The First Weeks of the New Year: Listening, Learning, and Showing Up

The first few weeks of the new year have been busy—in the best possible way. I’ve spent a lot of time traveling across the district, listening to people, learning from experts, and showing up in rooms where important conversations are happening.

In Beaver Dam, I sat down with community members who shared concerns about both local and state government. What I heard most clearly was frustration—people want transparency, accountability, and leaders who actually listen instead of talking past them.

I also spent time talking with college students, who are feeling squeezed from every direction. They’re worried about how to afford school, whether there will be jobs when they graduate, and how they’ll ever be able to buy a home. These aren’t abstract worries—this is about whether the next generation can build a stable life here in Wisconsin.

A large portion of my time has been spent in Fond du Lac. I attended an immigration session led by Kat Griffin, where we learned about the history of immigration and deportation in the United States. She walked through the facts, used clear data, and debunked a lot of the misinformation that dominates the conversation. It was a powerful reminder that good policy starts with truth.

While there, I also met with Wisconsin Early Childhood Action Needed, a statewide group made up of daycare directors, providers, parents, lobbyists, and teachers. Their focus is simple but critical: early childhood education. These are the people doing the work every day to make sure kids are ready for 4K and beyond—literally building tomorrow’s brains—while struggling to keep their doors open in a broken system. We have a childcare dessert in the 6th district and we need these provider to be supported.

Visiting a daycare classroom and seeing firsthand how early childhood educators are building tomorrow’s brains—laying the foundation for learning long before kindergarten.

In Portage, I attended a session on banned books and the growing trend of censorship. We talked about how book bans harm First Amendment rights, reduce educational opportunity, and limit exposure to diverse ideas and experiences. Restricting access to books doesn’t protect children—it narrows the world they’re allowed to see.

I also met with the Fond du Lac Democrats and listened to Chris Taylor, who is running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. If you haven’t been following that race, I strongly encourage you to look her up—judicial races matter deeply for the future of our state.

I did take one weekend off to go dog sledding and winter camping with my daughter as her Scout leader—a reminder of why this work matters—but I jumped right back in with the standing Monday protest in Ripon, especially in the wake of the events leading to the killing of Renee Good. People are hurting, and they want accountability and change.

A rare weekend pause—dog sledding and winter camping as a Scout leader with my daughter. These moments are why this work matters.

In Sheboygan, I attended a City Council meeting where residents voiced serious concerns about the proposed Amazon warehouse on the south side of the city. I met with community members about errors in the contract and zoning issues tied to the city’s lapsed comprehensive plan. I also toured several daycare centers—both private and nonprofit—and spoke with directors about the challenges they face and the vital role they play in preparing children for school and life.

Standing with community members calling for transparency, environmental protection, and accountability around the proposed Amazon warehouse in Sheboygan.

I stopped by the Manitowoc Democrats meeting to say hello and hear their year-in-review, and I attended a statewide listening event hosted by Francesca Hong, where people from across Wisconsin shared what they need from their government.

Listening to voices from across Wisconsin at a statewide event hosted by Francesca Hong—because good leadership starts with listening.

This past weekend wrapped up with the launch event for the Sheboygan Democrats, followed by a spaghetti supper back home in Portage at my ELCA church—a reminder that community happens in both meeting halls and church basements.

These first weeks of the year have reinforced why I’m doing this. People want leaders who show up, listen, and are willing to do the work. That’s what I’m committed to doing—every week, in every corner of the district.

All of this happened while I continued substitute teaching—staying connected to classrooms, educators, and students while traveling the district and listening to communities. It’s important to me to stay grounded in the everyday realities families and schools face, because those experiences shape better policy decisions.

Because policy doesn’t start in Madison or Washington—it starts with listening. When we take the time to hear from students, parents, educators, workers, and neighbors, we get better solutions. These conversations shape how we protect rights, strengthen communities, support families, and plan responsibly for the future. Showing up isn’t symbolic—it’s how trust is built and how real change begins.