Aug. 8, 2019
MILWAUKEE — Marquette University will partner with the Social Development Commission for the 2019 Summit on Poverty and SWIM Conference, Oct. 7-8, at the Wisconsin Center. Scaling Wellness in Milwaukee was founded by Marquette President Michael R. Lovell and Amy Lovell, president of REDgen.
The first-ever SWIM Conference, “Healing Trauma, Healthy Communities," in September 2018 brought together over 1,300 city and community leaders, care providers, academics and advocates to explore healing and building resilience from behavioral health, community organizing, education, health care, law enforcement and other perspectives.
Last year, the SDC hosted its annual Summit on Poverty in conjunction with the State Community Action Program Association. Participants explored the shared experience of poverty and the interconnected economic, social and political lives of rural and urban Wisconsinites. Over 1,000 people attended the summit, and were challenged to examine the national, regional and local systems at play and consider how their narratives shape policy and our collective response. The event also featured a youth conference with 150 young people from around the city.
“As a Catholic, Jesuit university, Marquette is called to serve the community around us, and one of the ways we are doing that is by by recognizing and responding to the trauma in our city,” President Lovell said. “Bringing SWIM and the SDC together for a joint event about self-reflection and hope will spark important conversations and promote healing, which are goals for both organizations.”
“We're excited to collaborate with Marquette University and SWIM,” said George Hinton, chief executive officer of the SDC. “We’re gaining traction as we address these issues in a hyper-segregated community. This partnership is pivotal and can serve as a catalyst for change.”
Keynote speakers and conference sessions will be announced at a later date.
SWIM is a multi-disciplinary group dedicated to inspiring collaboration to help Milwaukee heal. Its mission is to build collaborations throughout the region that heal trauma and create resilience.
For over 50 years, the SDC has served as a planner, coordinator and provider of human service programs for low-income individuals and families in Milwaukee County. In 1963, the SDC was established as an intergovernmental Public Commission and, in 1964, the SDC became the Community Action Agency for Milwaukee County. The SDC serves the most vulnerable populations, giving them a voice, inspiring hope, and helping them to achieve stability by providing pathways from poverty to success.
Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of University Relations. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.
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