Teach-Ins were all the rage during the 60s to educate citizens about the Viet Nam War. Last I can recall Teach-Ins happening was during New York City’s Occupy Wall Street. But as millions of us continue to grieve the presidential election results, now’s the time to bring back the teach-in.

In the early 1980s a couple dozen of us anti-nuke “pinkos” succeeded in raising the consciousness within our community. We were the Central Bucks Clean Energy Collective with a message to stop a pumping station at Point Pleasant Pennsylvania from sucking water out of the Delaware River for diversion to a nuclear power plant under construction in Limerick, Montgomery County Pennsylvania. We marched in protests, attended public hearings, wrote letters to newspapers and even managed local television media coverage. But most importantly we knocked on the doors of our elected local-state-and federal officials. We actively supported other environmental groups that filed lawsuits to Stop the Pump. There was even a brief appearance in Bucks County by the late Abbie Hoffman.

Awareness of the dangers of nuclear power spread when on March 28, 1979, a near meltdown occurred at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

The time was ripe for a Teach-In

We decided to poll our activist-colleagues and found individuals who volunteered to share their energy or alternative energy knowledge at 20-minute workshops. Also invited to our Teach-In were local entrepreneurs and non-profits to exhibit energy-saving products and messages. We succeeded in bringing in a Keynote Speaker–former Massachusetts U.S. Congressman Ed Markey who is now a Senator along with Elizabeth Warren.

After January 20, 2017:  Bring  Back Teach-Ins

What are those issues that drive your colleagues to bring about better change–locally or globally?

I’m confident that among your like-minded brother and sister activists, are individuals who will–backed by confidence and knowledge–share their passions with your community. Who are your Jewels of Knowledge who can educate citizens about Climate Change; or the Rights of either Workers-Women-Humans-Voting ; or Racism; or Veterans; or Immigration; or Social Security/Medicare; or Health Care; or Redistricting; or Religious Tolerance; or Public Education; or Citizen Lobbying; or Criminal Justice; or the Power of Voting?

What’ve I left out? What’s on your Issue List for a one day Teach-In? This can happen in your community.

Venues are out there–churches or large spaces that will welcome your message. Lobby that high-profile supporter in your group who can persuade a powerful person to become the Keynote Speaker at your Teach-In. We lobbied and for a minimal fee, brought in former Congressman Markey.

Knowledge IS Power. Our Up-start Clean Energy Collective activists may not have stopped Limerick. But how many nuclear power plants have been built since Three Mile Island?

Do It! The Time Is Now. Need direction? Search http://www.IndivisibleGuide.com

BE THERE: Women’s March on January 21 in Washington, DC.