Weekly Advocacy Alert, October 14:
Take the *NEW* Coronavirus
Dance Impact Survey!

 

Take the *NEW* Coronavirus Dance Impact Survey today!
Dance/NYC values your participation and will continue to share your
stories and advocate for your needs.

It should not take more than 10 – 15 minutes of your time. If you are an individual dance worker and also run an organization or fiscally sponsored group you are welcome to take both to ensure your experiences are represented in the data. 

You can also help spread the word, by sharing the survey through your networks with this social media media tool kit. 
 

---

FEDERAL
 

1. PPP Loan Forgiveness Resources: 
     a. Fiscal Management Associates PPP Toolbox has a number of different resources including guidance on restricted funding, tools to calculate your FTEs, regular live clinics and a dedicated email helpdesk: FMACARES@fmaonline.net.
     b. FMA’s quick Forgiveness Check-In to share how you’re approaching forgiveness.
     c. FMA launched the PPP Forgiveness Racial Equity Initiative prioritizing customized advisory support for organizations led by BIPOC-identified individuals as well as organizations where BIPOC-identified individuals are managing the PPP process. 

2. Help support the Heroes 2 act on social media using this Heroes Act Social Media Kit. Check out this one-page summary of the Revised House Heroes Act.

3. Sign the Arts Education Pledge. Join hundreds of supporters in committing to advocacy for arts education in their local schools and community.

4. Federal Judge blocks U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) fee increases. These increases would have raised the price to become a US citizen and visa fees for immigrants.

5. The Supreme Court ruled the Census can be cut short, halting the 2020 Census count ahead of schedule, effectively shutting it down. For more information, see here. Tomorrow is now the last day to take the census by visiting www.my2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020.

6. Dance/USA Updates:
     a. Use Dance/USA’s advocacy action alert to contact your Congressional delegation to urge immediate action to provide pandemic relief for the arts sector, including the dance community.
     b. Download Dance/USA #Dance2Vote tool kit. 
 

---

NEW YORK STATE
 

1. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo moves forward with new restrictions on gatherings at synagogues and other houses of worship. For more information, see the NY Times article. 

2. Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a new executive order extending the expiration date of vehicle registrations and vehicle inspections to November 3. This new order states that this will not be extended again. For more information, see Executive Order. 

3. Ohio, Michigan and Virginia have been added to New York's COVID Travel Advisory. See the full list here.

---

NEW YORK CITY 
 

1. Testify at Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations on Tuesday, October 20, 2020. It is held at 10:00 a.m. virtually via zoom, regarding Black Lives Matter, anti-racism, structural racism and the arts. Register to testify here.

2. Voting in NYC: 
     a. In person at your assigned poll-site, during the early voting period, October 24th through November 1st, or on Election Day, November 3rd. Or by mailing your absentee ballot (with proper postage paid!) so it is postmarked by November 3rd. You can find both your early voting and election day poll sites here.
     b. For voting by absentee ballot: Request your absentee ballot, or manage your online mail-in ballot by visiting Vote NYC or calling 1-866-Vote-NYC (6-9-2). Keep in mind, the United States Postal Service issued guidance to voters across the country, “as a common sense measure” to mail your ballot before October 27th in New York.
     c. Join the #NYCDANCEUNITES campaign. Launched on October 2nd, five of New York City’s acclaimed dance companies have joined together to create a new online initiative to urge the dance community to do their civic duty and vote. Learn more and download the campaign graphics for social media here.

3. NYC COVID-19 Updates:
     a. Look up your address to see if you live or work in a COVID-19 Hot Spot Zone where there are new restrictions. Maps of the cluster zones can be found here. 
     b. New Mexico has been added to the State's COVID-19 Travel Advisory. See the full list here. 
     c. Fines for sponsors of illicit mass gatherings increased to $15,000
     d. Reminder to New Yorkers to get a flu shot. Find a flu vaccination site near you.
     e. If you are experiencing COVID symptoms or believe you were exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID, get tested. Find a testing site near you.

4. Sign NYC Dance Studio Alliance petition here. This petition is in support of the safe reopening of dance studios. 

5. Engaging in a community action in support of dance workers? Submit to be listed on the #ArtistsAreNecessaryWorkers Campaign Activations page. Visit the page for events, actions, and platforms that are independently led by the NYC dance community.

6. Dance/NYC hosts weekly dance field-wide calls to address our questions, needs, and plans for the future as a field. Calls occur every Thursday, 4:00 pm. – 5:00 p.m. Register!
 

---

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 
 

• Dance/NYC Coronavirus Preparedness Resources.
• Dance/NYC Racial Justice Resources. 
• Join the movement: #ArtistsAreNecessaryWorkers. 

 

Visit dance.nyc/news for more information.