Connected Roots Summit

Welcome to the Connected Roots Summit Portal.

Date: Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025

Time: 12-5 p.m.
Where: ThriveOn King, 2153 N. Dr. MLK Jr. Dr., Suite 4000 (4th Floor)
Register Here!

We are excited to welcome you to the Connected Roots Summit on Nov. 20! The theme this year is, "The Power of Partnership: Sharing Resources, Expanding Impact." This professional development summit will feature a hands-on workshop focused on resource sharing, with the goal of fostering stronger partnerships and greater sustainability among Partnership for the Arts and Humanities grantees.

We’ll kick off the summit by breaking bread together (lunch provided), followed by remarks from Anne Katz of Create Wisconsin, who will present a statewide perspective on advocacy, sustainability, and partnership. After her presentation, Anne will join LaShawndra Vernon of Pryme Solutions in facilitating an activity designed to help organizations better connect with one another’s resources—encouraging exchanges of space, staff, supplies, and other assets.

By the end of our time together, participants will walk away with:

• insight into Wisconsin’s current arts funding and advocacy landscape.
• practical strategies for reciprocal resource sharing.
• an active resource sharing document where the network can list available resources, request support, and connect with other organizations for collaboration.
• new connections and stronger collaboration capacity.

This summit is not about prescribing a one-size-fits-all solution, but rather about creating space for mutual support, collective resilience, and smarter use of what each organization brings to the table.

Complete this form by Nov. 1 to reserve your spot at the event. Attendance is limited to Milwaukee Recreation's Partnership for the Arts & Humanities network. If you are the program contact and cannot attend, please send a representative in your place—this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Meet the Presenters

Anne Katz 

Anne Katz is a community activist who works to grow Wisconsin creatively, ensure investment in the arts and creativity as a force for economic and civic success, and engage people in creative experiences and opportunities. She is currently the executive director of Create Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s community cultural development organization. She has worked in a wide variety of arts genres and organizations over the course of her career, from The Big Apple Circus in NYC to the O’Neill Theatre Center in Connecticut to the City of Madison Arts Commission and Madison Civic Center. As the executive director of Create Wisconsin, she’s traveled to every corner of the state, advising and assisting people working hard to keep their communities vibrant and creative. Ask her where to find the best pie and ice cream in Wisconsin (local arts, local food - it's all connected)!

LaShawndra Vernon

Meet LaShawndra Vernon, owner and founder of Pryme Solutions LLC. She is a creative catalyst in advocacy, cultural policy, and nonprofit leadership. She drives state and local action for the growth of the creative sector and provides expertise in fiscal management, philanthropic advising, and lobbying. As the founder of Pryme Solutions LLC, she drives policy and social change through innovative products and services. A multidisciplinary artist and lecturer, she builds and shares power within communities, aiming towards a brighter future.