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Women Who Inspire


​Women Who Inspire is an initiative of the Centennial Celebration Committee, inviting Committee Members to highlight and interview a Wisconsin woman who inspires them.  Women Who Inspire is a  snapshot of women working today, across Wisconsin, to carry forward the ongoing work of social change and increasing parity for women and girls.  

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FEATURING


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Berdie Cowser, PhD

Milwaukee, WI

Interview​ 

Press Release





​​​​​Nominated by

Representative
LaKeshia Myers


"My goal is to share vital and essential information to empower and uplift women, ensuring each woman and girl is equipped to live her best life." ​​​




Dr. Cowser is a community leader and advocate, including Board Member, Milwaukee County War Memorial; Chapter Commander, National Association for Black Veterans, Inc. (NABVETS); and Advisory Council Member, Cardinal Stritch University.

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​Vanaya Grice

Milwaukee​, WI

Interview​ 

Press Release










​​​​Nominated by
Wisconsin
Women's Council



​Vanaya Grice's impact has a wide reach in the community - from hard conversations around diversity and inclusion in corporate spaces, to working to ensure that young girls have access to role models and resources to become their best.
Vanaya is a YMCA Adult Achiever and currently in the 2020 cohort of the African American Leadership Alliance Milwaukee - African American Leadership Program.










Frances Huntley-Cooper

Fitchburg, WI

Interview

Press Release


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​​​​​Nominated by

Secretary
Dawn Crim


Forme​r Mayor of Fitchburg and a trailblazer for women in elected office. She is a founding member of the NAACP of Dane County, and so much more.



Frances Huntley-Cooper has a passion for social justice, education, and supporting high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students.

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Inez "Midge"

​Montano

Red Cliff​​​, WI

Interview

press release


Nominated by
Senator
​Janet Bewley

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Midge’s career in social work began with convening a women’s group in Red Cliff, the Ojibwe community north of Bayfield, and was an early founder of Northwoods Women, Inc., to address domestic abuse in northern Wisconsin.




Midge begins her journey to help people by listening to their stories. Drawing on her own resilience, she opens herself to each person’s individual pain, giving them unconditional love, and walking with them into healthy lives​​




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​Sharlen Moore

Milwaukee​, WI

interview

press release​



Nominated by
League of Women Voters of WI LWVWI​​​


​​​​Sharlen has a life's work of ​using youth voice to impact community change. She is co-founder of a youth leadership organization for high school age young people that has been building leaders for the last 20 years.

​More recently Sharlen Moore  became a co​-founding member of Youth Justice Milwaukee, a coalition to close down the youth prisons in Wisconsin and advocate for alter-natives to youth incarceration​.



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Ntxhais "Chai" Moua

Stevens Point, WI

Interview

Press Release​



​​​​​​​Nominated by

Representative
Katrina Shankland​

A member of the Portage County Board of Supervisors, Chai Moua is the first Hmong woman to serve in elected office in Portage county.
Chai Moua is a community leader and a mentor, advocate, and champion for women and girls and the Hmong community​ 


 

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Michelle Shrider

Bayfield. WI

Interview​

Press Release​






Nominated ​by 
Representative
Beth Meyers
"Don't give up when your ideas are diminished, especially in a man's industry. Always show up to the party so they notice that you're there.​" ​​​
​Michelle is one of only a handful of female Certified Marina Managers in the country. As well as serving on national and regional industry boards, she remains committed to giving back to the community, including as Chair of the Rec Center, where she inspires the next generation with her love of water sports and boating.



















Deanna Singh






Deanna Singh

Brookfield, WI​

Interview​

Press Release​







Nominated by 
Representative Robyn Vining
"Do not wait for someone to give you permission to do things differently.  
​The only person you need permission from is you.So grant it, and then get to moving."

Deanna Singh is a thought leader who travels the world motivating and educating audiences about living with joy and purpose. She is a champion for marginalized communities and an inspiration to all those who want to be agents of change in their work, lives, and society.  ​​