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
Intern Spotlight
This week our spotlight is on Tiffany Yang, an intern for Senator Lena Taylor dealing with casework. She is from Manitowoc, Wisconsin and just transferred last fall from UW-Fox Valley, where she was president of the Student Government, to UW-Madison. Aspiring to attend law school in the future, Tiffany is currently a junior preparing for her LSATS and studying political science. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, watching Law and Order SVU, learning more about Wisconsin statutes and other laws regarding sexual exploitation, and helping those in need. Last semester, she interned for Tony Ever’s gubernatorial campaign, and was inspired to work again for another political leader. She applied to become an intern for Senator Lena Taylor because she admired her work regarding criminal justice and after her experience talking to constituents, wanted to contribute more to the public.
Women in Government Leadership Program
On Thursday, Senator Taylor made her way to our nation’s capital for Women in Government’s Leadership Program. The conference consists of a variety of workshops, all designed to help elected officials better understand the issues their constituents, and fellow legislators face, on a daily basis. Senator Taylor’s first workshop focused on effective communication, a key tool for any legislator who intends to make a real difference through their work. One of the central ideas presented in this workshop was the study of framing, which focuses on how various ways of presenting information can impact the way that people think, feel and act. Later in the day, Senator Taylor had the opportunity to take part in a workshop on computer science education. As one of the most profitable and competitive fields of the 21st century, computer science can act as a pipeline to higher education and employment for anybody, however, the vast majority of high schools offer little foundational training in the field. As a legislator, Senator Taylor hopes to see those numbers change. Those were just two of the many engaging sessions offered over the three day session.
Foxconn Story
The reality of Wisconsin’s former Governor Scott Walker’s Foxconn deal may be finally taking hold. In a recent Reuter’s article, an assistant to Terry Gou, Foxconn CEO, we learned that the company may once again be shifting away from the original deal that taxpayers were sold.
But the reality is almost as soon as the ink dried on the Wisconsin deal, Foxconn started walking back on their promises. The Taiwanese company’s string of changes include a change in the product manufactured, more automation, talk of importing Chinese workers, fewer manufacturing jobs, more engineers and research positions, and a smaller building footprint. As Republicans have attempted to shift the blame to Governor Tony Evers for Foxconn’s reversals, there is no acceptable excuse for what Foxconn is doing.
Black History Month Kickoff
On Friday, Senator Taylor’s office attended the state legislature’s Black Caucus’ Press Conference that kicked off the celebration of Black History Month. The caucus hosted events in Madison and Milwaukee, along with Governor Tony Evers and Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes to highlight events that will be held throughout the month. Rep. David Crowley (D-Milwaukee) and Rep. Sheila Stubbs (D-Madison) outlined activities that include panel discussions and presentations on health, justice, economic development, families and education. For more information on upcoming events, check out Senator Taylor's Facebook Page.
Community Action Alerts
February is Black History Month, dedicated to raising awareness of both the struggles African Americans have historically faced and their commendable accomplishments in overcoming oppression. It is important to recognize the contributions African Americans have made in building America, helping it become and remain the superpower state that it is today. At the same time, Black History Month was also created to remind people of the obstacles African Americans perpetually confront today and to call for an end to racism.
African Americans have made great strides and progress over the years, but there is always more that can be done to combat the challenges they experience. In a 2014 report done by the Kids Count data center, Wisconsin fared poorly on the list of best states to raise an African American child at spot #50. African Americans face substantial economic and social barriers. The Capital Times cited research dating back to the 1980s that revealed 60% of African American children younger than 5 years old "were living in households under the poverty line, the highest percentage in the U.S."
But what can you do to help? Actually, a lot. Educating yourself about Black History Month, and learning about the systemic racism that has shaped America, is necessary for better understanding the challenges Africans Americans deal with. At the same time, it's also important to remember treat others as equals, regardless of race. Though this idea may appear obvious, it is not always followed.
