Move Forward MKE

Local governments in Milwaukee County, business leaders, and concerned citizens have come together to advance a solution to the fiscal challenges municipal and county governments face.  Move Forward MKE is an effort to have the Wisconsin legislature authorize a one percent, local-option sales tax – a tax that would go into effect if approved in a referendum.

Mayor Tom Barrett will share his perspective on the effort.  His 2020 city budget confronted a stark fiscal reality that required a reduction in the sworn strength of the Milwaukee Police Department by dozens of officers.  He will provide an update on Move Forward MKE, its prospects in the state legislature, and how passage might change local governments’ fiscal situations.

John Austin, a Senior Fellow with the Brookings Institution, will talk about his recent report: “As the venture capital game gets bigger, the Midwest keeps missing out.”

Rotarians’ Growing Collaboration to End Malaria

Jeff Pritchard, Board Chair of Rotarian Malaria Partners, will provide an update on the malaria elimination campaign and describe several ground-breaking projects where Rotarians are saving lives and reclaiming lost productivity. Malaria has killed more humans than any other disease and remains a deadly menace for nearly 2 billion of the world’s population.  In highly endemic regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and Papua New Guinea, Rotarians have been playing a growing role in efforts to eliminate this disease.

Jonas Prising is the Chairman & CEO of ManpowerGroup. A recognized expert on the labor market and world of work trends, Prising regularly speaks at conferences and summits globally, and provides commentary on jobs and employment trends for media. He is actively engaged in the World Economic Forum, including as a Steward of the Future of Education, Gender and Work Global System; Co-Chair of the Regional Business Council on Europe and CEO Champion of the Digital Transformation Initiative.