| TF / Team | Summary of Meeting |
| Mental Health | – Completed multiple Green Bandana Project trainings. Encouraged schools to get involved. – Discussed the community’s needs for crisis services following the closure of HSHS hospitals. Began conversation on drafting an advocacy letter to share with elected leaders. |
| Affordable Housing | – April 8th: Chelsea, our TLRC Program Coordinator, and Erin, our intern, went to Madison to meet with legislator Jodi Emerson to discuss two bills and how we can best advocate for them: tenant protections and SB557: https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2023/10/23/lawmakers-pitch-legislative-package-to-expand-protections-for-wisconsin-renters/; https://legiscan.com/WI/text/SB557/2023 – They also met with legal staff at the Tenant Resource Center to collaborate and schedule a tenant-landlord legal seminar in Eau Claire – Lastly, they met with UW Housing staff for additional data on Erin’s “Student Homeless Week” work impacting UWEC students – Hometown Health Grant was written and submitted to Mayo to increase Chelsea’s salary to full-time and expand our capacity to serve – April 12th, Temple Sholom Task Force Presentation – April 18th, TLRC Community Event: “What did I just sign? Understanding Your Lease” – April 22nd , Meeting with Bill Hogseth,-GROWW, grassroots organizing in western WI, wanting to collaborate on affordable housing organizing |
| Fundraising Team | – Silly Serrano fundraiser where 10% of purchase goes to JONAH raised $50. – Brat Barn fundraiser is scheduled for April 27 at the Festival Foods mall location. – Sustainer Breakfast is April 20 at Spirit Lutheran – opportunity to thank current sustaining members and invite more new sustaining membership |
| Environmental | – Single Use Plastics: Will be holding Plastic Bag Awareness events this summer at grocery stores. Created a Plastic Free EC Pledge for individuals and restaurants that can be found on the JONAH website. – Composting: After completing waste audits in elementary schools, many noticed a large amount of unopened food was thrown away (apples, packaged snacks, condiment packets). Discussing the feasibility of a FoodShare program and ECASD has been receptive. Will have community outreach programming about composting at Sounds Like Summer concerts – April 25 Earth Week Open House at the Brewing Projekt from 4-8pm with 30+ vendors. |
| Chippewa Valley Justice Action Team | – Learned about Art with Heart, a trauma-informed art based programming. Amy Hahn, an art therapist, accepts referrals and has training materials. https://artwithheart.org/ – Considering creating a podcast on racism. After speaking with Catherine Emmanuel, UWEC’s Center for Racial and Restorative Justice Director, perhaps a community discussion would be possible. |
| Religious Leaders | – Topic of discussion was supporting the community through the HSHS closures. Presentations by Aimee Wollman Nesseth from the Northwest Wisconsin Healthcare Emergency Readiness Coalition and David Minor from the Eau Claire Chamber. |
| Transportation | – Attended All Aboard WI’s legislative day at the state capitol; met with legislators on Feb 1 to discuss the need for better statewide passenger rail service – Due to increased demand and meet community needs, Eau Claire Transit is evaluating proposed route changes for Altoona and UWEC is proposing changes to campus bus routes – Plans are being made for free bus rides from April 22-27. Sponsors include the City of Eau Claire, the Amalgamated Transit Union, and the Chippewa Valley Transit Alliance |
| Training Team | – Held 1-1 training on March 16- Planning an Intro to Organizing training to entice people to come to Weeklong in July. Will be on May 11 from 9:00-1:00. – Developing more leaders: (1) committing to inviting people to come to Weeklong, (2) creating video interviews of JONAH leaders to share/inspire |
| Immigration | – Proceeding with plans for summer Multicultural Festival. Save the date for Sunday, August 25, 2024 from 11am-6pm at Phoenix Park. – Held a meeting between Hispanic families and law enforcement for peace building |
| Child Poverty | – John Wagner received the United Way Spirit of Education Award |
Task Force Summaries: March 2024
