BSU Reflections of Ebony Feb. 27

We're glad to see Reflections of Ebony is on and online this year! 

​​Reflections of Ebony 

Guest Speakers:

Jason Sole and André Wright of 

Humanize My Hoodie

Saturday, February 27 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Free Virtural Event

Register:  

https://forms.gle/pb5NFDtfETHNHUn39 

Black Youth Leaders Feb. 23

 

Virtual panel discussion with La Crosse's

Black Student Leaders

February 23 at 7 p.m.

A panel discussion with some of the youth who were interviewed for the film "Amplifying The Voices of Black Youth and Their Parents in the La Crosse Area" will participate in a virtual panel discussion hosted by Bridges Church   

You are invited to attend.

You can link to this virtual event by going to Bridges Church  webpage  and clicking  "online activities" at the top of the page. 

Help, Share, Connect!

Tonight at 6 p.m. ONLINE Join Citizen Action of Wisconsin to learn how you can work toward cancelling student debt.

Saturday, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. join OWR at the La Crosse Public Library, share basic supplies with those in need.

Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m., view the film and share the discussion: Amplifying the Voices of Black Youth and their Families in La Crosse

Tournament in La Crosse = Bad

The LaX Tribune selectively prints (or doesn't) letters to the editor on its website. This letter was in the Saturday, Feb. 13 Tribune but isn't showing up in the open online version. It was written in response to the Tribune editorial applauding the La Crosse Center decision to host hundreds of people from around the state for a basketball tournament. How much did that decision prioritize bringing in money for the La Crosse Center over the safety of La Crosse residents' health and lives?

Tournament is BAD Idea

Recent news stories and experts' warnings indicate that inviting hundreds of people from across the state to La Crosse at this time is a very bad idea.

We're in the middle of a deadly pandemic with a highly contagious, mutating virus. The virus thrives by community spread, allowing more opportunities for more, and possibly more contagious or deadly, variants to develop. The vaccine rollout is spotty and relatively slow, and current vaccines may not work well against new variants.

About half a million people in the United States have died from COVID-19. "Super spreader" events, from big motorcycle rallies to smaller gatherings of people from different households, can have grave health and economic outcomes. To stop the spread and mutation of the virus, people should not be traveling, mingling, shopping, eating in restaurants, and staying in hotels.

Even if the La Crosse Center is 100% safe,
HUNDREDS of visitors will be in contact with and potentially spread the virus to people and places where vulnerable local populations must work and buy essential goods. Nodes of potential transmission will increase. Many Wisconsin residents don't take mask-wearing or even the virus seriously. Even in La Crosse, some businesses don't follow mask rules and official enforcement is weak at best.

I'm surprised and disappointed that city political and health leaders have apparently signed off on this. Inviting people here knowing they'll probably help spread a deadly virus is the opposite of good leadership and public health policy, I think.

Cathy Van Maren

Complete the ENERGY SURVEY!

As the city prepares to put together a climate action plan, they are seeking your input.

Complete La Crosse’s Energy Survey

This survey will help planners understand how our community thinks about and uses energy. Please complete the survey before March 5. This survey should take about 10-15 minutes to complete.

UPDATE: If you are interested in attending any of the three upcoming 90-minute virtual workshops on energy action planning, please contact Lewis Kuhlman at kuhlmanl@cityoflacrosse.org.

We may be nearing some kind of peace with the coronavirus, but the climate crisis will require much more effort, determination, and change.

A new study on 2015 Paris climate goals concludes that, "the probabilities of meeting their nationally determined contributions for the largest emitters are low, e.g. 2% for the USA and 16% for China. On current trends, the probability of staying below 2°C of warming is only 5%, but if all countries meet their nationally determined contributions and continue to reduce emissions at the same rate after 2030, it rises to 26%. If the USA alone does not meet its nationally determined contribution, it declines to 18%. To have an even chance of staying below 2 °C, the average rate of decline in emissions would need to increase from the 1% per year needed to meet the nationally determined contributions, to 1.8% per year." Or, in short, our targets are waaay too low and we're not even close to meeting them. and even if we do, 2% is too much.

This is a crisis for all of us exacerbated by the worship of money and the power of the wealthy to spread the other big lie, that human-cased global heating is a myth (and that includes the La Crosse Tribune through its favorite climate-denier editorialists).

Completing this survey is one small step you can take to tell local leaders that this is important. There are others. 

• Do your own personal energy use/carbon assessment and make changes as you can. 
• Be a climate hawk at your school or place of work--not just about changing light bulbs, but about changing priorities. For example, tell your employer to quit subsidizing single-occupant commuters with free parking and, instead, provide and reward public transport/carpool/bike-ped options ("parking cash out," which has other community benefits).
• Join or start a divest from fossil fuels effort at your school or church and in our community. 
• Tell Dairyland power we do NOT want a polluting, GHG-emitting fracked-gas-fueled power plant in northern Wisconsin. 
• Tell stores you refuse to buy products swaddled in fossil fuel plastics. 
• Tell the county to not renew its agreement with the  the Xcel Energy trash-burner. 
• Engage in budget advocacy that prioritizes clean and green in ag, transportation, and economic development.
• Make a pledge to pay attention to climate news and strongly support climate solutions in 2021.

Community input needed!

 

You are invited to COMPASS Now 2021’s La Crosse County Community Needs Stakeholder Meeting on Friday, February 12 (7:30 to 9:00 a.m.) and Monday, February 15 (3:30 to 5:00 p.m.) via Zoom. 

The purpose of this meeting is to help identify and prioritize the most critical needs in our County. Your input will become part of the Compass Now 2021 Report. The Compass Now report is used to develop important programs, interventions, and policies by local hospitals, health centers, health departments and is used in policy and development by state and local leaders. This report is a key piece of our Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Planning Process. This is an opportunity to share your perspective on the most critical issues and needs facing the county. 

To participate, register via Eventbrite:

* February 12 registration 

* February 15 registration

Participants will receive an advance copy of the data collected for the La Crosse County Compass Now 2021 report. During the meeting, we’ll have short brainstorming discussions on the top community needs within each of the sections of Compass: Length & Quality of Life; Health Behaviors; Health Care; Social & Economic Factors; and Physical Environment & Safety. And then have a series of votes to eventually boil those ideas down to the top five needs of the county.

If you are unable to attend, please consider sending someone from your organization in your absence. Also, please feel free to share this invitation with others. Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me or Liz Evans, Community Impact Director-Great Rivers United Way, at levans@gruw.org 

State Dems Celebrate Black History Month

First: WI Republicans' emails show complete disinterest in addressing racial disparities through Speaker's Racial Disparities Task Force. Not a surprise.

Now, celebrate Black History Month with the Legislative Black Caucus.

The Legislative Black Caucus will celebrate Black History Month with a series of programs,  speakers, and films. Check out the schedule and get links at their FB page.

Sunday, watch GOOD TROUBLE, the film about U.S. Rep. John Lewis,  with Rep. LaKeshia Myers and U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore from 4 to 6 p.m.

Do this

First, remember to check out mayoral candidates' responses to the La Crosse Area Transit Advocates' survey on local and regional public transportation.

Coming up - lots of ways to discuss, ask, collaborate, plan ... Some local, some global. All online.

Saturday, February 6

• OWR La Crosse Organizing Meeting at 10:30 a.m.
• Learn to Build Political Will with CCL at 2 p.m.
  

Sunday, February 7

• GOOD TROUBLE (film), 4 to 6 p.m. 

Monday, February 8

• Last week to vote ABSENTEE IN PERSON for the spring primary (mayor and school superintendent). See the Voter Resources page.

Tuesday, February 9

• LWV: Womens Health Legislation in Wisconsin at 11:30 a.m.
• Between the Lines: 400 Souls with Ibram X. Kendi at 6:00 p.m.
  
• LPL: Jazz & the Civil Rights Movement at 6:30 p.m.
  

Wednesday, February 10

• Seeds of Opportunity: Rural America and the Economic Benefits of Renewables 11 a.m.
• The Case for Climate Reparations: A Philosophical Conversation 4 p.m.

Thursday, February 11

• How to Advance Racial Justice - ACLU 3 p.m.
  
• Ida B. the Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legend of Ida B. Wells 5 p.m.
• Healing the Political Divide - a path forward 7 p.m.
  

Friday,  February 12

• Frozen Obsession - world premier of feature length film 5:30 p.m.

Transit Equity Day Survey and Election Resources

The La Crosse Area Transit Advocates has published results of its Mayoral Candidate Survey on Local and Regional Public Transportation. Only four of ten candidates have responded, but the survey will be updated as more candidates respond. Please read the survey and encourage candidates you know to participate. Talk to mayoral and city council candidates about public transportation and its importance in our community! 

 

Several local groups, including OWR and Citizen Action Driftless Co-op, are working on getting out the vote and supporting local council candidates. If you can volunteer, please do. In the meantime, now is the time to get your voting plan together!

 

FEB. 16 ELECTION PRIMARY

Request your ABSENTEE BALLOT now at myvote.wi.gov OR by emailing or calling your municipal clerk. IF YOU VOTE ABSENTEE FROM HOME, be sure to sign and have a WITNESS sign and put her address on your ballot envelope. You can mail your ballot back, but if you are able, it's better to drop your ballot in the GREEN ballot drop box in the City Hall parking lot.

Vote ABSENTEE IN PERSON now through February 12. Check with your municipal clerk for hours. In La Crosse, AiP voting hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday hours are 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Except Friday, February 12, the hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Use the designated entrance on the north side of City Hall. 

Vote IN PERSON AT YOUR POLLING PLACE ON ELECTION DAY, February 16. 

Get all the voting info you need at myvote.wi.gov.

=====

There are ten candidates for mayor of the City of La Crosse. Here are some resources that might help you decide.

• La Crosse Independent/La Crosse Local January 21 candidate forum
  
• WIZM - two nights of mayor forums
• La Crosse Tribune candidate Q&A collection  
• La Crosse Area Transit Advocates published results of a mayoral candidate survey on local and regional public transportation
  

There are seven candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Here are some past and coming opportunities to hear from them:

• January 7: League of Women Voters candidate forum
  
• January 21: Association for Equity in Funding online forum
  
• February 4: Wisconsin PTA candidate forum 7 p.m. ONLINE

 UPDATE: Voter guide from Cia Siab, Inc.

MTU Celebrates Transit Equity Day, Feb. 4

 

 The City of La Crosse MTU would like to invite you to participate in Transit Equity Day on Thursday February 4^th, 2021.

 

For the past four years on February 4, a network of transit rider unions, community organizations, environmental groups and labor unions have organized Transit Equity Day–a national day of action to commemorate the birthday of Rosa Parks by declaring that public transit is a civil right. Rosa is an iconic figure of the civil rights era who chose the tactic of refusing to give up her seat on the bus to demand an end to segregation in the Montgomery, Alabama, transit system. We make the connection to this act of resistance to highlight the rights of all people to high-quality public transportation run on clean/renewable energy.

The MTU will Honor Rosa Parks by reserving one seat on each bus by placing the poster shown (left) along with a single rose.

January 28 = Climate Crisis Citizen Action

 Take Action NOW to address the Climate Crisis!

Citizen Action: TAKE ACTION NOW! 

January 28 at 7:00 p.m. ONLINE

Even with everything else going on our planet is still in crisis.  Fighting the looming climate crisis requires action at the corporate, government and personal levels.  We need to act NOW to save our futures.

To that end Citizen Action of Wisconsin is hosting a very special, virtual event on Thursday,  January 28 at 7:00 p.m. to highlight actions that we all can take NOW to reduce carbon emissions and save money. 

We will hear from Citizen Action of Wisconsin members and allies about climate campaigns they are working on and learn about how to get involved.  We will be sharing information about how homeowners can add solar panels to their homes at no up front cost.  We will also be showcasing actions you can take to pressure those in power to take bold action on fighting climate change.  Those who attend will even learn how to win a $25 gift card to the Driftless Cafe, Southwest Wisconsin's finest farm to table restaurant. 

Please RSVP at this link for this very special event.  Stopping the climate crisis is going to take all of us working together.  Join us and learn what you can do RIGHT NOW. Please share this far and wide to active as many climate activists and concerned citizens as possible!

Police Oversight Board - your input requested

The Police Advisory/Oversight Board Subcommittee of The Criminal Justice Management Council of La Crosse requests YOUR input! Please complete this short survey to help the oversight board define its scope, processes, and parameters. The information collected is anonymous, confidential and will be utilized in aggregate form to inform the subcommittee's decisions. Law enforcement will not have access to any individually identifying information.

A Police Advisory/Oversight Board would potentially identify, study, offer advice, and recommendations on problems, concerns, training, policies, and programs of its local police department in order to be a liaison between the county and municipal police departments and the public.

The ultimate goal is to improve the safety of all residents, especially for those who experience disproportionate police interaction including Black, Indigenous, and people of color, as well as disable people, those experiencing poverty and homelessness. 

EVERYONE'S INPUT is welcomed! The Survey Link is available until February 5: https://uwlax.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_brW4H5U4eBjOUeN

Call for Fair Maps

We Demand Fair Maps! From Bayfield to Kenosha, Wisconsinites know that when politicians draw their own maps, all voters lose. Across the state, there is broad support to end gerrymandering, with over 70 percent of Wisconsin voters across party lines calling for a non-partisan map drawing process.  The last time maps were drawn in 2011, the lawmakers in power ignored public opinion and gerrymandered the maps. We refuse to let this happen again. Beginning today, The Fair Maps Coalition is joining with other nonpartisan redistricting advocates in an email campaign, led by the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, to demand state legislators enact a nonpartisan, non-gerrymandered mapping process in 2021.  Join us by contacting your legislator today and demanding they show their support for Fair Maps! We’ve made contacting your legislators as simple as possible with this online form. All you need to do is enter your information and we’ll find your legislators for you; then customize your message showing your support for a nonpartisan redistricting process and demanding they do the same. Here are a few things to remember while filling out the template to ensure the highest impact: Customize your message! While a pre-written email is provided to get you started, in order to have the greatest impact we ask that you add additional information about how long you have lived in Wisconsin, and how gerrymandering has impacted your community. Not sure what to add? Check out this document for inspiration. Do not make any changes within the brackets. By filling in your full name and address, the fields "[@advFirst]", "[@advLast]" and "[@advCity]" will be automatically filled in with your information. There is no need to send two emails. Both your State Senate and State Assembly legislators appear when you enter your address. An email will be sent personally to both lawmakers when you hit "Send Email." Share this campaign! Please forward this email to your networks and share the email template on social media or otherwise. Ask those you care about to contact their legislators too. There will be an option to share on Facebook and Twitter in the template. Contact your legislator

 

This week - get active!

You are going to be good busy this week!

MONDAY, January 18 is our national holiday in honor of the life and work of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Viterbo University is hosting a Day of Service, Learning, and Celebration and the evening program will honor local activists and welcome Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II as they keynote speaker. The evening event will be easy to access as a Facebook live event (NO FB account required). 

TUESDAY, January 19 will be an opportunity to hear from six of the seven candidates for State Superintendent of Public Schools during an online forum hosted by the La Crosse County Democratic Party beginning at 6:30 p.m. Party membership is NOT required. To attend, register at http://tiny.cc/LCDP011921

WEDNESDAY, January 20 starts with a COMMUNITY CONVERSATION about "Social Distance - COVID Reveals the Economic Gaps" hosted by the Interfaith Leaders Coalition. This NOON program is online and free. Visit the ILC site for the link to view.

THURSDAY, January 21 is the MAYORAL CANDIDATE FORUM hosted by the La Crosse Independent and The La Crosse Local. This ONLINE event begins at 7 p.m.

What: La Crosse Virtual Mayoral Forum 
When: Thursday, January 21, 2021 | 7 pm.
Where to Watch: La Crosse Independent Facebook Page, La Crosse Local Facebook page, and the La Crosse Local Youtube Channel.

The stream is provided by Dylan Overhouse Productions and Mike Makes.

And don't forget to submit your transit-related question for the La Crosse Area Transit Advocates' mayoral candidate questionnaire. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, January 20 at 5 p.m. Questionnaire results will be published on February 4, National Transit Equity Day..

[UPDATE OF DATE] ON TUESDAY, *JANUARY 27* at 6:30 p.m. there's a two-hour meeting of the local Citizens Climate Lobby. The meeting will be held on Zoom. Learn more and sign up for access information at the link.

Remove all rot

Rep. Ron Kind has finally signed on to support impeachment according to a January 12 notice from Indivisible.

That's just the first step. 

Now he must also support Rep. Cori Bush's first legislation (HR 25). "Directing the Committee on Ethics to investigate, and issue a report on, whether any and all actions taken by Members of the 117th Congress who sought to overturn the 2020 Presidential election violated their oath of office to uphold the Constitution or the Rules of the House of Representatives, and should face sanction, including removal from the House of Representatives." And that would include Wisconsin Trumppets, Tom Tiffany and Scott Fitzgerald.

New reports are emerging of Republican  Representatives helping to plan the the attempted coup, helping the plotters identify important offices and individuals, and helping to incite the mob. More on the plot from elected and prominent Republicans' involvement is coming.

Rep. Kind must also urge and vote for "the 14th amendment solution" to neuter Trump's future political aspirations. "I know you are disappointed but I also want you to know that our incredible journey is only just beginning."

Again, if you want to know what's happened and what's coming next, listen to the podcast GASLIT NATION. Experts on authoritarians and international crime syndicares are like a crystal ball. It isn't over.

Oh yes, and in Wisconsin, the plot to assign electoral college votes by hyperpartisan gerrymandered congressional district results (rather than the state-wide popular vote) continues.

Now is the time ...

 

First, Rep. Ilhan Omar has drafted new articles of impeachment. So far, Rep. Ron Kind is not on the list of supporters. So, PLEASE CALL KIND'S OFFICE NOW and tell him to support this effort. Even Nancy Pelosi says she supports impeachment if VP Pence doesn't invoke the 25th amendment. 

Next, sign Indivisible's form to impeach, convict, and disquality Trump from ever holding office again. 

Then, start right now on the next election. Going into the new year, there are razor thin margins of Democrats in the House and Senate, including many who are definitely not on board with the programs and changes needed to combat the climate crisis, reform the judicial system and policing, change foreign policy, prioritize economic fairness, and provide healthcare for all. In fact, too many Dems are not even on board with dumping the filibuster, ensuring that even in his minority role, Mitch McConnell will be able to scuttle lots of legislation making Democrats appear weak and reducing chances of their maintaining control after the 2022 midterm elections. 

So, right now, focus on 2022 - candidates, voting activism, voter education, voter registration. 

The Gaslit Nation Action Gudie is a great place to start. In fact, if you are not a regular listener to this podcast, start listening now. Sarah Kendzior (The View from Flyover Country and Hiding in Plain Sight) joins Andrea Chalupa (Mr. Jones) to tell us what's going to happen next based on their expertise and scholarship on authoritarian regimes. "This is a transnational crime syndicate masquerading as a government."

This is not over [Updated] Rep. Tom Tiffany and Rep. Scott Fitzgerald have both made clear where their loyalties lie by challenging certified votes. A January 7 poll found that 45% of Republican voters support the storming of the Capitol. State Republicans are forcing colleages and employees to work in a dangerous and toxic environment where the COVID-19 virus will freely spread among the unmasked. Not to mention their NO-relief COVID legislation.

Trump has two weeks to act. There are also reports of the pardons still to come for crimes maybe yet to be committed. 

But, whatever happens to Trump, his QAnon backers and elected legislators, state and national, are just getting started.

The good news: Bernie Sanders, incoming chair of the Senate Budget Committee.

Connected Through Diversity

 

 The Extension La Crosse County Office is celebrating Connecting through Diversity through a public art exhibition beginning on Monday, January 18 and running through Monday, March 1, 2021. In a time of polarity, everyone is welcome to submit a piece of wall art reflecting on what connects us as people while celebrating our differences.

For more information, and a submission form, please visit: https://lacrosse.extension.wisc.edu/virtual-programming-opportunities/connected-through-diversity-art-contest/