Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS)

Joel Rogers. Joel Rogers is a professor of law, political science, and sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He directs COWS, the national think-and-do tank on high road development, and the new Center for State Innovation (CSI). Rogers has written widely on democratic theory and American politics and public policy. His most recent book (with Richard Freeman) is What Workers Want (2006).… See full bio.

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Story: How did COWS expand from focusing on workforce development in Wisconsin to working nationally? 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. (Read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_on_Wisconsin_Strategy)

Evidence of Impact Summary:

The Center of Wisconsin Strategy is credited for providing informating, training, and networking to spur green jobs growth and enhance the performance on other nonprofits in the space.
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Organization Strengths Summary:

Multiple experts praise the staff and research quality. Others note marketing and program design as a strength.
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Areas for Improvement Summary:

Areas for improvement mentioned were scant but include leadership and mission focus.
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Joel Rogers is a professor of law, political science, and sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He directs COWS, the national think-and-do tank on high road development, and the new Center for State Innovation (CSI). Rogers has written widely on democratic theory and American politics and public policy. His most recent book (with Richard Freeman) is What Workers Want (2006). A longtime activist as well as academic, Newsweek identified him as one of the 100 Americans most likely to shape US politics and culture in the 21st century.

The nonprofit has not added any comments yet. If you are a representative of this nonprofit and would like to leave a comment, please email us at feedback@myphilanthropedia.org with your request.