Citizen Action Weekly: Friday, May 31st
Friday, May 31st
Attend Medicare for All Rally in Chicago Saturday, June 8th!
Join Healthcare for All Co-Op Organizer, Karen Kirsch, Civic Engagement Program Director, Rafael Smith, and Executive Director, Dr. Robert Kraig for a Medicare for All rally in Chicago on Saturday, on Saturday, June 8th.
We will be taking the Amtrak to downtown Chicago and we have a sponsor that is paying the transportation costs. We have 10 spots open. Contact Karen Kirsch as soon as possible if you want to fight for Healthcare reform on the front line with us.
Northwest Wisconsin Co-op Member Activities
Co-op members Katy Hackworthy and Bob Andruszkiewicz collaborated with our organizer Noah to highlight the need for expanded BadgerCare in Wisconsin. If you would like to see Katy’s story or more of Bob’s work, please follow us @CAWWestWI where there will be more content to come!
Pictured: Katy (left) and Bob (right) prepare to discuss the need for expanded BadgerCare
Homelessness is an ever-growing problem in Eau Claire. A broad coalition is working to change that by setting a 100-day goal to find housing for chronically homeless individuals. Many Citizen Action co-op members and Partners are on the frontlines of this campaign. Read more in Volume One’s special feature story from co-op member Julian Emerson.
North Central Organizing Co-op members march in Memorial Day Parade in Wausau
Members of the North Central Organizing Co-op joined with members of the Marathon County Labor Council AFL-CIO and the Marathon County Democratic Party for the Memorial Day parade in Wausau this past Saturday, May 25th. Pictured is a Wausau City Bus, and the banner displayed was made by the daughters of North Central Co-op Steering Committee member and President of the Marathon County Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, Randy Radtke.
They marched with the bus to honor our fallen veterans. From the NC Organizing Co-op, thank you to all who have paid the ultimate price serving our Country.
Fight for BadgerCare Expansion continues in North Central WI
Members of the North Central Organizing Co-op continue to advocate for expanding Badgercare at listening sessions and town halls where and when available. Just last week, members in the 85th Assembly District attended one of these sessions with State Representative Pat Snyder. Members continue to attend Town Halls in Sen. Tom Tiffany’s district (SD 12).
Sen Pat Testin in Senate District 24 is holding listening sessions. We strongly urge our members and allies to attend these. Even if you think that they won’t listen, your public voice can be the difference in us getting this passed! He has several today, which we realize is very short notice! However, please keep a lookout for emails from your Organizer, Joel Lewis, to keep you updated to when these are happening.
If you are not receiving his emails, please reach out to him at 715-551-2525 or email him at [email protected]
Citizen Action Co-op Member from Rhinelander is Asking for Your Help!
Here is a request from Jacqueline Cody, who is a founding member of the North Central Organizing Co-op, and all around community leader in Oneida County.
Dear Citizen Action Activists:
Blackwell Job Corps** is facing closure by the end of the year. However, all project work ceased as of the announcement on Tuesday, May 30th. This is devastating to the students, the staff and local economies. Many of the students enrolled represent minorities who are in need of the opportunity to learn a skill providing good compensation. Once students graduate they are ready to be employed in union trade jobs and that is due to the success of the program Blackwell is ranked 20th out 125 job centers across the country. WI has only one job center.
I am asking that Senators Baldwin (202-224-5653), Johnson (202-224-5323) and Representative Duffy (202-225-3365) be contacted. Blackwell ranks 20th out of 125 job corps across the US. WI has only two job corps providing the last best chance for young people to learn a trade skill and upon graduation enter into a union job with benefits and a contract. While working on the construction of Rookery Run, disc golf course in the Town of Newbold, we listened to their stories, hopes and dreams of a brighter future because of Blackwell. Many communities in northern WI have benefited from their skilled work, work ethic all because of the skilled teaching staff and this opportunity.
Small businesses in Forest, Vilas and Oneida will feel the loss of the supplies purchased for civic projects completed by the students and staff. These are economically challenged areas to live in and a loss of nearly 60 jobs will hurt those businesses. It is a double whammy on the local economy.
In addition to calling elected officials–Comments can be left until July 1st HERE
Thank you, Jacqueline Cody
Job Corps serves at-risk young people, ages 16 to 24, seeking to overcome barriers to employment. The Job Corps program is the nation’s largest federally-funded, primarily residential skills instruction program.
Citizen Action on the Radio
Listen to Citizen Action Director Robert Kraig discuss the week’s news on the Earl Ingram Radio show here.
Also you can listen to Citizen Action’s weekly Battleground Wisconsin progressive talk show Saturday’s at 10 AM on News Talk 1510 AM Milwaukee and WTTN 1580 Madison on your radio and streaming online here.
Save the Date: BadgerCare Day of Action
We are in the process of planning a day of action on Monday, June 24th in support of BadgerCare expansion in the state budget.There will be several ways to be involved so stay tuned and mark it on your calendar.
“Let them breathe smog and drink manure” Battleground Wisconsin Podcast
The big con continues with news that Foxconn awarded contracts supposedly reserved for Wisconsin-based companies to firms headquartered in Connecticut and England. We also review the new revelation that EPA staff scientists strongly objected to excluding areas of southeastern Wisconsin where Foxconn is located from stronger smog standards. Ryan Billingham of Wisconsin Conservation Voters joins us to talk about the Republican decision to cut tens of millions of dollars from Gov. Tony Evers’ clean water budget, which will leave some Wisconsinites drinking manure water. We welcome Citizen Action co-op member Tricia Zunker to discuss her successful resolution in Marathon County to declare the 2nd Monday in October Indigenous Peoples Day. We close with a deep dive into the Democratic presidential primary candidates of Beto O’Rourke. (Next Week: Joe Biden; in two weeks, Kamala Harris)
Listen to the Battleground Wisconsin on Saturday’s at 10 AM on News Talk WRRD 1510 AM Milwaukee and WTTN News Talk 1580AM Madison on the radio or online here.
Facebook post of the week
