Bending the Arc

In their March 19th webinar, the Franciscan Action Network and Pace Bene partnered to provide a powerful and insightful webinar titled, “Using our Power - Nonviolence & Noncooperation in History & Today.” The webinar explored how strategies of noncooperation, through boycotts, economic blackouts, and other forms of civil resistance, have shaped history and continue to be used today to defend democracy, challenge oppression, and promote justice.

One of the esteemed panelists in the webinar was Dr. Ken Butigan. Dr. Butigan is a strategy consultant with Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service, which has trained tens of thousands of people in the power of nonviolent change and which organizes Campaign Nonviolence, a long-term, nationwide effort seeking to foster a more nonviolent culture free from war, poverty, racism and environmental destruction. He opens the webinar in the Spirit of St. Francis of Assisi by sharing this quote: “When we see or hear evil spoken or done, or God blasphemed, let us speak well and do well and praise God who is blessed forever.” Indeed this is what is needed in these times.

Also presenting in the webinar was Maria Stephan of Horizons Project, who had formerly worked at the U.S. Institute of Peace, an independent nonprofit, established by Congress in 1984. Just last week, DOGE and FBI agents entered the Institute of Peace to remove employees who had been fired days earlier as part of cuts from DOGE. This news clip explains why this is problematic and has been getting news attention:

Many agree this webinar is extremely timely. It provided hope and inspiration in the power of collective action and nonviolent resistance. If you missed it, you will want to watch the recording here:

Another piece of interest is this March 26 NCR article in which Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie is quoted, “When one of us is under attack, all of us are under attack” and peaceful protestors hold signs that beg for moral courage from our leaders. Our faith calls us to be like Jesus in our persistence and resistance.

Now, if you’re ready for action, please consider joining a community near you that is hosting a “Hands Off” mobilization on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Madison, elsewhere in Wisconsin, or across the nation. Find details with a quick Google search.

Indiana knows the value of clean energy. In 2018, a Central Indiana school superintendent says his district’s newly installed solar farm is expected to save the district more than $2 million over 20 years. The Tipton Community School Corp’s nearly 2,000 solar panels went online in the Fall of 2018.

Fast forward to 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) established a path for the nation on climate change that included investments in domestic energy production and promoting clean energy. It also implemented policies to reduce the federal government deficit, change IRS tax laws, and lower prescription drug costs. Indiana qualified for grants to support new electric charging stations and solar projects.

Part of the IRA funding was the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. The $5 billion program offered funding for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations on state highways and corridors. Indianapolis planned to use its $15 million grant to install charging stations near libraries, parks and culturally relevant sites for Black and Brown communities. In early February, the City announced it had to halt the installation because of federal freezes on grants and loans. Soon after, the state also halted plans for EV charging stations on interstates and highways.

The IRA also authorized a $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. One of its programs, the Solar for All fund, reserved $7 billion to expand solar energy into low-income communities, including in Gary, Indiana. Again, plans to install a solar farm in Gary have been put on hold. Read the full story here.

In contrast, the U.S. Department of Defense requested nearly $850 billion for 2025, largely for military activities. Americans have very different views for how they want their federal dollars used and what it means to care for Earth, and each other.
 

In the United States, a significant amount of food goes uneaten, with estimates suggesting that 30-40% of the food supply is wasted annually, costing the economy billions and impacting the environment. We can - and must - do better!

April 7-13 is Food Waste Prevention Week across America. Anyone can join this movement by visiting or becoming a partner at https://www.foodwastepreventionweek.com/ 

On the website, you will find valuable webinars and information on in-person events happening throughout the country. One resource offered is a fun and easy-to-use calendar of daily tips for preventing food waste. Visit CSA’s Facebook page to follow along at https://www.facebook.com/csasisters 

A Laudato Si’ Action Platform goal for CSA in 2025, year 4 of our 7-year commitment to the Plan, is to Increase Landfill Diversion Efforts. We know that food waste in landfills produces methane, a harmful and potent greenhouse gas. Motherhouse Sisters and staff have already been finding creative ways to reduce food waste, but they have started to deposit their food waste more appropriately. Last fall, CSA began a food waste pickup service with Organix, d.b.a., Denali. Every other week, food waste is diverted from landfills and turned into compost and renewable energy.

New this Spring, CSA will be offering our retreatants at the hermitages an opportunity to collect their food waste and depositing it in the outdoor compost tote here at the Motherhouse. An informational brochure and compost bin will be offered to all guests who stay in our hermitages. This is one among several ongoing efforts to increase our landfill diversion efforts throughout the community.

The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes is a registered Green Team with Faith in Place. During Earth Month, Faith in Place invites us to a special vigil on April 24 at 6 pm CT, where our shared commitment to environmental justice will be celebrated. Different traditions and practices will be highlighted as we come together to honor the Earth and each other.

Register here to join

Faith in Place supports the environmental efforts of people throughout Wisconsin, Indiana, and Illinois. Learn about events and programs in your communities by visiting: https://www.faithinplace.org/ 
 

Created in God’s image, humans have inherent dignity and worth. This belief of the Catholic Church lays the foundation for all other teachings. The Sisters of St. Agnes and their Associates honor the sacredness of human life from conception to natural death. During the Cold War, the Sisters supported human life by opposing the use of nuclear weapons; they declared their property to be a nuclear-free zone. After 9-11, the Sisters formulated a public stance on peace and nonviolence as a guide for personal and communal actions. In the last decade, they have adopted corporate stances against the death penalty (2006) and human trafficking (2007). These actions demonstrate the Sisters’ reverence for life and their commitment to a consistent ethic of life.

Other actions include writing letters to inmates and prisoners on death row. Sisters light candles, both at their Motherhouse and at Nazareth Court and Center, on the days a person is to be executed. They and their Associates sign petitions and make phone calls, begging to stop more killings. You are encouraged to join these efforts. Visit https://catholicsmobilizing.org/our-work/death-penalty/ for more information.

Four men are scheduled for execution in four different states in April. Visit https://deathpenaltyaction.org/ to learn how you can try to stop this cruel and unjust form of punishment or join a prayer vigil with https://catholicsmobilizing.org/our-work/death-penalty/ 

“The dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil.” – Saint Pope John Paul II
Pope Francis calls the death penalty inadmissible in this document.

The March 2025 UNANIMA International (UI) newsletter is now available for viewing! You can find this, and all prior newsletters, on their website here: https://unanima-international.org/newsletters/ The newsletter is available in four languages.

It has been a busy time at the United Nations with the Commission for Social Development (CSoCD) taking place in February and the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) just ending on March 21. These commissions provide a stock take of what has been achieved and an outline of what still needs to be done.

A draft resolution, submitted by the Chair of CSW, can be found here.

A summary of the Beijing Platform for Action +30 from the Women in Migration Network can be read here.

For more information on the Commission and UI’s involvement, go to the CSW60 page on their website. 
 

Ma Yang was born in Bangkok, Thailand, the daughter of Hmong refugees after the Vietnam War. She was 8 months old when her family resettled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and she has lived there ever since. She is now 37 years old. In 2020, she pleaded guilty to taking part in a marijuana trafficking operation and served 2-½ years in prison for counting and packaging cash that was mailed to suppliers of the drugs. Her attorney told her the plea deal would not affect her immigration status as a green card holder, but her legal permanent residency was revoked. She was deported to Laos earlier this month, a place she has never been, does not know the language, and has no family or friends. She has limited resources and dwindling medical supplies for her health conditions. She is now stranded in a rooming house in the capital of Vientiane, surrounded by military guards, with little idea of what to do next.

Ma is a mother of five. Her partner of 16 years, Michael Bub, has disabilities and is struggling to sleep and take care of their children. Their story has struck a chord with so many across the nation, especially those in the Hmong American community who have built lives in the U.S. and could not imagine returning to Laos. Ma’s case is almost unheard of since few people have been deported to Laos in recent years as the U.S. had designated Laos an “uncooperative” country that did not receive its deportees. Read the full Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article.

The family is seeking donations at gofundme.com/f/support-ma-yangs-return-to-her-kids.

The Independent picked up this story and has recently reported some updates to Ma Yang’s situation. Read that article.

Additionally, note these hotlines to report suspected unjust ICE encounters:
CASA (National) - 1-888-214-6016
UndocuProfessionals Network (National) - 1-844-500-3222
Voces de la Frontera - 414-465-8078
Forward Latino - 888-238-9473
Marathon County has a line to report ICE encounters at 715- 551-2552
ACLU Wisconsin - https://www.aclu-wi.org/en/about/contact-us 

Visit https://www.csasisters.org/our-values/trafficking.cfm for a more extensive list of immigration services. 

With the U.S. Administration’s freeze on federal spending for foreign aid and refugee settlement, Catholic Charities agencies across the nation are having to lay off employees and some are closing down completely.

"The abrupt termination of some government contracts and ongoing speculation about the status of other government funding has created a broad sense of uncertainty among faith-based social services providers," said Kevin Brennan, vice president for media relations and executive communications at Catholic Charities USA.

Simone Blanchard, JPIC Director for the Congregation of the Sisters of Bon Secours, shares: “As a former volunteer with several refugee resettlement agencies and the former Director of Parish Social Justice Ministry for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the services that the Church has provided for so many years to people fleeing violence and persecution is impressive and inspiring. Refugees are people who have fled their country of origin due to war, violence or persecution and sought safety in another country, usually in a refugee camp. They are vetted and processed by the United Nations and often wait multiple years to be resettled in another country. The January 20th executive order suspended the US Refugee Admissions program, and the administration failed to pay for services already completed by refugee resettlement agencies prior to January 20. This forced many refugee resettlement programs to close or shrink down to a skeleton staff. This places refugee families especially those that have just arrived in January in very difficult situations. Many of them are now without assistance or a caseworker to help them navigate this new land and secure employment. This will lead to homelessness for many families hoping to find peace and security in the United States.

Further, the “freeze” on International Humanitarian & Development assistance and the decimation of USAID is leaving the most vulnerable around the world in desperation without access to food, anti-retral viral therapies, or public health interventions to curb infectious disease. Many faith-based agencies working overseas have laid off thousands of staff including Catholic Relief Services. Catholic Social Teaching calls us to respect the dignity of every human person and work for the common good. The actions of this administration in this regard are immoral and should be countered by every person of faith and goodwill.
The following are two ways to take action urging your legislators to end the freeze on US Foreign Assistance and protect essential safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP for people living in poverty in the US: 

• Take action here on a CRS/USCCB alert urging the resumption of critical, lifesaving international humanitarian and development assistance. 
• Take action here on a USCCB alert to tell Congress to protect essential safety net programs that families facing financial hardship in the United States rely on.

In a different view, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s foreign minister warns that the U.S. Administration’s decision to gut foreign aid assistance has created a “problem worldwide.” The diplomat added that the Administration's cancellation of some $60 billion in foreign aid comes "at a time when it seems, to us, very evident that what the world is in need of now is more expressions of solidarity, not less." Read the full article here.

Where do we find hope? "What remains certain is that Catholic Charities agencies across the country will continue to offer merciful, life-changing support to the most vulnerable members of their local communities — as they have for more than a century," Kevin Brennan told NCR in an email.  Read the full NCR article here.

World BEYOND War is offering a six-week online course that features six core modules, three interactive Zoom sessions, and a strong emphasis on reflective practice, collaborative learning, and community building throughout. As the world races to prevent climate collapse, finding solutions to today’s unprecedented socio-ecological challenges has never been more urgent. While discussions on climate change continue, it is crucial to address the elephant in the room—war. The call to end war is not just about peace and security: it is essential for the survival and flourishing of humanity and the planet.

War and the Environment starts Monday, March 24, 2025. This online course runs for six weeks with an approximate 3 to 6 hours per week commitment. Cost is on a sliding scale from $25 to $100, more if you can afford it. 

Learn more about the course modules and/or register here

Mass terminations at the U.S. Department of Agriculture are “crippling” the agency, upending federal workers’ lives and leaving farmers and rural communities without needed support, according to interviews with 15 recently fired employees stationed across the U.S. Read more here.

A February 28, 2025 farmer press conference in South Portland, Maine featured farmers who are directly impacted by the federal funding freeze on payments from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Their stories must be heard. No doubt they represent the concerns of farmers in every state. You can read the press release and watch the full press conference on the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) website.

Millions of dollars in USDA funding, including funding for a variety of innovative, science-based programs that support farmers across the country, is now in question. Despite USDA stating that some payments are moving forward, the farmers who spoke last week have not had their payments resumed. 

Nearly every farmer in the U.S. works with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), on a regular basis, and every single American benefits from the programs of USDA. For the last month, freezes on payments at the federal level have impacted farmers throughout the country. Despite being told that once Secretary Rollins was confirmed the payments would quickly resume, farmers are still waiting for payments, many of which are for reimbursements on signed contracts, for work that has already been done.

“Taking these funding opportunities away from farmers, breaking existing contracts with farmers — it affects all of us,” said Janelle Plummer, co-owner of New Spoke Farm in West Paris, Maine, at the Feb 28 press conference. “In the same way that food starts in a farmer’s field and ends on your plate, the repercussions of these political decisions will ripple out into all of our communities. The effect of this doesn’t end on my farm, it only begins there.”

Farmers face incredible uncertainty every season, but one thing that has always been stable — until now — is USDA contracts. The farmers who spoke in this press conference work hard day in and day out to grow healthy food that feeds our communities. We need them.

ACTION: Please call on your congressional leaders to ensure that the USDA honors the contracts and pays our farmers.

UPDATE: Read this March 11, 2025 press release from Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/3d65c65 
The Trump Administration has indicated it plans to renege on its contractual obligations and intends to terminate critical federal funding that supports Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) programs designed to strengthen food supply chains, support farmers and producers, and distribute locally grown food to local communities.

Late last month, the Supreme Court ordered a new trial for Oklahoma death row inmate Richard Glossip. Mr. Glossip’s case attracted broad support after the state’s top law enforcement official revealed prosecutorial misconduct. What’s even more incredible about this case is that Glossip had been scheduled for execution nine times. He was hours from being executed in 2015 when prison officials discovered they had received the wrong lethal drug, a mistake that led in part to a six-year moratorium on executions in the state. Read the full story here: https://archive.ph/HjiHm 

In response to the overturning of Mr. Glossip’s execution, Abraham Bonowitz, Executive Director of Death Penalty Action, issued a powerful statement for us all to think about. He wrote, “Richard Glossip had three last meals. We must not forget how close he has been to an execution. The courts in Oklahoma were perfectly fine with killing Richard Glossip. Numerous others have been executed with evidence of innocence even more compelling. This is a remarkable rebuke to the ideas that new evidence is irrelevant and there comes a time when finality is more important than getting it right.

However, the truth is that for this moment to come, it took a film to catch the eye of someone with the ear of right wing pro-death penalty legislators who put their careers on the line once they understood the truth. It took numerous long-form journalists writing about this case over the years.  It took massive resources, including a private law firm tasking dozens of lawyers reviewing every shred of evidence in the case. It took unusual voices like those pro-death penalty legislators, Dr. Phil, the pro-execution Oklahoma Attorney General and at least one major political donor influencing whether that AG would even take the meeting ("you are the only reason I'm here," said OK AG Gentner Drummond). Truly, it took an alignment of the stars.

Good for Richard Glossip and his family. We applaud and congratulate the legal team and everyone involved in reaching this moment. But we must also ask, what will it take for every other death-sentenced prisoner with a reasonable innocence claim to get a similar level of intense scrutiny?  How many innocents have been killed or will be killed because no filmmaker happened upon their case?  What is there for Rocky Myers, Toferest Johnson, Thomas Lane and others in Alabama, Anthony Apanovitch and the Lucasville Five in Ohio, Tommy Ziegler in Florida, David Wood, Rodney Reed and others in Texas, etc?

Some will say this proves the system works, but that's the wrong lens.  It proves the system is broken, but less so if you get lucky and attract the massive support necessary to overcome injustice. Given that, how long will we allow executions?  We must abolish the death penalty. Just sayin'.”

You are encouraged to follow the work of Death Penalty Action. Sign petitions, call Governor’s offices, join prayer vigils. HELP ABOLISH THE SENSELESS, INHUMANE, UNJUST DEATH PENALTY.

UNANIMA International’s newest publication, "The Hidden Faces of Homelessness, Global Insights and Pathways Forward" has been released! In celebration of this occasion and in recognition of World Social Justice Day, the publication was launched on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at the Baha'i International Community Office in New York and streamed online. The event included a panel discussion on the topics covered in the publication, presented by some of the multi-stakeholder experts who contributed to the publication. You can watch that recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlGcX4hHCuk

UNANIMA International (UI) truly appreciates the continued support from its contributors and the colleagues who joined them for the public launch, including several CSA sisters, associates, and staff.

This publication is available now with this digital publication link: https://tinyurl.com/yj7rywkv

You can also download the publication from the UI website here: https://unanima-international.org/resource/the-hidden-faces-of-homelessness-global-insights-and-pathways-forward/

Additionally, the CSA JPIC Office has two hard copies that may be borrowed. We encourage everyone to find some time to read and share the great work done in this publication, and consider expressing your appreciation to the UI staff by sending an email to director@unanima-international.org  

The Interfaith Peace Working Group (IPWG) of Wisconsin invites you to a presentation - “To Whom Does the Land of Israel/Palestine Belong: A Biblical Perspective” with Dr. Dennis Olson.

Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at 7 pm CT via Zoom

As the scene of important encounters with God at the origin of their religions, Jews, Christians, and Muslims all claim a special relationship with the land of Canaan/Palestine. This raises a theological question: "To whom does this land belong?”

This question has become an important dimension of the political debate about Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Based on their understanding of certain texts from Jewish scriptures, some biblical scholars claim that God gave this land to the Jews, and they have the right to remove all non-Jewish inhabitants. Many others interpret these texts differently and reject that claim. In this Bible Study, Dr. Olson examines and evaluates this interpretation with reference to the debate between Palestinian theologian Mitri Raheb and Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggeman. This study will also examine biblical texts that appear to encourage work for a peaceful or multi-state solution for this conflicted land and suffering land and People.

Following the presentation, participants will be able to engage in conversation with Dr. Olson and one another about the use of these biblical texts to support political violence in the Middle East struggle and how other texts might be used to support peace-making going forward.

REGISTER HERE

Dennis T. Olson served as Charles T. Haley Professor of Old Testament Theology and Chair of the Biblical Studies Department at Princeton Theological Seminary. He is currently the Pentateuch general editor for a thirty-volume project titled The Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception (Walter de Gruyter).
 

The Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission (JPIC) and Anti-Racism Committee (ARC) of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, Joliet Franciscans, invite you to a series of four monthly Zoom gatherings for the purpose of better understanding persons of cultures other than our own.

Tuesday, March 25 Wednesday, May 28 
Wednesday, April 30 Wednesday, June 25
6:00 - 7:30 pm CT

TO REGISTER FOR ONE OR MORE and GET A ZOOM LINK, Email: tpmarciani@gmail.com with your name, email address and phone number.

May we have a deeper appreciation of people of all cultures so we more fully grasp how each person can live to her/his full potential and all of us can live well together.
 

If you watched the Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2, you may have heard one of the most powerful speeches in years when the film, “No Other Land,” won the Oscar for Best Documentary.

The film was made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective of four activists - Adra, Hamdan Balla, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor. It tells the story of the destruction of Masafer Yatta, in the occupied West Bank by the Israeli military. The title, “No Other Land,” comes from a woman in the film who asks where else the Palestinians of the West Bank are supposed to go.

Abraham, in his acceptance speech, not only highlighted the “ethnic supremacy” instituted by his country in the Occupied Palestinian Territories but also challenged the destructive role of the United States: “I have to say, as I am here, the foreign policy in this country is helping to block this path [to peace].” You can watch their acceptance speeches in full here.

No Other Land is available to watch online for about $4 USD on Microsoft.com.

Details here 

The CSA JPIC Office will be showing this movie on Monday, April 21 at 6 pm.  Please join us in person or online! 

REGISTER HERE

Watch the trailer here: 

The Trump administration’s efforts to halt funding and dismantle the United States’ capacity to provide food for the hungry, health care for the sick, and hope for the poorest people on earth are destroying the lives and dignity of millions of our sisters and brothers around the world. Much of the debate on these reckless actions has focused on who did this, how it was done, and the political dimensions of these actions.

Join the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life for their program March 13, 2025 at 12:30 pm CT.

This online Initiative dialogue takes a very different approach. It focuses on the human consequences and moral implications of this abandonment of our nation’s traditional commitment to the poor around the world. We will look at these actions through the experience and expertise of Catholic sisters serving the poor around the globe and the work of Catholic Relief Services, which offers life-saving humanitarian assistance in almost 100 nations. We will hear directly from sisters and CRS leaders who feed the hungry, care for the sick, provide shelter to those without it, and meet the needs of those affected by conflict and disaster.

This timely dialogue will examine how to assess these unprecedented challenges in light of the Gospel and Catholic social teaching. It will explore through the eyes of those on the front lines what we should do to resist these destructive actions and how we can express solidarity with the poor and vulnerable around the world as well as with those who serve them. 

Kimberly Mazyck, associate director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, will moderate the dialogue.

The dialogue will be recorded and posted online for later viewing. 

REGISTER HERE

You are invited to join a one-hour webinar - Using Our Power - Nonviolence & Noncooperation in History & Today - on March 19 at 3 pm CT. This is hosted by Franciscan Action Network and Pace e Bene Campaign Nonviolence.

The webinar will feature: 

• Maria Stephan, Ph.D., coauthor of Why Civil Resistance Works, award-winning author, and organizer, whose work focuses on the role of nonviolent action and peacebuilding in advancing human rights, democracy, and sustainable peace
• Rivera Sun, author of The Dandelion Insurrection, editor of Nonviolence News, and Program Coordinator for Campaign Nonviolence, with extensive experience in nonviolent strategy and movement organizing.
• Ken Butigan, cofounder of the Catholic Institute for Nonviolence in Rome and professor at DePaul University, who will offer reflection on nonviolent action in lives of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi.

Explore together how strategies of noncooperation - boycotts, economic blackouts, and other forms of civil resistance - have shaped history and continue to be used today to defend democracy, challenge oppression, and promote justice.

Register to secure your spot
 

March is Women’s History Month and here are a few of the amazing women who are making history and a positive change for good in Indian Country in Wisconsin, as reported recently in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

•  Marj Stevens is one of three Oneida women who founded the Indian Community School in Milwaukee, now located in Franklin. Today, the school enrolls more than 300 students representing more than 30 tribal nations across North America. Its mission is to provide an Indigenous American education with a special emphasis on teaching Indigenous history, culture, language and practices. Stevens also helped to revive traditional ways for the Oneida community in Wisconsin, which had nearly been lost because of assimilation. 

• Alaqua Cox is an actress from the Menominee Nation who starred as Marvel’s first live-action superhero and had her own series on Disney+ called “Echo.” It is a role that has inspired many Indigenous girls across the country after seeing themselves represented as a superhero. 

• Carol Amour is not Native, but her late husband, George Amour, was Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe from Wisconsin. She has done a lot of volunteer work in Indian Country in Wisconsin and her current project is to save the pow wow exhibit at the Milwaukee Public Museum. She is helping to lead those efforts along with a committee of mostly Indigenous people from the Milwaukee area who have personal connections with the lifelike exhibit. The museum is being closed as a new building is being built and museum officials do not plan to move the exhibit to the new museum.

• Elena Terry is a Ho-Chunk chef who founded Wild Bearies, an educational non-profit looking to build stronger tribal communities through Indigenous food systems and farming techniques. She recently competed on a Food Network TV show called “BBQ Brawl” and faced off against some top pitmasters.

• McKaylin Peters is a Menominee woman who recently created the short documentary, Fighting the Fight, highlighting the epidemic of violence against Indigenous people. She spoke about the issue in Washington D.C. with former Vice President Kamala Harris and other decision-makers in the federal government. Peters currently works as the spokesperson for the Menominee tribal chair’s office. 

We are grateful that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has chosen to highlight these remarkable Indigenous women from Wisconsin who are making history, and hope for the continued success of their work.