Help feed kids in need during the Oklahoma teacher strike!

Posted on March 29, 2018

The checks were issued and put into the mail today! We've been in touch with both the organizations to make sure the funds will be earmarked to cover for the children most at risk during the early stages of the teacher walkout.

But we're not done here! Our next step is to raise money for teachers going out to the capitol. If we can raise a more modest goal of $3,500, we can provide an $80 per day stipend for up to 7 days, for five teachers! We are already well on our way, but need help getting the word out, as well as getting teachers who could use the help in contact with us!

More information can be found here: https://www.youcaring.com/greencountrydsa-1145937

Posted on March 27, 2018

Howdy, folks!

Today was the scheduled day for cutting the checks, and I wanted to give everyone an update on the fundraiser. There was some discussion between our chapters about the future of fundraising for the future teacher's action, and without reaching a consensus, I hesitated on taking action.

As well, there was some issues with the payment from YouCaring due to me missing I needed to provide documentation proving we were, in fact, a non-profit, which has been corrected but will delay the intended date of donation. That is entirely on me as the person accountable for this project and I wanted to give open transparency.

As soon as the checks are cut, which should be within the week, I will notify everyone. As of tonight, however, as we experience our first real flood rains of the spring season, I wanted to announce that the fundraiser will be closing, just short of our goal but still certainly an incredible amount!

Both OKC DSA and Green Country DSA will seek out next steps, but we have today, with the raised money, secured meals for thousands of food insecure children. Now the work must continue, and we have been in coordination with folks nationwide to take it to the next phase.

This is not going to be like West Virginia. Oklahoma faces unique challenges and a specter of a terrible trauma from its last teacher strike in the 1990's, as well as seemingly insurmountable legislative hurdles and a constitutional amendment that makes any revenue increase require a supermajority. All signs point towards our action needing to be set for the long hall, to the end of the school year and beyond.

This was a shot in the arm of the infrastructure that has been built by civic institutions. Unknowingly, the crisis of capitalism has created some means by which we have had to band together. There is an opportunity here, in the reddest of states, to expand the horizon of what is possible. There is still compassion in this state, and we have to shelter that kindling flame through the rainstorm.

It's all that keeps us warm, these nights.

Solidarity.

Xavier Doolittle
Co-Chair, Green Country DSA