Author: Lee Matz

After celebrating its birthday and 178-year history on January 25, the City of Milwaukee began a new chapter of international friendship and cooperation on January 26 with Kragujevac, a city in the heart of Serbia’s Šumadija region. Separated by continents yet united by shared aspirations, both cities formalized their bond as Sister Cities at the agreement signing ceremony. Kragujevac became Milwaukee’s 7th Sister City after Abuja, Nigeria in December, and 2nd after Zadar, Croatia to have been part of the former Yugoslavia. The historic event was witnessed by a gathering of city officials, leaders from the local Serbian American...

I accepted photojournalism assignments with connections in Milwaukee to some of the most volatile places in the world last year. In the moments when I could step back from the trauma and clear my mind, I often found those brief moments of solitude in ancient places of worship. At the core of all the “Great Faiths” is the concept of treating others with kindness and respect. Regardless of the expression, ritual, language, or belief, in my experience – it all comes down to love. And so I always find it calming to visit any place built for a community...