Doing Well By Doing Good

Doing Well by Doing Good

What happens in Wisconsin if we get this right?

Madison — The Wisconsin Environmental Initiative (WEI) will host a free event on the evening of Tuesday Oct. 18 at the Wisconsin Union Theater on the UW-Madison campus. The event will be headlined by Joel Makower and retired Marine Col. Mark “Puck” Mykleby, co-authors of a newly published book “The New Grand Strategy: Restoring America’s Prosperity, Security and Sustainability in the 21st Century.”

With the lead-up to the 2016 election in mind, it’s time to move beyond the partisan rhetoric and carry out a visionary, yet realistic plan that leads to:

• More job creation and responsible economic development
• Energy security through clean, renewable sources
• Smarter, more affordable housing
• Food security and entrepreneurship
• Reduced social/economic disparities
• Colleges and universities as sustainability hubs

Additional benefits include: lowered crime, increased prosperity, more resilient cities, lower police costs, better public health, and reduced carbon emissions.

The Oct. 18 event will include a reaction panel and conversation among Wisconsin leaders focusing on themes from the book, including ways to spur market demand and innovations in real estate, infrastructure and walkable communities, regenerative agriculture and food-based entrepreneurs, and resource productivity — including innovations in health care, clean energy and advanced manufacturing. Confirmed speakers include:

• Dave Cieslewicz will anchor the focus on walkable communities and the importance of cities as a former Mayor for the City of Madison, his work on Smart Growth legislation and as Executive Director for 1000 Friends of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Bike Fed.
• Shilpa Sankaran, Executive Director for Net Zero Energy Coalition will focus on market transformation for social entrepreneurships in sustainable development, innovative housing models and the planned renovation of the Garver Feed Mill in Madison as a sustainable model for food entrepreneurs.
• Dr. Jeffrey Thompson, Executive Advisor & CEO Emeritus for Gundersen Health Systems, has led Gundersen’s nationally-recognized initiatives for patient care, quality improvement and sustainability.The Gundersen story told by Dr. Thompson best illustrates the promise and potential benefits of a New Grand Strategy focused on resource productivity, new business models and innovations in health care.
• Matt Howard, the first director of the Alliance for Water Stewardship-North America — a program of The Water Council, also served as Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s Sustainability Director from 2010 to 2015.  Matt will focus on resource productivity themes, including water sustainability and stewardship, regional clusters and his work as Milwaukee’s Sustainability Director.
• Paul Meier, a former Scientist at the Wisconsin Energy Institute, will showcase the energy JuiceBox to demonstrate a “what if” scenario for a clean energy future in Wisconsin, including highlights of the planned microgrid and advanced manufacturing center at Century City in Milwaukee.

Join a diverse group of leaders including top elected officials, state and local government staff, business and nonprofit leaders, UW representatives and other professionals in an important conversation about our future prosperity and sustainability.