Envision2020 newsletter

ENC Progressive Coalition Forming Rev. William J. Barber II ends his recent autobiography with a list of 14 steps we must take to move “forward together.” The first is “Engage in indigenously led grassroots organizing across the state.” Inspired by Rev. Barber’s work, a new progressive coalition is being formed in Eastern North Carolina for the purpose of connecting the many groups in this region, both Democratic party committees and non-partisan organizations. We propose working together in these ways:  We will create regular newsletters as a way of educating ourselves and others, sharing thoughtful articles on issues of concern as well as links to important articles that appear in lesser-known publications and sites.  In the newsletter we will publish a list of upcoming events to increase awareness of causes we support by increasing numbers of participants.  The newsletter will list all participating groups. Those on our voluntary contact list will receive newsletters and announcements regularly.

EnVision2020 is a newsletter for activists living in Eastern North Carolina who care about our planet and the people living on it. To receive these newsletters join us by sending an email to: ENCprogressive@outlook.com

March 10, 2017 Volume 1, No. 1 Inside this issue Links to important news ............. 2 Issues articles ............................. 3 News of our members ................ 4 Events in our counties ................ 5 Membership list ......................... 6

In New Bern on January 21 more than 600 people marched to show opposition to Trump’s presidency. In Pamlico County last month 40 people met to form “Pamlico Progressives.” Sixty people met in Beaufort Co. to form “Beaufort Progressives.” Trump has given us the best opportunity ever for expanding our base of support. Let’s make the most of it!

We invite you to join us! An organizing meeting is being planned for April 10 in New Bern. At this dinner meeting which will begin at 6:00 pm, we will jointly make decisions about the best ways a coalition can expand participation in all our organizations. Please see page three or call 252-675-8976 or email ENCprogressive.outlook.com for more information.

What Do You Think? ................... 6

Special points of interest on Page 2  Raising the minimum wage in North Carolina  Climate change effects in ENC  Blue Cross makes huge profit while raising rates and paying

North Carolina Lawmakers Hope to Raise Minimum Wage in Our State Three North Carolina senators re hoping to raise the minimum wage in our state. If passed, the bill would raise the minimum wage to $8 an hour beginning this Labor Day. The ultimate goal of the bill is to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2021. Link to the full article

New Bern Sun Journal: Lessons Learned, Lessons Applied by Richard LaPalme.

As a concerned citizen, I try to inform myself about important issues that have a potential for changing my life. In 1972 I was a university student assisting in a radio astronomy study about what was then called the Antarctic polar icecap ozone hole. The work of our scientists and many others worldwide eventually led to a global treaty for an environmentally balanced approach to chlorofluorocarbon (Freon) refrigerant management. The ozone hole is now recovering and closing. Link to the full article.

See page 5, Happenings, for information about an important lecture to be presented in Morehead City on March 27.

New York Times: Trump’s Many Shades of Contempt “It’s reminiscent of the developing countries where I’ve served. The family rules everything and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs knows nothing.” Julia Ioffe quoted by Roger Cohen is a very important warning to the American people. Link to the full article.

Politico: Top lawyers who helped the Obama White House craft and hold to rules of conduct believe President Donald Trump and his staff will break ethics norms meant to guard against politicization of the government — and they’ve formed a new group to prepare, and fight. … While other Trump opponents focus on taking the president to court over the travel ban and deportations, the new group plans to drill into issues that aren’t already hitting the headlines, like potential intervention in and intimidation of regulatory agencies by West Wing staff. Link to the full article.

New York Times: Top Court Returns Virginia Voting District Cast to Lower Court The US Supreme Court gave Virginia Democrats fresh chance to challenge parts of the Legislative map for the state’s House of Delegates. Link to the full article

Blue Ridge Public Radio: BC/BS Trims Obamacare Losses, Makes Larger Profit The dominant insurance company in North Carolina performed far better on the Obamacare exchange last year and increased overall profits dramatically as a result. Link to the full article

News & Observer: Blue Cross/Blue Shield of NC Execs Get $1 million + bonuses The state’s largest health insurer, which is based in Durham, reported Wednesday that it generated net income of $185 million last year, up from $500,000 in 2015. This year’s profit amounted to 2.4 cents for every dollar of premium received. Link to the full article

“North Carolina’s recent political history foreshadows what’s likely to happen in Washington during this era of Republican political dominance. Luckily, the growing Democratic revival in North Carolina can also teach us lessons about what Democrats across the U.S. should do next. …”

This article, written by Graig Meyer and published on Medium.com, is a brief review of where we have been in North Carolina in recent years and where we can go by working together.

Here is a link to the full article. Graig Meyer is a member of the NC House of Representatives from Durham. See his website here.

Let’s get organized!

Let’s work together to strengthen all our organizations!

You are invited to the first meeting of ENC Progressives, a coalition of groups in eight counties: Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico & Pitt We Will Be Stronger Together!

A dinner meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 10 at 6:00 p.m. in New Bern at

Flame Banquet Center Cost is $20: choose from salmon or chicken or a vegetarian dinner; a cash bar will be available.

The purpose of this meeting is to decide whether to form an 8-county coalition of progressive groups in eastern North Carolina and to determine how the group will work.

Reservations are absolutely required. Call Libbie at 252-675-8976 to reserve.

Everyone is welcome!

People in New Bern are working together to support undocumented residents of our community. Here is the mission statement they have recently created.

To join this group or to learn more please contact safe_enc@googlegroups.com

Sisters Work, initially sponsored by the Democratic Women of Craven County, began meeting for the “first 100 days” of the new Presidential Administration to pursue the intentional inclusion of younger women in the Craven County area in working toward shared political goals. The two objectives of this focus group are: 

To encourage relationship-building between an ethnically-diverse group of younger and older women with a common commitment to progressive goals;



To empower more women as leaders in Craven County by sharing knowledge and practicing social activism skills together.

Midway through the first 100 days, participants are providing training to the entire group about how to run for local office; choosing a policy focus; considering the longer-term future by working on a mission statement and networking strategies; exploring sponsorship of an upcoming march, and building relationship ties. For more information, contact cravencountrybettertogether@gmail.com.

Tell us what your group is doing! Join the ENC progressive coalition.

Email ENCprogressive@outlook.com a brief description of activities in your county.

We’ll share your news in a future issue of Envision2020.

Throughout our region Democratic Party annual county conventions will be held in the coming weeks. Send us the details of your convention and we’ll list it here.

Saturday, March 11: A peaceful, non-partisan Citizens Moral March will be held in Beaufort.

The focus for this march is on emphasizing common concerns on issues affecting our county, state and country including equality; social, environmental and economic justice. The rally will include multiple speakers addressing concerns including jobs, education, health care, mental health and substance abuse treatment and protecting our Crystal Coast. Marchers are asked to gather at 11:00 am at Grayden Paul Park on Front Street (across from Beaufort Town Hall and BBT Bank) the half mile march begins at noon and ends with a rally at the Carteret County Courthouse. For further information please call 860-671- 1278 or see the “Citizens Moral March for Carteret County” Facebook page.

Saturday, March 11, International Women’s Day. Join the march in Greenville sponsored by Amexcan. 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Alice Keene Park, 4561 County Home Road.

Sunday, March 26, 3:00 pm: SAFE-ENC will meet at the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship hall in New Bern, 308 Meadows Street. (See this group’s mission statement on page 4.)

Monday, March 27, 7:00 pm: Dr. Rosana Nieto Ferreira will discuss Climate Change: Science and Impacts in Eastern North Carolina” at Joslyn Hall on the campus of the Carteret Community College, Morehead City. This event is sponsored by Citizen’s Climate Lobby Beaufort chapter, Sierra Club-Croatan Group, Interfaith Power & Light, and Carteret Crossroads. Read Richard LaPalme’s article in the New Bern Sun Journal for more information.

Thursday, April 6, 6:30 pm: Noted expert John Fussell will be doing a presentation for the Carolina Nature Coalition and Croatan Sierra Club about "Endangered Flora and Fauna of the Croatan National Forest." Location: Trent River Coffee Company, 208 Middle Street, New Bern.

On this page in all future issues of Envision2020 we will list member organizations with contact information.

Is creating a coalition representing many activists in eastern North Carolina a good idea? Will your group want to participate?

We’ve created this newsletter to illustrate how we will communicate with progressives in the 8-county region of Eastern North Carolina. It’s a first attempt and we’re sure it will improve.

We want you to understand that we are proposing to share communication and education about issues of the day. We hope that by working together across a large area all of us will grow and become stronger.

We hope you will attend our organizing meeting in New Bern on April 10. Please make your reservation to join us soon by emailing ENCprogressive@outlook.com. Please invite every activist you know in our 8-county region.

The editor of this newsletter has been inspired by Rev. William Barber’s “fusion movement” to reach out to all people who are opposed to what is going Raleigh and Washington DC. By working together, by sharing information, by supporting one another’s causes, we can be STRONGER TOGETHER. Who is that editor? Libbie Griffin, a recent retiree with time on her hands and experience in creating newsletters, has for many years been an active Democrat. For 12 years I’ve led a group called the “Liberal Ladies” in New Bern; today we have 370 people on our email list.

More than100 women attended the Liberal Ladies February meeting.

Contact me at LibbieGriffin3@gmail.com or by phone at 252-675-8976. I’d love to hear what you think of this idea! Thank you for your interest.