Convening for Change: Wisconsin Partnership Gathers to Strengthen Statewide Impact

This June, Milwaukee Succeeds joined our fellow Wisconsin Partnership organizations for a two-day convening focused on strengthening the systems that support children and families across the state. The event, hosted by Higher Expectations for Racine County, was held at The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread in Racine.

The Wisconsin Partnership – a collaboration between Milwaukee Succeeds, Higher Expectations, Achieve Brown County and Building Our Future (Kenosha) – also welcomed state and national partners who helped deepen the conversation. This included leaders from StriveTogether, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Cornerstone Government Affairs, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, and the Racine (RUSD) and Kenosha (KUSD) unified school districts.

Together, we exchanged bold ideas, swapped insights and laid the groundwork for a shared policy agenda that aims to drive lasting change for children and families across Wisconsin.

Day 1: Building a Shared Vision for Outcomes

We kicked off the convening with breakout sessions focused on four key outcome areas:

• Kindergarten Readiness

• Third Grade Reading/Early Literacy

• Postsecondary Pathways & Enrollment

• Workforce & Employment Outcomes

Each session created space for open dialogue about the challenges our communities face, the innovative solutions taking shape and the progress that’s currently underway. As a group, we reaffirmed our focus on early literacy – a cornerstone for children’s success in school and beyond. Later, the StriveTogether team guided us through tools and strategies to turn our shared goals into real policy change.

Day 2: Policy in Practice

Day two focused on the shifting policy landscape, with a federal briefing from Cornerstone Government Affairs and a timely look at Wisconsin’s evolving state budget process – including critical decisions around early childhood education funding.

We were also honored to welcome DPI for a deep dive into Act 20, a new piece of state legislation impacting reading instruction and early literacy outcomes. To bring this conversation to life, we heard from Janell Decker from RUSD, along with Wendy Tindall and Rachel Conran from KUSD. They shared real-life examples of how their districts are putting Act 20 into practice – and what it really looks like to adapt systems in support of early literacy.

We closed the convening with role-alike breakout sessions, giving Wisconsin Partnership team members in similar roles a chance to swap ideas, share challenges and talk through what’s next in moving our shared priorities forward.

What’s Next?

The convening reinforced the power of collaboration and shared commitment in creating meaningful change for the state’s children and families. As the Wisconsin Partnership moves forward, we’re energized by the progress we’ve made and the clear path ahead. We’re grateful to everyone who contributed their expertise, passion and ideas. This work is only possible because of the dedication of our partners across the state and beyond.

To learn more about the Wisconsin Partnership and stay connected with our work, please visit: https://www.milwaukeesucceeds.org/wisconsin-partnership.