She has volunteered at her children's schools. She has volunteered with the Wauwatosa Public Library. She has volunteered with the Wauwatosa Health Department. She has volunteered with the Wauwatosa Sustainability Committee. And Katherine Riebe's list of volunteer accomplishments includes helping to spearhead the city's Black History Month celebrations for the past decade.
Now, Riebe is being recognized for her many years of volunteer service, as the recipient of the 2025 Wauwatosa Distinguished Citizen Award.
"Katherine’s commitment to Wauwatosa is extraordinary and broadly known," the Distinguished Citizen Award Council said in its announcement. "Beyond her significant hours of volunteerism, she also is a community bridge-builder creating trust and relationships with people from all backgrounds. She exemplifies humility, looks out for others and gets things done."
The annual award will be presented to Riebe on June 3 at a banquet and ceremony to be held at the Blue Mound Golf and Country Club. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m., and tickets are $90 per person. Reservations can be made at the Wauwatosa City Clerk's Office.
The Distinguished Citizen Award has been given out since 1964 and honors people "who have made significant voluntary contributions to community life in Wauwatosa to make this city such a great place to live."
Nominees need not be Tosa residents, though they should have demonstrated contributions to community life without receiving compensation for those contributions — in other words, as a volunteer and not as part of a paid job. Also, elected officials are not eligible during their term in office.
Riebe's two children attended west-side schools, and she was active in the PTA at Whitman Middle School and Tosa West High School. She also pushed the school district to add equity advocates to the staffs at each of the city's schools, according to the news release, and she was a member of RACE, the first parent support group for Black and Brown students.
At the library, she has supported programming that reflects the community's cultural diversity, and at the health department, she has participated in numerous community initiatives and currently serves on the city's Board of Health.
"She was a key leader in the Tosa Talks series to educate our community about anti-racism efforts in schools, government, healthcare, housing, small business and more," the Distinguished Citizen Award Council said. On the Wauwatosa Sustainability Committee, Riebe is helping to promote policies that keep the city government focused on environmental initiatives and conservation.
"Katherine chooses to give the gifts of time and attention to our community. She embodies leadership that leads to lasting change," the council said.
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