Key Events for Your Summer Calendar

It was wonderful to see many of you at the Oneida County Democratic Committee fundraiser with keynote speaker NYS Attorney General Letitia James. She was outstanding!  We look forward to seeing everyone at our annual: 

IMV Summer Potluck Picnic
Wednesday, July 19th, 5:30-7:00 pm, IMV’s Summer Potluck Picnic, Sherrill Brook Park in New Hartford (Birch Pavilion–to the left, near the large playground). This is our annual fun event with candidates, allies, families, and friends invited and lots of social time.  We’ve invited local candidates to join us.  Being a dish to share. Please bring your own plates, utensils and beverage container if you can, but we'll have extra in case,  

NY22 Congressional Candidate Forum
NOTE THIS IS A NEW DATE!  
Thursday, August 17th, 6-8 pm,  Mohawk Valley Community College, 1101 Sherman Drive, Utica Alumni College Center Snack Bar. Candidates have announced for the 2024 congressional campaign, and we want to start getting to know them.  Registration coming soon!

Messaging and Framing Effectively

In February, progressives determined to flip our congressional district in 2024 gathered in Madison County for a huge district wide NY22 Summit.  We had Indivisible groups, Democratic committee members, WFP, Citizen Action and labor union representatives at the event, and we organized into action groups. One of those groups has been working hard for months to strengthen our communication skills--that's framing, messaging, and persuasion.  

Here's a recent message from Rhonda, a convener of that working group, and a request that everyone fill out a survey on what trainings are needed next.  

"The NY22 Messaging Group is celebrating as we see the excitement in Message Framing grow.  We have had 1/3 of our original NY22 Summit group take part in Dana Balter's training sessions and you've told us you still want more.  We've also had people in NY21 and NY24 join in on the fun.

Individuals originally in the Voter Outreach, LTE and Social Media Groups are learning how to Frame Messages and are applying this learning to stop disinformation, correct misinformation and get the Progressive Truth out there.   

Does this stuff really work? 

ABSOLUTELY! Just after one "Truth Sandwich" on a Twitter post, there was a decrease of 6% of the people believing the misinformation and a 14% decrease in the intent to share.  That's 6% more people agreeing with the Progressive Truth and 14% fewer people passing on misinformation.  

Do you want more? 

You said that you did, so you need to let us know your interests.  Please complete the VERY brief survey below and let us know!  https://forms.gle/PjcUypV8zWNcmaWR6

Thank you for your valuable input!
 

Request for Contributions: Arriving Immigrants

Thank you to all who responded a few weeks ago when we included this request in the newsletter.  We are sharing it again as a reminder.

Sonia Martinez reports that MVLA has been receiving many calls from new arrivals to the Utica area who are asylum seekers, refugees and other immigrants coming to Utica from other cities in search of more affordable housing and some stability while they request work papers and await the processing of their cases.  Because of the shortage of housing, even in our area, it is taking them a while to find a place of their own, and they are running out of money.  MVLA requests contributions to replenish the fund that helps new arrivals to our area. Many of our local elected officials have turned their backs on these new arrivals and said there is no way to house or help them  In the meantime, they are here--most of them families with children--and they need temporary assistance to get on their feet.  Please contribute what you can to our longtime ally and partner, MVLA. 

Mail your check to Mohawk Valley Latino Association at their address and mark the memo line "Immigrant Fund."  (There is currently no way to make the designation for direct assistance on the MVLA website donate button.) 

Mohawk Valley Latino Association
28 Scott St.,1st floor
Utica, NY 13501
 

Support Rebuilding the Village Summer Youth Program

Once again, Rebuilding the Village is holding a summer youth program for kids ages 7-16. They provide fun activities for kids every day Monday-Friday 1-5 pm through August 31st at no cost to the youth at the Patrick L. Johnson Community Youth Center in Cornhill.  IMV members have supported this program for several years and we ask once again to contribute what you can.  To donate please click here: 
https://www.rebuildingthevillageutica.com/donate

Thank you for making a difference!
 

What Else Do I Need to Know?

Sarah Klee Hood will be a guest at Friday CAFE this morning,  Please join us at 9:30 am at the link in the calendar.  

Celeste Friend's Purple Posse handed out 200 purple basil plants at the Utica Fourth of July parade, along with candy for kids and treats for dogs. Her campaign is taking a brief pause in July to give everyone a chance for some R&R and then will back in full force in August to talk with voters about #UticaForAll. If you haven't yet joined in the fun, it's a good time to sign up to volunteer for the general election campaign.  

We are looking for volunteers to help with bite-size pieces of planning for the NY22 Congressional Candidate Forum on August 17th. Please email IndivisibleMV@gmail.com if you can help.  

We look forward to seeing everyone at the IMV Potluck Picnic on Wednesday, July 19th!

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