Even though we had a bunch of snow Sunday (April 14 and this is the weather we get?), spring is really going to be here soon. The trees in my backyard are counting on it. And so should you!

Ah spring. That means outdoor actions are going to be pleasant again. So dress for the weather but plan to join Voces de la Frontera for a "Day Without Latinx and Immigrants" in Madison on Wednesday, May 1.

This year the organization is focusing on restoring the opportunity for undocumented immigrants and many poor citizens to obtain a Wisconsin drivers license. The Executive Director of Voces, Christine Neumann-Ortiz, has written a compelling argument supporting the ability of those populations to obtain licenses. According to Neumann-Ortiz, those who are unable to obtain a license risk "los[ing] the ability to get to jobs located far from segregated neighborhoods, locking them into poverty, unemployment and the stigma of a criminal record. This problem affects around 300,000 people, disproportionately Black and Latinx." If an undocumented immigrant is caught driving without a license, he/she risks deportation. Governor Evers's budget proposal includes "measures to restore driver licenses for immigrant Wisconsinites." In a call to action, Christine Neumann-Ortiz asks you to help in two ways:

• Call Senator Alberta Darling, Chair of the Joint Finance Committee, representing much of the North Shore, tell her that you support restoring access to driver licenses for undocumented people and low-income U.S. citizens at (608) 266-5830.
• March with us on a "Day Without Latinxs & Immigrants" on May 1st, 11am at the State Capitol in Madison.

You might also donate something to help the cause.

Read the full article on our webiste.

You should also sign up for our terrific program on housing segregation in Milwaukee, featuring Reggie Jackson, Head Griot of America's Black Holocaust Museum. Reggie will describe how we got to be so segregated and how we can work to change it. The event will take place on Sunday, May 5, at Plymouth Church (2717 N Hampshire St, Milwaukee) with the doors opening at 2:30 and the program beginning at 3:00. As is our custom, we will serve light refreshments so please RSVP. Reggie's presentations are not to be missed!

And though it's a bit of a haul and a whole day of interesting yet tedious testimony, I urge you to go to the Joint Finance Committee hearing in Green Bay on Wednesday, April 24. The hearing begins at 10am but if you want to testify — AND YOU DO — you need to get there early so that you can get a speaking slot at a reasonable time. Although there are many, many worthy issues to address to the committee, Grassroots North Shore is particularly focused on Fair Maps. You can learn more about the coalition of Wisconsin organizations that support this issue on the Fair Elections Project website. Also, it will pay to carpool. To make that easier for people, we ask that you sign up on our website so we can help coordinate. As a bonus, I will send you some ideas for your testimony and some tips for making the day as pleasant as possible.

We will also be hosting some really easy postcard writing events at our office over the next few weeks. I will post dates and times in the near future and announce them in a special email for that purpose or in the next iteration of the GRNS newsletter, whichever comes first. The postcards already have the Fair Maps message printed on them. All you need to do is add the name and addresses of the recipients. We are asking people to fill out cards to the 16 members of the Joint Finance Committee plus their own Assembly and Senate members, a total of 18 cards. We will have everything you need for this action: postcards, pens, stamps, and names and addresses. Anyway, stay tuned for specifics!

Tue Apr 16, 2019

Nikiya Dodd Fundraiser, 5pm - 7pm
ELMNT Lounge, 618 N. Water St., Milwaukee
Reception to support Nikiya Dodd's re-election to the 5th Aldermanic District in

2020. Host: $500 Sponsor: $250 Friend: $100 Suggested contribution: $50. All contributions gratefully accepted. RSVP and more information. Donate online.

CLOSEmsdf Meeting, 6pm - 6pm
2821 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave., Suite 108, Milwaukee
Get involved with the efforts to decarcerate Milwaukee, #CLOSEmsdf, and #buildCOMMUNITIES. The #CLOSEmsdf Campaign is now over 50 organizations strong. More information.

Wed Apr 17, 2019

AG Josh Kaul Press Club Event, 11:45am - 1:30pm
Newsroom Pub, 137 E. Wells St., Milwaukee
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul will be the featured speaker at a Newsmaker Luncheon, hosted jointly by the Milwaukee Press Club and WisPolitics.com. Kaul will take questions from a panel of journalists and from the audience at the luncheon. The cost to attend is $20 for MPC members, $25 for non-members, $15 for students. Lunch is included. RSVP, payment, and more information.

ON THE ISSUES: ACROSS STATE LINES — SHOULD MICHIGAN'S BIPARTISAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM SERVE AS A MODEL FOR WISCONSIN?, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Lubar Center, Eckstein Hall, 1215 W. Michigan Street, Milwaukee
4:30p.m. Arrival and Reception (complimentary light snacks and beverages) 5:00p.m.- 6:30 p.m. Program. This special On the Issues with Mike Gousha conversation includes three advocates for criminal justice change. Former Michigan state senator John Proos is a Republican from St. Joseph and former chair of legislative budget subcommittees for corrections and the judiciary budgets. Proos will join Mike Gousha, distinguished fellow in law and public policy, to discuss Michigan's road to criminal justice reform and the broad bipartisan effort that made it possible. Then we will welcome Wisconsin state representatives Evan Goyke (D- Milwaukee) and Michael Schraa (R-Oshkosh), who will share their perspectives on criminal justice, the initiatives they are promoting, and the possibility for bipartisan action in Wisconsin. The program will also include Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School Poll, providing an overview of public opinion on this important policy issue. Limited complimentary parking available. RSVP required.

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.

A Fair Deal for Milwaukee County, 6pm - 8pm
Clinton Rose Senior Center, 3045 N Dr Martin Luther King, Milwaukee
Milwaukee County is reaching a crisis point. For too long, Milwaukee County has been forced to delay necessary maintenance in our parks and facilities, and put off important investments in public infrastructure and popular cultural venues. In recent years, budget cuts have threatened public services that our neighbors depend on every day. This is why Milwaukee County leaders have joined together with business and community leaders to propose a Fair Deal for Milwaukee County. The Fair Deal proposal would create a new partnership with the State of Wisconsin to protect public services and invest in our future.

Drinking Liberally Wauwatosa, 6:30pm - 9pm
Walter's, 6930 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa
Come join fellow Wauwatosa progressives for good conversation. More info.

Southwest Region Dems Meeting, 7pm - 7pm
Studz Pub Sports Bar & Grill, 6833 W. National Ave., West Allis
Southwest Dems will hold their monthly meeting. Region 5 covers Franklin, Greendale, Greenfield, Hales Corners, Milwaukee (Southwest), West Allis, West Milwaukee. For more information contact [email protected].

Thu Apr 18, 2019

Does Democracy Protect Human Rights?, 4pm - 6pm
Marquette Law School, Eckstein Hall, 1215 W. Michigan Ave., Milwaukee
Garry Wills, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian, will speak on "Does Democracy Protect Human Rights? Constitution vs. Plebiscite." More information and RSVP (required).

Health Equity Community Meeting, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Wisconsin Black Historical Society, 2620 W. Center St., Milwaukee
St. Joe's Accountability Coalition will sponsor a community meeting about St. Joseph Hospital and health equity on Milwaukee's North Side, gathering to celebrate stopping the closure of the hospital last year and to organize for greater accountability from our major healthcare institutions.

Jon Brostoff Fundraiser, 6pm - 8pm
Puddler's Hall, 2461 S. St. Clair St., Milwaukee
Join #TeamBrostoff to celebrate at Puddler's Hall. Chevy Johnson and Sen. Chris Larson will be co-hosting the event and they look forward to seeing you there! Baby Boaz Brostoff will be a special guest at his dad's event too. Sponsorship Levels: Progressive- $25 (suggested donation - receive a pint glass while supplies last); Supporter- $50 Friend- $100; Sponsor- $250; Host- $500 **Any contribution amount is gratefully accepted** More info.

Sat Apr 20, 2019

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

Tue Apr 23, 2019

Tom Barrett Spring Symposium, 11:30am - 1pm
Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee
Mayor Tom Barrett's Spring Symposium will feature special guests DNC Chair Tom Perez and Congresswoman Gwen Moore. Sponsorship levels: Premier Table Sponsor: $2,500; Table Sponsor: $1,000; 2019 Mayor's Club Membership: $400; Individual Ticket: $100. To Sponsor and RSVP online or email Zach or call Zach at (414) 271-8050.

Wed Apr 24, 2019

Community Justice Council, 9:30am - 11am
Clinton Rose Senior Center, 3045 N. Martin Luther King Dr., Milwaukee
Milwaukee Community Justice Council Meeting of the Whole. More information or Facebook.

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 Glendale, 6:30pm - 9pm
Bar Louie, 5750 N. Bayshore Dr., Glendale
Drinking Liberally Glendale meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Come drink a beverage or two of your choice and talk about Liberal stuff. More information.

Thu Apr 25, 2019

Mental Health Board Meeting, 8am - 8am
Zoofari Center, 9715 W. Bluemound Rd., Wauwatosa
Milwaukee County Mental Health Board Meeting. Public Comment: none. More information.

Living and Dying in the Factories, 7pm - 7pm
Boswell Book Co., 2559 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee
Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois Chicago, David Ranney shares his experiences working in the factories of southeast Chicago and northwest Indiana, one of the heaviest industrial concentrations in the world. Ranney focuses on race and class relations, working conditions, environmental issues, and broader social issues in the 1970s that impacted the shop floor. Forty years later, Ranney returns to Chicago's South Side to reveal what happened to the communities in his book, Living and Dying on the Factory Floor: From the Outside in and the Inside Out.

Sat Apr 27, 2019

Community Brainstorming, 8am - 11am
St. Matthew CME Church, 2944 N. 9th St., Milwaukee
Community Brainstorming Conference Breakfast Forum Breakfast: 8 am, Program: 9 am. All Are Invited, Come and Participate.

Dontre Day 2019, 12pm - 12pm
Red Arrow Park, 920 N Water St, Milwaukee
We will be celebrating Dontre's life, it has been 5 years since his murder. This day represents his life and the community that pulled together in the face of injustice. We are asking for everyone to be a part of this day to continue to inspire love. Dontre had a big heart and we want to show each year just how big, by coming together as a city in a space that has caused the Hamilton family so much pain. There will be music, food and much more. Please join the 5 year anniversary of Dontre!!

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

Sun Apr 28, 2019

Workers' Memorial Day, 2:30pm - 2:30pm
Zeidler Union Square Park, 4th Street & Michigan Street
Join the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, the Waukesha County Labor Council and WisCOSH at a ceremony commemorating Workers Memorial Day. Every year on April 28, the unions of the AFL-CIO observe Workers' Memorial Day to remember those who have been injured and killed on the job and to renew their efforts for safe workplaces. There will be a brunch at the Postal Workers' Hall (417 N. 3rd St.) starting at 1:00pm before the memorial procession from the hall to the park. For more information email Emily or call her at 414-771-7070, or email Jim or call him at 414-933-2338.