Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies

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Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies The CommNS is a hub for faculty, students, professionals, and community partners to collaborate on work that affects communities and the nonprofit sector.

The CommNS provides research and project support to UW faculty, students, and various community organizations to further collaboration on important community based work. The CommNS also sponsors various events throughout the year, including 'Brown Bag' presentations of relevant community topics by expert faculty and presenters and the Communiversity Lecture series. Serving as an inter-disciplinary hub, the CommNS works to create partnerships in the civic and nonprofit sector to expand the scope of applied research.

Calling all storytellers! We are less than a week away from the first Badger Stories for Civic Health workshop. Join us ...
10/09/2026

Calling all storytellers! We are less than a week away from the first Badger Stories for Civic Health workshop. Join us next Tuesday, October 13th, and learn to craft your personal story from professional storytellers, including Wisconsin’s former Poet Laureate, Dasha Kelly. Space is limited, so sign up for the workshop time that works best for you here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHPYCRSbvJYJRsBDn8du82bexpIEtuXTY8faHVBWiK9Jrjhw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=102299344018315441800 as soon as you can.

Discover how to use your words to connect and share your unique perspective, an important experience, or your community. Can't make the October 13th session? There will be three more in-person, 90-minute workshops to practice your skills throughout October and November. There is also an opportunity to share what you learn at a culminating showcase event this November at the historic Majestic Theatre!

This opportunity is made possible by the Wisconsin Exchange Program from the UW-Madison Chancellor’s Office and is organized by the UW-Madison Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies to leverage the power of storytelling from a variety of UW-Madison students’ perspectives to build understanding and connection across our campus community and beyond!

Join the CommNS next week for our CommUniversity Session: Updates on Early Childhood Programming and Impacts on Our Huma...
10/08/2026

Join the CommNS next week for our CommUniversity Session: Updates on Early Childhood Programming and Impacts on Our Human Ecology.

This session will explore current issues impacting early childhood care in Wisconsin and across the U.S., as well as the implications for families and careers in the field.

Hear from featured speaker, Paula Drew, Director of ECE Policy & Research at the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA), along with additional human ecology perspectives.

Thursday, October 15
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Nancy Nicholas Hall, Room 1199 or attend virtually: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/97986478857

Wisconsin Early Childhood Association
UW-Madison School of Human Ecology

Join us for an evening of networking, conversation, and learning at this semester's CommNS Connect!Connect and share abo...
09/29/2026

Join us for an evening of networking, conversation, and learning at this semester's CommNS Connect!

Connect and share about your work with nonprofit professionals, alumni, and students interested in working in the purpose-driven sector.

Appetizers and beverages will be provided! All are welcome!

October 15th, 2026
4:30-6:30PM
School of Human Ecology Room 1199

RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe7QCgbziLGFsu64jFBZgvufT63RoMSpnd9PBWCtTPrWPxwZQ/viewform

UW-Madison School of Human Ecology

Calling all storytellers! Join Badger Stories for Civic Health and learn to craft your personal story from professional ...
09/17/2026

Calling all storytellers! Join Badger Stories for Civic Health and learn to craft your personal story from professional storytellers, including Wisconsin’s former Poet Laureate Dasha Kelly.

Discover how to use your words to connect and engage civically in your community. Choose one of four in-person, 90-minute workshops to practice your skills. There is also an opportunity to share what you learn at a culminating showcase this November at the historic Majestic Theatre!

Space is limited, so sign up for the workshop time via the registration form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHPYCRSbvJYJRsBDn8du82bexpIEtuXTY8faHVBWiK9Jrjhw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=102299344018315441800 and on our website as soon as you can!

The CommNS is excited to announce our second Community Fellow: Regina McConnell, Executive Director of the East Madison ...
09/17/2026

The CommNS is excited to announce our second Community Fellow: Regina McConnell, Executive Director of the East Madison Community Center (EMCC). Regina will serve as the Community Fellow for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Regina serves as the Executive Director of the East Madison Community Center, where she brings more than 17 years of rich experience in community-based organizations, including time at Ridge Lake Point Waunona Neighborhood Center, Neighborhood House Community Center, and Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. She also brings experience as an educator in the United States and internationally, a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, and enjoys attending and volunteering with community programs across Dane County. She is a two-time recipient of Dane County’s Friends of Joining Forces for Families Award and a member of the Rotary Club of Madison. Throughout her career, Regina has focused on creating opportunities and building partnerships that strengthen the well-being and self-sufficiency of children, youth, adults, and families.

We are ecstatic to begin this collaboration and look forward to sharing more news about our work with Regina throughout the academic year!

Thank you again to our inaugural Community Fellow, Nydia Martinez. We will share more about this collaboration with Nydia soon!

Don't forget to join us next week for our first Fall 2026 CommUniversity Session!Learn from professionals working at the...
09/11/2026

Don't forget to join us next week for our first Fall 2026 CommUniversity Session!

Learn from professionals working at the intersection of business, community, and purpose-driven work during our panel discussion on Careers in Corporate Social Responsibility-- Current Updates and Illustrations from the Field.

We'll hear from Jenny Vaughan, CommNS Advisory Board member with 20+ years of experience in global development and advising on corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and human rights initiatives for Fortune 500 companies, and Jeff Jones, Global Environmental Sustainability Manager at Abbott Cancer Diagnostics (formerly Exact Sciences), along with additional perspectives from the field.

All are welcome!

Thursday, September 17th
11:30am - 12:00pm Open networking and pizza
12:00pm - 1:30pm CommUniversity Session

Nancy Nicholas Hall, Room 1199 or attend virtually https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/97986478857

Kick off the new academic year with pizza, networking, and community!Students, faculty, staff, and friends are invited t...
09/08/2026

Kick off the new academic year with pizza, networking, and community!

Students, faculty, staff, and friends are invited to connect over pizza and hear from professionals working at the intersection of business, community, and purpose-driven work at our first CommUniversity session of the Fall 26 semester: Careers in Corporate Social Responsibility -- Current Updates and Illustrations from the Field!

All are welcome!

Thursday, September 17th

11:30 am- 12:00 pm Open networking and pizza

12:00 pm- 1:30 pm CommUniversity session

Nancy Nicholas Hall Room 1199 or attend virtually: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/97986478857

UW-Madison School of Human Ecology

While misinformation, disinformation, and media manipulation have always been a challenge to civic health, the current d...
09/01/2026

While misinformation, disinformation, and media manipulation have always been a challenge to civic health, the current digital media landscape presents acute threats to civic health and democracy, and can create toxic polarization! How can we engage with media responsibly and thoughtfully, for positive civic engagement?

Join us for a workshop of the Fostering Online Resilience and Understanding Media for Students (FORUMS) for Civic Health program. All are welcome! Learn more and sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/FORUMS-sign-up

Initial virtual sessions will be held on: September 9th 3:30-5:30pm and September 10th 9:30-11:30am.

Want to do more? You can be a FORUMS Facilitator by joining one of our training sessions and then working with us to set up a workshop of your own with your peers or students. Fill out the interest form to participate or facilitate: https://tinyurl.com/FORUMS-sign-up

UW-Madison School of Human Ecology Urban Rural Action

Have you signed up for the Wisconsin Civic Health Challenge yet?As part of the Wisconsin Civic Health Challenge, we are ...
08/04/2026

Have you signed up for the Wisconsin Civic Health Challenge yet?

As part of the Wisconsin Civic Health Challenge, we are hosting weekly mini-workshops that will help participants build skills around key civic health themes. Join other Civic Health champions around the state and experts in our key areas for these educational and participatory workshops.

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/dm8aLaA6tHmBRuku8

Address

Nancy Nicholas Hall 1300 Linden Drive
Madison, WI
53706

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 7am - 5pm

Telephone

+16082653616

Website

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