The Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus brought its Wisconsin listening tour to Madison Sept. 22, to hear from constituents on changes they would like to see from the State Legislature to build a Black Policy Agenda, according to WisPolitics.
The tour that will be stopping across the state began in Green Bay Sept. 15 and has since heard from over 100 residents on changes they want to see, according to WisPolitics. It consisted of a panel of members from Wisconsin’s Legislative Black Caucus and other representative figures.
This event was hosted in the Black Business Hub which is a two million dollar project funded by Dane County, President and CEO of Urban League of Greater Madison Ruben Anthony said.
The Black Business Hub aims to provide support to entrepreneurs, as only 0.4% of businesses in Dane County are owned by Black people, Anthony said. Supporting small businesses — especially those owned by Black people and other underrepresented groups — was a point of concern from both panel members and residents.
Gun safety and control was another topic of conversation. Actions including universal background checks, reinstallation of the 48 hour waiting period and mental health checks need to be taken, Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde, D-Milwaukee, said. There are many actions that can be taken to prevent gun violence, but lobbyists funding is preventing this from happening, Omokunde said.
“We gotta stop hiding behind the gun lobbies,” Omokunde said. “We have to stop hiding behind and cheerleading for the Second Amendment over the lives of our young people.”
Panel members highlighted life expectancy disparities between white and Black populations in Wisconsin when asked their plans to address healthcare inequalities. The average age of living for white people is 76 years old, while the average age of living is only 61 years old for Black people in the state of Wisconsin, Sen. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee, said.
Medicaid was also a topic of discussion as state legislators have been deciding what to do following cuts to Medicaid by the Trump Administration, Chair of the Black Caucus Sen. Dora Drake, D-Milwaukee, said.
The state receives 40% of its funding for Medicaid from the federal government — since recent cuts in funding, lawmakers have had to figure out new systems to ensure everyone receives healthcare, according to Drake.
“You can talk about making sure people are treated fairly at the doctor and actually being believed, having more opportunities for black doctors and nurses and making sure those are in those positions to provide care as well,” Drake said.
The conversation shifted to what can be done right now. It is important that representatives engage with young people in their communities, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said.
Young people need to be mentored and given a voice, Crowley said.
“To our young people, I want to speak directly to y’all. I know a lot of times you are told that you’re the future, and I’m here to tell you that that’s a lie. You’re not our future. You are now,” Crowley said.
