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United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County

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Creating lasting change in our community sometimes requires changes in public policy. Advocating starts with educating policy makers about the importance of issues in our community, then engaging the policy makers. We know this is not always easy. Many want to contribute and advocate for the changes that are important to them, but don’t exactly know what to say or how to say it. We can help.

Our Current Policy Work

Our policy priorities are nonpartisan, grounded in research and evidence-based principles and support long-term solutions to local challenges. This is not about politics, it’s about understanding the complex issues that people face every day, and coming together, united, to solve these issues. 
 

Find your Local Representative Advocacy Toolkit 

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Take Action Now

Diaper and teddy bear on a dresser.

Diaper Sales Tax Exemption Toolkit

Will you support Senate Bill 227 to create a sales tax exemption for diapers, undergarments for incontinence, tampons, and sanitary napkins for residents of Wisconsin?

Woman in car headlights

Safe Harbor Toolkit

Will you help protect victims of Human Trafficking by asking our Legislature to support or co-sponsor Senate Bill 245/Assembly Bill 185?

Focus Areas

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Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement

Education, Training and Credentials

Promote programs and initiatives to connect jobseekers with the skills, knowledge and credentials that eliminate barriers to obtaining and sustaining employment.
 

Transportation

Support efficient, multi-modal transportation solutions to improve access between jobseekers and employment opportunities.
 

Justice System Involvement

Advocate for bipartisan solutions which remove employment barriers for jobseekers with nonviolent criminal records.

Learn more about expungement

Read AB 69 Expungement Reform
 

Talent Retention

Promote strategies that attract and retain diverse employees in our community.

Read more about our Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement initiative.

 

Safe & Stable Homes

Right to Counsel

Advocate for local ordinances to establish a right to counsel for low-income tenants facing eviction.

Below is a toolkit that include contact information for the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, sample phone and email scripts, and more.

Right to Counsel Toolkit
 

Shelter Civic Response Team Recommendations

Support bipartisan legislative and fiscal policy recommendations to prevent homelessness in Southeastern Wisconsin.
 

Expansion of Tenant-Landlord Mediation Programs

Scale and sustain the successful Mediate Milwaukee model to resolve tenant/landlord disputes before they become evictions.

Read more about our Safe & Stable Homes initiative.

Community Schools

High Quality Schools

Scale the Community Schools model to increase access to high-quality educational opportunities and developmental resources for K12 students and their families.
US Full Service Community Schools Act 2021
 

Racial Equity

Support legislative, fiscal and administrative policies which to maximize outcomes for schools, students and their families in all communities.
 

Digital Divide

Insure all families have access to the Internet and digital devices (Techquity).

Read more about our Community Schools partnership.

Strengthening Communities

Milwaukee Civic Response Team 

Advance legislative and fiscal policies which drive our community’s recovery from COVID-19.

COVID-19 Relief and Economic Stimulus Package
 

Strengthening Communities 

Support and expand efforts that create greater community investment, volunteerism and civic engagement.

Child Tax Credit
 

Support for United Way Partner Agencies

Build local capacity to engage policymakers in efforts to improve the Health, Education and Financial Stability of our community. 

Read our letter to Congress

Public Policy & Advocacy Committee Members

Tim Baack, Pathfinders • Ian Bautista, Greater Milwaukee Foundation • David Bowles, Creative Marketing Resources • Anne Chapman, Wisconsin Policy Forum • Shelia Cochran, Community Volunteer • Daria Hall, Wisconsin Partnership • Danielle Nabak, UW-Extension • Tony Panciera, Greater Milwaukee Committee • Chris Rasch, 16th Street Community Health Center • Mike Rowe, American Transmission Company • Bethany Sanchez, Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council • Kari Southern, Public Policy Institute at Community Advocates • Paul Schmitz, Leading Inside Out • Thelma Sias, Community Volunteer • Jeremy Simon, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County • Lynn Sprangers, Community Volunteer • Gary Sprong, Community Volunteer • Marcus White, Johnson Foundation at Wingspread • Brenda Wood, City of Milwaukee

Spread the Word

Your voice matters. Use your voice and raise awareness about causes that impact our community.

Connect the power of your network with ours. Spread the word about the work that United Way is doing in the Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County community. When you like, share, and comment on our posts, you are letting the world know that you are Living United.

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Questions?

If you have questions, reach out to Jeremy Simon.