27 UNIHTED / NIH Vigils Newsletter 3/29/26
Hi NIH Vigilers and 27 UNIHTED Community,
March came in like a lion but will it go out like a lamb?
Calls To Action
Upcoming FDA Alumni Association Collaborative Event:
We’re Joining with the FDA alumni association to host a workshop. Fill out our quick “needs” survey for the event today!
Food Drive
We are collecting donations to support unpaid TSA workers and other communities affected by the DHS shutdown at our weekly vigils. Non-perishable food items will be donated to Manna Food Bank and to local airports. Most-needed canned/non-perishable foods include:
Protein, including tuna and salmon
Fruit (in juice) and fruit cups
Grains
Dry or canned beans (low sodium)
Canned vegetables (low sodium)
Instant oatmeal packets
Chicken (in water)
Brown rice, original flavor (16 oz)
Natural nut butters
Whole-grain pasta (16 oz)
Additional Ways to Support Shutdown-Impacted Workers
We created a 27 UNIHTED fundraiser for the Capital Area Food Bank if you don't have non-perishables but still want to contribute!
For Chicago-area workers, please send gift cards and thank you letters to the union. Note that these items will go only to union members.
American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
Local 777
P.O. Box 389277
Chicago, IL 60639
With all gift cards, keep the total to $20 or less.
Support the Campaign to Impeach Russell Vought
Why should Vought be impeached? In his role as Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, Vought is the central architect and primary decision maker driving the destruction of your government. He holds or withholds money according to what he values. He buys private planes for ICE deportations while withholding funding from NIH, NASA, and NSF. His actions have created lawlessness in every part of the regime in order to sow chaos and dismantle the government.
He is more dangerous than Trump.
Upcoming Events
27 UNIHTED Anniversary RIF Week of Events:
4/1: Happy Hour at Right Proper Taproom with WellFed
5:00PM-7:00PM Right Proper Brewing Co Taproom 🫂 This event is for HHS workers, former and current, and for all those who support them! Right Proper Brewing Co Taproom 920 Girard St NE, DC
Your first beer is on the house, plus lite bites to share.
4/2: Weekly peer empowerment call every Thursday at 6:00 p.m.
4/3: Beer Farm event from 5:30-8:30 PM, live music and meet up with other NIH RIF’d folks
4/4: Weekly NIH Vigil every Saturday at 10:00 a.m.
4/4: Spring Walk with Two Owl Outdoor Adventures 11:00AM-2:00PM: Join fellow NIH RIF’d colleagues on an outdoor rock from at Caderock Recreation Parking Lot in Bethesda MD. Register today!
Vigil “Auntie” News
This week’s NIH Vigil was held in conjunction with the nationwide No Kings III rally. It featured a food drive, performance by punk band Allstrike, and speeches by the following individuals in their personal capacity:
Nina Friedman, PhD candidate, UMD/NIH (emcee)
Michael Green, PhD, NIH grantee
Evan Glass, Montgomery County Council Member
Cara Pugliese, PhD, NIH staff
James Stroud, MS, statistician and FEMA worker
Laura Mata López, MSN, PhD candidate and NIH grantee
Bill Bien, lymphoma survivor and patient advocate
Anita Patel, MD, NIH grantee
Special Guest Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH, former NIAID Director and current CEO of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
Amber Lockridge, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, NIDDK/NIH
Anna Culbertson, BS, 27 UNIHTED Co-Founder
The rally attracted coverage from The Guardian and was featured on that newspaper’s homepage!
To watch the speeches check out our youtube channel where they will be all uploaded by the end of the week!
Wellness Weekly
Our somewhat serious community recommendations for self care are:
Try a mocktail recipe
Get a tarot reading
Indulge in some real estate schadenfreude on r/zillowgonewild
And don’t forget to check out our new merch shop!
In solidarity,
27 UNIHTED and NIH Vigils