I'm sending the newsletter a bit earlier than usual because of the weather — so you'll have time to check whether events you may be interested in this week will be cancelled for either snow conditions or the extreme cold. I recommend that you check with the event sponsors if there is no web page or Facebook event page. The events included in this email were posted on the Milwaukee County Dems' calendar or the shared calendar of a group of southeast WI grassroots organizations as of noon on Monday, January 28.

The event Grassroots North Shore had scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 30, HAS BEEN CANCELLED and will be rescheduled at a later date. Stay tuned.

Baring more bad weather, our Mid-Winter Warmup will take place as scheduled on Sunday, Feb. 10, at the North Shore Presbyterian Church (4048 N. Bartlett Ave, Shorewood). Please RSVP for more information.

In spite of the awful winter weather, though, activists should use the snow and cold cancelations to get busy with other projects. So What To Do Right Now: phone the Governor's office reminding him to include money in the current budget for the Legislative Reference Bureau to plan to draw new electoral maps in 2021. You can reach his office by phone at (608) 267-2560. You can email your request to [email protected]. The latest Marquette poll shows that a whopping 72% of Wisconsin voters want a nonpartisan process for creating both state legislative districts and congressional districts. Well over half the counties in Wisconsin have passed resolutions calling on state government to draw fair maps for our elections. Add your voice.

If you are at a loss for words, keep your message to the Governor simple, but you can include the following points:

After you call Governor Evers, phone your state Assembly representative and state Senator, even if he/she is a Democrat, to talk about the process, to co-sponsor the bill Senator Hanson will shortly introduce to the Senate and Representative Robyn Vining will introduce in the Assembly, and to urge hearings and passage of these bills. To find who represents you and their phone numbers, start at the legislative directory and type your address into the form labeled "Find Your Legislator." You can talk about transparency, voting rights, fairness and democracy in your discussions with legislators and with the governor.

Tue Jan 29, 2019

Reopen Government Rally, 12pm - 1pm
Federal Courthouse, 517 E. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee
the REALRally to "Shut Down the Wall, Open the Government." Speak out about the state of our union. Together, we’ll show the true costs of Trump and the GOP's demand for a racist border wall and the destructive repercussions of Trump's tantrum shutdown, and we'll demand that Trump and the GOP shut down the wall and reopen the government! More info.

Cold War Wisconsin Author Event, 6:30pm - 6:30pm
Milwaukee Public Library, Rare Books Room, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee
Author Christopher Sturdevant recounts the stories of everyday Wisconsinites during the years that the Cold War gripped the world with fear of espionage and nuclear winter in this book, which preserves a fading piece of Wisconsin history. For decades, Wisconsin’s nuclear missiles pointed to the skies from Waukesha’s back yard, awaiting Soviet bombers. Joseph Stalin's daughter sought refuge in the small town of Richland Center. With violence in Vietnam about to peak, a cargo ship from Kewaunee sparked a new international incident with North Korea. Manitowoc was ground zero for a Sputnik satellite crash, and four ordinary Madison youths landed on the FBI's most wanted list after the Sterling Hall Bombing.

Wed Jan 30, 2019

Unlearning Racism: Tools for Action - Milwaukee Course, 1pm - 3pm
YWCA Southeast Wisconsin 1915 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Milwaukee
Eliminating racism is an ongoing process that involves a willingness to learn about, and begin, undoing, the adverse impact of racism on individuals, organizations, and communities. This six-part workshop series examines the history and impact of racism and what participants can do about it. Tickets

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.

Black Political Empowerment Forum, 6pm - 8pm
Wis Black Historical Society, 2620 W. Center St., Milwaukee
Black Political Empowerment: The Black Agenda Community Forum, hosted by the Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals. With small group discussions and a panel discussion by issue leaders, the forum will consider five core issues: education, fair housing, employment, criminal justice reform and health care. More info.

District 1 School Board Forum, 6pm - 7:30pm
Villard Square Library, 5190 N. 35th St., Milwaukee
Milwaukee students, staff, parents and community members are invited to meet the candidates for the Milwaukee Public Schools Board of Directors in District 1, Shyla Deacon and Marva Herndon. Doors open at 6pm, forum 6:30 - 7:30. Sponsored by Parents for Public School of Milwaukee/PPSMKE, the Hmong American Women's Association/HAWA, Schools and Communities United/SCU and Leaders Igniting Transformation/LIT. More info.

Thu Jan 31, 2019

MICAH Issues Night, 5:30pm - 8pm
St. Matthew CME Church, 2944 N. 9th St., Milwaukee
An opportunity to join one of MICAH's task forces to get a first hand look at MICAH in action. New folks are welcome. Come check out Education, ROC, Transit, Immigration and Jobs and Economics. Issues Night will also offer the first session of a five-week training in congregation-based organizing. 5:30: Light dinner and fellowship (bring food to share if you like, but not required). 6:00: Meeting. More info.

Sat Feb 2, 2019

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
Wisconsin Avenue & 16th Street, Milwaukee
Stand for peace in the streets of Milwaukee, every Saturday at noon. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Mon Feb 4, 2019

Drinking Liberally Waukesha, 6:30pm - 9pm
Clarke Irish Pub, 314 W. Main St., Waukesha
Drinking Liberally Waukesha meets the first Monday of each month. More information.

Wed Feb 6, 2019

Refuel the Resistance, 5pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee Calendar: Social
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.

Citywide School Board Forum, 6pm - 7:30pm
Washington Park Library, 2121 N. Sherman Blvd., Milwaukee
Milwaukee students, staff, parents and community members are invited to meet the citywide (at-large) candidates for the Milwaukee Public Schools Board of Directors, Stef Dugan and Bob Peterson. Doors open at 6pm, forum 6:30 - 7:30. Sponsored by Parents for Public School of Milwaukee/PPSMKE, the Hmong American Women's Association/HAWA, Schools and Communities United/SCU and Leaders Igniting Transformation/LIT. More info.

Grass Roots South Shore Meeting, 6pm - 7:30pm
Hawthorne Coffee Roasters, 4177 S. Howell Ave., Milwaukee
NOTE CHANGE IN PLACE AND TIME: At this Grass Roots South Shore meeting State Senator Chris Larson will introduce Lisa Neubauer, progressive candidate for the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. Grass Roots South Shore meets on the first Wednesday of each month. For more information call Jim Balk, 414-218-5944.

Thu Feb 7, 2019

Lt. Gov Mandela Barnes Press Club Event, 11:45am - 1:30pm
Newsroom Pub, 137 E. Wells St., Milwaukee
Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes will be the featured speaker at a Newsmaker Luncheon, sponsored by the Milwaukee Press Club and WisPolitics.com. Barnes will take questions from a panel of journalists and from the audience. The cost to attend is $20 for MPC members, $25 for non-members, $15 for students. Lunch is included. Advance registration and payment are required. RSVP, payment, and more information.

Sat Feb 9, 2019

Reducing the Burden of Global Respiratory Disease - A Physician’sJourney of Advocacy for Global Respiratory Health Care, 10am - 12pm
Redeemer Lutheran Church (rear entrance) - 631 N. 19th Street, Milwaukee
The presentation will be given by Dean E. Schraufnagel, MD, the Executive Director of The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) and a Professor of Medicine and Pathology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. FIRS is comprised of 9 international organizations dedicated to advocacy in matters of global respiratory health. This event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee Chapter. Dr. Schraufnagel will speak about his extensive work as a dedicated advocate for responding to global respiratory health issues especially in underserved countries through the FIRS, the UN World Health Organization (WHO), and the US Congress. For more information, contact Jerry Rousseau (Volunteer), United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee. 414.228.9282 (home); 414.915.1123 (mobile).

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

Sun Feb 10, 2019

GRNS Annual Meeting/Warmup, 4:30pm - 7:30pm
North Shore Presbyterian Church, 4048 N. Bartlett Ave., Shorewood
At this meeting Grassroots North Shore will serve a sloppy joe dinner with all the trimmings and hold the annual meeting, bringing you up to date on what the organization will do to get ready for the elections in 2020 and electing a slate of officers who will serve for a two- year term. Guest speakers will include Judge Lisa Neubauer (running for WI Supreme Court in 2019). RSVP.

Mon Feb 11, 2019

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.