RIVER FALLS — This week, members of GROWW (GrassRoots Organizing Western Wisconsin) announced a slate of 10 endorsed candidates vying for positions on local school boards, county boards, and city councils across Dunn, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix counties. Starting this month, GROWW members will work to build popular support behind those candidates, chosen for their alignment with GROWW’s vision, values and platform. Here in Pierce County, the line up includes candidate for Pierce County Board Claire McCarty in District 5 and River Falls School Board candidate Monica LaVold.
Residents are invited to join in efforts to get out the vote with GROWW and can expect to hear from GROWW members ahead of the April 2 election this year. The effort in Pierce County kicks off next week, with a meeting noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 at River Falls Public Library (140 Union St.) Three other meetings will be held in Menomonie, Hudson, and Balsam Lake to kick off those efforts.

“We envision communities where everyone can lead their best life,” GROWW's ratified vision statement says. “Where everyone has a roof over their head, a meal on the table, and a job that can support a family or an individual. Where everyone is an agent with a powerful voice, not just at the ballot box on election day, but also throughout the year in school boards, city halls, workplaces, county boards, or at the state capitol.”  

GROWW Organizing Director Bill Hogseth and the endorsement team see local elections as a big opportunity to make that vision a reality.

“Our goal is not to be everywhere at once, but to start by making a difference where we can,” said Hogseth of Elk Mound. “We know we all need local governments that fight for us, our values, and our futures. From managing vital resources to shaping educational systems and social care, decisions made by school boards, county boards, and city councils directly impact our daily lives. That’s why we need to build relationships and work with local electeds, and here’s where we’re starting.”

The slate of endorsed candidates is made up of people who completed a recommendation, questionnaire, and interview process. Candidates were selected by their commitment to those pillars GROWW members identified in their platform: democracy, economic justice, and environmental justice. Chosen candidates were asked to explain how they would take action on issues from creating opportunity for local businesses, investing in affordable housing, or protecting local waterways. 

Last year, GROWW took six months to speak to community members across their seven counties, including the people already leading and working on GROWW campaigns.

“Our goal was to understand what unites us so that we can move forward together,” Hogseth explained. “We had hundreds of conversations. We knocked on doors, had one-to-one sit-downs, roundtable meetings, ran an online survey, and held a big, sometimes passionate, democratic process.”

The organizations’ election push to support their endorsed candidates begins at the end of this month with meetings in Pierce, St Croix, Polk, and Dunn counties. Residents interested in joining the effort can learn more about GROWW, the slate of endorsed candidates, and get involved by visiting www.gro-ww.org/all-in-favor.

About GROWW
GROWW is a grassroots organization based in western Wisconsin. We build power in our communities and create the change we need for all of us, no matter the color of our skin, how much money we have or who we love. Together, we work toward a future where we all make ends meet, live with dignity, and have a voice in shaping the decisions that impact us. We began our work in 2019 as Pierce County GrassRoots Organizing and grew out of the name as we began to organize with communities in seven western Wisconsin counties: Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, and Saint Croix. To get connected or learn more about GROWW, visit us at GRO-WW.org, on Instagram at @GrowWisconsin, or on Facebook at Facebook.com/GROWWisconsin

Submitted by GROWW