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Summary of WNPJ's 2025 Virtual Spring Assembly!

Updated: 7 days ago



March 24th-28th, 2025


Each evening from 7-8:00 pm
WNPJ brought you the voices of Wisconsin activists as we have championed our diversity and our unity. 

Thanks to all who attended WNPJ's Virtual Spring Assembly. We had over 35 member groups represented on the zoom calls March 24 - 28! We recorded all 5 sessions - and have them available for you to share with others.


1) Monday, Mar 24: Coalitions and Community 



2) Tuesday March 25 -   Immigration & Palestine; the Connection 


3) Wednesday March 26 -  Protecting All Our Rights 


4) Thursday March 27 -  Environmental Justice 


 5) Friday, Mar 28 Anti-war / Anti-militarism / Abolition 



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 Below you will find contact information from each of the panelists in the 5 sessions and links to their organizations, action alerts, and upcoming events. - and bios follow at the end of the lising. There's a LOT of important information here as we learn about what our WNPJ groups and allies are doing across Wisconsin! Thanks to all the panelists and viewers. We have a lot to do - together!


 Let us know if you have questions - or if you want to add events/links to this page!  info@wnpj.org



Summary of the week follows.... 


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1) Monday, Mar 24: Coalitions and Community

 

Moderator - Dena Eakles dena.eakles@gmail.com


Panelists

Tim Cordon <buildingunitywi@gmail.com>, 608-630-3633

 

Stephanie Rearick <steph@stephanierearick.com>

Debra Gillispie <magv.wi@gmail.com>,

Mothers Against Gun Violence and WNPJ Board member  https://www.wnpj.org/member-organizations-list/mothers-against-gun-violence

Muhammad Shahzad Hussain <Shahzad@faithinplace.org>,

 

Jerry Folk <jerrylfolk55@gmail.com>,

 

Rene Ann Goodrich <nlmcoalition@gmail.com>,

 

Additional guest speaker, Ajak Johnson

Organizer for the 50-50-1 movement and rally April 5, in Madison

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2) Tuesday March 25 -   Immigration & Palestine; the Connection

 

Moderator: John Peck peckjohne@gmail.com

Family Farm Defenders and Madison Infoshop and WNPJ Board member


Contact John for Immigrants Welcome buttons. 



Family Farm Defenders has Palestine Seed Solidarity packs,  including types of heirloom seeds: Britijan Battari eggplant, Small Jadu'i watermelon, Kousa summer squash, and Yakteen gourd. Suggested donation $50, includes postage. Order at  familyfarmdefenders@yahoo.com

 

Panelists:

Echo Valley Hope and WNPJ Board members

Dena spoke to her work with the WI Coalition for Justice in Palestine. https://www.wiscoforpali.org/. 

 

Jaime provided a slide show of 'Know Your Rights' materials for immigrants, including details about what documents to carry - and to have proof you've been in the USA for over 2 years. There was a lot of good information in the slides, available by going to the LULAC website. 

Attorneys are available through AILA https://www.aila.org/and AVVO. https://www.avvo.com/find-a-lawyer

Events coming up:

WNPJ has a special page on immigration on our website,

Send your events and alerts to info@wnpj.org

Voces de la Frontera event!

Day Without Immigrants and Workers March!

Come together in a powerful demonstration of our collective strength in Milwaukee and Madison! Stop scapegoating immigrant workers and separating families! Defend Medicaid, food assistance, and public education! Stand up for sanctuary! Immigration reform with a path to citizenship now!

March to the Federal Courthouse

May 2nd, 3pm - Brittingham Park, 829 W Washington Ave, Madison WI

March to the Capital. For more info go to vdlf.org

Another group active with Immigration Justice

WISDOM Wisconsin

414-831-2070

Their Lobby day is April 10th in Madison - working toward restoring drivers' licenses.

RESTORE DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR ALL

More than 65,000 workers in our state are immigrants without documentation. State law prohibits them from driving legally. Restoring access to legal driving for all immigrant Wisconsinites will make our roads safer, strengthen our economy, and keep families together. Contact: admin@wisdomwisconsin.org

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3) Wednesday March 26 -  Protecting All Our Rights


Moderator: Tynnetta Jackson souls4com@gmail.com 

of SOUL and WNPJ Board member/Chair


Panelists


Abigail Swetz info@fairwisconsin.com

To leave you with a little hope, here's an article about a man who came to one of the hearings earlier this month: https://wisconsinwatch.org/2025/03/wisconsin-larry-jones-gender-affirming-care-transgender-lgbtq-milwaukee-republican/

Join us: LGBTQ+ Equality Day!

When is it? Wednesday, May 7 from 9am to 4pm!

We will gather at Madison Bethel Lutheran Church in the morning and proceed to the Wisconsin State Capitol for the afternoon!

A day of learning and networking with LGBTQ+ and allied Wisconsinites, including time to learn about policy priorities and best practices to advocate for issues that are important to the LGBTQ+ community.

This is a free event. REGISTER HERE!

 

Julia Greenberg juliargreenberg@gmail.com

WI Right to Boycott https://legislation.palestinelegal.org/location/wisconsin/  Julia will join Dena, Erika and others at WNPJ's monthly Weaving the Web virtual event at noon on Apr 3. See WNPJ calendar to learn more. https://www.wnpj.org/event-calendar

 

EVENT: Right to Boycott Campaign

Check out more information and fill out our interest form 

Join us at the Capitol in Madison on April 23, where we will lobby our representatives to restore our right to boycott.

Watch for updates on times and specific place. If you have questions or would like to schedule an info session specifically for your organization, contact WIRightToBoycott@gmail.com.

 

Paul DeMain Paul aka: Skabewis skabewis@hotmail.com

Communities United by Water  https://communitiesunitedbywater.org/

To stay in contact with some of the environmental battles and issues in the Chequamagon Bay area: www.CommunitiesUnitedbyWater.org

 

WNPJ Board member - Disability Rights. 

Action Alert - No Medicaid Cuts

Call Congress 866-426-2631

 

 VOTE April 1st!


David Ortiz Whittingham  david@workerjustice.org

Rapid Response in Dane Countyhttps://workerjustice.org/join-wjws-new-rapid-response-network/Worker Justice Wisconsin and the South Central Federation of Labor are offering immigrant rights trainings - Next one  April 5th!    

Sat Apr 5  Immigration & Labor Rights Workshop. At the Madison Labor Temple (Rooms 201 A&B).Worker Justice Wisconsin and the South Central Federation of Labor (@scfl.wi) invite you to our Immigration Rights Workshop-a 3-part training.

  • 3 Trainings in 1 Day-Covering Immigration & Labor Unions

  • Offered in English & Spanish

  • Food will be provided between trainings

Please register if you plan to attend! https://tinyurl.com/yhz8k8h2


Contact: robert@workerjustice.org  or Issy at issy@scfl.org .


Family Farm Defenders has a  factsheet about Know Your Rights Rights with ICE for family farmers and business owners:  https://familyfarmers.org/?page_id=1622

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4) Thursday March 27 -  Environmental Justice 

 

Moderator: Dena Eakles dena.eakles@gmail.com

 

Mary Kay Baum <marykbaum@gmail.com>,

Wise Women Gathering Place and WNPJ Board member https://www.wnpj.org/member-organizations-list/wise-women-gathering-place

Fold Origami Fish for the Great Lakes! https://forms.gle/bj2vGbjD1M8ZWiJY8  The deadline is June 5th


Guy Reiter <anahkwet@hotmail.com>,

Director of the Menominee Indian community organization,  Menīkānaehkem, Inc 



EVENT 

33rd Annual Sturgeon Fest and Celebration Powwow

Menominee Nation High SchoolN500 WI-47 #55, Keshena

April 12th10:00am – Sturgeon Walk, Keshena Falls, 12:00pm – Grand Entry, 6:00pm – Maec-Micehswan “Big Feast” https://calen dar.powwows.com/events/annual-sturgeon-feast-celebration-pow-wow/










Forest Jahnke <forestjahnke@gmail.com>,

 

Rob Danielson <type@mwt.net>

Read about these two WI bills and then write your representatives: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/sb3

 

Special guest appearance by Lance Green, an original founder of WNPJ from 34 years ago - and our first newsletter editor. Lance now works with the group called Friends of Starkweather Creek - monitoring PFA's in our Madison lakes. https://starkweatherfriends.org/

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5) Friday, Mar 28 Anti-war / Anti-militarism / Abolition

 

Moderator John Peck peckjohne@gmail.com

Family Farm Defenders and Madison Infoshop and WNPJ Board member

 

Co-host Dena Eakles dena.eakles@gmail.com

 

Panelists


About JVP Madison: 

EVENT: JVP Madison Liberation Seder on April 19: sign up sheet: https://bit.ly/JVPseder 

and here’s our email address. madison@jewishvoiceforpeace.org

April 23 is Wisconsin Right to Boycott Lobby Day

Articles:

Here's a good article on No Other Land , the Palestinian film that won the Oscar for best documentary


Petitions about Freeing Mahmoud Khalil:

·        ACLU ·        Action Network 

USPCR’s Campaign to End US Aid Military Aid to Israel: https://uscpr.org/campaigns/end-u-s-military-funding-to-israel/

A few places to donate:

·        This campaign aims to deliver urgent aid directly to Sunbula's partner organizations in Gaza - Atfaluna Society and Sulafa Embroidery Centre: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/gaza-emergency-aid/ 

·        Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA):  this money goes directly to MECA for emergency relief to Gaza for whatever they are able to do

·        Helping to raise money for a medical clinic in Rafah: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-almawasi-clinic-provide-lifesaving-care


Information/Resources

Updates on the ground from MECA: https://www.mecaforpeace.org/blog/; Information on the Madison-Rafah website: Resources; Gaza War; West Bank


Elias Lyman 

 EVENT Sat Apr 12, 12 noon – 3 pm The Anti-War Cafe! Meets Monthly! At The Crossing on the UW Campus, 1127 University Ave. Madison. Anti-War Café is a time to be together, plan for action, make music & art, eat & drink. Featuring this month: open mic, anti-war collage, knitting, and small group discussions including on war tax resistance and right to boycott legislation. Representative Francesca Hong, WNPJ Board member John Peck and the WI Right to Boycott Campaign will lead a discussion on how to stop the Israeli genocide in Palestine, with a focus on a Right to Boycott law which Rep Hong will introduce in the Wisconsin legislature soon. They will share how you can support right to boycott bills. The Right to Boycott law would overturn an anti-BDS law on the books in Wisconsin since 2018 which prohibits state contracts with business entities that boycott Israel. Bring music or words for the open mic. Bring food or drink. Publicize - Bring the kids! Bring the adults! Get in touch: warabolition1@gmail.com


Natalka Akulenko  akul70@gmail.com

Friends of Ukraine, Madison https://friendsofukrainemadison.org/



ACTION ALERT: 






















Other resources on PEACE and ABOLITION: 

“NonViolence and NonCooperation” is the theme of this WDRT Conversation with author and nonviolence activist Rivera Sun and Dena Eakles. This hour is packed with historical facts and an enthusiastic call to action as we reclaim our humanity.



On ABOLITION. We didn't have much time for discussion on this topic - but perhaps we can reconvene a zoom meeting for our groups in the future.



It was suggested we watch the documentary film  "13th" by Ava DuVernay. It explores the history of race and the criminal justice system in the United States, arguing that mass incarceration is a continuation of slavery through the loophole in the 13th Amendment that allows for involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. Available on Netflix. 


And Board member Erika Bach has provided these resources for us to learn more:

We’re starting to hear it more now – from the cries of abolish slavery to abolish apartheid, we have now found ourselves with many intersecting systems that need to be reimagined and rebuilt. 

Abolish the death penalty! Abolish ICE! Abolish the filibuster! -  these are all example examples of how abolition continues to be a term used to describe “getting rid of” systems that are collectively oppressive. What do they really mean?


We look forward to exploring them across the network with you and welcome your submissions to the conversation. Please send your abolition practices and/or tried and true divestments for change to info@wnpj.org. We hope to continue the conversation and convene around this topic in the times ahead.


If You're New to Abolition: Study Group Guide


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Send your events and alerts to info@wnpj.org

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WNPJ can Amplify Your WorkWNPJ offers several opportunities to spread the word about what you do and how people canjoin you or participate. Send us your news and events: info@wnpj.org .● Online Calendar of events: https://www.wnpj.org/event-calendar● News and Spotlights: https://www.wnpj.org/blogFacebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WisNPJ/Email bulletin: Every week WNPJ highlights members’ news, action alerts, and upcoming events in our weekly e-News. Subscribe here: https://tinyurl.com/WNPJnews

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BIOS: alphabetical

Anahkwet (Guy Reiter) is a traditional Menominee who resides on the Menominee Reservation. He’s the executive Director of a Menominee Indian community organization called Menikahnaehkem. He's also a Community organizer, activist, author, amateur archaeologist and lecturer. Anahkwet has organized a lot of events that have uplifted the human condition and demonstrated how enriching the Menominee culture is. He's lectured at universities on the connection Menominee Indians have to the Menominee River. He's also written articles for Environmental Health News and others. When Anahkwet isn't working you'll find him enjoying time with his partner and their children. Anahkwet is an advocate for indigenous people everywhere.

 

Erika Bach, WNPJ Board Secretary. Erika joined the WNPJ board in 2020, in the midst of the global uprising and calls for an end to state sanctioned violence. She is compelled to action in collaboration with people who support the need for justice in the interconnected criminal legal carceral systems and our educational, environmental and economic infrastructures. Erika strives to build community in solidarity with lifelong learners and facilitators of social, racial and disability justice, accessible community well-being, human rights advocacy and peace education.

 

Mary Kay Baum - a lifetime of advocacy.

After some years as a Catholic nun, Mary Kay went on to the UW Madison for a degree in Hebrew studies. She advocated against the Vietnam War. And as a Junior in college, she ran for and was elected the downtown district of the Dane County Board. Social justice work that drove her to go to UW Law School and served terms on the Madison Metro School Board. Her first job out of law school was Corrections Legal Services. 

Mary Kay volunteered to help the National Lawyer Association monitor safety of the Menominee Warrior Society who took over the Alexian Brother Novitiate on January 1st, 1975. 10 trips to war torn El Salvador around 1986-90 showed her the rebuilding and re-loss of democracy - relevant to today.

She later became an ordained Lutheran minister. Mary Kay next realized that nature and rural life provided antidotes for her health. She discovered the Pine Relict State Natural Area and added it to her list of passions. The Wisconsin DNR named Mary Kay the state Volunteer of the Year in 2019. 

She remains active as a Board member of WNPJ, a strong advocate of the environment as well as Native rights and prison reform

 

Rob Danielson lives in La Farge, Wisconsin. He is Secretary of S.O.U.L. of Wisconsin (Save Our Unique Lands) assigned with its mission to, "to promote efficient and responsible management of electrical power for the public good, while protecting the natural, social and economic environments and citizens of Wisconsin.” S.O.U.L. is a member of WNPJ

 

Paul DeMain, also known by his Ojibwe name Skabewis is a citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and of Ojibwe descent currently residing on the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe reservation. The retired editor of News From Indian Country for 33 years, DeMain has been involved in environmental and treaty related issues most of his life.

DeMain currently assists the Chequamegon Bay area organization Communities United by Water and sits on the Board of Directors for Superior Biodiversity, a proponent of public land stewardship. 

 

Dena Eakles, WNPJ Board member

Dena is a writer, farmer, and activist who loves life. Board Member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice,  past member of WCJP executive committee  ,and president of Echo Valley Hope; Dena also writes a weekly blog LetKindnessWin. Author of The Peace Warrior, you can find radio and podcast interviews and conversations at Echo Valley Hope.org as well as links to TPRF's Peace Education Program.

Debra Gillispie, WNPJ Board member

Debra, a Milwaukee native, is a dedicated wife and mother who believes that faith calls for action. As the founder of Mothers Against Gun Violence (MAGV), she advocates for media equity and actively works to amplify the voices of gun violence survivors through media and the arts.

 

Muhammad Shahzad Hussain <Shahzad@faithinplace.org>,

 

Tynnetta Jackson, Chair of WNPJ. Ty is also the Co-Director of Solomons Outreach and Urban Learning Sessions, Board member of Pastor’s United, a member of NAACP, Building Unity,  National Council of Negro Women, Community Organizer/Advocate, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer a on Air Radio Personality of her show “Tea Time With Ty”, and a Milwaukee Bucks Grand Dancer.

 

Forest Jahnke

Forest was born in a barn and grew up on Dancing Waters Permaculture Co-op at the headwaters of the West Fork of Knapps Creek, Crawford County, instilling in him a lifelong love for this land as well as a passion for community. He sees things at a systems level, plays well with others, and is eager to share what he has learned and keep learning.After graduating from North Crawford High School, he went on to Eckerd College in Florida where he graduated with a degree in Communications, minoring in International Studies and Global Affairs, and Spanish, He has a second life in Oaxaca, Mexico, rounding out his education. He is dedicated to helping folks protect the values and rights of our communities and ecosystems. He hopes to inspire a deeper sense of our collective responsibility to protect these rights. Forest keeps busy on a wide range of projects involving grassroots networking and cross-organizational coordination, research and education, public speaking and community organizing, and more. He is inspired by the massive outpourings of community support CSP has been able to prompt over the years, the data our citizen scientists have generated, the 15 independent organizations catalyzed, and the enduring relationships that have built our grassroots networks on a host of issues. Forest can be found planting, harvesting, cooking and eating food, playing with livestock, cutting firewood, or paddling on the water, the backwaters of the Lower Wisconsin River or the Pacific Ocean.

 

Anita Johnson is the Outreach and Education Manager for Souls

To The Polls MKE, She also spearheaded election protection and the election administration program at Citizen Action. Previously, she worked for VoteRiders as Wisconsin ID State Coalition Coordinator, People For American Way as Wisconsin Election Protection State Coordinator, recruiting and training volunteers to work the polls on election day as well as educating the public about voter rights. Anita has served on the Wisconsin Election Administration Council for the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, the state agency that manages elections. She also worked for many years for AFSCME District Council 48 and is a member of The Coalition of Black Trade Unionist CBTU. Anita has served  on the boards of the Labor Historical Society and the Wisconsin State Retirees, BLOC, Citizen Action of Wisconsin and the African American Round Table . She has received a number of awards, she is very proud to be a recipient of the Robert H. Friebert Social Justice Award, she recently received the Black Excellence Award.   Having attended Milwaukee Area Technical College, Anita is also a graduate of Future Milwaukee, Center For Progressive Leadership and the Midwest Academy Organizing program, as well as a graduate of Milwaukee Business Training Institute.

 

John Peck, WNPJ Board member

John grows vegetables and flowers with his partner on a 20 acre farm near Brooklyn, WI, he taught Economics part-time at Madison College, and is also the executive director of Family Farm Defenders, a national grassroots organization with a mission of promoting food sovereignty, agroecology, and socioeconomic justice.  John is also a longtime volunteer of other WNPJ member groups, such as the Madison Infoshop and WI Books to Prisoners.

 

Britnie Remer is based in Wausau and is 350 Wisconsin's Fossil Fuel Resistance Organizer. The main focus of her work is organizing to shut down Line 5, but also includes utility and energy justice aspects, and fighting methane gas expansion for a fossil-free future. Her passion for, and dedication to, movement work comes from her experience with the Poor People’s Campaign, where she has been organizing for several years. Britnie has particular interest in the effects of the climate crisis and fossil fuel industry on poor and low-income individuals and communities. In her personal life, she loves hiking, kayaking, birding, camping with her partner, and spoiling their three cats, and she is training to become a yoga teacher

 

David Ortiz Whittingham is the Construction Organizer at Worker Justice Wisconsin. A near-lifelong Wisconsinite, he has been an active member of the labor movement for several years, and in his current position he supports Dane County construction workers with wage theft, safety, misclassification, and other issues.

 

THANKS to other WNPJ Board members, Christine Olson, Judy Miner and Vicki Berenson for technical support of the Assembly!

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        Questions? Contact info@wnpj.org





 
 
 
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