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As universal free school meals end, are Wisconsin families ready for it? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Erin Gretzinger / Wisconsin Watch
August 14, 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic forced students to pack up their bags and switch from whiteboards to laptops.
Empty schools meant empty cafeterias.
Until the pandemic, Jana Goodman, a mother of three and longtime resident of Waukesha, Wisconsin, never used free school lunches. Even though she said her family was always “one broken down car away from a disaster,” her only school-age child at the time, Jacob, did not qualify for free and reduced meals.
Then the pandemic sent the Goodmans’ finances into a tailspin. After 15 years in the medical field as an administrative employee, she was furloughed for most of the summer in 2020. Her husband, who works three jobs, saw income from his most profitable gig as a DJ plummet as people stayed home. To hold onto their house and to build a strong financial base for their children’s future, the Goodmans used any assistance they could to stay afloat.
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“The free meals was a huge one, because it may not seem like it day to day, but lunch money adds up,” Goodman said, adding that the family continued picking up the meals through the summer of 2021.
Roughly 1 in 5 children face food insecurity in Wisconsin. For other families like the Goodmans already struggling to pay their bills before the pandemic, the situation quickly became dire.
Schools quickly pivoted to fill the gap thanks to federal waivers that allowed districts to run more flexible food service programs. One key waiver permitted schools to opt into federal programs normally restricted by income-based eligibility, allowing them to serve free meals to all students.
The Seamless Summer Option, along with similar federal programs, gave schools, even those meeting virtually, the ability to provide free meals for all students during the pandemic.
What started out as an emergency relief provision has since turned into a nationwide experiment — one testing the benefits and costs of offering universal free meals to an unprecedented number of U.S. students, regardless of family income.
In recent months, universal free meals have garnered approval from schools, anti-hunger advocates and legislators across Wisconsin who argue that breakfast and lunch — like textbooks — should be available at no cost to any K-12 student.
But the federal waiver that permitted universal free school meals expired June 30, and legislation to extend or permanently implement a free meals program has stalled at the state and federal level, leaving an uncertain future for free school meals in Wisconsin.
And some elected officials here strongly object to the idea. The School District of Waukesha, where Goodman’s son attends school, became the epicenter of that debate nationally, when for a brief time it was the only district in Wisconsin to reject free meals for all.
In 2019, 39% of children qualified for free or reduced lunch across the 424 Wisconsin school districts participating in U.S. Department of Agriculture’s child nutrition programs, according to the state Department of Public Instruction. The abrupt halt to school lunches during the pandemic was a blow to many of these families who relied on those meals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Judi Bartfeld said the number of food insecure children across the country grew during the first year of the pandemic — and in Wisconsin, that number was already higher than the national average. Bartfeld called school meals “clearly an area where more can be done.”
For the 2021-22 school year, every school in the state — except briefly, Waukesha — chose to offer universal free meals through the Seamless Summer Option, said Karrie Isaacson, the school nutrition assistant director for the state Department of Public Instruction.
The only exceptions were low-income districts, schools and other child care institutions already providing free meals through other federal programs such as the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). That includes Milwaukee Public Schools and most private and charter schools in Wisconsin’s biggest city, and several Madison public schools.
Bartfeld said universal free meals help struggling families because they do not have to qualify or fill out paperwork. The result is more children eating at school, kids being less likely to skip breakfast and some improvement in school attendance, she said.
Following the expansion of free meals during the pandemic, DPI nutrition consultant Kirsten Homstad said schools cited a decrease in administrative burdens since they did not have to keep track of students’ free or reduced status.
Said Bartfeld, “It frees up their (schools’) own resources from having to be gatekeepers and lets them just feed the kids and really treat food just like anything else that you get as part of the school day.”
It also addressed the issue of unpaid lunch funds. About three-quarters of the school districts in the national School Nutrition Association 2019 report said they had unpaid student meal debt.
Free meals also help reduce “lunch shaming.” One example is alternative cheaper meals, like cheese sandwiches, that students are sometimes given when the money in their school meal account runs out.
After getting a trial run during the pandemic, Isaacson said there is broad support in Wisconsin schools to continue free meals for all. UW-Madison historian Andrew Ruis said this isn’t surprising.
“Significant emergencies like the Great Depression (and) the COVID-19 pandemic often change people’s views about what is possible from a social or political standpoint,” Ruis said. “I think there’s a real chance that universal school meals will be realized on a broader scale than they currently are.”
But Isaacson said funding is the main barrier to a permanent free meals program.
For all food service programs, federal funds only reimburse the cost of meals served to students eligible for free meals. This means schools must pay for the costs, such as labor and food, above the provided federal assistance, which Bartfeld said can make it difficult for schools to take advantage of federal programs, even free meal programs like CEP.
Wisconsin’s proposed Healthy School Meals for All Act seeks to fill in the gap by providing additional state funds to reimburse schools that offer free meals to all students. Assembly Bill 805 was introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature in January, co-authored by Rep. Kristina Shelton, D-Green Bay, Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, and 28 other Assembly Democrats.
The bill also incentivizes schools, public and private, to participate in both the federal breakfast and lunch programs in exchange for guaranteed full reimbursement for all free meals served.
National school meal program expert Jennifer Gaddis said higher participation rates could drive down costs for schools by lowering the cost per meal of production.
Still, the total cost of the bill is uncertain, according to a fiscal estimate from the DPI.
The legislation already has a statewide campaign called Healthy School for All Wisconsin and is supported by 50 school, church and charitable organizations across the state.
While the measure did not make it out of committee this session, Hong — who calls free meals a “no brainer” —  said the bill’s journey is far from over. The same could be said about the larger debate over whether to provide free meals for all students regardless of income.
The Waukesha’s school district was the only one in Wisconsin to opt out of the Seamless Summer Option for the 2021-22 school year. Initially, the Board of Education voted 9-0 to revert to the National School Lunch Program, which provides free and reduced lunch to students based on income eligibility.
The Alliance for Education in Waukesha led the charge to change the vote, drafting press releases, hosting rallies and generating local and national media attention, which prompted threats against some board members and spurred media inquiries from as far away as Moscow.
Dave Dringenburg, a member of the Alliance and a father of two daughters in the district, said the board’s decision was out of touch with the community, where nearly one-third of the district’s 11,766 students qualified for free or reduced lunch in 2019.
After the board’s decision hit the national news, former member Greg Deets said he received at least 500 emails from around the world. Deet’s original rationale behind opting out of free meals was the dropping COVID-19 case numbers and the ability to to return to the free meals program if need be. Other members agreed.
But what he learned in the emails changed his mind and reversed his vote. A narrow majority of the board came to the same conclusion, voting 5-4 on Aug. 30, 2021 to keep the free meal program through the 2021-22 school year.
Several board members, however, made it clear they do not support free meals for all.
At the meeting where the decision was reversed, school board member Kelly Piacsek said the SSO was “wasteful by design,” noting students who don’t need the program can’t pay for meals even if they want to. She said Waukesha should not cede its authority to the federal government,  likening the issue to the controversy over teaching young children about race and privilege.
“I believe it was important to make sure all children are fed,” said school board member Joseph Como, who voted in favor of the SSO option at the followup meeting. “I also believe that this program should not exist forever, and this board needs to make sure it does not continue forever.”
As the June 30 expiration date approached, Congress passed a bipartisan bill, Keep Kids Fed Act, which temporarily increases school meal reimbursements. But it rejected the USDA’s recommendation to extend the free meals waiver for another year.
States including Maine and California have already passed legislation to ensure free meals for all students in their state budgets. Bartfeld isn’t so hopeful here in Wisconsin, noting the “very polarized” nature of the state.
Deets may be proof of that. He lost his school board seat in the April election along with two other incumbents to three Republican-backed candidates in the officially nonpartisan race. Deets said he thinks school meals were a “piece” of the reason he was ousted.
For now, Goodman is preparing to face a school year without free meals for her two children now in school. The family finances have still not bounced back from the pandemic. And with food prices rising, she is bracing for a “scary time” of deciding between buying groceries — and paying other household bills.
The nonprofit Wisconsin Watch collaborates with WPR, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by Wisconsin Watch do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.

author: Erin Gretzinger / Wisconsin Watch


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Goodmans_01-1 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
August 13, 2022

source: news-milwaukeenns

license: Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

author: Dwayne Burtin


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Dwayne Burtin
August 13, 2022


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Dwayne Burtin
August 13, 2022


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Dwayne Burtin
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5 things to know and do this week in Milwaukee: Aug. 15 to Aug. 19 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
August 15, 2022
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
The Bronzeville Zoning Overlay Study is a set of recommendations for zoning in the Bronzeville Cultural and Entertainment District in Harambee. The goal is “to make sure future development supports the growth of Bronzeville as a cultural and entertainment destination that highlights African-American arts and culture.” See the plan here. Provide comment on the plan here through Monday, Aug. 15.
Be trained in the use of naloxone, or Narcan, and be ready to save someone’s life from opioid overdose. This training starts at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 17 at Turner Hall, located at 1034 Vel R. Phillips Ave. In case you missed it: Could new naloxone medication help stem overdose deaths in Milwaukee?
Families with children ages 2 to 8 are especially invited to come to this day of fun in Johnsons Park, with games, resources, fun in the “Wonder Wagon” and more. The event runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17 at Johnsons Park, located at 1919 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
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The city is exploring ways of removing the concrete lining around the Kinnickinnic River within Jackson Park and replacing it with a more natural environment, similar to changes at nearby Pulaski Park. Milwaukee County Parks and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Sewerage District are looking for community input on how this should be done. Learn more and provide feedback from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18 at Jackson Park Boat House, 3500 W. Forest Home Ave.
Black Lives Are Sacred MKE began in August 2020 as an organizing effort to inspire people of faith to stand up for racial justice. You can learn more about the group here or attend its two-year anniversary meetup and picnic from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18 at the intersection of North Lake and North Lincoln Memorial drives.
Several businesses and organizations are giving away free backpacks and school supplies all month. See a full list of events here.

author: Sam Woods


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Ron Smith
August 14, 2022

author: Ron Smith


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OPINION: MPS needs to be fixed now, and the mayor must lead the effort | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dan Adams
August 15, 2022
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson often talks about his goal to grow Milwaukee’s population to 1 million people.
He said it during his campaign, in his victory speech and again to a national news outfit. Recently, Milwaukee Magazine did a feature story about it.
This is a terrific, tangible objective and I love that he’s setting the bar high.
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But the mayor seems to deliberately ignore one area of public policy that stands in the way of his goal: fixing the failures at Milwaukee Public Schools that destroy the city’s ability to attract families with children and well-paying businesses to locate here.
Since 2010, Milwaukee lost 727 adult residents – not a great trend. However, during the same time period, our under-18 population fell by a staggering 16,887. That’s enough to account for almost all of Milwaukee’s overall population decline.
We simply can’t ignore the fact that Milwaukee has become hostile to children.
MPS is the glaring problem.
The district’s own enrollment data show that the slow, decade-long drain of students – about 1,000 kids per year – dramatically accelerated over the past two years.
Poll after poll show that Milwaukee residents think the city’s schools are bad and getting worse, and that they’ve lost confidence in the leadership of MPS. Families have been voting with their feet – literally – by moving from the city or sending their kids to non-district schools.
Across the country, newly elected African American mayors such as Justin Bibb in Cleveland, London Breed in San Francisco and Eric Adams in New York City are leading the charge in addressing challenges faced by their cities’ public school systems. Only some of these leaders have a direct say in their city’s schools, but each is using the authority of their offices to call attention to the need to improve educational outcomes.
That bully pulpit is no small thing. Can you imagine the impact of a Milwaukee mayor actually uttering these words: “We have to actively accelerate the pace of change inside the district. … I will consider it a failure of mine as mayor if in the next decade we don’t improve the quality of learning in our school system.”
That’s a direct quote from Mayor Bibb in Cleveland. Mayors like Bibb who already have some power over public schools are using that power to appoint reform-minded leaders to key positions.
Milwaukee’s mayor has no formal control over schools. So perhaps Mayor Johnson can instead borrow from San Francisco Mayor London Breed during her city’s recent school board recall:
“Sadly, our school board’s priorities have often been severely misplaced. During such a difficult time, the decisions we make for our children will have long term impacts. Which is why it is so important to have leadership that will tackle these challenges head on. Our kids must come first. The board’s priorities have been misplaced, and I support … parents’ call for change.”
Breed and others who don’t directly control public schools are both seeking more formal authority and supporting efforts by parents and other stakeholders to address shortcomings.
Milwaukee deserves this same kind of vocal and bold leadership on K-12 education from Mayor Johnson.
But in his first 100 days, he’s said almost nothing about the sorry state of affairs at MPS – even as the district hemorrhages thousands of students, projects hundreds of millions of dollars of deficits and posts abysmal academic results.
Regrettably, our mayor seems content to adopt the absentee, “it’s not my job” ethos of his predecessor on the issue of schools.
While Mayor Johnson promised to “practically have a cot at the Capitol” to lobby for additional state dollars to pay for police and other public services, he’s remained silent as to the fewer than 5% of MPS students currently performing at grade level.
Likewise, we haven’t heard a peep from our city’s leader about the 40,000+ Milwaukee students – nearly half of all kids left in the city – who have already fled MPS to attend schools outside the system, and are among the lowest-funded students in the state.
These children receive thousands less in school funding than their peers in MPS, totaling an annual loss to Milwaukee schools of more than $125M.
While Mayor Johnson is lobbying in Madison, he should include an ask to make sure all Milwaukee students are getting their “fair share” from the state.
Meanwhile, the MPS school board maintains a transparently hand-in-glove relationship with the teacher union. The district no longer hides the fact that it exists for the primary benefit of its employees and only secondarily to provide educational services.
The district has no plan – not even an acknowledgment – of its enormous projected budget shortfall ($350M+ over the next five years). This gap dwarfs the city’s own financial deficit.
The “it’s not my job” ethos at City Hall needs to go. Why? Because when MPS goes belly-up, the city will be on the hook, and all of Mayor Johnson’s lobbying for a sales tax increase to shore up the city budget will be for naught.
Mayor Johnson simply can’t play the Barrett playbook and ignore schools for the next decade. The district must be fixed, now, and there is no other leader with the responsibility, political ability and moral authority to do it.
We are all rooting for our new mayor and we hope he prioritizes the policies that will make his 1 million resident objective come true. And while no one can predict the future, one thing’s a sure bet: So long as families keep fleeing the sinking ship of MPS, Milwaukee’s population – and its future – will be anchored down.
Dan Adams is a Milwaukee criminal defense attorney. He appears frequently in state media as a legal and political analyst. He can be contacted at Dan@DefenseWisconsin.com

author: Dan Adams


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NNS Spotlight: How Community First MKE works to keep senior citizens housed | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
August 16, 2022
Community First MKE hopes to use projects like the 37th Street School Historical Senior Apartments, which earned it a coveted Mayor’s Design Award earlier this year, to preserve and advance neighborhoods.
The nonprofit organization, which serves senior citizens, welcomes the recognition, which came in May. Its leaders say their clients are among the city’s most vulnerable residents, and that much work needs to be done to connect them to housing.
Community First is primarily responsible for administering the City of Milwaukee’s Neighborhood Improvement Program, or NIP, a housing rehabilitation loan program for low-income homeowners that uses federal funds.
The organization emerged as a winner of one of the Mayor’s Design Awards for converting MPS’ former 37 Street School into 37th Street School Historical Senior Apartments, which are affordable apartments for older residents.
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The $13 million project, funded by low-income housing tax credits administered by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, houses 49 units of senior housing — 10 of which are reserved for veterans. The project was completed in July 2021.
“I’m proud of how Community First MKE was able to turn an eyesore into a neighborhood gem,” said Brandon Methu, Community First MKE’s board president and owner of Northernstar Companies LLC. “It’s great to see people responding to it in a synergistic way.
Community First MKE works to improve the quality of life for Milwaukee residents and their neighborhoods by offering affordable housing opportunities for individuals and families.
“Typically our families have been in their homes, between 20 and 50 years and are up to date on their mortgages and utilities. But because they’re on a fixed income, everything else is out their hands,” said Rafael Garcia, the executive director and founder of Community First MKE.
The agency helps them with repairs and upkeep.
It was founded in 2011 to serve families and neighborhoods on the North Side of Milwaukee and has since expanded throughout the city and into Wauwatosa.
The organization also prides itself on working with small minority contractors.
“We take the neighborhood handyman from the same ZIP codes that we’re serving and develop them into licensed and insured contractors,” Garcia said. “Showing them how to bid, submit invoices, helping them along the way with accounting and things like that.”
The agency hopes to use projects like the  37th Street School Historical Senior Apartments to empower residents.
“Our vision is really to take a big impactful investment like that school and then try to concentrate as many resources as possible to homeowners around there to really have a meaningful impact on the neighborhood,” Garcia said.
“We pride ourselves in being a clearinghouse agency,” he said. This means “if we can’t help someone, we at least try to send them away with some referrals to where they can get some help.”
You can learn more about Community First here.
You can donate here.

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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August 15, 2022


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August 15, 2022


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Group seeks to limit the number of years evictions remain searchable. Here’s what you need to know. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
August 17, 2022
The Wisconsin State Supreme Court is weighing a rule change that would reduce to one year the length of time that eviction records are held and are searchable.
Legal Action of Wisconsin, which filed the rule petition in March, believes the change will help reduce the harm of having an eviction on someone’s record, which impacts housing options.
The group went live on Facebook on Tuesday Aug. 9 to answer questions about the petition.
A rule petition is the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s process for making and changing court rules, according to Carmen Ayers, the housing priority coordinator at Legal Action, which provides free legal services to low-income people.
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In this case, Legal Action is petitioning to reduce the length of time eviction records are held and searchable from 20 years to one year in cases where there is no money owed.
Here are some things you should know:
Rachel Fox Armstrong, the group’s development and communications manager, said Legal Action wants to make the process of evictions fair to tenants.
“Because of eviction records, people are forced to rent poor quality housing at a more expensive price because those landlords are the only ones that’ll rent to them,” she said.
Fox Armstrong called evictions traumatizing and destabilizing events that can lead to a spiral into poverty.
Heiner Giese, an attorney for the Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin is working on a memo opposing the petition.
“While we can agree that online access to eviction records should be restricted after two years, you can’t just wipe out public records,” he said. “Records are the best indication landlords have of the type of tenant someone might be.”
Giese said that the state Supreme Court has already made changes that favor tenants.
In 2017, the Supreme Court approved a provision that says courts may not remove, for a period of 10 years, case management information from the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Program site for a civil case that is not a closed, confidential or sealed.
But if an eviction action has been dismissed and no money judgment has been docketed, the eviction can be removed from the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Program site.
Other landlords such as Danielle Zille say they don’t reject tenants based on evictions alone.
“It is just one piece of information. It doesn’t tell a full story,” she said. “We’re looking at someone’s pattern of behavior to help assess the risk of renting to that person and to understand their ability to afford the rent.”
Zille said what matters more than an eviction is someone’s job history, income and references.
Legal Action filed the petition in March. The process is now in the written comment period. This means everyone  has the opportunity to share thoughts and opinions on changing the rule. This period ends Thursday, Aug, 25.
Then Legal Action has until Sept. 8 to respond to written comments. After that, the group will find out if the issue will move into a public hearing phase.
You can mail written comments to:
Clerk of the Supreme Court
P.O. Box 1688
Madison, WI 57301
You can also send an email to Clerk@Wicourts.gov.
If you have more questions about the rule petition, you can call Legal Action at 855-947-2529 or visit its website.
Here are resources if you are worried about having an eviction on your record.
Legal Tune-up:  This is an online tool that helps users determine if they are eligible to have criminal, housing or other blemishes removed from records. LIFT Dane, a Madison-based group, created the tool.
Marquette University’s Law School crafted a document that may help. Click here to see it.
You can view the Legal Action of Wisconsin program here.


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Ron Smith
August 16, 2022


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Post From Community: Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex to permanently close as mental health redesign reaches new milestone | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Maggie Kuhn
August 17, 2022
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
The Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Behavioral Health Services (BHS) today announced the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex and Psychiatric Crisis Services (PCS), located for more than 40 years at 9455 W. Watertown Plank Road in Wauwatosa, will permanently close its doors September 9, transitioning services to the new Mental Health Emergency Center, Granite Hills Hospital and other community-based services.
The highly anticipated transition to the state-of-the-art Mental Health Emergency Center marks the next phase in the redesign of Milwaukee County’s behavioral health system, which began more than a decade ago. Significant developments include the newly-opened Granite Hills Hospital, an acute behavioral health care facility located at 1706 S. 68th Street in West Allis, and transitioning services to community partnerships, located in neighborhoods with the greatest need. This new model creates easier access to care, the expansion of crisis services and now the Mental Health Emergency Center, opening September 6 at 1525 N. 12th Street in Milwaukee, a historic public-private partnership between Milwaukee County and the area’s four health systems–Advocate Aurora Health, Ascension Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin and Froedtert Health.
“After a decade of research, community input and redesign, we are reaching the next milestone in transitioning to a national best practice model of behavioral health care,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “The redesign focused on improving access to behavioral health services and quality care in our most underserved and vulnerable communities. This is a major development in demonstrating our commitment to achieving racial and health equity and becoming the healthiest county in Wisconsin.”
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Community leaders, advocates, individuals with lived experience, stakeholders and the Milwaukee Mental Health Board contributed to the redesign process, including the transformation to a community-based system of care that is less reliant on psychiatric inpatient admissions and emergency room visits.
Milwaukee County residents can now access several community-based locations for behavioral health and crisis services in neighborhoods across the county as well as through crisis mobile response teams. Individuals and family members facing a behavioral health or co-occurring crisis can call the Crisis Line at 414-257-7222. Families with children or youth facing a crisis should call the Children’s Mobile Crisis (CMC) at 414-257-7621.
“The system redesign is part of our commitment to ensuring there is ‘No Wrong Door’ for Milwaukee County residents who want to access behavioral health services,” said Shakita LaGrant-McClain, Director, Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The goal of No Wrong Door is to serve people across their lifespan with high quality care that promotes dignity, regardless of age, race, gender or socio-economic status, with services tailored to the individual.
“‘No Wrong Door’ means that Milwaukee County residents who access one DHHS program or service can get connected to all DHHS programs and services as well as services across the continuum of care, creating easier access to quality care and assuring the care and services are driven by the person seeking help,” LaGrant-McClain added.
Over the past 10 years the redesign has reached many important milestones, including:
“If you look back through the history of behavioral health services in Milwaukee County, it’s truly amazing. We are on the cutting-edge of providing easily accessible, culturally-competent behavioral health services, which move away from inpatient and institutional care to a system based on national best practices that meet people where they are. This includes streamlined services, better access and emphasis on proven practices like holistic and trauma-informed care, stigma reduction and racial equity,” said Michael Lappen, Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Administrator.
Community Input Shapes New System of Behavioral Health Care
Milwaukee County has provided inpatient behavioral health services for more than 100 years. The soon-to-be-closed Mental Health Complex was built in 1978 to care for individuals with mental illness who, at that time, were expected to permanently reside in this facility. Since that time, best practices in care and laws have changed.
Today, the Mental Health Complex is out of date, impacting service and patients. Recognition of this spurred BHS to begin reimagining the county’s behavioral health system in 2010, with input from national experts and residents. In 2020, BHS launched an inclusive series of community conversations to shed light on challenges Milwaukee residents faced accessing behavioral health services. Overwhelmingly, residents and those with lived experience stated they wanted services closer to where they live. The feedback also pinpointed gaps and barriers across behavioral health programs and services that are being addressed with the redesign.
“The closure of the Mental Health Complex follows several years of careful analysis, planning and public-private cooperation and shows that Milwaukee County has made tremendous progress toward its goal of transforming the behavioral health system,” said Rob Henken, President of the nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum. The Forum’s 2010 report on mental health redesign, co-authored by the Massachusetts-based Human Services Research Institute, spurred the redesign process. Subsequent reports provide further technical assistance and guidance. “The transition to a community-based model of care offers residents better access to the services they need in settings that are most conducive to recovery.”
The redesign of the behavioral health system in Milwaukee County is a journey. While there is work ahead, collectively, BHS has achieved tremendous successes.
About the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services
The Behavioral Health Services (BHS) provides care and treatment to adults, children, and adolescents with mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual disabilities through both county-operated programs and contracts with community agencies. Services include intensive short-term treatment through our crisis services and inpatient services, as well as a full array of supportive community services for persons with serious mental illness and substance use disorders.
For more information on Milwaukee County’s Behavioral Health Services redesign services and locations, please visit county.milwaukee.gov/BHD/Mental-Health-Redesign. If you or someone you know experiences a behavioral health crisis, you can call 414-257-7222 at any time.

author: Maggie Kuhn


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Post From Community: Stars ‘n S’mores | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
UWM Manfred Olson Planetarium
August 17, 2022
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Join the UWM Planetarium for our popular outdoor event, Stars & S’mores! Enjoy eating delicious s’mores and relax outside while gazing at summer constellations through our telescopes. S’mores kits are free (one per person while supplies last). We will also offer free planetarium shows every 15-20 minutes. This event is open to the public.
Not recommended for children under 4. For questions about this event, please email planetarium@uwm.edu.
Due to the confined space of the planetarium, we strongly recommend that our visitors wear masks when visiting the planetarium, regardless of vaccination status.
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author: UWM Manfred Olson Planetarium


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Vivent Health expands to meet increased need for HIV care | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
August 18, 2022
Vivent Health’s HIV treatment efforts will get a major boost next year with the opening of an expanded clinic in Milwaukee.
The nonprofit organization, which has branches in several states, including 10 offices in Wisconsin, is moving its main clinic, currently located at 648 N. Plankinton Ave., to 1311 N. 6th St. in downtown Milwaukee.
Scheduled to open in April 2023, the new property will increase the size of the clinic by 33 percent and raise capacity by 1,000 patients, said Michael J. Gifford, Vivent Health president and chief executive officer.
The added resources will help the organization increase treatment services as it continues to incorporate new strategies such as using social media platforms to start conversations about prevention and learn what’s important to people. Those strategies include the promotion of condom use, testing for sexually transmitted infections and advocating for the use of clean needles.
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“The prevention methods that may have worked before in the past, they may not always be as appealing,” said Imani Sloan, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) supervisor for Wisconsin at Vivent Health.
“We have to ensure that we come from a place of respect for their lifestyle and for their whole being,” said Sloan, who supervises a team of outreach workers for Vivent Health.
The new clinic will continue to provide HIV case management; health and dental care; pharmacy services; a food pantry; and legal and housing assistance.
“The need for HIV services is at an all-time high,” Gifford said. “This new facility will launch us forward to meet that need and begin to end the HIV epidemic in Wisconsin through expanded and effective HIV prevention, care and treatment services.”
The cost of the project is $9 million, of which Vivent already has secured $7 million from funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA. Vivent is fundraising to cover remaining costs for the project.
Most new patients at the clinic will come from the five ZIP codes with the highest prevalence of people living with or at risk of contracting HIV in the state: 53204, 53214, 53215, 53216 and 53218.  The ZIP codes 53216 and 53218 are located on the city’s North Side, while 53204 and 53215 are on the South Side. The 53214 neighborhoods include sections of Milwaukee, West Allis and West Milwaukee.
Not coincidentally, said Bill Keeton, chief advocacy officer at Vivent, residents from those areas are among the most medically underserved in the city.
“That could mean they don’t have access to medical care, secure safe and affordable housing, behavioral health and substance abuse services,” explained Keeton. “What we know about HIV is that it disproportionately impacts people who are living in lower SES (socioeconomic status) and communities of color.”
Factors that increase the odds of HIV infection or transmission include not having a safe place to sleep at night or not having food, which could lead to risky behaviors, he said. In addition, individuals who engage in sex work or use injection drugs or share needles also face a higher risk of HIV infection.
According to data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, there were 2,835 Milwaukee residents living with HIV at the end of 2020, with an estimated 454 additional people possibly living with HIV in the city who are not aware of their diagnosis. In Milwaukee, young men (ages 13-29) have the highest HIV diagnosis rate.
Male-to-male sexual contact is the most common HIV transmission risk while male-female sexual contact is the second most common. Black males in Milwaukee were diagnosed with HIV at significantly higher rates (10.3 per 100,000 people) than other races from 2016 to 2020 (Whites 2.5 and Hispanics 2.7).
Click here for information about Vivent Health programs

author: Edgar Mendez


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Ron Smith
August 17, 2022


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5 things to know and do the weekend of Aug. 19 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
August 19, 2022
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Your Move MKE is hosting its monthly night of hip-hop and chess from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19 at Ms. Yesenia’s Creative Studio, located at 2926 W. Forest Home Ave.
Diverse and Resilient is hosting a food security resource party, with food resources, care packages, school supplies and fun. The event runs from noon to 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19 at Wellpoint Care Network (formerly SaintA,) located at 8901 W. Capitol Drive.
Riverworks Development Corp.’s summer concert series continues with Roxie Beane playing funk rock and Love, Peace and Soul playing R&B from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19 at the Beerline Performance Stage, located at 3350 N. Holton St.
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Heal the Hood and the African American Roundtable are back with free food, over 30 vendors, a children’s corner, school supplies, yoga and more. The party runs from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20 at Clovernook Playground 6594 N. Landers St.
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers hosts this end-of-summer celebration, featuring games and activities, music, health resources and more. The party runs from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21 at Jackson Park Area 2, 3500 W. Forest Home Ave.
Several businesses and organizations are giving away free backpacks and school supplies all month. See a full list of events here.


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Ron Smith
August 18, 2022


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Post From Community: Legal Action of Wisconsin awarded $360,000 grant to improve pro bono services | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Carl Rauscher
August 19, 2022
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
WASHINGTON—The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announced today that it is awarding a $368,277 Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant to Legal Action of Wisconsin (LAW).
LAW is one of 15 legal aid organizations receiving a grant. In total, LSC is awarding $4.75 million to support the growth of pro bono legal services for low-income Americans.
Last year, 74% of low-income households faced at least one civil legal problem, according to LSC’s recently released Justice Gap report. Alarmingly, low-income Americans received no or insufficient legal help for 92% of their substantial civil legal problems. Expanding pro bono and other volunteer services will allow civil legal aid providers to better address these urgent, unmet needs.
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“Meeting the vast legal needs of low-income Americans is a tough job for legal aid providers with limited resources,” said LSC President Ronald S. Flagg. “Engaging pro bono attorneys and volunteers adds a powerful network that multiplies the impact of these organizations.”
LSC awarded these grants from its Pro Bono Innovation Fund included in its FY 2022 congressional appropriation. Since 2014, LSC has awarded 121 grants totaling more than $35 million. Each organization’s project involves innovative solutions to persistent challenges in pro bono delivery systems that can be replicated by other service providers across the country.
LAW will use the grant to establish a Lawyer-For-A-Day (LFAD) program defending cases filed against consumers in Small Claims Court by third-party debt collectors or debt buyers. The project seeks to engage volunteer attorneys from the consumer bar, corporate attorneys and law students. The project’s goal is to enforce consumers’ rights by reducing uncontested and “rubber-stamped” judgments against debtors. LAW will develop this project in the Milwaukee County Small Claims Court, where it has an existing LFAD project addressing evictions.
Senator Tammy Baldwin congratulated LAW on receiving the pro bono grant.
“Legal Action Wisconsin has helped fulfill the American ideal ‘justice for all’ and ensure our justice system works for all Wisconsinites,” said Senator Baldwin. “This grant from the Legal Services Corporation will help Legal Action Wisconsin establish a Lawyer-For-A-Day (LFAD) program and expand their innovative work defending consumers’ rights against debt collectors. The Badger State is fortunate to have Legal Action Wisconsin and their network of volunteers helping ensure our legal system is fair for those living in marginalized and underserved communities, and I am excited to see their continued impact with this investment from the Legal Services Corporation.”
Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974 to provide financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. The Corporation currently provides funding to 132 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

author: Carl Rauscher


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Post From Community: Sherman Phoenix Marketplace reinforces mission and community focus through updated identity | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mia Tripi
August 19, 2022
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Sherman Phoenix Marketplace, formerly known as the Sherman Phoenix, has updated its identity and announced upgrades and additions that reflect its purpose both as a hub to support local small business owners and as a center of commerce and community gathering space where visitors can shop, eat and drink, receive services and gather together.
“The addition of ‘Marketplace’ in our name breathes clarity into the expanding vision of the Sherman Phoenix, even as the legacy we have built continues,” said JoAnne Johnson-Sabir, co-developer of Sherman Phoenix Marketplace. “This is a place for all who live, work and serve in community, and our engagement with our neighbors continues to grow and be re-imagined. The updated identity of the marketplace will ensure neighbors, visitors and those who are being newly introduced to us know that we are a place they can come to shop, eat, and receive the various services offered by the businesses inside as well as attend events that are hosted here. This truly is a marketplace of love, communion, hope and opportunity.”
This expanding identity will be reflected in updated branding, and members of the community are invited to vote on their preferred option. Voting will be open online starting August 23, and will close on August 31. Community members are also invited to vote in-person; those who do so will be entered to win prizes including a $50, $75, and $100 gift card to their favorite Sherman Phoenix Marketplace business. The winning logo will be announced via Facebook Live on September 4 during the Front Porch Music Series taking place at the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
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True to its identity as a center of local commerce, the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace has upgraded its operations and facilities to better serve the community members, shoppers and business owners who visit the space.
These upgrades have included the addition of an ATM that will not charge fees for BMO Harris Bank customers, website updates to provide real-time information about upcoming events and current tenants open for business, and expanded hours. The Sherman Phoenix Marketplace, starting August 16, will be open from 11AM – 7PM Tuesdays through Fridays, 10AM – 7PM on Saturdays, and will be closed on Sundays and Mondays. Previously, the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace closed at 6:00 PM.
“Im very excited to see the Sherman Phoenix continue to rise and evolve with these updates, including a name that fits our purpose. The Sherman Phoenix Marketplace is just that – a place where entrepreneurs are able to sell our goods and services to our customers and be a hub for innovation and inspiration,” said TrueMan McGee, Funky Fresh Spring Rolls owner and Sherman Phoenix Marketplace tenant. “I’m looking forward to more growth, and the expansion of our hours into the evening will allow more people to visit after they get off work.”
The Sherman Phoenix Marketplace is still rising – and welcoming new businesses for the community to discover. The most recent additions include:
A full list of businesses, food and drink vendors, and organizations based at the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace is available online at shermanphoenix.com/shop.
A sharp focus on community-building remains at the core of the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace through the efforts of the Sherman Phoenix Foundation.
“Nearly four years after this place was transformed into a thriving community center and Black-owned business hub, we are still rising,” said Dr. Stacia Thompson, Executive Director of the Sherman Phoenix Foundation. “We invite all members of our community to attend events at the Sherman Phoenix
Marketplace and get engaged by following our social media handles and participating in monthly programming designed with youth, families and entrepreneurs in mind.”
On a monthly basis, the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace now hosts the following events:
Personal finance and workforce development resources are also available thanks to the support of BMO Harris Bank and Goodwill Industries, who set up and staff tables with information. Banking experts are on-site at the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace on the first Tuesday of each month, from 11:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m. Workforce development specialists are on-site at on the first Wednesday of each month, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
For information about upcoming events, visit shermanphoenix.com/events.
ABOUT SHERMAN PHOENIX MARKETPLACE
The Sherman Phoenix Marketplace, formerly known as the Sherman Phoenix, was birthed after the police shooting of an unarmed Black man in the Sherman Park neighborhood of Milwaukee in 2016. Our community came together to transform a fire-damaged bank building into a thriving hub for 25+ Black-owned businesses.
Having opened in late 2018, the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace quickly became a model for healing our city by generating positive economic and social returns in communities of color and a vibrant community space that embraces talent and innovation, employs over 100 people, builds community wealth, and inspires new narratives for our future. The Sherman Phoenix Marketplace includes much-needed community spaces to curate art exhibits, film showings, and cultural events. For more information, visit www.shermanphoenix.com.

author: Mia Tripi


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5 things to know and do this week in Milwaukee: Aug. 22 to Aug. 26 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
August 22, 2022
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Milwaukee County is facing a budget gap of $12.6 million, and leaders are looking for feedback on what funding should be prioritized. You can attend a virtual budget session on Milwaukee County’s Facebook and YouTube pages starting at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23. You can also attend an in-person session starting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24 at Kosciuszko Park, located at 2201 S. 7th St.
This weekly pop-up farmers market series will take place every Tuesday through Aug. 30 at various North Side locations. This week’s pop-up is from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 23 at the Century City I building, located at 3945 N. 31st St. The events are sponsored by the Northwest Side Community Development Corporation.
“Blue Like Me” is a documentary that profiles Indian-American-Jewish artist Siona Benjamin, whose work uses vibrant colors and cultural and religious symbols to tell multicultural stories. The screening starts at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25 at America’s Black Holocaust Museum, located at 401 W. North Ave. Tickets are free for ABHM members and $10 for non-members.
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“Soul Unplugged” is a weekly concert series on the porch at Garfield’s 502. This week features Sondra B Soulful. The show goes from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25 at 502 W. Garfield Ave.
This weekly kid-friendly event allows children to roam Alice’s Garden Urban Farm, with some suggested activities and/or books for children. The playtime runs from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 25 and every Thursday at 2136 N. 21st St.
Several businesses and organizations are giving away free backpacks and school supplies all month. See a full list of events here.


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Ron Smith
August 21, 2022


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Post From Community: Health and Wellness Saturday Fitness Series | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
David Snell
August 23, 2022
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Washington Park
(For everyone) Let’s treat our Saturdays like none other! Every Saturday starting August 6th from 9 a.m.-11 a.m., join us for the Washington Park Health & Wellness Fitness Series. You can enjoy workouts that include meditation, kick-boxing, Jujitsu, Zumba, Yoga, stretching and flexibility, fitness boot camps, walking, meditation, walking, healthy resources, and biking. A healthier community is a stronger community. Together, we can build a better mind and body!
Sep. 3 — Zumba
Sep. 10 — Certified Nordic Walking
Sep. 17 — Jujitsu and Kickboxing
Sep. 24 — Surprise Program!
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This is a free event.
For any additional questions about this program, please contact Terry Evans at tevans@urbanecologycenter.org.
Registration is NOT required for this event.

author: David Snell


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August 18, 2022


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Post From Community: Sunset Paddle for Beginners | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
David Snell
August 23, 2022
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Friday, September 2, 2022
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Washington Park
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(For everyone 6+) For beginners-Learn the basics of paddling with an educator at the Urban Ecology Center in Washington Park. We’ll gear up with canoes and kayaks and paddle together in hopes of catching the sunset across the lagoon. All gear provided! Please wear close-toed shoes, dress for the weather, and prepare for a relaxing adventure with your friends at the UEC!
Ages 6 and older can paddle.
$9 – $12. See website.
For questions about this program, please contact Augie Rodenbeck at arodenbeck@urbanecologycenter.org.
Registration is required for this event and will close 24 hours prior to event start time.


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August 18, 2022


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We’ve updated our guide to getting free and affordable meals | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
August 23, 2022
Here’s what you need to know if you are looking for free or low-cost food in Milwaukee.
Food pantry hours can vary from day to day, especially during the holidays and with COVID-19 cases rising over the past few weeks. If you are looking for a food pantry, take a look at the resources below or call the pantry you want to visit beforehand.
Use the 2-1-1 Wisconsin website to find the food pantry in your neighborhood. You can also call IMPACT at 2-1-1 or text your ZIP code to TXT-211, which can connect you to food pantries and meal programs in your area.
The Hunger Task Force has created an interactive map complete with soup kitchens, MPS meal sites, non-MPS meal sites, mobile markets, meal sites for seniors and more. You can search by ZIP code or by resource type to find what you are looking for at a location near you. The map is updated daily, but call the location before you visit to make sure it is still open.
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Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin also has a collection of resources, including a pantry locator and information and help with applying for FoodShare and Women, Infant and Children, or WIC, credits. All of this information is here.
You can also text “MKEfood” to 73224 to connect with one of our reporters about food resources.
For some, yes. This is because some pantries are required to verify that you live in the area they serve.
If you are not sure if you need an ID, call the food pantry directly or text “MKE” to 73224 and a reporter can get you the information you need.
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin operates a mobile food pantry, where residents can take what they need. Its schedule can be found here.
Some restaurants and grocery stores allow customers to pay what they can, even if that is $0. However, there is often also a suggested price or way to donate for those who want to support these efforts.
Tricklebee Café, 4424 W. North Ave., is a community cafe offering vegan and gluten free options. The café is open for dine-in from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Call 414-488-2477 to order for pickup.
Victory Garden Initiative operates a food stand for neighbors in and around Harambee from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. every Friday through October at 249 E. Concordia Ave. More information here.
For those who are 60 or older, Meals on Wheels will deliver meals to you and anyone living with you who also qualifies. You can view eligibility requirements and apply here and view this month’s menu here.
Milwaukee County funds a “Dine Out” program, which allows seniors to pick up meals from participating restaurants for free. Learn more here.
The Hunger Task Force, DoorDash and the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County have partnered to deliver free meal stockboxes to seniors (60 or older) with a monthly income of less than $1,396 for an individual or less than $1,888 for a two-person household. Eligible ZIP codes and an enrollment form can be found here.
For those 60 or older and/or have a qualifying disability in the 53204, 53205, 53206, 53215, 53223, 53224 and 53225 ZIP codes, Friedens Community Ministries will deliver food from one of its four pantries. Call 414-289-6030 to sign up.
Currently FoodShare recipients receive an “emergency allotment” of FoodShare credit that amounts to the difference between what the recipient would normally qualify for and the maximum monthly allotment for their household, or an extra $95, whichever is higher.
These emergency allotments are confirmed through February. However, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, which administers the FoodShare program, said it expects emergency allotments to continue as long as a federal public health emergency is in place. Right now, the public health emergency has been declared through mid-October.
If you receive FoodShare, you can receive discounts on fresh produce through two programs:
Pandemic EBT, or P-EBT, is a benefit for parents of children in school or child care who did not receive free school lunch because of reasons related to COVID-19. Parents who received P-EBT during the school year are likely eligible to receive $391 in P-EBT benefits in mid-August, either on their QUEST or P-EBT cards.
You can find more about this program and check eligibility requirements here.
Recipients of FoodShare or P-EBT are eligible to receive Amazon Prime membership at half the original monthly cost. If you lack reliable transportation to food, you can use this membership to receive free two-hour delivery on food items when you buy $35 or more in groceries. More information here.
Friedens Community Ministries is hosting “Friedens al Fresco,” a block party outside Despensa de la Paz, one of its four food pantries, on Aug. 27. More information here.
Tricklebee Cafe and Yatesha Brown of Nature’s Tasty Treats hosts a Farm-to-Table dinner and fundraiser on Aug. 27. More information here.
Walnut Way is hosting a harvest day festival in celebration of Lindsay Heights on Sept. 10. Learn more here.
Friedens Community Ministries is hosting its “Empty Bowls” fundraiser on Oct. 9, where hand-made bowls can be purchased in support of Friedens. Learn more here.
Transportation to food sources, whether they be grocery stores or food pantries, is a challenge to food access that we hear about from residents consistently. While there are options to have free food delivered for those 60 or older, we have yet to identify a resource for those younger than 60.
Past efforts to fill this gap have been derailed due to federal funding restrictions and staffing issues.
Do you know of ways someone can get free transportation to food sources, or have food delivered to them? If so, let us know in the comments.


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Ron Smith
August 22, 2022


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As Midwest summers get hotter, Milwaukee’s most at risk have an unmet need: air conditioning | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Samantha McCabe / Wisconsin Watch
August 24, 2022
It was only 10 a.m. and already above 80 degrees as Freda Wright walked down a residential block of Milwaukee’s Harambee neighborhood, clutching a clipboard. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she navigated creaky front gates and porch steps during a scorching mid-July week.
Most people answered their door looking wary. Wright greeted them with a smile, maybe a joke, before asking: “Do you have an older adult that you love?” After hearing that they might qualify for a free air conditioner and utility bill assistance, residents loosened up.
Wright was canvassing the neighborhood on behalf of the Eras Senior Network, serving older adults of Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. The nonprofit received a $25,000 grant from Bader Philanthropies to purchase and install 100 air conditioning units over this year and next for qualifying seniors living in Harambee — free of charge.
The program addresses a long-unfulfilled need in Milwaukee, home to some of the state’s most vulnerable neighborhoods to extreme heat — where residents live in urban heat islands and struggle to afford air conditioning. About 36,500 homes in the Milwaukee metro area lacked air conditioning as of 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The homes are located disproportionately in neighborhoods where people of color live in deeply-segregated Milwaukee.
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As Wisconsin warms due to climate change, county and state officials have mapped the communities most prone to heat-related illnesses, educated residents about staying safe from the heat and directed the public to cooling sites during hot days. But cooling centers, while effective for some, don’t necessarily help those who lack transportation access or who are immobile.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s main program for utility assistance focuses largely on heating aid during cold weather.
Nearly one-third of Milwaukee households felt the negative effects of extreme heat last summer, according to a Wisconsin Department of Health Services assessment. More than half at least sometimes felt too hot in their homes, and nearly one in 10 reported no forms of air conditioning.
A lack of affordable cooling is “a perennial problem” for lower-income Milwaukee residents, said Bob Waite, a senior account manager with IMPACT 211, a 24-hour phone and online helpline that connects local residents with information and resources.
As of Aug. 1, the agency received 78 calls from residents seeking air conditioning this year. But operators have been unable to locate assistance from government or nonprofits, classifying callers’ needs as “unmet.” Air conditioning has sat near the top of IMPACT 211’s unmet needs list throughout its history, Waite said.
“That’s going back more than 20 years,” Waite said. “It’s not a new thing that we don’t have a resource for somebody that’s in need of a free or low-cost air conditioner.”
Milwaukee residents have also asked News414, Wisconsin Watch’s engagement collaboration with Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, about affordable air conditioning options.
Such needs will grow as greenhouse gas emissions speed Earth’s warming. Extreme heat days in Wisconsin — hitting temperatures of 90-plus degrees — are projected to triple by the middle of the century, with 70-plus degree nights expected to quadruple, according to a Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) report released this year. For swaths of western and southern Wisconsin, that means temperatures hitting 90 degrees on 25 to 35 days each year by 2050.
The elderly are particularly at risk. People older than 65 account for more than one-third of heat-related deaths nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Dr. Caitlin Rublee, a Milwaukee-based emergency medicine physician, said extreme heat takes a toll on her patients who lack air conditioning.
“The climate crisis is a health emergency. I’m seeing adverse impacts, poor health, sick patients, every shift in the emergency department,” she said.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office has attributed one death to heat this year: a 75-year-old woman who died in Wauwatosa in late June. Since 2008, the county has recorded 18 deaths related to overheating — 10 of whom were older than 50.
A 2021 federal Environmental Protection Agency report notes that more than 11,000 Americans died from heat-related causes between 1979 and 2018, according to death certificates, but studies of extreme weather suggest that related deaths may be vastly undercounted.
Some still remember Milwaukee’s heat wave of 1995, when temperatures reached as high as 103 degrees during a stretch of mid-July. The medical examiner attributed 91 deaths to the heat, including that of an 82-year-old woman whose thermostat reached 90 degrees before she was found dead in her home.
That same heat wave killed hundreds more in Chicago, and it led communities across the country to adopt heat wave action plans. Milwaukee formalized its Extreme Heat Task Force in 2014 and revamped it as the Extreme Weather Task Force this year. It brings together local public health departments, housing authorities and nonprofits to coordinate a response to extreme heat.
The residents of Harambee, a majority Black neighborhood on Milwaukee’s North Side, are among those who face what Steve Vavrus, a senior scientist with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Climatic Research, calls a “double-whammy” of heat risks due to demographics and urban planning.
Harambee is an urban heat island, where a concentration of pavement and buildings retains heat with little greenery to deflect the sun’s radiation or release moisture into the atmosphere. The population skews older than the rest of the city, and nearly half of residents have incomes below the federal poverty level.
Harambee sits in the top one-fifth of the most heat-vulnerable communities in Milwaukee County, as do a host of Black- and Latino-majority neighborhoods, according to the state health department’s Milwaukee County Heat Vulnerability Index.
Milwaukee’s Black and Hispanic/Latino households also tend to face higher energy burdens, meaning that high portions of their income goes to energy bills.
Eras’ program aims to combat energy burdens in Harambee, named in the 1970s for the Swahili word meaning “pulling together.” Wright had 15 air conditioners remaining as of mid-August, and Bader has committed to funding another 50 next summer. Eligible seniors can add their name and income to a brief application form.
Harambee is Wright’s past and future. She still lives in her childhood house, blocks away from King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church, where her father once pastored. So when the opportunity arose to become program manager for the Harambee neighborhood a few years into her tenure at Eras, she jumped at the chance.
“When this position came, it was perfect,” Wright said. “I get paid to find out where my people are at and how I can help. And that’s exactly what I did.”
She knows that neighborhood seniors eligible for an air conditioner also need help affording extra energy costs. Recipients of air conditioners through the Eras program also receive $100 in utility bill assistance.
During this summer’s heat waves, the Biden administration has pointed to a federally funded, state-run program that could help ease energy burdens nationwide: the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which has provided Americans nearly $9 billion in assistance during the 2021-22 fiscal year. That includes $96 million to Wisconsinites.
On July 19, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sent a memo suggesting that states use LIHEAP to respond to heat, such as by adding or expanding cooling assistance, including by financing air conditioner purchases or repairs.
But since Wisconsin’s program focuses on keeping families warm during cold winters, it has used up all available funding before it could go towards summer cooling, even after a boost from federal COVID-19 relief funds, confirmed Tatyana Warrick, a Wisconsin Department of Administration spokesperson.
Additionally, the state bars utilities from disconnecting customers who are behind on their bills during the cold weather season between Nov. 1 and April 15. No such broad moratorium for hot weather exists, although utilities may not disconnect customers when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory.
Through the state home energy assistance program, called WHEAP, eligible Wisconsinites can seek an energy assistance payment once a year, or crisis assistance, which is metered out on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents can apply for regular energy assistance only from Oct. 1 to May 15. And the state’s pool of crisis assistance funding ran out in early July after benefitting 14,100 Wisconsin households over the previous two months. The federal government will not replenish those funds until Oct. 1, the new fiscal year.
If funds were available, WHEAP wouldn’t offer crisis assistance for cooling unless a state or local public health official declared a heat emergency and the state’s Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources authorized it.
Warrick said WHEAP could purchase air conditioning units for households under those circumstances, but only if they have a statement of need from a medical practitioner. The agency also is exploring ways to offer air conditioning repairs and replacement through its program when funds are available, Warrick said.
Amid Wisconsin’s shortage of home cooling assistance, researchers across the state are raising awareness of the heat-related dangers among the public and policymakers. Wisconsin DHS’s decade-old Climate and Health Program recently received an additional $400,000 a year for the next five years from the CDC, said Maggie Thelen, the program’s manager. The funds will support communication and data analysis.
Rublee advocates for cross-sector collaboration towards long-term solutions to avoid heat-related illnesses.
“I think about landlords, especially for low-income housing, public health professionals, businesses and utilities companies coming together, and listening to the residents of urban and rural areas — to come up with solutions that are cost-effective and healthy,” she said.
Vavrus called for climate-focused urban planning, such as increasing heat-absorbing vegetation in concrete-heavy swaths of the city.
Wright remains focused on helping her neighbors. She helped Eras raise more than $6,000 this summer to make it eligible for a $100,000 national grant competition. Eras’ proposal focuses on helping low-income seniors in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties navigate extreme heat and utility bills.
“That’s what I always tell everybody,” she said. “Even if I can’t help you, I might know somebody, or I’ll figure it out. I’m the queen of trying to figure it out.”
The nonprofit Wisconsin Watch (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with WPR, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by Wisconsin Watch do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.

author: Samantha McCabe / Wisconsin Watch


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August 23, 2022


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Cooling assistance is scarce in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin. But here are some options.￼￼ | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Samantha McCabe / Wisconsin Watch
August 24, 2022
The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program will not offer utility assistance until Oct. 1, but residents can still apply beforehand to gain faster access to aid during the winter.
Here are some other resources that might help.
The Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance Program provides qualifying applicants up to 18 months worth of rental assistance, which includes help for paying utility bills. Community Advocates (414-270-4646) administers the program in Milwaukee County and the Social Development Commission (414-906-2700) also administers the program in the city of Milwaukee.
If you do not live in Milwaukee County, other agencies can help. The Wisconsin Community Action Program Association (WISCAP) coordinates the program through its member agencies. The funds may be available to those who meet income guidelines and have experienced economic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Eras Senior Network may have a limited number of air conditioners and $100 subsidies remaining for low-income seniors living in the Harambee neighborhood. Your ZIP code must be 53212. Contact Freda Wright at Freda.Wright@Eras.org.
Some households with children may qualify for a Job Access Loan, which is available through the Wisconsin Works agencies in Milwaukee County and statewide. The loans have narrow eligibility criteria and may be used to pay for utility expenses.
If you are struggling to pay your utility bill, IMPACT 211 recommends staying in touch with your utility. For Milwaukee residents, that’s We Energies (800-842-4565). The utility may be willing to negotiate a repayment plan or find another solution. Staying silent is more likely to result in a disconnection.
Wisconsin Help for Homeowners, a statewide program, can help with overdue bills like mortgage payments, property taxes, utilities and more. The program is “open to individuals and families who live in Wisconsin with overdue housing-related bills, both with and without a mortgage, who meet income and other eligibility requirements, and have experienced a qualified economic hardship since January 21, 2020,” according to the state Department of Administration. Call 1-855-2-HOME-WI (1-855-246-6394) to learn more.
Have questions or want to share any energy assistance resources that we may have missed? Email us at tips@wisconsinwatch.org or text MKE to 73224, enter your ZIP code and request to connect with a reporter.


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Post From Community: DPW releases new Paint the Pavement Program | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works
August 25, 2022
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
The City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW) is pleased to announce the release of its new Paint the Pavement program. Paint the Pavement gives Milwaukee residents the opportunity to showcase streets as places for people to enjoy. This program turns city streets and sidewalks into canvases that help enhance community identity and build a sense of place.
Since 2018, DPW has allowed residents and community groups to paint artistic crosswalks through its Decorative Crosswalk program. The new Paint the Pavement program expands upon the Decorative Crosswalk program by increasing the types of murals that are eligible.
“Paint the Pavement builds on the Decorative Crosswalk program which premiered as a creative way to showcase streets as places for people to enjoy. Paint the Pavement is another example of the Department of Public Works’ commitment to this and aligns with other initiatives such as Active Streets, our parklet program, and special events permitting,” Interim Commissioner of Public Works Jerrel Kruschke said.
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The following parts of the public right-of-way are included in the Paint the Pavement program:
The Paint the Pavement Guide outlines specific location and design guidelines for each mural type. The application is a two-step process, and consists of a Paint the Pavement Permit Application and a Special Event Permit (sidewalk applications do not require a Special Events Permit). There is no fee for the Paint the Pavement Permit; however, applicants will be charged a fee for any barricades provided through the Special Event Permit.
For more information and to see examples of previously completed projects, visit milwaukee.gov/PaintthePavement.


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New program helps families that encounter Child Protective Services | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
August 25, 2022
The Stronger Families Milwaukee program is in its infancy but its goals are ambitious.
It collaborates with agencies to make sure families that attract the attention of Milwaukee Child Protective Services get the help they need.
Community Advocates Public Policy Institute launched the program in April under a five-year contract with the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
Stronger Families Milwaukee aims to help families prevent the kinds of circumstances that erode their abilities to sustain themselves and risk further Child Protective Services intervention.
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Voluntary services include rental assistance, child care, energy assistance and more.
Engagement specialists, the case workers for the program, work directly with the families to provide four months of any services through Community Advocates that a family may need.
Program manager Lauren Faulds stressed the importance of stability and adaptability.
“Whatever goals the families want to work on, whether it be housing or mental health, we want to make sure we’ve supplied them with that,” she said.
Stronger Families Milwaukee has partnered with and refers clients to agencies such as The Parenting Network, where a parent may get parenting support and connections to resources, and The Neu-Life Community Development, for individuals ages 4 through 25 who are in need of activities, summer programs and after-school programs.
The Parenting Network is at 7516 W. Burleigh St. and Neu-Life is at 2014 W. North Ave.
As long as there are no serious safety threats to family members, the program receives referrals from the state of Wisconsin Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services. Engagement specialists will then contact those families to verify they want to participate in the program.
Faulds said some families may not want to enroll because of the program’s intensity or because of insufficient time. But for those who express interest, enrollment begins with a home visit by an engagement specialist. The family is asked questions about its situation and fills out forms before participating in the upcoming home visits twice a week for four months.
According to Milwaukee Child Protective Services, there were 5,704 families in need of services in 2019 that Stronger Families Milwaukee offers. In 2020, the cases of 4,975 families were closed safely after an initial assessment without any care or services. This doesn’t mean, however, that they could not benefit in the longer term from the type of services offered by the program.
As of June, there have been about 50 families referred, but only 20 have been enrolled so far in the program, according to Faulds. The other 30 families will get referred to other internal services if they are not ultimately enrolled.
Though it is early in the program, Engagement Specialist Christine Wiese is seeing patterns, particularly a need for affordable housing.
Wiese works with approximately 11 families, mainly interacting with women who are the heads of their households.
“Every day that we meet, we’re figuring things out. But also we have this opportunity to talk about how’s life going,” she said.
Wiese said the program’s participants are diverse, including big and small families.
According to Faulds, from April to June, the program’s participants consisted of 62 African American residents, one Asian participant, 22 white participants and 11 cases of mixed race or ethnicity. These are all members of a household referred to the program, said Faulds.
Wiese said she employs an interpreter for any family that speaks only Spanish.
Wiese’s biggest challenge during case management is helping families find housing because large families are looking for something affordable. When eviction notices hit, this makes the challenges even more difficult to navigate.
“Housing is always an issue in Milwaukee,” said Faulds.
Wiese said the proportion of minorities needing the program’s services is distressing. However, she added that participating families are relieved that there are people supporting them.
Faulds hopes to see the program expand.
“I would love to see this program grow and eventually maybe work with other agencies,” she said.
Click here to learn more about the program.

author: Chesnie Wardell


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Ron Smith
August 23, 2022


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Post From Community: As Milwaukee continues to experience increased gun violence, recent survey shows residents are ready for real solutions | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Josephine M
August 25, 2022
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
As gun violence in Milwaukee continues to surge, Wisconsin residents are ready for sustainable solutions that save lives and create safer neighborhoods. A recent pulse survey of Wisconsin residents conducted by CMRignite, a leading multicultural public health and cause marketing communications agency based in Milwaukee, found that more than 80% of Wisconsin residents agree that gun violence in Milwaukee is a serious issue, and more than half say it’s the most important issue in the city.
In addition, CMRignite has partnered with The Asha Project for a “Men’s Only” event Friday, August 19 at the Wisconsin African American Women’s Center, 3020 W. Vliet St. from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. This candid discussion will talk about gun violence and domestic violence. The agency will conduct a digital survey to capture additional insights about this issue.
“As a proud Milwaukee native, I’ve seen the irreversible impact of gun violence and have watched it destroy too many of our neighborhoods, our communities and our families,” said David Bowles, president of CMRignite. “From the Central City to the Deer District, we’ve lost too many lives to this epidemic. It’s time for bold ideas and bold actions, and I’m hopeful that CMRignite can be a part of the solution. We are all in this together.”
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In Wisconsin, about seven in 10 African American and Hispanic residents say gun violence is the most important issue facing Milwaukee, according to the survey which was conducted by CMRignite’s Innovation Hub, which focuses on quantitative and qualitative research.
CMRignite’s survey further revealed the following data points:
“CMRignite’s survey findings illustrate the importance of listening to residents and understanding their lived experiences in order to develop effective solutions,” explained Dr. Joan Prince, a consultant with CMRignite’s Research Division. “The feedback from this survey is invaluable as we all look for ways to address gun violence and make Milwaukee’s neighborhoods safe for children and families.”
Based on the survey findings, CMRignite has identified a three-pronged violence prevention approach:
To download the survey findings and learn more about this initiative, please contact CMRignite at or nestradabest@cmrignite.com.
Founded in 1995, CMRignite is a full-service, strategic communications agency that specializes in developing cause and behavior change marketing for Fortune 500 companies, major nonprofits and government agencies. The agency’s mission is to develop innovative, cross-cultural marketing campaigns that lead to real, positive change. With a team of 60 employees, 70% of whom are BIPOC, CMRignite’s client roster includes the City of Milwaukee Health Department, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the CDC, SAMHSA, NIH and several others. Recently named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies in the country, the agency is Wisconsin’s leading multicultural marketing agency. In addition, the company is a certified Minority Business Enterprise and Woman-Owned Business. For more information, please visit cmrignite.com or call (414) 247-9898.

author: Josephine M


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Post From Community: Correcting the Narrative Awards: Celebrating and supporting unrecognized success stories | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Shannon Ross
August 25, 2022
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
On Thursday, September 1, 6-8:30 p.m., The Community is hosting the 2nd Annual Correcting the Narrative Awards at the Turner Hall Ballroom in downtown Milwaukee. Eight new unrecognized success stories in the system impacted community will be honored, each one having been selected by different organizations. All the performers (Just Becca, Jesse Tyler Frewerd, Bradfacts, Sebastian de la Vega-King, and Brian Green), artwork, caterers (Turning Tables MKE), photography/videography (Kaleigh Jo and ), and the host will be system impacted people. Even the awards and honoree garments are designed and made by system impacted people (Defiant CNC and Annex Apparel & Promotion LLC).
How we tell stories matters, and how we celebrate and define success guides the destiny of countless people. The Correcting the Narrative Awards celebrates and supports unrecognized success stories so that others may feel empowered and motivated by their unrecognized success. And for currently and formerly incarcerated people, this is foundational to rebuilding their lives and strengthening their communities.
Tickets are $50 and can be purchased via their website. You can also donate or purchase raffle tickets if you are unable to attend (the raffle is a signed Giannis jersey, two Milwaukee Bucks tickets behind the hoop, two Green Bay Packers tickets in the third row, two hometown luxury NCMPBRL watches, and two Marquette basketball tickets).
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You can find last year’s show and honoree booklet on their website, as well.

author: Shannon Ross


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August 22, 2022


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Post From Community: Near West Side Week returns for its second year | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Lucas Johnson
August 25, 2022
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Local non-profit Near West Side Partners is happy to announce the return of Near West Side Week. NWSP will host a week long celebration of all things Near West Side, various activities include:
Sunday, September 11th 1-3pm
Vliet Street Parklet, 3801 W Vliet Street
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Enjoy a relaxing painting session alongside new Near West Side business owner Chrisella Roche of Vibez Creative Studio with refreshments provided by Triciclo Perú. The event will take place on the newly installed Vliet Street Parklet, allowing participants to enjoy the atmosphere of the developing Vliet Street Corridor. Registration is required, and the class size is limited to 25 participants.
Monday, September 12th 12-1pm
The New State Music Park, 2627 W Wells St, Milwaukee, WI 53233
Join us for the Near West Side Week kick-off event at The New State Music Park. Hear remarks from Near West Side Partners Executive Director Keith Stanley about our second annual celebration of the Near West Side and from The New State Music Park’s redevelopment team, who will share updates on the exciting project.
Stick around for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the unveiling of The New State Music Park, live music and a host of food truck options! Attendees will receive free Near West Side Week t-shirts.
Tuesday, September 13th 5-7pm
Daddy’s Soul Food & Grille, 754 N 27th St.
Over the past several years, the 27th Street corridor has undergone many changes to become a thriving business corridor. Near West Side Partners would like to invite you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the new developments on this historic corridor.
The tour will include a sneak peek at the newest addition to 27th Street, Concordia 27, a community center and affordable housing development that will support the wellness of the Near West Side. Join Keith as he walks residents through the soon-to-be community resource hub and gain a glimpse at the future of the Near West Side.
Tuesday, September 13th 3:30-6pm
Harley-Davidson Campus, 3700 W Juneau Ave
Join us at the Harley-Davidson Campus, where American Red Cross volunteers will hand out free smoke detectors to residents. Volunteers will also be providing life-saving education for incidents in Near West Side households. Registration is required beforehand for a smoke detector. Registration is available on the NWSP website.
Wednesday, September 14th 5-8pm
The Rave/Eagles Club, 2401 W Wisconsin
Join Near West Side Partners for the culmination of Rev-Up MKE 2022. Rev-Up MKE is an opportunity for local entrepreneurs to expand or start their business in the Near West Side. Attendees will be able to hear from the finalists as they pitch their business opportunity to the live audience and will be able to vote for their choice for the audience choice winner. After the Live Pitch event, attendees will also be treated to a Taste of the Near West Side, a sampling of favorite restaurants in the Near West Side.
Thursday, September 15th 11:30-1pm
Highland Park
Take a break from work and enjoy an open air lunch with other Near West Side residents! Visit Highland park and enjoy lunch from various local food trucks.
Thursday, September 15th 5-7pm
Milwaukee Academy of Science, 2000 W Kilbourn Ave
Make connections and learn everything you need to know about purchasing a home and the resources available in the Near West Side during this housing resource fair.
Friday, September 16th 5:30-9:30
Merrill Park 461 N 35th Street
Join your Near West Side community for a movie night under the stars! Arrive early to play, put down a blanket and enjoy snacks while you watch Encanto. Everyone is encouraged to sing along!
Friday, September 16th – Saturday, September 17th
GooseChase App
Play on your own as a team of one or recruit more team members, complete missions, earn points, make memories, and follow your progress on the leaderboard! Grand prize includes a complete NWS Experience and cash prize; gift cards for second and third prize winners.
More information on how to join the game is available on the NWSP website.
Saturday, September 17th 10am-12pm
Merrill Park, 435 N 35th St
Join Near West Side Partners for a stroll and roll through the neighborhood. Bike or walk to the Hank Aaron Trail with NWSP and enjoy the scenic environment along the way. Snacks and refreshments will be available at the finish!
Saturday, September 17th 1-2:30pm
Ambassador Hotel, 2308 W Wisconsin Ave
A lot has changed in the Near West Side since NWSP was awarded the Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) Grant in 2018, which enabled the implementation of six Action Activities to improve and beautify the Near West Side. Join us as we give residents a bus tour of the new murals, neighborhood markers, storefronts, and more as part of the CNI Action Activities.
Learn more about Action Activities at nearwestsidemke.org/cni/
To register for the tour use the link here.

author: Lucas Johnson


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Post From Community: On Belay – Outdoor Rock Climbing | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
david snell
August 25, 2022
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Friday, September 9, 2022
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Riverside Park
(For everyone 6+) Rock climbing does your body and your mind good! Get some fresh air as you challenge yourself to climb to new heights on our three story open-air rock wall. Make it to the top and see the city from a whole new perspective!
Ages 6 and older can climb. All experience levels are welcome.
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For questions about this program, please contact Augie Rodenbeck at arodenbeck@urbanecologycenter.org.
Registration is required for this event and will close 24-hours prior to event start time.

author: david snell


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August 18, 2022


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Post From Community: Public safety community listening session, August 27 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
The City of Milwaukee
August 25, 2022
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Ald. Khalif J. Rainey invites community members to a public safety community listening session on Saturday, August 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Franciscan Conference Room – 3939 N. 88th St.
Hosted by members of the Community Collaborative Commission, the Fire & Police Commission, and the Milwaukee Police Department, the listening session will be an opportunity for residents of the 7 Aldermanic District to express themselves and provide feedback with regard to public safety in the community.
“I encourage all to attend the listening session as the best way to improve public safety is to work with each other and hear the concerns and ideas of fellow residents and community members,” Alderman Rainey said.
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What: Public Safety Community Listening Session
When: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, August 27
Where: Franciscan Conference Room – 3939 N. 88th St

author: The City of Milwaukee


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 5 things to know and do the weekend of Aug. 26 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
August 26, 2022
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Friedens Community Ministries, which runs four food pantries across the city, is hosting a block party at its pantry in the Muskego Way neighborhood. The party takes place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 27 at Despensa de la Paz, located at 1615 S. 22nd St.
Cream City Print Lounge owner Rachaad Howard teaches you the basics of printing T-shirts. The class runs from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 27 at Arts @ Large, located at 1100 S. 5th St. Register here.
Learn about Mitchell Park’s indigenous origins, settlement as Milwaukee’s first trading post, development as a private park and acquisition in the 1890s as a public park. This paid talk starts at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. Tickets are $5 for Milwaukee Preservation Alliance members, $10 for non-members.
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This free family-friendly celebration of the Center Street business corridor features vendors and a “kid zone” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27 on North Center Street between North 34th and North 35th streets.
Staff members at Mystic Phoenix Art Studio lead this class on creative art activities that sharpen short and long-term memory and cognitive skills. The event takes place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 28 in The Table Vocational Center, located at 5305 W. Capitol Drive.
Several businesses and organizations are giving away free backpacks and school supplies all month. See a full list of events here.

author: Sam Woods


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Ron Smith
August 25, 2022

author: Ron Smith