This is important. We're all in this together.

THE WEST SOUND SOCIALIST NEWSLETTER FOR WEST SOUND DSA March 27th, 2026 West Sound Democratic Socialists General Meeting, March 5th, 2026. First Quarterly Congress to discuss chapter priorities at the Poulsbo Public Library! Hey Comrades, First off, thank you for being part of the West Sound chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. Now is a critical time in the country. The federal government is embroiled in an ever-escalating war on Iran, just a few short months after kidnapping the sitting president and first lady of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores. These blatant acts of aggression occurring while Palestinians and Cubans alike are continually facing extreme and inhumane conditions due to a lack of essential resources and facilities as a result of actions by the US and its allies. The empire is also squeezing our local communities economically to fund their dystopian imperialist goals, while increasingly diverting money to only the wealthiest individuals. It still tries to keep the American proletariat isolated, disorganized, and at odds with each other. It relies on sustaining and expanding systemic bigotries in an effort to keep us from uniting against the capitalist hegemony. However, it is this very squeezing that is forcing many to open their eyes and question long held truths about "American Exceptionalism" and who among us truly benefits from this long standing exploitation. So, as democratic socialists, we find ourselves at the cusp of a new working class movement. One being pulled in two directions: class consciousness or fascism. The flailing neoliberal status quo is the driving force behind this shift, and the ownership class has already indicated which new direction it would prefer to steer the working class towards. Many moderates of both parties have moved towards a passive acceptance of this new fascist ideology, offering nothing more than stern words. An ideology espousing evangelical christo-zionism and white supremacy, economically funded by the military industrial complex and the growing AI surveillance state. It's telling that many of these moderates see compromise with this ideology as more acceptable than democratic socialism. This is the class war. It is our role as leftists broadly to enable the mass reorganization of the working class to fight back against the dangerous narrative from the right that excludes and demonizes those who don't fit their narrow view of patriotism and citizenry. Part of this opposition is education as well as grassroots organizing. Where our chapter fits within this greater movement is going to be through our work locally and how we can empower those in our community to think more critically about the role of government and who gets to be involved. It's a busy time for us, now more than ever, and we appreciate all of the folks who've stepped up recently. With all going on in the world, it's been inspiring to see what we've been able to accomplish so far. We will need all able hands and minds in our work to come, so if you haven't yet gotten plugged in and are wanting to, please reach out! Join in discussions with your comrades on discord and join a working group, and especially ask for help if you need and if you're not yet a DSA member please sign up here! In Solidarity,  Carlos Yosten Co-Chair What projects are your fellow cadre members working on? A glimpse into what you will find within this newsletter: Kristin for Kitsap (more information below) Electoral campaign for State Legislature for our very own comrade! Manufactured Home Canvassing Join Kitsap Housing 4 All in letting tenants know their rights under a new bill passed last summer. Immigration Know Your Rights with WAISN & KIAC From hosting trainings to distributing red cards and flyers, we are building Immigrant solidarity. Building A Resilient Kitsap (BARK) A project going directly to the people, surveying what residents of Kitsap are struggling with today in order to help guide our chapter moving forward. Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) Volunteer Picketing & Boycott A facet of our national effort to help service industry workers unionize in the face of staggering labor law violations. Quarterly special issue of The West Sound Socialist Final copy-editing underway! Labor and Mutual Aid Organizing Planning for May Day, a break light clinic, and more! Upcoming Events Get in touch with the organizing working group to learn more about event specifics, like time and location (Or see if the information is available on our events page)! No Kings Rally All over Kitsap, tabling at Port Orchard rally on the intersection of Bethel and Lund starting at noon! Electoral Committee Meeting March 29th, 4:00pm-5:00pm Open to all members in good standing General Meeting April 2nd, Poulsbo Public Library, 7:00pm - 8:30pm Welcome to all, family friendly, bring snacks! Socialize with Socialists April 4th, 5:00pm-6:30pm Otherwise Society Commons, Poulsbo New members and DSA-curious welcome! (See flyer below for more details) Seeds for Liberation Benefit Screening, Bainbridge Island Saturday April 18th, 1pm at the historic Lynwood Theatre May Day Fair and Benefit Concert May 1st at the Charleston in Bremerton May Day Fair from 7:00pm-8:00pm (help setup at 6:00pm!) Concert at 8:00pm Contact: email [email protected] or on our Discord Veterans for Peace Benefit Concert May 15th, 7:00pm doors open, 8:00 show start at the Charleston in Bremerton (Flyer below!) Brake Light Clinic May 16th Recurring events Socialist Reading Group Every Monday, 7:00pm-9:00pm Cranes Castle, Bremerton Next book TBD! Come discuss some articles as shared on the Discord! Manufactured Home Canvassing - Kitsap Housing 4 All Canvassing every weekend until summer! Saturday and Sunday. Contact: email: [email protected], [email protected], or on our Discord General Meeting - first Thursdays of the month (excepting holiday proximity) 7:00pm-8:30pm Future Locations TBD Kristin for Kitsap Hello, my name is Kristin Lillegard, and I am running for state representative in the 23rd LD, Position1. I am doing this because I do not believe there is one single path to socialism in our lifetime and there are ways that a campaign and a socialist in office can elevate the cause and further the goal of a government that works for the working class. I am running with the endorsement of the West Sound chapter, and I am proud to say that I am a DSA candidate. In the early stages of this campaign, I am working on putting together talking points, goals, and solutions. I have a lot of ideas and it’s hard to solidify just a few to run on. If you would like to help with my campaign please reach out to me on the chapter discord and I can get you plugged in. Endorsement Link to full document General Membership Passed Motion: To endorse Kristin Lillegard as a candidate for the state house of representative seat in the 23rd legislative district currently held by Tarra Simmons (D). The ultimate aim of the campaign would be to aid in fulfilling the shared goals of West Sound DSA. While we acknowledge those shared goals can only partially be met by being elected and legislating for reforms, there is a shared belief that throughout this campaign a lot can be gained not only for this chapter, but in the potential impact we could see in our community. One major goal in a campaign for office by a comrade is to be democratically elected in order to serve the community. Short of an electoral victory and election of Kristin Lillegard to the 23rd LD as a state representative, the West Sound DSA Electoral Working Group would consider her campaign successful given the continual implementation of the experiences gained, and lessons learned, by our chapter’s membership when undertaking a project of this scale. The ability to share the values of the chapter and educate the public broadly on democratic socialism and the goals of national DSA is an opportunity that we believe the chapter should seize. April 2nd General Meeting Check out our agenda for the General Meeting here, including all previous General Meetings and Meeting Minutes. This meeting is going to be a little different! Inspired by Tacoma DSA and their yearly priority voting at convention, we have decided to do something similar but dedicate "Quarterly Congresses" to do so. Once a quarter, on a General Meeting evening, instead of a typical meeting we will be focused on analyzing chapter priorities, assessing existing priorities, coming up with new ones, and in the end having debate and voting on what to establish, maintain, or adjust moving forwards. One of these will fall on the chapter convention in July as well, as with the one after this upcoming one. Due to how packed we felt at Otherwise, we recognize we may soon outgrow the space (if we haven't already), as such we will be meeting at the Poulsbo Public Library for this upcoming meeting in anticipation of a similar number of members coming. Attention Parents and Families! We want to recognize how difficult it can be to attend meetings generally after already working long days. We have members actively working to make it easier to bring your family and would love your input at the next meeting or online! These events are family friendly and so we want to emphasize that all are welcome and we will do our best to accommodate. Member Memorandums Curious about what's being done or planned by your fellow comrades? Hear from them below! Working Groups Bodily Autonomy The Bodily Autonomy group is working on billboard logistics to publicize abortion resources in Kitsap County. We’re also focusing our efforts to combat the upcoming anti-trans ballot initiative with a Trans Alliance Group. Child Watch It takes a village! Members have rustled up some toys, trays, and coloring supplies for the kids of DSA to play with at meetings! We are also excited to see how shifting the format of the General Meeting to a communal, potluck-style affair helps encourage the attendance of whole families. Communities Organized in Grassroots Solidarity (COGS) COGS is our labor and mutual aid working group. Why the acronym? Think of cogs in the machine of industry, only together we can leverage labor towards proletarian solidarity. Folks have been taking some time to volunteer in coordination with Starbucks Workers United in order to boycott and picket non-unionized stores as baristas across the nation participate in rolling strikes. Labor solidarity extends from the shipyard to the cafe. Our renewed efforts to participate more meaningfully in local labor activism, starting by supporting those in the service industry, will help us make meaningful steps in community engagement as well. Alongside this, we are working on our upcoming Brake Light Clinic and planning for May Day's fair in collaboration with People's Exchange and Food Not Bombs, keep an eye on the calendar for our next working group meeting! Electoral Politics The Washington State Socialists in Office Committee (SIOC), formed by Seattle DSA to advance DSA's priorities in the state legislature, just finished it's hard work analyzing bills during the latest legislative session! With representation from DSA chapters statewide including West Sound, SIOC lays the groundwork for increased collaboration between those chapters and the opportunity to expand our impact in Washington state. West Sound DSA member Johanna Bodnyk is our elected SIOC representative and spent countless evenings and nights organizing with the SIOC. Kitsap Housing 4 All A new law passed last year that limits the amount a landlord can raise rent. For mobile home owners, that number is 5% per year. Because mobile home parks often house the most financially vulnerable among us, Kitsap Housing for All is currently on a mission to spread the news to mobile home owners in Kitsap County. We have canvassed around a quarter of the parks in the county, but we still have quite a way to go. If you are interested in helping us, please email [email protected] - training will be provided! Political Education Our Political Education Working Group is building a welcoming and practical space where community members can learn, connect, and grow together. We will host DSA 101 sessions for new and prospective members, along with Know Your Rights trainings that provide clear and actionable information people can use in real situations. Our goal is to connect education with practical skills, strengthening shared understanding while helping our community stay informed and safe. We welcome all interested in learning a bit more. “No one is born fully-formed: it is through self-experience in the world that we become what we are.” -Paulo Freire The West Sound Socialist The West Sound Socialist zine exists to spread the good news of socialism throughout Kitsap County! Through the creative, intellectual work of our members, we’re rewriting the tired cultural narrative about socialism and inviting the broader community to reimagine both our current reality and what could be. We embrace complexity and nuance by highlighting varied perspectives on socialist issues. Our dream is a zine that inspires activism, promotes rigorous debate, and tends to the aesthetics of the movement. We made our first issue debut back in December, centered around mutual aid. If you couldn't get yourself a hardcopy there may still be a couple left at the Otherwise Society Commons or you could check it out online here! The West Sound Socialist received fantastic submissions from our members. We’ve completed initial copy-editing, and Glynnis has valiantly spearheaded the design process. Our target is an April printing – stay tuned! Committees and Subcommittees Outreach and Communication This sub-committee is one established by the steering committee to aid in the roles and responsibilities tasked to our membership coordinator. We’ve left Slack and moved to Discord! It has already been a great decision. We have seen a lot more activity so please come by and check it out here! Discord has so far halted its plans for implementing age verification, but we continue to keep an eye on any developments that may inpact how we communicate as a chapter. We have been posting more frequently on Facebook and Instagram and we plan to keep it going. We’ve noticed more people interacting with us. We plan to increase the frequency of our emails to make sure that members like you can stay up to date on how to get involved If you have a passion for graphic design and socialism, we are always looking for new hands to help with our projects. Steering Thank you all for your continued support as we get into some busy planning times! At the last general meeting, our first Quarterly Congress, we opened up the floor to broad discussion on chapter goals, summarized here: Kristin For Kitsap August 4th Primary Top 2 go to general election Campaigning, canvassing, combined with KH4A Goal: Canvassing at least twice a month Outreach & Communications Create the committee at April GM Define responsibilities (write charter) Build credibility Networking with other leftist organizations Internal Meet national DSA guidelines (Democracy Commission) Electing political education + outreach officers Identifying convention officer roles Electoral Flock, City Council meetings Mutual Aid COGS - centralize efforts (labor and mutual aid WG) These priorities are so helpful for both affirming and guiding what we tackle next as a chapter, and confidently enable our chapter members to pursue. Thank you again for your trust, we are always here and available if you need support for anything you'd like to do or accomplish in the chapter. Your Steering Committee: Daniel Baca (Co-Chair) Kristin Lillegard (Membership Coordinator) Nick Schmitt (Secretary) Jared Sterling (Treasurer) Carlos Yosten (Co-Chair) Building A Resilient Kitsap (BARK) Take the survey and let us know if you are struggling, and help guide future prioritization of chapter goals! Afterwards, send the survey to a couple friends, coworkers, or local family members! BARK Survey Member Interest Survey Take the survey and tell us which of our current projects interests you! Survey Link In closing, We sincerely hope you enjoyed this deeper dive into our chapter, what we've accomplished, what's ongoing, and what is to be done moving forwards. Member and Solidarity Dues Our supplies, tools, organizing costs, and overall budget is entirely supported by your membership dues. Currently, aside from being a non-profit organization, we are also an entirely volunteer run group and are very happy keeping it that way! However, we would like more flexibility when it comes to planning events, hosting meetings, and exploring what it may take to get secure office space. We humbly ask that you consider increasing your monthly dues, and making sure that you have West Sound DSA listed as your local chapter, as this is how we get a portion of these recurring dues from National DSA. If you pay yearly dues, you are still a member of this chapter, but your dues do not contribute to us directly. If you do pay yearly dues, please consider switching to monthly so that our chapter can receive a portion of those dues! You may also want to consider upping your contribution to Solidarity Dues, where members commit to paying 1% of their annual income.  Check out dues options here. DSA Resources West Sound Democratic Socialists of America Check out our website for a calendar of events, community resources, our zine and more! Website Democratic Socialists of America Check out the site for National DSA! Website Kitsap Housing 4 All Check out the website of our longest standing working group, Kitsap Housing 4 All! Website Partner Resources KIAC Kitsap Immigration Assistance Network Volunteer to help translate, participate in accompaniment programs, or take an extensive training to help out families with legal processes. Website WAISN Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network Deportation Defense Hotline: 1-844-724-3737  Take a training and join their rapid response team! Website