Submitted by Sara Companik on Wed, 04/30/2025 - 10:45am
Posted in
About 400 leaders from the WISDOM network across Wisconsin met in Madison on April 10 for a day of action to get our values and issues on the minds of legislators while they are making state budget decisions. Northeastern Wisconsin was well represented, with delegrations of almost 50 from ESTHER in the Fox Cities and a similar number from JOSHUA in Green Bay.
Our values of Radical Inclusion, Costly Reconciliation, and Living for Seventh Generation were addressed at the gathering plenary at the Madison Masonic Center. 
Christopher Blake, ESTHER Board member, gave a heartfelt reflection about Living for the Seventh Generation. 
Then the crowd was entertained and inspired by the lyrics of the Raging Grannies’ songs.
The energized activists ate lunch in their Senate and Assembly district groups to plan their up-coming visits, and then marched to a rally on the Capitol steps.
At the rally, speakers shared their stories of how they were being affected by the issues we were bringing to our Wisconsin legislators. Megan Kolb told how, during a months-long lockdown at Waupun Correctional Institution, her father died in solitary confinement. He is one of seven people to have died at that prison in the last two years.
(Kolb was later interviewed by Madison radio station WORT. You can listen to her story here.)
Moved and motivated, the group marched into the Capitol to meet with their own legislators and aides.
WISDOM asked Madison Action Day participants to address in visits with legislators through personal stories and concerns especially the following four state budget issues:
- Close Green Bay Correctional Institution without Building a New Prison
- Fund Wisconsin Education - Special Education
- Accept Federal Funding for Badgercare Expansion
- Restore Driver’s Licenses for All
—Sara Companik, ESTHER Board Member
