There's no time or space to kvetch this week. We have too much to do! So the intro this week, and probably for the next couple, will focus on your engagement with Grassroots North Shore actions and events.

Lobbying legislators

This month we're sponsoring events to call legislators to urge them to support the Medicaid Expansion and write them postcards supporting non-partisan redistricting (Fair Maps). You can drop in the office (5600 W Brown Deer Rd, Suite 116) anytime during the hours listed. It will take you an hour or less to make the calls and fill out the postcards! Please RSVP, though, so we know who to expect.

• Mon June 10, from 10:30-1:30
  
  
• Thu June 13, from 4:00-7:00
  
  
• Mon June 17, from 10:30-1:30
  
  
• Thu June 20, from 1:00-4:00
  
  
• Mon June 24, from 10:30-1:30

The Future of Healthcare

The future of the healthcare system in the US, at least according to pundits, was a major issue in the 2018 elections and gave Democrats across the country their strongest winning issue. Fear of losing healthcare and especially the protections built into the ACA (also known as Obamacare) turn out to be a significant motivators for voting. The Democrats running to be the party's nominee for president next year have proposed a variety of plans, the details of which can be overwhelming. To sort it all out for us, and to answer questions about what the US House and Senate are currently doing about the cost and accessibility of healthcare and health insurance, Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin, will explain what's going on and what the various Medicare-for-All, Medicare-for-Some, and Medicare as a public option might mean. The event will take place at the Brown Deer United Methodist Church, 5736 W Brown Deer Rd, on Sunday, June 23. Doors open at 2:30 with the program at 3:00pm. The wonderful volunteers at GRNS will serve light refreshments so please RSVP either on our website on our Facebook page.

Debate Watch Parties

The first debates for the Democratic nomination for president will be held on two consecutive nights: Wednesday, June 26, and Thursday, June 27. Grassroots North Shore has so far arranged for two watch parties, at Bar Louie in the Bayshore Mall (5750 N Bayshore Dr, Glendale) and the Art Bar (722 E Burleigh St, Milwaukee) in Milwaukee. There may be additional venues so watch this space!

In any case, make sure you put these dates on your calendar! The debates will begin at 8pm CDT. As you may know, the rules for being included in this first debate include either polling above 1% in 3 national polls OR getting donations from a minimum of 65,000 people spread out in many states across the country OR BOTH. Each declared candidate who qualifies will be randomly assigned a slot on one night or the other. In other words, the distribution of contenders across the two nights will NOT separate high polling candidates from lower polling ones. Right now it behooves us to hear from all of them (though there are many, many of them!). And it also behooves us to spend the evening together: both to warm ourselves in the presence of other engaged Democrats and progressives and to be the most informed that we can be at this stage.

If you want to see some of the candidates at other forums and rallies, here (in no particular order) are a few links you can follow to watch these past events online:

• Mayor Pete Buttigieg on Real Time with Bill Maher (11:29) and at a town hall hosted by Chris Matthews (45:18)
  
  
• Kamala Harris's speech at the CA Democratic Convention (7:58) and her appearance in South Carolina on May 29, 2019 (30:35)
  
  
• Elizabeth Warren's speech at the CA Democratic Convention (8:19) and her campaign launch (44:00)
  
  
• Cory Booker at the We the People Rally (8:19) and his campaign launch (32:32)
  
  
• Bernie Sanders at the Fox News Town Hall (part1, 28:21) and at the We the People Rally (8:27)
  
  
• Kirsten Gillibrand at the We the People Rally (8:52) and at the Living Room Town Hall (49:23)
  
  
• Amy Klobuchar's campaign launch (25:21) and at the We the People Rally (10:23)
  
  

I'll cover other candidates the same way in the next few newsletters.

New Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin

At the DPW convention over the last weekend, we elected new leadership. We want to send many thanks to Martha Laning for four terrific years of her leadership and extend our congratulations to the incoming team: Chair Ben Wikler, First Vice Chair Felesia Martin and Second Vice Chair Lee Snodgrass. Grassroots North Shore looks forward to continuing help the party recruit and elect progressives to every statewide office in the northern suburbs of Milwaukee and in Ozaukee County.

EVENTS

Tue Jun 4, 2019

Violent Recidivism Conference, 8:45am - 2pm
Marquette University, Eckstein Hall, 1215 W. Michigan St., Milwaukee
This free conference will consider what evidence shows about risk assessment, treatment, and sentencing and supervision options for violence-convicted individuals. Leading social scientists and legal scholars from across the nation will share their research, illuminating the challenge posed by violent recidivism and the difficult choices that lawmakers, judges, and prosecutors must make. More information, schedule, and RSVP (required).

LaTonya Johnson Fundraiser, 5pm - 7pm
Lakefront Brewery, 1872 N. Commerce St., Milwaukee
Please join State Sen. LaTonya Johnson for her birthday fundraiser! Sponsorship Levels: Host: $1,000 | Co-Host: $500 | Sponsor: $250 | Friend: $100 | Suggested contribution: $50. RSVP or email Joyce Brennan.

Wed Jun 5, 2019

Grass Roots South Shore Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
Cudahy Library, 3500 Library Dr., Cudahy
Grass Roots South Shore meets on the first Wednesday of each month. For more information call Jim Balk, 414-218-5944.

Refuel the Resistance, 6pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Weekly gathering at Bounce Milwaukee's mezzanine bar for networking, inspiration or just to vent. Bring along any evidence of your civic resistance from the last week to get a beverage (up to $7) on the house, and compare notes with other individuals and groups working to make things better. More information.

Sat Jun 8, 2019

Implicit Bias Training, 9am - 2pm
Lake Park Lutheran Church, 2647 N. Stowell Ave., Milwaukee
Join MICAH, WISDOM, and members of the community to learn to recognize and understand implicit bias. Instruction, videos, and discussion will help to dig into implicit bias and why it's an important topic. Group and independent activities will allow for deeper self-reflection. In closing, discuss the way forward, personally and for our communities. Bring a dish to share for lunch. All are welcome! More info.

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
Brady Street & Farwell Avenue, Milwaukee
Stand for peace in the streets of Milwaukee, every Saturday at noon. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Sun Jun 9, 2019

MKE Pride Parade, 2pm - 2pm
S. 2nd Street, Milwaukee
March in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community. This is a family-friendly event intended to promote a positive and inclusive environment. More information.

Mon Jun 10, 2019

Commission on Aging, 9am - 12pm
JCI Volunteer Center, United Way of Greater Milwaukee, 200 W. Pleasant Street, Milwaukee
The League of Progressive Seniors wants to get lots of people to this 9 to noon mtg on June 10 to react to the WI Policy Forum report done April 2019. Attached, please find the meeting agenda, the County's report, and the League's response and basis for attending the meeting.

Grass Roots South Shore Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
Cudahy Library, 3500 Library Dr., Cudahy
Grass Roots South Shore holds its monthly meeting on the second Monday of each month. For more information call Jim Balk, 414-218-5944.

Tue Jun 11, 2019

Drinking Liberally MKE, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Art Bar, 722 E. Burleigh St., Milwaukee
Now, more than ever, Drinking Liberally is a space to gather, support each other, and form the progressive community we need. Come share a pint with your fellow progressives! Drinking Liberally MKE meets on the second Tuesday of every month, hosted by Matt Filipowicz.

350 Milwaukee Meeting, 7pm - 8:30pm
Urban Ecology Center, 1500 E. Park Pl., Milwaukee
350.ORG is the global organization building a grassroots movement in 188 countries to address global warming and solve the climate crisis. 350 Milwaukee meets every month on the second Tuesday. More information.

Wed Jun 12, 2019

Refuel the Resistance, 5pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Weekly gathering at Bounce Milwaukee's mezzanine bar for networking, inspiration or just to vent. Bring along any evidence of your civic resistance from the last week to get a beverage (up to $7) on the house, and compare notes with other individuals and groups working to make things better. More information.

Drinking Liberally - Mequon, 6:30pm - 6:30pm
Libby Montana, 5616 W Donges Bay Rd, Mequon
June commemorates the 100th anniversary of Congress adopting the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote. From the American revolution to the 15th and 19th amendments, "We the People" have shown we believe in government "by the people". We believe in representative government, yet voting rights are often under siege. On June 12th Drinking Liberally Mequon is proud to host Deborah Patel. Deborah will talk about her personal journey from family historian to plaintiff in Wisconsin's gerrymandering lawsuit (Whitford v Gill). Following a brief and informal history of suffrage in America, Deborah will focus on the Whitford case, give her impressions of other gerrymandering cases now in play, and suggest actions we might take to make sure every voter votes and every vote counts.

Thu Jun 13, 2019

Drinking Liberally West Allis, 6:30pm - 9pm
Studz Pub Sports Bar & Grill, 6833 W. National Ave., West Allis
Drinking Liberally West Allis meets on the second Thursday of the month. Free discussions and fellowship. Good food and specials available.

Sat Jun 15, 2019

Leadership Development Training, 10am - 2pm
2821 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave., Suite 108, Milwaukee
Hear updates on the #CLOSEmsdf campaign, learn how to become a more effective leader, and find fellowship with other people working for justice in the community. Sponsored by CLOSEmsdf and six other groups. This venue is wheelchair accessible. For more information, email Sharyl McFarland or call 414-364-1256. More info.

NAACP Monthly Meeting, 11:30am - 1pm
2745 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., Milwaukee
Monthly membership meeting of NAACP Milwaukee Branch. The meeting is held in the basement conference room.

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
Highway 100 (Mayfair Road) & West Bluemound Road, Wauwatosa
Stand for peace in the streets of Milwaukee, every Saturday at noon. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Laughing Liberally Milwaukee, 8pm - 10pm
Comedy Sportz Theater, 420 S. 1st St., Milwaukee
Laughing Liberally Milwaukee presents a night of progressive political comedy. In addition to some of the finest progressive comedians Milwaukee has to offer, each Laughing Liberally Milwaukee will feature a special interview with a local political figure, journalist or activist. This month's guest is Sam Harshner. Sam will discuss the unionization efforts of non tenure track faculty and graduate students at Marquette University. Advance tickets ($8).

Mon Jun 17, 2019

DPMC Issues Committee Meeting, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Amalgamated Transit Union, 734 N. 26th St., Milwaukee
The Democratic Party's Issues Committee will hold its monthly meeting. All Democrats are welcome to participate.

Milwaukee Dems Meeting, 6pm - 6pm
Amalgamated Transit Union, 734 N. 26th St., Milwaukee
Milwaukee County Democrats meet monthly to discuss party business, hear speakers on current topics, pass resolutions, and network with other progressives. All interested Democrats are invited.