Community development is the process of helping a community to increase vitality
while developing towards its full potential.
Extension helps Wisconsin residents, organizations, and communities address their unique challenges and opportunities by providing a variety of educational programs, research, and resources to address local issues.
Steven Chmielewski
Community Development Educator (Jefferson and Waukesha Counties)
Email: steven.chmielewski@wisc.edu
Backed by University of Wisconsin research, the Community Development educator works with local government, community organizations, business, and community leaders to enhance local decision-making and help communities respond strategically to new challenges and opportunities. As outreach specialists with UW-Madison, our approach strengthens people’s ability to identify and solve community problems through education, community participation, and unbiased information that results in empowering residents to make informed decisions to result in better communities
Our community development work plan is also designed to support the 2023 Strategic Plan Priorities of Jefferson County:
Highly Regarded Quality of Life
Goal 1: Deliver accessible, equitable, high-quality services that enhance quality of life
Goal 3: Attract visitors and future residents to Jefferson County.
Intentional Economic Growth
Goal 1: Support a thriving business community through business retention, expansion and attraction efforts
Goal 4: Foster partnerships and collaboration to serve as a catalyst for intentional economic growth for the county and its towns, cities and villages.
Transformative Government
Goal 4: Strengthen internal, intergovernmental and community partnerships
Obj. 4.3 Continue to expand public outreach efforts and enhance community engagement.
Organizational Development
Nonprofits who have served the community for years may look in the mirror and realize change is necessary. Change can be driven by a turnover in leadership, shifting funding relationships, an unexpected crisis, a desire to serve community members in new ways, or any number of internal or external conditions. The decision to change is the easy part. The bigger challenge is implementing change intentionally and sustainably. A well-designed organizational change process is critical.
Based on shared and individual organizational needs, Extension custom designs educational workshops that provide opportunities to pause, reflect, connect and determine new strategies and processes to achieve outcomes.
Contact Steve to discuss your nonprofit organization’s needs, from board recruitment and development to strategic planning. Together, we can analyze needs and determine appropriate educational processes. Ultimately, we want to assist your organization in becoming more successful in creating community value while delivering on mission.
Community Economic Development
The goal of the UW-Madison Extension Community Economic Development Program is to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for Wisconsin residents. Our purpose is rooted in working with community leaders by applying research and providing educational programming.
Programming topics include:
Community quality of life
Supporting new and small businesses
Downtown and business districts
Placemaking
Local Government Academy
Open to residents, the Local Government Academy provides a hands-on opportunity for residents to learn more about local government operations and services, widen community relationships, develop leadership skills, and identify opportunities to apply leadership skills in the community and within local government. Contact Steve Chmielewski, Community Development Educator, at steven.chmielewski@wisc.edu to learn more!
Upcoming Events
Spring 2024 Broadband Regional Workshops
This one-day workshop is Getting Ready for Broadband Equity, Access, and Development (BEAD) Funding: Permitting, Engagement and Learning from the Experience (March 22nd in Waterloo is one of nine statewide locations where the workshop is offered).
Who should attend?
– Elected officials, community leaders, staff, and volunteer committee members working on expanding access to broadband in their community.
– Organizations supporting broadband planning and expansion (school and library staff, regional economic development organizations, regional planning commissions, Extension educators, etc)
– Permitting authorities (WisDOT, DNR, Forest Service, Railroad, and more)
– Internet Service Providers
For more details and to register go here: https://economicdevelopment.extension.wisc.edu/2024/02/14/spring-2024-broadband-regional-workshops-agenda-and-registration/