Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy & Service

A stunning photographic exhibit that represents a graphic presentation of biological findings rooted in genetics research challenges the notion of human "races" and contributes to contemporary discourse on human diversity by showing how erroneous conventional wisdom has been about races. (Co-sponsored by the UWMC Sociology Department and organized by Professor Colin Wang.)

UWMC Assistant Professor of History Connie Sexauer organized and coordinated this selection of films that explore issues of race and identity in American society, and she led talk-back discussions after each presentation in the series. Films included: Barry Levinson's Avalon; Miss Ever's Boys; Francis Ford Coppola's My Family; and Paul Haggis's Crash.

Sister Helen Prejean's powerful work about capital punishment demonstrates compelling arguments for both sides of a divisive issue while also considering the complexities of identitites forged through race, incarceration, and the culture of poverty. Students of the UWMC Theater Department and community members brought Prejean's work to life on stage, and talkbacks followed selected performances.

This panel of Hmong authors, whose works are all featured in this new anthology, examined the experiences of second -and-third-generation youth and young professionals faced with the challenge of developing  American identitites while maintaining ties to their traditional cultures. Anthology editor Mai Neng Moua founded the literary journal Paj Ntaub Voice and the Hmong American Institute for Learning and has taught in the public schools as an author-in-residence.

UWMC Theatre Department students conceived, wrote, dramatized, directed and acted in this compendium of stories, many drawn from personal experience, that unite behind the themes of finding ones identity in a muti-ethnic and increasingly diverse homeland, the United States of America.

Language changes can track part of the historic migration patterns to north central Wisconsin, and this panel targeted the experiences of early European settlers during the turn of the 19th century. The program examined unique regional English spoken in Wisconsin today, how it incorporated sounds and structures of 19th century immigrant languages, socio-economic variants, and geographic components to become a marker of local identity.

UW- Eau Claire Professor of Sociology Jeremy Hein, author of Ethnic Origins: The Adaptation of Cambodian and Hmong Regugees in Four American Cities, spoke about questions and current challenges facing European and Hmong Americans as they interact in America and the northern Wisconsin region. A roundtable brownbag discussion followed and Professor Hein shared thoughts on cultural "toolkits" that enable immigrant cultures to survive.

This panel explored the immigrant experience in terms of religious identity, and examined how a traditionally shamanistic culture was influenced by contemporary forms of  institutionalized religion and the tensions and opportunities presented to families with elders who embrace ancient ways, parents who walk between two worlds, and children who may or may not have any use for formal religion, at all. Concordia University social anthropologist Gary Yia Lee was joined by UWMC Professor of Anthropology Ron Lippi and traditional Hmong shaman Khoua Ge Lee for a discusson about this fascinating "journey."

Shamanism from WIPPS on Vimeo.

This panel discussion featured: Harlan Grinde, UWMC Professor of History Emeritus; James Lorence, UWMC Professor of History Emeritus; and James Pula, Professor of History at Purdue University - North Central. Panelists examined the stepping stones and stumbling blocks that peoples of different cultural backgrounds faced as they journeyed towards American indentities during the waves of Polish, German, and Scandinavian immigration that occurred in Wisconsin over the past century. They also discussed how the historical implications of earlier assimilations informed our understanding of similar challenges that faced our most recent arrivals at the turn of the 20th century.

Nationally-acclaimed Hispanic author Hart grew up as a migrant worker and went on to receive a Master's Degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Stanford University. Her memoir spans the years she spent  doing backbreaking labor in the fields of Wisconsin and Minnesota, so her father could save money to put his children through school. The book tells of the harsh toll that poverty and discrimination takes on an immigrant family.

The Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies, located at UW - Madison, provides scholarly research and outreach on how German-speaking immigrants have shaped - and been shaped by - their North American environment. Assistant Director, Educational Outreach Specialist Anje Petty researched the turn-of-the-century settlement of German-speakers in north central Wisconsin and examined their language and cultural influences in the region we call home. Petty holds a Master's Degree in Germanics from the University of Washington and has been a presenter for historical societies and a workshop leader for K-12 teachers.

German Immigrants from WIPPS on Vimeo.

Chia Vang, Assistant Professor of History at UW- Milwaukee, discussed the forces behind Hmong immigration to north central Wisconsin and the experiences of the immigrants as they sought to adapt to a radically new culture. Vang has published widely on topics ranging from economic growth among refugee communities, to literacy goals for Hmong students in public school systems.

In 2005, the Pommeranian traditional dance group formed by the Pommerscher Verein participated in the German-American Von Steuben Parade in Central Park, NYC; these dancers were most recently voted first-runners-up in the Maitag Trachten Contest in New Glarus. Members of the group are also scholars intent on preserving low-German customs and history. They were joined on the UWMC stage in an interesting convergence of dance forms when a local Hmong troupe who also perform from the traditional Lao and Thai repertoire co-presented for this evening extravaganza of ethnic dance.

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In the spring of 2008, the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service, in collaboration with the Marathon County Public Library (MCPL), the Kettering Foundation, and the Wisconsin Humanities Council, sponsored The New Challenges of American Immigration: What Should We Do?—a series of National Issues Forums (NIF)-style town hall meetings. From January to March 2008, over 139 citizens attended the public dialogues held in the nine MCPL locations of Edgar, Athens, Marathon, Spencer, Stratford, Hatley, Mosinee, Rothschild and Wausau. In addition, a student forum was held on the University of Wisconsin-Marathon County campus.

The intent of the forums was to address some of the basic tensions underlying the debate over current and future U.S. immigration policy, including these questions: Do the costs of our immigration policy outweigh the benefits? If change is necessary, how will we arrive at a manageable strategy, and what are the major tensions and stumbling blocks to creating a workable national policy? What does the current status of U.S. immigration policy mean for Wisconsin, and what changes are in the best interests of central Wisconsin? Findings from the forums were compiled into a report and submitted to local officials and agencies.