Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award Winner is Eve Galanter

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced today that Eve Galanter is the recipient of the 2025 Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award.  

The award was created by the Common Council to honor Madison area residents who exemplify Erlanger’s model of fairness, openness, and civility in public discourse. Erlanger, who passed away in 2007, was committed to public service. He understood that through civil debate and effective representation, those with varying opinions could come together on how to solve issues within the community. Erlanger served on the City of Madison’s Economic Development Commission, chaired the Commission on People with Disabilities, and was on the Board of Directors of the Community Living Alliance.    

Galanter is a long-standing leader in the Madison community, having served four terms on the Madison Common Council. She additionally shared her time and talents by serving on many area committees and boards including the Madison Public Library Board, the Madison Civics Club, YWCA Madison, Wisconsin Women in Government, TEMPO Madison, Wisconsin Women’s Network, the UW-Madison Hillel Foundation, and others.  

She has influenced the lives of many young people in the area as the founder of Wisconsin’s Civic Games, a statewide competition on civics knowledge for high school students to advance both civic and civil engagement. The games educate young people about the U.S. and Wisconsin Constitutions and help them to feel empowered as they contribute to their communities in meaningful, thoughtful and discerning ways. In 2021, she created the Editorial Writing and Cartoon Contest for middle and high school students, with an emphasis on First Amendment rights. In this era of attacks on the First Amendment in our country, it is more important than ever that our students understand the First Amendment and the need to protect it. 

“I am particularly pleased with the work that Eve has done to pass on her devotion to service to young people in our community,” said Mayor Rhodes-Conway. "She is helping the next generation understand the importance of individual rights and the rule of law."

Howard and Pam Erlanger, the parents of Jeffrey Erlanger, say they are very familiar with Galanter's work in Madison. 

“We know that Jeff shared her passion for public service, but also for instilling that mindset in our future generations," said the Erlangers.

Each winner of this award is able to designate a $250 contribution to the non-profit of their choice. Galanter has chosen to contribute to the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation.  

The Erlanger Award is an annual recognition and will be presented at the December 9, 2025 Common Council meeting.