Medicare and Americans Abroad

Join us on February 19th for a practical explanation of what Medicare is, how it is funded, to whom it is available and the nature of coverage it does or can include.  Find out what kind of decisions you will have to make – either now or in the future – and how these decisions and programs can significantly impact your future financial and insurance coverage situation.  These decisions are important for people with disabilities and seniors, but knowing what is coming is important for all Americans overseas – whether you plan to stay abroad or move back to the US.

Our panelists are Democrats Abroad members and Americans living abroad who are working on legislation to better the opportunities of Americans abroad and who will share their knowledge, experience and plans for the future with you. Please note that this panel will give neither financial advice nor expert opinion on individual situations.  The webinar will be recorded, and all the documents presented in this webinar will be sent to anyone who RSVPS for the event.

RSVP Below!

Our Panelists:

Heather Stone, Chair Medicare Medical Portability Task Force
Philippe Blumenthal, CEO of the Government Savings Institute
Toni Kamins, Medicare Medical Portability Task Force and Chair of GSC Medicare Part B Committee

This event is co-hosted by DA's Global Seniors Caucus, Medical Portability Task Force, and Global Disability Caucus.

How do we reverse increasing income inequality in the United States? A 21st-Century Economic Bill of Rights would guarantee all people residing in the United States the right to the essentials of a good life, regardless of their income, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or country of origin. Join our guest speakers to learn more about this progressive proposal and what we can do to implement it.

Confirmed speakers:

• Harvey J. Kaye: American historian and sociologist. Author of several books, including “Thomas Paine and the Promise of America” and “The Fight for the Four Freedoms.” He is Professor Emeritus of Democracy & Justice Studies and the Director of the Center for History and Social Change at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay.
• Alan Minsky: Executive Director of the Progressive Democrats of America and a lifelong activist, who has worked as a progressive journalist, as Program Director at KPFK Los Angeles, and coordinator for Pacifica Radio’s national coverage of elections.

Here are some resources to prepare for the event:

Article: “A Call for All Progressive Candidates and Officeholders to Embrace a 21st Century Economic Bill of Rights.” Alan Minsky and Harvey J. Kaye. Common Dreams, 23 February 2022.
Video: "The Ethos of the Greatest Generation"- Discussing the Four Freedoms with Harvey Kaye. FDR Library, 4 January, 2023.

All are welcome to attend! Please RSVP to receive the Zoom link.

Thanks to our co-sponsors: Global Black Caucus, Global Women’s Caucus, Reparations Task Force, proDA Austria, proDA Germany

RSVP below for the Zoom link!

While there is no donation required to attend, the suggested donation for this event is $10. Click here to donate. Help Democrats Abroad volunteers mobilize voters around the world. Help us fight for progressive policy changes in the new Congress!

The National Welfare Rights Organization 1966 - 1975

An outgrowth of the Civil Rights Movement: Women of Color Rising to lift themselves and their children out of poverty.

Join the Global Black Caucus for an insightful webinar, during Black History Month 2023, and learn more about the significance of the National Welfare Rights Organization and its activism and legacy which still carries on today.  

February 11, 2023, at 10:00 AM EST / 16:00 PM CET / 23:00 HKT 

This webinar is facilitated by Miriam Victory Spiegel, Democrats Abroad Switzerland, born in 1945 in New York City, long-time activist, Community Organizer in New York 1968 – 1980, and Couples and Family Therapist, in Zürich, Switzerland since 1990.

During this webinar, Miriam will begin her presentation by focussing on the events that she experienced as an activist and community organizer in New York City in 1968. She will describe the theoretical basis of the creation of the National Welfare Rights Organization and its inception within the framework of the Civil Rights Movement. To contextualize, she will share a rearview mirror with us, looking back and trying to understand why so many people of color were left behind in mid-sixties America and seemed doomed to a life of poverty, limited education, poor health, and unemployment. These reflections will take us on a historical journey beginning in 1619 and ending in 1968….

This event is being co-sponsored by the Global Women's Caucus.

Join us for an insightful webinar on February 11, 2023, at 10:00 AM EST / 16:00 PM CET / 23:00 HKT 

As we are already gearing up for the next election cycle, please consider making a donation to help get out the vote in 2024. We can not win the Presidential Election without you!

Donate today at: https://www.democratsabroad.org/bc-donations

Feeling lost or overwhelmed about filing your IRS tax return this year?

Join us for a consumer focused Zoom webinar on How to Survive Tax Day as an American Abroad!

WHEN: Wednesday, January 11th from 1:30-2:30pm EST view your time zone

$10 General Admission / $5 Concessions. Recording available. All proceeds go to Democrats Abroad

Scroll to the bottom for tickets

The aim of this event is to help you feel more confident going into filing your US tax return this year. Presented by Rebecca Lammers, Chair of the Democrats Abroad Taxation Task Force. This is a consumer focused webinar to help you save money on your tax preparation costs.

This session is for Americans abroad/U.S. citizens/dual citizens/expats who:

• Aren’t happy with your accountant and want to switch
• File yourself but you're not sure if you're doing it right
• Filed when you first moved abroad but haven't done it for a while and need to get back on top of filing
• Haven’t filed since you moved abroad
• Just moved abroad and don’t know how to start
• Just learned you’re supposed to file and want to get caught up

Topics discussed in the session will include:

• The Taxpayer Bill of Rights
• Deciding between filing yourself, using a tax preparation software, or hiring an accountant
• The difference between an EA, CPA, and tax attorney
• How to spend $0 to file your own taxes
• How to get free tax prep if you're a 50+ senior
• How to find an accountant
• How to keep your tax prep costs as low as possible
• What to do if you don’t know how to get started
• How to contact the IRS and communicate with them

Ticket proceeds go to Democrats Abroad, feel free to donate additional recording tickets to bump up your donation!

The fine print:

• No refunds are available.
• We can't guarantee we will be able to answer all questions submitted before, during, or after the event, but we will try to answer as many questions as possible.
• This event is closed to the press.

Please click here to add yourself to the Democrats Abroad Taxation Task Force mailing list to keep up to date with the actions and upcoming events.

Disclaimer: Democrats Abroad cannot provide individual tax advice. We are not tax lawyers, accountants or advisers. Please consult a professional tax adviser/accountant/return preparer when addressing your personal tax matters.

We recommend the IRS Tax Return Preparer Directory to find a service provider who meets your needs and budget, though buyers need always beware. Democrats Abroad suggests Americans abroad in need of tax advice consult the IRS Tax Return Preparer Directory to find an advisor or tax return preparer near you or providing online services: https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf

Working Together in New Ways to End Violence against Women

Democrats Abroad Salutes International Women’s Day 2023
with Anne DePrince, Noted Author and Expert on Violence Against Women

On March 5, at 9 am Eastern Time, U.S. citizens from around the globe will be joined via Zoom by Anne DePrince, the author of Every 90 Seconds: Our Common Cause Ending Violence Against Women.  The event precedes and celebrates International Women’s Day on the 8th.

This event will include remarks from the author who will also take questions from participants.  In her book, DePrince provides perspective on the overwhelming scope of violence, its frequency, its pervasiveness and its many devastating forms.  She also examines the impact it has on every aspect of society and the ways societal attitudes and conditions can exacerbate the crimes and the damage that results. In her comments to Democrats Abroad, DePrince will focus, in particular, on the needs for action and the ways each of us can contribute to making change.

From Awareness to Action follows a continuing series of conversations on related subjects sponsored by the Democrats Abroad Violence Against Women Action Team as part of an on-going research, education and action project.. These have ranged from Gender-based violence and the military justice system (with Nancy Parrish & Col. Don Christensen from Protect Our Defenders) , the correlations between the status and safety of women and the security of countries and the world  (with Dr. Valerie Hudson, author of The First Political Order)  and the challenges in finding support for U.S. victims of violence when they are abroad (with Paula Lucas from Pathways to Safety International).  

To join us and get the zoom link for this event click the RSVP button below.

For further information, to learn about volunteering  for the VAW team or to suggest a question in advance of the event, please contact [email protected]

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

ANNE DE PRINCE

Anne DePrince is a clinical psychologist, distinguished university professor at the University of Denver (DU), and expert in intimate violence who believes change is possible. Author of Every 90 Seconds: Our Common Cause Ending Violence against Women (Oxford University Press, 2022), Anne has worked closely with victim service providers and policy makers over more than two decades to study the impact of multiple forms of violence against women on a range of outcomes -- from health and economic wellbeing to education and safety. The U.S. Department of Justice recognized her contributions to the nation’s understanding of crime victims with the Vision 21 Crime Victims Research Award.  She also serves as DU’s first Associate Vice Provost for Public Good Strategy and Research.

https://annedeprince.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Every-90-Seconds-Violence-Against/dp/0197545742

Democrats Abroad Global Seniors and Disability Caucuses invite you to join us for our monthly Social -- a time for Seniors and members of the Disability Caucus to connect with one another and discuss topics of concern and information. We will reflect, discuss, plan, and strategize together from the comfort of our own homes and with no duties or assignments! This will be fun as we can discuss freely any topic we would like.

RSVP BELOW TO JOIN US ON ZOOM!

Scroll down and click on the dates below to RSVP and get connection details and reminders.

Did you know every eligible American living abroad can vote in U.S. elections? 

Was the last place you or your parent lived in the US the state of Georgia?

If you are 18 on or before January 5th you are allowed to vote in the runoff election. 

Do you have questions about how to vote? Click the chat bubble at the bottom of this screen and we can help you find the answers. 

But we get it. Sometimes you just want to speak to live person. 

Join us Tuesday & Thursday (noon-4pm January 5th & 7th. All time are listed as U.S. Eastern time. Our volunteers and standing by LIVE on Zoom to help answers questions you have about voting from abroad and curing your ballot.

How is it done on Zoom? You'll come into the main room and be paired 1:1 with a volunteer into a breakout room to ensure privacy and that you can get all your questions answered. It couldn't be easier. 

More information: The easiest way to request your ballot is at VoteFromAbroad.org. It takes just a few minutes to complete and send in your form to the US state where you last lived. The website will guide you step by step. In most cases it’s pretty simple. But if you’re new to voting abroad, or if you haven’t done it in a while, you may have additional questions. That’s why we’ll be here every Sunday until election day to help.

If you can’t make the 'office hours', you can always email us at [email protected] or send in your question through our online help bubble, and a volunteer will get back to you.

Here is a handy website to convert the time zone to yours wherever you are in the world.

Zoom Connection Details:

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/91090344003
Meeting number: 910 9034 4003
PassWord: Vote2020

Tuesday & Thursday: Noon-4pm (U.S. Eastern)
January 5th and 7th