Toward One Wisconsin 2024 Conference Recap
May 7-8, 2024
Pablo Center at the Confluence
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
And Virtually
Pablo Center at the Confluence
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
And Virtually
Over 325 people gathered in Eau Claire, May 7 and 8, for the 2024 Toward One Wisconsin Conference, with the shared goal to elevate the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Since the first conference in 2019, T1W has brought together thousands of attendees from diverse backgrounds to have broad ranging conversations around the work of DEI and how to move from talk to action.
T1W 2024 featured two plenary presentations, a keynote speech, and 20 breakout sessions within the four conference tracks (workforce, community, education, and health).
1 keynote speaker, 2 plenary sessions, 24 sponsors,
29 partners, 59 committee members, 74 speakers,
20 breakout sessions, 350+ attendees, 1 goal:
Toward One Wisconsin!
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Anthony Jack
Dr. Anthony Abraham Jack, T1W 2024 keynote speaker and Boston University sociologist, presented “The Privileged Poor” which focused on the challenges faced by low-income students at elite colleges and how institutions often fail to support their unique needs.
“It was amazing to see all of the attendees from every corner of Wisconsin,” said conference organizer Sharon Hunter. “These conferences always leave us inspired and motivated to continue this important work.”
Plenary Panels
“Shifting Gears” was a pivotal panel discussion that transcended traditional frameworks and delved into the heart of equity and belonging within Wisconsin’s unique political and social climate. “Shifting Gears” promised to be a cross-disciplinary exploration, intertwining perspectives from education, social justice, academia, and community activism to forge a path forward in our increasingly complex society. The panel was more than a conversation; it was a call to action. Participants joined in this thought-provoking and solution-oriented panel discussion to redefine Wisconsin’s equity and belonging landscape. Together, they explored how to turn dialogue into meaningful change.
The Divided Times Discourse focused on the fallout from the Israel/Palestine conflict, specifically its effects on Jewish and Muslim communities in the United States and Europe. Centering on the diasporic context, the presenters further illuminated how and why Jewish-Muslim relations (entailing a long history of intellectual, theological, and social entanglements) should not be reduced to the conflict. They further engaged with these relations, both in terms of the conflict and beyond it, as a means to establish a discursive culture in democratic societies, highlighting a “third space,” that is, a space between supposedly opposing positions. Through this discussion, they addressed forms of hate and exclusion, such as antisemitism and Islamophobia, which threaten to undermine democratic culture and unity.
“Cultural Threads: Expressing Identity Through Traditional Clothing”
Between presentations, attendees were able to visit a traveling exhibit titled “Cultural Threads: Expressing Identity Through Traditional Clothing.”
Expressing Identity Through Traditional Clothing, is a traveling exhibit sponsored by Mosaic of North Central Wisconsin. The exhibit places a focus on traditional dress representing some of the many different cultures found in North Central Wisconsin. Every culture has its own traditional clothing with meaning specific to that culture which helps pass along traditions, history, and values to future generations. Each outfit was created by a Textile Artist from that culture, with significant knowledge of that culture, or with the help of someone from that culture.
“I thought every session I attended and every speaker I was able to see was excellent and many
provided unexpected insights that I would not have foreseen would pertain to my organization.
I think the point of the conference is that being open to sessions that are outside
your personal “world” can make you see how they actually connect to you.”
“My biggest take-away is that there are tons and tons of people and organizations doing work
all around me that I didn’t know were available as resources or possible places to get involved.
As someone who feels like I have a pretty good understanding of opportunities around me,
I realized that there is a lot more out there than I thought!
I left feeling excited to try to volunteer/work for/with some of these places.”
Meet the 2024 T1W Conference Co-Chairs
For more info on the 2024 Co-Chairs, click here
Dr. Maysee Herr
Dr. Selika Ducksworth-Lawton
Pardeep Kaleka
John Tribble
We hope you will join us for Toward One Wisconsin 2025.
The Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service is accepting proposals from communities to host the spring 2025 conference. Please respond to the below questions and return to Sharon Hunter at [email protected]. Proposals will be accepted until July 1, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact Sharon at 715-600-1136 or email [email protected]. Click here to view the 2025 Host Application.
Toward One Wisconsin 2024 was made possible by our amazing partner and sponsor organizations. Thank you for your commitment to the work of diversity, equity and inclusion!
Thank you to our 2024 Sponsors!
2024 Transformational Sponsors
2024 Diversity Sponsors
2024 Equity Sponsors
2024 Inclusion Sponsors
2024 Unity Sponsors
2024 Partners
2024 Exhibitors
