March 24th, 2025

Hello CRAGgy Friends,
Welcome new people! (join here)

1. Request for help with information gathering
   
2. Upcoming local Township/city meetings (Calendar link)
   
3. Upcoming Events and meetings
   
4. Housekeeping
   

“It is not shameful to do little.  It is shameful to do nothing.” Alexie Navalny (1978-2024), Russian opposition leader, anti-corruption activist, and political prisoner. (h/t CW)

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1. Request for help with information gathering
We have formed an information gathering team. Our initial goal is to make short, accessible fact sheets about issues relevant to the local community.
These could be used as:

• reference for speakers at local meetings;
• as handouts to local officials at meetings;
• for posters and flyers for distribution.

Can you help? Many skills and time commitments are helpful.

• Dig into data to find local impacts. We will help with some specific requests.
• Reach out to people at local community organizations, businesses, health and safety services to get their stories.
  • Do they receive federal grants, contracts, support? What kind?
  • What federal services do they use, contribute to?
  • What are they concerned about?
  • Are there key data sources that can help us understand their situation?
• Writing, communication, graphic design.
  • Can you help make a nice fact sheet with our data?
• What information would be most helpful to you?

I'll be at the AWAVE meeting on Wednesday (see below) to discuss this in person.
Or respond by email to connect with the research group.

2. Upcoming Local Township/city meetings CALENDAR
We are trying to get someone to speak up at every possible local meeting. Stand up, say your piece How are government actions affecting you? How do they hurt your community? You don't have to say a lot; some people just say a sentence or two "I'm worried about Medicaid cuts"; "I don't want Elon Musk having access to my private data."
As examples, my statements to all bodies are posted on Substack. (I can post yours, too, if you want to share.)

• March 26, 7 pm Portage Lake District Library board
  • Important! Libraries are under threat. Ask the board how we can support them.
• March 26, 5:30 pm Houghton City Council
• March 28th, 1 pm Calumet Township
• April 8, 12:30 pm Schoolcraft Township
• April 8, 1:00 pm Keweenaw National Historic Park
• April 8, 3:00 pm Houghton County Commissioners
  • Meals on Wheels, request for a millage. Craig W has collected a lot of info on this; please ask if you'd like me to forward it.
• April 8, 5 pm Baraga Country
• April 9, 4 pm, L'Anse Township
• April 9, 5:30 pm, Houghton City Council
• April 9, 6 pm, Osceola Township
  

3. Events and meetings CALENDAR

• March 26, AWAVE gathering at 5th and Elm, Hancock. Continuing on 4th Wednesdays.
  • Agenda:
    1. Gather & socialize (6:00 p.m.)
    2. Welcome & Introductions (6:30 p.m.)
    3. Speakers (6:40 p.m.): Melissa Maki-31 Backpacks, Audrey Gerard – Federal Layoffs
    4. Reports & Upcoming Events (6:50 p.m.) Organizations in the Community supporting Democracy
    5. Advocacy & Learning – Today: What is on your mind? (7:10 p.m.)
    6. Community Time-Share your thoughts or experiences (7:40 p.m.) Sign up for Action Groups
• March 29 Keweenaw Against the Oligarchy March at the bridge. (Michigan United Action) Poster making TODAY at 6 pm. Contact [email protected].

Ongoing:

• Yoopers for Ukraine march on the bridge every Sunday, 3 pm
• “Unpack and Unwind”, Second Wednesdays, 7-8:30 pm, Hampton Hotel on the seventh floor.
• AWAVE: 4th Wednesdays, 5th and Elm
• Houghton County Dems meet every first Wednesday, 7 pm at the Super 8.

Join:

• Join local Keweenaw Indivisible here. This group is actively planning multiple activities; volunteers with enthusiasm and/or talents can contribute. Contact [[email protected]](mailto: [email protected]) to connect.
• Lake Superior Region Indivisible has formed in Marquette. Contact them at [email protected].
  

4. Housekeeping

• I am posting some items (data sources, statement shared by members) on Substack; if you are subscribed there, you'll see some duplication.
• CRAG emails can be accessed through an RSS feed or on this webpage. (Look for an RSS reader for your system; there are many good free options.)
• Easy link to join this email list: https://shorter.me/crag.

Thanks for all your support
Stay Well
Sarah

Citizens Rally for Accountable Government
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CRAG statements to local bodies
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