Fortify! Washington

Resolutions are documents passed by elected bodies to make a statement or commit to an action. They are not law, but they serve a very important purpose by getting a council to publicly commit to a position on an issue and/or take action on that issue. And they can result in actual codified policy, as our victory in Shoreline with Res560 (city webpage) did, resulting in a city ordinance (1059) prohibiting Federal immigration enforcement on City property.

They can also set the stage for future actions by a city on that issue. If a council passes a resolution in favor of a particular stance on an issue, it opens the door for the community to return later and ask that council act on their commitment by, for example, publicly endorsing pending legislation at the State or Federal level.

This is essentially the relationship between Shoreline’s immigrant-welcoming Res401 of 2017 and Shoreline’s immigrant-protection Res560 of 2026, based on this Fortify! model resolution, that, among other things, asked them to endorse state-level legislation. Two of those state bills became law.

Here are some other examples of resolutions passed by city governments (unrelated to Fortify! WA): Shoreline Res467 (anti-racism), Res542 (queer-welcoming); Bothell Resolution 1611 (queer-welcoming, through Pride Across the Bridge’s Resolutions for a Sanctuary Eastside effort)and Kenmore Res 25-437 / Bothell Reso 1685 (achieved by a coordinated local immigrant support campaign).

A model resolution is a template resolution on a topic/issue that exists to make it easier to pass that resolution in multiple cities or organizations. Examples include Move to Amend, Medicare for All, and FairVote.

Neither of these kinds of efforts are new, but the Fortify! innovation is to bring them all together in one place, filling in the gaps as necessary, and focus on the organizing by building a platform of model resolutions that engenders a habit of ongoing organizing by allowing groups to work on passing whatever they want, whatever their city needs, or whatever the moment in history demands.

Fortify! works to be prepared with model resolutions for moments we know will arise as well as long-standing issues, nearly all of which have established expert organizations which should be relied upon for their issue expertise and supported in their work. Without reinventing the wheel.

Fortify! model resolutions are either drawn from existing model resolutions provided by issue expert organizations (like those above) or drafted by Fortify! using publicly available information, including from issue-expert organizations. We try to generate as little new content as possible – again, in order to not reinvent the wheel (we’ll say that a lot), and in order to honor and amplify the work of organizations that know these issues far better than we do.

Of note: We do not use Artificial Intelligence to generate model resolutions, for every reason that AI is problematic, from environmental impacts to the theft of others’ original content. For all information and quotes we use from other sources or entities, we always provide citations and acknowledgement.

While this process works in any city anywhere, it was first developed in a small, rural town, and is easiest in mid- to small-sized cities, where local elected officials are more readily accessible. And, of course, model resolutions that cite Washington state legislation won’t work elsewhere, but could be a starting point and edited for work in other states.

Anyone from any city can sign these grassroots petitions!

News! Passed in Shoreline, WA, 8/17/26!
Next up in Mountlake Terrace, 9/3/26…

This model resolution meets the moment by directly opposing the latest California mega-millionaire Brian Heywood-funded initiatives, this time a truly bigoted attack on trans folks in Washington state with some terrible, harmful policy proposals, like how “IL26-638 could force invasive genital exams on girls of any age to play sports at any level.” This creepy proposal could result in genital exams that would affect ALL girls who wish to play sports (trans or no, and all boys are exempt, including trans boys). See the misogynistic, cringey details in the model resolution itself.

This model resolution amplifies the work of No Hate WA State. To sign up for news and updates directly from No Hate WA State, go here: https://nohateinwastate.org/join-the-mailing-list

Articles:
Marie Claire, July 13, 2026: Anti-Trans Legislation Isn’t About “Protecting Girls”—It’s About Distracting Us From What Matters (Soccer Star Megan Rapinoe on how Heywood’s initiatives are an attack on women as a whole.)
KUOW, June 4, 2026: Transgender ballot initiative could require genital exams for WA secondary school students

Start by signing and sharing this Nextcloud Online Petition Form: https://share.mayfirst.org/apps/forms/s/Pa2KmkEknQf4jHJSDFRZiZca

Printable Resolution and Petition pages (PDF file): Fortify! WA against anti-trans legislation and wealthy extremists

Take Action Sign (PDF) with QR code for tabling: https://share.mayfirst.org/s/S5JJnwg3D3iLqsc

Letter-Sized Solidarity Sign (PDF) with QR code to hand out at city council meetings or other actions: https://share.mayfirst.org/s/R5DgzsnFDrtE8Az

This model resolution meets the moment of fighting creeping authoritarianism through mass surveillance via cameras like those of Flock. With the rise in authoritarian immigration enforcement, more people are becoming highly concerned with the connection between Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs), traffic cameras, CCTV cameras, household doorbell cameras, and other high-tech cameras and recording equipment that can be repurposed and abused for, initially, immigration “enforcement”, but which opens the door to further attack on all of our civil liberties through mass surveillance. It has been shown that some data has been already accessed by Federal entities, sometimes illegally. This has led numerous cities to prohibit, shut down, disable, or fully dismantle any cameras (such as Flock) that could be result in (or are already resulting in) the abuse of civil liberties.

While this model resolution was assembled from information from websites and news sources, some dedicated specifically to mass surveillance, there was no one organization that focused on this issue that could be amplified with this resolution. If you know of an organization focusing on mass surveillance whose work this model resolution could amplify, please email info(at)fortifywa.org.

Resolution and Petition pages (PDF file for printing): Fortify! Washington against Mass Surveillance
Nextcloud Online Petition Form (which you can sign!): https://share.mayfirst.org/apps/forms/s/JEHkambGGgj2LZbt233pmanX
Letter-Sized Solidarity Sign (PDF) with QR to hand out at meeting actions: https://share.mayfirst.org/s/bjLiLY2Kykm33Cz

Success in Shoreline, WA! See Shoreline under Cities for more info.

This model resolution meets this moment of attack upon immigrants by asking city councils to take concrete action to protect their residents from ICE, citing actions in other cities as well as amplifying the work of the Washington Immigration Solidarity Network (WAISN), whose 2026-2027 legislative agenda includes legislation to ban the wearing of face-coverings by law enforcement in Washington State.

While this model resolution needed to be passed well before the March 12, 2026 end of legislative session deadline, the core tenets are still relevant. Two of the bills passed in ’26: Banning Law Enforcement from Wearing Masks (SB 5855 / HB 2173) and Immigrant Workers Protection Act (HB 2105). One bill never made it out of committee, so could be reintroduced in 2027: Protect Student Financial Aid Privacy (HB 2132)

Download the resolution and petition PDF and bookmark the URL for the online form, go to How to Organize and Getting Started, and get organizing!

Resolution and Petition pages (PDF file for printing): https://share.mayfirst.org/s/Gt8xKnXeeNtXLj7

Nextcloud Online Petition Form (which you can sign and share!): https://share.mayfirst.org/apps/forms/s/8bQZ2RJxHRp9TNPREqdjmmEy

This model resolution meets this moment of attack by the Federal government upon affordable healthcare through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by asking city councils to support their residents’ health and economic welfare by advocating for something upon which the U.S. has long lacked and lagged behind worldwide: universal healthcare.

This model resolution asks city councils to both support state and national universal healthcare, and the Whole Washington 2026 legislative agenda, noting that it is more realistic in this moment for the State of Washington to protect its residents with its own state level healthcare, called the Washington Health Trust.

While this specific model resolution needed to be passed well before the March 12, 2026 end of legislative session deadline, the core tenets are still relevant, and it can be used to promote these issues at a city level until an updated model resolution is drafted.

Download the resolution and petition PDF and bookmark the URL for the online form, go to How to Organize and Getting Started, and get organizing!

Resolution and Petition pages (PDF file for printing): https://share.mayfirst.org/s/QpTTBjdiQ3YiEdt

Nextcloud Online Petition Form (which you can sign and share!): https://share.mayfirst.org/apps/forms/s/Ak9eaxJpf4sMcDce68gics4H

This model resolution meets the moment by working to bolster solid democracy at the most local levels under a presidential administration that is doing everything it can to dismantle democracy and replace it with authoritarianism.

While this specific model resolution needed to be passed well before the March 12, 2026 end of legislative session deadline, the core tenets are still relevant, and it can be used to promote these issues at a city level until an updated model resolution is drafted.

Download the resolution and petition PDF and bookmark the URL for the online form, go to How to Organize and Getting Started, and get organizing!

FairVote Washington’s 2026 Legislative Priorities
Resolution and Petition pages (PDF file for printing): https://share.mayfirst.org/s/8HLCWJnGdQ5J4HJ
Nextcloud Online Petition Form (which you can sign and share!): https://share.mayfirst.org/apps/forms/s/HdPRJSmMxLYrs6BLEARqYJH3

This model resolution meets this moment of attack by the current administration upon everything that is American: our laws, our institutions, our Constitution. This is an ongoing and serious authoritarian crisis for our country that seeks to destroy our very democracy; destroy our institutions (that it has not already destroyed); and violently oppress our people, starting with brown and black folk, women, and the queer community, but already moving towards everyone.

This Fortify! Washington model resolution asks cities to develop a Fascism, Authoritarianism, and Un-Lawful (FAUL) Federal Actions Preparedness and Response Plan BEFORE we end up like Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland – occupied and invaded by military and/or federal agents.

WARNING: This is a a very pointy resolution, and will doubtless scare both elected officials and their city staff. Working to pass this resolution is both exactly what we need right now and a very, very heavy lift. And most cities will be terrified that they will attract the ire and oppression and funding cuts of the current authoritarian administration, despite the fact that “keeping one’s head down” has never kept anyone safe from authoritarianism.

NOTE: Some important aspects of what we would want to end up in such a plan are addressed in WAISN’s legislative agenda. This model resolution seeks a more comprehensive plan and analysis, but the WAISN Legislative Agenda is far more winnable in this moment.

If you want to take this one one, download the resolution and petition PDF and bookmark the URL for the online form, go to How to Organize and Getting Started, and get organizing!

Resolution and Petition pages (PDF file for printing): https://share.mayfirst.org/s/q2Fy5NnteBzckeA

Nextcloud Online Petition Form (which you can sign and share!): https://share.mayfirst.org/apps/forms/s/3wNQXsdjp2ajPnpyfJoSzL3a

“Underdogs do have one essential advantage: a vision of liberty, justice, and equality is simply more attractive than anything overdogs can honestly offer.” – Practical Radicals (2023), pg 47

Here you will eventually be able to find the complete current platform of issues supported by Fortify! Washington, as a list of aggregated model resolutions related to that platform. Model resolutions are, as much as possible, drafted to amplify the work of established organizations expert in those issues.

Example Resolution (Shoreline, WA): Res467 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SHORELINE, WASHING TON, DECLARING THE CITY’S COMMITMENT TO BUILDING AN ANTI-RACIST COMMUNITY

Corporate personhood and money as speech are foundational issues with American democracy that have largely put us in the position we find ourselves in now. Move to Amend seeks to amend the Constitution to define people only as natural persons and money not as speech. It is a root-level way to fight back against the Citizens United ruling that opened the floodgates to the purchase and corruption of our democracy.

Ongoing Resolution: Supporting Move to Amend’s We the People Constitutional Amendment to Abolish Corporate Personhood and the doctrine of Money as Speech
Resolution and Petition pages (PDF file for printing): https://share.mayfirst.org/s/5q8r9e6feG75Nxw
Nextcloud Online Petition Form (which you can sign!): https://share.mayfirst.org/apps/forms/s/msSCp9knNHgcWoeq9XCk84NC

Move to Amend’s Original Model Resolution: https://www.movetoamend.org/model-resolution-councils-organizations

Note: Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is Lead Sponsor on the Move to Amend federal legislation.

Washington State cities that passed resolutions of or related to Move to Amend’s campaign, from Move to Amend’s resolution tracker records (which includes 725 communities and 8 states as of 1/1/25):
May 2, 2016, the Burien City Council
March 5, 2013, the Oak Harbor City Council
February 19, 2013, the Kirkland City Council
December 19, 2012, the Walla Walla City Council
December 18, 2012, the Tacoma City Council
October 2, 2012, the Olympia City Council
September 25, 2012, the Coupeville Town Council
September 11, 2012, the La Conner Town Council
July 23, 2012, the Board of Island County Commissioners
June 4, 2012, the Bellingham City Council
June 4, 2012, the Langley City Council
May 14, 2012, the Seattle City Council
April 23, 2012, the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners
March 5, 2012, the Port Townsend City Council

=>Fair Taxation Under Construction

Ongoing Resolution: Fascism/Authoritarianism Preparedness Plan
Resolution and Petition pages (PDF file for printing): https://share.mayfirst.org/s/q2Fy5NnteBzckeA
Nextcloud Online Petition Form (which you can sign!): https://share.mayfirst.org/apps/forms/s/3wNQXsdjp2ajPnpyfJoSzL3a

Ongoing Resolution: None at this time

Example Resolution Success (Shoreline, WA): Res560

Most Recent Version
[While this specific model resolution needed to be passed well before the March 12, 2026 end of legislative session deadline, the core tenets are still relevant, and it can be used to promote these issues at a city level until an updated model resolution is drafted.]
WAISN’s ’26-27 Legislative Agenda and Concrete Local Action
Resolution and Petition pages (PDF file for printing): https://share.mayfirst.org/s/Gt8xKnXeeNtXLj7
Nextcloud Online Petition Form (which you can sign!): https://share.mayfirst.org/apps/forms/s/8bQZ2RJxHRp9TNPREqdjmmEy
Letter-Sized Solidarity Sign (PDF) with QR to hand out at meeting actions:https://share.mayfirst.org/s/psLPXtcpTYwpGAk

[This example comes from Northern California. If you know of Washington examples, please let us know at info (at) fortifywa (dot) org.]
Example resolution, 2024, Fort Bragg, California (not the base in North Carolina):
SUPPORTING A SUSTAINED CEASEFIRE

Includes:
Fortify! WA against Anti-Trans Initiatives and Wealthy Extremists (with No Hate in WA State)
Fortify! WA with Sanctuary Cities (Pride Across the Bridge Effort)

Summer 2026: Fortify! WA against Anti-Trans Initiatives and Wealthy Extremists

This model resolution amplifies the work of No Hate WA State. To sign up for news and updates directly from No Hate WA State, go here: https://nohateinwastate.org/join-the-mailing-list

Articles:
Marie Claire, July 13, 2026: Anti-Trans Legislation Isn’t About “Protecting Girls”—It’s About Distracting Us From What Matters (Soccer Star Megan Rapinoe on how Heywood’s initiatives are an attack on women as a whole.)
KUOW, June 4, 2026: Transgender ballot initiative could require genital exams for WA secondary school students

Start by signing and sharing this Nextcloud Online Petition Form: https://share.mayfirst.org/apps/forms/s/Pa2KmkEknQf4jHJSDFRZiZca

Printable Resolution and Petition pages (PDF file): Fortify! WA against anti-trans legislation and wealthy extremists

Take Action Sign (PDF) with QR code for tabling: https://share.mayfirst.org/s/S5JJnwg3D3iLqsc

Letter-Sized Solidarity Sign (PDF) with QR code to hand out at city council meetings or other actions: https://share.mayfirst.org/s/R5DgzsnFDrtE8Az

Sanctuary Cities (Pride Across the Bridge)

Example Resolution (Bothell, WA):
Passed in Bothell, WA, by folks supporting an effort by Pride Across the Bridge & Eastside for All:
Resolution 1611 Affirming Bothell as a Welcoming Community for Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender-Diverse People.

Ongoing Resolution: Fortify! WA for our 2SLGBTQIA+ Community with Pride Across the Bridge’s Resolution for Sanctuary Cities
Resolution and Petition pages (PDF file for printing):https://share.mayfirst.org/s/qgZ3KfCHij3rnjW
Nextcloud Online Petition Form (which you can sign!): https://share.mayfirst.org/apps/forms/s/KS7ew9kWjTnyDYp3qFW5q7nB

While this model resolution was assembled from information from websites and news sources, some dedicated specifically to mass surveillance, there was no one organization that focused on this issue that could be amplified with this resolution. If you know of an organization focusing on mass surveillance whose work this model resolution could amplify, please email info(at)fortifywa.org.

Resolution and Petition pages (PDF file for printing): Fortify! Washington against Mass Surveillance
Nextcloud Online Petition Form (which you can sign!): https://share.mayfirst.org/apps/forms/s/JEHkambGGgj2LZbt233pmanX
Letter-Sized Solidarity Sign (PDF) with QR to hand out at meeting actions: https://share.mayfirst.org/s/bjLiLY2Kykm33Cz

Ongoing Resolution: None at this time

Example Resolution (Philadelphia, PA): Sept 23, 2021

Most Recent Version
[While this specific model resolution needed to be passed well before the March 12, 2026 end of legislative session deadline, the core tenets are still relevant, and it can be used to promote these issues at a city level until an updated model resolution is drafted.]
FairVote Washington’s 2026 Legislative Priorities
Resolution and Petition pages (PDF file for printing): https://share.mayfirst.org/s/8HLCWJnGdQ5J4HJ
Nextcloud Online Petition Form (which you can sign!): https://share.mayfirst.org/apps/forms/s/HdPRJSmMxLYrs6BLEARqYJH3

Example Resolution (Edmonds, WA):
RES NO. 1498 – A RESOLUTION OF THE EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL IN SUPPORT OF ACCESS TO A FULL RANGE OF REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS,
INCLUDING ABORTION SERVICES, AND URGING FEDERAL AND
STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO CODIFY THESE RIGHTS

Partner Organization: Whole Washington

Ongoing Resolution: None yet

Most Recent Version
[While this specific model resolution needed to be passed well before the March 12, 2026 end of legislative session deadline, the core tenets are still relevant, and it can be used to promote these issues at a city level until an updated model resolution is drafted.]
Resolution and Petition pages (PDF file for printing): https://share.mayfirst.org/s/QpTTBjdiQ3YiEdt
Nextcloud Online Petition Form (which you can sign!): https://share.mayfirst.org/apps/forms/s/Ak9eaxJpf4sMcDce68gics4H

You can see where resolutions have already been passed at https://www.medicare4allresolutions.org/is-a-local-resolution-already-underway-in-your-community/

[Help research cities, especially if you live there. Let us know if you’re interested.]

What resolutions on the Fortify! Washington platform have been passed or not in your city? How did your elected officials vote on those resolutions?

Search here for your city to see what values from the platform have been codified through model resolutions, and how each elected official voted on those resolutions, which folks can use to determine whether they should stay or go during the next election.

Eventually cities will be given Fortify! rankings, showing how much they have fortified themselves with the Fortify! Washington platform.

Here you will be able to see the resolutions passed in featured cities, who organized to pass them, how each elected official voted on them, with links to the model resolution (if applicable) and the text of the actual approved resolution. (The model resolution being what was asked to be passed and the actual resolution being what was passed, so you can compare them to determine if the language was weakened, or diluted from what was requested and, if so, how.)

You will be able to determine which issues on the Fortify! Washington platform are gaps at your city, and you can organize to get those resolutions passed!

Resolutions can be brought to an elected body in multiple ways, and how that happens indicates how much movement/power-building was generated in the process. Passing any resolution with a good, compassionate, helpful value set is awesome, but direct action organizing is about the power-building, so we want to see and encourage more, not less.

Who instigated the effort, and how powerful was it?
Single Elected-Official <——>Large Community Group
No power-building <———–>Significant Power-Building

If we know, we will include this information in the record of passed resolutions in each city. It’s not often easy to ascertain, unless a specific group is known to have approached the Council, and, even then, it could be a case of direct lobbying, which doesn’t actually ask the community to rally around the model resolution and demonstrate power to the elected body.

2025-06-04 (as of), Queer rights, not taken up by council:
Instigated by: Pride Across the Bridge and Eastside for All resolution campaign
From Pride Across the Bridge: “The city shared that all of the suggestions they would put into a resolution have been put into this year’s Pride Proclamation. For the city of Bellevue, they use proclamations as a statement to the larger community, and resolutions are used as a direction to City staff. The city understands that even if it’s emblematic, something like a resolution would be beneficial to do – the proclamations and resolutions for this city hold the same level of accountability. There is conversation about them updating a resolution or initiative from the city to be able to answer to this need within the way that the city of Bellevue works.”

2025-12-02 (minutes), Immigrant Rights, passed 5-0-2:
Reso 1685 AFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRANTS AND ENDORSING STATE LAWS THAT PROMOTE DIGNITY, SAFETY AND EQUITY
Instigated by: Group of community members (Northshore Neighborhood Solidarity)
Support: Mayor Thompson, Deputy Mayor Al-Kabra, Councilmember Alderks, Councilmember Dodd, Councilmember Curd
Opposed: none
Absent: Councilmember Zornes, Councilmember Mahnkey

2025-04-15, Queer rights, :
Resolution 1611 Affirming Bothell as a Welcoming Community for Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender-Diverse People.
Instigated by: Pride Across the Bridge and Eastside for All campaign
Support: Mayor Mason Thompson, Deputy Mayor Rami Al-Kabra, Jenne Alderks, Carston Curd, Amanda Dodd
Opposed: Jeanne Zornes, Benjamin Mahnkey

Edmonds passed nine resolutions related to climate change between 2006 and 2023, including one that expressed Edmond’s support for the Kyoto Protocol (an example of using a resolution to endorse an international effort). You can find the climate change resolutions here: Mayor’s Climate Protection Committee Resolutions & Proclamations

Other than the above, following are a list of Fortify! platform-relevant resolutions. Council meetings older than November 2025 are found here.

2022-07-05 (minutes), Reproductive Rights, passed 6-0-0-0:
RES NO. 1498 – A RESOLUTION OF THE EDMONDS CITY COUNCIL IN SUPPORT OF ACCESS TO A FULL RANGE OF REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS,
INCLUDING ABORTION SERVICES, AND URGING FEDERAL AND
STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO CODIFY THESE RIGHTS
Instigated by: Resolution authored by CM Laura Johnson and CM Susan Paine
Support: Council President Olson, Council members K. Johnson, Chen, Buckshins, Paine, and L. Johnson
Opposed: 0
Abstain: 0
Absent:0
Notes: This resolution received heavy discussion/debate. See minutes. Note that “Council President Olson moved, seconded by Councilmember K. Johnson, to abstain from making a statement as a City Council,” but the motion failed.

2022-06-07 (minutes), Gun Violence and Racial Hate, 7-0-0-0:
RES NO. 1492 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, CONDEMNING THE GUN VIOLENCE, BOTH NATIONALLY AND HERE LOCALLY, WHICH HAS OCCURRED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS AND THE RACIAL HATRED WHICH HAS FUELED THIS VIOLENCE; EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THOSE IMPACTED; AND ISSUING A CALL TO ACTION FOR ALL IN OUR COMMUNITY TO WORK TOWARDS ENDING GUN VIOLENCE AND HATRED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
Instigated by: Councilmember Paine (author)
Support: Vivian Olson, Council President, Councilmembers Kristiana Johnson, Will Chen, Neil Tibbott, Diane Buckshnis, Susan Paine, Laura Johnson
Opposed: 0
Abstain: 0
Absent: 0
Notes: This resolution received heavy discussion/debate, including a motion to strike “white nationalism” from the proposed resolution (passed with Paine dissenting), among other changes. See minutes.

Other relevant resolutions without details:

• Resolution 1477 Pride Month and LGBTQ support (21-06-15)
• Resolution 1476 Condeming Hate Crime against AAPI (21-07-13)
• Resolution 1435 Oppose Initiative 976 to Support Transportation Funding (19-10-15)
• Resolution 1452 Calling on State and Fed for COVID Residential Rent Moratorium (20-04-28)
• Resolution 1426 FCC and 5G health risks (19-03-26)
• Resolution 1393 Columbus to Indigenous Day (17-09-19)
• Resolution 1381 Welcoming and Inclusive for All (17-01-10)

2025-05-27 (as of), Queer rights, campaign by Pride Across the Bridge and Eastside for All, stalled out.

2025-12-08 (minutes), Immigrant Rights, passed 7-0-0-0:
RES NO. 25-437 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF KENMORE, WASHINGTON, AFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRANTS AND THE RIGHTS OF ALL RESIDENTS, AND ENDORSING STATE LAWS THAT PROMOTE SAFETY AND EQUALITY.
Instigated by: Group of community members (Northshore Neighborhood Solidarity)
Support: Sasson, Culver, Loutsis, Marshall, Srebnik, O’Cain, Herbig
Opposed: none
Abstain: none
Absent: none
NOTE: The resolution was amended from what was proposed. Final

2025-06-17, Queer rights, passed 7-0:
Resolution R-5686 affirming that the City of Kirkland is a welcoming, inclusive, and safe city for the Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning Intersex, Asexual Plus (2SLGBTQIA+) community
Instigated by: Pride Across the Bridge and Eastside for All resolution campaign
Support: Deputy Mayor Jay Arnold, Councilmember Neal Black, Mayor Kelli Curtis, Councilmember Amy Falcone, Councilmember Jon Pascal, Councilmember Penny Sweet, and Councilmember John Tymczyszyn.
Opposed: None
Absent: None

2025-05-20 (as of), Queer rights, campaign by Pride Across the Bridge and Eastside for All, not taken up by council:
From Pride Across the Bridge: “No response from city leadership. There was a vote tonight (that passed 4 yes, 3 no) to fly the pride flag annually at New Castle city hall. City attendees and leaders were very split and do not appear to be in a collaborative space to respond and discuss this resolution.”

2025-06-03, Queer rights, passed unanimously via consent calendar:
Resolution Affirming Redmond as a City that Welcomes Transgender, Nonbinary and Gender-Diverse Communities and Commits to Proactive Protections for the Civil Rights, Safety, and Well-Being of All 2SLGTBQIA+ Individuals
Instigated by: Pride Across the Bridge and Eastside for All resolution campaign using Suggested Resolution.
Support: Councilmembers Anderson, Fields, Forsythe,
Kritzer, Nuevacamina, Salahuddin and Stuart
Opposed: None
Absent: None

2025-04-23 (as of), Queer rights, not taken up by council:
Instigated by: Pride Across the Bridge and Eastside for All resolution campaign
From Pride Across the Bridge: “continuing to wait for city leadership and equity council to reach out.”

2025-04-16, Queer rights, passed 6-0-1:
Reaffirming The City’s Support For Our LGBTQIA2S+ Neighbors
Instigated by: Pride Across the Bridge and Eastside for All resolution campaign
Support: Mayor Karen Howe, Deputy Mayor Amy Lam, Councilmember Roisin O’Farrell, Councilmember Sid Gupta, Councilmember Pam Stuart
Opposed: None
Absent: Kali Clark

August 18, 2026: A second victory in Shoreline! See below for more details on the passage of Res567.

Shoreline is a great city and on the right track. Folks should be proud to live in Shoreline. Their Equity and Social Justice webpages are great, including their Anti-Racism page, which features three of the resolutions listed below. But this doesn’t mean the work is done. Fortifying is maintenance as well as a goal. There are more things that the City of Shoreline could codify its support for, including Universal Healthcare and Ranked Choice Voting, for example.

Shoreline resolution and voting records

Aug 17, 2026: Shoreline passes Res567, Opposing Brian Heywood’s anti-trans/anti-women initiatives!
Request Made: June 1, 2026
Organizations: No Hate in WA State and Fortify! WA
June 22th, 2026: Model Resolution sponsored by CMs Chris Roberts and Laura Mork. Agendized for action at the August 10, 2026 meeting, then moved to Aug 17th.
What we asked for: Fortify! WA against Anti-Trans Initiatives and Wealthy Extremists
What we got: Res 567 Opposing 001 and 638 (amended staff report)
Sponsored by: CMs Laura Mork and Chris Roberts
Who voted in favor: Everyone present (sponsors, CMs Annette Ademasu, Valerie Snider, and Keith Scully)
Absent: Mayor Betsy Robertson and Deputy Mayor Eben Pobee
Blog Post:
Summary: While this is a critical victory and the resolution we got did the job of registering opposition to Heywood’s terrible initiatives, it did so with language that failed to meet their extremity and was not the strong statement that Tacoma made with their resolution. Instead Res560 and the staff report risked whitewashing the issue and normalizing the unreasonable. It is unknown if this is a resistance on the part of staff/council to use the language they are given in the model resolution, an attempt by staff to be “neutral” (which risks normalizing the unreasonable), or that staff, themselves, are not supportive of the Council opposing these initiatives. Fortunately, CM Roberts, after feedback from myself, amended the resolution and at least corrected some critical errors (these amendments are shown in the staff report). Another important reality: While the transgender community itself came out to share their heartbreaking stories and advocate on their own behalf, allies not so much, which is really disappointing. I hope this will change for future cities taking up this resolution.

Feb, 2026 An Ideal Fortify! Mini-Campaign results in Res560
Organizations: Shoreline Solidarity and Fortify! WA
What we asked for: Fortify! Washington for Immigrant Protection
What we got: Res 560 – Support and Protect Immigrant Members
City Website: Immigrants, Refugees, and Res560
Sponsored by: Deputy Mayor Eben Pobee and Council Member Keith Scully
Who voted in favor: Everyone present (sponsors, Mayor Betsy Robertson, CM Chris Roberts, CM Annette Ademasu, CM Valerie Snider)
Absent: CM Laura Mork
April, 28 ’26, Necessary Codifying of Res560: Ordinance 1059 Prohibiting ICE from Using City Owned Property
Who voted in favor: Everyone (Mayor Betsy Robertson, Deputy Mayor Eben Pobee, Councilmembers Ademasu, Mork, Roberts, Scully, Snider)

News Release: Shoreline Unanimously Passes Immigrant Protection Resolution

Coverage by The Osprey, highlighting the critical importance of hyper-local media:

• Feb 19th, ’26: Shoreline City Council urged to ‘rise to the challenge’ against immigration agents
• Feb 23rd, ’26: Shoreline council to discuss keeping ICE off of city property
• Feb 25th, ’26: Shoreline adopts stance against immigration enforcement, plans to block ICE from city properties

City Draft Res and Staff Report, Feb 20, 2026: Proposed Res560 and Staff Report

Past Shoreline Resolutions

Following are the resolutions that have been identified as supporting the Fortify! platform, with the most recent, first:

2025-02-24 (Minutes), Queer Rights, passed 7-0-0-0:
Res542 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SHORELINE,
WASHINGTON, AFFIRMING ITS COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT
ALL INDIVIDUALS, REGARDLESS OF GENDER IDENTITY, SEXUAL
ORIENTATION OR GENDER EXPRESSION, FEEL SAFE AND
SUPPORTED, AND DECLARING THE CITY OF SHORELINE TO BE AN
INVITING, EQUITABLE, AND SAFE COMMUNITY FOR LGBTQIA2S+
PEOPLE.
Instigaged by: A councilmember on behalf of an individual
Support: Mayor Chris Roberts, Deputy Mayor Laura Mork, Councilmembers John Ramsdell, Keith Scully, Annette Ademasu, Eben Pobee, Betsy Robertson.
Opposed: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None

2024-10-21, Climate Change, passed 7-0-0-0:
Res534 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SHORELINE, WASHINGTON, OPPOSING THE PASSAGE OF WASHINGTON STATE BALLOT INITIATIVE NO. 2066 CONCERNING REGULATING ENERGY SERVICES, INCLUDING NATURAL GAS AND ELECTRIFICATION.
Note: This is an example of a City Council using a resolution to influence state legislation, in this case taking a public position on a ballot initiative. Fortify! encourages local organizers to push more for this kind of action, and provides timely model resolutions to this end.
Instigated by: Unknown
Support: Mayor Chris Roberts, Deputy Mayor Laura Mork, Councilmembers John Ramsdell, Keith Scully, Annette Ademasu, Eben Pobee, Betsy Robertson.
Opposed: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None

2022-08-15, Climate Change, passed 5-0-0-2:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SHORELINE, WASHINGTON DECLARING A CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND DIRECTING THE CITY TO TAKE ACCELERATED AND COMPREHENSIVE ACTION TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS
Instigated by: City of Shoreline
Support: Mayor Scully, Councilmembers McConnell, Mork, Roberts, and Pobee
Opposed: 0
Abstain: 0
Absent: Deputy Mayor Robertson and Councilmember Ramsdell

2020-11-30, Anti-Racism (in the wake of George Floyd’s murder), passed 7-0-0-0:
Res467 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SHORELINE, WASHING TON, DECLARING THE CITY’S COMMITMENT TO BUILDING AN ANTI-RACIST COMMUNITY
Instigated by: Unknown
Support: Mayor Hall, Deputy Mayor Scully, Councilmembers McConnell, McGlashan, Chang, Robertson, and Roberts
Opposed: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None

2017-01-23, Immigrant Rights, passed 7-0-0-0:
ORIGINAL
RESOLUTION NO. 401 -A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SHORELINE,WASHINGTON, DECLARING THE CITY OF SHORELINE TO BE AN INVITING, EQUITABLE AND SAFE COMMUNITY FOR ALL AND
PROHIBITING INQUIRIES BY CITY OF SHORELINE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES INTO IMMIGRATION STATUS AND ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ASCERTAIN SUCH STATUS
Instigated by: Unknown
Support: Mayor Roberts, Deputy Mayor Winstead, Councilmembers McGlashan, Scully, Hall, McConnell, and Salomon
Opposed: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None

2025-05-21 (as of), Queer rights, not taken up by council:
Instigated by: Pride Across the Bridge and Eastside for All resolution campaign
From Pride Across the Bridge: “No update on a actionable pathway forward yet.”

2022-12-26, Universal Healthcare, campaign by Whole Washington, passed 6-0-2-3:
A RESOLUTION supporting the Whole Washington State Universal Healthcare Initiative
Instigated by: Whole Washington
Support: Tammy J. Morales, Teresa Mosqueda, Kshama Sawant,
Dan Strauss
Opposed: None
Abstain: Sara Nelson, Alex Pedersen
Absent: Juarez, Herbold, Lewis

RESOLUTION NO. 41972: Opposition to the passage of Initiative Measure
No. IL26-001 and No. IL26-638
Sponsored by: COUNCIL MEMBERS DIAZ, PALMER, AND SCOTT
Instigated by: Unclear, but language coordinated with No Hate campaign (i.e., not sure if this used the Fortify!/No Hate model resolution.)
More info: https://share.mayfirst.org/s/dCtFjTLpp43gWb6
City Webpage: https://tacoma.gov/news/tacoma-city-council-expresses-opposition-to-initiative-measure-no-il26-001-and-initiative-measure-no-il26-638/
MOTION: Bushnell SECOND: Hines
Ayes: 7 (Mayor Ibsen, CMs Hines, Scott, Sadalge, Bushnell, Palmer, Diaz) Nays: 0 Absent: 2 (Rumbaugh, Walker) Abstaining: 0

This resolution was the first in the State to take the stand against Brian Heywood’s terrible, bigoted initiatives, and they set a good precedent, using language that made clear how bad these initiatives work, and even asking Tacoma voters to vote against them. This resolution courageously names the “genital exams” Heywood’s initiatives could require. This was a solid taking of a stand against Heywood’s hate and misogyny.

You can help put it here by contacting us at info (at) fortifywa (dot) org. Each city needs someone to research past resolutions and voting records (much of which is on the city’s website), as well as a group interested in organizing to pass future model resolutions, generating more voting record data and holding your elected officials accountable.

See How to Organize below to get a sense of what organizing at the city council level entails.

2000-00-00, Issue, passed 0-0-0-0:
Linked Resolution
Instigated by:
Support:
Opposed:
Abstain:
Absent:

Shoreline, WA (26-08-19): Shoreline Council Rejects Transgender Initiatives

Shoreline, WA (26-02-25): Shoreline adopts stance against immigration enforcement, plans to block ICE from city properties

Shoreline, WA (26-02-23): Shoreline council to discuss keeping ICE off of city property

Shoreline, WA (26-02-19): Shoreline City Council urged to ‘rise to the challenge’ against immigration agents

Shoreline, WA (25-03-01): City of Shoreline confirms commitment to creating a welcoming community for LGBTQIA2S+ individuals

Eureka, CA (26-01-23): Eureka Becomes a Trans Sanctuary

Pick a model resolution and get it passed by your City Council.

Okay, it’s not THAT easy, but, with simply that, you and your group could easily figure it out on your own just by going to the city and asking questions about how to do it (City Clerks are amazing people). Many groups have done just that. In fact, that could be the best way to do it, because you would learn about your city’s function in the process.

That said, while each city will have its own tweaks or quirks (which you will quickly learn), the truth is that all city councils (and other elected boards, like school boards) generally function in the same manner, so there is a set of campaign steps that will ensure a well-rounded effort.

Why a “well-rounded effort”?

A very, very, very critical point: The building of people power is actually more important than any one success (or failure).

A resolution ultimately passed because one person contacts a City Council member and suggests they do so is a “win”, but it misses the more important opportunity: that issue as a rallying point to build people power and set the group up for the next campaign. If you take a Midwest Academy training (see next section), this will be politely hammered into you.

Another critical point: It is necessary that the folks who participate are nourished by the process, not consumed by it.

Therefore, an easy direct action community organizing mantra: Every action must build your group, and nourish all who participate.

After a little bit on training, a simple process is outline below.

Because Fortify! Washington is doing the background work and generating/aggregating model resolutions, no special skills are required to begin organizing in your city. See A Basic Process Outline for an entry-level process below.

That said, seeking solid organizing training from an established training institute is ALWAYS helpful. Getting formal training would absolutely ensure your energy and time are strategic, effective, and well-spent as well as support your work, your group, and the whole movement for a more socially- and environmentally-just now.

And, especially under current circumstances, the country desperately needs more trained community organizers.

Fortify! is based on training from the Midwest Academy, an established national-level training institute with a long history.

Considered a gold standard in community organizing, the Midwest Academy was started by Heather Booth in the early 1970s. To connect that to now, it should be mentioned that she is the first name on a list of “iconic movement leaders” presented in the introduction of the 2025 book Practical Radicals,

The Midwest Academy provides regular in-person an online trainings, which are highly recommended for anyone interested in starting off on the right foot or furthering their skills as a direct action community organizer.

You can see their training schedule here: Midwest Academy Training Schedule.

This means the basic process for any local elected body would be as follows:

1. Choose an issue (i.e., pick a model resolution)
2. Start collecting petition names in support of that issue, using the hard copy and online forms. Literally anyone can add their name to a grassroots petition. (See section on Gathering Names for more info).
3. Take the model resolution to the elected body, ideally with at least a small group of people. Have folks speak from their heart on the issue and then each make this CLEAR ASK: “Please agendize and pass this resolution in two weeks.”
4. Prior to the next meeting, continue collecting names in support of the issue. Before the meeting, compile all the names in a spreadsheet (names and city only). Email that to the council and print a hard copy to give to the City Clerk at the meeting.
5. Use the names added to the petition to mobilize people to show up on the day the resolution is to be voted on, to respectfully show their support to the council members. Ask them to bring signs, and print a bunch of Fortify! signs to hand out to folks who don’t have them. Again, they can speak from the heart, ending with the CLEAR ASK: “Please pass this resolution today.” Having one speaker unfurl all the taped-together petition pages is a great visual for both the council and any media that shows up. Give the printed petition spreadsheet to the City Clerk. You can have another speaker ask the crowd to raise their signs/hands if they are here in support. It’s also impressive (and an important measure of success) to ask how many folks are at a city council meeting for the first time.
6. Regardless of the outcome of the vote (pass or fail), thank the elected officials and report the results back to the people who added their name to your petition.
7. Send the results to Fortify! Washington, so we can add them to our compiled city records, helping future voters with a resource they can use during election season.

What if they don’t agendize it in two weeks?
Repeat the first part of the process, but work to bring more people and more petition names. You can also work to meet with the councilmembers. Two tries is probably the max for a model resolution campaign. Record the results, send them to Fortify! WA for publishing, and move on.

What if they don’t pass it?
The group can either choose to try again after building more power (a Midwest Academy training would teach you how to do this) or take a break, choose another resolution/issue, and run a new model resolution campaign. You can also try to meet with the elected officials. It’s up to the group how critical a win is and how much you want to push for passage, but two escalations is probably the maximum for a model resolution campaign before you should just record the results, send them to Fortify! WA for publishing, and move on. Remember: Because both passes and fails generate a voting record, groups need not be attached to getting a resolution passed. By “failing”, you now have a voting record that can be used against those elected officials at the next election. Better to move on to the next issue, because this is about multi-issue work over time.

“When used properly, petitions are very powerful, and collecting signatures is a good organization builder as well.”

Organizing for Social Change, 4th Edition, Midwest Academy, pg 45

This is where the real power- and community-building happens. There are plenty of ways this can be done, from in-person to online – though avoid over-reliance upon online, such as emailing out or posting petition forms on social media, as it’s not as effective in name-gathering or community-building (but it is easier than having to database illegible writing! Which is why hard copy petitions include a QR code.)

Why “gathering names” and not “gathering signatures”? These are grassroots petitions, which means that they are an en masse demonstration of public opinion for the purpose of demonstrating people power to elected officials. They are not legal petitions, such as those legally required to put initiatives on a ballot or nominate an elected official. Therefore they do not need signatures, per se, and you want a clear name to be able to database.

While it’s difficult, and not always possible, gathering as much name-power as you can before the initial ask to “agendize and pass this resolution in two weeks” can help ensure that the council/staff preserve more of the language of the model resolution, because, ostensibly, that’s what The People have asked for. The city will rewrite the resolution, regardless, but without that initial show of people-power, it makes it easier for the resolution to be weakened, as it’s much harder to get them to change the resolution they propose than do it right in the first place. See Shoreline Res567, which did not have as much people-power behind its initial ask.

Critical name-gathering tips: Always “seed” a hard copy petition with a clearly printed first line. If folks start skipping fields, seed it again. Encourage folks to use the QR code, where the secure Nextcloud form will require the important information.

Here are some in-person suggestions for gathering names:

1. Tabling in public places like the library, grocery stores, etc. The old ironing-board-as-a-signature-gathering-table is a classic old-school community organizing tactic. Always ask permission, especially when gathering petition names on private property (like grocery stores).
2. At mass mobilizations. See the section below on the critical opportunity of mass mobilizations, as well as the very real risk of protest fatigue.
3. At other protests, rallies, sign-waving tactics.

NEVER sign a legal petition for something you have not fully vetted and ACTUALLY SUPPORT just to “put it on the ballot so the people can vote.” Moneyed interests leverage this well-intentioned but misguided habit of wanting to be “democratic” to get things put on ballots that are, at best, not in your best interest and, at worst, actually horrible. They’re hoping that, once approved for the ballot, their money and voter ignorance will result in its actual passing. This results in the tremendous waste of people’s time and money to fight down terrible proposals which, if passed, could cause great harm and require costly lawsuits to overturn.

The whole point of the State requiring the general public to sign legal petitions for proposed initiatives/referendums is to determine if people actually want what is being proposed – it’s the first line of vetting of something a group wishes to put up for a vote. By signing it you’re saying you approve of it.

Your signature is the first layer of approval for an initiative or candidate. Who is the group behind it? What are their values? What is their end game? If you don’t know these things and ACTUALLY support it or them, DO NOT SIGN IT. You can’t go wrong sticking to supporting organizations you already trust and have vetted. Don’t let a paid signature gatherer startle or bully you in to agreeing to something you will regret agreeing to.

Questions to ask a legal petition signature gatherer:

1. What group is behind this?
2. Are you being paid? By whom?
3. Do not ask: What is the initiative about? They will give you their talking points, which are just that, talking points.
4. And then, unless you are already familiar with that group and support the effort, say, “I’ll look into it and sign later, if I support the effort.”
5. Walk away.

[End Rant]

Mass mobilizations are amazing opportunities to springboard strategically-planned community organizing. Model resolutions can be chosen to meet the moment of the mass resolution, taking the energy for a particular cause and directing it towards concrete results.

They are a tremendous opportunity to capture people power and direct it like a laser towards moving an actual political needle,

Unfortunately, while mass mobilizations like the more recent No Kings and Hands Off and the Climate Strike of way back have been visibly powerful, they most often end up “terminal tactics” (Saul Alinsky), by rarely (as in never) including a viable target (decision-maker) and clear demands, necessary elements of direct action community organizing. The Midwest Academy Strategy Chart is a straightforward but powerful tool that covers this integration.

The good news is that Fortify! was actually initially conceived to add this facet to a local manifestation of the 2019 Climate Strike mass mobilization, and you can do the same thing by adding it to any mass mobilization (or any other tactic, for that matter) in your city. Event organizers and community organizers are not the same thing, though they definitely can, and should, support each others’ work.

Fortify! is a puzzle piece that helps complete the organizing picture.

If you would like to leverage the opportunity of a local mass mobilization towards influencing the local city council (or any other local body, for that matter), find out what group has taken on the task of organizing the event and talk to them.

This is harder in big cities (i.e. Seattle), because those events are simply overwhelming: they are huge, there are organizers everywhere, attendees will be overwhelmed, and everyone’s effort risks being diluted. The only way to effectively capture the power of events of that size is to have a ton of volunteers all over (sanctioned or unsanctioned by the event organizers) or have an in with the event organizers such that you announce your effort over the sound system, repeatedly.

Mass mobilizations in smaller cities, however, are amazing opportunities that are much more accessible, as, typically, are the organizers. Ask them if you can have a table at their event and use their sound system to announce your model resolution. If you have a sound system of your own to offer up and run, it’s an excellent way get your group’s work connected to the event organizers’, and nobody says the person who brings the PA can’t announce their effort and encourage folks to come to their action table.

That said, event organizers in smaller cities still have the choice to make those events targeted actions or the equivalent of non-profit festivals, the latter of which also dilutes the ability of the event to substantively move a single political needle..

Ideally, event organizers are either working with community organizers or have community organizing training themselves, such that they understand the critical importance of a targeted tactic and the strategic planning involved in such a tactic. For any organizing nerds out there, see how this Strategy Chart for a Tactic from the Midwest Academy plots that out.

Please respect folks’ personal data. If you’re collecting names, emails, and phone numbers, as all community organizers must do, please keep hard copies in a secure place and digital copies in a secure digital environment.

Fortify! Washington has its digital assets set up through the May First Technology Cooperative, which has its own servers and uses its own instances of software (like Nextcloud, WordPress, and Mailman for email lists). Any names that come through the Nextcloud form are secure on their servers.

While your group may choose to keep the contact information you collect to yourselves, that disconnects your effort from the larger Fortify! effort. And be aware that sending bulk emails out by :bcc or :cc is not only a messy way to manage emails to groups, but it puts your email at risk of being labeled SPAM and grey or blacklisted by service providers. So if you wish to manage your own contact emails, you will need to look into something such as Google Groups (free, but Google) or an email marketing service, which generally costs money because their free versions allow so few contacts.

Fortify! Washington uses CiviCRM and Mailman through the May First Technology Cooperative. If we manage your email list for you through one of those services, it can remain stable, secure, and connected to the larger Fortify! movement. Talk to us about your options. This is, of course, free to the community as a service.

The process of running campaigns around model resolutions is your most powerful community-building tool, and should be the primary activities of the group. Folks need to feel that their time is being spent productively, so things like strictly social gatherings or informational sessions shouldn’t outweigh work done towards a specific goal.

However, complementing that work with other activities to engage and cultivate the group is critical.

Here are some ideas:

• Ask folks who are interested to join a committee that monitors a particular local elected body, with those committees reporting back to the larger group at monthly meetings. This helps keep the group connected to the goings on of the local bodies, and the local bodies see that the group is regularly showing up to their meetings. Wearing shirts or big buttons would make that very clear, as well as promote the group and its work.
• Take trainings together. These could be Midwest Academy trainings. They could be protest skills (safety teams, de-escalation, event organizing, etc.). They could be personal development trainings, to help nourish participants through strategic self-care. Organizing is hard work, people can get burned out and sick, and burned out/sick is good neither for them nor the effort. Just make sure your trainings are from established and respected sources and institutes. There are a lot of self-taught people out there putting on trainings, and that muddies the waters of solid organizing. Again, the Midwest Academy Trainings can be found here.
• Have weekly or monthly socials. No decision-making. No agendas. Just hanging out.
• Volunteer together on direct service work. Working with our hands and doing concrete benefit is its own soul salve, and direct service is becoming more and more critical as our government continues to destroy our institutions. Direct service/Mutual Aid is also what it means to fortify ourselves as a community. Just remember that direct action is about changing the circumstances that result in the need for direct service in the first place, so don’t let it drain energy from your work for systemic change.

The lexicon of community organizing can be confusing because of inconsistent definitions, which is also why it’s very helpful to get community organizing training from an established, national-level organization with a solid history and lineage (like, again, the Midwest Academy).

One set of distinctions: Activists, event organizers, community organizers, direct lobbyists, and electoral campaigners are different. They may overlap or share skill sets, but just because an individual or group engages in one of these activities or occupations does not at all mean they understand the others.

Another set of distinctions is the methods of addressing social issues (as defined by the Midwest Academy): direct service (aka traditional charity), self-help (aka mutual aid), education, advocacy, and direct action community organizing.

All of these methods involve organizing people in some way, but they fall on a critical spectrum: the ones toward the beginning (direct service) accept the current relations of power, while the ones toward the end (direct action) challenge the current relations of power. The former fights the fires. The latter seeks to stop the arsonist. While one group can engage in more than one method, groups and organizations best serve their goals when they focus by clearly deciding who they are, rather than bouncing around among these variations without a clear plan.

Fortify! Washington fits squarely in direct action organizing, seeking to streamline the work and increase the impact by systematizing the process and not reinventing the wheel.

Contact us. Clearly we love talking about organizing. We’re happy to help: info (at) fortifywa.org

If you are interested in also giving direct input on Washington State legislation, it might be helpful to get familiar with the Washington State Legislature website and the Washington State Legislature Account system. While the website is fairly straightforward, creating and navigating a WSL account is not, though helpful to track your history of certain input on legislation.

You don’t have to create an account to give input on bills, but it can help you track certain kinds of input.

There are two parts. “leg.wa.gov” is the main WSL website. “app.leg.wa.gov” is the WSL Account website. The main website sends you to the app website for things that can be tracked by your account. It can get very, very confusing, so here are some bookmarks for you. Also, they use the term “sign in” to mean give input on the bill, as well as “sign in” (log in) to your account. More confusing.

Main Washington State Legislature Website: https://leg.wa.gov/

Parts of the website you can be logged in for:
Sign in/Sign Up for An Account (“log in”): Super Crazy Long URL
Bill Information: https://app.leg.wa.gov/bi
Committee Sign In (“pro” or “con”): https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi
Your “Sign-In” (“pro” or “con”) History: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/UserTestimony/History

It’s best to log in to your account first, and then use the main website to search for the bills (by number) about which you want to give input. If there is a button that says “Sign up to Testify / Submit Written Testimony”, it means there is an upcoming hearing, and this is where being logged in helps. Hitting that button will take you to your Account where you can “sign in” (“pro” or “con”), provide written testimony, or even sign up to attend the hearing on that bill. If you sign in “pro” or “con” it will record that in your history, so you can see what you’ve already done.

Every action must grow your organization
and nourish all who participate.

Fortify! Washington is organizing without reinventing the wheel. It systematizes a process of local power- and community-building that relies upon and amplifies the work of issue-expert organizations that are already out there and know their stuff. It applies established and impactful direct action organizing theory and techniques that have have a long history and lineage (Midwest Academy), and endeavors to ensure that all who participate see a clear return on the investment of their effort. Protest fatigue is real. People’s energy and time must be respected through informed and conscientious utilization by those who ask of them.

Scott Menzies first began the Fortify! Washington process over six years ago as an attempt to add an enduring local thread of movement-building to the moment of the 2019 Climate Strike in a small city in rural far northern California. He worked to hone ways of effectively supporting other groups in targeting the local city council for issue wins and sustained movement- and power-building for over six years, with both successes and failures, but always power-building.

After relocating to the Seattle region, Scott was hired to the role of Advocacy Manger for the trailblazing multi-faith, queer-affirming Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light, started in the wake of the 1988 Nestucca Oil spill off Grays Harbor. He started Fortify! Washington as a multi-issue organizing project under EM/WAIPL to promote at the most local levels the platform that is the Principles of Environmental Justice. When the organization sadly ceased operations, he was given permission by the board to keep the Fortify! Washington name to continue the work as an independent (read, unpaid) organizer.

Scott, an eager blank slate who had just returned from seven years residence in Asia (starting as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal) was trained in the Midwest Academy’s manual “Organizing for Social Change” in 2004. His experience in Buddhist-based meditation and Daoist Martial Arts (studied in Taiwan and China) inform and support his work as an organizer. He has organized on various issues and in various capacities for over 20 years, doing both paid and (mostly) unpaid work. (That’s organizing for you!)

Scott is a cat person (but is happy to give scritches to all the pups with whom he crosses paths.)

Special Acknowledgement: Scott is eternally grateful to his trainer Eric Rofes, a seasoned long-haul San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ organizer, for his course Education for Action, where he trained dozens of college students and community members in strategic direct action community organizing, before passing away all too soon in 2006. His death was a tremendous blow to his community, his work, and the students who would never receive his organizing skills and wisdom. His legacy lives on at the Eric Rofes Multicultural Queer Center, Cal Poly Humboldt.

“Every action must build your organization” – Eric Rofes, PhD

ON SELF CARE: We are in very, very difficult and traumatizing times. While it shouldn’t be on us to have to, well, fortify ourselves against this onslaught, if we want to preserve our health and sanity against people who will not stop, it’s on us. Write us at info (at) fortify (dot) org if you have any questions about what Scott calls Strategic Self Care, which is informed by his Buddhist-based meditation and Daoist Martial Arts studies.

“Take care of yourself … ‘cause we need your voice.”
– Benjamin Dixon to activist Erica Garner,
two weeks before her death at 27 from a heart attack

info (at) fortifywa (dot) org

Fortify! Washington grassroots petitions ask folks to provide their emails and phone numbers because political people power is fully reliant upon the ability to follow up with those who add their names to a grassroots petition. Names without that contact information are essentially worthless to the campaign.

Organizations, both grassroots and formalized, have been doing this for decades. This is community organizing.

Fortify! Washington has its digital assets set up through the May First Technology Cooperative, which has its own servers and uses its own instances of software (like Nextcloud, WordPress, and Mailman for email lists). Hard copy petitions are digitized and shredded.

Fortify! Washington provides these resources (model resolutions and petitions) to the public so they can engage in their own organizing. We ask those local groups to send their contact information to Fortify! Washington or keep the information they collect in secure places, but we can’t control every group that utilizes our resources.