by MOSES Publications | May 21, 2025 | Children & Youth, MOSES activities, Restorative Justice, RJAC Racial Justice for All Children, Schools
By Shel Gross
On February 28, Barbie Jackson and Shel Gross were given the opportunity to have a table at the Madison Metropolitan School District’s Youth Restorative Justice (RJ) Summit. At that table, they invited youth to respond to this question: What do you want the community to know about RJ? Here’s what the youth said:
Youth (teens) are leaders and facilitators.
RJ helps with voicing opinions.
RJ is a very welcoming place!
RJ is a learning experience.
Everyone should be understood.
Everyone belongs in and with RJ.
RJ is a good way to work things out.
RJ provides a safe place.
RJ is about communication, not just about punishment and taking sides.
Resolving conflict peacefully is a very helpful and essential part of school.
There is no right or wrong way to contribute to restoring justice. If you show up and put in the work, self-reflect, and practice kindness, you are doing enough.
RJ is learning about yourself, to better understand the world around you and how it affects you.
RJ works not only to resolve conflict, but to create family and community.
RJ is not just confined to a room, but incorporated through every day and action.
Everyone should be respectful!
RJ is like family to me, and it is very transformative.
RJ is so cool!
RJ is about beliefs, mindsets, and values as much as it is about practice.
RJ can be different for everyone.
RJ includes all genders, races, and identities.
by MOSES Publications | May 21, 2025 | Advocacy, Featured, MOSES activities, WISDOM
How to Talk Effectively with Legislators About Our Issues
Tips from WISDOM Training Sessions
By Sherry Reames
- Do some research in advance about the committee or individual legislator you’ll be talking to. If possible, get advice from other members of MOSES or WISDOM who have met with these committees or individuals in the past.
- Spend some time looking at the information that’s available on the web. The legislature’s official website, legis.wisconsin.gov, gives a capsule biography of each legislator that includes their education, professional experience, organizational memberships, committee assignments, etc., and there are even links to the bills they have authored or supported in the past. The legislators also have their own websites, which tend to emphasize their life experience and the issues they have chosen to campaign on.
- Give your testimony or make your visit as part of a group, if possible, and decide in advance which of you will present each issue or aspect of an issue.
- Don’t be disappointed if you end up talking with an aide instead of meeting the legislator in person. Often the aides have more experience and expertise on our issues than the legislators they work for.
- Your speaking time will be limited (just 2 minutes, if it’s a budget hearing!), so use the time well. Jot down the points you want to make, and consider practicing with a stopwatch.
- Try to say something they are likely to remember because they haven’t heard it before. If you have a powerful personal story, use it. If not, at least mention your own experience or expertise on the issue. If you have recent data or statistics from a reliable source, it’s good to include that, too. If it’s a budget hearing, be sure to give them an estimate of the numbers involved and the anticipated savings.
- Speak as clearly as possible. Avoid jargon and acronyms that your hearers may not recognize.
- Be prepared to answer questions about your issue and to counter likely objections. But don’t bluff; if necessary, it’s ok to say you don’t know and will get back to them with the answer. Then follow through, of course.
- Prepare a written version of your testimony that you can leave in the legislator’s office or email to them later. This written version can give more details, statistics, and sources than you have time to present orally and should also include your contact information.
- Take good notes (or ask someone else in the group to do so) about the response you receive from each legislator or staff member. How receptive did they seem to our positions on the issues? What questions or objections did they raise? Did they promise to support any of our asks? Did they make any helpful suggestions about ways to proceed?
- If you met with an individual legislator or aide, follow up a few days later with a note thanking them for their time and suggesting your willingness to continue the conversation.
by MOSES Publications | May 21, 2025 | Advocacy, Featured, MOSES activities, WISDOM
By Margaret Irwin
Madison Action Day received an extra boost of energy as some 400 participants celebrated the 25th anniversary of WISDOM. The biannual event took place on April 10, beginning with a plenary session at the Masonic Temple. This was followed by a march to the Capitol and a rally on the State Street steps, visits to legislative offices, and a wrap-up at Grace Episcopal Church, before many boarded buses to return to their homes across the state.
The morning program included short videos introducing each of the 14 affiliates. Speakers then explained the values that underlie WISDOM’s work: Radical Inclusion, Costly Reconciliation, and Living for the Seventh Generation. Entertainment was provided by a drum circle led by Talib Akbar and songs from the Raging Grannies. Speakers from MOSES at the Capitol rally included Tammy Jackson, Saundra Brown, and Shel Gross.
In the afternoon, the visitors to legislators’ offices presented demands on four key issues: close the Green Bay Correctional Institution without building another prison; give all immigrants a chance to get a driver’s license; fund our public schools fairly; and expand Badgercare. In addition, visitors had the opportunity to present other issues their affiliates are focusing on.
Many thanks to all the MOSES volunteers who made this event such a success. It was a great send-off for WISDOM Executive Director David Liners, who will be retiring in June.
by MOSES Publications | May 21, 2025 | MOSES activities, MOSES leadership, Newsletter
Friends of MOSES at Grace Episcopal Church
By Margaret Irwin
People in our congregations who support the work of MOSES may hesitate to get involved because they are already busy with other commitments. So how do we recruit active members and allies? I started by inviting our Organizer, James Morgan, to speak about MOSES at a Sunday forum. He was enthusiastically received, and some people signed a form indicating an interest in learning more. I wasn’t sure what the next step should be but decided to try an experiment.
I invited people who had signed the form and any other interested folks to come to an informational meeting about MOSES led by Thomas Smith and me. We prepared a handout using materials from the website and MOSES emails that included MOSES’s mission and values and descriptions of both MOSES and WISDOM task forces. We talked briefly about these things, plus the history and structure of MOSES.
We went on to explain the many ways one can support MOSES and emphasized that any type of support is welcome. Our suggestions included: get on the mailing list (secretary.moses.madison@gmail.com); attend a monthly general meeting; keep informed by reading the MOSES newsletter and yearbook; try out a task force or indicate an interest in an operational team; attend Madison Action Day; pray for the work of MOSES; donate money; attend the Gala or another event; check out the website (note – a new website is coming soon); submit a letter to your newspaper; call a legislator; tell a friend about MOSES. Again, we sent around a sign-up sheet from which we have formed an email list. And we named ourselves the Friends of MOSES at Grace.
I am working at doing one-on-ones with the Friends and have already connected one member with the RJAC task force. When an opportunity for participation arises, I let the Friends know. A few folks made contributions through the Big Share day. This initiative shows promise of greater awareness and support of MOSES in our congregation. I would be happy to talk with you if you want to try something similar or if you have ideas to share: mbirwin@charter.net .
Increasing Engagement at Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society
By Pam Gates
Prairie UU has been a member of MOSES since 2013, when a special meeting was held and those present voted unanimously to join. They passed the hat and raised the $200 membership dues at the same meeting!
Staying involved with MOSES has fallen mostly to me, the MOSES rep since that day, but lately there have been signs that interest may be building again, for several possible reasons. First, the problems with Wisconsin’s criminal-legal system are far more in the public eye than they used to be, thanks in part to the work of MOSES and WISDOM over the past ten years. Another reason may be that Trump’s actions have created a great deal of distress, and people are feeling the need to do something. A third reason may be that I have finally come up with some ideas to transmit MOSES concerns that seem to work better than simply leaving yearbooks and newsletters in the lobby. Even mentioning that I’d done that never seemed to generate a lot of response.
Recently, our new minister, our director of religious exploration (kids’ ministry), and I came up with the idea of adding one “MOSES sentence” per week to our Weekly News email. Our administrator was happy to do it and even added a MOSES logo. Here’s a sample: “Did you know … that Blacks make up about 7% of Wisconsin’s population, but about 50% of those incarcerated in this state?”
I also made use of the service auction, which Prairie holds every year as a fund-raiser. Members bid on opportunities or items provided by other members. Last year I extended an invitation to the Gala as my contribution, and two members took me up on it. Our interim minister attended on his own. This year, I will have four Prairie guests at the Gala, and I had two at Madison Action Day. A third signed up but had to work. Altogether, in fact, Prairie had seven people attending Madison Action Day this year, two of them also singing with the Raging Grannies!
Our new minister has made a commitment to attend some general MOSES meetings and has already offered to give a reflection. Sundays are busy days for ministers, and she’s only half-time, but she is clearly interested in the concerns MOSES addresses, which is a definite plus for the Prairie-MOSES connection!
by MOSES Publications | May 21, 2025 | Meetings, MOSES activities, MOSES leadership, Newsletter
General Membership (Hybrid, as of this edition)
- Sunday, May 18, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
- Sunday, June 8, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
- Sunday, July 13, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 10, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Leadership Board (Hybrid)
- Saturday, May 31, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
- Saturday, July 26, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 27, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
MOSES Task Forces (via Zoom)
- Justice System Reform Initiative (JSRI)
May 8, June 12, July 10, Aug. 14, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
- Racial Justice for All Children (RJAC)
May 20, June 17, July 15, Aug. 19, 4:30-6:00 p.m.
WISDOM Task Forces
May 10, June 14, July 12, Aug. 9, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
- Conditions of Confinement Conference Call
May 21, June 18, July 16, Aug. 19, 5-6 p.m.
May 22, June 26, July 24, Aug. 28, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
- Treatment Alternatives and Diversion (TAD) Zoom call
June 3, July 1, Aug. 5, Sept. 2, 5 p.m.
by MOSES Publications | Mar 17, 2025 | Action Opportunities, Advocacy, Housing, Information, Newsletter, RJAC Racial Justice for All Children
By Patti LaCross
This year the Temporary Education Program leaders of MMSD and Sun Prairie Schools, in coordination with the Education+ Advocacy Group of the Homeless Services Consortium (HSC) in which I participate, expanded the annual Homeless Awareness effort to include other Dane County schools.
Here is some of what we heard that day:
- While the average US housing vacancy is 2%, Wisconsin’s is now less than ½%. Dane County has the largest housing gap in the state, already 11,000 short.
- Our driver of homelessness is not poverty so much as affordability. Milwaukee rents average $950/month for one bedroom, $1000/month for two bedrooms. Madison’s averages are $1430 for one bedroom and $1700 for two bedrooms, and rising. Wisconsin landlords aren’t held to a rent ceiling.
- This fall MMSD was serving over 800 students experiencing homelessness, with many more doubled-up, often precariously. In Sun Prairie those who renew their lease are paying $400 more per month, and shelters have a 300-person waitlist. Last year’s number of about 150 homeless students was doubling
- Outlying communities reported their first waves of homeless students, in single to double digits. With little capacity and no funding, they depend on churches to help. At least one community has developed a proactive policing policy to protect those unhoused.
Since then, on February 12 the HSC Education & Advocacy Committee endorsed a challenge by advocates to the management of the Beacon, which provides day shelter for the unhoused. They point out that access to housing navigation in that space would help guests move toward housing. The committee also raised concerns about whether Dane County’s practice of not asking or recording information about immigrant status may be challenged by the new federal administration. For more information check out the Dane County Homeless Justice Initiative.
Actions you are invited to take:
- National Low Income Housing Coalition – Regarding passage of a final fiscal
year 2025 spending bill: https://nlihc.quorum.us/campaign/81487/
Thanks for your interest and possible support! The Housing Group of the Racial Justice for All Children Taskforce welcomes you to join us on Zoom on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 4:30 to 6pm. These are All Our Children!
