ENVIRONMENT FUND SUPPORTS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ACROSS THE REGION

Lebanon, NH—With a grant from The New England Grassroots Environment Fund, the NH Upper Valley Democratic Committee (known locally as the Upper Valley Democrats), will expand its ongoing series of public lectures on issues of concern to area voters. Since November 2017, the group’s potlucks and panel discussions have drawn hundreds of Upper Valley residents from dozens of towns across the region. In announcing the $1,000 Seed Grant, The New England Grassroots Environment Fund expressed a strong interest in building a partnership that will provide training, project outreach assistance, resources, and other opportunities.

“This is a different kind of political outreach initiative,” says Ann Garland, Co-chair of the NH Upper Valley Democrats Executive Board. “We want to engage with voters regardless of party affiliation, to provide discussion around critical issues that affect all our communities.”

The funding will support the group’s popular lecture series on topics suggested by residents of the Upper Valley’s fourteen towns.  In 2017, sessions focused on NH governance, “fake news,” healthcare, and education. “This grant will make it possible to expand on our core work,” notes Garland, “engaging more New Hampshire voters who share a desire for change and progress.”

The 2018 lecture series began on January 23 when a panel of State legislators addressed  “Education Legislation in the New Hampshire House,” a conversation about current bills that will have far-ranging effects on public education. The second event in the series, a February 26 Grassroots Lobbying Workshop, will take place from 6 PM – 8 PM. All events will be held at the Upper Valley Senior Center on Campbell Street in Lebanon, NH. For more information contact uvdems@uppervalleydemocrats.com.

The New England Grassroots Environment Fund energizes and nurtures long-term civic engagement in local initiatives that create and maintain healthy, just, safe and sustainable communities using stories, tools and dollars to fuel local activism and social change. Since 1996, the Grassroots Fund’s core grant-making program funds nearly 150 grants annually, giving more than $4 million in 20 years to more than 2,000 community groups and initiatives covering more than 60 percent of New England’s cities and towns.

The NH Upper Valley Democratic Committee promotes the development of an engaged, informed electorate through constructive public dialogue.