The Black Lives Matter movement means more than just stopping police-related death of people of color at the hands of law enforcement. It means looking at how racism plays into every aspect of American life. It is time that as Americans, we take a hard look at our racist institutions and ask ourselves if we’re willing to fight for long-lasting, systemic changes or if we are willing to continue with reformism and business as usual. Defunding the police does not mean less public safety. It means that instead of spending exorbitant amounts of money on policing the ailments of society, which solve nothing, we should be investing in programs that directly benefit over-policed, POC, and marginalized communities. Please sign our petition to show the Santa Cruz City Council that they need to do more than performative gestures!

This is important because even though open conversations like these can be challenging, ballet studios, schools, and companies should talk about the obstacles that race can provide in the ballet world and how to improve that in their community for the first step. Facilitating conversations around race, equity, diversity, and inclusion can be helpful in educating and getting people involved in the hope for eliminating racism. Racial equity is an ongoing process and conversation. Especially in the arts like ballet, it is indirectly nuanced so that BIPOC dancers are disadvantaged. The best way to change and promote racial equality in your surroundings is to have conversations that advocates for diversity and equality with people around you and use your voice to call attention to these matters.

Due to recent concerns regarding the ability of the USPS to effectively and timely deliver ballots and the health and safety concerns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are requesting to have drive up locations placed throughout the state of Nevada where citizens can drop off their ballots safely. This alleviates the concern with the USPS delivery times as ballots would go directly to a voting poll location. Contactless delivery would also alleviate concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19.

We've told you about the dire situation happening at Primex Farms, a nut company in Wasco CA. The situation is escalating. According to a July 26 CNBC article, 150 of the 400 workers have now tested positive. In addition, a UFW census shows 49 of their adult family members and 34 children have tested positive for COVID-19. Sadly, one Primex worker has since died. A second worker, who tested positive, was removed from life support and sent home for palliative care; she is not expected to survive. Protesting Primex's flawed response to the virus, employees walked out on strike and formed a picket line. Workers were requesting safety measures, including social distancing procedures, company provision of personal protective equipment such as face masks and payment of sick leave for infected or exposed employees. The company promised improvements, but when they did not happen, workers -- including those in quarantine with the virus -- defied the company and held a virtual press conference. Now the major pistachio and almond processing company is retaliating against key groups of outspoken workers. This company uses several staffing agencies to supplement their direct hire workforce. Many of the workers who spoke out worked through USA Staffing. On July 22, Primex told the dozens of workers employed by USA Staffing that they were terminated because “production had dropped” -- but then they brought in new workers the same day! Brisdey Nieto is one of these fired workers. She tells us, “The company's anti-union consultant told us that due to the union taking the actions it had taken the clients had heard and therefore production had dropped. They were firing us. I could not believe that. I saw that same day they hired new workers and that they had started working. If production had dropped; why hire new workers?” The UFW immediately filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board for the company illegally retaliating against the workers for union activities and joining together to improve conditions. Workers don't want to wait; they want their jobs back now and they want to be protected on the jobsite. They're asking you to sign their petition telling the company to rehire them, with appropriate coronavirus protections in place. Workers are hoping to turn in thousands of signatures in the next few weeks. Will you add your signature today?

This is extremely important because thousands of students looking to better their lives and future were mislead. We were overcharged and given false information. This school is no longer open. It started as Southwestern college then changed to Lincoln College if Technology. Teachers were not educated on what to teach and we were charged multiple times for books/scrub uniforms we had to reuse. We were told credits could transfer to other institutes and they do not. At all. The school isn’t even acknowledged by other accredited institutes and you can’t call because it’s no longer open. It’s a bait and switch... they get you in, young and eager and lie about it all. Never received a layout of what we were actually paying for either. I have no idea what my $40,000 paid for! Now thousands of dollars in debt, I can’t afford to go back to school because of this debt I no longer qualify for federal loans! These loans should be forgiven. We were told we would have job placements and I’ve never once had a job placement from this place. “Graduated” in 2011. I am praying to get these loans forgiven considering I now am eligible to receive any loans due to my debt. I would LOVE to return to school and earn a business degree to further my career for me and my daughter. Thank you!

Protecting the right to vote and ensuring free and fair elections are at the heart of our democracy and they are sacred principles Americans have fought for and died for.

Progressives have been sidelined by the DNC for far too long. The people have spoken and they favor progressive politics. We will not allow our party to be taken over by never Trumpers. We believe in healthcare as a human right, a wealth tax, criminal justice reform, and so does America. We refuse to be pushed aside.

It’s important that one of the most influential people in modern day politics, especially a Democrat, to speak at the Democratic National Convention. We all need to hear what she has to say. And giving just 60 seconds is not enough. At the very least give her 2 minutes. Obviously we would love for her to have even more time than that since she is such a champion for fair wages, corporate accountability, environmental justice, and so many other important issues. Please sign and share!

Since the 2016 CDC guidelines, millions & millions of people in pain have been forced tapered or dropped on their long time safe & effective prescription pain medicines, causing them to have adverse health conditions(such as heart attacks, strokes, etc.) as well as more people committing suicide now, because they just can't deal with all of the pain. Not to mention pushing more & more to illegal street drugs because their pain is untreated or undertreated causing the overdoses & deaths to keep increasing. Less than 1% of prescription pain medicines get diverted. Where's the crisis in that??? The mass majority of people who take prescription pain meds for their pain do so safely & as directed. But everyone is not the same & needs different dosing. Some need less for their pain. But some need more. Everyone is different & they do not get the same benefits from the same dose & same kind of medicine as everyone else. So you cannot treat everyone with the same dose or put a limit on them. People in pain who take prescription pain medicines are not druggies or addicts(although they are far to often treated like they are) which is very unfair. They have the pain to work against the medicines(& vise versa) & do not get "high". The medicines help dull the pain so they can move & get through each day. The 2016 CDC guidelines were supposed to be just that .... guidelines, for PCP doctors prescribing initial pain medicines. NOT for ongoing chronic pain. But some how those guidelines are now being used as law & as a weapon. The DEA is now using the 2016 "guidelines" as a weapon against our doctors. & this needs to STOP Now! This is causing doctors to drastically taper & drop everyone off of their long time safe & effective prescription pain medicines in fear for their license being taken by the DEA. Not to mention the DEA going after doctors, closing their practices down. Where & what are all their patients supposed to do being cut off in the blink of an eye? Yep, they are going to the streets for illegal street drugs, committing suicide or having detrimental adverse health conditions. People in pain are being harmed left & right! & this needs to STOP!!! It should have never started in the first place. But it needs to STOP NOW!!!! Throw out the 2016 CDC guidelines & do not make any more. Also, those guidelines were all one sided(when made) & based on false & misinformation. Throw out those guidelines & do not make any more. So it can bring back the doctor - patient relationship, to where the doctor can help their patients without fearing for their practice, license or their lives! STOP punishing people in pain. We did not ask for pain but are stuck with it. Opioids(the opioid plant) has been around since the beginning of time. It was given to us to help us with our pain. It wasn't until illegal street drugs came into the picture that started causing problems. Its illegal street drugs that are causing the over doses & deaths. & by restricting prescription pain medicines, you're just pushing more & more to illegal street drugs & therefore to over dose or die. Stop treating people in pain like addicts. Those are 2 totally different groups of people. Each of whom should have their own individualized treatment. Our government are not doctors. Nor do they have any idea of medical conditions or how it should be treated. So, they have no right putting restrictions on our doctors & how they can or can't treat their patients & with what & how much medicines that work best. PLEASE STOP Punishing People in Pain & the doctors who treat them! Thank you!

AG Barr is doing Trump's bidding and has shown his willingness to violate the Constitution, other laws, and any and all norms and traditions to achieve his goals. His goal now is to destroy Biden to enable Trump to win. He needs to be put on the defensive to disrupt his efforts to announce spurious claims aimed at damaging Joe Biden PRIOR to the election. There is public testimony indicating impeachable actions Barr has taken. There is plenty more available to draw up a solid list. Time is of the essence.

Effective changes in policing will not occur until the Houston Police Review Board is truly independent of the police and has subpoena powers to gather the information it needs to make informed decisions.

We seek to outright condemn racism and bigotry in our "bubble" and town and to invite those in fear of the looming atmosphere of white supremacy to take refuge in our safe haven.