The Stanley Community Association held their monthly meeting at the City Hall Community Tuesday night and heard from representatives of the organization, JONAH. JONAH, Joining Our Neighbors, Advancing Hope, is a nonprofit nonpartisan organization founded in 2007 to bring people in the Chippewa Valley together and to empower people to build a healthier and more just community. The goal of JONAH is to address root causes of injustice. They are strongly committed to deepen relationships within communities of faith by gathering various people around five familiar values: radical inclusivity, love, reconciliation, living for the future, and environmentalism.

Made up of leaders from 22 congregations of different denominations, JONAH is comprised of task forces that include; the Affordable Housing Task Force, the Mental Health Task Force, the Chippewa Valley Justice Action Team, the Chippewa Valley Transit Alliance, the Environmental Task Force, the EXPO: Ex- Incarcerated Persons Organizing, the Immigration Task Force, and the Child Poverty Task Force. JONAH also collaborates with other faith-based organizations in Wisconsin and the surrounding areas.

 Some of JONAH’s events and projects include the Vigil for Homelessness in December 2021, a Vigil for Ukraine, and Fairchild Comes Together, an event held on February 10^th, where people voiced their experiences and connected with community resources.  Another event is the Bandana Project which is designed to help those with mental illness or struggling with a mental health crisis by spreading awareness of resources available to them. Beginning at UW- Madison, the Bandana Project has expanded across college campuses in the United States, including UW-Eau Claire. Green bandanas are distributed to students who attach them to their backpacks to let others know that they are a safe individual to approach with mental health related issues or for help obtaining resources. JONAH is also participating in the upcoming Madison Action Day on April 27^th. JONAH and others from all over Wisconsin will travel to Madison to connect with other volunteers and leaders, where they will learn about social issues from experienced speakers and make their voices heard at the capitol by rallying on the capitol steps and speaking face to face with legislators. Registration cost is $50 per person and includes a bus ride, lunch, and a t-shirt. Anyone wishing to partner or volunteer with JONAH can contact cvjonahorganizer@gmail.com for more information.

The Stanley Community Association is also looking for a naming sponsor for their 3-part Summer Concert Series to be held at Chapman Park. The bands already booked include, Homegrown Tomatoes, Marshall Star Band, and The Man2Man Band with Margie-Ann. Contact them at Stanleycommunity.events@gmail.com for more information or to become a sponsor.

Join the Stanley Community Association on March 30^th for Bingo beginning at 5:30 pm at the Stanley Community Center where they will also be collecting donations for the Stanley Area Food Pantry.