Join WNPJ's zoom call Tuesday for "Defending Our Democracy" * PLUS Aug 4th - 11th events throughout WI with member groups
- office62426
- Aug 2
- 13 min read
WNPJ + Weaving the Web + 25 Years of WISDOM + Take the Pledge with 350 WI + Lanterns for Peace events + Peace Songs at the Farley Center + other statewide events
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The WI Network for Peace and Justice is the umbrella 501c3 non-profit organization
supporting the work of 88 member groups around Wisconsin. Click here to find past issues of this weekly e-bulletin.
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WNPJ welcomes group #88, joining from the Appleton area:
Fox Valley Advocates for Peace
Contact: John Koehler kent1952@live.com
3319 S Scarlet Oak lane
Appleton, WI 54915 (920) 858-3310
The Fox Valley Advocates for Peace is a newer peace group started 6 months
ago. We are still learning and planning together as a community of concerned
civilians and veterans. Our current sponsored activity is our weekly vigil for
Palestine Appleton: Weekly Stand for Palestine Vigil
Saturdays, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Houdini Plaza, 100 West Lawrence Street
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Tuesday August 5th 12 noon – 1 pm
Join WNPJ and allies for our monthly drop-in conversation hour, Weaving the Web. Board member Vicki Berenson will facilitate the gathering today, talking about "Defending Our Democracy." Learn more at https://madisonfriends.org/defending-our-democracy-daniel-hunter/
Zoom Meeting Information:
Meeting ID: 893 6131 3008
Passcode: 797041
Organizer office@wnpj.org
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25 Years of WISDOM: Empowering Through Unity!
Over the past quarter-century, WISDOM has been a beacon of advocacy, equity, and social justice, fighting for dignity and opportunity for all in Wisconsin.
To mark this milestone, we invite you to a special 25th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at The Pfister Hotel, 424 E. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee
We are honored to welcome Dr. john a. powell as the keynote speaker for the evening. Professor Powell is the Director of the Othering & Belonging Institute at the University of California, Berkeley. The Institute brings together scholars, community leaders, communicators, and policymakers to address systemic barriers to inclusion and equity. His most recent book, The Power of Bridging: How to Build a World Where We All Belong, offers a powerful vision for a more just and united society
The evening will feature a silent auction, a tribute to past WISDOM leaders, and a celebration of 25 years of impactful organizing for racial and economic justice across Wisconsin.
We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you—and to launching the next 25 years of transformative work toward building the Beloved Community. Purchase a ticket here. Questions? Contact Yolanda Perkins at yperkins@wisdomwisconsin.org or call (414) 309-2070.
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Take the pledge to walk, run, bike, paddle, or move your body however works for you to cover 41.1 miles this August. 41.1 miles is the same distance Enbridge wants to reroute its Line 5 oil pipeline through northern Wisconsin’s wetlands, rivers, and treaty-protected lands. The reroute threatens waters that flow directly into Lake Superior, the world’s largest freshwater resource. Take the Pledge here:
In November 2024, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued permits and other regulatory approvals that Enbridge Energy needs in order to build a new 41-mile segment of its Line 5 oil pipeline in northern Wisconsin. In response, pipeline opponents filed a petition for a contested case hearing challenging the permits. The contested case hearing will begin on August 12 and is expected to last until early October.
Can members of the public participate? Yes, Members of the public may observe the hearing in person. The hearing will also be available by video and telephone. In addition any member of the public may testify. Public testimony may be given in person on August 12 in ASHLAND 9 am at Northwood Technical College Conference Center, 2100 Beaser Avenue and on September 3 in MADISON, 9 am at Hill Farms State Office Building, Room S149, 4822 Madison Yards Way.
Members of the public who choose to testify are open to cross - examination by Enbridge attorneys. For details on who is filing, the locations, dates, how to listen and other important considerations visit Midwest Advocates here: https://midwestadvocates.org/wp-content/uploads/Line-5-CCH-Explainer.pdf
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350 Wisconsin Annual Picnic and Volunteer Carnival! - Madison
Monday, 04 August 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Burrows Park, 25 Burrows Rd, Madison
This is a great opportunity to connect with new faces and old friends with games, prizes, and food. This is a potluck so please feel free to bring a dish to pass and enjoy the carnival games put on by each team as you hear about their current work!
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Lanterns for Peace Events in Madison, Milwaukee (virtually) from the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (CSA) and Superior
(See below for the details for each event in the EVENTS section of the e-bulletin)
CSA
Northland Grnadmothers for Peace - Superior
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Peace Songs at the Farley Center –
and Opening day of the Farley Center Land Art Exhibit
Saturday, 09 August 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
2299 Spring Rose Rd, Verona
Join us as Twila Jean, songwriter, music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and activist, shares her iconic acoustic folk and pop Peace Songs! Twila will perform from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in the Bur Oak Welcoming Area (BOWA) at the Farley Center.Learn more about Twila: www.twilajeansongstress.com
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WNPJ member group events….
Click here to see a listing and details of recurring Vigils across the state.
APPLETON
Sat Aug 9, 11 am – 12 noon Fox Valley Advocates for Peace Weekly Peace Vigil. Houdini Plaza100 West Lawrence Street. We meet each Saturday morning to support the rights of Palestinians to life, self-determination and the protection of their homeland. We call for the withdrawal of IDF troops from Gaza and a cessation of military aid for Israel. Because we pledge to be transparent and accountable, we do not allow the wearing of masks. We are not pro-Hamas and we guard against antisemitism. This event is hosted by the Fox Valley Advocates for Peace. kent1952@live.com
JANESVILLE
Wed Aug 6, 4:30 – 5 pm Weekly Stand for Justice and Peace. Meet in front of Rep Steil's office at 20 S. Main Street. Contact: Norm Aulabaugh nra@ticon.net
Fri Aug 8, 4:30 – 5 pm Weekly Stand for Justice and Peace. Meet in in front of the main post office at 1818 Milton Avenue. Contact: Norm Aulabaugh nra@ticon.net
LaCROSSE
Thurs Aug 7, 12 noon – 12:30 pm Weekly Women in Black Peace Vigil. Meet at Main St & 4th Street South. Details at the Vigils list. Contact dbuffton@yahoo.com
MADISON
Mon Aug 4, 6 – 7:30 pm 350 Wisconsin Annual Picnic and Volunteer Carnival! Burrows Park, 25 Burrows Rd. See the SPOTLIGHT above to learn more….
Tues Aug 5, 11:30 am to noon. Weekly Vigil for Peace with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa. At the corner of Monroe St and Edgewood Ave. near Edgewood High School. Details at the Vigils list. . opjustice@sinsinawa.org
Tues Aug 5, 5 - 7 pm WJW 2025 Members’ Assembly: “Because the Law Often Fails Workers" Madison Labor Temple, 1602 S Park St, Unit 106. What happens when the law doesn’t protect you at work? Some problems can’t be solved through the legal system but that doesn’t mean there’s no way forward. At this Members’ Assembly, attorney Gita Connolly will share real tools for addressing the gaps where the law falls short. https://workerjustice.org/event/august-2025-members-assembly/
Wed Aug 6, 6:30 – 8:30 pm Lanterns for Peace – Tenney Park, 402 N Thornton Ave. All welcome to this annual public event commemorating the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This family-friendly gathering invites the community to reflect on the legacy of nuclear warfare, honor the victims and survivors, and envision a peaceful, nuclear-free future. The event will include lantern making, a brief commemorative program, and a beautiful candle-lit lantern launch onto Madison’s Tenney Park Lagoon at dusk.
Event Details: 6:30 PM – Lantern making begins 7:30 PM – Commemorative program ~7:45–8:00 PM – Lantern launch at dusk
PSR WI is committed to sustainability. All lantern materials are reused annually and removed from the lagoon after the event to ensure we leave no trace. Physicians for Social Responsibility Wisconsin (PSR WI) invites you to cover this meaningful community event and help us raise awareness of the ongoing risks of nuclear weapons and the power of peace-building.
Marta Karlovm, Executive Director PSR Wisconsin www.psr-wisconsin.org
Thurs Aug 7, 4:30 – 5:30 pm Vigil for Palestine & Beyond. Stand at northeast corner of Williamson & Blair Streets. Cry, "No, Not In Our Name! No War! No Genocide!"
Stand in witness Thursday afternoons in August. Join in resistance, sorrow, and solidarity as we continue to acknowledge Palestinian suffering and the suffering of so many at the hands of what MLK called “the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism and militarism” that drive the U.S. resulting in both complicity and responsibility for unspeakable dangers and suffering.
“Democracy-destroying forces thrive off militarism. We have to resist both.” - Norman Solomon
Bring a sign (or just yourself, we'll have signs available), your rage, your broken heart and your determination to not be silent. Invite a friend or family member to join. Come for the whole time or for whatever time you are available. warabolition@gmail.com
Fri Aug 8, 12 noon – 1 pm Madison Weekly Vigil in support of Palestine. Meets near the entrance to the Memorial Library across from the Catholic student center. Signs not provided. Contact joel.garb@gmail.com (check with organizers on this holiday)
Sat Aug 9, 10 – 11 am Hunger for Justice - Calling for humanitarian aid in Gaza -
At the Dane County Farmers Market, King Street Corner. World Beyond War and Mennonite Action Madison invite you to join us at an empty table surrounded by plenty. Bring your signs, bring your empty pots, bring your grief and anger, bring your hunger for justice. Trucks full of aid are being left to rot while people starve. We call for a release of the aid and an end to the violence that causes the need for aid. End the blockade, end the genocide. warabolition@gmail.com
Sat Aug 9, 2 – 4:30 pm Nagasaki Day Peace Summit with Building Unity. At First Unitarian Society, Atrium Rooms A, B, & C. 800 University Bay Drive. The goal of this Nagasaki Day Peace Summit is to bring together Wisconsin groups and individuals who are committed to the cause of world peace, so that we might find even more powerful ways to work together.
Contact Tim if you're interested in being involved with this developing event!
buildingunitywi@gmail.com 608-630-3633
Proposed plan for the Peace Summit:
2:00 - 2:30 - Mix and mingle with other Wisconsin peace activists - (Snacks and beverages will be available.)
2:30 - Welcome and Introductions - Each attendee will have up to a minute or two to introduce themselves and share information about what they or their group are focused on.
2:50ish - Sharing of plans, projects, campaigns, proposals, etc... that could be shared by all or most of our groups and which could lead to a more united call for peace throughout our larger communities.
3:15ish - Short break and form small breakout groups based on the proposed initiatives, and or constituencies. Small group discussions will attempt to create a plan that would weave together two or more of the initiatives that were shared.
3:50ish - Whole group time:
Sharing of recommendations of each small group
Whole group discussion regarding creation of a shared plan addressing the following:
What upcoming actions/campaigns/strategies can we share and engage in together?
When/how should we come together for continued explorations of united action?
Who would be willing to represent and serve on a Peace Coalition Steering Committee?
Is anyone willing to be part of a group that would attempt to write a statement that highlights the necessity for ending war and militarism as a critical step towards shifting our societal priorities toward the meeting of human needs and addressing our ecological crises?
4:30 - Conclusion of Nagasaki Day Peace Summit
MANITOWOC
Fri Aug 8, 8:30 am – 3 pm Lake Michigan Day 2025. At the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, 75 Maritime Drive. This event highlights the significant opportunities for continued restoration & protection of Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes Basin. Lake Michigan Stakeholders, a proud partner of Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP), invites you to the 12th annual Lake Michigan Day celebration. Lake Michigan Day is an opportunity to learn about the ongoing efforts to restore and protect Lake Michigan and its surrounding communities, and celebrate leaders in this effort. In-person tickets are $35 and include breakfast, lunch, and refreshments. This allows us to continue to offer inspiring events like this one. Register here.
Event sent to WNPJ by Clean Water Action Council contact@cleanwateractioncouncil.org
MILWAUKEE
Thurs Aug 7, 5:30 – 9 pm WISDOM Celebrates 25 Years! At The Pfister Hotel, 424 E. Wisconsin Ave. Learn more at the SPOTLIGHT above…..
Sat Aug 9, 9 am - 11th Annual - Victims of Violence Walk. Join the Walk from Barack Obama High School, 5075 N Sherman Blvd. For those of US who would rather ride than walk, we have something for you as well! We want to send a huge shout out to Bublr Bikes for their
contribution again this year. Scan the QR code for more information. We would love to see You there! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GpSc3f5a3/ Sent to WNPJ by Debra Gillispie - MAGV magv.wi@gmail.com
Sat Aug 9, 11 am – 4 pm “Walking Together, Weaving the World” with UNA USA Milwaukee At the Lynden Sculpture Garden – 2145 W. Brown Deer Road. This is part of the 2025 World Refugee Day “HOME” Event…”Citizenship Celebration* Free and open to the public. Join us to celebrate our refugee communities through art, food, fashion, and performance.
For more information, go to: home-at-lynden.org To participate, partner, sponsor, or volunteer, contact Kim Khaira at kkhaira@lyndensculpturegarden.org
Sat Aug 9, 5 – 10 pm Lanterns for Peace with Peace Action WI. At Zao MKE Church, 2319 E Kenwood Blvd. Join us for our annual remembrance of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A solemn and creative evening dedicated to peace, resistance to nuclear weapons, and community healing.
Schedule:🕔 5:00 PM – Set-up and welcome🎐 6:00 PM – Lantern & origami crane making🎶 7:00 PM – Program inside the sanctuary (music by Ceol Carde)🕯️ 8:15 PM – Lantern lighting and line-up for procession🚶🏽 8:30 PM – Lantern procession to Oakland Ave and back (at dusk)🧹 9:00–10:00 PM – Cleanup (volunteers welcome!)
☔ Rain or Shine
Let us honor the past and recommit to a future without nuclear weapons. info@peaceactionwi.org
RACINE
Sat Aug 9, 12:30 – 1:30 pm Weekly Stand for Peace. Meet at the 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. Details at the Vigils list. Contact https://racinepeace.wordpress.com
SUPERIOR
Wed Aug 6, 4:30 pm Community Education Forum: Hiroshima 80 Year Remembrance - Why Nuclear Weapons Must Be Eliminated – At the Superior Public Library, 1530 Tower Ave. In Coordination with Veterans for Peace, Northland Grandmothers for Peace will have a guest speaker followed by a screening of the powerful anime film Barefoot Gen as we honor the victims of the United States nuclear attack on the city of Hiroshima Japan. We are focused on the total elimination of nuclear weapons. https://www.facebook.com/events/s/community-education-forum-hiro/719852594177830/
Sun Aug 10, 12 noon – 12:30pm Women in Black weekly silent vigil. Meet at Center City Park on the Corner of Tower and Belknap. Details at the Vigils list. Contact Christine christineolson3@gmail.com
VERONA
Tues Aug 5, 6 – 8 pm TACO TUESDAYS at the Farley Center! 2299 Spring Rose Rd.
Featuring the Navajo Fry Bread Team/El Sabor De Puebla and Music by People With Strings.
Contact: programs@farleycenter.org
Sat Aug 9, 1 – 3 pm Peace Songs at the Farley Center – and Opening day of the Farley Center Land Art Exhibit. 2299 Spring Rose Rd. Learn more in the SPOTLIGHT above…..
VIROQUA
Sat Aug 9, 11 am - 12 noon Driftless Palestinian Solidarity Weekly Vigil. Meet at Decker and Main. Details at the Vigils list. Contact driftless.solidarity@gmail.com.
VIRTUAL
Tues Aug 5, 12 noon – 1 pm WNPJ’s Weaving the Web – see the Spotlight above….
Wed Aug 6, 5 – 6 pm RIGHTS of NATURE with WISDOM - Monthly Zoom Call
WISDOM's Environmental Justice Task Force has been concentrating our statewide work around the "Rights of Nature" movement. Please visit our website at www.rightsofnaturewi.org to learn more about what we are doing and what we are planning. Take a minute to sign our petition on the website as well. We meet virtually the first Wednesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. You can find the Zoom meetings here. For questions, please contact WISDOM's Environmental Justice Task Force Chair, Nancy Stencil at nstencil7983@gmail.com.
Wed Aug 6, 6 pm CSA Virtual prayer service to commemorate Hiroshima and Nagasaki via zoom. From Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes in Fond du Lac. Women religious across the country will join in a virtual prayer service to commemorate the tragic events of August 6 and 9, 1945, when the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. The event is being organized by the Franciscan Peace Center, a ministry of the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa, and Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration on the anniversary of these bombings that resulted in the deaths of over 200,000 people and marked a somber chapter in human history. Despite the devastating humanitarian impact of these bombings, the threat of nuclear weapons remains ever-present. The event will be recorded. Please join by registering in advance here: http://bit.ly/4l3a60s
Thurs Aug 7, 6:30 - 7:30 pm WILPF Monthly Book Circle Conversation - virtual
The first Thursday of each month. All welcome Let's talk about... The book tonight Aug 7:
Fight Behavior, a novel by Barabara Kingsolver
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom-Madison
For questions or more information on getting the zoom link, send a message to:wilpfmadison@gmail.com 608-609-7961 http://wilpfmadison.org/
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Tabling Opportunity at the Saturday Farmers Market in Madison
are here. Sign up your group now!
WNPJ enjoys public interface at a variety of locations. The Network shares the spots we reserve with interested member groups. We already have a spot reserved at the largest farmer’s market in WI at the state capitol in Madison on Saturday mornings. Site #15 at the King St corner of the Square. https://dcfm.org/
Click here for your member group to sign up to share the table!
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The Spring Network News is here! How are we continuing our peace and justice work in the face of rapid changes in our country? How do we resist violence and injustice, build stronger communities, and support healing in these times?
Our member organizations share their thoughts as they continue their vital work.
Click here to read the Spring 2025 Network News along with issues from the past 3 years!
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Videos of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Spring Assembly are available!March 24-28, 2025
We gathered each evening for an hour this week to bring you the voices of Wisconsin activists as we championed our diversity and our unity.
Topics included:
Coalition and Community Building: Our Common Denominators · Immigration & Palestine: The Connections · Protecting All Our Rights · Environmental Justice · Anti-war / Anti-militarism / Abolition
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Join WNPJ! www.wnpj.orgWNPJ welcomes individual members and groups!
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!https://www.wnpj.org/membership
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.
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If your group would like to get your events posted in the weekly e-bulletin – JOIN US! https://www.wnpj.org/membership
WNPJ has a YouTube Channel! Check it out here to view members videos!:
Interested in a yard sign? WNPJ has yard signs available! yardsigns@wnpj.org
See our new Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WisNPJ
"Like" us and follow us! Questions? Contact info@wnpj.org
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As the network continues to grow we realize the vital role it plays in Wisconsin grassroots organizing. We hope to expand our board to keep the momentum towards peace and justice vibrant and relevant. Keeping us connected and helping each other in timely ways is critical. If you or someone you know would like to become a board member of WNPJ, please let us know. info@wnpj.org And thank you for all you do.
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