Mary S Butler
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marysbutler.bsky.social
Mary S Butler
@marysbutler.bsky.social
UX content strategist focused on improving the citizen experience.
🔥: CivicTech, GOTV, Voter Registration
❤️: Democracy, live music, gardening, dancing
Chi > NYC > Chi
Brigid Hart in Co. Galway, Ireland: We’ve never met, but your Google Maps reviews are charming and hilarious. They hint at stories I’d love to learn more about. You are my new queen. Never change!

#Irish #Humor #BigMaps #ShortStories

1/3
November 17, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Federal agents deployed tear gas against neighbors in Little Village in Chicago and pepper sprayed a family driving in Cicero Saturday following the latest clash between immigration agents and protesters, who alerted neighbors.
#Chicago #ICE #ProtectChicago

blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/09/f...
Feds Pepper-Spray 1-Year-Old In Cicero, Use Tear Gas On Little Village Neighbors
Federal agents were shot at, according to the Department of Homeland Security, while legal observers said agents created a "dangerous and unsafe environment."
blockclubchicago.org
November 10, 2025 at 11:41 PM
“Every day my phone buzzes. It’s a neighborhood group: 4 people were kidnapped at the corner drugstore.
… A plumber working on my pipes is distraught, and I find out that 2 of his employees were kidnapped that morning. A week later it happens again.”

aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...

#ProtectChicago #ICE
I Want You to Understand Chicago
aphyr.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:26 AM
@durbin.senate.gov @duckworth.senate.gov Millions could lose health coverage if Congress caves on ACA tax credits. Democrats must hold the line — no deal without affordable healthcare!
Tag the U.S. Senators for your state!
#DefendHealthcare #NoCutsNoCompromise
November 10, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Free Her.

Free. Them. All.
The teacher detained by ICE agents at the Rayito del Sol daycare in North Center is believed to now be at the Broadview processing facility, and parents in the community now have serious safety concerns.
November 6, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Since I first learned about Aaron Beck + cognitive #reframing, I've been interested in ways that situations that seem impossible can be viewed through another lens.

Was happy to stumble upon The hidden beliefs that hold leaders back, an HBR article by Muriel M. Wilkins that touches on this.

1/x
November 6, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Are you wondering how you can protect your vulnerable friends, neighbors, and other members of the #Chicago community, who may be under threat from #ICE?
Sharing “What to do about ICE” advice that appeared in this week's update to members of the @lwvchicago.bsky.social.

Wishing all of you ☮️💙⚖️

1/6
November 1, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Happy Friday #UXcontent peeps! For #PlainLanguage superfans, here’s a great list of words/phrases not to use: service-manual.ons.gov.uk/content/lang...

A few examples,
• collaborate (use "working with")
• dialog (we speak to people)
• deliver (pizzas and mail are delivered, not concepts)

1/2
Words and phrases: Words not to use – Content style guide – Service manual – Office for National Statistics
What words and phrases to avoid to ensure clear, concise and accessible language.
service-manual.ons.gov.uk
October 31, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Even tho my field (originally journalism, now UX content strategy) has changed greatly since I graduated, I continue to grow by supporting my college newspaper and learning from the advisors and students now working at the Northern Star. Enjoyed meeting many of them this weekend at the J-banquet.
April 13, 2025 at 7:35 PM
This evening I dropped off 100 care kits at GroceryLand this evening. Seeing food pantry cofounder Lori Cannon’s megawatt smile reminded me of my fav Margaret Mead quote: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
April 11, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Proud 2 be part of @usdigitalresponse.org as we celebrate 5 years! As tech becomes more critical 2 public services, USDR remains committed to helping governments deliver for all.

Happy 2 have worked on a service resource hub 4 a large metro area last year + now on election admin platform #CivicTech
How one organization has helped governments respond to the urgent needs of the public
USDR is turning five years old, here's a look back at how they've evolved.
www.usdigitalresponse.org
March 18, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Reposted by Mary S Butler
Huge crowd in Chicago for #InternationalWomensDay!
March 8, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Today four League of Women Voters of Chicago volunteers registered 162 new citizens, from 41 countries, to vote after their naturalization ceremonies. Loved that as the judge named each country represented, the new citizens stood up when their homeland was called out. #LWV #GOTV #anationofimmigrants
March 3, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Tonight’s special screening @ Chicago Irish Film Festival was Mrs. Robinson, which covered Mary Robinson’s life, numerous accomplishments, and controversies. Afterward, the former President of Ireland, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Chair of The Elders, graciously answered audience ?s 💚
March 2, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Wonderful news for GroceryLand and other impacted pantries + clinics in Chicago. So thankful for the helpers who made this happen. #grateful #beahelper

“The grant was given after Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore learned about the closures in the news and reached out to see how he could help.”
Heartland Alliance Health to remain open thanks to 'multimillion-dollar' grant
The social services nonprofit announced on Feb. 11 it would shutting down and laying off 113 employees. One Health, a Michigan-based primary care provider, gave the last-minute grant.
chicago.suntimes.com
February 20, 2025 at 4:41 PM
This is devastating: Among the Chicago food pantries to be shut down by April 7 is GroceryLand, which opened in 1988 to serve people living with HIV or AIDS. It's grown to become a resource for anyone who needs it and distributes nutritious food + basic goods that can’t be bought w/food stamps. 1/2
Heartland Alliance Health Shutting Down Clinics And Food Pantries, Affecting Thousands In Need
The community health care nonprofit is shuttering and will close its Uptown and Englewood clinics and three food pantries by April. The closure comes less than a year after the group broke off from pa...
blockclubchicago.org
February 12, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Got my 1st pay-us-2-interview-you request via LinkedIn.🙄
The pitch: Would you like 2 be interviewed by 1 of our journalists and talk about your work+product?…We offer a comprehensive package for £99, which includes an interview w/our journalist 2 be posted on our site, Spotify + Amazon Music. 1/2
February 10, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Another reason to love #JimmyCarter! 💚

“He had no Irish roots and never visited Ireland before … his intervention in Irish matters in 1977 was hugely significant and opened the door for the constructive involvement of subsequent presidents in working for peace + stability on the island of Ireland.”
December 30, 2024 at 3:52 PM
Mourning the passing of the late great Jimmy Carter, my forever favorite president. Honored I met him in Oct 1998 @ Borders in Chicago during his Virtues of Aging booktour. Our interaction was brief, but knew I was in the presence of a kind + generous man of character. Grateful for all he did for us
December 30, 2024 at 4:00 AM
Went to GroceryLand yesterday for the first time and had the pleasure of meeting cofounder Lori Cannon, along w/several volunteers. GroceryLand is a food pantry for people living w/HIV.

In addition to food, clients can also pick up personal care items at GroceryLand, 5543 N Broadway; Chicago. 1/4
December 28, 2024 at 2:35 AM
* Register * Educate * Activate *

Back at it: The League of Women Voters of Chicago registered 172 new U.S. citizens to vote after today’s naturalization ceremonies at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago.

The LWV was founded in Chicago in 1920, just 6 months b4 the 19th amendment was ratified.
December 17, 2024 at 12:39 AM
Reposted by Mary S Butler
"Funny fact about a cage, they're never built for just one group
So when that cage is done with them and you're still poor, it come for you
The newest lowest on the totem, well golly gee, you have been used
You helped to fuel the death machine that down the line will kill you too"
—El-P
I find it weird that so many ppl are trying to insist that the US does not have a radicalization problem. 'Ppl vote for Trump bc they don't believe he'll put immigrants in camps but they do believe he'll fix the economy.' Shrugging at the threat of concentration camps is radicalization. Ask Germany
November 14, 2024 at 6:36 PM
One week later. Back at it. Registering new citizens to vote after their naturalization ceremonies in Chicago. Today the League of Women Voters of Chicago registered 163 new citizens. We aren't going back.
November 13, 2024 at 4:32 AM
6️⃣ days left 2 vote in Illinois
1️⃣ way left to register 2 vote: Same-day registration at your early-voting polling location
Check out IllinoisVoterGuide.org to get started. You'll find early voting sites near you, learn which judges have been recommended by bar assoc and save your sample ballot
#vote
Illinois Voter Guide
Illinois Primary Voting & Election Information. Nonpartisan information about every candidate on my Illinois ballot. Find out where & when to vote. Research all the Democratic, Republican and Libertar...
IllinoisVoterGuide.org
October 31, 2024 at 4:50 AM
Saw Usher in Chicago last night while volunteering w/HeadCount. With online voter reg now closed for this election cycle, we used this as an opportunity to walk Usher fans through the process to confirm their registration is up to date and find their polling place. Great evening of music + #GOTV!
October 29, 2024 at 8:12 PM