During the 2021-2022 school year, Slinger High School sociology, history, art, theater, and technical education students used interviews, observation, questionnaires, and site visits to help capture ways that some people in the Slinger Area find their voice and build community.  Significant emphasis was placed on current Slinger students as well as Slinger alumni. While Art, Innovation, Design, and Theater were key subthemes explored, there was also a strong desire to ask questions about sense of belonging and where people find that belonging.  Students were fortunate to be able to interact with several Washington County and Village of Slinger leaders to discuss how local citizens interact.  Washington County Social Capital coordinator, the Washington County Executive, the Washington County Community Development Director, the Washington County Transit Coordinator, Volunteer Center of Washington County leaders and member organizations, Slinger Village leadership, Slinger School District administrators, Slinger/Allenton Rotary, Museum of WI Art leaders, and more.  Of particular importance was talking to Slinger alumni.  While there are too many to list here, especially helpful as social capital connectors to career concepts, people, and places as well as active listening advisors were  2004 Alum Joe Poeschl (The Commons), 2006 Alum Jaclyn Tyler (Jaclyn Tyler LLC), 2013 Alum Kelly Wallschlaeger (Belook LLC),  1993 Alum Corey Foerster (Foerster Signs), 2018 Alum Bescent Ebeid (UW-Milwaukee), 2007 Alum Gina Crovetti (art therapy), 2010 Alum Ed Euclide (UX Design Research), 2010 Alum Rachel Hausmann Schall (Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum), 2002 Alum Hope Zvara (Wellness Expert), and 2017 Alum Cassie Schmidt (Washington County Social Capital Coordinator).  Special note to the students who worked so diligently on making sure that the late Nicole Kopfmann's art was included in this year's work as Nicole would have been a champion for a student empowerment project. The data below reveals evidence of human interaction and some layers of understanding about what many interviewees found important.  Sociology students heard stories from student artists about the school building being a valuable gathering place where social infrastructure is often, but not always, built.  Students spent quite a bit of time looking for ways social capital is built as well as barriers. History students conducted oral histories with veterans, family members, community members, and art/innovation/design alumni and added key historical photos some which were archived at the Edward H. Wolf Schleisingerville to Slinger Museum. Additional data will be added.  Please feel free to view the music, FFA, Student Council voices from the 2020-2021 project here.   Thank you to all the School District Staff and retired staff who work tirelessly to create opportunities for our students.  Thank you to Dean Leisgang for his expertise with video production.  It's been great to watch him work with our students.   Reach him at deanleisgang@gmail.com.

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Funded in part by a grant from Wisconsin Humanities Council, with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Wisconsin Humanities strengthens the roots of community life through educational and cultural programs that inspire civic participation and individual imagination.

Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.