Laura Thompson

Laura Thompson

Laura Thompson is a contributor at Urban Milwaukee. She is a musician, and received degrees in violin performance from Northwestern University and from the Royal College of Music in London, England. In addition to playing classical music, she loves to play fiddle music from Ireland, Scotland, Cape Breton, and Appalachia. While a student at Northwestern, she also took classes focused on international human rights issues, and helped coordinate volunteer opportunities for students with Chicago nonprofits. She later dipped her toe into the sciences by completing the pre-medical curriculum at Milwaukee School of Engineering. She is especially interested in learning the craft of investigative journalism, and writing about the little-known institutions that make the city tick.

Contact Laura

Recent Articles

Best of Doors Open: Inside the Materials Recovery Facility
Best of Doors Open

Inside the Materials Recovery Facility

Regional recycling helps Milwaukee and Waukesha recover waste. Our photos capture the process.

Best of Doors Open: A Tale of Glorious Malone’s Fine Sausage
Best of Doors Open

A Tale of Glorious Malone’s Fine Sausage

Walnut St. factory is a tangy slice of Milwaukee history and African American culture.

Best of Doors Open: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
Best of Doors Open

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

Frank Lloyd Wright designed church is worth visiting.

Best of Doors Open: Inside the Materials Recovery Facility
Best of Doors Open

Inside the Materials Recovery Facility

Regional recycling helps Milwaukee and Waukesha recover waste. Our photos capture the process.

Best of Doors Open: A Tale of Glorious Malone’s Fine Sausage
Best of Doors Open

A Tale of Glorious Malone’s Fine Sausage

Walnut St. factory is a tangy slice of Milwaukee history and African American culture.

Best of Doors Open: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
Best of Doors Open

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

Frank Lloyd Wright designed church is worth visiting.

Best of Doors Open: Inside the Materials Recovery Facility
Best of Doors Open

Inside the Materials Recovery Facility

Regional recycling helps Milwaukee and Waukesha recover waste. Our photos capture the process.

The Campaign Against Plastic Straws

The Campaign Against Plastic Straws

Inspired by “Strawless in Seattle,” Milwaukee joins the newest anti-pollution movement.

Urban Guide: 20 Great Downtown Lunch Spots
Urban Guide

20 Great Downtown Lunch Spots

Soups, sandwiches, Ramen, Italian, Ethiopian, vegan, Vietnamese and more.

Photo Gallery: Northwestern Mutual Show Draws Crowd
Photo Gallery

Northwestern Mutual Show Draws Crowd

Mayor Barrett, others attend opening of show by 17 artists honoring 25 local non-profits.

Photo Gallery: Women’s March Brings Thousands Downtown
Photo Gallery

Women’s March Brings Thousands Downtown

As one attendee puts it, “the stakes are too high, I can’t stay home.”

Spreading the Gospel of Solar Power

Spreading the Gospel of Solar Power

Businessman funds solar grants to non-profits and churches.

Does Tax Plan Enrich Ron Johnson?

Does Tax Plan Enrich Ron Johnson?

And will changes senator championed help small businesses? A look at the numbers.

Northwestern Mutual Plans Unique Show

Northwestern Mutual Plans Unique Show

Art exhibit features artists with state ties and celebrates impact of local non-profits.

Best of Doors Open: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
Best of Doors Open

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

Frank Lloyd Wright designed church is worth visiting.

Best of Doors Open: Inside the Materials Recovery Facility
Best of Doors Open

Inside the Materials Recovery Facility

Regional recycling helps Milwaukee and Waukesha recover waste. Our photos capture the process.

Best of Doors Open: Inside the Materials Recovery Facility
Best of Doors Open

Inside the Materials Recovery Facility

Regional recycling helps Milwaukee and Waukesha recover waste. Our photos capture the process.

All Hail Milwaukee’s New City Flag

All Hail Milwaukee’s New City Flag

Robert Lenz’s creation is the winner. Will Common Council make it the city’s official flag?

Black Leaders Talk About Barrett

Black Leaders Talk About Barrett

How has the mayor succeeded -- and failed -- in serving African American neighborhoods.

How Community Prosecutors Prevent Crime

How Community Prosecutors Prevent Crime

Special unit focuses on collaborating with community and crime prevention.

Port Of Milwaukee Has Flurry of Final Traffic

Port Of Milwaukee Has Flurry of Final Traffic

Great Lakes traffic up as ships rush to finish before St. Lawrence Seaway closes for winter.

Can Auto Redistricting End Gerrymandering?

Can Auto Redistricting End Gerrymandering?

A software programmer devises a way to eliminate political bias.

Crowdfunding Q&A: Cadence Coffee & Cycle
Crowdfunding Q&A

Cadence Coffee & Cycle

Seeking $15,000 for a combined coffee house and bike service/repair shop. What'll they think of next?

Profile: MaryNell Regan on the Hot Seat
Profile

MaryNell Regan on the Hot Seat

New head of embattled Fire & Police Commission wants to allow more community input into its decisions.

Best of Doors Open: Inside the Materials Recovery Facility
Best of Doors Open

Inside the Materials Recovery Facility

Regional recycling helps Milwaukee and Waukesha recover waste. Our photos capture the process.

The Spirit of the Drift Bench

The Spirit of the Drift Bench

Now a popular fixture in Mitchell Park, there is quite a story -- and many builders -- behind it.

Profile: Port Director Paul Vornholt’s Surprising Success
Profile

Port Director Paul Vornholt’s Surprising Success

Criticized as "unqualified" and a "patronage appointment," Vornholt has pleased even his critics.

14 Fun Facts About the Port of Milwaukee

14 Fun Facts About the Port of Milwaukee

Everything you wanted to know about the city’s most entrepreneurial department.

Tale of a Tumbling Team

Tale of a Tumbling Team

The Milwaukee Flyers is a non-profit that helps kids learn acrobatic tricks -- and life lessons.

Leading the Way in Green Infrastructure

Leading the Way in Green Infrastructure

Outpost Foods in Mequon and All Peoples Church on N. 2nd St. have sophisticated green systems.

50 Years of Maurice Sendak

50 Years of Maurice Sendak

Milwaukee Public Library exhibition celebrates the life and work of the children's book writer and illustrator.

City Business: Cream City CrossFit Cooperative
City Business

Cream City CrossFit Cooperative

Popular cross-training gym is now a cooperative and has moved to new location in Bay View.

“Wisconsin Is a Hub of Human Trafficking…”

“Wisconsin Is a Hub of Human Trafficking…”

"And Milwaukee harbors its pimp school!" Government officials and civic leaders announce a marketing campaign to raise awareness of child trafficking.