Uniquely Milwaukee

Every October, Wisconsin Tech Month unifies and celebrates tech and innovation across the state — both the present and the future. That includes a big effort to get more young people involved in STEM through events like a recent competition that encouraged marginalized gender identities to take the lead. 

SHOUT Robotics was founded just this year but has quickly gained traction with its focus on amplifying underrepresented voices in STEM fields. As part of that effort, 40 teams from Wisconsin and Illinois led by female and non-binary individuals battled at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School in a competitive but supportive environment.

In this episode, guest host Rachel Tarby talks with two of the student competitors and the event's organizers to explore the impact of SHOUT Robotics, as well as the importance of creating space for underrepresented communities.

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Guest host: Rachel Tarby

Uniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the support of our Radio Milwaukee members. 

Election Day is coming up. On Nov. 3, Wisconsin residents will vote for candidates in Congress, the State Senate, the Assembly, governor and even three questions about amending the state constitution.

With all of that at stake, information is key — and students at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Milwaukee are making sure voters have it.

The school’s Civic Engagement Team includes 10 seniors, including Daniel Gonzalez, who was well aware of the stakes for the upcoming election. “It's mainly important to make sure that everyone knows what's at risk,” he said. “Either changing the ballot, the Constitution, or what they would possibly bring to us since many different senators would bring many different things. It can also bring many different consequences to our communities.”

In this episode, guest host Rachel Tarby goes along with Gonzalez and the rest of the Cristo Rey team -- plus a couple like-minded local organizations -- on a recent voter-canvassing session to see how students not even old enough vote are still finding ways to get involved with democracy.

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Uniquely Milwaukee is made possible by our Radio Milwaukee members.

Who has power in Wisconsin? Two of our friends at WUWM ask — and answer — this question in their podcast that’s back just in time for election season.

For season three of Swing State of the Union, hosts Joy Powers and Sam Woods decided to uncover who makes the critical decisions about changes in Wisconsin and the impact on the voters who elect them. To do that they went into communities to explore topics like data centers, school funding, immigration and affordability.

They also went into our studio for this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee to talk with Kim Shine about this season of their podcast and what they discovered along the way to the midterm elections Nov. 3.

Find all of our recent episodes, visit radiomilwaukee.org/ourstories.

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Episode host: Kim Shine

Uniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members.

This Latine Heritage Month, we remember the lasting legacy of Mexican singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel. Born in Michoacán, Mexico, in the 1950s, he has touched generations of audiences with his powerful lyricism and magnetic energy.

Known as “El Divo de Juarez,” he composed more than 1,800 songs and sold more than 100 million records. His iconic ballads, like “Amor Eterno” and “Querida," are still very beloved. Most notably, he was the first non-classical act to perform in Mexico City’s Palacio de Bellas Artes in 1990. He passed in August 2016.

In this episode, guest host Paula Lovo shares her memories of Gabriel and asked community members to do the same (thank you Alexa, Marielena, Miguel, Maura, Mara and Tiana).

To find all of our recent episodes, visit radiomilwaukee.org/ourstories.

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Episode host: Paula Lovo

Uniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members.

"I’m actually changing the oil. Right now, they’re giving us a speech about the PPE."

Terence is one of about a dozen particpants in a virtual-reality class inside Milwaukee County’s Community Reintegration Center. The class is part of a six-week course for men and women residents provided by My Way Out, a program that provides reentry services to justice-impacted individuals.

Ruben Gaona is My Way Out's executive director. The navy veteran launched the program after his own incarceration that followed an honorable discharge due to a back injury. He says he started selling drugs in 2007 to provide for himself and his family. In 2010, he was charged in a federal case. Now, his nonprofit hires staff that was formerly imprisoned while helping hundreds of people stay out of the justice system.

“Obviously, when I came home, I didn’t know where technology was,” Gaona recalled. “So I started spending lots of hours with my laptop — learning, watching YouTube videos, learning how to use Excel, Word documents — because I also wanted to go back to school. I knew technology had advanced so much, so that started the passion of saying, ‘OK, there’s something here.’”

To learn more about My Way Out and find all of our recent episodes, visit radiomilwaukee.org/ourstories.

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Episode host: Kim Shine

Uniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members.

When Julianna Jackson and Nate Carpenter moved from St. Louis to Milwaukee, they quickly found a lot to like about their new home.

“What did draw us… is the sense of community that I feel whenever we're in Milwaukee,” Jackson shared. But they also noticed something their new community could use — or reuse.

At the end of July, the pair opened the doors to 414 Art Revival, an art-resale shop where people can find pre-loved art supplies at a reasonable price and donate materials they no longer need. But the location on West National Avenue in West Allis is also a community space that features Milwaukee artists and hosts classes. 

On this episode, guest host Rachel Tarby goes inside the store to talk with its co-owners and the patrons finding value of all kinds within (and even on) its walls.

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Uniquely Milwaukee is made possible by our Radio Milwaukee members.

This Latine Heritage Month, we celebrate the work of Milwaukee County Supervisor Juan Miguel Martinez.

Martinez was elected in 2022 as County Supervisor of District 12, representing various southside neighborhoods. In this role, he helped secure a $30 million commitment from the county for the Mitchell Park Domes, a prime example of his advocacy for the parks system and securing resources for the neighborhoods he represents.

Along with his work in civic engagement and labor organizing, he writes for publications like the Milwaukee Record and frequently DJs at the Wiggle Room, using that time to unwind and share music from his eclectic collection. 

But with everything he does, he always keeps his focus on highlighting stories about people of color in Milwaukee. "The reason these stories are important," he explained, "is because we make up the fabric of this city.”

For the full story, go to radiomilwaukee.org/ourstories.

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Episode host: Paula Lovo

Uniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members.

Milwaukee is a place of resilience and service. But a shadow of crime and violence hovers over parts of the city. You’ll find evidence of all these things in the people who see the latter and embrace the former by working to make Milwaukee safer. Vaun Mayes is one of them. 

For years, Mayes has been an interrupter, building community trust and understanding while advocating for alternative approaches to policing and public safety. His efforts on the North Side haven’t gone unnoticed and are the subject of a a new documentary from doc|UWM students: Heavy Is the Crown.

The film features conversations with elected officials, law enforcement, educators and young people about the challenges and solutions to building safer neighborhoods. Director Sean Kafer and producer Mackenzie Savin played key roles in the project, and Uniquely Milwaukee host Kim Shine sat down with them — along with Mayes — to talk about the documentary ahead of its premiere at the Oriental Theatre at 4:30 p.m. this Sunday, Sept. 27.

To learn more, visit radiomilwaukee.org/ourstories.

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Episode host: Kim Shine

Uniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members.

Survivors of violence in the Milwaukee area have a new place to turn for help. Wisconsin’s first trauma recovery center (TRC) opened in September, offering specialized mental-healthcare services.

The Medical College of Wisconsin launched the clinic at ThriveOn King in Milwaukee’s Bronzeville neighborhood. It’s one of nearly 60 TRCs across 28 states in the country that use an evidence-based model to reach communities, individuals and families who slip through the cracks of traditional services. Their holistic approach includes outreach, therapy and case management alongside community partner support.

In line with the national model, all services are free and for the most part the Milwaukee TRC will help clients aged 14 and older. The goal is to grow the network and add self-referrals in early 2027. 

“Our goal is to help people go from surviving to thriving, and mental health and mental wellness is a huge part of that," said Dr. Terri deRoon-Cassini, director of the Milwaukee TRC. "This adds to the ecosystem of everything else going on in Milwaukee." 

To learn more, visit radiomilwaukee.org/ourstories.

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Episode host: Kim Shine

Uniquely Milwaukee is supported by our Radio Milwaukee members.

The phones we carry in our pockets give us the ability to snap a picture any time we want. But a nearly 200-year-old form of photography is still around today — and still finding new fans.

Milwaukee’s own Amber Ascher has made a business out of her interest in the Victorian-era artform, which is making a return in this fast-paced digital age.  

“I think with the rise of A.I., digital-perfected images, people want this even more because it's so obviously handmade,” she said. “Sometimes, you literally see the fingerprint of the photographer on the plate from them handling it, and it's just special for that reason.”

In this episode, we go along on a tintype shoot to learn how it's done and why people continue to choose an antique form of photography in an age of advanced technology.

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Guest host: Rachel Tarby

Uniquely Milwaukee is made possible by the support of our Radio Milwaukee members.