Don't miss the live forum with the candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction — Jill Underly and Deborah Kerr — that Grassroots North Shore is holding on Sunday, March 14, at 7pm. Via Zoom of course. The forum will be introduced by Ingrid Walker Henry, vice president of Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association (MTEA), and will be moderated by Pablo Muirhead, Shorewood School Board member. Sign up to attend. The Zoom information you will need will be embedded in the response email you receive when you sign up.

Even though the position does not control the budgetary support for schools in Wisconsin, it plays a vital function in educating Wisconsin's children. As the UpNorth News explained, "The state superintendent oversees the state’s more than 400 public school districts and typically is directly involved in education funding proposals. The position also offers direction on a range of issues, from operating schools during the pandemic, curriculum, teacher licensing and online education." The election for this statewide, nonpartisan race is April 6 at a polling place near you. But you really shouldn't wait until Election Day. You can request an absentee ballot at myvote.wi.gov and return it via your community's drop box (find out where yours is). We will also have in-person voting information for North Shore and Ozaukee County communities when it becomes available.

We can also announce the formation of a new Issue Action Team for Violence Prevention. Led by Anneliese Dickman, the team will meet to get organized and to hear from Reggie Moore and Jamaal Smith from the Office of Violence Prevention, part of the Milwaukee Health Department in the city. The meeting is set for Wednesday, March 10, at 7pm on Zoom. Please sign up to join this group! We've formed Issue Teams around two other topics: Fair Maps and Voting Rights and Criminal Justice Reform. The Fair Maps Team is meeting on Monday, March 8, at 7pm and you can sign up. The Criminal Justice Reform group has not yet scheduled its next meeting, but you can contact Dan O'Keefe for more information. If you'd like to lead an Issue Team on some other topic, please contact Paul Geenen at [email protected].

And in a fun, but still serious, way, the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County is sponsoring an Instagram Art Contest for all Milwaukee and Waukesha County Area High School Students. It's called "Express Yourself: Hear Me, See Me, Follow my Lead" and runs through March 16. the site includes the rules for participating. It's a great way for young people to make their voices heard. So if you know any high school students in Milwaukee or Waukesha counties, let them know about this contest.

The CPAC convention is mercifully over but not before introducing the nation to the Golden Trump Idol and not before the "former guy" reprised what he apparently thinks are his greatest hits. Sixty one of 62 court cases alleging voter irregularities that he brought after the November election were dismissed And yet the Republican Party has introduced at least 165 bills in state legislatures all over the nation to try to make it harder for people to vote. Republicans apparently believe that the only way they can win is if the "wrong people" can be prevented from casting a ballot. Here in Wisconsin, where there was no voter fraud, we're seeing efforts to curtail absentee voting, to gum up early in-person voting with extra paperwork, and to restrict the use drop boxes. (See also this article that explains the ranked-choice voting proposal for congressional races as well as the GOP efforts to suppress votes.)

The right to vote is coming under attack everywhere. These attacks are layered on top of efforts to rig the electoral maps to retain what amounts to minority GOP rule in this state and in the country. It may not be an election year with a large number of important state and national offices up for grabs, but that does not mean we can rest easy. The threats to the franchise and the threats to our democratic republic are mounting. We need to join the struggle now to preserve what we can of our imperfect union. In the coming weeks, Grassroots North Shore will have events and actions to engage you in this effort. Stay tuned.

EVENTS

Wed Mar 3, 2021

Smart Justice: On Reentry, 6:30pm - 6:30pm
Online
Join in with the ACLU for a conversation to hear the stories of three individuals who have overcome great odds to become the successful individuals they are today. They will discuss what successful reentry looks like to them, and why it's important for society to understand that we all are in need of redemption. More information and registration.

Info: Laughing Liberally MKE, 8:30pm - 9:30pm
Online
For information on the latest Laughing Liberally offerings go here.

Thu Mar 4, 2021

Ending Nuclear Weapons Before They End Us, 10am - 10am
Online
Opportunities Under the Biden Administration to Take Action will take place March 4th at 11am EST / 8am PST. The conference is jointly sponsored by Back from the Brink and our Nobel Peace Prize-winning colleagues at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. It will feature an expert panel and Q&A followed by interactive workshop sessions to provide activists with the tools and information required to make change under this administration. The workshops will cover a variety of topics, from Nuclear Weapons & Racism to Divesting from Nuclear Weapons. Click here to view the full program and register.

Dems Sen Bewley, Rep Hintz / WisPolitics, 12pm - 1pm
Online
Join WisPolitics.com for a virtual lunchtime discussion with Senate Minority Leader Janet Bewley, D-Mason, and Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh. They will discuss Dem priorities in the new session. A link to access the webinar will be sent on the morning of the event. Register.

Fair Housing for Everyone, 7pm - 7pm
Zoom
Erika L. Sanders, Director - Program Services, Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council, will give the sixth of eight presentations on the history and societal impact of race in America: "Fair Housing: Building Inclusive Communities for Everyone." Sponsored by the United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay. Zoom link.

Fri Mar 5, 2021

Cash Bail in America Film, 6:30pm - 6:30pm
Zoom
Watch this documentary film which explores the growing movement to end the inherent economic and racial inequalities of cash bail. Following the virtual film showing, there will be a Zoom discussion with Dee Hall of Wisconsin Watch, Kelli Thompson — a Wisconsin public defender — and Pam Oliver — professor emeritus of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin.The film can be watched anytime at YouTube. Registration.

Sat Mar 6, 2021

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
76th Street & Layton Avenue, Milwaukee
Stand for Peace is resuming in-person events with masks and social distancing. Check for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Mon Mar 8, 2021

Grass Roots South Shore Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
Cudahy Library, 3500 Library Dr. , Cudahy Calendar: Social
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 Mar 9, 2021

Drinking Liberally Grafton/Mequon, 6:30pm - 8pm
Zoom
TBA

The New NORML, 6:30pm - 7pm
Zoom
Eric Marsch is the Executive Director of the Southeastern WI National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). NORML’s mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to legalize the responsible use of marijuana by adults, and to serve as an advocate for consumers to assure they have access to high quality marijuana that is safe, convenient and affordable. Check out the group's national site and sign up for the meeting.

Virtual Drinking Liberally MKE, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Zoom
Drinking Liberally MKE will get together on Zoom. More information.

350 Milwaukee Virtual Meeting, 7pm - 8:30pm
Online
350 Milwaukee is part of the global organization building a grassroots movement in 188 countries to address global warming and solve the climate crisis. 350 Milwaukee usually meets every month on the second Tuesday. Check for information on whether a meeting will occur.

Wed Mar 10, 2021

Marquette University Law School’s Lubar Center Virtual Conference, 12pm - 1:15pm
Online
Cities around the country have been rocked by incidents of police using deadly force. The deaths have led to protests, heightened tensions between police and community members, and raised concerns about how deadly-force cases are handled by authorities. On March 10, join Marquette University Law School’s Lubar Center for a virtual conference that will explore two key questions facing Wisconsin: what can be done to improve relations between law enforcement and the community, and what does the law tell us about how deadly-force incidents are investigated and charged? Please register here by Tuesday, March 9. A link will be sent to registrants the day of the conference. The conference will have two parts. The first part will feature with a conversation moderated by Mike Gousha, distinguished fellow in law and public policy, among: - New Milwaukee Fire and Police Commissioner Amanda Avalosa, chair of the Community Collaborative Commission, Nate Hamilton, whose brother Dontre was shot and killed by police in April 2014, Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas, and City of Milwaukee Interim Police Chief Jeffrey Norman. The second part will look at the legal and statutory considerations when investigating and charging decisions are determined. Steve Biskupic, former U.S. Attorney for the EasternDistrict of Wisconsin and adjunct professor of law, will moderate a panel with: Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, and Defense attorney Kimberley Motley, who has represented family members of individuals who died in incidents involving police. The conference is presented by the Law School’s Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education and is part of the university’s Marquette Forum. The panels will be recorded shortly before the release. We miss seeing everyone in person and look forward to welcoming you back to the Lubar Center at Marquette Law School forin-person events when that is possible. Please register by Tuesday, March 9.

Grass Roots South Shore Virtual Meeting, 7pm - 9pm
Online
Check the link to see if Grass Roots South Shore will have a virtual meeting. More information.

Thu Mar 11, 2021

Newsmaker: Gwen Moore, 12pm - 1pm
Online
Wisconsin Congresswoman Gwen Moore will field questions from a panel of journalists at a virtual event presented by a partnership between the Milwaukee Press Club, and WisPolitics.com. A link will be sent on the morning of the event to view it live. Registration (required).

Drinking Liberally West Allis, 6:30pm - 9pm
TBA
For information on whether the event will take place, check here.

Race and Criminal Justice, 7pm - 7pm
Zoom
Brady Henderson, Cream City Law, LLC, will give the seventh of eight presentations on the history and societal impact of race in America: "Race and the Criminal Justice System." Sponsored by the United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay. Zoom link.

Whitefish Bay Candidate Forum: School Board and Village Board, 7:30pm - 9pm
Zoom Join BAY BRIDGE on Zoom. Come listen to the candidates as they talk about issues, challenges, and opportunities in our village and ourschool district. Familiarize yourself with the candidates’ positions before we choose who will serve our community. The event will be held live on Zoom, hosted by Bay Bridge, and moderated by the League of Women Voters. Three candidates are running for two seats on the village board. Five candidates are running for three seats on the school board.The village board forum will run from 7-8 p.m. and the school board forum will run from 8-9:30 p.m.Have a question for the candidates? Submit it to [email protected] with the subject line “candidate forum”. We will be incorporating community questions into the forum. You may request your absentee ballot for the April election here. Or send a request via email to [email protected]. Please include a copy of your WI photo ID. Whitefish Bay Candidate ForumThursday March 11 @ 7-9:30 p.m. Register here.

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm Martin Luther King Drive & Locust Street, Milwaukee
Stand for Peace is resuming in-person events with masks and social distancing. Check for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Sun Mar 14, 2021

Author Talk: Breaking Hate, 2pm - 3pm
Zoom
Former white supremacist Christian Picciolini will discuss his book, Breaking Hate, which offers both the inside story about how extremists lure the unwitting to their causes and a guide for how everyday Americans can win those converts - and our civil democracy - back. Sponsored by Congregation Shalom, Boswell Book Company, and the Nathan & Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center. Register.

WI Supt. of Public Instruction Live Forum, 7pm - 8:15pm
Zoom
Grassroots North Shore will host a virtual candidate forum for the Wisconsin Superintendent of Schools candidates, Jill Underly and Deborah Kerr. RSVP.

Mon Mar 15, 2021

Milwaukee Dems Virtual Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
Zoom
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. Information about how to access the meeting will be sent after you RSVP.