Category: Activism & Social Change

Image description: A headshot of Danae D. Davis.

Danae D. Davis

Trained as a lawyer and committed to equity, Danae Davis is passionate about “success for every child, in every school, from cradle to career.”
Image description: A black-and-white photo of twentieth century suffragettes standing shoulder-to-shoulder.

Wisconsin Women and Suffrage

On June 10, 1919, Wisconsin became the first to ratify the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women's suffrage, or the right to vote.
Image description: A portrait-style photo of Millie Zantow in front of a wall of plastic bottles.

Milly Zantow

Milly Zantow pioneered the plastics recycling movement and invented the numbered-triangle system used for identifying different kinds of plastic.
A black-and-white headshot of Laura Ross Wolcott with faded edges.

Laura Ross Wolcott

Laura Ross Wolcott was the first woman physician in Wisconsin and was active in the women’s suffrage movement.
Image description: A black-and-white headshot of Nellie Wilson.

Nellie Wilson

Nellie Wilson spent her life fighting for employment opportunities for women and was the first African American woman to hold a leadership position in her local steelworkers union.
A black-and-white headshot of Ingrid Washinawatok.

Ingrid Washinawatok

Ingrid Washinawatok, which translates to “Flying Eagle Woman,” was a celebrated human rights advocate for Indigenous peoples who was killed in South America.
Image description: A headshot of Ramona Villarreal.

Ramona Villarreal

Ramona Villarreal is a Mexican American activist who has devoted her life to fighting for equality and justice for people with Mexican/Latinx heritage in Wisconsin.
Image description: A portrait-style photo of Chia Youyee Vang.

Chia Youyee Vang

Chia Youyee Vang is a leading advocate for Hmong cultural preservation and education.
Image description: A portrait-style photo of Sheri Swokowski with her chin in her left hand.

Sheri Swokowski

Transgender advocate Sheri Swokowski, a former colonel in the U.S. Army, has worked to end discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
Image description: A black-and-white headshot of Doris Thom.

Doris Thom

Doris Thom, who helped open higher-paying jobs to women in Wisconsin, was the first woman to hold leadership positions in her local labor unions.