About
Mission Statement:
WI Voices are recorded, verbatim interviews that are transcribed into the written word. Word-for-word interviews return power to the people as they are given a forum to explain the real life impact of changing political and economic policies without interference from the agenda of a news or political organization. This project, which began early in 2011, recognizes the complex and personal ways that regular people are affected…and they tell their own stories.
WI Voices supports the tradition of oral history in our state. These stories are a living library of voices and primary documents which will bear witness to the times that we live in. We recognize that many of these stories would otherwise never see the light of day… lost in the shuffle of political bantering. Our mission is to change that.
Thank-you for listening to their voices.
About us:
Heidi Herron: Writer/Interviewer
Heidi lives with her husband and sons in West Central Wisconsin. After college, she taught environmental education in The Black Hills, SD and in The Rocky Mountains, MT before returning to Wisconsin where her family has lived for centuries. She is a certified teacher who owns a small tutoring business. Since her childhood she has been interviewing and recording her family and friends, intrigued by the ways other people experience the world. Putting that background to work with WIvoices.org, Heidi’s loyalty is with whomever is speaking – wherever that road leads her. Sometimes the story causes her to rethink or further develop her own views…that is a good thing.
Celeste Koeberl: Researcher
Celeste has provided invaluable help by lending her expertise as a fact finder for WIvoices.org. She researches claims made by interviewees on this site. Celeste lives in Hudson, Wisconsin, provides mediation services in western Wisconsin and Minnesota’s east metro area, and is a Minnesota licensed attorney.
Art Juchno: Photographer/Videographer
Art has been involved with video and television production since 1974. As a Senior Producer/Director for Wisconsin Public Television and the University of Wisconsin-Stout, his work has been awarded 3 Emmy Awards, as well as honors from the New York and Chicago International Film festivals and The Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Now retired, he has kept involved with political and arts related productions, distributed on Youtube as well as personal art projects.
*** WI Voices, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 entity, tax-exempt status pending.
