2025 Summer Civics Program
Back for its third year, the 2025 Summer Civic Program will be led by Blue Sky President Kristin Hansen, former Wisconsin U.S. Attorney Jim Santelle, and special guests. Here is a video from one of our sessions last year, giving you a glimpse of what’s in store.
2025 Summer Civics Information
Date: Every other Thursday from June 12 to August 21, 2025
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Location: United Unitarian Universalist Congregation (506 N Washington Ave, Waukesha, WI 53188)
Cost: Free! Donations will be accepted at the door. Thank you for your support!
Who can participate: All are welcome!
June 12th
What do political ads have to do with civics?
Answer: Not enough! The late Supreme Court justice David Souter said the greatest problem in America is ignorance of civics, and the inability of people to understand how their government could and should function, so they know what they can influence by voting. Ads often declare the candidate’s intent to fix something, start something, or end something that has nothing to do with the office they are running for. Being an informed voter means understanding how to separate exaggerations and outright nonsense from real ideas.
June 26th
Who does what, where? Judging candidates in local elections.
We are in for a host of local elections in spring 2026 - Waukesha Mayor, Brookfield Mayor, common council, school board members, and judges. Who has the power in your community? How are cities, towns, and villages governed differently? How should you “judge the judges?” We will be joined by current elected officials and candidates.
July 10th
Freedom of speech + freedom to assemble = right to protest!
Following our Independence Day celebrations, we will reflect on the rights, responsibilities, and limitations of protesting in America. Where does the line between legal and illegal action fall? What makes civil disobedience different from “peaceful protesting”? Are you willing to be arrested for your cause, and if you are, what happens next? We will be joined by a guest speaker from the ACLU of Wisconsin.
July 24th
Would changing the way we vote help break gridlock and increase representation?
Is the way we vote the cause of increased polarization and extremism in the major political parties? Could there be something better? We will review the history of voting— not voting rights, but the actual voting procedures— and then learn about solutions such as Fusion Voting and Final Five Voting. Volunteers from Voters First Wisconsin will join us for a hands-on demonstration of Final Five and how it could create healthy competition, less negative campaigns, more accountability, and more bipartisanship, while discouraging big money in politics.
August 7th
So many judges, so many courts…who has the last word?
It is easy to get confused about the layers of court systems in America. We have local magistrate judges to state Supreme Courts to the U.S. Supreme Court and everything in between, and they don’t operate in a straight line. Which judges are elected and which are appointed? Why would a case be in state court vs. federal court? How does jurisdiction impact decisions and the people who are impacted by them? Who decides where a case is filed? Let’s try to understand the web of the court system and why it matters to you!
August 21st
Are the guardrails of democracy holding?
The United States Constitution was created to guard against autocracy, with rules and guardrails to protect our democracy. Where are the guardrails holding, and where are they buckling or breaking? How are they being attacked, and where is the resistance? Lawyers, courts, elected officials, advocates, higher education leaders, and regular Americans are all playing a role in defending our democracy against unprecedented pressure.