Tess Komas | Ashland, WI

Tess Komas graduated with a master’s degree in architecture from the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in May 2023. In beginning her professional career, she accepted a full-time position at C&S Design & Engineering, a small firm in Ashland, Wisconsin as a Project Manager and Designer. In the past year, she has also taught as an Adjunct Professor for a freshman history theory course and worked with Reflo, a non-profit organization that, of many things, helps Milwaukee Public Schools redesign their outdoor space. Tess values her ability and desire to travel. Experiences outside the country have broadened her outlook on the world, watching cultures, classes and people merge in the midst of architecture. As an aspiring architect, Komas wants to use her forward thinking in becoming a strong advocate for community development and designing with empathy and sustainability in mind.

Nick Eliot | Ashland, WI

Nick Eliot is a community activist and consultant in Northwest Wisconsin, focused on culturally competent healthcare access for the LGBTQ+ community. Coming of age outside Philadelphia during the AIDS Crisis instilled an awareness of how our stories and history can be lost within the blink of an eye, and how the marginalization of a community can lead to significant health disparities. Nick serves on the Northlakes Community Clinic board, and the Minnesota Transgender Alliance – Duluth/NW WI Chapter leadership. As a co-author in 2022, he will never forget how the community turned out to support its historic City of Ashland Pride Resolution. Nick’s work within the Trans and Gender Diverse community has made him believe that LGBTQ+ existence depends upon healing intergenerational trauma, by preserving our culture and history within the hopes, dreams, and joy of our future generations.

Phoebe Burchill | Ashland, WI

Passionate about fostering progressive change in northwest WI, Phoebe returned to Ashland after college to plant roots and contribute to her community. Challenging experiences in higher education and dealing with chronic illness has forged her dedication to improving community support systems. Phoebe volunteers with Meals on Wheels and Stone Soup Community Cafe, helped organize a successful Pride Festival in 2023, and supports activist efforts around systemic issues. Her enthusiasm for fostering connection and well-being within her community reflects her unwavering belief in the power of collective support. Beyond her volunteer work, she finds solace in caring for her family’s aging horses and donkeys, reflecting her philosophy of extending loving care to all beings. Phoebe believes in action as the antidote to anxiety, committing herself to continual positive change amidst environmental and societal upheaval.

Teresa Schmidt | Mercer, WI

Teresa Schmidt has served as the director of the Mercer Public Library for over 15 years and has lived in Wisconsin’s Northwoods for over 25 years. In her role as library director, Teresa emphasizes the importance of collaborating with area organizations and businesses not only to assist them in their work, but also to provide library programs that are relevant to her community. She believes in the power of local history and stories to connect people across generations, to help them remain connected to their community, and to find paths towards the future. When she’s not at the library, Teresa enjoys dabbling in crafts of all kinds, making and listening to music, and exploring the outdoors with her family. 

Jim Olmsted | Gordon, WI

Jim is passionate about environmental issues and social justice for underrepresented communities. He is a volunteer with the Scouts, the Gordon-Wascott Historical Society, and the Brule/ St. Croix Chapter of the North Country Hiking Trail where he has been a trail maintainer for the last 12 years. Jim finds spirituality in nature; he advocates for the Boundary Water’s protection where he is a guide and leads a canoe trip every summer. After 25 years of making Wisconsin a greener place through his nursery and landscape company, Jim returned to school in 2023 to pursue his Ph.D. in history. He is also working on protecting and restoring an early 20th-century rustic-style log lodge in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. His goal is to advance the social and cultural history of the Gordon area, and more generally, to help develop history in local and underrepresented communities in Wisconsin.

Tammy Schutz | Chetek, WI

Tamera (Tammy) Schutz has been the Executive Director of the Pioneer Village Museum, Cameron, Wisconsin since 2015. She holds degrees in Marketing, Marketing Education, and Business Administration. During the time Tammy has been at the Pioneer Village, revenues have doubled, and visitation went from 2000 per year to over 13,000. She initiated youth day camps, traditional craft classes for adults, and a host of annual cultural events, such as Mid-Sommer’s Eve, Native American Heritage Day, and Oktoberfest.Schutz is the current vice-president of the Wisconsin Council for Local History. She is an ambassador for the Rice Lake Chamber of Commerce. She founded and is actively engaged with the Northwest Wisconsin Museum Consortium. She is deeply involved with a group that is seeking National Park Service designation of the Red Cedar Watershed as a National Historic Area. Tamera lives in rural Chetek, with her husband, Robert. They love to travel, garden, hike, weave, rendezvous, and spend time with their grandchildren.

JoAnn Jardine | Superior, WI

JoAnn Jardine, grew up in Superior, graduated from the U of M-Minneapolis, worked as a photojournalist in Southern MN. She and her husband came home to Superior to raise their three sons.  During this time, she operated a photography studio downtown for more than twenty years, where she photographed people and events. She is a Google trained Photographer specializing in virtual tours for businesses and online maps.  She was the Assistant Director of the Douglas County Historical Society.  In the last few years, she has been working in the movie industry in Duluth.  After seeing the positive impacts that MN film incentives have on the local economy, she helped to pass the first municipal film incentive in the state of WI. She is working to establish The Superior Craft School and a bike/ski shop for Superior.  She recently held the Second Annual Northland Peeps Art Show in cooperation with Superior Public Museums.

Alison Moffat | Superior, WI

Alison serves as the Manager of Library Services for Northwood Technical College. Based in Superior, WI, she is drawn to opportunities that bring people together through arts, culture, and history. Alison is a co-founder of Duluth Beer & Hymns, a quiz writer for Perfect Duluth Day, and a co-organizer of Nerd Nite Duluth.  As part of a Leadership Superior Douglas County, she was thrilled to assist in organizing the Pridewalks project in 2023. In addition to being a volunteer for the Duluth Playhouse and Duluth Homegrown Music Festival, Alison currently serves on the Superior Community Garden Association board (and gardens with them, too!). 

Follow along to learn more about the Fellows, their Community Powered training, and the work they’ll be doing in their communities!