IMV's 2023 is Off to an Exciting Start!

IMV's January 2023 Meeting was packed with energy and information.  We had several first time attendees at our meeting on Zoom on Tuesday--WELCOME if you are new to Indivisible Mohawk Valley!

We heard from Utica Mayoral Candidate and one of our own, Celeste Friend.  She hosted hundreds of people at her public announcement event on Saturday, and we are all in on her exciting campaign and vision for the future of the city.  Make sure you sign up to volunteer and contribute to her campaign. Go, Celeste!

We presented Goalsetting and Timeline 2023--our overall 12 month calendar. We're in our seventh year (!), and have a regular cadence for doing our work--electoral, issue-focused, and social justice. It was wonderful to see so many of you on the Zoom call!

We also sought and received your input on plans for a Utica Women's March Rally on the national day of the March--Sunday, January 22!   We will meet at noon at the corners of Genesee and Memorial Parkway/Burrstone, and wave signs and make some noise.  This year's theme is Bigger Than Roe and it means this: "We are not going gently. We are taking our fight to every state in this country on January 22, 2023. We are putting all politicians on notice: If you come for our families, our freedoms, or our future, we are coming for your seat. Our movement is strong. Our movement is growing. Our movement is bigger than Roe." 

If you can assist in planning the rally, please join the planning meeting on Sunday, Jan. 15, at noon on Zoom. We'll need people to help with safety, sign ins, media and PR, and much more. 
 

Indivisible One NYS Calls on Jan. 19th & Feb. 2

 Please join the first statewide Indivisible call of 2023 on Thursday, January 19th from 8:00-9:00 pm on Zoom. Register here. 

Affordable housing is an issue they see more and more in their local areas, and want to learn more about the housing justice fight. I've invited the Housing Justice for All Coalition to facilitate a deep dive into this critical topic. Come learn about what's causing this issue, the justice we can all fight for, and how to help in local housing conversations as well. Bring your curiosity and questions! 

Then be sure to also register for our Indivisible Statewide Call with LG Delgado and state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. Thursday, Feb. 2nd, 6:00-8:00 pm.  This call is open to all Indivisibles in NYS. This is our first statewide meeting with LG Antonio Delgado. Come learn more about him, his vision for his role as our Lt. Gov, and how we can build a working relationship with him. Together we’ll advocate for IONY priorities to ASC before she writes her One House budget. We want her fighting for our priorities going into budget season. Register and fill out the Kudoboard for Delgado please! IMV is always the group with the highest representation on these statewide calls!
 

Have you registered for the NY22 Summit?

We're up to more than 120 registrants for our in person NY22 Summit!  Everyone is welcome!  Please register NOW for this critical event.  We are inviting a wide range of progressive political groups and allies. It's going to be an amazing day!  The event is scheduled in person for Saturday, Feb. 4th, 10am-4pm at the Hampton Inn in Cazenovia.  The costs including lunch are covered by Indivisible organizing grants.  Register HERE. If you would like a ride and need to be connected to a carpool/someone driving from your area, please email Kathy Wojo: kwojcie1@twcny.rr.com.
 

"Where's Williams?: IMV's First Visit to Rep. Williams Office

Check out this fun video of IMV members in our first effort to connect with Rep. Williams' staff! A few days ago members of Indivisible Mohawk Valley went to 421 Broad Street, Utica to deliver a balloon bouquet to welcome Congressman Williams to Utica. We searched and searched and couldn’t find his office. ?? We called his DC staff and they didn’t know either. ?? We looked on every floor. Our balloon bouquet included written messages of how we wanted him to vote, especially to vote no on the rules package if it includes gutting the Office of Congressional Ethics. 

The balloons ?? are now inside the empty office on the second floor. Director of constituent services John Salka assured us he would take a photo of the balloons and let the Congressman know.   Turns out that Brandon Williams prefers voting the way Speaker McCarthy wants than his own NY22 constituents. ??

If you want to attend Rep. Williams'  office opening and local swearing in ceremony this Tuesday, 2-4 pm, please see this flier, and be sure to RSVP.  If you go, be sure to let him know that you want him to keep a strong ethics committee and not play games with our economy by refusing the do normal functions like raising the debt ceiling. 
 

Mark Your Calendar for Our Women's March Rally!

Be sure to mark your calendar for our Women's March Rally on Sunday, Jan. 22 at noon, and be ready to bundle up and bring your sign, pink hat, and Women's March solidarity energy.  Please review the calendar for upcoming events, and show up to make a difference. 

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Follow us on Twitter using @indivisiblemv and of course our Facebook page and IMV Activism Group.