Local Events

Local Peace and Justice Events and Actions 

Current Events:


Seasons of Creation

September 1 - October 4

The Season of Creation is an ecumenical celebration that is observed from September 1, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. It is a time to pray and respond together to the cry of creation. This year’s theme is “Let Justice and Peace Flow” with the symbol of A Mighty River. Ecumenical faith leaders from across the world have prepared a special video to invite you to take part in this season.  Let us rejoice and be glad and take action to care for our common home. Click here to download the 2023 Season of Creation Celebration Guide.


Forever Affordable Planning: Pathways to Sustainable Affordability and Equity for Future Generations 

Wednesday, September 6, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Join the Community Development Alliance and its partners in planning for the future of quality, affordable homeownership in Milwaukee. The goal of the free, day-long event at Gather at the Deer District is to advance racial equity by providing a pathway to homeownership for Black and Brown Milwaukeeans! Please register; Parking information will be shared closer to the event date.


Unconscious Bias Presentation--Judge Derek Mosley 

Saturday September 9 from 9:00 am until noon

St Mary Parish Gathering Space

9520 W. Forest Home Ave, Hales Corners, WI

Enter via the upper parking lot. 

The St. Mary Parish Racial Justice Committee invites you to a presentation by Judge Derek Mosley, “Unconscious Bias - Knowing What You Don’t Know”.  A Q&A session will follow. For more information please see this Flyer.  Register by Wednesday September 6. For questions, please contact Theresa Breunig at 414-425-6094 or breunigpt@gmail.com.


PBS Documentaries

September 11 and September 12

Don't miss our two upcoming documentaries examining the deeply mixed legacy of America’s efforts to racially integrate public schools: The Busing Battleground on September 11, and The Harvest: Integrating Mississippi's Schools on September 12. Both on PBS. Learn more


7-week Series: Discover Laudato Si   

Mondays, September 11, 18, 25, October 2, 9, 16, and 23 via Zoom, 6:30- 7:45 PM

Pope Francis’ 2015 letter to the world has generated interest across interfaith boundaries.  Discover the messages of this groundbreaking call to action on behalf of our planet in the midst of climate change. Facilitated by SSND Associate Jim Gil. Flyer    Register


Responsible Investing 50th Anniversary Conference

September 12, 2023, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Virtual or in-person

Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investment (SGI), a Milwaukee based coalition of faith and values-driven institutional investors, is celebrating our 50th Anniversary. Founded by Fr. Mike Crosby, O.F.M. Cap, SGI builds a more just and sustainable world for those most vulnerable by integrating social and environmental values into corporate and investor actions. Join us on September 12, 2023 for our annual conference, Celebrating 50 Years: The Evolution of Responsible Investing, for reflection on the history and future of responsible, sustainable investing. You can purchase individual tickets for the Event here. More information can be found at SGICRI.org/conference. 


Series: Reset The Table

Wednesdays September 13, 20, 27 and October 4, 2023 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

St Martin de Porres Parish, Milwaukee, and Good Shepherd Parish, Menomonee Falls, invite all to participate in Reset the Table, an introductory 4-part Zoom Series on Racism, White Privilege, and Racial Justice, authored and facilitated by Fessahaye Mebrahtu. It is an opportunity to dialogue with black and white people together, to listen, learn, and better understand the history and experience of racism in our society. Flyer     Register


Voter Registration Day

Tuesday September 19

Supermarket Legends is planning a voter registration event at UWM for National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday, September 19. We hope to conduct voter registration at MATC and MIAD, as well. Save the date as we will need many volunteers for successful outreach to young voters. 


God is Here in Overcoming Bias: Presentation by Derek Mosley  

Wednesday, September 20 from 6:45-8:15

St. Anthony on the Lake Parish

W280N2101 Prospect Avenue, Pewaukee, WI 53072

Free registration here is encouraged, but not required. If you are curious or even skeptical about your own bias, we invite you to take the test and see for yourself! https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html


INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE September 21

Siena Center Observance

Thursday, September 21 at 9:00am and 10:30am 

Siena Retreat Center will observe International Peace Day with Paper Crane folding workshops and interfaith prayer service for peace. Origami cranes became a symbol of peace when a young Japanese girl, Sadako Sasaki, began folding paper cranes while suffering the effects of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Since then, children and adults throughout the world have folded countless paper cranes as an aspiration for world peace. The workshops on September 21 will be led by Milwaukee area activist Cookie Anderson and will take place at 9:00am and 10:30am at Siena Retreat Center. A brief prayer service will be held at 10:00am. The International Day of Peace was created by the United Nations in 1981 to cultivate a global commitment to world peace. Registration is required.  


Catholic Non-Violence Days of Action with Pax Christi  

September 21-October 2

Pax Christi members around the world will participate in the fourth annual Catholic Nonviolence Days of Action (CNDA), which are held between September 21, the International Peace Day and October 2, the International Day of Nonviolence and Gandhi’s birthday.

PAX Mass, September 21, 7:00 PM CDT  via Zoom. More information


Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort (WAVE) Day of Action to End Gun Violence

Thursday September 21

WAVE Educational Fund is thrilled to announce their 2023 Day of Action! This is the most important action you can take this year to end gun violence. Join WAVE and a host of partner organizations in Madison on September 21. The day will begin with training for legislative visits, so you feel comfortable talking to your legislators in the afternoon. If you'd rather not speak with your officials, you can still show up to demonstrate our strength in numbers! Register now, and WAVE will contact you with additional details! 


Bay Bridges Virtual Book Discussion: Just Action by Leah Rothstein

September 21 and October 19, 6:45 pm - 8:15 pm, (the 3rd and 4th conversations in the series)

This is an opportunity to hold action oriented conversation around what we can do to desegregate Milwaukee. Author Leah Rothstein will attend our September discussion. You do NOT have to attend all sessions nor do you have to read the book. Please come for important problem solving & opportunity building.  Register to receive the Zoom link. Flyer


Bay Bridges and Habitat for Humanity: Housing, Race and Equity Workshop 

Wednesday, September 27 · 6:30 - 8:30pm CDT

Bay Shore Lutheran Church

1200 East Hampton Road Milwaukee, WI 53217

This interactive and discussion-based workshop led by Habitat for Humanity provides a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the impact of local history on housing patterns.

Through the examination of primary sources and data maps, participants will gain a better understanding of how intentional institutional choices resulted in segregated housing and the tangible effects that these decisions have had on the Milwaukee metro area. Flyer. Register


Fall Retreat: The Way of St. Francis: Growing in Communion with God

Friday Oct 6- Saturday Oct 7, 2023

Catholic Ecology Center

Follow The Way of St. Francis, who through a change of heart and habit, delighted at being in kinship with people and creation, “the stuff of the earth” that spoke to him of God’s infinite love and beauty. Fri, Oct 6 at 5pm to Sat, Oct 7 at 4pm at the Catholic Ecology Center in Neosho. Retreat format: Individual and group reflection, scripture, prayer, and interactive activities with options for enjoying indoor and outdoor experiences. Optional overnight bunk accommodations at the Catholic Ecology Center. Register at www.WCCCN.org   Flyer 


Called to Be Peacemakers Retreat

Saturday October 7, 2023, 9 AM-1:00 PM CDT

Pax Christi USA and the Bergamo Center for Lifelong Learning offer a special virtual retreat reflecting on Pacem in Terris and peacemaking today, including prayer, reflection, and creative action by leaders in Pax Christi USA and artisans of peace. Cost: $10. More information and registration


Teach the Truth Wisconsin Week of Action

October 8-14th

Spend time learning about stories of our America’s, Wisconsin’s, and our communities’ past. Learn more about historical incidents that took place in Wisconsin. Flyer


NETWORK: White Supremacy and American Christianity

Saturday, October 21, 11 a.m. CDT

NETWORK is finalizing plans for White Supremacy and American Christianity: A Consistent Ethic of Hate Threatens Our Democracy, our third installment of conversations between Father Bryan Massingale, the James and Nancy Buckman Chair in Applied Christian Ethics at Fordham University, Dr. Robert P. Jones, President and Founder of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), and Joan F. Neal, Deputy Executive Director and Chief Equity Officer at NETWORK.  Joan Neal will moderate the discussion as Fr. Massingale and Dr. Jones share insight into the ways in which white Christian nationalism threatens our democracy and the vision of the common good embraced by Catholic Social Teaching and multiple Christian faiths. Please save the date!  Registration will open in early September. I hope you will make plans to attend! 


Just Action Housing Justice Series by Bay Bridges

August 17 , September 21, October 19, 6:45 to 8:15 on Zoom

You are invited to an action oriented conversation based on Rothstien’s “The Color of Law” around what we can do to desegregate Milwaukee. Author Leah Rothstein will attend our September discussion. You do NOT have to attend all sessions nor do you have to read the book. Please come for important problem solving & opportunity building. Register to receive the Zoom link. Flyer


Basics of Community Organizing offered by WISDOM

Every Tuesday, August 22-September 26

6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

WISDOM is organizing a five-week training series that will begin at the end of August as preparation for the work that lies ahead of us this fall and in 2024. The series is intended to create and guide an ongoing system of local leadership development. 

In the sessions, you will learn the basics of relational organizing and the principles to build relationships within your community. The series is based on the popular workshop held in 2021 and 2022, which attracted hundreds of participants. Each session is 90 minutes long held over five weeks every Tuesday. Learn more


Recurring Events:

Peace Action Wisconsin - Stand for Peace 

Every Saturday, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. in Milwaukee

Added Attraction from Vets for Peace: The Golden Rule at Lakeshore Park

Event for Global Days of Action: Peace in Ukraine


Friday Freedom Films presented by Peace Action Wisconsin 

Every Friday, 7 p.m.

Zao Church 2319 E. Kenwood Blvd, Milwaukee WI 53211

Peace Action WI believes that non-violence and peace talks are the only path forward to peace. Learn more here. Updates on Facebook. 


Black Lives are Sacred Public Witness Events 

Black Lives are Sacred partners with Peace Action WI at selected Stands for Peace. Follow them  on their Facebook page Black Lives are Sacred MKE  for specific Witness dates. 

Upcoming Black Lives are Sacred Event

Saturday, September 16, 2023, 10:30-11:30 am

Our Lady of Lourdes Church

Corner of 58th and Forest Home Avenue

Stand in solidarity for racial justice and human dignity with Our Lady of Lourdes parishioners and community friends. There will be a nine minute kneeling segment at 11:00 am in memory of George Floyd. Come join us!


Kneel for Nine  

Spurred by the death of George Floyd, prayer for social justice continues every weekday from 5:30-5:39 on the corner of Hawley and Vliet. Support this important visual sign of our witness for justice.


Prayer and Provision

Prayer to End Racism, Please join in person or livestreamed in prayer for ealing from the effects of racism on the second Wednesday of each month from 11:30 to 12:30 at the St. Bakhita Catholic Worker, 3138 N. 2nd Street, Milwaukee. A simple soup will be served in the dining room following prayer.

Livestreamed on Facebook, link 


Siena Retreat Center Events, www.SienaRetreatCenter.org, 5637 Erie St., Racine, WI 53402. Phone 262-898-2590

Ongoing 2023 Retreat Information. Partial scholarships are available for all programs.


Dominican Spirituality at Siena Retreat Center

Wednesday, September 13, 2023, 9:00-11:30am

Every group and movement has its special spirit and gifts to the world. Dominicans are committed to the pursuit of truth and action for love, veritas and caritas. Come and connect with the spirit that St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena passed on to us in our own complex times. Facilitated by Dominican Sister Miriam Brown; offered in person at Siena Retreat Center (Racine) on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, 9:00-11:30am. 

Register

Private Retreats are available - To find a time for your private retreat email arrangements@racinedomincians.org or call (262) 898-2580. Cost: $54 per overnight with the option of adding meals, $8 for breakfast, $13 for the noon meal, $10 for supper.


Wisdom from Generation to Generation

September 21 In this six-session Zoom series, justice advocate Andrea Sawyer-Kirksey will facilitate meaningful conversations about the books in this series, most of which have been written by Black or Indigenous authors who share their wisdom with the next generations. Join us via Zoom September 21.

Private Retreats are available - To find a time for your private retreat email arrangements@racinedomincians.org or call (262) 898-2580. Cost: $54 per overnight with the option of adding meals, $8 for breakfast, $13 for the noon meal, $10 for supper.