Special Projects

Meet Niko, a local worker who collects rocks and crystals. In this short documentary by Maribel Guarin, she explores how he got into collecting, how he interacts with the items in his collection, and his shopping process.

Gabby Beesley and I closed Wonderstate Milwaukee for the last time in December 2020. There was no celebration planned, but co-worker Averi Ziebell-Malone rolled in just as the last customers headed out. In typical fashion, she brought an infectious positive attitude and a bottle of Champagne. She tried to hand me a plastic cup while […]

A vein trailing east from I-41, North Avenue stretches from Milwaukee’s western suburbs, through the heart of the city, and all the way to the shoreline of Lake Michigan. In Wauwatosa, the street is lined with office buildings defined by sharp lines and modern exteriors cut into precise rectangles, their olive-tone sheens too new to […]

A line of customers overflows into the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Student Union hallway from the Grind Café, as four baristas froth milk and pull espresso in a hurry. A student employee and a manager stand together at the cash register, taking orders behind a plexiglass window. There’s a sign taped to it that reads, “New […]

In this short documentary, Jeromey Hodsdon introduces us to Midnight Angel, a local band of female musicians that will be returning to the stage this Summer after a hiatus caused by the pandemic.

In this short documentary, Cherita Booker shows us what it’s like to return to school while also navigating online classes during the pandemic.

In this short documentary, Samantha Blackstad introduces us to a local young musician who has been keeping busy during the pandemic by creating his own songs and music videos.

In the midst of a global pandemic, this group of friends found a way to still get together in a safe manner. Every Sunday, you can find them cycling and staying active in Wisconsin.

Meet Tiff Polzin, a third-year student at UWM studying music theater, dance and psychology. Being constantly overbooked and doing school primarily virtually this semester due to COVID-19 has brought on a lot of anxiety for this self-proclaimed perfectionist. In this short documentary, Brianna Schubert shows us the struggle and beauty of endlessly striving to be […]

Audrianna Hutchinson introduces us to Jakayla Bridges, a young local who has overcome struggles in life and is now making waves in the TikTok makeup universe.