Beyond MU webinar ‘Empowering Those Who Seek to End Hunger through Collaboration and Innovation’ is March 17

Beyond MU: Lifelong Learning will host a webinar titled “Empowering Those Who Seek to End Hunger through Collaboration and Innovation” on Wednesday, March 17, from noon to 1 p.m. 

This session will focus on research by Dr. Walter Bialkowski, visiting assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science. Bialkowski’s findings show how a dramatic spike in unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic has exaggerated underlying disparities in the community—forcing many additional families to rely on the public service provided by Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin (FAEW).

These unprecedented challenges also magnified the need for FAEW to segment food distribution networks based on local needs and to optimize its distribution practices. 

This project was a winner of the 2020 President’s Challenge, which provided funding for innovative, interdisciplinary, collaborative work addressing needs in Milwaukee’s community that have been created or magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic and representing critical areas in the community’s recovery efforts. 

Bialkowski will moderate a panel. Panelists include:

  • Ganhua Lumathematics teacher at Milwaukee Marshall High School and Marquette graduate student 
  • Jeff Joslyn, director of food resources at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin