Uniting to Prevent Targeted Violence in Southeast Wisconsin
A non-partisan civic participation program (October 2023 - September 2025) that brings Wisconsinites together across political, racial, generational, geographic, and other differences to address causes of targeted violence.
Program Overview
Uniting to Prevent Targeted Violence in Southeast Wisconsin (UPTV) is a non-partisan civic participation program that aims to prevent targeted violence in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine, Walworth, and Waukesha counties.
Program Goals
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Strengthen social cohesion across ideological, racial, generational, and geographic differences
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Improve locally-led violence prevention efforts through enhanced collaboration among community members, organizations, institutions, and officials
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Raise community awareness of targeted violence threats and increase action to address threats
Program Pillars
Wisconsin Uniters: 28 community members selected to work across differences with a community partner to addresses targeted violence
Threat Assessment and Management Teams: Support county and school officials, law enforcement, and civil society to identify threats and intervene to manage them
Neighborhood Networks: Led by Common Agency, this pillar will matchmake neighbors into groups to build relationships and solve local challenges. Learn about Neighborhood Network Stewards here.
Program Schedule
June '24
PHASE I
Learning
Build relationships, dialogue to explore different views, and learn about targeted violence.
Cohort gatherings on Saturdays @ 9:30-3:30
June 1 | Kenosha
June 15 | Waukesha
June - July '24
PHASE II
Design
Design county projects with Community Partners and share them with Neighborhood Networks.
Cohort gatherings on Saturdays @ 9:30-3:30
June 29 | Milwaukee
July 13 | Walworth
July '24 - Aug '25
PHASE III
Implement
Implement county projects with Community Partners. Discuss challenges and share successes across the Uniters cohort. Engage with county Threat Assessment and Management teams and Neighborhood Networks. Produce and disseminate public statements on targeted violence prevention.
County teams meet on their own, roughly once every two weeks to advance project implementation.
Full cohort gathers in person (Saturdays) and Zoom (Wednesday evenings) as follows
2024
July 27 | 9:30-12:30 | Kenosha (+ optional public event 1-5)
Sept 14 | 9:30-12:30 | Waukesha
Oct 2 | 5:00-6:30 | Zoom
Nov 2 | 9:30-12:30 | Milwaukee (+ lunch)
Dec 4 | 5:00-6:30 | Zoom
2025
Jan 11 | 9:30-12:30 | Walworth
Feb 5 | 5:00-6:30 | Zoom
March 1 | 9:30-12:30 | Kenosha (+ lunch)
April 2 | 5:00-6:30 | Zoom
May 3 | 9:30-12:30 | Waukesha (+ lunch)
June 4 | 5:00-6:30 | Zoom
Sept '25
PHASE IV
Showcase
Showcase and celebrate outcomes with the broader community. Discuss next steps.
Sept 6 | 9:30-3:30 | Milwaukee
What's New
UPTV WI Program Newsletter Archive
Welcome to our Program Newsletter archive. Explore past editions and stay updated on our program!
October 2024 Edition
We believe discourse in the run-up to the November election can be constructive. If you’re looking to dialogue with other Wisconsinites, our November 2 event is for you! Join us for one-one conversations to explore different views on strengthening our democratic republic, including our election processes. Register here!
July 2024 Edition
Want to do something about political violence in Wisconsin and the United States? Join Urban Rural Action and partner organizations at a FREE and FUN community event, Wisconsinites Uniting for a Safe Election Season, at the Civil War Museum in Kenosha on July 27. Guests will enjoy a keynote panel, opportunities to support local community initiatives, and interactive workshops to build skills in constructive dialogue, de-escalation, community safety, and political violence prevention. There will also be food, music, and activities for the kids, so bring your family and friends. Learn more and register now!
June 2024 Edition
The Wisconsin Uniters cohort has completed their first two gatherings, building connections, enhancing their collaboration skills, and engaging in the community, with chocolate and cheese tastings along the way. On June 1 we visited the neighborhoods impacted by the 2020 Kenosha civil unrest shooting. During the June 15 gathering we received an impactful Threat Evaluation and Reporting Overview training from Bruno Dias, Department of Homeland Security Associate Director, and learned more about the important work our Community Partners are doing in their counties. We also learned about Waukesha’s resilience activities following the 2021 Christmas Parade tragedy.
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Explore additional opportunities in Southeast WI to strengthen our democratic republic
This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, opportunity number DHS-23-TTP-132-00-01.