UW-Milwaukee and Marquette University have announced a partnership that will focus on poverty, its root causes and its subsequent effects on members of Milwaukee’s various communities. The effort is supported by the Johnson Controls Foundation.
The “President’s and Chancellor’s Challenge: A Crosstown Collaboration to Address Poverty” will provide funding for interdisciplinary teams of faculty, staff and students from Marquette and UWM to partner on innovative and collaborative work that represents critical areas in the community’s efforts to stem the rise of poverty. Partnerships with community organizations are highly encouraged.
The program will support two to three funded projects with budgets of up to $75,000 for an 18-month timeframe. Proposals should address one or more aspects within the following focuses, adapted from the indicators and monitoring framework for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network:
- Deprivation in nutrition, health care, education, safe drinking water and modern energy.
- Access to nutritious and affordable food, full and productive employment, safe and affordable housing, social protection, inclusive and equitable education, a functioning health system, transportation and internet.
- Additional areas of interest include household vulnerability to economic shocks and those posed by natural hazards, empowerment or psychological well-being, diverse talent development opportunities, violence, the justice system, financial literacy, sustainable wealth-building and homeownership.
“Poverty is a vexing societal issue that impacts more than an individual or family. Our entire community suffers,” UWM Chancellor Mark Mone said. “Putting our best and brightest together is one of the best ways that we can make a lasting difference in people’s lives.”
Marquette President Michael R. Lovell said: “There are many people and families in our community who live in poverty without access to basic needs and vital resources. The President’s Challenge was started to address the issues and concerns that our neighbors face.”
Information on submitting a proposal, as well as timelines and updates for the program, are available on the President’s and Chancellor’s Challenge website, hosted by Marquette’s Office of Research and Innovation.
The President’s Challenge was first announced by Marquette in 2018 through a partnership with the Johnson Controls Foundation. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the President’s Challenge has adapted to address immediate needs in the community through 2020’s President’s Challenge for COVID-19 Response and the President’s Challenge for Racial Justice and Equity Response in 2021.
