Category: Activism & Social Change

Image description: A black-and-white portrait-style photo of Nazik al-Mala'ika with 'Iraq' written in both Arabic and English in the background.

Nazik al-Mala’ika

Nazik al-Mala’ika, a ground-breaking Iraqi poet and women’s rights advocate, was one of the first Arab poets to work in free verse instead of the classical rhyme form.
Image description: A headshot of Marci Bowers.

Marci Bowers

Dr. Marci Bowers is an internationally respected surgeon who specializes in gender-affirming surgery and clitoral restoration.
Image description: A black-and-white photo of Lucinda Gordon.

Lucinda Gordon

Lucinda Gordon was a civil rights activist who founded an alternative school for teen mothers and advocated for Black art in Milwaukee.
Image description: A headshot of Angela Lang.

Angela Lang

Angela Lang is a community organizer in Milwaukee and the founder and executive director of Black Leaders Organizing for Communities.
Image description: A portrait-style photo of Francesca Hong.

Francesca Hong

Francesca Hong is a professional chef and restaurant owner, as well as Wisconsin’s first Asian American state legislator.
Image description: A black-and-white photo of Anne Nicol Gaylor sitting at a desk.

Anne Nicol Gaylor

Anne Nicol Gaylor was an activist who worked to make abortion legal for Wisconsin women and to protect the separation of church and state.
Image description: A photo of Milele Chikasa Anana standing at a podium.

Milele Chikasa Anana

Milele Chikasa Anana was the first Black school board member in Wisconsin and the longtime editor and publisher of the magazine UMOJA.
Image description: A black-and-white headshot of Lorena Hickok.

Lorena Hickok

Lorena "Hick" Hickok was a journalist during the U.S. Great Depression and a close friend of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
Image description: A black-and-white headshot of Nellie Wilson.

Nellie Y. McKay

Nellie Y. McKay was one of the first scholars to bring attention to the writing of African American women authors.
Image description: A portrait-style photo of Zoe Dunning.

Zoe Dunning

Zoe Dunning was one of the only openly LGB members of the U.S. military for 13 years and spoke out against the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.