Connecting Across Sectors To Fight for a Cleaner Future in Wisconsin

On November 6, Undaunted joined education leaders, community partners, and advocates at the Forward Together Wisconsin Fall 2025 Convening. The event highlighted climate successes, educated stakeholders about funding opportunities through energy tax credits and Elective Pay, and reinforced the commitment to continue to work together for a cleaner future.

Undaunted's Midwest Regional Director, Kristen Hengtgen, moderated a breakout session on Sustainability for Public Schools, which included presenters Heather Feigum, Executive Director of Facilities Management at CESA10, Jeff Wright, Superintendent of Sauk Prairie School District, Chelsea Malacara, Sustainability Project Specialist in Milwaukee Public Schools, and Marva Gill Herndon, Milwaukee Board of School Directors Vice President. Panelists discussed the importance of investing in sustainable, energy-efficient schools, engaging communities in decision-making, and the need for equitable support to ensure all students benefit from energy efficiency projects.

To close out the day, Kristen spoke on the final plenary, sharing how we can take our learnings, ideas, and inspiration from the day to collaborate on a collective call to action for a cleaner future. Kristen uplifted inspiring work happening in Green Bay Area Public School District, which has a clean energy benchmark goal of 100% carbon neutrality by 2050, and Waunakee Community School District, which recently received a $1,044,188 reimbursement from the IRS for clean energy technologies installed at two schools.

Also on the plenary were Kevin Kane, Chief Economist and co-founder of Green Homeowners United, Russell Knudson, Principal Engineer at HGA, and Skylar Harris, Climate Justice Fellow at Midwest Environmental Advocates. Each presenter talked about opportunities for action: Kevin, on cutting emissions in residential buildings; Russel, on designing sustainable and resilient commercial buildings, and Skylar, on the Wisconsin youth suing the Public Service Commission and the Legislature for unconstitutional laws that prioritize fossil fuel projects over their lives, health, and safety.

We were inspired by the success stories in the state and the cross-sector collaboration in the room, and look forward to continuing to partner with school districts doing this work. 

Check out the FTW 2025 Plenary Slides to learn more.