

5-Second Petition: Protect the Indian Child Welfare Act

On November 9th, the US Supreme court will hear a challenge against the Indian Child Welfare Act 

(enacted in 1978 to reduce the kidnapping of Indigenous children from their families and culture from acts of family separation & forced adoption and cultural genocide via residential schools!)

>> Sign this petition << to demand Biden take immediate action – up to and including an executive order to protect the sovereignty of Indigenous families and help Indigenous kids stay with their families and communities.

“The current High Court has shown it will stop at nothing to destroy decades of civil rights advances. From women’s rights to Native sovereignty, it is dismantling much that progressives have fought long for and care most about. It’s clear we can no longer rely upon the Court to protect the liberty of the American people, much less uphold justice for tribal citizens. And until we can rely on Congress, our best remedy is the executive branch. Please send your email to President Biden today. Wopila!“

via Lakota People’s Law Project

Calls to Action Families: Be Honest!

Think of someone positively special to you (who doesn’t live in your house!) and tell them how they make you feel and why.

 

I encourage grown-ups to think of someone unique to them and ask kids to come up with their own – this could be a teacher, librarian, cousin, friend, etc.

 

Sometimes we shy away from overly warm sentiments or it feels awkward to be so honest but one of the greatest acts of kindness is telling someone how valuable they are to you and others.

 

As a bonus, if you have the resources, ask the person you choose that you’d like to donate even a small amount to their favorite charity in their honor.

Shared with permission in cahoots with Revolutionary Humans!

Join When We Gather’s Modeling Consent Workshop

October 21, 2022, 12-12:50pm EST

Members get monthly access to:

• Co-creative art projects designed to inspire & spark hope in busy parents
• Thought-provoking essays and journal prompts on parenting through multiple intersections of oppression
• Receive monthly kindness actions to motivate little leaders

Join the 2023 Kyriarchy-Smashing Parent Virtual Winter Collective

What if we dropped all the busywork and bullshit and did something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?!

In our 6-week guided collective, together we get into deep self-reflections and collaborative work that maximizes our impact without spreading overworked caregiver/activists so thin. Stop trying to be sputtering floodlights, let’s be diamond-cutting laser beams!

This kind of thing isn’t for everybody – if you think you’ve got it all figured out or that you’ve maxed out the punches on your Ally Card, this isn’t for you. But if you’re tired of being the most radically progressive parent in the room and could use some support balancing parenting & activism – come join us.

If you want to model a sustainable life for parents that smashes the kyriarchy without setting yourself on fire –  join the waitlist. Click through for dates, cost, time commitment, and how to decide if you’d like to join our next winter collective.

[Image: Mug with ‘The adventure begins’ written on it with a cozy campfire in the background. Photo by Ole Witt @rawcurve via Unsplash.]

Make it illegal to torture people with disabilities

(Yup! It’s still legal to literally torture us!)

Update 9/29/22: UGH we failed. Protection for people with disabilities got taken out of the FDASLA. Gonna lick our wounds and we’ll be back with more plans later.

Via the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network: Help #StopTheShock and end legal torture against people with disabilities

15-second action:

Text SIGN PQMAJC to 50409 or use this link on Resistbot  to quickly text a template letter to your senators in congress.

If you prefer to call, use this template from ASAN:

“My name is  [your full name] , and I am from  [your city]. I am a constituent of Senator [NAME].

I’m calling to ask Senator [NAME] to vote to pass the FDASLA Act, with the language included which bans the use of electric skin shock for behavior modification. This language passed the House, as well as the HELP committee.

Only one institution in the country still uses electric shocks this way, and the UN found the practice to be torture in 2013. The FDA banned this use of electric shocks in 2020, but the DC Circuit Court overturned the ban on a technicality.

The Senate has the power to stop electric shock torture through the FDASLA Act. Can I count on the Senator to vote yes on an FDASLA reauthorization that includes the ban?”

Why this action is urgent:

Our best chance to ban contingent skin shock for behavioral control is now at risk. Some Senators are pushing for a stripped-down version of the bill, without important amendments like the ban on contingent electric skin shock.

We can’t let them gut the bill’s vital provisions – with the clock ticking, we must convince the Senate that this language is critical to ensuring the human rights of people with disabilities.

We need one final push to #StopTheShock! The Senate aims to pass the FDA Safety and Landmark Advancements Act (FDASLA) before the end of the month – and it must have the amendment from the HELP committee banning the use of electric shock for behavior modification. We need a big push RIGHT NOW to let our elected officials know that this provision is critical to our community.”

Sign up for ASAN action alerts via email

Let’s support each other!

I’m happy to support the incredible work you’re doing. I’ve followed along for a number of years now, and have a kiddo library inspired by Raising Luminaries.

 

I am so grateful for your time, labor, transparency and love. I recently placed a quarantine order for five books from various lists, and just felt like it was the right time to support Raising Luminaries.

 

Thank you for all you do! I’m not good at participating digitally, but hoping my little contribution helps continue to bring the important shit to the forefront of our relationships with our children. <3 Be well.
Veronica G.W., Raising Luminaries Supporter