At the Toward One Wisconsin conference attendees will have their choice of attending 20 different breakout sessions. The breakout sessions will focus on four different tracks: Community, Education, Health, and Workforce. There will be five different breakout sessions and within those sessions attendees will have the choice of attending four presentations that focus on the track topics: Community, Education, Health, and Workforce. Below is a summary of all the different presentations.

Description: In our journey toward fostering inclusive and welcoming communities, the power of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in shaping our interactions and perceptions is undeniable. This workshop delves into how the questions we ask each other, often unconsciously, play a crucial role in this process. Traditional career-related questions like “What do you want to be?” often stem from a place of action-oriented identity, potentially causing anxiety and limiting our understanding of ourselves and others, particularly in diverse settings. In an age where many jobs are evolving or newly created, such questions can inadvertently constrain our sense of possibility and belonging. By rethinking these questions, we can shift our focus from ‘doing’ to ‘being,’ enabling a deeper understanding and appreciation of everyone’s unique journey and fostering a sense of belonging that aligns with the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

By challenging traditional career-oriented questions and emphasizing the importance of ‘being’ over ‘doing’, this workshop brings a fresh perspective to the discussion of identity and purpose. This shift can help attendees rethink how they approach conversations about career and success, particularly in diverse environments.

Who could benefit from this session:  Birth-K-12 Educators, Industry, Health Professionals, Human Resources Personnel, Policy Makers, Students, Youth Program Specialists, Community and Neighborhood Associations, Faith-based Groups, Higher Education, Non-profit Organizations, State and Local Workforce Development Entities, Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies.

Description: Two Wisconsin organizations, the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health and Power of Perception, will present about their current initiatives impacting the mental health of diverse populations throughout the state, aiming to improve outcomes of children and young adults and their communities. Participants will learn about and from program models that are making a direct impact on diverse populations.

Audience: Birth-K-12 Educators, Policy Makers, Students, Youth Program Specialists, Community and Neighborhood Associations, Non-profit Organizations.

Description: Join us for a dynamic panel discussion exploring the multifaceted challenges and opportunities in advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within Wisconsin’s educational landscape. This session is dedicated to unraveling the complexities and devising practical strategies for fostering equitable and inclusive environments in our schools. This enlightening panel discussion promises to be informative and a catalyst for change in Wisconsin’s educational system. By unpacking the challenges and discussing firsthand experiences from various stakeholders, attendees will better understand the complexities involved in implementing DEI initiatives. The panelists, ranging from a school board member and educators to advocates for LGBTQIA and minority communities, bring a wealth of experience and diverse perspectives. This variety ensures a rich discussion, covering the gamut from practical implementation challenges to theoretical frameworks.

The session will also allow attendees to share ideas and experiences by encouraging open dialogue fostering a sense of community and potential for future collaborations

Audience: Birth-K-12 Educators, Students, Higher Education, Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies, Youth Program Specialists.

Description: This session will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn about decolonization and how to apply it to their professional and personal lives. It will provide an opportunity to dig deeper into decolonization. A student panel will unpack the constructs of colonization within curriculum and society, including education. They will challenge prevalent notions of institutional colonization by engaging with intersectional identities and discuss how historically, and presently, colonialism is linked to education. The panelists will discuss how research and education can be carried out in ways that promote healthy, vibrant communities and utilize practices of decolonization and further self-determination. When we decolonize ourselves, we can then begin to decolonize our education and be in equitable relationship with ourselves, others, and our communities.

Audience: Birth-K-12 Educators, Policy Makers, Students, Youth Program Specialists, Higher Education, Non-profit Organizations, anyone interested in learning the meaning of Decolonization.

Description: Wisconsin Act 31 was established to address Indigenous Peoples and human relations, in general, within K-12 schools as a response to treaty rights issues and racism in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Wisconsin Act 31 is a state law requiring all public school districts and educator preparation programs to provide instruction in the histories, cultures, and tribal sovereignty of the American Indian Nations of Wisconsin. In this session, panelists will provide a brief history and overview of American Indian Studies in Wisconsin. The policies associated with Act 31 will be discussed including where they stand today. Panelists will also share their experiences with practice and implementation from a variety of perspectives including challenges faced with implementation. American Indian Studies and human relations goes beyond education, it is for everyone as we all need to value and respect our neighbors.

Audience: Birth-K-12 Educators, Policy Makers, Students, Youth Program Specialists, Higher Education, Non-profit Organizations.

Description:  The ways in which our organizations engage with the communities we serve can make or break our success. Despite good intentions, we often inadvertently create hurdles and barriers to better understanding and meeting the needs of those we are striving to support. Using a mix of presentation, panel discussion, and interaction with other attendees, these two sessions will 1) examine the challenges and pitfalls of dominant culture approaches in the ways we try to connect and serve, particularly with marginalized communities, and 2) introduce more effective approaches to bring communities to the table as co-creators. If you have never imagined yourself or your organization as part of the problem, or you have but are not sure how to move forward more effectively, these sessions are for you.

Audience: Birth-K-12 Educators, Business and Industry, Health Professionals, Human Resources Personnel, Policy Makers, Students, Youth Program Specialists, Community and Neighborhood Associations, Faith-based Groups, Higher Education, Non-profit Organizations, State and Local Workforce Development Entities, Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies.

Description:  This session is a continuation of the previous session entitled Part 1. Recognizing the Impact of Dominate Culture which will elaborate on ways in which our organizations engage with the communities we serve that can make or break our success. Despite good intentions, we often inadvertently create hurdles and barriers to better understanding and meeting the needs of those we are striving to support. Using a mix of presentation, panel discussion, and interaction with other attendees, these two sessions will 1) examine the challenges and pitfalls of dominant culture approaches in the ways we try to connect and serve, particularly with marginalized communities, and 2) introduce more effective approaches to bring communities to the table as co-creators. If you have never imagined yourself or your organization as part of the problem, or you have but are not sure how to move forward more effectively, these sessions are for you.

Audience: Birth-K-12 Educators, Business and Industry, Health Professionals, Human Resources Personnel, Policy Makers, Students, Youth Program Specialists, Community and Neighborhood Associations, Faith-based Groups, Higher Education, Non-profit Organizations, State and Local Workforce Development Entities, Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies.

Description: Civility and civil conversations are getting harder to find in our community conversations and personal lives. This panel of experts will discuss why approaching differences with civility is important to finding solutions that will move our families, communities, and nation forward. This session will provide each of us with practical techniques to successfully engage in difficult conversations, find common ground, and address complex problems at the interpersonal and group levels.

Audience: Birth-K-12 Educators, Business and Industry, Health Professionals, Human Resources Personnel, Policy Makers, Community and Neighborhood Associations, Faith-based Groups, Higher Education, Non-profit Organizations, State and Local Workforce Development Entities, Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies.

Description: How do our personal intersectionalities impact how we interact with our communities? This panel will share meaningful experiences and successful strategies from community changemakers that can help us recognize, honor, and include our own and others’ intersectionalities so that everyone can participate in and enjoy the communities we call home.

Audience: Birth-K-12 Educators, Business and Industry, Health Professionals, Human Resources Personnel, Policy Makers, Community and Neighborhood Associations, Faith-based Groups, Higher Education, Non-profit Organizations, State and Local Workforce Development Entities, Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies.

Description: This panel features state and local experts as well as recent refugees who will address the challenges of welcoming refugees and immigrants into Wisconsin communities and offer practical strategies for fostering inclusion and long-term success for newcomers. Attendees will gain insights into effective welcoming initiatives and community engagement strategies. Key topics include creating pathways for access, encouraging community inventory and resource sharing, overcoming myths and misconceptions about newcomers, and effective collaboration to avoid redundancy in services. Additionally, panelists will discuss how to better include newcomers in decision-making processes and in considering longer-term needs. The panel will also celebrate and highlight challenges, successes, and lessons learned from 50 years of Hmong resettlement in Wisconsin.

Audience: Birth-K-12 Educators, Business and Industry, Health Professionals, Human Resources Personnel, Policy Makers, Students, Youth Program Specialists, Community and Neighborhood Associations, Faith-based Groups, Higher Education, Non-profit Organizations, State and Local Workforce Development Entities, Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies

Description: In this transformative workshop, participants will embark on a journey to explore and implement the innovative DEI-EQ principles, a unique blend of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) with Emotional Intelligence (EQ). This session is designed to empower organizations to cultivate a DEI ecosystem that is not only effective but also self-sustaining and deeply integrated into the organizational fabric.

Audience: Business and Industry, Human Resources Personnel, Policy Makers, Community and Neighborhood Associations, Non-profit Organizations, State and Local Workforce Development Entities.

Description: This session is designed to shed light on the workforce from the perspectives of formally incarcerated and justice-impacted individuals and the challenges they have faced to gain meaningful employment. This session will also address strategic ways to create more equitable practices, policies, and procedures for these community members navigating the workforce. The panel and moderator will shed light on HR trends and other issues facing employers and job seekers.

By fostering an open and constructive dialogue, this discussion aims to encourage collaboration between stakeholders, generate awareness, and inspire actionable steps toward creating a more equitable and supportive environment for individuals with legal offenses seeking gainful employment.

Audience: Business and Industry, Human Resources Personnel, Policy Makers, Students, Community and Neighborhood Associations, State and Local Workforce Development Entities.

Description: This session aims to shed light on the unique challenges, triumphs, and strategies employed by entrepreneurs who navigate the intersectionality of identity within the business landscape. Through candid conversations and interactive Q&A, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in driving innovation, fostering resilience, and creating sustainable businesses. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur looking to enhance your DEI efforts or a budding business owner seeking inspiration and guidance, this panel promises to be a transformative experience.

Audience: Business and Industry, Human Resources Personnel, Non-profit Organizations, State and Local Workforce Development Entities.

Description: This program equips participants with the knowledge and skills to effectively navigate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Participants learn to understand mistakes, move beyond trend-driven approaches, and cultivate a genuine commitment to DEI principles. The program empowers participants to identify and address standard stumbling blocks encountered during DEI implementation, fostering a more inclusive and equitable workplace culture.

Audience: Business and Industry, Human Resources Personnel, Non-profit Organizations, State and Local Workforce Development Entities, Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies

Description: Beginning in late 2022, the Clark County Health Department (CCHD) was notified by a local faith-based organization (St. Bernard Catholic Church) that they were serving 200+ families per week through their food pantry. St. Bernard Catholic Church identified additional needs within the families they were serving other than food insecurity. After meeting with the church, the CCHD quickly realized the impact that could be made by being able to offer public health services where these individuals were already congregating. Since the inception of this collaboration, the food pantry is now serving 300-350+ families per week, increasing the need for public health services.

During this session, you will learn how numerous partners navigated the waters to successfully implement routine “Community Health & Resource Fairs” that improve the overall health of community members. You will walk away with the tools and knowledge to identify and/or expand upon partnerships within your own communities to decrease health equity barriers, eliminate the need for transportation, offer multiple services in one location, etc.
Community Health & Resource Fair Partners include: Clark County Health Department, Marathon County Health Department, Taylor County Health Department, St. Bernard Catholic Church, Feed My People Food Bank, Hmong & Hispanic Network (H2N), Clark County WIC, Clark County Birth to 3, Healthfirst, Safe Kids Marathon County, Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc., High School Equivalency Program, and more!

Audience: Business and Industry, Health Professionals, Policy Makers, Students, Youth Program Specialists, Community and Neighborhood Associations, Faith-based Groups, Higher Education, Non-profit Organizations, State and Local Workforce Development Entities

Description: Intersectionality is a term coined by Professor Kimberlee Crenshaw in 1989; she defines it as “a lens through which you can see where power comes and collides, where it locks and interests. It is the acknowledgement that everyone has their own unique experiences of discrimination and privilege.” Having a precise term for this phenomenon has helped increase visibility and pays homage to the concept identified by Sojourner Truth in her speech, entitled “Ain’t I a Woman,” delivered at the 1851 Women’s Rights Convention. Join as we dive into concepts of privilege, power, and oppression, how these contribute to equality, equity, and justice, and tying it all together to show the continual harm done to historically minoritized populations.

Audience: Birth-K-12 Educators, Business and Industry, Health Professionals, Human Resources Personnel, Policy Makers, Students, Youth Program Specialists, Community and Neighborhood Associations, Faith-based Groups, Higher Education, Non-profit Organizations, State and Local Workforce Development Entities, Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies.