Community Chats is a discussion series that explores the many ways members of the Madison community and University of Wisconsin–Madison are coming together to address pressing public issues.
Developed in the spirit of the LaMarr Billups Community–University Engagement Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to campus community partnerships, Community Chats will feature leaders at the forefront of social change. Each month, they will discuss how their work is directly connecting and uplifting people in Madison and the surrounding region.
Episode 4: Kaleem Caire
One City Schools Founder and CEO, Kaleem Caire discusses how he and his team are working to transform early childhood education in the United States, starting in Dane County.
In the episode, Caire discusses the success and growth of One City Schools, the legacy of LaMarr Billups, and how social and racial justice issues are being addressed in Madison.
Past Episodes
Episode 3: Mary Rouse
Mary Rouse, the former dean of students at UW–Madison and former director of the Morgridge Center for Public Service, is the featured guest for this month’s Community Chats. In the episode, Earlise Ward, faculty director …
Episode 2: Gloria Ladson-Billings
In this episode of Community Chats, University of Wisconsin–Madison Community Relations Director Brenda González talks with professor emerita Gloria Ladson-Billings about her work with community-university engagement and the impact of COVID-19 on Black and Latinx …
Episode 1: Emily Auerbach
To kick off the Community Chats series, Community Relations Director Brenda González talks with Emily Auerbach about her work with the Odyssey Project and shares stories of Odyssey students. The UW Odyssey Project offers life-changing …