6.22.2026: Votes and foes this summer - it’s primary time!
- Evee
- Jun 22
- 5 min read
ORIGINAL NEWSLETTER LINK. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter on our main webpage.
We hope you had a good Juneteenth, celebrating or commemorating the day when all of us were finally free. Still, freedom has never been fully equal or guaranteed in the USA, so Juneteenth is also a reminder to keep fighting for our rights.
Speaking of, it’s a good month to exercise our right to vote for the June primaries, as there is a lot at stake. The candidates we pick in the primaries need to be the strongest ones to take back our local politics from 47’s grasp this November. Help us pick the finest candidates to bring back democracy! |
Mark Your Calendar! |
June Events
Volunteer to phone bank for Julie Gonzales! Learn more about Julie Gonzales here.
6/26, Friday: Resist and Relax.
6/30, last day to vote in the primaries! Get out your vote! |
July Events
7/4: We Hold These Truths: join us in saying Happy Birthday, America, to the tune of the Declaration of Independence - link for more info
7/9: Join the Immigrant Justice Summer Training Series - sign up here
7/18: Protest on the Peak: an excursion to Pikes Peak to protest on the mountain
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Mental Health Support |
Navigating politics and relationships during the Fourth of July
Politics in the last few years has been draining Americans overall. Around 40% of Americans report experiencing stress from politics, and 77% of Americans indicate the future as a significant source of stress. Politics is everywhere and relentless, affecting everything. It impacts our mental health, and confronting this stress with family members who support 47 can be extremely taxing.
The Fourth of July can be an intense day for some, combining familial and political stress. It can be difficult to celebrate our nation when it’s under attack from within, while loved ones feel completely differently. Below are some suggestions on dealing with the unique stress of July 4th:
Resources: Psychology Today - Family, Politics Disclaimer: This section is intended as informational and not medical advice. Always consult with a medical professional. |
Esquina de Immigración Immigration Corner |
A Caring Neighbor's Insight into Immigration Strife
by An Anonymous Neighbor, edited
I have been lucky enough to experience assisting a few immigrant and refugee families over the past several years, and I have been amazed at their resilience, courage, and ability to adapt to a new culture here in the United States. Primarily, my experience has been as a volunteer with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), but it has extended from there to a more personal level.
After my rental house become available in 2023, I decided to offer the house to the IRC, which would pay the rent for a refugee family for the first six months. In late June 2023, a small, young family from Venezuela moved in through the IRC. The IRC provided their transportation to Denver, furniture for the house, and other support services, like getting them social security numbers and jobs. After the IRC set them up, it has been up to the family and my own assistance to help them navigate this new country.
They applied for green cards, which requires them to be off any public assistance, meaning no more SNAP benefits. Providing food for a family of four on an hourly wage rate is very challenging. I introduced them to a local food pantry, and I also work with them on the rent. Additionally, navigating the education system and the health system have both been major challenges. My white, educated privilege was both a stumbling block and an asset in figuring out these bureaucratic systems; but now at the 3-year anniversary of their arrival, they are doing well.
They have developed a good support system through school friends and coworkers, including another family they actually knew back in Venezuela. They walked here through the Darien Gap with their three children. I have come to know this undocumented family, too, and they are lovely people. At the first of the year, the husband had stopped to get gas before going to work, and ICE got him. He spent three months at the Aurora ICE detention center, while his wife tried to support herself and their three kids, all while wearing an ankle bracelet monitor. Finally, through their church connections, he was released, for how long. Fear and the language barrier are the constants of their lives.
You can find out more about the IRC through their website here. |
Politics at Play |
We beat 47 now, in the primaries
Primary ballots should be in your mailbox, if not your house, if not in the ballot box fully filled out! The Primary Election is going on RIGHT NOW. Every registered voter in the State of Colorado should have received a ballot to select candidates for either the Democratic or Republican party. If you are unaffiliated, you will need to select the ballot for the party you want to vote for during this primary. Your ballot must be returned on or before June 30th. NO BALLOTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER JUNE 30. The safest way to return the ballot is to drop it in a 24 hour locked drop box. Avoid mailing if possible. A listing of the location of drop boxes and Polling Centers (if you prefer to vote in person) is included in your mailed ballot packet. If you are a registered voter and have not received your ballot, go to: GoVoteColorado.gov where you can view or update your voting record or register to vote. If you have moved since the last election, your address may be incorrect. You can also track your ballot though Ballottrax.coloradosos.gov If you want to talk to someone directly, call your county clerk’s office to ask for help in registering or tracking your ballot. It is NOT TOO LATE to register. However if you register now, it will be too late to receive a mail-in ballot, so you will need to vote in person. Either your County Clerk’s office or the Secretary of State's office can help you find the correct location. Remember, VOTING IS YOUR VOICE! Trump is still trying to upend voting because it WORKS!
Voting Resources
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