Looking back on the year, we’ve accomplished so much together! From winning clean energy and climate resilience upgrades for half of Seattle’s 26 community centers, to welcoming Shemona Moreno as 350 Seattle’s first Black and Latina Executive Director — we are feeling proud and grateful to be here with you.
Join us as we look ahead to exciting new campaigns in January and close out this year strong. Plus, we’re hiring! We’re going to stop Manchin’s Dirty Deal, again! We’re throwing down for green, affordable housing! Calls to action, community-building events, and more!
350 WA CIVIC ACTION TEAM – LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGN LAUNCH
Housing. The Growth Management Act. Recycling and waste reduction. Building electrification. Forestry. Salmon. Police accountability. Transportation. All of these policy issues and more are on the table in the 2023 Washington State Legislature.
Are you ready to take action on sound and just climate policy? The 350 WA Civic Action Team works to make grassroots legislative advocacy easy and accessible for everyone. We have the opportunity to mobilize voices across the state to make our voices heard on climate policy.
You’re invited to take action with us! Last year, volunteers in this campaign took a collective total of 21,764 legislative advocacy actions together — with you on our team, we can build even more grassroots pressure to pass sound climate policy.
Come join us at 350 WA Civic Action Team’s 2023 legislative campaign kickoff on January 4! Learn how you can make your voice heard on sound and just climate policy in Olympia.
350 WA Civic Action Team Campaign Kick Off
Wednesday, January 4, 6:00–7:30pm
Online, register here.
And sign up to take action with us at the 350 WA CAT in 2023!
STAFFING UPDATES: WE’RE HIRING!
We’re looking for a new Digital & Communications Director to start in early 2023.
The Digital & Communications Director works closely with our volunteer leaders, Executive Director, and Campaigns Co-Directors to tell our story, grow our grassroots base, and strategically amplify our organizing and power. Responsibilities include managing our website, email, and social media platforms; collaborating on communications for 350 Seattle campaigns and fundraising efforts; and developing digital strategies.
We’re looking for someone with a strong anti-racist and anti-oppression orientation to join us in the work of making 350 Seattle a more accessible and inclusive organization.
Does this sound like you, or someone you know? Check out the job announcement and share with your networks!
ENDING THE YEAR STRONG!
To start 2023 as strong as possible, we need to raise $90,000 by the end of the year. Will you help us reach this goal and raise enough funds for transformative climate justice work?
We don’t get funding from 350.org, and we aren’t a well-funded “big green.” We rely on individual donors to provide flexible funding so we can continue to build a future with healthy communities and a healthy planet. Will you make a meaningful donation today to help us do this essential work?
FEDERAL TEAM: STOP THE DIRTY DEAL, AGAIN!
Like a zombie, Joe Manchin’s Dirty Deal keeps rising from the dead. After we succeeded in stopping the deal last August, and succeeded again a couple of days ago in keeping the Dirty Deal out of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Senator Manchin released the latest version of his Dirty Deal. It’s largely the same as the last, except it’s even more fossil-fuel-friendly. It tightens deadlines for environmental review and ensures even more fossil fuel projects get priority. His plan is for it to be attached as an amendment to the NDAA.
Our success in stopping the deal so far has been thanks to the many people who have called their senators — so let’s do that again! Call Senators Cantwell and Murray using the script below.
Cantwell
Seattle: 206-220-6400; D.C.: 202-224-3441
Murray
Seattle: 206-553-5545; D.C.: 202-224-2621
“Hi, my name is ___, and I’m a constituent. I’m asking Senator ____ to vote NO on any amendment that would advance Senator Manchin’s dirty permitting deal. I’m deeply concerned about any legislation that fast-tracks fossil fuels and weakens environmental justice protections.”
Bonus points if you can also call Senator Schumer. His D.C. number is 202-224-6542. Ask him to stop supporting the Dirty Deal!
Want to take even more action? Join a Food & Water Watch phone bank to generate more calls to Senators Murray and Cantwell. This phone banking is easy. You will be calling Food & Water Watch members who are already sympathetic to the cause!
To learn more about the Federal Policy Team or to get involved, check out this page.
GREEN NEW DEAL HOUSING
Everyone should have access to affordable housing and green space in a community where schools, jobs, and basic needs are within a 15-minute walk. Move Seattle toward this Green New Deal future with us by taking two meaningful actions this month:
1. Support House our Neighbors!
House Our Neighbors (I-135) is a community-led ballot initiative to create affordable, green social housing in Seattle — and it’s on the February 2023 ballot! This is a “YES” campaign that will include education, narrative shift, outreach, voter registration, get out the vote, and much more. The social safety net we so desperately need begins with social housing, but to achieve it, the campaign needs your help. Get involved with House Our Neighbors here!
2. Change the rules to allow affordable housing in every Seattle neighborhood!
Passing I-135 will open the door for affordable, green social housing in Seattle — but to realize this Green New Deal vision, we need to change zoning laws so every Seattle neighborhood can benefit from affordable housing. This year’s Seattle Comprehensive Plan Update is our big chance to do it. Join us for the next community listening session to tell the City you support more housing across Seattle, and anti-displacement policies that keep communities in place while also stopping suburban sprawl.
Sign up here so we can share talking points and meet up at the event.
Seattle Comprehensive Plan Listening Session
Monday, December 11, 6:00–8:00pm
Loyal Heights Community Center, 2101 NW 77th St., Seattle 98117
AVIATION TEAM
350 Seattle’s Aviation Team is an active member of the King County International Airport Community Coalition (KCIACC; KCIA is also known as Boeing Field). The KCIACC has 12 equity demands that include measuring and mitigating the impacts of air and noise pollution in nearby communities, and making sure planes from KCIA are included in King County’s climate targets.
In 2023, we’re supporting an ordinance drafted by the KCIACC and sponsored by Councilmember Joe McDermott. This legislation addresses the 12 equity demands and establishes a community benefits agreement with impacted neighborhoods. A well-attended community event in South Park on December 7 laid the groundwork for this community campaign; join us in the new year to help organize for the win!
Aviation Team Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, January 10, 7:00-8:30pm
Zoom here; Meeting ID: 889 1871 9961; Passcode: 080923
Contact Laura to learn more and get involved.
ARTFUL ACTIVISM TEAM
Join the Artful Team
We’ll be back to community art builds in January! Skills welcome, not required — we’ll teach you as you go! Collaborative team tasks, like tracing, cutting, twisting ties, and painting in between the lines are always a welcoming and fun way to drop in and be a part of the powerful art at our actions. Sign up here or contact Lisa to learn more!
Check out Artful at our upcoming build for the Martin Luther King March! Bring smiling eyes, masks, clothes to get messy in, snacks, and water.
Art Build for Martin Luther King March
Saturday, January 7, and Saturday, January 14, 12:00–4:00pm
Location TBD (likely covered outside or in a large, open indoor space), RSVP here.
Join the Art Deployment Team
The Art Deployment Team brings collaborative, powerful, and beautiful art to events for our campaigns and partner orgs who ask for our support — volunteers play an important role in all the logistics that make the magic happen. Learn how to do critical day-of action roles, like transport, setup, positioning, and animating art at events, and how to recruit and guide other volunteers to do the same. Sign up here!
JOIN THE PEOPLE’S ECHO
Greetings, beloved songbirds! As we approach the darkest days of the year, we continue to sing and gather to bring warmth and fire into our hearts and bellies. Here are some opportunities to join our community in song and rhythm.
Making Rhythms for Community Songs, with Shireen Amini
Saturday, December 10, 10:00–12:00pm
Get tickets here. A 2-hour online hand drumming workshop offering tools, practice, and inspiration for creating rhythms to support songs. Sliding scale $40–$60.
Winter Song Gathering: Golden Bridge Choir, with Maggie Wheeler
Sunday, December 11, 11:00am–12:30pm
Get tickets here. An open choir singing experience on Zoom. Tickets $15.
Rooted & Singing, with Theresa (Te) Martin
Sunday, December 11, 5:00–6:00pm
Get tickets here. Join Theresa (Te) Martin for an hour of singing together on Zoom. Come as you are. Suggested donation $15-$20.
This is also a season that inspires generosity. If you believe in the healing power of song, consider supporting these powerful projects:
Bliss is Ordinary: The Podcast That Sings! Hosted by Yambaby and Jessi of Earth Practice. Listen to the podcast and support them on Patreon.
WAILS: Songs for Grief fundraiser, a community-funded and community-created album dedicated to grief by Ahlay Blakely. Check out the GoFundMe.
Stay connected to The People’s Echo for updates on community singing opportunities!
For questions, email the team here.
PHOTOS WANTED FOR OUR PHOTO LIBRARY
We want your photos! Did you take photos at a recent 350 Seattle event, art build, or action? Are you willing to share any great shots you captured with our community? Submit your best images to our Photo Library for use in our organization’s storytelling, including our outreach, communications, and fundraising efforts. Here are our guidelines for submitting photos to our library editors.
VIDEOS!
Check out the 350 Seattle YouTube page for events content and DIY art how-to videos, recordings of past general meetings, webinars, and trainings.
CLIMATE GRIEF AND EMPOWERMENT
Sometimes, finding motivation for climate action can be tough, especially when the weight of climate grief is feeling heavy. Processing those feelings in connection with others is a great way to open up space for inspiration and empowerment. You are invited to feel, digest, and move through grief together at the next Climate Grief and Empowerment gatherings.
Climate Grief and Empowerment Monthly Gathering
Saturday, December 10, and Saturday, January 14, 10:00–11:45am
Online, register here separately for each one you will attend.
COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
To help us all prioritize buying from local businesses owned by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color for holiday shopping and more, here is a resource for us to find what we need. Some people on it are in our 350 Seattle community, and many others are in our broader community. Please use the form below to tell us about any BIPOC businesses missing here that you’d like to see included.
Do you have a skill or service you would like to offer at reduced or no charge to the 350 Seattle activist community as a way to take part in and support the work we do? The climate movement requires many skills and talents. You don’t have to be an organizer, protest-goer, phone-banker, or someone who’s ready for civil disobedience to get involved in climate justice. We need you: teachers, gardeners, lawyers, accountants, storytellers, caregivers, artists (whom we link with our Artful Team), and MORE!
Please fill out this form with your own offerings or other local BIPOC businesses we could be supporting this season, and we’ll be in touch.
SHOUTOUTS AND APPRECIATIONS!
We are glad to honor longtime volunteer David Perk in this month’s shoutout section! David has been our tireless monthly newsletter writer and editor for many, many years, and now he’s handing off the task. We’re so grateful to David for his years of service to keep us all updated and connected in our community on a monthly basis, and we know it takes a lot of work to help tell the story of our work at 350 Seattle each month. Thank you, David, and thank you for your unwavering attention to all things trains, trees, and policy!
Alice L. — although City budget research and analysis is often behind the scenes, we see you and celebrate all the nerdy work you’ve done to support this year’s Solidarity Budget! Your dogged determination, keen eye for detail, commitment to working in partnership, and willingness to be out on your growing edge are awesome. —Jess W.
Elle G. — We are so lucky to have you as our lead on the 350 WA Social Media Team! You are so thoughtful and caring in the way you support this crew to do awesome work together. You always come prepared with a plan to get work done AND to have fun and get to know each other. Thank you for working hard to bring out the best in our volunteers and for your patience and kindness. We are really fortunate to have your leadership as a volunteer in our community, Elle! —Grace H.
Have a 350 Seattle community member you’d like to see honored in our newsletter shoutouts? Let us know here!
GET INVOLVED
Do you care about climate justice? Want more general information about 350 Seattle? Then check out this handy Welcome Guide for new volunteers.
Here are some really great ways to start on that path of engagement! Check out our updated Volunteer Opportunities List and our event calendar. Opportunities range from low commitment to high, introductory to skilled. All you have to do is find something you’re excited about and reach out! Unless otherwise noted, all opportunities can be done from home.
Unsure what you want to do? Still have questions about who we are and what we do? Come hang out with us at our monthly virtual orientation and get connected with real people!
Monthly Intro to 350 Seattle Call
Monday, January 16, 6:00pm
Online, register here.
And you can also schedule a time to connect with staff member Grace Hope for a phone or video chat.
No time for all that? Well, never fear — you can support the work we do at 350 Seattle by becoming a monthly donor! Sign up here!
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350 Seattle is an independent local affiliate of the global 350.org. We are not legally or financially connected to 350.org. We’re funded by supporters like you! Click here to make a donation today.
350 Seattle
5031 University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
United States