Will 2023 be the year Alabama finally expands Medicaid to help cover more than 300,000 people without health insurance and save its rural hospitals? Will politicians reverse course on a plan (possibly illegal) to use COVID relief money to construct new Alabama mega-prisons owned by for-profit companies? Will the legislature spend the half-billion surplus in the Education Trust Fund on improving education and expanding healthcare (two areas where the state ranks near the bottom in quality of life indicators), or will it spend the windfall funds on tax cuts?
We’ve teamed up with our favs MAD? Make a Difference Alabama to hold the virtual What Happens in Montgomery Affects Everyone on Tuesday, February 21st from 12 – 1 p.m. via Zoom. We will be discussing the upcoming Alabama legislative session with speakers covering a range of important topics:
Join us this fall as we partner with our friends at MAD? Make a Difference for a two-part Zoom series on trusting the vote!
In an election year, we rely on respected community leaders to help us navigate and trust the democratic process. With our democracy under attack by partisans, never has it been more important to hear from local election officials, activists, and candidates than before the Mid-Term Elections.
Join us for September’s panel Trusting the Vote in 2022on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 from 12 – 1 p.m.
Panelists are: Judge James Naftel, Jefferson County Chief Election Official; Jackie Anderson Smith, Jefferson County Circuit Clerk; Mark Pettaway, Jefferson County Sheriff; Cindy Lowry, League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham (VOTE 411); Marva Douglas, Constitution 2022 & Amendment 10); and Maddie Minkoff, of Return My Vote (Voting rights restoration).As Alabama nears the Mid-Term Election, many voters reflect on the dominance of one-party in the state’s politics and governance. Some wonder if the state truly reflects a democracy when the voices of minority parties are suppressed by a range of mechanisms, from legislative gerrymandering to being ignored by the mainstream media.
Join us for October’s panel Why Your Vote Matterson Tuesday, October 25, 2022 from 12 – 1 p.m.
Panelists are: Tabitha Isner, Vice Chair of the Alabama Democratic Party; Wayne Rogers, Chair of the Jefferson County Democratic Party; Dr. Will Boyd, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate; Jared Budlong, Independent Candidate for Governor; and Stephanie Floyd, Democratic Nominee for JEFCOED Board of Education, District 3
Join us for Homewood’s second annual Unity Celebration on Saturday, June 25th from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. sponsored by H.I.V.E. Alabama, The Listening Project, White Homewood for Black Lives, and more! This celebration marks 2 years of equity walks in Homewood and we look forward to celebrating with you.
Join us for popsicles, family friendly activities, and a community equity walk at 12 p.m. We will have literature about our groups as well as other organizations working towards racial equity in our area. If you have walked with us before, have seen us on the street or on Facebook, or just want to come out to celebrate with your neighbors, we hope to see you there!
For Alabama to elect the best leaders, each political party must nominate its strongest candidates. Primary elections matter!
Join us for a virtual Senate/Governor Candidate Forum on Tuesday, May 17th from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. The forum is being sponsored by HIVE Alabama in collaboration with the progressive women’s group MAD? Make a Difference Alabama and the Hoover Democrats. Each candidate will be given up to 4 minutes to introduce themselves and say 1) why they are running and 2) why they are the most qualified candidate.
Invited U.S. Senate candidates include Dr. Will Boyd, Brandaun Dean, and Lanny Jackson. Invited candidates for Alabama Governor include Yolanda Flowers, Malika Fortier, Patricia Jamieson, Arthur Kennedy, Chad Martin, and Doug Smith. Each candidate will be given up to 4 minutes to introduce themselves and say 1) why they are running and 2) why they are the most qualified candidate.
As the Alabama Legislative Session winds down soon, it’s time to look at what happened on Goat Hill, with a focus on the good, the bad, and the “maybe” policies that have come out of the session in this election year.
To find out what change advocates have to say, join MAD?Make A Difference on Tuesday, April 12thfrom noon to 1 p.m. Central, via Zoom, held in collaboration with H.I.V.E. Alabama (HIVE Alabama | Huddle. Inquire. Validate. Enact.)
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
DON’T MISS IT! You will hear from three amazing speakers:
Presdelane (Pres) Harris, Alabama Arise Organizing Director: Pres has worked for Arise since 1994 and has a B.S. in justice and public safety from Auburn University at Montgomery and an M.S. in management from Troy University. She has lived in Montgomery her entire life and enjoys spending time with family and friends, working in her church, superhero movies, ocean cruises and mountain cabins in the wintertime. Alabama Arise is a statewide, member-led organization advancing public policies to improve the lives of Alabamians who are marginalized by poverty. Membership includes faith-based, community, nonprofit and civic groups, grassroots leaders and individuals from across Alabama.
Dana Sweeney, Statewide Organizer for Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice: Dana travels all across the state sharing Appleseed’s research, building relationships, and connecting people with opportunities to take action as the group fights for a better future. Dana has lived in Alabama for his entire adult life and dreams of making this the Sweet Home that we all deserve. Alabama Appleseed is member of the national Appleseed Network, which includes 18 Appleseed Centers across the U.S. and in Mexico City. Appleseed was founded in 1994 with the mission to develop and help sustain a network of advocacy centers that address local issues and develop and promote practical, systemic solutions.
Justice starts with electing quality judges, district attorneys, and sheriffs in Jefferson County, Alabama.
Join us for a lively Zoom forum on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to learn more about the candidates in contested races in the Democratic primary election on May 24th.
The forum will offer virtual introductions to candidates in 7 judicial races, 1 district attorney’s race, & 1 sheriff’s race.
It’s an Election Year, so things will be lively during the 2022 Legislative Session, Jan. 11-April 26, in Montgomery, AL., according to political observers. What’s more, the Alabama legislature is arguably the most powerful political force in the state because the state GOP holds a supermajority in both houses of the legislature, which give legislators the ability to over-ride a gubernatorial veto.
To learn about the most progressive – and worrisome — bills that activists and lobbyists are watching, join MAD?Make A Difference, Tuesday, Jan. 11 for a special panel discussion, from noon to 1 p.m. Central, via Zoom, held in collaboration with H.I.V.E. Alabama.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing the Zoom details for joining the meeting. This email is generated automatically, but Zoom can experience delays. Don’t wait until the last-minute to register.
Here is your chance to hear from at these 3 amazing panelists and ask questions:
Presdelane (Pres) Harris, Alabama Arise Organizing Director: Pres has worked for Arise since 1994 and has a B.S. in justice and public safety from Auburn University at Montgomery and an M.S. in management from Troy University. She has lived in Montgomery her entire life and enjoys spending time with family and friends, working in her church, superhero movies, ocean cruises and mountain cabins in the wintertime. Alabama Arise is a statewide, member-led organization advancing public policies to improve the lives of Alabamians who are marginalized by poverty. Membership includes faith-based, community, nonprofit and civic groups, grassroots leaders and individuals from across Alabama. Alabama Arise has released its policy roadmap for 2022 and set its Lobby Day as Feb. 15. For more information, follow Alabama Arise on Facebook.
Rhonda Pendleton, Alabama State Legislative Lead, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America: A Pennsylvania native, but long-time Alabama resident, Rhonda first became involved with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense with the start-up of the Huntsville group in 2018. After volunteering with various Moms efforts locally and state-wide, she took on the role of volunteer state legislative lead in early 2021, coordinating the group’s first virtual advocacy day in March. Moms works with Everytown for Gun Safety to promote evidence-based solutions to end gun violence. For more information about Moms in Alabama, follow them on Facebook.
Dana Sweeney, Statewide Organizer for Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice: Dana travels all across the state sharing Appleseed’s research, building relationships, and connecting people with opportunities to take action as the group fights for a better future. Dana has lived in Alabama for his entire adult life and dreams of making this the Sweet Home that we all deserve. Alabama Appleseed is member of the national Appleseed Network, which includes 18 Appleseed Centers across the U.S. and in Mexico City. Appleseed was founded in 1994 with the mission to develop and help sustain a network of advocacy centers that address local issues and develop and promote practical, systemic solutions. To learn more about AL Appleseed, follow it on Facebook.
Join us for Homewood’s first Unity Celebration on Saturday, July 17th from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. sponsored by H.I.V.E. Alabama, The Listening Project, White Homewood for Black Lives, and more! This celebration marks 1 year of equity walks in Homewood and we look forward to celebrating with you. Join us for popsicles, family friendly activities, and a community equity walk at 11 a.m. We will have literature about our groups as well as other organizations working towards racial equity in our area.
If you have walked with us before, have seen us on the street or on Facebook, or just want to come out to celebrate with your neighbors, we hope to see you there!
Happy Pride month!! To celebrate, we’re showing love for our neighbors and raising money for the Magic City Acceptance Center and all the wonderful work they do for our kids.
Signs are $20 with all proceeds going to MCAC. Please Venmo payment to @Kristin-Rezek-1.
Ordering will close this Friday, June 4th at 12 p.m. with signs available for pick up in Homewood mid-week next week. If you have any questions, let us know. Thank you!!
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