The World According to Peter Hart-Brinson

As someone much smarter than me once said, it is not enough to study the world; the point is to change it. I have always felt that one of our highest callings as humans is to try to leave the earth in better shape when we depart from it than when we found it. Of course, you can't make much money doing that, so we are content with just going about our business and letting someone else clean up the mess.

The slogan "think globally, act locally" has always resonated with me. The reality of our society is that we can make a much larger difference at the local level, whether it be politics or our own daily lives, than at the global level. Not that trying to influence national or global politics isn't important. It's just that doing something good in your community, being active in some group or cause that is near to you, brings benefits far beyond the mere activity. The solidarity, the feelings of community, the intimate knowledge with your environment, the personal friendships and relationships you build, and the positive impact that you can have on those around you are all important reasons to try to change the world for the better.

So the following are just a handful of local organizations and causes that folks in Madison, Wisconsin can get involved in. And make a real difference. For a full list of local groups and organizations in Madison, check out the Isthmus' Annual Manual.

Bicycling & Alternative Transit

Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin--Statewide bicycling advocacy organization. They make Wisconsin the bicycle-friendly place that it is.

Community Car--Program run by Madison Environmental Group in which people share cars cooperatively, rather than own them.

Prairie Fire Biofuels Coop--A new co-op specializing in vegetable-based diesel fuels and engines.

Commentary

Fighting Bob--Wisconsin progressive political commentary.

Culture

Good grief! In Madison, where do I start? Museums, music, art galleries, bookstores, farms, grocery stores, coffee, coops, restaurants, catering companies, pharmacies, taxi-cabs... The list could go on forever. This town is awash in wonderful places for culture, shopping, leisure, and enjoyment.

Environment

Clean Wisconsin--Advocacy organization working to keep Wisconsin's water and air clean.

1000 Friends of Wisconsin--Wisconsin advocacy organization promoting transportation, community planning, and development projects that are environmentally responsible.

Madison Environmental Group--Local organizaiton involved in a variety of environmental projects around Madison.

Apollo Alliance--Plan for creating energy independence and economic growth in the U.S. Not a local group per se, but some local groups are involved.

GLBT

Fair Wisconsin--Oppose the Wisconsin Constitutional Amendment to ban civil unions and marriage.

Labor

Teaching Assistants Association--Graduate employee union at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Coalition of Graduate Employee Unions--Loose organization of unions representing grad students throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Student Labor Action Coalition at UW-Madison.

South Central Federation of Labor--Composed of AFL-CIO unions throughout southern Wisconsin. Solidarity forever!

Justice for Janitors (Madison)--Local SEIU organizing drive at Clean Power in Madison. Also see http://www.seiu.org/building/janitors/.

Media

Indymedia--Network of leftist, global, independent community journalism. Here's the Madison local site: http://madison.indymedia.org. Check out this link for a list of Madison-area progressive media, including film, television, radio, and print.

DIY Media--Free radio and media collages from an ex-Madison resident.

WORT-FM--89.9. Community radio, listener-sponsored, volunteer-run. It's a fantastic radio station. And it has what is probably the only bicycle traffic report in the nation every Friday at 8:30! (shameless self-promotion)

WSUM--91.7. UW-Madison college radio. Great music. A lot of the time anyway.

The Onion--Probably the best social commentary around. Satire isn't dead!

The Progressive--Magazine for progressive politics, based in Madison.

Progressive Politics

Progressive Dane--Madison/Dane County's progressive political party.

Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS)--Progressive research and action.

Midwest Social Forum--Formerly known as Radfest, an annual conference for building a broad movement for democracy and freedom.

Roosevelt Institution--Student think-tank devoted to linking academics and public policy. Helping to bring the Wisconsin Idea back to life!

WISPIRG--Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group

Wisconsin Democracy Campaign--Organization attempting to make Wisconsin politics more accountable to the public. Includes the excellent People's Legislature campaign.

Madison Area Peace Coalition--Working to promote peace and justice around the world.

Social Justice Center--A partnership of four Madison non-profits: Wisconsin Community Fund, Madison Community Cooperative, Tenant Resource Center, and Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund. Check out their building on Willy St.

Are you talking to me? Are you talking to me? I don't see anyone else here, so you must be talking to me. Send me an email.

Page last updated November 24, 2008