Today WIPPS is joining organizations across the country to celebrate Giving Tuesday, a national day of generosity. Instead of asking for donations, we want to highlight a few ways WIPPS is giving back and invite you to share how we can support Wisconsin, your community, or your organization.

While WIPPS is not asking for donations for Giving Tuesday this year, we encourage you to give generously to the many worthwhile charities and organizations helping to improve communities across Wisconsin.

Developing and Preparing Leaders

WIPPS is committed to helping young people become civically engaged and effective leaders. Our programs provide students the opportunity to learn new skills, connect with mentors, and gain real-world experience.

• Central Wisconsin High School Leadership Program works with area high schools, businesses, and civic organizations to help sophomores and juniors develop leadership skills and learn more about their community. Through workshops and community service projects, students gain confidence, develop new strengths, and see how they can pursue their career and leadership goals in central Wisconsin. Click here to learn more.
• Washington Seminar is a three-week study away program held in Madison and Washington, D.C. during the summer term that gives Wisconsin college students a firsthand look at policymaking. Participants meet with congressional and executive leaders, lobbyists, and other policy influencers to gain an inside perspective on how public policy is shaped. Applications for the 2026 seminar are now open. Click here to learn more and apply.

Building Healthy Communities

WIPPS is proud to partner with organizations across Wisconsin to improve the health and well-being of residents. These collaborations allow us to help people navigate complex health systems and gain access to the care needed to stay healthy.

• Hmong and Hispanic Communication Network (H2N) and the Rural Resiliency Network (R2N) address health disparities among Hmong, Hispanic, and rural populations in central Wisconsin. Community health workers provide case management services at times and locations that are convenient and accessible. Learn more about H2N and R2N here.
• Health Navigator Program partners with Covering Wisconsin to help uninsured and underinsured residents understand coverage options and how to enroll in health insurance. Navigators provide free, one-on-one support to connect people with Marketplace insurance, BadgerCare, local free clinics, and other health services. Click here to learn more and get help.

Promoting Civil Dialogue

Talking about public issues with people you disagree with is a skill that many do not have the chance to practice. With a growing political divide and fewer avenues for respectful conversation, WIPPS is committed to creating opportunities to learn and practice the art of civil dialogue. Some of our recent and upcoming work includes:

• Let’s Talk, Marathon County was a two-year deliberative dialogue program that brought together nearly 100 politically and demographically diverse residents to talk about complex public issues, including firearms, immigration, and homelessness. These moderator-led conversations strengthened participants’ confidence in their community’s ability to have civil discussions and their own ability to consider perspectives they had not considered before.Click here to learn more.
• Deliberative Inquiry Workshop is an upcoming three-part workshop that gives attendees the skills to engage communities in structured, civil dialogue that deepens understanding and supports collective action. The series includes training on how to organize and moderate deliberative dialogues, how to name and frame complex issues, and how to move from deliberation to action. The workshop will be held at the UW Center for Civic Engagement in Wausau on December 11 and January 13, with a virtual session on January 27. Click here to learn more.
• Better Conversations in Polarized Times is an upcoming virtual panel discussion, held Thursday, December 4 at noon, that brings together bipartisan organizations to share practical ways to keep political conversations healthy and productive. Speakers from the Democracy Defense Project Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Alliance for Civic Trust will discuss lessons learned from working across political differences and offer ideas for navigating difficult conversations during the holidays and beyond. Learn more and register here.

What can we do to help?
We want to hear from you!

Is there a problem or issue in your community, organization, or statewide that needs attention? What can WIPPS do to give back to you, our supporters, and the state? Please let us know by filling out the linked form or by emailing us at info@wipps.org. We want to understand the challenges you face and see how we can help.

Is there a problem or issue in your community, organization, or statewide that needs attention? What can WIPPS do to give back to you, our supporters, and the state? Please let us know by filling out the linked form or by emailing us at info@wipps.org. We want to understand the challenges you face and see how we can help.