In this edition, we share highlights from our presentation at this month's Labor Research Action Network's annual conference.

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'COWS Notes' is our monthly round-up of project successes, news, and more.


** Local Strategies for Worker Power
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Highlights from the presentation at this month's Labor Research Action Network annual conference
On June 7, COWS Research Analyst Pablo Aquiles-Sanchez and long-time project partner Peter Rickman of the Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Organization ([link removed]) (MASH) presented at the Labor Research Action Network ([link removed]) (LRAN) annual conference in Washington, DC.
Left to right: Peter Rickman, Terri Gerstein, LiJia Gong, Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson, and Pablo Aquiles-Sanchez.

Joined on the panel by LiJia Gong of Local Progress ([link removed]) , Terri Gerstein of Harvard Law School Center for Labor and a Just Economy ([link removed]) , and Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors ([link removed]) , Local Strategies for Worker Power touched on the year-long collaboration between COWS and MASH leveraging local-government support to achieve real gains for workers.

Gong and Gerstein opened the session with a presentation on various strategies for local governments to support job quality and worker justice efforts based on their report, The role of local government in protecting workers’ rights ([link removed]) , written for the Economic Policy Institute ([link removed]) . Rickman, Nicholson, and Aquiles-Sanchez followed, sharing their experiences working on Milwaukee worker initiatives from the perspective of organizers, local government officials, and researchers, respectively.

The triangulation of all three perspectives in Milwaukee, especially in response to recent proposals for downtown development in the Iron District ([link removed]) and Northwestern Mutual buildings, has made the last year and half of collaboration with MASH so exciting. Paraphrasing COWS Director Joel Rogers, Peter Rickman said, “Cities are big enough to matter, and small enough to wrap your arms around."

To learn more, visit the 2023 LRAN conference website ([link removed]) and view the full conference program ([link removed]) .


** COWS Project Updates
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ProGov2 ([link removed]) [link removed] ([link removed]) ’s newest policy roadmap covers land use policy and regulating the built environment through tools like zoning, building codes, and urban planning. These policies affect virtually every aspect of life, including access to housing, jobs, schools, public space, public services, and transportation.

For more information on how local governments can use innovative land use approaches to drive high road economic development and social belonging, read the full roadmap here ([link removed]) .

[link removed] honor of Pride Month, the Mayors Innovation Project ([link removed]) recently released Celebrating Mayoral Efforts to Combat LGBTQ+ Attacks ([link removed]) , a feature highlighting mayors and cities working to counter harmful anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and legislative attacks.

To learn more about local responses to discriminatory state legislation and efforts to promote gender inclusivity, including examples from Georgia, Florida, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin, read the full feature here ([link removed]) .

[link removed] Wednesday, June 28, join the State Smart Transportation Initiative ([link removed]) (SSTI) for Measuring Accessibility: Advances in Project Evaluation ([link removed]) , the second in its multi-part webinar series addressing transportation equity using accessibility metrics.

Featuring guest speakers Henry McKay from Caltrans ([link removed]) and Ally de Alcuaz from MnDOT ([link removed]) , the session covers the latest work in California and Minnesota in leveraging new analytical tools to evaluate transportation projects by their impact on equity and access. Learn more and register today here ([link removed]) .


** In the News
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All In: Student Pathways Forward featuring Laura Dresser ([link removed])
National Skills Coalition SkillSPAN Network

Wisconsin has seen record-low unemployment for over a year. What does that mean for workers? ([link removed])
Wisconsin Public Radio

Obstacles to Participating in the Workforce ([link removed])
As Goes Wisconsin
Read All News Coverage ([link removed])


** About us.
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Based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, COWS is a national think-and-do tank that promotes “high road” solutions to social problems. Learn more ([link removed]) here ([link removed]) , or click below to learn more about our projects housed at COWS:
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