Indivisible aims to unite, not divide

Five Towns women organize South Shore chapter

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Since the 2016 election many people across the U.S. are determined to take a more active role in politics. Indivisible is an organization that focuses on helping citizens become more involved at a grassroots level to affect the change they want to see in at all government levels.

A group of 10 women on Nassau County’s South Shore are aiming to shape the county’s political landscape into their preferred vision using Indivisible’s national chapter guide. “We’re a group of concerned citizens who are working hard to protect our public schools, the rights of women and children, our environment and stopping corruption in Nassau County,” said Julie Parseles, a founding member of the South Shore chapter.

Meeting since February, many of the women traveled to Manhattan for the Women’s March in January, which inspired them to get more involved. “I was very concerned about my family, the direction we’re going wasn’t one I was happy with,” said Pat Roblin, another founding South Shore member. “I’m happy to be part of the solution.”

The chapter is currently comprised entirely of women, but they say they’re open to all regardless of gender or even political affiliation. “We need to get rid of divisiveness,” said Icela Fischthal, also a founding member. “We don’t listen to each other. Take away the labels and let’s talk about the issues.”

While they’d love to see change on a larger scale they have focused on affecting change at the local level. The group wants to bridge the gap between the people and their representatives, they said.

Along with the Manhasset and North Shore Indivisible chapters, and the Five Towns Democratic Club, the South Shore group sponsored a meet the candidates forum at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public library on July 6. Laura Curran, the Nassau County Democratic Committee nominee for county executive and Jack Schnirman, the committee’s choice for comptroller, spoke at the forum. “We believe [they] represent our vision for Nassau County,” Parseles said.

Curran’s clarion call, “Get off the sidelines, get involved, get into the arena and fight for what you believe is right,” meshes with Indivisible’s primary goal.

On Indivisible’s website is a free 26-page guide written by congressional staffers who witnessed the rise of the Tea Party in the early 2010s. The guide aims to help citizens replicate the success the conservative-leaning political party had in influencing Congress using such tactics as attending town hall meetings and other public events en masse, making coordinated telephone calls and constantly visiting district office visits. The South Shore chapter has been meeting with candidates for local political office, and they said a few have impressed them.

In the coming weeks Indivisible will be working to get the vote out for Curran in advance of the Sept. 12 primary. Current County Comptroller George Maragos, a Republican turned Democrat is also running for county executive.

For more information on Indivisible go to, indivisibleguide.com. To learn more about the South Shore chapter contact Icela Fischthal at icela@optonline.net, Julie Parseles at juliepareles@aol.com and Pat Roblin at problin@gmail.com.