It's the ninth year of La Crosse Soup, and director Josh Court joins to break down just how this "crowd funding on steroids," local version of Shark Tank actually works. It begins at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Rivoli, downtown, where community members are welcome to come, donate $5, get a bowl of soup and hear pitches from four groups in how they'd make La Crosse a better place to live. Those four groups and their pitches are: 

La Crosse Area Family Y

This project aims to upgrade the kitchen at the Community Youth Center with modern equipment and improved storage, creating a safer and more functional space for preparing nutritious meals and snacks. The kitchen will serve as a hands-on learning environment where youth can gain essential life skills in cooking and nutrition while also providing consistent, family-style meals that support their physical, emotional, and social well-being.Their desired amount is $2,000. This will be used to purchase new kitchen equipment, including countertop appliances, silverware, knife sets, dishware, and cooking tools. Any extra funds will support baking and cooking ingredients and programming for various youth clubs.

The Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation (PFFWCF).

The PFFWCF will host a Mental Health Peer Support Training in La Crosse from June 4-6, 2025, aimed at equipping local firefighters with essential skills to address mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and self-harm. The training will enable participants to provide peer support, recognize behavioral health warning signs, and guide colleagues to professional resources.The desired amount is $2,500. The money will cover participation costs for 10 La Crosse-area firefighters, contributing to a healthier and more resilient first responder workforce.

La Crosse Robotics 

They aim to teach high school students essential skills through participation in the First Robotics Competition, where they build robots and collaborate with other teams to complete challenges. 

This project focuses on developing engineering, communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills among students. Their desired amount is $2,000, and it will be used to build the robot and enhance advertising efforts, particularly by improving the team's competition pits to foster connections with other teams and streamline workflow.

The Diaspora Project

The Diaspora Project aims to retell American history through the perspectives of minorities, immigrants, and refugees, empowering minority writers to document their communities' experiences. Currently focused on Hmong experiences during the Secret War and American resettlement, the project plans to expand to include other minority groups in La Crosse, collaborating with the La Crosse County Historical Societyand the La Crosse Tribune to produce a book, exhibit, and op-eds. Funding will help diversify the narrative of American history, foster understanding and appreciation of diverse communities, and empower local minority writers to share their unique perspectives. The project is expected to be completed within 12 months, with final delivery in December 2025.Their desired amount is $2,500 and will be allocated for research and story collection, writer development, publication or exhibit creation, outreach and promotion, and administrative costs

It's the ninth year of La Crosse Soup, and director Josh Court joins to break down just how this "crowd funding on steroids," local version of Shark Tank actually works. It begins at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Rivoli, downtown, where community members are welcome to come, donate $5, get a bowl of soup and hear pitches from four groups in how they'd make La Crosse a better place to live. Those four groups and their pitches are:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/laxymca?__cft__[0]=AZV340NT_8TwgnOytBiM1Pyu-CpKmRRRJYwIabLzGjv1yiZHChd3vi5FW1YSUWXLZdmGSE3fqDu5DIbo0ABDJ1TUVr_WFQbg6gEidhQxPK-8zh58UUzDbWXI-6vaBwOi4BXgUupUbq3XBdx3r2bRKBasomiQXAxew1jaHxW8o61aVacJOOHJZPAj1ng1p6nPo4o&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">La Crosse Area Family Y</a>
This project aims to upgrade the kitchen at the Community Youth Center with modern equipment and improved storage, creating a safer and more functional space for preparing nutritious meals and snacks. The kitchen will serve as a hands-on learning environment where youth can gain essential life skills in cooking and nutrition while also providing consistent, <a></a>family-style meals that support their physical, emotional, and social well-being.Their desired amount is $2,000. This will be used to purchase new kitchen equipment, including countertop appliances, silverware, knife sets, dishware, and cooking tools. Any extra funds will support baking and cooking ingredients and programming for various youth clubs.
The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ProfessionalFireFightersofWI?__cft__[0]=AZViwL15bVsGVzkAC8Lpe823qIL6LufrX0YWujfsTZbLp1b8BIkHwYzrmYuLru5xYMIVZLSVa5NbN3-80G0TPCl1Im7J3U0j7S7dmqXiAEJNNspA6lQo56jTg_6Je6ipKhxDpYqwISFsozKv3uNXd9FxIq38Wz8b1wBMqSnuVDubbpsqqYnIqlzU5F4Y-k9PlJY&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin</a> Charitable Foundation (PFFWCF).
The PFFWCF will host a Mental Health Peer Support Training in La Crosse from June 4-6, 2025, aimed at equipping local firefighters with essential skills to address mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and self-harm. The training will enable participants to provide peer support, recognize behavioral health warning signs, and guide colleagues to&nbsp;<a></a>professional resources.The desired amount is $2,500. The money will cover participation costs for 10 La Crosse-area firefighters, contributing to a healthier and more resilient first responder workforce.
La Crosse Robotics 
They aim to teach high school students essential skills through participation in the First Robotics Competition, where they build robots and collaborate with other teams to complete challenges.&nbsp;
This project focuses on developing engineering, communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills among students. Their desired amount is $2,000, and it will be used to build the robot and enhance advertising efforts,&nbsp;<a></a>particularly by improving the team's competition pits to foster connections with other teams and streamline workflow.
The Diaspora Project
The Diaspora Project aims to retell American history through the perspectives of minorities, immigrants, and refugees, empowering minority writers to document their communities' experiences. Currently focused on Hmong experiences during the Secret War and American resettlement, the project plans to expand to include other minority groups in La Crosse, collaborating with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/lacrosse.history?__cft__[0]=AZVtwwgtKQEgmNp16Sf8mwDQOpvajS0lzRT5Dj1XwVzE-MqxGi2JY4xd1VZfbfKIo93oF2NwAdrE0jnfFDLoh82j9TD7fSIBBmphG3dgTCXXWQ-1JUkQWqShkkst_AhtH38JDEjK3-27CDn7A9r35Bdkgfz2nyVfXCYKAcvDPpGX1_U3wDlTiE2rKKpq2e2RY14&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">La Crosse County Historical Society</a> <a></a>and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lacrossetribune?__cft__[0]=AZVtwwgtKQEgmNp16Sf8mwDQOpvajS0lzRT5Dj1XwVzE-MqxGi2JY4xd1VZfbfKIo93oF2NwAdrE0jnfFDLoh82j9TD7fSIBBmphG3dgTCXXWQ-1JUkQWqShkkst_AhtH38JDEjK3-27CDn7A9r35Bdkgfz2nyVfXCYKAcvDPpGX1_U3wDlTiE2rKKpq2e2RY14&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">La Crosse Tribune</a> to produce a book, exhibit, and op-eds. Funding will help diversify the narrative of American history, foster understanding and appreciation of diverse communities, and empower local minority writers to share their unique perspectives. The project is expected to be completed within 12 months, with final delivery in December 2025.Their desired amount is $2,500 and will be allocated for research and story collection, writer development, publication or exhibit creation, outreach and promotion, and administrative costs

WIZM's LaCrosse Talk. News and talk about the issues of the day for Western Wisconsin.

WIZM's LaCrosse Talk. News and talk about the issues of the day for Western Wisconsin.

WIZM - La Crosse  Talk Interviews

WIZM’s La Crosse Talk brings you the voices shaping Western Wisconsin.
Broadcast live weekday mornings on WIZM News Talk 92.3 FM, 106.7 FM, 1410 AM, and streaming at wizmnews.com and on the WIZM app, La Crosse Talk dives into the headlines, local politics, community issues, and conversations that matter most to listeners in the Coulee Region. Hosted as part of the La Crosse Talk Morning Show, each episode features in-depth interviews with newsmakers, elected officials, experts, and everyday citizens offering real perspectives on the events and decisions impacting La Crosse and surrounding communities. Whether it's breaking news, civic discussions, or community stories, La Crosse Talk keeps you informed and connected to the place you call home.

WIZM&rsquo;s La Crosse Talk brings you the voices shaping Western Wisconsin. Broadcast live weekday mornings on WIZM News Talk 92.3 FM, 106.7 FM, 1410 AM, and streaming at <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/">wizmnews.com</a> and on the WIZM app, La Crosse Talk dives into the headlines, local politics, community issues, and conversations that matter most to listeners in the Coulee Region. Hosted as part of the La Crosse Talk Morning Show, each episode features in-depth interviews with newsmakers, elected officials, experts, and everyday citizens offering real perspectives on the events and decisions impacting La Crosse and surrounding communities.&nbsp;Whether it's breaking news, civic discussions, or community stories, La Crosse Talk keeps you informed and connected to the place you call home.