Chancellor Ward Honors Community Partners

Chancellor David Ward hosted a ceremony on Thursday, June 12 to honor the hundreds of “good neighbors” who have formed community service partnerships with the university.

The University and Community Partnerships event recognized the players behind 31 different civic improvement projects where university employees have teamed together with city, county, state and private leaders. These projects represent a cross-section of the hundreds of similar partnerships campuswide.

“We are working more than ever to play a role in a collaborative way, with an agenda shared by community partners,” Ward said. “These are not exclusively ‘university’ or ‘community’ programs, but are in fact a much stronger alliance that builds on the strengths of both groups.”

Nearly 100 community representatives were invited to the event. They were involved in a diverse array of programs, which cover issues from providing health care to the uninsured to helping family businesses succeed. Some examples include:

• The Family Law Clinic, which provides legal advice and representation for indigent parents involving claims of abuse or neglect.
• Channels to Employment, a program offering services to people with disabilities to help them succeed in the workplace.
• The Yahara Watershed Project, a joint effort of the Department of Natural Resources, Dane County and UW–Madison researchers to reduce pollution in Madison-area lakes.
• Teaming Up on Gangs, a partnership of experts in law, medicine, law enforcement and social welfare working to intervene and prevent gangs and youth violence.

For a complete list of recognized programs contact Brian Mattmiller at 608-262-9772, bsmattmi@facstaff.wisc.edu.