A Tribute to Helen Daniels Bader: Belonging and Becoming

“What we believe about ourselves shapes who we are.”

Welcome to a day of reflection, creativity, and celebration inspired by the life and legacy of Helen Daniels Bader — a philanthropist whose compassion continues to shape Milwaukee’s cultural and mental health landscape.

Today marks a special convergence: Helen’s birthday, Mental Health Awareness Month, and Jewish Heritage Month. Together, these observances invite us to consider identity in all its fullness: the parts we inherit, the parts we choose, and the parts that change as we grow.

At Jewish Museum Milwaukee, we recognize that disability and mental health are meaningful aspects of many people’s lived experiences. They influence identity, but never define a person’s entire story. Helen Daniels Bader understood this deeply. Her commitment to dignity, inclusion, and care lives on through Bader Philanthropies, which continues to support programs that uplift individuals, families, and communities.

Throughout the museum today, you are invited to explore interactive activities, quiet creative spaces, shared stories, and moments of reflection that encourage you to consider what shapes your identity — and how we, collectively, shape one another.

Thank you for joining us in honoring Helen’s legacy and the vibrant, diverse identities that make up our community.

Reservation are recommended.