El Concilio is a local non profit that provides educational, social service, and legal resources for the Kalamazoo community. In a presentation to Indivisible Kalamazoo's Wednesday meeting, Amberly Elementary (and WMU) alum Marysol Millar presented an overview of the organization's programs and how you can help:
- financial donations always appreciated
- volunteers for food distribution
- education volunteer opportunities
-Rapid Response Team training.
American Pamphleteer
ladylibertie.substack.com/
Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance
substack.com/@joycevance
The Contrarian -Jen Rubin and Norm Eisen
contrarian.substack.com/
Heather Cox Richardson
substack.com/@heathercoxrichar…
Dworkin Report
dworkinsubstack.com/
Krassenstein
substack.com/@krassenstein
Lincoln Project
substack.com/@lincolnproject62…
Meidas+
meidasplus.com/
Paul Krugman
paulkrugman.substack.com/
Public Notice--Aaron Rupar
publicnotice.co/
Robert Reich
robertreich.substack.com/
Seth Abramson
substack.com/@sethabramson
The Warning with Steve Schmidt
steveschmidt.substack.com/
-->use the comments to add new links
Shutdown 315 Movement
substack.com/@theshutdown315mo…
-->use the comments to add new links
Andrew Weissmann
substack.com/@weissmann
Democracy Docket
substack.com/@democracydocket
Law Dork
lawdork.com/
-->use the comments to add new links
Erin in the Morning
erininthemorning.com/?utm_sour…
-->use the comments to add new links
Indivisible (national)
indivisible.org/
Statewide Indivisible Michigan
statewideindivisiblemi.com/
Indivisible Greater Grand Rapids
indivisiblegrr.substack.com/
Indivisible Greater Kalamazoo
indivisiblekzoo.org/
Restored Government Data Sites and Other Databases
Here’s the list so far….
Restore CDC
restoredcdc.org/www.cdc.gov/
Internet Archive
archive.org/
Data Rescue Project
datarescueproject.org/
Centered America Misinformation Database
centeredamerica.substack.com/p…
Amazon is killing a privacy feature to bolster Alexa+, the new subscription assistant.Scharon Harding (Ars Technica)
Substack Subject Index
> Economic/Consumer Issues
> Education Issues
> Food
>Health Issues
> Legal Issues
> LGBTQ+
> Politics
> Scoundrels to Keep an Eye on
This group page will be used for group announcements and group resources. An index of tags to information pages will be maintained and this is the place to suggest additions to our growing library of resources.
There will be some Friendica user tips specific to our MI Book Club, but also check out the Tech Support link on the Groups menu to the left.
1. Keep making calls.
5calls.org/
2. Call Congress about the budget; email Huizenga.
3. Amazon Boycott through March 14.
4. March 13 & 27 phone banking for Susan Crawford for WI S Court indivisible.org/scowls2025
5. March 15: Mail #IdesofTrump postcards
(text me if you need some)
6. March 16: Rally for LGBT rights, 2-5 pm in Lansing
7. March 18 & 27: Imagine Kalamazoo 2035 environmental group
kalamazoocity.org/Government/P…
8. March 19: League of Conservation Voters Huizenga Protest
lcv.org/
9. March 19 & 26: non-partisan Vigil of Faith, noon at city hall
10. March 21-28 Nestle Boycott
The local action working group is also planning no on Friday protests at the Lovers Lane office of Bill Huizenga.
Here’s the list so far….
Restore CDC
restoredcdc.org/www.cdc.gov/in…
Internet Archive
archive.org/
Data Rescue Project
datarescueproject.org/about-da…
Centered America Misinformation Database
centeredamerica.substack.com/p…
The City of Portage, in partnership with the Environmental Board and the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), has launched a new plastic bag recycling initiative to help reduce plastic waste in the community.Portage, MI
The City of Portage, in partnership with the Environmental Board and the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), has launched a new plastic bag recycling initiative to help reduce plastic waste in the community.Portage, MI
DISPLAY SETTINGS
Friendica has two display themes: “Vier” and “Frio.”
-To change settings, click on your profile icon at the upper right and then drag down to SETTINGS.
-From the menu on the left, select DISPLAY.
-Use the pull down window to select VIER or FRIO. Scroll down to click on SUBMIT.
There are small layout differences, so its a personal choice. You may find FRIO looks more like Facebook.
To compose new posts in VIER, start from HOME, select CONVERSATIONS, then click on the SHARE window.
To compose new posts in FRIO, click on the HOME icon, select CONVERSATIONS, then click on the new post (pencil/paper) icon.
DISPLAY SETTINGS
Friendica has two display themes: “Vier” and “Frio.”
-To change settings, click on your profile icon at the upper right and then drag down to SETTINGS.
-From the menu on the left, select DISPLAY.
-Use the pull down window to select VIER or FRIO. Scroll down to click on SUBMIT.
There are small layout differences, so its a personal choice. You may find FRIO looks more like Facebook.
To compose new posts in FRIO, click on the HOME icon, select CONVERSATIONS, then click on the new post (pencil/paper) icon.
Indivisible (national)
indivisible.org/
Statewide Indivisible Michigan
statewideindivisiblemi.com/
Indivisible Greater Grand Rapids
indivisiblegrr.substack.com/
Indivisible Greater Kalamazoo
indivisiblekzoo.org/
Week of March 9 Action Items from Indivisible GRR:
Top 5 Things You Can Do This Week
The list may seem short this week, but we’re directing people to utilize the 5Calls app, which includes the current issues and is updated regularly. Also, there are definitely A LOT of events happening in the coming weeks, including a few outside opportunities so you can get some fresh air after you make those calls.
Call Senators Peters, 202.224.6221 and Slotkin, 202.224.4822 (see Resources for You for more contact info)
Sen. Slotkin: Thank her for her State of the Union speech response (even if you think she wasn't aggressive enough)
Hold town halls during the upcoming Congressional recess (March 15-23)
Oppose firing of 80,000 jobs at the VA, which is 15% of the VA workforce.
Oppose reduction of IRS workforce by 50%.
Oppose MAGA plan to stockpile taxpayer money in a crypto currency reserve scam
Demand that Trump disclose the identities of the donors to his transition team and how much they donated.
Call Rep. Scholten 202.225.3831
Sign up to receive Rep. Scholten’s newsletter. It’s actually quite informative.
Hold town halls during the upcoming Congressional recess (March 15-23)
Publically - loudly and often – fight and obstruct the Trump/Musk agenda with all possible congressional tools
Oppose firing of 80,000 jobs at the VA, which is 15% of the VA workforce.
Oppose reduction of IRS workforce by 50%.
Oppose MAGA plan to stockpile taxpayer money in a crypto currency reserve scam
Demand that Trump
Call your State Representative: Every single Michigan House Republican voted to cut $5 billion (25%!) from the education budget and to defund higher education. It didn’t even go through the committee process to allow people to read it (see contact info in Resources for You).
If you have a GOP Rep: Let them know how you feel about this lack of process and their vote
If you have a Dem Rep: Thank them for voting against this budget
Use apps to maximize and amplify your resistance!
Download the 5Calls app and start calling!
Check out the Everywhere Is Queer app to support local, LGBTQ+ owned businesses in your area
Educate Yourself
Read: Thirty lonely but beautiful actions you can take right now which probably won't magically catalyze a mass movement against Trump but that are still wildly important
Check out the A History of Racial Injustice from The Equal Justice Initiative. Founded in 1989 by Bryan Stevenson, a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer and bestselling author of Just Mercy, you can sign up for daily history lessons delivered right to your email inbox. Here is an overview of March that will give you an idea of the information they provide.
Subscribe to Letters from an American, Heather Cox Richardson’s column on Substack where she breaks down current events through the lens of history.
Attend any of the events listed below!
#6 for triple extra credit: Take care of yourself! Watch your favorite feel good movie(s) to take a break from the relentless chaos. Casablanca, Amelie, and School of Rock are good options. You probably have others on your own lists. Pop some corn, open a can of your favorite carbonated beverage, and settle in for a little vacation for your brain.
Keep a list. 19 Democrats including, Chuck Schumer, backed MAGA Republicans in making corruption, tax evasion and fraud easier. They voted to repeal the rule requiring cryptocurrency bros to adhere to the same tax reporting rules as stock brokers.Bluesky Social
<img src="https://kalamazoopipeband.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/libby-2.jpg"/>
How do I get started with Libby by OverDrive?
1. Get a free card from your local public library.
2. Download the Libby App.
3. Use your library card number and pin (typically the last 4 digits of your phone number) to configure your Libby account.
4. Search by title or use the "magazine" filter to browse titles.
5. Select title, then click "Subscribe" to add the latest issue to your "Magazine Rack."
6. For more tips, open the Libby Magazine Help page:
help.libbyapp.com/en-us/catego…
<img src="https://kalamazoopipeband.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/libby-1-1.jpg"/>
Andrew Weissmann
substack.com/@weissmann
Democracy Docket
substack.com/@democracydocket
Law Dork
lawdork.com/
American Pamphleteer
ladylibertie.substack.com/
Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance
substack.com/@joycevance
The Contrarian -Jen Rubin and Norm Eisen
contrarian.substack.com/
Heather Cox Richardson
substack.com/@heathercoxrichar…
Dworkin Report
dworkinsubstack.com/
Krassenstein
substack.com/profile/756622-kr…
Lincoln Project
substack.com/@lincolnproject62…
Meidas+
meidasplus.com/?utm_source=sub…
Paul Krugman
paulkrugman.substack.com/
Public Notice--Aaron Rupar
publicnotice.co/
Robert Reich
robertreich.substack.com/
Seth Abramson
substack.com/@sethabramson?utm…
The Warning with Steve Schmidt
steveschmidt.substack.com/
Couch Nap
substack.com/@takeacouchnap
Force of Infection--Caitlyn Rivers tracks seasonal disease outbreaks, vaccines, etc.
caitlinrivers.substack.com/
Your Local Epidemiologist--public health news
yourlocalepidemiologist.substa…
Christopher Rufo -anti-public education, anti-LGBTQ+, Florida New College "Board Member," City Journal
christopherrufo.com/?utm_sourc…
Curtis Yarvin -anti democracy guru with J D Vance in thrall
substack.com/@graymirror?utm_s…
> Economic/Consumer Issues
> Education Issues
> Food
Health Issues
> Legal Issues
> LGBTQ+
> Politics
> Scoundrels to Keep an Eye on
It's Women's History Month! All March, we're highlighting women who've taken valuable steps for technology, privacy, security, and free expression for us all.Bluesky Social
youtube.com/watch?v=-4wsAmXnaE…
Help with profile settings, post settings and formatting, privacy issues, etc.
Since the internet was severely lacking it, This is a comprehensive tutorial on how you can do pretty much anything in friendica that you can on facebook. T...YouTube
February 28th
Economic Blackout
March 7-14
Amazon Boycott
March 21-28
Nestle Boycott
April 18th
Economic Blackout 2
April 21-28
General Mills Boycott
May 6-12
Amazon Boycott 2
May 20-26
Walmart Boycott 2
June 3-9
Target Boycott
June 24-30
McDonalds Boycott
July 4th
Independence Day Boycott
Kalamazoo County
kalcounty.com/board/
First & Third Tuesdays 7:00 PM
Go to Meeting Dates, Agendas to watch live or later on YouTube
City of Kalamazoo
kalamazoocity.org/Government
First & Third Tuesdays 7:00 PM
YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UCIgXSSXLS…
Kalamazoo Township
ktwp.org/
Second & Fourth Mondays 7:00 PM
Go to agenda for Zoom link
Oshtemo Township
oshtemo.org/Boards-Committees
Second & Fourth Tuesdays 5:30 PM
Kalamazoo Public Schools
kalamazoopublicschools.com/boa…
alternate Thursdays 7:00 PM
kalamazoopublicschools.com/boa…
Portage Public Schools
portageps.org/page/board-of-ed…
Second & Fourth Mondays 6:30 PM
YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UCgP_TKfLi…
Michigan Government
Gretchen Whitmer Governor
michigan.gov/Whitmer
Garlin Gilchrist, II Lt. Governor
michigan.gov/whitmer/ltgov
Jocelyn Benson Secretary of State
michigan.gov/sos
Dana Nessel Attorney General
michigan.gov/ag
House of Representatives
Matt Hall, Speaker 42
MattHall@house.mi.gov
(517) 373-1784
Matt Longjohn 40
MattLongjohn@house.mi.gov
(517) 373-8670
housedems.com/matt-longjohn/
Julie Rogers 41
JulieRogers@house.mi.gov
(517) 373-1783
housedems.com/Julie-Rogers/
Senate
Sean McCann 19
SenSMcCann@senate.michigan.gov
517-373-5100 h
ttps://senatedems.com/mccann/
Legislative Branch Lookup
michigan.gov/som/government/br…
House Livestream house.mi.gov/Index
Senate Livestream cloud.castus.tv/vod/misenate?p…
Agriculture
agriculture.house.gov/
202-225-2171
Chair: Glen Thompson, PA
Ranking D: Angie Craig, MN
Other notable members:
Jim McGovern, MA
Jasmine Crockett, TX
Appropriations
appropriations.house.gov/
(202) 225-2771
Chair: Tom Cole, OK
Ranking D: Rosa DeLauro, CT
Other notable members:
John Moolenaar, MI
Budget
budget.house.gov/
(202) 226-7270)
Chair: Jodey Arrington, TX
Ranking D: Bredan Boyle, PA
Jack Bergman, MI
Pramila Jayapal, WA
Education & Workforce
house.gov/committees#:~:text=E…
(202) 225-4527
Chair: Tim Walberg, MI
Ranking D:Robert Scott, VA
Other Notable Members:
Haley Stevens, MI
Energy & Commerce
energycommerce.house.gov/
(202) 225-3641
Chair: Morgan Griffith, VA
Ranking D: Frank Pallone, NJ
Diana DeGette, CO
Debbie Dingell, MI
Ethics
ethics.house.gov/
202-225-7103
Chair: Michael Guest, MS
Ranking D: Susan Wild, PA
Financial Services
financialservices.house.gov/
202-225-7502
Chair: French Hill, AR
Ranking D: Maxine Waters, CA
Bill Huizenga, MI
Rashida Tlaib, Mi
Foreign Affairs
foreignaffairs.house.gov/
(202) 225-5021
Chair: Brian Mast, FL
Ranking D: Gregory Meeks, NY
Bill Huizenga, MI
Homeland Security
homeland.house.gov/
(202) 226-8417
Chair: Mark Green, TN
Ranking D: Bennie Thompson, MS
Eric Swalwell, CA
Shri Thanedar, MI
House Administration Committee on House Administration
202-225-8281
Chair: Bryan Steil, WI
Ranking D: Joe Morelle, NY
Judiciary
judiciary.house.gov/
(202) 225-6906
Chair: Jim Jordan, OH
Ranking D: Jamie Raskin, MD
Dan Goldman, NY
Natural Resources
naturalresources.house.gov/
(202) 225-2761
Chair: Bruce Westerman, AR
Ranking D: Raul Grjalva, AZ
Debbie Dingell, MI
Oversight & Government Reform
oversight.house.gov/
(202) 225-5074
Chair: James Comer, KY
Ranking D: Gerald Connolly, VA
RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI, IL
JASMINE CROCKETT, TX
Rules
rules.house.gov/
(202) 225-9191
Chair: Virginia Foxx, NC
Ranking D: Jim McGovern, MA
Science, Space & Technology
science.house.gov/
202-225-6371
Chair: Brian Babin, TX
Ranking D: Zoe Lofgren, CA
Maxwell Frost, FL
Sarah McBride, DE
Small Business
smallbusiness.house.gov/
202-225-5821
Chair: Roger Williams, TX
Ranking D: Nydia Velazquez, NY
Hillary Scholten, MI
Shri Thanedar, MI
Transportation & Infrastructure
transportation.house.gov/
(202) 225-9446
Chair: Sam Graves, MO
Ranking D: Rick Larsen, WA
Tom Barrett, MI
Hillary Scholten, MI
Veterans Affairs
veterans.house.gov/
(202) 225-3527
Chair: Mike Bost, IL
Ranking D: Mark Takano, CA
Tom Barrett, MI
Ways and Means
waysandmeans.house.gov/
(202) 225-3625
Chair: Jason Smith, MO
Ranking D: Richard Neal, MA
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
intelligence.house.gov/
(202) 225-4121
Chair: Rick Crawford, AR
Ranking D; Jim Himes, CT
Select Committee ....CCP
selectcommitteeontheccp.house.…
Joint Economic Committee
jec.senate.gov/public/
Joint Committee on the Library
cha.house.gov/joint-committee-…
Joint Committee on Printing
cha.house.gov/joint-committee-…
Joint Committee on Taxation
jct.gov/
Peter tagged Peter's status with #local
Peter
2025-03-27 01:30:00