May 18 Updates

As primary season approaches, this week’s newsletter focuses on voter engagement, civic education, and community action. Inside you’ll find opportunities to learn more about how government works, hear directly from candidates, support local organizing efforts, and help encourage voter participation ahead of the election.

Upcoming:

May 21: County Commissioners Candidate Forum

May 22: Rush Hour Resistance

May 23: Knowledge is Power Civic Education

June 7: Pens to Power

🗳️ Get Ready to Vote!

Poll: Voting Readiness

Do you know if you're ready to vote in the upcoming Primary Election? We're conducting a POLL to better understand community preparedness. Please join us in answering a few questions at the link below!

WCI Voter Guide

Don’t stand back and stand by — this is the time to stand up and speak out. The June primary is the warm-up for the main event in November, so make your plan to vote — and bring five friends with you. Together, we can create change.

Visit the WCI Voter Guide:
​https://www.wcindivisible.com/vote​

Important Dem Primary Ballot Update

There are currently eight Democratic candidates listed on the primary ballot for County Commissioner. Registered Democrats may vote for up to five candidates, and the top five vote-getters will advance to the general election.

Three candidates — Samuel Briskin, Chris Keane, and Patrick Kirby — withdrew from the race after the official deadline, so their names will still appear on the ballot.

The five remaining active Democratic candidates are:

• Jonathan Fish
• Les McIntosh, Sr.
• Teri Pailen
• Lara A. Shepherd
• Dave Williams

Upcoming Candidate Forums

Hosted by HARC in partnership with the League of Women Voters and Washington County Library.

Free, nonpartisan, and open to the public. All candidates invited.

Washington County Free Library (Rooms 308–309)​
100 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown

• May 21 | 6–8 PM — County Commissioners (Primary)
• Oct. 1 | 6–8 PM — Board of Ed (General)
• Oct. 15 | 6–8 PM — Commissioners (General)

Visit LWV or HARC's website for more information or to submit questions for consideration in advance.

Civic Education Program

Knowledge is Power: A Community Engagement Initiative launches a free 3-part civics series designed to make government more accessible and understandable.

Each session covers:

• How a level of government works
• How decisions are made
• How community members can engage

Session #3: Federal Government: May 23

Registration is free and currently open for the May 23 local session only. Spots are limited. Location shared upon registration.

Voices & Views Book Club

Thursday, May 28, 6:00 PM​
​Hub City Brewery, 25 W. Church St. Hagerstown
​The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami​
Come discuss this dystopian adventure with drinks and snacks! We always have great talks! RSVP or questions to Delia.zielinski@gmail.com​

Pens to Power — Local Letter Campaign Launch

Pens to Power is excited to launch our very first LOCAL letter-writing campaign! Over the next few weeks, we’ll write thousands of “get out the vote” letters to Washington County residents, encouraging them to make a plan to vote in the primary election and sharing important voter information.

To participate, email IndivisibleLetters@gmail.com for the printable letter and instructions. Letters can be completed from home at your convenience if you have access to a double-sided printer. If you need printed copies mailed to you, include your mailing address and how many letters you’d like to write.

📬 Final mail date: June 8 — so don’t wait to get started!

We’ll also host an in-person letter-writing event on June 7 from 1–4 PM, focused on these voter mailers. Please RSVP to alicejimroberts@gmail.com (even if you’re a regular attendee) so we can plan tables, chairs, and supplies. And bring a friend — we need all hands on deck to get as many voter guides out as possible before the primary election!

📬 We Always Need Stamps

Postcard and letter stamps are one of the easiest ways to support this work.

• Donate via the WCI ActBlue account, or
• Mail stamps to our new address:​
  ​WC Indivisible
• P.O. Box 87
  Clear Spring, MD 21722

Update: Community Care & Mutual Aid

Members of WCI, HRR, DSA, and other local advocacy groups continue working with Western MD IRC to support ICE-impacted families across the region.

Work in the past two weeks has included:

• Food packing and distribution in Frederick on May 9th and 16th. We were there to lend a hand serving 10 families and picked up some great tips on how to do food distribution.
• Community Care virtual training on May 5th that covered key roles and practices.
• Creating partnerships to help us build out food distribution in Washington County for families served by the IRCs.
• Small business canvassing in Frederick on May 16 where we met a gentleman who asked for help with the mutual aid work he is currently doing in Frederick and Hagerstown.
• ICE Watch patrol ride-along with MoCo IRC in Gaithersburg on May 16th, DSA and WCI.
• Supported a May 16th RISE Coalition of Western Maryland benefit show from which all proceeds benefitted families in the community impacted by deportations. Over $600 was raised!

If you’d like to support this work and learn about volunteer opportunities that match your interests and availability, please complete the Volunteer Interest Form below:

​https://form.jotform.com/260517076449058​

Next WCI Rush Hour Resistance

Meet us on the Appalachian Trail bridge on Friday, May 22 at 04:15 PM to help set up, or stop by before 5:30 PM to wave. Our letters aren't waterproof, so we cancel if it's raining.

Since Friday is the start of the Memorial Day weekend, we'll have a more solemn message appropriate for the holiday. If you have any suggestions, please send them ASAP! Keep it 30 characters (including spaces) or less. Next week we'll begin our summer hours of 4:30-6:00

Email Dave Williams at dwilliams21783@gmail.com for more information.

For photos, videos, and more about Rush Hour Resistance, visit this link:

WCI is on Discord!

We're excited to announce that our organization is now on Discord, creating more avenues for communication and connection! For access, go to this link: