April Advocacy Event & Legislative Visits

Welcome to our big day of advocacy! Please check in at the registration desk to collect your personalized name tag as we prepare to amplify our collective voice for Head Start children and families. The morning registration period runs from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM, giving you time to connect with fellow advocates before our first session. Join us in making a powerful impact today—your passion and presence are what will drive meaningful change for the communities we serve.

Start your advocacy day with a nourishing hot breakfast buffet featuring scrambled eggs, sausage links (2 per guest), roasted breakfast potatoes, and assorted muffins served with preserves and sweet butter. Enjoy fresh-brewed coffee, Tazo™ tea, and chilled fruit juice to complete your morning meal. This energizing breakfast will fuel your important work ahead while providing an opportunity to connect with fellow advocates.  

Get ready for a powerful morning of advocacy preparation! This comprehensive session will equip you with everything you need for successful legislative meetings. Beginning with welcome remarks and opening insights from our leadership team, you'll hear legislative perspectives directly from Rep. Joers and Sen. Johnson, followed by impactful Head Start stories highlighting our mission's importance.

DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS

• Senator LaTonya Johnson - Champion for children and families in the Wisconsin legislature
• Representative Alex Joers - Key voice on education policy in the State Assembly
• Jennie Mauer - Executive Director, Wisconsin Head Start Association (WHSA)
• Ruth Schmidt - Executive Director, Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA)
• Caty McDermott - Hamilton Consulting Group, presenting legislative strategy (30-minute main presentation)
• Albert Wat - Senior Policy Director, Alliance for Early Success
• Maria Estlund - NAEYC State Policy Specialist
• Maggie Gau - Chief of Staff for Governor Tony Evers, delivering a keynote address with insights from the administration

The session culminates with a keynote address from Maggie Gau and clear instructions for our Capitol rally. By the end of this preparation, you'll be fully prepared with messaging, talking points, and confidence to effectively advocate for Head Start during your afternoon legislative visits.

Following our training, we'll walk together to the Capitol State Street Steps West for our 11:30 AM rally before breaking for lunch and proceeding to our scheduled legislative visits at 1:00 PM.

Pick up your advocacy sign as you exit the building and join us for a short walk to the West Entrance steps of the State Capitol on the State Street side. We'll gather as a unified group, bringing our signs and our passion as we prepare to make our voices heard for Head Start children and families. This brief walk gives us time to organize before our public demonstration. Please wear weather-appropriate clothing for our short outdoor journey.

Join us on the West Entrance steps (State Street side) of the State Capitol for our powerful advocacy rally supporting Head Start and comprehensive early childhood education in Wisconsin. Together, we'll demonstrate how quality early learning programs provide critical foundations for children's development and family support. Our compelling 30-minute program features personal impact stories from families and educators, clear policy messages about early childhood funding and access, and a unifying call to action.

This public demonstration highlights how investments in early childhood education, including Head Start, create stronger communities and brighter futures for Wisconsin's children. The rally will conclude with a powerful closing unity moment before we break for lunch and prepare for our afternoon legislative visits.

Wear your advocacy shirt to the outdoor rally at the Capitol West Entrance! After our rally concludes, pick up your quality grab-and-go lunch provided by local favorite Ugly Apple Cafe right there on the Capitol grounds. These convenient meals are designed to keep you fueled and ready for the important legislative visits that follow! Lunches will be clearly marked as vegetarian or meat option. Just show your event badge/t-shirt to receive your meal.

FYI: Our friends from "Milwaukee Succeeds" will be enjoying their pre-arranged group lunch, so they'll be all set!

Enjoy a brief respite to refuel before your important legislative meetings. Lunch will be on your own, with several quick dining options available near the Capitol. Grab-and-go lunches may also be available for those who prefer to maximize their time—we'll provide more details on this option soon! This break gives you an opportunity to reflect on the morning's rally, review your advocacy talking points, and prepare for your afternoon conversations with policymakers.

This is your opportunity to directly influence policy by sharing personal experiences about the impact of Head Start and early childhood education with Wisconsin legislators. Your scheduled meetings have been arranged by Raising Wisconsin, who will communicate specific details about your assigned lawmakers, meeting locations within the Capitol, and suggested talking points.

These face-to-face conversations are incredibly powerful in helping policymakers understand how quality early learning programs support children, strengthen families, and benefit our communities. Your authentic stories and passionate advocacy make a lasting impression that can shape future funding and policy decisions.