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By the Women's Initiative

The Biden-Harris administration’s early executive actions—accomplished during one of the most contentious pre- and post-inauguration periods in modern history—have sent an important message about the new administration’s priorities, commitment, and immediate direction. Among its most important shifts, the new administration has reversed the Trump administration’s anti-women agenda, choosing instead to center gender and racial equity in the debate about how best to boost the economy, recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and chart an inclusive course for the future. These changes included President Joe Biden rescinding restrictive executive actions on reproductive rights, proposing critical new investments to address a range of caregiving challenges disproportionately borne by women, and establishing a White House council to elevate gender policy priorities across the administration.. -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE

By Nicole Lee Ndumele and Lorena Roque

This is a pivotal moment for racial justice in America. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting recession have exposed and exacerbated deeply rooted structural racial inequalities in the nation’s public health and economic systems and across American society. The horrific murder of George Floyd and the unceasing and unbearable loss of Black and disabled lives at the hands of the police officers sworn to protect them have prompted some of the largest and most multiracial protests for systemic criminal justice reform in modern history. The increased media focus on hate crimes against East Asian people has helped make more visible the prejudices that Asian American and Pacific Islander communities face. The barrage of racialized state legislation seeking to suppress the vote has fueled a renewed movement to eradicate entrenched racial discrimination in voting and expand voter access for all. -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE

From Stockholm Area Merchants Association (SAMA)

The Great River Road corridor on the Wisconsin side of Lake Pepin on the Mississippi has a deep history in celebrating the arts and culture of our region. Celebrations and festivals fill the calendar with enticing reasons to join in the fun! This list looks at 8 of the most beloved annual events. Many you can still enjoy this year and others you can mark your calendar for next year! You can find information on all at www.stockholmwisconsin.com or check out the individual links below.

1) Fall Fresh Art Tour: October 1st, 2nd & 3rd, 2021--(The first full weekend in October every year.) Join us on the 23rd Fall Fresh Art Tour Explore scenic backroads and submerse yourself in nature’s autumn artistry on this self-guided tour of our home studios and galleries. Throughout the picturesque villages & countryside of Pepin & Pierce counties, the artists who call this area home welcome you.-- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE

AAPI Voters Continue to Face Blatant Discrimination

Washington, DC -- The Supreme Court decided recently to uphold discriminatory right-wing voting restrictions, further weakening the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

​AAPI Victory Alliance Executive Director Varun Nikore issued the following statement:

“AAPI communities are experiencing the brunt of voting attacks by right-wing actors who are blatantly trying to curb voting rights in order to win an election. AAPI’s are the fastest growing voting bloc in the country -- with a 46% increase in raw vote numbers from 2016 to 2020 and an even higher increase in key swing states such as Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Texas. This decision made by the Supreme Court will further discriminate against our communities and push the nearly 10 million unregistered AAPI voters back in the shadows. This is wrong-headed and must change immediately. -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE

By Christian E. Weller

The coronavirus pandemic is waning in the United States, as almost 70 percent of adults have received at least one shot of a vaccine. Yet the pace of vaccinations is winding down, and a more transmissible variant of the virus—Delta—has become the dominant strain. In some parts of the country, the number of new cases is rising among unvaccinated people. Getting a vast swath of people in the United States and abroad vaccinated is the most effective way of thwarting the resurgence of the current pandemic and stopping future ones. President Joe Biden included $15 billion to support vaccine manufacturing and distribution, among other related efforts, in his signature American Rescue Plan that passed Congress in March 2021. His proposed American Jobs Plan includes $30 billion to help speed up the development of new vaccines in the event of future pandemics. -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE​

From APIAVote

With summer well on its way, we are excited and proud to have a diverse set of interns from all across the country working with us to empower and mobilize Asian American and Pacific Islander communities to vote! To introduce this cohort of amazing young leaders, we asked them what their top political issue is, what they hope to do after graduation or in their career, and what food reminds them of home:

Sal-Kit Jeremy Lee Interning through: Thai American National Internship Program Sal-Kit “Jeremy” Lee is a recent graduate of George Washington University and is passionate about data disaggregation. He believes it's important that people understand the different issues impacting different communities. He currently works for a faith-based non-profit where he helps empower Southeast Asian American college students to be leaders and world-changers. -- CLICK STORY TO READ MORE