University of Wisconsin-River Falls
EN-10: Community Partnerships

Hope for Creation is a community group consisting of UW-River Falls, the City of River Falls, and several churches partnering to advance sustainability in the River Falls community and region. Mark Klapatch-Mathias represents the university and contributes to the partnership by serving on the leadership team for Hope for Creation. The mission of Hope for Creation is to create a hopeful, ecologically sustainable future for River Falls through collaboration, education, partnerships, advocacy, and action. Hope for Creation envisions a partnership with local organizations to acknowledge the urgency of environmental challenges and to seek ways to protect all Creation on Earth, our common home. UWRF signed a sustainability proclamation in 2022 sponsored by Hope for Creation that was a commitment to sustainable action. Other signees included the City of River Falls, the School District of River Falls, and the Chippewa Valley Technical College.

Hope for Creation is open to anyone and everyone. In terms of underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations, the majority of active members are 60+ years of age.

Outdoors For All is a new initiative focusing on access to green spaces and consists of two separate events. The first event on Wednesday, October 18th, was Outdoors for All: A Community Conversation about Nature, Health, and Equity. This interactive workshop discussed the importance of access to green spaces as we work to understand the physical, economic, and emotional barriers to spending time in nature. The week ended with TRAILS FOR ALL PEOPLE, a two-day workshop on October 19 and 20 that reviewed best management practices for inclusive planning, design, construction, and management of pedestrian trails usable by all people.

These were the initial events, with ongoing conversations occurring throughout 2023 and 2024. Grant funds are currently being pursued to continue these efforts.

As it relates to underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations, Outdoors For all included LGBTQ+ and BIPOC representation as well as individuals with disabilities. Videos from people in these populations were shared throughout the event and then people had the opportunities to engage with them throughout the workshop. As we move forward with this ongoing conversation, inclusion of underrepresented individuals and their needs will remain a key component.

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls partners with the City of River Falls and Hope for Creation to offer a green team training program. The inaugural cohort included teams from schools, the city, and churches. Future cohorts will be open to businesses as well.