Wishing you and yours a happy new year! As our team winds down over winter break, let’s take a look back on just a few of this year’s accomplishments.
2022 Highlights
We:
- fought off bills that would have slashed access to public assistance for low-income families.
- led efforts to make the Wisconsin Works program and other public assistance more responsive to families’ needs during economic downturns.
- served on the Governor’s Health Equity Council, which recommended an increase in access to health insurance regardless of immigration status.
- launched Reimagine Wisconsin – a pro-worker, antiracist, anti-austerity agenda (w/ Voces de La Frontera, Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Organization, & COWS).
- advocated for direct economic support for families through refundable tax credits for low-income, rural and BIPOC Wisconsinites.
- released Protecting Local Control, showing how Wisconsin state laws restrict the power of local officials and voters.
- created Fundraising Policies Centering Justice.
- celebrated our transition to an antiracist policy center with many of you!
Comings & Goings
This year we also said goodbye to a few team members: Tamarine Cornelius, Stephanie Muñoz, and Erica Nelson. They helped shape Kids Forward into what it is today – best of luck to them in their new endeavors!
Jon Peacock retired, but will continue to support our upcoming work on the state budget as a consultant in 2023 (in addition to plenty of birdwatching).
We also welcomed the following new team members:
Liliana Barrera
Policy & Engagement Coordinator
Liliana manages Reimagine Wisconsin, a partnership that is creating a community reflective, pro-worker, and anti-austerity agenda.
Carte’cia Lawrence
Senior Racial Equity Policy Analyst
Carte’cia leads in incorporating an antiracist orientation into our research, analysis, and advocacy efforts.
Amanda Martinez
Policy & Engagement Associate
Amanda is based in Northeast Wisconsin and works to build meaningful relationships with community members, leaders, and organizations to better understand the priorities of the community.
Emily Miota
Communications Director
Emily helps to translate research and policy to a broader audience, distilling its everyday impacts for children, families, and communities across Wisconsin.
Kristin Schumacher
Research Director
Kristin oversees policy research in close coordination with community engagement and advocacy. She works to ensure state resources are invested in a way that broadly benefits all children and families in Wisconsin—regardless of race and ethnicity, income, or zip code.Wishing you and yours a safe and happy new year!