The Amp

Next week, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on the “Raise the Wage Act” H.R. 582, to gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. According to a study by the Congressional Budget Office released on Monday, raising the federal minimum wage would boost income for at least 17 million people. Discuss this legislation citing the values of Economic Security and Community.

• Take Action: Use this online tool to tell your representatives to vote for the act.
• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Talking about Economic Justice; Economic Policy Institute’s Raising the minimum wage; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ Policy Basics: The Minimum Wage
• Hashtag: #RaiseTheWageAct #FightFor15 #RaiseTheWage

President Trump announced that his administration intends to carry out the immigration raids from July 14 through July 18 in several cities. Advocates continue to call out the administration for using immigrant families as a political tool and scaring children across the country. While detention of children is egregious and worthy of attention, be sure to pivot to larger issues of family unity. Resist the urge to repeat myths but instead cite the values of Family Unity, Economic Security and Community.

• Messaging and communication tools: Immigration Hub’s Toplines; Digital Toolkit and Resource list on ICE Raid Preparedness; The Opportunity Agenda’s Recommendations from Redefining Sanctuary research; United We Dream’s #DefundHate Toolkit; LA RED’s Deportation Defense Guide for the Faith Community; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP’s) Threat of Mass Raids Yet Another Reckless and Misguided Fear Tactic; Immigrant Defense Project’s ICE Raid's Toolkit;
• Hashtags: #TrumpRaids; #FamiliesBelongTogether; #StopTheRaids; #NoRaids

Today on Capitol Hill at 2pm EDT, Yazmin Juarez, whose baby Mariee died at the Dilley detention center last year, will testify before the House Oversight Committee's Subcommittee on Civil Rights in a hearing called "Kids in Cages."  Representatives Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley, Tlaib and others will join the committee. Discuss this event by citing the values of Family Unity, Community, and Economic Security.

• Take action: Watch online and Sign/share this petition to demand #JusticeforMariee
• Messaging and communication tools: Make the Road NJ’s digital guidance; The Opportunity Agenda’s Talking About The U.S. Border: Imprisoned Children and Separated Families
• Hashtags: #JusticeforMariee; #CloseTheCamps

On July 11, 1905, W.E.B Dubois and William Monroe Trotter gathered black leaders and launched the Niagara Movement, one of the organizations that paved the way for the formation of the NAACP. The covening met at Niagara Falls, in Ontario, Canada, because hotels on the U.S. side of the falls barred blacks. Among their platform’s demands was the abolition of all caste distinctions based on race or color. Discuss this anniversary by citing the values of Voice and Equality.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice
• Hashtag: #NiagaraMovement; #Reparations2020

On this day in 1960, the American classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, was published. The book focused on racial inequality and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. Today in New York, the play based on the book is receiving rave reviews. Use this anniversary to talk about the need for writers and other artists to challenge injustice. Refer to the values of Voice and Community.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice and Working with Cultural Influencers
• Hashtag: #ToKillAMockingbird

Tonight at more than 640 locations across the U.S. and around the world, Lights for Liberty: A Vigil to End Human Detention Camps, will bring thousands of Americans to detention centers across the country, into the streets and into their own front yards, to protest the inhumane conditions faced by migrants. Cite the values of Community, Family Unity, and Economic Security in your posters and discussions.

• Take action: Join an action near you.
• Messaging and communication tools: Lights for Liberty’s downloads; The Opportunity Agenda's The Importance of Maintaining our Identity as a Nation That Welcomes Refugeesand Talking About Unaccompanied Refugee Children Fleeing Harm;
• Hashtags: #Lights4Liberty

On this day in 2013, George Zimmerman was acquitted in the shooting and killing of African-American teenager Trayvon Martin. This sparked the #BlackLivesMatter movement. On this day in 2015, Sandra Bland died in police custody after being arrested for a minor traffic violation. Newly released video shot by Bland further brings into question her treatment by police. Use these anniversaries to discuss the values of Equality and Voice to discuss.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice and Opportunity for Black Men and Boys; Color of Change’s A Dangerous Distortion of Our Families; Pew Research Center’s The Hashtag #BlackLivesMatter Emerges: Social Activism on Twitter; Movement for Black Lives’ A Vision for Black Lives
• Hashtags: #BlackLivesMatter; #racialjustice

At 2pm EDT, join CLASP, Moms Rising and Mamas Con Poder for a tweetstorm to discuss how immigration raids terrorize communities and dehumanize America’s children for political gain. Learn how you can help protect your neighbors. Use the hashtags #TrumpRaids and #ProtectYourNeighbors.

Ida B. Wells, the pioneering journalist and founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was born on this day in 1862. Wells was one of the first journalists to investigate lynchings across the U.S. Use her birthday as a hook to discuss the importance of working for racial and economic justice. Cite the values of Economic Opportunity and Voice.

• Messaging and communications tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice; Equal Justice Initiative’s Lynching in America and Color of Change’s A Dangerous Distortion of Our Families
• Hashtags: #IdaBWells; #racialjustice

Five years ago on this day, New York City police officers apprehended Eric Garner for selling single cigarettes. He was put in a chokehold which resulted in his death. Garner was recorded saying, “I can’t breathe,” which became a rallying cry against police brutality. Use this anniversary as the opportunity to discuss policing and racial justice issues by citing the values of Voice, Equality and Redemption.

• Messaging and communications tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Create Fair and Effective Policing Practices and Implicit Bias and the Limitations of Video Footage in Tackling Police Brutality and Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice; Movement for Black Lives’ A Vision for Black Lives
• Hashtags: #EricGarner #BlackLivesMatter #racialjustice

At 3:30 EDT, the Food Research and Action Center is convening a webinar: What You Need to Know about SNAP Employment & Training, Changes to the 2018 Farm Bill and More." The 2018 Farm Bill made a number of modifications to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment & Training (E&T). This webinar will review the the substance and timing of changes outlined in the 2018 Farm Bill, and ways for advocates to work with their states to shape SNAP E&T implementation. Register here.

In this month's Immigration Research Consortium webinar, Kimberly Serrano of CIPC, Emily Baird-Chrisohon of TIRRC, and David Broockman of Stanford University will share their insights on organizing successful messaging strategy for canvassing scripts in California and Tennessee. Sign up to become a participant in the consortium. 

We will be on a brief hiatus during the month of August but look forward you returning as webinars resume on September 20th. 

On this day in 1951, the Mattachine Society formally organized and ratified its “Missions and Purposes” as a California corporation. The organization was one of the earliest LGBTQ activist organizations in the United States. Cite this anniversary by citing the values of Voice and Equality.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Tips for Putting Intersectionality into Practice; Making Gay History podcast episodes’ on Harry Hay; Dick Leitsch and Chuck Rowland
• Hashtag: #MattachineSociety

Today is also a National Call-in Day to demand that Congress act soon on spending levels and raise the limits on federal borrowing (the “debt ceiling”). The Coalition on Human Needs writes, "The Senate must agree to funding levels for next year that match or raise the levels already passed by the House. This includes funding for programs like education, housing, WIC and other nutrition, child care, an accurate census, public health and safety, and much more. The House levels protect and/or expand a wide range of vital services." 

Call 1-888-668-8919 and tell your Senator: “Before you leave for recess, please enact a 2-year budget deal to match or raise House levels to fund services all American families need like childcare, housing, and healthcare, and to prevent an economic crisis by raising the debt ceiling." After you make your call, help us spread the word by forwarding this email to your friends and family and posting the call-in number to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can access images and sample social media here.

Poet Emma Lazarus was born on this day in 1849. Her poem “The New Colossus” is inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty and is frequently quoted today in the immigration debate. Use this hook to talk about the importance of welcoming immigrants and refugees to the U.S. and refer to the values of Voice and Community.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’sThe Importance of Maintaining our Identity as a Nation That Welcomes Refugees; 5 Key Facts: Online Discussion of Immigration in The Trump Era and 5 Tips for Talking About Border Communities Without Talking about a Wall
• Hashtag: #EmmaLazarus #StatueOfLiberty

Established in 2011 by the International Self Care Foundation, International Self Care Day is celebrated on the basis that self care is imperative for healthier lifestyles and should be integrated into families, communities, organizations and society. Take this time to invest in the wellness of your mind, body and soul.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Activists Share Their Self Care Tips; Center for Story-based Strategy’s No Burnout Bingo Sheets; BRB! Digital Card Deck: 52 Interventions for Regenerative and Sustainable Movement Work and Sustainability Survey
• International Self Care Foundation’s The Seven Pillars of Self Care; The Guardian’s Don't give up! How to stay healthy, happy and combative in impossible political times; Shine’s Your Complete Guide to Mental Health Days
• Hashtag: #InternationalSelfCareDay

On this day in 1972, the Washington Star broke the story of the unethical Tuskegee Syphilis Study conducted on 600 African-American sharecroppers. The exposure led to fundamental changes in medical research. Use this anniversary to underline the importance of the media's coverage of people living in poverty and cite the values of Equality and Economic Security.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice;  Talking About Economic Justice; and Opportunity for Black Men and Boys
• Hashtag: #TuskegeeStudy