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| With the close of the 2026 Legislative Session, Louise’s focus shifts from bringing you her weekly insight into the machinations of the GOP Free State Party in Concord to reinforcing coalition relationships and building grassroots power in advance of the midterm elections. To that end, Kent Street Coalition will welcome a variety of guest writers from partner organizations and within Kent Street leadership to share their Perspectives in our newsletter over the summer. While you may hear from Louise less frequently over the summer, rest assured she is hard at work doing what she does best: building pathways for Kent Streeters to build a better Granite State for all. Dear Kent Streeters, The 2026 NH Legislative session is officially over. Some good bills passed. Some very, very bad bills were blocked by the hard work of our advocacy partners, stalwart Democratic legislators in Concord and the folks here at the Kent Street Coalition. Other bad bills have made their way to Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s desk and a handful have become law. For better or for worse, the session is done and a stack of bills await Gov. Ayotte’s signature. The conclusion of the legislative session marks an important shift in Kent Street Coalition’s advocacy cycle. From January through June, our Happenings newsletter focuses on New Hampshire bills, policy debates, and legislative action—culminating each summer with our Legislative Review, where we examine what happened at the State House and what it means for Granite Staters. Join us this Thursday, June 11, via Zoom, for NH Legislative Review 2026: Accountability: Beyond the State House and Into Our Communities. Together with our moderator Sebastian Fuentes and a panel of New Hampshire House Representatives, we will look back at the 2026 legislative session, explore its impact, and discuss where we go from here. (Register here.) In previous years, we have suspended our weekly newsletters for the summer, enjoyed a quieter pace, and renewed our weekly updates in late fall. Not this year. There is too much at stake. For the rest of the summer, Happenings will focus on the November elections. This is perhaps the most significant mid-term election year in decades both for New Hampshire and the nation. With “our eyes on the prize” here at home, we will be educating our neighbors about how their Representatives have voted and acted in Concord, and how to hold them accountable at the polls. We will be ramping up our Voter Education and Election Protection initiatives working in collaboration with our voting rights advocacy partners. In other words, Kent Street Coalition will be laser-focused on empowering Kent Streeters (and that means you!) to maximize their impact and produce positive outcomes in November’s election. One of our newer Kent Street Coalition Communications Team volunteers, Laura, said the other day, “You know, I just feel so much better since getting involved with Kent Street.” Before engaging hands-on in advocacy work, she felt overwhelmed, paralyzed by her anxiety over the terrible things happening across the Granite State and in Washington. Since joining us, she says, she feels lighter, energized, and (gasp!) hopeful. I’m not surprised. Action is indeed the antidote to dread, fear, and despair. Thank you, Laura, for that reminder! We feel better having you here with us, too. Is anyone else out there wondering how to turn their anxiety to action? Email us with your questions or just to say hello. There is a place for you here at Kent Street Coalition, and we’re excited to have you join us! Susan C Kent Street Communications Team kentstreetcommunications@gmail.com |