Help Over Hate: Several gathered for Gather, a drop-in community living room on Middlebury’s Merchants Row, that could use prepared meals and joined us in cooking lasagna in our lower level kitchen following worship and social hour on Martin Luther King Jr Weekend. This Help Over Hate service opportunity was hosted by Indivisible Middlebury and CVUUS in commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr’s devotion to service, emphasizing his mantra of “help over hate” on the eve of the presidential inauguration. Others helped Gather with deep cleaning of its space on Monday following the Help Over Hate vigil on Middlebury Town Green that included many from CVUUS. Several other actions and protests have been coordinated by Indivisible Middlebury, such as the Not My President Protest on Middlebury Town Green on a very snowy bitter cold Presidents Day Feb 17 at 1 pm. For more on these and other opportunities and Indivisible Middlebury, contact Revell Allen, Lise Anderson, Dorothy Mammen or Bethany Barry and see below.
About Indivisible Middlebury: Indivisible Middlebury provides opportunities to practice and protect democracy. It formed after the presidential election, meeting at CVUUS monthly to get organized. It intends to work as a collective (with shared responsibility) in Addison County:
- to keep vulnerable communities safe from harm
- leverage sources of power (school board, selectboards, democratic governors, our state legislature and US Congress
- prepare for chaos (by building a community network)
- provide a space for activists to find solidarity and strength
- join with other Indivisible chapters to gain and use more power (Bristol has an active group)
The group has formed five preliminary subgroups of current primary interest on:
- climate
- health care and access
- protecting vulnerable people
- civil rights and voting
- education
Check ins: Indivisible Middlebury checked in on Tuesday Feb 11 at 12:30 pm in CVUUS’ Fellowship Hall (lower level) with over 70 people in attendance. Time was allotted for people to check in on how they were feeling about current affairs and exchange ideas for practicing democracy. Dorothy Mammen led discussion and guided people into breakout groups, assisted by Revell Allen and Bethany Barry. Many reported feeling energized and hopeful. They will meet on zoom on Thurs Feb 27 at 7 pm and again at CVUUS on Wed Mar 12 at 3:30 pm. Carpooling is encouraged (no parking on street, try Kinney’s if MUHS and CVUUS lots are full). All are welcome. See here for more about the national Indivisible organization. Email indivisiblemiddlebury@gmail.com to be added to a communication list of upcoming meetings and opportunities.