7:30 am

Registration Open

7:30-8:30 am

Breakfast

8:15-8:30 am

Defining the Legacy Circle & Acknowledging WI Members,
Katrina Sun Breese

8:45-10:45 am

AAUW Annual Business Meeting, Election, and Installation of Officers

11:15 am -12:15 pm

Keynote Speaker: Sarah Godlewski, “Being Overlooked”

12:15-1:15 pm

Lunch

1:15-2:15 pm

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Marissa Jablonski, “Engaging Young People in STEM – through Connection and Collaboration”

2:30-3:15 Breakout Sessions I

1. “Twenty Years of Changing Lives: The UW-Madison Odyssey Project” – Keena
Atkinson and Char Braxton, Odyssey Graduates

Description:  The award-winning UW-Madison Odyssey Project breaks the cycle of
generational poverty through education by giving adult and youth learners a voice to increase their confidence through reading, writing, and speaking. Now in its 20th year, this inspirational project has empowered more than 500 low-income adults to find their voices and get a jump start at earning college degrees they never thought possible. Some graduates of the program have journeyed from homelessness to UW-Madison degrees, or from incarceration to meaningful work in the community.

2. “Working with Survivors of Human Trafficking and Sexual Violence Seeking Justice and Healing as Defined by Them” – Erika Petty, Executive Director/Lead Attorney of the LOTUS Legal Clinic

Description: How LOTUS Legal Clinic delivers on its mission to invest in survivor-driven justice, healing, and systemic change for survivors of human trafficking and sexual violence through an innovative blend of comprehensive civil legal services, victims’ rights representation, and therapeutic arts programming.

3. “Public Policy: How to Influence the Future for Women and Girls” – Stephanie Malaney and Barbara Peterson, WI AAUW Public Policy Co-Chairs

Description: This session will focus on how can we advocate together to influence our Wisconsin legislators? This session will give you an update on Wisconsin issues and include how to band together in advocacy and where to find your statewide and local sources for information on these important issues. We will introduce the Wisconsin Action Alert system and help you and your branch advocate for your local school board and community issues. Among these issues are fact-based education, women’s health care, and voting rights for all citizens. Please join us!

Brought to you by your WI AAUW Public Policy Committee members.

4. “Financial Confidence Part I: A Road Map to Feeling Confident with your Financial Plan” –  Julie Lipsky-Ellenbecker and Kristina Schnuckel of the Ellenbecker Investment Group

Description: In this session, we’ll be looking at building your financial security through savings and investments at all stages of your life. The latest thinking on maintaining financial independence into retirement and insight around managing your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). Advice on finding and working with a financial adviser will also be provided.

After this session you will feel confident and convicted with the decisions you make for your comprehensive financial plan today and in the future. We will review the primary components of your financial plan (Investments, retirement planning, taxes, insurance and estate planning) and help you identify the areas of your plan that need attention and how to move forward. You will leave with an action plan for moving forward and some tips on how to select a financial advisor.

3:30-4:15 Breakout Sessions II

1. “Educating Ourselves: The American Indian Nations of Wisconsin and Land Acknowledgment Statements”

Description: The state, now known as Wisconsin, is home to the largest number of Native American tribes east of the Mississippi River, encompassing 11 sovereign Tribal nations. The focus of this breakout session will be multi-faceted:
(1) Why it is our privilege and responsibility to acknowledge the Indigenous people of Wisconsin;
(2) What are the major issues to be addressed (including Treaty Rights, Tribal sovereignty, Act 31, and Land Acknowledgement Statements);
(3) How to a) create opportunities to inform branch members about these issues; b) determine the particular Tribal nation, using the Tribal Lands Map, where their branch is located; and c) create a Land Acknowledgment statement that is truly meaningful and reflects the historical challenges of the Tribal Nations of Wisconsin. Resources, such as book lists, maps, handouts, and other relevant materials will be provided. Our goal is to equip each participant with the tools and resources to fulfill the proposed resolution.

2. “Know More About Afghanistan- Cultural Insights”
Khatera Nazari, UW- Milwaukee student from Afghanistan
Description: Afghan Culture Insights, Ethnicities of Afghanistan, Languages, Religion and Religious Celebrations, Healthcare.

I grew up in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, where I learned that the world needs resilient women, namely women who are lively and energetic regardless of their environment. Particularly, in Afghanistan, even now, women are not accepted as human beings. My father is my role model because he fought against all terrible beliefs and it was not easy to illustrate: a girl should not laugh, a girl does not have the right to go to school or university, and a girl should marry a boy that he chooses for her; my father defended women’s rights.

3.  “Courageous Conversation: Understanding Unconscious Bias”– Rebecca Surges and West Suburban Milwaukee DEI Committee

Description: We all have seen and/or experienced overt biases, but how often do we recognize unconscious bias? Do we recognize unconscious biases in others? In ourselves? Having unconscious biases does not make us racist, homophobic or discriminatory in other ways. However, we need to be able to recognize them in ourselves so we can work to overcome them. Doing so creates a more inclusive environment. Let’s learn more about unconscious bias.

During today’s Courageous Conversation, Becca will be joined by members of the West Suburban Milwaukee DEI Committee.

4. “Financial Confidence Part II: Basic Estate Planning” — Attorney Stacy A. Vogeltanz of Angermeier and Rogers, LLP
Description: In this session, we’ll be looking at the difference between wills, trusts and other estate planning techniques and determine which will work for you. Long term care planning as a financial tool will also be introduced. .

4:30-4:45 Wrap Up/Final Announcements