ANNOUNCEMENT: ADAPT Minnesota Free Our People Award Ceremony

ADAPT Minnesota Free Our People Award Ceremony

WHEN: Thursday, June 23, 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m.

WHERE: Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda

DESCRIPTION: ADAPT Minnesota is thanking Governor Mark Dayton for vetoing several finance bills that would have created significant harm throughout our communities.  Plus, we are expressing our support for him to continue standing firm for a fair budget that isn't balanced on the backs of individuals and families experiencing disability.  ADAPT Minnesota is statewide chapter of a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, that may or may not include civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom; equal opportunities for equal participation in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Members: Please remember to wear your red ADAPT Minnesota shirts.
Allies: Please remember to wear a red shirt.

AGENDA:
1:30 - 1:45 p.m. -- Gather in the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda
1:45 - 2:00 p.m. -- Move to the Minnesota Governor's Office as a Group
2:00 - 2:15 p.m. -- Award Ceremony
2:15 - 3:00 p.m. -- Press Availability and Socializing throughout the Capitol

QUESTIONS AND PRESS INQUIRIES:
For more information, please e-mail adapt.mn@gmail.com.

ADAPT Minnesota E-mail Distribution Lists

PURPOSE: To maximize individual-direction plus ensure equal opportunities for equal participation while minimizing resources required for chapter demonstration, ADAPT Minnesota will be using a variety of technology tools, including e-mail distribution lists.


Membership Distribution List
PURPOSE: Distribute meeting notices, upcoming event announcements, and other content of interest to our members — individuals, families, and organizations encouraging and empowering civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom by engaging in nonviolent direct action, which may or may not include civil disobedience.
Message Frequency: Generally one to two e-mails per week
Subscribe: send a blank e-mail to adapt-mn+subscribe@googlegroups.com, then when you receive the e-mail with a confirmation request, just reply to that message (don't follow the link in the e-mail) so we can finish confirming your e-mail address.


Allies Distribution List
PURPOSE: Distribute upcoming event announcements and other content of interest to our allies — individuals, families, and organizations sharing our passion for encouraging and empowering civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom — equal opportunities for equal participation for everyone.
Message Frequency: Generally one to four e-mails per month
Subscribe: simply send a blank e-mail to adapt-mn-allies+subscribe@googlegroups.com, then when you receive the e-mail with a confirmation request, just reply to that message (don't follow the link in the e-mail) so we can finish confirming your e-mail address.


Press Distribution List
PURPOSE: Distribute press releases and other content of interest to journalists, reporters, and editors covering topics related to disability, independent-living, or civil and human rights. 
Message Frequency: Generally one to four press release e-mails per month
Subscribe: simply send a blank e-mail to adapt-mn-press+subscribe@googlegroups.com, then when you receive the e-mail with a confirmation request, just reply to that message (don't follow the link in the e-mail) so we can finish confirming your e-mail address.






CAN-SPAM ACT NOTICE:  ADAPT Minnesota fully respects the privacy, time, and resources of our participants plus intends to comply with The CAN-SPAM Act.

Metro Chapter Meeting -- Wed, 6/8 at 6:30 p.m. at Griggs-Midway Building

ADAPT Minnesota - Metro Chapter Meeting
Time: Wednesday, June 8 from 6:30pm until 8:30pm
Location: Griggs-Midway Building
1821 University Avenue; Saint Paul, MN
Map: http://bit.ly/lxzY9P

   
We will continue planning our next event at the Capitol.  Become part of our growing ADAPT Minnesota Metro Chapter plus be a part of upcoming actions and events to get our state leadership and citizens to focus on what matters -- life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for everyone -- instead of voting  to limit equal opportunities throughout our communities for our allies and taking away funding essential to our independence. Everyone is welcome!  Please remember that all our activities are scent free and safe spaces to offer equal opportunities for equal participation for everyone.

Future Meetings: We currently plan to meet every Wednesday through at least the end of June as state leaders continue to hammer out a budget resolution.  We haven't decided on meeting locations yet for June 15, June 22, or June 29.  More information will be released in the next week or so.

ADAPT Minnesota Proud to be a Safe Space

To ensure equal opportunity for equal participation for everyone and promote consumer-direction/self-advocacy, ADAPT Minnesota has developed the following safe space guidelines:

• People with Disabilities Lead
• No "Erasing" or Hierarchies
• Access Is a Value
• Share Your Access Needs
• Be Scent-Free (more information about scent-free spaces)
• Value All Ways to Participate
• Talk One at a Time, so That We Can Listen to Everyone
• Be Respectful
• Don’t Be a Jerk
• Violence, fighting, and physical or verbal abuse will not be tolerated.
• Treat everyone with courtesy and respect. Use polite language and think about the power and impact of your words.
• Address other participants by the pronouns and names they prefer.
• Speak for yourself and let others speak for themselves. If a person isn’t in the room, they shouldn’t be the topic of conversation. Gossip and rumors don’t build our community up, they break it down.
• No Oppressing in Any Way: Including Racism, Ableism, Classism, Ageism, Gender Normativity, etc.
• Honor the diversity within our community -- disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, race, economic status, gender identity, and more!
• Challenge Each Other Gently
• Consent, No Pressure
• Respect the privacy of all participants. Anything that is shared during an ADAPT Minnesota activity should remain confidential, unless otherwise noted.
• Cameras and audio/video recording equipment should not be used without advance permission from the subjects being photographed or recorded.
• Take Care of Yourself
• Ask for Help
• Seek clarification if you do not understand something someone else is saying.
• Nothing Is Perfect
• Take responsibility for group discussions and interactions. Make an effort to include others in conversation and try not to dominate discussions. Be sure to speak up if things turn negative or someone violates the safe space guidelines.
• While we ask ADAPTers to be scent-free and keep confidentiality, we are aware that we don't always have control over our environment, since we meet in public places and often have newcomers. We will work to create access in such situations. If you have concerns about confidentiality or scent-free access, please let the meeting leader know right away. We may be able to move the meeting, help a person to become scent-safer, or move around for greater access.
• Be Patient with Each Other (but Not with Injustice)

Metro Chapter Meeting -- Wed, 6/1 at 6:30 p.m. at Griggs-Midway Building

ADAPT Minnesota - Metro Chapter Meeting
Time: Wednesday, June 1 from 6:30pm until 8:30pm
Location: Griggs-Midway Building
1821 University Avenue; Saint Paul, MN
Map: http://bit.ly/lxzY9P

   
Become part of our growing ADAPT Minnesota Metro Chapter plus be a part of upcoming actions and events to get our state leadership and citizens to focus on what matters -- life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for everyone -- instead of voting  to limit equal opportunities throughout our communities for our allies and taking away funding essential to our independence. Everyone is welcome!  Please remember that all our activities are scent free and safe spaces to offer equal opportunities for equal participation for everyone.

Future Meetings: We currently plan to meet every Wednesday through at least the end of June as state leaders continue to hammer out a budget resolution.  We haven't decided on meeting locations yet for June 8, June 15, June 22, or June 29.  More information will be released in the next week or so.

ACTION NEEDED IMMEDIATELY: Defend Our Health, Safety, Security, and Freedom

Call, email, and fax Minnesota Governor Dayton immediately. Tell him to do the following:

• veto the Minnesota Health and Human Service Conference Committee Report Bill (S.F. No. 760) -- it will mean tremendous hardship and loss of independence for many individuals and families experiencing chronic illness, disability, and aging;
• veto the Jobs bill that cuts funding to Self-Advocacy;
•  join the disability community for a "disability roundtable" to discuss how cuts will impact us and build collaboration regarding our ideas for reform and redesign -- "nothing about us, without us".

E-mail forum link: http://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/form/
Telephone: 651-201-3400
Toll Free: 800-657-3717
Minnesota Relay: 800-627-3529
Fax: 651-797-1850

RESOURCES:

S.F. No. 760, Health and Human Services Budget Conference Committee Report - Posted 05/17/11
LINK: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=ccrsf0760A.html&session=ls87
DESCRIPTION: most recent budget proposal with cuts to individuals and families experiencing poverty, chronic illness, disability, and aging


May 2011 Senate Health and Human Services Budget Discussion Videos
LINK: http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/media/media_list.php?ls=87&archive_year=2011&archive_month=05&category=floor&type=video&ver=new#monthnav
DESCRIPTION:  Begins Wednesday, May 18th.  Fast-forward to the mark 4 hours 20 minutes from the beginning (i.e. video for the day is 8 hours 39 minutes; discussion begins about 1/2 through to get to the beginning of the debate).  Senator Berglin begins her passionate opposition at 04:45 and she speaks often on frequently, describing the significant cuts, and describing the devastating impacts.  Discussion continues through beginning of Thursday, May 19 video.

Metro Chapter Meeting Next Week

ADAPT Minnesota - Metro Chapter Meeting
Time: Wednesday, May 18 from 6:30pm until 8:30pm
Location: Griggs-Midway Building
1821 University Avenue; Saint Paul, MN
Map: http://bit.ly/lxzY9P

   
Come learn more about ADAPT Minnesota and be a part of upcoming actions and events to get state Republicans to focus on what matters -- life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for everyone -- instead of voting  to limit equal opportunities throughout our communities for our allies and taking away funding essential to our independence. Everyone is welcome!  Please remember that all our activities are scent free to offer equal opportunities for equal participation for everyone.