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Earth Day: Reflecting on 30 Years of Stewardship
Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22
| | Wisconsin has a special connection to Earth Day, with its founder, Gaylord Nelson, serving first as our Governor (1959-1963) and later as U.S. Senator (1963-1981). The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970. An astonishing 20 million Americans (10% of the U.S. population at the time) participated in rallies, protests, and teach-ins that first Earth Day – making it one of the largest civic events in U.S. history! Read the Full Story. | | Gaylord Nelson pictured at the Apostle Island National Lakeshore | | |
Did you know that Gaylord Nelson was a founding member and Honorary Chair of 1000 Friends of Wisconsin?
It's true! Nelson signed the first fundraising letter for 1000 Friends of Wisconsin.
Help us keep his spirit alive and advance our critical work in preserving the future of Wisconsin.
We're asking 1000 friends to donate just $10 each during April – helping us raise $10,000 for Earth Month.
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“We have an historic opportunity to impact land use policy in Wisconsin and to reverse the trend toward more sprawl. 1000 Friends of Wisconsin is determined not to let this opportunity slip by. Through research, legislative advocacy and public education, 1000 Friends is turning the tide in the fight against sprawl.”
- Senator Gaylord Nelson, 1996
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HOUSING BLOG
March Update from the Team
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By Ken Smith
March was another busy month for Housing Onward, with rising housing costs and the growing unaffordability of car ownership top of mind. Seeing everyday people struggle to keep a roof above their heads and stay mobile makes our statewide work feel even more consequential. I encourage you to read my full blog, but below is a quick recap of everything covered this month.
The team met with legislative partners at the Wisconsin State Capitol as key housing bills moved through the Senate.
Later in the month, I attended the WI CAN conference in La Crosse, where Habitat for Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region showcased community-led efforts to build sustainable, resilient neighborhoods through housing improvements and environmental design.
Our neighborhood environments are designed through local zoning policies, which either constrain or expand housing options, including office-to housing conversions and townhome-friendly reforms.
April’s Fair Housing Month provides an additional lens for examining discrimination, historical injustice, and ongoing efforts in Wisconsin communities to advance fair housing. I've also reflected on Matthew Desmond’s book, Evicted, related to broader trends in housing disparity and holding unethical landlords accountable in Milwaukee.
Read the Full Update...
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CONGRATS!
West Allis Wins 2026 Strongest Town Contest
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Strong Towns paralleled March Madness with its Strongest Town
competition last month. In case you missed it, three vibrant Wisconsin places – the cities of Madison, Sheboygan, and West Allis – were all voted as semi-finalists. Madison defeated Sheboygan to advance to the finals, while West Allis toppled Chicago. Ultimately, it was West Allis that earned this year’s Strongest Town Award. Congratulations!
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COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
CTA Alumni Sidewalk Success Story
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Meet Jackie Krull, a participant in our most recent Greater Green Bay Community Transportation Academy in the fall of 2025.
At our February CTA Alumni Networking Call, Jackie shared a success story that is worth amplifying! As an elected official in the Village of Bellevue, she was involved in an important decision-making process to uphold the Village's Pedestrian & Bicycle Plan that was adopted in April of 2025.
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TRANSPORTATION BLOG
The Desire for Safer, More Connected Spaces Along I-794
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By Raphie Torralba
Last month, Rethink 794 advocates expanded outreach efforts to engage community members in conversations about the future of the I-794 corridor and raise awareness of the removal alternative and WisDOT’s Lake Interchange Study.
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Through a tabling event with the Buena Tierra Run Club at Zócalo Food Park and a second “Walk & Roll 794” audit, organizers gathered input from a wide range of residents, commuters, and visitors on the future of the I-794 corridor.
Participants raised concerns about safety, congestion, and current highway conditions while expressing strong support for improved walking, biking, and lakefront access – along with ideas for green space, housing, and community uses. The Walk & Roll highlighted real-world mobility barriers and reinforced a shared vision for a more connected, accessible, and people-centered corridor. Read more here...
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RECAP
Madison For More Neighbors
By Jen Walker
We hosted a small, dynamic group at our Community Conversation on March 19th at the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center.
Participants shared enthusiasm and alignment around the goal of increasing Madison’s housing supply. Key topics included missing middle housing, market and construction cost barriers, and the potential for city-led pilot projects on publicly owned land. Full recap here.
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JOIN US
Turning The Key to Homeownership
A Community Conversation on Affordable Housing
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Wednesday, April 22
8a-11:15a
Madison, WI
in-person or virtual
Join Jen & Sharon for a free, solutions-focused event hosted by Habitat for Humanity of Dane County that brings together community, business, and government leaders to address barriers to affordable housing in Dane County. Explore diverse perspectives, build connections, and move this work forward together.
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EQUITY AT HOME
April is Fair Housing Month
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Scott Turner, United States Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, commemorated the April 11, 1968, signing of the Fair Housing Act by declaring April as Fair Housing Month.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability.
| | Photo: Historic image from 1968, the year the Fair Housing Act was signed into law as part of the Civil Rights movement. | | Dane County marks Fair Housing Month through introspection on its history of racially restrictive covenants through its Prejudice in Places initiative. To learn more about the history of the Fair Housing Movement in Wisconsin, a detailed history book on the subject in Wisconsin is Patrick Jones’ Selma of the North: Civil Rights Insurgency in Milwaukee. | |
GET MOVING, WIN PRIZES
April Sustainable Transportation Goals
This month, two regions are hosting Spring Roll Challenges to encourage and incentivize residents to take more sustainable trips. Your transportation choices help ease congestion, improve air quality, save money, and could win you prizes!
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Southeast Wisconsin
April 15-30, 2026 (2 weeks)
CommuteWISE and the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission are hosting a Spring Roll Challenge to encourage people to take sustainable trips and log them on our platform. CommuteWISE challenges you to bike, bus, carpool, roll, or walk your way to your destination rather than driving in a vehicle alone. Your choices help ease congestion, improve air quality, save you money, and could win you prizes to HoneyBee Sage Wellness, La Finca Coffeehouse, or a $150 grand prize gift card.
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Dane County, Wisconsin
April 1-30, 2026 (1 month)
This free, month‑long event in April is sponsored by the Greater Madison MPO’s RoundTrip program that encourages Dane County residents to reduce solo car trips by biking, walking, rolling, taking the bus, or carpooling. Participants log their sustainable trips in a free RoundTrip account for weekly and grand prize drawings from local businesses.
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GET ROLLING
Enjoy a Free Month of BCycle
The 2026 season marks BCycle’s 15th anniversary. Since launching, the bike share system has logged over 3 million trips and offset roughly 8.3 million pounds of carbon. To celebrate, they are offering a FREE monthly pass good for unlimited 60-minute e-bike rides across 110 stations – open to anyone who lives or works in Dane County. Download the BCycle App, select "Monthly Pass" and enter code FREEMONTH at checkout. Valid through April 30, 2026.
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Know Of Any Local Bike Policy Updates?
Active Wisconsin is preparing a blog post for our May e-news highlighting local policies and ordinances that impact biking, including e-bikes. Many of these policies haven’t kept pace with recent advances in technology, and we want to spotlight communities that are working to update them.
If you know of any local governments or organizations exploring or revising bike and e-bike policies, we’d love to hear about it! Email Jen at jen@1kfriends.org.
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MAY IS BIKE MONTH
Calling All Active Transportation Enthusiasts
Did you know? 40% of all trips in the U.S. are less than two miles, making bicycling a fun and feasible way to get around. National Bike Month in May is a great time to promote biking as both a means of transportation and a form of recreation that brings well-being and joy to the everyday lives of so many people!
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Wisconsin Bike to Work Week
May 31 - June 7th
Organized annually by the Wisconsin Bike Fed, this week-long celebration in communities across the state features rides, classes, commuter stations, parties and more!
Community members and organizations can submit Bike Week events here.
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Registration is now open for National Bike & Walk to School Day on May 6.
Explore ways that your community can celebrate the joys of active commuting while building a sense of safety and school spirit.
Find resources here for planning your event.
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Message from Our Executive Director
Enter to Win! Earth Day Book Giveaway.
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By Trevor Roark
Executive Director
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As we reflect on Earth Day (a legacy shaped right here in Wisconsin), we’re reminded of the responsibility we carry forward as an organization. Inspired by leaders like Gaylord Nelson, Aldo Leopold, Emily Earley, and Stephen Born, we remain committed to protecting our environment and building a stronger, more sustainable future for all.
This April, I’m asking for your support. In honor of Earth Day, our goal is to bring together 1,000 friends to give $10 each – raising $10,000 to continue this critical work. If you believe in the future we’re fighting for, I hope you’ll consider making a gift today.
| | | | We’ll be gifting one copy of Braiding Sweetgrass by Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer. It's a powerful blend of Indigenous wisdom, science, and storytelling that reimagines our relationship with the natural world through themes of reciprocity and connection. It’s also a powerful reminder that Earth Day isn’t just a modern concept, but reflects ways of living that have been central to Indigenous communities for thousands of years. Click here to enter. | | If you'd like a bonus entry (optional), please share this newsletter with a friend and include a personal note encouraging them to subscribe to our newsletter or donate $10 for Earth Month. | | Let's Connect @ Upcoming Events | | |
April 8, 2026 @ 11:30a-2:00p
Center for Equity Practice & Planning Justice Open House and Symposium
@ UWM's School of Architecture & Urban Planning, Milwaukee, WI
| Join Dr. Kirk Harris and scholars, city leaders, community advocates, and neighbors for lunch + networking. Explore strategies to make affordable housing a lasting reality for Milwaukee’s most vulnerable residents. Say hi to Trevor & Ken too!
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April 14, 2026 (4-5p CST)
CTA Alumni Network Call
Virtual / Zoom
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Past Community Transportation participants can join Jen to discuss the latest and greatest, including time for sharing updates, questions, feedback and more!
RSVP Here
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April 15, 2026 (8a-4p)
2026 Central Wisconsin Housing Summit
Stevens Point, WI
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Join Trevor & Ali at the 2026 Central Wisconsin Housing Summit, focused on the builder’s perspective and addressing the real challenges contractors, developers, and partners face in housing today.
Register
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April 21, 2026 @ 1:00p
More Than A Sidewalk: How Great Places Encourage Walking
Virtual Webinar
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Join Jen & Raphie. Jointly hosted by the Urban Land Institute and America Walks, this webinar explore the strategies that transform ordinary streets into dynamic places.
Register
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April 22, 2026 (8a-11:15a)
Turning The Key to Homeownership
Madison, WI (in-person or virtual)
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Join Jen & Sharon for a free, solutions-focused housing event hosted by Habitat for Humanity of Dane County. Explore diverse perspectives, build connections, and move this work forward together.
Register
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April 23-24, 2026
Wisconsin Healthy Communities Summit
Wausau, WI
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Join Jen at the Wisconsin Healthy Communities Summit. Sessions will be focused on the intersection of public health, equity, and mobility through advocacy, education, and the power of trails. Use code 1KFRIENDS25 for $25 off.
Register
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Join Raphie at MobiliSE for an afternoon of important conversations about the future of transportation. The event will feature transit advocates, policy influencers, and leaders from throughout the region.
Register
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May 7, 2026 (8:30a-4p)
Southeastern Wisconsin Housing Summit
Milwaukee, WI
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Join Tehila & Ken along with community leaders, housing professionals, local officials, and regional partners to understand and address the region’s most pressing housing challenges.
Register
| | | Follow 1000 Friends Online | | *Book Giveaway Rules: No purchase necessary. Open to U.S. residents age 18 and older. Void where prohibited. Entries accepted April 1–30, 2026. Limit one (1) entry per person. Subscribing to or sharing the newsletter is optional and not required to enter or win. Donation to the Earth Day fundraiser is also optional and not required to enter or win. One (1) winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries. Prize consists of one (1) paperback copy of Braiding Sweetgrass by Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer. Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of the prize is $40.Winner will be notified by email and must respond within one (1) week of notification and provide a valid mailing address to claim the prize. If the winner does not respond within the required timeframe, an alternate winner may be selected. Sponsor: 1000 Friends of Wisconsin. This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, any social media platform. | | | | |
