SWWAP
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untilSWWAP is hosting a silent protest rally on and near the bike trail bridge in Mount Horeb on August 18, from 3:30 - 5 pm. Bring a sign or borrow one from the SWWAP archives. The theme of the rally is protecting democracy from a regime, which is working to undermine a sacred American value. Don't lose your voice! Practice your First Amendment Rights. bring a friend.
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You know the Trump administration has riled up average Americans when people in their 80’s and 90’s start demonstrating on street corners! That is exactly the case with the Silver Badgers. The rapidly growing Silver Badgers, founded in spring 2025 by a group of West Madison senior citizens are fighting for their rights and the rights of children and grandchildren. Silver Badger presenters will outline how the group got started and how they became the vibrant group it is today. We have several surprises in store at this morning event. Coffee and light breakfast items will be served. Regardless of age, all are welcome to this event! Democracy survives when we ALL work together
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Knowles Nelson Stewardship - Protecting land and water in Wisconsin has expired due to Legislative Inaction 😠 For nearly 40 years, the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program protected our lakes and streams, secured critical wildlife habitat, and provided world-class recreational opportunities. This year, for the first time in the program’s history, the Legislature let it die. Let’s bring it back. Read More Howard Marklein and the Knowles Nelson Program As co-chair of the legislature's Joint Committee on Finance, Marklein was the named defendant in a major 2024 Wisconsin Supreme Court lawsuit (Evers v. Marklein) that ruled the committee's use of a legislative veto to block conservation land purchases was unconstitutional. Background on this case is as follows. In a recent decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Court entitled Tony Evers v. Howard Marklein. The court decided that the Wisconsin Legislature had attempted to take control of one of the “core powers” assigned by the Wisconsin Constitution exclusively to the Executive Branch. Senator Marklein and his Republican brethren had unconstitutionally attempted to exercise authority given exclusively to the governor. The case involved statutes that allowed the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee headed by Senator Marklein to require the WI DNR to notify members of that committee when a proposed expenditure under the Knowles Nelson Stewardship program would exceed $250,000. In such cases, the committee would then have the right to block the expenditure until the committee held a meeting on the project, and nothing in the statute(s) specified when the committee was required to meet. The court held that “while the legislature possesses the power to determine whether and how to fund the land acquisition portion of the [Knowles Nelson Stewardship] program, the constitution does not empower the legislature to participate in the execution of the law, nor can it give itself such authority.” Of course, having lost this attempt to limit use of these funds, the Republican-led legislature has since simply decided not to renew funding it at all, thus bringing to a jarring end a program that has been vital to the preservation of our beautiful state’s many natural places. The Future Of Knowles Nelson Hangs In The Balance “Senate Republicans … have ensured that towns and cities across our state do not have the money to repair boat launches or keep our trails safe,” she said. “They have made it impossible for the state to preserve more of our landscape, giving developers free rein. They have decided to disregard the will of the residents, and no wonder why the Republican party is losing so much at the polls. The expiration of this program today is just another example of Republican failures, but my message to Wisconsin is very simple: Vote for Democrats in November, and we promise, especially with the Democratic trifecta, we will bring the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program back in full force, so people can enjoy nature regardless of their zip code, every single place in the state of Wisconsin.” - Senate Minority Leader Diane Hesselbein (D-Middleton)
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FAIR MAPS FOR WISCONSIN! - COMMUNITY HEARING AT BRIX CIDER
SWWAP posted an event in Community Calendar
While Wisconsin currently has fair voting maps, these are only in place until the 2030 Census, we need LEGISLATION to ensure fFair Voting Maps for future generations. This event will share where Wisconsin is and where we needs to be to ensure districts are created fairly. The Fair Maps Coalition wants YOUR INPUT. We hope to see you at this event. Many thanks to Brix Cider for hosting this community event! Fair Maps Poster.pdf -
Political events can feel pretty scripted. The candidate has their talking points. People ask predictable questions. Everyone knows where to stand. It can feel a little stiff, right? Well, it’s hard to be stiff in the cozy old red chair at Brix. That’s where our candidates for governor will sit during Community Conversations @ Brix — a series of informal, curious, and hopefully revealing conversations with people asking for the chance to lead Wisconsin. Host Matt, co-owner of Brix, may or may not ask predictable questions as he tries to get a better sense of who these candidates are beyond the talking points. It might have its awkward moments, but maybe that’s the point. Maybe when things feel a little less scripted, people open up in a different way. Maybe we share a laugh. Maybe we feel something real and resonant. Maybe we get a glimpse of the person behind the campaign. For this event, we’ll be talking with Mandela Barnes, candidate for Wisconsin Governor, who is competing in the Democratic primary this August. Mandela Barnes is former Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin and former state legislator from Milwaukee. We want Brix to be an uncommon stop on the campaign trail - one that shines a different kind of light on the candidates. This event is free and open to all. We’ll also make room for audience questions and topics, so bring your curiosity and a good question or two. Come meet Mandela Barnes, pull up a chair, and be part of the conversation. - Hosting this event does not constitute an endorsement by Brix, Main Street Action, or SWWAP. Our goal is to create space for thoughtful civic conversation, and we have invited gubernatorial candidates to participate in this series.
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Political events can feel pretty scripted. The candidate has their talking points. People ask predictable questions. Everyone knows where to stand. It can feel a little stiff, right? Well, it’s hard to be stiff in the cozy old red chair at Brix. That’s where our candidates for governor will sit during Community Conversations @ Brix — a series of informal, curious, and hopefully revealing conversations with people asking for the chance to lead Wisconsin. Host Matt, co-owner of Brix, may or may not ask predictable questions as he tries to get a better sense of who these candidates are beyond the talking points. It might have its awkward moments, but maybe that’s the point. Maybe when things feel a little less scripted, people open up in a different way. Maybe we share a laugh. Maybe we feel something real and resonant. Maybe we get a glimpse of the person behind the campaign. For this event, we’ll be talking with Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, a candidate for Governor of Wisconsin in the Democratic primary this August. In addition to being Lieutenant Governor, Sara is a former health care professional, a previous representative of Wisconsin’s 13th Assembly District, and a mother of two kids. We want Brix to be an uncommon stop on the campaign trail — one that shines a different kind of light on the candidates. This event is free and open to all. We’ll also make room for audience questions and topics, so bring your curiosity and a good question or two. Come meet Sara Rodriguez, pull up a chair, and be part of the conversation. - Hosting this event does not constitute an endorsement by Brix, Main Street Action, or SWWAP. Our goal is to create space for thoughtful civic conversation, and we have invited gubernatorial candidates to participate in this series.
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Political events can feel pretty scripted. The candidate has their talking points. People ask predictable questions. Everyone knows where to stand. It can feel a little stiff, right? Well, it’s hard to be stiff in the cozy old red chair at Brix. That’s where our candidates for governor will sit during Community Conversations @ Brix — a series of informal, curious, and hopefully revealing conversations with people asking for the chance to lead Wisconsin. Host Matt, co-owner of Brix, may or may not ask predictable questions as he tries to get a better sense of who these candidates are beyond the talking points. It might have its awkward moments, but maybe that’s the point. Maybe when things feel a little less scripted, people open up in a different way. Maybe we share a laugh. Maybe we feel something real and resonant. Maybe we get a glimpse of the person behind the campaign. For this event, we’ll be talking with Joel Brennan. Joel led the Wisconsin Department of Administration and previously led the Greater Milwaukee Committee and Discovery World, the state’s largest science museum. He’s a father of two, a little league coach, and a good cribbage player. We want Brix to be an uncommon stop on the campaign trail — one that shines a different kind of light on the candidates. This event is free and open to all. We’ll also make room for audience questions and topics, so bring your curiosity and a good question or two. Come meet Joel Brennan, pull up a chair, and be part of the conversation. - Hosting this event does not constitute an endorsement by Brix, Main Street Action, or SWWAP. Our goal is to create space for thoughtful civic conversation, and we have invited gubernatorial candidates to participate in this series.
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Community Conversation with Francesca Hong at Brix 🍎 Cider
SWWAP posted an event in Community Calendar
Political events can feel pretty scripted. The candidate has their talking points. People ask predictable questions. Everyone knows where to stand. It can feel a little stiff, right? Well, it’s hard to be stiff in the cozy old red chair at Brix. That’s where our candidates for governor will sit during Community Conversations @ Brix — a series of informal, curious, and hopefully revealing conversations with people asking for the chance to lead Wisconsin. Host Matt, co-owner of Brix, may or may not ask predictable questions as he tries to get a better sense of who these candidates are beyond the talking points. It might have its awkward moments, but maybe that’s the point. Maybe when things feel a little less scripted, people open up in a different way. Maybe we share a laugh. Maybe we feel something real and resonant. Maybe we get a glimpse of the person behind the campaign. For this event, we’ll be talking with State Representative Francesca Hong, candidate for Wisconsin Governor, who is competing in the Democratic primary this August. Francesca is a chef, restaurant worker, single mom, and state representative from Madison. We want Brix to be an uncommon stop on the campaign trail - one that shines a different kind of light on the candidates. This event is free and open to all. We’ll also make room for audience questions and topics, so bring your curiosity and a good question or two. Come meet Francesca Hong, pull up a chair, and be part of the conversation. - Hosting this event does not constitute an endorsement by Brix, Main Street Action, or SWWAP. Our goal is to create space for thoughtful civic conversation, and we have invited gubernatorial candidates to participate in this series. -
Political events can feel pretty scripted. The candidate has their talking points. People ask predictable questions. Everyone knows where to stand. It can feel a little stiff, right? Well, it’s hard to be stiff in the cozy old red chair at Brix. That’s where our candidates for governor will sit during Community Conversations @ Brix — a series of informal, curious, and hopefully revealing conversations with people asking for the chance to lead Wisconsin. Host Matt, co-owner of Brix, may or may not ask predictable questions as he tries to get a better sense of who these candidates are beyond the talking points. It might have its awkward moments, but maybe that’s the point. Maybe when things feel a little less scripted, people open up in a different way. Maybe we share a laugh. Maybe we feel something real and resonant. Maybe we get a glimpse of the person behind the campaign. For this event, we’ll be talking with State Senator Kelda Roys, a candidate for Governor of Wisconsin in the Democratic primary this August. Kelda is an attorney, small business owner, and mom/stepmom of five who currently represents part of Madison in the Wisconsin State Senate. We want Brix to be an uncommon stop on the campaign trail — one that shines a different kind of light on the candidates. This event is free and open to all. We’ll also make room for audience questions and topics, so bring your curiosity and a good question or two. Come meet Kelda Roys, pull up a chair, and be part of the conversation. - Hosting this event does not constitute an endorsement by Brix, Main Street Action, or SWWAP. Our goal is to create space for thoughtful civic conversation, and we have invited gubernatorial candidates to participate in this series. See less
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Political events can feel pretty scripted. The candidate has their talking points. People ask predictable questions. Everyone knows where to stand. It can feel a little stiff, right? Well, it’s hard to be stiff in the cozy old red chair at Brix. That’s where our candidates for governor will sit during Community Conversations @ Brix — a series of informal, curious, and hopefully revealing conversations with people asking for the chance to lead Wisconsin. Host Matt, co-owner of Brix, may or may not ask predictable questions as he tries to get a better sense of who these candidates are beyond the talking points. It might have its awkward moments, but maybe that’s the point. Maybe when things feel a little less scripted, people open up in a different way. Maybe we share a laugh. Maybe we feel something real and resonant. Maybe we get a glimpse of the person behind the campaign. For this event, we’ll be talking with Mandela Barnes, candidate for Wisconsin Governor, who is competing in the Democratic primary this August. Mandela Barnes is former Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin and former state legislator from Milwaukee. We want Brix to be an uncommon stop on the campaign trail - one that shines a different kind of light on the candidates. This event is free and open to all. We’ll also make room for audience questions and topics, so bring your curiosity and a good question or two. Come meet Mandela Barnes, pull up a chair, and be part of the conversation. - Hosting this event does not constitute an endorsement by Brix, Main Street Action, or SWWAP. Our goal is to create space for thoughtful civic conversation, and we have invited gubernatorial candidates to participate in this series.
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Unfair trade and economic policies, long embraced by both parties, have failed us. We need real alternatives that strengthen unions, fight corporate power, and offer a fair deal to working people. MT HOREB, if trade and tariffs are impacting your job, industry, or community, this is a space to speak up and be heard — and to help shape what comes next. Join us with Rep. Mark Pocan, Amb. Katherine Tai, Kriss Marion of the Wisconsin Farmers Union and Shawn Phetteplace of Mainstreet Alliance.
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untilBUILDING UNITY IN MT. HOREB WHERE: Liberty Park When: June 21, 2026 @ 12:30 - 1-30 pm On Juneteenth, Building Unity and partners will launch a 20-week tour around Wisconsin promoting a unified approach to educating and activating voters and strengthening and expanding our state’s movement building infrastructure. We are honored that SWWAP and Mount Horeb will serve as the first whistle stop on this inspiring journey. The Mount Horeb Unity Rally will feature local music, community speakers, and a special Buildng Unity bus-decorating project that allows participants to add their own messages of hope, unity, and civic engagement. The event is designed to bring neighbors together, celebrate our shared values, and demonstrate the strength that comes from working across differences. Following the rally, attendees will gather to cheer on the Building Unity Tour as it continues its journey across Wisconsin. Those who wish to stay involved are invited to join a caravan to the tour's next stop in Dodgeville, helping carry the spirit of unity and democratic participation from one community to the next.
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YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS THEATER PRESENTATION! AN EVENING OF SONGS, STORIES AND SOLIDARITY PERFORMED BY TOM KASTLE, SINGER, ACTOR, STORYTELLER This event is free and open to the public (donations appreciated) Joe Hill was a labor organizer and songwriter for the Industrial Workers of the World, founded in 1905. He believed in the IWW mantra that men and women of all races and nations could work together to “change the unequal conditions of society through legitimate direct action.” His tool for uniting people was music and the power of song. He was one of the most influential protest artists of the 20th century, and if Joe Hill were around today, he’d still find plenty to protest. Folksinger Tom Kastle’s performance of the musical play, Joe Hill, Alive as You and Me, celebrates the legacy of the martyred poet and labor leader. The tone is set by the script’s opening lines: On November 19, 1915, a man named Joe Hill was shot by firing squad in Salt Lake City, Utah—his crime? Writing songs! What follows, described by the show’s creator as “an evening of songs, stories, and solidarity,” is a remarkable 70-minute collective experience. See less
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Ken Lonnquist began performing professionally in his college days. He won a national audition and became “Minstrel for the Environment”, traveling widely and addressing environmental concerns in concerts. Ken Lonnquist writes about nature with passion and purpose, performing in nature centers, folk clubs, colleges and conferences about issues related to water, woods, animals, energy, and more. His environmental education songs are sung worldwide. Ken also has a keen eye on what's happening in America, and writes topical songs for the times we endure. Expect to be inspired, enlightened and entertained at this special SWWAP sponsored concert. Ken will be joined by his talented friend Henry Boehm. There is a $15 Suggested donation at the door, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. See less