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- Havdalah #48: Training, Kayaking, and NPR
Hey ya’ll,
This week sure has been an interesting case study in the functioning of representative democracy with Texas Democrats hiding out in Illinois to avoid a quorum and California considering its own redistricting plan. Of course, I’d rather have a system where we don’t draw electoral maps along partisan lines, but if harm reduction means playing the electoral game at the same level as the Republicans, so be it.
A lot has happened in RI this week, so you can catch up with some articles we have from Steve Ahlquist [ed: our beloved], and if you are looking for something to do, the Tomaquag Museum has quite a few educational events going on this week, so be sure to check those out as well.
So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, adieu…
Jackie (she / her)
PS: We’d like to hear from you! Let us know how we’re doing!
CARI: How to Talk about Utility Justice! Virtual Training
When: Thursday, August 14, 7:00pm
Where: online, Zoom
Do you want to fight against rising electricity rates? Do you want to demand affordable and clean energy for your community?
Join 350 Network Council and people around the country to learn how to educate our communities, build awareness & power, and hold our electric utilities accountable!
Workers and Renters: Providence General Assembly
When: Saturday, August 23, 12:00pm and every other Saturday
Where: 134 Mathewson Street, Providence, RI 02903
From their Instagram:
Worried about Trump?
Want to defend our communities?
Want a world that works for everyone?
Come to the Providence General Assembly!
Spanish, ASL interpretation and childcare available upon email request
Masking requested and masks will be provided
Direct questions to [email protected]
Butler Hospital Workers on Strike - Join the Picket Line!
When: Everyday, 6:00am-7:00pm
Where: 345 Blackstone Boulevard, 02906
On May 15th, hundreds of hospital workers, represented by SEIU 1199NE, went on strike at Butler Hospital. Butler Hospital is RI’s only dedicated psychiatric hospital, and the workers are striking over understaffing, unsafe working conditions, and poverty wages.
As of writing (8/2), the staff are still on strike, with Butler having subsequently canceled their health insurance, and the police and city targeting the strikers with noise complaints.
The strikers can use our support! Donate supplies, send a supportive message, or join them on the picket line!
Linktree with information on strike background and how to support it
ACLU Rights Explainers
When: Up now
Where: Online
The ACLU just released two updated versions of their explainers about your rights when interacting with immigration agents (ICE) or the police. They have them available in 10 languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Cape Verdean, Haitian Creole, French, Swahili, Dari, Pashto, and Khmer.
Read and save this material – regardless of your own immigration status – and send to friends and family! Click the link below and scroll to the bottom of the page to download PDFs that you can print, plus the ACLU posted on all their social media platforms (@riaclu) if you want to save and share online.
If you have a specific way to distribute larger numbers of the paper copies, please email the RI ACLU at [email protected] or call them at 401-831-7171. They have a limited supply printed, but will provide as many as they are able.
Tomaquag Museum: Spears Family Salt Pond Memories
When: Tuesday, August 12, 6:00pm-7:00pm
Where: Kettle Pond Visitors Center, 50 Bend Road, Charlestown, RI 02813
Join others for an evening of conversation with members of the Spears family, an intergenerational panel of Narragansett Tribal citizens, as they share stories, memories, and traditional ecological knowledge of Charlestown’s Coastal Salt Ponds. This will be a unique experience to hear Indigenous perspectives and deepen your own understanding of environmental stewardship in a relaxed, family centered gathering.
Tomaquag Museum: Coastal Stories
When: Wednesday, August 13, 6:00pm-7:00pm
Where: Cross Mills Public Library, 4417 Old Post Road, Charlestown, RI 02813
Join others for an evening of storytelling that celebrates our coastal spaces with Tomaquag Museum educator Silvermoon LaRose of the Narragansett Tribe.
Coastal Stories supports efforts to reduce nutrient pollution to the Greater Allen’s Cove and Eastern Ninigret Pond Pilot Watershed through community engagement and is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Southern New England Program (SNEP).
Registration for Coastal Stories
Note: while the date on the page seems to be incorrect, it is shown on the 13th on the Cross Mills Library calendar
TEK Walks Kayak Event with Chrystal Mars Baker
When: Friday, August 15, 1:00pm-4:00pm (Rain Date August 16)
Where: WPWA, 203 Arcadia Road, Hope Valley, RI 02832
In this kayaking event, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) will be shared as people row to various spots along the Pawcatuck River.
During the TEK Walks, Indigenous educators will impart Traditional Ecological Knowledge as we explore the ancestral lands of the Narragansett Nation.
As you may have heard, Congress recently allowed Trump to claw back $9 billion in funds, which included $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). This cuts all federal support for NPR, PBS, and their member stations. This includes Rhode Island’s NPR affiliate, The Public’s Radio. If you can, give them some support, as local reporting is incredibly important (and now, almost entirely supported by Viewers Like You).
News Round-Up: Local
Bill to increase Rhode Island’s minimum wage celebrated at State House (Steve Ahlquist in SteveAhlquist.news, August 4, 2025)
Butler Hospital workers have volunteered over 1400 hours of community service since the strike began (Steve Ahlquist in SteveAhlquist.news, August 5, 2025)
ACLU of RI, GLAD Law, and RI Center for Justice respond to Brown University’s anti-transgender agreement with Trump (Steve Ahlquist in SteveAhlquist.news, August 6, 2025)
As RIPTA moves closer to draconian service cuts, riders protest in Kennedy Plaza (Steve Ahlquist in SteveAhlquist.news, August 7, 2025)
Can RIPTA avoid the transit death spiral? (Steve Ahlquist in SteveAhlquist.news, August 8, 2025)
News Round-Up: National
In Prison, Considering My Injury on a Scale of 🙂 to 😖 (Ramelle Kamack in Prison Journalism Project, May 6, 2025)
The Little-Noted Trump-DOJ Move That Should Scare the Hell Out of You (Harry Litman in The New Republic, July 10, 2025)
Pod Recs: It Could Happen Here
Dogwhistle Politics and Nazi Code Hunting (It Could Happen Here, August 7, 2025)
Executive Disorder: White House Weekly #28 (It Could Happen Here, August 8, 2025)
