88Nine: Community Stories

Like most combat sports, boxing is thought of as a male-dominated activity. But in Milwaukee's Silver City, there's one gym providing women with a space to build strength, confidence and discipline.Many who step through the door at SheWolf have no prior experience and might not be all that interested in the fighting aspect of boxing. Still, going to the gym quickly becomes part of their daily routine for other reasons.“This is just a period of time in society, but then also personally in my life as a middle-aged woman doing a lot of different things, that I just want to feel strong,” said Trudy Watt, a member of the gym who started boxing not just for the physical benefit, but also the community aspect.“I just passed my hundredth class a couple weeks ago,” she added. “If you just stick with it, it's really astonishing how in less than a year, you'll see your own strength and ability grow in really noticeable ways.”  On this episode, guest host Rachel Tarby talks with Watt and other gym members, plus owner Donna Gallardo, about what makes SheWolf a unique entry in Milwaukee's fitness community.#####Guest host: Rachel TarbyUniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the generous support of our members.

Tucked away on North 76th Street in Milwaukee, below Blue's Egg Cafe, is Roufusport Mixed Martial Arts Academy. Across two decades, it built a national and even global reputation in MMA circles for training champions. That attention became acutely local in October of 2025, when founder and Milwaukee native Jeffrey “Duke” Roufus died in his sleep.“Duke Roufus, back in the day, 4 years old, got started in martial arts,” his friend and longtime business partner Scott Joffe recalled. “Next thing you know, he's a professional fighter. Next thing you know, he's one of the top MMA coaches in the world.”But what does an organization do when it loses the person who provided not just their name, but also the philosophy that made it a success? To find out how Roufusport has persevered, guest host Jon Adler goes to the academy and talks with the people carrying on its founder's legacy.#####Guest host: Jon AdlerUniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the generous support of our members.

On this episode, we take you inside a community health clinic at a place known for being as concerned about how their customers feel as how they look: Gee's Clippers.Started as a way to help fill an access gap in the community, the clinic is now part of an even larger mission: Gee's MKE Foundation, a nonprofit that owner Gaulien "Gee" Smith recently launched to expand his focus on wellness, mentorship and health disparities within underserved communities of color. Host Kim Shine talks with visitors and volunteer staff about the clinic's lifesaving work, as well as Smith himself about what inspired his more than three-decade drive to serve Milwaukee.#####Host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the generous support of our members.

Libraries are sacred, public spaces that are typically quiet. But, every other Tuesday at Milwaukee's Washington Park Library, you'll hear the hum of a sewing machine and conversations about seams. It's a recurring event they call “Mind Your Mending” — a place where anyone can get simple clothing fixes done for free.Washington Park resident Carol Lee Hopkins helped launch the clinic in January, volunteering her time for small things like patching holes, stitching and repairing the occasional zipper.“I make a lot of things for myself and my family,” Hopkins said. “But I like helping people, and I think it's really important right now with this crazy, difficult world we're living in where there's a lot of meanness. I can do something kind.”To find the next “Mind Your Mending” clothes repair clinic, visit the Milwaukee Public Library's event page.#####Host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the generous support of our members.

We're in the heart of the Milwaukee Film Festival, and there's one member of our Radio Milwaukee team who chose some of the movies you'll see this year. In addition to being an 88Nine DJ and co-host of La Alternativa, Paula Lovo is the new programmer for Cine Sin Fronteras, created 10 years ago to showcase the Latin Diaspora. Paula, an artist and documentarian herself, is continuing that mission and talked about the films selected for this year's festival. The Milwaukee Film Festival runs April 16-30.#####Host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the generous support of our members.

Casimir Pulaski High School's automotive program is the largest in Wisconsin. Created in 1963, it's also the only one left within Milwaukee Public Schools. Episode host Kim Shine takes you inside the shop where students learn everything from changing oil and gas lines to replacing alternators and brakes, as they travel the road to becoming certified technicians.#####Host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the generous support of our members.

The Milwaukee Film Festival has always been a place to see movies from a variety of filmmakers, including local talent from here in southeastern Wisconsin. One of the groups getting their own spotlight at this year's event: the area's youth filmmakers.As part of the “Rated K: For Kids” program, the Milwaukee Youth Show features eight short films made by the city's next-generation creatives. Before they take center stage at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, April 25, at the Downer Theatre, we talked with two of these talents: animator and Brookfield Central High School junior Sam Slowik, and recent Kettle Moraine School for Arts and Performance graduate Joseph Tzougros.#####Guest host: Rachel TarbyUniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the support of our Radio Milwaukee members.

‘What is justice without democracy? This was the question asked at Marquette University's 10th annual "Justice in Action" conference. It's a student-led initiative encouraging students, and residents, to think critically about their world.“Justice is something that I think is hard to define. I think people have different understandings of justice, but being at a conference like this and seeing how everyone is so intentional about coming together to serve the greater good of everybody, that's what justice is about to me,” said Lauren Fitch, a master's student in Marquette University's Public Service program.The session featured keynote speaker and former Wisconsin poet laureate, Dasha Kelly, and various community organizations held breakout sessions around the topics of social justice and civic engagement.Rachel Tarby spoke to conferencegoers about what it means to be changemakers on campus, and in life. #####Episode host: Rachel TarbyUniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the support of our Radio Milwaukee members.

“1,2,3 swing those arms!” This is the magic of young students learning to let go. They're understanding the power of movement, as part of the in-school dance program – Mad Hot Rhythm. The Danceworks series is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a competitive event. Episode host Kim Shine visited Trowbridge School in Milwaukee as elementary students practiced their African Jazz, Tap and Tango skills.The Danceworks 20th anniversary competition will be on April 28 at the UWM Panther Arena. To learn more, click here.#####Host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the generous support of our members.

Comité Sin Fronteras has diligently worked alongside other organizations on leading immigration reform in Milwaukee. They support a community-defense network that's responding to the growing ICE presence in the Midwest.A grassroots collective, the help local undocumented communities in various ways, from family-to-family mutual aid, DACA support, migra watch and more. Comité co-chairs, Iuscely Flores and Jenny Melo, explain how the organization is preparing for ICE presence in the city, the importance of connection, and the value of the term “solo el pueblo salva el pueblo” - only people save the people. #####Guest host: Paula LovoUniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the generous support of our members.

Wisconsin's Spring Election is April 7, and the most high-profile race is the State Supreme Court seat vacated by conservative judge Rebecca Bradley. So who better to talk with than someone who put the court at the center of an entire podcast season?“Right now, the liberals are in the majority of the court. So, there are seven seats on the court, liberals hold four of those.” That's how Sam Woods, producer and co-host of WUWM's Swing State of the Union, started his high-level explanation.“Now it doesn't quite work like a political party kind of thing,” he continued, “but when we're talking about cases like abortion rights or redistricting or cases that involve hot-button issues, it tends to kind of side with that ideological — liberals go one way, conservatives go another.”Woods and co-host Joy Powers focuses on 2025's expensive Supreme Court race for season two of Swing State of the Union, and now they're going even deeper into the court with two bonus episodes they're releasing in March, asking questions about accountability and interpretation of the State Constitution.A few weeks before the spring election, we talked with woods about the upcoming election and Wisconsin's highest court.#####Host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the generous support of our members.

Q: What do Queen, Prince, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac and Martin Luther King, Jr. all have in common?A: They've all played at the historic Miller High Life Theatre.The venue earned that official designation in December of 2025, and a few weeks later the Wisconsin Center District commissioned a study to explore the “highest and best use” of the area that also includes UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. One of the findings was that a new hotel would maximize investment in the Baird Center and pointed to the Miller High Life Theatre as a target for replacement.Since the study's release, there's been an outpouring of support to preserve the venue, which got guest host Carolann Gryzbowski thinking about its importance as a Cream City landmark. And there was only one person she wanted to explore it with: OnMilwaukee senior editor and Urban Spelunker Bobby Tanzilo.#####Guest host: Carolann GryzbowskiUniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the generous support of our members.

The last time Lisa Caruthers visited the Wisconsin State Capitol she was about seven or eight years old, and on a school trip. More than 50 years later, she returned as part of “Black Advocacy Day," hosted by the Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus on Feb. 26.Uniquely Milwaukee host Kim Shine takes you to Madison, where residents of all ages met with elected officials and learned how to champion their needs. As a whole, the Black Caucus campaigns for the best interests of African Americans, and all people of color, throughout the state. Currently, there are 11 Black Legislators in Wisconsin, 10 of whom are members of the caucus. #####Host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the generous support of our members.

“You know, we all are made in the image and likeness of God, and God is creation. So we're all creative, but sometimes I think some of us are given an extra dose.”Celine Farrell has lived a lot of life, and those words are just a sliver of the knowledge she's picked up along the way.She's seen what it takes to get inspired and fired up creatively. At the end of the day, it's why she's kept engaged, making art as a sculptor and beautifying her space as owner and curator of Grove Gallery (she's also the curator and gardener of its grounds). Everything in her day-to-day touches on some form of tactile creation and inspiration from a higher power.In this episode, guest host Erin Wolf spends time with Farrell as this creatively driven member of our community shares a few pieces of the vast knowledge she's gathered over the years.#####Guest host: Erin WolfUniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the support of our Radio Milwaukee members.

In the heart of the Riverwest neighborhood is a weekly showcase of some of Milwaukee's most talented voices.Linneman's Acoustic Open Stage began in 1993, making it the city's oldest open mic and a staple of the local music scene.“Linneman's is an institution, and it's meant a lot to tons and tons of people,” said Chris Porterfield, frontman for Milwaukee-based band Field Report and an alum of the open mic. “It's a really special place. And what Jim and Marty have built is a great gift and service to our city.”Jim Linneman and Marty Hacker are longtime partners in life and nightlife. The venue's namesake rarely misses an installment of the Acoustic Open Stage, and he was there the night we were on hand to experience the energy of a community built on a shared love for music.“Each and every Wednesday we have a featured performer who gets a half hour,” Linneman explained from the stage as he introduced Ethan Munson, the night's spotlight artist. “And to be the feature here, you have to come in and take part in our Open Stage and show a love for music and the desire anyway to write your own songs.”In this episode, we take you inside a typical Wednesday night at Linneman's — a space for seasoned performers to connect with newcomers; and an eclectic mix of people, songs and instruments, ranging from banjos and guitars to keyboards and even a kazoo.#####Guest host: Rachel TarbyUniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the support of our Radio Milwaukee members.

A true calling always finds its way to you. Valencia Caldwell is living proof.Her father was an air-traffic controller who always encouraged his children to follow their dreams. After his death, a special flight helped lead Caldwell back to her first love — one that wouldn't be easy to reconnect with.The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates there are 213,000 aircraft pilots and engineers in the country. Just 4% are African American, and organizations like Sisters of The Skies estimate there are fewer than 200 Black women professional pilots in the United States.Undaunted, Caldwell has been accepted to the United Aviate Academy, an intensive flight school through United Airlines. On this episode, podcast host Kim Shine talks with her about the often-turbulent path she's followed back to flying and how she turned to her community to help support her dream.#####Host: Kim ShineYou can contribute to Caldwell's GoFundMe here.Uniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the generous support of our members.

Step by step… Left foot, then right. Each month, line dancing takes over the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace at a free community event held in partnership with Primetime Line Dance.  Whether they're grooving on the floor or have two left feet, participants say the classes build community,  boost their mental health and provide an all-around good time. Kim Shine joined in as everyone celebrated the event's one-year anniversary. #####Host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the generous support of our members.

On Saturday outside Milwaukee City Hall, solidarity showed itself in the form of hundreds of bike riders. They came together in the name of one of their own: Alex Pretti.A longtime resident of Green Bay before he moved to Minneapolis, Pretti would make the trip to Milwaukee for the annual Riverwest 24 bike ride. When the 37-year-old was shot and killed by federal border patrol agents while protesting against President Trump's immigration operations, communities across the country looked for something — anything — they could do in response.Many of those communities banded together to hold bike rides in honor of Pretti. More than 500 people joined the one in Milwaukee, which added to the 100+ events held as far away as Finland and Australia. The sentiments shared at these rides centered on simple ideas, like the ones shared by Milwaukee resident Parabh at city hall.“We believe in our basic human rights,” he said, “and those are some things that no one can really take away from us no matter how hard things get.”You can hear more from the event, including a letter from one of Pretti's Riverwest 24 teammates, in the full audio story.#####Host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the generous support of our members.

Mister Rogers once challenged us by saying: “Imagine what our real neighborhoods would be like if each of us offered just one kind word to another person.”When he gave us these instructions, it wasn't hard to look at the neighbors to the left and right of our home, and then imagine friendly conversations with them. But what about the neighbors we pass on the street everyday on our commute — those sleeping under bridges, at bus stops, in tents.As temperatures recently dropped to negative-15 degrees in Milwaukee, the health and wellness of these people became front of mind. And an organization in Milwaukee that for nearly a decade has been extending kindness to our neighbors experiencing homelessness continued their mission in subzero conditions.On this episode, we talk with Street Angels co-founders Shelly Sarasin and Eva Welch about how a change meeting at a warming shelter in 2016 grew into an award-winning nonprofit with an unwavering mission.#####Host: Kim ShineGuest Host: Carolann Grzybowski

In the middle of Milwaukee winter, most of us are used to being outside and active if the conditions are juuust right. But there's a cycling group that meets every month — warm or cold, rain or shine — to ride and connect.Scrappy Hour typically meets on the last Sunday of the month, rolling out from places like Cactus Club and The Daily Bird, with riders of all kinds joining in. Radio Milwaukee director of development Jay Burseth was one of those riders on a foggy and overcast December morning that wasn't exactly ideal cycling weather. But, as he found out, that's one of the group's secrest to community-building: showing up, regardless of the conditions.To learn more about Scrappy Hour, including info about future rides, follow them on Instagram.#####Episode host: Kim ShineGuest host: Jay BursethUniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members.

We're changing things on the podcast this year, with shorter stories and themed months, each one with a different topic. For January, it's Health & Wellness. In this episode, we focus on yet another Milwaukee grocery store in danger of closing, and it's in one of the city's food deserts.Earlier this month, the owners of Sherman Park Grocery Store asked the public for support — a message that came amid a string of other grocery stores closing last year and just days before a nearby Aldi on the north side shut down. Maurice “Moe” Wince and his wife, Yashica Spears, have owned the store since July of 2022 and are dealing with setbacks that threaten its future. A drop in customers, theft and nearly $100,000 in damage from historic flooding in August have left Wince and Spears in a difficult position. So they've turned to the community --- looking for grants, asking for help from business and marketing experts, inviting new customers into the store, and exploring whether vendors can be more flexible with delivery payment options.On this episode, we talk with Wince and one of his regular customers who relies on Sherman Park Grocery Store to help her put food on the table.#####Episode host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members.

Join us for this encore edition of Uniquely Milwaukee as we grab a drink at Agency, Milwaukee's first hybrid bar and a 2025 James Beard Award finalist. Immerse yourself in the choice of indulging in an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage. Plus you'll hear from the founder, Ryan Castelaz, as he shares the story of how this innovative concept came to fruition.Click here to learn more about Agency.#####Podcast host: Kim ShineEncore host: Salam FatayerUniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

Happy New Year! This Uniquely Milwaukee throwback goes beyond the age-old question: "What's your New Year's resolution?" For this episode, we embraced the idea of rejection therapy by trying new things we were pretty sure would end in failure ... and bust a little ego in the process.#####Podcast host: Kim ShineEncore host: Salam FatayerUniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

Thank you for listening and supporting Uniquely Milwaukee! In this episode, we have a special message of gratitude from Radio Milwaukee executive director Jordan Lee as he reflects on the triumphs and changes of 2025, and looks ahead to a brand new year. #####Podcast host: Kim ShineGuest host: Jordan Lee, Radio Milwaukee executive directorUniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

A few years ago, Radio Milwaukee's Tarik Moody tried to buy a house in the city. Every offer got outbid by LLCs with out-of-state addresses and cash offers that closed in two weeks. He gave up.Recently, Tarik spent time with someone else who went on that journey — with a very different outcome. Keilyn Borrero, a single mom of four, was in the same headspace Tarik was at the start. She convinced herself it would never happen. One income. Prices spiking. The math just didn't work.Of course, she said all of that while standing in the house she now owns thanks to the City of Milwaukee's Homes MKE program. Then she walked Tarik through her new place on the north side: the pantry she insisted on, the big yard where her 10-year-old finally has space to kick a soccer ball, the spot where she wants to plant lavender next spring."I was crying the whole time," she said about the closing day, when she thought to herself, "This is finally happening, for me and for my kids."#####Podcast host: Kim ShineGuest host: Tarik MoodyThis story was reported with the assistance of A.I. tools, which were used primarily to outline and create a working draft. Radio Milwaukee staff conducted all interviews, compiled all of the audio and edited all of the media involved with the project.Uniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

Every DIY scene needs its supporters. In Milwaukee, Bay View's Cactus Club is a big one. This beloved music venue is one of the scene's most revered spots, and headlining there is a dream for bands from all genres.So far, you've met Fake My Death, an alternative rock/punk DIY band here in Milwaukee. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, go listen to part one right now. In that episode, our former Radio Milwaukee intern and current freelancer, Jonathan Joseph introduced you to the group and their not-so-sexy "other" hustle of day jobs. To round out this two-part series, Jonathan talks with Cactus Club's owner about the business of DIY, and then Fake My Death take the stage. #####Podcast host: Kim ShineGuest host: Jonathan JosephUniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

Milwaukee is a place filled with creatives, especially in the city's music scene. We're home to dozens of independent artists and bands who'd rather do it their way than rely on a mainstream framework. For the next two episodes of Uniquely Milwaukee, we'll dive into this sub-culture with guidance from someone who knows it well: former Radio Milwaukee intern and current freelance contributor Jonathan Joseph. He followed Fake My Death, an alt-rock/punk band whose members mixed their own DIY styles to create a sound all their own.In this first installment, Jonathan introduces us to the band and sheds light on the other hustle of DIY life: the day jobs that help keep the dream alive. #####Podcast host: Kim Shine Guest host: Jonathan JosephUniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

As the holiday season begins, we're honoring the roots of Thanksgiving while also celebrating the traditions we've created along the way. "Friendsgiving" is one of the latter.Although its history doesn't go back quite as far as its namesake, Friendsgiving has grown in popularity over the last few decades as people set aside time for their chosen family. These are gatherings with the people who have supported us, challenged us and carried us through.This episode is a warm reflection on belonging, connection and community with two stops along the way. First, host Kim Shine is joined by Marc Tasman — director of the digital arts and culture program in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's anthropology department — to dive into the concept of Friendsgiving. Then you'll drop in on a celebration in Bay View with good vibes … and some really good food.#####Episode host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

Right along West Capitol Drive in Wauwatosa, history hides in plain sight — a time capsule to the city's past, just off North 119th Street near the northbound I-41/45 ramp. It's a quiet corner many have driven by and wondered, “What is that?”The answer: Oak Hill Cemetery, a final resting place on a small plot of land that's easy to miss and hard to get to. In this episode, host Kim Shine is joined by local historian Jeff Roznowski and Wauwatosa Historical Society executive director Amanda Saso. Together, they explore this often-overlooked cemetery and its local significance.#####Episode host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

Everybody needs nourishment. It's at the top of the list for survival. But it's not the end of the list. Tiffany Miller was well aware of that as she made plans for what would become Fruition Cafe.Located in the Concordia 27 Building on the corner of 27th and Wells, the space opened in July 2024 with what you'd expect from the name: coffee, tea, kombucha, baked goods, and protein-packed sandwiches and wraps.Then there's the less-expected aspect: a place for the city's creative minds to express themselves.In this episode, Rachel Tarby takes you inside Fruition Cafe to hear from its owner about opening the space and her plans for its future. #####Episode host: Rachel TarbyUniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

The driving force behind Uniquely Milwaukee is storytelling. Most of the time, it comes in the form of a news-style piece. But this episode breaks from that while still putting at its center the stories that get to the core of how we as humans connect and better understand one another.Sharing our experiences helps us be more compassionate and can also inspire others to open up. One of the places that happens is a local platform that Uniquely Milwaukee host Kim Shine helped create — something that gives storytellers of color an opportunity to share their truest selves on stage. It's an event called AfterDark: For the Culture, a collaboration between HYFIN and Ex Fabula. We've got another one coming up Nov. 13 at Radio Milwaukee, and in this episode you'll hear four stories from past tellers: Alice's Garden executive director Venice Williams offers a humorous ode to her five uncles who protected her, were boldly themselves and may have had a few girlfriends. Matthew Lewis goes a different route. Instead of telling a story from his life, he shares a poem dedicated to his favorite person — his 10-year-old self who was discovering the magic in being a different kind of boy. Christine Reardon talks about figuring out who she wanted to be at 14 years old after being saved on a train in New York by three women who worked on the TV show A Different World. Finally, Milwaukee hip-hop artist El Sebas combines a few stories from his life — idolizing his father as a child, translating Spanish into English for his relatives, and meeting the woman of his dreams. #####Episode host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

Do you believe in ghosts?With Halloween followed closely by Dia de los Muertos, we're right in the middle of spooky season — the perfect time to explore and answer that question.In this episode, we take a tour of Café Corazón, a restaurant in Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood that some say is haunted. Guided by general manager DeVante Lisch, along with Allison Jornlin and Tea Krulos of American Ghost Walks, we learn the history of the building and stories about the possible spirits that still linger in the space.From Riverwest, we head back to Walker's Point and another location with some unexplained phenomenon that hits close to home: Radio Milwaukee! You'll hear from members of the team as they talk about their encounters with the mischievous spirit that roams the station. Spoiler: Not everyone thinks the ghost is real.Finally, we wanted to hear from someone who represents the people who either don't — or would rather not — believe in ghosts. 88Nine DJ Carolann Grybowski is one of those people. She believes in something but has anxiety about the unknown. To provide that perspective, she shares a short, personal narrative about her own experiences.#####Episode host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

The outside of Third Space Collective MKE is hard to miss: a black door with vibrant colors streaming down, as if the paint was striving desperately to spill out onto the sidewalk.The goal of Third Space Collective MKE is something that hasn't always been easy to find in Milwaukee: an art gallery that also serves as an incubator for creatives, particularly in the Merrill Park neighborhood.In this episode, guest host Rachel Tarby takes you to Third Space Collective's ribbon-cutting ceremony to meet its owner and experience the joy that the grand opening brought to the wider community.#####Episode hosts: Kim Shine, Rachel TarbyUniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

October is Wisconsin Tech Month, and an upcoming Oct. 23 event specifically highlights an underrepresented group in tech: women, who make up only about 30% of the industry's workforce.In this episode, host Kim Shine dives deeper into the tech landscape for girls and women in Wisconsin, and learns more about Wisconsin Tech Month events as a whole.Guests: Nadiyah Johnson, founder of Wisconsin Tech Month and Milky Way Tech Hub Allison Spohn, Southeast Region Board president for Women In Technology Wisconsin Inc. #####Episode host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

This fall marks a turning point for public-media outlets across the country. As of Oct. 1, federal funding for PBS, NPR and their local stations stopped. This $1.1 billion cut — a directive from the Trump administration — triggered widespread job cuts, restructurings and closures of hundreds of outlets across the country.Radio Milwaukee is a public-media station, and as we begin our fall membership drive, we're feeling the impact — as are our sister stations across the state, like WXPR in northern Wisconsin.In this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee, host Kim Shine talks with WXPR CEO and general manager Jessie Dick about the impact of funding cuts, the value of public media – especially in rural communities – and how they're staying proactive.Radio Milwaukee's Fall Membership Drive goes through Oct. 10. You can donate now, and also reach out to us any time during the year to become a volunteer or to collaborate. --Episode host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

If you've ever experienced adversity, it can be tough to see the positive outcome. Sometimes, it's less of a beacon and more of a silver lining. In this episode, we go inside one of the city's nonprofits that focuses on the brighter side — big, small and everything in between.Harmonic Harvest launched on Giving Tuesday in November of 2023. Less than two years later, it celebrated the opening of its headquarters inside the Marshall Building and has extended its reach well beyond the bounds of the Historic Third Ward.“I knew I wanted to create a splash. I didn't realize it was going to be way bigger than just a splash,” Harmonic Harvest founder and CEO Jenna Washuleski said. “The whole concept of Harmonic Harvest is organizations and people that are helping create a brighter future. By weaving silver linings, by collaborating, co-creating and supporting one another, we can really create a stronger collective force.”Harmonic Harvest has donated thousands of dollars to artists, organizations and entrepreneurs, and has created connections by sharing silver linings. Its space in the Marshall Building reflects that, as Washuleski's team transformed it to include an entrepreneurial marketplace, artist cove, designer's workshop and much more.While Harmonic Harvest has grown relatively fast, its foundation was developed over a lifetime. In the full episode, you'll hear Washuleski talk about all the experiences — from childhood through today — that shaped the organization.*****Episode host: Kim ShineFor more episodes, go to: radiomilwaukee.org/ourstories.Uniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

In any city, there are interesting places — one that are typically not open to the public. They're spaces you pass by and say, “I wonder what happens in there.” Doors Open Milwaukee gives everyone the opportunity to act on that curiosity, with access to more than 160 locations around the city, mostly for free.It's an annual celebration of the city's architecture, history and neighborhoods, and it's back at the end of September. For this episode, host Kim Shine got the chance to preview one of the most popular tours during Doors Open: Milwaukee City Hall.*****Episode host: Kim ShineFor more episodes, go to: radiomilwaukee.org/ourstories.Uniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

At the corner of Locust Street and King Drive, there's a sense of purpose, happiness and hope. That's because theHarambee neighborhood is welcoming back a community anchor: the new Martin Luther King, Jr. branch of the Milwaukee Public Library (MPL), its modern façade brighter, bigger and more inviting for all to enter.For this episode, podcast host Kim Shine was in the mix for a very big day for the Milwaukee Public Library. Its MLK branch got a major upgrade that adds to the revitalization currently happening along King Drive. It was a day of joy and celebration as the community came together at the state-of-the- art-facility on the city's north side.*****Episode host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members and sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library. This episode, however, was created independently by the content team at Radio Milwaukee.

We're working hard on our next episode (obvious hint: it's connected to all the places getting ready to open their doors Sept. 27-28), so with this being Labor Day week, we decided to revisit our drive around the city with Milwaukee parking enforcement officer Eldricht Hill.On this episode, you'll be right there as we go behind the scenes on a ride-along with Hill, and chat with him and parking services manager Thomas Woznick about the misconceptions and challenges parking staff encounter. They also reveal the weirdest place they had to issue a parking citation (hint: not on land).*****Uniquely Milwaukee is sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.Host: Kim ShineReported by: Salam Fatayer and Dan Reiner

Cactus Club is one of Milwaukee's beloved music and arts venues. Many have walked through the doors of the Bay View spot, but not everyone could enter with ease. The nearly 140-year-old building had 4-1/2 stairs to climb before you could enter, and its design wasn't fully accessible to all. This month, that started to change. There's now a ramp alongside the building — just the first of many planned improvements to this legacy property. In this episode, host Kim Shine takes listeners on an exclusive visit to the Cactus+ ramp celebration to learn more about the years-long process and owner Kelsey Kaufmann's mission of accessibility. Later, Radio Milwaukee morning show host Dori Zori sits down for an in-depth conversation with Kate Klingbeil, the mosaic artist who brought color and texture to the project.*****Episode host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library and supported by our Radio Milwaukee members.

The Menomonee River isn't your typical classroom. Then again, the group of 10- to 12-year-olds who spent a week along its shoreline weren't your typical class.These students, and some older teens, were part of a summer program from All Hands Boatworks, a local nonprofit teaching youth — and adults — about the craft of wooden boatbuilding, Milwaukee's rivers and the Great Lakes. But the learning extends well beyond the water.“When we're building this boat, it's not about building a boat,” longtime volunteer Trent Myers said. "You expand their sense of what they're capable of achieving.”Podcast host Kim Shine takes you to the river, and inside the weeklong experience includes building birdhouses and kayaking on the river before culminating with a dedication ceremony and boat launch. —Episode host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library and supported by our Radio Milwaukee members.

The future is technology. The future is A.I. It's shaping industries while transforming how we communicate and how we learn. In this episode, we go inside a new summer program showing those capabilities — and more — to the young minds in our community.A.I. Academy is teaching a group of sixth through eighth graders how they can benefit from this technological leap, as well as how it can fuel entrepreneurship. With hands-on lessons that use platforms like ChatGPT, the students learn topics like the fundamentals of data science.They're also working on financial literacy, an area getting increased attention from companies in the industry like Associated Bank, which provides support for A.I. Academy. The Wisconsin-based company is a program partner with the Milky Way Tech Hub, a company focused on making Milwaukee a nucleus for Black people and people of color to thrive in technology.—Episode host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library and supported by our Radio Milwaukee members.