Here at Love Wisconsin, we amplify the good things happening in our state. By featuring the unsung heroes of our democratic process—from poll workers to a constitutional scholar, from municipal workers doing the nitty-gritty work that keeps our communities ticking to reporters showing why local journalism matters for an informed democracy—we are stronger when we share stories!
My maiden name is Kennedy. Growing up in the 1960s as a Jewish Kennedy was a story. Classmates asked me, ‘Oh, do you live in the White House?’ And then with the assassinations, everyone wanted to know how I got the name Kennedy. Photo by Gary Porter My dad’s last name was Ungar, which is …
I grew up in Milwaukee’s Jewish community and attended a suburban public school. There were no Holocaust survivors in my immediate family, but I was aware many belonged to my synagogue. Photos by Gary Porter From an early age, my parents and grandparents taught my siblings and me to be proud of our Jewish identity …
I am shy and hesitant to speak publicly, but I know I need to do it to reach people, to share my experience during the Holocaust. I got involved with the Holocaust Education Resource Center (HERC) because I have a story to tell. I was born in 1937 in Karlsruhe, Germany, and I lived in …
I’m in school right now, but I’m doing it remotely because of the pandemic. I’m pursuing my associate’s degree in science at Nicolet College in Rhinelander, and from there I’d like to either go into linguistic anthropology or environmental science. Photo courtesy of Jephrey Valliere I was working for Amazon down in Kenosha for a …
In recent decades, many of Wisconsin’s independent and local newspapers have folded or been absorbed by large media conglomerates that hollow them out and reduce local content. Ron’s story is part of a series that illustrates why local journalism matters and why we need journalists to confront our urgent local issues. I was always a …
“Local news is so important. It’s the glue that connects us.” Read More »
I first got interested in history in the fourth grade. I took a book out of the school library on the colonial South—I don’t remember what the title was, but I remember how it looked. It had a real cloth pink binding. Photo courtesy of the Center for the Study of the American Constitution From …
In recent decades, many of Wisconsin’s independent and local newspapers have folded or been absorbed by large media conglomerates that hollow them out and reduce local content. Gillian’s story is part of a series that illustrates why local journalism matters and why we need journalists to confront our urgent local issues. I live on a …
“I have a passion to ensure we have a well-informed population.” Read More »
I became a poll worker in 2017. My neighbor has been a poll worker for years and asked me to volunteer. I am now one of the chief inspectors. I first started as a chief inspector at our local Elks Club, which was one of our polling places post pandemic. It was fantastic, I had …
“Poll working is such an easy way of just showing up and serving your country.” Read More »
Waldwick is a rural town of about 500 people and 300 registered voters. Election day can feel like an old-fashioned town social. I offer everyone who votes a homemade cookie. Every four years, there’s a cookie-baking competition among the spouses of presidential candidates. Back in 2000, Tipper Gore offered a molasses cookie and Laurie Bush …
I started working the polls at the town hall in Lac du Flambeau in 2013. A colleague asked me if I was interested and gave my name to the town clerk. I started in 2013, and I’ve worked almost every election since. photo courtesy of LeAnn White I am a member of the Lac du …
“I want Lac du Flambeau tribal members to see a friendly face when they come to vote.” Read More »
My first time as a poll worker was the November election of 2004. The city clerk had put out a notice saying they could use more poll workers. This felt like something I could contribute to my community. Photo courtesy of Peter Madden I kind of understood how elections work, but there’s nothing like being …
“There are so many ways that we can knit together a community.” Read More »
When I was in first grade, my teacher was into civics so on election day she had us all cast our vote for either Nixon or McGovern because she wanted us to practice becoming voters. Photo courtesy of Alan Rubin When my kids were in elementary school I took this idea but adapted it to …
“I remember the thrill I had voting for the first time.” Read More »
