LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS EXPLAINS VOTER I.D. AND MORE

Guests: Andrea Kaminski, Executive Director
Melanie Ramey, President
League of Women Voters of Wisconsin

Voter I.D. has come to Wisconsin, and the guidelines continue to emerge. With the Recall Elections looming, Wisconsin voters want to make sure their votes count - this summer and in the future. This is a top priority for the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, a nonpartisan political organization which encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

On this program, Andrea Kaminski and Melanie Ramey explain the requirements of the new legislation which have the potential of making it more difficult for many Wisconsin citizens to exercise their right to vote. "While you will be asked for identification, it is important to know that there is no I.D. requirement in Wisconsin until 2012," said Andrea Kaminski. What else do voters need to know, and what other opportunities are there for citizens to be involved in the election process? Hear answers to these important questions and more on this program.

For information on the Voter I.D. requirements, go to www.gab.wi.gov or www.lwvwi.org.

THE MADISON PREPARATORY ACADEMY FOR YOUNG MEN

Guest: Kaleem Caire, President/CEO, Urban league of Greater Madison
The Urban League of Greater Madison is on a mission: to improve the educational outcomes of young men in Madison by establishing the Madison Preparatory Academy for Young Men, a public charter school which will serve as a catalyst for change and opportunity, particularly for young men of color. Based on current education and social conditions, the fate of boys of color is uncertain. In the MMSD class of 2010, just 7% of African American seniors and 18% of Latino senior were deemed "college-ready."

Kaleem Caire takes us back to his personal roots of being raised by an aunt and grandmother while his mother slept in a bus shelter on State Street and his father lived a revolving door life of in and out of prison. Kaleem's school grades reflected the hopelessness he felt, but a stint in the Navy changed that. He was told he was an under-achiever, that he wasn't fulfilling his full potential. The Navy paid for his education, and the rest is history.

Now, through the Urban League of Greater Madison, Kaleem and his team are planning to instill those core values of excellence, pride, leadership and service into the lives of young men who are at risk for academic achievement. On this program, Kaleem Caire explains their strategies to prepare Madison Prep students for success at a 4-year college or university so they will be qualified to join the workforce of tomorrow. Community awareness and support is a key strategy!

To learn more about the Madison Preparatory Academy for Young Men, go to www.ulgm.org.

HOUSING FIRST IN DANE COUNTY

Guests: Jim Blanchard, co-chair, Dane County Housing in Action Leadership Team
Nan Cnare, VP of Community Impact, United Way of Dane County

Homelessness is never an isolated issue. To confront homelessness, most emergency approaches address issues that contribute to homelessness before they find stable housing for families. This is what makes United Way's Housing First program unique and why it works so well. Based on success models in 12 other communities, Housing First helps families achieve stable housing before and while addressing the other challenges homeless families experience.

But that is not all. Jim Blanchard and Nan Cnare describe how once families are assured a stable roof over their heads, then strong case management is provided to set goals and develop customized plans with accountability. Financial counseling, access to job training, school, community, and medical connections are just some of the support services families receive. The results? Housing First is determined to be twice as effective at half the cost with an 80% success rate at keeping families stably housed upon graduation from the program.

For more information, go to www.unitedwaydanecounty.org

Also, call United Way 2-1-1 to find community support services in south central Wisconsin.

ANGELS TAKE ON HOMELESSNESS AND INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR SENIORS

Guests: Nancy Latta, Publicity Chair, Attic Angel Sale and House & Garden Tour
Jackson Fonder, Executive Director, MOM (Middleton Outreach Ministry)

The Attic Angel Sale, Madison's largest one-day re-sale event, is scheduled for Thursday, June 16th at High Point Church. The "Angels" 58th Annual House & Garden Tour follows on Monday, July 20th with tours through five homes, including the UW Chancellor's official residence, in University Heights. Proceeds from both events this year will benefit the homeless and independent living for seniors. Recipients include Porchlight, MOM-Middleton Outreach Ministry, SAIL, and the Attic Angel Resident Aid Fund.

The issue of homelessness and hunger are increasing dramatically. Jackson Fonder joined MOM last year as executive director and is dedicated to expanding their efforts to Prevent Homelessness and End Hunger. Jackson describes how MOM helps meet those in need with Food, Clothing, Housing Assistance and Emergency Funds, Help for Seniors, and Seasonal programs.

For more information on the Attic Angel Association events, go to www.atticangel.org. For more information on MOM services and how you can help, go to www.momhelps.org

BILL LUEDER'S: MADISON'S WATCHDOG

Guest: Bill Lueders, News Editor, Isthmus; Author; Project Leader, Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

What does it mean to be a journalist? For the past 25 years, Bill Lueders has been News Editor of Isthmus, and the paper has reflected his tenacious quality of getting to the bottom of the story.

Examples of Bill's award-winning work are documented in his revealing book, "Watchdog: 25 Years of Muckraking and Rabblerousing," a collection of the "Best of Bill Lueders" opinion columns, longer investigative stories, and other more personal writings.

In addition to sharing highlights from some of the stories in his book, Bill talks about his career, "tips" on what makes an investigative journalist, and his new role with the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism. Bill is leaving Isthmus and joining the Center to head a new project, Maplight.org, where he will be working to tell the stories about the impact of money on politics. A tailor-made role for a top Watchdog!

RENOWNED HISTORY PROFESSOR, JEREMI SURI, TO LEAVE UW-MADISON FOR TEXAS

Just meeting Jeremi Suri is a joyful experience. His engaging personality is infectious and goes way beyond the UW-Madison classroom. For the past ten years, Jeremi has served as the prestigious E. Gordon Fox professor of history at UW-Madison. He has authored award-winning books including Henry Kissinger and the American Century, and has another book, The Past and future of American Politics at Home and Abroad, due out in mid-September. But what has endeared him to the Greater Madison community are his accessibility and eagerness to spread the word that we can look back to history to better inform us today on public and foreign policy decisions. And he has done this in language that we can understand.

Now Professor Suri is leaving Wisconsin - heading to the University of Texas at Austin where he will become the Mack Brown Chair of Global Leadership, a position that involves working in Texas' history department, the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and the Strauss Center for International Security and Law.

Why Jeremi Suri is leaving, his concern over the priority of education as a whole in Wisconsin and the uncertainty hovering over the UW - Madison, and his forecast on some of the foreign policy issues we're facing today are all part of this stimulating discussion.