Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/54008
The Pillar: Stephanie Hayden The Bridge Builder: Deidre Green " 50 Deidre Green has had a front-row seat to a sad reality, seeing the widening achievement gap among Madison students firsthand. She covered the topic as a leader at the Simpson Street Free Press, Dane County's teen newspaper, but today this first-generation college student has her sights set on law school, and helping others bridge the divide. You would think with all the resources Madison has, the achievement gap would not be as big as it is. But when I was in high school, I was one of the only students of color in many upper-level classes. Now, be- ing at UW-Madison has made me even more aware of how deep the divide is. It's hard on campus to be a student of color. You get judged. People think you got in because you're black. When I finish my degree, I feel it will be my duty to help kids in a situation like I was. Whether that means I volun- teer at the Simpson Street The Investigator: Marsha Mailick Seltzer Scientists are required to be objective observers, but Marsha Mailick Seltzer knows what her work could mean. The director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Waisman Center, Seltzer oversees Press to say, 'I was here, too, and look where I am now,' or I advocate for initiatives to address the divide, I will do what I can to close the gap. BRAVA Magazine " one of the world's leading research and education centers devoted to solving the puzzle of developmental disabilities and neurological diseases including Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome and autism. It's a significant post in itself, but she's also leading four long-term research studies that may just change our understanding of how these complex disabilities unfold in the lives of families nationwide. Her goal is to shed light on the long-term health risks associated with lifelong caregiving— and what kinds of support and services help. And as objective as she needs to be to study her work, she knows the implications could be life-changing to a growing population. "Right now, about 1 in 110 children is given an autism diagnosis," Seltzer explains. "Our ultimate goal is to understand the causes of autism and treatments for this disorder, and find ways to improve their quality of life." While the results will trickle in for years to come, she hopes the studies will be a boon for families far and wide. January 2012 It's been a tough financial year, and the budget forecasts remain stormy for area public schools. But at the Foundation for Madison's Public Schools there's a sense of hope. President Stephanie Hayden is charged with plugging leaks where she can, strategically using the Foundation's $4.5 million in assets to ensure no school sinks. In what ways are these funds used? We fund creative and innovative projects. For example, this past school year we were involved in a sustainable greenhouse built at Spring Harbor Middle School. But we help in a range of ways— building playgrounds, supporting booster clubs, art departments, breakfast programs and more. Describe the challenges schools are facing today. Schools are facing increasing demands and diminishing resources, and support from public sources is not likely to be sufficient to prepare our children to compete in the global marketplace. What role will the Foundation play in supporting schools in the coming years? Our work is important now more than ever. Madison has a great public school district and we don't want budget cuts to impact that. Our role is to ensure that the excellence of the district contin- ues, and that even with those cuts our schools will continue to improve.