ABOUT KELLY |
Kelly Gallaher is an award winning artist, activist and community advocate. A resident of SE Wisconsin for the last 30 years, from 2015 to 2023 served as a contributor and spokesperson for the grassroots community organization A Better Mt. Pleasant.
Currently, Kelly coordinates the social media engagement and website design for the Democratic Party of Racine County (DPRC) and has been an active volunteer since 2006. Kelly was proud to receive the DPRC Democrat of the Year Award in 2016.
For her work in the creation of the "Turn Up the Vote Racine" voter engagement initiative, Kelly received the Phyllis Dresen Spirit of Democracy Award and the Racine Interfaith Coalition Outstanding Service Award. "Turn Up the Vote Racine" serves as the national template for voter engagement activities for the Gamaliel Network Foundation.
In 2017, Kelly was appointed to the Executive Board WISDOM Action Network Political Action Committee, serving as State Treasurer. Kelly has represented Turn Up the Vote Racine on the Racine Interfaith Coalition Board of Directors and provided community and social media engagement services to this local, non-profit organization.
Kelly is currently a volunteer for the Wisconsin Prison Mindfulness Initiative (WPMI) at the Racine Correctional Institution. WPMI serves to promote mindfulness practices for people who are incarcerated and the use of mindfulness as a tool for healing, harm reduction and public safety.
In 2023, Kelly ran for Mount Pleasant Village President winning 48% of the vote as a first time candidate. Kelly's campaign received the endorsements of UAW Local 180, SE Wisconsin Building Trades Council of the AFL-CIO, Racine Education Association, Fair Wisconsin, Wisconsin Conservation Voters and Planned Parenthood.
Kelly has appeared in Rolling Stone, Atlantic Monthly, Reason, Washington Post, the Guardian, Chicago Tribune, New Yorker Magazine, the Verge, Think Progress, Salon, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Additionally, interviews with Kelly have been featured on the NPR series Fresh Air, NBC Nightly News, Wisconsin Public Radio and Gimlet Media's Reply All podcast.
Kelly lives in Mount Pleasant with her husband, and has one daughter. Kelly is an avid gardener, a wayward jewelry artist and a novice meditator.
AWARDS
YWCA Woman of Distinction
Phyllis Dresen Spirit of Democracy Award
DPRC Democrat of the Year
Racine Interfaith Coalition: Outstanding Service Award
Racine Educators Association::Education Supporter Award
Certificate of Congressional Recognition - Fine Arts
BACKGROUND
Education - Bradley University B.A. Studio Art/Painting
Owner/Partner - Great Elk Products & High Horse Mobile Bar
Associate Curator of Education - Wustum Museum of Fine Art
Artist In Residence
Art Educator - Wustum/RUSD
Community Engagement Coordinator - Yes! For Our Children's Future Campaign Committee
POLITICAL TRAINING
Wellstone Action Boot Camp
WISDOM/EXPO
Gamaliel Network
Wisconsin State Voices
WisDems Candidate Training
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Democratic Party of Racine County
2006 — Present
Social Media Engagement & Website Design — 2023
Candidate for Mount Pleasant Village President — 2023
Biden GOTV Canvass Trainer — 2020
Binger for District Attorney Campaign Communication Chair — 2016
Clinton Campaign Volunteer Trainer — 2016
DPRC Annual Banquet Co-Chair — 2015
Mary Burke Volunteer & GOTV Trainer — 2014
Election Staging Location Captain — June 2012 & November 2012
Recall Election Core Team Captain & Volunteer Trainer — 2011
President Obama Town Hall Ticket Distribution — 2008
Obama Team Captain & Volunteer Trainer — 2008 & 2012
Campaign Staff Housing Host — 2008
Senator Obama Primary Town Hall Ticket Distribution — 2008
Mason for Assembly Volunteer — 2006
Wisconsin Prison Mindfulness Initiative Facilitator 2022 — Present
American Association of University Women — Racine Branch
Member 2021 — Present
Member, Exec Board 1996 — 2011
WISDOM Action Network
State Treasurer — 2018
Racine Heritage Ball, Racine
Mistress of Ceremonies 2016 — 2018
Racine Unified School District Diversity & Equity School Choice & Preference Task Force — 2016
A Better Mt. Pleasant
Organizer and Spokesperson
2015 — 2023
YES for Our Children’s Future Campaign Committee — Community
Engagement Coordinator — 2014
Racine Interfaith Coalition
Board Member
Community Engagement Coordinator
Task Force Chair
2012 — 2018
Racine Activist Network
Administrator 2011 — Present
Turn Up the VOTE Racine (TUTV)
Creator & Coordinator 2011 — 2017
Racine Family Literacy of Racine
Board Member 2011 — 2014
Wisconsin Election Protection Board
Racine Area Representative 2011 — 2012
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Management (ADAM) Drug Court Program
Board Member — 2011
NAACP — Racine Branch
At-Large Member of the Executive Committee 2010 — 2011
Wisconsin Network for Peace & Justice
State Board 2010 — 2011
Community for Change
Lead Organizer 2008 — 2016
Kenosha Racine Milwaukee (KRM) Commuter Rail
Task Force Member — 2007
Victory in Peace Gang Diversion Program — Artist in Residence
City of Racine Main Gallery — Artist in Residence
Great Midwest Dragon Boat Race — Board Member
Families with Children from China — Coordinator
Education - Bradley University B.A. Studio Art/Painting
Owner/Partner - Great Elk Products & High Horse Mobile Bar
Associate Curator of Education - Wustum Museum of Fine Art
Artist In Residence
Art Educator - Wustum/RUSD
Community Engagement Coordinator - Yes! For Our Children's Future Campaign Committee
POLITICAL TRAINING
Wellstone Action Boot Camp
WISDOM/EXPO
Gamaliel Network
Wisconsin State Voices
WisDems Candidate Training
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Democratic Party of Racine County
2006 — Present
Social Media Engagement & Website Design — 2023
Candidate for Mount Pleasant Village President — 2023
Biden GOTV Canvass Trainer — 2020
Binger for District Attorney Campaign Communication Chair — 2016
Clinton Campaign Volunteer Trainer — 2016
DPRC Annual Banquet Co-Chair — 2015
Mary Burke Volunteer & GOTV Trainer — 2014
Election Staging Location Captain — June 2012 & November 2012
Recall Election Core Team Captain & Volunteer Trainer — 2011
President Obama Town Hall Ticket Distribution — 2008
Obama Team Captain & Volunteer Trainer — 2008 & 2012
Campaign Staff Housing Host — 2008
Senator Obama Primary Town Hall Ticket Distribution — 2008
Mason for Assembly Volunteer — 2006
Wisconsin Prison Mindfulness Initiative Facilitator 2022 — Present
American Association of University Women — Racine Branch
Member 2021 — Present
Member, Exec Board 1996 — 2011
WISDOM Action Network
State Treasurer — 2018
Racine Heritage Ball, Racine
Mistress of Ceremonies 2016 — 2018
Racine Unified School District Diversity & Equity School Choice & Preference Task Force — 2016
A Better Mt. Pleasant
Organizer and Spokesperson
2015 — 2023
YES for Our Children’s Future Campaign Committee — Community
Engagement Coordinator — 2014
Racine Interfaith Coalition
Board Member
Community Engagement Coordinator
Task Force Chair
2012 — 2018
Racine Activist Network
Administrator 2011 — Present
Turn Up the VOTE Racine (TUTV)
Creator & Coordinator 2011 — 2017
Racine Family Literacy of Racine
Board Member 2011 — 2014
Wisconsin Election Protection Board
Racine Area Representative 2011 — 2012
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Management (ADAM) Drug Court Program
Board Member — 2011
NAACP — Racine Branch
At-Large Member of the Executive Committee 2010 — 2011
Wisconsin Network for Peace & Justice
State Board 2010 — 2011
Community for Change
Lead Organizer 2008 — 2016
Kenosha Racine Milwaukee (KRM) Commuter Rail
Task Force Member — 2007
Victory in Peace Gang Diversion Program — Artist in Residence
City of Racine Main Gallery — Artist in Residence
Great Midwest Dragon Boat Race — Board Member
Families with Children from China — Coordinator