Community Initiatives

Milwaukee County Senior Statesman Program

Since 1998, the Milwaukee County Senior Statesman Program has educated older adults about County government with the goal of cultivating social and civic engagement. The program is offered once a year - free of charge - to twenty-five older adults living in Milwaukee County. The program consists of three days of didactic and experiential learning activities focused on Milwaukee County’s legislative process and operations, including presentations, tours, meals, transportation, and supplemental materials. Participants meet and share meals with elected and appointed officials, including the County Executive, all County Supervisors, and several key Department Directors. They observe a County Board meeting and tour the County transit facility and park system. In some years, participants also observed the court system and toured the jail. The program routinely concludes with a graduation ceremony and backstage tour of the County’s performing arts center. The Milwaukee County Senior Statesman Program has been replicated in other counties throughout the state on a smaller scale and is modeled after a similar program operated by the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, which educates older adults about state government.

Community Partners:

Milwaukee County Department on Aging (Lead Organization)
- Stephanie Sue Stein, Executive Director
- Alice Kowalski, Information & Outreach Coordinator
- Greg Reiman, Program Coordinator
- Meg Rauschenberger, Executive Assistant
Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups
Milwaukee County Executive’s Office
- Scott Walker, County Executive
Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors
Marina Dimitrijevic, County Supervisor 4th District
Marquette University & Wisconsin Geriatric Education Center
- Stacy Barnes, Director

For More Information:

Persons living in Milwaukee County can obtain more information about the Milwaukee County Senior Statesman Program by contacting Meg Rauschenberger at 414-289-6010 or via email: meg.rauschenberger@milwaukeecounty.com. Wisconsin residents can obtain more information on the state program by contacting CWAG at 1-800-366-2990.