Wisconsin Life

How do you travel halfway around the world and still feel connected to home? For WPR’s Carina Abrego-Koch of Green Bay, she listened to the sound of her own voice — and the voice of someone she loves — while on a trip to London.

She shares her story as part of the “Home Is Here” project, which amplifies the voices of the growing number of Black, Asian, Native American and Hispanic residents who call northeastern Wisconsin home. The project is part of the NEW News Lab – a local news collaboration in northeastern Wisconsin made up of six news organizations.

Tattoos can tell the story of a person’s life. They feature aesthetic beauty, inside jokes or family memories. Some of Daniel Schleicher’s tattoos memorialize his favorite people.

His story comes to us from the Odyssey Beyond Bars project, which provides classes for students incarcerated in Wisconsin through the UW Odyssey Project. Schleicher’s story is also featured in the newest season of the “Human Powered” podcast, “Humanity Unlocked,” which is focusing on people impacted by the justice system in Wisconsin.

The pandemic brought many annual festivals to a halt. This summer, some are finally making their long-awaited comeback…like Greek Fest Plus in Madison. To celebrate its anticipated return, we revisit this story from 2019, when Carol Griskavich talked with organizers from Assumption Greek Orthodox Church about the history of the festival.

When you take a risk in life, you’ve got to prepare for the unexpected. Milwaukee journalist Tom Kertscher recalls how joining a video dating service provided him an experience unlike any other.

What’s one of the best ways to combat hate? For Jesús Gregorio Smith of Appleton, it’s to push back with love…something he did after a homophobic sign appeared in town.

He shares his story as part of the “Home Is Here” project, which amplifies the voices of the growing number of Black, Asian, Native American and Latino residents who call northeastern Wisconsin home. The project is part of the NEW News Lab – a local news collaboration in northeastern Wisconsin made up of six news organizations.

Two Wisconsin teens in search of adventure in July 1973 rode their 10-speed bikes from Antigo, Wisconsin through Minnesota, to the Canadian border and back. Fifty years later, they reprised the 900-mile ride. As Jan Larson tells us they had to make a few adjustments, and had a new purpose.

There are so many activities that define summertime as a kid. Maybe it’s running through a sprinkler. Trips to the library. Playing tag through the neighbors’ yards. For writer Ron Weber, it was playing baseball…something he looks back on with deeply fond memories.

Feeling like you’re different from your peers can have a big impact on your self-acceptance. But as Miriam Brabham of Green Bay tells us, a nurturing community helped her learn how to love her hair.

She shares her story as part of the “Home Is Here” project, which amplifies the voices of the growing number of Black, Asian, Native American and Hispanic residents who call northeastern Wisconsin home. The project is part of the NEW News Lab – a local news collaboration in northeastern Wisconsin made up of six news organizations.

Summer calendars in Wisconsin seem to overflow with music festivals. One of the longest-running gatherings is Larryfest, which has been showcasing some of the region’s best acoustic roots music since before it was back in the mainstream. WPR’s Ezra Wall tells us more about its lasting legacy in La Farge, Wisconsin.

Home means different things to different people. Home can be the house you grew up in, a quiet spot in the woods, or right beside your favorite person.

For Mai Lo Lee of Appleton, defining her home is complicated. She shares her story as part of the “Home Is Here” project, which amplifies the voices of the growing number of Black, Asian, Native American and Hispanic residents who call northeastern Wisconsin home. The project is part of the NEW News Lab – a local news collaboration in northeastern Wisconsin made up of six news organizations.