The state budget is how we help ensure that every family — regardless of zip code, income, or race — has a chance to thrive. But, over decades, powerful wealthy interests have rigged the rules, funneling the benefits of our hard work out of our communities and into their pockets.
As a result, Wisconsin faces some of the most tragic economic and racial disparities in the country. These intentional choices by legislators don’t just hurt their intended audience: Black, Brown, and immigrant families. They also hurt low-income rural white families. The state budget is our biggest opportunity this year to address the structural racism that holds everyone back.
We look forward to working with both sides of the aisle to ensure that this state budget includes every kid in Wisconsin.
Join us to hear our take on the state budget, and how we create a state where every kid can thrive.
Speakers
In addition to our team sharing their budget analyses, we are honored to have the following partners joining us to share their experiences:
Nailah Adama
Parent/Caregiver, Community Advocate, Teacher
Amanda Merkwae
Advocacy Director, ACLU of Wisconsin
Michelle Ramirez-White
Government Relations Director, Wisconsin Farmers Union
Kids Forward is a statewide antiracist policy center that inspires action and advocates for children and families of color and those furthest from opportunity in Wisconsin. We envision a Wisconsin where every child thrives.
Wisconsin relies far too much on incarceration and blames children for system-wide failures. Instead of incarceration, a better investment for Wisconsin’s youth is in basic needs such as health, housing, and employment. Wisconsin should reimagine a community-based continuum of care grounded in youth voice, emerging adult research, and cross-system collaboration.
Kids Forward supports SB801/AB845, which would eliminate juvenile life without parole. This critical advancement towards a more developmentally appropriate juvenile justice system will reduce and repair harm, decrease racial disparities, increase child and family wellbeing, and increase opportunities for community-based alternatives to incarceration.
Four tax proposals are making their way through the state legislature now, which would line the wallets of Wisconsin’s wealthy & overwhelmingly white. We anticipate them getting to the Governor’s desk by the end of the month.