The international community blasted Riyadh for its opaque justice system and failing to hold senior officials accountable.

January kicks off with ‘Strategies for Difficult Conversations’ workshop, Frank Talks: Bridging the Divide Series, and Facilitator Certification Training.

MILWAUKEE, WI - In January 2020, the Frank P. Zeidler Center for Public Discussion will change its name to Zeidler Group. It leads with a new tagline “Building Bridges. Facilitating Change.” which reflects the organization’s Mission to foster civil dialogue and invite trust in the midst of differences. The Zeidler Group keeps true to former Milwaukee Mayor Frank P. Zeidler’s Legacy of holding dialogues across divides while clarifying it is not only a physical location, or a “center”. Zeidler Group also provides place-based support to individuals, communities, institutions and businesses on the local, national and international level.

In 2020, Zeidler Group launches its new program model that integrates public discussions, workshops on contemporary topics and facilitator certification.

• Workshops begin with ‘Strategies for Difficult Conversations’ on Jan. 28th.
• Facilitator Certification Training launches Jan. 31st with extensive in-classroom and applied practice programs. Interested individuals must apply.
• Frank Talks: Bridging the Divide Series continues its successful monthly discussions - free and open to the public. Join us for “Ok Boomer / Snowflake”: Beyond the Generation Divide on Jan. 7^th from 7pm -8:30pm at Zeidler Group.

For more information find the Zeidler Group online at www.zeidlergroup.org in 2020!
Founded in 2006, Zeidler Group is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people have difficult conversations. We offer trainings and workshops, professional facilitation, team building, strategic planning, change management and community engagement services. Over the past 3 years our team of professional facilitators have worked in 3 different countries and served 15,000+ dialogue participants.

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For more information call Katherine Wilson, Executive Director, at 414-446-1502 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Clergy are currently the only profession in Wisconsin exempt from reporting.

MILWAUKEE - New church law announced by Pope Francis this week abolishes “pontifical secrecy” in sex abuse cases -- it's time to do the same in Wisconsin. The proposed legislation would require Wisconsin clergy of all faiths to report child abuse and neglect. Right now, Clergy are the only profession in Wisconsin exempt from reporting. The bills would also bring badly needed reform to state's archaic civil statute on child sex abuse.

A meeting was held in Milwaukee to explain the legislation:

WHAT
Wisconsin Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) and Representative Chris Taylor (D-Madison) will be joined by Milwaukee District Attorney John Chisholm, Fr. James Connell (former Vice-Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee), and the Founder of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) to urge public support for two new Wisconsin child protection bills. 

WHEN
THURSDAY, December 19 at 11:00 a.m. 

WHERE
Northcottt Neighborhood House, 2460 N. 6th Street, Milwaukee

WHY
This week, as Pope Francis announced a new church law abolishing church secrecy on child sex abuse cases, state lawmakers who are leading advocates for children’s rights will discuss and urge passage of reform legislation that would significantly eliminate secrecy and cover up of child sex crimes in Wisconsin.

The Clergy Mandated Reporting Act would require clergy be placed with thirty other Wisconsin professions to report child sex abuse when discovered in the course of their professional duties. In 2002 a special “exemption” was added to the state reporting law that allows clergy to keep known and suspected child abuse “secret”. The new bill eliminates this secrecy exemption. (https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2019/related/proposals/ab423.pdf)

The Child Victims Act (CVA) would eliminate the civil statute on child sex abuse and allow victims in Wisconsin to file cases against their perpetrators and any officials in both secular and religious organizations who covered up the abuse. Under current Wisconsin law, religious organizations are exempt from negligence claims for covering up or concealing child sex crimes. (https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2019/related/proposals/ab424.pdf)

The two bills would provide protection for children and support victims’ rights in a fair and uniform manner across all state organizations, secular and religious.

CONTACT
Peter Isely, SNAP Founder, Milwaukee (414.429.7259, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

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(SNAP, the Survivors Network has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/family-worried-bills-s5.jpgAs families open their property tax bills, they won’t see the whole story.

Lt. Governor joined by 30 task force members in Madison to lead work as we fight the effects of climate change.

GOP lawmakers were badgered with questions about the president’s attack on the Dingells and whether he should apologize.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Trump's insult of a prominent Democratic family in Michigan is earning criticism from Republicans just at the time the GOP is trying to project unity on impeachment.

Trump’s real-time response to Wednesday’s impeachment vote in the House was to throw bitter and personal insults at rivals during a raucous rally in Battle Creek, Mich.

But it was his remarks about the late Rep. John Dingell and his widow, Rep. Debbie Dingell, that were too much for a number of Republicans.

Read the full story here

Will focus on helping current (and future) members run for office.

MILWAUKEE - Citizen Action is very excited to announce the hiring of JoAnna Bautch as our movement politics director! JoAnna will be developing Citizen Action’s electoral and voter engagement programs, with a focus on helping current (and future) members run for office on our long term agenda for structural reform. JoAnna will also help recruit and develop members who want to learn how to run campaigns and support Citizen Action candidates who, if elected,h will co-govern with us.

JoAnna is passionate about the growth of her community. She is born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, and loves everything the city has to offer.

Raised by a single mother, JoAnna knows the importance of a strong work ethic, and coming from a matriarchal family, she knows the power of the Latina voice. Although JoAnna struggled through high school, she is a proud MPS graduate, and in May of 2017, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Alverno College.

JoAnna stays active with her community as a board member of Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) Milwaukee Chapter, the Milwaukee Water Commons, and TRUE Skool. She is also a member of the 88Nine Cultural Commons/Community Stories Live Steering Committee and the Alverno College Latinas Con Fuerza Ceremony committee, a ceremony she helped found during her senior year at the college.

In her spare time, JoAnna enjoys drinking coffee at local coffee shops, taking in various cultures at different festivals and eating tacos from a food truck.

If you are interested in running for office in the future or learning the skills needed to help run campaigns contact JoAnna at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/healthcare-family-dr-s5.jpgWisconsinites with pre-existing conditions, marketplace health insurance, at grave risk of having coverage taken away by right-wing federal judges.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/wi-state-patrol-troopers-s5.pngAmidst staffing shortages, Legislative Republicans have refused to approve a state contract with a wage increase for Wisconsin's top law enforcement agency.

Governor tells Feds we will continue supporting refugee resettlement in the state.

MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers today submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of State notifying the federal government of Wisconsin's intent to continue supporting refugee resettlement in the state. This announcement follows an executive order issued by President Trump requiring states and localities provide written consent for refugee resettlement.

“In Wisconsin, we believe in kindness, respect, empathy, and compassion—those are our Wisconsin values. Time and time again, I have watched Wisconsinites roll up their sleeves and help each other, rising to the call of our neighbors in their time of need,” said Gov. Evers. “As we face that call today, I am disappointed by the Trump Administration's overly cumbersome and inappropriate process for those involved in resettlement, but the state of Wisconsin will continue to proudly welcome those seeking refuge into our communities and our state.”

Gov. Evers' letter can be found here.