Action Alerts
Monday, May 15, 2023, 7:00 PM.
OH-Chapter-City Gun Violence Prevention (CGVP) team members and partners will highlight amazing
collaborative work and partnerships from across the state. Hear about the victories in Akron
surrounding Issue 10, along with developments following the enactment of Issue 24 in Cleveland that
created the Community Police Commission.
Guest speakers will also share collaborative work
surrounding wellness and healing including the innovative and creative Zen Zones. Moms Demand
Action for Gun Sense in America.
.On Wednesday, April 19, 2023, we brought a State Senate record number of opponents to the Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee to testify against Senate Bill 83, the Higher Education Destruction Act. Senate Bill 83 and its companion House Bill 151 are the Higher Education Destruction Act, and they are bad for students, bad for higher education, and bad for Ohio.
Rather than listening (as our democratic and civic processes require) to the 500+ Ohioans asking questions, raising arguments, and citing sources against Senate Bill 83, Committee Chair and Senate Bill 83 sponsor Senator Cirino allowed the unusual request of House Bill 151 co-sponsor Representative Josh Williams to open the hearing, even though Rep. Williams will be given ample time to share his personal viewpoint when he provides sponsor testimony in the House Higher Education Committee for HB 151.
Please join us in telling the sponsors of the Higher Education Destruction Act: we are here, we are strong, and we will not be ignored.
Saturday, May 13, 7-8pm, this event will be occurring via Zoom
Theme: Worker’s rights organizing.
Damon Schnur on Starbucks organizing
Michael Smalz on the Central Ohio Worker Center
Pranav Jani on Senate Bill 83
Teacher's union report
Fighting HJR1
A question-and-answer period will be included.
If you have any announcements for the progressive community, contact us at <colsfreepress@gmail.com>.
Please use this Zoom link to join this event.
Hosted by The Columbus Free Press.
Thursday, May 11, 5:30pm, Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St.
You’re invited to an evening of celebration as we pay tribute to outstanding leaders for healthcare in Ohio.
• Dr. Matthew Noordsij-Jones, Primary Care Physician, Corwin Nixon Health Center, Dayton
• Yvonne Oliver, Health Care Advocate, Cleveland Ohio
• Bob Lynn, Health Care Advocate, Toledo Jobs with Justice (retired)
• Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage, a Statewide Coalition
Join us for good music, food, and fun activities.
Ticket price: $25.00.
RSVP for this event by using this link.
Hosted by UHCAN Ohio.
“No on HJR 1 and SJR 2: Protect the Voice of Ohio Voters,” hosted by Ohio Education Association
Wednesday, May 10, 12:30pm, Trinity Episcopal Church on Capitol Square, 125 E. Broad St.
Two proposed constitutional amendments seek to weaken the voice of voters. It’s time to stand up and fight back. House Joint Resolution 1 and Senate Joint Resolution 2 (HJR 1 and SJR 2) would make it much harder to pass citizen-initiated constitutional amendments in our state by requiring a supermajority of 60% of the vote.
Legislators are considering rushing these issues to the ballot with an August special election. We must come together to protect the fundamental right of Ohio voters to decide critical issues at the ballot box.
It's time to show up in droves to say "Stop Executions forever in Ohio!"
The first hearing is Tuesday (5/9) at 2pm in the Finance Hearing Room in the Ohio Statehouse. Our goal is to pack the room with supporters of this legislation. If you can go to the statehouse in Columbus for this important hearing, please RSVP here: bit.ly/PacktheRoom23.
Go early. Wear your button or t-shirt, or pick one up at the hearing if any remain.
ALSO....
... there are several Ohioans touched by this issue who can use support at this time. Click their names to learn more.
Monday, May 8, 7pm, this event will be occurring via “|Facebook Live”
Join Childcare Changemakers, partners of Community Change Action, and national allies for our second annual “Day Without Childcare Virtual Celebration.” On May 8, from 7pm to 8:30pm, we will hear from childcare providers and parents across the country who took action on “Day Without Childcare” and the work to build a just and equitable childcare system. Register now, to get updates from participants of in-person actions and to participate in a dialogue about the future of our childcare movement.
This event will be occurring via “Facebook Live.”
RSVP for this event by clicking “Going” on this “Facebook event” page [that has a “Watch live video” link that is not currently active].
Hosted by Ohio Organizing Collaborative and Childcare Changemakers.
Sunday, May 7, 2-5pm, Westgate Park Shelterhouse, 3271 Wicklow Rd.
The Central Ohio Worker Center will celebrate May Day (International Workers’ Day) on Sunday, May 7, 2-5 pm, at the Westgate Park Shelterhouse on the west side of Columbus. We will honor the contributions of labor movements around the world! Please save the date and join us to celebrate as we work together to build a better future for all working people! We will have free food and drinks from several food trucks, including tacos, kebabs, and ice cream. Bring the whole family and enjoy face painting, music, dancing, and performances.
Hosted by Central Ohio Worker Center [Centro de Trabajadores de Central Ohio] and Avanza Together.
Saturday, May 6, 4-8pm, The Vanderelli Room, 218 McDowell St.
Paul Volker is a native of Columbus, where he studied fine art at The Ohio State University. Volker began working as a freelance cartoonist and illustrator at age 20, but shifted to painting a few years later, using mainly recycled house paints on various materials, including rubber, plywood, and even bread.
“I enjoy experimenting with different materials. For me, a painting shouldn’t just be a picture of something, but should be a unique object in itself, on which the picture is placed.”
Volker is known as a prolific artist, having painted and sold more than 3,000 works. His paintings rely heavily on contrast and humor, with cartoon animals having been the main subject in over a thousand small paintings created in a series he calls “Wild Beasts” (a reference to Fauvism).
Where most paintings are done on canvas, Volker uses plywood. He prefers house paints to tube paints. His paintings are designed to hang without frames and many without wires. Whatever is expected, he seems to do the opposite.
It is a common understanding in the retail industry that "if you break it, you buy it". That same principle applies to a community destroyed by a reckless corporation as well as a community broken by a careless customer. The overdue bill owed by Norfolk Southern for its wanton destruction of East Palestine is a hefty one that far exceeds the $387 million claimed lost in its 1st Quarter Report on the "Eastern Ohio Incident". However, not a dollar has been paid so far to directly compensate property owners for their colossal loss of value. Making matters worse is Norfolk Southern's refusal to even consider purchasing damaged property at pre-disaster value. That must change.