About the event
Friday, Nov. 12, 2021
Online
Friday, Nov. 12, 2021
Online
Welcome to our virtual Global Initiatives Week Kick-off Celebration! This year's event showcases performances, cooking demonstrations, multilingual children's story time, displays, booths and so much more. This event is family friendly, FREE, and for all ages. Please join us in learning about the world beyond our borders by thinking globally and acting locally. Come in, take a look around our virtual event and explore some of the interesting global themes La Crosse has to offer.
Then, during the week to follow, take a look at all the interesting things the La Crosse community is offering for us to celebrate our global initiatives. These events include walking tours, films, trivia, presentations and more.
Population: 2,722
Sister City relationship with La Crosse established in 2005
Established in 2005, the La Crosse-Bantry Friendship Association is La Crosse's link to Ireland.
The mission of La Crosse-Bantry Friendship Association, Inc. is to promote people-to-people diplomacy between Bantry, Ireland and La Crosse, Wisconsin, and to educate by facilitating exchanges and projects so that people may develop a better understanding of each others' culture, city and country.
Our relationship with Bantry, Ireland, is unique and features cooperative efforts in such diverse activities as education, sports, the arts, government agencies and public policy, business, and many others.
La Crosse's varied cultural backgrounds of its citizens has resulted in an environment that ensures foreign visitors are welcome. We support a variety of local cultural education programs, activities and events. Many of these events are supported and coordinated by the City’s International Committee.
In addition, the City of La Crosse has an active International Committee, which ensures representation from each of our seven Sister Cities. This committee brings together citizens interested in promoting international awareness and citizen diplomacy.
Population: 70,000
Sister city relationship with La Crosse established in 1990
The La Crosse-Dubna Friendship Association (LDFA) is a sister city organization dedicated to social, educational, medical and cultural exchanges between Dubna, Russia, and La Crosse, Wisconsin. The Association recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.
The Association began in 1990 when peace lanterns brought the cities together. These lanterns were floated down the Mississippi and Volga Rivers as a symbol of peace during the cold war. From this beginning many additional activities and exchanges developed. First was music highlighted by the Dubna Trio, three Russian musicians who brought the universal language of music to La Crosse. Many medical exchanges, student exchanges, and educational exchanges followed.
During the past several years LDFA has conducted its annual meeting with a MASLENITSA celebration. Maslenitsa is a favorite Russian folk holiday celebrated during the last week before Orthodox Lent, and much like Mardi Gras, It involves a lot of feasting before the Lenten fast. The food of choice is BLINI, the famous Russian pancake, made with lots of butter and served with sweet or savory toppings. It is eaten as often as possible during this time as dairy products and sweets are to be given up during Lent.
Our sister city, Dubna, is a scientific community north of Moscow on the Volga River. It is home to the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, where the atom was first split, and where elements on the periodic table were discovered.
Epinal is La Crosse’s oldest Sister city, established in 1986.
Interesting Facts:
La Crosse - Epinal Cultural Exchange Committee (LECE) serves as a resource and link between La Crosse and Épinal, France to increase awareness of the differing cultures, to improve relations and to foster an environment of understanding between France and the USA through various cultural exchanges. We also foster the use of the French language by supporting area high school French programs & student exchanges. And members participate in conversational French groups & a French book group.
We continue to have official delegation visits, exchanges of students, musical groups, interns, business contacts and ongoing personal connections between the people of both cities.
History of activities:
Population: over 11,500
Sister city relationship with La Crosse established in 2005
Population - 29,000
Sister City relationship with La Crosse established in 2002
The La Crosse Area German Relations Association, Inc. (LAGRA) has as its mission to foster a productive international relationship with its Partner City, Friedberg, Germany, to increase awareness of our area’s German heritage, and to promote the study of German culture and language in area schools.
Some of our activities include:
LAGRA is made up of volunteers, the Board of Directors is limited to 15 members, and in addition we count on many supporting members. We encourage you to consult the city website for more details on history, make-up and activities. There is also a link to our sister city and be sure to watch their promotional video, in English!
The German Clubs at Central & Logan have a Spaghetti Eis machine which they use for fundraising. Cheese Spaetzle is a specialty of the Friedberg area, which our hosts have taught us to make.
Spaghetti Ice Cream German Cheese Spaetzle
Friedberg is close enough for day trips to Munich & the Alps.
Visit Friedberg This is Germany Friedberg Museum
Have some fun with numbers, colors, alphabet!
0-100 Years in Germany Learn German: COLOURS - What's Missing? Game Learn ABC German alphabet Song (Deutsches Alphabet)
Lieselotte celebrates birthday (Children's book-read aloud) The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Population: 80,000
Sister city relationship with La Crosse established in 2013 in conjunction with The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration’s Common Venture program
Population: 7 million
Sister city relationship with La Crosse established in 1997
School district info here...
International Education & Engagement (IEE) is a campus and community resource focused on supporting student success by facilitating global experiences for students, faculty, staff, and the community. We strive to support and engage cross cultural understanding through programming, teaching, learning, research, partnerships, and service opportunities. Check out all of our fun upcoming programs.
The Greater La Crosse Area Shamrock Club, inc. was started in 1973 by individuals interested in promoting Irish Heritage. Membership stretches from Fountain City to Decorah.
Shamrock Club activities include: Annual Irishman and Irish Rose Selection, St. Patrick's Day Dinner/Dance, Rotary Lights Tree Trimming, "A Bit O'Blarney" Newsletter, Lectures and Presentations , Irish Road Bowling, Christmas Party, a golf outing and an Irish Jig event. The Club also supports Irishfest La Crosse, and the Irish Garden in La Crosse.
Nathan Smith
Nathan Smith was very active in local and state politics. Many men and women, of all races, sought his counsel. Nathan Smith and his wife, Sarah, took in many orphaned and abandoned children over the years. The courts sent several unruly young people to his farm, instead of a penitentiary, for rehabilitation.
Nathan Smith lived in Ward 2 in La Crosse before purchasing a farm between La Crosse and West Salem.
Zachariah Henry Moss
Zachariah Henry learned the barber trade from and inherited his father’s talent in boxing and entertaining the clientele. Father and son were well-known for their ability to tell a good story, sense of fairness, and keeping a clean shop. Emma Waldon Moss was the sister of Birletta Waldon Loving and well-known for welcoming out-of-town visitors into her home.
Zachariah Henry Moss had barber shops in several places one being at 610 Mill Street (Copeland Avenue), which is the lot where Rooster Andy’s Catering sits today. The family lived above the barber shop. They later moved to 517 St. Cloud Street. Another barber shop was in the building that now supports the sign for The Board Store.
Birletta (Waldon) Loving
Birletta Waldon-Loving was born in a multi-racial community in Cheyenne Valley near Hillsboro, WI. She was a dressmaker and raised her five children alone after her barber husband died. She lived with her children on Myrtle Street in Sparta. Her husband was a barber, as were her brothers at the Waldon Barber Shop at 109 W. Oak Street (building still there) in Sparta.
Late in her life, she moved to 729 Mill St. (Copeland Ave.) in La Crosse to live with her daughter Elizabeth and grand-daughter, Margaret.
Lydia Redfora Moss
Lydia Redfora-Moss became one of the first barbers in La Crosse in 1857. In frontier times in was very unusual for women to own a business. She also invested in several La Crosse properties.
Lydia Moss’ Barber Shop was “between 2nd and 3rd on State Street.” She owned the shop and employed her husband, Henderson, and later her son. In 1866, Lydia is listed as one of the first five barbers in La Crosse, one woman and four men.
George Edwin Taylor
George Edwin Taylor was an orphan stowaway who arrived in La Crosse in 1865 at the age of 8. Nathan Smith takes in the unruly young man and helps him become the man who runs for President of the U.S. in 1904.
George Edwin Taylor owned and operated his own newspaper publishing business with 2000 subscribers at $1.50 per year. Payment in advance, please! His newspaper was the voice for laborers and farmers in southwestern Wisconsin. His newspaper offices were located at 214 Third St.
John Birney
John Birney was one of the first barbers in La Crosse. He was an investor and owned many La Crosse properties. Governor Ross appointed him to represent Wisconsin at the 1884 World Centennial Exposition in New Orleans.
John Birney owned a splendid Barber Shop in the Augusta Hotel on the corner of 2nd and Pearl. It was Birney who set the standard for business and community activism in La Crosse.
George Poage
Nellie Poage was the sister of George Poage and the mother of Howard Jenkins. Howard Jenkins was part of the team of lawyers preparing the Brown V. Topeka Board of Education Supreme Court Case.
George Poage attended the University of Wisconsin to study ancient classical studies and public speaking. He was the first black athlete to run for the Badgers and to become a Big-Ten Champion. George earned a Master’s degree and was fluent in five languages. In 1904 George ran for the Milwaukee Athletic Club in the Third Olympiad in St. Louis, Missouri becoming the first African American to medal.
George Poage grew up in the homes of the Pettibone and Easton families. His mother, Anna Poage, was much sought after as a culinary artist. The Poage family lived outside the African American community, yet when George graduated from La Crosse High School he gave “voice” to the community in his salutatory speech. Poage Park was dedicated to his achievements in 2016.
Lillian Smith Davenport
Lillian was born on Dec. 8, 1894, in La Crosse. Lillian grew up in La Crosse and graduated from La Crosse High School in 1913. She began her vaudeville career in the 1920s. It was said she played nearly every instrument in the orchestra. Not only was she a performer, but she also was an activist. While visiting her mother in 1941, she noticed many La Crosse businesses — including bars and restaurants — had Jim Crow signs posted. She notified Wisconsin’s NAACP, which led to the removal of the signs. Later in her life, Lillian taught music at a public school in Chicago. She died in Chicago on Sept. 28, 1964, and she was buried in La Crosse alongside her family.
La Crosse County Historical Society
La Crosse Public Schools, La Crosse Public Education Foundation, La Crosse Community Foundation-Harrington Fund, Robert and Maureen Freeland Fund for Holocaust Education, and La Crosse Community Foundation.
La Crosse is fortunate to have Sister City relationships with seven cities around the world. These cities include Bantry, Ireland; Dubna, Russia; Epinal, France; Førde, Norway; Friedberg, Germany; Luoyang, China; and The Republic of Cameroon, Kumbo, West Africa.
Each of these relationships is unique and features cooperative efforts in such diverse activities as health care, education, sports, the arts, government agencies and public policy, business, and many others
La Crosse's business activity along with the varied cultural backgrounds of the citizens has resulted in an environment that makes foreign visitors welcome and is supportive of a variety of cultural activities and events. Many of these events are supported and coordinated by the City’s International Committee.
The International Committee has representation from each of our Sister Cities, from each of the local higher education institutions, and citizens interested in promoting international awareness and citizen diplomacy.
La Crosse Public Library is a proud partner of Global Initiatives Week. It is our privilege to present and promote programs highlighting global partnerships and the diversity of our community. We work hard to establish relationships with our community partners to ensure every patron is welcomed at the La Crosse Public Library.
Our mission is to help the La Crosse community evolve, adapt, and thrive.
We envision the La Crosse Public Library as the knowledge creation center of a vibrant community, offering experience-rich spaces developed by and for our citizens and visitors.
Multicultural Student Success and Global Engagement works to create a safe and identity-affirming space for students, promote social justice and equity initiatives, orient and support international students and provide study abroad opportunities. We advise a variety of identity-related student organizations, host training sessions and events, provide opportunities for intercultural engagement, and challenge norms.
The ESL program at Viterbo University offers English as a Second Language courses for new international students who need language support before taking their academic coursework. We also offer orientation classes to help introduce all new international students to American university standards and culture.
Viterbo’s Global Connections club is a student organization that celebrates cultural diversity. The club promotes and encourages a cultural exchange between nations through opportunities for friendship, understanding, and the social interests of members
The UWL Language Resource Center within the Department of Global Cultures & Languages is excited to celebrate the kick-off of Global Initiatives Week 2020!
Are you interested in discussing La Crosse’s global connections in another language? We invite you to join us at 2:30pm on Friday, November 13, when UWL student volunteers from the Conversation Partners program will be available to connect with you in Spanish, French, German, and Chinese to discuss their experiences engaging with global cultures and languages in the La Crosse community and beyond.
After a short introduction from the director of the Language Resource Center, attendees will split into break-out rooms for each of the different languages represented by attendees.
November 13, 2020 | 2:30 p.m. | zoom
Please email Dane DeVetter to request the passcode for the Zoom meeting.
Global and Community Partners exists to improve the health and well-being of the global communities we serve by inspiring volunteerism throughout Gundersen Health System and local communities.
Global and Community Partners was created in 2008 to develop long-term, sustainable relationships and community-to-community partnerships that expand beyond Gundersen Health System's typical borders. This global health model will improve the overall health of the region, education of citizens and quality of life for people in our partner communities located in South Dakota, Central America, Ethiopia, as well as At School.
These partnerships are not one-sided. We learn from the communities we serve. By observing the resiliency of populations who have limited assets and resources and unique cultural approaches to solving problems, it will help us improve our own efficiencies and models of care and education.
Our volunteers contribute their time at talents in the following locations:
Mission: We exist to improve the health and well-being of the global communities we serve by inspiring volunteerism throughout Gundersen Health System and local communities.
Vision: We will be a model for community-to-community partnerships that empower global communities to improve their health and quality of life.
Core Values
Every project developed through Global and Community Partners needs to demonstrate the program's core values of Sustainability, Relationships, Volunteerism and Stewardship.
608-775-9883
Nestled in the bluffs just minutes away from all La Crosse has to offer, is North Woods International Baccalaureate School. When you get here, you’ll be greeted by our flourishing gardens, secluded grounds, outdoor learning spaces, ecoscape playgrounds, and an environment that builds curious learners in both school and the world beyond. You will meet highly qualified teachers-- more than a few of whom have received state recognition for teaching excellence and innovation.
As an International Baccalaureate (IB) School, North Woods provides an education that is challenging, engaging, and relevant to students. Embedded in our curriculum are units and action projects that help students approach the world’s challenges. We celebrate student identities as well as our common humanity to build their enthusiasm to create a better world.
Each year, students learn about the International Baccalaureate attributes of being caring, thinkers, open-minded, risk-takers, communicators, inquirers, principled, balanced, knowledgeable, and reflective. This student-centered approach helps our students stay engaged in learning and contribute to the world in positive ways. Students at North Woods also begin learning Spanish in kindergarten and continue that education through fifth grade. Our LMC helps support this through both multicultural and bilingual resources.
One of the foundations of an International Baccalaureate education is to show students how to apply what they learn. We create interdisciplinary themes of global significance to show students how they fit into the greater context of our society. These units include Who We Are, Where We Are in Place and Time, How We Express Ourselves, How the World Works, How We Organize Ourselves, and Sharing the Planet. We connect to our community through our parent organization and community partnerships.
Our interdisciplinary units support a rigorous curriculum with high expectations for all students. Our teachers are committed to preparing our students for their bright futures. North Woods is responsible for meeting the academic standards that high performing schools are based upon, and connect those standards to creating a happy and successful life.
by Rachelle Braun
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Instructions:
by Vanessa Mbuyi
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by Devi Prasad
For the marinade:
For the sauce:
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by Neil Chen
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Tip: Top stick the crust and the egg together, put the crust right on egg when the egg is half cooked.
This dish reminds me home and my childhood, egg pancake has been one of my favorite breakfast since I was young, I remember during the summer break, breakfast and egg pancake is the motivation to wake me up. Furthermore, egg pancake is easy to make, and all the ingredients can be found in La Crosse, you don't have to be very good at cooking to make egg pancake. Also, some people say breakfast is the most important meal during a day, it keeps people energetic and helps people focus better in the morning, while we usually have lots of important stuff to do in the morning. So next time, instead of cereal, omelet, or bacon, try egg pancake, you might like it, more options for breakfast is always good.
by Edith Ben-Eboh
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This dish is one of the fastest dishes to make in Nigeria. And it brings back a feeling of Nostalgia because it was one of the first dishes I ever learnt to make. I hope you enjoy it. Bon appetite.
by Emily Curtis
Total Time: 2.5 hours
Servings: 20 balls
Original recipe: CookingTheGlobe
Ingredients:
Instructions:
by Justin Donkin
Pastry Ingredients:
Directions:
Beat the margarine and sugar well. Add the egg and beat well. Add salt, flour and baking powder. Divide the mixture into two baking pans. Press down firmly and poke holes into the pastry with a fork. Bake at 375° F for 15 minutes.
Filling Ingredients:
Directions:
Put milk into a pot, and add the butter . Place on low heat and allow the mixture to boil. Rear eggs into a separate bowl. Add sugar to the eggs along with flour, corn flour, and vanilla essence. Add this mixture to the pot and cook slowly until thick. Pour the filling into the pastry. Let it cool and sprinkle with cinnamon over the top.
Milk tart is a very common dish in South Africa. Any time there is a special occasion or a get together there is usually always a milk tart involved. It is very easy to make and is something that takes me back home with a single bite. It is very special to me and almost every South African. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
by Justin Donkin
Servings 4| Prep Time 60 min| Total time 1 Hr 20 Min
Ingredients:
Directions:
Sieve the flour and add all of the dry ingredients into a large bowl. Add the oil and then the water bit by bit until you get the consistency of a soft bread dough. The mixture should still be very sticky. Place the dough on a floured surface and gently kneed for 5-10 minutes. You may need to add more flour to prevent the dough from sticking to your fingers. Place the dough in a clean bowl and cover with a cloth. Set the dough aside in a warm spot until the dough has doubled in size. Divide the dough into portions and mold into balls. Deep fry a few vetkoek at a time until golden brown over medium/low heat.
Vetkoek is a prominent part of the Afrikaans culture. I have very fond memories of my dad making these along with a pot of curried mince. These are also something that I enjoyed while walking around the farmers market. You can fill them with pretty much anything that you would put in a regular bun. These are easily my favorite thing to eat from back home. Always reminds me of being home with my family whenever I make them.
by Dieudonne Nwaokomah
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Recipe substitutes and additions
Being able to prepare this meal means that I have a reminder of the sort of tastes that are not available here that is unique to my home and family. The cultural attachments to the various ingredients are invaluable.
It can be a challenge to find similar foods to what a foreign student is accustomed to, so, this dish can be a rare connection to family, a familiar way of life and the emotional connection that comes with those things.
This dish is my favourite because it is not difficult to make and can be recreated with alternative ingredients to match any preferences.
The dish does allow the Nigerian foreign student to have a taste of home.
There is not a lot of ingredients and processes that go into the preparation of this meal which makes it ideal for anyone to make anywhere.
by Kate Kang
Bulgogi (불고기) literally meaning “fire meat”, is a grilled dish of thin, marinated slices of beef on a barbecue. It is also often stir-fried on a pan in home cooking which I will show you today!
Ingredients:
Directions:
Bulgogi is probably my first dish that I cooked since I started studying in UWL. Despite I was living in the Reuter Hall at my first semester, I had no skill in cooking but being homesick changed me. I really missed the beautiful harmony the saltiness and sweetness bulgogi so when I found out there are sliced beef at Woodsman’s, I almost screamed in happiness in the store (fortunately, this did not happen and I was not kicked out of the store :)). The dish is relatively easy to cook compared to other Korean dishes (the proof is that I succeed in cooking bulgogi, so chances you will fail is very small)
by Haylee Meyer
Ingredients :
Dough:
Filling:
Oven: 450 F approx. 18-25 minutes
Serves: 15 empanadas
Directions:
First, prepare the pino de carne (meat). *Tip* To make the onions not have that harsh taste, boil water and put the diced onions in for about a minute. Strain out water. Next, put in some vegetable oil to fry the onion on medium heat. Try not to use olive oil as it will take the flavor away from the meat. Add oregano, cumin, paprika, and salt to onions. Cook for about 15 to 20 minutes until very tender. Then, add the ground beef to the onion mixture. Add about a half cup of water to help cook the meat. Beef and onions will cook for about 20 minutes on medium low. After mixture is cooked, set aside because it must be COLD in order to fill the empanadas.
Now, prepare the dough. In one bowl, put the flour, salt, wine, and hot water together, mixing it just slightly with hands. Then, pour the lard into the dough mixture. Fold and knead the dough with your hands until it is smooth. Let it rest for at least a half hour in a dry, warm area.
Finally, fill the empanadas. First, roll out the dough into a long log roll shape in order to cut the amount of dough for each empanada. Then, cut the dough for the desired amount. Next you will flatten the dough into a circle shape (to the best of your ability). Once the dough is flattened, use the egg and water mixture and brush that lightly onto the flattened dough. Fill the dough with the meat mixture. Do not put too much or it will break open when folding. After the meat is placed, place a quarter cut of the boiled egg in the empanada as well as one olive and one raisin. The raisin is optional.
Now, fold the empanada. Take one end of the dough and fold it to the other end closing the dough shut (kind of like folding it in half). This will create a half circle. Next, on the top layer of the dough, push the filling together while pushing down to secure the filling into place. After, you will make three folds. Start with the two on the sides vertically. Finally, you will make a fold on the top horizontally. Make sure folds are pushed down but not too tight that it is squished. Lastly, lightly brush the egg mixture on top of empanadas to create a golden-brown look when it is done cooking.
¡Dieciochera! This phrase was screamed for at least one week during fiestas patrias which is Chile’s independence week celebration. For one week, schools and businesses are closed to celebrate this holiday which entails many fondas such as festivals, parties, concerts, drinks and SO MUCH FOOD. One of the typical foods that one would see during this week is empanadas de pino. This was one of my favorite foods while I lived in Santiago, Chile for a semester. It is easy to make, but folding them is tedious work. However, THEY ARE SO DELICIOUS. There were empanadas on every corner in Santiago, but I remember my host mom was always going out of her way to get me the best empanada de pino especially ones that were freshly made. We would sit in the kitchen together and share our spicy mayo while sharing how our day went. The kitchen was always the time where connected with my host family and the Chilean culture. I got to listen to their stories and experiences here in Chile. I will always remember the many memories I have made there.
by Xiying Li
Angela Stanton
bywatch the video
3 c. cooked lamb (lamb is traditional, but you can substitute beef or other meats or even lentils)
1/4 c. broth
1 clove garlic, minced
1 onion chopped
1 t. rosemary
3 c. mashed potatoes
salt & pepper
Sauté onion and garlic in oil. Add meat, rosemary, salt, pepper and broth. Place into an oven-proof pan, top with mashed potatoes. Bake in moderate oven for 35-40 minutes.