Ed McDonald (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Series: Disparities And Equity In Wisconsin

Since the turn of the century, Wisconsin's population has steadily grown more diverse, but there has also been growing understanding that the state has some of the worst racial disparities in the United States. Particularly stark indicators come in the form of health, education and housing struggles of racial minorities. These problems have deep roots in Wisconsin, from the establishment of Native American reservations to the treatment of the state's first Latin-American and African-American residents to the segregation of neighborhoods in Milwaukee. A growing body of research across disciplines ranging from public health to economics is revealing the far-reaching impacts of structural racism, and in the process outlines the challenges policymakers, educators and health care providers will need to address to make Wisconsin an equitable place for all people.
 
One of Milwaukee's most impoverished ZIP codes is 53206. Marc Levine of UW-Milwaukee's Center for Economic Developments said the area feels the effects of multiple disadvantages, and while the job market is improving, many are working at poverty-level wages.
Completing college substantially improves living standards, according to a report from the Center on Wisconsin Strategy, but there are also increasing racial disparities in Wisconsin's higher education system. Laura Dresser of the research group explains its findings.
While poverty has long been thought of as an economic problem, officials in Milwaukee are starting to examine the issue through the lens of public health, and refocusing on the health and societal outcomes poverty can have.
Wisconsin continues to have some of the worst racial achievement gaps in education, including the largest disparity in eighth-grade reading scores between black and white students.
Wisconsin fares well among other states in child wellness overall, but when the data is broken down by race, stark disparities emerge. Erica Nelson of Kids Forward discusses what the state can do to bridge the racial divide.
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Every year, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps issues data about how a myriad of factors contribute to health. UW Population Health Institute director Sheri Johnson discusses how the 2019 rankings emphasize housing to explain the interconnectedness of inequality and health.
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What are the different needs that health providers might not be aware of when it comes to Hmong patients? Peng Her from the Hmong Institute discusses how health care professionals can be more culturally competent in serving their Hmong patients.
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Statewide standardized test stores dropped slightly in Wisconsin in 2019. State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor discusses this decline, and elaborates on the variety of factors that affect the achievement of students and resources of teachers.
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Milwaukee and Racine have been ranked the first and second worst places for African Americans to live in the U.S., according to a report from 24/7 Wall St. UW-Madison associate professor of sociology John Eason discusses these rankings what they mean for each community.
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Significant disparities between black and white people persist in Wisconsin in terms of income, unemployment and homeownership in Wisconsin. The African American Leadership Alliance In Milwaukee board president Antonio Riley discusses the group's efforts to address these issues.