TEXT “AID” to Save the Children at 20222 to donate $10

Learn exactly where your support is going at: U.S. Border Crisis: 'Save the Children’ Meeting Immediate Needs of Children

Sources/further reading:

Read and watch stories from those crossing the boarder at: Save the Children’s “U.S. Border Crisis” page.

"Border children need immediate cooperation" via Save the Children at USA Today

"To Address Honduran Refugee Crisis at the Border, US Should Stop Financing Repression in Honduras” by Laura Raymond at Truthout

"This Is What an Overcrowded Holding Center for Migrant Children Looks Like” by Steven Hsieh at The Nation

Hear the segment in context:

BOTL Episode #847 "Refugees at the border (Immigration)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

The Jim Collins Foundation raises money for those transgender people who need gender-confirming surgery as an important step toward becoming their true selves, but are without the financial means to access care. The founders and the board recognize that not every transgender person needs or wants surgery. Their mission is to aid those who do by abating the despair that comes with realizing the monetary hurdle is too high to clear. Finding surgery unattainable can result in hopelessness, depression and sometimes suicide.

Allies who are moved to help can certainly do so by donating to this worthy non-profit, but also by checking to see if your own insurance company discriminates. Until the trans community is granted the same access to medically necessary care and protections from discrimination under the law, they will remain marginalized. Pressuring insurance companies and elected officials to actively move toward full equality is action we can — and must — all take.

Take Action:

Donate and spread the word about this great organization through their website: Jim Collins Foundation

Additional Activism: Free CeCe, a documentary on CeCe McDonald

More info:

Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: The Jim Collins Foundation, episode #801 "If you're talking about genitals then you've missed the point (Trans* Rights)”

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

BOTL segment excerpt:

Capitalism is integrated into every aspect of our lives, whether we know it or like it. It’s a massive system and it dictates how we interact with each other and how our government interacts with those outside our boarders. So if we find it problematic, what exactly are we supposed to do?

From the New Economy Coalition:

The stakes are high. Climate change is accelerating. Inequality is at historic levels. The financial industry continues to teeter on the brink of collapse, threatening the global economy. And all the while, our political system has proven incapable of effecting the structural transformations necessary to — quite literally — save the planet. The time is now for a new approach, a New Economy.

Take Action:

Visit the New Economy Coalition website to join up, add your expertise, offer your support.

More info:

Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: New Economy Coalition, episode #803 "Resistance is the only hope (Capitalism)”

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

BOTL segment excerpt:

The Sex Workers Project is doing the hard work of advocacy on behalf of a stigmatized industry. They provide client-centered legal and social services to individuals who engage in sex work, regardless of whether they do so by choice, circumstance, or coercion. Their professional service providers are multi-lingual and non-judgmental, assisting clients to remain in stable housing, access safer working conditions and employment options, protect their legal rights in family court, clear criminal records, secure legal immigration status, fight police misconduct, and access long-term supportive therapy while creating best practices in a marginalized, but legitimate field.

The “Not Your Rescue Project” hash tag was started in January by a coalition of sex workers and allies fighting back against stigma and the idea that they were all powerless women in need of saving by predatory NGOs. [just said “N-G-O”] Read the linked article by Andrea Garcia-Vargas published at “Bustle” on where the hashtag started and how to support the activists’ efforts. If you’re just becoming aware of the issue of sex workers rights, the stories and narratives you’ll find there will help break down preconceived notions and give you a way to engage with one of the most marginalized groups in our society. If they can be brave enough to speak, we should honor that by listening and learning to become allies.

Take Action:

No Condoms as Evidence

emPOWER - a Celebration of the Sex Workers Project, June 5th, NYC

Additional Activism:

Follow #NotYourRescueProject

The Best Practices Policy Project (BPPP): Take Action and Volunteer

More info:

”Playing the Whore” by Melissa Gira Grant

Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: The Sex Workers Project, episode #826 "Work is work is work (Wage and Respect Gap)"

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

BOTL segment excerpt:

A federation of unions, who typically stand with the president on policy initiatives, took action this week to stand instead with those putting themselves on the line to save their families. The group projected a 60 by 90 foot video onto the AFL-CIO building, which faces 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, to tell the statistics and human stories behind the deportations.

“We feel like the political debate about immigration has gotten old and tired, while the human dimension of the deportation crisis has unfortunately lost center stage,” said Jeff Hauser, a spokesman for the union federation.

Text “Now” to 235246 to back the union federation’s campaign and use #Not1More to tweet at your representatives, respectfully, if you would. You can find your rep’s handles, along with the rest of their information, at ContactingTheCongress.org.

You can also join with the AFL-CIO in sending solidarity to the hunger strikers at the White House. Text “Hunger” to 235246 and add your words to messages like this one: "Your work is so important. Thank you for putting your personal welfare on the line. I wish Congress could do the same. Solidarity!”

Take Action:

AFL-CIO: Stop Deportations Now, YouTube

Tweet your legislators via ContactingTheCongress.Org

More info:

Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: Stop Deportations Now, episode #822 "It might have something to do with race (Immigration)”

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

BOTL segment excerpt:

The USA Freedom Act is a piece of legislation with bipartisan sponsorship and support. It is a comprehensive overhaul of the NSA spying program that repeals the surveillance state sections of the Patriot Act and FISA. The ACLU and Electronic Freedom Foundation are supporting it — and they’re not alone. The USA Freedom Act is even supported by Freedom Works — the national conservative group that helped launch the tea party (those were their buses you saw at rallies) while continuing to fund Rush Limbaugh & Glenn Beck.

As the ACLU closes their plea for action: “Let's make sure our representatives in Congress hear us: We won't tolerate our own government spying on us any more. Let’s win this fight.”

Take Action:

Contact your legislators to support The USA Freedom Act via the ACLU and/or the EFF

More info:

Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: USA Freedom Act, episode #818 "Burn it to the ground (NSA Spying)”

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

BOTL segment excerpt:

A number of organizations, grassroots groups and watchdog outlets are lining up to oppose the Trans Pacific Partnership for all the reasons already mentioned and the dozens more that would doubtlessly be discovered AFTER implementation.

Expose The TPP [dot] org is a hub of information and action aggregated by a coalition of those groups and individual volunteers. You can find out how to deliver anti-TPP talking points in six seconds to your less tuned-in friends and family, get updates on the push to fast track the TPP through Congress, contact your representatives, write letters to the editor and suggest your own actions.

Take Action:

Visit the Expose The TPP website for resources, talking points, ways to contact your representatives and more.

Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: Expose the TPP, episode #792 "Don't get down with TPP (Corporate Takeover)”

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

BOTL segment excerpt:

We have what can only be described as an epidemic of homelessness among LGBTQ youth in this country. According to Colorlines, though only 5 to 7 percent of youth overall identify as LGBTQ, as many as 45 percent of homeless youth are queer identified. A conservative estimate is that there are 200,000 homeless LGBT youth, but just 350 beds in 10 programs across the nation to meet that need.

The Ali Forney Center was started in June 2002 as a response to the lack of safe shelter in New York City. They provide not only housing, drop in service, STI testing and treatment, substance abuse counseling and career assistance, but are "dedicated to promoting awareness of the plight of homeless LGBTQ youth in the United States with the goal of generating responses on local and national levels from government funders, foundations, and the LGBTQ community.”

Take Action:

The Ali Forney Center

The Ali Forney Story

More info:

Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: The Ali Forney Center, episode #821 "The arc of history and the stumbles along the way (LGBTQ Rights)”

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

BOTL segment excerpt:

The parent — teacher — community campaign style of the Chicago Teacher’s Union has spread across the country. Parents and students stood with teachers in Boston earlier this year to oppose the expansion of charter schools. Thousands signed petitions and educated the community, mobilizing a network prepared to form a wall against outside, corporate monied interests.

Most of our country’s communities are smaller than Boston and Chicago, however. Many are without strong union support and wonder how they are to stand up to conservative governors and skeptical voters as they work to halt charter school development and fight budget cuts under already bare bones conditions. Teachers and parents in Elkhart, Indiana decided their students were worth fighting for despite the odds. “Yes 4 Elkhart” is a referendum to support the Elkhart Community School System’s more than 12,000 students by repairing aging facilities, increasing safety and improving transportation.

No matter where you live, these are the grassroots efforts we should be amplifying. Let’s build on wins and repeat what works in school districts and cities from coast to coast. We do have power at the local level; find out what’s happening to the schools in your community and see if the Yes 4 Elkhart and Chicago Teacher’s Union efforts can changes conditions as we work to rebuild the foundation our of nation’s public education system.

Take Action:

Yes 4 Elkhart referendum

Yes 4 Elkhart on Facebook

More info:

Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: Yes 4 Elkhart, episode #820 "More misplaced incentive structures (Education)”

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

BOTL segment excerpt:

As the “Start And Win Campaigns To Protect Our Common Future” page says, "People power will solve the climate crisis...Taking on global warming is a HUGE task, so we need people working all over the world on lots of different campaigns to make it happen.”

Take Action:

Create your own activism: Start And Win Campaigns To Protect Our Common Future from 350.org

More info:

Listen to the source segment for this activism at BOTL Activism: 350.org Campaigns, episode #806 "Moment of truth (climate/keystone xl)”

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich