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
Current Programs
Southeastern Wisconsin Housing Summit
A regional convening that brings together local officials, practitioners, and community members to explore housing needs, share data and practices, and identify collaborative solutions to housing challenges affecting southeastern Wisconsin.
May 7, 2026
Zoofari Conference Center, Milwaukee, WI
Register
Wisconsin Rural Entrepreneurial Venture (REV) Program
A hands‑on program supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners as they explore, launch, or strengthen ventures that contribute to rural and community vitality.
Real Colors®
Interactive workshops that help participants understand personality styles to improve communication, teamwork, and leadership effectiveness. These sessions are well suited for community groups, organizations, boards, and workplaces.
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 Designed to Support the 2023-2033 Strategic Plan Priorities of Jefferson County:
Diverse Housing Opportunities
Goal 1: Encourage and promote thoughtful planning, diversity, and density in housing stock.
Goal 2: Increase attainable housing options and all price points.
Goal 3: Plan for the impacts of housing.
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
May 7th, 2026 – Southeastern Wisconsin Housing Summit
UW–Madison Division of Extension invites community members, local organizations, and regional partners to the Southeastern Wisconsin Housing Summit—a collaborative event focused on strengthening housing opportunities across a 10‑county region in southeastern Wisconsin.
This full‑day summit will bring together voices from across the region to explore current housing data, learn practical strategies, and share community‑driven approaches for addressing local housing needs. Participants will gain tools and insights to help build stronger, more resilient communities.
Organizations interested in sponsoring the event or hosting a resource table are encouraged to contact us at steven.chmielewski@wisc.edu.
This event is open to all. The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law. You may request an interpreter, materials in an alternative language and/or format, and/or other services to make this event more accessible. Contact oaic@extension.wisc.edu. Make your request 25 days before the event. There is no added cost to you for these services.
Learn more and register: https://go.wisc.edu/housingsummit
