Chapter Two

Partnerships

Throughout its history AAUW of Wisconsin has forged strong partnerships with other Wisconsin organizations working to improve the economic, political, social, and educational status of women and girls. In this second chapter we highlight three state organizations with which we have worked particularly closely during the 2001-2011 decade of this history supplement: Wisconsin Women=Prosperity, the Wisconsin Girls Collaborative Project, and our Wisconsin College/University partners.

Wisconsin Women Equals Prosperity (WW=P) Partner
AAUW of Wisconsin state board partners with Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton and the Wisconsin Women’s Network in promoting and endorsing Wisconsin Women Equals Prosperity (WW=P). The economic development initiative begins in 2003 after the Institute for Women’s Policy Research gives Wisconsin a low C- grade for the status of women in the state. In response, the WW=P website notes, “an influential group of women leaders from around the state, were determined the report be put to use to inform private practice and drive better public policy.”

The non-partisan
public/private partnership remains dedicated to lifting Wisconsin by “raising the grade” for Wisconsin women through its focus on four building block issues: Economic Sufficiency; Health, Safety and Well Being; Educational Achievement; and Leadership and Political Participation.

 

At its 2004 state convention AAUW of Wisconsin utilizes the four WW=P issues in convention workshops that galvanize members. Branches and members are encouraged to be involved with WW=P and to focus branch programming on one or more of the four issues.

A March 22, 2005 statewide WW=P conference titled, Wisconsin Women Forward, draws over 800 women to Madison. At the conference the four core themes outlined above are explored and the Regional Solutions Networks are launched. These networks are designed to leverage and connect existing women-power and to drive solutions to the issues defined in the Status of Women Report and further clarified in the 13 Open Forums convened by Lt. Governor Lawton.

Wisconsin Girls Collaborative Project (WGCP) Partner

AAUW resolved in 2007 to “promote and strengthen science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, especially for girls and other underrepresented populations in the field.” To this end AAUW is a partner with The National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) in advancing gender equity in the STEM fields. The project is designed to reach girl-serving organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico that are committed to informing and encouraging girls to pursue careers in the STEM fields.

AAUW of Wisconsin is a partner with the Wisconsin Girls Collaborative Project (WGCP) operating as part of the Great Lakes Girls Collaborative. The statewide kick-off conference was held in Wausau on October 10, 2009. Elma Anderson AAUW Green Bay Branch and program VP of AAUW of Wisconsin state board participated as AAUW of Wisconsin representative.

Wisconsin College/University PartnersAAUW has 500 college and university partners in 2011.

In 2001 AAUW of Wisconsin began the decade by welcoming Nicolet Technical College, Rhinelander, as it newest institutional partner although the college no longer remains a partner at the time of this writing in 2011. In 2002 there were 19 college/university partners but by the end of the decade in 2011 the number of colleges/university partners falls to a total of thirteen. The college/university chair position on the AAUW of Wisconsin state board has had two individuals who serve the first half of the decade covered by this history supplement: Camille Thibaudeau-Meyers AAUW Kenosha Branch 2000-4, and Kristin Tjornehoj AAUW River Falls Branch 2004-6. The position has remained vacant for the second half of the decade from 2006-11.

Alverno College, Milwaukee
Moraine Park Technical College, Fond du Lac
Northcentral Technical College, Wausau
University of Wisconsin Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin La Crosse
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Wisconsin Marathon County
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
University of Wisconsin Parkside, Kenosha
University of Wisconsin River Falls
University of Wisconsin Stout, Menomonie
Viterbo University, La Crosse

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