On Thursday, May 14, 2026, the Marguerite Casey Foundation hosted their third “Common Thread” political education at Pilot Project Brewing. Common Thread is a series of community events created by the Foundation to foster connection and dialogue with changemakers nationwide. MCF president and CEO Dr. Carmen Rojas hosted a candid conversation with Celina Su, author of “Budget Justice: On Building Grassroots Politics and Solidarities,” and executive directors and MCF grantee recipients Markasa Tucker-Harris, African American Roundtable and Robert Kraig, Citizen Action Wisconsin. They discussed why a true political democracy can’t be achieved without economic democracy, how Milwaukee won a real participatory budgeting process that gives communities power over housing and safety dollars, and what our communities are able to achieve when we stop letting a handful of ultrawealthy people call the shots. This event was emceed by the Kid Mero. There were also music performances by Squirrel Flower and Wave Chapelle.