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RSVP BY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Join Us In Madison for the 30th Anniversary Party
| | Join us on Thursday, October 8, from 5:30p-8:00p at the Goodman Community Center Brassworks Building in Madison, Wisconsin. Our organization will be celebrating 30 years of protecting Wisconsin’s natural resources and building healthy communities around the state. | | |
It will be a wonderful chance to reconnect with members and our amazing partners – plus, it will give our staff a chance to share what’s on the horizon across our work in land use, housing, and transportation.
Highlights include opening remarks from our friend Tia Nelson, member recognition, a photo slideshow, and an opportunity to bid on great silent auction prizes. Plus, every attendee gets a FREE, limited-edition 30th Anniversary tote bag!
Space is limited, and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. New deadline! RSVP by Tuesday, September 22, to get your tickets.
| | Photos below featuring founding members & guests at past events.💚 | | Former Board President Kine Torinus | Bud Jordahl pictured with Dave Ciewlewicz | | Governor Doyle with Emily and Susie Earley | Board Member Senator Walter John Chilsen with Senator Fred Risser | |
The Best Transit Access in Wisconsin is Sitting Next to a Freeway | |
What if one of Milwaukee’s most transit-accessible areas wasn’t occupied by a freeway? With 15 Milwaukee County Transit System routes within a short walk of the I-794 corridor, plus regional rail, bus service, and The Hop nearby, this land is already a transit hub.
This month, volunteer advocate Nate Loy explores how replacing I-794 with a boulevard could unlock new opportunities for housing, jobs, and better transit. Read more here...
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"By converting I-794 to a boulevard, we have an opportunity to build housing where it makese sense. Transit use is further encouraged by the convenience factor – and living car-lite 9or even car-free) suddenly becomes more practical for many."
-Nate Loy, Rethink 794 volunteer advocate
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A new op-ed in Urban Milwaukee by Rethink 794 advocate Larry Witzling takes that vision a step further, exploring how a downtown boulevard, a thriving gateway district, and the proposed MARK passenger rail system could work together to transform Milwaukee’s future.
| | | RETHINK 794 COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS | | |
Rethink 794 and Strong Towns Metro Milwaukee invite you to join us at one of our upcoming community conversations. We'll share snacks and present an optimistic, people-oriented vision for downtown Milwaukee. We'd love to hear your ideas for the future of our city! RSVPs encouraged, but not required.
Join Us!
- Saturday, September 26 (10a-11:15 am) - Milwaukee Public Library, Bay View
- Saturday, October 3 (10:00 - 11:15 am) - Milwaukee Central Library on W. Wisconsin Avenue
- Saturday, October 10 (10:00 - 11:15 am) - Urban Ecology Center, Menomonee Valley Branch, Milwaukee
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HOUSING ONWARD
Housing + Transporation = More Connected Communities
By Ken Smith, Housing Policy Director
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What's in the Aug Recap?
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Rethinking I-794: Exploring how replacing the downtown freeway with a ground-level boulevard could create new opportunities for housing, commerce, and reconnecting Milwaukee neighborhoods.
- Public transportation: Looking at the challenges facing MCTS, the importance of transit-oriented land use, and what the system needs to remain effective.
- Parking reform: Digging into how mandatory parking requirements can drive up costs, limit housing, and make communities less desirable.
- Conservation funding: Following efforts to create a more sustainable funding model for protecting Wisconsin’s outdoors.
| | Photo: On August 20, Ken attended the Milwaukee-based Urban Economic Development Association (UEDA) gathering "Emerging Topics: Public Transportation Matters." | | Photo: MCTS President and Managing Director Steve Fuentes talked about the plight the system faces and MCTS’ route restructuring. | | Photo: Dee Dee Walla presents freeway removal case studies to Rethink 794 advocates at Milwaukee libraries this month. | | 🏘️ New to housing and confused by the jargon? Check out our newest resource: Housing Glossary. | | |
MADISON, WISCONSIN
Join Us for a Book Club Exploring How Transportation Shapes Cities
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The District 11 Book Club is a free community discussion group hosted by Madison District 11 Alder Bill Tishler. The group explores the intersection of urban planning, city growth, transportation, environmental stewardship, and public policy.
At the upcoming meeting, Christof Spieler will discuss his new book, Transportation and the Shape of Cities (2026), with a focus on Madison’s evolving transportation network.
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Drawing from the book, Spieler examines five major modes of transportation in the United States from walking and bicycling to automobiles, trains, and transit – including how they influence urban design and community development.
Featured speakers:
Christof Spieler
David Copeland Loredo
Mandi Chapa
The free event is co-sponsored by 1000 Friends of Wisconsin. All are welcome, and prior reading of the book is not required.
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RETHINK 794 - LISTEN HERE!
Milwaukee's Highways, Reimagined:
Four Conversations on Reconnecting Our City
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Every Wednesday in August, the Rethink 794 crew joined Dr. Karen Lemke on The Bog Witch Half-Hour show on Riverwest Radio (104.1 WXRW-FM) in Milwaukee. We discussed the history of highways in Milwaukee and explored ideas for reconnecting neighborhoods and restoring nature in the city.
📻 ICYMI: Click here to listen to all four episodes and hear ideas for moving Milwaukee forward! ✨
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MADISON, WISCONSIN
Let's Redesign Stoughton Road!
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Stoughton Road is a vital connection through Madison. Redesigning the corridor could make it safer and more accessible for residents who walk, bike, take transit, and drive – while also creating opportunities for new housing, businesses, and more vibrant neighborhoods. It’s a chance to transform a highway that currently acts as a barrier into a more connected, people-centered street.
For this reason, AARP Madison – along with 1000 Friends, Fairchild Development, Madison for More Neighbors, Strong Towns Madison, Wisconsin Bike Fed, and Lutheran Office for Public Policy (ELCA) – formed Better Streets Madison, a coalition of residents, community organizations, businesses, transportation advocates, and local groups working for safer streets and stronger neighborhoods. Please reach out to Jen Walker if you'd like to join the coalition.
| | We enjoyed meeting neighbors (and Representative Sheila Stubbs) at the Glendale Neighborhood Annual Festival. | | Thanks for the great conversations! Be sure to sign up for our emails and stay tuned for updates in the future! | | |
September 3, 2026: Several Better Streets Madison coalition members recently attended the Stoughton Road Redesign Open House, hosted by Alders Derek Field and Sean O'Brien. At the meeting, city staff presented helpful informational boards that walked community members through the redesign details and the tradeoffs involved in each option. These materials are now publicly available!
We encourage residents to take a look and to contact WisDOT (the final decision-maker in this project) to weigh in with your questions, feedback, and suggestions for improvement.
| | Photos from the September 3rd Stoughton Road Project Open House with Alders Fields and O'Brien. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn about the redesign and share your perspective. | |
What’s Next? WisDOT proposed three concepts, with the boulevard concept offering the strongest opportunity for a more walkable, people-centered Stoughton Road. A public meeting is expected in late 2026 or early 2027. We’ll share more details when they’re announced. Sign up for updates here.
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Your Housing Story Matters!
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Behind every housing statistic are real people and stories. We want to hear yours.
Housing Onward Wisconsin is creating a new, statewide video series featuring real Wisconsin stories about finding, affording, building, or navigating housing.
If you’ve experienced a housing challenge (or found a creative solution), we invite you to share your story. Your experience could help others better understand why housing matters and inspire conversations about what Wisconsin can do differently.
Share your story here for a chance to be featured in our video series.
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TAKE ACTION
Tell Congress: Funding for Bike Safety Projects Must Continue!
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The League of American Bicyclists is urging Congress to reject efforts to restrict federal funding for bike lanes and other safety projects. With the Senate considering new limits on where bike lanes can be built, advocates are calling on elected officials to protect proven safety infrastructure and the right to bike safely.
Take action: Contact your representatives and tell them to protect funding for bike safety projects.
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JOIN US IN MADISON
Ride for Your Life on Sunday, October 4
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Stop by and visit Jen at the Ride for Your Life event in Madison on Sunday, October 4, 2026. Participate in a 6-mile bike ride or 1-mile walk honoring local lives lost to traffic violence.
These events serve as a catalyst for legislative, infrastructure, and policy change at the local, state, and national levels while bringing people together to create safer streets for everyone. Learn More
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Wisconsin’s Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy (OSCE) has released the state’s first comprehensive framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and they’re hosting a series of webinars to explore what it means for Wisconsin. The eight-part series covers key sectors including buildings, transportation, energy, agriculture, and natural lands, with experts explaining the strategies and actions outlined in the Roadmap.
Learn more and register for upcoming webinars.
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Is Wisconsin Ready for More Extreme Weather?
Wisconsin communities are facing more frequent and severe weather events, from flooding and extreme heat to severe storms. A new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum examines how communities across the state are preparing—and what can be done to strengthen local emergency and hazard mitigation planning.
Explore the report and learn what Wisconsin can do to be better prepared.
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Community Engagement in August
By Sharon Johnson, Lead Organizer
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Elvehjem Neighborhood Event - August 22:
Participated in a tabling event in the Elvehjem neighborhood on August 22. I shared information about M4MN, connected with residents, and promoted opportunities to participate in local housing conversations.
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Community Conversation Recap - August 28:
We held our latest Community Conversation at the Center for Black Excellence and Culture on August 28 in partnership with the Badger Rock Neighborhood Association. Community members attended and participated in meaningful conversations about housing, neighborhood concerns, and community involvement.
Jason Fields, CEO of the Center for Black Excellence and Culture, spoke about the Center and its beautiful new space. Alder Yannette Figueroa Cole gave a presentation, and Courtney Koniezcko shared information about the Badger Rock Neighborhood Association.
If you'd like to bring the Community Conversation about housing to your Madison neighborhood next, please contact Sharon Johnson: info@madisonformoreneighbors.org.
| | Photo (above): Center for Black Excellence and Culture in Madison, Wisconsin. | Photo (below): Jason Fields, CEO of the Center for Black Excellence and Culture, with Sharon. | | Photo (above): Meaningful conversations about housing, neighborhood concerns, and community involvement. | Photo (above): Courtney Koniezcko shares information from the Badger Rock Neighborhood Associations. | | Photo (above): Jen Walker & Sharon Johnson from M4MN. Photo (below): Sharon tabling in the Elvehjem Neighborhood. | | |
How Does Wisconsin Measure Up on Walking and Biking?
The Safe Routes Partnership’s new 2026 State Report Cards examine how states support walking, biking, rolling, and active communities. The interactive report examines state policies, funding, and support for Safe Routes to School and active transportation, highlighting both progress and opportunities for improvement. See how Wisconsin stacks up and explore the data.
View the 2026 State Report Cards
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Could a Few Extra Seconds Make Crossings Safer?
A new study in the Journal of Transportation Engineering looks at how leading pedestrian intervals (LPIs), which give people walking a head start before vehicles get a green light, affect pedestrian behavior.
Researchers found that the commonly used 3-second head start may not be enough, while extending the interval to 5 seconds could allow substantially more pedestrians to reach the middle of the first travel lane before vehicles begin moving. The study also found that audible signals can help people start crossing more quickly. View the research
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Message from Our Executive Director
The Hidden Cost of Parking (And Who Really Pays)
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On August 24, we hosted a webinar in Stevens Point (and virtually) exploring how parking policies shape the development, affordability, environmental health, and future of our communities.
A big thanks to Daniel Herriges of the Parking Reform Network for his expertise, Erik Pfantz of Stevens Point Journal / USA Today Network for moderating, and local panelists for sharing their perspectives on land use and more, and of course to all who attended the event. It was a thoughtful discussion, and some of the hidden costs of parking were quite eye-opening to me!
Click here to watch the YouTube video recording of the event and download the full presentation here.
For those who know me, I've been a local advocate for sustainable land use, active transportation, and climate justice in Central WI for over a decade, and many also know that I want safer streets for our kids.
This work is also about something bigger. It's about how we use our limited land when housing is in short supply, how we prioritize transportation choices when budgets get tighter, and how environmental degradation continues to get left out of the conversation.
We should be asking why valuable land is still being used to build more off-street parking (often because of predetermined, mandated requirements and NOT based on market-rate parking demand). It's also about reimagining how to build more resilient cities for the future, prioritizing more sustainable and affordable in-fill development over continued sprawl and expansion.
Find more resources at the Parking Reform Network. One of the coolest features is an interactive database of 6,000+ communities worldwide that have reformed parking policies (The Parking Reform Map), offering real-world examples of what’s possible!
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Thanks for your continued support,
Trevor Roark
Executive Director
1000 Friends of Wisconsin
Got questions?
Email: trevor@1kfriends.org
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September 1 - 30, 2026: Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission challenges you to explore your commute options and join the CommuteWISE Challenge for a chance to win prizes. connect.commutewise.org
September 12, 2026 (9:00 am - 4:00 pm) - Rent Smart for Landlords. James P.
Coughlin Center, Oshkosh. A comprehensive course for newer landlords who are looking to have successful relationships with long-term tenants. Topics include housing inspection, applicant screening, rental agreements, ongoing management, and more. Register Here
September 16, 2026 (8:30 am - 2:00 pm) "Thriving In Place" - Community Development Alliance 2026 Annual Conference, Milwaukee. This conference is for anyone passionate about housing and ending systemic racism. Register Here
September 16, 2026 (5:00-7:00 pm) Wisconsin Policy Forum presents The Data Center Challenge, Pyle Center @ UW-Madison. Held in partnership with the La Follette School of Public Affairs at UW-Madison. It will begin with networking, then a brief presentation by the Wisconsin Policy Forum detailing recent research on data centers in Wisconsin, followed by insights from our panelists. Register Here
September 17, 2026 (5:00 - 8:00 pm) Community Shares of Wisconsin: Community Change-Maker Awards, The East Side Club, Madison. Each year, Community Shares of Wisconsin honors three Change-Makers and 24 Backyard Heroes during our fall Change-Makers Awards Event. Change-Makers work to advance social and environmental justice in communities throughout Wisconsin. More Info
September 22-24, 2026 - Wisconsin Public Transportation Association (WIPTA): Fall Transit Conference , Green Bay. Register Here
September 23, 2026 (7:00-8:30 pm): District 11 Book Club, Sequoya Library, Madison. Hosted by District 11 Alder Bill Tishler, this group explores urban planning, environmental and transportation topics. This month, Christof Spieler joins to discuss his new book, Transportation and the Shape of Cities. Learn More
September 23-27, 2026 - Women & Water Indigenous International Clean Water Summit. La Courte Oreilles Ojibwe elder Maryellen Baker hosts women from all backgrounds for four days of transformative land justice learning, healing, and prayer. Learn More
September 26 (10:00 - 11:15 am) - Freeways and the Future of Milwaukee: A Series of Community Workshops from Rethink 794 & Strong Towns Metro Milwaukee, Milwaukee Public Library, Bay View, Milwaukee. RSVP Here
October 1-8, 2026: Week Without Driving. Over 30% of the US population can't drive. The Week Without Driving was created so that those who have the option to drive can learn firsthand about the barriers and challenges that non-drivers face. Get Involved
October 3, 2026 (10:00 - 11:15 am) - Freeways and the Future of Milwaukee: A Series of Community Workshops from Rethink 794 & Strong Towns Metro Milwaukee, Milwaukee Central Public Library, Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee. RSVP Here
October 3, 2026 (1:00-3:00 pm) - 2026 Strong Towns Illinois (STILL) Gathering. Meet folks doing the bottom-up work of Strong Towns, swap ideas, and share successes and challenges. *You do not need to be currently involved to attend. If you are interested in joining or starting one for your city/town, this event is for you! Get Tickets
October 4, 2026 (1:00 pm) - Ride for Your Life, Brittingham Park to State Capitol, Madison. Ride. Walk. Rally. Remembering those we've lost to traffic violence and turning collective action into safer streets. More Info & Register Here
October 7, 2026. National Walk and Roll to School Day. Join the movement to create year-round, safe, accessible routes ot school for every child. Learn More
October 8, 2026 (5:30 - 8:00 pm): 1000 Friends of Wisconsin 30th Anniversary Celebration, Goodman Community Center Brassworks Building in Madison. Celebrate 30 years of protecting Wisconsin's natural resources and building healthy communities around the state. Reconnect with members and our amazing partners and see what's on the horizon for our work in land use, housing, and transportation. Buy Tickets Here & More Info
October 9, 2026. "Cultivating Informed Community Advocates for Better Planning Outcomes," at APA Wisconsin Conference, UW-Madison Memorial Union. Jen Walker (1000 Friends of WI Community Program Manager) & Liz Callin (Lead Transportation Planner, City of Madison) lead this session on how planners and community partners can shift from reactive, project-by-project engagement to proactive, relationship-based approaches that build understanding and trust over time. More Information
October 10, 2026 (10:00 - 11:15 am) - Freeways and the Future of Milwaukee: A Series of Community Workshops from Rethink 794 & Strong Towns Metro Milwaukee, Urban Ecology Center, Milwaukee. RSVP Here
October 14, 2026 (12:00 - 1:00 pm): UW-Milwaukee SARUP Innovative Lecture Series / Community Wayfinding: Building Identity, Connectivity, and Economic Vitality, Virtual Webinar. Hear from David Salmon, board member of 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, as a featured speaker sharing his expertise in transportation planning and community wayfinding. Register & Learn More
October 14, 2026 (7:00 - 8:00 pm): Charles B. Whitnall: Father of Milwaukee County Parks, Northpoint Lighthouse, Milwaukee. Join Ken for a presentation by Virginia Small (Hon. ASA, Landscape Historian, Journalist & Author) to learn about Whitnall's role as a visionary of Milwaukee County's interconnected system of naturalistic parks. More Information
October 26-27, 2027. Wisconsin Climate Action Navigators Network: Second Annual Statewide Gathering, Stevens Point. Join Trevor & Ali for this 2-day retreat is open to all, whether you are a part of the WI-CAN Network or not, so come ready to meet new people and get inspired. Register Here
October 27, 2026. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point: Fall Sustainability Fair, Dreyfus University Center. Say hi to Ali! Features over 30 campus and community vendors, green initiatives, interactive booths, and e-cycling or composting info
November 18 (12:00 - 1:00 pm): UW-Milwaukee SARUP Innovative Lecture Series / Building Community Wealth with Community Land Trusts, Virtual Webinar. Explore how community land trusts can create permanently affordable homeownership and build long-term community wealth. The session will highlight partnerships, financing strategies, and Milwaukee and Madison case studies demonstrating how CLTs preserve affordability and strengthen neighborhoods. Register & Learn More
November 18-19, 2026. Annual WHEDA Conference 2026: How Housing Happens, Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, Madison. Connects developers, property managers, elected officials, and housing leaders to learn, collaborate, and expand safe, affordable housing across Wisconsin. More Information
January 9, 2027 (9:00 am - 5:00 pm) Transportation For America: America TransportationCamp DC, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. Join the hundreds of professionals who travel from across the country to share, workshop, and connect over new ideas with transportation nerds just like them. More Information
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Did you know? Many employers offer matching gift programs that can multiply the impact of your donation at no extra cost to you.
Depending on your company's program, your gift to 1000 Friends of Wisconsin may be matched dollar-for-dollar (or even doubled or tripled), making your support go even further!
Use this handy tool to check whether your employer offers a matching gift. Don't see your company listed? Just ask your Human Resources department.
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1000 Friends of Wisconsin
608-259-1000 | 1kfriends.org
We work remotely, so please contact us via email:
Trevor Roark
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