Hi Neighbor!

Thank you for getting to know me. I look forward to finding time to learn your story, too!

My name is Eli Tsarovsky. My pronouns are he/him/his. I am a community advocate, an organizer, and a champion of progressive values. Most of all, I care deeply about our shared future in Madison.
 
I am a long-time Madisonian. I grew up attending Leopold Elementary School, Cherokee Middle School, and West High School. I completed my undergraduate degree in biochemistry at UW-Madison with certificates in global health and public policy. I am just about to wrap up graduate school at UW-Madison with Master’s degrees in Public Health from the School of Medicine and Public Health and Public Affairs from the La Follette School of Public Affairs with a Business Certificate in Strategic Innovation. Through my life and education, I have found time to give back and share love through action with the people of Madison and the greater Madison area in my community work.
 
I have watched Madison grow and change as I have grown and changed. I know Madison has a big and bright future ahead of us, and it will take all of us to succeed. I care about including you in that work because I care about the city I call home. 
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In high school, I was very into government and math while doing MENS (Men Encouraging Nonviolent Strength) club with DAIS (Domestic Abuse Intervention Services). ​I led workgroups on how young men can be allies in the movement to end intimate partner violence and taught about healthy masculinity. I was part of the group of youth organizers that led the change at West High School to make our homecoming court the first non-binary court in the country. 
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When I was looking to continue my education, choosing UW-Madison was a natural choice. I would gain a quality education while being able to contribute what I learned back into my community directly. ​In my undergraduate studies, I continued my work by advocating against intimate partner violence (IPV) through research and in the campus community through PAVE-UW. I worked with fraternity and sorority life to create workshops on creating a safer community through peer accountability, bystander intervention, and positive social norms. Also, I advocated as President of the Campus Area Neighborhood Association for a more affordable, safer, and environmentally friendly downtown.
 
In my graduate education, I continue to expand my knowledge to advocate for stronger and healthier communities in Madison and Wisconsin. While in my graduate studies, I have continued my community work as President of Capitol Neighborhoods Inc. by fostering a stronger intergenerational community working toward a safer, more affordable, and environment-friendly downtown. As part of my current work in the community, I work on public health initiatives as a part of the suicide prevention and harm reduction coalition of Dane County and the Isthmus Safety Initiative to support people in the community.  

Campus Advocacy

I have led grassroots organizing and advocacy for most of my adult life in Madison. By advocating for affordable housing, downtown safety, and increasing civic engagement, I have connected people to community resources and have built community power by helping people gain a voice in local government. ​​

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While at UW-Madison, I volunteered and worked with groups to make the campus healthier and safer. I volunteered with Sex Out Loud to empower people in the campus community to make healthier decisions about their sexual health. While serving on the Dean of Students Advisory Committee, I developed the first inaugural Mental Health and Wellbeing Summit to elevate and increase mental health resources for the campus community when COVID-19 harmed our community in 2021.

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I volunteered and then was chair of PAVE-UW. At PAVE-UW, we educated people on having healthier relationships and supported and advocated for survivors through programs such as the Culture of Respect initiative. Through this work, my team and I facilitated campus coalitions to advocate for supporting survivors and getting resources to increase support and services for our campus community. Also, I empowered others to join the movement to end IPV in our community through events. We created a stronger community by inviting those who have not been a part of the conversation. We made a coalition where everyone understood their responsibility to advocate for a safer and healthier community. Our collective action culminated in a Denim Day march that elevated this conversation to the community and community leaders. This march, along with all other advocacy work from the coalition, led to increased support for support services for survivors and increased community participation in the movement for ending IPV. All my work toward ending IPV and supporting survivors informs my work to improve safety in the downtown area by working with local businesses and community leaders. 

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Neighborhood Advocacy

Over the past five years, I have engaged in neighborhood associations to build a healthier and stronger downtown community. I have engaged people in creating more affordable housing downtown, contributed to making a safer downtown, and empowered people to advocate for spaces where nature and our community are deeply connected. This advocacy has increased affordable housing stock in downtown Madison, deeper community relationships and coalitions for a safer downtown, and empowered people to advocate for a healthier environment.
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As I build relationships with people and organizations that care about the future of downtown Madison, I realize the power of bringing people together to make positive changes for the community. I learned that coming together and advocating for community voices on the city level is vital for a stronger downtown neighborhood and a stronger shared future of downtown. Neighborhood conversations and getting to know people who are 18 years old to 82 years old create a more connected downtown community with the potential to build housing and community spaces that benefit everyone. Living in Madison gives us the opportunity to make a community that looks out for each other and cares about a sustainable world. It is our collective action that protects our lakes and trees for the next seven generations, as the Ho-chunk nation and other Native people of Wisconsin have centered before the existence of Madison as we know it today. 

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Why District 4 Alder?

Running for District 4 Alder has forced me to think critically about what makes the heart of Madison special. Some things that are special to downtown Madison are our beautiful lakes, our unique people, our caring community, and our treasured local businesses. Living, working, going to school, and having fun in downtown Madison for my whole life have shown me how important it is to invest in making downtown Madison a stronger and more inclusive area for our community. 

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A variety of people and groups that I have talked to still don’t feel welcome and a part of Madison – this is a problem. I learned recently that Lake Monona is the most polluted lake for PFAS in Wisconsin and that our tree canopy is less than that of other comparable cities — this is a problem. I want downtown Madison to be a place where people can live, work, and play as their authentic selves. I want people to talk about downtown Madison’s nature as a main topic of conversation for what makes Madison a beautiful capital city. Madison has been a safe city, but we have seen new safety concerns that indicate Madison is a growing downtown center. As Madison grows, we need more intentional urban planning, substantial social service investments, and an evidence-based approach to public safety. 

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As the District 4 Alder, I will bring our neighborhoods and communities that have yet to feel included to the table when making decisions about our housing problem, our increased safety concerns, and our needed commitment to protect our environment.