Please join Democrats Abroad Toulouse on Saturday, June 19th to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Bessie Coleman becoming a pilot in France. She was the first woman of color to earn her pilot's license, truly a milestone in history! 

Speakers will include: 

• Christine Debouzy - President of the French Association of Women Pilots
• Coline Béry - Specialist on Adrienne Bolland, aviatrix who did the same type of training before Coleman
• Olivier Sarrazain - Director of the documentary film "Bessie Coleman Première Aviatrice Noire"
• Françoise Sockeel - Of the Aeroclub of Abbeyville in the region where Coleman trained

The event will take place via Zoom. Please RSVP to receive a link for joining the event. 

Co-sponsored by the Global Black Caucus and Global Women's Caucus

SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND KEYNOTES WOMEN’S ECONOMIC FORUM: RESETTING THE U.S. AGENDA FOR WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

The return to Democratic leadership has reset the U.S. agenda for women across race, sexual orientation, and geography. This moment calls for bold political, social, and economic investments that lead to shared prosperity and equitable recovery for women.

Join U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for an important discussion of what is being done, and what must be done, at the Federal and State level to capitalize on this important moment, and to address the policy perspectives we bring as Democrats Abroad.

Senator from NY since 2009, Gillibrand has led legislative action on numerous issues including sexual assault in the military, child nutrition, childcare for members of the Armed Forces, and parental leave.  

Our conversation with the Senator will be followed by a panel of leading experts across several issue areas that impact women’s economic status as documented in the 2020 Democrats Abroad Platform and offer policy remedies that root out biases that shut women out.  

The Forum, sponsored by the Global Women’s Caucus Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative will be presented virtually on Zoom from 3pm-5pm CET. Forum attendees will be invited to join discussion breakout sessions with our panelists at the conclusion of their presentations. This event is open to all DA members, US elected officials, members of academia, and the global expat community. 

You won’t want to miss this important exchange with champions of women’s issues.

Our Event Sponsors

As US citizens living abroad, we have all watched the news with dismay as stories unfold about yet another shooting. It's very easy to feel helpless; what can we do? Many of us live in countries with comprehensive gun regulations (even "liberal" Switzerland) and we want some of those same regulations applied back home.

We have organized an amazing panel of experts to discuss the major developments in firearm policy reform that have been taking shape over the past year. Please join us as we welcome:

• Gabby Giffords, former Congresswoman and co-founder of Giffords
  As the youngest woman ever elected to the Arizona State Senate and a trailblazer in other offices, Gabby represented her community in the Arizona legislature from 2000 to 2005, and then in Congress from 2006 to 2012.
  On January 8, 2011, at a “Congress On Your Corner” constituent event in Tucson, Gabby was shot in the head by a gunman who killed six people and injured 12 others. Gabby stepped down from Congress in January 2012 to focus on her recovery. As the nation’s eyes were upon her, Gabby embarked on a path to regain her ability to speak and walk, inspiring the country with her resilience and optimistic spirit.
  In 2013, after the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, Gabby co-founded the organization today known as Giffords. Over the past several years, the organization has been a leader in the national gun safety movement, making gun safety a kitchen table issue for voters. Giffords has helped gun safety champions win up and down the ballot in local, state, and federal races and worked hard to pass lifesaving legislation in states across the country and in the US House of Representatives.
   
• Peter Ambler, Executive Director and co-founder of Giffords
  Peter Ambler currently serves as the executive director of Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence, which he co-founded with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Captain Mark Kelly.
  In his capacity as executive director, Peter has guided the growth of the organization from a start-up in Washington DC to a national group with offices and staff across the country. As Giffords has expanded, Peter has overseen the organization’s defining moments as it has challenged the NRA’s dominance, changed the politics and culture of guns, won elections, and passed legislation as part of the fight for gun safety. Peter worked closely with Senate leaders on the 2013 Manchin-Toomey background check bill and with the Obama White House on the 2016 gun safety executive actions, developed and implemented innovative advertising and electoral campaigns in elections across the country, oversaw the organization’s support for the over 300 gun safety laws that have passed since Sandy Hook, and built coalitions of prominent supporters that contribute to the mission of Giffords.
   
• Phil Andrew, Principal and co-founder of PAX Group
  Phil Andrew has over 30 years of professional expertise in building great teams, cultures and strategies that navigate complex and dynamic relationships, projects and environments. Phil served 21 years as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) throughout the U.S. and overseas with expertise in violence prevention, counter terrorism, intelligence, crisis management and hostage negotiation, crimes against children, undercover work, behavioral analysis and broad investigative experience.  He has led complex investigations and deployed regularly on domestic and international kidnappings and hostage-takings and has received numerous FBI and US Department of Justice awards.
  In May 1988, Phil Andrew, then a 20-year-old college student, was shot in the chest in the aftermath of the Hubbard Woods elementary school shooting in Winnetka—one of the nation’s first modern mass school shootings.
  Andrew survived his injuries, but the experience would ultimately shape his priorities and his career. In the 33 years since the shooting, he has dedicated his life to fighting violence - as a survivor, FBI agent, crisis negotiator and subject mater expert. He has served as an instructor at the FBI Academy and expert in crisis management, negotiation, behavior analysis and undercover work. Phil has keynoted, consulted and trained clients globally. Prior to the FBI, Phil practiced law in Chicago.

Time allowing, there will be a Q&A after their presentation.

Add to your Google Calendar.

Take the 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge

1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission

RSVP to receive the Zoom link.

We are so happy to say 'It's summer let's meet up and have a drink together'!

Le Palais de la Bourse in the heart of Marseille 10 min by foot from the train station, litterally nestled in between La Canebiere and The Vieux Port. 

RDV at 6pm please do RSVP so we know how many people to expect and save a table for.

Palais de la Bourse

9 La Canebière

13001 Marseille

https://1860lepalais.fr/

**DEMOCRATS ABROAD MEMBERS ONLY EVENT**

Not a member yet? It's free to join! www.democratsabroad.org/join

June is Pride Month! It's déjà vu, as pride events all around the world are once again canceled, but our pride and resilience remains. Join us for a global virtual Drag Queen Bingo Pride Kick-Off event and help get out the vote in 2022!!!  This will be a wild night hosted by the fabulous drag queen Cherry Poppins, with prizes and performances!

Help support our phone banking efforts! Your $10 donation will help us call 50 voters. Please donate today here and kindly make a donation for this event!

This event is co-sponsored by Democrats Abroad France - Paris Chapter and co-sponsored by the Global LGBTQ+ Caucus and the Democrats Abroad France LGBTQ+ Caucus.

Thank you for your support - please don't forget to RSVP. Attending from outside France?  Check your time zone here so you can be sure not to miss this great event. We'll see you there!

Americans living in Africa: Do you want to get involved politically but not sure where to start? Democrats Abroad is a global organization with groups all around the world representing and organizing Americans. Africa is active with events and outreach in many countries and contributions to regional and global projects too. Learn how you can have an impact!

RSVP today and get information by email as it becomes available. Please note that the current start time and duration for this event is tentative.

Mancala is an African game where the winner is the one who collects the most stones. Mancala Africa is inspired by the "Connect-the-Dots" regional events earlier this year, so this workshop will:

• Introduce you to the Democrats Abroad organization at its different levels and corresponding leaders,
• Review the wide variety of volunteer roles available and their commitments in terms of time and responsibility, and
• Clarify and demystify how any member can run for office or establish a local branch of Democrats Abroad.

We'll connect you with Americans who live near you, who share your interests, or who are committed to acting together in U.S. politics. You'll learn about the global features of Democrats Abroad and the particular opportunities across Africa.

Join us!

Photo courtesy creative commons license from 'lost places'

Meet the new Executive Committee Members representing Aix Marseille for the new term (2021/2022)

thanks to Peter Gillepsie for the photographics!

Click below to receive periodic updates from the Taxation Task Force on our tax advocacy work.  We will message you when there are important updates and developments to report.

https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes-cote-d-azur/bouches-du-rhone/aix-en-provence/aix-provence-americains-votent-primaires-democrates-1796199.html

https://www.laprovence.com/article/papier/5920265/les-democrates-americains-de-marseille-ont-vote-hier.html

We had a fabulous afternoon with lots of new and familiar faces coming and going to our Potluck Party last Sunday July 7th.

Thanks to Pamela King for hosting the event in her beautiful house and garden

And thanks to all who came and brought such fabulous food to share the spirit of Democracy !