We are excited to offer a special federal advocacy training series with the United Church of Christ's Washington, DC Office of Public Policy & Advocacy on August 27 and September 17 from noon to 1 pm to learn how to meet with your member of Congress! All FAN members and friends welcome!

With the support of the UCC Public Policy Office, we are hosting a Moral Budget Advocacy Week, September 22-26. During this week of action, registrants from around the state will have in-district meetings with their members of Congress to urge the importance of a moral budget that funds our social safety net and rejects increases to the administration’s mass deportation campaign.   

The two 1-hour trainings will teach you how to (1) set up a meeting with your senators and representatives and (2) prepare for that meeting.   

• August 27 at 12 pm PT: Zoom Webinar on How to Request a Meeting with a Member of Congress  

• September 17 at 12 pm PT: Zoom Webinar on How to Meet with a Member of Congress   

You will receive the tools, talking points, and materials to lift your voice in support of these critical programs, with no experience necessary! The skills and tools learned will also be useful for meeting with your state legislators in the interim and during the state legislative session. 

As people of faith, many of us object to the recently passed “One Big Brutal Bill” that made permanent tax cuts for the wealthy and increased funding for the Administration’s deportation and detention program by over 40%. These were paid for by slashing the funding for Medicaid and SNAP, leaving more folks without healthcare or food for their families. Yet there could be even more funding flowing to immigration enforcement and more cuts to housing, food, and healthcare assistance programs as the federal budget is being considered by Congress ahead of the September 30 deadline. 

Please join us in this week of action to urge Congress to prioritize funding for social safety net programs and humane policies that protect the rights and dignity of migrants. These are not merely political issues, but moral imperatives that reflect our shared values and our commitment to building a just and compassionate society for everyone.  

We are excited to be joined by a few guests for this month’s meeting tomorrow, August 20th, at 3:30 on Zoom, from Columbia Legal Services. Columbia Legal Services works with communities to advance racial and economic justice through impact litigation and legislative advocacy. They have a special commitment to working with people impacted by incarceration, immigration, and unfair labor practices. From their staff, “We’re excited to share more about our work at CLS and just as importantly hear about yours. We hope this time together sparks ideas for collaboration and support, serving as a starting point for deeper relationships moving forward.”

Join the meeting here.

Passcode: 464151

Please e-mail FAN staff Blake Alford Alford@fanwa.org with any questions. 

A Once-in-Three Year Opportunity to Reduce Carbon Emissions!

The opportunity to update and improve our building energy codes--thereby addressing climate change--comes up only once every three years. This is the time! Our partner, Climate Solutions, is inviting us to sign their petition to the State Building Code Council, with a goal of thousands of signatures.

Buildings contribute about 25% of carbon emissions in Washington, a fast-growing source as we race to build more homes and commercial buildings. However, fossil fuel industries are lobbying against recommended changes that would help Washington achieve our climate change goals. The Building Code Council needs to hear from us. We can be proud that Washington State already has the most climate-friendly building codes in the country, and these improvements will help us continue to set a national example.

LEARN MORE AND SIGN THE PETITION NOW

Many of our spiritual traditions consider the earth sacred or a gift of the divine. Hear these words, for example:

When G-d created the first human beings, G-d led them around the Garden of Eden and said: “Look at my works! See how beautiful they are—how excellent! For your sake I created them all. See to it that you do not spoil and destroy My world; for if you do, there will be no one else to repair it.” (Bible--Ecclesiastes 7:13)

Humans, trees, pilgrimage places, banks of sacred streams, clouds, fields. Islands, spheres, universes, continents, solar systems. The sources of creation, egg-born, womb-born, earth-born, sweat-born, oceans, mountains, and sentient beings. The Lord, knows their condition…having created beings, the Lord takes care of them all. The Creator who created the world takes thought of it as well. (Guru Granth Sahib)

Stand with SEIU6 On Friday, August 22nd from 3:00-4:30pm
Meet at McGraw Square 531 Stewart Street, Seattle

Contact FAN staff member Blake Alford if you would like to meet him and other advocates there.

Celebrate Sun Day

Some of our Washington faith communities are celebrating Sun Day, September 21! If you're interested in getting involved, learn more here: sunday.earth

From their website: "The clean energy revolution is here. Solar, wind and batteries are the cheapest form of power on the planet, lowering costs, creating new jobs, and strengthening our communities. But some politicians and industries are trying to hold it back. On September 21st, the fall equinox, we’ll celebrate the progress we’ve made and push for more. We’ll showcase solar installations and electric homes, host e-bike parades, give heat pump tours, and rally for change. All we need is to build the political will to scale-up and accelerate clean energy and make it accessible to all. Together, we’ll make the sun rise on our clean energy future."

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