VoiceofAmber

Pastoral Letter on Conscience, Human Dignity, & Immigration Enforcement in Chicago

mailchi.mp/174aad17e989...

AOC is obviously the leader of the Democratic party. The time between now and when that becomes the reality, will very, very likely be more of the same tired appeasement tactics and sad sop losing.

Mar 11th:

F- Webinar panelist for creation justice resources

R- Great check-in with my nutritionist

X- Organized 5 years of paperwork 🎉

Mar 10th:

F- Phone calls to representatives

R- Finished washing blankets & bedding

X- Homemade girl dinner with a new book

Amen, @petebuttigieg.bsky.social 🙏

Mar 9th:

F- Prioritizing the mental and emotional wellbeing of others over convenience and efficiency

R- Cozy morning with coffee, snuggles, and a good book

X- Being able to make my friends & family's day a little bit easier

Mar 8th:

F- Date night at an immigrant owned restaurant

R- Didn't touch my computer all day

X- All the recognition & rallies for working women around the world

Mar 7th:

F- Filed my taxes because I value taking care of national parks, conservation, roads, children, vulnerable people, and public services.

R- Made a vet appt for the love of my life

X- See how far I have come in the last 5 years

Mar 6th:

F- Ecumenical collaboration to protect our earth

R- Setting up new systems to make my life easier

X- New laptop works so much better!

Mar 5th:

F- Event planning

R- Using my new reading nook to unwind

X- Spending time in person with collaborators & my flowers bloomed!

Mar 4th:

F- Project Mapping

R- Set up a cozy reading nook in my bedroom

X- Was so peaceful listening to the rain from my sunroom. Spring is not far off!

People protesting a rally at Chicago's Federal Plaza. One holds a sign saying DOGE is the real waste, fraud, and abuse

People at a rally in downtown Chicago with signs like Being human is a right and Nazis out of the White House

People protesting outside a Tesla dealership with signs like Honk for democracy and Abolish DOGE, Stop Elon

Marshals in yellow vests in a crowd of protesters with signs such as Justice for Ukraine

@sbg1.bsky.social @newyorker.com

"Not in the streets"? We can't even count the number of rallies and marches we've been a part of or joined in over the last few weeks.

(Our photos, snapped in the city of Chicago & a suburb)

Mar 3rd:

F- Doubled my working memory so I can resist at twice the speed now

R- Ate 3 healthy meals & 2 snacks today! 4 legged roommate is mad I don't share well.

X- Feeling noticeably better with less meta in my life

Mar 2nd:

F- Added food to the local mutual aid pantry

R- Made a camping Pinterest board to avoid doomscrolling

X- Celebrated good art and storytelling, "Because when you have a chance to be an Oscar winner for the rest of your life, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

Mar 1st:

F- Did not fill out the heritage survey

R- Deep cleaned my apartment

X- Found a new song, "What Happens When a Woman"

Feb 28th:

F- Joined the economic blackout & deleted fb for the weekend (slowly moving off meta)

R- Quiet night at home, repotted a sad plant 🪴 that's immediately thriving

X- Planned some camping trips!

Feb 27th:

F- Preparing churches in my city for extreme weather

R- Meal planning & grocery shopping

X- Saw the Andor S2 Trailer!

Feb 26th:

F- Attended IL Dept Public Health Community Ambassador monthly meeting

R- Made a doctor appointment

X- Organized my camping gear & got my living room back

Feb 25th:

F- Peace Corps Story Slam

R- Homemade Meals

X- Making new friends

Feb 24th:

F- Recruited new member to a Sanctuary team

R- Car Wash & Clean Laundry

X- Spent the afternoon outside

Feb 23rd:

F- Emailed "5 Things I 💜 About the US" to DOGE (NPS, NFS, EPA, NOAA, FEMA)

R- Potato Day 🥔

X- Friend has a new baby!

Feb 22nd:

F- Meeting with clergy & leaders across the city

R- Chicken-cuterie board & homemade Margaritas

X- Built Lyanna a cozy suite in my new car

Graphic showing Zalenskyy and Trump meeting. Wording: Urgent rally. Sunday March 2, 2:00 pm. Chicago Water Tower, 806 N Michigan Ave. Justice for Ukraine. Bring banners: No Justice no peace.Ukraine belongs in NATO. USA support Ukraine. Justice for Ukraine

RALLY FOR UKRAINE. Sunday, March 2nd, 2:00 pm, Chicago Water Tower, 806 N Michigan. Organized by Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, IL Division. Justice for Ukraine!

Feb 21st:

F- Planning a conference against Christian Nationalism

R- Early bedtime

X- Every day is take your doggo to work day

(next to an image of Congress) HOUSE DEMOCRATS CAN STOP THE TRUMP-MUSK POWER GRAB IF THEY USE THEIR LEVERAGE IN THE GOVERNMENT FUNDING FIGHT Democrats are in the minority, but that doesn't mean they're without power. Here's how Democrats can stop extreme MAGA cuts and President Musk.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE LEVERAGE - IF THEY USE IT. House Republicans are in chaos, torn between extreme cuts to life-saving programs like Medicaid and shutdown fears. With a March 14 deadline and control of both the White House and Congress, the GOP owns any shutdown failure. Their majority is miniscule and as soon as the government funding bill looks even remotely reasonable, hardline MAGA extremists will revolt. That means the GOP will need Democratic support to pass a budget. Meanwhile, the Trump-Musk coup continues as MAGA tries to illegally raid payment systems, shut down federal agencies, and fire federal workers. The only way Democrats can stop any of this is by fighting like hell and refusing to cooperate.

DEMOCRATS’ NON-NEGOTIABLE DEMANDS PROTECT ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS Demand a budget that stops MAGA looting and protects working families, or Trump's team will slash essential programs and funnel cash to allies. STOP MAGA CORRUPTION Block any budget without strong protections against Trump and MAGA abuse. Without safeguards, Trump and his allies will divert funds while cutting essential programs. No cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, or food assistance-no loopholes, no empty promises. NO EXTREMIST RIDERS Hold the line on a clean government funding bill-no funding cuts to critical programs and no poison pill riders attacking abortion rights, LGBTQ+ protections, or immigrant communities.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP DEMOCRATS FIGHT BACK Whether your representative is a Democrat or a Republican, they need to hear from you right now. IF YOU'RE REPRESENTED BY A DEMOCRAT Ask them to hold the line. Democrats shouldn't vote for anything more than a two-week continuing resolution until the GOP comes to the table to negotiate a responsible budget with safeguards. IF YOU'RE REPRESENTED BY A REPUBLICAN tell them that you don't want to pay the price for the GOP's billionaire tax breaks. Check out the link in our bio to be connected with your Member of Congress.

FACT: Democrats have real power to put an end to the lawless dismantling of our government by President Musk and Kennedy Center chairman Trump. 👇

What haunts me about this is that 100 years later, communism is still a dirty word and our society goes to great lengths to distance itself from it.

Just saying.

Adventure Week is open to all youth in grades 6-12 and will run from June 16-20. From 10am-noon each day, we will hang out in the youth room, have lunch, play games, and prepare for the adventure. Then, from noon-5PM, we will visit different suburbs and neighborhoods to learn about an organization in that area and the work they are doing. Some confirmed activities this year include Night Ministry meal distribution in Pilsen, Juneteenth at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, and the Organized Communities Against Deportation office in Avondale, with other events to be announced soon.

Registration is open! bit.ly/LSCAW2025
From 10am-noon each day, we will hang out in the youth room, have lunch, play games, and prepare for the adventure. Then, from noon-5PM, we will visit different suburbs and neighborhoods to learn about an organization in that area and the work they are doing.

Feb 20th:

F- Participating in climate change science projects

R- Pineapple margaritas at the end of a long day

X- Finally watched the Derry Girls finale 🥰😭🙌

Feb 19th:

F- Planning team lunch for an awesome Annual Mtg

R- Survived the 'Everything Shower'

X- Got a new mug