Grace Fuhr

How long have you lived in Milwaukee and why did you choose to live here?
Six years ago I was finishing a year abroad in Switzerland, and my mom sent me a photo of the Calatrava on a foggy day, with the question, “Do you want to go to school here?” Having grown up in Minneapolis, I thought the only other city in the Midwest was Chicago. Milwaukee, I assumed, had more cows than people. But from my first day at UW-Milwaukee, this place has felt like home.

What about Milwaukee makes it a place you want to work and play?
The creative and industrious people who are the fabric of this city make it a wonderful place to work and play. (And I have yet to find a live cow within the city limits.) I’ve also always been impressed by the architecture – old and new – that converge to make this a walkable, bikeable, and scenic city.

What is your favorite Milwaukee event?
I’m lucky to work for an organization that hosts several of the city’s greatest events. One of my favorites is Historic Milwaukee’s Doors Open. The event opens the doors of 140+ buildings that are often off limits to the public, and showcases the places that make this city great.

What is one thing you’d like to see change about Milwaukee?
I’d like to see Milwaukee become a more racially integrated city. From schools to shops, segregation is evident and is holding Milwaukee back. I hope that Newaukee and HMI 100 will be a part of the solution as a new generation in this city.

What do you do?
I’m the program manager at Historic Milwaukee (HMI), a non profit dedicated to increasing awareness of Milwaukee’s history, architecture, and the built environment. We’re located in the Mitchell Building on Michigan Street just east of Water Street. HMI also has a group called HMI 100 that I’m very excited about. HMI 100 is a group of Milwaukee professionals who are enthusiastic about the city and meet three times a year in architecturally and historically unique Milwaukee spaces.