Bending the Arc

Wisconsin’s first Two-Spirit Pow Wow is being held at Woodland Bowl in Keshena, WI on Saturday, June 13, 2026. It is a safe, welcoming celebration for Two Spirits, Indigiqueers, and allies. All nations and allies are welcome. Learn more at https://witwospirit.com/#getinvolved 

With June being Pride Month as well as Indigenous History Month, it is imperative to discuss and bring attention to the history of Two-Spirit (2S) folks. Many individuals are unaware of the term Two-Spirit, where the term originated and the power it carries. 

The concept of Two-Spirit folks existed well before the arrival of European settlers on Turtle Island. Indigenous individuals who identified as Two-Spirit folks were seen as gifted and honored in their community because they carried two spirits with them, both male and female. 2S folks were often the healers, medicine people, and visionaries within their given community, and they were foundational members of their culture. Much of this can be attributed to the “double vision” 2S people are gifted with, being able to see both through the masculine and feminine lens. 

Learn more at https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/articles/the-history-of-two-spirit-folks 
 

Join millions around the world in choosing to avoid single-use plastics during the month of July. Continue all summer, throughout the rest of the year, and then  forever!

Plastic Free July shares resources and ideas to help individuals, workplaces, schools, and communities reduce single-use plastic waste every dat at home, work, school, and even at your local cafe. Learn more at https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/ 
 

Faith in Place’s 2026 Annual Environment & Spirituality Summit will be taking place on September 28-29. Environmental leaders, change makers and founders will come together for two days of intentional conversation. Bill McKibben will be providing the keynote presentation. Bill is an author, educator, and environmentalist who helped found 350.org, the first global grassroots climate campaign, and who has recently helped found Third Act, to build a progressive organizing movement for people over the age of 60.

See the full AES summit agenda

Register Today!

As the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (CSA) continue to live out their Laudato Si’ goals of Eco-Spirituality, they invite you to join them on September 29. The CSA Motherhouse will be a watch party site for Bill McKibben’s keynote. When you register, indicate you’d like to join a Watch Party, and you will be emailed information at a later date.
 

The newly formed grassroots group, People for People Fond du Lac, will be sponsoring an engaging and timely presentation on the past, present, and future role of immigrants in U.S. agriculture on Thursday, June 11 at 6 pm in the McLane Room of the Fond du Lac Public Library.

Presenter, Anthony Pahnke, is the Vice President of the Wisconsin-based Family Farm Defenders and an Associate Professor of International Relations at San Francisco State University. He has written on the politics of agriculture and immigration in many places, including his books “Mobilizing Hope, Fighting Change: Food Sovereignty Movements and Alliance Making in the United States (2025)” and “Agrarian Crisis in the United States: Pathways for Reform (2023).”

This event is free and open to the public. No registration required.

Follow People4PeopleFDL on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1723749312344496  Want to get involved? Let us know with this form.

ALSO - SAVE THE DATE! 
WISDOM Wisconsin is holding its first annual Wisconsin Immigration Summit: Stronger Together, on July 31-August 1 at Marian University, Fond du Lac, WI.

The gathering will bring together activists, faith leaders, immigrants and allies from across the state to build a coordinated forward-looking strategy for systemic change.

While details and registration are still being worked on, we do know that Wisconsin Attorney General, Josh Kaul, has committed to speak at the July 31 dinner. Stay tuned for more details.

CSA is a proud sponsor of this event.

On June 4, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers delivered his weekly radio address celebrating LGBTQ+ Wisconsinites and kicking off Pride Month throughout the state of Wisconsin.

In part it reads, “Gov. Evers has long been a fierce advocate for and defender of the LGBTQ community during his time as governor, including banning discrimination on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity in state government as one of his first acts in office, fighting to end the discredited practice of conversion therapy, and vetoing handfuls of bills targeting transgender and gender non-conforming kids. Earlier this year, Gov. Evers declared 2026 the Year of the Neighbor, underscoring the importance of community, togetherness, and celebrating all the neighbors across the state that make Wisconsin the wonderful place it is to call home, including Wisconsin’s vibrant LGBTQ community.

Originally a tribute to the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, Pride Month has become an annual, month-long celebration in Wisconsin and throughout the United States to recognize LGBTQ history and the LGBTQ community. In 2019, Gov. Evers ordered the Rainbow Pride Flag to fly over the East Wing of the Wisconsin State Capitol for the very first time in state history. In the years since, the state has moved to raising the Progress Pride Flag, which was created to symbolize the inclusion of marginalized communities within the LGBTQ community. The Progress Pride Flag includes additional stripes forming a chevron pattern that represent LGBTQ individuals of color and the transgender community, as well as those who are living with and who have been lost to HIV/AIDS. Gov. Evers has once again ordered the Progress Pride Flag to fly over the East Wing of the Wisconsin State Capitol this year.

The Progress Pride Flag will fly over the East Wing of the State Capitol building until sunset on Tues., June 30, 2026. Additionally, Executive Order #297 authorizes state buildings and any jurisdiction of the state of Wisconsin to fly the Progress Pride Flag during the month of June.”

Read the full online version at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/41a1056

Explore Wisconsin’s hidden LGBTQ+ history and leading role in the gay rights struggle with PBS Wisconsin.

Attend a Pride event near you! Here in Fond du Lac, the Annual Pride Picnic is Sunday, June 28, 11 am - 4 pm at Prairie Theater and Event Center. Learn more and follow Fond du Lac Pride Picnic year round on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pridepicnicFDL 

CSA is a proud sponsor of this year’s Pride Picnic in Fond du Lac.
 

Congressional deliberation and debate on the military budget, otherwise known as National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2027 has begun. The first step in this process is deliberation in the House Armed Services Committee (HASC).

The Administration has proposed a half-trillion dollar increase in the Military Budget for 2027, bringing it to 1.5 trillion Dollars ($1,500,000,000,000)!!

Even before the $59 billion dollar increase in the US Military Budget in 2026, it accounted for well over 50% of the nation’s discretionary funds and was equal to the next six largest national military budgets combined. (See photo above). If the proposed 1.5 trillion dollar Military Budget proposed by the Trump administration is adopted by Congress, it will be 68% of the entire discretionary budget of the nation.

Spending such a high proportion of the nation’s funds for military purposes ensures that little or no money will be available to address issues that are negatively affecting the daily lives of all people in the country. These issues relate to inadequacies and dysfunctions in the economic, educational, health care and other systems of society and to ecological deterioration that threatens the health of all.

Lawmakers know that the administration’s $1.5 trillion military budget is a nonstarter and key HASC members are already working to change it. Rep. Seth Moulton has introduced an amendment that would CUT the Pentagon topline before the NDAA even reaches the House floor.

Now, at the very beginning of debate on the 2027 National Defense Authorization, is the time for people of faith and conscience who believe they are called to love their neighbors, even their enemies, and to be peacemakers to let congress people know how they feel about this matter. The HASC has already rejected Rep. Moulton’s amendment, but it is likely to be introduced again when the NDAA comes to the House floor.

If you are concerned about this matter, please write or call your US Senators and your district representative and let them know you support Rep. Moulton’s amendment.
Contact your US Senators

Contact your U.S. House Representative
 

Sacred Journeys, a prayer service for migrants and refugees, featuring Bishop James T. Schuerman, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is scheduled for Monday, June 15, 6:30-7:30 pm at Cathedral Square Park, 520 E. Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI.

Various Catholic leaders will read prayers and blessings. We will enjoy music from Jesús Villanueva, Director of Music & Liturgy at St. Adalbert and St. Rafael the Archangel parishes. There will be a special offering to support Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigration Service and calls to action.

Bring a lawn chair or some seating will be available.

We are grateful to the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes and School Sisters of Notre Dame, Central Pacific Province for sponsoring the park rental.
 

Juneteenth, short for “June Nineteenth.” marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, TX, in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. Of course we know that the troops arrived a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Nonetheless, it finally happened! Read more to understand why here or in this Farmer’s Almanac article.

Juneteenth is considered the longest running African American holiday. A federal holiday since 2021, Juneteenth occurs this year on Friday, June 19. Communities across the nation hold celebrations on or around the date. Find an event in your area!

In Fond du Lac, join Ebony Vision’s Annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 20, 11 am - 4 pm at Buttermilk Creek Park, 701 S. Park Ave. Ebony Vision is a local nonprofit that works to foster a more inclusive community. Learn more at https://www.evfdl.org/ or follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587236823421 

For this year’s event, bring chairs and blankets to enjoy the celebration including amazing live music, great food, community resources, kids activities and each other!

CSA is a proud sponsor of this event.