Five UW-Madison Division of Extension staff have been awarded Reilly-Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment grants for 2024, funding three projects that share knowledge and co-create solutions to benefit Wisconsin communities. Extension embodies the Wisconsin Idea in its mission to connect people with campus, creating key connection points for families, communities, businesses, non-profit organizations, and government. These projects highlight how Extension collaborates with communities to build capacity and utilize research to solve challenges.
Caregiver Pain Points and Joy Points: Public Research to Promote Dialogue About Family Caregiving
Kristin Litzelman, Associate Professor, School of Human Ecology and Extension Specialist
Over 700,000 Wisconsinites (1 in 5) are family caregivers, providing emotional, financial, medical/nursing, and home care to a family member or friend with an illness or disability. Nevertheless, the prevalence and impact of caregiving remain under-recognized. This project will generate awareness and promote dialogue about the lived experience of caregiving by inviting caregivers across the state to share the highs and lows of their caregiving experience through writing and drawing. Their submissions will create community art that will be displayed in public locations throughout the state and identify themes that will promote dialogue about the needs and support for family caregivers.
Partners include: Wisconsin Family Caregiver Support Alliance
Creating Worker-Owned Cooperative Businesses with Women, BIPOC, and Immigrant Workers
Charity Schmidt, Outreach Specialist and Courtney Berner, Outreach Program Director, UW Center for Cooperatives
Many immigrant, Latine, BIPOC, and low-wage workers face language, education, and financial barriers when starting new businesses, including cooperatively owned enterprises. This project will reduce barriers and incubate new cooperatives by offering linguistically and culturally relevant education and technical assistance while compensating entrepreneurs for time spent developing their cooperative.
Partners include Worker Justice Wisconsin, UW Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic, Madison Public Library, and MadWorC.
Creating an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Refugees
Sarah Schlosser, Outreach Program Manager, Organizational and Leadership Development and Lindsey Day Farnsworth, Outreach Program Manager, Community Food Systems, Extension
The success of refugee/immigrant newcomers hinges on economic self-sufficiency and belonging, both of which enable them to contribute fully to Wisconsin communities. This project aims to increase business startup and success outcomes of refugee/immigrant entrepreneurs by adapting the health navigator model to the entrepreneurial ecosystem context and evaluating its efficacy and impact. The project should lead to increased access to the knowledge and tools refugee/immigrant entrepreneurs need to make sound business decisions, improving economic self-sufficiency, and increasing their sense of belonging as they establish themselves in the community.
Partners include: UW-Madison’s Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic, Jewish Social Services of Madison, and the City of Madison Office of Business Resources
The Reilly-Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment fosters public engagement and the advancement of the Wisconsin Idea, supporting new and innovative projects that encourage outreach, community-based research and community engagement. Projects partner with community and off-campus organizations so they can extend and apply campus research, education, and practice-based knowledge to help solve problems and take advantage of opportunities.
The grant program honors the legacy of Ira Baldwin and Ineva Reilly Baldwin and their deep commitment to the Wisconsin Idea. Learn more about the 2024 projects and the Baldwin family.
