Work Samples
Community Conversations: African American Life in Early La Crosse (March 2019)
If asked about well-known African Americans in La Crosse’s history, George Poage likely comes to mind. As the first black man to win an Olympic medal for the United States, he’s certainly an important person. But he’s not the only important figure in African American history in La Crosse. Members of the Enduring Families Project (EFP) want to get the word out about some of the others. “The whole purpose is to bring an awareness that this group lived here and hopefully it will make people of color who live here now feel more connected to the community,” says EFP producer Denise Christy-Moss. “There’s a rich African American history here in La Crosse.” Enduring Family Project presentations include re-enactors portraying historical figures, including Poage; but also George Edwin Taylor, the first black man to run for president; and Elizabeth Burt, who is portrayed by Dodie Whitaker. “[Burt] had a very strong business sense,” says Whitaker. “She and her husband worked as cooks very early in life on the steamships. When they ended up settling in La Crosse, she decided to open up a boarding house… It’s really quite incredible when you think about the time period.” “Elizabeth Burt is one of the most exciting individuals I came across,” says Rebecca Mormann-Krieger, a historian for EFP. She credits the work of the late Dr. Bruce Mouser, UW-La Crosse professor emeritus, with being the “foundation to our work on the Enduring Families Project.” His research is the foundation, but Mormann-Krieger herself has also worked for years on projects like piecing together the family trees of some of La Crosse’s early settlers. Mormann-Krieger is also a writer for the Enduring Families Project. She works with Christy-Moss to take that research and bring it to life through dramatic presentations, making history more palatable to people of all ages, and raising awareness. “Hopefully it will make people of color who live here now feel more connected to the community, if they know that there’s a rich African American history here in La Crosse,” says Christy-Moss. “It’s absolutely important that people understand about our collective history in America,” says Whitaker. “It can be very empowering for children and adults alike to learn about these specific people and make those connections to our area.” Children and adults are welcome to attend the Enduring Families Project presentation on Wednesday, February 20th. Monologues will be performed by Whitaker and Christy-Moss. They’ll portray Burt and Poage’s sister, Nellie, respectively. The presentation is the latest in the Community Conversations program, hosted by the Interfaith Leaders Coalition. The Feb. 20th presentation begins at noon at English Lutheran Church in La Crosse. Registration is encouraged.
Perspective on International Women’s Day: “Our boots are every bit as dirty as yours” (March 2019)
Friday is International Women’s Day, a day set aside to recognize the contributions of women to our society. There are events planned around the world, including in our area. At the People’s Food Co-op in La Crosse, the International Women’s Day celebration focuses on local women in the agricultural industry. “As the public’s interest in local, fresh foods has grown, I think that is cracking open markets and opportunities for women to live their dreams and become farmers,” says Linda Riddle, Member Services Manager of the food co-op, “that’s what we’re going to hear about.” Panelists include a long-time goat farmer, organic fruit and vegetable farmers, representatives of our local indigenous communities, and a maple syrup producer. Bree Breckel is co-founder of B&E’s Trees, doing the work she says generations of women have done before her. “I think there’s a misconception that women are new to farming,” says Breckel. “The work that my grandmother and great-grandmother did generations back WAS farming, but they were called ‘farmer’s wives.'” Breckel says solutions to the economic and environmental challenges facing agriculture today could come from people whose voices previously might not have been heard. “Bit by bit, taking a more active, hands-on role, and hopefully getting some recognition,” says Breckel. “We’re doing the work, guys. We’re not just farmers’ wives. Our boots are every bit as dirty as yours. The International Women’s Day Celebration event at the People’s Food Co-op is set for Friday, March 8th starting at 6 p.m., with the panel presentation scheduled to begin at 6:30. It’s being held at Hackberry’s Bistro, in the upstairs of the facility. The event is free and open to the public. Donations to the Land Stewardship Project will be accepted.
Town of Holland residents speak out about proposed power line route (Aug. 2013)
A high-voltage power-line project known as CapX2020 has been approved to run through Minnesota. La Crosse County residents are expressing their concerns over what happens when those power-lines reach the Holmen area. The plan is to have the CapX2020 project connect with another power-line project, known as the Badger Coulee Line, at a substation in the Holmen area. The Badger Coulee Line would stretch from the La Crosse area to the Madison area. The route those power-lines could take through the Town of Holland has many concerned about the impact on health, the environment, and property values. Representatives from both Xcel Energy and the American Transmission Company were at a special Town of Holland meeting Wednesday night, fielding questions from residents and members of the town board. One of the proposed routes for the Badger Coulee project would have power-lines, possibly on poles 150 feet high, running near a neighborhood. Residents say while there have been public meetings on the project, the proposed route that has many people the most concerned was not presented to them until just recently. “We have a couple different routes that could really affect the whole Town of Holland. Not only through farms, but residences and MVC property as well,” says Town of Holland resident Brian Meeter. “We just found out about that three weeks ago.” Meeter says his research shows property within 1,000 feet of power-lines like the ones part of the Badger Coulee project could lose 15% of their value. He says there are at least 20 properties along one of the proposed routes. One proposed route for the power-lines through the Town of Holland would start at the Briggs Road substation, head toward Onalaska, then to Sparta, and on to Madison. Another would have the same starting point, but would head north to Galesville, then to Madison via Black River Falls. Brad Nelson was at Wednesday night’s meeting. He’s a manager with Xcel Energy. Nelson says the plans are tentative, and were chosen after several meetings with the public, government officials, and people invested in the project. He say the possible power-line routes are chosen objectively. “There are many factors that are considered,” says Nelson. “Some are environmental concerns, construct-ability, cost, impact on land uses, residential properties, just to name a few.” After choosing a preferred route, project officials will submit a permit application to Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission. Nelson says they expect to do that by the end of this year. He doesn’t expect a decision from the PSC before 2015. If approved, construction on the Badger Coulee Line could start in 2016, and be finished by 2018.
Paws 4 Independence Fundraiser Coming up (Sept. 2013)
Troops who return home with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder often find the help they need in a service dog. An organization here in our area specializes in training service dogs for veterans. Paws 4 Independence can also train the animals to work with adults or children with diabetes, seizure disorders, or dementia. Paws uses a unique method. Instead of training dogs separately from the people they’ll be serving, they’re trained together, making the transition from training to every life seamless. “If somebody has a seizure disorder the dog will learn how to pick-up on those seizures and alert that person before they’re going to hit so that person can get to a safe place,” says Paws founder and Executive Director Marcie Jenson. “With the veterans a lot of times they’ll wake up with nightmares and the dog will lay right on them.”
"Living for Liz" Continues Working Toward Goal (March 2013)
Lung cancer is a disease with a stigma. Many people assume it’s a "smoker’s disease." But it’s not only people who smoke who are touched by the cancer. That’s one piece of the message a locally-based non-profit organization is trying to get out. ‘Living for Liz ‘was started in honor of Elizabeth Melde, a young La Crosse woman who died in 2012 after a battle with Lung cancer, who never smoked. The organization held an event Sunday to say “thank you” to all the people who have supported the work of ‘Living for Liz.’ That work includes supporting people who are diagnosed with Lung cancer, spreading the word about the need for research funding, and also getting the facts out there about the disease, which anyone can get.