Story Cart: Attention was inspired by the Strother School of Radical Attention, and was part of C21’s SLOW: The Pace of Being Human programming series. It was conceived and developed by Jennifer Johung and Katie Waddell, with operations oversight by Katie Waddell. Site visit and interview support was provided by C21 Graduate Fellows Chloe Kwiatkowski, Ceceilia Loeschmann, Jamee Pritchard, and Yuchen Zhao. Special thanks to Ladasia Bryant for designing Attention Activism Toolkit volumes 1 and 2, and Cactus+ for hosting C21 for the April 2026 edition of the Cactus Book Club.

Story Cart: Attention was supported in part by the Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue, 

Adam  Carr  is an independent writer, artist, journalist, community historian and organizer based in Milwaukee. Carr was director of strategic partnerships at Milwaukee Park Foundation from 2022-2025 and producer at 88Nine RadioMilwaukee from 2008-2011. Working in communities throughout Milwaukee, his work ranges from journalism to public art, film/photography to coalition building, dialogue facilitation to community history, writing to in-depth tours.  

Madeleine Doelker Berlin (LPC-IT) is an Associate Licensed Professional Counselor, Social Scientist, and a few other things—like an immigrant, a parent, and someone who’s lived through big transitions. Born, raised, and partially professionally trained in Germany, she has a background in social inequality research and a professional path that weaves through mental health, public service, and community advocacy. In both her life and work, Madeleine brings an intersectional, systems-aware lens to understanding how people move through the world. Her current work draws on liberation psychology, existentialist psychology, and feminist psychology to explore how personal healing is connected to social context, meaning-making, and resistance. She’s especially interested in the stories we carry, the cultures that shape us, and the quiet, radical act of paying attention. Madeleine holds graduate degrees in Social Sciences and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her approach is grounded, curious, and deeply human. 

Symphony Swan Zawadi is an artist, cultural strategist, and founder of THE CR8TV HOUSE, an arts and community institution reimagining space, storytelling, support and memory keeping for Black and Brown creatives. With over a decade of experience spanning arts education, nonprofit leadership, and philanthropy, Symphony brings a deep commitment to equity, imagination, and community care.  

She began her career as a K–8 art teacher before serving as a school administrator, where she focused on culturally responsive leadership, community building and student-centered learning. Symphony holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and completed her graduate degree in educational leadership, equipping her to lead in both classroom and organizational settings with clarity, empathy, and vision.  

Today, Symphony channels her interdisciplinary expertise into building creative ecosystems that honor legacy, foster healing, and invest in future generations. Her work has earned her recognition as the 2023 Milwaukeean of the Year by Shepherd Express, 2024 Gener8tor Art Fellowship Recipient and most recently the 2025 City of Milwaukee Friends of the Arts. She also serves as a trustee for the Milwaukee Art Museum. She continues to advocate for artist-led systems change that reflect the communities they serve. 

I’m Ladasia Bryant—a recent graduate from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, specializing in Communication Design (Class of 2023). I have recently transitioned into working as an upper elementry art teacher at Milwaukee Academy of Science, as well as owning my own company, Braided Magazine. My creative journey converges graphic design, fine art, and education, focusing on community and meaningful change through the arts. I combine all of these media because I believe all five senses will further our understanding of each other and the stories that need to be told.