Hi Matan –
Below please find a short write-up of the two Midwestern cities MABAL will be visiting: Kenosha Wisconsin and Valparaiso Indiana. We mention why we have chosen these two cities, and some of the specific issues
we will be discussing while we are there. In addition, there is some information as to what we will be seeing and who we will be speaking with, but I will get you a more detailed schedule by the end of the week. Please let me know if you have any questions.
May 18:
Kenosha, WI
We will head to Kenosha, Wisconsin in the morning. Kenosha is a typical Midwestern city insofar as it used to have a lot of heavy industry and manufacturing, including
a Chrysler plant. Over the years, many of these facilities have closed and members of the community have either had to adopt new skills to new industry or have had to move, or be left behind. The Chrysler plant closed in 2008. Kenosha has had to work hard
to re-invent itself and attract new industry and manufacturing facilities. Some new plants that have set up in Kenosha include Amazon, Snap-on Tools and Kenall Industries, which we will be visiting. Kenosha voted for Democratic President Barak Obama in 2012
and Republican President Trump in 2016. In fact, Donald Trump recently paid a visit to Kenosha to speak with members of the community there about manufacturing in the region. We will learn about the dynamics of the community – what are the challenges they
face, how immigration and trade have impacted the industry and the community there, and what the future looks like. We will have a meeting with the Mayor so that he can share his specific challenges and insights. In addition, we will take a tour of the history
of Kenosha guided by the Director of the History Museum there. The tour will focus on the golden age of manufacturing in the area. Lastly, we will have a dinner with the Jewish community at the local synagogue, Beth Hillel Temple. The Rabbi, Dena Feingold,
is the sister of former senator Russ Feingold. Officers will see how Jewish communities form in the middle of the country with very little support from the outside, and amid very different circumstances than in Israel.
Valparaiso, IN
Valparaiso Indiana is an interesting mid-western city for a number of reasons. First, it is still home to steel manufacturing, and the county it is in (Porter County) produces
roughly 25% of the US’ steel. This is down from the amount produced in the past, but it is still manufacturing, which is rare. Second, like Kenosha, Valparaiso voted for Obama in 2012 and Trump in 2016. We hope this will demonstrate that these small communities
in the mid-west contribute much more to the outcome of U.S. Presidential elections than places like NYC, Washington D.C. or LA. Third, Valparaiso is home to a well-known university. We hope to begin our day with a tour of US Steel, a steel manufacturing company
that is still in operation. We are also setting up a meeting with the Mayor of the city to discuss with him some of the challenges that Valparaiso faces and some of the positive aspects of the future of the community. We have contacted the vice-provost of
the University and he is helping us develop meetings with professors to discuss Indiana industry, economics and the future of NW Indiana. Lastly, we will have dinner with members of the Valparaiso Jewish community. We are hoping to involve some of the Jewish
students on campus as well, but they may be gone for summer vacation by that point.
Naomi Burstein
Program Associate
Tel
202-667-3900 •
Fax 202-667-0601