Dear friends, We made it to March. This is the month that many of us will mark as the anniversary of COVID—the early wave of cancellations, the transition to remote work, the first stories of loss, and many other previously unimagined changes. I hope this month offers you opportunities to reflect on the past […]

  Dear friends, I hope those of you experiencing tough winter weather – especially in Texas and other areas where infrastructure has been inadequate – are safe and warm. It is sad to see these challenges laid bare, causing more suffering in an already difficult time. I am reminded yet again of the high stakes of government […]

  Dear friends, First and foremost, thank you to everyone who responded to TNPA’s call to action by signing their donor privacy amicus brief last week. Your donors will thank you, and so do we. In other news, the second impeachment trial is behind us. The outcome was frustrating and sadly predictable, and the process was a […]

  Dear friends, Black History Month continues, and I am so grateful for the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s programming. This week’s events include a poetry workshop, a dialogue on race and medicine as represented in Smithsonian objects, and Artful Observations, an hourlong discussion of one work of art from the museum’s collections. The Avalon […]

  Dear friends, Hang on to your hats! Biden is methodically undoing Trump’s policies, and many of them affect issues we care deeply about. I was delighted to see orders expanding LGBTQ antidiscrimination protections and enabling transgender people to serve in the military, followed by several executive actions on equity and environmental justice. Add these to his work on climate […]

  In this unprecedented time, Avalon is here.   Here for our staff.   Our first priority is the safety of Avalon staff and clients. On March 2nd Avalon ceased company travel, and on March 12th we shifted fully to remote work. We have been telecommuter-friendly for 20+ years, which helped make this a seamless […]

  Dear friends, We made it to the Biden era! For many of us, this marks the REAL beginning of 2021 – and a sigh of relief that Trump’s chaos is over. I am thrilled to see renewed focus and leadership from the executive branch. The inauguration was historic in many ways ­(yay, Kamala!), and […]

  Dear friends, I send you this letter on the Tuesday between Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration. It is quite the juxtaposition, especially this year. I hope you find meaningful ways to mark both occasions, along with everything they represent. On an important fundraising note, Avalon is prepared to respond […]

Rethinking Engagement for R… by Allison Porter

  Dear friends, Last week was difficult, especially for those of us who love DC. I will never forget the chaotic images from the Capitol, which I never imagined possible, or the outrageously incongruent policing. At the same time, everyone on the side of progressive change has cause for celebration: Biden’s certification and Democrats’ Georgia Senate […]