Madeline Stocker at 860.808.7857 or mstocker@workingfamilies.org
The Wisconsin Working Families Party hosted members and allies from partner organizations Voces De La Frontera, Black Leaders Organizing Communities (BLOC), and community members this evening at a social event focused on bringing Milwaukee’s progressive movement together in 2020.
“As we enter the most important election year of our lifetimes, it’s critical that we continue to prioritize coming together in solidarity to reflect on our collective aspirations for not just November, but the future we want for our families,” said Aaron Shapiro, 2020 Elections Lead, Wisconsin Working Families Party. “We’re coming together with activists from all lanes of our local progressive movement to build a Milwaukee that works for the many, not the few.”
The Wisconsin Working Families Party is a grassroots political party that recruits, trains, and elects the next generation of progressive leaders to office. Most recently, the Party swept the MPS elections, a victory that served as a mid-point for an incredible progressive winning streak for the WFP in local elections across America. Now, the WI WFP is focusing on passing the MPS referendum and strengthening partnerships with local and community organizations, along with their national efforts on behalf of the WFP endorsed presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren.
Since each of their inceptions, these organizations have grown considerable momentum for Milwaukee’s progressive movement. Last April, the WFP beat back privatizers by recruiting and electing a slate of pro-public school board candidates to office. As of this January 2020, organizers with BLOC have knocked hundreds of thousands of doors in Milwaukee, and put together a 2020 agenda prioritizing issues facing the Black community. And Voces de la Frontera, a coalition led by low-wage workers, immigrants and youth who work to protect and expand civil rights and workers’ rights, saw multiple wins in 2019, including passing a non-collaboration policy between local police and ICE.
“Regardless of what happens in the White House, we know we have work to do locally to make Wisconsin a more fair place,” said Adriana Haslam, That’s why I’m proud to stand with groups like the Working Famlies Party, BLOC and Voces – groups that are on the ground building grassroots power for everyday people.”
The election of WI WFP public education champions to office was the mid-point of an incredible progressive winning streak for the WFP in local elections across America. The WFP helped elect longtime tenants organizer and progressive champion Jumaane Williams as Public Advocate in New York City, swelled the ranks of Chicago city council progressive caucus, made history in Philadelphia by electing Kendra Brooks, helped make Stephen Mason the first Black mayor of Cedar Hill, Texas, helped insurgent Latinx LGBTQ social worker Candi CdeBaca oust a longtime incumbent on the Denver City Council, and elected other council members from Morgantown, W.Va., to Phoenix, Ariz.
