Everyone knows you need food, drinks, music and great people to throw a good party. Our neighbor Louise Music added one more essential ingredient on August 30: Purpose.
Music and The Third Thursday Resistance Club, which meets monthly at her home, hosted a fundraising party for Flip the Vote, an organization working to build support for Democratic candidates in key states during the 2026 midterm elections.
Photos: Judy Berne and John Woodworth
Purpose: Raise Money and Energy to Flip the Vote
In 2017, a handful of East Bay neighbors, alarmed by the outcome of the 2016 election, launched a volunteer effort called Flip the House to take control of the U.S. House from Republicans. Today, Flip the Vote is focused on nine pivotal states as it works toward the 2026 elections and the 2028 presidential election. The organization has identified 11 groups to receive donations.
The mid-afternoon program began with Guillermo Ortiz, who led guests in invoking the Six Directions while wafting herbs, a ritual from his Mexican heritage.
He then handed the microphone to Julia Marquez, a Flip the Vote volunteer, who gave a brief presentation about the organization. Lena Wolfe followed, talking about her experience raising money through her Art for Democracy Campaign. Since 2024, the campaign has raised more than $350,000 through local community house parties.
(Top to bottom, left to right) Guillermo Ortiz, Julia Marquez, Lena Wolfe , Blanche Malankowski-Smith, and Louise Music. Photos: John Woodworth and Judy Berne
Louise Music closed the presentation by talking about the activism of The Third Thursday Resistance Club and the group’s goal of raising $25,000 for Flip the Vote. She encouraged guests to contribute what they could and to consider hosting their own gathering.
By the end of the afternoon, $13,700 had been raised. With more donations still coming in, a final tally is expected within about two weeks.
Food, Drinks, and Music
Food was provided by Tacos el Chuy, a family-run business. The menu featured made-to-order tacos and quesadillas with chicken, beef or pork, along with rice and beans. Helados were passed around for dessert.
Margaritas made with fresh limes, agua fresca and flavored sodas kept guests refreshed. Larry Brooks tended the bar with his wife, Heidi Harmon, who stood out in a black-and-white dress with frilly pantaloons topped by a red cloche hat.
Larry Brooks enjoyed serving strong Margaritas at the fundraiser. Video clip: Anna L Marks
Emily Zisma, a guitarist, singer and songwriter; jazz guitarist Scott Foster; and string bassist Joe Kyle Jr., all well-known Bay Area musicians and regular members of the Americano Social Club, provided live music throughout the afternoon.
The Americano Social Club performed for the party-goers. Photo on left: Judy Berne / photo on right: John Woodworth
A Gathering of Like-Minded Neighbors
Harmon summed up the spirit of the afternoon:
“The best thing about the party was the gathering of neighbors and the opportunity to meet so many people chomping at the bit to create change, which we can only do together.”
Ann Wettrich co-founder of The Third Thursday Resistance Club and her partner John Roloff, prominent Bay Area artist were there, along with Michelle Hocker and Michael Wirkkala of Lafayette. Their son, Phillip, designed the event’s marketing materials and helped coordinate a cast of volunteers.
Who knew our “neighbors” included Rafael Jesus Gonzalez, originally from Mexico, a retired Laney College professor of Latino studies and Berkeley's first Poet Laureate?
Sue Donahue, the Bee Lady, was also on hand, selling several varieties of honey and contributing 15% of her sales to Flip the Vote.
Beekeeper and Rockridge resident Sue Donahue gave out samples and sold jars of her local honey. Photos: Anna L Marks
Seventeen-year-old Trent, an aspiring voter from Sebastopol who was visiting his grandmother Linda Sparling, offered a younger perspective on the day's purpose.
“Many of my high school friends (soon to be of voting age) are often overwhelmed by the demands of democracy,” he said.
Among the other organizers and approximately 75 guests were Jonathan Wexler and Heidi Neipris; Sandy Coleman; Som and Deb Konar; local artists Lauren Elder and Donna Fenstermaker; Beau Woodward; John Woodworth; Shyam Shabaka; Otis Johnson; Kathy Grayson and her husband, Richard; Dolores Rutzker and her partner, Rick Morris; Gene Coyle; and John Collier and Marya Grambas of Merrill Gardens, who are helping coordinate the group’s Saturday protests at 11 am at the corner of Coronado Avenue and Broadway.
For those interested in learning more, Flip the Vote offers information about its partner organizations and ways to host a house party. The organization is fiscally sponsored by Beyond Impact, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit.
Sign up at this link to host a Flip the Vote House Party, or email join@flipthevote.com. Questions about the local effort can be directed to Louise Music at louise.music@gmail.com.
