Activist Judy Stadtman Tucker took to the radio waves this week to talk about her work with Change that Works, Health Care for America Now, and Organizing for America for the cause of health insurance reform for the radio show 'Wake Up AMerica.' In the wake of this month's town hall hubbub, Judy shared with the program's listeners the important strides being made by groups that support health insurance reform.

On the recent town halls:
"I think that what we're really doing, what Change that Works is, is a real grass roots mobilizing campaign. We're really citizen-to-citizen contact. In grassroots organizing it's really about talking to people, having the conversation about why it matters...and really, we're working now more on setting the record straight, and correcting some of the misinformation out there."

On the public option:
"What we see with the public option...It would keep private insurers honest and ensure that all families have coverage."

On activism:
"When you get an invitation to do something, say yes. We're really hitting the crisis point in this battle. So when you get an email--call your congressperson, come to this rally--the most important thing you can do is say yes. That's what an ordinary, every day voter can do to help most right now."

Listen to the whole podcast here

More on Change That Works.

Judy Lanza, a labor and delivery nurse for 25 years, knows firsthand the damage that our current health care system has caused. Although Judy works in a New Hampshire clinic that provides affordable treatment for pregnant women, she sees women every day without health care insurance. Often, she will hear about women who go to private clinics and pay $1,000 to $1,500 in out-of-pocket costs for necessary medical treatments.

Our system is so broken that even pregnant women are not guaranteed quality, affordable health care. Activists like Judy Lanza are speaking out because they can no longer tolerate the inequity built in to our current system. Judy is not being paid to speak out, and she does not work for the government. She has no incentive to speak out other than her own moral conviction that health care reform is right. That's true grassroots activism.

When it comes to something as personal and important as health care, we've got to be extra careful that we get the facts right - click here to get straight facts on the President's plan to fix health care.

We woke up bright and early this morning to head out to Columbus for a honk and wave outside of the 300 Cafe. We parked our ambulance right at the corner, decorated it with signs that said "It's time for Affordable Healthcare", and waved our "Honk for Healthcare" banners and signs to a receptive audience of passers by.

After about an hour, we had to pack it up and leave the Eastern leg of our tour behind to head out to Dillon for our first stop in the Beaverhead/Silver Bow leg of our tour.

Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and the blogosphere have been buzzing over the past 48 hours, as thousands of grassroots activists and Congressional leaders contacted the Department of Homeland Security to stop the deportation of Walter Lara, a 23 year-old honor student facing deportation this Independence Day weekend. Today, Walter Lara was granted a one year stay of his deportation.

In response to DHS's deferment, Walter issued the following statement:

"Today, words cannot express my gratitude to Secretary Janet Napolitano, Senator Bill Nelson, Representatives Corrine Brown, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, and the thousands of grassroots activists whose unified efforts have given me a second chance to live out my American Dream.

"As I look to celebrate Independence Day with family and friends this weekend, I have once again seen what makes America the best country in the world. Americans are fair, just, and kind. When we unite our strength to defend our shared values -opening rather than shutting the doors of opportunity - we can achieve anything. As I have said before, America is the only country I have known and I am an American. I have never been more proud to say that than I am today.

"But even as the dust settles on this tremendous personal victory, my sights are clearly set on the struggle ahead to build a long-term future for me and the more than 2 million like me whose lives may be cut short and dreams deferred.

"The action taken by the leaders in Congress and the Department of Homeland Security is an acknowledgment that our immigration laws are broken. The DREAM Act, if passed, would help people like myself, who came here through no fault of their own, stay in this country, be put on a path to citizenship and contribute to our nation."

More background on Walter and the campaign that spread that wildfire to keep him from being deported after the break.