Posts by Eli Steenlage
Felony Disenfranchisement and Voter Rights
Felony disenfranchisement is a policy that bars citizens from the ballot box based on criminal convictions. As of 2020, an estimated 5.17 million people were disenfranchised. This figure is an improvement from 2016 when 6.1 million people could not vote due to a felony conviction. The 15 percent decline results from new policies enacted by…
Read MoreBecoming Family: What is your Nehemiah Story?
Andrea Dearlove’s Journey to Nehemiah The 2016 Facebook ad asked: Are you a white person who wants to lean in and learn more about Black history for a New Day? I signed up immediately. I had lived in Madison for 22 years when I read the ad. Madison became my home when I moved here for…
Read MoreGoing Backwards in a Forward State: Wisconsin’s Criminal Legal System is Regressing Rapidly
Wisconsin is known as a beautiful state, filled with bucolic prairies and woodlands, beautiful cities and farms, as well as a diverse population committed to improving our State. However, once again, a national report cites Wisconsin as the most racially disparate in criminal justice. A recent report by the Sentencing Project found that Wisconsin prisons…
Read MoreThe Nehemiah Experience: A Journey of Growth
Interning at Nehemiah this semester was a fulfilling experience. I learned more about what it is like working in a multicultural environment with an organization that is Black-led. I learned more about the work that Nehemiah and Justified Anger do in order to improve Black communities in Madison. Lastly, I explored and learned more about…
Read MoreThe Nehemiah Experience: Developing in a Healthy and Passionate Workplace
Upon returning to campus in late August, I was still coming to terms with entering the first semester of my sophomore year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After an unusual year of learning online and having limited opportunities to engage in different communities due to the pandemic, I was just beginning to have this grasp…
Read MoreThe Nehemiah Experience: Contributing to the Vision
Although having been a part of the Nehemiah family for a short period of time, I have acquired an immense amount of knowledge on social issues and how to become a key player in making Madison a more equitable place. I think some of my most impactful experiences were being able to work under such…
Read MoreDecoding Culturally Responsive Education
Over the years, there have been varying levels of pushback concerning topics of race and politics in educational settings. State-level policy moves against Critical Race Theory (CRT) are the result of organized efforts by outside groups including parents of students who believe that any topic involving race should not be addressed in an educational curriculum.…
Read MorePrison Pandemic Update: Omicron
There are currently 534 active positive covid results in New Lisbon Correctional and 249 active at Oakhill. There are ALSO 560 “inactive” positive cases at New Lisbon and 420 at Oakhill. Inactive being described by the Dept of Corrections as “sum of Persons in our care and youth who are no longer active and removed from…
Read MoreNeed for Tenant Representation in the Eviction Process in Dane County
In February 2021, the Nehemiah/Justified Anger Court Observer program was expanded to include observing eviction hearings and trials in the Dane County Court. A group of about a dozen court observers have received training in the eviction process. Few if any of us have first-hand experience with eviction, either as tenants or as landlords, but…
Read MoreReaching for the Full Impact of the Reentry Housing Program
Finding housing is the biggest challenge formerly incarcerated individuals face alongside securing employment, obtaining medical care and avoiding substance abuse. Multifaceted challenges create barriers for returning citizens to obtaining gainful employment and stable housing, leading to recidivism and re-incarceration. While housing is a source of necessary shelter and residential stability, it can also serve as a foundation for…
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