Advancing Rural Wisconsin - Intercultural Leadership Initiative Lakeland Union High School, Minocqua, Wisconsin; Award Presentation

Awards Recognize Efforts of Rural Schools, Communities, and Libraries

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster presented her first Standing Up for Rural Schools, Communities, and Libraries awards on March 9 during the annual Small Schools Conference in Wisconsin Rapids.

The awards recognize the efforts of Wisconsin rural communities that have advocated for their schools, libraries, and way of life at a time when many are threatened by difficult financial challenges. "We have strong schools because of the capable teachers and administrators, engaged business and community leaders, and active parents working together to keep schools strong," Burmaster said.

Lakeland Union high school intercultural leadership initiative: Michael Dailey, Lakeland Union high school; State Superintendent Burmaster; Bob Kovar, Lakeland Union high school

An award was presented to:

Intercultural Leadership Initiative
Lakeland Union High School
Minocqua, Wisconsin

The mission of the Intercultural Leadership Initiative (ILI) is to alleviate racial tensions and violence as a means to promote increased academic achievement for American Indian students in Wisconsin's high schools. ILI accomplishes this by bringing American Indian students and their peers together for facilitated sessions that promote cultural understanding, conflict resolution and a fair representation of community histories through inter-cultural experiences at the grade school level.

ILI started with 10 students in 1998 as a proactive solution to years of racial tension at Lakeland Union High School (LUHS). LUHS decided to provide leadership, guidance and advocacy for the Intercultural Leadership Initiative as a comprehensive approach to alleviating these tensions. Additionally, appreciation for cultural diversity allows many students to understand the strength of the participating school communities. This strategy has helped ILI grow to serve more than 600 students today. The ILI/LUHS partnership also inspired our local communities to step through the same door, leading to new dialogues and efforts between old adversaries and neighbors who mistrusted one another for many years.

For questions about this information, contact dpifin@dpi.wi.gov (608) 267-9114

Last updated on 8/30/2005 1:13:00 PM