February Meeting Follow Up – Time Sensitive Information

Dear MPA Members,

We have several updates for you from last night’s meeting, including a couple that are time sensitive:

1. Postcard Actions

With respect to Medicaid expansion, Alabama Arise believes that Gov. Ivey’s office is really taking notice of the number of letters and calls they are getting, because they were able to provide an exact number. If you haven’t already, please write (Office of the Governor, State Capitol, 600 Dexter Ave, Montgomery 36130) or call (334-242-7100) Gov. Ivey’s office and express your support for Medicaid expansion in Alabama. We also have an action on retroactive sentencing application, and today, the bills being considered by the legislature this session that are supported by Gov. Ivey were released (https://www.al.com/news/2020/02/gov-kay-ivey-endorses-criminal-justice-reforms.html). If you write our legislators on this issue, please refer to HB 329, sponsored by Jim Hill. Click here for details: 2020 February Postcard Action

2. Coosa River Bridge project

Last month, we heard about and received information on the Coosa River bridge project. The public comment will stay open until the Shelby County Commissioners Court schedules a vote, so if you haven’t had time to research and make your voice heard, please do so!

3. Sunday March 1 is the Selma JubileeSchedule of events can be found here: https://www.selma50.com/complete-schedule). If you are interested in attending and carpooling or caravan-ing, please email us.

4. The Poor People’s Campaign is having an event Monday, March 2 starting at 5PM.

5. Tuesday March 3 is Super Tuesday! Sample ballots can be found here (https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/2020-primary-election-sample-ballots) and we encourage you all to read the proposed amendment closely – it doesn’t look like it at first glance, but the proposal here is to remove our ability to elect the State Board of Education and change it to a board appointed by the governor. We encourage you to vote no on this amendment, spread the word to your networks.

6. March meeting update

We are canceling our March 26 meeting, because one week later, on April 2 at 4PM, Montevallo’s lynching marker will be unveiled.

Please try to attend this ceremony to show your support, and we will send out updates as it gets closer to time.

Thanks for all you do to make our community a better place!

—

MPA Steering Committee

Andrea Eckelman

Cheryl Patton

Jen Rickel

Amy Feger

Scott Turner

February meeting this Thursday! (2/27)

MPA 2020 Flyer

Dear MPA Members,

We have several events of interest to tell you about this month!

Our next meeting is February 27, 2020 at St Andrews Episcopal. A representative from the Census will be speaking and will bring materials for us. It is also time for us to renew our organizational membership to Alabama Arise, which is $100. Let one of us know if you’d like to contribute, or bring money to the February meeting.

If you are able to bring a food item to the meeting, please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0A45ADAF2AAAF49-february

This Week
Tuesday February 25 – Alabama Arise Lobby Day in Montgomery.

Upcoming:

Thursday April 2 at 4PM – EJI Marker Unveiling Ceremony: the marker will be unveiled and dedicated at the corner of Shelby St and Main St. After the dedication, there will be a reception at Montevallo City Hall. More details to come!

We hope to see you soon!

We’re back! Next meeting (1/23) and Montevallo MLK March

Happy New Year MPA!

We hope everyone had a wonderful and restful holiday season. Our January meeting is next Thursday, January 23 at 6PM at St. Andrews (click here to download a flyer, please share!). We will be joined by two guests, Debbie Smith with Alabama Arise and Dana Sweeney with Alabama Appleseed. Please join us for dinner, a postcard action, and to hear from both Debbie and Dana! We need volunteers to help with dinner – please follow this link to sign up:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0A45ADAF2AAAF49-january

Other Announcements:

Just Mercy, a newly released film about Bryan Stevenson, is now playing in theaters. If you get a chance, grab a friend and go check it out!

This Monday, we will be celebrating MLK Day. Plan to come out for the MLK March in Montevallo, Monday, January 20, 2020. At 9 AM we’ll line up behind McDonalds on Main St for a march to the Montevallo HS for a program honoring Shelby Co “firsts.” University of Montevallo Chief of Police Tim Alexander will be Marshall as well as guest speaker at the program. The theme is “Dr. King’s 20/20 Vision: The Beloved Community: The Fierce Urgency of Now.” For more information, call 205-902-5137 or 205-915-0787.

August Meeting Follow Up

Dear Progressives,

We had a great August meeting – thanks so much to everyone who came and who
contributed to our yummy dinner! Jack Jacobs spoke to us about what is going on with the Alabama Democratic Party as well as upcoming events of interest. They are:

Tent at Tinglewood September 7 – MPA is partnering with Shelby Dems and Shelby Co NAACP to run a voter registration tent. If you are able to volunteer at the tent, please email Carol Moore (alclegal@bellsouth.net).
Doug Jones Kickoff event, September 8 at 2:30PM at B&A Warehouse
Mayor Cost to speak at the Shelby Dems monthly meeting, September 19 at the Pelham Services Building
Blues and BBQ Fundraiser, September 22 from 1-6, 7078 N. Highland Dr. Tickets are $60 and Southern Mojo will be playing.

Mark your calendars for our next meeting Thursday September 26 at 6PM to hear from the Citizen’s Climate Lobby. If you plan to attend and can bring food, please use this link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0A45ADAF2AAAF49-september.

Hope to see you soon!