In 2018, Marquette University President Dr. Mike Lovell and his wife Amy started a program in Milwaukee to help people heal from trauma. Their involvement with Milwaukee organizations gave them insight into the impact of trauma such as violence, poverty, suicide and racism.

Research shows that experiencing significant trauma can have persistent negative effects on human health, including increasing the chances for heart disease, or diabetes and other illnesses. It was a cycle that the Lovells wanted to help break.

Science also shows that it’s possible to retrain and create new pathways in the brain – to repair and heal from trauma. That’s why the Lovells started Scaling Wellness in Milwaukee, or SWIM. By addressing trauma directly, their hope is to change the trajectory of people’s lives and help them to be more resilient and successful.

After hundreds attended the first SWIM conference at the Fiserv Forum last year, another conference is coming up in October.

SWIM will partner with the Social Development Commission for the Summit on Poverty and SWIM Conference to be held Oct. 7-8, 2019, at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee.

In this podcast we talk with the Lovells and SWiM partners to discuss the science of fighting trauma, how Milwaukee organizations are joining together, and their vision for the future of Milwaukee.

Guests:

Mike Lovell, President of Marquette University

Frank Cumberbatch, Vice President of Engagement at Bader Philanthropies

George Hinton, CEO of the Social Development Commission

Amy Lovell, co-founder of REDGen

Dan Bergen, Office of Community Engagement Executive Director at Marquette University

Moderator: Lauren Burke