Happy Thursday! Here is your Weekly Update from the League of Women Voters Milwaukee County (LWVMC). Something for everyone! |  | Milwaukee Public School Passes Resolution on Student Voter Education & Registration
The MPS School Board has passed a resolution, saying in part:
“WHEREAS, The Board believes that all students should be registered to vote before they graduate from school and be equipped to make informed decisions about voting; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Administration, in accordance with state law and the Wisconsin Standard for Social Studies, develop a specific plan and timeline to increase voter registration and actual voting by eligible high school students ….”
The League, continuing its partnership with MPS, is collaborating on a plan to incorporate voter registration in the curriculum and calendar of all MPS high schools.
Many volunteers needed for high school events!
MPS has asked the League to work with them to conduct voter registration events at each of their 24 high schools during the open enrollment period, February 22 to March 15, for the April election. LWVMC members who would like to participate in the high school events should access the training materials at the link below. If you sign up on the Google form at the end of the training, your name will be placed on the high school volunteer list. New volunteers will be paired with experienced volunteers.
Click this link if you are interested: Voter Registration in Milwaukee and Waukesha High Schools
If you have any questions about this please contact p.schrader@lwvmilwaukee.org. | “Adopt a Library” Call for Volunteers
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the first "Adopt a Library" meeting. Please find below the volunteer sign up survey and presentation link for review if you were unable to join us. If you have any questions, please contact Heather Lesko at h.lesko@lwvmilwaukee.org.
| Time to Gear Up Again for Voter Registration at the DMV!
The DMV Mill Road was a strong site for us for voter registrations last fall with 54 in six weeks. The days and times are Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 11:00-1:30pm. If you haven’t been at this location before you’ll have the support you need to be comfortable…and successful. This is a great opportunity to talk with potential voters, inform people about the importance of the positions on the Spring ballot and, of course, register them to vote! Questions? Email Ellen Trytek at e.trytek@lwvmilwaukee.org.
| | |  |  | VOTE411.org Voter Guide
Now available in multiple formats
The League of Women Voters asks candidates running for office to answer nonpartisan questions about issues that are important to the people that they represent. These answers are now available for the February 21 primary at our website VOTE411.org. If you would like to look up your specific candidates and their answers to these questions you may do so at this website. Go to Vote411.org and enter your address. You will see your personal ballot.
Some people don’t have access to the internet, so we have developed a document with the candidates' answers. The document is more than 30 pages so it does not lend itself to massive printing. It might be convenient in a group setting where people have the time to look at it, read it and leave it for the next person.
You can print a copy and make it available to those you know who might not have access to the Internet.
We hope that this is useful to educate individuals about the very important races coming up, especially the Wisconsin Supreme Court race.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Primary 2023 Candidates Positions
Wisconsin Local Elections Primary 2023 Positions |  | Combat Dis- and Mis-information & Promote Accurate Election Information | | The purpose of this amplification group is to share posts, graphics and information on the social media platforms you use (like Facebook) and with your friends to help educate and inform a broad swath of Wisconsin residents regarding the issues impacted by gerrymandered maps.
These posts are being created by various organizations, including members of the Fair Maps Coalition Lead Team and the Wisconsin Voting Rights Coalition. They are meant to lift up pro-democracy messages and combat mis- and dis-information. That said, it is important that we not respond to mis- and disinformation in a way that elevates their messages.
Please sign up using this link: Be a Grassroots Social Media Amplifier
| | |  |  | Celebrate International Women's Day, March 8
LWVMC is collaborating with area women's groups to celebrate International Women's Day, Wednesday, March 8. The International Women's Day event will feature a networking luncheon, including a round table discussion featuring top organizations in the Milwaukee region who are committed to empowering women and embracing equity. The event is part of Women’s History Month, a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society. League president Peggy Creer will participate in the round table discussion, featuring women who will share their individual and collective visions for women, uplift issues that matter the most to women, and leave the audience with a call to action.
Wednesday, March 8
Cost: $30
Marcus Center for the Performing Arts - Wilson Center
11:00 AM Networking
12-1:00 PM Roundtable (in-person and virtual)
1-2:00 PM Post-Discussion
Participating organizations include: Professional Dimensions; Tempo; Milwaukee Women, Inc.; Hispanic Professionals of Milwaukee; Milwaukee Muslim Women's Coalition; Women's Fund of Greater Milwaukee; National Pan-Hellenic Council; and others.
The organizations will also promote events throughout March in honor of Women's History Month.
Register here | LWVMC SEEKS FACILITATORS FOR LEAGUE CAFÉ | | If you enjoy reading and discussing good books, consider volunteering to be a facilitator for the League Café. In a small-group setting, League Café participants get to know each other better, share knowledge and have interesting conversations.
In rotating months, League Café meets as a general discussion group, and in opposite months, convenes as a book club to discuss noteworthy books on racial equity, immigration and/or voting. Books are generally nominated by members, who then vote on selections for the next book club or two. League Café members tend to be enthusiastic and active participants but some people come just to listen. Please apply if you love to read, enjoy good conversation, have good organizational and communication skills, are comfortable with Zoom, and/or have any experience facilitating discussions.
Interested? Contact Mary Sussman at m.sussman@lwvmc.org. Will train as needed. | | | League Cafe Meets on Friday, February 24 |  | General discussion 9:30-11 am
League Cafe is a wonderful way to meet fellow League members and to find out more about League activities in general as well as the book club. At this meeting, we will be nominating books for our May and July book discussions.
Meeting link for Feb. 24 (Google Meet)
Or dial: (US) +1 508-970-9069 PIN: 657 465 389#.
For further information contact Mary Sussman at m.sussman@lwvmilwaukee.org.
On March 24, the book selection for discussion will be The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama. The book is widely available in the Milwaukee Public Library System. It is also available with a 10% discount at Boswell Book Company. Just mention League Cafe. “Miraculously, these self-help bromides don’t come across as cloying, mainly because Obama is so disarmingly honest about her fears, failures and all-too-human flaws. . . . You can’t argue with the hard-fought wisdom of such an accomplished woman.”—The Guardian.
League Cafe meets monthly and welcomes League members old and new, as well as community members. In a small-group setting, we get to know each other better, share knowledge and have interesting conversations. In rotating months, we meet as a general discussion group, and in opposite months, convene as a book club to discuss noteworthy books on racial equity, immigration and/or voting. Our gatherings range in size from 8 to 20 people. We have a core of "regulars" but new people are especially welcome.
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Native America: In Translation
Milwaukee Art Museum
February 24 - June 25
More information here
Native America: In Translation, is a group exhibition comprised of artworks by ten contemporary Indigenous artists, including the late artist Kimowan Metchewais (Cree, Cold Lake First Nations) and Madison-based photographer Tom Jones (Ho-Chunk), that considers the complex histories of colonialism, identity, and heritage through a contemporary lens.
Native America: In Translation is curated by Wendy Red Star (Apsáalooke), a Portland, Oregon-based artist who engages archival research and her Native American cultural heritage in her practice. In selecting artists for inclusion, Red Star said, “I was thinking about young Native artists, and what would be inspirational and important for them as a road map. The people included here have all played an important part in forging pathways, in opening up space in the art world for new ways of seeing and thinking.”
|  | | Friday, March 10; 9:00 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Free and open to the public. More information here
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Your participation in this survey is vital to help guide the programming and outreach of your local League and of the LWVWI. | Support Democracy. Support your League.
Your support is critical to help our nonpartisan grassroots organization reach voters play a critical role in democracy. It would not be possible to empower voters and defend democracy without your support. Thank you.
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