Sign up for our local People's March Rally
We're Going to Mobilize, Train, and Organize
Over the past eight years, Indivisible Mohawk Valley has engaged in a wide variety of actions strategically targeted to the moment and to political objectives. Our collective experience is going to help us as we gear up in 2025 for some of the biggest challenges we have ever faced. It's critical that we stick together.
Please mark your calendar for upcoming IMV meetings (we've set the dates in advance to make it easier to keep track).
Sunday, January 26, 1:30-3:00 pm New Hartford Public Library
Sunday, February 23, 1:30-3:00 pm New Hartford Public Library
Sunday, March 23,1:30-3:00 pm New Hartford Public Library
Sunday, April 27, 1:30-3:00 pm New Hartford Public Library
We will be responding to actions in real time as a bunch of greedy billionaires try to slash services and strip rights all to line their pockets even more. We will be playing a long game to build power from the ground up. We can do this. YES. WE. CAN.
Mohawk Valley People's March Rally on Saturday, January 18th
Please spread the word about our Saturday, January 18th, Mohawk Valley People's March, 12pm-1:30pm at Oneida Square Roundabout in Utica. Sign up HERE now so you will receive additional information including "snow date information" in case of inclement weather.
What is the Women's March People's March all about?
IMV is working with a broad local coalition to plan this event. We all march for different reasons, but we march for the same cause: to defend our rights and our future from the greedy billionaires about to take the reigns of government.
If you believe that decisions about your body should remain yours, that books belong in libraries, not on bonfires, that healthcare is a right, not a privilege for the wealthy; if you believe in the power of free speech and protest to sustain democracy; or if you want an economy that works for the people who power it—then this march is for you. The People’s March is about one thing: our power.
We may have dark days ahead, but we will always work to protect our freedoms, our families, and our communities. We deserve a brighter future and we will continue to work for it. We are worth fighting for. Our families and futures are worth fighting for.
If you want to volunteer to be a marshal at the rally in Utica on January 18th, please email Jill (icgujill@gmail.com) or Diane (dberry13wfp@gmail.com).
We can't wait to see everyone at the Mohawk Valley People's March Rally on January 18th!
Climate Crisis Working Group Updates
Rejoice!
Governor Hochul signed the Climate Change Superfund Act and the bill Banning CO2 Fracking! Both are such monumental actions!! Under the Superfund Act, the world’s largest fossil fuel companies will be required to pay the Empire State billions for the damages caused by their products, raising $75 billion over 25 years. Vermont and New York are the only two states to have passed such a historical bill.
Many thanks to our Democratic legislators who passed the bill last year and all the climate groups and activists that pushed it, including the IMV Climate Crisis Working Group and all the IMV members who lobbied in person and made phone calls. There will be many climate bills to support this year in NYS and major challenges nationally; but for now…rejoice in this far reaching victory and remember that people acting together have power and that individual states have power!
What You Can Do
THANK Governor Hochul for signing the Climate Change Superfund Act by CALLING the governor’s office at (518) 474-8390.(Push 1 to leave a message, 2 to speak to an agent.) We call when we are unhappy, so we’ll call to reinforce the positive too. You can call during office hours or after.
Indivisible NYS Training & Organizing Calls in January
Our NYS Indivisible Organizer, Sarah Reeske, has been hearing from people interested in learning more about Indivisible ever since the election in November. IMV has seen new people showing up at our meetings and subscribing to our weekly newsletter. Whether you are new to Indivisible or you're an Indivisible Guide "pro" we encourage you to sign up for Sarah's trainings below. And whether you live in NY21 or NY22, it's going to be all hands on deck for the special election as soon as Elise Stefanik officially announces her resignation. Just click on the links to register.
Introduction to Blue Sky Training, Wednesday, January 8th at 7-8pm, Register here. Facilitated by Indivisible’s Sr. Social Media Manager Frank Dale, come learn how to navigate and effectively use Blue Sky, a popular social media platform that is a little like Twitter/X but with less MAGA/Musk.
Grassroots Activism 101 Crash Course, Tuesday, January 14th at 6-8pm. Register here. New to activism? This training is for you! Come learn the organizing basics, vocabulary, and the Indivisible activism cycle that groups have used to be successful in their activism work. This training will help you understand calls to action and feel more confident in participating in your group's 2025 activities.
NY21 Special Election Call, Tuesday, Jan. 21st, 6:30 pm, Register here. Open to Indivisibles in NY21 and those in NY who want to learn how they can take action to support the special election. There's going to be something for everyone on this call. The last time there was a special election in NY21, a Democrat won and held the seat for 5 years. Let's do this! Dem chairs in NY21 are interviewing 8 candidates. Nobody has been dubbed the official candidate yet, and that's ok. Indivisible is positioned well for us to get a head start.
MLKJ Memorial Luncheon in Utica in January
The Mohawk Valley Frontiers Club is hosting its annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Luncheon on Monday, January 20th at noon at Hart's Hill Inn in Whitesboro. Community Service honorees include IMV member, Alane Varga and Rome NAACP President, Jacqueline Nelson. Keynote speaker: Utica School District Superintendent, Dr. Christopher Spence. Tickets on presale until January 14 are $50 per person and checks should be made payable to Mohawk Valley Frontiers Club. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Dawn Laguerre, laguerremedia@gmail.com, 315 266 7548 or MVFC c/o U'Nice Elliott, PO Box 172, Utica, NY 13503-0712.
Justice for Robert Brooks Event
Citizen Action is hosting a "Justice for Robert Brooks" rally to call for an end to state violence and mass incarceration on Saturday, Jan. 11th at noon. The event will be held in front of the State Office Building in Utica (207 Genesee Street). More details will be shared in this newsletter next week about the event. Locally, the NAACP Rome Chapter has released a statement in response to the murder of Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional as well.
Remember to sign up for The Mohawk Valley People's March Rally on January 18th HERE.
This is an event designed to bring us all together and energize us for the struggles ahead.
We may need patience and persistence. We may need to reach out to allies who share our values but have different priorities. We may need to stand up when we'd like nothing better than to be safely away from the hot button issues. Without a doubt, there are going to be times ahead when we will need moral courage within ourselves or will need to encourage it in our leaders.
Stay strong. Stay together. No one let go of anyone's hand.
Follow us on Bluesky: @Indivisiblemv.bsky.social, on Instagram's Threads.net/@indivisiblemohawkvalley, on X (Twitter) using @indivisiblemv and of course on our Facebook page and IMV Activism Group.
