Wausau resident Kayley McColley has spent much of her young adult life helping her community engage with Black history and culture.
Her involvement began in 2018, when she was attending Wausau West High School, with the organization of an event for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In 2020, she was among a group who organized a march to protest the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd.
The Wausau march was one of the largest demonstrations in the city in a century, and it gave McColley a new purpose. She completed an associate degree in human services at North Central Technical College and decided to transfer to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to study social work and sociology.
“That summer I reevaluated my long-term goals for a career and my hopes as far as making changes in my community,” she said. “My involvement in community event organization definitely played a big role in finding a profession I found meaningful.”
After the march, she and a small group of organizers wanted to continue community engagement in Black history. Knowing that Milwaukee has had a long-standing Juneteenth celebration, they began planning for one in Wausau. Recently, the group held its fourth annual event, which is growing each year and includes food, dancing and a keynote speaker.
“Northern Wisconsin didn’t celebrate or acknowledge Juneteenth, so we wanted to change that,” she said. “It is also known as Jubilee Day, a celebration of African American freedom, heritage and resilience. The Wausau Juneteenth celebration also provides an opportunity for people unfamiliar with it to learn more about the holiday and get to know other members of their community.”
Juneteenth marks Emancipation Day, commemorating June 19, 1865, when Union troops notified the last group of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, of the Emancipation Proclamation. It has been celebrated for more than 150 years, starting in Texas and southern states, and was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.
McColley and her brother, Isaac, with the Juneteenth keynote speaker Reggie Jackson, an internationally recognized author, speaker and expert on race relations.
Coming from an interracial family, McColley said Juneteenth represents a pivotal moment in American history. “It is a time for reflection on the struggles and achievements of Black people as well as a celebration of freedom and resilience and the ongoing fight for equality and justice,” she said. “I love Wausau and being able to bring this event to the community. When you have that fellowship with your neighbor – that is the spirit of Juneteenth.”
Her community work has been recognized with the 2024 Dave Obey Young Adult Civic Engagement Award through the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service. It recognizes young people who demonstrate leadership, integrity and service to others, in honor of former Wisconsin congressman Dave Obey.
She was also chosen as one of Mosaic of North Central Wisconsin’s 2024 Women of Vision scholarship recipients, citing her recognition as a 2018 and 2020 Wausau Daily Herald Person of the Year and her raising of $3,600 in 2021 and 2022 to purchase Black history books for community youth.
Additionally, McColley has taken on internships through her UWSP program, working last summer at the ECDC Multicultural Community Center in Wausau, which helps refugees and immigrants become self-sufficient and productive members of their new communities. This fall she will intern with the Children’s Wisconsin Child Advocacy Center. She also studied abroad, recently returning from a three-week trip to six European countries as part of a three-credit psychology course.
“I’ve been fortunate to have so many experiences as part of my education,” she said. “The best advice I can share with fellow students is to stay passionate and committed – as social workers being dedicated to helping others is our greatest asset.”
She also hopes that fellow students embrace lifelong learning. “The field of social work is constantly evolving, but when you’re willing to stay curious and open to new information, whether it’s through education, workshops, studying abroad or even just having a conversation with people who have a different background – that learning is all very critical in becoming the best social worker you can be.”
Kayley McColley, a sociology and social work student at UW-Stevens Point, has helped organize Wausau’s Juneteenth celebration for four years and has been involved in several community events that focus on Black history. The Juneteenth flag she holds stands for struggle, strength, growth, hope and equality.
“Kayley is an exceptional student in the social work program and a role model for all of us in the ways that she demonstrates the social work values in her daily life as a student and citizen,” said Jess Bowers, associate professor of sociology and social work. “She has developed a fantastic foundation of skills through her professional experiences and engagement in our academic coursework. However, her motivation and stamina to organize and advocate for a range of social justice issues is what I find most inspiring.”
“The social work and sociology faculty have been incredibly encouraging and supportive of me,” said McColley. “They encouraged me to study abroad and have gone the extra mile to guide me and answer questions both class and profession related. It really shows that they are passionate about what they teach and care a great deal about student success.”
McColley plans to earn her bachelor’s degree in May 2025 and hopes to then attend graduate school to earn her master’s in social work, either in the United States or abroad.
“No matter whether I stay in Wausau or move to another city or another country, Black history will always be something that is a part of me,” she said. “I am very passionate about community events and organizing, so no matter where I find myself, I will do something that focuses on social justice and connects to Black history and the Black community.”
