The Newsletter of the Deeds Not Words Community

October 8, 2018 | Deeds Digest No. 119
Hello #Changemakers!

On Saturday evening, I had the privilege of addressing a group of students at New York's Columbia University, capping their week-long effort to raise awareness on campus about the need to vote. For me, the evening was a needed catharsis, a time to express my anger and frustration about the events of the prior week.  But, because I was speaking to an audience of young people hoping to change the world, it was also necessary for me to muster my own feelings of hope and determination in order to inspire the same in my audience of bright, passionate #Changemakers.  All of us agreed that being in community with each other on the evening of the very day that Brett Kavanaugh was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court was a good first step in healing and collecting our energies for future action.

Because I live in Texas, I often find myself running into what feels like an insurmountable brick wall, whether we are talking about women's rights, immigrant rights, voting rights, needed criminal justice reforms, or the rights of our lgbtqia community.  And the list goes on and on, and on ... If anyone has cause for feeling like picking up our marbles and going home, it's people who live in states like mine.

Resisting the urge to give up can be hard.  Trust me, I know.  I've fought through that urge many times.

But it's exactly in those moments when we have the capacity to discover our greatest unknown strengths.  These are the times when we learn what we are truly made of.  I often tell my audiences that, rather than asking ourselves the question once posed by American pastor Robert Schuler ("what is the one thing you would attempt if you knew you could not fail"), we should instead asks ourselves: "What am I willing to attempt even if I will most likely fail, even if the odds are stacked against me?"  It's in answering that question that we discover the depths of our power and the best of who we truly are.

As former U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski has often said when referring to times of difficulty: "Ladies, put your lipstick on, square your shoulders and get ready to do battle. This calls for a revolution!"  I can't express it any better than she has.

So, get your lipsticks ready my #Changemaker friends.  And let the battle begin to re-shape our democracy, once and for all, as a true democracy OF THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE AND BY THE PEOPLE! 

Much love,
-wendy
 

At Deeds Not Words we galvanize the power of young #Changemakers through organizing, policy-making, and voting. And we're beyond excited to host multiple advocacy trainings this Fall in communities across Texas!

Be part of an intersectional community that fights for social and economic opportunity, access to reproductive health, freedom from sexual assault, and equal representation in every space and at every level.

Join us in turning out your friends to vote in November and learn how YOU can become a Deeds Not Words #Changemaker. Register today at: http://bit.ly/Deeds_Fall2018Training

If you are interested in activism and want to learn how to be an advocate on your high school or college campus, and community, this training is for you!

Let's organize,

Claudia Yoli Ferla
Director of Student Outreach and Organizing
While last week didn't go as we would have hoped, we are still in awe of the resilience and passion of everyone who came together to organize across the country and stand up for survivors.

If you raised your voice in any capacity, we are forever grateful of your efforts and you should be proud! ❤️

Here's more of what's inspiring us...
It's probably apparent what's firing us up this week. We're enraged, but we're also letting that rage keep us motivated. The road to progress is never easy, so let's all pledge to hold on to this feeling and use it as fuel to keep us going.

If you're angry after this week: GOOD! As the saying goes, "If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention."

Here's more of what has us fired up ...
 
Regardless of which state you live in, the deadline to register to vote is coming up fast! So here at Deeds Not Words, we’re calling on you to #VoteYourRage. Even if you know you’re registered to vote, now is the time to start the conversation with your friends and family about voting. When you #VoteYourRage you aren’t just exercising your right to vote and turning that anger into something productive, you’re taking it upon yourself to make sure the people around you do, too! It’s easy to check to see if you are appropriately registered and ready to vote.  So if you’ve recently moved or had any other life changes, now is the time to make sure you are still qualified to vote.

How are you going to make sure you and everyone you know are ready to go to the polls? Head to National Voter Registration Day to find out about voting where you live. If you’re in Deeds' home state of Texas, visit govotetexas.org for more information.

Oh, and once you've done that, you might want to test your voting knowledge by checking out this quiz to test your Voter IQ 😜

#Changemakers, now that you know what to do, it’s time to #VoteYourRage!

This Week's #Changemaker:
Nadia Murad

This was a rough week. After the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, many in the fight to end sexual harassment and violence were left wondering "where do we go from here?"

If you're in need of a little inspiration (and trust me, we were!), look no further than this year's Nobel Peace Prize winner: Nadia Murad. A survivor of rape and captivity by ISIS, Nadia Murad was just awarded one of the worlds highest honors for her work to end sexual violence in war-zones.

Having been held by ISIS for three months until her escape, Murad has used her story to advocate for women, to end the shame that is often experienced by survivors, and to stop human trafficking.

If you're looking for a bit of encouragement this week, check out her essay on why storytelling is the best weapon you have.  Thank you for reminding us that speaking our truths is essential when trying to change the world for the better, Nadia.  You are a true #Changemaker and we love you. ❤️
In 2017, our Deeds Not Words' trained student activists PASSED 7 pieces of legislation in the Texas Capitol to prevent sexual assault, protect survivors and end human trafficking. In 2018 our goal is to empower and reach even more students to enact real change in their communities, but we need your support!
 
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Deeds Not Words
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Austin, TX 78762