Welcome to Community Currents, the Wisconsin Partnership Program (WPP) Community Grantee information hub. This page is intended to provide connection and information for current WPP community grant recipients. Check here for the latest WPP events, funding updates and other news!
pictured left to right: Becky Webster, Executive Director; Steve Webster, Director of Farm and Culinary Operations and Giselle 'Gise' Oliva-Metoxen, Director of Programs and Development
Thank you for joining us!
Thank you to Ukwakhwa (Our Foods) for hosting WPP's fall Learning Collaborative! Participants including WPP community grantees and staff and UW faculty had the wonderful opportunity to tour the Ukwakhwa farm, learn about their WPP-funded initiative From Seeds to Table, share a delicious meal prepared by Goodeagle Kitchen and participate in a barter event. Thank you to all who joined us for the special day of learning and connection!
Picture left to right: Steve Webster leads a farm tour; Gise Oliva-Metoxen presents on the Seeds to Table WPP-funded project; WPP staff members with Ukwakhwa team
Upcoming WPP Grantee Events
Submit events related to your WPP-funded projects. Email Ashley Benitez at agbenitez@wisc.edu. Please include name of organization, name of your WPP grant, event name, date and relevant link.
submitted by Achieve Brown County; WPP grant:The Ready for the Future Initiative
Nov 18, 2026
Green Bay, WI
Submitted by:Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging; WPP grant: Building Capacity for Fall Prevention Programs for Spanish-Speaking Older Adults through Community Engagement & Education
April 28-29, 2027
Wausau, Wisconsin
WPP in the Community
In addition to our trip to the Ukwakhwa farm, WPP program officers enjoyed connecting with community grantees at their recent events and meetings.
- Kattia Jimenez attended Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens Celebration (WPP-funded project: Strengthening Volunteer Coordination to Improve Community Access to Fresh Produce);
- Aimee Haese attended a monthly Lutheran Social Service's Collective for Powerful Action meeting (WPP-funded project:From Engagement to Impact: Family-Led Solutions for Mental Health and Social Determinants of Health); and
- Jaimee Prado Hannon attended the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education’s Madison Nature & Health Gathering (WPP-funded project: Healthy Beginnings Outdoors: Strengthening the System for Nature-Based Early Childhood Education).
Thank you for having us!
WPP Welcomes New Staff Member
The Wisconsin Partnership Program is pleased to welcome Sima Baghdasarian, MBA, as our new post-award accountant. In this role, Sima works with the WPP Oversight and Advisory Committee (OAC) and community grantees throughout pre- and post-award grant activities, helping support project development, establishment and ongoing grant management.
Sima Baghdasarian
Sima brings a wealth of grantmaking experience to this role. Most recently, she served as an Associate Program Officer for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Amman, Jordan. During her time at UNHCR she oversaw compliance, financial performance and monitoring of a portfolio with annual budgets ranging from $20 to $50 million.
She earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). Looking ahead, she is excited to bring the experience she gained at the United Nations to WPP, where she can continue making a positive impact through meaningful work that supports people and improves their lives.
Outside of work, Sima enjoys spending time with her family, relaxing at home, watching movies, baking and exploring new places whenever she has the opportunity. Welcome, Sima!
Share your news! Do you have an event or update related to your WPP-funded project that you'd like to share here? Email Ashley Benitez at agbenitez@wisc.edu. Thank you!
