2019-2020 Monthly Meetings


October 20, 2020

This was our last meeting before the election. We heard from Christina Eckert and Amber Hewett. Robin Lawson shared information on relational organizing and Kath Mason shared the Action Calendar with info on locally-organized phone banks.

September 15, 2020

Ben Bloomenthal, Biden/Harris volunteer organizer and MA Democratic State Committee member, talked about the importance of phone banking, and shared guidelines and tips on how to be most effective.

August 18, 2020

Horace Small, leader of Black Ballot Power and founder and executive director of the Union of Minority Neighborhoods, spoke about voter suppression and how we can work toward a fair election and voter registration.

July 21, 2020

Paula Joseph, co-organizer of Swing Left Maine, spoke about what's at stake in Maine and how we can help make sure Maine votes blue in the Presidential, Senate and House races. Paula also profiled Sarah Gideon, who handily won the 7/14 primary and is challenging Susan Collins.

June 16, 2020

Laura Weisel of Force Multiplier spoke about this grassroots group that uses data-based analytics to identify the most strategic U.S. House and Senate races as well as high-impact states for the Electoral College. Force Multiplier raises funds and directs them to the most strategic campaigns through Act Blue.

May 19, 2020

Michelle Olson, CEO of Elect535.org and a founder of Indivisible Mass Coalition and Togetherfor2020.org, showed how to create an individual game plan for effective online activism for the 2020 election.

April 21, 2020

Massachusetts State House candidates Amber Hewett (First Essex representative) and Christina Eckert (Second Essex representative) shared why they're running and where they stand on key issues.

February 18, 2020

Rebecca Riccio of Swing Left gave us insights to feel confident about having voter conversations, listening to voters’ concerns, and influencing their decision-making.

January 21, 2020

Ted Russell (Indivisible-RISE core team member) and Debbie Hart-Klein (our liaison with Swing Left) reviewed our 2019 accomplishments and used maps and data to show where our electoral priorities will be.

November 17, 2019

Reverend Rebecca Bryan, minister of the First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist in Newburyport, shared approaches that create opportunities to come together over differences, leading to greater health, creativity, and hope.

October 15, 2019

Craig S. Altemose, Executive Director Better Future Project, talked on "Building a Movement to Tackle the Climate Crisis".

Better Future Project works to build powerful grassroots movements to address the climate crisis and advance a rapid and responsible transition beyond fossil fuels. Executive Director Craig Altemose discussed state-level initiatives and legislation, including actions Indivisible-RISE members can take.

September 19, 2019

Jordan Thornlow, Eastern Massachusetts organizer from Planned Parenthood, shared an overview of the ROE Act, a historic bill currently under consideration by the Massachusetts legislature. The bill aims to protect and expand access to safe and legal abortion here in the Bay State. Participants learned how to support the ROE Act and advocate for safe, legal, and equitable access to abortion.

August 20, 2019

In a lively Q & A format, Angus McQuilken, co-founder of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, discussed the scope of the gun violence problem in America, effective models for reducing gun violence, and what Indivisible-RISE members can do to get involved and make a difference.

July 16, 2019

Amber Hewett, offshore wind energy campaign manager for the National Wildlife Federation, discussed clean energy and climate policy in Massachusetts and opportunities to support important legislation this season.

June 18, 2019

Immigration attorney Elizabeth Goss presented "Demystifying Immigration and Restructuring the Immigration Debate."

May 21, 2019

Olivia Santoro, volunteer coordinator of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Massachusetts presented an overview of the process by which the Massachusetts State Legislature introduces and passes bills to help attendees better understand how voters can influence lawmaking at the state level.

The Indivisible-RISE Legislative Watch Team updated attendees on their work to follow the Massachusetts Legislative Process and elected officials from the 1st and 2nd Essex districts.

April 16, 2019

A volunteer from Voter Choice Massachusetts explained Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), which allows voters to rank candidates on their ballot in order of choice. Two RCV measures have been proposed in this session. One would make it easier for cities and towns to use RCV in local elections. The other would adopt RCV for federal elections except for President.

Meeting attendees held a brainstorming session on ideas for I-RISE in 2019.

March 19, 2019

State Senator Diana DiZoglio discussed her legislative priorities for 2019.

February 19, 2019

Representative Moulton's plans and progress were reviewed; the Legislative Watch Team was introduced.

January 15, 2019

The core group laid out Indivisible-RISE's 2019 mission and approach followed by a presentation by Olivia Santoro of ACLU Massachusetts, who shared the ACLU’s 2019 agenda and told us how we can get involved locally.