— A psychology researcher at UW-Madison has developed a process for breaking racial bias habits that can help organizations improve their workplace culture.
William Cox, the principal investigator at the Cox Stereotyping and Bias Research Lab, teaches people to identify their biased automatic responses to certain situations, focusing on strategies to change those thoughts. He explained this process at a recent luncheon held by Madison Women in IP.
“People who become powerful agents of change — we can equip them with tools that lead to them making changes within themselves, other people and their organizations,” he said. “This individual-level change can become institutional change.”
Over 12 years of research, Cox has found that his multi-step process and toolkit works for individuals as well as institutions. He compares cognitive behavior therapy to meditation, except the subject is gaining skills and the effects of the therapy persist for years.
“Intervention participants show lasting increases in self-reported awareness of their potential to express bias unintentionally, concern that racial bias is a serious problem and noticing bias in culture and in others around them,” said Cox, adding they’re also more likely to take action or speak out against bias.
Cox often works with individuals who have unintentional individual biases.
“Unintentional bias is when bias persists among those who renounce prejudice, creating a personal dilemma,” he said. “It can operate in a direct contradiction to our conscious values and intentions.”
See more: http://www.wisbusiness.com/2020/using-cognitive-behavior-therapy-to-break-racial-bias-habits/
— The latest episode of “WisBusiness.com: The Show” spotlights Darcy Luoma, consultant and performance coach and the featured speaker at the Wisconsin Women’s Reception in Madison.
Also, Laura Kaiser presents Tech Metrics, which chart the top 10 growth centers outside of the East and West Coasts.
In a separate commentary, Tech Council President Tom Still talks about how state legislatures are trying to meet their goal of data privacy.
Watch the show here: http://www.wisbusiness.com/2020/wisbusiness-the-show-with-darcy-luoma/
— WEC Energy Group has announced plans to acquire an 80 percent stake in a new wind farm project in Illinois.
The Blooming Grove Wind Farm is being developed by Invenergy in McLean County, southwest of Chicago. WEC Energy Group will spend $345 million for 80 percent ownership in the project, which is slated to begin operation by the end of the year.
Through a number of utilities including We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service, Milwaukee-based WEC Energy Group provides services to 4.5 million customers in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois.
See the release: http://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wec-energy-group-to-acquire-80-ownership-in-blooming-grove-wind-farm-300993500.html
— A group of Democratic lawmakers has introduced a package of bills aimed at expanding broadband access in rural parts of the state.
The “Better Broadband” legislative package includes bills that would: invest $100 million in broadband expansions in Wisconsin; support grant allocation for expansions by the state Public Service Commission; prioritize farms for expansions of fiber optic broadband lines; and other changes.
“It’s past time for rural broadband expansion to be taken seriously after years of lagging behind other states,” Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, said in a statement.
In a separate release, Sen. Patty Schachtner, D-Somerset, notes 486,000 rural residents of the state lacked broadband access in 2019. She says small farms need reliable internet access to access the latest industry technologies.
Sen. Jeff Smith, D-Brunswick, says many constituents he speaks with “feel shortchanged” by companies that fail to deliver on promises of faster internet speeds.
“We must improve our program and invest if rural communities are going to join the digital age,” he said.
See more on the bill package at WisPolitics.com: http://www.wispolitics.com/category/press-releases/
— A new software application developed at UW-Milwaukee’s App Brewery is helping doctors collaboratively treat patients with brain cancer.
The NIMBLE app — which stands for Network for the Integrated Management of Brain Metastasis Linking Experts — was created by specialists in the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Network. Joseph Bovi is an associate professor with MCW, and Christopher Schultz is an MCW professor and chairman of the school’s radiation oncology department.
The tool they developed alongside UW-Milwaukee students will be rolled out early this year, according to a release, as part of a new multidisciplinary brain cancer treatment program.
In a statement, Bovi said people with cancers that have spread to the brain are living longer and leading better lives “due to developments in precision, image-guided radiation, targeted therapies and immunotherapies.” Still, he said these patients often can’t wait multiple days for treatment recommendations, because the disease can move so quickly.
He says the NIMBLE app provides easier access to experts and resources related to treating these cancers. He adds the app will support data-driven treatment strategies “delivered within hours as opposed to days.”
“We expect NIMBLE to make treatment options more accessible and to accelerate the treatment path for patients who need it,” Bovi said.
See more about the app: http://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/froedtert–the-medical-college-of-wisconsin-cancer-network-partners-with-uwm-app-brewery-for-brain-cancer-patients-300991398.html
— A new study from the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty predicts the state would generate $3.2 billion in new economic growth by expanding its school choice program.
WILL Research Director Will Flanders notes previous studies have shown students in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program are more likely to graduate from a four-year college than similar students attending a traditional public school.
In his model, increasing voucher enrollment at school choice programs in the state by 20 percent would lead to over 9,000 more college graduates over the next 20 years.
“Increased enrollment in Wisconsin’s parental choice programs could lead to more college graduates in certain fields, which has a ripple effect of higher lifetime earnings and more consumer spending,” he wrote.
The report estimates expanding school choice would lead to $280 million in economic benefit in Milwaukee, $100 million in Madison, $75 million in Green Bay, $60 million in Appleton and $24 million in La Crosse.
WILL is calling for lawmakers to raise income limits for students qualifying for school choice and eliminate enrollment caps at these schools.
Vice President Pence will visit the state today to speak at the Wisconsin School Choice Student Showcase at the Capitol.
See the full WILL study: http://www.will-law.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/will-ripple-effect-v3.pdf
— gBETA Madison is now accepting applications through Feb. 28 for its spring program.
The free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage companies with Madison roots is looking for five teams and requires no fees or equity.
Participating companies will receive individualized coaching and mentorship, introductions to the gener8tor network of successful entrepreneurs, angel investors, and venture capitalists, plus $1 million in deals and perks.
The program will begin March 12 and end May 1.
Apply here: http://www.gbetastartups.com/gbeta-madison-app
See more at Madison Startups: http://www.madisonstartups.com/apps-open-for-spring-gbeta-madison/
#TOP STORIES#
# Milwaukee Tool plans West Bend plant with 100 jobs
# Vos says Republicans could work with Democrats on dairy crisis proposals, but not yet
# Amazon planning delivery center on Milwaukee Street in Madison
# Children’s Wisconsin receives $15 million donation for mental health services
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Prehn re-elected chair of State Natural Resources Board
– Marinette County farm couple wins 67th State Outstanding Young Farmer Award
# ECONOMY
– Economic trends panelists say it’s time to adapt to climate change
# ENVIRONMENT
– Nominations being accepted for Leopold Conservation Award
# FINANCIAL SERVICES
– Christopher Piotrowski leaves chief marketing officer post at Associated Bank
# HEALTH CARE
– Ascension Wisconsin pledges $1 million to Racine Community Health Center
– To improve youth mental health, La Crosse project teaches community about the impact of trauma
# MANUFACTURING
– GM strike costs Strattec $7 million in second quarter
– Milwaukee Tool’s West Bend factory could have 100 employees by 2025
# REAL ESTATE
– Sofi Lofts project in Walker’s Point includes condo units, new garage addition
# RETAIL
– Small grocery store planned for city-owned site on West Lincoln Avenue in Milwaukee
– Festival Foods buys former Target store in Greenfield
– Explainer: What’s going on with the Madison Public Market?
# TOURISM
– Downtown Racine hotel, convention center project relocated, redesigned
# UTILITIES
– We Energies parent buying 80% stake in Illinois wind farm
– WEC Energy to invest $345M in Illinois wind farm
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82 </i>
WMC: Budget surplus should be returned to taxpayers
WPT: Property tax relief is an investment in Wisconsin small businesses and families
WMC: Gov. Evers’ Rural Prosperity Commission must focus on workforce
