DreamUp Wisconsin Leadership Team

The DreamUp WI Leadership Team is charged with reviewing & selecting the top 5 proposals that could help 10,000 Dane County families increase their net income by 10% by 2020.

Lawrence Berger

Address:
School of Social Work
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Lonnie Berger is Associate Vice Chancellor for Research in the Social Sciences, Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Social Work, and a former director of the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is engaged in studies in three primary areas: (1) examining the determinants of substandard parenting, child maltreatment, and out-of-home placement for children; (2) exploring associations among socioeconomic factors, parenting behaviors, and children’s care, development, and wellbeing; and (3) assessing the influence of public policies on parental behaviors and child and family well-being.

Rebecca Schwei

Address:
Institute for Research on Poverty
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Schwei, Research and Policy Coordinator at IRP, is responsible for publications and coordinates much of IRP’s work as the National Poverty Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Prior to joining IRP, Schwei worked for over 25 years in social services through various positions in direct service, government, and research organizations at the local, state, and national levels.

J. Michael Collins

Address:
Department of Consumer Science and La Follette School of Public Affairs
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Laura Dresser

Address:
Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work and Center on Wisconsin Strategy
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Brenda González

Address:
UniveCity Alliance
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Brenda González, Director of Community Relations, University of Wisconsin–Madison, works to ensure strong engagement with local community and nonprofit organizations. Previously, she worked as the diversity manager for Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care and as a community marketing and health equity manager for Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin. She also served as the health equity career development program manager with the Collaborative Center for Health Equity at the School of Medicine and Public Health.

Peng Her

Address:
Institute for Research on Poverty
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Her, an IRP Community Relations Coordinator, has worked with officials, residents, and service providers to remove barriers to success for 15 years. He helped establish Hmong American studies at UW–Madison and Edgewood College and was associate director of the Center for Resilient Cities. He is on the Morgridge Center Advisory board, Badger Rock Middle School board, and several other boards in the community.

Bridgit Van Belleghem

Address:
Institute for Research on Poverty
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Van Belleghem brings more than 10 years of experience in public service and outreach to her role as Community Relations Coordinator. She won several awards as a land use planner for Marin County, CA, and a senior planner at the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission in Dane County. Her background includes collaborative land use planning, public participation, communications, and events.