The Toward One Wisconsin Inclusivity Conference

A statewide conference on April 11-12 in Milwaukee will seek answers to this question, bringing together policy influencers, experts in inclusive environments and groups from diverse backgrounds to examine the most persistent barriers to inclusion, highlight what is working now and what is promising on the horizon.

The Toward One Wisconsin Inclusivity Conference is open to all, including those from early childhood through higher education professions, business and industry, state and local workforce development, youth programs, health care, vocational rehabilitation, community and neighborhood associations, nonprofit, government, and faith-based groups.

Over 100 panels and presenters at the conference will highlight collaborative and innovative approaches, best practices, cutting-edge research, and success stories that focus on these four conference tracks:

• Track I: Increasing Opportunities for Inclusion in Wisconsin’s Workforce

• Track II: Creating Inclusive Communities

• Track III: Raising the Next Generation of Inclusive Leaders

• Track IV: Building Health Equity in Wisconsin

Four keynote speakers will headline the two-day conference, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency, 333 West Kilbourn Avenue, in Milwaukee.

• Dasha Kelly Hamilton, the conference artist-in-residence, is a nationally respected writer, performer, facilitator and creative change agent. She has performed throughout the U.S. and Canada and appeared on the final season of HBO presents Russell Simmons’ “Def Poetry Jam.”

• Pardeep Singh Kaleka is a former Milwaukee police officer and now a teacher and social activist. His father was one of six people killed at a shooting in 2012 at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek.

• Edward Lee Vargas, Ph.D., is a nationally recognized speaker on creating high performing school systems. He brings a wealth of highly successful multistate and international leadership experiences and accolades as superintendent of schools in several states.

• Thomas Frank is an American political analyst, historian and journalist. He co-founded and edited “The Baffler” magazine and has written several books on American electoral politics and propaganda, advertising, popular culture, mainstream journalism and economics.

WIPPS is one of the presenting sponsors for the conference, along with Church Mutual Insurance and Ascension.