OUR COMMUNITY

Community Feature Archives

Learn about the events, nonprofits, and projects from our past community features. To read our current community feature, click here.

December 2025: Education

What comes to mind when you think about the word education? Does it make you think back to your school days? Maybe you think about your children’s school experiences. Maybe you’re a student yourself right now! Yeah, you’re right! School is absolutely a big part of education, and there’s so much more to it as well.

Knowledge is power. Education transforms lives and can break the cycle of poverty—sometimes for an entire family in a single generation. Whether providing children with reading, writing, and sensory exposures when their brains are quickly developing or helping adults obtain equal access to higher education, scholarships, mentorships, and networks, we view education as taking place both in and out of the classroom. We support education efforts that are nimble, adaptable, and transferable across generations to come.

When we at Pablo Foundation bring up education, we’re talking about public schools, universities, museums, libraries, health education, summer camps, youth empowerment, technology training for seniors, advocacy, family time, and so many more core parts of our community. However education has impacted your life, it likely informs a huge part of who you are. If you do any sort of work in education, please pick one or more of the following questions to answer in the comments.

Why did you get into working in education in the first place? (The text is accompanied by a picture of multiple colored pencils across the color spectrum.)

What have you enjoyed most about working in education throughout your career? (The text is accompanied by a photograph of a biracial educator working with young children who are counting on their fingers.)

Whatever your role is, tell us about a time you felt really appreciated as an educator. (The text is accompanied by a photograph of a bearded Black educator smiling in conversation with a white young adult.)

The news outlet Education Week announced its word of the year for 2025 as “dismantle” due to the extreme efforts at the federal level to dismantle education oversight, funding, and programs related to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Based on your experiences, what is your word of the year for education? (The text is accompanied by a washed out photograph of an empty classroom with harsh lighting and empty blackboards in the front of the room.)

How would you like to see education transform and progress in our shared community? (The text is accompanied by a photograph of a multi-ethnic group of elementary school students jumping with glee down the steps of a school while wearing backpacks.)

November 2025: Housing

Every single one of us and our neighbors deserves housing. But right now we are failing to meet that need as a community. Even if you make 100% of the median area income, you cannot afford a home in Eau Claire. A family of four making the area median income for a four-person family cannot afford a three-bedroom home. In the 2024-2025 school year alone, 336 students experienced homelessness during the academic year in the Eau Claire Area School District. From 2023 to 2024, there was a 20% increase in overall homelessness and a 40% increase in family homelessness nationwide.

In Eau Claire, 50% of our housing is occupied by one person. These individuals are mostly seniors continuing living in family-sized homes. These homes are difficult to maintain for many seniors, and they aren’t particularly accessible. Why are so many seniors staying in homes that are unable to meet their needs? Because they don’t have an affordable alternative.

None of us can do this alone. We know it takes the whole community. We know we can figure this out together. We talked with area housing leaders and asked them to give us their take on what housing in Eau Claire looks like. Here’s what they told us.

“Eau Claire’s housing landscape is stretched thin, especially for families with children. I trust our community’s commitment to collaboration to create real progress when we pair empathy with action. More families face complex barriers with fewer affordable options. Eau Claire’s strong partnerships can open real pathways to stability.” - Semone Thomas, Family Promise of the Chippewa Valley Executive Director

“We know that providing people safe and secure housing first is the most evidence-based, economically sound, and trauma-informed model for treating homelessness. Eau Claire organizations have come together to collaborate but continue to fund short-term resources that extend gaps in services. We need to focus efforts on what works- building relationships with property owners and creating permanent housing solutions so our unhoused community members can achieve personal safety and dignity in the services we provide them.” - Nichole Kulow (CSW, LPC), CC We Adapt & Next Generation Mentors Therapist and Internal Support Supervisor

“We struggle to find safe affordable housing for the people that we serve. Once they complete our program it is imperative that we find them safe affordable places to live. If they cannot find stable affordable housing they are often forced to go back to unhealthy living situations that often leads back to using substances to cope with the stress. This is a huge issue and we are actively looking for solutions and partnering with other agencies to find creative solutions to this situation.” - Michelle Markquart, Eau Claire Sober Living Executive Director

“Housing is like healthcare. If we don't have enough of what we need, it's our most vulnerable community members who are impacted first. An emergency room is a necessary part of a healthcare system. But unless it is attached to a hospital with a variety of coordinated services and aftercare, folks are just going to end up back in the ER. You will never be able to build it big enough. Increasing permanent housing with effective supportive services is how we end homelessness. Development of more permanently affordable housing that is based on data and desired outcomes is how we prevent it. We need to be strategic with our resources in order to become a healthier community.” - Astri Graceheart, Home for Good Executive Director

“Homelessness in Eau Claire is not just a housing issue—it’s a community issue. Every sector, from healthcare to business, has a role to play in making it rare, brief, and non-recurring. We have the chance to build on years of compassionate work and move toward a more unified system—one that centers lived experience and delivers real results. Affordable housing is the foundation of health, stability, and dignity. Without it, our neighbors remain vulnerable to cycles of crisis. But with compassion, collaboration, and a shared vision, Eau Claire can be a place where everyone has a safe, stable place to call home.” - Angela Weidemann, Eau Claire County Human Services Director and Angela Stokes, Eau Claire County Human Services Assistant Director

“While new affordable homes are needed in the Chippewa Valley, keeping people in their existing homes is equally important. As many households are facing various financial challenges, needed repairs are often not financially possible due to rising costs. Chippewa Valley Habitat for Humanity serves as a resource for essential home repairs that help keep families in safe and healthy homes.” - Allyn Bertrang, Chippewa Valley Habitat for Humanity Executive Director

The housing crisis is a monumental topic in Eau Claire and across the country right now, and finding housing solutions that work for everyone can feel like an impossible challenge. So what does it look like to address this challenge? It looks like providing temporary shelter for victims of domestic violence. It looks like helping our unhoused neighbors find permanent housing. It looks like ensuring adequate housing is permanently affordable for everyone in our community.

Housing is a basic human need. But a house only becomes a home when the residents feel a sense of community and a sense of belonging. Whether it’s supporting transitional housing projects or projects that allow residents to build financial security and equity, we seek to support housing-related projects that are financially responsible, community-focused, and provide long-term living solutions.

September/October 2025: Health

An infographic with the text: There’s a world of overlap between Pablo Foundation’s four pillars: health, housing, education, and the arts. It’s impossible to address one without addressing the others, but the distinctions remain important. Over the next four months, we’re going to dive into what makes each of these pillars so important to us and to our community. A graphic of a person sitting cross-legged and icons of an apple, a heart with a heartbeat indicator, and a dumbbell sits below the text.

An infographic with a photograph of a multi-ethnic group of young people laughing together and the text: Pablo Foundation views health as multi-dimensional and community-encompassing. Health is food and nourishment. Health is emotional wellness. Health is social connection. Health is physical activity and medical care.

An infographic with the text: We’re so lucky in Eau Claire to have such a vibrant nonprofit network of support focused on exactly these concepts. Countless nonprofit organizations serve as protectors and bellwethers of the community’s health overall.

An infographic with the text: All this is driven by the incredible folks at countless organizations we simply don’t have the space to list here, but they include: Feed My People Food Bank, YMCA of the Chippewa Valley, Family Support Center, Chippewa Valley Free Clinic, ChippewaRiver Industries, The Community Table, Special Olympics Wisconsin, Regional Enterprises for Adults & Children

An infographic with a photograph of a downtown Eau Claire bridge lit up in rainbow lights and the text: We’re so glad you’re our neighbors. We’re excited to work together to see how we can grow!

August 2025: What's Pablo Foundation Up To?

An infographic with the text: Workshops! Cohorts! Certificate programs! Sponsorships! Grants! We’ve been busy lately!

An infographic with an image of Pablo Foundation’s 2024 Annual Report cover page and the text: We just released our 2024 Annual Report, which you can find on our website, so take some time to check out what we’ve been up to! It’s a huge honor to be part of this work alongside the Eau Claire community, and we’re thrilled to discover what’s next together.

July 2025: Board Building Workshop

An infographic titled “Free Registration for Nonprofit Workshop!” The infographic includes the image of a flyer promoting a board building workshop titled “Who’s at Your Table? How Building a Strong Board Matters More Than You May Realize” with presenter Ann Kaiser. The flyer also includes the following information: Free Registration & Lunch *limited seats. Wednesday, August 20th. 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Riverview Room, EC Public Library. This training equips nonprofit leaders with the strategy and tools to shape a board that provides what’s needed to make your mission thrive. To learn more and register, visit pablofoundation.org/workshops. Networking Opportunity! Plus, an opportunity to learn even more! Pablo Foundation has partnered to offer limited scholarships to attend related courses in the new Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Series offered by UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education.

An infographic with the text: Coming up, Pablo Foundation will host a workshop for local nonprofit organizations focused on building a high-impact board. Key details: Facilitator: Ann Kaiser of AMK Nonprofit Coaching Workshop: "Who’s at Your Table? How Building a Strong Board Matters More Than You May Realize" Date/Time: 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20

An infographic with the text: Topics include: Why board composition matters. How to use board composition to your advantage. Needs of a high-impact board. How to approach prospective board members. Why a vision for board engagement matters.

June 2025: World Refugee Day

Title infographic reading: UNHRC: The United Nations Refugee Agency World Refugee Day. The infographic features a photograph of two smiling displaced children with brown skin and dark hair sitting behind a small barrier made of heavy filled white plastic bags surrounded by burned brush.

Infographic reading: What is World Refugee Day? An international holiday; Honors courage and humanity of people who have been forced to flee their homes; Occurs annually on June 20th; Draws global attention to the rights, needs, and dreams of refugees; 2025 theme: Solidarity with Refugees

Infographic reading: How many refugees are there today? More refugees right now than at any other time in modern history; 110 million people globally; What’s the cause?; Conflict and war; Political persecution; Violence; the infographic cites Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) as source

Infographic reading: What are refugee journeys like in the Americas? Long, harsh, dangerous journey; Risk of kidnapping, sexual violence, and extortion; Highly complex; Lack of access to medical care when most needed; the infographic cites Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) as source

Infographic reading: What about other places around the world? 8.6 million have fled war in Sudan; 85% of civilians in Gaza, over half of whom are children, are refugees in their own native country; Spiking numbers last year from many countries, including Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine, Haiti, and Mozambique; the infographic cites Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) as source

Infographic reading: What rights do refugees have under international law? Those fleeing violence/persecution have right to seek asylum in other countries; Despite legal protections, many governments fail to follow law and instead target refugees; Desperate need to adopt humane immigration laws and policies across the globe; the infographic cites Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) as source

Infographic reading: How can we show solidarity to refugees? Center refugee voices: listen to and share personal stories of refugees; Build inclusive communities: create welcoming environments to form connections, find opportunities, and contribute meaningfully; Work together for peace and solutions: uphold right to seek safety and long-term, sustainable futures for people displaced; Stand by those doing the work: support the humanitarian workers serving in toughest conditions to deliver life-saving aid

Infographic reading: Above all, humanity demands that we vehemently reject those voices advocating for and perpetrating violence against civilians. The world does not have to look this way. We can do better. The infographic features a photograph of children with brown skin who are huddled together behind a chain link fence in a desert climate.

Learn about World Relief Wisconsin's efforts right here in the Chippewa Valley; World Relief helps refugees resettle in communities all across the globe.

May 2025: World Hunger Day

An infographic with an image of wrinkled hands holding an empty bowl and text that says: “World Hunger Day is coming up on May 28th. Founded by The Hunger Project in 2011, World Hunger Day notes that it “has grown into a globally-recognized day of significance and millions of individuals, organizations, corporations, and governments have come together to highlight the importance of creating a world without hunger” in the midst of continued global food crises.

An infographic that says: You can find food insecurity in every county across the United States. 2023 statistics indicate that 47 million Americans (over 13% of the total population) experienced food insecurity that year. About half of those don’t even qualify for federal benefits because the poverty threshold has been calculated against unrealistic standards for decades. And those statistics are much higher when accounting for racial and socioeconomic disparities. Local organizations like The Community Table and Feed My People Food Bank serve as vital resources to protect our neighbors from hunger and starvation, but we all have to help however we can, whether that’s donating, volunteering, or just spreading the word.

An infographic that says: The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is sounding the alarm that global health is in crisis due to diminishing donor support and brutal budget cuts. Internationally and at home, the United States’ recent actions, including cutting all funding to the WHO, is deepening these impacts. Cindy McCain, Director of the UN’s World Food Program (WFP) and wife of the late Senator John McCain, said in an interview with PBS, “Food is not political. And to make food political is something that is unconscionable, number one, but, number two, it just shouldn’t happen.” But we see it happening across the planet.

An infographic with an image of an abandoned cloth doll amidst rubble in the ruins of Gaza and text that says: “Israel began blocking all food and aid from entering Gaza over two months ago, with UNICEF saying, children face “growing risk of starvation, illness, and death.” The WFP has run out of its food stocks, saying in a statement a week and a half ago that it had “delivered its last remaining food stocks to hot meals kitchens in the Gaza Strip.” Those kitchens are now completely empty. A recent story by Doctors Without Borders says, “Gaza has become a ‘mass grave’ for Palestinians and those helping them” as Israel continues to target civilians and aid workers.

An infographic that says: In Haiti, over half the country’s populace⏤5.7 million people⏤ face enormous levels of acute hunger, malnutrition, and disease, according to a recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis. Separately, Sudan recently marked two years of a civil war which has seen millions flee their homes only to discover famine and a lack of access to humanitarian assistance. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recently noted, “We are seeing massive violations, massive displacements, and a devastating impact on millions of people.”

An infographic that says: “How can I help?” There’s so much you can do locally and globally, but here are a couple ways to get started right here in the Chippewa Valley. Later this month, The Community Table will hold a fundraiser for World Hunger Day on May 28th. You can learn more about how to support this organization in this or any other way at thecommunitytable.org. For more information about supporting Feed My People Food Bank, visit their website at fmpfoodbank.org.

The Community Table

FMP Food Bank

April 2025: Earth Day 2025

Since 1970, April 22nd has been known as Earth Day and has represented the modern environmental movement. Our planet deserves our protection. The serious problems of declining environmental quality demand serious solutions. We hope you join us in pursuing progress.

The 17th Annual “The Amazing Eau Claire Clean-Up” is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, 2025 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. The event, organized by Eau Claire Parks, Recreation, and Forestry, sends volunteers to assigned locations throughout the city including parks, playgrounds, picnic areas, recreational trails, and downtown to pick up litter.

Check out other Earth Day events in the Chippewa Valley like: Earth Day at Our Nawakwa with service projects Earth Day Yoga and Trash Pick Up Earth Day film screening of ”REUSE! Because You Can’t Recycle the Planet”

The work doesn’t stop on Earth Day. We can each take action to protect our planet every day of the year, such as by: Holding corporate mega-polluters accountable along with the political powers that enable them, Avoiding using generative AI (which relies on plagiarism in addition to causing devastating environmental harms), and Choosing to spend and invest our dollars as socially and environmentally responsibly as possible.

March 2025: Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month: "We're Here All Year"

A quotation from the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) that reads, “March is 31 days. But having a disability? 24/7, 365.”

March is recognized each year as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month by the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and its partners. Pablo Foundation is excited to join NACDD’s year-round disabilities awareness campaign that reminds everyone that “We’re Here All Year.“ The “We’re Here All Year” campaign emphasizes “emphasizing that community, accessibility, and opportunities for people with developmental disabilities should be recognized and championed every day—not just in March��” (NACDD).

The “We’re Here All Year” campaign aims to highlight the presence and positive impact of people with developmental disabilities in their communities. People with developmental disabilities are our loved ones, coworkers, and neighbors⏤even the person making this infographic⏤and our Eau Claire community is stronger because they are in it.

The term “developmental disabilities” covers a broad range of conditions that are usually present at birth, according to the National Library of Medicine, including: Learning disabilities like ADHD and dyslexia, Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Cerebral palsy (CP), Certain physical disabilities, which can include blindness or deafness, and Conditions that affect both physical and mental abilities like Down syndrome.

If you have lived experience with developmental disabilities, Pablo Foundation invites YOU to contribute to NACDD’s community photo gallery with a photo that highlights your unique journey and telling the story behind the photo. “Whether it’s a proud achievement, a moment of joy, or a snapshot of everyday life—every story counts.“

Submissions are being accepted until March 31, 2025, and they’ll appear an online photo gallery later this spring. Learn more and submit your photo at https://forms.office.com/r/FP6KbAV8MS. Happy Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month!

An Instagram post by Munroe Bergdorf that reads, “Advocating for disability rights is recognising that every single person experiencing any disability, at any time, deserves to live a life of equal access, dignity, connection and opportunity. It's understanding the fragility of the human experience, that any one of us, at any given moment could become disabled or become a carer for someone we love. The protection of disability rights should be a primary concern for us ALL because they exist to protect us ALL.” Munroe Bergdorf is an English model and activist.

January & February 2025: Business Practices for Nonprofit Success (NEW Series)

A flyer for a Nonprofit Empowerment Workshop Series event titled "Business Practices for Nonprofit Success." The flyer includes the following: - A photograph and text label of facilitator Wes Escondo from Eau Claire Community Foundation - Labels identifying the other presenters Suzanne Becker (Feed My People Food Bank), Mel Koontz (Royal Credit Union), and Derek White (Chippewa Valley YMCA" - February 20, 2025 from 11 am to 1 pm - The description "A free-to-you workshop discussion with four local experts covering the most important business practices to help nonprofits thrive" - A QR code for registration and a link (forms.office.com/r/5FM8MWDPtd) - A traffic sign with the words "Free Lunch Ahead" - A link to pablofoundation.org/new-series

Are you part of a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit that’s eligible to receive Pablo Foundation funding? Could you use some expertise on helping your organization run more smoothly? If the answer is “yes” to both of those, this is for you!

This workshop will feature four local experts discussing the following topics in an intimate, conversational setting: Strategic Planning vs. Operational Planning Marketing Best Practices Budgeting and Forecasting Events and Fundraising

Once we’ve confirmed your registration, there’s absolutely no cost to you to attend. We’ll meet on Thursday, February 20th from 11 am to 1 pm, and we’ll provide a complimentary lunch. Learn more at pablofoundation.com/workshops

You can register at forms.office.com/r/5FM8MWDPtdor by scanning the QR code.

December 2024: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Text reading, “Pablo Foundation has been financially powering the Family Resource Center’s partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for the last two years. Now, we have a plan to make it last forever.”

A quotation from the Family Resource Center reading, “Dolly Parton Imagination Library [is] the world’s largest literacy initiative for children ages 0-5... Each child enrolled in the program receives an age-appropriate book once a month in the mail, at no cost to families. Through its local affiliates like the FRC, the program supports literacy for every child, regardless of income.”

Text reading, “In coordination with Pablo Foundation, Eau Claire’s Family Resource Center is partnering with BrandRaise to launch a $1.6 million endowment fundraising campaign to allow the Imagination Library to become a permanent part of life for families with young children in Eau Claire County.”

A quotation from MaiVue Xiong, Executive Director of Pablo Foundation. The quotation reads, “Pablo Foundation is committed to transformational change in Eau Claire, which is exactly what this education initiative represents. This innovative multi-year project supports our trusted nonprofit partner, the Family Resource Center, as they work to make the Imagination Library self-sustaining in our community.”

Text reading, “As we close out 2024 and enter 2025, we’re thrilled to see Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library continue to bloom and grow in our community. For more information on how to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library endowment campaign or to get involved, please contact the Family Resource Center at info@frcec.org.”

November 2024: Transgender Awareness Week

A quotation from GLAAD reading, “Transgender Awareness Week is a week when transgender people and their allies take action to bring attention to the trans community by educating the public about who transgender people are, sharing stories and experiences, and advancing advocacy around issues of prejudice, discrimination, and violence that affect the transgender community.”

Text reading, “Transgender Awareness Week is observed each year between November 13 and 19 in advance of Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), which is held each year on November 20.”

Text reading, “Transgender Day of Remembrance annually recognizes and mourns the trans, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming people who lost their lives to anti-trans violence. TDOR was founded in 1999 in honor of Rita Hester, a Black trans woman who was murdered the year prior..” A photograph of Rita Hester is featured; she is a Black woman wearing her voluminous hair in an updo with several strands of pearls around her neck. She looks directly into the camera with her hands posed delicately by her face.

A quotation from Kayla Johnson (she/her), Executive Director of the Chippewa Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center. The first part of the quotation reads, “Building understanding of the lived experiences of and inequities faced by transgender community members is a vital first step for anyone who wants to be a good friend [or] neighbor or [to] be more supportive of loved ones.”

The quotation continues, “Everyone deserves the chance to live as their authentic self in peace and to live a life filled with love rather than to face hate and misunderstanding.”

Text reading, “This year’s commemoration comes amid a flood of politicians and pundits from both dominant corporate parties choosing to abandon their responsibility to protect their constituents. On social media, on the news, and elsewhere, we continue to see empty suits slinging misinformation and outright lies about transgender people and particularly trans healthcare.”

Text reading, “Trans people—like all people—are infinite in their inherent dignity and their importance to humankind. We embrace, advance, and promote the rights of our transgender friends, family, and neighbors, particularly trans youth who are a current favorite target of anti-trans hatemongers.”

Text reading, “It is a moral imperative to educate others and take action to advocate for trans people. Talk to the people you know. Confront misinformation. Promote human kindness.”

Text reading, “Trans people have been around as long as the construct of gender has, and they aren’t going anywhere. Join us in celebrating their lives, protecting their rights, and promoting their wellbeing.”

October 2024: Eau Claire's Hmong New Year Celebration

An infographic with a photograph of traditional Hmong embroidery and text reading: It’s back! After a five-year hiatus, Eau Claire will celebrate Hmong New Year again, presented by the Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association (ECAHMAA) and sponsored in part by Pablo Foundation.

An infographic with text reading: The celebration will span the course of two days (October 26th and 27th) from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the newly opened Sonnentag Event Center. Attendees can expect a veritable bevy of attractions, from live music, food, shopping, and cultural exhibits to a variety of performances throughout.

An infographic a photograph of young Hmong American performers in traditional Hmong clothing and text reading: Hmong New Year celebrates the breadth and depth of Hmong cultural heritage and traditions, and the entire community is invited to learn, connect, and celebrate together. The event is $7 per person or free for children under 10 and seniors 55 and older.

An infographic with a quotation reading: “The Hmong New Year celebration is vital for our community as it helps them connect with their roots and cultural identity, fostering a sense of pride and belonging.” - True Vue, ECAHMAA Executive Director

An infographic with the quotation continued, reading: Personally, it serves as a meaningful opportunity to celebrate our heritage, share traditions, and strengthen community bonds, ensuring that our rich history and values are passed down to future generations.” - True Vue, ECAHMAA Executive Director

An infographic with a promotional banner for Hmong New Year and text reading: And you won’t want to miss out on Saturday’s Night Party from 7 p.m. to midnight! You can learn more about the weekend’s festivities at: eauclairehmongnewyear.com.

An infographic with a map of available parking areas near the venue and text reading: If the Sonnentag parking lot is full, you can park in the Carson Park lot and take a shuttle bus to the event.

An image of the promotional poster for Hmong New Year.

September 2024: Gathering of the Waters Powwow

An infographic with a picture of woods opening onto a river with the words: gathering of the waters powwow and health fair

An infographic reading: Mayo Clinic Health System’s Supporting Indigenous Peoples Mayo Employee Resource Group (MERG) will host their inaugural event, the Gathering of the Waters Powwow, on September 21, 2024 in Carson Park. The event will last from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a grand entry at 1:00 and a closing ceremony at 5:00.

An infographic reading: Gathering of the Waters Powwow will feature a health fair, artist workshops, food trucks, and education resources. The organizers want the event to be as inclusive as possible, so it’s free of charge and open to all to inspire indigenous communities and allies to “come together in celebration and learning.”

An infographic reading: With sponsorship support from Pablo Foundation and others, Supporting Indigenous Peoples MERG hopes the health- and healing-focused powwow will reduce barriers to access “by providing education about health topics of importance to Indigenous communities in a safe, welcoming, and culturally appropriate manner.”

A flyer with details of Gathering of the Waters Powwow

August 2024: Nonprofit Empowerment Workshop Series

An image with text reading, "Eau Claire Area NEW Series: Nonprofit Empowerment Workshop Series (NEW Series)"

After over a year of gathering stakeholder input, Pablo Foundation will soon begin hosting a series of workshops designed for local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations⏤completely free of charge.

In 2023, Pablo Foundation gathered survey responses from over 50 area organizations to help us understand local nonprofit needs. To determine our next steps, we formed a Nonprofit Steering Committee consisting of Pablo Foundation board members and staff and members of the wider nonprofit community.

Our steering committee members provided a well-rounded perspective of multiple voices. They volunteered extensive time and expertise collaborating on how best to help our nonprofit neighbors solve their challenges and thrive into the future.

Our Nonprofit Empowerment Workshop Series (NEW Series) is now ready to start offering programming! Our approach is two-pronged: we’ll offer both comprehensive and targeted workshops.

Comprehensive workshops are designed for a wide audience of anyone who works or volunteers for an eligible local nonprofit. Targeted workshops will offer programming specific to relevant participants with topics only applicable to some individuals in a nonprofit.

Workshop participation will be limited to eligible individuals. You need to work or volunteer for a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aligns with Pablo Foundation’s commitments to anti- discrimination and equity, diversity, and inclusion. Read more at pablofoundation.org/commitments.

Stay tuned for invitations to our inaugural session, a comprehensive workshop on burnout! We’ll be in touch soon.

July 2024: The Sonnentag Complex

An infographic with text that reads: UW-Eau Claire: The Sonnetag. There is an artist’s rendering of an aerial view of the Sonnetag Complex, a sprawling modern building overlooking a river and featuring lots of walkways and green spaces.

Set on Menomonie Street against the backdrop of the Chippewa River, the nearly-complete Sonnentag Complex will house an event facility with capacity for 5,000 people, UW-Eau Claire facilities, a Mayo Clinic Health System location, a fieldhouse, parking, and room for expansion.

This project represents the commitment to partnership between UWEC and the wider community, including Pablo Foundation. There is an artist’s rendering of a ground view of a portion of the Sonnetag Complex with its warmly-lit entrance, some walkways, pedestrians and bicyclists, and cars.

As we wrote in our 2022 Annual Report, “To boldly combat climate change, our board challenged the University of Eau Claire, and it came through with designing the first of its kind, all-electric, 100% carbon-free event center that will utilize a high-efficiency ground geothermal vertical well system, powered by a local solar source.”

June 2024: Farm to Food Bank

An infographic with text that reads: One of Pablo Foundation’s 2023 grant awards supported the Farm to Food Bank (FFB) program at Feed My People (FMP) Food Bank in Eau Claire. FFB uses produce from local and regional farmers to provide nutritious fresh food for individuals in our community and for the agency partners FMP serves.

An infographic with text that reads: These partnerships with area growers also benefit the local economy and help connect culturally appropriate fresh food with diverse members of our community. Suzanne Becker, FMP’s executive director, says “We now have a local Hmong farmer who is growing fresh produce that will be given weekly to Feed My People.”

An infographic with text that reads: FMP then delivers that produce to the Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association (ECAHMAA) to distribute through their food pantry. Becker calls this “a true win for all involved and... a window into what we want to do more of with culturally appropriate fresh food.” ECAHMAA values this support and has already seen dividends.

n infographic with text that reads: ECAHMAA has “strategically aligned its food pantry offerings to reflect the dietary preferences of the Hmong community,” says True Vang, the organization’s executive director. With FMP’s Farm to Food Bank program, “sourcing vegetables directly from Hmong farmers [has brought about] an increase in the participation of the Hmong community in accessing our food pantry.”

Donate to FMP

An infographic with a line-art image of a field, crops, and a scarecrow beneath text that reads: This program has already seen an abundance of success. You can donate to and learn more about FMP at fmpfoodbank.org and ECAHMAA at ecahmaa.org.

Donate to ECAHMAA

May 2024: Stand in the Light Memory Choir

Pablo Foundation proudly supports Stand in the Light Memory Choir.

Stand in the Light Memory Choir serves our community by bringing together and empowering people with memory loss alongside their care partners.

Stand in the Light will hold their upcoming “Summer Sings” series on July 11, 18, and 25 from 9:45 to 11:00 a.m. at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Eau Claire. Each event is free and open to the public.

2024-05 Stand in the Light Memory Choir 1.png

Stand in the Light Memory Choir’s fall semester begins August 22. To learn more, donate, or get in touch with the choir, please visit www.standinthelightmemorychoir.org.

April 2024: Youth of the Year Gala (Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley)

The Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley held their annual Youth of the Year Gala in April.

In addition to speeches from BGC youth, the gala featured a silent auction, dinner, and more. Proceeds benefit programming and operations for the local clubs under the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley’s umbrella (Altoona, Black River Falls, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, and Menomonie).

The event celebrates young people in our area and serves as a fundraiser to spread awareness of the organization’s mission, which is “to inspire and enable all youth, especially those that need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.”

Pablo Foundation is an active supporter of the Boys & Girls Club through grant funding for the Lee & Mary Markquart Center, which will house the Teen Program Center.

To learn how you can support the BGC of the Greater Chippewa Valley, please visit cvclubs.org.

March 2024: Scholarships for Extracurriculars with Village

From Village's press release:

"We at Village are delighted to announce that Pablo Foundation has generously awarded Village $15,000 toward subsidizing registration fees of extracurricular activities for youth ages 0-18.

100% of this grant will fund scholarships on Village.com, which means 100% will go to small businesses in the community that provide extracurricular activities.

An image of text that says, “Scholarships for Extracurriculars: Pablo Foundation & Village”

Our goal has always been to make high-quality extracurriculars available to ALL youth, no matter their financial background. Pablo Foundation is helping us continue to make that a reality in the Chippewa Valley.

Help us make sure no child in the Chippewa valley is without extracurriculars: contact our founder at noah@village.com to learn more about making a tax deductible donation to this cause.

An image of text that says, “Pablo Foundation & Village”

February 2024: Transit Equity Day

Earlier this month, the City of Eau Claire—and the nation at large—celebrated Transit Equity Day.

The City of Eau Claire writes, “Transit Equity Day is a national day of action held each year in honor of Rosa Parks’s birthday (February 4) to elevate the message that public transit should be safe, sustainable, and equitable for all people and communities.

Created by a network of labor unions in 2017, the holiday has steadily increased in recognition in the years since.

“Initiatives taken by Eau Claire Transit to ensure equitable access to transportation include Designated Trip Passes for unhoused people in our community, Income-Qualifying and Reduced Fare cards and buses that kneel at the curb making them easier to board by those using mobility devices.” (City of Eau Claire)

You can read more, including the City of Eau Claire’s proclamation for Transit Equity Day 2024, at https://www.eauclairewi.gov/Home/Components/News/News/11259.

January 2024: Permanent Supportive Housing for Veterans

Chippewa Valley Habitat for Humanity has received a $300,000 grant from Pablo Foundation for the development of a veterans housing complex near downtown Eau Claire.

This project will create 11 new units (12 beds) of affordable and accessible housing for veterans at risk for or currently experiencing homelessness.

Pablo Foundation’s grant provides funds for asbestos abatement, preparatory work on a community room, and installation of an elevator.

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The elevator in particular will “ensure that Veterans who use wheelchairs are afforded the right to fully participate in community with their neighbors and access shared amenities such as laundry.” (CVH4H Press Release)

Pablo Foundation encourages you to answer CVH4H’s call to help make this dream a reality moving forward.

Visit cvh4h.org/donate or cvh4h.org/volunteer to learn how you can make a difference!

December 2023: HIV/AIDS Awareness Month

HIV/AIDS Awareness Month begins each year with World AIDS Day on December 1st “to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.”

“World AIDS Day remains as relevant today as it’s always been, reminding people and governments that HIV has not gone away. There is still a critical need for increased funding for the AIDS response, to increase awareness of the impact of HIV on people’s lives, to end stigma and discrimination and to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV.”

Health officials in the United States first became aware of AIDS as early as 1981, but for years to come, the Reagan administration and members of the press treated the epidemic as a joke, calling it “gay plague” and laughing about it in press briefings.

The misconception that AIDS only affected gay men allowed a largely homophobic public to disregard the gravity of the disease. By the time 1984 came to a close, AIDS had claimed the lives of over 3,500 people in the United States and infected thousands more.

Reagan himself wouldn’t publicly mention “AIDS” until the following year, a full two years after public health experts began begging for federal funding to research the epidemic.

Reagan’s successors to the presidency slowly began taking action to investigate and combat HIV (then known to be the cause of AIDS).

The treatments available for people living with HIV/AIDS have revolutionized what it means to have the disease. Today, people with HIV who receive appropriate treatment have a normal life expectancy.

“People living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy who have an undetectable level of HIV in their blood have no risk of transmitting HIV sexually.” This is the central message of the United Nations’ “Undetectable = Untransmittable” campaign.

Sources: UNAIDS.org, History.com, & Vox.com

November 2023: Native American Heritage Month

Pablo Foundation celebrates tribal sovereignty and identity through National Native American Heritage Month in November. We honor this land’s first inhabitants and the deep worth of their cultures, beliefs, and contributions to humanity.

Dr. Arthur Caswell Parker, a member of the Cattaraugus Seneca Tribe whose Seneca name was Gawasco Waneh, lead an effort which resulted in the State of New York marking the first American Indian Day in 1916 to recognize the “First Americans.” That designation eventually evolved into “National American Indian Heritage Month” beginning in 1990. Variants of the name include “Native American Heritage Month” and “National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.”

Text reading: "Native American Heritage Month" with a photograph of a Native American family smiling at the camera

Text reading: “Terminology: United States: Both Native American and American Indian 'are acceptable and often used interchangeably.' Other Regions: Arctic: Inuit, Yup’ik, and Aleut (individual groups); Alaska Natives is also sometimes used. Canada: '[P]eople refer to themselves as First Nations, First Peoples, or Aboriginal.' Mexico, Central America, & South America: Spanish words indígena (Indigenous), comunidad (community), and pueblo (people)" Sources listed are National Museum of the Native American & US Bureau of Indian Affairs

There is no single Native American culture or language. The terminology used here provides general guidelines. “The best term is always what an individual person or tribal community uses to describe themselves. Replicate the terminology they use or ask what terms they prefer.”

Key Concepts from the National Museum of the Native American:

"American Indians are both individuals and members of a tribal group."
"For millennia, American Indians have shaped and been shaped by their culture and environment."
"Elders in each generation teach the next generation their values, traditions, and beliefs through their own tribal languages, social practices, arts, music, ceremonies, and customs."

"Kinship and extended family relationships have always been and continue to be essential in the shaping of American Indian cultures."
"American Indian cultures have always been dynamic and changing. Interactions with Europeans and Americans brought accelerated and often devastating changes to American Indian cultures."
"Native people continue to fight to maintain the integrity and viability of indigenous societies."
"American Indian history is one of cultural persistence, creative adaptation, renewal, and resilience."
"American Indians share many similarities with other indigenous people of the world, along with many differences."

Text reading: “Though anthropologists believe that humans have lived in what we now call the State of Wisconsin for over 12,000 years, ‘contemporary tribal historians resist such efforts to date human occupation of the area. According to the origin stories of most Indian nations in Wisconsin, the tribes have been here “from the beginning of time.”’” There is a 1925 photograph depicting Native Americans, possibly Winnebago, on rocks at the Dells of the Wisconsin River. Sources listed are: Indian Nations of Wisconsin by Dr. Patty Loew & Library of Congress

The land that the City of Eau Claire is on was once a meeting ground for the Ojibwe, the Dakota, and the Ho-Chunk Nations; the Ojibwe and Dakota in particular fought over the region for generations. The Ojibwe ceded land that included Eau Claire to the U.S. government in an 1837 treaty, the terms of which were formally betrayed by President Zachary Taylor in 1850. “In 1852, an Ojibwe delegation to Washington, D.C., led by 93-year-old Kechewaishke (known in English as Chief Buffalo), managed to convince the new president, Millard Fillmore, to reverse the order. Fillmore ultimately created the six Ojibwe reservations that still exist in northern Wisconsin.”

On November 16th, UWEC will host The Native Pride Dancers who “strive to educate and entertain audiences of all ages throughout the world about the beauty, skill, and majesty of Native American music and dance while creating a moving artistic experience that engages the audience.” For tickets and more information, visit tinyurl.com/nativepride2023.

While this appears to be the only local event to mark Native American Heritage Month this year, you can find a schedule of multiple presentations and webinars through the Administration for Native Americans that will be available online at tinyurl.com/ananahm2023.

Sources: nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Museum of the Native American, Indian Nations of Wisconsin by Dr. Patty Loew, Dr. Debra Barker, VolumeOne, Wisconsin Historical Society, UW-Eau Claire, & Administration for Native Americans

October 2023: Hispanic & Latine Heritage Month

We’re in the last few days of Hispanic & Latine Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15)!

“We know that just one descriptor can hardly capture the spirit and cultures of so many people who descend from a vast geography that includes present-day Southwestern U.S. states to the southern most tip of South America, and nearly every present-day country and island in between.” (pbs.org)

“Hispanic” typically refers to anyone from a Spanish-speaking country. (teenvogue.com)

“Latino” includes any Latin American regardless of language and can be more inclusive than “Hispanic.” “Latino” uses a masculine suffix to refer to any mixed-gender group. (teenvogue.com)

“Latinx” and “Latine” are gender-neutral alternatives for “Latino.” Unlike “Latinx,” which uses recent English conventions of “x” denoting gender neutrality, “Latine” follows Spanish conventions by using “e” as a gender-neutral ending. (teenvogue.com)

These terms are “in addition to the many more terms used for people who have families and ancestors in the 22 nations and territories that comprise Latin America.” (pbs.org)

“The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras[,] and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively... Día de la Raza, which is October 12, [also] falls within this 30 day period.” (hispanicheritagemonth.gov)

“Latino history is American history. Latinos trace their origins to Latin America and other Spanish colonies, both in the Caribbean and in the contemporary United States. These groups include, but are not limited to, Indigenous, Mestizos, Afro-Latinos, and other mixed-race people.” (hispanicheritagemonth.gov)

“Currently representing the largest ethnic minority in the country, Latinos have participated in the creation and growth of this nation well before it was named the United States. Complex stories of colonization, immigration, and slavery make Latino history an infinite source for inquiry and knowledge.” (hispanicheritagemonth.gov)

If you want to learn more, check out the article “Top 8 Reasons Why and How We Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month” by Emily Key and Adrián Aldaba published by the Smithsonian Learning Lab and the Smithsonian Latino Center.

September 2023: 42nd Annual Buckshot Run

Pablo Foundation is helping sponsor the 42nd Annual Buckshot Run for Special Olympics Wisconsin!

This two- and five-mile walk/run at Carson Park helps support more than 1,000 Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes. The Buckshot Run will be held on Saturday, September 2nd, and you can find more details at www.specialolympicswisconsin.org/events/buckshot-run/.

The Buckshot Run began in 1982 as the only race in Eau Claire, but it's grown to accommodate over 1,000 runners and walkers from around the country annually. The race got its name "Buckshot" after the nickname of Ron Buckli (then a sports writer for the Leader-Telegram) and was born out of Buckli's desire to see Eau Claire host a running race that would benefit a local charity for years to come.

You can also help support Special Olympics Wisconsin by visiting https://www.specialolympicswisconsin.org/donate/ways-to-give.

August 2023: Chippewa Valley Multicultural Festival

Pablo Foundation is sponsoring the 2023 Chippewa Valley Multicultural Festival!

A community event free to the public, the festival will be held in Phoenix Park on Sunday, August 20th from 1 to 6 p.m. and will feature food trucks, performers, activities, and information.

Visit the event’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/266150629434964. The festival is hosted by JONAH of the Chippewa Valley, Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, and Welcoming New Neighbors: NW WI Immigrant Resettlement.

If you are interested in also “reserving a space to share a specific culture, mission outreach project, community organization information,” you can click here for the event’s Vendor Application and Guideline forms: https://forms.gle/zQaGJ8y9jeM1otAfA

July 2023: Disability Pride Month

July is Disability Pride Month!

“Disability Pride Month celebrates disabled persons embracing their disabilities as integral parts of who they are, reclaiming visibility in public and interacting fully with their disabilities out in the open, and rejecting shame and internalized ableism." (American Bar Association)

Disabilities can be visible and invisible; they can be temporary or permanent. Disabilities can be intellectual, developmental, physical, cognitive, emotional, etc. Our understanding of "disability" is shaped by our societal context as well as psychological and medical knowledge.

People with disabilities have advocated for centuries to ensure their right to fully participate in society and lead fulfilling lives. This has required continued activism as social contexts have shifted over time.

Disability Pride is celebrated in July because it originated with the the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 33 years ago. Once enacted, this civil rights legislation prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities in many areas of public life.

As a work of legislation, the ADA uses "disability" as a legal term and not a medical one, so while it represents a groundbreaking advancement, the ADA's protection of people with disabilities is still limited in scope.

The Disability Pride Flag was created and revised by Ann Magill, who has cerebral palsy. She used feedback from people with a variety of disabilities to refine her original image. She also waived her copyright so everyone can use the design, which is in the public domain.

Melissa Blake, a disability expert, activist and social media influencer, writes, "So much of the language surrounding disability is misguided at best and downright rude and insulting at worst; it’s meant to make non-disabled people less uncomfortable, but it ends up hurting disabled people in the process."

"13 'Polite' Ways You're Talking About Disability That Are Actually Rude" by Sarene Leeds features recent interviews with Blake and other disability advocates in Reader's Digest. The article provides a lot of good starting points in learning how to communicate more respectfully with and about disabled people.

Sources: American Bar Association, Woman's Day, American Medical Association Journal of Ethics, Smithsonian National Museum of American History, ADA National Network, Ann Magill, University of Oregon, Reader’s Digest

June 2023: Pride Month

Happy Pride Month!

Eau Claire's annual Pride in the Park will take place on June 10, 2023, at Phoenix Park, hosted by the Chippewa Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center (cvlgbt.org) and sponsored in part by Pablo Foundation.

With the theme "Better in Color," Pride in the Park will feature "more than 50 vendor booths, food trucks, activities for all ages, and music and drag performances from local talent. [T]his event highlights the diversity, kindness, and passion that make the Chippewa Valley such a unique and wonderful place to live."

Each year, June marks LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, a celebration of both queer civil rights efforts and queer cultures. Pride Month began as a way to recognize the June 1969 Stonewall Uprising against anti-queer police brutality.

Though the Stonewall Uprising didn’t start the LGBTQIA+ civil rights movement, it was a galvanizing force for queer political activism and represents one of history’s first major protests on behalf of equal rights for queer people.

Today, Pride is a celebration that spans the globe, and while in most cities, the parades and marches are organized in June, some cities opt for other months.

Some corporations appropriate Pride for their own profit while cowering when allyship becomes even mildly inconvenient. "[R]ainbow-washing is when a company uses rainbow advertising during [J]une to suggest support for the LGBTQ community while putting in no tangible effort to help queer people at any other time of the year," writes Matt Bernstein (@mattxiv on Instagram).

Even as Pride Month has grown more expansive, inclusive, and accepted, threats against queer people continue. The last few years have seen state legislatures pursue a record number of bills that attack LGBTQIA+ rights, especially transgender youth.

While bigoted politicians and pundits use disinformation, violent rhetoric, and outright lies to justify their targeting of LGBTQIA+ children and adults, reality simply doesn't support their hate-filled claims.

Every major medical, psychological, and psychiatric professional organization in the United States agrees based on overwhelming scientific consensus that sexual orientation is multifaceted, that sex and gender are not binary, and that LGBTQIA+ individuals’ identities are valid, natural, and real.*

Let’s celebrate Pride Month and protect the rights and safety of LGBTQIA+ people together!

*Here are just a few of those organizations, comprised of hundreds of thousands of medical and mental health professionals: the American Psychological Association, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the Endocrine Society, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Nursing, the American College of Emergency Physicians, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American College of Physicians, and the American Public Health Association.

May 2023: No Mow May

No Mow May is a campaign to protect food sources for early season pollinators. In January of 2023, the Eau Claire City Council voted to amend the existing city ordinance, allowing residents to abstain from mowing their lawns until June 1st.

May is an important time for flowers to bloom; their vital resources allow our pollinators to thrive. Pablo Foundation awarded grant funding to JONAH of the Chippewa Valley to support their local efforts regarding pollinator education.

Please consider participating in No Mow May this year and in the future.

You can learn more at tinyurl.com/ec-no-mow-may.

April 2023: Hmong Heritage Month

April is Hmong Heritage Month! To celebrate the depth and breadth of Hmong culture and history in Eau Claire and globally, please consider attending one of the many remarkable events below.

The Eau Claire Hmong Heritage Month logo was designed by Peevxwm Lauj.

April 10: Meet and Greet Event (Critical Hmong Studies Resource Center)

4–6 p.m. | Room 2138 of Vicki Lord Larson Hall (UW-Eau Claire)

April 13: Mason Her Qeej Performance (NCUR Conference)

4:30–5:30 p.m. | Schofield Auditorium of Schofield Hall (UW-Eau Claire)

April 21 & 22: Los Tsev (Home): Cia Siab, WI (special exhibit)

12–5:30 p.m. | L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library

This showcase comes from a grassroots collective of Hmong American scholars, advocates, organizers, artists, and community members from across the state of Wisconsin. For more information about this exhibit, please visit https://lephillips.librarycalendar.com/event/los-tsev-home-cia-siab-wi-special-exhibit.

April 24: ECASD Hmong Club’s Hmong Heritage Month Event

5–8 p.m. | North High School

“Please join us… to celebrate and learn more about Hmong culture and appreciation of Hmong Youth Community.”

April 26: Hmong Banquet

5–7 p.m. | Dakota and Alumni rooms of Davies Center (UW-Eau Claire)

April 28: Hmong Heritage Month Gala

5–11 p.m. | The Lismore Hotel

Hosted by Black & Brown Womyn Power Coalition, the gala aims “to bring together communities in the Chippewa Valley area to build and create relationships with Hmong families and each other, [to] honor the achievements of the collective Hmong community, and to celebrate the diversity that the Hmong culture brings to this area.” See https://www.facebook.com/blackandbrownwomynpowercoalition/photos/a.371226440304507/1372552803505194/ or https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hmoob-heritage-month-gala-tickets-577746263627 for more information.

April 26: Hmong Banquet

5–7 p.m. | Dakota and Alumni rooms of Davies Center (UW-Eau Claire)

April 28: Hmong Heritage Month Gala

5–11 p.m. | The Lismore Hotel

April 29: Hmonger Games (UW-Eau Claire Hmong Living Community)

UW-Eau Claire

You can find information about Hmong Heritage Month events at UW-Eau Claire at https://www.uwec.edu/news/news/uw-eau-claire-schedules-hmong-heritage-month-events-5679/.

March 2023: Black History Month Gala

In honor of Black History Month, Pablo Foundation sponsored the inaugural Black History Month Gala, which was a result of the collaborative efforts of Black & Brown Womyn Power Coalition, Power Up Eau Claire, and Power of Perception. This celebration of Black history and culture included a keynote speech by Anthony Wallace as well as a cocktail hour, dinner, speakers, performances, a silent auction, music, and dancing.

Photos used with permission of FILMTROVERSE Productions

We are thankful to have been able to connect in person with so many of our non-profit partners, table guests, and community leaders at this inspirational event and look forward to a tradition of celebrating Blackness in our community and world.

February 2023: Dr. Jelani Cobb Lecture

Eminent scholar Dr. Jelani Cobb will present “The Half-Life of Freedom: Race and Justice in America Today” on Wednesday, February 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Ojibwa Ballroom of UWEC’s Davies Center.

Per UWEC’s events page, "Jelani Cobb is a staff writer at The New Yorker, writing on race, history, justice, politics, and democracy, as well as Columbia University’s Ira A. Lipman Professor of Journalism and Dean of Columbia Journalism School. He recently co-edited The Matter of Black Lives, a collection of The New Yorker’s most ground-breaking writing on Black history and culture in America, featuring the work of legendary writers like James Baldwin and Toni Morrison.”

Sponsored in part by Pablo Foundation, this Martin Mogensen Education Lecture (rescheduled from last fall) is presented as a special event of The Forum and Racing Toward Justice series. Please reserve your free in-person or virtual tickets in advance by visiting uwec.ly/tickets.

January 2023: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

“She read books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.” - Annie Dillard

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has partnered with the Family Resource Center to bring a free book each and every month to children from birth to age five. Serving Eau Claire and Dunn Counties, this program helps kids thrive and helps improve kindergarten readiness.

With the support of Pablo Foundation and community members’ donations, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library stands to make a profound difference in our youngest neighbors’ lives.

Consider giving your own gift of any amount at www.frcec.org/dpil.

December 2022: Children's Museum of Eau Claire

Pablo Foundation was thrilled to tour the nearly completed Children’s Museum of Eau Claire. Their thoughtful planning has lead to a powerfully connective place to play and learn for kids, and we felt privileged to get a preview.

The new Children’s Museum of Eau Claire approaches kids’ experience holistically, from mind to body to community, and their expanded programming and carbon-neutral environmental impact will help strengthen Eau Claire.

In addition to purchasing day passes, families can also become members of the children’s museum, and memberships can even be purchased as gifts. To learn more, visit www.childrensmuseumec.com.

November 2022: Feed My People Food Bank

Our executive director, MaiVue Xiong, and our grants and communications administrator, Zach Schultz-Bates, visited Feed My People Food Bank in mid-November to see their nearly-completed Hunger Action Center (which won grant funding from Pablo Foundation) and brainstorm with a few of their dedicated and passionate staff members.

2022-11 Feed My People Hunger Action Center.png

Partnering with organizations like Feed My People Food Bank helps move our community toward sustainable long-term solutions to some of our most pressing challenges.

Visit their website at www.fmpfoodbank.org to learn more about how you can help make a difference.

October 2022: Menomonie Market Food Co-op

At the mid-October groundbreaking ceremony for Menomonie Market Food Co-op’s forthcoming 14,000 square-foot store on the corner of North Barstow and Galloway, the folks who gathered expressed a strong and passionate sense of community.

MMFC General Manager Crystal Halvorson celebrated the history of the Market and this expansion project, which will greatly increase the Market’s capacity to positively impact Eau Claire since merging with Just Local Food in 2021.

The Pablo Foundation is a proud Menomonie Market Food Co-op member and is excited to be part of the exciting changes MMFC will be bringing to our community. We invite you to join us in this journey by also becoming a co-op member!

September 2022: HERE Conference

The Pablo Foundation is proud to have sponsored the first HMong Economic Advancement, Research, and Equity (HERE) Conference.

Hosted by HMong American Leadership & Economic Development (HALED), the HERE Conference was held in September 2022 at the Pablo Center at the Confluence in Eau Claire, WI.

The conference provided attendees from around the country with networking opportunities, entrepreneurial tools, and engaging discussions to foster participants’ professional development.

With 18 workshops, roundtables, and keynotes across six breakout sessions, the first two days of the conference connected participants with each other, with mentors, and with resources and concluded with a banquet.

The summit featured research findings, a summit panel discussion, and breakout groups, culminating in planning actions and timelines for growth.

The HERE Conference was supported by organizations across Wisconsin and the nation.

Learn more at www.hmongamericanled.org.

August 2022: Hike for the Homeless

Pablo Foundation is a proud sponsor of the 19th annual Hike for the Homeless, which was held on August 16, 2022.

Hike for the Homeless Sponsor: Pablo Foundation

Hike for the Homeless benefits Beacon House Family Shelter in Eau Claire. In 2021, Beacon House provided:

Emergency shelter, meals, and hospitality to 34 families with children
4,346 nights of shelter
Case management to support families transitioning from homelessness to maintain independent housing
Home furnishings for 10 families
13,038 meals
1,742 volunteer hours

To learn more about Family Promise and Beacon House, click here.