Community Learning Series
Join the Community Learning Series
Join our Community Learning Series to engage in meaningful conversations, connect with like-minded individuals, and work together toward environmental justice.
Throughout the year we host learning sessions based on a specific theme and materials. Register now for our Pride Month Session: Rooted In Pride starting on May 28th!
Registration is free for this multiracial and multicultural group learning opportunity!
Summer Session: Rooted In Pride
Pride is rooted in joy — and in resistance. Both have always been true at the same time.
LGBTQ+ history is a history of resilience and deep connections to each other, the land, and to movements that have fought for a more just world. At a time when LGBTQ+ rights, histories, and identities are under increasing attack, creating intentional spaces for learning, reflection, and community is more important than ever.
This summer’s Community Learning Series honors Pride Month by bringing together the LGBTQ+ community and allies to explore local history, ecological connection, and the power of reclaiming our stories. Through the film History Unhidden: Milwaukee’s LGBTQ Heritage and select poems from Queer Nature, we’ll uncover the LGBTQ+ roots of our own city, examine the intersections between queer identity and the natural world, and celebrate the resilience that lives at the heart of both movements.
The Community Learning Series hosts learning sessions throughout the year, each focused on a specific theme. Stay tuned for more information on our upcoming themes and sessions.
Summer Schedule
Grace Caster will facilitate discussions around the film History Unhidden: Milwaukee’s LGBTQ Heritage and select poems from Queer Nature.
We’ll discuss the materials and how we can apply what we’re learning through action. We’ll meet in-person at Midwest Sad (601 S 6th St) on the following dates:
May 28, 6-7:30pm
Orientation
June 11, 6-7:30pm
Discussion 1
June 25, 6-7:30pm
Discussion 2
About The Selections
This series draws from two complementary selections. The film History Unhidden: Milwaukee’s LGBTQ Heritage grounds us in the local. Uncovering the LGBTQ+ stories, people, and institutions that have shaped our own city. Poems from Queer Nature expand our lens outward, exploring the deep connections between queer identity and the natural world through poetry, essays, and lived experience.
Together, these selections invite us to reclaim history, find ourselves in the natural world, and see the LGBTQ+ and environmental justice movements as deeply intertwined.
Meet the Facilitator
Grace Caster (They/Them)
Facilitator
Grace Caster is a community health educator, worker, and above all, steward. Grace brings five years of experience in community education and facilitation serving for non-profit organizations from the YMCA to government entities such as the Kenosha County Public Health Department and the Vel R. Phillips Detention Center. They obtained an Associate of Science from Milwaukee Area Technical College and are completeing their second degree at UW-Milwaukee, Zilber College of Public Health.
Over the past three years, Grace has served as the Education & Outreach Coordinator for the Beach Ambassadors, a project rooted in environmental justice, and is now currently serving as a Volunteer & Program Assistant at Milwaukee Riverkeeper.
As an LGBTQ+ and STD+ individual, Grace brings lived experience to the fight for health equity — driving them to support and encourage their community through volunteer work. Grace has volunteered as an HIV Counselor at BESTD for three years, and has previously volunteered with Courageplus as a Group Home Volunteer.
Outside of these roles, you can find Grace running, hiking, playing guitar, gathering herbs, or learning something new. In all they do, Grace strives to connect, foster, and uplift communities to foster a more equitable future.
Sponsors & Partners
We’re grateful for the organizations and individuals who are supporting our Summer Community Learning Series: Rooted In Pride.
Participation Guidelines
To ensure everyone gets the most out of this experience, we ask all participants to follow these guidelines.
Keep a Safe Space
It’s important that everyone feels safe in the space we’re creating. Be mindful of how your comments impact others. Harmful and disrespectful comments or actions will be addressed.
Maintain Confidentiality
This is a personal experience for you and everyone participating. You agree to keep all conversations confidential, and respect your fellow community members and their thoughts regardless of where they are at in this work.
Have an Open Mind
We encourage you to keep an open mind and step out of your comfort zone when participating in the discussions. The more you do so, the more you’ll get out of this experience.
Attend Each Discussion
Group learning allows for richer discussions and deeper understanding of complex topics. Make it a priority to attend each discussion so you and others receive this benefit.
Take Regular Action
It is not enough to learn about racism, systems of oppression, and environmental injustices. We must take action against them. We encourage you to commit to taking at least one action every two weeks.
Move at Your Own Pace
This isn’t a race to finish the books. It is perfectly fine to move faster or slower through the books than others. Keep attending the discussions and contribute from wherever you are.
Register Today!
Join our Community Learning Series to engage in meaningful conversations, connect with like-minded individuals, and work together toward lasting change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Community Learning Series?
The Community Learning Series is a series of learning sessions offered throughout the year. During each session we explore selected media together to explore systems of oppression and take collective action.
Through facilitated group discussions, we’ll create a shared understanding of the concepts we’re exploring, connect the material to current issues, apply what we’ve learned to create impact, and deepen our engagement with local action and initiatives. Learn more here.
Where can I find the materials?
The film History Unhidden: Milwaukee’s LGBTQ Heritage is available on YouTube here.
If you can, we encourage you to buy the book from a local bookstore to support the author and small businesses. La Revo Books is taking book orders until May 26th to have it in time for the discussion. Place your order here and have it shipped directly to you.
You can also visit your local library to borrow the book. Please let us know if you’re having difficulty getting a copy. We’ll do what we can to help!
Do I need to read or watch anything before the orientation?
Nope! You’re welcome to get started, but we won’t be discussing the materials during the orientation. We’ll spend time introducing ourselves, the Community Learning Series, and getting to know one another.
What am I committing to when I sign up?
When you join in, you are committing to attending the orientation, the two facilitated discussions, and taking one action from each of the Collective Action Alerts.
The orientation and discussions are bi-weekly. The orientation and discussions are from 6-7:30pm. We understand if you cannot attend the whole time, but please make it a priority to attend as much of the discussion that you can – meaningful and consistent participation from all members is necessary to ensure greater discussion of the topics we are focusing on.
What are Collective Action Alerts?
Collective Action Alerts are bi-weekly emails that include three suggested actions we can take in our community. Actions range from signing petitions, attending events, spreading awareness, etc.
Through Collective Action Alerts we act in unison, work towards environmental justice, and target our collective power to support the needs of the community.
Who can join?
The conversations are adult-focused, but all are welcome to participate. We foster multiracial and multicultural group learning environments.
Still have questions?
Reach out to us with any questions.