TODAY’S NEWSLETTER INCLUDES:

1. TUESDAY GIVING MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD
2. SNAP GIVING PAUSE
3. FUND DEVELOPMENT UPDATES

Wake UP Sonoma – We Educate. Advocate. Activate.

During this season of celebration and giving, Wake UP Sonoma celebrates champions like you who have made a tremendous impact on our community. Thank you for giving so much of your time and financial support to foster our vibrant, just, respectful and welcoming Sonoma Valley community. 

BUILDING COMMUNITY IS KEY!

This year for Wake UP Sonoma has been about pushing back against an administration that aims to tear down basic human, civil, and personal rights, promoting a fascist agenda, and tearing down communities. But we are doing more than just pushing back.  We are about building strength locally against these national threats, and making us stronger, more connected, and bringing the joy and community into our everyday lives. 

It is about you, our community.

YOUR IMPACT IN 2025!

Your active participation with and financial support of Wake UP Sonoma demonstrates our collective commitment to advocacy for underserved groups in our community including LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, immigrants, seniors and youth. Your civic engagement with our sold-out education forums and record-breaking rallies demonstrates our shared pride in and support of local Sonoma Valley community organizations and businesses.
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 CLICK THIS LINK TO WATCH OUR YEAR-END VIDEO

Wake UP Sonoma 2025 year end pitch

 
Video Credit Greg Derochie

With great gratitude and hope towards next year;

The Board of Wake UP Sonoma
Lisa, Josette, David, Martín, Gary, Matt

WE HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY BUSY IN 2025.
Your donations will help us meet what awaits us in 2026 with greater capacity and movement-building. See below for a full list of how we carried out our mission in 2025. THIS is where your money goes in supporting our movement.
Please feel free to take the link to this video and share it in your social media with a word or two about why you support Wake UP Sonoma and encourage giving.

January
1. “We Are Not Going Back” Rally & March
April
1. “Hands Off!” Protest
2. "Democracy Noir" screening
May & June
1. CommUNITY Fundraiser
2. PRIDE - Sonoma Valley Pride is a partnership with Wake Up Sonoma, ‘Out in The Vineyard’, and ‘Mathew Long Design.’

• Buena Vista Pride Dance – DJ night at Buena Vista Winery.

• Lambert Moss Live – Queer storytelling & music at The Starling.

• Pride Festival – Flag unfurling, live music, and flag raising at the Plaza.

• November- Rocky Horror Picture Show screen and sing along

June

1. “No Kings #1” Protest

July

1. 4th of July Parade – 27 constitutional amendments parade.

2. Resilience Workshop

3. The Last Class with Robert Reich Screening with Q&A

4. “Good Trouble” Rally – Action day honoring John Lewis.

August

1. #UnTruth Screening with journalist Anne Nelson and Dan Partland Director Q&A.

September

1. First monthly Community Meeting

October

1. Art for Inclusion collaboration with Art Escape kick off.

2. “No Kings #2” Protest – Human rights action & clothing drive.

November/December

1. Launch of Sonoma SNAP Buddy program - grocery store gift card program to address food insecurity.

2. Community conversation on Immigrant allyship and Food Insecurity panel

3. Wake UP Sonoma sponsored Community Dinner for Homeless Action Sonoma.

WHEN YOU DONATE TO WAKE UP SONOMA, YOU ARE INVESTING IN COMMUNITY
DONATE TODAY
Donate — Wake UP Sonoma

As a Wake UP Sonoma Local Democracy Champion YOU make change happen!
Your time and your financial support of Wake UP Sonoma impacts our community! To grow our collective impact even more, please consider making a generous financial donation at this time.

LOCAL DEMOCRACY CHAMPION DONATION LEVELS AND IMPACT:

BRONZE - $500 - $1,000 donation: Sponsor a youth art show that will impact local business visibility.

SILVER - $2,000 donation: Educate.  Sponsor a film and/or a speaker - 300+ attendance at a Sell-Out Film Screening.
PLATINUM - $3,000: Advocate.  100- 400  attendance for monthly Community Conversations and town halls that elevates and supports the work of local organizations and activates local strategy.

GOLD - $5,000: Activate.  3000+ for Rallies and Protests (record breaking attendance)

Any amount, big or small, $10 or $10,000, makes YOU a Wake UP Sonoma local Democracy Champion! 

DONATE TODAY
Donate — Wake UP Sonoma

Consider, Joining the Wake Up Sonoma Super Supporter Program

Make an impact on our community by becoming a Super Supporter and gain special insider benefits.

$50 recurring Donation or $600 annually rewards include:

• Free entry to film and speaker events

• $25 off of annual fundraiser

• Wake UP Sonoma T shirt or Hat
  
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CALL TO ACTION!
Help Supercharge Wake Up Sonoma’s Tech!

Our Fund Development Team is looking for a few curious, motivated volunteers to help us build and improve the tools that power our movement — including Slack and Salesforce. No experience needed — just a willingness to learn. Up to 6 hours a week, flexible timing, and training provided. If you love solving tech problems and supporting a great cause, we’d love to have you on the team!
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SNAP BUDDY PROGRAM PAUSE
Significant federal changes to SNAP rules for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) are scheduled to roll out soon. These changes will make it more challenging for many adults to remain enrolled.”…
Catalyst Fund website.

Wake UP Sonoma is pausing on the SNAP Buddy program as we watch the ways in which new rules rolling out will impact our community. We will then join with others to provide the best support we can. This will mean that the program will look different, but we are still committed to working on this issue as a collaborator in our community. Stay tuned on this as we take a step back to rework the program.

WE RAISED $12,500 FOR THE SNAP BUDDY PROGRAM SO FAR THANKS TO YOU!

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IF YOU ARE IN THE MOOD TO DO SOMETHING FUN AND IMPACTFUL FOR THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY, CONSIDER SIGNING UP FOR THIS.

Beers and Bows with Homefirst - Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce
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THIS WEEKS ACT OF RESISTANCE - KEEP IT UP!
Remember there is a protest each Friday at noon at the Sonoma Plaza. KEEP ON BEING LOUD!!

Our Vision: To foster a vibrant, just, respectful and welcoming Sonoma Valley community.

OUR MISSION IS TO:
EDUCATE - by providing resources to Sonoma Valley residents to be informed and engaged.
ADVOCATE - for local diversity, equity, inclusion, civic and corporate transparency.
ACTIVATE - by promoting democracy and providing opportunities for local engagement.

We Educate. Advocate. Activate.
on issues related, but not limited to:
- LGBTQIA+ safety and visibility
- Protection of our immigrant population
- Defense against Christian Nationalism
- Transparency in large corporate investment and responsible development
- Active local civic engagement