We Need to Talk: The Urgent Need to Protect Our Communities
As the new presidential office rolls out its policies and executive orders, there’s a growing sense of unease in the air. Our socio-political landscape is changing in ways that impact us all, but especially the most vulnerable among us: people of color, individuals in poverty, immigrants, refugees, the disabled, and others who already face barriers to basic rights and resources.
For those of us who are community healers and helpers, like myself, and those working in social services, the stakes are incredibly high. Every day, we witness firsthand how people are coping with mental health challenges, trauma, and loss—and how often they turn to the arts to process and heal. But now, with recent changes in policy, those resources are becoming even more difficult to access. And for people who rely on Medicaid, mental health services, and the arts for healing—this is nothing short of a crisis.
Why This Matters: The Harmful Impact of Policy Changes
We are at a tipping point in this country, and the decisions being made by our leaders have far-reaching consequences. Medicaid cuts, defunding mental health services, and the ongoing war on immigrants are just some of the ways people are being left behind, especially in smaller, rural communities like ours in Marinette and Menominee. When these cuts happen, they aren’t just numbers on a budget sheet—they translate directly to lives lost, families torn apart, and communities weakened.
Let’s break down some of the major challenges we’re facing right now:
Medicaid Cuts and Mental Health Services: In Wisconsin, over 2 million people rely on Medicaid for access to healthcare. This includes those who need mental health care, addiction treatment, and basic health services. And yet, we’ve seen recent actions that are significantly reducing access to these services. Mental health care is already stretched thin in rural areas, with one in five Wisconsin adults facing a mental health condition but nearly half of them not receiving any treatment. With these cuts, even more people will be unable to access the care they desperately need. In small communities like ours, the lack of accessible mental health services is a crisis. If you or someone you care about has ever had to navigate these systems, you know how difficult it can be—and now, it’s only going to get harder.
School Programs and Funding Slashes: Across the nation, school districts are facing unprecedented budget cuts that are making it harder to meet the growing needs of students. In Marinette County, nearly one in four students reports struggling with mental health challenges, yet over 40% of local schools don’t have the adequate resources to support them. These cuts are affecting much more than just academic programs—they’re cutting into the very mental health support that is critical for students’ well-being and success.
Our schools are trying their best to cope with limited resources, but learning environments are worsening, and many students are falling through the cracks. Test scores continue to drop as students who are dealing with anxiety, depression, and trauma struggle to focus. The lack of counselors and mental health professionals means students are increasingly coming to school without the support they need.
Immigrants, Refugees, and Other Minorities Are Being Put at Risk: Across the country, families are living in fear. The recent policies aimed at curbing immigration and the increased targeting of immigrant families means that many are afraid to seek help—whether it’s medical treatment, mental health services, or legal aid. In Wisconsin, 13.5% of our population is made up of immigrants—many of whom are contributing to their communities in essential ways. But with recent changes to deportation policies, healthcare access, and public support programs, these families are being forced into even more dangerous positions. They can’t afford to lose the support systems they rely on, yet these systems are being chipped away at every turn.
But it doesn’t stop there. We are witnessing the systematic dismantling of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, the rollback of protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, and increasing hostility toward BIPOC communities. Anti-trans legislation is skyrocketing, book bans are targeting Black and queer authors, and affirmative action policies are being reversed, limiting access to higher education for marginalized students. These attacks aren’t just political maneuvers—they are direct assaults on human rights.
The Erasure of the Arts and the Silencing of Voices
Art has always been a force of resistance, healing, and truth-telling. Which is exactly why it’s being devalued and defunded. The arts provide a space for marginalized voices to be heard, for trauma to be processed, for communities to come together and imagine something better. Art therapy, in particular, has been proven to help people process trauma, grief, and mental health challenges. Yet, we are seeing grant programs slashed, arts education stripped from schools, and funding pulled from public projects. The proposed 25% cut to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), funding for these programs is being dramatically increased. Across the country, the arts provide critical support to communities in need, offering an outlet for those who feel voiceless or invisible. Creative expression can help survivors of trauma, addiction, and mental health struggles find healing and meaning. If these programs are cut, the people who benefit from them—our neighbors, our families, our youth—will be left without the tools they need to heal.
The Human Cost: Why We Can’t Stand By
The truth is that these policy changes aren’t just abstract—they are impacting real lives. The people who will be most affected by these decisions are the ones who are already marginalized: low-income families, immigrants, rural communities, children, and those living with mental health conditions. These people are our friends, our neighbors, and our colleagues. They are the ones who need us the most right now, and yet they are being systematically stripped of the support they deserve. The emotional and physical toll of these cuts is immeasurable. And we cannot remain silent as these vulnerable populations bear the brunt of these policy changes. We can’t afford to ignore what’s happening. We need to act. Here are some concrete steps you can take to protect those who are at risk:
Speak Up.
Contact your local representatives and demand that they fight for the vulnerable populations in our communities. Let them know that Medicaid, mental health services, school funding, and the arts matter. Let them know that you care about protecting the people who rely on these services. If writing a letter on your own is daunting, you can even use the template I created here:
Support Local Advocacy Organizations.
Many organizations are already on the front lines, working to protect vulnerable populations. Get involved with groups like NAMI, Mental Health America, The American Immigration Council, and Americans for the Arts. Support them through donations, volunteer work, or simply by amplifying their voices.Use Your Art for Change.
Art has always been a tool for social change. If you are an artist or work in the arts, use your platform to speak out about these issues. Advocate for the preservation of funding for arts programs. Share your voice and your story, and encourage others to do the same. Art is healing, and it has the power to shift perspectives and spark change.Keep Learning; Stay Informed.
Stay informed about the issues affecting your community. Follow local news, attend town halls, and educate yourself about the ways these policies are impacting your neighbors. The more we know, the better we can advocate for change.
Now is the time to come together, open our minds, and use our collective creativity to make a more inclusive world for all.
