Whole Washington is non-partisan and healthcare is an everybody issue. That being said, we know there are a wide range of emotions being felt by our supporters in the wake of the election. Some are pleased with the outcomes, others are shocked and disappointed. Some are frustrated with the two-party system and the stranglehold of big money in politics. Still others are afraid of what is to come.

All of these feelings are valid. Building a movement is hard work. Community organizing takes commitment, resilience, optimism, empathy, and a big helping of hope. The insurance companies, pharmacy benefit managers, corporate hospitals, and Big Pharma will continue to siphon Trillions of our healthcare dollars if we cannot maintain our coalition to make change. They will continue to use our healthcare dollars to divide us, to lobby against us.

The good news is, we can WIN this and as community organizers (all of us!) we can offer hope to those around us, Now is the time to reach out to those around you and share what gives you hope.

Whole Washington volunteers are preparing for the next initiative and we need YOUR help! Give $10 today and tell 10 people about our needs. Our current fundraising target is $100,000 by December 31, 2024 – so we can bring on paid staff. Our organization needs the stability of paid staff. We need to increase our signature-gathering capacity four-fold from previous attempts. We have AMAZING volunteers, but we cannot continue to rely on volunteers alone.

We CAN build the capacity to collect 400,000 signatures across Washington State in 2025, especially if you commit financially to our cause TODAY! #Give10Tell10

Donate via ActBlue

Donate via Anedot

Pledge to Sign the next initiative!

While we are no longer “on the road” we do plan to continue to host community town hall events as the opportunity arises. We’d LOVE to be invited to YOUR community!

Our Let’s Make Healthcare Happen! town halls are non-partisan, educational events, open to everyone. At each event, Whole Washington organizers will share information about the Washington Health Trust, ask questions of the audience regarding their experiences with healthcare, and provide opportunities to take action.

Whole Washington organizers are also willing to present at existing community meetings, co-host a virtual event, collaborate on “Healthcare Happy Hour” events, and/or a meet for a cup of coffee! Everyone has a story about why our healthcare system needs to change and we want to hear yours! Please join us- together, we can make Universal Healthcare a reality.

Don’t see an event in your area? That’s where YOU come in!

Check out our townhall page to submit an event idea for your area! Your event will not hit the calendar without someone from Whole Washington reaching out to you to work out the details and ensure you have the support you need – including someone to speak on behalf of Whole Washington.

Our volunteers gathered in-person at the Burien Library on October 20th to tackle some training around union organizing and Deep Canvassing – including an exercise to support developing their own story. The facts and figures are important. Evidence-based policy is incredibly important. BUT story telling is how we change hearts and minds. Developing your story so you can connect with the people you are talking to increases the likelihood of successful organizing.

A peek into our training:

Deep Canvassing – It can be difficult talking to strangers and changing someone’s mind can be even more difficult. However, the methods behind Deep Canvassing–listening, empathy, and sharing personal experiences have shown real results. The conversations are longer and the connections deeper.

Union Organizing – Unions grow their power by growing in size and having an active membership. There is definitely a “YOU” in union. Getting people ready and motivated to act comes with conversation. Rose Roach, Labor Campaign for Single Payer, previously shared these 5 steps to a strong union organizing conversation:

1. Identify the Issue
2. Agitate
3. Lay the Blame
4. Share the Plan to Win
5. The Ask

Mixing the two– using the best of both:

1) Both approaches start with the issue. For us, this is healthcare. Comprehensive, universal coverage – publicly funded and paid directly to providers.

2) While connecting– AGITATE based on feelings (theirs or yours). This is where stories come in. Best if you can get them to share their story, but often sharing yours will open up the conversation and encourage mutual sharing.

3) After Identifying feelings of personal loss– LAY BLAME on Insurance companies

4) Make your case– single payer/universal health care IS our plan to WIN

5) If you find they are supportive – ASK

(add to contact list, vote, volunteer, sign, pledge, show up, donate, etc.)

Whole Washington will continue to host volunteer retreats in April and October every year. Join us in April in Spokane!

If YOUR representative for Washington State House and/or Senate should be signing onto the Washington Health Trust legislation, they need to hear from you. And WE need to hear from you! Whole Washington is actively seeking co-sponsors for the Senate bill and a primary sponsor/co-sponsors for a companion bill in the House.

Toll-Free Hotline
Do you want to send a message to your Senator or Representative? Call the HOTLINE at 1-800-562-6000 (TTY for Hearing Impaired 800.833.6388). Callers to the Hotline can leave a brief message for their district legislators on issues of concern or on questions they may have about bills or laws

Find your district

Contact your legislators

Send an email to your legislator

Thanks to everyone in this movement with us. You know how vital tenacity is. Universal Healthcare is much too important to merely hope for. We have to work for it, so we want to take this moment to thank you for your donations and for showing up!