WCVStories

Celebrating Brenda Coley and Kirsten Shead of Milwaukee Water Commons

Wisconsin Conservation Voters was pleased to present Brenda Coley and Kirsten Shead of Milwaukee Water Commons with the Green Tie Award at Green Tie Madison 2025.

Milwaukee Water Commons

Behind the Scenes

Clean Water For All

September 17, 2025

Wisconsin Conservation Voters was pleased to present Brenda Coley and Kirsten Shead of Milwaukee Water Commons with the Green Tie Award at Green Tie Madison 2025. Brenda Coley and Kirsten Shead worked together to build a multiracial, intergenerational movement grounded in our shared relationship with water.

By centering justice, joy, art, and collaboration, they’ve created spaces where all voices matter. Through their dual leadership, Brenda and Kirsten have reimagined what community-led climate and water justice can look like.

Brenda Coley retired as Co-Executive Director at the end of 2025.