La Follette Forum

When the government is creating policies that help the public, does the public even notice? The annual La Follette Forum, hosted by the La Follette School of Public Affairs at UW-Madison, focuses on the conjunction of how services are delivered and trust in government. Panel discussions featuring speakers from government, nonprofits and academia are joined by keynotes from former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card (George W. Bush administration) and professor and journalist Melissa Harris-Perry (host of public radio program The Takeaway — controversially just canceled by WNYC). It's free and open to the public; find a detailed schedule and registration at lafollette.wisc.edu.

media release: At the fourth annual La Follette Forum, public management experts will address how government response and services can strengthen American trust in government.

Register

This event is free and open to the public. A livestream will be available

The conference will include two keynote speeches, small-group discussions over lunch, and three 90-minute sessions on a variety of issues, with subject-area expert presenters and Wisconsin-based panelists engaging in solution-based discussions. Each session will include an audience Q&A.

Recordings of each session will be available to watch after the event on the La Follette School’s YouTube channel.

This event is generously funded by the Kohl Initiative and chaired by Public Affairs Professor Manuel Teodoro.

2023 La Follette Forum Advisory Committee

David Haynes, IdeasLab Editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Rob Henken, CEO, Wisconsin Policy Forum

Benoy Jacob, Director of the Community Development Institute, UW Division of Extension

Cavalier Johnson, Mayor, City of Milwaukee

Kirsten Johnson, Health Commissioner and Chair-elect of Wisconsin Public Health Association, City of Milwaukee

Mike Koles, Executive Director, Wisconsin Towns Association

Bob Lang, Director, Legislative Fiscal Bureau

Jeff Mayers, President, WisPolitics.com

Julia Taylor, Former President, Greater Milwaukee Committee

Liliana Teniente, Secretary, La Follette School Student Association

Becky Valcq, Chair, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin

Dawn Vick, Division of Intergovernmental Relations Administrator, Wisconsin State Tribal Relations Initiative

Curt Witynski, Deputy Executive Director, League of Wisconsin Municipalities