We envision a world where:
[ learn more ]This past November, seniors from across ten Wisconsin counties came together. Many of us arrived already active and pretty darn involved in our own counties and communities. Some of us were working to add resources and opportunities for seniors where there's been not enough. Others were working to defend resources, nursing homes, and healthcare centers, institutions built for seniors, now under attack by bad corporate actors and, far too often, factions of county boards who refused to listen to the needs of our communities.
Some of these struggles we won. Some we did not. And yet each made us stronger and more skilled along the way.
Still, we knew that, together, we could accomplish much more than we ever could on our own. Under the banner: Senior Empowerment Project, we created a shared vision. A Wisconsin where:
- Every senior has a home
- Every senior has access to high-quality care, where they are, and at a price they can afford
- Seniors are no longer isolated, but integrated into community life
- Care workers are treated with dignity and paid what they are worth
And we committed to building toward this vision both locally and, as we grew, throughout the state.
We made a plan. In 2026, we plan to meet 5,000 seniors across the state. Real people power. Real growing. So we can achieve some real wins for Wisconsin seniors today and for generations to come. One way we are building these relationships is through regional events. These include the upcoming Northwoods Senior Breakfast, Saturday, March 28, 10 AM until Noon in Merrill; and the South Central WI Senior Summit, the afternoon of Thursday, April 23 in Walworth County.
We hope you'll join us for an event or sign up to host a Senior Empowerment event in your neck of the woods.
Email, call, or stop by an event. [email protected] & (262) 394-6659.
Some of What You've Been Up To
"Just Plain Wrong" | The Sauk County Board tried to sell the community's 5-star nursing home to an out-of-state corporation for a fraction of its value. Residents showed up, organized, filed a lawsuit, and forced the company to back out. The fight is still on. This article shares the story as relayed by Judy Brey, a key leader in the struggle.
"Seen Better and Know Better" | A lovely piece about our November Wisconsin Senior Summit in Stevens Point. Seniors who have watched programs they paid into get stripped away are building something new. And they're doing it with clarity, humor, and hard-won wisdom. "The hardest part is to say: We aren't done yet! We can't be done. We've got too much work to do!"
Wisconsin Communities Fight to Save County-Owned Nursing Homes | A statewide look at what's happening to publicly owned nursing homes in Wisconsin and why communities are fighting back. A great piece to share with folks who are just learning about this issue.
A Rural Wisconsin Community Charts a Path for Intergenerational Care | In Walworth County, community members are proposing turning a vacant wing of the county nursing home into a combined childcare center and senior-living space. They call the campaign "Nursery to Nursing Home: We Need Care." After a year of organizing, the county board approved a feasibility study.
Be part of what's next:
Northwoods Senior Breakfast | Saturday, March 28 | Eagles Club, Merrill | 10 - Noon | RSVP here
South Central Wisconsin Senior Summit | Thursday, April 23 | Covenant Harbor, Lake Geneva | 1 - 5 PM | Reserve your spot
Stay Connected! | Sign up for updates | senior-empowerment.org | [email protected] | (262) 394-6659
the Senior Empowerment Project is fiscally sponsored by Tides Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
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