Tag Archives: National Museum of African American History and Culture

As Thanksgiving approaches , we are thankful for all that you have done to help build the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Thanks to the help of friends like you, we broke ground in February 2012, and construction is well underway.
In fact, just this past weekend, we installed two signature objects, a Southern Pacific railway car and a 1930s-era guard tower from the Louisiana State Penitentiary, as part of the museum’s inaugural exhibition on segregation.
We are on track to open our doors in late 2015 thanks to your commitment to supporting and sharing African American history and culture with generations to come. From all of us here, we wish you a very happy Thanksgiving.
Sincerely, Edison Wato signature

Edison R. Wato, Jr. Membership Program Manager

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Lonnie Bunch on 60 Minutes | Sunday, Dec. 1st

11/27/2013 Nativegrl77

NMAAHC -- National Museum of African American History and Culture

Lonnie Bunch Director

Hello Charter Members and Friends of the NMAAHC,

We hope that you all have the opportunity to enjoy some special time with family and friends over the next few days!

Also, we would like to inform you, our valued Charter Members and supporters, that Lonnie Bunch, museum director, will appear on CBS News’ 60 Minutes this Sunday, December 1^st at 7:00PM ET. Lonnie was interviewed by Scott Pelley for a feature on the 150^th anniversary of the Capitol Dome and its upcoming restoration. His interview helps tell the story of African Americans’ contributions to the building of our nation’s capital, the dome, and Philip Reid, the enslaved man who helped raise the Statue of Freedom at the top.

Thank you and have a wonderful holiday!

Edison R. Wato, Jr. Membership Program Manager Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture

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Here’s an update on the economy, in three charts:

Image 11/14/2013 Nativegrl77

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BioMarin said No to her friend with Cancer

10/04/2013 Nativegrl77

The first thing I have to say is thank you. More than 140,00 people — including you — have signed my petition to help save the life of my friend Andrea Sloan.

Andrea is in desperate need of a new cancer drug made by pharmaceutical company BioMarin, but they say she’s “not eligible” for any of their current trials. Andrea needs access to the drug under a “compassionate use” program, and because of our petition, it’s looking like that could really happen.

Just last week, a leaked internal email from BioMarin proved that they are taking this petition seriously and really considering helping Andrea.

Now is the time to turn up the pressure on BioMarin. Can you share my petition on Facebook to help it gain more signatures and momentum?

We are so close to getting Andrea the medicine she needs. She has dedicated her life to helping others — I know we can do what it takes to help her.

Thank you,

Carol Carter
Lake Dallas, TX

P.S. Have you seen this video that Andrea made explaining compassionate use? Click here to watch, and feel free to share that as well!

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TransCanada’s US location and Keystone XL tar sands pipeline (Texas)

09/25/2013 Nativegrl77

Yesterday, a group of courageous people just like you were arrested in the belly of the beast: TransCanada’s U.S. headquarters in Houston, Texas. These were mothers, fathers, grandfathers, great grandmothers, scientists, and teachers who staged a peaceful sit-in with a clear message: No Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.

At RAN we have a policy never to ask you to take an action, online or offline, that we don’t believe will make a strategic difference and have an impact that is worth your time. What I’m about to ask you to do might be one of the most important political acts you take this year.

Right now President Obama and his State Department are weighing their decision on whether this disastrous dirty energy pipeline is in our national interest. Our job must be to show enough opposition to the pipeline to ensure the president stands on the right side of this historical moment. That’s why we need you to join those standing up against Keystone XL in protest.

Will you join more than 75,000 people saying No to Keystone XL? Sign up for an action near you TODAY!

More than 75,000 people, including many of you, have signed RAN, Other 98% and CREDO’s Pledge of Resistance to the Keystone XL pipeline—pledging to participate in peaceful civil disobedience, to risk arrest if necessary, to stop this dangerous tar sands pipeline.

This is our next big step in the Pledge of Resistance together. This summer, after months of hard work and organizing, more than 400 volunteers have stepped up to lead acts of dignified protest in towns and cities across the country.

Will you join them by signing up today to participate in a local protest in your hometown?

To be clear, this is a serious request of your time, your passion and, potentially, your liberty. We’re asking now because it’s critical.

These actions are coming together because of months of work by literally hundreds of people. A group of seasoned direct action organizers built a training curriculum and traveled to cities around the country to teach people like you how to plan and lead a safe, strategic sit-in. Hundreds of activists stepped up to attend these rigorous two-day weekend trainings, and then went home to put that training into action. Now we’re asking: Will you join them?

The dates for these local actions have not been set, but the dates of action trainings have. We’re asking everyone to get in touch with local action leaders so we can prepare for action now and are ready to respond if President Obama signals his intention to approve the pipeline. That is our most strategic window to have the biggest impact.

Find your nearest Pledge of Resistance action and sign up to be a part of it!

Soon after you sign up for an action, you’ll be contacted by your local action leader, who will send out a time for your group to meet in person, get trained up, and move forward to put together everything you will need for a local sit-in action. There will be roles for everyone: those risking arrest and those not risking arrest.

The location for these actions will be relevant to your town. Likely locations will be: Administration buildings like State Department, EPA and Federal offices, oil industry contractor offices, and branches of TD Bank, a major investor in tar sands development.

All that’s missing is you.