SEPTEMBER

How to get involved

🔵 Justin Wagner for Congress (PA-16) 

🔵 PA Dems 

🔵 Mobilize.us 
🔵 Indivisible: Hands Off Our Vote  

🔵Letters to editors contact info & guidelines for PA-16 newspapers 

ARTS & FESTS & READS

Come From Away Erie Playhouse (September 11 – 27)  A musical tale extolling Canadian hospitality and kindness, based on real events in Gander Newfoundland who housed 7,000 strangers whose planes were grounded after the 9/11 attacks. 

Indigo Girls September 10 @ 7:00 PM at Chautauqua Institution

Fiesta on the Square: Hispanic Heritage Celebration Sept 12 Noon-7pm. Perry Square Erie PA 

Hola Fest Youngstown 2026 Sept 12 Noon-9pm at 201 S. Phelps St, Youngstown, OH 

Erie Singing Resistance September 17th  6pm - 7:15pm Erie Food Co-op Community Room 1341 West 26th, Erie "Let's sing together and build community. Also, we'll talk about what we might do to support our free election process in the fall."

Hispanic Heritage Festival September 19, 2026, 3:00 PM at Chadakoin Park, Jamestown NY

Buffalo International Film Festival Oct 8-15 

Cabaret  Oct 23-Nov 1 SUNY Fredonia, Robert W. Marvel Theatre of Rockefeller Arts Center. "Set in 1930s Berlin, 'Cabaret' follows the relationship between an American writer and an English nightclub singer against the backdrop of the Nazi rise to power."

Latonya Gamble reads her poem at opening of East Bayfront Greenway Trail - 6 August, 2026 Video at 5:36 mark 

BLACK HISTORY

The Black Presence in Erie’s Public Schools Presenter: Johnny Johnson, M.Ed., JES Scholar-in-Residence. (Jefferson Educational Society) Video 1:10:03. This is a really engaging account that reaches from the early 1800s up until the present. Bio 

 
Ona Judge Escapes Enslavement by President George Washington (Zinn Education Project) Account of Ona "Oney" Judge's successful escape from the George Washington household in Philadelphia (level 9-13 yrs). Her story and panels were among those removed from President's House Site display.

FOOD

🍎 LOCAL

Local Produce List for Erie PA area   (u/Altruistic-Fly5402 ) On Reddit "Here is a community list of local farmers markets, farms, and other local produce sources, built by the community, for the community. Please read all notes and be kind. If you know of any other local farms, markets, or produce sources, please add them to this Reddit thread so we can continue building the list together."
Ashtabula Local Food Guide - 2026  Project of the Ohio State University Master Gardener Volunteers and OSU Extension in collaboration with the Ashtabula Local Food Network- With assistance from Healthy Roots Community and printing support from the Ashtabula Co. Commissioners, Healthy Roots, and OSU Extension– Ashtabula Co.

🍎  HELP

Food Help How to give it how to get it. Updated and now includes local Food Pantries at Schools and Colleges

🍎  EVENTS
Empty Bowls  October 10, 2026 Session 1: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Session 2: 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm NEW LOCATION Charter School of Excellence: Skill Center 1309 French St. Erie, PA "Tickets coming soon"
(for CHQ Co. Dec event details check St Luke's in Jamestown )

GI RIGHTS & DRAFT COUNSEL

The GI Rights Hotline "Provides accurate, helpful counseling and information on military discharges, AWOL and UA, and GI Rights" 1-877-447-4487

Before You Enlist  Video from American Friends Service Committee

Center on Conscience and War 

HEALTH

Changes Coming to Medicaid in PA in January 2027 (Commonwealth of PA) 

RAM Remote Area Medical  Sept 12-13 ECAT 650 East Ave Erie PA Free Dental, Vision, Medical, and Denture Services Note: "All services are free and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Open to everyone. No ID required. No insurance required. No income requirements." 

HOME

Online citizen input tags affordable housing (Kevin Flowers/Erie Times News)

Meadville City Council considers options for regulating conditions of mobile home park (Meadville Tribune)

Erie County tiny homes being re-housed (Erie News Now)

Genesis Housing Program: Sisters of St. Joseph – July 2, 2026 (TalkErie) Audio 39:46 min " Heather Caspar, Michelle Jaggi, and Kyle Blackmer joined us to discuss the Genesis Housing Program."

IMMIGRANTS

You Are Not Alone Vigil Friday September 11,  12:15pm to 12:45pm Federal Courthouse 17 South Park Row, Erie. For September event, Presque Isle Rise Up will lead in song, prayer and intentions.

FYI: Ohio's Republican governor bucks Trump on immigrants and death penalty, opposed to Catholic teaching  (National Catholic Reporter)  

 Appeals court upholds ban on immigration enforcement at some churches in Pa. and other states (Penn Capital-Star)

INDIGENOUS

“Merciless Indian Savages”: America 250 Through an Indigenous Lens (Indian Country Today) Panel discussion, bringing together Indigenous journalists, scholars and community leaders. Video 1:05:08

Haudenosaunee Confederacy Lifeways and the Eve of the American Revolution (National Museum of American Religion and Indigenous Values Initiative)

Seneca-Iroquois National Museum at Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center in Salamanca, NY. Comprehensive presentation of Seneca and Haudenosaunee history and present-day. Includes European contact and its aftermath. Owned and operated by the Seneca Nation of Indians. 

Every Child Matters Day (Orange Shirt Day) September 30, 2026. Also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, this day honors residential school survivors, and remembers the children who never returned home.

Cornplanter’s Fight: From the American Revolution to the Kinzua Dam (PBS LearningMedia)  or students grades 3-8

PA-16 - DUMP MIKE KELLY

Justin

victory

PA-15 letter-writing

SCHOOLS AND YOUTH

"Sally" classroom robot update

Salamanca school districct pauses plan to deploy humanlike AI robot teacher after backlash (AP) 

NY State United Teachers statement on classroom robot (NYSUT) 

WORKING PEOPLE

AFL-CIO Legislative Scorecard Keeps track of how senators and representatives voted on working class issues. This is not just for union members or union issues, including bills addressing healthcare costs, tariffs, contraception, etc. cuts to safety net, etc. Easy to understand format.

GEMISH

https://local21news.com/news/local/pa-democrats-flip-house-seat-in-butler-county-for-first-time-in-over-30-years-trump-daryl-metcalf-brandon-dukes-state-rep 

WPSU transfer ownership to WHYY awaits finalization by FCC Will avoid shut down of PSU public station. 

1, 2 3 4

https://penncapital-star.com/criminal-justice/pa-state-police-are-covering-more-municipalities-than-ever-can-recruitment-and-funding-keep-up/?emci=9e257e4b-0b98-f111-9b33-000d3a11fa30&emdi=990cecc7-9598-f111-9b33-000d3a11fa30&ceid=168483

Second Harvest School Pantry Program 
Erie Public Schools  Free Breakfast/Lunch "At Erie Public Schools, every student can enjoy a free school breakfast and free school lunch daily."
PA  School Breakfast Program  

ARTS & FESTS



Come from Away https://www.strutherslibrarytheatre.org/by-list/come-from-away-9xzkm
{layhouse

Indigo Girls September 10 @ 7:00 PM at Chautauqua Institution
https://tickets.chq.org/seats.html?perfAk=CHQ.EVN1661.PRF1

Fiesta on the Square: Hispanic Heritage Celebration Sept 12 Noon-tpm. Perry Square Erie PA "Hispanic Heritage Celebration... Celebrating Our Cultura"

Hola Fest Youngstown 2026 Sept 12 201 S Phelps St, Youngstown, OH 44503-1322 Noon-9pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/1213328594291372/

Sept 19 Hispanic Heritage Festival is scheduled in Jamestown, New York, for Saturday, September 19, 2026, starting at 3:00 PM at Chadakoin Park.

 
5:56 Latonya Gamble reads her poem at opening of East Bayfront Greenway Trail - 6 August, 2026 https://youtu.be/ao7Kjl3ACHo?si=-o3whhjgYIya2QWy

https://youtu.be/ao7Kjl3ACHo?si=_00uyAbwYw3z3t3N
WPSU https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/penn-state-transfer-wpsu-philadelphia-201958890.html 

BLACK HISTORY

The Black Presence in Erie’s Public Schools Presenter: Johnny Johnson, M.Ed., JES Scholar-in-Residence.  https://youtu.be/Q6Jkx3TKGOk?si=OazgG9LnE6NPXCz6 Presenter Bio https://www.jeserie.org/program-lecturers/johnny-johnson 

Ona Judge Escapes Enslavement by President George Washington (Zinn Education Project) Account of Ona "Oney" Judge's successful escape from the George Washington household in Philadelphia (for 9-13 yrs). Her story and panels were among those removed from President's House Site display. 

https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/ona-judge-escapes/ 

African-American Heritage Guide to Buffalo
https://visitbuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Visit-Buffalo-Niagara-AAVG-4.18.25-no-bleed.pdf

https://www.eriereader.com/article/racisms-history-antiracisms-future-and-where-erie-goes-from-here
WNY History Podcast Ep. 13 - The UndergroundRailroad and Jamestown NY (WNY History Podcast WRFARadio ) This episode focuses on the Underground Railroad, including two well known conductors from Jamestown, NY - Catherine Harris and Silas Shearman - along with details involving the only known case of a fugitive slave being captured in Chautauqua County.
https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/ona-judge-escapes/

BLACK HISTORY
https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/ona-judge-escapes/

EARTH
Ohio man questions why normal people are footing the bill for data center growth
https://youtube.com/shorts/wpoEhVuaj_s?si=COzRkdEYHsmT_TIb also chester do
https://youtu.be/ciNsPLOcWh0?si=Ito9yKUDF_8RWFAi
https://youtu.be/GKdfZ4kxTRQ?si=l_f2BCtNKtdN4CMs
ICC



ELECTIONS
Democracy Takes US ALL: Toolkit for Pennsylvanians to Move from Thought to Action (ACLU-PA) https://www.aclupa.org/threatstodemocracy/?emci=ffab7cae-e885-f111-b337-000d3a1558ce&emdi=7d1dad76-1086-f111-b337-000d3a1558ce&ceid=8073966

https://punchbowl.news/article/campaigns/pa-green-party/Pennsylvania asks Trump admin how it identified potential noncitizens registered to vote (VoteBeat)

Pa. asks Trump admin how it identified potential noncitizens registered to vote, via Votebeat-

Green Party scam
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/newsroom/dos-honors-benedictine-sisters-of-erie-for-refuting-disinformati

FOOD
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1452035143634730&set=a.303699558468300
https://ashtabula.osu.edu/sites/ashtabula/files/imce/Local%20Food%20Guide%202026_Final_0.pdf



GI RIGHTS
Before You Enlist
A video production by Telequest, Inc. with support from the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and the National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth (NNOMY)
https://sites.google.com/view/beforeyouenlist/home
https://afsc.org/sites/default/files/documents/before%20you%20enlist_bw.pdf
https://www.weresettle.org/
https://afsc.org/video/you-enlist
https://afsc.org/sites/default/files/documents/10%20Points%20Before%20Enlisting%20%28E%29.pdf


HEALTH

Healthcare4allPA rally video

https://keystonenewsroom.com/news/reproductive-rights/pa-republicans-cut-womens-healthcare-but-planned-parenthood-is-back/

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnderReportedNews/comments/1vcvg2y/ny_lawmaker_hopeful_singlepayer_healthcare_can/

HOME
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/loud-neighbor-play-music-city-085040670.html

Online citizen input tags affordable housing (Kevin Flowers/Erie Times News)
https://www.aol.com/articles/online-citizen-input-tags-affordable-085749000.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJ5XN9O7RrGfxcCGdiHriL3KaieZ6eAdk9vXKXt8MVTzdpNxqgyZeINERH2wwtudb41Pg5e8UEVX69CYQKVh1imnSvh2xeSZ6UpqooJaKRTUwzZevbzb4cdM-ZAXwYMYU7fIZYcwv_BLTFp_F_N6drzUH5ti6YQlqZj9isuZ3qUf

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/city-council-considers-options-regulating-035900511.html

https://keystonenewsroom.com/news/housing/whats-happened-in-one-pa-manufactured-home-community-isnt-unique/
https://www.erienewsnow.com/news/local/tiny-homes-being-re-housed-to-local-organizations/article_b373b6ec-f7e1-4bea-a4bb-b67b7dcf7aa0.html



IMMIGRATION
https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/08/05/hate-and-racism-toward-haitians-in-ohio-is-mindless-pathetic-and-weak/
https://www.yourerie.com/news/pennsylvania-lawmaker-facing-party-backlash-for-migrant-farmer-legislation-language/

https://penncapital-star.com/2026/08/19/repub/appeals-court-upholds-ban-on-immigration-enforcement-at-some-churches-in-pa-and-other-states/ Appeals court upholds ban on immigration enforcement at some churches in Pa. and other states

INDIGENOUS
“Merciless Indian Savages”: America 250 Through an Indigenous Lens (Indian Country Today)  https://www.youtube.com/live/Sl1wUiAE1ZA?si=vOcyPnwnz_Cxm6Tx

Ganondagan State Historic Site "located in Victor, NY is a National Historic Landmark, the only New York State Historic Site dedicated to a Native American theme (1987), and the only Seneca town developed and interpreted in the United States." https://www.ganondagan.org/about 

Orange Shirt Day September 30 Orange Shirt Day 2026 is on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, this day honors residential school survivors, remembers the children who never returned home, and affirms that Every Child Matters

NOVEMBER ELECTION
Get involved for November election
๐ PA Dems
๐ Mobilize.us
๐ Indivisible: Hands Off Our Vote


https://www.justinwagnerforcongress.com/ Justin Wagner For Congress (PA-16)














GI
Before You Enlist
A video production by Telequest, Inc. with support from the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and the National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth (NNOMY)
https://sites.google.com/view/beforeyouenlist/home
https://afsc.org/sites/default/files/documents/before%20you%20enlist_bw.pdf
https://www.weresettle.org/
https://afsc.org/video/you-enlist
https://afsc.org/sites/default/files/documents/10%20Points%20Before%20Enlisting%20%28E%29.pdf


BLACK HISTORY
https://www.eriereader.com/article/racisms-history-antiracisms-future-and-where-erie-goes-from-here
WNY History Podcast Ep. 13 - The UndergroundRailroad and Jamestown NY (WNY History Podcast WRFARadio ) This episode focuses on the Underground Railroad, including two well known conductors from Jamestown, NY - Catherine Harris and Silas Shearman - along with details involving the only known case of a fugitive slave being captured in Chautauqua County.


ELECTIONS
https://punchbowl.news/article/campaigns/pa-green-party/Pennsylvania asks Trump admin how it identified potential noncitizens registered to vote (VoteBeat)


HOME
https://www.erienewsnow.com/news/local/tiny-homes-being-re-housed-to-local-organizations/article_b373b6ec-f7e1-4bea-a4bb-b67b7dcf7aa0.html
\




SCHOOLS
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/25/nyregion/robot-school-new-york-salamanca.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0VA.0vqE.uoaQ2gpw8CR4&smid=url-share
https://www.npr.org/2026/07/29/g-s1-136072/ai-robot-teacher



WORKING PEOPLE
https://aflcio.org/scorecard











Indigo Girls September 10 @ 7:00 PM at Chautauqua Institution
https://tickets.chq.org/seats.html?perfAk=CHQ.EVN1661.PRF1
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/penn-state-transfer-wpsu-philadelphia-201958890.html


ARTS

HISTORY
https://ictnews.org/archive/the-declaration-of-independence-except-for-indian-savages/
https://youtu.be/Jd0vKaIpM6A?si=6An46KuGP80KknfY
https://youtu.be/Jd0vKaIpM6A?si=O87kWaVl87bgpqHj

https://youtu.be/Jd0vKaIpM6A?si=rnxA4AbBL3esKdcB
5:56 Latonya Gamble reads her poem at opening of East Bayfront Greenway Trail - 6 August, 2026 https://youtu.be/ao7Kjl3ACHo?si=-o3whhjgYIya2QWy
https://youtu.be/ao7Kjl3ACHo?si=_00uyAbwYw3z3t3N
WORKING PEOPLE
https://aflcio.org/scorecard
EARTH
https://youtu.be/ciNsPLOcWh0?si=Ito9yKUDF_8RWFAi
https://youtu.be/GKdfZ4kxTRQ?si=l_f2BCtNKtdN4CMs


VOTE
Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE.
https://youtu.be/bDQgp6rimtQ?si=8IgC-Z0x6gYOmteZ
https://www.eriecountycouncilpa.gov/elections-voting/poll-workers
https://crawfordcountypa.net/government/become-a-poll-worker/
https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/04/pennsylvania-primary-election-may-2026-how-to-be-poll-worker-guide-elections/





Orange Shirt Day 2026 is on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, this day honors residential school survivors, remembers the children who never returned home, and affirms that Every Child Matters. [1, 2, 3, 4]
https://orangeshirtday.org/


Paulette Hessinger


10:31 AM (39 minutes ago)






to bcc: me









Hi everyone. I am sending this to alert you before elections. MSNOW's Joseph Soberof announced Deniers are working hard to apply for offices controlling the elections - 32 of 92 offices are currently held by Deniers who have applied for positions of control in their locations!!!! Allowing them to change local rules, prevent proper procedures, etc. as they know we are planning on a big vote against Republicans who support Trump. I am working on voting efforts and know we need help locally - voting judges, workers and watchers. I plan to post details of what is expected of each office - please consider taking a role - Erie is safer than most areas - gratefully, Paulette
PS - canvassers, phone callers and people to drive voters to the poles - all necessary, but this threat to MANAGING our votes is serious!!!!