April 5 Follow Up

The energy we absorbed and connections we made at the April 5 demonstration showed us that we are powerful and there are a lot of is.

Now what?

First, if you want, fill out this short survey. Do you want to help plan the next event? Want to get event security training or learn more about organizing. Fill out the survey.

Nobody can do everything but everybody must do something! Here are some ideas to get you reflecting. What skills, experience, and interest can you bring to building a more resilient community that takes care of everyone? In the absence of a reliable federal safety net, how will you help those who are more vulnerable? 

Nobody can make your next move for you, so how will you take the energy from the April 5  gathering forward in your life?

Many of us have already been working to strengthen our community through supportive programs and volunteer work. Many of us have already been politically active, canvassing and working for good candidates and policies. Keep it up.

Connect with groups that can help us continue this important work like

• League of Women Voters of the La Crosse Area - the League is fearlessly working to ensure people are educated about issues and are able to vote. More and bigger attacks on voting rights are coming with the SAVE Act and through state and local roadblocks. 
• Citizen Action of Wisconsin - Citizen Action is an organizing co-op. People pool resources to hire a full-time professional organizer to work on issues they identify as priorities. Citizen Action hosted the recent Medicaid Town Hall and led members for a lobbying day in Madison.
• Coulee Region Sierra Club - a member group of the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Sierra Club, CRSC works on local issues like clean water and clean energy and connects with a powerful network of state activists to oppose Line 5 and new fracked gas plants,bright for clean air and water, protect sensitive habitats, and more.

Other great groups are linked in the resources list. Find one that's getting stuff done and help them. Encourage others to participate, too. If you can, give cash and other help to mutual aid organizations doing important work to end homelessness, reduce food insecurity, assist people with immigration issues, and support those with disabilities.

Pay attention to what's happening in our city government. Apply to be on a city advisory committee. Attend public hearings and input sessions. Watch or attend city and school board meetings and weigh in with electeds. Consider running for office. Write letters to the editor.

Join and strengthen your neighborhood association. Help plan, promote, and put on important community events like Juneteenth, Pride in the Park, and Disability Fest. 

Keep up with Indivisible.org, ThirdAct.org, MoveOn.org and other national groups. Sign up for 5Calls.org daily actions.

Join weekly protests - Thursdays, with Women in Black, from noon to 12:30 p.m. at 4th & Main, and Fridays from noon to 1 p.m. at 4th & La Crosse Street.

Keep the pressure on our electeds. Schedule visits to Derrick Van Orden's local office every week. Take five friends and tell about how his feckless sycophancy is harming you, your family, your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers, our health, our environment, our future. Visit Senator Baldwin's local office and push her to take much stronger action and rally her Senate colleagues to get their act together. Call their offices every day.

What else? Feed back on the contact form. Submit an event for the calendar. Watch for upcoming opportunities to get involved.