2024 UNA of Greater Milwaukee Chapter Monthly Forums
All programs were available through in-person and/or online attendance through Zoom.
January 20th, 2024
Program Title: The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Civics Education
Program Description: In his presentation, Doug Savage explored how international frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Universal Declaration of Human Rights are being used by the UW-Milwaukee Institute of World Affairs to help K-12 students analyze and engage with global-to-local issues.
Featured Presenter: Doug Savage, Director of the Institute of World Affairs at UW-Milwaukee
February 17th, 2024
Program Title: COP28: An Eyewitness Report on the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference Followed By The Annual Business Meeting of the UNA of Greater Milwaukee
Program Description: Candice Owley attended daily caucuses of the Trade Union NGO as they strategized how to influence the final outcome of the COP28 talks, including workers’ rights during the transition to green jobs. She also focused on gender and on the health threats from climate crisis. She observed the weaknesses of COP28 but also signs of hope: agreeing to wean the global economy from fossil fuels, committing to halt deforestation by 2030, putting money into the new Loss and Damages Fund, & cutting down on methane leaks.
Featured Presenter: Candice Owley, a long-time Milwaukee labor leader who attended the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai as a League of Women Voters Observer.
March 16th, 2024
Program Title: The 2024 Celebration of International Women’s Day in Milwaukee – “Inspire Inclusion: Invest in Women”
Program Description: Rickey Gard Diamond, Bernadette Karanja, and Bianca Shaw presented their views on a gender-equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Collectively, we can all ‘inspire inclusion,’ celebrate women's achievements, raise awareness about discrimination, and take action to drive gender parity.
Featured Presenters:
Rickey Gard Diamond – Founder of An Economy of Our Own
Bernadette Karanja – Chief Equity Officer City of Milwaukee
Office of Equity & Inclusion
Bianca Shaw – President of Wisconsin Women’s Network
Co-sponsored by: Peace Action of WI & Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom
April 2nd – April 17th, 2024
The Marquette University Center for Peacemaking Presents A Traveling Exhibit
Program Title: “Waging Peace in Vietnam – U.S. Soldiers and Veterans Who Opposed the War – Promoting Healing and Reconciliation”
Program Description: People were invited to visit the Marquette University Raynor Library Lobby to browse an exhibit titled "Dissent and Resistance Within the Military." The exhibit was on display from April 2nd, 2024 – April 17th, 2024
It featured stories of eleven GIs and sparks discussion and teaching about patriotism and the power of individual and collective dissent to make societal change.
Community Sponsors: Milwaukee Veterans For Peace, Peace Action of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, & The United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee
April 11th, 2024
Program Title: The 2024 United Nations Schools of International Learning (UNSIL) World Fair
Program Description: UNSIL helps Milwaukee’s young people learn about the world and all it has to offer, starting with the shared responsibilities, opportunities, and leadership that the United Nations offers. The United Nations Schools of International Learning (UNSIL) program has been implemented in grades 4 through 8 at MPS’ most diverse schools since 2016.
In the program, students learn about the United Nations and its member countries throughout the world. They think critically about real-world problems, and research solutions, and work together to develop a global perspective.
Each year culminates in a World Fair where students present their work to each other and the community and enjoy cultural performances from fellow MPS students.
Through this experience, students master critical academic skills such as research, writing, and presenting with a focus on world affairs and current events. Students gain skills in debate, negotiation, and conflict resolution, and they develop empathy and tolerance – all competencies that will serve them well in college, career, and for life.
Community Sponsors: Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation, United Nations Schools of International Learning, and the United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee
May 18th, 2024
Program Title: The Quest For Peace in Ukraine: Stalemate Ahead in the Russia- Ukraine War
Program Description: This forum was planned as a thoughtful discussion about the current conflict, politics, culture, and diplomacy surrounding the war in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin launched the Russian invasion of the Republic of Ukraine in February 2022. If a peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine is to be achieved, it will not result from “victory” on either side. It has evolved into a “war of attrition.” Only a stalemate on the fighting fronts, caused by combat deadlock, exhaustion of resources, and war weariness would bring the competing forces to the peace table.
Presenter: John E. Katzka, a graduate of UW-Milwaukee who did graduate work at George Washington and American Universities, served in the US Foreign Service for more than 25 years. He served two tours in Moscow, the second during the collapse of the Soviet Union. He also served in Thailand, Zambia, Yugoslavia, and Romania. He was called back to duty to serve as a US Special Envoy to Kosovo, Serbia, and Macedonia. In retirement, John serves on various community service boards in Cedarburg, WI and as co-coordinator of the World Future Society – Milwaukee Chapter.
May 29th, 2024
Program Title: “The World Needs the UN – the UN Needs US”
Program Description: A panel discussion with four members of the UNA-GM Board of Directors distilled their participation in the 2024 UNA-USA Leadership Summit in Washington, DC: Steve Watrous: President, Martha Collins: Vice-President, Brandon Holmes: Board Member, Jon Ward: Board Member
Presenters: Steve Watrous: President, Martha Collins: Vice-President, Brandon Holmes: Board Member, Jon Ward: Board Member
June 20th, 2024
Program Title: From Our Hearts To Cuba
Program Description: Learn about our fundraising campaign to send 300 urgently need pacemakers to Cuba! Campaign with us to remove Cuba from the “State Sponsors of Terrorism” (SSOT) List!
Presenters: Dr. Helen Yaffe - Author & University of Glasgow Professor, Bob Schwartz - Executive Director of Global Health Partners, and a special Cuban guest from the Ministry of Public Health
June 20th, 2024
Program Title: 2024 United Nations World Refugee Day Celebration at the Milwaukee City Hall – 200 East Wells Street
Program Description: A community celebration of the 2024 World Refugee Day.
Presenters: A variety of speakers from community organizations and elected officials
June 22nd, July 13th, & August 17th, 2024
Program Title: The World Refugee Day events at Lynden Sculpture Garden – 2145 W. Brown Deer Road
Now in its sixth year, the HOME Refugee Steering Committee at the Lynden Sculpture Garden invites you to observe HOME 2024: WORLD REFUGEE DAY in a series of outdoor events and programs that celebrate Milwaukee's refugee communities through art, food, fashion, and performance.
HOME is the theme of our work with refugee community leaders, community members, Call & Response artists, and allies. The HOME Refugee Steering Committee is building a space of leading, coming together, and celebrating refugees.
Presenters: The event, co-hosted with the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families – Bureau of Refugee Programs, included art, music, dance, and poetry from refugee communities, hands-on art making activities, and food trucks.
June 22nd, 2024
Program Title: The 2024 Peace Action Wisconsin and the United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee Annual Picnic and Potluck
Presenters: Peace Action Wisconsin and the United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee
August 9th, 2024
Program Title: Lanterns for Peace “Hiroshima and Nagasaki Commemoration”
Program Description: Commemorative Program – Reflections on Atomic Bombings by Julie Enslow; Quotes from Hibakusha (survivors); Thoughts on Peace and Disarmament by Cameron Malakai, Pastor at Zao Church; Music by Jess Devitt and James X.
Presenters: Co-sponsored by: Milwaukee End the Wars Coalition, United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee, Veterans for Peace Milwaukee, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom-Milwaukee, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Building Unity Wisconsin, the WI Cuba Coalition and other organizations
August 26th, 2024
Program Title: Caring About Cuba – Several Perspectives
Program Description: Art Heitzer and Sandra Edhlund have made a dozen visits to Cuba. In July 2024, they attended the graduation of US medical students in Cuba. They will address the work of the Saving Lives (in Cuba) Campaign.
The Saving Lives Campaign is dedicated to providing needed medical supplies and food to the Cuban people; to ending 64 years of an economic blockade by the United States; and to have Cuba removed from the State Sponsors of Terrorism List.
Barbara Markoff and River Kaster will share their Global Volunteers experience volunteering at a Salvation Army location near Old Havana and leading conversational English classes for local Cuban residents.
Global Volunteers is an organization that makes it possible for volunteers to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in serving alongside local people living in countries all over the world in one-to- three week service programs in creating, nurturing, and sustaining the well-being of the world’s children and their families through targeted services in homes, classrooms, clinics, community centers, hospitals, orphanages, childcare centers, libraries, government offices, and farm fields to provide essential services.
The United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee is a co-sponsor of this program.
September 15th, 2024
Program Title: The 2024 International Day of Democracy Celebration in Milwaukee
Program Description: The International Day of Democracy was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007 to promote and uphold democratic principles. The day's goals include: Advocating for democracy as a fundamental human right, promoting democracy as a key component of effective governance and global peace, assessing the global status of democracy, and mobilizing political will and resources to address global problems
Presenters: The 2024 International Democracy Day Celebration in Milwaukee includes a call to action from the following organizations: United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee, League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County, 100 Women on the Move, Legends, Common Ground, and MATC Influencers
September 21st, 2024
Program Title: Cultivating a Culture of Peace in Milwaukee – The 2024 United Nations International Day of Peace Celebration in Milwaukee
Program Description: Celebrating the creation of a “Culture of Peace” in the Greater Milwaukee Area. The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the UN General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the International Day of Peace as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.
In that declaration, the United Nations’ most inclusive body recognized that peace “not only is the absence of conflict, but also requires a positive, dynamic participatory process where dialogue is encouraged and conflicts are solved in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.”
Co-sponsors: Building Unity, Peace Action of Wisconsin, & the United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee
October 22, 2024
Program title: The Threat Of Nuclear Weapons, International Diplomacy, and The United Nations.
Program Description: UN Day luncheon, held at the War Memorial in Milwaukee.
Presenter: Dr. Emma Belcher, President of Ploughshares, the largest foundation singularly focused on reducing the threat of nuclear weapons.
Sponsored by: Rotary Club of Milwaukee and the United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee.
November 11th, 2024
Program Title: The 18th Annual Reclaim Armistice Day Program in Milwaukee – Celebrating Peace, Not War and Militarism
Program Description: Presentations by Colonel Ann Wright and Reggie Jackson
Presenters: Colonel Ann Wright is a career military woman, US diplomat, and influential spokesperson in the anti-war movement. She resigned from the US State Department in 2003 in protest of the invasion of Iraq. She is an advisory board member of Veterans For Peace, International Peace Bureau, World BEYOND War, Gaza Freedom Flotilla, NO to NATO, and a CODEPINK board member.
Reggie Jackson is an award-winning journalist and Navy veteran. He is a nationally and internationally recognized race relations expert, speaker, and published writer. Drawing from his background as a Griot—a traditional West African oral historian—he illuminates often-overlooked narratives within the African-American experience and that of other people of color, both past and present. His dedication to historical accuracy, social justice education, and community empowerment underscores his impact on shaping a more equitable and inclusive society.
Sponsored by: The Veterans for Peace – Milwaukee Chapter 102. Endorsed by the United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee
December 7th, 2024
Program title: The 2024 International Human Rights Day Celebration: “Equality – Reducing Inequalities and Advancing Human Rights.”
Program Description: The Annual Human Rights Day Celebration and Panel Discussion on critical issues related to human rights including inequities in housing, the criminal legal system, and Milwaukee’s broader community. Held at the Turner Hall Palm Garden.
Presenters:
Pastor Walter Lanier has over 20 years of experience in public health, urban policies, and faith-based initiatives.
Ted Lentz, PhD is an Assistant Professor with the UW-Milwaukee Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology.
Alexandria Staubach is a Policy Analyst with the Wisconsin Justice Institute.
Melody McCurtis is the Deputy Director & Lead Organizer with Metcalf Park Community Bridges.
Sponsored by: the City of Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission, The United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee, and the Milwaukee Turners.
2023 UNA of Greater Milwaukee Chapter Monthly Forums
Saturday – January 14th, 2023
Program Title “COP27, Climate Emergency and You”
Program Description: A report on the 27th United Nations annual Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) held in Egypt.
Featured Presenters: Steve Watrous, President, UNA-GM Chapter, and Himaja Nagireddy, UNA-USA youth observer.
Saturday – February 10th, 2023
Program Title: “Cuba, the US, and the United Nations”
Program Description: Art Heitzer spoke on the promise of the 1959 Cuban revolution, the responses of the US and allied establishment (especially the continuing extraterritorial economic blockade), the role of the United Nations, and the portrayals by US mass media — concluding actions you can take and how to get more information
Featured Presenter: Attorney Art Heitzer is a founder of the Wisconsin Coalition to Normalize Relations with Cuba, www.wicuba.org, and Co-chair of the National Lawyers Guild Cuba subcommittee. He has visited Cuba over a dozen times as part of a sister church, a sister city, and for legal research.
Saturday – March 11th, 2023
Program Title: “The Impact of Gender Violence on Native Communities and on Women in Yemen and the Middle East” – International Women’s Day
Program Description: The Impact of Gender Violence on Native Communities and on Women in Yemen and the Middle East
Featured Presenter: Kawkab Al-Thaibani, a women’s rights and peace activist in Yemen, and from the Healing Intergenerational Roots Wellness Institute.
Tuesday – April 18th, 2023
Program Title: United Nations Schools of International Learning - World Fair
Program Description: In collaboration with Milwaukee Public Schools, our UNA chapter sponsors this event, bringing more than 1,500 fourth through eighth grade students to the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, where they shared their research on member countries of the UN and their implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Saturday – May 13th, 2023
Program Title: “Foreign Policy, International Peace and Defense Spending”
Presenter: Dr. Joseph Gerson, President of the Campaign for Peace, Disarmament, and Common Security.
Saturday – June 10th, 2023
Program Title: “A Report on the 2023 National UNA-USA Membership Summit in Washington, DC”
Program Description: UNA-GM Chapter members who participated in the Summit reported on the goals and accomplishments of UNA chapters including information from speakers from the United Nations, and a report on lobbying congressional representatives from Wisconsin.
Presenters: UNA -GM Chapter Members
Saturday – September 9th, 2023
Program Title: “The Milwaukee Sister City Project”
Presenter: Alexander Durtka, former executive director of the International Institute of Wisconsin, and representatives of Croatia and Nigeria.
Tuesday – October 28th, 2023
Program Title: “UN Day Celebration with the Rotary Club of Greater Milwaukee”
Presenters: Danielle Brian, Executive Director of the Project on Government Oversight. Students from Whitefish Bay High School’s Model UN Club attended as our guests.
Saturday – November 11th, 2023
Program Title: “Reclaiming Armistice Day: A Day to Celebrate Peace, Not War.”
Program Description: The UNA of Greater Milwaukee co-sponsored this event with the Milwaukee Veterans for Peace at the Milwaukee City Hall.
Saturday – December 9th, 2023
Program Title: “2023 Human Rights Day in Milwaukee – Advancing on the Promise of Freedom, Equality, and Justice for All”
Program Description: The UNA of Greater Milwaukee collaborated with the City of Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission in celebrating the 75th anniversary of the UN’s Declaration of Human Rights.
During 2023 UNA-GM members held meetings with Wisconsin Congressional representatives to urge support for the work of the United Nations.
2022 UNA of Greater Milwaukee Chapter Monthly Forums
All programs were presented virtually on Zoom on the second Saturday of the month unless otherwise noted.
January 2022
Program Title: “How Can the City of Milwaukee Fight Climate Change?”
Featured Speaker: Erick Shambarger, Milwaukee’s Sustainability Director
Program Details: Erick Shambarger described the work of the Environmental Collaboration Office, as it attempts to meet the United Nations environmental goals, and what more could be done with greater public support. Since 2015, he has overseen the implementation of the Refresh Milwaukee sustainability plan.
February 2022
Program Title: “How to Bring Foreign Policy Issues to Candidates and Voters”
Featured Speakers: Four Milwaukee Peace Activists: Jim Carpenter, Sharaka Berry, Pam Richard, and Steve Watrous
Program Details: The four Milwaukee Peace Advocates spoke on how the 2022 Spring WI Senate race offers an opportunity for activists to raise issues & encourage candidates to support pro-peace positions. Speakers focused on the following issues: Cutting the Pentagon budget, nuclear weapons, Yemen, easing tensions with Russia and China, sanctions on Cuba, and drone warfare.
March 2022
Program Title: “International Women’s Day Program”
Featured Speakers: Courtney Hayward and Tina Cordova
Program Details:
Courtney Hayward, lobbyist for reproductive health rights in Wisconsin, spoke on “The Threats to Abortion Rights in Wisconsin,” how anti-abortion ideologues have rolled back reproductive rights and cut Planned Parenthood patients off from care.
Tina Cordova spoke on “Justice for the Unknowing,” with a focus on the innocent victims of the July 16th, 1945 Trinity atomic bomb blast in New Mexico. She described communities in New Mexico demanding justice and working towards a nuclear-free world. She is a 4th generation cancer survivor.
April 2022
Program Title: “United Nations School of International Learning World’s Fair”
Featured Speakers: This annual UNSIL program featured 2,000 enthusiastic 4th - 8th graders from 14 Milwaukee Public Schools presenting their projects about the countries and cultures they studied and the goals of the United Nations. An in-person program at the UW Milwaukee Panther Arena.
May 2022
Program Title: “Advocates for a Better World: the UNA and Our Youth”
Featured Speakers: Rachel Bowen Pittman and Margaret “Peggy” Rozga
Program Details: Rachel Bowen Pittman, Executive Director of the United Nations Association-USA spoke about the grassroots advocacy movement of more than 20,000 Americans in 225+ UNA-USA chapters who are dedicated to supporting the work of the United Nations in their communities and on Capitol Hill.
Margaret “Peggy” Rozga, a professor and a former Wisconsin Poet Laureate, spoke on “Youth Advocacy for Social Change, reflections on her experience with youth leadership and participation with middle and high school students in Milwaukee's open housing marches as well as with her ongoing concern for social justice.
June 2022
Program Title: “NATO and the United Nations: Peace in Europe?”
Featured Speakers: Gary Shellman. PhD and Harry Targ, PhD
Program Details: Two retired professors, a historian, Gary Shellman, PhD, and a political scientist, Harry Targ, PhD, brought their experience as scholars and advocates for stability in postwar Europe, as they discussed of the effectiveness of NATO and the United Nations and their future challenges.
July 2022
Program Title: “2022 Senate Candidates Virtual Forum on War, Peace, and Military Spending”
Program Details: Six candidates: Sarah Godlewski (D), Tom Nelson (D), Steven Olikara (D), Darrell Williams (D), and David Schroeder (R) spoke on their perspectives on the Ukraine War, nuclear weapons, military spending vs. unmet human needs, basing F-35s in Madison, the Yemen War, and sanctions.
August 2022
Program Title: “Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki – Lanterns for Peace”
Program Details: During the Lanterns for Peace in-person event, the suffering inflicted by the dropping in 1945 of the atomic bombs by the US on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was commemorated.
September 2022
Program Titles: “Voting in Milwaukee and the United States: Overcoming Obstacles to Voting!”
Featured Speakers: Rev. Greg Lewis spoke on “Reviving the Vote!” and Dorothy K. Dean spoke on “What Needs to be Repaired?”
Program Details: The two speakers provided insight to help the public separate truth from fiction in evaluating information about voting and the election process that is published in the media.
October 2022
Program Title: “Spotlight on: The Abolishment of Nuclear Weapons”
Featured Speaker: Ira Helfand, MD
Program Details: Dr. Ira Helfand, a life-long anti-nuclear activist, discussed the report “Nuclear Famine: 2 Billion at Risk?” an outline of the global health consequences of regional nuclear war.
November 2022
Program Title: “Reclaim Armistice Day: A Day to Celebrate Peace, Not War” at Milwaukee City Hall.
Featured Speakers: Kelly Denton-Borhaug
Program Details: A presentation by Kelly Denton-Borhaug, a religious scholar, on the challenges of encouraging thoughtful discussion on the impact of violence and war on the American way of life.
December 2022
Program Title: “2022 International Human Rights Day Celebration In Milwaukee”
Featured Speakers: Matt Rothschild, Scott Thompson, and Patricia Ruiz-Cantu
Program Details: Three speakers with extensive human rights experience in the defense of voting access discussed the critical relationship of voting to human rights.
The 2022 Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission Equality Awards winners were introduced during the program.
2021 UNA of Greater Milwaukee Chapter Monthly Forums
January – Students in the Whitefish Bay High School Model United Nations Program gave a presentation on several aspects of the UN, such as the World Court.
February – "Hunger in Milwaukee and the World: What Can We Do About It?” with Lady Lee Thompson, a 2020-2021 UNA-USA Global Goals Ambassador; David Sinclair, local community advocate for low-income families; and Maureen Fitzgerald, Director of Advocacy at Hunger Task Force for the last 11years.
March – The UNA -GM Chapter’s annual celebration of International Women’s Day, "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Women,” with Truth Freemyn, Leadership Development and Training Manager with 9to5 Wisconsin; State Senator Latonya Johnson of the 6th Senate District; and Dr. Lisa Conley, instructor in Department of Biological Sciences and President of AFT Local 212 at MATC.
April – Presentations by the 2020 UNA-GM Milwaukee Global Citizen Award winners: “How do We Respond to Today’s Challenges.” The Awardees were Ken Greening, Annie Woodward, Ruth Zubrensky and Pardeep Singh Kaleka.
May – "The Challenges Facing Native Nations Today,” with Morning Star Gali, member of the Pit River Tribe and Project Director for Restoring Justice for Indigenous People; and Anahkwet (Guy Reiter), Executive Director of the Menominee Indian Organization called Menikanaehkem.
June – “Honoring Juneteenth Day from Milwaukee to Afghanistan,” with Angela Lang, Executive Director of Black Leaders Organizing for Community (BLOC), and Kimberly Motley, international human rights and civil rights attorney.
September – “The Genocide that Rages On: Crisis in Cameroon,” with Valentine Mbinglo, a leader of the Southern Cameroons National Council.
October – “Urgency and Agency in the Battle to Avert a Climate Crisis,” presentation by Dr. Michael E. Mann, Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science and Director of the Earth System Science Center at Penn State University. This event was a collaboration with the Whitefish Bay High School Model United Nations Program.
November – "How Can We Stop Gun Violence?” with Deja Garner, Director of Equity and Outreach at the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort (WAVE); and Tim Daley, Senior Program Officer in the Gun Violence Prevention and Justice Reform Program with the Joyce Foundation.
December – The UNA-GM Chapter’s annual UN International Human Rights Day Celebration: “Human Rights Challenges Facing Democracy’s Future.” Discussed both domestically and globally by Dr. Rachael Buff, who teaches history and Comparative Ethnic Studies at UWM; Tim Muth, staff attorney at the ACLU with a focus on immigration rights, and author of a blog called El Salvador Perspectives; and Dr. Paru Shah, Associate Professor in the Political Science Department at UWM. This program is in collaboration with the City of Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission and the Milwaukee County Human Rights Commission.