The Amp

Last week, President Trump released his plan to reform our immigration system. It was roundly criticized for favoring the wealthy and devaluing families. The plan is a stark contrast to H.R. 6, The American Dream and Promise Act, which would keep families together and give permanent status to over 2 million tax-paying immigrants already in the United States. Discuss the proposal by citing the values of Family Unity, Economic Security, and Community.

• Take action: Encourage your networks to tell their representatives to support the act with the National Immigration Law Center’s tool.
• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s 5 Tips for Talking About the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6) and Immigration Policy Solutions: Promoting Family Unity; National Immigration Law Center’s Trump Proposes Rigging Immigration System; United We Dream’s Digital Toolkit; National Immigration Law Center’s Dream & Promise Act Most Inclusive Dream Legislation in Decades; National Immigration Forum's Bill Summary; Multiple organizations' Sign on Letter to Congressional Leaders
• Hashtag: #DreamAndPromiseNow; #DreamAndPromiseAct; #DreamAndPromise

During National Mental Health Month, advocates draw attention to the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental illness and push for policies that support them and their families. For criminal justice reform advocates, use this theme to talk about the impact of criminalizing people with mental illness. Cite the values of Mobility, Economic Security, and Community when talking about this hook.

• Take Action: If you’re in Los Angeles, participate in WE RISE, a 10-day pop-up immersive experience with art exhibitions, workshops, performances.
• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Eliminate the Criminalization of Public Health Issues; National Alliance on Mental Illness’ WhyCare? Campaign
• Hashtags: #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth; #WhyCare; #MHM2019; #StampOutStigma

May is also

• Asian-Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month. Hashtags #APAHM19; #APAHM; #APAHeritage; #WeCrossedOceans
• Community Action Month: Hashtag #CommunityActionWorks
• Older Americans Month. Hashtags #OAM19; #ConnectCreateContribute

At 2:00 p.m. EST, join the Coalition on Human Need and Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ webinar on “The Latest Plan to Deny Assistance: Shrinking the Poverty Line.”  Learn how  changing the way the federal poverty line is adjusted annually for inflation would affect people who need Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, school meals, LIHEAP, and many other programs. The Trump White House is seeking comments by June 21. Register here: Even if you can't attend, sign up to gain access to a captioned recording and slides after the webinar.

Today the House of Representatives’  Judiciary Committee will also begin marking up of The American Dream and Promise Act, a bill that would protect over 2 million people from deportation: recipients of DACA, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) programs. Discuss this legislation citing the values of Community, Family, and Economic Security.

• Take action: Encourage your networks to tell their representatives to support the act with the National Immigration Law Center’s tool.
• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s 5 Tips for Talking About the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6) and Immigration Policy Solutions: Promoting Family Unity; United We Dream’s Digital Toolkit; National Immigration Law Center’s Dream & Promise Act Most Inclusive Dream Legislation in Decades; National Immigration Forum's Bill Summary; Multiple organizations' Sign on Letter to Congressional Leaders
• Hashtag: #DreamAndPromiseNow; #DreamAndPromiseAct; #DreamAndPromise

It’s Harvey Milk Day, commemorating the birth of one of the nation’s first openly gay elected officials. Milk’s life provides an important milestone in the struggle for LGBTQ rights. Also, use the hook to discuss the Equality Act (which passed the House on Friday). Cite the values of Voice, Equality, and Community when discussing Milk and LGBTQ rights.

• Messaging and communication tools: Human Rights Campaign’s Take action, pass the Equality Act now; The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Tips for Putting Intersectionality into Practice; Center for American Progress’ Protecting Basic Living Standards for LGBTQ People; Social Justice Sexuality’s Intersecting Injustice: A National Call to Action Addressing LGBTQ Poverty and Economic Justice for All
• Hashtags: #HarveyMilk; #HarveyMilkDay; #EqualityAct; #FaithforEquality; #Pride50; #LGBTQ

Today is Red Nose Day which, through engagement with celebrities, raises awareness and funds to help children in need. Watch and tweet during the Red Nose Day Special on NBC starting at 8:00 p.m. EST. Use this opportunity to discuss the values of Economic Security and Community.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda's Talking About Poverty & Economic Opportunity Today: Three Core Pillars and Talking about Economic Justice; Working with Cultural Influencers; UnidosUS’ Noses On!; First Focus’ Millions of children at risk if government changes poverty measure;
• Hashtag: #RedNoseDay

On this day in 2007, President George W. Bush signed into law the Fair Minimum Wage Act, which gradually raised the federal minimum wage to $7.25 per hour. It was the last time that the federal minimum wage was raised. Use this anniversary to talk about the need to change this to create economic opportunity for more Americans through a liveable wage. Cite the values of Economic Security and Community.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s The Fight for $15 in the Era of Trump: Where Does the Public Stand? and Talking About Poverty & Economic Opportunity Today: Three Core Pillars; Economic Policy Institute’s Raising the federal minimum wage; National Employment Law Project's A Baseline for Economic Freedom
• Hashtags: #FightFor15; #LivingWage; #MinimumWage

From 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EST, advocates will hold a tweet storm about the administration’s proposal to redefine the poverty line. Use this toolkit and the hashtags #RedefiningPoverty and #CantEraseMe. 

On May 28, 1830, President Andrew Jackson signed into law the Indian Removal Act, which authorized the president to “negotiate” with southern Native American nations for their removal to federal territory west of the Mississippi River in order for white Americans to settle their ancestral lands. Today, we see this act as legitimating the genocide of native people. Despite this history, Jackson continues to be honored on the $20 bill and President Trump has cited him as his hero. Talk about this anniversary by citing the values of Voice, Equality, and Community

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Standing Rock, Ferguson or Mexican Border, ‘We Are All Related’; U.S. Department of Arts and Culture's #HonorNativeLand: A Guide and Call for Acknowledgement; National Congress of American Indians' Proud to Be Campaign; Reclaiming Native Truths’ Changing the Narrative about Native Americans; IllumiNative’s The false narratives, invisibility, and the erasure of Native peoples must end
• Hashtags: #NAHeritage; #IndianRemovalAct

Join The Opportunity Agenda's webinar, "Talking about Poverty and Economic Opportunity: Shifting the Narrative" which offers messaging guidance on how to shape an affirmative narrative on the issues of poverty and economic opportunity. Guest speakers will be Marisol Bello (Community Change), Bill Nichols (Spotlight on Poverty), and Charon Hribar (Poor People's Campaign). Register today!

On this day in 1851, Sojourner Truth made her famous “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech at the Women’s Rights Convention held in Akron, Ohio. Today,  scholars see the speech as an intersectional critique of single-issue activism. It’s also an important anniversary in light of recent abortion bans passed at the state level and their potential impact on people of color. Use this anniversary to discuss intersectionality and the values of Voice, Equality, and Community.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Opportunity Agenda’s Ten Tips for Putting Intersectionality into Practice and Ten Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice
• Hashtag: #AintIAWoman

On May 30, 1955, the Supreme Court ordered that schools should be integrated “with all deliberate speed." Known as “Brown II,” the order was issued because few schools had integrated since the Brown vs. Board of Education decision. Today, several of Trump’s judicial nominees refused to affirm Brown, a troubling sign for advocates. Cite this anniversary by referring to the values of Voice, Equality, and Mobility.

• Messaging and communication tools: The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human rights’ Oppose the Confirmation of Judicial Nominees Who Decline to State Brown v. Board of Education Decision Was Correctly Decided; The Opportunity Agenda’s Devos’ “School Choice” Means No Choice for Many American Families
• Hashtags: #BrownVBoardofEd; #RetireSegregation