University celebrates town and gown partnerships

The Wisconsin Idea is taking new forms in Dane County through hundreds of innovative partnerships between the university and area community groups.

On Wednesday, June 14, the university will celebrate some of the best efforts during its fourth annual University & Community Partnerships event at Olin House, 130 N. Prospect Ave.

This year, the event honors 13 programs over a range of interests, including protecting wildlife, serving special-needs kids, teaching space science to middle-schoolers, and promoting poetry in daily life.

“These programs are quietly improving our quality of life and proving that the Wisconsin Idea is alive and well,” said Chancellor David Ward, who founded the recognition event. “The volunteers involved deserve our thanks and encouragement.”

More than 100 people are expected for the reception, which will run from 5-7 p.m. The university-community partnerships being recognized include:

International Crane Foundation Cooperative Training; Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle-Schoolers; Southern Regional Center for Children with Special Health Care Needs; Science is Fun for Middle School Students; Wisconsin’s Native American Journalism Project; the Technology Enterprise Cooperative; Community Poetry Reading; Women and Mental Health Study Site of Dane County; the Wisconsin Advisory Committee of Independent Living; Service Learning for First-Year Pharmacy Students; Community-Based Nursing; the University Information Station at Borders East Bookshop; and Nuestra Educacion, Nuestra Futuro.

For more information about the program, contact LaMarr Billups, special assistant to the chancellor for community relations, at (608) 263-5510.