Center on Wisconsin Strategy
Encyclopedia
The Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS) is a progressive
policy institute housed on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. It was founded in 1991 by UW Professor Joel Rogers
as a center organized around the concept of "high road" economic development: a path to decent jobs, stronger communities, environmental sustainability, and public accountability
. Its work includes research, policy, and projects, generally falling into the major categories of work and wages, energy, and government innovation.
The earliest efforts of COWS were directed at workforce development in Wisconsin and rust-belt states that were losing manufacturing jobs. Since 1996, the center has published a biennial report, The State of Working Wisconsin, that quantifies and analyzes trends in that state's workforce. The work and wages focus continues, but has grown national and has evolved to include "green jobs" that provide family-sustaining wages, for instance in energy efficiency retrofitting. One of COWS' most seminal publications in that field is Greener Pathways, written in collaboration with The Workforce Alliance and The Apollo Alliance
.
In the 21st century, the focus of COWS expanded to include a number of separate projects aimed at government leaders across the nation who can affect policy in their regions. With Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz
, COWS co-founded the Mayors Innovation Project. It later added the Center for State Innovation. Both projects are aimed at helping elected officials pursue progressive policies to improve the lives of their constituents.
COWS also helped launch organizations like the Apollo Alliance
and the Economic Analysis Research Network (EARN).
The Center on Wisconsin Strategy is a 501(c)(3) organization funded primarily through grants from foundation including: the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
, the Annie E. Casey Foundation
, the Carnegie Corporation of New York
, the Carolyn Foundation, the Ford Foundation
, the Garfield Foundation, Living Cities, the Joyce Foundation
, the Nathan Cummings Foundation
, the Open Society Institute
, the Rockefeller Foundation
, the Surdna Foundation
, the Wallace Global Fund and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
policy institute housed on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. It was founded in 1991 by UW Professor Joel Rogers
Joel Rogers
Joel Rogers is an American academic and political activist. Currently a professor of law, political science, public affairs and sociology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, he also directs the Center on Wisconsin Strategy and its projects, including the Center for State Innovation, Mayors...
as a center organized around the concept of "high road" economic development: a path to decent jobs, stronger communities, environmental sustainability, and public accountability
Accountability
Accountability is a concept in ethics and governance with several meanings. It is often used synonymously with such concepts as responsibility, answerability, blameworthiness, liability, and other terms associated with the expectation of account-giving...
. Its work includes research, policy, and projects, generally falling into the major categories of work and wages, energy, and government innovation.
The earliest efforts of COWS were directed at workforce development in Wisconsin and rust-belt states that were losing manufacturing jobs. Since 1996, the center has published a biennial report, The State of Working Wisconsin, that quantifies and analyzes trends in that state's workforce. The work and wages focus continues, but has grown national and has evolved to include "green jobs" that provide family-sustaining wages, for instance in energy efficiency retrofitting. One of COWS' most seminal publications in that field is Greener Pathways, written in collaboration with The Workforce Alliance and The Apollo Alliance
Apollo Alliance
The Apollo Alliance is a project organized by the Institute for America's Future and the Center on Wisconsin Strategy. The Alliance is a project of the Tides Center....
.
In the 21st century, the focus of COWS expanded to include a number of separate projects aimed at government leaders across the nation who can affect policy in their regions. With Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz
Dave Cieslewicz
David J. Cieslewicz ; born February 17, 1959) is an American politician who served as mayor of Madison, Wisconsin from 2003 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Personal life and early career:...
, COWS co-founded the Mayors Innovation Project. It later added the Center for State Innovation. Both projects are aimed at helping elected officials pursue progressive policies to improve the lives of their constituents.
COWS also helped launch organizations like the Apollo Alliance
Apollo Alliance
The Apollo Alliance is a project organized by the Institute for America's Future and the Center on Wisconsin Strategy. The Alliance is a project of the Tides Center....
and the Economic Analysis Research Network (EARN).
The Center on Wisconsin Strategy is a 501(c)(3) organization funded primarily through grants from foundation including: the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a philanthropic non-profit organization in the United States. It was established in 1934 by Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., then-President and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors.-Overview:...
, the Annie E. Casey Foundation
Annie E. Casey Foundation
The Annie E. Casey Foundation was started in 1948 in Seattle, Washington, by UPS founder James E. Casey and his siblings George, Harry and Marguerite. It was named in honor of their mother. The foundation moved to Baltimore in 1994....
, the Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York, which was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 "to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding," is one of the oldest, largest and most influential of American foundations...
, the Carolyn Foundation, the Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
, the Garfield Foundation, Living Cities, the Joyce Foundation
Joyce Foundation
The Joyce Foundation is a charitable foundation based in Chicago in the United States and operating principally in the Great Lakes region.The Foundation primarily funds organizations in the Great Lakes region .-Programs:* Education: Focuses on public schools in Chicago, Cleveland, and Milwaukee;...
, the Nathan Cummings Foundation
Nathan Cummings Foundation
The Nathan Cummings Foundation was endowed by Nathan Cummings , founder of Consolidated Foods, now called Sara Lee Corporation...
, the Open Society Institute
Open Society Institute
The Open Society Institute , renamed in 2011 to Open Society Foundations, is a private operating and grantmaking foundation started by George Soros, aimed to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform...
, the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
, the Surdna Foundation
SURDNA Foundation
The SURDNA Foundation was established as a charitable foundation in 1917 by John Emory Andrus to pursue a range of philanthropic purposes.-History:...
, the Wallace Global Fund and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.