One of our focus issues at
The Purple Living Room Project
is
"Guns in America".

This week, 
several people posted in
our facebook group
about the recent announcement by
TOMS founder, Blake Mycoskie, 
that the company would donate
​5 million dollars 
to causes that are working to end gun violence.

TOMS also started a postcard-writing campaign called,
"End Gun Violence Together".

They developed a web tool that allows anyone who feels
that there should be universal background checks
to quickly send a postcard to Congress.

(You can learn more about it at www.toms.com.)

Over 500,000 cards have been sent already!

According to Mycoskie,
TOMS' customer base is roughly
half Republican and half Democrat. 

TOMS is a business committed
to making positive social change
so it is trying to
take action on issues
that unite us all as citizens...

 Purple Points!

 Here is a message from the TOMS website...

Sound familiar?

It's encouraging to see corporate America thinking purple.

Let's keep moving forward together! 
​

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

As we spend time with
our friends and family
this Thanksgiving,
let's remember this wisdom
from President Kennedy.

We can say we are grateful for many things,
but we need to act in way that shows
the truth and depth of our gratitude.

This Thanksgiving,

Let's tell each other
how grateful we are for...
 our lives,
 our blessings,
our nation,
 our planet,
and
ONE ANOTHER

then,

Let's show our gratitude through...
our conversations,
our service,
our daily interactions,
our acts of kindness,
and
our commitment to positive action
TOGETHER
 

We are entering a season of gratitude...

We gave thanks this week
to our Veterans
for their service to our nation.

Next week,
we will join together with
friends and family 
to show our gratitude
at Thanksgiving meals
all across the country.

At the
Purple Living Room Project, 
we'd just like to say...

Thank You!

Thank you for opening your ears.

Thank you for opening your hearts.

Thank you for trying to find
the purple points
of common ground.

In this season of gratitude, 
We have TWO challenges for YOU!

Thanksgiving Challenge #1

Think of someone who has helped you
look at an issue in a new way...

Find a way to THANK that person!

Each time we take the time to listen to one another,
Each time we open our ears to a different perspective,
We take a little step toward healing our nation.

Let's show our gratitude to one another
for taking those steps together!

Thanksgiving Challenge #2

Think of ALL the reasons
​you are grateful to be an American...

Parks?
Arts?
Sports?
Beaches?
Mountains?
Innovation?
Freedom of Expression?

What are we grateful for, America?   

​Let's find out!

We asked this same question LAST year at this time.

We'd like to make this our own 
 Purple Living Room Project  
Thanksgiving tradition.

Share your
grateful thoughts
in the comment section,
with our facebook group,
or
via email.

We'll share your ideas in a
special Thanksgiving Week
​post next Wednesday
@
Meet in the Middle.

THANK YOU!

The votes have all been cast...

Representatives
have once again
been chosen
by
"We the People"

Let's leave
the name-calling
and mudslinging
of the campaign season
well and truly
behind us.

Each election cycle
brings the promise
of a fresh start...

We have a new cohort of
representatives
ready to govern.

Let's hold them accountable.

Let's each do our own part
to bridge the partisan divide...

and

Let's tell our representatives
we expect them to join us.

Time for us to get
back to work
TOGETHER!