Community bulletins: White House LGBT appointment

White House appointment

President Barack Obama in mid-March appointed Raffi Freedman-Gurspan as the White House’s primary LGBT liaison. She’s the first transgender person to hold the post. She became the first openly transgender staffer in the White House when she was hired in 2015. The first LGBT liaison at the White House, Marsha Scott, served in Bill Clinton’s administration.

White House appointment: President Barack Obama in mid-March appointed Raffi Freedman-Gurspan as the White House’s primary LGBT liaison. She’s the first transgender person to hold the post. She became the first openly transgender staffer in the White House when she was hired in 2015. The first LGBT liaison at the White House, Marsha Scott, served in Bill Clinton’s administration.

Eyes and ears

The League of Women Voters Wisconsin seeks volunteers to help monitor polling during the spring election and presidential primary, which is April 5. Volunteers are needed in Dane, Milwaukee, Racine, La Crosse and Rock counties. For more, go online to lwvwi.org.

Call to convention

The Dodge County Democratic Party and chair James Zahn hosts the 5th Congressional District Democratic Party of Wisconsin Convention at 9:30 a.m. April 10. The event is at the Juneau Community Center in Juneau. For more, email .

Cream at the top

Milwaukee's Cream City Foundation is among the top funders nationwide for LGBT communities and causes. The nonprofit received the recognition from Funders for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Issues, a nationwide network of foundations and corporations. For more, go to creamcityfoundation.org.

‘Dream’ event

Milwaukee-based Diverse & Resilient hosts the fourth annual Reviving the Dream Celebration at the Marriott Downtown on April 7. The evening celebrates leadership in the LGBT community and honors Bayard Rustin, a civil rights icon. For more, go to diverseandresilient.org.

Reels for Riverkeeper

Save the date of May 21 for the 11th annual Reel Paddling Film Festival at Clear Water Outdoor, 250 N. Water St., Milwaukee. The festival features more than 20 films and benefits the Milwaukee Riverkeeper. For more, go to www.clearwateroutdoor.com.

Freewheelin’ ride

The world’s largest fat bike race, the Fat Bike Birkie, took place in Cable earlier this year and drew a record number of riders. The first place finisher in the 47K race was Will Ross of Anchorage, Alaska. For more, go to birkie.com.

Conversation and culture

The University of Wisconsin-Madison — the first U.S. university to offer Yiddish language instruction — is celebrating “A Century of Yiddish at UW-Madison.” Among the events: a symposium at the Mayrent Institute of Yiddish Culture set for April 14-15 and a lecture on Yiddish music May 2. For more, go to mayrentinstitute.wisc.edu.

ROUGH run

Madison-based Rough Sportswear presents a 5K walk and run April 10 to benefit the Porchlight Homeless Shelter. Runners can register at roughsportswear.com. Rough is matching donations to the Rough Foundation to support Porchlight.

Performing for planet

This year marks the 29th continuous year for Earth Poets and Musicians — Milwaukee celebrations for Earth Day occurring April 8 at Coffee House, 1905 W. Wisconsin, and April 22 at Urban Ecology Center, 1500 E. Park Place. “Our incredible planet exists, with its ecological balance and sun-struck beauty,” said Earth Poet Suzanne Rosenblatt. “Yet infinitesimal specks on that planet, who call themselves humans, are able to change everything, to take away the balance, the beauty, the life. This conundrum haunts the Earth Poets and Musicians. We puzzle over Earth with love and awe, humor and horror, and wisps of wisdom.” For more, go to milwaukeerenaissance.com.

Growing groceries

Milwaukee Public Library's Bay View Branch hosts a workshop on how to “grow your own groceries.” The date with Groundwork Milwaukee is May 14. For more, call 414-431-0931 or go online to www.groundworkmke.org.

Support shorelines

Leaders with Adopt-a-Beach offer online training for those interested in joining the effort to support Wisconsin’s shorelines. For more, go to greatlakesadopt.org.

Wisconsin Gazette welcomes community announcements. Please email Lisa Neff at [email protected].