Learning about the state we serve
Dr. James Deline, a central fixture in the La Farge community, has practiced medicine in Vernon County for nearly 40 years. Deline works at the intersection of rural and Amish healthcare, and sees many rare genetic conditions. The Wisconsin Idea Seminar has visited the La Farge Medical Clinic twice, in 2017 and 2019, to see …
Residents, government officials, and storytellers recently gathered together at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve in La Farge to celebrate a story-telling project focused on the area flooding in late 2018. Caroline Gottschalk Druschke, a UW–Madison professor, brought undergraduate students together with the Driftless Writing Center to collaborate with local Kickapoo Valley residents affected by the floods, …
Lyn Macgregor, associate director of the Holtz Center for Science and Technology Studies, is a community sociologist. She participated in the 2017 River Tour and collaborated with the 2019 River Tour. Macgregor received her B.A. from Boston University and her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her dissertation, an ethnographic study of Viroqua, Wisconsin, was …
Venice Williams, executive director of urban oasis Alice’s Garden in Milwaukee, was recently highlighted as one of Natalie’s everyday heroes. In May of 2019, the Wisconsin Idea Seminar visited the garden and heard from Williams about her work connecting the community through gardening; nurturing relationships, creating herb bundles, facilitating fun programs, and planning for more …
Teal VanLanen, Director of Improvement & Community Engagement for the Algoma School District, spoke on October 3rd at a panel presentation presented in collaboration with the Wisconsin Center for Education Research. “Communities do hold the solutions and have the power to make sustainable, equitable changes for health and opportunity for all,” says VanLanen. In May of …
Dr. James DeLine, a rural healthcare provider in Wisconsin’s southwestern Vernon County, shares his experiences of practicing family medicine since 1983. DeLine works closely with specialists at UW–Madison to provide unique genetic testing for Plain community members, many with rare conditions. In 2019 and 2017 the Wisconsin Idea Seminar traveled to visit Dr. DeLine at …
Luke Zahm, owner and chef of Driftless Cafe and television host of Wisconsin Foodie, welcomed 2019 Wisconsin Idea Seminar participants to his restaurant last May. A UW–Madison ‘03 grad and La Farge local, Luke was able to share perspective on food and how his identity as a chef is deeply rooted in and shaped by …
Seminar alumna Andrea Hicks, is partnering with “UniverCity” again to bring real world problem-solving opportunities to UW–Madison civil engineering students. This time her students will be working on feasibility studies for composing manure and yard waste in Pepin County.
The 2019 Wisconsin Idea Seminar visited De Soto Area Schools and heard from teachers and administrators of the powerful floods of August, 2018. This piece includes video footage of the inundated football field and football players’ commitment to help the surrounding community clean up after the disaster.
Sierra features Dylan Jennings, a UW–Madison alumnus and elected tribal council member for the Bad River Band of Lakes Superior Ojibwe, and powerful spokesperson for water and land stewardship in northern Wisconsin. Dylan says, “The Bad River in northern Wisconsin has a unique and nationally recognized watershed and estuary,” he said. “It’s also one of the only …