Honoring Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton

By Laura Kendellen

On the first day of the first woman elected to lead from the office of Lieutenant Governor in Wisconsin, Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton received the Status of Women in Wisconsin report that gave us a low C-grade. That became the impetus for her groundbreaking economic development initiative, Wisconsin Women = Prosperity, that put our state to work to raise the grade for Wisconsin women. Her design for that work, addressing the inextricable nature of the building blocks for prosperity, became a national and international model. Since then, Lt. Governor Lawton has never backed away from the sometimes thorny issues that define smart, family-supporting public policies for working women in Wisconsin.

9to5 Milwaukee, Paid Sick Days Wisconsin and the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee invite you to a FREE event on April 8th at 5:00 p.m. honoring Lt. Gov. Lawton for her continued commitment to Wisconsin working women and their families.

Join us to learn how positive work and family practices strengthen job preservation for workers and employers, and help low-income workers move out of poverty.

• Keynote by Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton
• Comments by Congresswoman Gwen Moore
• Legacy Bank's Margaret Henningsen

Refreshments will be provided.

RSVP Amy Stear, Wisconsin Director, 9to5 Milwaukee
9to5milwaukee@9to5.org or 414-274-0923

Visit the 9to5 website for more details.

Milwaukee’s Fair Share

By Laura Kendellen

Help make sure Milwaukee gets its fair share by pledging to participate in the 2010 census.

At the March member meeting, learn why the 2010 census is an important tool for Milwaukeeans to receive the resources they need like health care, job training, child care and schools.

Saturday, March 20th at 11 a.m. Nonprofit Center (2819 W Highland Blvd.)

After the meeting, join 9to5 staff in community outreach, collecting signatures from Milwaukeeans who pledge to participate in the 2010 census.

In 2000, 1/3 of Milwaukeeans went uncounted which means families did not get their fair share. By reaching out to 2,010 Milwaukeeans, 9to5 can help ensure an accurate 2010 census, which means funds for critical programs like job support and BadgerCare.

For more information about the 2010 census and to pledge online visit www.9to5.org/census.

Pledge cards are also available at the 9to5 office (207 E Buffalo Street, Suite 211). Sign one for yourself and take a few to have your friends and family sign.

To get involved, contact angie@9to5.org.

Road Trip to Paid Sick Days Justice

By Christopher Flowers
Edited by Laura Kendellen

On January 20th, 9to5 organized a group of Paid Sick Days supporters to hop on a bus at 7:30 a.m. and take a short but exciting ride to Madison. About 25 more supporters from across Wisconsin met us there.

At the Capitol, we attended the Paid Sick Days ordinance court hearing where 9to5’s attorney, Barbara Quindel, described the need for Paid Sick Days in Milwaukee. The courtroom was packed with close to 50 Paid Sick Days supporters and only a handful of seats were taken by our opponents with the MMAC.

“I was excited to attend the appeal and witness history in the making for both employers and employees,” says Angie Grice, a 9to5 intern. “I am a student pursuing business management and accounting with hopes of running my own business. I know that some employers’ associations are against Paid Sick Days, but as a future entrepreneur, I would give my employees paid sick days.”

The overall experience was very enlightening and empowering. We are people making history and it gives employees hope for a better future.

9to5 thanks attending Paid Sick Days allies:

• Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
• Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Wisconsin Apprentice Organizers Project
• Sojourner Family Peace Center
• Voces de la Frontera
• Freedom Inc.
• Madison Worker Rights Coalition

…and the many Milwaukeeans who made the day-long trip!

Making Change in TANF

By Lila Saavedra
Edited by Laura Kendellen

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program (W-2 in Wisconsin) is scheduled for reauthorization in 2010. TANF states that it gives low income families self-sufficiency, yet many women who have received W-2 still struggle to move their families from poverty.

On February 24th and 25th, 9to5 Milwaukee Intern Angie Grice and I attended a conference in Washington D.C. with the Welfare Economic Justice Coalition. During the conference, we discussed and lobbied to make education a priority, change how TANF funds are used in our state, and end time limits which are harsh in today’s recession.

In Milwaukee, 9to5 members and staff have held a number of meetings with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) in an effort to ensure a more stable outcome for all recipients of Wisconsin TANF services like W-2 emergency assistance and child care funds. The next meeting with DCF representatives is Friday, March 12th at 1 p.m. A preparatory meeting is being held tonight at 4 p.m. All are encouraged to attend.

Both meetings are held at the Nonprofit Center (2819 W Highland Blvd.).

We are collecting testimonies from women with W-2 benefits and encourage them to join us at our March meetings. Please contact lila@9to5.org with questions, testimony or to RSVP.

Check out video from the WEJC conference! Intern Angie Grice begins her speech at 6:38 on clip 1 and continues into clip 2.