Bending the Arc

Join League of Women Voters Wisconsin (LWVWI) and a panel of guest speakers to learn more about the anti-equity constitutional amendment appearing on the November 3, 2026, ballot.

Wisconsin voters will decide on a constitutional amendment that could have significant impacts on public education, employment, contracting, and government programs across the state. While the ballot language references discrimination and preferential treatment, the proposed amendment would also limit the use of certain equity-focused policies and programs.

Webinar Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Current speakers include:

• Rachel Snyder - Law Forward, Policy Counsel
• Suzanne Eckes - UW Madison, Susan S. Engeleiter Professor of Education Law, Policy, and Practice
• Kadijha Marquardt-Davis - Strategic Health Policy Leader
• Additional speaker will be announced soon

Register here

Can’t make this webinar? You may be interested in the YouTube Education Series at https://www.youtube.com/@LWVWI. Recordings of episodes 1 and 2 are now available.
 

The group, Fox Valley for Palestine, is offering a Palestine Film Series this Fall 2026. All films will be screened at the Appleton Public Library on Saturdays at 1:00 pm. The public is welcome.

Series Schedule:

• September 19: “The Voice of Hind Rajab”
• October 10: “The Encampments”
• November 7: “American Doctor”
• December 5: ”Where Olive Trees Weep”

Click on any of the film titles above to view their official movie trailers. The above movies are also available for home viewing on multiple platforms.

Attendees of the Appleton screenings are asked to leave a cash donation after watching each film. Money raised in excess of $1200 (cost to show films) will be donated to organizations supporting Palestinians.

Donations for support can also be mailed to:
David Muelller
1805 Dublin Trail, Apt. 124
Neenah, WI 54956

Learn more at https://foxvalleyforpalestine.org/ 

SPECIAL NOTE: The film, “The Voice of Hind Rajab” is available on Hulu and Netflix. After watching the film, Madison native, LisaAnn Trembath, had this to share with me: “I watched this movie knowing it would be tough, knowing I would weep, knowing I would despair. I was moved by some true spiritual gems: for example, the Red Crescent worker who helped Hind recite prayers to God from the Koran. I was torn apart by the moment when Hind said her family was not sleeping anymore, they were all dead. (What had to happen in her forming brain for her to understand this over the period of an hour or two?)

Why would I suggest anyone watch this movie? Several reasons. One - it really happened, and we can’t turn away from the evil that is being enacted by the Israeli military on innocent people in Gaza. Several forensic reports have been released since the incident went public, and there is no doubt of the accuracy of the story. Two - we see the power of faith and prayer and goodness in the rescue workers, and in little Hind as she prays to God for rescue. Three - we can lament together the loss of the tens of thousands of children’s lives by examining one story of one little girl. Four - there is a painful beauty in true art, and this film is artfully made and should be widely seen.”
 

Earlier this month, Racine Dominican’s justice promoter, Tim Hall, offered a very interesting webinar called, “Pope Leo and the Technocratic Paradigm.” As modern war-making makes for an unholy alliance with the powers of digital technology, how does Pope Leo XIV think the global community can redirect the trajectory of our tech revolution away from dystopia and toward the common good?

If you have a particular keen interest in the topic and basic “Lord of the Rings” knowledge, you will especially enjoy this program.

Sister Julie Ann Krahl, CSA watched the August 6th program as shared, “the intersection of today’s politics and players, current and projected use of AI, and a humanity/creation evolution is absolutely scary.” She finds this a “truly critical and growing issue” that we all need to be paying attention to and asks the question, “How do we encourage the appropriate development of the AI we want and need.”

Watch Tim’s recording here and ponder these thoughts yourself! In his presentation, Tim also looked at how “Magnifica Humanitas” contrasts two very different forms of power: one drawing its potency from the Gospel, the Incarnation, relationship in community, and the Resurrection with the other form derived from profit, efficiency, violence, polarization and exclusion. You may be interested in watching his past webinar on that as well.

Sister Julie Ann Krahl also found the TedTalk, When AI Knows Everything, What Should Humans Learn?, encouraging, especially as she reflected on the expanding role of Catholic Social Teachings. Maybe you will too! 

 

What if the hardest chapter of your life became the only story people were willing to tell about you?

For many women impacted by the criminal justice system, one decision, one crisis, or one period of instability can follow them for years. It can affect where they live, how they support their families, and whether they are given a real opportunity to move forward.

The Benedict Center helps women impacted by the criminal justice system build safer, healthier lives for themselves, their families, and our communities.

On September 23, 2026, you are invited to experience what that transformation looks like at the Benedict Center’s Women & Justice event, An Evening of Hope, Transformation, and Second Chances.

You will hear powerful stories directly from women whose lives have changed, meet the people working alongside them, and see how second changes strengthen families and an entire community.

This event will be at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago Street in Milwaukee. Please register by September 11. 
 

Feeling overwhelmed? Powerless? Doubting you can really make a difference? You are not alone!

Thich Nhat Hahn witnessed his homeland torn apart through war and spent nearly 40 years in exile because he called for peace. He learned to transform his suffering into engaged action, finding a way to care that didn’t destroy him. His teachings are at the heart of a 7-week course Plum Village is offering, which is aimed at transforming our fear and despair into strength, joy, and collection action.

This course is online and called, Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet. Click here to learn more, watch a trailer for the course, and register!
 

Milwaukee’s Forward Latino/80-percent Coalition invites you to join their 4th Annual Emergency Gun Violence Summit this fall. This is Wisconsin’s largest gun violence prevention event, which aims to bring communities together to address gun violence and advance meaningful solutions.

This year’s theme is “Uniting Voice, Advancing Solutions, Healing Community & Saving Lives.” Mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 8 am - 4 pm. The summit will take place at the Baird Center, Milwaukee, WI.

Participants will hear from nationally recognized gun violence prevention experts, policymakers, advocates, and survivors as they share insights, experiences, and strategies for creating safer communities. General admission is free, but you can register for the luncheon.

CSA continues to be a co-sponsor of this event and currently has five tickets available for the luncheon. Please email Tracy at tabler@csasisters.org if you and/or a friend or colleague would like to attend the summit and enjoy this complimentary lunch.

For a list of session and workshops and list of speakers, regularly updated, visit: https://forwardlatino.org/80-percent-coalition 
 

Driving around Wisconsin, you may be noticing the dual-language road signs for all 11 federally recognized tribes. The signs began going up in November 2021 with the last going up in June 2026.

The signs help:

• Recognize Tribal sovereignty and government-to-government relationships.
• Preserve and increase visibility of Indigenous languages.
• Increase public awareness of the Tribal Nations in Wisconsin and their histories.
• Provide a more inclusive transportation system that reflects the state’s cultural heritage.
• Give a new sense of pride, identity, and belonging among Native people.

Learn more about the dual-language program

It is important to note that the Brothertown Indian Nation is also a recognized tribe in Wisconsin. However, in 1839 (186 years ago) this sovereign tribe was faced with an impossible choice - either become US citizens or be forced to march further west, again. They lost their federal tribal recognition when they were granted U.S. citizenship and have been fighting for years to regain it back. Learn more about the BIN history at https://brothertownindians.org/history/.

To support the Brothertown Nation plea to regain recognition, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-brothertown-nations-vital-work
 

If you missed the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Virtual Prayer Service on August 6, the recording is now available here.

The prayer service was hosted by the Franciscan Peace Center of the Sisters of St. Francis of Clinton, Iowa, and Franciscans Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, and co-sponsored by 39 other women religious communities, justice teams, and organizations.

This event brought together people of faith for prayerful reflection and a shared commitment to peace. As we remember the suffering of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we continue to pray that world leaders will take decisive action to end the manufacturing of these weapons of mass destruction and address the ongoing consequences of the arms race.

A resource guide has been prepared that includes readings, videos, and suggested actions for those who wish to learn more about nuclear disarmament and work toward a world free from the violence of nuclear weapons. You can access the resource guide here.

To learn more about the Japanese singing bowls, used in the service’s sound meditation, visit Yuki Uwasawa Fultineer on her website and on Instagram.