“My end goal is to own my own business and the training isn’t going to college. It’s actually getting your hands dirty.”

Isaac Kallas, 21, is a carpenter who never attended college. Kallas has found satisfaction in entering the workforce directly out of high school, despite many around him attending college. David Go: What do you do for work? Isaac Kallas: I’m a carpenter. I work for the Reesmans Company which is based out of Burlington. We […]

“Going to UWM was never really something that I knew if wanted to do. It was kind of pushed on me.”

Victor Calvo is a 23-year-old Milwaukeean. He attended  the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for a year and Seattle Central College for one semester as a psychology major. After that, he switched to a community college in Seattle for Emergency Medical Services. During this time, Calvo developed a unique perspective on the importance of higher education. Hannah […]

“No one knows which white-collar jobs are still going to exist 10 years from now, so it’s even riskier to take on debt.”

John Johnson, 30, grew up in western Illinois in a town of about 250 people. He graduated from Western Illinois University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in history and political science. In 2015, he got master’s in political science from the University of Chicago. Today, he works as a researcher on housing, demographics and […]

Questioning the Value of College: A Media Milwaukee Interview Project

More and more students are wondering if higher education is worth the money and time. A new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum found that most of the state’s job openings do not require a college degree, but higher-paying jobs still demand that diploma. UW-Milwaukee student journalists interviewed a diverse range of young people about […]

“People don’t know what treasure we have in Milwaukee.”

Ernee Kender is a Germantown resident and visitor to the Grain Exchange and other local buildings during the Doors Open event in Milwaukee. The Grain Exchange invented the very first trading pit in the 1860s, and for some time Milwaukee exported more wheat than any port in the world. It can be difficult to take […]

“Milwaukee PBS produces six original shows about our community.”

Julie Hill Lehr is the manager for marketing and community engagement at MIlwaukee PBS, located in Milwaukee Area Technical College downtown. Her work includes reaching out to members of the Milwaukee community, giving a spotlight to local issues and highlighting local programming. She is proud of Milwaukee’s original programming and believes that these shows can […]

“We like to partner with community organizations and welcome people in.”

Chuck Stebelton is the Book Center Manager at the Woodland Pattern Book Center. He has participated in Doors Open Milwaukee by giving people tours of the building and showing the gallery where local artists have their work on display. He has visited other Doors Open Milwaukee events and gained great experiences in the community. Kourtni […]

“It’s sort of weird — it’s like a legacy. It’s going to last way beyond me.”

Eugene Orlandini has worked in his family’s plaster-making business for over 40 years. Their beautiful plasterwork decorates many notable structures around Milwaukee including the Pabst Theater, Eagles Ballroom and The Plaza Hotel. Orlandini takes immense pride in his family’s business, displaying their work during Doors Open Milwaukee. Q: What got you started here? A: Well, […]