LWV of Milwaukee County is a nonpartisan, grassroots political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
VOTE411 launches tomorrow!!
The Spring 2024 online Voter Guide will be available tomorrow! It is your resource for the election on April 2 which will include races for state-wide and local offices. Go to Vote411.org and type in your address. You will see the races that appear on your ballot and the candidates running for these offices. Candidates participate in our online voter guide by entering their campaign information and answering the League’s questions. All candidate responses to our questions are published verbatim from the candidates. We do not edit candidate responses.
You canvolunteer to encourage participation by signing up to write emails about VOTE411.org to friends, neighbors, relatives, and colleagues who live in Milwaukee and Waukesha County. You can sign upherewhere a sample script is available:
Click on any of the events saying “Campaign to Encourage VOTE411 Participation.” You can write the emails any day after March 8 and before the Spring Election.
LWVMC’s Reproductive Rights Committee was formed in the summer of 2023 to address concerns about access to reproductive health care, including abortion, in Wisconsin. The committee’s goals are to follow legislation and court actions in Wisconsin and around the country, to provide educational forums focused on abortion and reproductive health, and to collaborate with other organizations and demographics with like interests.
The most recent development is an original action filed by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin (PPWI) on February 22 asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to protect the right to access and provide abortion in Wisconsin. At the core of the petition is Article 1, Section 1 of the Declaration of Rights in the Wisconsin State Constitution, which reads: “All people are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights; among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
PPWI believes included in these inherent rights are bodily autonomy and integrity and the right to self-determination. The Reproductive Rights Committee supports PPWI’s action to ensure reproductive freedom for the citizens of Wisconsin.
The Elections Research Center is partnering with theState Democracy Research Instituteto host the Election Matters 2024 event series, bringing together various experts to dissect the most important issues and ongoing developments in all things elections-related.
NEXT EVENT: Current Challenges to Election Administration
Join us for an inspiring event on International Women's Day, where women from all walks of life will come together to focus on the critical issue of pay equity and inclusion. This symposium, a collaborative effort by leading women's organizations, including LWVMC, aims to empower women with the knowledge and skills needed to advocate for themselves and others in the pursuit of fair and equitable compensation.
Keynote speaker Emilie Aries, author of "Negotiate Like a Boss", will share her insights on negotiation strategies and effective ways to address pay disparity challenges. Attendees will engage in hands-on workshops to gain practical tools and skills. Other speakers will address the importance of civic engagement in advocating for a more just society. The afternoon ends with a lively Happy Hour at St. Kate's (across from the Marcus Center).
All are invited to attend! There is no need to register in advance for this event!
Karen Lemke and Jennifer Lemke, co-authors of “Easy Walks and Paddles in Milwaukee” will discuss their explorations and discoveries of accessible recreational pathways and parks for people with disabilities. Each chapter is a review of what to expect and how to navigate through each park. Kayaking accessible potentials as well. Links are added at nearly every review to view any events that may be taking place during your journey.
Please join us to hear more about ways to explore Milwaukee knowledgeably, as well as why and how Karen and Jennifer created this book for you.
PFAS: The Everyday, Everywhere Toxin
Mar 12, 2024 06:30 PM (Virtual)
News about PFAS is infiltrating our lives and – appropriately for "forever chemicals" – isn't going away. Contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, has been found in sites all over Wisconsin, stemming from any number of the many ways these substances are used.
To arm yourself for the fight to clean our waters and protect the health of Wisconsinites, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin invites you to join us in the first of two virtual webinars that delve into how PFAS get into our bodies, how to protect ourselves, and what is happening at the state and federal level to mitigate this issue.
REGISTER HERE
SPEAKERS:
Dr. Beth Neary, Co-President of Wisconsin Environmental Health Network
Meleesa Johnson, Executive Director of Wisconsin’s Green Fire
Prepare yourself to help people register to vote!Learn how to register people to vote usingMyVote.wi.gov. Learn what is acceptable photo ID for voting in Wisconsin and how to acquire it.Registration required.
March 18 Monday | 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Milwaukee Zen Center
2825 N Stowell Ave, Milwaukee
Questions regarding this announcement? Please emaile.aelion@lwvmilwaukee.org
What the Constitution Means to Me"
The Milwaukee Repertory theater recently added a week of performances to the play's run through March 17.Tickets are still available. See it - help support LWVMC. The play has received rave reviews from theMilwaukee Journal SentinelandShepherd Express.
We are looking for volunteers to help us register and welcome high school students as new voters. Join us and work alongside student helpers to facilitate student voter registration and distribution of voter information.
Volunteer sign-up for high school registrations differs from volunteer sign-ups for other events. All high school volunteers are required to take the online high school training(Voter Registration in Milwaukee and Waukesha Area High Schools2.pdf). At the end of the training, there is a place to join our call list. Once on the call list, you will receive notices about upcoming registrations and how to sign up for them.
The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin (LWVWI) is recruiting volunteers across the state to observe the Spring Election on April 2. Election observers help ensure a fair election by watching for signs of voter disenfranchisement and intimidation, and by monitoring the way Wisconsin's election laws and procedures are being applied. Even if you only have a couple hours to spare on Election Day, you can still sign up to be an election observer.Learn more and sign up to volunteertoday! Volunteers will receive online training, a reporting form, a polling place assignment with flexible shifts, and an Election Day hotline number for questions or for reporting a problem. Questions? Contact LWVWI Voter Education Manager Eileen Newcomer atenewcomer@lwvwi.orgor at (608)256-0827. Please share this opportunity with anyone who might be willing to be part of this vital program.
General Discussion
Community Room at the East Branch Library
Our March meeting is a general discussion meeting and a chance to continue talking about "Milked" (our February Book Club choice) and any other topics of interest to the group! Hope to see you there!
Warmest Regards from, Marie Garnhart, Pat McFarland, Mary Ellen Spicuzza
The United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee invites you to a virtual celebration of the “2024 International Women’s Day” with presentations by three distinguished women:Rickey Gard Diamond – Founder of An Economy of Our Own; Bernadette Karanja – Chief Equity Officer City of Milwaukee Office of Equity & Inclusion; Bianca Shaw – President of Wisconsin Women’s Network.
Attend Virtually by clicking on the Zoom linkhere.
Co-sponsored by Peace Action of WI & Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom
Tuesdays in March: March 5, 12, 19 & 26, 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
RegisterHerefor Virtual or In-Person attendance
First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, 1342 N. Astor St., Milwaukee
Sponsored by the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee
Accessing Member-Only Website Portal
TheLWVMC websitehas information and resources that are available only to LWVMC members. To access the membership directory or members-only resourcesand volunteer opportunities, log in byfollowing these instructions. Contact Mary Ellen Spicuzza atme.spicuzza@lwvmilwaukee.orgwith any questions.
Support Local Democracy. Support Your League.
Your support is critical to help our nonpartisan grassroots organization reach voters play a critical role in democracy. It would not be possible to empower voters and defend democracy without your support.
Thank you! LWVMC