WNPJ + Fall Assembly Presentation by Elena Terry + Webinar on the MiddleEast, Environment and Anthropology + Baraboo Oral History Project + Chrysalis Storytelling deadline + other statewide events
The WI Network for Peace and Justice is the umbrella non-profit organization
supporting the work of 86 member groups around Wisconsin.
WNPJ has a NEW website page on IMMIGRATION JUSTICE! Many WNPJ member groups are organizing around Immigration with webinar events and more. Send any events you're involved with to WNPJ info@wnpj.org and we'll add them to this developing page!
Listen to Elena Terry's Presentation at the WNPJ Fall Assembly!
Elena Terry is a member of the Ho-Chunk tribe, food sovereignty advocate and activist, and founder of WildBearies. She speaks about healing and restoring communities by providing ancestral foods in a nurturing and nourishing way. Here is a podcast and a video that’s available on our website.
On Rendering Uninhabitable: The War on Palestine and Lebanon and its Environmental Effects
Friday Dec 13th at 11am Virtual event - 'On Rendering Uninhabitable: The War on Palestine and Lebanon and its Environmental Effects'. Please join the Middle East Section (MES) of the American Anthropological Association. Register HERE.
Israel's genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and its expansion of killing and destruction in Lebanon have targeted the ecologies and environments that sustain the livelihood of Palestinians and Lebanese. In Gaza, Palestinians face the destruction of water infrastructure and agricultural land, even as they face catastrophic levels of hunger under siege. In South Lebanon, olive trees and the harvest season have been burned and threatened. In both Lebanon and Gaza, the use of white phosphorus, the inordinate amount of asbestos-poisoned rubble produced in the destruction of the built environment, the movement of animals because of different patterns of human inhabitation will all have long-term effects on the inhabitability of the land, affecting all the region, including Israel. Yet, Palestinians and Lebanese have insisted to continue to find ways to inhabit the ruins produced, to grow food, and tend to all of those living. This panel will examine these environmental tactics of war and their long-term effects, along with ground-up tactics of survival and sumud, for it is the latter that holds the key to rebuilding and cultivating futures on the day after.
Oral History Project with Baraboo Acts Coalition
The Oral History project, an idea originating from the Baraboo High School’s Social Justice Club, has expanded to include Immigration Stories as well. There are two powerful stories recorded by Joan Wheeler of immigrants living and thriving in our community. This is an ongoing project and we would love to add your story! Contact Baraboo Acts Coalition if you would like your story to be recorded.
And a success to note - Refugee Resettlement Resolution Tabled
Thanks to those of you for letting your county supervisors know your thoughts regarding the recent Refugee Resettlement Resolution. Your efforts made a difference. Ultimately, the County Board voted to table the resolution indefinitely! Contact: Marcy Huffaker
Shared Threads 2025: Application for Storytelling Workshop Series
Chrysalis is currently accepting applications from up to 15 aspiring storytellers for our three-part storytelling workshop series led by Jen Rubin and Takeyla Benton from Inside Stories Podcast and The Moth Madison StorySLAM. The deadline has been extended! You have until Friday, December 20 by 5 p.m. to apply for this opportunity.
Throughout the series, participants will learn how to craft stories focused on the theme of WELLNESS. You will receive support from your peers and guidance from workshop leaders and past storytellers.
Upon completion, eight storytellers will be selected to present your story live at Chrysalis’ 3rd annual storytelling event, Shared Threads: Stories That Weave Us Together, on March 4, 2025, at Garver Feed Mill (3241 Garver Green).
A $100 stipend will be awarded to all storytellers who complete the workshop series.
We hope to hear from a diverse range of voices from the Chrysalis Community, including program participants, staff and board members, employers, mental health treatment team partners, agency collaborators, and community supporters.
To be considered for this workshop series, applicants must attend all three workshops and be available to present their stories at Shared Threads. Not comfortable with public speaking? You could share your story in a way that feels good for you.
Chrysalis is looking forward to embarking on this storytelling journey with you!
Please mark your calendars with the following dates:
Friday, December 20 by 5 p.m. (Storytellers will be notified by the application review team.)
Tuesday, February 11, 5:30-7:00 p.m. (In-Person Workshop; dinner and childcare provided.)
Tuesday, February 18, 5:30-7:00 p.m. (Virtual Story Feedback Workshop)
Tuesday, February 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m. (In-Person Rehearsal Workshop; dinner and childcare provided.)
Tuesday, March 4, 5:30-7 p.m. (Be ready to present your story live at Shared Threads.)
WNPJ Member Group Events
Click here to see a listing of recurring Vigils across the state!
Madison
12/9 @ 12pm-1pm:Â Vigil for Peace - Meet at the corner of MLK Jr. Blvd and Doty St. For more information, call Tim at 608-630-3633
12/10 @ 11:30am-12pm: Weekly Vigil for Peace with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa. At the corner of Monroe St and Edgewood Ave. near Edgewood High School. Tuesday Dec 4th marked a year since they started a weekly Prayerful Presence for Peace calling for a cease fire to the Gaza/Israel war. opjustice@sinsinawa.orgopjustice@sinsinawa.org
12/10 @ 6:30pm-8:30pm: Monthly General Meeting of the Madison chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. At the Social Justice Center - 1202 Williamson St. or via zoom. This is a great place to learn about the chapter, join us in making collective decisions, and get plugged in to our active campaigns and working groups. Our General Membership Meetings occur on the second Tuesday of every month, from 6:30-8:30pm. If you're coming in person, come early at 6pm for pizza & socializing! RSVP for the Zoom link to join virtually. dsamadison@gmail.com
12/11 @ 4pm-4:30pm: Weekly Vigil for Gaza. Meet at the Southwest corner of East Washington Avenue & Fourth Street. You are invited to join this weekly vigil featuring a sign saying Honk for Gaza Ceasefire, just show up or email Helena at hspw@att.net for more information.
12/14 @ 9am-5pm:Â Pottery Sale at the Annual Holiday Bazaar! At the S. S. Morris Community AME Church,. 3511 Milwaukee Street. Vicki Berenson, on the Board of WNPJ, is raising funds for a member group with her pottery sales. Proceeds will benefit Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice. Come check it out, and support the other vendors, too (fun, food, baked goods, & crafts)!
12/14 & 15:Â HUMANs Solidarity Summit. At the Social Justice Center conference room 1202 Williamson. The HUMANs host a Solidarity Summit every quarter, in the weekend nearest to the Solstice or Equinox. Our aim is to host a place for people to find each other and work together or harmoniously to build a solidarity neighborly economy. Register here.
12/15 @ 4:30pm:Â New Member Orientation with Madison DSA. At the Social Justice Center - 1202 Williamson St. Join us for an intro to Madison DSA for new, prospective or returning members! Drop on by to learn about the organization, our current organizing, and how you can get involved today. Stick around afterwards for a low-key social at Working Draft! In-person only. dsamadison@gmail.com
Milwaukee
12/14 @ 12pm-1pm: Peace Action WI Weekly STAND for PEACE at 76th & Layton. Join us and bring your signs. Questions? Contact: info@peaceactionwi.org
Racine
12/14 @ 12:30-1:30pm: Weekly Stand for Peace at NW corner of Highways 31 and 20. Park in the SW corner of the Kohl's parking lot, near the AT&T store. Supported by the Racine Coalition for Peace and Justice. We have signs, banners and flags available for all. Check out our website for weather concerns. Free Palestine!
La Crosse
12/12 @ 12pm-12:30pm: Weekly Women in Black Peace Vigil. Meet at Main St & 4th Street South. A weekly vigil for peace every Thursday. Questions? Email dbuffton@yahoo.com
Viroqua
12/14 @ 11am-12pm: Driftless Palestinian Solidarity Weekly Vigil. Meet at Decker and Main. Action Alert: The Driftless Palestinian Solidarity group has a petition to demand that Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and end financial aid to Israel's military. If your group is interested in getting signatures, please email driftless.solidarity@gmail.com. Thank you for your help!
Fitchburg
12/9 @ 10am: UN in the NEWS - in-person monthly meeting. At the Fitchburg library, 5530 Lacy Rd. All Welcome. Contact: sromano@charter.net Sam Romano, a board member of the UNA USA Dane County Chapter
Superior
12/8 @ 12:30pm-1:30pm:Â Women in Black Weekly Silent Vigil. Meet at Center City Park on the Corner of Tower and Belknap. Our vigil is calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, an end to Israeli blockade of Gaza, an end to genocide in Gaza, and an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. This will be a silent vigil. Many find this healing and powerful for continuing our work towards peace and justice. After the half hour of silence, there will be a group song and group reading of names and ages of some of those killed in Gaza. Anyone wanting to stay and stand longer with signs is welcome to do so! Please wear black (if you can) and a hat or scarf for head cover. Homemade signs are welcome. Contact Christine at christineolson3@gmail.com
Virtual
12/9 @ 6:30pm-7:30pm:Â WISDOM Immigration Task Force Monthly Meeting. The second Monday of every month from 6:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Check out their website to register for this zoom call.
12/10 @ 7pm-8pm: Webinar with Fair WI - Community Processing with Fair Wisconsin – Confusion/Disappointment. The presidential election is over, but the work of advancing, achieving, and protecting equality and liberation for LGBTQ+ Wisconsinites and Americans continues. While we continue to fight back and build a stronger movement for LGBTQ+ rights, our work must also involve rest, recuperation, time for community, and even creativity. Because we can only do the work if we care for ourselves and our community. With this in mind, we invite you to join Fair Wisconsin at one or more virtual creative processing workshops, offering attendees the opportunity to process your thoughts and emotions as we pause and recuperate in community. Each workshop will follow the same format: centering introduction, a grounding art experience, some writing time, and time for communal sharing, and will leave us better positioned to build our collective power. REGISTER HERE for the virtual event. Announcement sent to WNPJ by Abigail Swetz abigail.swetz@fairwisconsin.com
Note: Fair Wisconsin is our newest 86th member organization!
12/10 @ 2pm-3pm:Â WNPJ Environmental Justice Task Force zoom Monthly Meeting. We work to increase awareness and build connections among people and groups in Wisconsin to bring marginalized and frontline voices, understandings, and experiences to the forefront. We meet via zoom on the second Tuesday of the month at 2pm CT. If you are interested in joining, please contact Dena Eakles: dena.eakles@gmail.com
12/10 @ 6:30pm:Â Webinar: Independent Prison Oversight: What It Would Mean for Wisconsin. The WISDOM Solitary and Conditions of Confinement workgroup, together with the Ladies of SCI, invite you to an important event. Unlike Wisconsin, some other states have an independent organization (or "ombudsman") that is responsible for monitoring what happens in the state's prisons. These oversight groups have unfettered access to go into any facility at any time, and to speak to any staff member or incarcerated person confidentially. This is very different from Wisconsin where the primary responsibility for investigating issues with the Department of Corrections lies with the Department of Corrections. Please join us to learn more about how Independent Oversight works in other places, and how to help the effort to get Wisconsin to join the ranks of those states that have some kind of external accountability for their prisons. Please click here to register for the webinar. When you do, you will get an email with a link to join us on Tuesday. office@wisdomwisconsin.org
12/12 @ 9am:Â WDRT.org radio will air a conversation with Dr Sarah D'Onofrio and WNPJ Board member Dena Eakles. Listen live or on the web. We will discuss the dangers of bio digesters and the rise of co-digesters, which mix manure with inputs from outside the farm. These include food waste from various types of industrial food manufacturing such as pet food, slaughterhouses, breweries, and other waste. Most importantly we will discuss how digestate and biogas production negatively impacts water, soil, and air in surrounding communities and beyond. You can find the podcast at WDRT.org at "Conversations" or on WNPJ's Environmental Justice page following the show.
12/13 @ 11am:Â WEBINAR: On Rendering Uninhabitable: The War on Palestine and Lebanon and its Environmental Effects. Please join the Middle East Section (MES) of the American Anthropological Association. This group has an interest in the peoples, cultures and histories of the Middle East. Register HERE. This panel will examine these environmental tactics of war and their long-term effects, along with ground-up tactics of survival and sumud, for it is the latter that holds the key to rebuilding and cultivating futures on the day after. See Spotlight above.
Join WNPJ - Individual members and groups welcome!
For individuals, join at a sliding scale rate of $35/year – or whatever fits your budget!
For between $50 - $75/year, a WNPJ membership keeps your group connected with peace and justice efforts and helps keep the Network going - and growing!
Visit our website to find out more about the benefits of membership and join us!
We help our member organizations reach a wider audience by amplifying your peace and justice events and actions on our list-serve and Facebook page. Membership also provides access to our community tabling opportunities, our online toolbox of peace and justice resources, and a community that cares about your peace and justice journey.
If your group would like to get your events posted in the weekly e-bulletin – JOIN US!
Interested in a yard sign? WNPJ has yard signs available! yardsigns@wnpj.org
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Questions? Contact info@wnpj.org
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The WI Network for Peace and Justice is the umbrella non-profit organization
supporting the work of 86 member groups around Wisconsin.
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