March 2026 | Volume 9

Founder/Director Anita Dietrich first introduced the national Indivisible Guide, designed to “help everyday people understand congress.” Moving to the SCI Plan for 2026, she began by saying, “Organizing locally is the foundation of resistance,” and moved on to cover the topics of action, political engagement, education, and fundraising. In her closing remarks, she said, “We are asking you to step in — the difference is in your hands. Get ready to hold the line. There is a place for you here.” 

Discussing ways members could be active — from meetings to postcard signings — Paula Townsell, Deputy Director, said, “There are so many ways to participate” and added that as a benefit, SCI “can move faster than some other organizations. With the way things are moving in politics today, you need to be able to pivot.”

Cass Roy, Communications Manager and Admin Team Lead, said in a powerful introduction that she had a progressive heart in spite of being “soaked in FOX News” growing up. Before presenting the New Member Orientation, she assured newcomers that it's “OK to feel overwhelmed and unprepared. We can help each other.”

The meeting ended with powerful testimonials from Admin Team members Carolyn Johnston, Jan McCulloch, and Lisa Heineman. Each had a call to action: Carolyn said, “If you are ready to step up, you will love it here.” Jan added “Action is an antidote to despair…and there are so many ways at SCI to take action.”  And Lisa’s words summed up the meeting perfectly: “There is something for you here. We need you.” 

NOTE: A second SCI New Member Orientation and 2026 Plan meeting was held on February 22nd.

1. Create colorful squares that will ultimately be assembled into a 3×7-foot banner. Talented artist Lynnette led the group, saying the squares are like the pieces of a patchwork quilt, “we may be patched, but are stronger together.”
2. Talk about dealing with being overwhelmed and finding joy in hard times. The group, led by Katherine Runyon, had great ideas from taking a walk to “playing with my grand-puppy!”
3. Sort Reclaim Our Vote postcards. The cards come in packages of 250 and were sorted to smaller packs of 30 to hand out to volunteers who have requested 3,450 cards to send to voters in Wisconsin for a state supreme court election and Virginia to support a special redistricting election. 

Participants agreed that the Connection meeting was a success and as one noted, was way more fun than complaining on Facebook! 

ACTION: Join us for the next Connection Meeting, Sunday, March 8th from 2:30 to 4:30 pm at Snohomish County PUD, 2320 California St. in Everett. This is a No-Kings pre-game! Make a sign, take training, or join a group art project!  

The LGBTQ+ team is growing!  More than 35 people have expressed interest in joining and efforts are underway to onboard them.

ACTION: The LGBTQ+ Advocacy Team encourages the SCI community to attend a reading and Q&A session by LGBTQ+ journalist/author Nico Lang at 6:00 pm on Friday, March 6th, at Artisans PNW in Everett. Lang has been touring the country for more than a year to relay stories of trans youth and speak out against anti-trans rhetoric.

Mark was curious about what the legislative process was like and if his representatives from Washington’s 44th District were open to meeting with constituents. So in early February, Mark, Jermey Evans, and Robin Vanlandingham accompanied SCI Founder/Director Anita Dietrich to Olympia to “hang out” with Representatives April Berg and Brandy Donaghy.

Mark describes the two representatives as being very busy, but both had time to spend with Mark, Jermey, Robin, and Anita. He said he “felt positive” about being able to sit down and talk to them and describes the conversations as very open. Donaghy took the time to explain a bill about payday loans that she is currently co-sponsoring and they were able to see Berg in action during a Finance Committee meeting.

Asked what surprised him during the visit, Mark said the voting mechanics on the floor were very fast. The vote — all done electronically — takes five seconds!  He said the trip was well worth it, and he and Robin are considering doing a Shadow Day again during the next session. 

Fosse first got involved in community activism when she realized the Delta area of Everett wasn't being adequately served like other parts of Everett. Eventually her neighbors saw her enthusiasm and encouraged her to run for office. Suddenly her life as a politician began.

It's interesting that so many politicians began as activists who felt politics would give them greater access to problem solving.

Like many other politicians who started as community activists, Fosse gives off a strong sense of empathy for her constituent’s needs and their hopes for a better future.

But she admits the current state of “Trump policies” has made working for a better society a difficult proposition. However, the activist in her keeps Fosse working hard to make life better for the people she represents and for us all.

Today, Jan serves on the admin team, acts as a “roving diplomat” at community events, and helps evaluate candidates as part of the endorsement committee to ensure that endorsed office-seekers align with Indivisible’s principles.

Jan has discovered that spending time with like-minded people leads to friendships and a renewed sense of empowerment. For anyone considering volunteering, Jan’s advice is: “SCI has the latitude to find a place where anyone can feel comfortable leveraging their individual skillsets.”

SCI thanks Jan for her ongoing commitment to its efforts to preserve democracy!

ACTION: Join the Weekly Warm-up Protest at the corner of Hewitt and Wetmore every Monday from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm.

Snohomish County Indivisible's postcard stats are:

• Volunteer writers: 55 of 98 contacts have signed up
• Postcard parties: 12 will be hosted
• Postcards: 3,810 have been requested so far
• Postage: 690 stamps have been requested

ACTION: Learn more about future Reclaim Our Vote campaigns leading up to the midterms, AND add your name to the postcard interest list! 

While leading the conversation group at the SCI Connections Meeting on February 8th, Katherine recommended Metta, the Buddhist practice of loving kindness. “Have compassion for yourself and the pain and struggle you are in and take care of yourself with kindness.” 

She adds that any physical exercise is good. Or if you are feeling overwhelmed, focus on your breathing — it’s a powerful practice in many traditions. Just three slow in-breaths then three out-breaths can lower your heart rate and cortisol levels.

Come up with wishes for yourself: May I have courage and wisdom, may I be strong, may I have equanimity. Katherine says, “these are not prayers, but reinforcements of goals.”

So, positive thoughts and activities are the go-to when we are facing anger and frustration! People coming to Indivisible meetings are already starting to do that, says Katherine. “They are building community with like-minded people and finding a sense of purpose.”

ACTION: Read Your Heart Was Made for This (Contemplative practices for meeting a world in crisis) by Oren Jay Sofer or check out this easy breathing technique.

Could you answer each of the 128 civics questions on the quiz? Try these five for starters! 

1. What founding document was written in 1787?
2. What amendment says all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are U.S. citizens?
3. Name one example of an American innovation. 
4. When did women get the right to vote?
5. How many U.S. senators are there? 

CLICK HERE FOR ANSWERS

Becoming a citizen also takes money. Application costs range from $380 to $760 — extras like legal fees and translation costs can add thousands of dollars. 

Mass meat and dairy production is cruel. Industrial farmed animals are subjected to confinement, mutilation, overcrowding, and disease, which all cause suffering and early death for billions of animals globally. One of the most impactful actions individuals can do to support our environment is reducing meat and dairy consumption.