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Democracy 2026
Education. Advocacy. Collaboration. Compassion.
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Many excellent educational programs are under development.
In March, we will feature a program on Deportation: Facts versus Fiction.
Below are two virtual programs for February. Register NOW!
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Scott Harshbarger, chairman and co-founder of Lawyers Defending American Democracy, will discuss the strength and fragility of democracy and the rule of law amid a flurry of executive orders and potentially deconstructive actions with multi-decade domestic and international implications. With majorities in the House and Senate, a conservative Supreme Court, and the appointment of powerful private sector leaders and donors, will the Center hold? Will traditional norms, values and principles, heretofore deemed fundamental to our democracy, prevail?
Scott is a former attorney general of Massachusetts and served as president of Common Cause, a national government and corporate watchdog group. He has had an impressive career as a public defender, civil rights attorney and district attorney, and is currently Senior Counsel at Casner & Edwards. Scott has authored numerous articles on corporate and nonprofit governance and routinely appears on television as a commentator and news analyst.
Register here for our virtual Zoom on Feb. 18, 7 pm ET.
Click here to share this flyer with others and on social media posts.
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The 2025 Florida Legislative session begins on March 4. From immigration measures to proposed efforts to limit citizen-led constitutional amendments, democracy is being chipped away in Florida. One of FFD's most-watched programs last year was with Bob Schaeffer sharing his perspectives on the most significant legislation impacting our freedoms and democracy. Bob will once again help enlighten us and help identify opportunities to share our perspectives with Florida's state elected officials. This will dovetail nicely with FFD's advocacy efforts (see below).
Bob is a political consultant and communications strategist, co-author of Winning Local & State Elections: The Guide to Organizing Your Campaign (Simon & Schuster 1998) and President of Fair Districts Now, Florida's nonpartisan redistricting reform organization. Previously Bob was interim Executive Director of FairTest, a national standardized testing watchdog organization, and served as research director of the Mass. legislature’s Joint Committee on Human Services and elderly affairs. He was a staff member of the Education Research Center at MIT, where he was a student. He’s the author of several books concerning elections and educational testing.
Register here for Feb. 26, 7 pm ET for this virtual Zoom.
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Watch for information about Deportation: Fact vs. Fiction. Learn from the leadership of the Florida Immigrant Coalition and others regarding the most current information on what at-risk individuals are being advised, what human services organizations are doing to assist, and what the general public needs to know about the efforts of detainments, ICE arrests, and actual deportations. This virtual program will likely be an evening during the second week of March. | | | |
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"Speaking Out" to Florida Legislators
Based on the awareness gleaned from our Feb. 26 educational session (see above) led by Bob Schaeffer, FFD is advocating that our participants and partners throughout Florida share their perspectives and concerns with our elected officials and their staffs. This can be through phone calls (many is good!), emails, actual visits to Tallahassee, and/or by postcards.
FFD is organizing a postcarding "party" event on March 8 from 2-4 pm that will be held in The Community Room of FineMark Bank, 8965 College Parkway in Fort Myers. Register here to participate for in-person postcarding in Fort Myers.
Additionally, FFD is encouraging postcarding parties in homes, community centers, and locations of choice. Make them fun and fruitful. For those interested in holding a concurrent event, Saturday, March 8, from 2-4 pm, in their own community and would like to have fun on a shared Zoom, email us your interest at info@floridiansfordemocracy.org and we will work with you to coordinate. We can also provide preprinted postcards if notified by Feb. 27.
Let's let our elected officials know we are paying attention and we care! Join us in ADVOCACY on March 8th!
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Be a GREAT ADVOCACY Advocate!
You will be amazed how simple this is. Check it out. It is worth your time.
Here's a simple and direct way to let YOUR federal elected officials know YOUR opinions.
They are supposed to represent you!
Call them on the phone. Spend 5 minutes, make 5 calls.
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More Education
MAGA deconstruction efforts are happening at breakneck (literally & figuratively) speed. There are so many substacks, podcasts, news reports and more to read and watch. It is hard to keep up. Below are two sites of current interest from the New York Times. Below left is a running chronological journal of the minute-by-minute MAGA actions since January 20. It is overwhelming but important.
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All of the Trump Administration’s Major Moves in the First Days (changes daily)
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Now Will We Believe What Is Happening Right in Front of Us?
NYT, Feb. 7
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Thank You cards for
those who speak up!
Every day people are writing impressive guest editorials, letters to the editors, protesting, and speaking up in defense of democracy. In doing so, they are often, especially in Florida, putting a target on their backs. Let's show appreciation!
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FFD has designed Thank You postcards to show appreciation for those we encounter who are Speaking Up on behalf of protecting and preserving democracy and human dignity. If you want to recognize someone for their advocacy, FFD can send you some Thank You cards that look like the one above.
Request through: info@floridiansfordemocracy.org
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If you are involved with another pro-democracy group or organization or simply have a bunch of like-minded friends who don't want to sit on the sidelines while our democracy and hard-earned freedoms are being stolen from us, get them together for advocacy and let's COLLABORATE on postcarding specifically targeted for our public officials!
No matter where you are in the state of Florida, you can take part in this impactful action. Learn from Bob Schaeffer's program on Feb. 26, 7pm (see above). Then let us know through info@floridiansfordemocracy.org by Feb. 27 and we will supply the postcards so you can communicate with elected officials early in the Florida Legislative session..
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Red Cards
The Immigrant Legal Resources Center has created Red Cards that help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home or stop someone anywhere. Check out this site: Red Cards / Tarjetas Rojas FFD participants and partners are already printing and distributing these cards of COMPASSION and support.
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A COMPASSIONATE Sheriff!
It is possible to follow the law and be compassionate. See what the Larimer County Colorado Sheriff's Office posted here about immigration enforcement.
We should always advocate
for human compassion!
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Are we still allowed to celebrate
Black History Month???
For the 28 days in the shortest month of the year, Black History Month provides an opportunity to recognize the achievements and challenges of Black history in the U.S. and beyond. It is a time to hold a mirror on all of us. A time to reflect. A time to honor.
Meanwhile the leader of the MAGA Coup has been busy wildly and baselessly blaming everything from the LA wildfires to a tragic airline crash in DC on Black, brown, LGBTQ+, and disabled people. The assertion is that DEI hires have caused these tragedies and more. Corporations that only recently invested in DEI by espousing sensitivity and compassion are suddenly pulling sponsorship funding in response to a flurry of executive orders decrying diversity initiatives. An unelected, multibillionaire child of apartheid South Africa has apparently been empowered to infuse the apartheid doctrine in America. Florida's governor has rejected an AP African American studies course while pushing for "White Washing" of true history.
How sad!
Instead, let's all celebrate Black History Month this year with a closer look at the lives of various Black Americans who have made indelible marks on history with their artistry, professional achievements, and community activism. Click here to see PBS's impressive collection of films that will make you think. (PS: Don't let them take away PBS!)
Let's show COMPASSION, understanding, respect, and love for humankind.
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VOLUNTEERS
Many of you have offered to volunteer in the past. While we have called upon a few for specific tasks, we have not effectively utilized the over 1150 FFD participants. Below are areas where we could use YOUR volunteer assistance in an organized fashion.
We will need team leaders or co-leaders and energetic working volunteers. Our Democracy 2026 goals (Education, Advocacy, Collaboration, and Compassion) will not have any positive impact without dedicated, energized volunteers working within or alongside the FFD network.
Please let us know your willingness to help in the areas identified below (leadership and/or assistance) by email: info@floridiansfordemocracy.org
- Volunteer coordination to help organize the activities identified below
- Social media volunteer talent is essential for effective and timely postings and monitoring of our websites, social media, and YouTube channel; plus monitoring, and sharing with other pro-democracy organizations.
- Educational Programs require organizing & collaborating with other pro-democracy organizations; marketing our programs will increase participation including a focus on youth.
- "Thank You" for advocacy postcards will require researching recipient addresses.
- Fundraising and friend-raising volunteers.
*** For individuals interested in working on or learning more about building “coalitions of trust” for our Compassion & Decency Initiative, please contact FFD board member Bill Petrarca: bill@petrarca.net
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FINANCIAL RESOURCES
We just received a matching donor grant of $25,000 to kick-start 2025!!!
Your financial contributions over the past two years have positioned us well and we have tried to remain worthy of your trust and support.
As you know, prior to the November elections, we donated most of our remaining funds for media outreach in hopes of helping make some elections closer, especially in support of Amendment 4.
We do not want to be in major competition with the many pro-democracy initiatives that many of you support; however, some financial resources are necessary.
Your assistance at any level will be most appreciated and help us secure the new matching donor grant quickly.
FFDI’s tax-deductible education fund:
ffdi.floridiansfordemocracy.org/donate/
FFD’s non-tax-deductible action fund:
floridiansfordemocracy.org/donate
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We envision a state of Florida where all elected leaders proactively implement laws ensuring all residents have equal opportunity, regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation as granted by democratic freedoms dictated in the constitution. | | | | |
