I Was Changed Because of Cancer
byThe last thing Diane Anderson expected to hear in 2002 was that she had breast cancer — at 44, she was an active and otherwise healthy mother of three girls.
LOCAL WOMEN
Trauma Turned My Life Around
byGrowing up on Chicago’s South Side, Jevon Diming experienced generational trauma: several cousins were killed by gun violence and her nephew, Pierre, was a victim of gun violence.
Once Homeless, Now I’m Prospering
byAfter being stalked in Milwaukee as retaliation for reporting a sexual assault of a family member, Lai’Kita Buie knew she could no longer raise her three children there.
How I Live With Unimaginable Loss
byKristin Keir never thought on a sunny morning last September that it would be the last time she would see her partner, Dax Bakken, alive.
How I Thrived After Business Failure
byHow two business failures and a bankruptcy pushed Natasha Vora to not only keep going, but thrive in a new, successful venture.
Laura Lahti: Amplifying Madison’s Asian Communities
byIn 2022, Laura Lahti founded AMASIAN — a play on the words “amazing” and “Asian.” Since then, the organization has hosted social gatherings to bring the Asian American community together.
Anna Stern: Breaking Gender Barriers
byAnna Stern works on a variety of community initiatives as vice president of Tri-North Builders, with the ultimate goal of engaging more girls and women in the industry.
Angela Wallace: Helping Families With Heart
byAngela Wallace is helping families as the executive director of Logan’s Heart and Smiles, a nonprofit that makes accessibility and safety modifications to the homes of families with children with disabilities.
Sarah Jacobson: Advocating for Inclusive Dance
bySarah Jacobson’s program, called Confidance, opens the door to dance for all students.
Susan Yackee: Bridging a Divided Society
bySusan Yackee, director of UW-Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs, has achieved a lot in recent years, including creating the first La Follette School Policy Poll and the Wisconsin Main Street Agenda Project.