Welcome to FREE PIZZA. Free pizza is a nice, unexpected thing in a strange world. Every other week, I will share some free pizza with you in the form of things that I am reading, watching, googling and thinking about that you may like too.
This newsletter is in its earliest stage, so please send any feedback! Would love to hear what you like/don’t like/want to see/don’t want to see.
thanks for reading! 🍕
- SOPHIA
1. collective donating 💵
💡if you sometimes feel kind of lame pulling out your debit card to donate $5
A few weeks ago, some friends and I started a collective donating group.
One the 1st of each month, each person in the group donates however much they want to a cause we choose together, mainly focusing on Black-led causes and orgs. Then, everyone Venmos their donation to one member of the group, who makes one large donation on behalf of the group.
This month, we donated to George Floyd’s family. If you’re reading this and would like to join, please do! Here’s the link to our Whatsapp. Feel free to share it too. The more people, the better. Or start your own!
2. literally set an alarm on your phone 📆
💡if you’re looking for a way to remind yourself to keep learning
This idea comes from Karen Hawkins, the Co-Editor in Chief of the excellent alt-weekly Chicago Reader. I just set a recurring event on Google calendar for every two months — DM me if you’d like me to add you to it!
3. three Black-owned businesses i am excited about 🍷
💡 if you hate tampons, read books or drink wine
I started using menstrual cups about two and a half years ago and I will never go back. There are truly few life changes I have made in the last two and a half years that bring me as much constant joy as shoving silicone into my vagina each month. (I’m not kidding.) Mine’s about due for a replacement, and I’m planning to buy it from The Honey Pot Co., which makes super cute ones for only $22! If you’re not into the cup, they also do have tampons, washes, creams, etc. and everything is really cute.
Elizabeth’s Bookshop is a literacy center founded by Rachel Cargle, who is an amazing educator. (I am learning a lot from her on Instagram & recommend following her.) The shop launched a week ago and “highlights, promotes, amplifies, celebrates, and honors the work of writers who are often excluded from traditional cultural, social and academic canons.” A portion of the proceeds goes to The Loveland Foundation, which helps make mental healthcare accessible for Black women and girls. It’s also cool because she has collections of books like the #revolution reading list.
Bertony Faustin was the first recorded Black winemaker in Oregon and has been operating this vineyard in North Plains since 2008. We had his wine when I was home last and it was sooo good. And! They ship! Even to NYC! I’m getting a bottle of the “2018 Rose de Pinot #OoooWeee” for summer.
4. tips for writing emails & giving testimony 📣
💡if you’re ready to storm a city council meeting but are also kind of like 🥴
I worked in the Portland Mayor’s Office for about a year, where I learned some effective tips for getting public officials to listen to you:
If you’re using a form letter, take a few minutes to make it unique. Tell them which neighborhood you live in, how long you’ve lived in the city, where you work, etc. These things give you credibility. It’s very easy for politicians to belittle constituent concerns by saying things like, “It’s just the far left that wants this.” But if you tell staff who you are, they can use you to build more credibility for ideas, so they can respond with something like, “That’s not true. I read an email from a woman who works at Nike who has lived in the West Hills for 25 years who also wants this.” Credibility matters, and details make you credible.
If you want to meet with an elected official, ask to meet with a member of their staff first. Electeds truly are so busy; they’re likely never going to meet one-on-one with you (unless you’re a huge donor 🥴). It is the job of political staff to meet with constituents, so try emailing them first. If you don’t get a meeting, you’ll at least probably get a genuine email response or a phone call. Staff can also put pressure on an elected to meet with a constituent. They also probably know a lot more about what that elected official is doing policy-wise, because they’re the ones doing the ground-level work.
There is strength in numbers. If you don’t feel comfortable testifying at a meeting, organizing a group to show up and offer support is an effective visual cue. It is also okay for multiple people to testify on one topic, even if the electeds seem annoyed!
New voices go a long way in local government. We frequently heard from the same 8 people in City Hall. New voices, particularly credible new voices (see bullet 1!) go a long way. Dozens of people in City Hall are paid to do outreach, to try to get communities engaged with the budget or with City Council meetings. They don’t always do a good job, but the point is that they genuinely do want new voices engaging in City government.
I could go on & on & on & on so please DM me if you’re interested in learning about any of this or City of Portland gov in general.
5. progressive shopper chrome extension
💡if you’re ready to part with some brands you may like
Progressive Shopper is a Google Chrome extension that you can download here. When you go on a website, if information is available about where that company contributes $, a little box will pop up that shows you those contributions, along with other serious issues. This is Amazon’s:
I’m excited to start shifting away from buying from companies like this and instead supporting Black-owned businesses, buying things secondhand or on Etsy or using Buy Nothing Groups. It is all a learning process!
🍕 Thank you for reading! I’ll see you again in two weeks. In the meantime, tell your friends and tell me what you think. And here is a verified list of bail funds you can donate to.
This newsletter is fully funded by Atlas Media Group.
free pizza #3
you have so much insight on the flip side of politics, would love to hear more in your next issue