Bringing together community leaders, faculty and researchers and nonprofit and public service organizations, the Wisconsin Idea Conference aims to unite participants in collaborating on solutions, pooling resources and working towards a better future for communities across the state.
The conference will be held in Varsity Hall at Union South from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 7. Focusing on the theme of “Exchange,” this year’s conference will provide an environment where attendees can share their hopes and strategies for addressing issues relevant to Wisconsinites.
Participants will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue through a variety of workshops and facilitated discussions, collectively exploring ways to collaborate more effectively and bridge community wisdom with university resources. This year’s conference includes a fireside chat with trailblazing individuals Dr. Joe Gothard, superintendent of the Madison Metropolitan School District, and Dr. Marcelle Haddix, dean of the UW-Madison School of Education.
This event embraces the opportunity for attendees to foster new perspectives and actionable solutions, with the hope of creating long-term partnerships that embody the spirit of the Wisconsin Idea—mobilizing university resources to the benefit of the citizens of the state.
The Wisconsin Idea, the inspiration behind the conference, serves as a guiding principle for university students and staff to approach their current and future impacts on society with creativity, collaboration and innovation. Interim Assistant Director of Community-Engaged Scholarship Cory Sprinkel hopes to build on these values, ensuring that students and staff have the dedicated time to really reflect on the Wisconsin Idea and consider what it means to actively practice it.
“We want to come together to really envision and move toward opportunities to engage with one another,” says Sprinkel. “To improve the ways we all impact communities locally and across the state.”
A wide range of collaborators, including UW Extension, the Bayview Foundation and Second Harvest Foodbank plan to run breakout sessions, facilitate multiple community-university mixers and contribute to overall conference planning.
An awards luncheon during the conference will celebrate the impact of community university partnerships and recognize the contributions of UW students to the campus and broader community. Nominations for all categories are open on the Morgridge Center for Public Service website until Monday, Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. and recipients will be recognized during the conference.
Registration for the conference will remain open online until the evening of Sunday, April 1 or until capacity is reached. For more information or questions regarding the event, contact Cory Sprinkel.