NEXT EVENTS ➢ Postcards + Civics + Craftivism Gatherings

August 2026

Mission Statement

We are dedicated to strengthening democracy through civic and voter education, constitutional literacy, and informed, inclusive civic participation. We believe in peaceful action, equal rights, the rule of law, and democracy that works for everyone.

Spotlight

Good News Update.

Citizens Bank No Longer Providing Credit to Geo Group or Core Civic. De-Ice Citizens Bank Coalition was launched to put pressure on Citizens Bank to stop funding the for profit prison groups behind the ICE Detention Centers and it worked! On July 17th Citizen’s bank released a press announcement saying they were no longer providing a line of credit to Geo Group or Core Civic. (AP News, July 17)
Data Center Pushback Gaining Momentum in Virginia. Is the tide shifting?
- Goochland residents have pushed back to rebuff data center plans in their community (Virginia Mercury, July 27).
- Virginia state regulators ordered data centers to cover the cost of power grid upgrades for the growing data center industry. (WJLA, August 5).
US Appeals Court Blocks Trump’s $400 Million White House Ballroom Project. The ruling stated that the construction requires approval from Congress. This case is likely to go to SCOTUS (Politico, Aug 7).
DOJ Loses 22 Voter Roll Cases in a Row. In the latest effort, the judge cited the DOJ's extraordinary losing streak and asked in anything was different in this attempt - DOJ's answer: "No". Case 23 anyone? (Democracy Docket, Aug 8)
US Senate is Adjourned - Without Passing The SAVE Act. We all know this is NOT a Voter ID Act, it's a Voter Supression Act. Senate is out until September 14 where Republicans will try again. (Democracy Docket, Aug 8)
Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Shenandoah Students Over Confederate School Names. A federal judge has ruled that the names of two schools, which changed back to the Confederate names in 2024 after having them rebranded to strip the Confederate names in 2021, violates civil rights laws, including the 14th Amendment, the Civil Rights Act, and the Equal Educational Opportunities Act. (Virginia Mercury, Aug 7)

The Plaza 500 data center project in the Bren Mar area of Fairfax County right on the Alexandria border (cited in the Virginia Legislature report as a poster child for bad development and called "unusually close to residents" by the State Corporation Commission) will have a public hearing and 2232 decision by the Planning Commission on September 24 to determine if the substation can move forward. It is the first and only time that we'll be afforded a public hearing for this otherwise by-right development.

This decision has countywide and Alexandria city implications given the precedent it would set for other 2232 applications and the community impacts.

Actions Needed Now

Plan to attend the September 24 Planning Commission Hearing and Decision on the Edsall Data Center Substation
- Location: Fairfax County Government Center Auditorium, 12000 Government Center Pkwy, Fairfax, VA 22035
- Time: 7:30pm
- Speaker Sign-Up Link (Subject: Edsall Data Center Substation 2232)
Email the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors and ask them to deny the Edsall Data Center Substation 2232 Application (2232-2025-MA-00007) since it is not in "substantial accord" with the County Comprehensive Plan. [Click here for a Sample Email and Contacts!] Learn more about why!
Spread the word at local events and in your community! Use these fliers (Option 1-Simple and Option 2-Detailed Explainer) to post in your community! [Posting on NextDoor, Social Media, Change.org, are all super helpful too!!]

Fundraising

Help Us Reach Our $500 Matching Goal!

We’ve set a goal to raise at least $500 by August 31, and there’s an added incentive: Indivisible National will match every dollar our group raises, up to $500, between August 1 and August 31, 2026.

That means your gift can go twice as far in helping us fund community events, outreach, civic education, organizing efforts, and the local work that helps us make a meaningful impact.

See What Your Donation Can Do!

Every contribution helps us put civic education and voter engagement tools directly into our community.

$5 provides one We the People children’s book about the Constitution
$16 covers postage for 25 Get Out the Vote postcards
$25 provides 25 Pocket Constitutions
$50 helps cover the cost of educational handouts and materials for a community tabling event

Whether you give $5, $25, $50, or more, your support helps us educate, engage, and empower people to participate in our democracy.

Please consider making a donation today—together, we can continue building a stronger, more inclusive democracy.

Elections & Voter Engagement

Knowledge is Power! Our Educational Series Continues!

Disinformation & Elections: How Each of Us Can Fight Back!

On July 28 we held this informative virtual session. Thank you to our volunteer Brian S. for pulling this together and for the spirited discussion from attendees.

YOU can do YOUR part to 'Slow the Spread' of Disinformation:

Pause Before Sharing – If you’re sharing something that caused an emotional reaction, pause a moment before sharing to consider the content further
Check the Source – Particularly for election claims, be sure to check for the primary source, usually the state or local election office
Review the Account – Check the creation date, posting frequency, whether it engages or just amplifies others
Reverse Image Search – Be skeptical of images and videos that are low resolution, cropped or lack a verified original
Don’t Quote Tweet or Screenshot False Claims – Amplifying the false claim to a new audience often outweighs the correction

Be a Pre-Bunker!

Warn people about the manipulation techniques and potential narratives before they encounter them and provide accurate information and legitimate sources

2026 Virginia Constitutional Amendments Seminar

Join us on August 20 for a virtual session on the 3 Constitutional Amendments in Virginia that will be on the ballot this November. This session will cover each amendment, why it’s needed and background history of the issues the amendments are trying to address.

Many VA voters do not know about these amendments and

we always want voters to be informed!

Election Safety & Security

Join us on September 14 for an in-person workshop that will provide a methodology to apply when encountering disinformation. We will use examples on the falsehoods spread regarding election safety and security so that YOU are prepared to fight back!

Be Vote Ready for November!

Top Tips for November Voting

Check your registration, even if you don't think you need to! Use the Citizen's Portal to do a quick check online. While you are there make sure your name and address are correct!
Vote Early! Early voting starts on Friday, September 18. Bank your vote early and send a message that Virginia is ready to vote! If voting by mail, drop-off your ballot at a drop box location rather than mailing your ballot via USPS. Be sure to drop off your ballot early!
Know Your Ballot! All Virginians will vote for 1 US Senate, 1 US House and 3 Virginia Constitutional Amendments. Depending on your locality you may also have local or special elections. Research before you go and vote the whole ballot!

Voter Protection

Please consider being an active participant in the November elections! There is a role for everyone. Bring a friend (or 10)!

Be an outside Poll Observer or Greeter: Hand out sample ballots, answer voters’ questions. Signup with your local Dem Committee
Be an Election Officer: Work inside the polling place, making the election run smoothly. Signup [VA Dept of Elections]
Be a Voter Protection Worker: Poll Observer, Voter Protection Hotline Worker, and Ballot Curer Signup [DPVA]

Hands Off Our Vote!

In 2026 Indivisible is building their strongest election protection program ever, in all 50 states. They are going to bring Indivisible’s grassroots organizing force out to ensure that whatever tricks the current administration uses to try to hold onto power, we’ll be ready.

Join! More info here.

March on Washington: Defend the Vote - August 28, 2026

The Time Is Now. The March Is For All of Us.

On Friday, August 28, 2026, we gather on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for the March on Washington: Defend the Vote.

Hosted by Rev. Al Sharpton, the National Action Network, and the Drum Major Institute on the 63rd anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington, we march because the work is not finished.

We march to defend the vote, because voting rights are under attack and the protections generations fought, bled, and died for are being weakened.
We march to defend civil rights, because attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion are attempts to roll back access, opportunity, and representation.
We march for economic justice, because too many families are still fighting for fair wages, affordable housing, equal opportunity, and a fair chance to build wealth.

Postcard Status, 8/12/26

We are in the home stretch - all of our postcards need to be mailed by 3rd week of October. We have about 2k in progress, and to meet our 20k goal for the year, we will need to complete another 4k.

Here's how YOU can help!

Join a postcard party. We've added many postcard parties to our calendar through September. Please sign up!
Donate stamps or make a donation towards stamps. If you would prefer to venmo please email INDTTTElections@gmail.com for details.

Civics Education & Public Information

Community Listening Town Hall: Your Voices, Your Priorities

Our recent Community Listening Town Hall was a great success! Community members came together to share the state-level issues that matter most to them, listen to one another, and help identify priorities as we prepare for the 2027 Virginia General Assembly session.

Following small group and community-wide discussion, four issues rose to the top:

Election Security & Voter Protection
Immigration – Ending 287(g) Agreements
A Two-Year Moratorium on New Data Centers
Strengthening Civil Rights Protections at the State Level, including exploring state civil liability for civil rights violations and ways Virginia can hold federal actors accountable when violations occur.

Thank you to everyone who attended, shared their concerns, facilitated discussions, and helped make the event meaningful and productive.

This was only the beginning. These priorities will help guide our upcoming conversations with legislators, our Legislative Lookout meetings, and our civic engagement work leading into the 2027 General Assembly session.

What's Next?

The Community Listening Town Hall was the first step. Now we’re taking the priorities identified by participants and carrying them forward into the next phase of our civic engagement work.

On October 3, we’ll host our Delegate Town Hall, where community members will have an opportunity to hear directly from state legislators about the issues that rose to the top, ask questions, and learn how residents can effectively engage as we prepare for the 2027 Virginia General Assembly session.

Between now and then, we’ll continue the conversation through Legislative Lookout, where we’ll follow emerging issues, learn more about the legislative process, and identify opportunities for public participation and advocacy.

Our goal is simple: turn community concerns into informed, meaningful civic action.

Special Thanks to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax

We are incredibly grateful to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax for generously providing the event space for both our Community Listening Town Hall and our upcoming Delegate Town Hall.

Having a welcoming community space where residents can come together, share their concerns, learn from one another, and engage with their elected representatives is essential to this work. We deeply appreciate their support in helping make these conversations possible.

Sign Up for Delegate Irene Shin’s Build Your Own Bill (BYOB) Workshop

BYOB Part 1: Monday, August 31st - 6:30pm-8:30pm
BYOB Part 2: Tuesday, October 13th - 6:30pm-8:30pm

This two-part workshop series will guide you through the legislative process, from the nitty-gritty details of drafting bills to the intricacies of getting them signed into law.

Here's what you need to know:

This is a progressive series, where the second workshop will build directly on the foundation of the first workshop, so we very strongly encourage attendance at both events.
Come with a bill idea you’d like to see come to life, or a curiosity about the issues our neighbors care about. All are welcome, but especially those who are interested in getting more civically involved.

By the end of the series, you will have had experience working on a real legislative proposal from its inception.

Immigration & Civil Rights

The Immigration group focuses on being informed with what’s happening to immigrants nationally and in our local Northern Virginia community, educating and making our representatives and community members aware of it and formulating positions and taking actions to stop or mitigate the injustices. We help those in distress now while also working to fix a broken immigration system.

The Current Immigration Landscape

Federal Immigration Updates (2)

- Sheriffs Threatened with Arrest Over Immigration Policies: In another effort to undermine sanctuary policies, a Hennepin County Sheriff in Minnesota and a Cook County Sheriff in Illinois have been threatened with arrest in hand delivered letters, over their policies of requiring Judicial warrants. (NYT 8/5/26)
- ICE Arrests Reach Record High: ICE "arrested" 51,000 people in July, ramping up arrests in airports and work places. Most of those detained do not have criminal records, and many have valid authorization documentation. ICE has deported 356,389 this fiscal year. (ABC 8/4/26)

Immigration Court (1)

- Mass Firings Reshape Courts: The DOJ has fired 113 out of about 700 immigration judges without cause. The firings were mostly judges with actual immigration defense experience. The firings were not performance based firings, leaving the remaining judges "under constant threat or fear". (Charlottesville Tomorrow, 7/20/26)

2027 Virginia Immigration Justice Strategy

The 2027 Virginia Immigration Justice Strategy seeks to move from reacting to federal immigration actions toward a proactive, comprehensive state-level framework that addresses systemic injustices through stronger due process, transparency, accountability, and protections for immigrant communities. The strategy builds on 2026 legislative successes, seeks to reintroduce stalled or vetoed priorities, and proposes new legislation to fill critical gaps. Success depends on building a broad coalition of advocates, legislators, and community members to refine the proposals, secure legislative champions, engage state leaders early, and mobilize public support.

This month, we continued building relationships with Virginia legislators and organizations including the Virginia Grassroots Coalition and the League of Women Voters, and are continuing outreach to CASA, the ACLU, the Legal Aid Justice Center, and VACIR to build a broad coalition for the 2027 General Assembly.

We have also been analyzing existing immigration legislation to identify gaps and develop a shared policy agenda. While no legislators have committed to specific proposals yet, his goal is to build support among advocacy organizations first and then return to legislators with well-vetted priorities backed by a broad coalition. Our current executive summary can be found here.

Would you like to help? Please email indt3immigration@gmail.com.

What Can You Do To Help?

Attend an Upcoming Event

Sat, August 22, 1-3pm: Do you drive through Fairfax County? Do you know about the AI-powered surveillance cameras tracking your car's movements, which can be accessed without a warrant? Join DeFlock Fairfax to learn from Dr. Steven Keener about how automated license plate readers violate your privacy, hurt vulnerable communities, and endanger immigrants. Attend The Road to Mass Surveillance: The Harms of AI Surveillance Cameras in Fairfax County seminar.

Immigrant Justice Summer Virtual Training Series: Join Indivisible for training so that you are organized when ICE comes to your community. You can download the workbook here. There are two more sessions - sign up for Thu, Aug 20 and Thu, Aug 27.

Participate / Advocate / Stay Informed

Elections Matter: Elect federal, state, and local leaders committed to humane immigration policies and dismantling draconian enforcement frameworks.
Push for Congressional Oversight: Let your representatives know that you want to see oversight, accountability and reform on immigration practices - especially when the next Congress takes office.
Advocate for Supreme Court Reform: The current right-leaning Court is turning over long established precedents. The Court needs reform to rebalance the mix and confirm the role of the Court in our three branches system. Read the Brennan Center’s Six Solutions to Fix the Supreme Court for more information.
Stop State/Local Officers from Supporting ICE Operations: Track legislation and lobby for bills that keep our state/local officers from supporting ICE during the upcoming Virginia General Assembly session. Read about 287g and what’s next for Virginia here.
Support Grassroots Infrastructure: Invest in or volunteer with local legal aid organizations that provide direct defense, mutual aid, and "Know Your Rights" training to vulnerable neighbors. You can see the full list of organizations where you can help here.
Educate and Organize: Keep sharing verified data and community stories to push back against disinformation and change the narrative surrounding immigration. Start by reviewing Immigration Facts and Myths.

Craftivism Circle

The Liberty Patchwork Project

A few weeks ago, a group of interested folks got together to brainstorm ideas for a large-scale puppet that we can take to rallies and marches. There were so many good ideas, and we’re very excited about launching the Liberty Patchwork Project!

The central theme is Solidarity in Community and the freedoms and civil liberties that we are working hard to defend. One puppet can’t do all that, so we have designed several ways that people will be able to participate:

The Liberty Patchwork puppet will be a large-scale puppet of Lady Liberty. She will require a core group of people to come together over several work sessions to create and then train to operate her.
The Liberty Patchwork quilt squares are one way that anyone can contribute to the project. Our Lady Liberty will be wearing a robe covered in patchwork, with each square representing a part of our community (that’s you!). We invite people to create quilt squares inspired by their communities, their heritage, and the communities they are in solidarity with - particularly those under attack (immigrants, trans people, workers, etc.). We will soon be posting more information about crafting events for creating the patchwork squares and specifications for those who would like to work on a square on their own. We will also need people with some sewing skills to help us assemble the squares into Lady Liberty’s robe, large quilts for display at rallies, and banners for rallies and marches.
We will be designing patterns and instructions for smaller-scale rod puppets, Liberty crowns, and protest signs that anyone can assemble and use when we come together, or whenever they choose.
Finally, if there is interest among the skilled quilters out there, we will put out a call for small quilts (wall hangings, baby quilts, lap quilts) that will be used for fundraising and/or mutual aid donations.

This project will have something for everyone, at every skill level, and whether you have multiple weekends or just one afternoon to spend with us. Keep an eye out for future announcements as we schedule work sessions and events. If you are interested in building the large Lady Liberty puppet or in creating small quilts for donation, please email indtttcraftivism@gmail.com.

Makers Roundtable Roundup

The Makers Roundtable is a monthly virtual event. We will often have speakers scheduled to talk about art, craft, and activism. It’s a great time to join with like-minded folks, spend some time learning and discussing topics of interest, and get a little crafting done at the same time!

At our next session on Thursday, August 13 at 7pm, we are excited to be joined by professor, historian, and museum curator Gabi Tayac (Piscataway) who will share on the topic of "We Are the Land: Indigenous Creativity in Place."

Indigenous worldviews are based on kinship relations with life sources in nature. We will spend time together considering how Native communities express their traditional knowledge in art. Contemporary artivist examples in movements for environmental justice, tribal sovereignty, and local rights will be shared, with time for Q & A.

Gabi Tayac

For more information about Gabi Tayac, visit https://historyarthistory.gmu.edu/people/gtayac

Upcoming Gatherings

Our final Summer Craftivism Circle will be on Sunday, August 23 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. This will be a no-pressure gathering! Show up when you can, bring something to work on or grab one of the crafts we will have there, and chat with some like-minded folks about crafting, activism, politics, and community-building.

Pencil into your calendar the 2nd Thursday of the month for future Makers Roundtables. Feel free to craft, sip, and snack while we gather! Can’t stay the whole time? That’s ok! Come late or leave early as you need.

Keep an eye out for all upcoming Craftivism events by bookmarking this link. You can also join the Craftivism Circle to get updates directly to your in-box by signing-up for the Craftivism Working Group.

Gather 'Round the Table!

Take Action

New to us or want to step up your volunteering with Turning the Tables? We invite you to attend our Virtual Meet & Greet on Monday, Aug 25 at 7pm. During this session we will tailor the conversation to the folks who join us. So, if you want to learn more, have questions about our working groups, or want to offer your skills to support the efforts but aren't sure where to plug in, we'd love to chat with you during this virtual session!

Otherwise, be sure to check out our Events Calendar for a full lineup of not only our events, but also in-person and online opportunities from other organizations we think you’ll find informative, energizing, and worth your time. This list is updated frequently so check back often.

Community Support

Tues. Sept 8, 7pm - 8:15pm - Virtual Community Support Circle for Activists and Allies (Virtual)

Join this monthly session for a timely and important opportunity to receive support through your grief and loss, toward healing and strength in community with one another.

Constitutional Corner

Congress Approves Where Money is Spent, Right?

The Constitution clearly outlines that the power of the purse resides with Congress. The executive branch is then tasked with the execution of those funds. So how is it that the administration is redirecting funds approved for National Parks, for example, to executive branch projects?

The Impoundment Control Act (ICA) of 1974 includes two ways for presidents to legally impound funds. One is a deferral, which allows the White House to temporarily delay spending. The other is a rescission, which is permanent. That process starts with the White House sending a message to Congress laying out the package of money it wants to claw back.

The Trump administration is aggressively challenging the ICA, asserting that the executive branch holds inherent constitutional authority to withhold or freeze funds appropriated by Congress. This push to utilize "pocket rescissions" has triggered multiple federal investigations, watchdog findings of illegality, and ongoing legal battles over the separation of powers.

An example is recent attempts to withhold education funding, which prompted court challenges. (Democracy Forward, July 21)

Easter Egg!

Did you make it this far in the newsletter?

Congratulations! The first person to send an email to indtttcalendar@gmail.com

will WIN a FREE copy of

The U.S. Constitution

A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader

By Melissa Murray

From a #1 New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and legal expert comes an accessible and modern guide on how to read and understand the U.S. Constitution.

Big thanks to Volunteer Candice G. for offering this

amazing book to our team!

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