About Us
Mission Statement
Peace Action-Wisconsin is a peace and justice organization which works for a world where human needs are met, the environment is preserved, and the threats of war and nuclear weapons have been abolished. We are committed to non-violence as a way of life and offer our members opportunities for education, lobbying and public witness.
Our History
Founded as Milwaukee Mobilization for Survival in March of 1977, we were part of a national network of national peace and justice groups organized around the issues of nuclear weapons, nuclear power, the escalating arms race and the attendent decline in funding for human needs. National Mobilization for Survival grew to include over 125 peace and justice groups before its national office closed in 1992.
In January 1996 we affiliated with National Peace Action, which had been formed from the merger of SANE and the Nuclear Freeze Campaign. It is the largest grassroots peace and disarmament group in the country. In 1999 we became Peace Action-Wisconsin to reflect our statewide scope and membership.
Current Program Work
Peace Action-Wisconsin and National Peace Action work together on national and international issues to help create a more just and peaceful world. Current national work includes organizing to end the US occupation of Iraq and a Peace Voter Campaign.
Locally, active committees meet to organize lobbying, demonstrations, and educational events on the following issues: Disarmament, Middle East Peace, Truth in Recruitment, School of the Americas Watch
Coalition Work
Peace Action launched the Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace which works to stop the war in Iraq and end the US occupation. Peace Action also works with other coalitions including United for Peace and Justice, the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, the Coalition to Normalize Relations with Cuba, Friends of Palestine, Milwaukee Bolivarian Circles and the Milwaukee Justice Coalition.
Peace Action is committed to nonviolent social change through community education, legislative lobbying, public witness events, and coalition work.
Working with a broad spectrum of community groups, Peace Action has been in the forefront of building coalitions around progressive issues, serving as a clearinghouse for peace activities and taking the lead in organizing local action on international issues.
Peace Action-Wisconsin owns its own building, the Peace Action Center, which serves as office space for several peace, environmental and social change organizations and as a gathering place for community events and meetings. The Center offers a resource and audiovisual library and a Peace Store.
Peace Action Wisconsin is a 501(c)(4) non-profit membership organization. Its educational branch, the Peace Education Project of Peace Action Wisconsin is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Two full-time staff and hundreds of volunteers keep our work alive. An actively involved Steering Committee is elected annually.
Ongoing activities include publication of a monthly newsletter with a distribution of 1200, a documentary film series, speakers on current issues, workshops, and outreach with tabling at community events.
