Rights & Democracy Project Inc

RIGHTS & DEMOCRACY PROJECT'S MISSION IS TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO TAKE ACTION TO BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND MAKE THE VALUES OF OUR COMMUNITIES GUIDE THE POLICIES OF OUR GOVERNMENT. WE ARE BUILDING A POPULAR MOVEMENT TO ADVANCE RIGHTS AND BUILD A REAL DEMOCRACY. WE WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS, PROGRESSIVE UNIONS, FAITH COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONS FIGHTING FOR HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE ACTION GROUPS.

GRASSROOTS ORGANIZINGISSUE ORGANIZING IS A KEY COMPONENT OF OUR BASE-BUILDING STRATEGY. IN 2021, OUR LARGEST ISSUE AREAS WERE EDUCATION JUSTICE AND IMMIGRATION, AS WELL AS DEEP CANVASSING TO CONNECT WITH A BROADER BASE.EDUCATION JUSTICE: OUR EDUCATION JUSTICE WORK CENTERED ON 1.)A CAMPAIGN TO OPPOSE "DIVISIVE CONCEPTS" LEGISLATION IN NH. WE ORGANIZED COMMUNITIES, HELD RALLIES AND DAYS OF ACTION , MET WITH LEGISLATORS, AND A, AND CONVENED WORKING GROUPS, AND SCHOOL BOARD BATTLES IN VT - WE HELD SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE FORUMS ACROSS VT AND A TRAINING FOR CANDIDATES. IMMIGRATION: IN TANDEM WITH OUR NATIONAL AFFILIATES, WE ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING TO BUILD MOMENTUM AND ENERGY TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRATION ACTION, AND DEMAND MOVEMENT ON IMMIGRATION FROM THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AS WELL AS EXECUTIVE ACTION. WE HELD A LABOR DAY RALLY TO RECOGNIZE ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND IMMIGRANTS, AND ACTIONS CALING ON THE STATE TO WELCOME AFGHAN REFUGEES TO NH. WE IDENTIFIED STORYTELLERS, PROVIDED LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, HOSTED INFORMATIONAL EVENTS.HEALTHCARE JUSTICE: WE LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE FUNDING FOR HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED HEALTHCARE SERVICES, DURING WHICH WE BUILT A LEADERSHIP TEAM OF IMPACTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADVOCATE FOR EXPANDING NH STATE MEDICARE BENEFITS, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY ORGANZING. THESE EFFORTS RESULTED IN A DRAMATIC EXPANSION OF DENTAL BENEFITS FOR ADULTS.FIELD: WE ENGAGED SUPPORTERS THROUGHOUT VT AND NH VIA PHONE TEXT AND DOOR-TO-DOOR TO ENGAGE PEOPLE IN MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS ACROSS MANY ISSUES ALIGNED WITH OUR RENEWS WORK, INCLUDING CLIMATE, HOUSING/HOMELESSNESS, HEALTHCARE JUSTICE/ THE OPIOID CRISIS, AND WORKERS' RIGHTS.

RENEWSOUR RENEWS WORK SPANS MANY ISSUES AND REMAINS A LARGE FOCUS AREA FOR RAD. WE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED BOTH OF OUR STATEWIDE COALITIONS, VT RENEWS AND NH RENEWS, AT THE BEGINNING OF 2021. VERMONT HELD RENEWS CONVERGENCE IN JANUARY, A GATHERING TO WORK ON UPCOMING STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND MAKE CONNECTIONS TO REGIONAL AND FEDERAL MOVEMENT.WE SAW SEVERAL LEGISLATIVE WINS FOR OUR RENEWS PRIORITY BILLS IN NH AND VT SUCH AS UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS (VT), ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FRAMEWORK (VT), AND A NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY BILLS IN NH. WE COORDINATED DIRECT ACTIONS AIMED AT CORPORATIONS ATTEMPTING TO SKIRT CLEAN ENERGY REGULATIONS. WE HELD A LABOR DAY RALLY WITH OVER 1000 ATTENDEES.HOUSING JUSTICE: IN VT, OUR JUST CAUSE EVICTION WORK HAS EXPANDED FROM LOCAL ORDINANCE TO STATE LEVEL LEGISLATION. WE ARE GROWING OUR COALITION, PHONE BANKING, AND ORGANIZING TENANTS. FEDERAL (RRN): DURING 2021, WE DEDICATED SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS TOWARDS RAISING AWARENESS OF AND BUILDING SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED FEDERAL LEGISLATION IN CONCERT WITH OUR NATIONAL PARTNERS GREEN NEW DEAL NARIONAL NETWORK, CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY, AND PEOPLE'S ACTION. RAD HELD MULTIPLE ACTIONS, RALLIES AND EVENTS CALLING ON NH FEDERAL DELEGATION TO SUPPORT THE THRIVE AGENDA, CELEBRATING THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, AND ENCOURAGE IT TO BE "BAKED IN" TO THE BUDGET, AND RAISING AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND RECONCILIATION BILL.

MOVEMENT POLITICSRAD CONDUCTED CANDIDATE RECRUITMENT AND TRAININGS ACROSS VT AND NH, AND ENDORSED CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR LOCAL AND STATE OFFICES. WE HELD VIRTUAL PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND GOTV CAMPAIGNS TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF UPCOMING RACES AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO VOTE. WE HELD WORKSHOPS ON LOBBY DAY (VT) AND HOW TO TESTIFY AT PUBLIC HEARINGS, HOW TO MEET WITH YOUR LEGISLATOR, AS WELL AS A PANEL DISCUSSION ON REDISTRICTING IN VERMONT AND ITS IMPLICATIONS.