When you combine community expertise, campus resources and the simple power of people, you just might end up with the chance for stronger communities and a more equitable world. And the perfect place to see this equation in action this year is the first annual Wisconsin Idea Week.
Wisconsin Idea Week, organized by the Morgridge Center for Public Service and in collaboration with various community and campus partners, is a week-long celebration of civic and community-engaged efforts at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from April 8 to 16.
The Wisconsin Idea Week features a variety of events related to civic engagement, health equity, economic equality and community partnerships, all promoting the Wisconsin Idea through UW–Madison’s connection to community. This week is a space to bring together brilliant community members, celebrate their work and foster new ideas to address community issues.
“This week is a great embodiment of the Wisconsin Idea, in that it is inviting community members to share their wisdom and help make our scholarship better and more practical to our communities and our world,” Cory Sprinkel, community-engaged scholarship specialist at the Morgridge Center, says. “And we are really excited that these events have the opportunity to uplift so many fantastic existing partnerships, and talk about the rewards of that work, but also what it takes to actually do that work well.”
From menstrual justice to financial stability to community mixers, the Wisconsin Idea Week has something for just about everyone. Some community partners currently participating in Wisconsin Idea week include Americorps, the Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies, the Institute for Research on Poverty and many more.
And Wisconsin Idea Week wouldn’t be complete without you! We invite you to explore the whole roster of events for the week and attend any event that interests you.
Here are some featured can’t-miss events of the week:
The Wisconsin Idea Conference on Tuesday, April 9 is a celebration of community partnerships and collaboration. This year’s theme is Community University Partnerships for Stronger Communities. The registration deadline is Wednesday, March 27.
Civic Engagement
- Humanities NOW: Public Universities, Legislatures, and Academic Freedom — Wednesday, April 10, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m: What does it mean to be a public university? Or rather, what does it mean to be a public university today? Join the Center for Humanities for a dynamic, timely conversation on the external pressures facing public institutions such as UW–Madison.
- Civic Health of Wisconsin Conference — Tuesday, April 16, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m: The Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies is excited to be returning to civic health for the 2024 CommUnity Conference, in collaboration with their partners in the Civic Health of Wisconsin Initiative.
Health Equity
- Global Health Symposium — Wednesday, April 10, 4:30-8:30 p.m: The 2024 Global Health Symposium, “Moving Global Health Forward,” is April 10, 2024. Event co-hosts, Global Health Institute (GHI) and Office of Global Health in the School of Medicine and Public Health, invite you to register for in-person attendance at the Health Sciences Learning Center or virtual.
- Menstrual Justice Talk — Thursday, April 11, 6 p.m: The Center for Law, Society and Justice is hosting a discussion on menstruation research and policy shifts, taxation, menstrual leave, interactive discussion and workshopping ideas about Dane County interventions for students, prisons, and products in Wisconsin.
Economic Equality
- Community Screening of the New Documentary, “It’s Basic” — Monday, April 15, 3-5 p.m: “It’s Basic,” directed by Marc Levin and executive produced by Michael Tubbs of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, reveals the transformative nature of guaranteed income pilot programs and how they have positively impacted the lives of individuals and families from diverse backgrounds across the nation.
Community Connecting with Campus
- Wisconsin Idea Conference — Tuesday, April 9, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m: We’re kicking off Wisconsin Idea Week with the Wisconsin Idea Conference, a celebration of community partnerships and collaboration. This year’s theme, Community University Partnerships for Stronger Communities, seeks to emphasize the importance of bringing together community and campus expertise, knowledge, and people power to create stronger communities, resilient systems, and a more just and equitable world.
- UW and You — Saturday, April 13, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m: Join the Community Advisory Board on Saturday, April 13 from 10am to 2pm to share about your work, learn from each other, and think about how to include more voices and perspectives of community members in UW work. Register for this event by Monday, April 8.
The Wisconsin Idea Week is open to absolutely everyone: students, campus staff, community partners and more — we can’t wait to see you there. Visit the Wisconsin Idea Week website for more information about the lineup of events and event registrations. If you would like to provide additional sponsorship support, please reach out to Haley Madden. For questions about the events, please reach out to Cory Sprinkel.