Great Barrington Democrats to caucus, hold activism meeting
Great Barrington — Democrats in Great Barrington and Housatonic will hold a caucus on Saturday, March 18, at 9:30 a.m. at Berkshire South Regional Community Center in order to elect delegates to the 2017 Massachusetts Democratic Convention to be held on Saturday, June 3, at the UMASS Lowell Tsongas Center. Participation in the town caucus is open to voters in Great Barrington and Housatonic who are registered as Democrats. Voters can register at the caucus. Anyone who will be eligible to vote in the 2018 primary may preregister to vote in this caucus and run for delegate to the convention.
After the caucus, at 10 a.m., the Democratic Town Committee will meet at the same location to host a conference of local Democratic committee members and other activists. Groups that are expected to attend have been organizing under several banners, including the Women’s March on Washington, Indivisible, Swing Left, the Sister District project, the Town Hall project, Code Blue, and Flippable, among others. Representatives from such organizations as Multicultural BRIDGE and the Berkshire Immigrant Center as well as lawmakers and Democratic State Committee members from Berkshire County have also been invited.
The town committees and activist groups will be invited to share their priorities and goals. Breakout sessions are planned for key policy topics, particularly immigration and health care. The event is an effort to connect local activists with each other to explore how they can mutually support, coordinate and concentrate their efforts.
For more information on the caucus or the committee, contact Great Barrington Democratic Town Committee chair Michael Wise at (413) 854-1323 or michaelwise@earthlink.net. For general information on the convention or the Democratic Party, contact (617) 939-0800 or contact@massdems.org.
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‘Progressive Politics in the Era of Trump’ with Jim McGovern and Keith Ellison
Amherst — On Thursday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m., Progressive Democrats of America, alongside UMass Progressives and UMass Democrats, will present “Progressive Politics in the Era of Trump,” a dialogue with Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, and Democratic National Committee deputy chair Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minnesota, at UMASS Amherst’s Mahar Auditorium.
The event will be an evening discussion with new DNC deputy chair Ellison and fellow Congressional Progressive Caucus member McGovern on progressive politics and what can and needs to be done in the uncertain era of the Trump administration. Audience members will have a chance to ask questions. Doors will open at 5:30pm and seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, contact Casey Pease of Progressive Democrats for America at (413) 801-2820 or caseytpease@gmail.com.
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Berkshire County Commission on the Status of Women legislative breakfast
Pittsfield — The Berkshire County Commission on the Status of Women will hold its annual legislative Breakfast on Monday, March 27, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Berkshire Community College’s Susan B. Anthony Dining Room. This year’s breakfast will highlight the importance of engagement in political discourse and explore ways to make a difference in the lives of Berkshire County women and girls. The featured speaker will be Massachusetts attorney and MCSW commissioner Tahirah Amatul-Wadud. Legislators Sen. Adam Hinds, Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli, Rep. Gailanne Cariddi, Rep. Paul Mark, and Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier will also be in attendance. For more information or to RSVP, contact berkshirewomencommission@gmail.com or register online.
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Stockbridge Democrats to caucus
Stockbridge — Stockbridge Democrats will hold three consecutive meetings–State Caucus, Town Committee Town Caucus–on Saturday, March 18, at 10 a.m. in the meeting room of the Stockbridge Town Offices, 50 Main St. All Stockbridge Democrats are urged to attend. The State Caucus will select delegates to represent Stockbridge at the Massachusetts State Convention to be held on Saturday, June 3, at the UMASS Lowell Tsongas Center. A brief meeting of the Stockbridge Democratic Town Committee will follow and will include a report on committee status, a number of administrative procedural items and reconsideration of future directions. At the Stockbridge Democratic Town Caucus, candidates will be presented for endorsement as “Democratic Caucus Nominees,” a designation to appear on the Tuesday, May 16, ballot. There are 13 positions up for election this year. For more information, contact stockbridgedemocrats@yahoo.com.
