Rooted and Rising- Washington Park hosted its sixth annual Chili Fest and Family Resource Fair on Friday, Oct. 10. The savory smell of spices emanated from the Community Room at 3910 W. Lisbon Ave. as more than 20 chili chefs competed in both the meat, vegan and vegetarian divisions.

Rooted and Rising has been working in the Washington Park neighborhood of Milwaukee for more than 35 years.

“We like to bring people together for fun, family-friendly activities that can allow people to relax a little bit and enjoy themselves,” said William Schmitt, executive director at Rooted and Rising- Washington Park.

Max Arneson,16, eats several bowls of chili. Arenson was among 23 contestants who tasted and then voted for their favorite bowls.

Tressie Sneed stirs a slow cooker full of her homemade beef chili.

An attendee is served a bowl of chili topped with shredded cheese.

Carnell Hogans serves a cup of his “Medium Black” vegan chili, made with a blend of seasonings, chickpeas, kidney and black beans.

Children run and play while adult attendees eat chili made by community members and staff of Rooted and Rising- Washington Park. The residents came together to compete and share their recipes with the residents of the Washington Park neighborhood during the sixth annual Chili Fest and Family Resource Fair.

Keviontay Watkins, age 10, decorates a pumpkin with stickers.

Decorated pumpkins are placed on tables during the Rooted and Rising- Washington Park Chili Fest and Family Resource Fair.

“We’re committed to this neighborhood, and we like to do our part to bring people together. Food is always a great vehicle to do that, especially when it’s free.” William Schmitt

William Schmitt, executive director of Rooted and Rising, talks to contestants.

Attendees are served bowls of chili by contestants. Attendees had more than 20 chili options to chose from, including meat, vegetarian and vegan styles.

An attendee prepares to eat two different types of homemade chilis.

Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.

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Rooted and Rising heats up Washington Park with annual Chili Fest

by Jonathan Aguilar / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / CatchLight Local, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
October 14, 2025

<h1>Rooted and Rising heats up Washington Park with annual Chili Fest</h1>
<p class="byline">by Jonathan Aguilar / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / CatchLight Local, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service <br />October 14, 2025</p>

<p>Rooted and Rising- Washington Park hosted its sixth annual Chili Fest and Family Resource Fair on Friday, Oct. 10. The savory smell of spices emanated from the Community Room at 3910 W. Lisbon Ave. as more than 20 chili chefs competed in both the meat, vegan and vegetarian divisions.</p>
<p>Rooted and Rising has been working in the Washington Park neighborhood of Milwaukee for more than 35 years. </p>
<p>"We like to bring people together for fun, family-friendly activities that can allow people to relax a little bit and enjoy themselves," said William Schmitt, executive director at Rooted and Rising- Washington Park.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_2989-1024x681.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-133276" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Max Arneson,16, eats several bowls of chili. Arenson was among 23 contestants who tasted and then voted for their favorite bowls.</figcaption></figure>
<div class="wp-block-columns alignwide">
<div class="wp-block-column" style="flex-basis:25%">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_3014-1024x681.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-133278" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tressie Sneed stirs a slow cooker full of her homemade beef chili.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-column" style="flex-basis:50%">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_3006-1024x681.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-133275" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An attendee is served a bowl of chili topped with shredded cheese.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-column" style="flex-basis:25%">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_3106-1024x681.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-133279" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Carnell Hogans serves a cup of his "Medium Black" vegan chili, made with a blend of seasonings, chickpeas, kidney and black beans.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_3268-1024x681.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-133282" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Children run and play while adult attendees eat chili made by community members and staff of Rooted and Rising- Washington Park. The residents came together to compete and share their recipes with the residents of the Washington Park neighborhood during the sixth annual Chili Fest and Family Resource Fair.</figcaption></figure>
<div class="wp-block-columns alignwide">
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_3175-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-133281" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Keviontay Watkins, age 10, decorates a pumpkin with stickers.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_3144-1024x681.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-133284" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Decorated pumpkins are placed on tables during the Rooted and Rising- Washington Park Chili Fest and Family Resource Fair.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-columns alignwide is-not-stacked-on-mobile">
<div class="wp-block-column" style="flex-basis:33.33%">
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<figure class="wp-block-pullquote has-text-align-right">
<blockquote>
<p>“We’re committed to this neighborhood, and we like to do our part to bring people together. Food is always a great vehicle to do that, especially when it's free."</p>
<p><cite>William Schmitt</cite></p></blockquote>
</figure>
</blockquote></div>
<div class="wp-block-column" style="flex-basis:66.66%">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_3241-1024x681.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-133280" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">William Schmitt, executive director of Rooted and Rising, talks to contestants.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-columns alignwide">
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_3090-1024x681.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-133289" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Attendees are served bowls of chili by contestants. Attendees had more than 20 chili options to chose from, including meat, vegetarian and vegan styles.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
<div class="wp-block-column">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_3303-1024x681.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-133288" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An attendee prepares to eat two different types of homemade chilis.</figcaption></figure>
</p></div>
</p></div>
<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img src="https://milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_3042-1024x819.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-133274" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jayden Cash, 6, enjoys a bowl of chili. </figcaption></figure>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
<p><em>Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between&nbsp;</em><a href="https://www.catchlight.io/local"><em>CatchLight Local&nbsp;</em></a><em>and&nbsp;</em><a href="https://www.reportforamerica.org/"><em>Report for America</em></a><em>.</em></p></p>
<p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://milwaukeenns.org/2025/10/14/rooted-and-rising-heats-up-washington-park-with-annual-chili-fest/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://milwaukeenns.org&quot;&gt;Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/milwaukeenns.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cropped-NNS-Favicon.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;</p>
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Rooted and Rising heats up Washington Park with annual Chili Fest

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