Good Works

Preserving prairie lands In today’s world of rapidly changing landscapes, where concrete and steel often take precedence over green fields and blue skies, The Prairie Enthusiasts stand firm and committed as ever to maintaining the driftless region’s ecological diversity, which sometimes seems teetering on the edge of memory. Their work is crucial because preserving prairie […]

WWBIC provides resources to build equity, self-sufficiency For nearly 40 years, the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation has been opening doors for those overlooked by traditional financial systems. Focusing on women, people of color, veterans, and individuals in rural or low-wealth communities, WWBIC provides access to financial capital and educational resources to build equity, economic […]

YWCA La Crosse’s Laurie Cooper Stoll a lifelong activist As executive director of YWCA La Crosse, Laurie Cooper Stoll champions the elimination of racism, the empowerment of women, and peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. But creating that world requires dismantling deeply entrenched societal structures and beliefs, a complex and enduring task. Cooper Stoll […]

Women’s Fund of Greater La Crosse embodies social capital In many ways, the Women’s Fund of Greater La Crosse embodies social capital. For 25 years, the organization has been working to address some of the most pressing challenges facing women and girls in the region — all through relationships with donors and strategic partners. Both […]

League of Women Voters show the power of social capital Even after 100-plus years, the League of Women Voters still exemplifies the resilience and collaboration of the suffrage movement that gave it life. Suffrage trailblazers deftly employed social capital, aligning with abolitionists to champion voting rights and racial equality. This legacy of unity and action […]

Building a supportive community for diverse students As assistant director of retention at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Reg Hawkins plays a critical role in guiding multicultural students toward a successful college journey. Through the Multicultural Student Services office, he oversees two widely tested, high-impact programs to build a supportive community for diverse students, ensuring […]

Community engagement, inclusivity at core of business model As the founder of Melanin Beauty Bar, Choya Woods has created a space not just for beauty services but also as a hub for community engagement and support. Woods’s approachable personality and background in performance arts make her a natural at connecting with people. And she does […]

Children’s books to capture La Crosse Black history stories Since 2018, the Enduring Families Project, founded by Denise Christy Moss and Rebecca Mormann-Krieger, has worked to build a more cohesive multicultural community by bringing to life the stories of African Americans in the early days of La Crosse, Wisconsin. The Enduring Families Project performs monologues […]

Every month is Black History Month For Northside Elementary social worker and family man Walfsty Pierre, every month is Black History Month. Pierre, who juggles his professional duties with active participation in community events celebrating diversity, is deeply involved in La Crosse’s Juneteenth festival and the Enduring Families Project. His journey with these initiatives began […]

Program builds social capital to attract, retain talent In today’s competitive job market, where workforce shortages are increasingly prevalent, innovative talent attraction and retention strategies are crucial. One effective way to accomplish that is through developing social capital — a concept the First Friend program at the Greater La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce is […]