Join our monthly Food for Thought discussion with Amber Wichowsky, Associate Professor at the La Follette School of Public Affairs, on the science of civil dialogue. Drawing on lessons from the school's "Main Street Agenda" project, Amber will explore how the design, expectations, and purpose of a forum directly impact how folks show up and why this matters for municipal leaders.

Join our monthly Food for Thought discussion with Amber Wichowsky, Associate Professor at the La Follette School of Public Affairs. We’re also pleased to welcome Jake Woodford, Mayor of Appleton, and Emily Berge from the Eau Claire City Council. In this closing session of our series, we will focus on turning insight into action by exploring practical strategies for fostering civil dialogue in real municipal settings. Building on lessons from the La Follette School of Public Affairs, we’ll analyze how these lessons can be applied to the lived experience of our municipal leaders to navigate challenging conversations with civility.

Join us for the March Food for Thought session, where we'll dig into one of the most pressing and evolving challenges facing Wisconsin's law enforcement agencies: police liability and the role of sound policy in managing risk. From rising settlement costs to the ever-changing legal landscape, municipal leaders and police administrators need to understand the exposure their agencies face, and what they can do about it. Join us as Chief Torin Misko (Village of Hartland, WILEAG President) and Remzy Bitar (League Insurance Counsel) discuss the evolving landscape of police liability, Wisconsin's statutory policy requirements, and the practical steps administrators can take to protect their agencies.

Municipal services rely on skilled teams working behind the scenes to maintain infrastructure, respond to issues, and deliver consistent, reliable service. This session offers a grounded look at both Public Works and Water Utility operations, with a focus on the staff who make it happen. Leaders from each area will share insights into daily operations, workforce realities, and the coordination required across functions. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how these teams operate and what support they need from leadership.

Local governments are increasingly using social media to engage residents. This training walks municipal officials and staff through the key laws governing government social media use, including the First Amendment, the open meetings law, and the public records law. Don't let legal uncertainty keep your municipality off the platforms where residents are already talking. Know the rules before you hit post and engage your residents with confidence.

Each year, Wisconsin municipalities welcome newly elected and appointed officials into their roles, and the purpose of this webinar is to bring together recent officeholders to share their experiences, insights, and lessons learned during those critical first months in office. Please join us to hear from officials who have recently stepped into their positions, and to learn what it truly takes to navigate municipal leadership in today's environment.

Tax Increment Financing 101: From Concept to Creation: Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a powerful economic development tool that helps Wisconsin municipalities encourage growth and investment. This webinar provides an introduction to how TIF works, including district creation, financing options, eligible project costs, and key legal requirements. Participants will also learn best practices for managing TIF districts, avoiding common challenges, and positioning their communities for long-term success.

Join us for the monthly edition of our Food for Thought Series

Join us for the monthly edition of our Food for Thought Series

Transparency vs. Communication: Building Public Trust Through Better Engagement Why do residents often perceive a lack of transparency, when the real challenge is often ineffective communication? This session covers how to communicate proactively before issues become controversies, practical ways to reach stakeholders where they are through the channels they actually use, and how well-planned public meetings with strong facilitation and respectful decorum help keep the focus on the message. Conversely, poorly managed meetings and disruptive behavior can distract from important information, diminish public trust, and undermine even the most transparent decision-making process.