Protest at DVO Office

From Opportunity Wisconsin:

On Tuesday, September 30th at 6:00 PM, we will gather outside Rep. Van Orden’s office at 210 7th St S in La Crosse for a Shutdown Eve Gathering.

• Facebook Event

• Mobilize Event

Ahead of the midnight deadline to avoid a shutdown, we’ll stand together to demand that Rep. Van Orden restore harmful cuts and keep the government open. A shutdown means higher health care costs, more strain on food programs, and even more uncertainty for families who are already struggling.

We invite everyone to think about what you would say to Rep. Van Orden if he were here. If you’d like, bring remarks to share with the group — whether that’s a short story about how cuts affect you, or simply why keeping the government open matters to your family.

Please join us and bring a friend. Feel free to bring a candle or sign if you’d like.

Week Without Driving

From La Crosse Area Transit Advocates:

WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING IS COMING SOON!

Week Without Driving (WWD) is a national event that highlights the challenges faced by non-drivers in our car-centric world and explores the benefits of ensuring we all have access to great walking, biking, and public transportation. 

Please join us by participating in the Week Without Driving Experience or fill out a WWD BINGO CARD (available by September 28) from Sunday, September 28 through Sunday, October 5. Turn in a completed card and be entered in a prize drawing.

And check out the many great local events, programs, and experiences, including group bike and bus rides, a film, panel discussions, and more.

Check out the WWD La Crosse web page at https://tinyurl.com/WWDLaCrosse for more details.

Green Drinks/Renew the Block

GREEN DRINKS

TUESDAY, SEPT. 23 at 5:30 p.m.

Come tour the Renew the Block project that's being organized by Habitat for Humanity. We'll meet at Logan Middle School at 5:30 PM. RSVP:  Nick Nichols, nnichols4896@gmail.com

Here's a synopsis below by our tour guide Kaitlyn.

ReNew the Block is a neighborhood revitalization initiative led by Habitat for Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region, focused on transforming a single block in La Crosse’s Logan Northside Neighborhood into a model of sustainability and community collaboration.

Location: Avon Street between Sill and Clinton Streets, involving 29 city parcels, Logan Middle School, and surrounding boulevards and sidewalks.

• Community Collaboration: Designed in partnership with residents and Logan Middle School students.
• Environmental Improvements: Installation of permeable paver pathways to manage stormwater. Planting shade trees, native plants, and fruit trees to create a community orchard. Creation of pollinator gardens and rain gardens.
• Educational Enhancements: Development of an outdoor classroom, walking path, and food forests for Logan Middle School. Student involvement in design and planting efforts.
• Home Repairs: Exterior upgrades including new gutters and landscaping. Critical repairs focused on safety, health, and energy efficiency.
• Art & Culture: A community mural at Logan Middle School, designed by students and painted by a local artist.
• Fundraising Component: Supporters can sponsor customized permeable pavers (small, medium, or large) that will be installed as part of the pathway, symbolizing their commitment to sustainability and community development.

The initiative blends stormwater mitigation, urban agriculture, education, and home repair to create a replicable model for sustainable neighborhood transformation. 

Come tour it with us and talk about the future of neighborhood revitalization during Green Drinks on Tuesday, September 23^rd at 5:30 pm! 

Drinks are not allowed on school property, so we will be tailgating in the parking lot (city owned) and potentially adjourning to a local bar (Fish's) right around the corner. Can't wait to see you there! 

SUN Day Part 2

"The solar revolution means that power can be decentralized, democratized, distributed far more justly. So it makes perfect and hideous sense, given the nostalgia of authoritarians for their version of a golden age (of exclusion, exploitation, and inequality), to tie themselves to the past, with the heavy anchor of all fossil fuel's problems." -  Rebecca Solnit, Meditations in an Emergency newsletter.

 ###

"U.S. solar capacity has grown more than 180 percent over the past five years, and it has accounted for most of the new generating capacity added to the country's grid in the past year as companies found solar—frequently paired with battery storage—the cheapest and fastest way to meet energy demand."

###

"Plug-in 'balcony' solar, already widely adopted in Europe, allows households to generate their own clean energy by simply plugging a certified solar system into a standard wall outlet. By updating outdated regulations, Vermont can open the door to affordable, at-home solar for renters, condo owners, and homeowners who have long been left out of the clean energy transition."

 ###

"Think about it this way: When you rely 100% on the electrical grid and utility provider for your power, you're totally at the mercy of their energy rate increases. But when you install solar panels, you suddenly have your own source of energy production.

"Solar panels obviously have an upfront cost, but once you own them, the energy they produce is eternally free, and maintenance costs are very low and predictable. 'That scenario provides you control over the resource and what it costs you,' Rosenblatt said."

City Administrator - Public Input Sessions

La Crosse's City Administrator Working Group will host public input sessions in the next few weeks. According to a News 8 report, "The proposed city administrator position would assume some mayoral duties and carry an estimated salary of $248,000 including benefits."

[In the City of La Crosse, according to the US Census as shown on the City's Market and City web page, the median per capita income is $27,398 and the median household income is $46,438. Just for reference. Updated (2023) information shows a median per capita income of $34,356 and median household income of $53,803, with 21.6% living under the poverty line.]

Read more at  https://www.wizmnews.com/2025/09/10/committee-studying-la-crosse-city-administrator-plan-sets-dates-for-public-hearings/

and

https://www.news8000.com/news/local-news/la-crosse/city-administrator-work-group-prepares-for-public-feedback/article_a8a646e4-13a8-40e0-ada4-ba7d96a10784.html

There are competing proposals - a City Administrator position that would report to the City Council, an idea the Council has been working on for quite a long time, or a Director of Operations position that would report to the Mayor, proposed by the Mayor recently but nixed by the Council.

Public input sessions:

September 30: Noon & 6 p.m., Black River Beach Center

October 6: Noon & 6 p.m. at The Nature Place, Myrick Park

October 8: Noon & 6 p.m., online

October 14: Noon & 6 p.m., Hmong Cultural & Community Center on Ward Ave.

Hmong New Year Sept. 20-21

 

"The Hmong New Year (Xyoo Tshiab, or Noj Peb Caug)—is far more than a celebration; it's a powerful tribute to tradition, community, and renewal. Rooted in centuries-old customs, this vibrant gathering honors our ancestors, gives thanks for the past year's blessings, and welcomes a future full of hope and opportunity.

"Over an unforgettable weekend, our community comes alive with traditional music, lively dance shows, and delicious Hmong food. From dance competitions to high-high-energy soccer and volleyball tournaments, every moment is filled with energy, connection, and cultural pride.

"This isn't just an event—it's a cultural homecoming, a place where generations come together, identities are celebrated, and our heritage is shared with joy and meaning. The Hmong New Year is where our story comes to life—and everyone is welcome to be part of it."

This is the 43rd annual Hmong New Year in the La Crosse area and the 50th anniversary of the national Hmong resettlement journey. Read more at https://tinyurl.com/25laxhny

For Our Future

From For Our Future Wisconsin

We are partnering with Conservation Voters to bring you a climate change awareness event at 5 p.m. on September 25th online! Info is in this link: https://www.mobilize.us/forourfuturewi/event/838424/

As climate change accelerates, the protections we rely on to safeguard our air, water, and communities are being rolled back. These changes threaten not just the environment, but our health, jobs, and future generations. Together, we’ll explore the local impacts of weakened environmental safeguards and discuss real solutions that put people and the planet first. 

Also, on Wednesday, September 17 at 5 p.m. online, we are hosting a training to help hone your skills in writing letters to the editor. These letters help sway public opinion in your community! https://www.mobilize.us/forourfuturewi/event/838426/

Want to speak out on the issues that matter to your community? Letters to the editor are a powerful way to raise awareness, influence public opinion, and hold elected officials accountable — and your voice matters.

Join FOF WI for a Letter to the Editor Workshop, where you'll learn how to write compelling, effective letters that get published. Whether you're new to advocacy or a seasoned writer, this event will give you the tools and confidence to make an impact.

Deconstructing Karen

 From DKCouleeRegion:

The La Crosse Public Library will be hosting a screening of Deconstructing Karen. Check out the information below and use the form link at the bottom to register. Hope to see you there! 

You’re Invited: Film Screening + Discussion
Deconstructing Karen - An Honest Conversation About Race, Power, and Responsibility

Join us for a screening and discussion of the powerful documentary Deconstructing Karen. 

This provocative film takes viewers inside an unfiltered conversation on race, gender, privilege, and power — challenging participants to reflect on how good intentions are not enough when dismantling racism. The discussion afterward will invite us to connect what we’ve seen in the film to our own lives, communities, and organizations — exploring how we can move beyond “niceness” and into deeper accountability and action.

There is a place for everyone in this conversation, but please note: the film and discussion directly address how dominant groups — particularly white-identifying people — may unknowingly perpetuate systemic racism, even with the best of intentions. Bring your courage, humility, and openness! 

Details:
September 22, 2025
5:30 - 8:00 p.m.
La Crosse Public Library - Main Branch

Free, registration required: REGISTER HERE

SPACE IS LIMITED TO 20 PARTICIPANTS

Constitution programs

Born Equal: America’s Founding Promise and the Fight for Equality

Tuesday, September 16 at 5:30 p.m. CT

On the eve of Constitution Day, constitutional scholar Akhil Reed Amar of Yale Law School discusses his new book, Born Equal: Remaking America’s Constitution, 1840–1920, which explores the transformative amendments that redefined freedom, equality, and voting rights in the post–Civil War era. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. 

Register for online access here: https://constitutioncenter.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RYiW2-nuTlyL8_5V1g90lA#/registration

~~~~~

An Evening With Justice Amy Coney Barrett

Wednesday, September 17 at 5:30 p.m. CT

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett joins National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a special Constitution Day conversation to discuss her new book, Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and the Constitution. Justice Barrett reflects on her journey to the Court and offers a glimpse into her role (and daily life) as a justice, including her deliberative process and how she approaches interpreting the Constitution.

Register: https://constitutioncenter.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ihB4VYx5QeW6PyLnkqzXjw#/registration

~~~~~

Our Fragile Freedoms

Wednesday, September 24 at 11 a.m. CT

Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Eric Foner discusses Our Fragile Freedoms, a new collection of essays exploring a range of topics, including debates over slavery and antislavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction, Jim Crow and the battle to dismantle it, and modern debates over the Constitution and how to teach American history. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

Register: https://constitutioncenter.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2tdUMi6tQpC8ZpWxv78ziA#/registration

SUN Day

From Katharine Hayhoe:

If you are part of a faith community, consider joining a Sun Day event on Sept.19 to 21. That’s the weekend that GreenFaith US is helping mobilize people to raise their voices in support of solar and renewable energy. 

“In a time when climate denial, corporate greed, and political inaction threaten our communities and future, we gather not in despair—but in prophetic defiance and faithful hope. As fossil fuel subsidies expand and protections for people and the planet are rolled back, we know this fight is bigger than any one of us. That’s why people of faith and spirit are coming together to shine a light that cannot be ignored,” the organizers write.

“Together, we’ll ground in faith, rise in courage, and build a path forward for climate justice. All are welcome to be part of this urgent, historic movement—because the stakes have never been higher, and the time to act is now.”

If you live in the US, you can click on this interactive map to find an event near you. Don’t live in the U.S.? There’s nothing stopping you from starting your own Sun Day in your community using these same principles and organizing materials! Here’s a toolkit that explains more. (And if you do organize one, please input the information into this form so GreenFaith can add it to the map.)

Watch Sun Day’s campaign launch recording here to learn more about the vision and how to host your own event in your community. 

###

From Grow Solar La Crosse:

The sun is setting on our 2025 program!

Fall is at the doorstep, and both the summer season and the 2025 Grow Solar La Crosse program are coming to an end. The deadline to sign up for our cost-saving solar group buy program is September 30!

If you've been on the fence about going solar, now is the time learn the basics, get your questions answered and sign up for a free site assessment with one of our installers. While the window to schedule an installation by the end of the year to claim the federal tax credit has passed, participants will still receive the below-market group buy pricing and participation rebates!

With tariffs causing price uncertainty and electricity prices set to rise in the coming years, solar remains an excellent investment. Don't let this opportunity for lower-cost solar pass you by!

Register for our final virtual Power Hour on Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. online to hear about the program and the continuing value of solar as an investment. Attend live or receive the recording to watch on your own.

If you've already attended a Power Hour or want to hope in right away, sign up here for a free site assessment.

Community-Led Program

Grow Solar programs are administered by nonprofit organizations and municipalities, which  means that we rely heavily on word-of-mouth and grassroots promotion. We find that solar-educated consumers are the best messengers for sharing the benefits of solar with their families, friends, coworkers and neighbors.

So if you've attended a Power Hour, gone solar in this or previous programs or are just an advocate for renewable energy, please consider sharing this program! One recommendation can make a big difference.

###

Block the Bombs

 From Peace Action:

Block the Bombs with Rep. Delia Ramirez

September 15 at 6:30 op.m.

Please join us for a national mobilization call for the Block the Bombs to Israel week of action, featuring U.S. Representative Delia Ramirez (D-IL), the sponsor of H.R. 3565 in the House of Representatives, which aims to provide for a limitation on the transfer of defense articles and defense services to Israel. 

Ask your questions about the legislation and learn how you can help amplify the call to stop weapons sales to Israel.

REGISTER FOR ZOOM LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4917570044596/WN_fERq0gGTRC-kiFjExX17VQ#/registration

Other speakers TBA.

Indigenous Film Series

THE LAST CONQUISTADOR

5 PM at the RIVOLI

Renowned sculptor John Houser has a dream: to build the world's tallest bronze equestrian statue for the city of El Paso, Texas.

Join us for a screening of "The Last Conquistador" and a discussion following the film to learn about today’s Indigenous peoples through movies, media, and dialogue.

This event is in partnership between the Ho-Chunk Nation Youth & Learning Center at the La Crosse Ni Tani Hocira (Three Rivers House), UW Extension La Crosse County, The Rivoli Theatre, Western Technical College, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, and the La Crosse Public Library.

Seating is limited, click here to "purchase" a $0.00 registration.

Run For Office training

From 3rd CD Dems:

Join the 3rd CD Democrats and Emerge for a free Running for Office information session! Saturday, September 13 at 1:00 p.m. ONLINE.

Emerge and the 3rd CD Democrats present: Virtual Step Forward: A One-Hour seminar for those interested in running for public office. Sign up here! This event is free and accessible on Zoom. All potential candidates, campaign managers, and anyone interested in electing Democrats to public office is welcome.  

Green Homeowners program expanded!

 From Green Homeowners United:

We’d love for you to join us on Thursday, September 11 at 10:00 AM on the steps of La Crosse City Hall as we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act.

At this event, Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey, community partners, and local residents will highlight how the City of La Crosse has expanded no-cost home energy assessments to middle-income households—a major step in ensuring more families can benefit from federal clean energy investments. Together, we’ll showcase how the IRA is lowering bills, creating healthier homes, and building good-paying jobs right here in La Crosse.

Your presence and partnership will help demonstrate the broad support for this work and build excitement as we prepare to launch additional projects in the community.

📅 Date/Time: Thursday, September 11 at 10:00 AM
📍 Location: Steps of La Crosse City Hall

We hope you can join us in celebrating and helping spread the word!

Watch the recent videos on how we help homeowners, and how we're creating good green jobs!

Climate Science Under Siege

 

CLIMATE SCIENCE UNDER SIEGE!

September 12 at 6 p.m. Central Time

ONLINE PROGRAM 

From pandemics to the climate crisis, our planet faces urgent, overlapping threats. One common obstacle cuts across them all: the rising tide of anti-science denial, disinformation, and delay.

At this Climate Action Party, we’ll learn directly from one of the world’s most acclaimed climate scientists, Dr. Michael E. Mann, about what’s fueling today’s war on science—and how we can fight back.

In conversation with Tim Guinee, President of Climate Action Now, Dr. Mann will share powerful insights from his newest book, Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World (co-authored with Peter J. Hotez).

We’ll explore the five forces sabotaging scientific progress—plutocrats, pros, petrostates, phonies, and the press—and uncover how they’re blocking urgent action on climate and public health. And, this won’t be just another conversation about problems. Together, we’ll take real-time action using free Climate Action Now tools to challenge disinformation, call for accountability, and protect science.

Join us to uncover the powerful interests undermining science—and then take action to protect our futures!

About Our Expert Speaker

Dr. Michael E. Mann is Presidential Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania and director of the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media. A co-founder of RealClimate.org and a leading voice on climate for over two decades, Dr. Mann was a lead author of the IPCC’s Third Assessment Report and has authored five books including The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars and The New Climate War. His scientific contributions and public engagement have earned him numerous prestigious awards and recognition from Scientific American, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Nobel Peace Prize-winning IPCC.

About Our Moderator

Tim Guinee is President of Climate Action Now. He serves as the Legislative Director at the pleasure of the Climate Reality New York State Chapters Coalition. He serves on the boards of the Broadway Green Alliance, The Climate Action Fund and The Ashokan Center, as well as on the advisory boards of the Center for Earth Ethics and Riverkeeper, and on the executive committee of the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter. He is the founder of the Climate Actors. He was presented with the prestigious Alfredo Sirkis Memorial Green Ring Award for his work on the climate crisis by former Vice-President Al Gore.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/science-under-siege-climate-action-party-tickets-1636332567759

PRIDE

From The Center -7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection

Friday, 9/5 - La Crosse PRIDE Pageant at Uptown Loft, Capella Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. 

GET TICKETS HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/la-crosse-pride-pageant-tickets-1325624391239

Saturday, 9/6 - PRIDE in the Park from 11 to 7l6 at Riverside Park. 

Saturday Protest DVO

From Dan, FOF WI

Earlier this summer, Rep. Derrick Van Orden voted to cut nearly a trillion dollars from healthcare and food assistance programs, putting working families at risk of losing coverage and making healthcare more expensive for all of us. All to give tax cuts to the billionaires and corporations.

Now he's fundraising in our community for his re-election even as his vote puts tens of thousands of us at risk of losing Medicaid and threatening the future of our rural hospitals.

We refuse to let him ignore the consequences of his actions. So on Saturday, September 6th, we're showing up in hazardous material suits to make it clear: Derrick Van Orden is hazardous to our health and well-being.

https://www.mobilize.us/wfpower/event/834719/

Mass call

State violence is everywhere—from traffic stops to border crossings, from prisons to protests. And it’s not impacting us equally. Women, girls, and gender-oppressed people—especially Black, Indigenous, and people of color—are being uniquely targeted, criminalized, and harmed.

Our conversation was postponed, but we’re back. Join us this Wednesday, September 3 at  6 PM for our rescheduled mass call on Gender, Policing & State Violence.

RSVP NOW

We’ll be joined by organizers, abolitionists, and community defenders resisting carceral violence in all its forms: anti-trans laws, the criminalization of pregnancy, police killings, and beyond.

This call is about building resistance—and building it together. For gender justice. For racial justice. For liberation.

Support the victims. Release the files.

Arrest the criminals.

EPSTEIN SURVIVORS PRESS CONFERENCE 

SEPTEMBER 3 at 9:30 a.m.

Your attention needed

From Citizens Climate Lobby

The Trump administration’s fiscal year 2026 (FY26) budget is seeking dramatic cuts to key climate and clean energy programs across a range of federal agencies. It’s standard for a presidential administration to propose a budget, but the proposed cuts to climate and clean energy programs are abnormally large.

Email your US Senators and US Representative today.

We’re supporting robust funding for NOAA, NASA, and the Department of Energy to:

• Preserve critical science and research around our changing climate.
• Strengthen U.S. energy leadership and competitiveness.
• Ensure that America’s grid can meet rising demand.
• Reduce costs for taxpayers/ratepayers.

Tell your members of Congress: Reject proposed cuts to these agencies.

Help us ensure that Congress uses its power to fund these critical programs at robust levels. Thanks for your action!