Random Round Up

Lots of things in my inbox to share . . .

BARRETT WOULDN’T FUND B-CYCLE
At least not with taxpayer dollars.

WOW, DEPRESSING
I like the idea, I’d love to see it done, I just don’t want to wait 11 more month, the amount of destruction in the past month was bad enough.

We have the power to recall Scott Walker. We have to wait one year and we’ll need signatures from 25% of those who voted in the gubernatorial election of November 2010.

http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=11827&locid=47

Let your allies know. Let’s be ready come next January.

WILD WARNER

Wild Warner will meet at Lakeview Branch Library on Tuesday, Feb.15 from
6-7:30 pm. Meetings always occur on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, but location may vary.

Members of Wild Warner advocate for the “wild” part of the park and provide educational opportunities. Summer nature walks/events are being planned. Grants are being written with hopes of coordinating with UW Madison. Advocates are working to protect meadow areas from mowing or more soccer fields, protecting geese and other wildlife, plantings to feed wildlife, and more.

Trish O’Kane and UW students are teaching enthusiastic Sherman Middle School students in the park.

Bring your ideas and your enthusiasm. Neighbors of Warner Park and those who often use the park are especially needed

VIGILANCE

The vigil is on!

About 50 people gathered to kick off the Citizen Vigil for the Greater Good at the Capitol this morning. To read the Democracy Campaign director’s remarks, go here. For some initial media coverage (with audio), go here. Photos are posted on the vigil’s Facebook page along with regular status updates. Another good way to keep tabs on the vigil is to follow our Twitter feed.

Thank you to all who took time out from their busy schedules to take part in Day 1 of this action. We hope all 50 or so who were there this morning will continue to regularly participate and will be joined by many others. The vigil continues on the next day the Legislature is scheduled to be in session, February 22. To register to participate, go here. If you are uncomfortable with online registration or encounter problems with the sign-up system, just take a look at the calendar of vigil days, pick the days you want to volunteer for and either telephone or e-mail us. We’ll take care of signing you up.

GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP COLLEGE CLASSES

First, check out our all free Campus and Community Connection series by signing up for any of these workshops! Sessions are at Edgewood College from 5-7:30pm in Predolin Hall. Dinner and childcare are included. Please register at least 1 week in advance of the session you plan to attend. Registration forms and flyers are attached to this email and also available online at www.grassrootsleadershipcollege.org

Building Organizations That Welcome and Strengthen People of all Abilities– Wed, Feb 16th

How do we build organizations that honor the contributions of people of many ages, physical abilities, mental health issues, and more? Come join the Grassroots Leadership College, GLC faculty member and Access to Independence staff person Jason Glozier, and Edgewood College Conversation in Race and Diversity students to explore the issues of opening our organizations and our lives to the shared leadership of people of many ages, with different physical abilities, mental health issues and more.

Cross Cultural Organizing– Wed, March 9th

Who is at the table? How is power distributed and shared? Join Gladis Benavides, the Edgewood College Race and Diversity class, and your fellow community members in this interactive session in overcoming cultural divides

Perceptual Thinking Patterns– Wed, March 30th

Learn about the different ways different people think, learn, and communicate. This activity based session with Denise Jess and Vida Groman and the students of Edgewood College’s Race and Diversity Class will help you build compassion for yourself and others by understanding thinking processes and will widen possibilities of building authentic connections.

Also, check out our upcoming open space forum Just Eats: Changing Food for Our Community 10am-4pm March 12th at the East Madison Community Center. Lunch and childcare provided. Cost: sliding scale with scholarships available. Timebank hours are accepted.

Just Eats” brings people together, supports the sharing of skills and knowledge, highlights the range of work in our community on these topics and helps move good work forward!

The forum model that we use is probably not what you would expect…it begins with participants identifying their goals and the questions that they want to work through. Our moderators then facilitate sessions around these topics.

WISCONSIN NETWORK FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE ANNIVERSARY
20 years . . . still no peace . . . but still working on it!

The Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice (WNPJ) — a statewide network of 164 member organizations — was founded out of grassroots opposition to the first Gulf War.

That means we’re turning 20 this month. We’re marking the anniversary with a celebration and a day of citizen action — and you’re invited to both!

Please join us at WNPJ’s twentieth anniversary reception on Feb 19, and/or our grassroots lobby day on Feb 23 (details below). You can RSVP by visiting our website here (www.wnpj.org/20events), emailing diane@wnpj.org or calling 608-250-9240.

Lobby day RSVPs are especially important, as we need to call legislators’ offices for meetings. Please let us know if you’ll be joining our grassroots lobby day as soon as possible. The deadline to register for lobby day is Feb 18.

Here are the details

* Anniversary reception – Saturday, February 19, 6 to 8:30 pm at the Goodman Community Center, 149 Waubesa Street, Madison. Featuring CODEPINK and Global Exchange co-founder Medea Benjamin, and former state Representative and WNPJ co-founder Frank Boyle. Other attractions include live music by the Raging Grannies, a short video about WNPJ’s history, unique silent auction items, and posters and pictures from decades of peacework — along with food, drink and birthday cake!

* Grassroots lobby day – Wednesday, February 23, from 9 am at the State Capitol, Madison. State Senator and WNPJ co-founder Fred Risser will open the day. Participants will advocate for clean energy and against new nuclear reactors; call for just immigration policies and prison reform; support Act 250’s complaint process for race-based “Indian” school names and mascots; and oppose a drone aircraft training facility proposed for Wisconsin’s National Guard.

DISMANTLING THE COMMUNITY ACTION COALITIONS
I talked to Greta at Community Action of South Central Wisconsin yesterday and she ran down what these cuts would mean . . . $836,000 for anti-poverty work in three counties would be gone. It would be devastating. The cuts could come as soon as March 1 and this is only one part of it, there are cuts to Community Development Block Grants as well. And yes, this is coming from the OBAMA administration.

The Obama Administration has proposed devastating cuts to CSBG and changes to Community Action. Anti-poverty agencies nationwide will be hit hard if these changes go through. More important, critical services for low-income families will be lost.

WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION TRYING TO DO?

The Obama Administration has proposed a 50% cut in the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), the central source of funding for Community Action Agencies.The Administration also plans on eliminating the state allocation formula and forcing competitive bids for all remaining funds. All together these actions would mean eliminating CSBG and dismantling the national Community Action system.

WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM?

CSBG is the ONLY federal program focused on comprehensive services to fight poverty. If it is eliminated, more than a thousand Community Action Agencies across the country will be forced to slash programs, or even to shut their doors.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

It is essential that President Obama and the Congress hear from communities all across America. We need to work together to let our national leaders know that Community Action is important to us. You can call or email the President and your representatives in Congress. Tell them how Community Action has made a difference in your life. And encourage others to do the same!