Passport
At PBS Wisconsin, we believe the stories we tell — and how we tell them — matter. Wisconsin Biographies, an ongoing collection of short animated stories with accompanying classroom resources, exemplifies this commitment through an inclusive production model that centers partnership.
Developed by PBS Wisconsin Education in collaboration with educators, historians, cultural advisors and creative partners across the state, each biography connects learners to Wisconsin’s rich and diverse history in ways that reflect excellence across the state’s many communities.
Voices of excellence across Wisconsin history
The collection shares the stories of individuals who helped shape Wisconsin — people like Electa Quinney, a Mohican teacher and mentor; Roberto Hernández, a leader in Wisconsin’s Mexican American communities; Milly Zantow, an environmental innovator; and Geshe Lhundub Sopa, an educator who built a community for teaching and learning Tibetan Buddhism in southern Wisconsin. These biographies highlight a wide range of lives and legacies that continue to resonate today.
Inclusive process, lasting impact
What sets the series apart is not only who is featured, but how each story is made. From the earliest stages of development, PBS Wisconsin Education works closely with advisors who bring lived experience, historical expertise and cultural insight. These partnerships are not transactional — rather, they are rooted in trust and shared responsibility.
We listen closely to the communities connected to each story, and that input directly influences everything from script development to illustration style to classroom activities. It’s a model based on collaboration, trust and a shared responsibility to tell these stories well.
Meagan MondayDIRECTOR OF PBS WISCONSIN EDUCATION
This inclusive approach strengthens both the creative process and the companion educator resources. Educators can trust the materials reflect thoughtful research, standards alignment, and multiple perspectives, while students encounter a more complex and representative view of Wisconsin’s past. Through these partnerships, PBS Wisconsin Education continues to build learning tools that welcome all learners and connect generations.
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