Washington CAN Education & Research Fund

FIRELANDS. 2021 was a year of tremendous growth. Adapting our rural Green New Deal platform to the crisis conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, we oriented our goals for short-term pandemic relief long-term recovery leading to a just, green economy. In July 16 volunteer organizers went out for 13 days in Grays Harbor Pacific counties conducted over 500 deep listening conversations. Organizers spent over 375 hours in conversation with low-wage workers in person or by phone. Even with wins in rental assistance, eviction prevention, the immigrant relief fund, there was a serious gap in outreach education to spread the word connect people to resources. Firelands members organized events at local Mexican-owned grocery stores, tortillerias the Catholic Church to connect excluded workers to the WA Immigrant Relief Fund. Through 14 outreach events, Know Your Rights workshops one-on-one education while canvassing, Firelands directly engaged 460 tenants with information resources about their rights, breaking down barriers in technology gaps, language access power dynamics.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. In 2021 WCAN ERF in partnership with WCAN created a messaging guide and strategic communications plan to more effectively advance the narrative work on all our issues including ending mass incarceration, affordable housing and health care for all. In addition to communication guides we created an organizational guidebook with updated training materials for new and current community organizers. Highlighted trainings include Organizational History, Developing New Members, and Conducting Effective Meetings. The training book includes activities to help members bond with one another in addition to popular education on the oppressive systems impacting our communities. Using these tools, 2 community organizers held monthly community meetings attended by 15-20 people, where they discussed the issues of health care, housing and ending mass incarceration heard stories from those directly impacted and developed the leaders skills to share their stories and participate effectively in meetings, public events and with elected officials.

PUBLIC OUTREACH EDUCATION. WCAN ERF had 10,443 conversations with unique voters who supported ending mass incarceration health care issue work. Our field canvass has never gotten such deep levels of agreement on the need for universal health care. The pandemic highlighted how employer-based health insurance doesnt serve our communities. We held a direct action with over 40 people outside Premera, WAs largest health insurer, where community members shared their health care stories to show why Medicare for All is crucial. To raise visibility of the issue we worked with a partner organization to create 20 ft tall props including a Dracula puppet named Count Bleed Ya Dry, to illustrate how Premeras money-saving tactics exploit patients. In December community organizers conducted 2 webinars on Senate Bill 6164, a 2020 policy win. These webinars educated 68 community members about prosecutorial discretion to seek resentencing for those incarcerated, discussed organizing strategies to move Prosecuting Attorneys to implement SB 6164 in ways that best serve constituent communities.