| Madison, Wis. -- Today, the Wisconsin State Legislature passed the maps Governor Evers sent to the Supreme Court for consideration in Clarke v. WEC. When the Governor signs them, this will be a win for the people of Wisconsin and the fair maps movement. The Governor’s maps dismantle the 2011 partisan gerrymander, which guaranteed a dominant majority in the Legislature and thwarted the will of the people. For more than a decade, these maps have undermined Wisconsin’s progressive governing history, making elected officials unaccountable to their constituents in favor of big money donors and party agendas.
| Board Member Candice Owley Reports on COP28 UN Climate Conference This Saturday | | The UNA of Greater Milwaukee invites you to
a highly informative presentation.
Candice Owley, a long-time Milwaukee labor leader who attended the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai as a League of Women Voters Observer, will speak on…
COP28: An Eyewitness Report on the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference
Followed By The Annual Business Meeting of the UNA of Greater Milwaukee
Saturday, Feb. 17th, 10 AM – 11:30 AM
Free & Open to the Public
Attend In-Person at Zao MKE Church – 2319 E. Kenwood Blvd., Milwaukee
Parking in MKE Church parking lot on left Side of Church & Street Parking
Attend Virtually through this ZOOM link
To attend by phone only: 1.312.626.6799 | Zoom ID 716 567 5210 | Password: 178153 | | Candice Owley is a retired labor union official who worked as President of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals. She served on the AFT International Executive Board and chaired the health division and international affairs committee. She was on the Executive Board of Public Services International, which regularly met with the UN’s International Labor Organization | | | Rave Reviews for
What the Constitution Means to Me"
The Milwaukee Repertory theater recently added a week of performances to the play's run through March 17. Tickets are still available. See it - help support LWVMC. The play has received rave reviews from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Shepherd Express. |  | |
This is it!! Primary elections are being held on Tuesday, February 20 in Cudahy, Fox Point, Franklin, Greendale, City of Milwaukee, and Shorewood. Also for the Brookfield Alderperson in District 5 and Milwaukee County Board Supervisor in District 8.
Maybe you have already voted. If not, are you ready?
· Do you know your polling place?
· Do you know what is on your ballot?
· Have you researched the candidates?
VOTE411.org is a one stop shop to find the answers to those questions. LWVMC invited all candidates to participate in the Voter Guide by answering questions of interest to their constituents. Answers to the League’s questions are published verbatim so voters see the candidate answers in their own words. We do not edit the responses.
Let’s spread the word about this great voting tool!!
You can help by writing emails about VOTE411.org to friends, neighbors, relatives, and colleagues who live in communities having a primary (see above). Follow this link for a sample script for your email. |  |
Proposed Constitutional Amendment?
Tuesday, February 27, 2024 - 6:00pm to 7:15pm
The proposed constitutional amendment on the April 2 ballot puts our elections at risk. Join us on Tuesday, February 27 at 6 p.m. to learn about the constitutional amendment questions that will be on your ballot on April 2 and why you should VOTE NO. Elections need to be fully funded. Speakers will discuss the constitutional amendments in Wisconsin and what we can expect next.
Learn more about our speakers below:
Joan Schwarz is a member of the Dane County LWV, a retired civil law attorney and University Academic in Literature and Women’s Studies.
Michael Haas is the Madison City Attorney. He worked as a staff counsel and elections division administrator at the Government Accountability Board before becoming the interim administrator at the Wisconsin Elections Commission in 2016.
Read about Question 1 and register here. |  | |
Join us for an inspiring event on International Women's Day, where women from all walks of life will come together to focus on the critical issue of pay equity and inclusion. This symposium, a collaborative effort by leading women's organizations, including LWVMC, aims to empower women with the knowledge and skills needed to advocate for themselves and others in the pursuit of fair and equitable compensation.
Keynote speaker Emilie Aries, author of "Negotiate Like a Boss", will share her insights on negotiation strategies and effective ways to address pay disparity challenges. Attendees will engage in hands-on workshops to gain practical tools and skills. Other speakers will address the importance of civic engagement in advocating for a more just society. The afternoon ends with a lively Happy Hour at St. Kate's (across from the Marcus Center).
Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your career, this event is designed to empower women at all stages to take control of their financial futures. Register here | |
PFAS: The Everyday, Everywhere Toxin
Mar 12, 2024 06:30 PM (Virtual)
News about PFAS is infiltrating our lives and – appropriately for "forever chemicals" – isn't going away. Contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, has been found in sites all over Wisconsin, stemming from any number of the many ways these substances are used.
To arm yourself for the fight to clean our waters and protect the health of Wisconsinites, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin invites you to join us in the first of two virtual webinars that delve into how PFAS get into our bodies, how to protect ourselves, and what is happening at the state and federal level to mitigate this issue. Register here.
Speakers:
Dr. Beth Neary, Co-President of Wisconsin Environmental Health Network
Meleesa Johnson, Executive Director of Wisconsin’s Green Fire | FUND DEVELOPMENT / Money Matters
Who do you know?
Join us in 2024 as we expand our reach to non-members and to businesses and corporations for sharing GOTV information. We continue to ask for:
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Contacts at businesses and corporations where you work as well as any Board affiliations.
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Contacts at businesses you engage with, e.g. your bank, coffee shop, grocery store, restaurants, etc.
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Contacts at the professional organizations you belong to.
Another source for sharing information is the numerous Chambers of Commerce in our area. These organizations share information with their members which are businesses. Do you know anyone that is on staff at a local chamber of commerce? Please share contact information with us for someone you might know at an association of commerce.
Please email the information to Mary Voelker at m.voelker@lwvmilwaukee.org.
Thank you!! |  | | The Elections Research Center is partnering with the State Democracy Research Initiative to host the Election Matters 2024 event series, bringing together various experts to dissect the most important issues and ongoing developments in all things elections-related.
NEXT EVENT: Current Challenges to Election Administration
| | Prepare yourself to help people register to vote! Learn how to register people to vote using MyVote.wi.gov. Learn what is acceptable photo ID for voting in Wisconsin and how to acquire it. Registration required.
March 18 Monday | 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Milwaukee Zen Center
2825 N Stowell Ave, Milwaukee
Questions regarding this announcement? Please email e.aelion@lwvmilwaukee.org
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Volunteer to Help
with High School
Voter Registration | | | We are looking for volunteers to help us register and welcome high school students as new voters. Join us and work alongside student helpers to facilitate student voter registration and distribution of voter information.
Volunteer sign-up for high school registrations differs from volunteer sign-ups for other events. All high school volunteers are required to take the online high school training (Voter Registration in Milwaukee and Waukesha Area High Schools2.pdf). At the end of the training, there is a place to join our call list. Once on the call list, you will receive notices about upcoming registrations and how to sign up for them.
If you have taken the high school training, watch for emails about new registration events. Questions? Contact Judy Winn (j.winn@lwvmilwaukee.org | Election Observers Needed on April 2
The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin (LWVWI) is recruiting volunteers across the state to observe the Spring Election on April 2. Election observers help ensure a fair election by watching for signs of voter disenfranchisement and intimidation, and by monitoring the way Wisconsin's election laws and procedures are being applied. Even if you only have a couple hours to spare on Election Day, you can still sign up to be an election observer. Learn more and sign up to volunteer today!
Volunteers will receive online training, a reporting form, a polling place assignment with flexible shifts, and an Election Day hotline number for questions or for reporting a problem. Questions? Contact LWVWI Voter Education Manager Eileen Newcomer at enewcomer@lwvwi.org or at (608)256-0827. Please share this opportunity with anyone who might be willing to be part of this vital program. | School of Democracy Training
Virtual, Thursday, February 15, 6:30 p.m.
|  | | Are you looking to build a team this year around a shared goal? Perhaps this School of Democracy training is the right one for you! Join Wisdom on Thursday, February 15 at 6:30 p.m. CT on Zoom with FREE's Executive Director, Peggy West-Schroder for a training on Legislative Drafting and Coalition Building. Register in advance by clicking the button below.
The 2024 presidential race and the threats to democracy will dominate media attention in the next year. The ultimate objective of School of Democracy is to reorient activists toward a long-arc strategy to power development and toward the crucial role that relational organizing and canvassing play in protecting our democracy. The guiding principle of WISDOM is integrated voter engagement, or year round voter engagement, and we want to help participants understand that elections are just one of many ways to stake a claim to gaining and retaining political power for our communities. Take action today by investing in yourself and joining this training to build your skillset.
| Author Jonathan Eig in conversation with Cree Myles at Centennial Hall
Feb 16, 2024, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM, Centennial Hall
Milwaukee Public Library, 733 N 8th St, Milwaukee
Register Here. | |
Jonathan Eig’s "King: A Life" is the first major biography in decades of the civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.—and the first to include recently declassified FBI files. In this revelatory new portrait of King, Eig provides an intimate view of the courageous and often emotionally troubled human being who demanded peaceful protest for his movement but was rarely at peace with himself. Join author Jonathan Eig for a conversation with Cree Myles, bookfluencer and curator of Penguin Random House’s All Ways Black, about the legacy of Dr. King and its impact on the concerns, aspirations and future of Milwaukee’s Black Community. Books will be for sale during and after the event from Rooted MKE book store.
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We've Got to Try: Beto O'Rourke at Milwaukee Public Library
Friday, Feb 23, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. | Centennial Hall, 733 N 8th St. | |
Join Beto O'Rourke for a candid talk about protecting our sacred right to vote and what it will take to save our democracy at this critical moment of truth in connection with his new book: "We’ve Got to Try: How the Fight for Voting Rights Makes Everything Else Possible". As a former Texas congressman and founder of the voting rights and voter registration organization Powered By People, Beto is uniquely qualified to explain both the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead as we approach the most consequential elections of our time. Free. Register here.
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Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogue
February 28, 6-8 p.m.
Congregation Shalom, 7630 N Santa Monica Blvd, Milwaukee
Register here
People of all faiths and no faith, all spiritualities and theologies gather in small groups to share a meal and participate in a moderated discussion using a proven model, evoking deep exchanges about lived experiences and the role of faith and/or spirituality in their lives. Through exploration and dialogue, participants learn about the beliefs and traditions of others within an atmosphere of respect and understanding, and are empowered to stand as witnesses for tolerance and inclusion. | The History of Black Milwaukee presented by John Gurda
There have been Black Milwaukeeans for as long as there’s been a Milwaukee. African Americans were here when the future metropolis was just a fur-trading post, and they grew with the city during its rise as a hotbed of abolitionist activity, an industrial powerhouse, and a haven for immigrants. The Milwaukee Public Library hosts John Gurda, a Milwaukee-born writer and historian, for a talk on the history of Black Milwaukee.
Saturday, March 2, 3:30-5 p.m.
Washington Park Branch | Accessing Member-Only Website Portal
The LWVMC website has information and resources that are available only to LWVMC members. To access the membership directory or members-only resources and volunteer opportunities, log in by following these instructions. Contact Mary Ellen Spicuzza at me.spicuzza@lwvmilwaukee.org with any questions. | Support Local 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! LWVMC
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