Written by Deb Dorshorst
After over a year of information gathering — including surveys, outreach to community and government officials, and many community dialogues — Toward One Wausau is ready to continue on to the next steps toward making Wausau a more unified community.
Although a major part of Toward One Wausau involved public dialogue, from the outset, the project was designed to move toward concrete action steps to help make the Wausau area more welcoming to all people.
Wausau Mayor Robert Mielke recently stated that he learned through the Toward One Wausau project that there are still some people and circumstances in our community that create barriers to inclusivity, and that we have more work to do. At the same time, one participant at the October Toward One Wausau celebration said:
“I learned from this project that I am not alone. There are many others who feel as I do, and that makes me hopeful that we can bring about change.”
It is time for NEXT STEPS…
The public is invited to an action-oriented “next steps meeting” being planned for early spring 2018, with details to be announced in the media by the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service (WIPPS).
Topics to be addressed include (but are not limited to):
- Reviewing takeaways from the Toward One Wausau project
- Discussing structure, leadership, and funding for future community inclusivity efforts
- Discussing/Prioritizing potential action items. For example:
- Presenting findings to community leaders (e.g., County Board and City Council)
- Meeting with business leaders and human resource professionals to address the economic impact of improving our community’s climate as a means to attract and retain workers
- Planning/Organizing a “Youth Town Hall” meeting
- Discussing other ideas as determined by attendees
According to Eric Giordano, WIPPS Executive Director and one of the project sponsors:
“It’s important to note that, up to this point, Toward One Wausau has been a process, not an organization. However, in this next phase, the community will be discussing the creation of a formal coalition to take on next steps.”
We invite you to view the 90-second video trailer below describing the Toward One Wausau project.
Please visit the Toward One Wausau webpage to learn more.
The original members of the Toward One Wausau Committee are ready to have interested community members take the lead in planning events and projects that will work toward the goal of making Wausau a more welcoming and attractive place for a diverse people. We welcome your involvement, feedback, and continued interest in this important initiative.
If you have any questions about Toward One Wausau, or would like to become involved, please email info@wipps.org or call 715-261-6368.
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Toward One Wausau acknowledges and appreciates the support of sponsors such as the B.A. and Esther Greenheck Foundation, the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Humanities Council, as well as partners such as the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service, Wisconsin Public Radio, the Wausau Daily Herald, and many other groups and individuals.
Deb Dorshorst
Marketing Communications Coordinator | Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service (WIPPS)
Deb Dorshorst manages marketing communications for the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service in Wausau. Previously, she worked for 6 years in health care communications, and has also been a communications consultant to businesses, nonprofits, and academia in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New York. A graduate of UW–Stevens Point, she serves on the UWSP Alumni Board of Directors. In her free time, she enjoys running, traveling, and tackling new adventures. A rim-to-rim Grand Canyon hike was THE adventure for 2017. Email Deb Dorshorst.
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