Staff

Gabrielle Charles, Interim Executive Director

Gabrielle was born and raised in Milwaukee and is a proud product of MPS. Growing up watching her community struggle to navigate unjust challenges and traumas fuels her lifelong drive to build a more equitable and healed society.

Gabrielle joined the PLC Board of Directors in 2022 and became Board President in early 2024. She has worked in Community Development and Engagement for over 10 years, most recently leading Financial Stability and Commercial Corridor Revitalization initiatives as Program Officer at LISC Milwaukee. She has also worked at organizations like Milwaukee Community Justice Council, Southside Organizing Center, and the Peace Corps.

To Gabrielle, peace is not the absence of conflict, but rather, the ability to find the calm and clarity necessary to communicate in a healthy manner when conflict arises.

Chelsea Muench, Program Manager and Facilitator

Chelsea Muench is an avid cyclist, real estate agent and mother. After managing bars in Austin, TX for a decade, she came back home to the Riverwest neighborhood of Milwaukee and is a graduate of UWM’s Peck School of the Arts with a major in vocal music. She is always looking for new ways to nurture herself and others and focuses strongly on body sense, yoga and meditation. She believes it’s never too early for a human to learn these valuable skills. In addition to being a PLC Facilitator, she also is an Executive Administrative Assistant.

Email: Chelsea@plcmke.org

George Wortz, Curriculum Specialist and Facilitator

George is a native of Milwaukee, an MPS alum, and has lived, learned, played and worked here his whole life. He has been a part of the Peace Learning Center for over 20 years in various capacities, and has a deep, heartfelt passion for peace making and nonviolent communication. He is also an activist for social justice and has worked with activists and been a part of nonviolent actions across the country.

George is a member of the Milwaukee Quaker community and is the director and Lead Teacher for the Quaker Sunday school program and Director of Milwaukee Peacemakers camp, a summer day camp for children. He is husband to his marvelous wife Megan and Father to two brilliant boys, Everett and Eden. He is an active volunteer at his kids school and coaches multiple teams within MKE REC and Redcats Baseball league. From public and private schools to Boys and Girls clubs, sports coaching and camps, George has taught, mentored and inspired thousands of children in the Milwaukee area.

Karen Rinka, Facilitator

Karen Rinka is a proud retired MPS Educator after 36 years of teaching. Karen grew up in the Milwaukee area and even as a kid she promoted Peace and Justice. She was a young activist attending rallies where Vel Phillips spoke, walking the Hunger Hike, protesting for fair migrant conditions, and other human rights causes. She is a UW-Eau Claire alumni and has a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University. After college Karen moved to Virginia and taught in Norfolk Public schools for 10 years then moved back to Milwaukee to dedicate herself to the students and families of Milwaukee Public Schools. She taught 26 years for the district, both special education and regular education grades 1-8. Throughout her career working with kids, promoting peace and kind gestures has always been a significant part of her teachings and modeling. She has coached and worked as an Athletic Director promoting teamwork and cooperation through sports. Now retired, in her spare time she likes to run, cycle, keep up with the news, spend time with her pets and continues to be an activist.