OUR HISTORY

In the Beginning

In the early days of 1992, two presidential candidates participated in a unique town hall meeting that spanned three cities and two states. In those days, town hall meetings were a novelty and neither the 400 people who had gathered in Beloit, Wausau and Minneapolis, nor the candidates, nor the original organizers of We the People, knew what to expect.

However, by the end of the evening, it was clear that something special had happened. That night, citizens across Wisconsin and Minnesota watched as their friends and neighbors politely, but with an impressive and undeniable passion, took their questions and concerns to two men seeking the highest office in the land. One of the candidates from that night, William Jefferson Clinton, would go on to become president of the United States and was so taken by the power of the town hall meeting format that he would go on to participate in dozens more during his campaigns and his presidency.

A Leader in Civic Journalism

Since that cold winter night nearly 16 years ago, We the People has hosted more than 30 live televised forums, four statewide conferences and more than four dozen town hall meetings across the state. We the People has sponsored issue forums on everything from the cost of health care to public finance to teen violence. Every gubernatorial nominee since 1992, including Tommy Thompson, Tom Loftus, Scott McCallum, Jim Doyle and Mark Green have met Wisconsin citizens in a frank and public discussion hosted by We the People. So too have nearly all the final candidates for the United States Senate and Wisconsin’s Supreme Court.

Making It Possible

None of these magical evenings nor the awards and impressive journalistic recognition We the People has garnered would have been possible without the tireless efforts of the thousands of people who have participated in or organized the dozens of town hall meetings, debates and forums, as well as the generosity of our sponsors, including over the years, MG&E, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, American Family Insurance, Blue Cross Blue Shield, American Transmission Company, the Wisconsin State Journal, WISC-TV, WTMJ-TV, Miller Brewing Company, Wisconsin Public Television, Wisconsin Public Radio and Wood Communications Group.

Now, as we conclude our 15th year, we thank all of them and invite you to join us in celebrating the pursuit of excellence and openness in public service.