There is a lot happening at the State Capitol and it is my hope that this email will help you stay in touch with your government. As your Senator I truly believe in public service, so if there's anything my office can do to assist you, please feel free to contact us.
In Service,
Senator Lena Taylor
Wisconsin's 4th Senate District
State of The State
On Tuesday, I joined my colleagues in attending newly elected Governor Tony Evers’ first State of the State address. While taking in the moment, you couldn’t help but remember that partisan politics aside, we are all truly in this together. Every action we take should be to move Wisconsin Forward. Governor Evers spoke honestly about the challenges we face and candidly regarding the inequities of income, race, and opportunity for some Wisconsin residents. He also outlined a vision of growth, possibility, and connections that would build on our strengths. His declaration to insure clean drinking water was hugely important to Milwaukee and our surrounding communities, both rural and urban. Although there will be bumps and disagreements, for the first time, in a long time, we have a fresh set of eyes and values, to help positively lead the direction of this state.
King Day Celebration
Like many, I and members of my staff spent the weekend and Monday attending celebrations to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. The holiday, which was signed into law in 1983, and took effect three years later, has been recognized annually in Milwaukee since 1984. Whether the program at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, the King Fest Celebration, or the YMCA’s MLK Celebration Breakfast, my team and I joined events to highlight youth in our community who provided their own interpretations of King’s work through art, speech and writing contests. We also applied the idea of the holiday being a day of service and volunteered time to assist in some of the King Day programs. In thinking about his many quotes and speeches, I am always drawn to one of my favorites, “The time is always right to do what’s right”.
Senate Session
Senator Taylor attended the first Senate floor session of the year. Legislators debated and voted on resolutions regarding changes to Senate rules and modifying the session schedule of the legislature to extend the deadline for the governor’s budget message until February 28, 2019. The session was also an opportunity for Sen. Taylor and her Democratic colleagues to again raise concerns about the major restrictions placed on Governor Evers, as a result of the Extraordinary Session, otherwise known as the “lame duck” period between the November 2018 election and when Evers was sworn into office. Despite the changes to Governor Evers’ executive powers, Senator Taylor was happy to finally be back on the floor, and looks forward to introducing a variety of bills, all aimed at making Wisconsin a better state for all of its residents.
4th Annual Black Economic Conference
This weekend Senator Taylor looks forward to attending the 4th Annual Black Economic Conference, hosted by 1471 Capital Management. This year’s conference will be focused on “Making a Smarter Consumer” and will include speakers from a variety of professional backgrounds, all of them icons in their industry, with valuable experience in business. Senator Taylor will be sure to share some tips from the conference with her constituents, in hopes that they too can find success and harness their inner entrepreneur.
Time: Saturday, January 26th, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Location: 3353 N. MLK Drive
Human Trafficking Awareness Event
In an effort to push back against the crisis of Human Trafficking, Senator Taylor took part in an event held by the Human Trafficking Task Force of Greater Milwaukee. January is Human Trafficking Awareness month and as good a time as ever to learn the indicators of human trafficking in order to help potential victims. Some common indicators to help recognize human trafficking:
• Does the person appear disconnected from family, friends, community organizations, or houses of worship? • Has a child stopped attending school? • Has the person had a sudden or dramatic change in behavior? • Is a juvenile engaged in commercial sex acts? • Is the person disoriented or confused, or showing signs of mental or physical abuse? • Does the person have bruises in various stages of healing? • Is the person fearful, timid, or submissive?
By raising awareness and advocating for legislation aimed at stopping Human Trafficking, Senator Taylor IS committed to eradicating this problem. and the members of the task force are confident that we can all come together to make some serious changes and create a pipeline for the survivors of human trafficking, through which they can secure opportunities in education, employment and a brighter future.
MKE Delegation MPS Meeting
On Friday, members of the Milwaukee Legislative delegation gathered to meet with Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Keith Posley. Prior to assuming his new role, Posley was the Chief School Administration Officer for MPS and has served as a district administrator in several capacities. Dr. Posley started his career as an elementary school teacher at Benjamin Franklin School in 1990. He later served as assistant principal at Forest Home Avenue Elementary School and, in 1999, was named principal of Clarke Street Elementary School. During his tenure at Clarke Street, the school received a visit from President George W. Bush after Dr. Posley was named one of eight exemplary principals selected by the president that year. The meeting focused on legislative priorities of the district, policy and curriculum questions, and resources needed in the district.
Youth Justice and Juvenile Corrections
On Thursday, Sen. Taylor’s office was represented at a community meeting to discuss the Wisconsin Youth Justice and Juvenile Corrections System. Residents ,elected officials, municipal administrators and community activists met to learn more about proposed locations and plans for juvenile facilities has a result of the closing of Lincoln Hills Juvenile Corrections center. Residents asked questions, raised concerns, and provided feedback regarding the possible location of a juvenile facility in their neighborhood. Sen. Taylor’s office participated in answering questions and providing information about Act 185 and why there was a need to close Lincoln Hills. This event focused on the work of Milwaukee County who has roughly 56 youth placed in Lincoln Hills and their work to return those youth to the Milwaukee area. Members of Project Rise hosted the event and more information can be learned about the meeting at...
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, created to raise awareness of sex slavery and human trafficking (sex and labor) worldwide. LOTUS Legal Clinic is devoted to confronting this issue head-on by offering programs that provide specific services for victims of this horrific crime.
Unfortunately, sexual assault, abuse and trafficking are serious problems, trending upward in Wisconsin and nationally - in Wisconsin 20% of women experience gender-based violence in their lifetime. LOTUS is here to help survivors by alleviating victims' financial, physical and emotional distress and to provide civil legal services.
But what can you do to help? Actually, a lot. Human trafficking is something that the every day citizen can play a huge role in stopping. Educating yourself about what trafficking looks like so you can help identify a potential victim is something that has immediate impact.
Another way to help is by donating to LOTUS Legal Clinic. Financially supporting high-quality anti-trafficking organizations may not feel exciting, but it is one of the most impactful ways you can help. Donating undesignated funds—especially on a regular basis—gives LOTUS the autonomy to decide how to best support survivors. We truly could not do this work without you. To make a donation, click here.
Click here to learn about 15 additional ways in which you can help fight human trafficking
"In matters of truth and justice, there is no difference between large and small problems, for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same."-Albert Einstein
