The True Power of Events

With the cancellation of Summerfest, it seemed as if Milwaukee gave a collective groan. This year was geared to be so amazing and full. I was personally poised for the best year of my career with events including Summer Soulstice, Brady Street Festival, The Tour of America’s Dairyland Bike Races, a beautiful art installation with Black Box Fund, the Democratic National Convention and my first national event.

While I still love Summerfest, that is where I met my husband after all, I have begun gravitating to the smaller street parties that Milwaukee is known for, like the Locust Street Festival right around my birthday in June. There is a strong sense of community and a focus on our amazingly talented and diverse local artists, musicians, and food vendors, who satisfy any kind of craving you can imagine.

EVENTS BRING UNITY

Any of you who know me even a little bit know that events are my very favorite thing to produce, manage, or participate in. I love crowds – there is something so powerful about thousands of people coming together. Event experiences cross all social, political, and ethnic lines; and for a wonderful fleeting moment, in the middle of a sea of people from all of the colors of the rainbow, we are one.

As of today, almost every summer event has been canceled due to the virus. My heart hurts. George Floyd should be alive. It feels overwhelmingly like the country can’t come back, like we’ve been ignorantly asleep at the wheel. We are broken and have been for such a very long time. His death has inspired millions to rise up in protest to march in the midst of a global pandemic. These are powerful events - truly, so much of our behavior is guided by our understanding of events. We anticipate events with pleasure or even dread; and we remember them with affection or disappointment. These particular protests will provide a long-lasting legacy for generations to come.

HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE

I personally cannot understand everything that has been happening, but I stand. I kneel. I mourn. I march. I listen. I hope. I vote. I donate. I change. I am learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. There is judgment all around us especially on social media. The protestors from the past, like my mom who marched 50 years ago with Father James E. Groppi, did not stop to take a selfie. Ironically, in spite of being so connected on social media, it seems as if we are more divided than ever.

While all regularly scheduled summer events have been cancelled, the protests are a powerful example of what events can bring – unity, hope, awareness, and ultimately change. I will not be silent anymore. I am awake.