Marquette to cohost 2021 International Town and Gown Association Conference May 24-26

MILWAUKEE — Marquette University President Michael R. Lovell and Dr. Xavier Cole, vice president for student affairs, will be a part of keynote presentations when Marquette co-hosts the International Town and Gown Association’s virtual 2021 City and University Relations Conference, “Innovating for Tomorrow, Together,” May 24-26.

The pandemic has impacted every aspect of life, including the symbiotic relationship between college campuses and the communities they engage. Solutions and recommendations for improving those connections are needed. The ITGA is the premier resource for addressing challenges, emerging issues and opportunities between and among institutions of higher education and the communities in which they reside.

Marquette is cohosting the conference with Visit Milwaukee, Near West Side Partners, MolsonCoors, a fellow anchor institution in the NWSP.

President Lovell will be joined on Monday, May 24, by residents of the Near West Side neighborhood and Near West Side Partners (NWSP) for the opening keynote, “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow — Coalescing partnerships to mutually strengthen what are perceived to be disparate communities.” Panelists will discuss the innovative NWSP collaboration, which came from a shared desire of community partners to address safety, business, health equity and housing challenges facing these historic neighborhoods located just west of Milwaukee’s downtown, and how this place-based model can be replicated in other communities.

On Wednesday, May 26, Cole will be a part of the day’s opening keynote panel discussion, “Bubbler Talk – Thirsting for Change.” This conversation will discuss how Milwaukee has become a city known for forging model partnerships and taking on complex social issues that affect the wellness of its diverse neighborhoods, as well as the challenges that many are facing in the wake of social unrest and a global pandemic.

On Tuesday, May 25, Nancy Hernandez, executive director of Hispanic Collaborative MKE and a Marquette trustee, will also be featured in a keynote presentation, “Milwaukee’s Renaissance: A Place for Everyone,” with Peter Feigin, president and CEO of the Milwaukee Bucks; Jeff Crawford of the Forest County Potawatomi Community; and Milwaukee District Attorney John Chisholm, in a conversation moderated by Tami Garrison of MolsonCoors.

For a complete listing of sessions, abstracts and speakers, visit the conference website. Media interested in attending a panel or speaking with a presenter should contact Kevin Conway, associate director of university communication, at kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.

Near West Side Partners, Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded through the support of five anchor institutions: Advocate Aurora Health Care, Harley-Davidson, Marquette University, MillerCoors and Potawatomi Business Development Corporation. Its mission is to revitalize and sustain the Near West Side as a thriving business and residential corridor, through collaborative efforts to promote economic development, improved housing, unified neighborhood identity and branding, and greater safety for residents and businesses.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.