Four Wisconsin counties and a nonprofit that supports county conservation staff and elected officials are partnering with UniverCity Alliance to support local initiatives and address challenges including outdoor recreation, public health resources, and recidivism.
UniverCity’s new community partners include Sheboygan, Racine, Trempealeau, and Monroe counties and the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association (WI Land+Water).
“This new group of community partners takes us to new parts of the state, while working with a previous partner county again. The word continues to get out about UniverCity Alliance, and we’re grateful to be a trusted partner to these communities,” UniverCity Alliance Managing Director Gavin Luter said.
“Our primary goals are to be the front door that welcomes these communities into the university and to connect them with the best tools and resources that can meet their needs,” Luter continued. “Our students and faculty will benefit from connecting with these new partners, and we look forward to seeing what’s possible.”
Now in its 10th year, UniverCity has partnered with 42 community partners. These have included 17 cities, towns, and villages, 22 counties, a collaborative that includes a local business, nonprofit, and local government partners; one nonprofit, and one school district. Through these collaborative partnerships, over 400 projects have been completed and can be found on UniverCity’s website.
“UniverCity Alliance launched in 2015 with a founding mission to make the university more accessible to Wisconsin local governments,” Luter said. “A decade later, we have learned from Wisconsin communities, honed our partnership program, and brought the Wisconsin Idea to life through a two-way exchange of knowledge.”
UniverCity is also a member of the Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities Network (EPIC-N), an international network of universities and colleges partnering with localities throughout the United States and world. Through this network, University of Wisconsin–Madison can demonstrate successful community-university partnerships and learn from programs across the globe.
‘Connecting the dots’
The new group of community partners marks two firsts for UniverCity: Racine County is the first returning UniverCity partner, and WI Land+Water is the first nonprofit to collaborate with UniverCity on its own.
Racine County first partnered with UniverCity from 2020-23 to understand best practices in juvenile justice. Now, the county is working on projects related to public health.
“This partnership was a win-win for the county and public health students working on this project,” Health Officer Jeff Langlieb said. “Students gained valuable insights on local public health and community health improvement plans while the health department gained valuable insight into potential future literacy interventions to improve the overall well-being in our community.”
WI Land+Water serves over 370 land and water conservation department staff and 450 elected county board officials that oversee the conservation departments in all 72 counties across the state. WI Land+Water is working with UniverCity to better understand the economic impact the state’s investment in county conservation staff has on local communities.
“Our partnership with UniverCity Alliance is all about connecting the dots between local conservation efforts and statewide impact. We’re excited to learn from each other and use that knowledge to strengthen support for local land and water conservation departments,” Executive Director Matt Krueger said. “By tapping into the talent and knowledge both at the university and in our communities, we can better equip local leaders with the tools and resources they need to support conservation efforts in Wisconsin.”
In Monroe County, local leaders are addressing how addiction and mental health concerns are affecting their rural communities. The county received opioid settlement funds and identified that the wellbeing of its communities was a priority.
Monroe County’s goal is to access the tools needed to address gaps in Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) and mental health services throughout the county.
“UniverCity has the experience, talented young leaders, and resources to coordinate and execute extensive research, compile data, make recommendations and analyze current evidence based standards and practices,” Justice Programs Director Eric Weihe said. “Monroe County is excited to see the results of UniverCity’s endeavors and we look forward to future project partnerships to better serve our communities, our residents and those we serve.”
Sheboygan County is partnering with UniverCity to invest in the community’s future and plans to address infrastructure, recreational space, recidivism, and social services. Alliant Energy Foundation is providing financial support for one of the projects focused on trails.
County Administrator Alayne Krause said collaborating on a program that touches many different departments – including Building Services, the Planning & Conservation Department, Rocky Knoll Health Care Center, the Sheriff’s Department, and Health & Human Services – is a unique opportunity.
“Sheboygan County is thrilled to be partnering with the University of Wisconsin–Madison and its UniverCity Alliance program on these important initiatives,” Krause said. “I am excited to see the innovative ideas that the next generation of the workforce develops.”
Trempealeau County plans to address new strategies to develop recreational assets and plan for development of businesses that can support the county’s commitment to outdoor recreation.
“Our proposal is aimed at harnessing the expertise and creativity of the University of Wisconsin to help us develop a plan to build on our strongest tourism asset, our beautiful natural resources and abundant outdoor recreation opportunities,” County Administrator Rebecca Glewen said.
Is your community interested in working with UniverCity? Are you a UW–Madison instructor interested in partnering with Wisconsin communities? Email UniverCity at UniverCityAlliance@wisc.edu.
—Abigail Becker