Every mural project is a labor of love—one that often requires years of hustling for walls, artists and funds. If you want to accelerate our efforts of bringing more art to rural areas, you can join and contribute to our nonprofit by become a board member.

When individuals agree to sit on our nonprofit board, they often do so out of a passion art that creates impact in our Central Wisconsin community. We want to be as transparent and upfront as to what we require to maintain an excellent and healthy board for Rise Up. And we want anyone interested in understanding the responsibility of oversight that comes with the role.

OUR BOARD MEMBERS

Tara Draeger

Tara Draeger

President / Co-Founder
Tara Draeger, co-founder of Rise Up, brings a deep passion for healthcare to her work in empowering communities and advocating for a healthier Central Wisconsin. As System Director of Community Health and Health Equity of Aspirus, Tara has been instrumental in developing projects that address the healthcare needs of our area. Her commitment to ensuring access to quality healthcare for all has driven many of Rise Up's mural projects in the past. Tara's dedication and expertise in healthcare have been pivotal in shaping our foundation of healing through art.
Brenda Schumacher

Brenda Schumacher

Vice President
Brenda Schumacher has been part of Rise Up since its early years, serving as Secretary from 2017 to 2024 and now as Interim Vice President. Her involvement is rooted in a genuine passion for creating a space where creativity and community can thrive. She brings a steady, thoughtful presence to the board and enjoys supporting the organization behind the scenes. Outside of Rise Up, Brenda is a real estate agent with Schumacher Realty at RE/MAX Excel, where she helps clients navigate meaningful transitions and find a place to truly call home.
Ka Youa Xiong

Ka Youa Xiong

Treasurer
Ka Youa Xiong serves as a Compliance Analyst at Peoples State Bank. In addition to her professional role, Ka Youa is the Treasurer of Rise Up, where she applies her financial acumen to oversee the organization’s fiscal health and integrity. Her dual roles highlight her commitment to both financial stewardship and community empowerment. Ka Youa’s expertise in compliance and finance is invaluable to Rise Up, where she manages budgets, financial planning, and reporting, ensuring that the organization’s resources are effectively utilized to maximize its impact.
Rachel Tate

Rachel Tate

Secretary
Rachel actively champions Diversity, Action, and Inclusion initiatives, contributing significantly to the campus's ethos of equality and representation. Rachel also plays a vital role on the IAAP DEI Committee, furthering her commitment to fostering inclusivity. Beyond her professional endeavors, Rachel serves as Secretary on the Mosaic of North Central Wisconsin Board and is deeply engaged with the United Way of Marathon County. Her passion for amplifying voices and ensuring all individuals feel valued is evident in her involvement in the community.
Christy Keele, JD

Christy Keele, JD

Past President, Board Member
Christy Keele, JD, is a passionate child advocate and one of the co-founders of RISE UP Central Wisconsin, serving as an original member since 2017. With a law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law (2004) and a career rooted in fighting for children's rights-from her early work as a staff attorney with Voices for Children to establishing her own Guardian ad litem practice in Wausau-Christy has dedicated her life to ensuring every child has a voice. As the current Executive Director of CASA of Marathon County, she continues to champion expanded access to advocacy services for children in the community. Her deep ties to Central Wisconsin are reflected in her service on numerous boards, including the Wisconsin CASA Association, Marathon County Social Services, and United Way of Marathon County. Christy remains deeply grateful for the opportunity to support RISE UP in a variety of meaningful ways and is committed to the organization's mission of lifting up the community it serves.
Christine Dixen Martens

Christine Dixen Martens

Trustee
Christine has been a staple at Rise Up since 2023 when adding Rise Up as the home for Thursday Fiber Arts Night! Her dedication to the local art, artist advocacy, and above all helping out at the Rise Up free community art studio has been integral to the welcoming vibes and even many tools you can use at the free community art studio. Chris has been active in the Friends of the Wausau Historical Society for years among many local initiatives in sustainability and equal justice.
Diana Budde

Diana Budde

Trustee
Diana Budde has a Bachelor of Science in Art Education from Ball State University and is one of the only art education majors to win the all studio Lucia Mysch Award. In 1999, she was chosen out of a pool of candidates for UWSP to teach at UWMC and earned tenure in 2007. She taught drawing, painting, printmaking, life drawing, darkroom and digital photography, Renaissance Art Survey, Modern Art Survey, Women in the Arts, and World of Art Survey. In 2017 and presently, she began teaching World of Art online for the UW System, and, later, Digital Imaging for UW Milwaukee Flex Degree. Since 2019, she also teaches full time 8-12th grade art for Rhinelander School District. She is the mother of twins.

Future Member

Trustee
Rise Up is growing, and we’re expanding our board. Do you have strengths in leadership, organization, fundraising, marketing, or community outreach? Do you have a passion for the arts, connection, and making a meaningful impact in your community? We would love to connect with you and explore how you can be part of the mission.

WHAT MAKES A GREAT RISE UP BOARD MEMBER

Willing to Volunteer

We understand that over 50% of private nonprofits pay their board members. We do not at this time. We have part-time paid staff (view here) that lead board meetings and lean on us for discussion and decisions to keep our nonprofit sustainable and objective. Like all nonprofits, we need board members who want to take on at least one of these board member responsibilities:

CURTAIN RAISERS

In boring corporate talk, these are the “fiduciary” board members. Curtain Raisers facilitate new connections with yet-untapped financial contributors, securing sizable donations or long-term commitments.

Nonprofit board directors have a number of key responsibilities, but a fiduciary one will help connect us to their network of growth opportunity, advise investing options, as well as, help appoint a treasurer and work alongside them.

FRIEND RAISERS

Friend Raisers cast a wider net as a valuable ally in our community efforts.

Help us build enthusiasm among those who are within your sphere but may not be aware of Rise Up yet! Be apart of events we do with the community and help us build our network of supporters in a friendly, personal manner! 

BARN RAISERS

Amish communities across America maintain the age-old tradition of “barn raising,” where families come together and pool their time and tools to erect a barn in the span of a day. We don’t have much use for a barn, but the basic principles hold true: little can get done without “elbow grease,” but many hands make for lighter work. Help us paint or work events!

CONSCIOUSNESS RAISERS

Consciousness Raisers bring the knowledge and gumption required to spearhead grassroots advocacy efforts within your community.

Activism-minded trustees of the board are essential. Our mural projects focus on heavy topics that need to be addressed in our direct local communities to effect change.

We cannot do that without advocates of Rise Up who are willing to voice opinions on bettering Central Wisconsin.

swift decisions

Every board faces moments of indecision or an issue that is difficult to resolve. It is normal for a group of decision-makers to hesitate when facing a risky or challenging situation. It is a chronically indecisive board, however, that can endanger the momentum and progress of the organization they are meant to support.

Work with artists, not against

While we want our board to be passionate about community public art, we are not accepting those who want to dictate the art. That is done between artist and the organizations we partner with. We pair artists with impactful projects and your role as a board member is to help us with our nonprofit. But if you want to paint or design a mural – definitely see our Artist Collective and how to apply to become a paid artist.

Commit to In-Person Attendance

Excluding sickness, as apart of volunteering your time to be on the Board of Directors that you commit to that agreement. Should it be, at the end of the year, you have failed to be in person to less than 9 out 12 meetings a Vote of no confidence / vote of no confidence will be taken by other board members to see if you should be offered the opportunity to resign.

Duty of Loyalty

Board members should act in good faith and put the interests of the organization above their own personal interests. This requires understanding any conflicts that may exist between different groups and taking action to balance their interests. We work with many people from all walks of life in our projects, keeping a professional relationship and advocating for Rise Up is a must.

Commit to 3 Years

We want to avoid burnout and keep fresh ideas coming in with people on our board to keep Rise Up sustainable. After 3 years of successful service, each board member will be offered the opportunity to resign or stay on; in a board meeting scheduled before their next term begins. Nothing dramatic! It’s not like quitting a job – you’re a valued volunteer and we understand if the time commitment just doesn’t fit in your schedule after your first year. Maybe your life has gotten busier or you’re moving away. Either way, we understand and are happy and flexible to work with new and emerging RAISERS!

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