COMMUNITY. POWER. STEWARDSHIP. SOLIDARITY. LISTENING. In 2023, the GROWW Community crafted and ratified the first semi-annual statement of our Values, Vision, and Platform to guide the work we do together and articulate the future we’re fighting for.
GROWW is a nonprofit, 501c4 community organization based in western Wisconsin committed to building power to create the change we all need through community action so that everyone can make ends meet, live with dignity and have a voice in the decisions that impact us.
GROWW is an independent organization and a vehicle for western Wisconsinites to use and mobilize to make the change we need. As community members, we know best our real problems and the solutions we need.
Thank you to our members, local individual donors, and institutional donors who together support our mission and member’s guiding vision to win the change we need. Together we are powerful! ALLL GROWW Members and Individual Donors.
Clean and Prosperous America Healthy Democracy Fund, a fund of Tides Foundation. GROWW Education
Blog
Cards
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Employees
Board
Juliet Tomkins
Board Chair
Phil Verges
Vice Chair
Jenna Bjork
Secretary
Alexi Brooks
Treasurer
Bob Maline
Member
Danielle Johnson
Member
Kate Felton
Member
Petrona Melgarejo
Member
Endorsements
Matthew Crowe
Matthew Crowe Menomonie Mayor
"Fight for safe, affordable housing We all should have a decent roof over our heads Invest in clean water & healthy neighborhoods. Better days are ahead: quality roads & safe water. Defend local decision making & transparency. The Data Center taught us a thing or two. "
Wendy DiPeso
Pierce County Board Supervisor, District 8
"Fight to protect groundwater and natural resources Invest in mental health services Defend local decision making & transparency (folks like this one for everybody, all but one of our candidates noted lack of transparency in their interviews) "
Danielle McIntosh
St. Croix County Board Supervisor, District 13
"Fight for safe, affordable housing Invest in & Protect rural health care services Defend local decision making & transparency "
Andrew Hagen
Dunn County Board Supervisor, District 22
"Fight for safe, affordable housing on County Housing Action Team Work to prepare the county for future investments. Creating a designated development Zone for data centers Work to strengthen public engagement and government transparency"
Mei Mei Abduch
River Falls City Council - At large
Stephanie May
Dunn County Board - District 9
Jim Olson
St. Croix County Board - District 19
Alison Page
River Falls Mayor
Wayne Roen
St. Croix County Board - District 10
Heather Seburn
Dunn County Board - District 2
Featured In The News Posts
Pierce County residents say fight against CAFO is a fight for their lives
A group of Pierce County residents and GrassRoots Organizing Western Wisconsin is awaiting a response to a petition for a contested case hearing for the expansion of Ridge Breeze Dairy to grow four times its size.
Pierce County town passes ordinance for factory farms
The Town of Isabelle in Pierce County unanimously passed an Operations Ordinance to ensure local oversight of massive factory farms. The decision came after 75 people packed the Tabor Lutheran Church at a public hearing the prior week to give near-unanimous support for adopting the ordinance.
Western Wisconsin town is latest to propose new rules for large livestock farms
The Pierce County town of Isabelle will hold a public hearing Tuesday on a draft operations ordinance for concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs. Those farms have at least 1,000 animal units or the equivalent of 700 milking cows. The ordinance would require a CAFO owner to obtain an operations permit to address concerns about manure, air pollution and road damage among other issues.
Legislators address Chippewa Valley budget priorities while protesters advocate for more child care funding
Over a dozen GROWW members and protesters gathered in front of the Eggs and Issues breakfast forum from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 17. They shared their frustration over what they say is a lack of funding for child care and public education in the budget to meet the needs of providers, educators, and families.
Pierce County residents say fight against CAFO is a fight for their lives
A group of Pierce County residents and GrassRoots Organizing Western Wisconsin is awaiting a response to a petition for a contested case hearing for the expansion of Ridge Breeze Dairy to grow four times its size.
Pierce County town passes ordinance for factory farms
The Town of Isabelle in Pierce County unanimously passed an Operations Ordinance to ensure local oversight of massive factory farms. The decision came after 75 people packed the Tabor Lutheran Church at a public hearing the prior week to give near-unanimous support for adopting the ordinance.
Western Wisconsin town is latest to propose new rules for large livestock farms
The Pierce County town of Isabelle will hold a public hearing Tuesday on a draft operations ordinance for concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs. Those farms have at least 1,000 animal units or the equivalent of 700 milking cows. The ordinance would require a CAFO owner to obtain an operations permit to address concerns about manure, air pollution and road damage among other issues.
Legislators address Chippewa Valley budget priorities while protesters advocate for more child care funding
Over a dozen GROWW members and protesters gathered in front of the Eggs and Issues breakfast forum from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 17. They shared their frustration over what they say is a lack of funding for child care and public education in the budget to meet the needs of providers, educators, and families.
Featured Blog Posts
- Rural WI vs. Corporate Ag
REALEASE: Ridge Breeze Legal Hearing Set for March 3
February 16, 2026
The petitioners in the legal challenge to Ridge Breeze’s proposed expansion. (From L to R): Dr. Richard Dart, Jenelle Ludwig-Krause, Gerald Steien, Kay Kashian, Attorney Adam Voskuil, Larry Brenner, and Ty Fisher. The outcome of the hearing could determine whether Ridge Breeze is allowed to expand to become the largest…
- Housing Justice
VICTORY: Menomonie Residents Win Proactive Renter Protections
February 9, 2026
New Ordinance Expands Safety and Protections for Renters and Local Accountability for Some Negligent Landlords Last week, after nearly two years of organizing, research, and community conversations, the Menomonie City Council voted on February 2 to pass a proactive renter protection ordinance designed to improve housing safety and accountability across…
- Local Elections
All in Favor – A Year in Reflection
December 23, 2025
2025 Reflections from Organizer, John Calabrese 2025 has been an epic whirlwind. It seems at once to have flown by and lasted for far longer than 12 months. All in Favor began with a busy January, much like we’re preparing for next month. Nomination papers for local office were turned…
- Rural WI vs. Corporate Ag
Gilman Passes Operations Ordinance for Factory Farms
December 18, 2025
The third town Operations Ordinance in Pierce County was unanimously passed on December 10 The Town of Gilman unanimously passed an Operations Ordinance on December 10 to protect their community from the harmful impacts of factory farms. Gilman is the third town in Pierce County and the tenth in Wisconsin…
- Civic Solidarity
The Corporate 1% is Consolidating American Resources And Wealth. To Stop Them We Must Stand Together.
December 12, 2025
When I was a teenager, because of my dad’s work, I lived in a town in France. Sometimes, chanting mixed with the buzzing of the doorbell would wake me up in the middle of the night: USA GO HOME, USA GO HOME. I would lie in bed, my throat tightening…
- Rural WI vs. Corporate Ag
Public Calls for Oversight of Factory Farms at Pierce County Committee Meeting
November 23, 2025
The support comes as multiple towns look into local ordinances of their own. Pierce County, WI – Residents made it clear they want protection from the harmful impacts of factory farms at the November 17 meeting of the county’s Groundwater Advisory Committee. Over 50 residents turned out in person and…
Featured or Upcoming Events
Wednesday, March 25
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM at
Research Meeting Training: Building Power Relationships to Win Our State Agenda
As we head into the 2026 campaign season and prepare for the 2027 legislative session, building real relationships with legislators and candidates is essential to advancing GROWW’s state legislative agenda....
Saturday, April 11
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM at North Hall
Public Forum: The Future of Agriculture and Rural Wisconsin
GROWW & Pepin-Pierce Farmers Union will be hosting a community forum on Saturday, April 11 focused on lifting up the voices of small and medium farmers and producers from across...
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In The News
Quotations
I support an end to gerrymandering. Not only in Wisconsin, but all over the country, and I currently don’t feel as though my representative represent me as a person. I’m very passionate about environmental issues and I don’t feel I get adequate representation in this part of the state.
Lisa M.
I absolutely hate being ignored, and my legislator ignores me because he lives in a gerrymandered district, and so I hate gerrymandered districts. I have good ideas. I want the legislator to listen to me and therefore I want them to hold a hearing on redistricting, and not just do it behind closed doors.
Cheryl M.
Slideshow
Democracy
We support building a political system that is fair, accessible, and responsive to all of us.
Economic Justice
We support building a robust economy where everyone’s basic human needs are met.
Environmental Justice
We support all people having equal access to a healthy, safe, and sustainable environment.
Statistics
2019
Founded in 2019, we are an organization of ordinary people, of all ages and walks of life, who have come together to tackle issues impacting our families, homes, and communities.
7 counties
Together, we are working across Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix counties to build a world where all of us can flourish and be free.
200 municipalities
There are nearly 200 municipalities in GROWW’s area.
Building power together to create the change we need.
Building power together to create the change we need.
Building power together to create the change we need.
Building power together to create the change we need.
Building power together to create the change we need.
Building power together to create the change we need.
We are an organization of ordinary people, of all ages and walks of life, who have come together to tackle issues impacting our families, homes, and communities.
We started organizing together back in 2019 when seven neighbors gathered around a kitchen table on a farm in Pierce County. Since then, we’ve grown in our ranks and scope across Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix in western Wisconsin.
At the heart of our mission is the belief that we all have the power to make a difference when we get organized and step into the public arena.
Through community-led, issue campaigns, we are advancing a long-term agenda to tackle structural barriers that hold us back and creating a future where everyone can lead their best life, have a roof over their head, a meal on the table, and a job that can support a family.
- Building power together to create the change we need.
- Building power together to create the change we need.
- Building power together to create the change we need.
- Building power together to create the change we need.
- Building power together to create the change we need.
- Building power together to create the change we need.
- Building power together to create the change we need.
- Building power together to create the change we need.
- Building power together to create the change we need.
- Building power together to create the change we need.
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Building power together to create the change we need.
We are an organization of ordinary people, of all ages and walks of life, who have come together to tackle issues impacting our families, homes, and communities.
We started organizing together back in 2019 when seven neighbors gathered around a kitchen table on a farm in Pierce County. Since then, we’ve grown in our ranks and scope across Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix in western Wisconsin.
At the heart of our mission is the belief that we all have the power to make a difference when we get organized and step into the public arena.
Through community-led, issue campaigns, we are advancing a long-term agenda to tackle structural barriers that hold us back and creating a future where everyone can lead their best life, have a roof over their head, a meal on the table, and a job that can support a family.
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Become a GROWW Member. Make a contribution to join your neighbors standing up for our homes and families and winning the change we need.
Connect with your neighbors and build power for ordinary people in western Wisconsin. Our members are the backbone of our work together. No matter how much money we have or whether we’re white, black or brown, together we’re grounded in the needs and aspirations of our community. Membership connects you with a network of people ready to get to work for a better future.
Counter Corporate Power with People Power. For too long, our communities have suffered under policies that benefit the wealthy few while draining resources from our neighborhoods, towns, schools, and local governments. We know it doesn’t have to be this way.
Become a GROWW Member. Make a contribution to join your neighbors standing up for our homes and families and winning the change we need.
Connect with your neighbors and build power for ordinary people in western Wisconsin. Our members are the backbone of our work together. No matter how much money we have or whether we’re white, black or brown, together we’re grounded in the needs and aspirations of our community. Membership connects you with a network of people ready to get to work for a better future.
Counter Corporate Power with People Power. For too long, our communities have suffered under policies that benefit the wealthy few while draining resources from our neighborhoods, towns, schools, and local governments. We know it doesn’t have to be this way.
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About Us