Mar 4, 202310 min read

Week of March 5th: WNPJ member group events and action alerts

The time to fight for our right to healthcare in Wisconsin is NOW! Wisconsin is one of only a handful of states that has continued to reject additional funds from the federal government to expand Medicaid. Expanding Medicaid will help more low income people access better health care. Learn more here. In addition, we are facing an exacerbated healthcare crisis in which hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites could lose Medicaid coverage that they have been able to continue due to the federal public health emergency (PHE). The PHE has required states to allow people to remain covered by Medicaid - but efforts are underway to end this provision, resulting in catastrophic loss of coverage in our state. We should be moving forward together towards covering as many people in our state with the best access to healthcare possible, not going even one step back by allowing people to be removed from Medicaid. What can you do? Sign WI Poor People’s Campaign’s (PPC) petition to the WI Joint Finance Committee TODAY And SHARE it out to all your contacts and on social media! You can share the link or print a hard copy in English or en Español. If you collect hard copy signatures, please email wisconsin@poorpeoplescampaign.org to make a plan to get the pages delivered. Fill out PPC's ‘Get Involved Form’ to connect about finding a way to be involved. Do you know someone on Medicaid or excluded from Medicaid because you/they make too much money, because of immigration status or any other reason? Please get in touch with the campaign and learn how you can lend your voice and leadership to this fight! Email us at wisconsin@poorpeoplescampaign.org Plan to attend PPC's Healthcare Day of Action at Madison's statehouse Wednesday March 22, 10am. Save the date! More details to come. Register here if you can join us!

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Action Alert from Voces de la Frontera... Did you hear the good news? On February 14th Governor Evers gave his state budget address, which included a plan to restore access to driver’s licenses for all Wisconsin residents, REGARDLESS of immigration status. He also included other pro-safe roads initiatives like accessible driver’s education and auto insurance. See the video and transcipt here. We applaud Governor Evers for listening to our demands and taking action, grassroots organizing works! Here’s what one member, and immigrant essential worker, Hiram Rabadan from Fond du Lac said: “I want to thank Governor Evers for recognizing me, and so many others like me, who just want to be able to drive without the fear that a routine traffic stop could end in my deportation and our family separation. We’ve been fighting for this right, the simple right to drive to work, to school, to the grocery store, etc. for too long. Gov. Evers is recognizing the urgency to finally restore our ability to drive and allow us to fully participate and contribute back to our communities.” However- This fight isn't over. It is likely that Republicans will challenge the Governor's plan. But, Voces De La Frontera will continue to fight and call on you to join us! The WNPJ Board has signed on to support this work....Has your group?

Call your elected officials (click here to find) and let’s make sure this stays in the budget! More information at https://vdlf.org/driver-licenses-for-all/ or see vdlfa@vdlfa.org Alert sent to WNPJ by member group WI Faith Voices for Justice: Bonnie Margulis rabbibonnie@charter.net ***************************************

Representatives Barbara Lee (CA) and Mark Pocan (WI) have re-introduced the People Over Pentagon Act in the House of Representatives, which would cut $100-billion from the Pentagon budget. The National Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress last December is the largest Pentagon budget ever, at $858 billion, an $80 billion increase over what was authorized in 2021. The USA spends more on its military than the next 9 countries combined. No nation can afford this! Upon introducing the bill, Rep. Lee said “Cutting just $100 billion could do so much good: it could power every household in the U.S. with solar energy; hire 1 million elementary school teachers amid a worsening teacher shortage; provide free tuition for 2 out of 3 public college students; or cover medical care for 7 million veterans.” Over half of the military budget goes directly to for-profit corporations and their executives. According to Rep. Pocan, “We can no longer afford to put these corporate interests over the needs of the American people. It’s time to invest in our communities and make meaningful change that reflects our nation’s priorities.” ASK YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO CO-SPONSOR IT HERE.. Action Alert sent to WNPJ by Milwaukee's Veterans for Peace vfpchapter102@gmail.com ************************************************************

Save the Date! Saturday, May 6th. This is our Annual WNPJ Spring Assembly! All welcome to come share their social justice & just transition success stories! We'll be meeting at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve near LaFarge (and providing a zoom/recorded event option). This is our chance to hear about the activities of Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice member groups; form a nominating committee for Officers and WNPJ Board member recruitment; and to conduct any necessary Network business. It's an outreach event, too, as we will be inviting Driftless area member groups and their affiliates to speak about environmental and other issues they share in common. Watch for details! If you'd like to be involved with planning, contact the WNPJ at info@wnpj.org.

***************************************** Upcoming Events this week for WNPJ groups: (Read about more upcoming events here: https://www.wnpj.org/event-calendar)

Check out events in your community for International Women's Day - Mar. 8th VIRTUAL- Mon. Mar 06, 7:00 - 8:30 pm ‘350 Wisconsin’ Regional planning and climate change - via zoom from Madison. Learn how regional planning can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and foster community climate resilience. Learn how land use planning can address — but not solve — the challenges of climate change. Our speaker, Steve Steinhoff, will share priorities and strategies from a regional planning framework for greater Madison’s growth over the next 30 years. He will share ideas for what climate activists can do to influence land use in our communities. Register in advance for the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkd-qupz8jHtCx2JikRB3t05iy0Jney9AW https://350wisconsin.org/ VIRTUAL Tues. Mar 7th 12 noon - 3 pm - Celebrating United Nations International Day of Women's Rights. This conference, honoring the United Nations International Day of Women's Rights, is a joint project of the members of the Global Peace Education Network. The conference will be hosted and created by Dr. Guila Clara Kessous, UNESCO Artist for Peace. It features legendary activist/actress Claudia Cardinale, Nobel Laureate human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi, award-winning business coach Carol Kauffman, former US diplomatic advisor Stephenie Foster, Royal Thai sustainability coordinator Pear Wongtitirote, and TPRF Peace Education Program Director Willow Baker. Registration is free of charge. Register here: Spanish and French translation available within the Zoom webinar. Sent to WNPJ by WNPJ Board member, Dena Eakles - dena.eakles@gmail.com MADISON - Tues. Mar 7, 5:30 - 7 pm First Ever Chrysalis Storytelling Project event "Building Community, Sharing Hope"! 1342 Dewey Court. We will come together to celebrate stories of hope while we also acknowledge our struggles. This collective learning opportunity will be led by professional storytellers, Jen Rubin and Takeyla Benton. Eight storytelling workshop participants will then present. Sabrina Madison will be our MC for the evening. We invite you to join us at this FREE event. There will be light refreshments, an acapela performance, and of course wonderful stories of HOPE! Click HERE to reserve your spot. https://workwithchrysalis.org/about-us/ MILWAUKEE - Tues. Mar 07 - 6:00 - 7:30 pm Documentary, Dinner & Discussion for Women's History Month. Historic Mitchell Street Library, 906 West Mitchell Street. Screening of MAESTRA, Catherine Murphy's 2012 documentary that explores the experience of nine women who, as young girls, taught on the Cuban Literacy Campaign of 1961. Through current day interviews from in their homes in Havana, archival film footage and still photos, this 33-minute film looks at this moment and how it changed their lives as women. RSVP your intent to come at our Facebook Event. WI Coalition to Normalize Relations with Cuba. wicuba.org VIRTUAL - Tues. Mar 7, 7 - 8 pm Wheel of Time: Seasonal Festivals, Community Life & Personal Growth via zoom - Sinsinawa Join Eric Anglada, Sinsinawa’s Ecological Programming Coordinator, and Thoureau College’s Director, Jacob Hundt, for Wheel of Time via Zoom. For millennia, humans from cultures around the world lived their lives deeply enmeshed in the rhythms of the seasons. During this time, we’ll have a wide-ranging conversation that will cover seasonal observances from different faith perspectives, possibilities for creating learning opportunities around the wheel of the year, different practices for creating community and alternative education and more! Registration ends on March 6 and the fee is $10 per person. Contact Arrangements at 608-748-4411 or visit our website at www.sinsinawa.org/moundcenter for more information. MADISON Wed Mar 8m 10 am - 3 pm "Celebrating HERstory" a day of Women's Action in honor of International Women's Day. Co-sponsored by FREE, along with The Wisconsin Coalition for Dignity for Incarcerated Women & Girls. You can register for this event here to join them. They will be meeting at the State Capitol in Madison (Room 400S) on International Women's Day to meet with legislators about issues that affect incarcerated women and girls. They will be discussing the proposed Dignity for Incarcerated Women & Girls Bill; this bill includes multiple pieces of legislation. WISDOM is supporting this event: wisdomwisconsin.org or office@wisdomwisconsin.org MADISON - Wed. Mar 8, 6:30 - 8:30 pm Screening of 'Battleground'. The Marquee Cinema at Union South, West Dayton Street.This is part of the ongoing Social Cinema Series hosted by the Havens Wright Center. Battleground is an urgently timely window into the intersection of abortion and politics in America, following three women who lead formidable anti-abortion organizations to witness the influence they wield. More info? Visit: https://havenswrightcenter.wisc.edu/social-cinema-stories-of-struggle-change/ Sent to WNPJ by Madison Infoshop jepeck@wisc.edu MADISON - Thur. Mar 9, 6-7 pm. "Running Deep - Understanding Water to Understand Our Future" At the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, 330 N Orchard St. Join four leading experts on water and society to explore how water helps us understand the present moment, and how thinking about water differently can help us build a better and more just future. Hosted by UW-Madison’s Holtz Center for Science & Technology Studies. Info? https://sts.wisc.edu/events/category/science-the-public/ Sent to WNPJ by Madison Infoshop jepeck@wisc.edu VIRTUAL Thurs Mar 9, 6:30 pm WISDOM Spring Training - "Telling Your Story" - virtual event. As part of the WISDOM spring training sessions - join us for preparing to speak at Joint Finance Hearings, or at a meeting or forum with decision-makers. It is not too late to invite other folks to register, here: WISDOM 2023 Spring Trainings wisdomwisconsin.org - office@wisdomwisconsin.org MADISON - Thurs. Mar 9, 7 - 8:30 pm Interfaith Intersections Program “Faith as a moral compass”. Meet at 1704 Meeting House Lane. Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice is excited to announce this new program. We will bring people together to hold intentional conversations on a variety of topics related to faith. Goals: - to deepen relationships among people of different faiths - hold rich conversations on different topics - learn about faiths other than your own. An important aspect of this program is that our panelists are lay people, not clergy or academics. Therefore, panelists will address this topic speaking from their own understanding of their faith but not speaking for their faith. Contact: Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice - wifaithvoices4justice@gmail.com. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqInydhv8SOho2QR4YHiqzGAqBcNmPgfyaKBpJKuc6sfGZXA/viewform SINSINAWA MOUND - Fri Mar 10, 7 - 8 pm An Evening of Music and Reflection with Dan Schutte - Special emphasis for the evening’s concert will be on our beloved Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa as most of them will be moving to Muskego, Wisconsin, this spring. Come and join us as we send them forth on their next chapter of their adventure with God. A free will offering will be accepted. Contact Arrangements at 608-748-4411 or visit our website at www.sinsinawa.org/moundcenter for more information. Sinsinawa Mound, the motherhouse for the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, is located in southwest Wisconsin on County Road Z, off Highway 11, about five miles northeast of Dubuque. VIRTUAL - Sat. Mar 11, 10:30 - 11:30 am WI Transit Riders Virtual Annual Meeting - "Tools and Tactics" - Two presentations: 1) WisDOT’s exciting new ArcGIS Non-Driver Tool with Ethan Severson, Strategic Initiatives Officer, WisDOT re. estimating proportions of specific populations that may be non-driver; and 2) Campaign to Save Public Transit Against Predatory Microtransit presented by Denton Worker, Denton, Texas. Registration required at tinyurl.com/WTRA-031123. Contact: smdevos@witransitriders.org - https://witransitriders.org/events/annual-meeting/ MILWAUKEE and VIRTUAL Sat. Mar 11, 10 - 11:30 Celebrate International Women's Day 2023 with Informative Presentations by Several Women Experts on… “The Impacts Of Gender Violence On Native Communities And On Women In Yemen & The Middle East”. Attend in-person at Peace Action Wisconsin – 1001 E. Keefe Ave. You can also attend virtually through this Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82539910998?pwd=YzFhY2RVR09mRVZnb0JlR0RUVDZCUT09 By Phone Only: 1.312.626.6799 Meeting ID: 825 3991 0998 Passcode: 078720 Free & Open to the Public. Sponsored by The United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee, Peace Action Wisconsin, & the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Milwaukee . info@peaceactionwi.org MILWAUKEE - Sat. Mar 11, 12 noon - 4 pm International Women’s Day Coalition March & Rally. Meet at Red Arrow Park, North Water Street, RSVP to WI Coalition to Normalize Relations with Cuba Facebook Event. wicuba.org MILWAUKEE - Sat Mar 11, 12 noon - 1 pm. Peace Action Weekly Stand for Peace - Meet at South 43rd Street & West Forest Home Avenue, Each week, a different vigil site in Milwaukee. Bring your signs for peace! Questions? Contact Peace Action WI info@peaceactionwi.org or see https://www.peaceactionwi.org GREEN BAY - Sat. Mar 11, 1 - 2 pm Building Unity Wisconsin Tour for Justice and Democracy. Meet at the Brown County Central Library, Pine Street. More info: tinyurl.com/WIJusticeandDemocracyTour General Election - April 4. buildingunitywisconsin.org/ or buildingunitywi@gmail.com MADISON Sat Mar 11 2 pm As we recognize World Water Day, and welcome the Islamic holy month of Ramadan of daily fasting from food and water from dawn till dusk, we honor and celebrate the central role of water in our lives, both physically and spiritually. Huda Alkaff, founder and director of Wisconsin Green Muslims, a grassroots environmental justice group formed in 2005, will share the Islamic environmental justice perspective on water and climate. Meet at Allen Centennial Garden, Babcock Dr. Madison. Contact: interfaith.earth@yahoo.com MADISON - Sun Mar 12 1:30 - 2:30 pm VFP and Forward Marching Band in the 2023 St. Patrick's Day Parade. VFP#25 in Madison is still looking for a few folks for either holding the banner for the march, or marching with the people holding the banner. Contact: Steve Books, Books24u@aol.com. More information at www.stpatsmadison.org.