Citizen Action Weekend Newsletter, Friday, July 25th
Friday, July 25th
Join Citizen Action Today!
Get involved today in our healthcare and climate organizing:
- Eau Claire/Menomonee/Chippewa Falls area, contact: Jeremy.Gragert@citizenactionwi.org
- Wausau/Stevens Point area, contact: Joel.Lewis@citizenactionwi.org
- La Crosse/Driftless area, contact: Kristie.Tweed@citizenactionwi.org
- Milwaukee area, contact: Maletha.Jones@citizenactionwi.org
- Green Bay/Fox Valley, contact: g.degrave@citizenactionwi.org
If you live outside these areas and want to get involved in:
- healthcare organizing, contact: Kristie.Tweed@citizenactionwi.org
- organizing fighting climate change, contact: Kat.Klawes@citizenactionwi.org
Attend The Big Betrayal: How We Fight Forward, next Wednesday, July 30th, 7pm CDT.
The Trump administration and GOP’s deep cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, food assistance, housing and education are an immediate threat to millions of people across the country. Join people from across the country as we talk about what’s in the bill, why and how it passed, what we learned, and what we can do about it. Join us as we commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Medicaid & Medicare, and together, find the way forward towards building power for the fight ahead.
Join our us and our national network, People’s Action, for The Big Betrayal: How We Fight Forward, next Wednesday, July 30th, 7pm.
Can’t make it, but want to get involved in our healthcare organizing, contact: Kristie.Tweed@citizenactionwi.org
Can’t make it, but want to get involved in our organizing fighting climate change, contact: Kat.Klawes@citizenactionwi.org
Can’t make it but want to get involved in our 2026 Election voter contact program, contact: Priscilla.Bort@citizenactionwi.org
Citizen Action signs on to new letter clarifying a 2026 Election Agenda for next Governor and State Legislature
Dear Wisconsin:
As our state begins to turn its attention to the 2026 election cycle, it has become clear that the stakes of the election in Wisconsin have never been more important. Indeed, the past few months have brought the consolidation of authoritarianism at the national level; a cruel federal budget bill that militarizes ICE, makes massive tax expenditures on billionaires, and eliminates healthcare and food security for millions of Americans; and a state budget that fails to solve working Wisconsinites’ most pressing needs for public education, healthcare, housing, a living environment, and carceral reform, all while our treasury sits on a multi-billion dollar surplus.
Yet, as Democrats, we stand on the precipice of being able to win a trifecta in Wisconsin in 2026 and to change course in a way that can tangibly improve the lives of working people and serve as a social democratic model for the rest of the nation. For that reason, it has never been more important that Democratic candidates–especially our candidate for Governor–in 2026 share the following commitments with us:
1. To fight, with every ounce of their political capital, for a fully funded public education system at every level, including a dramatic infusion of per pupil aid and 90% reimbursement for special education; the guarantee of child care for every working Wisconsin family; meaningful support for real housing reform; safely closing Green Bay Correctional Institute permanently and reducing the prison population in the state; dramatically improve the affordability of healthcare by doubling the income threshold for BadgerCare and opening the program to individuals and small businesses to buy-in; building to a guarantee of healthcare for everyone; tackling climate change at the scale and immediacy of the crisis while rejecting the utility and fossil fuel industry’s weaponized obfuscations; narrowing income inequality by immediately moving to a $20 minimum wage; and maximizing collective bargaining rights for every single worker in the state.
2. To work closely with labor unions, social justice organizations, and Democrats in every elected office to advance both legislative priorities and administrative prerogative to win the above agenda items and to build the multi-racial, feminist, LGBTQ+ inclusive, disability-inclusive, worker centered democracy the people of our state deserve.
We, the undersigned, pledge only to support a candidate at the top of the ticket who shows, both in work and in practice, commitments to the above.
- Jon Shelton, President, AFT-Wisconsin
- Chris Larson, State Senator, 7th Senate District
- Representative Ryan Clancy, 19th Assembly District
- Justin Bielinski, Milwaukee County Supervisor, District 16
- Angela Lang, Black Leaders Organizing for Communities Executive Director
- Representative Darrin Madison, 10th Assembly District
- Robert Kraig, Executive Director, Citizen Action of Wisconsin
- Caroline Gomez-Tom, Milwaukee County Supervisor, District 14
- Anne O’Connor, Milwaukee County Supervisor, District 1
- Representative Francesca Hong, 76th Assembly District
- Representative Christian Phelps, 93rd Assembly District
- Representative Angelina Cruz, 62nd Assembly District and President of Racine Educators United
- Missy Zombor, Milwaukee Public School Board Director, Citywide
- Abe Smith, Menomonie Area School Board
- Andrew Hagen, Dunn County Supervisor, District 22
- Monica Berrier, Dunn County Supervisor, District 13
- Pa Thao, founder of Power Up Eau Claire
- Racine Educators United (REA-REAA)
- MGR Govindarajan, Common Council Vice President, City of Madison
- Brenda Yang, Dane County Board of Supervisors District 19
- Savion Castro, Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education
- Henry Leonard, former Milwaukee School Board director
- Megan Miller, Beloit School Board president
- Joe Sexauer, Racine Educators United Director of Membership Services and Organizing
- Rachel Henderson, President, Menomonie Area School Board
- Maia Pearson, Madison Board of Education Vice President, former WI State Assembly district 78 candidate
- Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford District 15, Madison Common Council
- Heidi Wegleitner, Dane County Board of Supervisors, District 2
- Mark Rice, WISDOM Wisconsin
- Michael Jones, Past President, Madison Teachers Inc
- Alex Brower, Milwaukee Alderman, district 3
- Green Bay Education Association
- Representative Angelito Tenorio, 14th Assembly District
- Angela Bazan, President, McFarland Federation of Teachers
- Joey Prestley, Green Bay Common Council, District 6
- Alyssa Proffitt, Green Bay Common Council, District 7
- Neil Kraus, President, United Falcons of UW-River Falls
- Nick Smiar, Eau Claire County Board, District 15
- Madison Teachers Inc. (MTI)
- Lisa Conley, President AFT Local 212
- Yogesh Chawla, Dane County Board District 6
- Representative Supreme Moore Omokunde, 17th Assembly District
- Representative Vincent Miresse, 71st Assembly District
- Jack Eckblad, Milwaukee County Supervisor, District 4
- Ingrid Walker-Henry, Milwaukee Teachers Education Association President
- Steven Shea, Milwaukee County Supervisor, District 8
- Kathy Andrysiak-Montemurro, Kenosha Education Association President
- Fighting Oligarchy Coalition
If you’d also like to sign, please do so right here.
Citizen Action joins child care providers at rally in Eau Claire.
The fight for child care funding goes on!
Last Saturday, July 19th, Citizen Action Northwest Organizing Cooperative along with WECAN organized the Keep Wisconsin Working Childcare Rally in Eau Claire, which included a media event and an opportunity for people to meet and learn more about how they can become advocates for properly funding child care in Wisconsin. In addition, there were penty of activities for families.
Leaders are already organizing support for proper funding in upcoming State Legislative session to make up for shortfalls in state budget funding.
Join Citizen Action’s childcare organizing, contact: Jeremy.Gragert@citizenactionwi.org
Support Public EV Charging in Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee
- Take the City’s EV Survey
Help guide where chargers are installed and ensure the program serves all neighborhoods. - Submit a Public Comment
Let the City and County know you support strong, equitable EV infrastructure in public spaces like parks and libraries. Your input will shape where resources go.
Need help submitting a comment or survey? Or want to get involved?
Contact Kat Klawes at kat.klawes@citizenactionwi.org
Green Jobs Opportunity for Youth in Milwaukee
Are you or someone you know between the ages of 14–24 and curious about a career that helps fight climate change?
As part of the City of Milwaukee’s Climate and Equity Plan and Green Jobs Accelerator, Waves of Change is offering a paid, week-long environmental careers exploration program from August 25 to 29. Participants will dive into hands-on activities, connect with professionals in the field, and explore green career paths that are critical to building a cleaner, more equitable future.
A $250 stipend is provided for full participation.
This is exactly the kind of opportunity we need to build the next generation of climate leaders and show that climate action means good jobs, too. Spots are limited. Apply by July 28. Learn more and apply at: eycmke.org/waves-of-change.
Citizen Action North Side Rising Update
Citizen Action North Side Rising participated with other organizations and community members to voice our opposition to the closing of Pic N Save groceries and pharmacies in the city of Milwaukee. Food insecurity will increase. And medical care will become more scarce. The elderly and those reliant on public transportation will be hurt the most.
If food and medical care are for profit commodities, working class people suffer the most. Goods and services will be available only to those who can pay top dollar.
We have to work together and make our voices heard.
In the meantime, we must create and demand support and solutions.
At NSR’s Leadership Meeting we decided that efforts to grow food for the community should be one of those solutions.
Join us and become a member of North Side Rising as we take on the challenges of healthcare, food security, green jobs and energy burden in our community.
- On Climage and Energy, Keviea Guiden: keviea.guiden@citizenactionwi.org
- On Healthcare, Maletha Jones: maletha.jones@citizenactionwi.org
- On Green Jobs, Valerie Ricks: valerier@citizenactionwi.org
✊ This Week with Citizen Action Southeast Organizing Co-op
🚪 Weekly Canvassing
We’re out talking to neighbors, building power, and enjoying the summer! Join us for one canvass a week—it’s fun, easy, and impactful.
🍗 Community BBQ – Sunday 4 PM @ Kern Park
We’re back at it! Come hang out, eat good food, and connect with fellow members. Bring a friend!
💵 Financial Training Opportunity
Our friends at the Latino Entrepreneurial Network (LEN) are offering a financial empowerment training—a great chance to level up your money game. Reach out for details!
Let’s keep growing together—on the doors and in our community.
Attend virtual The ‘Fundamentals of Organizing’ training, August 25th & 26th, 4:30pm – 8:00pm
People’s Action Institute and Citizen Action of Wisconsin want to engage hundreds of thousands of people in our movement. We are making a deep investment training our leaders in the fundamentals of organizing.
The ‘Fundamentals of Organizing’ training is a two-part training that is held quarterly and has an emphasis on building relationships grounded in mutual self-interest that balances an expansive sense of how a multiracial democracy should operate and a long-term vision for the world with the realities of building power in the world as it is today.
FOCUS: Fundamentals of Organizing with a focus on power, self-interest, one-to-one relational meetings; and the foundation of power organizations.
Introduction to Deep Canvassing: The Proven Method to Change Hearts and Minds, Tuesday, August 26th, 5 – 6pm
This is an information session, not a training. This session will help you understand if you want to attend our three-session 101: Foundational Skills of Deep Canvassing training.
Are you an organizer, community leader, or activist looking to engage with your community around deeply polarizing issues? Are you an individual hoping to understand how to have compassionate, non-judgmental conversations across lines of difference? Or, are you someone who’s heard about this thing called “deep canvassing” and you’re curious to learn more?
Join The Deep Canvass Institute on Tuesday, March 25 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. CDT for a virtual information session to learn more about deep canvassing; what it is, how it’s used and why it works.
This is an info session, not a training.
This information session will be followed by a full Deep Canvass Institute: Foundational Skills of Deep Canvassing, Tuesday, September 9 – Wednesday, September 10
5 – 8pm CDT.
Listen to “2026 Election launches” Battleground Wisconsin Podcast
The 2026 Election is on! Following the recording of the show, Governor Tony Evers announced he will not run for a third term, setting up an epic battle for governance in Wisconsin in 2026.
We preview the huge opportunities for progressives in the State Senate in 2026.
We discuss whether “The Steal of 2028” has begun with the Trump DOJ demanding Wisconsin voting records and records from a number of other battleground states.
We welcome John Miyasato, the president of the Center on Civic Engagement (COCE), to discuss the historic role of community organizing in building a more equitable and just society but its centrality in any strategy to fight authoritarianism and rebuild a more just and equitable America. John tells us about COCE’s New and Intermediate Organizer Training they are hosting in Brookfield, Monday, August 4th to Friday, August 8th.
Listen to the show.
Sign up for COCE’s New and Intermediate Organizer Training Monday, August 4th to Friday, August 8th.
Social media post of the week
