Wisconsin Athletics announced a new athletic plan for racial equality following Unity March

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MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 29, 2020--  Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced it has earned the Diversity & Inclusion Program Award from The Society of Women Engineers (SWE). The recognition, from the world`s largest organization advocating for women in engineering and technology, highlights the company’s focus on encouraging all employees to bring full authenticity to their work and setting an example for other organizations to follow. Rockwell Automation will accept the award at SWE’s annual conference, WE20, which will be held virtually from Nov. 3-14.

“It is an honor to be recognized by The Society of Women Engineers,” said Blake Moret, Chairman & CEO at Rockwell Automation. “We believe in the value of diversity because diverse teams make better decisions. We know that having a competitive advantage in industry and talent means fostering an environment where all employees can and want to do their best work.”
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Since our founding in 2015, we have published lists of the most influential Black and Latino leaders in Wisconsin, and this year, we expanded that to include our Indigenous and Asian American brothers and sisters. It’s been exciting and gratifying every time, and I’m excited to bring you today our 2020 Sí Se Puede list, recognizing the most influential Latino leaders in Wisconsin. We are also proud to bring you the list this year during Hispanic Heritage Month.

I have always intended these lists to highlight the beauty of the diversity in our community. I wanted young people here in Wisconsin to see role models of people who are succeeding, to know that it’s possible for people of color to achieve great things here, and to highlight people of color doing great work in a variety of fields and pursuits.
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20th Annual Diversity Employment Day Virtual Career Fair for Milwaukee on Friday, October 2nd, 2020 featuring employers such as Blue Yonder, Entercom, Milwaukee Public Schools, ESPN Milwaukee, WISN TV, Wisconsin Department of Corrections, iHeartMedia, Charter Spectrum, WTMJ and more. Participate in virtual video one-on-one appointments with recruiters from top employers. Come join us for a FREE event and register with an email to fasttrack@citycareerfair.com
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As we announced earlier this month, the Wisconsin Leadership Summit schedule has 25 panel discussions on a range of topics, and will include one day of panels on government and business, one day on education, a day on social justice, a day on health and wellness, and finally, on October 9, a day of panels focused on specific affinity groups: Black, Latino, Indigenous and Asian American, followed by a wrap-up panel on allyship moderated by our CEO Henry Sanders.

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The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce is approaching its eight-year anniversary on Sept. 27, and it`s grown a lot since it began as 40 professionals meeting for happy hour from 2011-12.

The chamber was founded out of a need to do something more substantive than networking, said the Chamber`s president, Jason Rae. What grew from that was an organization dedicated to the economic development of LGBTQ businesses.

The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce is advocating for certification of LGBTQ business enterprises as a way to bolster LGBTQ business owners, and Wisconsin LGBTQ-owned certified business owners say the program helped expand their reputation and customer base...

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Street Art has taken many forms since it began to appear on the streets of New York City during the 1920s and 1930s; urban art, guerrilla art, graffiti. By the 1970s a cultural movement had begun and Street Art became a response by young people to their socio-political environment, rebelling against popular culture and mass media reality.  Eventually, the Street Art phenomenon gained the attention and respect of the rest of the art world and was soon considered a legitimate form of artistic expression. Today Street Art is represented in galleries around the world and major cities host Street Art Festivals.   ...more

I`m very happy to let you know the Toward One Wisconsin conference is rescheduled to November 11 thru 13, 2020.

Throughout the coming months, we will be monitoring the ongoing situation with COVID-19. We are exploring options for some virtual sessions in case attendees are not able to join in person. If another outbreak occurs in the fall, we will be prepared to move to a totally virtual conference.  COVID-19 has created incredible challenges for all of us, but it has also magnified disparities in our workplaces, health and education systems, and in our communities. We feel strongly that the conversation towards meaningful change needs to continue.

Nikole Hannah Jones has committed to coming to Wisconsin as well as many of the other conference presenters. Thanks for your continued support and  we hope you can join us November 12-13 in Green Bay!
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Amy Gannon was a substantial proponent of diversity, equality, inclusion, education and the advancement of women.

Gannon`s career included working in domestic violence programs and leadership roles at Edgewood College in Madison, along with nonprofits that support women entrepreneurs.

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Goldman Sachs has become the first Wall Street bank to declare it will not take companies public in the U.S. and Europe unless they have at least one “diverse” candidate on their board — but failed to include Asia, which has the worst record on gender diversity.

Chief Executive David Solomon on Thursday said diversity on corporate boards was a “very, very important issue,” with evidence showing that companies that made their stock market debut with at least one female director were likely to perform “significantly better” than others.

“Starting on July 1 in the U.S. and Europe, we’re not going to take a company public unless there’s at least one diverse board candidate, with a focus on women,” he told CNBC. “And we’re going to move towards 2021 requesting two.”...

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New York Times Magazine reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones explains how “The 1619 Project” aims to show a more accurate history of America.   ...more

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Leaders of color from across Wisconsin are excited for next week’s Wisconsin Leadership Summit presented by UW Credit Union — the third annual event, and the first being conducted entirely online. The Wisconsin Leadership Summit is the state’s premier professional development, networking and community-building event for people of color, produced and hosted by 365 Media, the nonprofit organization that also operates Madison365.

This year’s event will take place October 5-9, entirely online, and feature 25 panels on topics in education, social justice, health, government and business.

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Many of us at Wisconsin Public Radio have long recognized that the vast majority of sources heard in our news coverage and talk shows are white. The lack of diversity in the voices heard on-air is a problem that many newsrooms have struggled with and are trying with urgency to address.

WPR began working towards a solution two years ago, and this summer we completed our first comprehensive analysis of sources appearing in newscasts, feature reporting and talk shows. ..
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Thursday, January 23; Washington, D.C. — NPR CEO John Lansing announced today that Keith Woods, currently Vice President of Newsroom Training and Diversity, has been promoted to the newly created position of Chief Diversity Officer. As a part of the executive leadership team, Woods will guide NPR`s push to expand the diversity of its audience work across NPR and help build a more diverse and inclusive organization.

"I want NPR to reflect diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do. As an organization we should be leaders in providing news and cultural programming that speaks to our richly diverse country and connects with an audience that looks and sounds like America – all while creating a welcoming and supportive workplace for all,"...   ...more

You can live in Wisconsin all your life and think you know it pretty well. But then someone mentions a town or tradition that serves as a reminder — there are still plenty of people to meet and places to go without ever crossing the state line.

For 35 years, the annual road trip known as the Wisconsin Idea Seminar has provided an immersive five-day tour of the state that helps UW–Madison faculty and academic staff engage with Wisconsinites, build relationships, and learn about the educational, industrial, social and political realities of Wisconsin.

This year’s “Bay Tour” is May 11–15 and will include experiences along the shores of Green Bay and Lake Michigan, with stops at the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, Door County, and other specially chosen sites along the way.

...“Many people have never been to a reservation or a tribal community. They’re all different,” Metoxen says. “I hope this gives them a better understanding. It’s important to break stereotypes and show diversity among our tribe and all different tribes.”..

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When a group of students at Glacial Drumlin School in Cottage Grove attended an eighth-grade girls basketball game recently, it was more than a chance to cheer for the home team.

The group attended the game as part of an organization called Project Unify, which seeks to bring together students in special education with those who are not. This particular activity, which has been done in the past, is called Fans in the Stands.

On the day of the after-school basketball game at Glacial Drumlin, fifth-grader Rylee Ganshert, who has special needs, got to choose what color of bandana everyone would wear. He picked purple. As he sat at the game surrounded by members of the organization holding posters they made ahead of time, Rylee said he liked being able to stay at school two hours longer than normal....


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Detroiters were refusing city-sponsored “free trees.” A researcher found out the problem: She was the first person to ask them if they wanted them.

The residents Carmichael surveyed understood the benefits of having trees in urban environments—they provide shade and cooling, absorb air pollution, especially from traffic, increase property values, and improve health outcomes. But the reasons Detroit folks were submitting “no tree requests” were rooted in how they have historically interpreted their lived experiences in the city, or what Carmichael calls “heritage narratives.”
It’s not that they didn’t trust the trees; they didn’t trust the city.

A couple of African-American women Carmichael talked to linked the tree-planting program to a painful racist moment in Detroit’s history, right after the 1967 race rebellion, when the city suddenly began cutting down elm trees in bulk in their neighborhoods. The city did this, as the women understood it, so that law enforcement and intelligence agents could better surveil their neighborhoods from helicopters and other high places after the urban uprising.

The city was chopping down trees at a faster clip at this time. And  the city was flying helicopters over their homes at one point—to spray toxic DDT from above on the trees. However, the government’s stated reason for the mass tree-choppings was that the trees were dying off from the Dutch elm disease then spreading across the country. These were competing heritage narratives of the same event...

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MERRILL, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I., (a stock insurer)1 was recognized as a national leader in advancing women and diversity at the “Women and Diversity: Expanding Opportunity in Insurance” conference in New York City Feb. 28, 2020. The conference was hosted by the American Property and Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA).

    “I think it validates the efforts Church Mutual and its employees are undertaking for continued success”

Kathy Iriarte, president of the Church Mutual Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) group, along with Dawn Schroder-Silvela, WLI past president, attended the event and accepted the award on behalf of the Church Mutual family of companies.

“I think it validates the efforts Church Mutual and its employees are undertaking for continued success,” said Iriarte, WLI president. “As an employee and as a woman, I have a sense of pride in our company, our culture and our employees for having open minds to boldly address diversity. That can be an uncomfortable conversation at times.”

Continuing to enhance diversity and inclusion is a top priority for Church Mutual. WLI, specifically, elevates and empowers the women of Church Mutual through professional networking, leadership development and mentorships.

“Church Mutual is making a name for itself in diversity and inclusion,” said Rich Poirier, president and CEO. “We are committed to furthering our efforts, which will continue to be a high priority for us moving forward. Not only is it the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do.” ...
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On Sunday morning, President Trump tweeted an attack on the 1619 Project, threatening to withhold funding from California schools teaching the popular journalism project focused on the rise and impact of slavery in the United States. With his newest tweet, the President’s actions raise a troubling question:

Why is the Trump administration threatening to censor the way schools teach about the history of slavery and racism in the United States?...

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MADISON, Wis.— The new Wisconsin Regents Opportunity Scholarship will provide up to $10,000 to underrepresented and underserved undergraduate students who have overcome adversity, exhibited financial need, and demonstrated merit, Regent President Andrew S. Petersen announced Monday.

The scholarship program will take effect in the 2021-22 academic year and be offered to students who are admitted to or currently attending a UW System university. Awards will be given to students who are entering a university, progressing with their education, and near graduation.

Regents have committed to providing $1 million for the scholarship annually...
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NEENAH, Wis. (WFRV) – A Fox Valley high school is being nationally recognized by ESPN for its inclusive sports programs.

Neenah High School is one of 36 Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools from across the nation on the 2020 ESPN Honor Roll. The list includes elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as colleges.

Neenah High is the only Wisconsin school on the list and one of 22 high schools.

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‘Different types of efforts help students from marginalized backgrounds feel welcomed and included and respected,’ UW professor says

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Program Aims to Promote Social Evolution, Give Everyone a Voice

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...Lisa Thurrell, co-artistic director, Kanopy Dance: People talk about traditional and non-traditional a lot. We need to look at what is exclusionary or biased…and how to be more inclusive. We need to become better listeners, really responding to Kanopy team supporters, the community, our colleagues and our friends...

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Editors Note: This article is primarily on arts in the Madison area, but I would point out that diversity and inclusion in the arts (theatre, media, dance, music, and visual) often far outpaces the efforts made in communities, homes, and schools. Just an observation...

Conference Co-Chairs:

May Yer Thao Assistant Deputy Director Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA)	Jessica Cavazos President and CEO Latino Chamber of Commerce	Rich Poirier President and CEO Church Mutual	George Koonce Senior VP Marian University

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Trailblazing astronaut Dr. Mae C. Jemison, the first woman of color in space, will present the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Lecture Jan. 21 at the University of Wisconsin­­–Madison.

A physician and engineer, Jemison has been inducted into both the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the International Space Hall of Fame. She is the founder and president of two medical technology companies and the leader of 100 Year Starship, a Pentagon-funded effort to ensure human interstellar space travel to another star within the next century...

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As 2020 begins the Milwaukee region is in a war for talent. And, we’re losing.

We constantly hear from area business owners who say that their biggest challenge is finding the people that their companies need to grow.

Wisconsin’s unemployment rate is at 3.4%. That’s good news for workers, but it also demonstrates the challenge businesses here face in finding talent.

Here’s the bad news: economic growth in Wisconsin is weak, very weak. Wisconsin’s economy grew just 1.1% in the second quarter of 2019, ranking 43^rd in the country, according to the latest U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data. During the first quarter of 2019, the state’s economy also grew just 1.1%...

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Suggestions Include Creating Restorative Justice Program, Updating Codes Of Conduct Following Racist Incidents On Campus In 201

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For most of her life, people questioned whether Nicki Vander Meulen belonged—in a traditional K-12 classroom, in law school or on the school board of one of Wisconsin`s largest school districts.

When doctors diagnosed Vander Meulen with Asperger`s syndrome, attention deficit disorder, and cerebral palsy as a child, her parents fought for her right to attend the neighborhood elementary school.

The school`s principal thought she belonged in a school for the severely disabled. Her parents knew otherwise.

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MADISON, Wis. – February 25, 2020 – Sparked by the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™, Alliant Energy employees are coming together today to discuss diversity, equity, inclusion and unconscious bias. 

CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ aims to rally the business community to advance diversity and inclusion conversations. In addition, more than 900 CEOs of the world’s leading companies, including Alliant Energy Chairman, President and CEO John Larsen, pledged to be a catalyst. They are leveraging their collective voices, driving conversation and action around diversity and inclusion, to foster greater collaboration within the workplace. As part of the pledge, all participating CEOs, including Larsen, vowed to cultivate a trusting environment where all employees feel comfortable and empowered to discuss diversity and inclusion.

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Despite working longer hours than she ever has, as the University of Wisconsin-Madison reduced its COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks, Chancellor Rebecca Blank said her to-do list for the fall semester is far from finished.

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Dane County Executive Joe Parisi joined Reverend Dr. Alex Gee Monday to announce that he is putting $810,000 in his 2021 budget to help organizers pursue and acquire land on the south side of Madison for the Center for Black Excellence and Culture. This development will foster a sense of community and family, celebrate and teach about impactful Black culture, help nurture and develop Black business and community leaders, connect employers with talented Black professionals, and become a new cultural landmark along the Beltline corridor...

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 The national initiative through the University of Wisconsin and the APLU aims to increase diversity and foster best practices for faculty and students

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SIC demands include specific changes, general goals to recognize, support marginalized identities

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MILWAUKEE — In a field that is dominated by white men, the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee is receiving a near $1 million award from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation to change that.

“Our North Star is racial equity and inclusion,” Janel Hines, Senior Director of Grant Programs and Strategic Initiatives with The Greater Milwaukee Foundation said. “Creating opportunity for early-career faculty and doctoral students aligns perfectly with that.”...
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The UW–Madison Diversity Forum will be held virtually on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020.

Key web links

• View full agenda
• Register and view speaker information
• Submit questions to keynote speakers
• Test your equipment to make sure you can see and hear the presentations
• Learn about the history of the Diversity Forum

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Editor’s Note: Information related to the fall student Homecoming video is being reposted following national media coverage which did not fully document the university’s response to the issue.

To our campus and alumni communities,

We often speak about making UW–Madison a place where people of all identities and backgrounds feel valued, welcome and safe. On Sunday, something happened that made many students and alumni of color and their allies question our commitment: The student Homecoming Committee released a video that did not properly represent Black students and other students of color as essential members of our campus community.

We stand with our students of color and hear their voices with a clear commitment to action, not only about the video, but their broader experiences of exclusion on campus. While we have a number of efforts underway aimed at improving campus climate, this incident presents an important opportunity to reaffirm our commitments to bring about meaningful change...

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T1W Note: What a great conversation to have. Please do not hesitate to discuss inclusion and diversity now, rather than wait for a mistake to mandate the conversation.

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WISCONSIN - The Human Rights Campaign released their Corporate Equality Index and Wisconsin has a lot to be proud of.

The HRC`s Corporate Equality Index ranks companies and firms based on how well they treat gay and transgender employees. Twelve of the top scoring companies are in Wisconsin.

The average score nationwide is 71 with Wisconsin scoring 88 on a 100-point scale.

The ranking indicated a generally positive trend across the United States and significant improvements made abroad.    ...more

MADISON (WKOW) -- February honors and celebrates Black History Month.

Wisconsin`s Legislative Black Caucus joined Governor Tony Evers and Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes to kick off the month at a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda.

They spoke about the importance of diversity and how it strengthens Wisconsin.

The theme for this year is "African Americans and the Vote."...

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The Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes, a global network of over 250 humanities centers, institutes, research libraries and related organizations, has received a grant of $2.8 million from the trustees of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to expand and diversify, nationally and internationally.

Sara Guyer, a University of Wisconsin–Madison professor of English and former director of the UW–Madison Center for the Humanities, is president of CHCI and principal investigator on the grant.

The grant will enable CHCI to continue to fulfill its goals of greater diversity, inclusion and connection...

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Retiring United Community Center executive director Ricardo Diaz, a longtime Milwaukee community leader, and the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino are among the winners of the Milwaukee Business Journal`s 2020 Business in Diversity Awards...

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Fifty years ago something so extraordinary happened in the United States it’s almost unfathomable today.

Twenty million people, fully 10% of the United States population, turned out at thousands of events held coast-to-coast in support of a single goal: a cleaner environment.

They didn’t sit at home and connect through social media. They actually showed up and participated.

The date, April 22, 1970, would come to be known as “Earth Day.”

With the country lashed by oil spills, mounting levels of pesticides, smoggy skies and polluted waters, a fuse had been lit on America’s environmental consciousness.

The spark was a Wisconsin man, Sen. Gaylord Nelson.

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Ken Notes: We hope you had a chance is some way to celebrate Earth Day this year. A personal friend of mine and Gaylord Nelson`s daughter, Tia Nelson has worked with her organization to produce a film for the 50th anniversary of Earth day here: https://outrider.org/features/earth-day-film/.

Twenty leaders from across Wisconsin have come together — virtually — to offer a message of encouragement and hope to Wisconsin.

Madison365 publisher and CEO Henry Sanders reached out about a week ago inviting many local and statewide leaders of color in government, education, business and nonprofit sectors to share a video message with the state.

Nearly half of those infected in Milwaukee County are African American or Black. Additionally, service sector and restaurant jobs impacted by layoffs and closures disproportionately affect people of color....

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MERRILL, Wis. (WAOW) — The Little Free Diverse Library is now open 24/7 to members of the Merrill community. The library contains around 36 books that highlight diversity, race, gender, equality, and different cultures.

The box is located by the corner of E Third Street and Logan Street, and it was built by a member of Our Saviour`s Lutheran Church in Merrill. All of the books have been gathered through donations...

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In the midst of anti-police protests and a polarized social climate, The Wisconsin Book Festival will feature many events hosted by authors of color as well as many books on the subject of race and race-related topics.

The Wisconsin Book Festival, in partnership with the Madison Public Library Foundation, will host its yearly celebration this October 15-17. However, the festival is a year-long event, with events spanning from February through early December.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all events will be hosted online via Crowdcast...
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As Homecoming week 2020 comes to a close, the Student Inclusion Coalition; Student Affairs; Division of Diversity, Equity and Educational Achievement (DDEEA); as well as the Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) would like to share the progress that has been made to address concerns related to campus climate, diversity, and inclusion.

UW–Madison learned a hard lesson in 2019, when a Homecoming student promotional video produced by the WAA student Homecoming Committee excluded a group of students of color who participated in the filming. The video editing process exacerbated the emotional toll of some students who express feelings of isolation, exclusion, and marginalization on campus. The omission was symbolic of the daily challenges and negative experiences of Black and Brown students on campus, which the chancellor acknowledged in a message to the campus community.

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Notes:

The University of Wisconsin-Madison discovered — to its surprise — that most of its students are not discriminatory.

UW psychology professor Markus Brauer, who led the study, said that students from marginalized backgrounds “are very frequently the target of discrimination or offensive comments.” To test students’ habits around inclusivity, Brauer and his team hired actors over the course of several years to represent students from marginalized backgrounds — Black, Asian American, and Muslim, as well as a male who wore a “gay pride” shirt — to participate in behaviors that could elicit discrimination from other students.

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Ken Notes: I am surprised that they were surprised by the results. my experience is that Madison is a welcoming community and the UW is even more so. I am not a person of color, but I do continue to have open conversations with my friends and associates who are.

The Journey Continues
Watch the Trailer

What began as a temporary outdoor public art installation to commemorate the 2020 Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee evolved into a multimedia, community-led initiative, including weekly virtual panel discussions, new public artworks in surrounding neighborhoods, and production of a documentary.

We now know that the Road of Democracy will live on well past the banner’s initial installation, and its legacy instilled a deep-rooted commitment to community conversations on race, citizenship, and democracy. With these primary areas of focus in mind, Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 partnered with Imagine MKE, America’s Black Holocaust Museum, and docUWM to create a media project produced by award-winning filmmaker Brad Pruitt. The Road of Democracy serves as a prelude for more dialogue in the days, months, and years to come. Additional photography by Edwin Martinez Samer Ghani, Pat A. Robinson, Kevin J. Miyazaki...
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Who could blame Sandra Brockman for strutting through the crowd at the Rose Parade in a pair of red shorts?   ...more

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Department of Chemistry has received a 2020 Diversity Award from the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents. The award recognizes the department’s efforts to enhance underrepresented students’ access to and success in the chemistry graduate program.

“This award celebrates a key point in our progress toward fostering greater diversity in our discipline and is just the beginning of our efforts” says Judith Burstyn, department chair. “These achievements are the result of everyone in the department who works tirelessly to build diversity through the creation of key programs and mentorship of students.”

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How can professionals of color navigate the culture at UW–Madison in order to advance within their fields? That question will be the focus of a panel discussion at the annual Employee Career Conference, “Construct Your Career at UW–Madison,” scheduled for March 11 at Union South.

The hour-long session, “Navigating the System: What Does It Mean for Professionals of Color?,” will help attendees understand and participate in the system of professional networks and respectability on campus. The panelists will discuss their personal experiences and provide suggestions and resources for attendees to consider as they reflect on the next steps in their career trajectory....
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RHINELANDER, Wis. (WAOW)-- Rhinelander is home to the first certified autism friendly business in Central Wisconsin.

Tom`s Drawing Board is a working studio that has a shop and classroom, and it was recognized by the Central Wisconsin Autism Society as an autism friendly business during a celebration Wednesday evening.

The business in Rhinelander is the first in the Central Wisconsin area, and second in Wisconsin to be recognized as autism friendly...

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APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – It’s time to roll out the red carpet and get the popcorn ready!

LUNAFEST, the fundraising film festival dedicated to championing women filmmakers and bringing women together in their communities, will be hosted by Girls on the Run of Northeast Wisconsin at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton on Friday, March 6, 2020.

The unique film festival highlights women as leaders in society, illustrated through seven short films by women filmmakers. The films range from animation to fictional drama, and cover topics such as women’s health, body image, relationships, cultural diversity and breaking barriers...

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"Your ‘home’ was built upon someone else’s home.”

“If this is ‘home,’ why am I the only one who looks like me?”

“This ‘home’ is destroying our community spaces.” 

“You tokenize us for recruitment but ignore our contributions.”

One year after a 2019 UW-Madison Homecoming video incited widespread criticism and sparked discussion about the role of students of color in campus life, quotes like the aforementioned can be found in a video released by the university’s Student Inclusion Coalition (SIC). The Coalition, which was formed in response to the 2019 incident, created this year’s video in order to allow for students to not only undo the wrongs of last year’s exclusive video, but also to relay students’ experiences of campus climate, diversity and inclusion...

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Newswise — Dr. Damon A. Williams, a visionary and inspirational leader, and one of the nation’s most recognized experts in strategic diversity leadership, youth development, corporate responsibility, and organizational change, will be the featured speaker at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Inaugural Diversity Symposium. This virtual event will be held on December 2-3, 2020. Dr. Williams will speak on “Understanding Inclusive Excellence”, addressing nursing school’s diversity and inclusion efforts at the core of institutional functioning.

Dr. Williams is the chief catalyst for the Center for Strategic Diversity Leadership & Social Innovation and a Senior Scholar and Innovation Fellow at the Wisconsin Equity, and Inclusion (Wei) Laboratory of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he previously served as Associate Vice Chancellor and inaugural Chief Diversity, Equity, and Educational Achievement Officer.

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WASHINGTON — About a year ago, a New Jersey teen was forced to cut his dreadlocks in order to participate in a high school wrestling match. 

The wrestler, Andrew Johnson, received a hurried haircut after he was told by a referee that his hair violated wrestling rules. He won the match and state officials opened a civil rights investigation, The New York Times reported. 

Now members of Congress are trying to make sure that never happens again.

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This week`s Business of Giving features Deborah Bial, founder of the Posse Foundation, which sends groups of underrepresented students to top colleges to encourage diversity on campuses.

"It`s a story that captures what we’re trying to do with our partner schools at Posse: build opportunities so that these leaders who are right there before our eyes can take advantage of the opportunities that exist at these institutions of higher education and go on and become leaders."

Listen to the podcast, which is hosted by Denver Frederick, or read the transcript below...

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Notes:

We prepare. We partner. We produce. This has held true throughout UWM’s history and it certainly won’t change now, because this is exactly what Wisconsin needs...

... We are also a community partner cultivating the change our region needs, especially when it comes to diversity and inclusion. And we’re researchers discovering solutions to societal woes, medical ailments, environmental challenges and industry inefficiencies...

...This pledge aligns with one of UWM’s guiding values: an embrace of diversity and inclusion. Our constant goal is to make UWM a radically welcoming institution for people of all backgrounds. And yet, the countless voices in the Black Lives Matter chorus have crystalized the need for systemic change regarding racial inequity, so we’ve placed a renewed emphasis on being part of that change by leveraging our strengths of teaching and research....

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As part of an effort to recruit and retain students of color, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) has hired Jessica Franco-Morales as its new diversity, equity and inclusion career coach. She was mostly recently the Green Bay Area Public Schools’ embedded career coach and will continue her work at East High School, the N.E.W. School of Innovation, John Dewey Academy of Learning and Minoka-Hill School.

Franco-Morales hopes to create an environment where students can be successful.

“There are a lot of barriers when it comes to applying and attending college,” she said. “Part of my role is to help break down those barriers.”...
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• The University of Wisconsin-Madison student government approved a resolution calling for the removal of a statue of Abraham Lincoln on campus.
  
  
• The resolution states that the statue “serve[s] as remnants of this school’s history of white supremacy.”

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Ken Notes: I edit this news archive, and wanted to weigh in as editor with an opinion. There is a history to be remembered regarding our past successes, failures, opinions, and beliefs. To suggest a historical figure has to be perfect by our current standards would suggest that no statue could be on display, Lincoln - out, Martin Luther King - out, founding fathers - out, leaders in the civil rights movement out.

I would suggest that the Student government at the UW would be better served by requesting more statues be included on campus rather than fewer. I would strongly support Vel Phillips, Father Groppi, Lloyd Barbee, Marilyn Morheuser, Vada Harris, and more. There is work to be done but our motto is Forward and that is the direction we need to be moving...

Please note my opinions are mine, not those of the T1W Conference, it`s sponsors, presenters or affiliates.

Ruben Mota has been hired as the UW–Madison campus’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator. His first day in the position is today.

Mota comes from the McBurney Disability Resource Center, where he was associate director, student services. He joined McBurney in 2013, after spending nine years working in educational institutions in Switzerland. Mota has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from American University in Washington, D.C., a master’s in teaching from the University of Washington in Seattle, and a PhD in leadership in educational administration from Capella University in Minneapolis.

In an email interview, Mota talks about his vision for expanding accessibility and inclusivity on the UW–Madison campus.

Q: When did you become interested in working on issues surrounding access and inclusivity?...

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RACINE, Wis., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SC Johnson today announced it has earned a perfect score of 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign`s 2020 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) survey and report. This honor marks the 15<sup>th</sup> time the company has earned a perfect score and its 18<sup>th</sup> year of recognition on the workplace equality list. The CEI is the nation`s leading benchmarking tool and report on corporate policies and practices pertinent to the LGBTQ community.

"Equality, inclusion and respect are at the heart of our core values, so to be recognized with a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign is an honor," said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. "We are proud of making our company an internationally recognized great place to work."...

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On Monday, community leaders and activists from Milwaukee joined with the owners and front office teams of the Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings to discuss social injustice issues impacting their cities and beyond.

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Roger Pulliam always believed in the power of a college degree.

After all, education was central to his own life, taking him from working with his mother and brothers in Mississippi cotton fields to earning a doctorate and spending nearly six decades empowering students of all backgrounds to do the same.

Pulliam spent 30 of those years at UW-Whitewater, where he is known best for establishing programs and student organizations that help students make it through school and earn post-baccalaureate degrees.
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As a general rule, being inaccessible or remote is not good economically for a city, but it can make a place more interesting. That`s what drew me to spend a few days in Duluth, Minn., a city hardly touched by the demographic changes that have swept through so much of the country in recent decades.

Duluth sits up high in the northeast quadrant of Minnesota, touching Wisconsin. Few go through the city to get to somewhere else, unless they are on board a long ship loaded with iron pellets: The city is a major port on Lake Superior at the terminus of the Saint Lawrence Seaway. There is an interstate highway, I-35, but it dead-ends in Duluth. The airport is small. Amtrak trains from Minneapolis stopped running in 1985....

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LUNAFEST, the fundraising film festival dedicated to championing women filmmakers and bringing women together in their communities, will be hosted by the Marquette University Women’s Innovation Network (MU-WIN) and Black Lens Film Series: A Pillar of Milwaukee Film at the Weasler Auditorium on the Marquette University campus in Milwaukee on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.

This unique film festival highlights women as leaders in society, illustrated through seven short films by women filmmakers. The films range from animation to fictional drama, and cover topics such as women’s health, body image, relationships, cultural diversity and breaking barriers. All proceeds from LUNAFEST will benefit   ...more

Six of Wisconsin’s seven Supreme Court justices will soon be women again, once more giving the state the highest ratio of female high court judges in the country, an investigation by The Badger Project found.

Dane County Judge Jill Karofsky’s victory this week over Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly by an unofficial margin of 55 to 45 percent gives the court six female justices. Justice Brian Hagedorn, who replaced and defeated a female candidate, is the lone male on the court.
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MADISON, Wis. (WXOW) - The Wisconsin State Capitol hosted a special program Monday with the focus on collaboration and diversity.

Governor Tony Evers and other members of the administration took part in the event, which featured the MLK Women`s Mass Choir, the Fall Gospel Fest Choir, and a number of speakers.

The program marked the 40th annual official state ceremony to honor the civil rights pioneer.

It also highlighted museum displays of civil rights archival items and a new exhibit on Wisconsin`s women`s suffrage.

Wisconsin was the first state to approve the constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote in 1919.

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Including people living with disabilities and mental health conditions in Jewish communal life was the focus this past weekend in over 600 Jewish communities who took part in The Second Annual Global ShabbaTTogether initiative, a project of the Ruderman Chabad Inclusion Initiative...

...Friendship Circle of Wisconsin held their first-ever Shabbat dinner, as 175 people sat around tables adorned with centerpiece vases created by adults with disabilities. While Chabad centers across Long Island explored themes of inclusion over Shabbat, as did those in Calgary, Alberta, and Fargo, N.D. On the other side of the world, in Melbourne, Australia, two synagogues heard from Sharon Malecki, CEO of Access, Inc, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the rights and interests of people with disabilities...

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OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) One local elementary school took part in a growing movement across Wisconsin during Black History month to focus on diversity, literacy and family engagement.

Students at Webster Stanley Elementary are making this world better through their first Read Your Heart Out event.

Michelle Belnavis, the founder of Read Your Heart Out says, “The event celebrates our students who need to be able to be reminded that they are important and in reading books that show success overcoming obstacles.”...

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The smell of rubber filled the Prairie Elementary gymnasium as Tyler Engel and the rest of the Wisconsin Warriors powerchair soccer team geared up for their upcoming mid-January tournament. They spin and slam into balls (and occasionally, each other) while running plays, practicing drills and naturally, talking a bit of trash. ..

...The Wisconsin Warriors will host several teams from around the midwest at their next tournament, the Spin Kick Classic, on January 18 at Token Springs Elementary in Sun Prairie.

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The Milwaukee Bucks will host their fourth annual Pride Night Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. at Fiserv Forum to celebrate the LGBTQ community.

Throughout the year, the Bucks hosts theme nights, including “Star Wars” and Halloween-themed evenings. The Pride Night is held in collaboration with Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, which help to sponsor and provide resources for the evening.

Johnny Watson, executive producer of arena and event presentation for the Milwaukee Bucks, said Pride Night is one of his favorite theme nights to host...

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Roger Pulliam, a champion of equity and inclusion at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater who devoted his life to opening the doors of education for everyone, has died at the age of 77.

He passed away Wednesday morning, Feb. 12, in Wisconsin, according to his family. More information will be shared as it becomes available, including the date and location of memorial services...

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The first female chancellor in the 129-year history of UW-Stout assumed her role Sunday — the first day of Women’s History Month.

UW-Stout Chancellor Katherine Frank was unanimously approved as the eighth chancellor of the university Nov. 26. Frank took over the position from Bob Meyer, the former chancellor of five years.

“Dr. Frank has demonstrated throughout her academic career that she is a strategic, dynamic leader,” said UW System President Ray Cross. “She handles challenges extremely well. Her visionary perspective on the future of UW-Stout will serve the institution and the state of Wisconsin very well.”

Before her appointment as chancellor, Frank served as provost and vice president of academic and student life and vice president of academic innovation at Central Washington University.

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When the Rev. Ronnette Comfort-Butler pulled her eldest son from a program for special needs youths that was not serving his needs several years ago, she made a promise to him.

“As I knelt in front of this little boy who was so happy, I said ‘Someday, Mommy will write something or do something so that no other child will ever have to go through this again.’ ”

That something was a program designed to help people with cognitive disorders better understand what they were being told. Titled “How to develop a practice of radical hospitality for people with cognitive processing disorders,” it became the capstone project of her Doctor of Ministry degree at Lancaster Theological Seminary...
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Ken Notes: Great read and insight into working with those with cognitive challenges.

On Feb. 29  Black student unity (BSU) and office of multicultural student services (OMSS) will be hosting “Reflections of Ebony” in the Bluffs room of the Student Union at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.   

“It [Reflections of Ebony] has basically become our only Black History Month celebration at the University,” said UWL senior and president of BSU, Amber West. “It’s a Black History Month celebration that has morphed into honoring our students, our community members, each other, OMSS and just a space where we can gather and celebrate Black excellence.” 

Civil rights activist, JoAnne Bland will be the guest speaker for the event...

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Longtime local Black judges and lawyers will share advice and experiences with young law school students of color and delve into questions like “What is it like to be an attorney of color in Wisconsin?” and more as the Boardman & Clark Law Student Outreach Committee hosts an event today to connect with and provide resources for law students.

“This is a very important topic. Currently, Boardman & Clark has been increasing our diversity initiative and over the past couple of years we have been working with the [UW] law school on how we can do better with connecting with the law school and how students of color at the law school view us.” Alexis Wells, the marketing associate for Boardman & Clark LLP, tells Madison365. “One of the things they said was that was that ‘We don’t see you guys ever.’ That got us started on figuring out how we can connect with the law school.”

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Jemison encourages audience to use their talents to for positive social change

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Milwaukee Women inc celebrated the major public companies in Wisconsin that include at least three women on their boards.

Each year, the organization compiles a report that measures gender diversity in director and executive roles at the 50 largest public companies based in the state. Last year, Milwaukee Women inc found 15 of those companies have at least three women directors. In addition, 17 have at least three women executives.

Thursday’s event, held at Baird’s office inside the U.S. Bank Center on East Wisconsin Avenue, recognized the businesses that have at least three women directors. Those companies are:

• Alliant Energy Corp.
• ManpowerGroup
• First Business Financial Services Inc.
• Associated Banc-Corp
• Brady Corp.
• Duluth Holdings Inc.
• Kohl’s Corp.
• Lands’ End Inc.
• MGIC Investment Corp.
• Oshkosh Corp.
• Regal Beloit Corp.
• Rexnord Corp.
• Rockwell Automation Inc.
• Sensient Technologies Corp.
• WEC Energy Group Inc.

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In the DeForest Area School District, Director of Instruction Rebecca Toetz navigates resources that don`t always represent a fast-expanding population of students of color.

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Ken Notes: Great interview at the link...

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Ken Notes: I like the idea of "inclusion" including people with special needs...

UW-Madison students and city residents gathered at the state Capitol on Nov. 1 for a march hosted by the Wisconsin Black Student Union (WBSU) to promote unity and provide a safe space for conversations between Black students and allies.

Vehicles positioned themselves across intersections surrounding the Capitol to form a blockade. This blockade would allow for a safe and open space to engage in WBSU’s “United We Heal: A Moment of Revival for Black Fatigue” demonstration.

The peaceful protest originally intended to be a convoy of vehicles with demonstrators walking alongside the street from the Capitol to East Campus Mall. While demonstrators brought pens and paper for sign-making and a megaphone was made available for fellow protestors, the event was ultimately moved online...
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State is one of 19 universities joining a three-year institutional change effort to develop inclusive faculty recruitment, hiring and retention practices. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) co-leads the effort, known as Aspire: The National Alliance for Inclusive & Diverse STEM Faculty.

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When Lisa Kamal got up on stage in front of the 7,300-strong winter graduating class at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she stopped, took a deep breath and started to sing.

"Raise a glass to freedom, raise a glass to all of us, telling the story of — today."...

...In the month since she made the speech — a poignant meditation on belonging, resilience, diversity, mental health and kindness toward oneself — the video went viral, garnering 3.5 million views across multiple social media platforms and a lot of attention, especially from her home country of Malaysia...

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IT`S MAY 2019, and for a Tuesday evening after work, the energy is buzzing. Here, just outside the Riverwest Filling Station—a crafty neighborhood bar near Milwaukee’s East Side—Tenia Fisher gathers the F.E.A.R. running crew in a parking lot to warm up for their weekly evening run. Just one month prior, the members kicked off their fifth season, clocking countless miles, training for marathons, and cheering one another on, in life and on the road. Over the years they’ve become more like family than a running club.

Before embarking on their route, the runners strike a festive pose in front of a chain link fence. “Your favorite crew at it again!” reads the Instagram post. Then they charge out, crisscrossing city streets for four miles before returning to high-fives and dabbing sweat with the napkins pulled out from under celebratory beers back at the bar....
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Harrell-Payton, along with residents Lexi Payton and Jackie Jackson, met with Visit Beloit Executive Director Celestino Ruffini and Visit Beloit Board Chair Ann Sitrick Joyce to voice concerns for a lack of diversity in highlighting the city’s events....

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University of Wisconsin-Madison Sophomore Elena Haasl would like to be the next person elected to serve District 5 on the Dane County Board of Supervisors.

“I’m not going to stop because I care deeply about my community,” she said. 

Haasl feels determined to make a difference, running in a district inhabited mostly by students. She feels having a student voice is important because a student advocate can elevate the voices of the greater campus community. Haasl’s platform includes working to solve issues of homelessness, equity, mental health services, runoff from lakes and watershed, sexual violence prevention, and increasing student engagement. 

“Young voices are always encouraged in politics until they actually decide to step up and run,” Haasl said...

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