Who are we?
Wisconsin Partners is a membership-based coalition of statewide associations and community-based civic groups. These organizations reflect a range of sectors, perspectives, and immediate goals, but share a commitment to collaborating for a better Wisconsin for everyone.
Wisconsin Partners and the community-based civic groups (Kickapoo Conversations, Southwest Partners, Stronger Together Fox Valley) use a combination of the broad-based relational model and asset-based community development as models for community change.
Our approach is unique in that we do not start with the issues we want to address – we start by building relationships with people who are differently-minded and like-hearted. In other words, we seek shared values and different perspectives. From there, we identify common ground and take bold action together.
Our community-based civic groups are autonomous and have addressed child care, economic development, racial equity, flood recovery, housing, and more.
Our statewide associations utilize Wisconsin Partners primarily as an incubator space for multi-sector collaboration. Members serve on each other’s boards, speak at each other’s conferences, develop new programs and initiatives, and support one another around policy, communications, management, and more.