The Amp

In Dec. 1850, abolitionist Harriet Tubman engineered her first rescue mission as part of the Underground Railroad. The exact date is unknown. Tubman organized 13 rescues in which she led about 70 people to freedom. Tubman is the subject of the film, “Harriet.” Discuss Tubman’s legacy by citing the values of Voice and Equality.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Talking About the Attacks on Critical Race Theory, Critical Race Theory on TikTok, a Student Perspective, and Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice; Zinn Education Project’s Harriet Tubman Engineered First Rescue Mission; Kate Clifford Larson’s Harriet Tubman Biography
• Hashtags: #Harriet; #HarrietMovie; #Tubman

This year, it's important to remind audiences to enroll by Dec. 15 for health insurance coverage to start on Jan. 1, 2022. The open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act Open will end on Jan. 15. When discussing the importance of access to healthcare, cite the values of Community and Economic Security.

• Enrollment resources: HealthCare.gov "Get ready to apply for 2022 coverage"; Georgetown University Center for Children and Families' Navigator Resource Guide; Kaiser Family Foundation’s FAQs: Marketplace Eligibility, Enrollment Periods, Plans and Premiums
• Messaging and communication tools: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities' Eliminating Structural Barriers Can Improve Latino People’s Access to Health Coverage
• Hashtags: #ACA; #GetCovered

On this day in 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in the “whites only” section on the bus, a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement. This anniversary provides an opportunity to discuss the ongoing struggle for racial justice and counter efforts to undermine an honest recounting of our nation's history. Reference the values of Equality, Voice, and Community.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Talking About the Attacks on Critical Race Theory, Critical Race Theory on TikTok, a Student Perspective, Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice
• Hashtags: #RosaParks; #civilrights

Today is also World AIDS Day. This year’s global theme is “Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice." On Dec. 1, show support for those living with AIDS and honor those who have died from AIDS-related illness.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Tips for Putting Intersectionality into Practice; UN AIDS' World AIDS Day resources
• Hashtags: #WorldAIDSDay; #EndHIVEpidemic

December 2 is the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, another opportunity to uplift the need for an honest reckoning with the United States' legacy of slavery. In telling your story, we recommend leading with the values of Equality, Mobility, and Voice.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Talking About the Attacks on Critical Race Theory, Critical Race Theory on TikTok, a Student Perspective, and Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice; New York Times' 1619 Project
• Hashtags: #Endslavery; #1619project

Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It was created by the United Nations to empower and ensure inclusion of persons with disabilities. Discuss this news hook by citing the values of Voice, Community, and Economic Security.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Center for American Progress’ 10 Disability Policy Questions Every Presidential Candidate Should Answer and Beyond the ADA; The Opportunity Agenda’s Opportunity Impact Statement - Expanding the American Dream; The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities' Medicaid Work Requirements Don’t Protect People With Disabilities
• Hashtags: #IDPD; #DisabilityAtCAP

On this day in 1967, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. told reporters in a press conference that the Southern Christian Leadership Conference would start an initiative that came to be called the Poor People’s Campaign. The campaign continues today. Discuss this anniversary by referring to the values of Economic Security, Equality, and Voice.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Shifting the Narrative: Six Case Studies and episode 2 of the podcast, "On Poverty: The Power of The Camera," Talking about Economic Justice and Talking About Poverty & Economic Opportunity Today: Three Core Pillars; The Poor People’s Campaign’s demands; Kairos Center's America at the Crossroads and Building a Poor People’s Campaign for Today; Justseeds'Poor Peoples Campaign portfolio;
• Hashtag: #PoorPeoplesCampaign

On this day, four days after Rosa Parks was arrested, the Montgomery Bus Boycott began. Out of Montgomery’s 50,000 African American residents, 30,000 - 40,000 participated in the boycott. The protest lasted for 381 days. Residents walked, bicycled or car-pooled, depriving the bus company of a substantial portion of its revenue.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Talking About the Attacks on Critical Race Theory, Critical Race Theory on TikTok, a Student Perspective, and Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice; Zinn Education Project’s Montgomery Bus Boycott Began; Danielle McGuire’s More Than a Seat on the Bus; Black Past’s Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56)
• Hashtags: #MontgomeryBusBoycott; #RosaParks; #civilrights

On this day in 1931, The National Hunger March reached Washington D.C. The marchers demanded "unemployment insurance, the seven-hour workday with no cut in pay; a federal work program paying union wages; an end to racial discrimination, and an end to deportations of immigrant workers; support for the demands of the veterans and poor farmers; and that all funds being built up for making war be used instead to help the unemployed." Throughout its history, the United States has risen to the challenge of poverty and hunger. Today, we continue to work to eradicate these issues. In telling your story, we recommend referring to the values of Economic Security, Community, and Equality.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Shifting the Narrative report and episode 2 of the podcast, "On Poverty: The Power of The Camera," Talking About Economic Justice and Talking About Poverty & Economic Opportunity Today: Three Core Pillars
• Hashtags: #hungermarch

On this day in 2018, seven-year-old Jakelin Caal Maquin’s died while in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody. Discuss the anniversary of her death by citing the values of Family Unity, Voice, and Economic Security.

• Messaging and communication tools: Families Belong Together's toolkit; The Opportunity Agenda's Talking About Imprisoned Children at the Border; Talking About The U.S. Border: Imprisoned Children and Separated Families; The Importance of Maintaining our Identity as a Nation That Welcomes Refugees 
  and Talking About Unaccompanied Refugee Children Fleeing Harm; 
• Hashtags: #JusticeForJakelin; #CloseTheCamps​

On this day last year, leaked audio from a meeting captured President-elect Joe Biden urging civil rights advocates to “curb rhetoric” about the need to defund the police. When confronting criticism of the defund movement, share a clear and inspiring of what a different system could look like where everyone feels safe in their community, to include living free of fear from state-sanctioned violence by the police. Cite the values of Equal Justice, Community, Safety, Voice, and Human Rights. 

Messaging and communications tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Beyond Policing research, Shifting the Narrative report, and Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice.  

Hashtags: #BeyondPolicing; #DefundThePolice

Today is International Human Rights Day, which honors the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The U.S. delegate to the United Nations and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was instrumental in drafting the document. When discussing this hook, we recommend leading with the values of Equality, Community and Redemption.

• In 2020, FineActs and hope-based comms partnered to create a collection of open source and evergreen artistic content that positively reframes human rights. This is an unbranded, open-source bank of content for the human rights movement.
• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Vision, Values and Voice and Storytelling Strategies for Change.
• Hashtag: #StandUp4HumanRights

On this day last year, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use. The pandemic laid bare systemic inequality in the United States, and inequitable access to healthcare and paid sick or medical leave to care for families has hampered vaccine access, once again revealing race-class disparities in communities. When discussing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, center conversations around the values of Inclusion, Empowerment, and Justice. 

Messaging and communications tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s COVID-19 Messaging Resources and sample VPSA, “Talking About COVID-19".

Hashtags: #vaccinate; #COVID19

Today is the birthday of civil rights activist Ella Baker, who played an instrumental role in the movement. Use this day to talk about the intersectional nature of the struggle for racial justice in the United States. Cite the values of Equality and Community when talking about Ella Baker and her legacy.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Talking About the Attacks on Critical Race Theory, Critical Race Theory on TikTok, a Student Perspective, Ten Tips for Putting Intersectionality into Practice and Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice; Ella Baker Center for Human Rights’ Who was Ella Baker? 
• Hashtag: #EllaBaker

President Franklin D. Roosevelt designated Dec. 15 as Bill of Rights Day to commemorate the first 10 amendments becoming a part of the Constitution of the United States. A few years later, Roosevelt called for a Second Bill of Rights to ensure economic security and prosperity. In telling your story, we recommend leading with the values of Equality and Community.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Shifting the Narrative: Six Case Studies; Shifting the Narrative on Poverty; Redefining Sanctuary; and Storytelling Strategies for Change
• Hashtag: #BillofRightsDay

On this day in 1974, President Gerald Ford signed into law the Safe Drinking Water Act. The legislation was supposed to ensure access to safe drinking water across the country, but the law clearly has not been enforced equally for everyone (i.e. Flint, Michigan). Use this anniversary to discuss the issue of environmental racism and the importance equitable of infrastructure spending.  Promote the values of Community and Economic Security.

• Messaging and communication tools: National Resources Defense Council's Watered Down Justice and Advisory on Safe Drinking Water; Enviornmental Protection Agency's Understanding the Safe Drinking Water Act; The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities' A Four-Point Fiscal Policy Blueprint for Building Thriving State Economies; Topos Public Will Initiative's Public Water; Our Neighborhoods, Our Future’s principles, Partnership for Working Families’ We Make This City
• Hashtag: #SafeDrinkingWater

International Migrants Day recognizes and celebrates the rights of migrants around the world. In discussing migration, we recommend leading with the values of Equality, Mobility and Community.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda's 5 Key Facts: Online Discussion of Immigration in the Trump Era Five Questions to ask when Crafting Messages about Refugees; and RadioPublic's Immigration and migration podcasts
• Hashtags: #MigrantsDay; #ForMigration

On December 18, 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution was officially approved. The amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. This exception is often discussed in today’s discussions about criminal justice reform (including Ava Devernay’s documentary, “13th”). Use this anniversary to talk about the continued need for racial justice in the U.S., especially in our criminal justice system. Cite the values of Redemption and Community.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Transforming the System: A New Sensibility and Criminal Justice Reform Phrase Guide
• Hashtag: #13thAmendment

On this day in 1944, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Fred Korematsu, declaring the denial of civil liberties based on race and national origin was constitutional. Fred Korematsu was a U.S. citizen and the son of Japanese immigrants and had refused to be interned with other Japanese-Americans during World War II. Use this anniversary to paint a vision of a nation where racism has not place. Discuss this anniversary by citing the values of Equality, Voice, and Community.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda's Five Strategies for Talking About Anti-Asian Racism, What does safety really mean in America? and The Relationship Between Racial Integration and the Duty to Further Fair Housing; The Fred Korematsu Institute’s Digital Curriculum toolkit; Noah Feldman’s Why Korematsu Is Not a Precedent; Radiolab’s More Perfect podcast - American Pendulum ; ThinkProgress’ Judge compares Trump’s Muslim ban to one of the worst chapters in American history; PBS documentary Of Civil Wrongs and Rights: The Fred Korematsu Story
• Hashtag: #Korematsu

On December 22, 2020, police shot and killed Andre Maurice Hill in Columbus, OH. The officer, who was later fired and indicted by a grand jury, failed to turn on his body camera prior to firing his weapon. A setting that records 60 seconds prior to activating the camera, however, captured the shooting on video. When discussing this anniversary, point to the failure of moderate police reforms to keep people safe. Instead, paint a picture of true community safety where policymakers defund the police and readjust local budgets to provide resources back to the communities. Cite the values of Equal Justice, Community, Safety, Voice, and Human Rights.

Messaging and communications tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Beyond Policing, Shifting the Narrative: Six Case Studies, and Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice.  

Hashtags: #BeyondPolicing; #DefundThePolice

Help your audiences prepare for effective and meaningful conversations about racial justice and economic opportunity with family over the holidays. Refer to values of Equality, Voice and Community.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda's Tips for Surviving Holiday Conversations; Talking About Justice and Equity Through Sports; The Social Justice Phrase Guide and Transforming the System; Southern Poverty Law Center's Responding to Everyday Bigotry; The New York Times' How to Argue Fairly and Without Rancor
• Hashtag: #futureoverfear