COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM PROGRESS

AUGUST 2025

 INFORM AND EDUCATE – This team conducts in-depth research on issues impacting our community from the national stage.  We provide speakers and films on current issues of our time. In July we showed The Last Class with Robert Reich. In August we are showing #UNTRUTH the Psychology of Trumpism at Sebastiani theatre. We have some exciting ideas for speakers coming up.

PROTEST AND ACTION TEAM - This team comes together to decide what direction Wake UP Sonoma will take going forward.  What are the next actions, the next stealth move, what is our strategy, etc.

 We have organized and carried out the 4 protests this year so far - Hands Off, No Kings, and John Lewis Protests, drawing from 500 to 3,000 people at these protests. We also stealth protested at the 4th of July Parade with protest signs showing each of teh27 amendments and Uncle Sam Passing out mini-constitutions.

 Our most recent decision is to start having monthly meetings and community conversations, where we can meet the rubber with the road in community building. The first one will be in Sept. We plan to bring people together to do planning, speakers, open mic, etc. as well as provide some social time.  However, protests will still be organized when the community gives us feedback that it’s wanted or if there is a national push to get people out.  These protests take a large amount of coordination and needs a highly functioning team to pull them off.  

 MUTUAL AID - We participate in a collaboration with ExtraFood and the Catalyst Fund to put a gleaning team together.  We also collect supplies for Homeless Action Services during protests.

 DEIA - We have just launched a collaboration with Art Escape in Sonoma Valley, to strategically and with some measure of stealth, bring DEIA and Inclusive business practices into the limelight. The bilingual project will bring teens in Sonoma Valley together to artistically represent what inclusion means to them.  Selected art renditions from these teens will be designed into a small visual symbol that will become a symbol of inclusiveness in Sonoma Valley that businesses can display in their windows. Those businesses that opt in, will be on our list of recommended businesses.

 WELL BEING - Helping people get through this stressful time with resiliency workshops, and other activities that support mental health and well-being.  We had one well attended zoom workshop, and others are planned for this fall.

 HEALTH AND MEDICAL - A team of Drs and nurses have come together to provide the valley with informed workshops and speakers on what the Big Ugly Bill means for healthcare everywhere, but especially given the demographics of the Valley. (A documentary, if there is one!...followed by a panel discussion at the Sebastiani?) We also decided to send out postcards to local officials (and of course politicians) with influence over healthcare decision-making.  

 IMMIGRANT SUPPORT - We work in collaboration with NBRRN, SIS, LaLuz and other groups to do what we can to educate and promote immigrant safety and get the word out about the various programs that they provide.  In the case of an ICE raid, we are prepared to pull together volunteers to help as needed. We also help promote Ally programs.

 LGBTQIA+ ADVOCACY - We collaborate with Sonoma Valley Pride to bring visibility and safety to this community around LGBTQIA+ issues, and was successful in getting June declared as Pride Month in Sonoma Valley. We had our first ever pride weekend in June.  We hope to continue on with pride activities in Sonoma Valley throughout the year.

 CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - School Board issues and engaging with City Council and City officials to problem solve community issues. We are recruiting for School Board and City Council observers.

 CORPORATE TRANSPARENCY - We are still working on keeping the community informed on issues surrounding the Ponzi Scheme that has played out in Sonoma Valley with the Lefever/Mattson empire.  We continue to do what we can to advocate for justice on that front, and to bring information to our community about developments as this plays out in the courts and within the real estate industry.

 OUTREACH - We are a community presence at Farmer's markets, events and other places we are invited to bring our information and presence. We are recruiting  to add to this team.

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

POSSIBLE FUTURE CONVERSATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS - WE WANT YOUR INPUT!

 1. How to best support Sonoma Valley immigrant community
2. The Labor movement – current updates.
3. Balance protests with strategic resistance, non-compliance and stealth activism.
4. Impact of Global and National human rights issues on our local community, and how do we hold these controversial topics in a way that unifies us.
5. What should our Involvement be in School Board and City Council activities to strengthen and promote engagement?
6. Building on our Mutual Aid efforts in Sonoma Valley using collaboration.