Here are four 2023 community well-being projects to look forward to from Wello
Last month, Wello held its fourth annual Wello Well-Being Summit, served as a nonprofit partner for the Titletown Winter Games presented by U.S. Venture, and was a featured nonprofit for the 24-hour online giving event Give BIG Green Bay. All of this took place across a span of seven days.
As we catch our breath, we are incredibly grateful for our community’s support and eager to gear up for what is in store for the rest of 2023.
Here are just a few projects, initiatives, and celebrations we have in store in the coming months.
Growing Hmong farmers’ capacity
Last year ended with the news that we were the recipient of an Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Seed Grant through the Medical College of Wisconsin.
This grant will support a project that aims to increase participation in wholesale markets by Hmong farmers in northeastern Wisconsin by addressing gaps in training, knowledge of sustainable farming practices, technology and equipment use, and language barriers. This project also will pilot a mobile farmers market in the summer of 2023 focusing on foods from Hmong producers.
Wello will partner with the Asian American Resource Center and Seasonal Harvest LLC on this grant. Conversations with our participating Hmong farmers have begun, and we are learning about practices, strengths and needs as we identify opportunities to expand the channels to sell their local produce.
Expanding the Yield to Your Neighbor campaign
The Yield to Your Neighbor campaign is entering its third year promoting one simple action we can all take to make it safer and easier for all residents to move throughout Brown County — yield. Wello will continue our partnership with local law enforcement to bring Crosswalk Education and Enforcement, or “Frogger,” efforts to the community, share your stories of why you yield to your neighbors, and continue to offer Yield to Your Neighbor yard signs. (Email us at hello@wello.org if you would like to schedule a pickup of a free sign.)
Our newest avenue to help spread this message is through Yield to Your Neighbor magnets that will be visible on law enforcement vehicles thanks to a partnership with the Green Bay Police Department. You’ll start seeing these magnets on their vehicles leading up to our “Frogger” events this year.
RELATED:Wello's 'Frogger' crosswalk events remind all to yield to your neighbors on foot and on bikes
2023 Well-Being Survey
It’s a survey year for Wello. Starting July 15 and running through Aug. 31, residents of Brown County who are 18 years and older will be able to share how they are feeling about their health and well-being. The survey is available in English and Spanish and is anonymous.
This survey gives us a true and real-time picture of how residents of Brown County feel about their health and well-being in four domains — physical health, psychological (mental) health, social relationships and environments. This survey allows you to share your voice all while providing data that our elected leaders, businesses, nonprofits and health care systems can use to take action to address the needs expressed by you. Check out our 2021 survey results at wello.org/measure.
RELATED:Wello survey: Fewer Brown County residents report good health, a feeling of belonging here
Wello's fifth anniversary
While established in 2010, our organization rebranded in 2017. This fall, Wello will celebrate the five-year anniversary of this rebrand. Now while I’m not trying to rush through spring and summer before the warmer weather even arrives, we just want to put it on your radar that our anniversary will take place in October. We’ll share wins we have co-created with our partners and residents over this time as well as continue to reaffirm our mission to co-create the community conditions that are fair and just to drive high levels of health and well-being for all.
Mario Gonzalez is the communications and marketing manager for Wello. Wello's purpose is to co-create community conditions that are fair and just to drive high levels of health and well-being for all. Share your thoughts, questions and topic suggestions by emailing hello@wello.org.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Four 2023 community well-being projects to look forward to from Wello
