Learning and Events

WPP Grant Partner: Great Rivers Hub

Monday, April 7, 2025, 9– 11 a.m. CDT
Western Technical College, Lunda Center, Conference Hall East
333 7^th St. N. La Crosse, WI 54601

During this session, Great Rivers Hub director Lindsey Purl will share her team’s experiences working with partners to improve maternal health in the La Crosse area and through their WPP-funded project Improving Maternal and Child Health Outcomes through Great Rivers HUB and Community Health Worker/Doula Workforce Expansion. Attendees will also:

• Gain ideas on establishing and maintaining partnerships
• Learn about upcoming WPP community grant funding opportunities
• Meet the WPP team and network with community partners

Register for the LaCrosse event

Presenter

Lindsey Purl was hired as the director of Great Rivers Hub, a Pathways Community HUB model, in April 2017. Lindsey earned her master’s degree in public health-health policy and administration from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2017. She earned a bachelor’s degree in community health education and exercise sport science from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2011. Before her role as the director for Great Rivers HUB, she gained extensive experience working with at-risk populations and in non-profit program development. As a mom of two girls, Lindsey is personally invested in maternal child health.

WPP Grant Partners: Biehl Bridges to Recovery and UW–Madison Division of Extension

Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 9:30–11:30 a.m. CDT
Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center
1315 Lime Kiln Road, Green Bay, WI 54311

During this session, representatives from Biehl Bridges to Recovery, located in Marinette, Wisconsin, and UW–Madison Division of Extension will share their experiences working together to improve health through the WPP-funded initiative Advancing Health Equity through Economic Stabilization within the Recovery Community. Attendees will also:

• Gain ideas on establishing and maintaining partnerships
• Learn about upcoming WPP community grant funding opportunities
• Meet the WPP team and network with community partners

Register for the Green Bay event

Presenters

Meghan Rutherford is a Marinette native and has served as the project director at Biehl Bridges to Recovery for three years. Meghan is a certified social worker, graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in 2010, with over 15 years of non-profit experience and a passion for her community. She has served as the primary grant manager for federal, state and local grants for three years. Meghan believes that all people have worth and value and it is her goal to help each person she comes across to find their value, worth and joy.

Jen Park-Mroch, PhD is the health and well-being state specialist and is Principal Investigator of the Great Lakes ROTA-RC, Health & Well-Being Institute, UW-Madison Division of Extension and serves as the WPP academic partner for Recovery Friendly Workplaces, Marinette (led by Biehl Bridges for Recovery).

WPP Grant Partners: United Community Center, UW-Milwaukee and Aging and Disability Resource Centers

Thursday, April 10, 2025, 9–11 a.m. CDT
UW-Parkside Student Center
900 Wood Rd, Kenosha, WI (Parking in Lot A Molinaro Hall/Student Center Lot – more details forthcoming)

During this session, representatives from United Community Center (UCC), UW-Milwaukee and the Kenosha and Racine Aging & Disability Resources Centers will share their experiences working together to improve health in Southeastern Wisconsin through the WPP-funded initiative The Latino Dementia Regional Consortium. You will also:

• Gain ideas on establishing and maintaining an academic partnership
• Learn about upcoming WPP community grant funding opportunities
• Meet the WPP team and network with community partners

Register for the Kenosha event

Presenters

Al (Alberto) Castro, MS, BSW, is the program director of the Community Health & Research Department at the United Community Center, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he has served in several leadership roles since 1994. Mr. Castro manages community-engaged health research projects and serves as the primary liaison or co-principal investigator in community health and research projects within the Latino population of greater Milwaukee in collaboration with local research universities and other organizations.  

Mr. Castro is currently helping to lead the dementia care initiative, the Latino Dementia Health Regional Consortium, to establish a four-county regional consortium of community partnerships from Racine, Kenosha, Waukesha and Milwaukee service organizations. The program is designed to expand the use of telehealth services to improve access to timely and culturally appropriate Spanish-based dementia screening, diagnosis care and supportive/educational services for Latinos in the southeastern region of Wisconsin.  

Melinda S. Kavanaugh, PhD, LCSW, is a professor of social work and a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), with clinical expertise in health care professional education and caregiving research across neurological disorders. Funded by federal, state and non-profit organizations, Dr. Kavanaugh is an international leader in program development, including YCare, a caregiving skills and support protocol for young carers supporting those with ALS, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury in the military and veteran communities.  

Dr. Kavanaugh’s research is community engaged, partnering with organizations across Wisconsin, developing targeted, community engaged programs and support. Additionally, Dr. Kavanaugh’s research informed a series of books for children, young adults, families and schools, including a graphic novel translated into 11 languages. Dr. Kavanaugh is also president of Global Neuro YCare, an international nonprofit focused on developing language and culturally accessible programs and supports for health care professionals, children, youth and families in neurological disorders around the globe, including the animated short film “LUKi & the Lights,” helping children and families understand and talk about ALS/MND. 

Linda Noyce is an experienced leader in library and social services with a passion for empowering individuals through access to information and community resources. With a Master of Arts in Library and Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, she has dedicated her career to fostering learning, mentorship and connection. As the information access and assistance manager at Kenosha Area Family & Aging Services, Inc., Linda is committed to enhancing public access to vital resources and strengthening community outreach. Her expertise spans program management, public speaking and team leadership, making her a dynamic force in community engagement. 

Agnes Rodriguez, MSS, serves as the director of aging and disability programs at United Community Center in Milwaukee, where she oversees the Latino Geriatric Center (Adult Day Center and Memory Clinic), senior center, senior living facilities, transportation program and the family care program-care management unit. Agnes has over a decade of care management experience and enjoys working for the elderly and adults with physical, developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families.  

Agnes holds a bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology from University of Puerto Rico and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. 

Diane Rogstad is the outreach and marketing supervisor for the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Racine County (ADRC). With over 25 years of experience in the field of long term care in Wisconsin, she promotes, facilitates and organizes community education and advocacy. She represents the ADRC in various capacities to enhance the lives of older adults, adults with disabilities and caregivers.