Mayor visited Rufus King festival because a student took initiative
Photo by MPS
When one Rufus King International High School graduate looks over the accomplishments of his senior year, he can include getting the mayor of Milwaukee to attend the school’s Ethnic Fest.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson came to King International High School to watch student dance and drum performances, sample cultural foods, greet students, and sit down for a recorded interview with Usher Williams, who used the footage to make a video of the daylong annual event.
Williams, the senior who invited the mayor, already has his own business. Its name, Usher Williams Photography, was emblazoned in white on the back of the black shirt he wore to Ethnic Fest. He also works for another photography and videography company, and he has two mentors in the business.
Williams had crossed paths with the mayor before, while working on videography projects. He decided to reach out to the mayor’s team to invite him to Ethnic Fest, telling them about the performances and food and cultural booths staffed by students. Williams also shared that he thought Johnson, as a black mayor of Milwaukee, would be inspiring to the diverse student body at King.
“I think that’s what really captured his attention,” Williams said.
The mayor, who is an MPS alumnus, made the circuit in the King gymnasium after viewing performances for Ethnic Fest by dancers and drummers. Johnson, who was accompanied by city staff members including Daniel Bauman, community engagement liaison and a Rufus King graduate, called Ethnic Fest the highlight of his day.
“I enjoyed Ethnic Fest from top to bottom,” Johnson said in his interview with Williams.
At tables around the perimeter of the gym, Johnson visited with students from Latinos Unidos, German Club, Black Student Union, and more. All student groups at King can take part in Ethnic Fest, and all King students get a chance during the day to visit the festival, where food is sold, including tamales, egg rolls, crepes, German pretzels, and horchata, a beverage made from rice.
“This is part of our spirit at Rufus King, to support each other on this day,” said Principal Doreen Badillo. Ethnic Fest is a longtime tradition at the high school and has taken place since at least 1999, she said.
Williams, whose video of the March 31 festival now is posted on the school’s Facebook page and elsewhere, became interested in videography when he was a freshman, after the pandemic struck. He took part while his uncle was live streaming church services for people quarantining at home.
One week, when his uncle was called away on an emergency, he gave Williams a quick lesson in how to operate the live stream. Williams kept returning, and when the operator of PWR FWD Media saw how excited Williams was about videography, he offered him a job.
Williams plans to attend Florida A&M University in the fall, majoring in business. Photography and videography will be his minor since, he noted, he’s already familiar with the basics.
Rufus King High School is located at 1801 W. Olive St., Milwaukee, 53209.
