ABOUT MKE

Hi, we’re MKE with Kids

Milwaukee With Kids makes it easy for families to discover family-friendly events all in one place, so parents can spend less time searching and more time together.

Get to know the team behind Milwaukee With Kids – a group of local parents dedicated to inspiring memorable adventures for your family.

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The people behind MKE

MEET OUR TEAM

Calie Herbst

Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Calie Herbst is the founder and editor of Milwaukee With Kids, a local resource helping families find things to do in Milwaukee and throughout southeastern Wisconsin. She started the site in 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering local attractions, events, day trips, and family-friendly destinations.

Before launching Milwaukee With Kids, Calie spent 10 years teaching in Milwaukee Public Schools and seven summers working with kids at Camp Minikani.

She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Marquette University and bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, along with a Certificate in Women’s Studies.

Calie regularly shares local family and event recommendations with Milwaukee-area media, including WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, and Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee. She is also the author of Exploring Milwaukee With Kids.

You can reach Calie at calie@mkewithkids.com.

Jessie Abderholden

Partnership Manager
Jessie lives on the Eastside of Milwaukee with her husband and two young boys. Her extensive background in hospitality and event coordinating fuel her constant search for memorable, experiential family-friendly happenings around town. In the summer they can be found exploring the city’s numerous pools and in winter months they enjoy sledding down Lafayette Hill. Their family spends weekends adventuring around the city and checking out the many playgrounds Milwaukee has to offer. You can email Jessie at Jessie@mkewithkids.com.

Liz Brown

Community Outreach Coordinator
Liz lives in Menomonee Falls with her husband and three kids. After growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, she moved to Wisconsin after finishing college to be close to family. In addition to connecting with the community for Milwaukee With Kids, she runs her own business as a house manager/personal assistant to help modern families reclaim their time, protect their peace, and move through life with intention. She is also an ambassador for the Milwaukee area’s largest mom social group called Babbling Babes.

Emily Hare

Email Marketing & Editor
Emily lives in the village of Waukesha with her husband, three kids, a dog and a cat. Born and raised in northern Wisconsin, she moved to Milwaukee to attend Marquette University. After honing her editing and digital marketing skills in the journalism industry, she and her husband launched their own business called Hare Creative Solutions. She and her family love exploring all that the Milwaukee area has to offer. Emily is a born-and-bred cheesehead and Pinterest-addicted foodie who loves trying new recipes and reading fiction. She and her family also love camping and plan to do more cross-country trips as the kids get older.

Charitable Giving

Milwaukee with Kids allocates 10% of its profits to local organizations that serve families and children. Our charitable contributions are directed towards causes that promote education, health, and community engagement.

Beneficiaries

Our primary beneficiaries include, but are not limited to:

  • Milwaukee Diaper Mission: Providing essesntial hygiene products to families in need
  • Milwaukee Public Schools: Supporting educational initiatives and programs.
  • Other Local Organizations: We periodically review and select additional local organizations that align with our mission.

Sponsorships

In addition to financial contributions, Milwaukee with Kids is proud to be a media sponsor for:

  • Free Family Fun Days at Northwestern Mutual Community Park: Promoting accessible and enjoyable activities for families.
  • Margie’s Garden at Boerner Botanical Garden: Supporting community engagement and family-friendly events.
  • ‘ALICE (in wonderland)’ presented by the Milwaukee Ballet
  • Milwaukee Film Fest ‘Rated K” For Kids’ series