Meet some of the amazing Democratic women running to flip red Congressional seats BLUE!

Join the Global Women’s Caucus for our “Women to Win” Candidate Forum.  Four candidates will speak with Democrats Abroad about how important it is for Democrats to keep the House in 2020 and what their priorities are for governing. They are running in Michigan, Texas and Georgia, all states Democrats can win, not only in these districts, but also key Senate races and Biden as well!   They need our help to take these seats and advance crucial Democratic policies in healthcare, climate change, racial justice, economic equality and others listed in the DA 2020 Platform.

The candidates joining the July Forum are:

Wendy Davis, a longtime Texas advocate running to bring the fight for gender equity to the House. Davis made international news with her 13-hour filibuster protecting women’s healthcare in the Texas State House, and now she’s campaigning on behalf of everyone in Texas, and the country, who has been left behind and needs a champion.

Gretchen Driskell, a former mayor running a determined campaign in southeast Michigan. Driskell served for 14 years as mayor of Saline, the first female elected to the position, before winning a seat in the Michigan House of Reps. Having knocked 25,000 doors in her constituency over the years, Driskell recognizes the priorities: universal healthcare, sustainable jobs and a  strong public education system.

Carolyn Bourdeaux has spent her entire career in public service, starting as a Congressional staffer, then going on to earn a doctorate in public policy. While teaching public policy at Georgia State, Carolyn took 5 years off to serve as Director of the Georgia Senate Budget and Evaluation Office.  This is her second run in the 7^th District, having lost in ‘18 by 433 votes after a recount and a court case!  This year, Carolyn won her primary (in what is now an open seat) with a tripling of the Democratic turnout.  She sees racial justice and the meltdown of healthcare, aggravated in this pandemic, as key issues for voters in this district.   

Gina Ortiz Jones ran in TX-23 in 2018 and came within just 926 votes of defeating Will Hurd who subsequently announced his retirement.  Gina is a first-generation American, raised by a single mother who came to the United States believing in the promise of a better future. Gina earned a ROTC scholarship  and was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force, serving in Iraq under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” She subsequently built her career in national security including serving under Obama.  Gina returned to San Antonio to help care for her mother who was fighting cancer. Gina knows that we need a leader standing up for the issues that can make a real impact on people’s lives. That’s why she’s stepping up to serve her country and her community again by running for Congress.

Please join us to learn about how you can help these amazing women win! RSVP to receive the information for joining this virtual event.  And read more about the candidates in the recent interviews on the DA GWC Candidate Information Action Team webpage:  www.democratsabroad.org/wc_cia_team 

If you have questions for the candidates, you can send them in advance to womenscaucus@democratsabroad.org. Please use the subject line “Women to Win Forum - question”.

Calling is one of the best ways to get our members to vote! It’s easy and effective!
Do you, especially now, have time to make a few calls? Many of our members are at home, eager to receive them.

Learn how to phonebank at this online live training. For beginners or to refresh your skills or to share your experience! We’ll focus on the basics, take questions, describe the new texting feature and discuss how it will be to call in the current environment.

American's living in Halifax often do not understand their voting rights while living abroad. Our goal is to help voters understand their rights, register to vote in the 2020 election, and offer support and volunteer services for those who require assistance voting in the 2020 election. This election is important for 2SLGTBQ+ rights as the current administration has sought to strip American's of their legal rights and protections, and encouraging and supporting voter empowerment practices will help elect a Government which will support and protect our community.

We are excited to present the inaugural meeting of our new regional group: Bath, Bristol, & the Cotswolds. If you're a DAUK member living in or around Bath, Bristol, or the Cotswold areas, we'd love to have you join us for an online call on Wednesday, July 22nd, starting at 6:30pm. It's a great opportunity to meet other fellow Democrats local to you, and to learn how you can help effect change at the ballot box later this year.

This first occasion will be led by two of our regional volunteers, Midge and Charla. They'll be discussing strategy and plans for Democrats Abroad's Get Out The Vote efforts in the run-up to the November 2020 elections, as well as brainstorming ways to get more locally based Americans involved. Please join us as we work to build our DAUK community throughout the country.

If you RSVP, we will contact you about future events and volunteer opportunities for the Bath, Bristol & Cotswolds Region.  The Zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. 

If you cannot attend but are interested in this group, please email secretary@democratsabroad.org.uk and ask us to sign you up!

This is a recurring event.

Yoga is so popular today for its many benefits it offers the mind, body and soul. But maybe you've never tried yoga. Or maybe you've tried and thought it wasn't for you? Yoga is for everyone, and this Radiant Warrior vinyasa flow set is perfect for you. If you are already a confirmed yogi, come along for a slow flow that gets back to the basics. 

If you have the following, please bring it to class: a yoga mat or some kind of mat that doesn't slip, a couple of yoga blocks or thick books (Harry Potter style), a strap or fabric belt or scarf, a small pillow or cushion or towel, and some water to drink.

Gretchen has done yoga for many years and is completing her 200-hour online yoga teacher training with the Yoga Farm Ithaca. She is chair of Democrats Abroad Grenoble, national Volunteer Coordinator, and teaches English at the Université Savoie Mont Blanc in Chambéry. She votes in Maine.

This event is A Feelgood Fundraiser for Democrats Abroad France, and benefits our critical 2020 "Get Out the Vote" Efforts this Fall. Any contribution is welcome; 10 EUR per person is suggested. Please give here. Thank you! 

DISCLAIMER: Yoga is a physical exercise that can include some strenuous activity. Before engaging in any physical exercise or activity, all participants are advised to consult with a medical professional to ensure that they are capable of participating in any exercise routine or class. If you are pregnant or have any major illnesses, you are strongly urged and advised to seek the advice of a medical professional or specialist familiar with your personal situation before beginning any exercise routine or class. Democrats Abroad France (DAF) is not an official yoga class provider nor a medical adviser and cannot advise participants as to the risks involved in participating in a yoga class at home outside of the in-person supervision of a certified yoga teacher. Accordingly, all participants in home-based Zoom yoga classes led by DAF or any DAF members are thus participating at their own risk. DAF will not be held responsible for any harm or injuries endured during said classes.

Note: This event has been rescheduled from Tuesday, June 30, 2020!

Many of us have watched videos of police officers attacking peaceful protesters at recent Black Lives Matter protests in shock and consternation. How can we understand this police violence? And what can local communities and voters, including voters abroad, do to counteract this problem?
 
Join us for a lecture and discussion with Tory Mallet, PhD candidate in sociology at the London School of Economics, with expertise in political sociology and policing. Her master's thesis, "The Thick Blue Line: A Police-Centered Analysis of Violent Encounters Between Occupy Protesters and Police Officers in the United States", examined police violence against protesters with the Occupy movement. She will give a talk about what we know about police violence against protesters, and then lead a discussion of how we see this dynamic today with BLM protests and what we can do about it.
 
Please email Tory at basel@democrats.ch to receive the Zoom information.

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