Thursday, January 26 -- 9 p.m -- Pierson College Room E 41.

Take a break from reading, celebrate the beginning of an exciting semester of local and state campaigns, and start the weekend off right with the Dems!

Thursday, January 26 -- 8 p.m. -- Dwight Hall Common Room.

New Haven Action is holding a reception for several members of the Board of Alderman, including the new President of the Board Carl Goldfield. There will also be several representatives from the mayor's office. Come to tell them what you are interested in doing and find out how they can help you. Or come just to meet them. It will be very informal to give all students a chance to speak personally with the officials. Questions? E-mail katherine.zhang@yale.edu or call (203) 436-1882.

Thursday, January 26, 2006 -- 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. -- The home of Bruce, Fredda, and Abi Vladeck, 360 W. 36th Street, Apt. 8S (between 8th and 9th Avenues).

You are invited to a reception to support Students for a New American Politics PAC and help take back Congress! Students for a New American Politics PAC is a federal political action committee. In the summer of 2006, SNAP PAC will provide stipends to students from colleges across the country to work for 10-12 weeks as full time grassroots organizers on progressive Congressional campaigns. SNAP PAC will help take back Congress while training a new generation of progressive leaders.

Please RSVP online at www.snappac.org/newyork.html or contact Hugh Baran at hugh.baran@snappac.org.

Thursday, January 26 -- 4 p.m. -- Beinecke Plaza.

Come join forces with members of STAND, Yale professors, human rights activists, and all members of the Yale community who want to see an END to the genocide in Darfur, Sudan this Thursday. We’ll be formally presenting the divestment petition (found online at www.yaledivest.com) of over 1,100 signatures to urge the Yale Corporation to divest Yale’s endowment from corporations who do business with Sudan. This is truly the time to come out and show your support! Each face at the rally proves that there is one more member of the Yale community who believes that action must be taken by the university now. Speakers will include leaders of STAND, Political Science Professor David Simon, and American Jewish World Service President Ruth Messinger. In case of inclement weather, rally will be held in Woolsey Rotunda.

Wednesday, January 25 -- 8 - 10 p.m. -- BAR (254 Crown St).

Last year 35 Yale seniors from various majors joined Teach For America as part of the movement to end educational inequity. You could be among them. Come hear from alumni currently in graduate schools and classrooms in the New Haven area. Find out all you wanted to know about their corps experience, their alumni experience, and the application process at an informal mingling event. Refreshments will be provided.

Are you interested in getting more involved in local politics? Then join the Dems Local Lobbying Committee and be a part of the campaigns to bring publicly financed elections, an EITC referendum, universal wireless, and universal pre-K to New Haven! E-mail jennifer.james@yale.edu to sign up.

Monday, January 23 -- 8:00 p.m. -- Branford Common Room.

Now is the time to get involved in the Dems. Whether or not you?ve been to a meeting yet this school year, come to the first meeting to sign up for committees, discuss plans for 2006, and tell us what you would like the Dems to do this year.

Monday, January 23 -- 5:45 p.m. -- New Haven Free Public Library (corner of Elm and Temple).

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal program credited with lifting millions of people out of poverty. Show your support for this important program by joining members of the Yale Dems and Project Opportunity and New Haven Mayor John DeStefano for a press conference on Monday. Help kick off the campaign to bring the most successful federal anti-poverty program ever to Connecticut.