This AmeriCorps week we wanted to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for our team of Americorps Members. Their dedication, hard work, and passion for making a difference in the lives of others have made a profound impact on us. We recognize the sacrifices they have made to serve with us, and we are deeply grateful for their commitment to healthy communities and waterways.
Through their service year, our Americorps Members work to expand our programs and reach more people. Their new ideas, skills, and perspectives are invaluable to Milwaukee Riverkeeper, and we are grateful to work alongside them. We continue to be inspired by their commitment to service.
Learn about our current AmeriCorps Service Members!
Shirley Aspinall
Communications Coordinator
- Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Describe yourself in 3 words: Energetic, Optimistic, Caring
- Coffee or tea? Coffee in the morning; tea at night.
- What are your favorite things to do outside of work? Camping, working out, going for long walks or bike rides, kayaking and meditating.
- People would be surprised if they knew: How much I seriously enjoy waking up at 5:00 AM.
- What is one of your favorite memories or experiences with water? One of my favorite memories with water was at this crystal clear beach in Puerto Rico. I was floating slowly and peacefully on the surface with a life jacket, some goggles, and a snorkel while watching all the aquatic life below. It was like watching a nature documentary but in the front row!
- If you had to be an animal living in the MKE River Basin, what would you be and why? I would be a Sturgeon because they’re ancient, beautiful, huge, harmless and like to leap out of the water and make a loud splash and no one knows why.
Aubrey Fliss
Water Outreach Coordinator
- Hometown: Fredonia, Wisconsin
- Describe yourself in 3 words: Outdoorsy, Friendly, Empathetic
- Coffee or tea? Tea – Chai Tea to be specific!
- What are your favorite things to do outside of work? I love to go camping, go on road trips, eat food, and hang out with my cats!
- People would be surprised if they knew: I have written many original songs and I love to sing!
- What is one of your favorite memories or experiences with water? One of my favorite memories with water would be when I was able to experience my first hot springs in Wyoming. We found a hot spring that was connected to a river and we were able to go back and forth between the cold and hot water temperatures. It was a very neat experience.
- If you had to be an animal living in the MKE River Basin, what would you be and why? If I was an animal living in the MKE River Basin, I would be a spring peeper because I love to sing!
Julissa Ott
Sustainabilty Coordinator
- Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
- Describe yourself in 3 words: Passionate, honest, advocate
- Coffee or tea? This is too tough of a decision. Chai is my comfort but coffee is my fuel.
- What are your favorite things to do outside of work? Puzzles, DIY projects, and listening to podcasts
- People would be surprised if they knew: I enjoy woodworking projects and my dream is to buy and completely flip a house myself
- What is one of your favorite memories or experiences with water? I was swimming in the Gulf of Mexico with my Grandpa and Dad when I was 16 years old, and I heard, in the distance, the sound of a blowhole exhaling. I stopped what I was doing and immediately looked into the horizon to spot the pod of dolphins. My dad and Grandpa were convinced that I was hearing things and that there wasn’t anything in the water – and next thing we know a huge adult dolphin swam right past us! There was a mommy dolphin with her baby and the rest of the pod was hunting for fish along the shore, right at our feet. It was the coolest experience – a moment I will never forget.
- If you had to be an animal living in the MKE River Basin, what would you be and why? Yellow Perch, because it is my favorite fish in the MKE River Basin. They are native to the River Basin and are crucial to the ecosystem. Also, I love their yellow scales – they’re so bright and beautiful.
Michaela Schulist
Water Quality Program Assistant
- Hometown: Sussex, WI
- Describe yourself in 3 words: Considerate, Witty, Dedicated
- Coffee or tea? Coffee
- What are your favorite things to do outside of work? Reading, Hiking, Kayaking, Watching TV (specifically re-watching New Girl over and over)
- People would be surprised if they knew: How far I can bend my elbow back and twist my arm 360° — I am very double-jointed!
- What is one of your favorite memories or experiences with water? I grew up loving to swim. I had a pool, my grandma had a pool. Some of my fondest childhood memories are in a pool or lake with my sisters and cousins. We spent the majority of our days swimming in lakes and pools every summer with each other!
- If you had to be an animal living in the MKE River Basin, what would you be and why? I would definitely be a painted turtle. They live a life of leisure, basking in the sun for hours a day in order to keep warm, speed egg development, help digestion, and to keep their beautiful shells strong and healthy. Who doesn’t want to just chill on a log or a floating plant in the sun all day?