TOPA Canvass: Your weekly Civics Roundup

Every Thursday, we list some ways to get engaged in the city – whether that’s protesting, organizing with your neighbors, or testifying before your councilmembers. This isn't an exhaustive list; share your events and trainings with us using this form. For more ways to get connected, check out our resources roundup. 

THURSDAY, JULY 31

Stopping ICE & Amazon campaign meeting
FREE DC is holding an onboarding session for its Amazon Campaign. They're seeking 10,000 D.C. residents to join the fight to end Amazon's collaboration with ICE. Attendees will hear from the campaign's leaders and learn how to get their friends, neighbors, and local businesses to sign on to the petition. It'll run from 6 - 7:30 p.m. on Zoom.

Last day to submit to Fusion Festival
Fusion Festival is a one-day festival for small businesses, creatives, and entrepreneurs to collaborate in panels and workshops. This year's theme is transformation – focusing on the changing tech, political, and artistic landscapes in D.C. If you have an idea, a research project, or a story to tell, today is your last day to submit your concept to the festival. Anacostia-based entrepreneurs, creatives, and community organizations are encouraged to apply.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2

Stomp Out Slumlords TOPA canvass
The D.C. Council will give Mayor Bowser's RENTAL Act a second vote later in September. Ahead of that, organizers with Stomp Out Slumlords will be knocking on doors to mobilize renters against the bill, which would weaken TOPA protections. (TOPA – or the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act – allows renters to buy their building if it's up for sale and more broadly empowers residents with a say in the purchasing process.) The meetup location is TBD, but it'll start at 1:30 p.m.

Direct Action training
BlackOUT Collective and FREE DC are teaming up for an interactive training on stopping business as usual. The training will include an interactive role play of protest scenarios. It'll run from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., with a light breakfast and lunch provided. Childcare will be available upon request. Location is TBD.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3

Picnic linking interns to local D.C. movements
It's almost August – that means the interns are about to be on their way out. Bol, a worker-owned bookstore (shout-out!) and Ward 2 Mutual Aid are holding a picnic for the city's summer interns to show them how our local movements and grassroots causes are building change in local D.C. Speakers from W2Ma and Bol will present on their political practice and explain how we can connect what's happening in D.C. to the world at large. It'll run in Malcolm X Park from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

MONDAY, AUGUST 4

Co-op Film Festival
Wahoo co-ops! Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-op is showing the last of three films in its second annual Co-Op Film Festival. Head to Rhizome for a 7 p.m. showing of "A Silent Transformation," a 2018 film about different communities building co-operative power in Ontario, Canada. Tickets are $5, and all proceeds go to Rhizome.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5

Work session: Buck the Riders
As we covered last week, Congress has inserted several limiting riders in the federal spending bill, seeking to meddle in D.C.'s affairs and undermine local autonomy. FREE DC will be holding a work session to go over the history of budget riders and how they have impacted local communities in the past and present. It'll run from 7:30 - 9 p.m. on Zoom.

Looking for more ways to get involved? Below, you'll find a list of public meeting calendars for various city agencies, important contact information, and more