Civic Chat: Today's Superheroes Guiding Tomorrow's Changemakers

Tuesday, June 17 · 5:30 - 7:30 pm MST

Laramie County Library, Cottonwood Room

2200 Pioneer Avenue Cheyenne, WY 82001

It takes people of all kinds to shape our communities and our country for the better. Whether you’re a nurturer, defender, connector, or amplifier, your unique Civic Superpower can change the world. 

We The People invites high school students from around the state—and the country—to learn the ins and outs of what it means to be an American citizen. They compete to prove their expertise on the U.S. Constitution and the structure of our democracy, walking away with the skills and drive they’ll need as their generation shapes the future of our country.

Join us as local We The People students lead inspiring and energizing conversations with four Civic Superheroes who will share their experiences, give advice, and explore the countless ways we can all unleash our Civic Superpowers!

Our Superheroes:

• Nurturer - Melissa Martin, chair of the Laramie County Better Together Action Team who believes in celebrating and bringing out strengths of others.

• Amplifier - JoLynn Paulsen, Content Manager at Arts Cheyenne and Marketing Assistant at Cheyenne Civic Center who uses her communication skills to provide accessible and reliable art education for all individuals in Laramie County.

• Connector - Milward Simpson, an unwavering arts and humanities advocate who builds partnerships, connects with local artists, and works alongside educators and historians

• Defender - Marguerite Herman, a legislative lobbyist with decades of experience engaging with state government and leaders.

All attendees who register and attend the event will be entered for a chance to win a $50 gift card! Please register below:

Speaker Bios:

Melissa Martin lives to communicate; it is through communication that she continues to be a lifelong learner. She is especially interested in having others share their stories. Melissa uses her degrees in Communication Theory to guide the Better Together action team, lead workplace development workshops ,and teach college classes. She delivers relevant, engaging content to professionals and students. Her areas of expertise include team building, communication, conflict management, workplace success, strategic planning, visioning, and professional development.

Melissa is a certified facilitator for DiSC Personality Assessment, Bridges Out of Poverty, Getting Ahead, Crucial Conversations, Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team, and Workplace Stability. She lives in a multi-generational household where she enjoys Sunday dinners with family and friends. When she’s not teaching, she likes road trips, walking her dog, and cooking for her family.

JoLynn Paulsen is a Content Manager at Arts Cheyenne and a Marketing Assistant at Cheyenne Civic Center. Her introduction to Content Creation and Community Outreach started at Central High School with work on the Weekly Video Announcements & as Vice President of their Student Council. A huge reason JoLynn works in Arts Advocacy is to create accessible and reliable art education for all individuals in Laramie County. This advocacy also dips into all-around Community and Civic Engagement as she’s also extremely passionate about Cheyenne’s local politics and creating a city she feels proud calling home.

Milward Simpson has spent a diverse career in the arts and humanities, historic preservation, parks and recreation, and conservation. He served as Manager of the Wyoming Arts Council from 2003 - 2005 before being appointed Director of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources from 2006 – 2016.  After leaving state government, he led The Nature Conservancy’s Wyoming Chapter and served as Executive Director of the National Association for Interpretation. Simpson currently serves as Chair of the Cheyenne Historic Preservation Board and Chairs the American Heritage Center Board of Advisors. In 2023 he received the Governors Arts Award.

What to expect:

• Dinner is generously donated by Wing Shack! 

• Participants will sign in, get a name badge, and be seated. Coloring sheets will be provided for those who enjoy a quiet activity while they listen to the chats. 

• The Civic Chat will begin at 5:45 p.m. with an introduction from the Braver Angels Laramie County Alliance.

• After introductions, the program will be shaped around the four Civic Season Superpowers: nurturer, defender, connector, and amplifier. Civic Superheros from our community will partner with two We The People students who will ask questions and guide a 10-minute chat with each of the four leaders. 

• After approximately 40 minutes, the conversations will wind down and will transition to a Q&A session with the audience. 

• The program will end at about 7:00, but guests are welcome to stay, socialize, and connect until 7:30 p.m.

** This event is open to the media upon approval. Send requests to press@braverangels.org