https://www.thepassionsmovement.com/home daily 1.0 2025-02-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1664547177433-U5WDCF459W1BSHR2Z9OM/image-asset.jpeg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1664554306268-OQI92JIY9H644P3RDSMQ/DSC_1590.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678900386705-VO6KWCD07C04USL76EM1/pmbanner.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1740177051407-KNFOISD0TZKEYX7D5I6Q/DSC_1120.jpeg Home https://www.thepassionsmovement.com/contact daily 0.75 2022-10-13 https://www.thepassionsmovement.com/about daily 0.75 2022-10-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/4bc6e8a7-dead-425a-85e6-210ab9e14f7f/IMG_7266-2.jpg About https://www.thepassionsmovement.com/events daily 0.75 2025-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/8e134e43-640e-4aca-934d-d5fda6d82c6b/THE+PASSIONS+PROJECT+Gallery+Event Events - Get your tickets! Join us May 31st at Festival Hall for the unveiling of THE PASSIONS PROJECT featuring students from Knapp EL, Case HS and Walden III. Register for FREE at http://bit.ly/knapptickets https://www.thepassionsmovement.com/stocklist daily 0.75 2023-04-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678907931031-8W3BWO4OLRMT5KIWBDGB/DSC_1104+Edit+A.jpg Portfolio - Carl Hubbard - he/him/his Passion - Activism Carl has always been outspoken about his beliefs. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, in his own words, “I came from an area of the country that practices blatant and overt discrimination.” He grew up at a time when he could not use public bathrooms or water fountains and was not allowed into the library. These experiences influenced his interest in advocacy work. He was encouraged by a school guidance counselor to apply for college in the North because of his proclivity to use his voice and personal experience to speak up and speak out. Subsequently, he found himself in Wisconsin at Beloit College. His work on a political campaign brought him to Racine. Since then, he has been active at the LGBT Center of SE WI as a passionate advocate, including work to ban conversion therapy practices for people under 18 years old. One of his current main advocacy projects is moderating a book group discussing social justice books. Creating the group not only unified two of his passions, but it also gives him an opportunity to connect with people and influence positive social change. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678907954336-3EQV7OFVM75TROX0IR1Y/DSC_1905+Edit+A.jpg Portfolio - Tony Larsen - he/him/his Passion - Music “I have to say I have several passions and music is one of them. I also really like drama, writing and art.” Most people know Tony Larsen from his time as the minister at Racine Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church in Racine. He has since stepped down from full-time ministry but continues to work part-time for a congregation north of Milwaukee. He is known for having performed wedding ceremonies for LGBTQ+ couples in the 1990’s before marriage equality was made legal. From the time Tony was a small boy, he wanted to be a clergyperson. He grew up Catholic with aspirations of being a Catholic priest. Throughout his childhood, it seemed as though he was destined to be a priest. However, he began to question his belief in God during his studies. “I would pray…God, if you exist, let me know. It won't make sense for me to be a priest if I don't even believe in you.” Leaving the priesthood was one of the hardest choices he ever made. Fortunately, he found a home at Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church in Racine for forty-two years. Tony’s music is written from his life experiences and when talking to Tony for a few minutes you understand it is his wealth of experience from which he draws. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678907974013-B07MPSF5KQOSHSLP5IV0/DSC_2333+Edit+A.jpg Portfolio - John Powilaites - he/him/his Passion - Karate John has been practicing karate for 30 years. As an undergraduate student at UW-Parkside, he decided to take karate to fulfill the requirement for a gym credit. “I wanted to get into karate for self-defense. Growing up gay, you always hear stories about gay bashing, especially back in the early 90s. I wanted to be able to defend myself if something like that ever happened.” Though it started as a class, he liked it so much he continued to incorporate the practice throughout his life. To this day, he meets with a group at Petrifying Springs Park to practice. “There's like a physical aspect and a mental aspect to karate. It has really taught me situational awareness and how to defuse and avoid potential confrontation. I just love it!” During his time at UW-Parkside, he was also very instrumental in starting the first student group supporting the LGBTQ community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678907986489-X3OOXL3UI3M6XCWDC69W/DSC_3887+Edit+A.jpg Portfolio - Greta Neubauer - she/her/hers Passion - Baking Also pictured - Katherine Neubauer When Greta Neubauer is not hard at work as the State Representative of Assembly District 66 and Minority Leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly, she enjoys baking for friend and family gatherings with her sister, Katherine. They often collaborate on the perfect dish to bake for their loved ones. When we met at her apartment in her Assembly District in Racine, Greta shared that baking provides for her an avenue for human connection. As much as she enjoys her job as a public servant in politics, baking is an outlet for her stress and a way to connect with those she loves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678908007350-2IXHSBLYUVEOZIH01UUP/DSC_4753+Edit+A.jpg Portfolio - Jeanne Arnold - she/her/hers Passion - Writing “I’m a feminist, a lesbian, a writer. That’s most of what I have done in my life, and I love it.” Jean Arnold likes to tell people she is the “oldest lesbian in Racine”. Though we cannot substantiate that, there is no doubt that Jean has led a very interesting life. Not only did she and her late partner, Barbara, open and run the Mother Courage Bookstore and Art Gallery for a span of five years, but they also ran the Mother Courage Press from 1981-2002. From January to June of 2022, Jean was selected to serve as the Racine ArtRoot writer-in-residence. Beyond writing having always been a part of her career path, she has also been a prolific diary keeper. Presently, she is pulling together a fictional memoir of her life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678908058699-9D39KGEVC4MZHC7INAM4/DSC_7132+Edit+A.jpg Portfolio - Jasmine Bianes - she/her/hers Passion - Coffee Jasmine is the owner of Abrazo Coffee at 321 Main Street, Racine, WI 53403. For Jasmine, coffee means connection. Growing up in Janesville, she spent a lot of time with her grandparents who helped raise her. She would often grab a cup of coffee with just them or they would bring her along to different coffee gatherings. This created a strong connection between coffee and community. Having worked on and off in coffee places over the years, Jasmine knew she wanted to open her own coffee shop. So, when the opportunity to buy the space Abrazo Coffee now thrives in, she could not pass it up. Jasmine strives to make people feel at home when they come into her shop and intends to host community events in her space. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678908107438-0HLPF80Z669UH99AVLLY/DSC_8577+Edit+A.jpg Portfolio - Enzo Ray Daniel - they/them/theirs Passion - Ceramic Art Enzo is a freelance graphic artist and designer. But their passion is creating ceramic art. At the end of 2018, Enzo started doing ceramics at Lemon Street Gallery & ArtSpace. When COVID closed the studio down, they decided to invest in their own small kiln to continue working on their art. Enzo now has a studio in Uptown Racine and spends nearly every day there. Eventually, they would like to have enough pieces to sell their work, but, for now, ceramics is a creative outlet. “My most recent sculptures are dinosaurs and cats. They are geometric in shape and have an organic feel because they are handmade…I'm still trying to figure out exactly my style and how to evolve the look and design.” Enzo would like to be a brand identity designer for LGBTQ businesses within the Racine/Kenosha area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678908102436-CM7ULVDVRP9INOR2T69Z/DSC_9254+Edit+A.jpg Portfolio - Dale Estes - he/him/his Passion - Photography “Photography is a way for me to see the world.” Dale grew up in a rural area of western Illinois. As an adult, he moved to Chicago. It was in Chicago that his love for photography grew and developed. He loves photographing the cityscape - bridges, metal structures, street photography and people. He’s good at noticing small details in the world around him and loves to photograph those. Dale loves “capturing people without being caught.” Dale’s friends could often find him wandering aimlessly with his camera. “When I am taking pictures, I feel captured in the moment with what I am seeing. I feel at peace, I feel like an artist and feel like I am connected.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678908117960-0NSAO2IQPVA43GFBY901/DSC_9576+Edit+A.jpg Portfolio - Pat Badger - she/her/hers Passion - Music Pat has been working in education and creating, sharing, and promoting the arts at The Prairie School for decades. No matter how her role transformed over the years, she loved working with students to create really unique musical performances. Pat is also an accomplished performer. She is a member of the Racine Symphony and a performer with the Choral Arts Society as a trumpeter. “I was a very shy kid who used to blush and get really red in the face when I'd be called on in school. The trumpet became my voice. And that's how I could be sort of out in the big world in a big way.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678907959080-RH7JAE5QJZ5MNL3NV7WZ/DSC_2318+Edit+A.jpg Portfolio - Alberto Huerta - he/him/his Passion - Hiking As a kid growing up in a rural area surrounded by woods, the outdoors was Alberto’s haven. He loved feeling like he was a part of nature. On spending hours outside, he noted, “...it was freeing, and I would just get lost. I love the sounds, views, and smells of being in nature.” To this day, he likes to get out on trails in the area. One of his favorite ways to travel is to plan hiking trips with a close group of friends. They have explored trials from the west coast to the east. He has also planned international trips to Ireland and Costa Rica and has set a goal to get to Peru to hike on the Inca Trail and see Machu Picchu. “I learned that I could do more than I thought. I like how it pushes me both physically and mentally.” Alberto has many passions aside from hiking. He loves architecture, photography, and Diversity and Equity & Inclusion work. He is very dedicated to creating lasting change within his community. “Everyone wants to be heard and seen.” He is very proud of his parents and what they have overcome. Both of his parents are from Mexico. “My parents sacrificed a lot and everything they did was for good, and I just want to make them proud. I want to represent my people as a first-generation child of immigrant parents. It is important to feel proud of where I’m from and who I am.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678907948909-2VQ3NY4WPSAXLHH6SQSJ/DSC_2261+Edit+A.jpg Portfolio - Zyaire Strowder - she/her/hers Passion - Working with kids Also pictured - Students from Knapp Elementary Zyaire is the Community School Coordinator at Knapp Elementary. Knapp is one of three community schools in Racine. “We are a family-based, resource-based school. We don't just focus on the academic piece when it comes to our students. We focus on the whole child. Knapp is not a place where staff come to work or kids come to school, it feels like an extension of home.” Connection has always been important to Zyaire. Being part of a team has carried over from her years of playing team sports and college basketball. One of the lessons she learned from playing sports as a kid was learning to trust adults. Coaching became a great bridge between the lessons she learned while playing sports to working with kids in a school environment. “I found that working through coaching, I can still have that love for the game and share that love while interacting with kids. Connection is so important.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678907997294-T8T0WXUREPUZ1XKR2PN4/DSC_4349+Edit+A.jpg Portfolio - Juliana Garcia Malacara - she/her/hers Passion - Theater “My passion is theater. It gave me the confidence I needed at a very young age because I was very quiet before I did theater. When I found theater here, at the Racine Theater Guild, I realized what I wanted to do at age 11.” She first participated in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as an Oompa Loompa. “I'm still surprised that I made it in that show because my audition was horrible. I sang so quietly; I was looking down at the floor the whole time.” And although she and her mom agreed her performance was not okay, she earned a spot on the cast. And that changed everything for Juliana. She’s been having fun ever since. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678907929509-OQ1OHZMTYDSVLVNYQ6YL/DSC_0287+Edit+A.jpg Portfolio - Angie Aviles-Soto - she/her/hers Passion - Family Also pictured - Aja, Olive, and Omar Aviles-Soto When asked about her passion, Angie says, without hesitation, “my family”. She and her wife, Aja, are mothers to their daughter Olive and son Omar. They love to do things as a family in nature. So, it was fitting to photograph them on one of their camping trips. “Being a mom is the greatest thing I never knew I wanted to be. I get choked up even talking about it because I had no idea that I had the capacity for this kind of love.” For many years Angie resisted the idea of being a mom and raising a family. She was pursuing other dreams, including finishing her undergraduate studies and going onto graduate school to pursue another passion of being a Nurse Practitioner specializing in mental health. “I have learned to appreciate being a mom in my older years. I don't think I ever could have appreciated it in my 20s or even early 30s. It's just been amazing. I have learned so much from our kids.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678908079188-2EQTOZZMQLFC7GZN1EY7/DSC_8175-2.jpg Portfolio - Zak Butler - he/him/his Passion - Singing, acting, performing “I want to be in the entertainment industry. I want to be an actor. I want to be a singer. I want to be a performer. And I've had those ambitions since I was two years old.” The first time Zak watched a VHS tape of Tina Turner performing he was two years old. “She got up on the stage in this fringe outfit and cowgirl boots. She gets on the stage and her version of Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love” starts playing. And that second, I was hooked. She was my first inspiration.” Although Tina Turner is a huge inspiration to Zak, he is also inspired by entertainers across industries, such as Joan Crawford, Betty Davis, Eartha Kitt, David Bowie, Lucille Ball, and Elvis Presley, to name a few. “It is not that I want to imitate them. I want to pay homage to them. What I take away from watching my heroes is that they love what they do.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678908018190-VEC3DMB9NM4ZD0SSRE7U/DSC_4796+Edit+A.jpg Portfolio - Aspen Morris - they/them/theirs and Sophie Morris - she/her/hers Passion - Advocacy Aspen and Sophie were nominated by their mom, Michelle. Aspen identifies as non-binary trans masculine. Aspen and their sister and biggest ally, Sophie, use their voices to advocate for human rights. Aspen and Sophie speak out and write legislators to support the issues for which they feel passionate. Aspen is very passionate about keeping healthcare issues and reproductive healthcare for transgender and non-binary people top of mind. Although Aspen is pretty quiet when you first meet them, their personal determination has an inner strength and fire. Aspen and Sophie are two people that make you proud of the next generation of activists and leaders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678908047920-X8L7JLE6AN0OGWU4BC22/DSC_5840+Edit+A.jpg Portfolio - Adam Billingsly - he/him/his Passion - Building “I love what I do everyday. I love making people’s dreams become a reality.” Six years ago Adam took over his father-in-law’s custom home building business, Realistic Builders. Even though building was not something he had ever done before, it has become his passion. His favorite part of the work is helping clients design their perfect home or reimagining their living space. He has his hands in all parts of the business. In the morning, he might work on design plans and then spend the afternoon on a job site installing cupboards in a new kitchen remodel. Everyday is different and that is what keeps it interesting. When Adam isn’t working with homeowners, you can find him relaxing at home with his husband, Oliver, and working in his own kitchen. One of his other passions is cooking and especially baking. “I have several passions, but I think I love building most because I get to do it every day.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678907986653-7O6OSPWOGF56DP53IOK0/DSC_3930+Edit+A.jpg Portfolio - Sr. Clarice Sevegney - she/her/hers Passion - Transgender advocacy The grounds of the Siena (formerly Siena Center) are very serene. As you walk through the prairies, you see Lake Michigan and feel at peace with the surrounding natural beauty. Sr. Clarice Sevegney finds solace walking the prairies. It is a place she comes to quiet her mind and feel closer to God. Her passion is working with transgender people. It was while she was on sabbatical at St. Albert's Priory in Oakland, CA, that she began to understand that she was being called to work with transgender people. At first, she was resistant. However, when she learned around the same time of the opening of an LGBTQ center in Racine, she knew what she needed to do next. She moved to Racine and has been very active at the LGBT Center of SE WI for over 10 years. “The Dominicans, as a whole, are very interested in people on the margins. And the LGBTQ community fit the definitions of people on the margin.” Not only has she been an ally of the LGBTQ community for many years, but she has also recently found her own voice around her identity and has come out as bisexual. “It took me 80 years to figure it out, but I am so happy I did.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678908062126-0BEMB9WWF6686CB3Q33W/DSC_6465+Edit+A-2.jpg Portfolio - Neptune Castro - they/them/theirs Passion - Visual arts Neptune is a storyteller and loves telling stories through digital art. They grew up in an artistic family and creating art has always been a part of their self-expression. Although they continue to work with paper, they really love drawing with their digital tablet. A couple of years ago, they created the characters Raymond and Sphinx and have been working on creating an anime tv show with the two characters. “Sphinx is the main character. He owns a flute that can control sand and stuff like that. And it's all about forgiving yourself and just being happy.” The characters also navigate difficult experiences, like homophobia and racism. They often incorporate issues that are important to them in their writing and digital art. “I would like to see more characters that represent LGBTQ+, disabled or People of Color. I think representation is important and needs to be included.” About a year ago Neptune decided that they identify as non-binary. “I don't really think that either gender role fits or suits me. For me, identifying as non-binary is to say I have some depiction of gender just not in the box of either male or female.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678908078188-1CO7RIXFWKRZASBV2YKN/DSC_7211+Edit+A-2.jpg Portfolio - Jamila Mitchell - she/her/hers Passion - Writing On any given weekend if you wander into Rochambo Coffee & Tea House in Milwaukee you may find Jamila camped out at a table working. A coffee drink nearby as she is making notes in her notebook or working away at her laptop. She is transported into the world she is creating and writing about for her first novel. She loves fantasy and Sci-Fi and that is the setting for her book. Jamila started writing when she was very young to understand her world around her and was something she did more for herself. “I live with bipolar disorder and depression. As a kid, before I knew what it was, my emotions were erratic, and my only way to deal with them was to write short stories that personified my feelings and experiences.” Writing has always been important in her life, but it wasn’t until recently that she has been actively trying to make writing her full time profession. “I constantly reread what I write over and over again, so I can know what to do next. I just lose myself in those characters and I could do that for hours on end. Which is why I would love to do it full-time.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1678908037949-JOOKJABKG43V3JL8O2NP/DSC_5428+Edit+A.jpg Portfolio - Monica Cummings - she/her/hers Passion - Teaching yoga and meditation Monica started practicing yoga back in the 1990’s. She was experiencing some health issues and felt yoga could help her chill out and relax. She took a class at a junior college in California and from what she learned in class and from her textbook she created her own yoga practice. “I continued to work out, cycle, rollerblade, swim and all that stuff, and always do yoga, at home in my bedroom alone. I know the benefits. I know when I don't do yoga and how my body feels.” A pivotal moment happened when she was sent an article about why Black people don’t do yoga. “I'm reading this, and I'm like, wow, we're once again missing out, we, meaning People of Color and African Americans. We're missing out on this health, good thing, because we don't think we belong or because financially we can't afford it. I immediately thought, ‘I should become a yoga teacher and teach to my community.’” Since the beginning of the pandemic, she has turned her office into a yoga studio so she can record and teach classes remotely. Knowing the benefits of yoga for herself she is always looking for opportunities to share yoga with people. She is trailblazing new ways to break down barriers and find creative ways to connect people with the practice of yoga and meditation. https://www.thepassionsmovement.com/racial-social-justice-racine-2023 daily 0.75 2024-10-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1712450742522-IUAI17O4E4OJ7PA5MU0U/DSC_9392.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2023 - Alonso Echeverria - he/him/his Passion - Music Pronouns - he/his "Music has always been my passion," Inspired by his grandfather’s band with his uncles, Alonso has learned to play multiple instruments, including piano, guitar, drums, and his current favorite, the ukulele. A couple years ago, Alonso’s sister introduced him to the band 21 Pilots, whose music deeply resonated with him when he was in a dark place. "Their songs captivated me and said things I was thinking but couldn't say out loud," he recalls. Connecting with their music inspired him to perform and touch others the way he was moved by music. Alonso dreams of performing live shows, saying, "I just want to have a roomful of people listening to me play music. I would love to fill the theater at Case. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1712450897072-CJH16W8HE5Y4DYEHFD8U/DSC_0434.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2023 - Kaleah Williams - she/her/hers Passion - Robotics “I love seeing something I’ve worked on actually work!” Kaleah's enthusiasm for robotics shines through her wide smile and animated demeanor. Her passion grew from hands-on experiences with her dad, who would take her to work with him. Having participated in robotics since middle school, she's excited to continue her passion at UW-Milwaukee with a major in mechanical engineering. In so doing, Kaleah is determined to break barriers. “When I say that I do robotics, I get comments like, ‘Oh, you don’t see a lot of Black women in this field.’ I have often thought how nice it would have been to see someone like me who was unapologetically doing what they wanted to do regardless of race, gender, and sexuality. Now I’m going to be that person for someone else who may need a push to follow their dreams.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1712450897152-NIWZTBBRX0C4UU3UOJ12/DSC_5563.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2023 - Naisbert (Nez) Nyamatutu - he/him/his Passion - Soccer From the moment Nez could walk, soccer became an integral part of his life. He fondly remembers playing in his backyard and joining his first team at age 10. “There's room for expression in soccer unlike other sports. When you have 11 players on the same wavelength and in the flow, it's a beautiful game, and that's why I love it." Nez's father, a Zimbabwe native who played soccer for Carthage College and now coaches locally, has been a significant influence on his love for the sport. Determined to excel, Nez continually works to improve his skills through club practices, open gym pick-up games, and school weight room sessions during lunch. "My goal is to take soccer as far as I can. I want to play soccer for the rest of my life." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1712450902813-YOASXMVK8796Q1FRBDLM/DSC_7618-2.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2023 - Lydia Taft - she/they Passion - Reading Lydia never goes anywhere without having a book with her. When you first meet her, she’ll likely need to look up from her reading in order to say “hello”. Though she isn’t opposed to reading anything, her favorite genres include dystopian fantasies, fairy tales, and biographies. "I love coming to the library. It's very peaceful and relaxing. You can get lost in a good book, and I like the way books smell." She finds solace in the library, a place where she can get immersed in the pages of a book and let the stories transport her to another world. With such diverse interests, Lydia is the perfect person to ask for book recommendations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1712450902299-RCQ941A2US2W6FBXNX2Q/DSC_7835.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2023 - Sofia Badillo - she/her/hers Passion - Swimming Although the Badillo family has a legacy of great soccer athletes, Sofia knew she wanted to follow her older sister’s footsteps and swim competetively. “My passion is definitely competitive swimming. I've been a competitive swimmer since I was seven.” As a senior at Case High School, she competed on the RUSD co-op team, as well as her regional club team. She will continue to swim in college at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. Because swimming lacks representation and accessibility for all people, Sofia was attracted to teaching swimming lessons. “I fell in love with coaching kids. I just want kids to be able to get in the water and learn how to swim. My wish is that it was something that was accessible to everybody.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1712450904242-KJFDCKAKSI8VYMKLTRJX/DSC_8383.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2023 - Jesus Perez - he/him/his Passion - Art Whenever he has a free moment, Jesus pulls out his sketchbook to work on his latest drawing. His focus is unwavering, bringing each creation to life with precision, shading, and depth. "I learn by trying and working at it over time. I use drawings and other references, but I can see it and draw it. I try to learn from experience and apply it right away." Jesus spends hours crafting pieces, ranging from portraits of hip-hop artists to comic book and anime characters to his own imaginative creations. He's eager to expand his artistic horizons, exploring tattooing or mural art. As Jesus says, "I see art as a way of leaving your mark on the world, putting a piece of yourself out there." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1712451241306-IVNI7ZHCKWL59S8B0JT7/DSC_7002.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2023 - Ya’Niece Giovanni - she/her/hers Passion - Fashion “Fashion is my passion.” When you see Ya’Niece walking down the hall or sitting in class, you appreciate the time and attention she puts into her daily looks. Her style has changed over the years and these days she has a tendency toward streetwear. “I like to express myself with my clothes. It’s just fun. I like having different looks every day.” When indecisiveness sets in, Ya’Niece always turns to her dad for advice. “He is my second stylist. He helps me pick out things when I’m stuck trying to decide between two different things.” Her next endeavor is to start her own YouTube channel focused on fashion and fashion advice. “I feel like I am ready to put myself out there.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1717378526502-D0Y1M9VHBSE6MX4Q857X/DSC_8790-2.jpeg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2023 - Leah Starks - she/her/hers Passion - Performing Leah is passionate about performing in all its forms: singing, acting, and dancing. Since landing her first role at age 10 as Tiny Tim in the Racine Theatre Guild production of "The Christmas Carol," she has become known for her singing voice and acting talent. Leah also gravitates toward non-musical roles that explore important issues. Her favorite role was as the lead in "Censored on Final Approach," a play about Women Air Service Pilots from WWII. "It focused on feminism and strong women characters." For Leah, dancing is a source of pure joy and self-expression. "I do it just for fun and because I love it. When I dance, it is because I want to express something." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1712450905619-58VFRSPOD9VEFECD5JEV/DSC_9739-2.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2023 - Jude Smith - he/him/his Passion - Theater & Acting “My passion is acting. I am a thespian. I see acting and theater as escape not only for the audience member but also for the performer.” Jude landed his first significant role in "Seussical" when he was a student at Gifford. Since then, he has appeared in "Honk," "The Lion King," and the Racine Theater Guild's production of "The Jungle Book," among others. At Case High School, Jude enjoys theater and acting classes. He is also a member of the Pink Umbrella Theater Company, Milwaukee's first professional company focused on hiring disabled actors and artists. Jude is a strong advocate for people with disabilities. He founded the Disabled Student Union and hosts the Focus on Disabilities podcast. Jude urges others to challenge assumptions and prejudices. “I want people to understand disabled people are human and we want to be treated that way." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1712450900766-LWPGQ9WG9LY84R387HJK/DSC_6835.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2023 - Cindy Casco - she/her/hers Passion - Art "Ever since I was a little kid, I have loved art." Cindy enjoys DIY projects, drawing, and painting. Art has always been an integral part of her life, but it wasn't until her freshman year at Case High School that she discovered something new about herself. Thanks to Mr. Rosales, her art teacher, Cindy unlocked her potential. "I liked to draw, but I didn't know how to draw properly until I took his class and he showed me." She continually challenges herself, motivated by each new project. "I want to do better each time, building layers onto myself and my projects." Cindy is also interested in photography and aspires to combine both talents by someday drawing the subjects of her photos. https://www.thepassionsmovement.com/videos daily 0.75 2024-10-26 https://www.thepassionsmovement.com/racial-social-justice-racine-2024 daily 0.75 2024-10-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621742564-QYWE91LKETCB5XX0M63F/Sawyer-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Sawyer Donovan - he/him/his Passion - Photography With the rapid click of his camera you get to see the world through the talented artistic eye of Sawyer. “I love the sound the shutter makes every time I take a picture.” When he first started taking pictures he didn’t like his work, it took time for him to catch the photography bug. With perseverance and patience things started changing. “I would go out every day trying to learn new composition techniques and get out to take photos. And yeah, ever since it's just been like a fever, I can’t get enough.” He always has his camera close by, looking to capture his unique view of the world. Check out his work on Instagram @sdphotography06. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621715465-KONPQZ4PA0MFCLVSNKB9/Andres-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Andres Martinez - he/him/his Passion - Boxing When he was just 6 years-old, Andres decided he wanted to learn how to box. Because he was so young no one took him seriously and it was difficult to find a gym that would train him. When the only boxing gym in Racine closed, he thought his opportunity to box ended. But because Andres’s dad recognized his talent and love of the sport, he decided to help his son follow his dreams. He opened Racine Warriors Boxing Club and started training Andres himself. Andres continues to excel and boxes around the country. He has a quiet fury to him. He loves the strategy and chance to compete one-on-one with an opponent. His goal is to become a professional boxer and win a world championship. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621719975-4M9J1KZSCY2JRJQALA8R/Gabriel-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Gabriel Valencia - he/him/his Passion - Robotics Gabe is a curious person and is always wondering how things work. “Seeing how things work always fascinates me. I am always wondering how things function.” As a member of the Case High School Robotics team, Gabe worked hard on his team’s design and programming of the robot built for the statewide Robotics competition. He loves to learn how things function so he can create things to solve problems in the real world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621735267-A73WVBQFF3WQ2J97T0NO/Mayfreici-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Mayfreici Martinez Jimenez - she/her/hers Passion - Cooking Cooking is Mayfreici’s love language, one she learned from the women in her family. “I've loved cooking since I was little. One of my core memories is being in the kitchen with my grandmother. I'm from the Dominican Republic and cooking was something that brought my family together.” Cooking is also a way of feeling connected to her culture and other cultures around the world. She is a self-professed carb lover and loves cooking Italian food. However, she loves cooking all types and styles of cuisines. For Mayfreici it is about bringing people together to enjoy delicious food. She also makes a mean chocolate chip cookie. “I love, love, love, love baking cookies.“ Don't sleep on her cookies! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621715852-18X1NBISEVCGPRW5764T/AneishaN-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Aneisha Nyambo - she/her/hers Passion - Crocheting Initially learning to crochet from her grandmother, Aneisha was not a natural when she started. She did not let that stop her. Her skills have grown from advanced tutorials on YouTube and now crocheting is second nature. She has her own online store where she sells her scrunchies, purses, and bees. For her next project she would like to start crocheting larger items like bucket hats, bikini tops and scarves. Her mom and her aunt have been very supportive of her talents. It was her mom who gave her the idea for her online shop. “My brand is called YarNeisha. Yarn plus my name. It was my mom’s idea.” Aside from pursuing crocheting as a business, it is still her favorite way to relax and decompress. Follow her on Instagram @yarneishacrochet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621742216-TDQPSJ0RD8VRR6V14IT3/SamS-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Sam Siepler - he/him/his Passion - Theater You will not see Sam on the stage of a theater production. He does like acting, but these days Sam is focused on stage crew and prefers being behind the scenes. He’s willing to do whatever needs to be done to make sure the show runs smoothly. “It is the best thing ever when a show is clicking. There is a rhythm to calling a show and you have to be ready for anything to happen.” He has a desire to study stage management in college and has been using his time as part of the crew at Case High School to gain valuable experience. “During rehearsals and performances part of my job is to keep track of stage directions and set movements in my own special script that I have as a stage manager.” Finding the balance between following the script and managing the unexpected keeps Sam energized. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621737907-9RW49KAIRRTZ5MDOXXIV/Reina-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Reina Spicka - she/her/hers Passion - Singing Reina has many interests and talents, but singing is one of her favorite passions. “Music has always been a big part of my life, from an early age my parents encouraged me to be active in the arts.” Her dad taught her violin and to read music. She often sang for fun, but it was not until she saw her first live musical performance that she wanted to pursue singing. “I love to go on stage and be in front of people and deliver a strong performance. I want people to be entertained and feel inspired. My choir teacher has really helped me grow as a singer and inspired that performance passion inside me.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621721920-IH2QJO8P46XZPTFTSVFN/IsabellaJosephine-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Isabella Ervin & Josephine Anderson - she/her/they/them Passion - Writing After this duo met in gym class, they became a creative writing team. They did not know each other, but found themselves tossing the football around. As they tossed it back and forth a creative story began to unfold. The football became the main character of their story and from there the creativity has grown. They love getting together to brainstorm new ideas for their story writing project. Writing has been a fun way to connect and aside from writing they also collaborate on other artistic endeavors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621738835-TZNPQSJ2KQEUXPE0QEXR/Paolo-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Paolo Wood - he/him/his Passion - Drums Paolo’s passion is making all music and his bedroom is his studio. Whether he is at his computer producing music or playing the drums on his drum set, he is always making music. “My favorite instrument is the drums. I don't think there's any other instrument more important than drums, because without the drums you don’t have structure and it is the rhythm that keeps everything together.” He will sit for hours in front of his computer working and reworking songs and beats. He can get lost in the music. “I make music for myself and for my own enjoyment. When I am in the middle of a song it feels like it's the only thing that exists, there's nothing else to worry about.” That is what having a passion is all about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621743890-L0DM98AY71WKOP5QGERD/Torin-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Torin Slaughter - she/her/hers Passion - Softball As a kid growing up in Racine, Torin was inspired by the women in her family to play sports. Playing softball is her true passion. She started playing recreationally when she was 9 years old and by age twelve she started playing for a traveling team. The more involved in the sport she became, the more she began to fall in love with the game. She loves the strategy and the combination of skills you need to play at a high level. “I work hard on the mental side of the game. As the competition gets harder, staying mentally ready for the ups and down of the game is important.” In the field she primarily plays center field, but also has a great glove at first base as well. At the plate she is a power hitter. “I will either hit in the power or the cleanup spot. I love a good outside high pitch or an outside rise ball because I feel like I can really crush that and drive to left or left center is a really nice hit.” As a center fielder and power hitter, she will be taking her talents to the college ranks after graduation from Case High School. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621720242-OPD806XMC3JUZSZB3736/GiselleE-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Giselle Epps - she/her/hers Passion - Art, Cake Decorating Giselle is an incredibly talented artist. Whatever medium she chooses, she excels. “I do painting, drawing, coloring, really just anything that's artistic. I just love art, anything involving art, I love it all.” For as long as she can remember she was involved in art clubs and naturally would draw and doodle in notebooks. As she has grown as an artist she now describes her style as realism mixed with expressionism. “I'm very good at shading, so realism art is one of my favorites, but I like to combine it with expressionism.” Currently, her artistic talents are being expressed through her passion for decorating cakes .”My art is completely different from cake decorating.” When she started her job at Festival Foods at fourteen, she was drawn to cake decorating. Cakes are now her canvas of choice. “I'd say my favorite thing to do is wedding cakes. I like being a part of someone's special day.” Every cake Giselle decorates is a work of art. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621718232-S1BPGAFGVLA8BD3LRW5N/Elianna-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Eliana Hanson (center) - she/her/hers Passion - Leadership Photographed with Walden III Student Council When Eliana first started at Walden III she was a shy middle schooler and now, as a Senior, she is President of Student Government. Once she found her voice, Eliana took her involvement and leadership to a new level. ”I dealt with a lot of depression and anxiety. Once I started taking care of my mental health is when things started to change for me.” With encouragement from her teachers at Walden she started putting herself out there and decided to join the Student Council. She prides herself on being a compassionate and collaborative leader that leads by example. She still gets nervous and shy being in front of people. “As long as I have confidence in myself, I know I can do it, even when it is hard.” If there is something that needs to get done at Walden III she is the person to lead the way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621725053-V4OSNDMCGWT2DU3HJW37/Jamillah-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Jamillah Jallow - she/her/hers Passion - Environmentalism Jamillah is a strong advocate for Green Schools and sustainability practices. She learned about environmentalism and advocacy from her family. From a very young age she learned the importance of recycling and composting from her mom. When she was 6 years old she went with her family to her first climate change rally. She was inspired by those around her to take action. Throughout middle school and high school at Walden III she has been on the frontline fighting for zero-net schools. “Racine and RUSD can be doing more and I feel I can use my voice to make change.” She teaches students the importance of recycling and has been trying to get funding to build a greenhouse at Walden. On a larger scale she advocates for sustainable practices on the city and school level. “With the new buildings RUSD is building, we could add solar panels, but they are not doing it.” Jamilliah is a passionate changemaker and continues to use her voice to influence change in the Racine community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621725170-VZPZL07O4HFBN6SM0LJC/Jae-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Jae Antonneau - he/him/his Passion - Art/Music/Writing Jae is passionate about the arts. From a young age, Jae found his voice by expressing himself through drawing, writing, and playing the violin. He debated which passion to highlight for the project, but settled on drawing. “I do a lot of digital art, but I still prefer to do sketches traditionally. There's something about that feeling of pencil on paper that's just extremely satisfying, but for full pieces I take a picture of my sketch and then color it digitally.” He mainly enjoys the challenge of drawing people, whether it is his own original characters or characters from games or movies. “I will draw real live people, because it is fun, but I mostly draw my own characters.” He has been incorporating his love of drawing with his growing talent for writing. “I have several stories that have been floating in my head for a long time. I have several characters that are very important to me.” He has been very thankful for the creative writing classes at Walden III. His teachers have given him helpful feedback to help him focus and make progress. “It has been difficult, but also very rewarding.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621722611-00JBQ5HE6K88Y6TCOX9O/ItzetlF-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Itzetl Flores - she/her/hers Passion - Robotics When Itzetl was in 7th grade she went to an information meeting about starting a Robotics Club at Walden. She never thought of herself as a “STEM kid”, but with encouragement from her mentor, Gretchen, she decided to join the team. As she got more involved with the robotics program she was surprised by how much she loved it. “It is one of the coolest things I have ever done. We are problem solving and creating solutions that could actually help people.” As the captain of the Walden III Robotics Team, she worked on the design and assembly of the team’s competition robot. “I am the electrical lead and I also do a lot of project management.” At the competition last year they had some issues with their robot, but they did not let it deter them or get them down. The Walden team won the TEAM SPIRIT AWARD that celebrates extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit through exceptional partnership and teamwork. “We have grown so much! I am so proud of our team for learning, growing, and working together through adversity.“ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621732198-WJQ440NFGRXDYSMC1X6P/Kyle-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Kyle Branski - he/him/his Passion - eSports Beyond enjoying the competition of eSports, Kyle appreciates the community and the friendships discovered through his passion for gaming. “For those that don’t know what it is, eSports can be two different things. It can either be competitive gaming or it can just be a club where people hang out and have fun playing video games.” He is a member of the Walden III eSport team. His game of choice to play in competition is Rocket League, which is a game that is essentially soccer played with cars. You have six cars on a pitch, and you try to maneuver your car to hit the ball into the other team's goal. Kyle and the Walden team have enjoyed a lot of success. They regularly compete at the state level and won a state championship in their division in 2022. When Kyle isn’t competing he also commentates for eSports matches. “I really value the friendships I have made, I have met people from all around the country and even in Canada through eSports. It is such a great community.“ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621717770-SCZUV49MLE900FT7KPDH/Caden-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Caden Klamut - he/him/his Passion - Birdwatching So many birds so little time. Caden will often take time on his lunch or after school to birdwatch. There is no better feeling than being out in nature, seeing a beautiful bird and connecting with other “birders” or people who are passionate about identifying birds. Caden started getting interested in birds when he was visiting his grandparents and a giant Cooper's hawk flew into their yard. “It was fun trying to identify it and it felt very satisfying to be able to determine the species.” His interest in birds grew after he received a bird field guide. It really opened his eyes to all the amazing and beautiful birds all over the world. He began to learn about the habits, migration patterns, and the different species of birds. Birding isn’t just a hobby, it has introduced Caden to a community of people who share his passion for birding. “I have friends of all ages that I have met from birdwatching. We let each other know where we see cool birds and will plan on meeting places to birdwatch.” He is always on the lookout for beautiful birds to add to his “life list”. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621728795-NYYDMZ297EB0UQZK6SU5/KaitlynW-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Kaitlyn Winkler - she/her/hers Passion - Powerlifting Kaitlyn’s passion is powerlifting. She became involved in powerlifting because she and her friend always talked about hitting the gym and getting strong, but never seemed to actually do it. When they heard about the powerlifting team, they decided to try out. “At first, it was very intimidating. There were not that many girls and we were new to the sport. We stuck with it and it turned out to be a really fun and rewarding process.” She practices two days a week and works on building strength by doing multiple reps at three disciplines: bench press, deadlifts and squats. Even though she is not able to compete in meets because of a knee injury, she still goes to practices to maintain her strength and help coach her teammates. She loves the community and comradery she has found in the powerlifting community and would love to encourage more girls to get involved with the team. “I really love powerlifting and I want to share my love of the sport with others.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621732162-HAGAZHTBDT9SVZ5M14L2/Mandy-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Mandy Berry - she/her/hers Passion - Art/Native American culture Drawing is something that comes naturally to Mandy. She sits with her head down, hair falling around her face creating her own sacred space. She enjoys drawing at school during art classes. At home, she will escape to her room, put on her headphones, and escape into her sketchbook. She is also very proud of her Native American heritage, which is often the focus of her drawing. “My art is a way I can share my culture. It is a way I can show people the importance of Native American people.” Several years ago it became very important to her to learn more about her tribe, Spirit Lake Dakota. She started asking her family more questions about their tribe’s history, researching and reading books to learn more. “Schools only teach you so much, I am proud of my Native American history and I want to teach people my history.” Through her art she has found her voice to be an outspoken advocate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6336f945bfb995723e64c33d/1729621735637-T34M7LTCSPFGB1GAMV6D/Mariya-min.jpg Racial & Social Justice Racine 2024 - Mariya Brooks - she/her/hers Passion - Baritone/musical instruments While the baritone is her favorite, it is Mariya’s goal to play as many instruments as she can. Currently she plays 12 different instruments. “I feel like I was meant to play music and like it was just something that was gonna happen.” She is naturally very curious about musical instruments, but thought it would be something to do for fun. As she began to learn about the different instruments her passion began to grow. “My favorite instrument is the baritone. I really wanted to play the tuba, but I am glad I stuck with the baritone.” Her ambition and passion is inspiring her friends and classmates to play multiple instruments. “It feels so nice to know that other people are starting to play multiple instruments because they see what I am doing. It feels good to be a role model.” By the time she graduates in five years, she hopes to be able to play all 40+ orchestra instruments.