WHO WE ARE
Economic Equity Now! is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization based in Southwest Wisconsin committed to building a fair economy that works for everyone. We believe that every person has political power and the ability to shape a stronger, more equitable community—starting right here at home.
WHAT WE DO
We bring people together to learn, organize, and take action. From hosting monthly dinners with guest speakers to sponsoring educational and civic forums and participating in local events, we create spaces for neighbors to connect, raise their voices, and work toward economic solutions that serve all of us in Wisconsin.
WHY WE DO THIS
We believe a thriving economy starts with strong, supported communities. Too many of our neighbors are struggling to meet basic needs or feel unheard in the political process. We're here to change that—by empowering people to speak up, by advocating for fair wages and responsible tax policies, and by electing leaders who prioritize the well-being of working families. Because when we come together, we all move forward.
It’s about money. It’s about community.
Want to find a way to have more of a voice in meeting our community needs?
Come together with your neighbors to share your community concerns and how we can work to solve them.
Active in Richland, Sauk, Iowa, Grant and Vernon counties, and expanding throughout Southwest Wisconsin and beyond.
★ WE HAVE TO ACT BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE. ★
As a cohort of Patriotic Millionaires' Great Economy Project, we share their priorities.
Patriotic Millionaires is a collection of wealthy Americans fighting against the destabilizing concentration of wealth and power in the United States. Members use their influence and unique voices to advance a vibrant and equitable economy, built on the foundation of a fair tax system, a livable wage for every working American, and equal access to political power.
★ OUR PRIORITIES ★
Inequality in America hasn’t been this high since the Gilded Age, when robber barons like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller wielded massive wealth and influence. It’s now so extreme that it threatens the stability of our economy and our democracy.
But all hope is not lost. The good news is that the solutions to the problem are not complicated, and the Patriotic Millionaires have them all.
TAX THE
RICH
PAY THE
PEOPLE
SPREAD THE POWER
WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
We’re a proud community of working-class Wisconsinites standing up for common-sense solutions that put people first. Join us to stay connected and help shape a stronger Wisconsin for all.
JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP!
Stay connected with fellow Economic Equity Now! members, share ideas, and follow all the good trouble we’re making together.
HAVE IDEAS OR QUESTIONS?
Have questions or ideas on how we can collectively demand an increase in the minimum wage and improved quality of life for working-class Wisconsinites?
JOIN US IN PERSON!
We are out and about at events, parades and forums.
HEAR FROM SOME OF OUR MEMBERS
"This organization provides me with the opportunity to move effectively and collaboratively to encourage citizen engagement in strengthening our rural community and producing an economy that works for all of us. Fostering the reality that citizens have the power to make positive change is energizing and empowering."
BEV PESTEL
"I love being part of a nonpartisan, nation-wide project that can bring both sides together regarding a common important cause. As a retired Air Force nurse I SO believe in holistic wellness and I feel there is nothing more holistic for our country's wellness than this wonderful effort regarding making our economy work for all of us. We're all in this together sport fans!"
SHERRY HILLESHEIM
"Rural Wisconsin deserves to have its needs recognized and met. The priorities of the Great Economy Project provide the means for us to spread the message of the policies our representative need to champion to make our communities stronger and more resilient."
DALE SCHULZ
"An invitation to attend a “Patriotic Millionaires” meeting caught my attention. It advocated taxing those fortunate few in a more equitable way and I got hooked on what this program advocated. We are a nonpartisan group searching for fair-minded politicians who will support the needed programs and projects that we all depend on in our daily lives. I’m sold and have committed to pursuing the work of this non-partizan group."
LEE D. VAN LANDUYT
MEET THE STAFF
BEV PESTEL
EEN! Leader
Bev Pestel is a retired chemistry professor who specialized in chemical education for 37 years. Her area of scholarship was in the Learning Sciences focusing on teaching critical thinking skills and developing curriculum to achieve authentic achievement for students rather than memorization. After retirement in 2012 she had a business for 10 years writing elementary science curriculum. She moved back home to Wisconsin in 2014 to work with her partner on a 40 acre tree farm. She has been writing columns in a local newspaper for several years on social, education, and political topics. She has been the leader of Economic Equity Now! since October 2023.
TAYLOR SCOTT
EEN! Project Manager
Outside of his grassroots work with EEN, Taylor is the co-owner, publisher and managing editor of Valley Sentinel, an independent regional news publication in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Scott’s path into journalism was unconventional—studying pre-law and political science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee—but his background in government, public relations, marketing and strategic planning laid a strong foundation for his work in local media and grassroots. Before launching Valley Sentinel, he served as managing editor for an independently-owned newspaper, and worked in sales, marketing and communications for a corporate newspaper media group, helping businesses and organizations craft targeted media strategies. His experience also extends into government affairs and policy, including serving in constituent services for a Wisconsin state senate office and leading municipal planning initiatives in his hometown. He currently serves on the nonprofit board of a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building dedicated to education and community enrichment.
NICOLE AIMONE
EEN! Project Manager
Nicole Aimone is the co-owner, publisher and editor-in-chief of Valley Sentinel, an award-winning independent news publication in Spring Green, Wisconsin. With a background in journalism spanning newsroom leadership, government reporting and more, she served as editor-in-chief of both her high school and collegiate newspapers, studying journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She previously worked as a local government reporter for Capital Newspapers including the Baraboo News Republic and as part of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's family of publications. Nicole currently works in media relations for a leading Wisconsin hospital, managing strategic and crisis communications and public outreach.
JOSH SCOTT
EEN! Campus Coordinator
Joshua is a psychology major at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He serves as vice president and lead event coordinator for PioneersVote, where he leads Economic Equity Now!’s college campus outreach in southwest Wisconsin. In this role, he collaborates with student organizations, university departments, local community members, and non-partisan voter registration groups. Joshua also works with county offices representing both major political parties and their campus affiliates. He has played a role in fostering a greater civic and political involvement within our communities, through events and outreach across Grant county and beyond, helping build a more informed, engaged community.
