Joshua Ballew

Joshua Ballew. Photo courtesy of NEWaukee.

Where do you work and what makes your role awesome?

I am the Tour and Membership Coordinator at Historic Milwaukee Inc. and my role is awesome because of my dedicated coworkers and volunteers who work to educate both Milwaukeeans and visitors of the city’s unique history, architecture, and future.

How long have you lived in Milwaukee and what brought you here?

I was born in the Sherman Park neighborhood in Milwaukee and have spent 23 of my 28 years here. I lived in New York when I was younger and was recently living in Chicago before moving to Bay View to live with my girlfriend who is currently enrolled at the Marquette Law School.

What is one word that you would use to describe Milwaukee?

Home

What is your biggest hope for this city?

My biggest hope is that people in Milwaukee continue to be proactive and make the improvements they want to see in their communities. It’s easy to take for granted the fact that because of Milwaukee’s size we are able to have influence. Nothing changes if we don’t.

What does your ideal Milwaukee weekend look like?

My ideal Milwaukee weekend definitely includes at least one comedy show whether it be at the Comedy Cafe, Underground Collaborative, Comedy Sportz or one of the various independent shows being put on by local comedians. Throw in some pizza or Thai food and a long bike ride and I’m set.

What neighborhood do you live in and why do you love it?

I currently live in Bay View and I love it because it has everything you would want in a neighborhood including bike lanes, a bowling alley, multiple pizza places (Classic Slice & Anodyne), great bars (Sugar Maple & Blackbird), and of course green spaces (Humboldt Park).