Equity and Outreach Project Lead

February 8, 2021 wave2021

Background

WAVE Educational Fund is a statewide, grassroots organization dedicated to preventing gun violence, injuries and deaths through education and advocacy.

Description

Would you like to join our friendly, supportive, hardworking staff? We welcome you to apply for the position of Equity and Outreach Project Lead. In this role, you will be assisting with our racial equity, community outreach, and civic engagement efforts, with an emphasis on reaching youth and communities of color. This is currently a part-time position (approximately 15 hours per week).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties, as well as others that may be assigned, will be performed personally or in coordination with other staff members.

  • Report to, and work directly with, the Director of Equity and Outreach.
  • Help to develop productive and meaningful partnerships with organizations representing disenfranchised communities, communities of color and other communities deeply impacted by gun violence.
  • Learn about the intersection between gun violence and criminal justice reform, with the goal of determining how a gun violence prevention advocacy organization can most effectively participate in creating safe and just communities. 
  • Develop and demonstrate an understanding of equitable gun policy. 
  • Assist with planning the annual summer internship, with a focus on awareness-building activities and equitable solutions to gun violence.
  • Assist with developing a longstanding and sustainable youth component to our programs, which will raise up young voices in Wisconsin’s current gun violence prevention efforts and ensure that the next generation will be prepared to continue the movement in our state. 
  • Participate in existing efforts related to neighborhood policing efforts, criminal justice reforms, restorative justice strategies, underserved youth intervention efforts, etc.
  • Provide ongoing research, background information, and analytical support for our Equity and Outreach efforts, with an emphasis on evidence-based solutions to gun violence for impacted communities.
  • Play an active role in supporting daily internal and external Equity and Outreach efforts by helping to prepare, organize, lead, and facilitate team meetings, trainings, and ad hoc work sessions.
  • Take a lead role in knowledge sharing within the team.
  • Assist with our recruitment of new WAVE members and WAVE Action Team Leaders. 
  • Network to achieve organizational goals at public events, meetings, and conferences.
  • Provide relevant and accurate information to elected officials, community leaders, other organizations, the media, and the general public.
  • Help plan community awareness-building events.
  • “Table” at meetings, conferences and community events.
  • Manage special projects related to our Equity and Outreach efforts.
  • Help with data entry and other office tasks, as needed.

Skills Required

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Familiarity with computer applications such as Word and Excel, as well as social media platforms
  • Ability to work as part of a team or independently with minimal supervision
  • Must be trustworthy and able to handle personal information with the utmost care

Additional Requirements

  • Must be at least 18 years of age
  • You must read, sign and submit WAVE’s Youth Protection Policy document and pass a criminal background check.
  • *Must be capable of providing own transportation (valid driver’s license and auto-insurance required), self-arranged transportation, or public transportation, and must be able to travel around the Greater Milwaukee area to attend actions and events that occur days, nights, or weekends
  • *Must follow WAVE’s personal and community protection plan, which will meet or exceed guidelines offered by the Wisconsin Department of Health

*Due to COVID-19, most, if not all, of our work will be conducted virtually until we can safely resume in-person activities.

Education and/or Experience

  • High school diploma or GED required
  • Advanced education or experience in the fields of equity, social justice, criminal justice, public policy, communications, or community organizing preferred

Compensation and Benefits

  • Salary will be determined based on skills and experience
  • Pro-rated benefits’ package includes paid vacation, holidays, sick and personal days, as well as employer contributions to a retirement plan

Application Process

Please send your resume and a cover letter by February 26, 2021 to Deja Garner at dg@waveedfund.org.

We know that the application process — with all of its waiting — can cause a lot of anxiety. We will do our best to keep you informed and communicate with you in a timely manner!

WAVE Educational Fund celebrates diversity. We welcome, and are committed to creating, an inclusive environment. That means, we respect and support the diverse cultures, perspectives and life experiences of all applicants and employees. You’re valued here.

Equity-Assistant-2021Download

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WAVE Youth Advisory Council (WYAC)

WAVE Youth Advisory Council (WYAC)

February 8, 2021 wave2021

WAVE Educational Fund is currently recruiting 5-7 committed young leaders to serve on our new WAVE Youth Advisory Council. We are looking for young people who are passionate about seeing positive change in the state of Wisconsin, especially in communities most impacted by gun violence.

Requirements

  • Ages – 16-21
  • Lives in Wisconsin
  • Ability to engage with diverse groups
  • Participation in trainings related to the focus areas
  • Be prepared to fulfill a full term (based on what the council decides a term should be)
  • Willingness to take a leadership role within the council 
  • Be prepared to engage in at least two meetings per month (based on the frequency the council determines)
  • Access to technology that allows you to utilize both video and audio functions
  • Internet access

Why participate?

  • Engage with peers who share a similar interest in making Wisconsin a safer and more equitable place to live
  • Have a voice in the decision-making process of a statewide organization
  • The council will allow you to expand your personal and professional networks
  • Leadership opportunities look great on college applications and to future employers

2021 Application Details

  • The application opens on February 8th, 2021.
  • Applications must be submitted by Friday, March 19th at 5:00 pm CST.
  • You will be contacted by March 24th at 5:00 pm CST if we would like to schedule a phone interview with you.
  • The first council meeting will be held on March 29th at 6:00 pm CST.

How to apply?

If you are interested in serving on the youth council, please apply here: https://forms.gle/z3wPx9xiwoaGC3SNA

Contact Deja Garner at dg@WaveEdFund.org for any questions or technical support.

WAVE is proud to celebrate diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. If there is a part of this description that would lead you to require accommodations, please let us know.

WYAC Framework

Vision Statement (What we hope to achieve): To be created by the council.

Purpose Statement (Why we exist and what we do): To be created by the council.

Description of the Council (Who we are): To be created by the council.

Term of Service: To be determined by the council.

Sample Officer Titles:

  • President
  • Vice-President
  • Secretary
  • Communications Officer
  • Event Coordinator

Examples of Focus Areas:

  • Gun Violence Prevention
  • Racial Justice & Equity
  • Policy
  • Partnerships
  • Community Building
wave2021WAVE Youth Advisory Council (WYAC)
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Wisconsin Voter Information – 2020

Wisconsin Voter Information – 2020

June 26, 2020 wave2021

If you are eligible to vote, we urge you to vote in the August 11th and November 3rd elections this year! (And, to protect yourself and your community from COVID-19, we encourage you to vote absentee.) 

Voting is an essential civic duty to ensure we elect officials who will represent our priorities, including passing evidence-based, lifesaving gun violence prevention policies. 

Your voice deserves to be heard!

Please note: We will do our best to keep the information below up-to-date, but, due to COVID-19, information may change.

Register to Vote & Vote Absentee

  1. Register to vote (or check to make sure you are registered): https://wave.votewisconsin.com/. 

  2. Request an absentee ballot.

    a. Online Form – https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/VoteAbsentee. An acceptable photo ID is required.
    or
    b. Paper Form – Depending on where you live, you may receive a paper “Wisconsin Application for Absentee Ballot” in the mail. An acceptable photo ID is required. You may submit your application and a copy of your ID by mail, fax, email, or in-person at your municipal clerk’s office.

  3. Complete your absentee ballot, and have a witness sign it.

  4. Submit your completed absentee ballot. (It must be received your municipal clerk by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.)

If you need assistance in registering to vote or applying for your absentee ballot, please let us know. You can email us at admin@waveedfund.org.

Dates to Know

Dates To Know For Wisconsin’s August 11, 2020, Partisan Primary Election

July 22, 2020 – Last day to register to vote online or by mail for the August 11th Partisan Primary
August 6, 2020, by 5:00 p.m. – Last day to request an absentee ballot for the August 11th Partisan Primary (To avoid any potential issues and make sure you get your ballot in time, do NOT wait until the last day.)
August 7, 2020, by 5:00 p.m. – Last day to register to vote in-person in your municipal clerk’s office before election day. (You can register to vote in-person at your polling place on election day between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., too, but we recommend that you plan to register in advance if you can.)
August 11, 2020, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. – You can register to vote in-person at your polling place on Election Day, but we recommend that you plan to register in advance if you can.
August 11, 2020, by 8:00 p.m. – Your absentee ballot must be received your municipal clerk by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
August 11, 2020 – Wisconsin Fall Partisan Primary Election Day

Dates to Know for November 3, 2020, General Election

October 14, 2020 – Last day to register to vote online or by mail for the November 3rd General Election
October 29, by 5:00 p.m. – Last day to request an absentee ballot for the November 3, 2020, General Election. (To avoid any potential issues and make sure you get your ballot in time, do NOT wait until the last day.)
October 30, 2020, by 5:00 p.m. – Last day to register to vote in-person in your municipal clerk’s office before election day. (You can register to vote in-person on election day, too, but we recommend that you plan to register in advance if you can.)
November 3, 2020, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. – You can register to vote in-person at your polling place on Election Day, but we recommend that you plan to register in advance if you can.
November 3, 2020, by 8:00 p.m. – Your absentee ballot must be received your municipal clerk by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
November 3, 2020 – General Election Day

wave2021Wisconsin Voter Information – 2020
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Become a WAVE Action Leader

Become a WAVE Action Leader

June 15, 2020 wave2021

Help us inspire new voters!

Scientific research shows that friend-to-friend communication (also known as relational organizing or RO) is a promising way to engage more people civically. Please sign up to be a WAVE Action Leader, who will contact at least five people when called upon to do so by WAVE.

What does it mean to be a WAVE Action Leader?

Being a WAVE Action Leader is very easy yet extremely powerful. We will share a mobile app and calls to action with you to allow you to empower your personal network to become more civically engaged and help us prevent gun violence in Wisconsin.

  1. Sign-up to become a WAVE Action Leader and download the app (see below).
  2. Compile a list of at least five friends, family members, neighbors, or coworkers you agree to contact when WAVE shares a call to action (e.g., pledge to respond to the Census).
  3. Contact those friends when we call on you to do so. (This will likely be about once per month until November 2020 and probably less frequently after that.)
  4. Share the results with us!

How do I sign up to become a WAVE Action Leader?

Empower App Icon

Sign up using this link: https://getempower.com/WAVE. Enter your first name, your last name, and your mobile phone number to create your account. This will allow you to use the Empower (My RVP List) application, which will make the process much easier for you and us!

If you want to participate but are uncomfortable using the app, you can download and fill-out this form to sign-up. Please either email the filled out form to stephanie@waveedfund.org or mail it to P.O. Box 170393, Milwaukee, WI 53217.

WAVE-Action-Leader-Sign-Up-FormDownload

How WAVE Has Already Used Relational Organizing

WAVE has used relational organizing to help people register to vote, pledge to take the 2020 Census, contact their elected officials, and learn about upcoming gun violence prevention (GVP) events. Check out this partner spotlight about us on the Organizing Empowerment Project’s website: https://organizingempowerment.org/blog/partner-spotlight-wave

If you have any questions, please reach out to our Program Director, Heidi, at hrose@waveedfund.org.

wave2021Become a WAVE Action Leader
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GVP Youth Leadership Program

GVP Youth Leadership Program

March 12, 2020 wave2021

Virtual Summer Internship with WAVE
June 15, 2020 – August 7, 2020

Updated May 15, 2020

WAVE (Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort) Educational Fund is a grassroots, statewide, non-profit organization dedicated to preventing gun violence.   

If you are passionate about preventing gun violence and fall between the ages of 14-21, we encourage you to apply for the WAVE’s 2020 virtual summer internship.   

WAVE’s virtual summer internship will help you reach your full potential as leaders by providing you with the opportunity to create a public awareness event, increase advocacy and lobbying skills, learn about non-profit leadership, build community based-collaborations, and direct peer-to-peer gun violence prevention trainings.

2020 summer intern duties:

  • Develop an understanding of Wisconsin’s gun laws and how stronger gun laws save lives.  
  • Use an online platform to complete weekly trainings and skill-building activities.
  • Help increase awareness among youth and their families about the impact and nature of gun violence, as well as the importance of community and political engagement.  
  • Create and update a social media presence related to your gun violence prevention activities.  
  • Learn and teach strategies that help mobilize people to take action to prevent gun violence.   
  • Work with other interns to plan and execute a large-scale public awareness event or virtual campaign. 
  • Assist with virtual voter registration activities.
  • Work a minimum of 50 hours, between 6/15/20 and 8/7/20, to complete the internship.  

Required qualifications:

  • Enthusiasm and optimism about preventing gun violence and a strong desire to share those feelings with others, whether in personal conversations, on social media, or as part of actions or events  
  • Ability to be positive, energetic, reliable, responsible, mature, and willing to engage and interact with diverse populations 
  • Experience with social media platforms and with Google and Microsoft programs, especially MS Excel, is strongly desired
  • Comfort navigating online software either on a tablet or on a computer
  • Experience with social justice, customer service, or political organizing is preferred  
  • Ability to speak Spanish or Hmong is desirable but not required
  • *Capability of providing your transportation (valid driver’s license and auto insurance required), self-arranged transportation, or public transportation, and ability to travel around the Greater Milwaukee area to attend actions and events that occur days, nights, or weekends
  • *Willingness to comply with WAVE’s personal and community protection plan, which will meet or exceed guidelines offered by the Wisconsin Department of Health

Technology Usage

**You will need access to either a laptop or desktop with an internet connection to complete this leadership program. There also may be days when you will need to have access to a phone to dial-in for a discussion or meeting. 

Compensation

  • The internship is paid and will require an average of 6.5 hours per week. Hours will vary weekly based on planned events.  
  • Upon successful completion of the internship, we will award you a stipend.
  • WAVE Ed Fund can also assist interns in providing school/service credit for this internship.  

*Due to COVID-19, these requirements may not apply. It is possible that all of our activities, throughout your employment, will be conducted virtually. If we can conduct in-person activities, your safety, and the safety of our community members, will be the top priority.

**If you do not have unlimited access to either a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer, please include that in the body of your email when applying.

WAVE is proud to celebrate diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. If there is a part of the job description that would lead you to require accommodations, please let us know.

To Apply

Please send a resume and cover letter to Deja Garner at dg@WaveEdFund.org by 5:00 p.m. on June 3rd.

If you do not have a resume and cover letter, please send an email to dg@WaveEdFund.org, answering the following questions. 

Name:
Email:
Phone Number:
Age:
School/College:

  1. What interests you about participating in a gun violence prevention internship? 
  2. What is one thing you would do today to stop gun violence? 
  3. What is your definition of peace? 
  4. Tell us about a time that you made a mistake. How did you handle the situation? 
  5. Describe yourself in three (3) words. 
  6. What are three (3) words that your family and friends would use to describe you? 
  7. Please describe any relevant leadership experience that you have. 
  8. Is there anything else you would like us to know about you? 
wave2021GVP Youth Leadership Program
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#WAVEofGiving

#WAVEofGiving

November 20, 2019 wave2021

Donate on December 3, 2019!

Over the past three years, Giving Tuesday has become a very important part of WAVE’s annual fundraising efforts, and we want to continue to build upon our success.

Please donate to WAVE’s 2019 Giving Tuesday Campaign — #WAVEofGiving — to help fuel our fight against gun violence in Wisconsin in 2020.

Donate

Here is how you can help us…

Become a Giving Tuesday Ambassador for WAVE

We are looking for WAVE supporters who would be willing to be Giving Tuesday “ambassadors” for us. Our Giving Tuesday ambassadors have two responsibilities:

1. Pledging to donate to WAVE on December 3rd

2a. Sharing posts on social media between November 26th and December 3, encouraging others to join you in donating to WAVE on Giving Tuesday. You can use the tools below, including the graphics, for your posts. You can also write your own stories about how WAVE has impacted you.

OR

2b. If you do not use social media, please tell us your stories about how WAVE has impacted you for us to share on our social media platforms.

Youth Ambassadors

Young people, you can make a huge impact on gun violence prevention even if you cannot afford to donate monetarily yet.

You can share posts on social media between November 26th and December 3, encouraging others to donate to WAVE on your behalf on Giving Tuesday. We will provide you with graphics and suggested language for your posts. You can also write your own stories about how WAVE has impacted you.

Please email me at jacey@waveedfund.org to let me know if you would like to help us out in this way.

Social Media Tools for Giving Tuesday Ambassadors

Create a Facebook Fundraiser

Use this link: https://www.facebook.com/fund/WaveEdFund/

Images

Feel free to use (copy/paste, drag/drop) the images below in your social media posts for Giving Tuesday.

  • Twitter, Facebook
  • Twitter, Email Header
  • Facebook Cover
  • #GivingTuesday
  • #MyGivingStory
  • #MyGivingStory

Text

The purpose of your social media post is to help us fundraise. A huge way to motivate others to give is to tell them why you are giving and how their donation can help create a safer Wisconsin.

#MyGivingStory

Use the hashtags, #MyGivingStory, #WAVEofGiving, and #GivingTuesday to share how and why you give back. Let others know about WAVE’s impact to inspire their generosity. Plus, if you upload your story to mygivingstory.givingtuesday.org between November 1st and December 3rd , you could win $10,000 to give to your nonprofit of choice (hopefully WAVE)! Share your giving story on social media and ask your friends to vote for your story on https://mygivingstory.givingtuesday.org!

wave2021#WAVEofGiving
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Latest Polls

Latest Polls

October 10, 2019 wave2021

Every year in Wisconsin, nearly 600 children and adults are killed with guns, leaving families and communities devastated. Strong research and compelling evidence prove that we can prevent these tragedies.

The nearly 70,000 WAVE Ed Fund supporters shown on this map urge our elected officials to put the safety of our families and communities first and take action to prevent gun violence.

Wisconsinites, like most Americans, support stronger gun laws

The most recent polling of Wisconsin residents indicates that the vast majority of our state’s citizens favor strong gun laws that save lives, mirroring results from recent national poles.

Requiring background checks for every gun sale

Extreme Risk Protective Orders

Latest-Polling-Data-2019Download
wave2021Latest Polls
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Preventing Suicide Through Sensible Policy

Preventing Suicide Through Sensible Policy

August 28, 2019 wave2021

Extreme Risk Protective Orders (ERPO) Save Lives

How does ERPO Work?

ERPO gives families and law enforcement officers a way to ask a judge to temporarily prohibit an at-risk person from purchasing or possessing a gun. ERPO is a non-criminal process that involves a court hearing and clearly defined due process protections.

How can ERPO help save lives?

  • ERPO is effective because guns present a uniquely lethal risk in cases of attempted suicide
    • 90% of suicide attempts using a gun are fatal, compared to 5% of most common alternative methods (Azrael, Miller)
  • Suicidal acts are often impulsive and fleeting and, thus, preventing access to the most lethal means is crucial
  • Saving someone’s life in the near-term will likely save that person’s life in the long-term
    • Just 10% of those who survive a suicide attempt go on to die from suicide later (Owens, et al)

How are suicide and gun violence related?

  • Every day 65 Americans commit suicide using a gun (CDC)
  • In 2017 nearly half (47%) of all suicide deaths in Wisconsin involved guns (CDC)
  • Over 75% of all gun deaths in Wisconsin are deaths due to suicide (Giffords Law Center)

Is suicide a unique problem in Wisconsin?

  • The suicide rate in Wisconsin was higher than the national average in 2017 (15.45 people vs 14 people per 100,000 people) (AFSP)
  • 926 people in Wisconsin died from suicide in 2017 (AFSP)
  • Teen suicide in Wisconsin has almost doubled since 2007 (CDC)

Does ERPO violate our Constitutional Rights (2nd Amendment, Due Process)?

No. The Supreme Court ruled in D.C. vs Heller that the 2nd Amendment allows for firearm restrictions that are “presumptively lawful.” Moreover, ERPO follows due process through the court system by allowing a judge to make an informed decision to temporarily remove firearms from people posing an imminent threat.

Isn’t law enforcement already removing firearms from people posing a threat?

Sometimes; but municipalities have been sued for this because they do not have the legal backing that ERPO provides. Meanwhile, Chapter 51, which is sometimes invoked by law enforcement, is more complex than ERPO and is often inadequate for providing safety to someone who is suicidal.

Sources

The epidemiology of case fatality rates for suicide in the northeast.
Matthew J. Miller, Deborah Azrael, David Hemenway. 2004
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15159703

Fatal and non-fatal repetition of self-harm. Systematic review.
David Owens, Judith Horrocks, Allan House. 2002 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12204922

Suicide Statistics
American Society for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
https://afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/

Fatal Injury Reports, National, Regional and State, 1981 – 2017
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate.html

Photo Credit: Illustration by Brian Stauffer for Rolling Stone

Suicide-Prevention-fact-sheet-Final PDF VersionDownload
wave2021Preventing Suicide Through Sensible Policy
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