Emily Tseffos for Wisconsin

12/20/2024

I asked my daughter what she knew about lockdowns this week after Monday’s shooting. To see where she’s at, find out more about what she understood about why we’d need to practice locking doors, hiding away from windows, covering the glass into the hallway, identifying a meeting place a couple of blocks away in case they’d need to evacuate.

I wasn’t there to put any ideas in her head, or to be fully honest with her about the fear and anger in my head and heart when I remember that *it doesn’t have to be this way* when it comes to the endemic gun violence that plagues our country and kills our children.

So I asked and listened. I let her lead. It was sobering and sad. But when I asked her who she’d be hiding from if they went into a lockdown, she replied, “somebody near the school doing something bad.” And I felt both a sense of relief and dread.

She doesn’t understand yet that kids like her and her classmates are often the hunted. That the threat could be someone she knows, a schoolmate or peer. How do you lock down a school when they are already inside with easy access to a weapon designed to kill?

She doesn’t understand it yet and I count that as a win. We made it through one more school shooting where my daughter doesn’t realize it could happen anywhere. One more drill where she still believes our schools are sanctuaries for our kids. That she’ll be safe because she’s there. One more news cycle of children running to their parents, calling 911 (a second grader made that call in Madison), and families frantically searching for their little ones at hospitals and reunification centers without thinking that could one day be her friends, her teachers, HER on that television screen as the nation collectively gasps and hugs their own family more tightly that evening but still can’t manage to do anything to prevent it from happening again.

But, because we live in America, we know that this shooting won’t be the last. And there will come a day - a moment - where that sense of safety will crumble. It will fall away. She’ll watch kids like her going through the unimaginable and understand that because we are unwilling to compromise on gun reforms in order to keep our kids safe, she’s in danger.

And she’ll never be the same.

12/11/2024

I wrote a column as a guest over at “The Recombobulation Area” on what I hope to see in the coming months (and years) concerning support and prioritization from the larger dem party as an organization.

It’s electoral work AND deep organizing. It’s turning out reliable Dems AND seeing the value in connecting with folks who are historically more Republican. It’s utilizing the infrastructure the party has across the state and developing it to be more authentic and effective in doing the right thing, responding to crises, and connecting all of that to policy.

✨Our power is our people ✨- and if nothing else, we’re going to do our best here in Outagamie County to help our group step into it.

www.OutagamieDems.org

12/11/2024

A recent report from the Badger Institute warned a trade war triggered by tariffs could harm Wisconsin’s manufacturing sector.

12/10/2024

I wrote a guest column over on Substack with Dan Shafer’s “The Recombobulation Area” focused on the power we already possess and how to harness and expand on it during the months and years ahead.

We’re gonna keep building locally.
Let me know if you want in.

Take a look: https://www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/how-democrats-can-tap-into-people?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

12/07/2024

12/07/2024

Really great conversation with Matenaer On Air earlier this week about what it means to trust and empower our grassroots in order to make real, lasting change in our communities.

12/05/2024

Let’s talk tariffs 💰 (& how they aren’t going save us money during the holiday season… or any other time)

12/04/2024

I think one of the hardest parts of ending this campaign is the responsibility I feel to each of you who shared a few moments of your time and a part of your story with me. What do we do now with the heartache, the stress, the worry?

I aimed to humanize myself at each door, being a bit more vulnerable than your average candidate probably is. I like to think it gave some of you permission to do the same.

We talked miscarriages and mortgages. Applying for Medicare and stagnant wages. Crushing medical debt and special education for your kids. Worn out clutches you were trying to fix yourselves because you couldn’t afford the repair at a shop. Farms you were looking to sell because you’re tired of struggling from season to season.

We didn’t win this time, but the work continues. When terrible policies come down, we’re going to show up for the communities that need us. When there are crises, we’ll provide the help we can. When our lawmakers pass legislation that does harm to our neighbors, we hold them to account. When rumors spread, we’ll fight it with fact. We keep going.

We keep going because you all deserve it. I’ll never stop showing up for you in all the ways I can. 🇺🇸

12/01/2024

Guys guys guysssssss…

Watch us bring about genuine, sustained change here in Northeastern Wisconsin. Trainings and outlets coming to you real soon because although curling up in the fetal position sounds enticing, it won’t do anything to create the kind of country and society our neighbors, family, and friends deserve.



And if you’re tired of watching the world burn and ready to take action, sign up at www.EmilyTseffos.com

12/01/2024

This hunting season was extra special because our middle got to sit with dad for the first time - it didn’t matter much that they didn’t get one. I’m loving watching our kids participate in our Wisconsin traditions and look forward to all the memories they’ll share (and the venison they’ll bring home next season!)

12/01/2024

A timely reminder from Mother Jones.

11/30/2024

Made it out to Balsam Creek Lane Tree Farm in Bear Creek this morning to pick out our tree - a great family-owned spot that’s been operating for 36 years!

The holidays are here and we’re soaking it in! 🌲❄️

11/30/2024

If you’re feeling dismayed, frightened, despondent, etc consider joining us in our work locally. We’re building teams and training folks up on how to respond to crises and support your own communities.

Grassroots organizing, friends. Let’s get back to it.

Sign up today: www.outagamiedems.org

11/25/2024

We’re back, folks!

After taking a little time to adjust to things post-election (it’s like driving 100mph and hitting a brick wall 😅), we’ve found our footing.

More details coming soon, but for now, expect the space to be one that continues to be rooted in all that unites us, focuses on policy impacts at a *very* local level, sounds the alarm on what is happening in our communities, and breaks through the misinformation rabbit holes too many of us seem to have fallen down.

These past few weeks I’ve been able to gather with 100s of local folks who are ready to do what they can to protect our neighbors and care for our communities and I’m so excited for what’s coming right here in the Fox Valley.

11/20/2024

Amazing news across the state! Even with a lack of funding, our teachers and students are doing the dang thing. 📚

About 84 percent of Wisconsin’s public schools met or exceeded state expectations for the 2023-24 school year.

11/15/2024

Throughout that whole process, even as we ran in an unwinnable district, we did the things we set out to do:

1. We connected with our neighbors
2. We found the joy
3. We led with love
4. We stood up for our communities
5. We outworked everybody else

We’re determining next steps, but one thing’s for sure…

We’re not done yet. 🇺🇸

11/14/2024

We as a people need civics lessons, ASAP. 🇺🇸 Lesson one: the Department of Education.

11/12/2024

UPDATED REGISTRATION LINK (you'll need to re-register)

We didn’t win. Lucky for us the whole point was to begin to build grassroots power - and we did exactly that.

Now is the time to step into it.

We’re going to have a debrief on Tuesday, November 12 at 7:00pm for anyone who is interested. We’ll quickly get into the numbers, but more importantly than that we will be talking through next steps as 2025 looms.
We’ll discuss the real-world implications of another Trump presidency, what it will look like in NE Wisconsin, and how we can respond together.

JOIN US FOR THIS ORGANIZING CALL
Tuesday, November 12 at 7:00pm
REGISTER HERE: https://us04web.zoom.us/meeting/register/upYud-6hrjkjHNRFv6NNDWLIq7JXeIJK4tcg

We’ll go over real-world implications and action items we can begin to plan for, organizations in the area who will need our support, and will talk grassroots community aid efforts for our most vulnerable neighbors.

For love of our country. We’ll see you soon.

Forward together,

Emily Tseffos