In this issue:
  • Network Call March 30 from 10-11:30am
  • Community Highlight
  • Invitation to our 2022 Webinar series
  • Equity in the Outdoors
  • Upcoming Events
  • Resources and Funding Opportunities
  • News from 1000 Friends: The Big Share, new board member
The next network call for Active Wisconsin will be Wednesday, March 30 from 10-11:30am on Zoom. We were hoping to host an in-person event this spring, but unfortunately Omicron had other plans. Join us to hear from other members of the network about their successes and challenges! Special topic and speaker to be announced soon. Register here on Zoom:
Community Highlight:
Marshfield, WI & Marshfield Clinic Health System
Used with permission from Marshfield Health Clinic System. Two bikers ride cruiser style bikes along a paved path on a sunny day.
Photo used with permission: Marshfield Clinic Health System
Marshfield, Wisconsin is living proof that active transportation is possible in cities and towns of all sizes. Both the city of Marshfield and the Marshfield Clinic Health System have done a lot to promote healthy living and active transportation through good planning, bike shares, and more...
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Upcoming Webinars in 2022
February 16, 2022 - Beth Osborne, Transportation For America - Driving Down Emissions and how it is impacted by the infrastructure bill

Beth Osborne is the Director of Transportation for America, a national nonprofit made up of local, regional and state transportation leaders committed to a transportation system that connects people to jobs and essential services by all modes of travel no matter their financial means or physical ability.

Beth will be sharing the findings from Transportation for America’s “Driving Down Emissions” report and the barriers to a more just and equitable society. Register here: Meeting Registration - Zoom

March 16, 2022 - Climate Change in Wisconsin, a panel presentation from members of the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI)

Stay tuned for more details about the panel! Register here:  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkfumrqT8tHNSoW5i63bfZAfT9Prqx9yXF
In case you missed it...

Our first webinar of 2022 was all about Winter Placemaking featuring Darrin Wasniewski of AARP-Wisconsin. Click here to view the recording on YouTube.

The concept of “winter placemaking” embraces the challenges of cold and snow to connect people with public spaces during the winter season.
Equity in the Outdoors
Conversation and action to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas of our society are long overdue. This is especially true for outdoor recreation opportunities and access to natural and wild spaces for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities. As we contemplate our own roles in this work, we should celebrate the individuals and groups who are leading the way to make the outdoors more accessible to everyone. Here are a few articles, websites and social media accounts worth checking out:


Do you have more resources to share that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the outdoors? Email susan@1kfriends.org
Events
Transit Equity Day is February 4, Rosa Parks' birthday. Tune into a live event at noon, Feb. 3 with AARP-WI and our own Transportation Policy Director Gregg May to learn more. Link to YouTube live here. There are local events happening in Eau Claire, La Crosse, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, and Viroqua. To learn more, visit the Labor Network for Sustainability website.

Sign-ups are now open for Ride Across Wisconsin, which will be August 20-21, 2022. Ride Across Wisconsin was founded to promote great riding in the state of Wisconsin and is a fundraiser for Wisconsin Bike Fed. There are several options for joining the route from La Crosse to Milwaukee for either 1 or 2 days.

The film Breaking Trail follows Emily Ford as she becomes the first woman and person of color to embark on a thru-hike of the Ice Age Trail in the winter. Register here for screenings and partner events hosted by the Nelson Institute at UW-Madison. Register here for a screening on February 13 at the UW-Arboretum.
Resources: Toolkits

Race Forward has released From Seed to Harvest: A Toolkit for Collaborative Racial Equity Strategies, which is designed for community organizations, advocates, and governmental institutions working in a collaborative space.

The National Recreation and Park Association has released a toolkit for park and recreation professionals called Financing Health and Wellness Programs.

Rails to Trails has a toolkit for designing Equitable and Inclusive Trails.

Safe Routes to School has a public engagement toolkit called Place It! that has information and hands-on strategies for students, families, and staff of all backgrounds.

Smart Growth America has an excellent resource for communities looking for policy language to model Complete Streets policies. Check out the Model Policies toolkit here.
Resources: Funding Opportunities
AARP-Wisconsin is accepting applications for the Small Dollar Big Impact Grants until February 15, 2022. Amounts awarded are up to $1000. Click here to learn more and apply.

AARP is accepting applications for the Community Challenge Grants through March 22, 2022. These quick-action grants aim to make communities more livable for people of all ages with tangible improvements that jump-start long-term change. Click here to learn more.

The Dane County Environmental Council is accepting Capital Equipment and Community Partner grant applications until February 21, 2022. Read more and apply here.

FHWA is seeking state, regional, local, and tribal agencies to participate in a Safe System project. Deadline is February 11, 2022. Learn more and apply here.

The National Park Service is accepting applications for Tribal Heritage Grants through March 1, 2022. National Park Service’s Tribal Heritage Grants Program focuses on protecting oral histories, plant and animal species important in tradition, sacred and historic places, and enabling the establishment of tribal historic preservation offices. Learn more here.

The Norman and Stanley DeBoer Quiet Trails Fund provides funding to support the creation and maintenance of quiet trails (i.e. walking, hiking, or skiing) in Wisconsin. Grants range from $500-$1000. Deadline: March 1, 2022. Click here to read more.

The US Department of Transportation is accepting Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Discretionary Grant Program applications through April 14, 2022. Bike/ped projects are eligible. Learn more and apply here.
News from 1000 Friends
Tuesday, March 1 is The Big Share! The Big Share is a fun, easy and flexible way to donate to and learn more about organizations making a difference in our community. The Big Share is hosted by Community Shares of Wisconsin (CSW) for 70 local nonprofits dedicated to building an equitable and just community and protecting our environment. 1000 Friends of Wisconsin is a proud member of Community Shares. Visit thebigshare.org to learn more or contact Susan if you want to be a match donor: susan@1kfriends.org.
A white man with a bike stands in front of a road and a sign that reads share the road
Welcome to our newest member of the Board of Directors at 1000 Friends of Wisconsin: James Longhurst! James is a professor at UW-La Crosse, a historian of urban and environmental policy, and passionate biker and advocate for active transportation. We are thrilled to have James on the board! Read more about him on the 1k Friends website, on his website Bike Battles, and on his faculty profile page at UW-La Crosse.
Did you know we have TWO e-newsletters? Along with Active Wisconsin, 1000 Friends sends out e-news every month. If you would like to be on the mailing list for 1000 Friends, sign up here.
What Active Wisconsin provides to participating communities:
  • Resources (grant opportunities, toolkits, etc.)
  • Local and statewide advocacy opportunities
  • Collaboration and educational presentations during network-wide calls
  • A platform (social media and email newsletters) to share your work

Please reach out with questions or comments. We look forward to hearing from you!