Ethan & Val Tonn
People and relationships have always been important to Ethan and Val Tonn. They moved to Wisconsin Rapids in 2011 because of the connection they felt with the people in the community. While neither Tonn is a south Wood County native, Val began teaching at Lincoln High School in the fall of 2008. When the couple married, they moved to Sun Prairie, only to return one year later.
“The choice of coming back to Wisconsin Rapids had a lot to do with the people,” the couple said. “The relationships we had made and the lifestyle we wanted to live really made Rapids a place we thought we could be happy calling home.”
Much like their decision to live in Wisconsin Rapids, both Ethan and Val attribute their participation in the Tribune Building Project to people. They found the idea that residents would be involved in the decisions unique, and they feel a great sense of optimism and rebirth in the community as a result.
“It takes a group of people who truly have a solid vision of inclusivity to hold a resident-led decision-making process. This is not a norm in any business or organization, and the focus of educating while being productive took the facilitation of a group of people willing to risk what was—or had always been—to create what could be,” they shared. “Not being from the area, it is tough to really feel a part of a community, yet through these meetings, interacting with other residents, and networking with great people, we have found a much more well-rounded feeling of ‘home’.”
The connections Ethan and Val made throughout the Tribune process inspired their involvement in other community activities, events, and organizations, as well. Val worked with Incourage on the Creative Placemaking grant that Incourage received for the Tribune from ArtPlace America, and Ethan is part of the Incourage Resident Review Committee, reviewing “What If” grant applications and more.
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