May 11 Updates

With the primary election season approaching, we’re beginning to expand our focus on voter engagement and civic education. This week’s updates include community learning opportunities, election-focused letter writing, and practical ways to help encourage participation and informed voting.

Upcoming:

May 12: Protest at County Offices

May 12: Pens to Power

May 15: Rush Hour Resistance

May 16 & 23: Knowledge is Power Civic Education

May 21: County Commissioners Candidate Forum

Poll: Are You Ready to Vote?

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!

New 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

Sessions:

• State Government: May 16
• Federal Government: May 23

Registration is free and currently open for the May 16 local session only. Spots are limited. Location shared upon registration.

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.

Pens to Power Upcoming Events

Join P2P for two upcoming writing events:

• May 12 | 6:30–8:30 PM
• June 7 | 1–4 PM​
  👉 RSVP: alicejimroberts@gmail.com​

At both events, we’ll collect donations for either the Eliza’s House food pantry or families in Western Maryland impacted by ICE activity, depending on current needs.

Most-needed items:​
Non-perishable and microwaveable food, bread, peanut butter, jelly, rice, and hygiene products.

📬 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:
  ​Laura Spivak​
  12604 Knepper Road
  Clear Spring, MD 21722

Write From Home

Want to participate on your own schedule? Here are a few options:

Host a Satellite Event​
Gather friends and host your own writing session — we’ll provide guidance and materials.
👉 Sign up here​

Request Postcards at Home​
We’ll send postcards, addresses, and instructions (stamps may be limited).
👉 Request here:​

Write Vote Forward Letters​
Join our Washington County Indivisible dashboard to write letters for upcoming elections.
👉 https://votefwd.org/wacoindivisible​
(Log in through this link so your letters count toward our group total.)

Next WCI Rush Hour Resistance

Meet us on the Appalachian Trail bridge on Friday, May 15 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.

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: