Happy Hump Day, Shit Givers.
Thank you to everyone who has already filled out our principles survey! There’s still time to do it if you want a chance to 1) help us build a stronger community and 2) win a $100 Bookshop gift card.
Note: It’s definitely hard to rank these statements! In some ways, that’s the point! But it’s still very helpful data for us.
And to the very, very few of you who took issue with the survey being “biased” (yup, we own that, right in the header on our homepage! It absolutely is.) or think that “deserve” is a “strong word” for things like food or shelter — I’m not here to debate human rights with you! The unsubscribe button is absolutely free. 👋
To the vast majority of you who actually give a shit about other humans, apologies, I just had to get that off my chest. Onward to this week’s action steps!
Let’s go.
— Willow
From seed to table to systemic change
We are standing ten toes down that yes, everyone does indeed deserve food (apparently this is controversial), and better still, we deserve food that comes from a functional, sustainable, efficient food system.
And we can build that together, starting here:
Donate to Regeneration International to support their work advocating for regenerative farming practices worldwide through education, network building, and policy work. (go)
Volunteer with the Food Animal Concerns Trust to ensure that food-producing animals are raised healthily and humanely so everyone has access to safely and ethically produced food. (go)
Learn more about the global food scene with this list of documentaries that cover everything from small-scale farmer struggles to the work of activists fighting for a more sustainable food future. (go)
Buy healthy, affordable, high-quality food that benefits farmers, prevents food waste, and saves the environment using Misfits Market. (go)
Be Heard about strengthening local food systems by urging your local government to adopt policies that help farmers and families, using our template developed with Zero Foodprint. (go)
Okay Virginia, let’s build some houses
Yes, we’re still beating the Virginia drum, and this week we have some key housing bills making their way through Virginia’s general assembly that you can get loud about:
HB1279 lets faith institutions and nonprofits build affordable housing on land that they own, using predictable rules that reduce risk for builders and communities, thus speeding up development. It’s a no-brainer. (go)
SB531 legalizes accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in single-family zones, creating flexible, lower-cost homes while preserving neighborhood character. Removing outdated zoning barriers, giving homeowners more options, everybody wins. (go)
HB888 lowers parking minimums, which reduces housing costs and encourages walkable development (all girls want is a walkable neighborhood!!!). By capping excessive parking mandates, we can build homes without overbuilding parking. (go)
🔎 Find more Virginia bills right here. 👈
Reminder: this is our first push of state-level Be Heard actions, with a focus on Virginia for now. If you want your state on board, reply to this email (thank you to everyone who has already replied! We see you, and we’re working on it).
Stuff for indoor and outdoor children
Access to nature was such an important part of my experience growing up, and still is. It’s also a huge privilege! We can change that, and give more kids more opportunities to connect to the great outdoors by supporting groups like:
And for all the time children are indoors, keep them off screens and reading more with books from:
ColorPop Books, an organization that makes finding representative kids books easier, because every kid should get the chance to see themselves as the main character. (go)
We’ve carefully catalogued all of our favorite kids books in Bookshop, so they can learn about big topics like climate, health, technology, and science in age-appropriate ways. (go)
And another thing!
Speaking of representation, we really need more people in STEM that aren’t just a bunch of white dudes in hoodies (if you’re a white dude in a hoodie, sorry, but you get it). Check out the groups making that happen:
The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) partners with educational institutions to widen the STEM workforce for Indigenous peoples. (go)
Black Girls Code partners with schools and local organizations to offer learning opportunities in tech to girls and young women of color. (go)
Out In Tech is a community of LGBTQ+ tech leaders creating opportunities for LGBTQ+ people to advance their careers and leverage tech for social change. (go)
Women In AI Ethics is a badass group of brilliant women curating a more inclusive vision of the future. (go)
That’s it for this week! I’m so grateful to have you as part of this community.
Thank you — as always — for giving a shit.
— Willow
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