Milwaukee County honors the History Project for 30+ years of service

It means the world to us -- as a non-profit organization staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers -- to be seen for the work that we do.  So, we were especially honored to receive special recognition from the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors in honor of Pride Month 2025!  

On Thursday, June 26, we stood alongside some of the hardest-working community champions in Milwaukee, as each honoree was introduced and commended by their nominating County Supervisor.

• The Kilwins  (District 1, Supervisor Anne O'Connor)
• Andy Nunemaker (District 3, Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman)
• Ruthie Weatherly of BESTD Clinic (District 15 - Supervisor Sky Z. Capriolo)
• Broderick Pearson / Montel Infiniti Ross (District 6 - Supervisor Shawn Rolland)
• Mark Tillman (District 6 - Supervisor Shawn Rolland)
• David Lau & Guy Roeseler  (District 6 - Supervisor Shawn Rolland)
• Bi+ Pride Milwaukee (District 6 - Supervisor Shawn Rolland)
• and the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project (District 6 - Supervisor Shawn Rolland)

Dan Terrio, diversity, equity and inclusion officer for Milwaukee County, and community advisor for the History Project, shared a keynote speech centered on the transformative power of visibility.

"When LGBTQ people are seen -- truly seen -- we are recognized as neighbors, friends, family, co-workers, leaders, and constituents. We become more than headlines and hashtags. We become real -- with stories, with families, with contributions that shape this very county. But when we are invisible, it becomes easier for systems to ignore us. For policies to overlook us. For communities to deny our existence. 

And the cost of that invisibility is not theoretical. It's felt in the harm our youth face in schools, in the barriers to affirming healthcare and housing ,and in the fear some feel just walking down the street as their authentic selves. 

Visibility changes lives. It shows others what is possible. It disrupts stereotypes. It builds empathy. And it ensures the decisions made in this very room reflect the full, vibrant diversity of the people we serve. And while visibility is powerful, it is just the beginning. Belonging is the goal. Justice is the goal. Equity is the goal. But visibility is where we start."

Connor Goggans, senior real estate project manager in the Department of Health and Human Services for Milwaukee County, and co-chair of the PRISM employee resource group, also spoke to the outcomes of an inclusive and supportive workplace.

Thank you to Ricardo Wynn, Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project board member, who shared his experiences being seen, understood, and celebrated as a young, Black, queer leader in Milwaukee -- and the transformative change that inclusive organizations are fostering for our community.

Congratulations to all 2025 honorees -- and best wishes in your continued work!  

Questions? Contact us.