University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
PAE-19: Community Sustainability Partnerships

Several notable sustainability partnerships include: Growing Power: A national nonprofit organization and land trust supporting people from diverse backgrounds, and the environments in which they live, by helping to provide equal access to healthy, high-quality, safe and affordable food for people in all communities. Growing Power provides service learning assignments for UWM students and is developing closely with the UWM School of Social Welfare's Institute for Urban Agriculture and Nutrition. Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District: MMSD is a regional government agency that provides water reclamation and flood management services for about 1.1 million customers in 28 communities in the Greater Milwaukee Area. MMSD serves 411 square miles that cover all, or segments of six watersheds. As a national leader in wastewater treatment and regional leader in watershed protection the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is committed to carrying out its mission through policies, practices and programs that focuses on environmental, economic and social sustainability for current and future generations. By embracing sustainability as an overall core value and operational philosophy, the MMSD can focus its’ services and processes to preserve the natural environment and reduce the amount of consumption, waste and emissions generated. UWM has partnered with MMSD on multiple green infrastructure planning and implementation projects on the UWM campus. MMSD, the City of Milwaukee, and UWM's School of Architecture and Urban Planning have partnered on an in depth planning process for the sustainable development of Milwaukee's Inner Harbor. The Gathering: The mission of The Gathering is to provide meals and associated services or programs to those who would otherwise go hungry or without. Late summer in 2010 saw the formation of the Fresh Produce Preservation Project focusing on preserving excess donated produce received during the growing season for use in winter meals. UWM Cultures and Communities grant allowed for a collaboration with The Gathering. The Conservation and Environmental Sciences' permaculture course and the UWM Food and Garden Club are growing food and educating each other on food gardening and preservation for The Gathering's programs. UW-Milwaukee partners with numerous non-profit agencies, governmental offices, public and private schools to fulfill its civic mission. The Center for Community-Based Learning, Leadership and Research provides an excellent list of community partners at http://www4.uwm.edu/community/community/partners.cfm.