Chippewa Valley Leaders to host Partnership Summit addressing regional economic pressures

University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension educators from Chippewa, Dunn, and Eau Claire Counties have announced a collaborative regional event designed to break down professional silos and address the complex challenges facing the Chippewa Valley. The "2026 Partnership Summit: Building a Unified Strategy" will be held on Friday, May 29, 2026, at the Market on River in Chippewa Falls. 

The summit aims to move beyond emergency response and toward a long-term, coordinated strategy for regional stability. Community leaders, nonprofit managers, and public sector employees are encouraged to register HERE.

The morning session will feature a keynote presentation by Dr. Sarah Halpern-Meekin, Vaughan Bascom Professor of Women, Family and Community and Director of the Institute for Research on Poverty at UW-Madison. Alongside a panel of local experts, Dr. Halpern-Meekin will present data on how issues like housing, childcare, food insecurity, and transportation intersect to impact the economic health of local families. 

In the afternoon, the summit will transition to "Open Space Technology," a unique meeting format that allows participants to build their own agenda. This approach is designed to facilitate community dialogue on cross-issue solutions, moving away from isolated "silos" and toward geographic cooperation. 

Margo Dieck, a Health and Well-Being Educator for Extension and summit organizer, emphasized the urgency of this collaborative approach. 

"While organizations in the community weathered the fall 2025 SNAP withholding, record-high gas prices are putting new pressures on families in our community as they balance getting to work and paying bills," said Dieck. "Many folks live in one community, have childcare in another, and work in a third. We have to work across these geographic and professional boundaries to find real solutions." 

Registration for the summit is free and includes lunch provided by the Menomonie Market Food Co-op. Because space at the venue is limited, organizers request that participants register by May 22. 

About UW-Madison Extension: The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides statewide access to university resources and research. Extension educators work in every Wisconsin county to help individuals, families, and communities thrive through practical education.

Media release.