I am filled with so much gratitude. It’s been really inspirational to meet with ACLU members in Bangor and Portland at the Action Forums these past couple of weeks (see you soon Rockland!).

I’ve met so many folks who’ve been recently activated in the months since the election and also those who’ve been members for years. Many share the sentiment that now is a time for meaningful action. We’ve all been attending marches, rallies, trainings, meetings, etc…. now what? How do we sustain organizing ourselves to have the most impact both on a national and local scale? We’ve been in dialogue about this with you and our colleagues across the country. The forums have provided a great opportunity for us to meet face-to-face and start really important conversations about how we’re going to resist throughout these next four years

We want you to feel empowered to organize direct actions to address the issues you are passionate about, and we want to provide you with the tools and information you need to do so.

One great new tool is People Power, the ACLU’s nationwide grassroots organizing platform, which is currently supporting efforts to organize around the Freedom Cities movement as well as other priority issue areas. 

Additionally, check out the ACLU of Maine Action Center, where you can find information on the local and federal initiatives we're watching.

And if your time is limited, here are three easy ways you can take action right now to support meaningful change in Maine:

• Oppose LD 366: Rep. Lockman’s so-called “anti-sanctuary” bill, which capitalizes on anti-immigrant fervor to threaten towns and cities that choose not participate in federal immigration enforcement.  The hearing for this bill hasn’t been scheduled yet but we want to send a clear message that Maine is a welcoming state. We’ll be mobilizing our members to show up in Augusta so watch our social media outlets for updates! Check out our Action Center for ways to act in the meantime.
• Support LD 1190: The ACLU of Maine is supporting a bill in the Maine legislature that would end the practice of automatically suspending an individual’s driver’s license for failure to pay a fine, for most non-driving related violations. We need to show how this practice is hurting real Mainers. Have you been negatively impacted by a driver’s license suspension that resulted from an unpaid fine? Has this happened to any of your employees? Go here to fill out a confidential survey.
• If you haven’t yet, sign up today (right now) for ACLU Nationwide’s People Power initiative. It’s a great way to get updates on actions you can join around the country. Additionally, the map feature allows you to RSVP to events near you or host one. The thing I really like about People Power is that it’s building capacity for the resistance by providing information and recommendations, but it’s mostly encouraging ACLU members to interact with each other to organize in ways that make the most sense for the communities we are rooted in.

From our op-ed in the Portland Press Herald:

Amid several suicide attempts, including one that claimed the life of a 16-year-old transgender boy in October, the recent escape of three young people and an ongoing investigation that led to the resignation this week of Long Creek Youth Development Center’s chief administrator, it’s time to take a closer look at how Maine cares for and treats at-risk youth.

But that look must go beyond the Department of Corrections, which is tasked with the care of children who have been involved in criminal activity. We must instead acknowledge the system failures that have gotten us here, starting with the Department of Health and Human Services, which is responsible for the care of young MaineCare recipients in need of mental health treatment.

Read the full piece here.