CITIZEN ACTIVISTS: Monday, January 24, 7 pm at Town Hall in Exeter, New Hampshire Citizens Alliance, Seacoast Progressive Alliance and Democracy for New Hampshire are kicking off.... IF I HAD A HAMMER, A TRAINING FOR CITIZEN ACTIVISTS which will take participants from the soup to nuts of political involvement. Sessions will include (but are not limited to) world view and power analysis, framing and messaging techniques, the elements of grassroots organizing, charting strategy, legislative advocacy, and the how-to’s of electoral politics. No prior experience necessary. There will be a focus on Healthcare as an issue for community mobilization. Sessions will combine subject experts, interactive training, and “take-home” action plans. The subject expert for the first meeting will be former state representative, Doug Hall (see schedule below). Our purpose is to raise awareness, expand activists’ skills, enhance the capacity of the progressive base, take a stand and make a difference in our communities.

JOIN US on January 24th

PREWORK FOR FIRST TRAINING: WHO IS YOUR VOICE IN GOVERNMENT?
ACTION: Find and Bring to the meeting on the 24th the names & contact information of your representatives in local, state, and federal government.

January 24, 7pm, Exeter Town Hall
Healthcare 101: Toward An Understanding of NH’s Healthcare System
Doug Hall, Co-Executive Director, NH Center for Public Policy Studies
Healthcare — daily we hear about our healthcare system, but do we understand how the system works. DOUG HALL, NH Center for Public Policy Studies, will share his research and insight and attempt to unravel some of the complexities of the healthcare system — financing, cost shifting, Medicaid and the insurance industry. He will highlight some of the current hot healthcare issues in New Hampshire. Q&A will follow.

February 22, Exeter Library, 7pm
Healthcare 101 Part 2: Systems of Delivery
Speaker: TBA
Who gets covered and why? What are the differences historically between private/public, employer based and government healthcare systems? What does this have to do with Granite Care and the NH budget?

March 30, Exeter Library, 7 pm
Why and How To Take on an Issue — Pinpointing a Campaign
Sam Mekrut, Executive Director, New Hampshire Citizens Alliance
What are the criteria for individuals and groups to select an issue on which to focus? What are appropriate and effective methods for choosing issues and evaluating action. What are the actionable healthcare issues immediately and in the next 2 years?

April Action: Plan and Participate in Cover the Uninsured Week, (4/30-5/8) a national initiative and call to action for accessible and quality healthcare.

May Conference — 2 day statewide summit (dates and location TBA)
Worldview, Power Analysis, Strategy Design, Framing & Messaging

Future trainings and workshops to be announced this spring.