Dear Plastic-Free MKE Community,

Thank you for sticking with this movement, even as we have faced plenty of hardship. We continue to be inspired by our Milwaukee neighbors who fight tirelessly for happier and healthier communities and ecosystems. Whether you’re a volunteer, coalition member, or community member just dipping your toes in, your involvement matters.

Connection has made us more resilient this year. Many organizations and businesses have joined our coalition, and have been driving forces for this movement. Thanks to support from volunteers, partners, and community members’ donations, we have taken on the plastic problem in new ways. This summer we started the H2O Refill Program in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, providing sustainable and healthy hydration for marchers. We collaborated with local artists and volunteers to create a floating piece of impactful artwork featured at the Milwaukee Riverkeeper boat parade, raising awareness around plastic pollution.

We have come together in mutual learning through virtual film screenings and webinars to explore different plastic-related topics and motivate action. We discovered how to tackle plastic pollution in the face of this pandemic, grappled with our eco anxieties, and advocated for a healthier Milwaukee. We have reached new audiences and over 800 people have participated in or viewed these virtual events!

While we realize this work won’t get easier any time soon, we can take comfort in knowing we spent 2020 building strong foundations. We will continue fostering new partnerships to diversify the perspectives and approaches of our movement.

To familiar faces and newcomers alike, thank you for making Plastic-Free MKE vibrant, resilient, and dare we say, full of hope!

Happy 2021!

The Plastic-Free MKE Team