League of Women Voters Public Program: Guns, Grief & Grace in America, on Feb. 17

Milwaukee – “Guns, Grief and Grace in America: Everyone’s Toolkit” is the topic of a public program on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. This free program will be held at the newly renovated Milwaukee Public Library Mitchell Street Branch, 906 W. Historic Mitchell St. Gathering time begins at 10:30 a.m., and the program runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County, Milwaukee Public Library, and the Coalition that conceived and is developing Guns, Grief & Grace: Everyone’s Toolkit. The academic/community-led coalition formed to advance a public health framework to foster civil, nonpolarized conversations about prevention of suicide, homicide, domestic violence, accidental and mass shootings. League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County is a member of the Coalition.

“The League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County supports this broader approach of involving our entire metro area in learning about and discussing sensible solutions to the many ways gun violence affects all of us,” said Anne Golden, president of the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County.

“No one wants to see more gun deaths and injuries,” said Janet Fitch, Director of the Guns, Grief & Grace in America Documentary Project. “This initiative aims to seek commonality as we change the ways people think, act and talk about gun violence in the Greater Milwaukee area.”

The February 17 program includes film clips and commentary from a variety of perspectives. Panelists include: Sharlen Moore: Co-founder, Executive Director of Urban Underground, Milwaukee; Dr. Barbara Moser, current chair of the Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee Coalition; and Dr. Michael Levas, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Faculty at Children’s Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Audience members are invited to participate in facilitated small-group discussions that will contribute to the Toolkit content. They may also choose to record stories (up to 5 minutes) on the impact of gun violence in their lives in the library’s new sound studio.

For more information, visit www.lwvmilwaukee.org

The League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy, but does not endorse or oppose candidates or political parties. The national League of Women Voters was formed in 1920 after the ratification of the 19th Amendment ensuring women the right to vote. Its mission was to educate women on voting matters and to encourage them to exercise their newly won franchise. While the League of Women Voters retains its name to honor its founders, today’s League includes men as members and its mission is to make democracy work for all.

For more information, visit: www.lwvmilwaukee.org

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.