Doug Emhoff with members of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and First Stage theater group. Photo: Rory Linnane/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“While Vice President Kamala Harris visited Milwaukee Monday to promote lead abatement, her husband, Doug Emhoff, spent time with youth arts program directors before meeting with leaders of the Milwaukee Jewish community,” writes Rory Linnane in Monday’s (1/24) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “Emhoff was highlighting federal COVID-19 relief grants that helped the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center stay open throughout the pandemic…. The newly renovated arts center … is home to the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and First Stage theater group, which received $395,000 and $1,02 million, respectively, in federal Shuttered Venue Operators Grants part of the American Rescue Plan…. Lucas LaBeau, a MYSO jazz pianist who also performed for Emhoff, said he saw many musicians skip lessons during the pandemic and he was grateful to continue participating in MYSO…. Daisha Lafford said the building was a ‘second home’ and ‘safe haven.’ Others agreed…. MYSO and First Stage were two of 236 Wisconsin recipients of Shuttered Venue grants who received a total of $229 million as of Jan. 21, according to a White House spokesperson…. [Emhoff] said a background in arts would serve the students well, regardless of their career path.”
