MKE Roots gets federal funding after previous grant cancelled, curriculum must now "commemorate" 1776

05/11/2025 17 min
MKE Roots gets federal funding after previous grant cancelled, curriculum must now "commemorate" 1776

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Episode Synopsis


Back in September, Lake Effect reported on the sudden cancellation of federal funding for MKE Roots. The program trains Milwaukee-area teachers on how to make social studies relevant to students by connecting them to local history.  Last month, MKE Roots was notified that it would again receive federal funding. But the money came with the stipulation that the program focus on commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  Melissa Gibson is an associate professor at Marquette University and the faculty director of MKE Roots. She speaks with Lake Effect’s Sam Woods about the changes to its federal grant funding, and how it will – and won’t - change what the program does.