CSS Social Action Email

People will sometimes say, "Why don't you write more politics?" And I have to explain to them that writing the lives of women IS politics. Grace Paley
 
Let us go forth with fear and courage and rage to save the world.  Grace Paley
 
CSS EVENTS:
Serve a Meal to Madison's Homeless Community, 11:50 am - 1:00 pm
From 11:50 am – 1:00 pm at the Beacon, 615 E. Washington Ave. Join Shaarei Shamayim members to prepare and serve a meal to Madison’s homeless community. Volunteers are needed both to cook and serve. More information and sign-up here.
 
EVENTS AROUND TOWN:
Well it is no secret that this world, our country, Wisconsin and sometimes Madison can be a depressing place to live and be part of. So, in addition to organizing events and action oriented events happening in Madison I will try to be a bit more intentional about mentioning events that I think are part of actively making Madison a better, more inclusive and equitable community
 
May 17: UpStage Stigma
From 8:00-11:00 pm at the High Noon Saloon 8-11. May is Mental Health Month. Come see the Third Annual UpStage Stigma, a night of song, dance, poetry, theater, and other performances that link the challenges of mental illness to our universal experience. More details here.
 
May 18:  Voces de la Frontera monthly meeting
This monthly meeting takes place at 2pm at Centro Hispano, 810 W. Badger Rd. Details here.
 
May 18: Healing House Fundraiser
From 3:00 – 5:00 at the Harmony Bar and Grill.  Healing House, is an 8 bed facility, providing 24/7 recuperative care by trained staff and volunteers. The Healing House will provide clients with three meals a day, child care assistance and case management to end the cycle of homelessness.Suggested donation $5  More details here.
  
May 19: Organizing and Community Building with Groundwork; Mobilize!From 3:30 – 5:30 at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 1123 Vilas Ave
Groundwork is a community organization of white people working to achieve racial justice and equity in Dane County, Wisconsin.“Let's build together in community, continue our political education, and engage in collective action! All races, ethnicity, genders, abilities, ages, etc. are welcome.” More details here.  

May 24: Wisconsin Climate Strike 
From 11:00 -2:00, “students and allies across the globe will once again strike from school to demand climate justice. More information coming soon! This time we'll ask our attendees to do more than just strike, we'll make a direct impact in this community on May 24th.Please message us with any questions or send important inquiries to wisco@youthclimatestrikeus.org.” Details here.
 
June 2: Returning Prisoner Simulation
Temple Beth El is sponsoring Madison-Area Urban Ministry returning prisoner simulation. “For a close-up view of what it’s like to come home from prison, please join us for the acclaimed “Returning Prisoner Simulation” developed by Madison-Area Urban Ministry. Participants will be inserted into realistic scenarios and lifelike struggles that formerly incarcerated people are likely to encounter.” More details and sign up here. 
 
June 5: Women Against Hate United by Love Gallery Reception
From 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the Overture Center for the Arts. More details here.
 
ACTION ITEMS:
Push for Medicaid Expansion
From Kid’s Forward Wisconsin: “Last week the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee voted on party lines to refuse to even consider the Governor’s proposal to expand Medicaid and cover more than 80,000 adults, many of whom are struggling to get by. By removing Medicaid expansion from budget consideration they are also turning their backs on the nearly $2 billion dollars Wisconsin could invest to improve and expand health care for everyone. The committee members haven’t yet removed many of the improvements that Medicaid expansion would pay for, but don’t be fooled. Medicaid expansion is the key to funding those popular investments that will help hospitals, people with disabilities, caregivers, counties, and other providers. Some of the things that are now at risk include the Healthy Women, Healthy Babies initiative, which aims to improve maternal and child health and lessen the shameful levels of racial disparity between white and Black mothers’ and infants’ health outcomes, investing more than $40 million to improve and expand dental care, increasing access to mental health and substance use treatment, and raising rates for caregivers serving elderly adults and people with disabilities.” 
This is very disappointing, but it’s only the first step. We’re not done fighting for Wisconsinites to get the health care they deserve. The legislature can still pass a budget that expands Medicaid, and Governor Evers has a very powerful veto pen. Please contact your legislators and let them know you agree with the 70% of Wisconsinites who support expanding Medicaid. Take action at https://www.betterbadgercare.org/”

Earned Release Program
From Wisconsin ACLU: “We asked our legislators to help stem the tide of mass incarceration by expanding the Earned Release Program. Supporting the Earned Release Program will provide a release valve within our overcrowded prisons, allowing incarcerated people to receive specialized treatment for their drug and alcohol addictions and then return to their communities. There are over 3,500 people on the waiting list for this program and only 750 beds. Expanding this Earned Release Program will result in savings to taxpayers, reduced prison populations and costs and make communities safer by giving people the treatment they need.  
The Joint Finance Committee is reviewing the budget right now. Can we count on you to call your legislators and ask them to support Earned Release expansion in the state budget process?”  Find your state legislator's phone number.  Learn more about the Earned Release Program here. Learn more from listening to one person’s story here.

Earned Income Tax Credit
The Earned Income Tax Credit has had a significant impact on working parents across the country keep more of what they earn.  In his 2019-21 budget, Governor Evers proposed increasing the state's Earned Income Tax Credit. From the Wisconsin Budget Project:  “A larger EITC would improve the economic security of families and communities in every corner of Wisconsin. To highlight that, we've put together a map that shows just how much low-income working families in each county would benefit from expanding the EITC. All told, expanding the EITC would expand economic opportunity by pumping $27 million a year back into local communities in Wisconsin.” This is threatened by Wisconsin legislators who have signaled they do not want to include it in the budget. Click here to tell your state Senator to support this expansion.  You can read the Budget Project’s analysis to see how much families in Wisconsin communities would benefit from expanding the EITC.
 
MISCELLANOUS:
**A Fair Housing report from the Madison Community Development Division
 
**There is a limitless number of articles to read that detail the horrors of our political reality. One of my current favorite thinkers is Adam Serwer, so sharing his Atlantic essay, The Cruelty Is the Point.
 
**Fair Fight Action: Stacy Abrams is working on voting rights and trying to build momentum and capacity through Fair Fight Action. Read more about this effort and consider connecting with Fair Fight Action. 
 
**Vote Save America is paying attention to the 2019 elections. Learn more here.
 
**Inside Stories podcast. If you are a podcast listener and like to listen to stories – Takeyla Benton and I just launched a new Madison podcast. We are exploring Madison one story at a time. More details here.
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