Citizen Action Weekly: Friday, February 21st
Friday, February 21
Congratulation to Citizen Action members who won their primary elections this week!
- Tricia Zunker, U.S. Congress, District 7.
- Chris Larson, Milwaukee County Executive.
- Dennis McBride, Wauwatosa Mayor
- JoCasta Zamarripa, Milwaukee City Council, District 8
Citizen Action launches Race Class Narrative Deep Canvass program
The Citizen Action of Wisconsin and new partner Progress North (from the Superior, WI area) had an amazing weekend in Tomah, Wisconsin learning and practicing a brand new “Deep Canvassing” model.
Trainers from People’s Action (Citizen Action’s national network) joined us to lay down their knowledge from the past year of experimenting with this Deep Canvassing model in North Carolina and Pennsylvania last year. The script structure was taken from the Race Class Narrative messaging experiment which is led by national expert, Anat Shenker-Osorio, who is helping us with our scripts.
We will ultimately be taking a Climate message in certain parts of the state, and a Universal Family Care message in others. Both issues will incorporate questions about undocumented immigrants. The canvas is targeting persuadable voters, unmarried women, all People of Color, and youth aged 18-34.
This deep canvassing is powerful in its ability to move voters! However, the conversations can be triggering for almost all of us, as we are literally asking folks to share their racist, fear mongering, hate speech, dog whistling thoughts and beliefs with us. Because if they don’t, we can’t have a conversation that might change their perspective. Our People’s Action trainers provided us with excellent resilience, self care, and assertiveness training to be able to mitigate the amount of emotional labor that can be involved in sharing stories that are meaningful to us, as well as hearing stories and beliefs that are emotionally hard, or potentially triggering. We also learned when to walk away.
We look forward to training Citizen Action volunteers to learn this canvassing model and talk to voters in your area of the state. We will have 4 field organizers who will be in Eau Claire, Wausau, Green Bay/Appleton and LaCrosse area. Co-op Organizers will be working to launch their members, and the team will work together to provide the volunteer trainings by March 1st.
If you want to find out more about volunteering in this important canvass contact [email protected] or your regional co-op organizer.
Meet the 2020 Field Team!
Jon Schwarz, Fox Cities Field Organizer
Born and raised in Appleton Wisconsin, Jon is no stranger to talking to folks about issues and elections that are vitally important in his community. Jon cares passionately about healthcare for all, fighting climate change, fair maps, raising the minimum wage, and ensuring that all Wisconsinites can live their best lives. In his free time, Jon plays guitar and sings in his own band, Bud. Listen to their new album “c’mon Jon” here.
Nancy McCarthy, Driftless Region Field Organizer
Hailing from La Crosse WI, Nancy is a member of our brand new Driftless Co-op. Nancy has decades of experience in campaigns and organizing, and works hard to ensure that we leave a beautiful and healthy Wisconsin for future generations. In her free time Nancy enjoys nature walks in the beautiful La Crosse/Coulee region.
Rachel Pride, Eau Claire/Chippewa Valley Field Organizer
Eau Claire native and long time political operative Rachel brings a wealth of candidate campaign and field organizing experience to the team. Rachel fights hard for all people and is impatient to live in a world where regardless of race or class, whether you are born here or moved here from another country, we all have access to the basic things we need and deserve. In her free time, Rachel likes hanging out with her friends and family, and catching up on sleep.
Don Dunphy and Melissa Engels-Lewis, Northcentral Field Organizers
You all know Don and Melissa right? Don is the sitting chair for the Northcentral Wisconsin Organizing Co-op, and Melissa is a founding member! Both are long time political activists who have stepped up in 2020 to advocate for care for all, ending climate change, fair maps, and making sure people get out and vote in 2020!
Melissa is also a full time mom and caregiver for her uncle and parent-in laws, and also harvests maple syrup, honey, and just this past year started planting hemp! If you have any questions about plants or gardening, talk to Melissa!
Don is near full time typically volunteering for the causes he cares about, I’m sure he’s knocked on your door before! Don enjoys nature walks and photography.
Attend Wisconsin’s 2020 Race Class Narrative Project Presentation featuring Anat Shenker-Osorio
Citizen Action is excited to invite you to attend a presentation by nationally renowned communications and messaging Guru Anat Shenker-Osorio. The event is hosted by Citizen Action of Wisconsin, America Votes, Wisconsin Voices, and Movement Voter Project
Date: February 27th
Time: 10:00 am-12:00pm
Location: The Marquette Room: 2301 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee
Click here to RSVP: Max Capacity Limits Apply. 20 Seats left as of 02/21/20: This event is open to the public and free to attend.
Wisconsin is one of 5 other Midwest states that have joined in partnership on this project with lead researcher Anat Shenker-Osorio and renowned pollster Celinda Lake. For the past several months more than 21 grassroots, labor, civic engagement, and political organizing groups from Wisconsin have been working with the Midwest RCN Project team to uncover how Wisconsinites can build public support for a progressive agenda including women’s rights, criminal justice reform, expansion of democracy, immigrant rights and economic equity. In addition to offering a compelling affirmative vision, this vetted narrative and strategic delivery approach has proven an effective means to disrupt the corporate-conservative racial wedge politics that have been so durably damaging to multi-racial solidarity, racial justice, gender equity and support for democracy.
Please join us on Thursday February 27th when Anat Shenker-Osorio will unveil our state research findings and recommendations for a Wisconsin specific race class narrative framework to combat fear-mongering, hate speech, and dog whistles across issues to mobilize and energize our base, persuade the middle and alienate the opposition.
If you are new to the Race Class Narrative body of research and want to learn more:
Listen to this (https://crooked.com/podcast/chapter-5-the-midwest/ or read this Washington Post opinion piece
Citizen Action Members are fighting climate change (and saving money) by upgrading their homes with energy efficiency upgrades
Citizen Action of Wisconsin has launched a fellowship program as part of our “Green Homes, Good Jobs” campaign helping our members fight climate change, create local union jobs, and save money by upgrading their homes with solar panels, new insulation, air sealing, new heating/cooling units and other energy saving measures while saving money right away. These fellowships are four week programs that can save homeowners thousands of dollars a year in utility costs and allow homeowners to claim hundreds of dollars in rebates and tax credits. Best of these upgrades come at no upfront cost!
If you have been interested in upgrading your home with solar panels and other upgrades to reduce your carbon footprint then this program is for you! This is your chance to do your part to protect the planet while saving money every month! This fellowship will also teach you how to be a leader in your community helping to fight climate change!
Citizen Action’s next fellowship program will be launching in March. For more information or to sign up to join the next fellowship please fill out this form. The deadline to apply for the next fellowship is Feb 24th.
“Coffee With your Co-op” gathering with special guest State Senate district 14 candidate Joni Anderson, this Saturday, February 22
“Coffee with your Co-op” is a great chance to meet fellow activists and co-op members, talk politics, learn about upcoming events, and talk about how we can mobilize our power! We do all this in an informal setting over coffee. “Coffee with your Co-op” events take place in La Crosse, Viroqua and across Southwest Wisconsin! Our next gathering will be in La Crosse on February 22nd at noon. We will be meeting at Java Vino on State rd.
We will be joined by State Senate candidate and Citizen Action of Wisconsin co-op member Joni Anderson. Joni is running against Luther Olsen in district 14. Joni is the vice president of her union and is running on a platform of fighting climate change, Medicare for all, building the labor movement and ending the unfair political practice of gerrymandering. Joni will be on hand to discuss her campaign and how Citizen Action members, even those outside of her district, can get involved with her campaign.
“Coffee with your Co-op” events are open to all co-op members as well as those who just want to learn more about the work Citizen Action of Wisconsin is doing. Please take a moment to RSVP for this event here. We look forward to seeing every Feb 22nd at 12:00 PM at Java Vino in La Crosse!
The next “Coffee With Your Co-op” event will be in Viroqua and will be announced soon so stay tuned!
Progresstival is Saturday, Feb 29th in La Crosse and Citizen Action of Wisconsin will be there!
Progressitival is the largest gathering of progressive organizations and groups in the Coulee Region. This year’s event is going to be huge with twenty different groups talking to progressive activists and getting everyone ready for the most important election year of our lives! Special guest Elizabeth Ward, the executive director of the John Muir chapter of the Sierra Club in the will be the keynote speaker this year.
Citizen Action of Wisconsin will be on hand to talk to people about how they can get involved in our “Green Homes, Good Jobs” campaign to reduce their carbon footprint and save money on utility bills. We will also be leading a workshop called “Organizing for Action.”
We would like a few co-op members to be on hand to help get the word out about Citizen Action of Wisconsin at our table. If you are interested in signing up for a short volunteer shift please email Ben at [email protected].
For more information on this exciting event you can visit the Coulee Progressive website right here. We hope to see everyone join us and get involved with Citizen Action and all our progressive partners. Together we can create a better tomorrow!
Healthcare story collection event in La Crosse, March 7th
Whether you are black, white, Asian American or Native American we all have had issues with healthcare in America. Have you ever faced unexpected healthcare bills? Have you ever skipped going to the doctor when you should have gone because of the cost? Have you ever lost your health insurance? Have you or a loved one ever skipped filling a prescription due to the high cost? Is your health insurance basically useless due to the high cost of co-pays or deductibles? Do you have loved ones who don’t have any health insurance? The story of your experience in the current American healthcare system has power to create real change!
Citizen Action believes that healthcare should be a human right and we are mobilizing our members to take action to expand that right to everyone! Your story can have a huge impact and help to expand healthcare! Join us on at 12:30 PM March 7th at the Southside La Crosse Public Library to learn how to tell your healthcare story. We will be collecting stories to be used across social media and in lobbying efforts. John Havlicek from the La Crosse teacher’s union will be on hand to teach everyone the power of their stories and how those stories can create a better tomorrow! Everyone will be able to record a video telling their own personal story.
This event is open to the public so please invite friends and family who care about expanding healthcare across Wisconsin and across America! Please RSVP for this event here.
Canvass for Milwaukee Public Schools Referendum, Saturday, February 22nd
Vote Yes for MPS coalition, which includes Citizen Action of Wisconsin, is canvassing in support of the April 7th referendum this Saturday, February 22nd, 10am – 1pm & Noon – 3pm.
Canvassers can meet at:
- MTEA office, 5130 W. VlietSt.
- Bay View Community Center, 1320 E Oklahoma Ave.
- Peace Action Wisconsin, 1001 E Keefe Ave.
RSVP here
Get a Yes for MPS yard sign (see image) We have signs in our office, 221 S. 2nd ST. #300
Join us Thursday, Feb. 27th in Wauwatosa as we discuss on how we can move our utility to renewable energies
Panel members will help us explore:
- How does our local utility compare to other utilities in the region?
- How can we accelerate the transition to clean energy in the Milwaukee area?
- What are the economic impacts of shifting from fossil fuels to clean energy?
- What policy changes are needed?
- How can the City-County Task Force developing Milwaukee’s Green New Deal drive a faster, more equitable, Clean Energy Transition.
Date: Thursday, February 27, 2020
Time: 6-8pm
Universal Family Care and the Healthcare Co-op
The long term care team, got together in the City of Wauwatosa this week to talk about their plans to let Wisconsin know about a new Resolution called Universal Family Care. Our current care structure is burdening families instead of supporting them. UFC is a new social insurance program that would make early child care, paid leave, support for people with disabilities and elder care accessible and affordable for all. If you think this is something we need, email Karen, our healthcare organizer at [email protected].
The team is setting up a public event to talk about it on March 18th so stay tuned.
“Let’s get ready to rumble” Battleground Wisconsin Podcast
We review the boxing match that broke out during the sensational Nevada Democratic presidential primary debate in Las Vegas. The panel debriefs this week’s Spring Primary Election in Wisconsin that saw Jill Karofsky easily advance to the general election against conservative Dan Kelly in the state Supreme Court race. We close with a discussion of the Republican legislature’s rejection of Governor Evers’ plan to increase education funding and instead make regressive moves to increase mass incarceration.
LISTEN NOW – EPISODE #430
Download Mp3
Citizen Action Media Clips
Facebook post of the week
