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‘How do I ever get caught up, if I’m always catching up?’ Poverty’s unrelenting grip on Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
September 8, 2022
Unpaid bills often put Elizabeth Brown in the position of choosing between which of her family’s needs should get priority, a struggle familiar to many Milwaukeeans.
Brown, 43, is in many ways the face of poverty in Milwaukee.
She is stuck in a cycle that has her consistently choosing between feeding her family or paying such items as rent or utilities.
As a result, digging out is a pervasive feature of her life and that of many others in Milwaukee, which ranks second in poverty among the nation’s 50 most populous cities.
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In early April, Brown applied for energy assistance. But she didn’t receive the help until mid-August, a week after her energy had been disconnected.
During that week, Brown said she had to spend so much extra money and miss so much work that she is now falling behind on other bills.
“Anytime I get extra money, I’m using it to catch up on bills, so now I’m back at zero and trying to catch up again,” she said. “How do I ever get caught up, if I’m always catching up?”
In 2009, Brown was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a disorder involving musculoskeletal pain and fatigue plus possible sleep, memory and mood issues as well as carpal tunnel. She hasn’t been able to work a full-time job since.
“The lifting and bending are too much for me,” she said.
Brown, a single mother, said she was denied disability assistance and has since been making ends meet for herself and her four underaged children by working part-time jobs as she can.
With her current part-time job doing community work through the  Dominican Center, Brown said her monthly income varies from $500 to $700 but her rent alone is $775 a month.
“I make it work,” she said. “My adult children help me out sometimes and the rest of the time, I do what I have to.”
Brown lives in a food desert, the term given to areas without sufficient access to healthy foods. She said even FoodShare benefits don’t feel like enough. She has no transportation and the closest grocery store to her is a Pick ‘N Save that is about a 20-minute walk from where she lives in the Amani neighborhood.
“Even with food stamps, shopping by my house is expensive,” Brown said. “And ridiculously expensive when I’m spending money daily because I can’t refrigerate food.”
Brown said she spent close to $50 a day on food the week her energy was disconnected.
“It is expensive to be poor. I don’t think people understand that,” said Nicole Thompson a community stakeholder.  “Food and gas are more expensive in this neighborhood (Amani) than it is in the suburbs.”
Brown said slumlords and other housing issues only add to her struggles.
“Your home should be your solace,” Brown said. “But how can I sit and try to think about a plan to progress my life when my house is falling into disrepair around me.”
When a home is falling into disrepair, people are encouraged to call the Department of Neighborhood Services, or DNS.
But “most of the people we serve aren’t going to call DNS because they don’t have anywhere to go,” said Lorenzya Polnitz, the director of community services for COA Youth and Family  Centers. “Yes, they might get put up in a hotel for a few days, but if I was already struggling to pay rent, how can I afford to move?”
George Hinton, the CEO of the Social Development Commission, said poverty is expensive in non-traditional ways as well.
“These homes, specifically in Milwaukee, are in such disrepair that their heat or air is going straight out of the window,” he said.
According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Milwaukee ranks second in poverty among the top 50 most populated cities in the United States, with 24.6% of the city living in poverty.
“Milwaukee never really developed a strong middle class,” Hinton said. “Rather than creating a business strategy like many other cities, we created a work strategy. So when the jobs left, so did a lot of people’s only source of income.”
Conor Williams, the economic policy analyst at the Community Advocates Public Policy Institute, said the deindustrialization that took place in the 1970s is still a significant contributor to poverty in Milwaukee.
As in much of the Midwest and other areas, a hollowing out of relatively well-paying manufacturing jobs occurred.
“Many families and individuals lost their economic footing during those times and have struggled to find it again,” he said. “And people have an idea that there is nothing they can do.”
According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Black people make up the largest portion of people in Milwaukee living in poverty at 43.2%, followed by whites at 22%, then Hispanics at 17%.
Hinton said Milwaukee’s segregation plays a role in its economy as well.
“Milwaukee was and continues to be one of the most highly segregated cities in the country,” he said. “It is easy to disenfranchise a people when they are geographically separated from others.”
According to Abra Fortson, the government affairs and executive support manager for the Social Development Commission, the organization has found barriers that keep people stuck in poverty. One is cognitive dissonance.
“People have a fear of moving out of poverty,” Fortson said. “They don’t want to do too well or make too much money because they may lose their government benefits and that fear of losing those crutches leaves them with no desire to be successful.”
Polnitz and Thompson said fear of the results of trying are also reasons that people who are struggling don’t always reach out for the help they may need.
“For a long time reaching out for help would result in people’s children being removed from their homes,” Thompson added. “So to avoid losing their kids, people stopped reaching out, and so now we have people that are choosing to just go without.”
Another barrier is the “isms,” discriminatory practices and beliefs based on stereotypes and ignorance.
“We could talk about redlining in the ’60s and its lasting effect on people of color in Milwaukee,” Fortson said. “Or we could talk about very recent reports of redlining or price gouging against (Black, Indigenous and other people of color) homeowners.” Redlining involves restricting financial and other services to residents of a particular area based on their race or ethnicity.
Trauma is also a barrier.
“The experience of poverty is extremely daunting, and it has a significant impact on the psyche of people growing up poor,” Hinton said. “People have developed a skill set on how to survive poverty but never to get out of poverty.”
The last barrier is systems and policies.
“Systems and policies consistently fail people,” said Fortson. “When economic opportunities come to Milwaukee they are never where the people who need the jobs most can reach them. That’s systems-fail.”
According to Brown, social services organizations can sometimes do more harm than good.
Brown recounted a time in which she wasted valuable time because she had to go to a social service organization’s office.
“I spent what could have been a full day of work sitting in an office because the organization’s communication was unclear,” Brown said.
“Now as someone who is already behind financially, I am missing work, which means money, to get help, and it just feels like no one cares,” Brown said.
Brown said if social services organizations were just more transparent about the requirements and the timeline for applying and getting assistance, people would be better off.
“It’s disappointing when programs can’t help you,” Brown said. “But it’s easier to just deny me the help than to have me waiting for help I’m never going to get. At least when I know I’m not getting the help, I can plan.”
According to Hinton, the poverty we see now was created by generations of systems and policies designed to disinvest in certain people and communities.
“This is what years and years of conditioning looks like,” he said. “Now, we have so many people who are more comfortable relying on a social service for help than moving toward success for themselves.”
Hinton said the only thing that will change poverty is for people to understand it.
“Our communities are ill-informed,” he said. “They don’t understand what they are experiencing so they don’t acknowledge it. We’ll never see change without acknowledgment.”
According to Thompson, a part of understanding poverty is understanding the mindset of those who experience it.
“Most people who are in poverty today were born into poverty,” she said. “And when you are born into poverty you operate from a different lens from someone who wasn’t.”
She said it’s not an easy mindset to escape because for some people the security net that is government assistance is all they’ve ever known.
“When I started making decent money and was no longer eligible for food stamps, I felt like my life was over,” she said. “You know like what I am going to do, how am I going to feed my kids?”
Hinton said understanding the way that all these things work to keep someone in poverty creates an understanding.
“If you live in certain parts of this city, you don’t have access to quality food, health care, quality education for your children, quality housing or a job with a life-sustaining wage,” he said. “And then you pair that with fear of success, discrimination, predatory property owners and ignorance.”
Thompson said the most important thing to understand is that poverty is not a choice.
“Nobody wants to be poor. People are just working with the hand they were dealt,” she said.
Rashaad Washington, the owner of Pro Painter USA and former owner of Pro Trade Job Development, a construction trade training program, said moving out of poverty is all about leveraging opportunities created for people in poverty.
“The GED programs, small business grants and free courses are all assets that can help someone help themselves,” he said. “But the problem with these types of programs is that they rarely advertise themselves.”
He said in his experience, it is then solely up to an individual to pull themselves up out of poverty.
“We know that it is a systemic issue so it should be addressed by both the government and the constituent, but we also know that’s not the case,” he said. “You should never be waiting for something because someone said they’re going to give it to you.”
Washington said it’s all about education and opportunities.
“When you know better, you do better,” he said.
Community Advocates Public Policy Institute produced a report on pathways to ending poverty in 2012.
“There are known ways to assist people in lifting themselves from poverty, there just a lack of sense of urgency to do it,” said Williams. “Right now, the U.S democratic capitalism is operating at its worst because it is exploiting people.”
He said the most effective way to reduce poverty is to invest in human capital.
“In the last 30 years, there has been a huge increase on how much money is spent on corrections,” he said. “We spend $1.4 billion on it. If we invested that same money into job training programs, we wouldn’t need as much on corrections.”
According to Williams, because people who are in poverty are urgently trying to pay bills, they don’t get to invest in themselves.
“Paid training allows people to invest in themselves,” he said. “Once you can invest in yourself, you can contribute economically and do well.”
Hinton said education is key.
“History informs us as to why we are where we are,” he said. “If you can understand how you got here, you can do your best not to be here again.”
Resources if you are in need
For questions or concerns about resources, you can text MKE to 73224.
For emergency assistance you can reach out to IMPACT 211 at 2-1-1
Here is a resource guide for tenants.
Here is a resource guide for homeowners.
Here is a resource guide on food.
Here is a resource guide on mental health.
Here is resource guide on substance abuse.

created: September 8, 2022


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52309334767_680cf2b28a_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
September 7, 2022

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: September 7, 2022

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

author: Ron Smith


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5 things to know and do the weekend of Sept. 9 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
September 9, 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.
Fanana Banana, an art collective serving Muslim, Middle Eastern and North African artists in Milwaukee, has collaborated with the Milwaukee Artist Resource Network, or MARN, on a new exhibition exploring issues of American identity through the Muslim perspective. The exhibition runs through Oct. 23, but the opening reception will be held from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9 at the MARN ART + CULTURE HUB, located at 191 N. Broadway. More information on the event and exhibition here.
The Silver City International Festival is back for an 11th year to celebrate the cultural diversity of Silver City. VIA CDC will host this event running from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 on West National Avenue between South 33rd and 35th streets. A full list of entertainment and vendors can be found here.
“Harvest Day” is Walnut Way Conservation Corporation’s annual celebration of Lindsay Heights’ “vibrant spirit, culture and history with local performers, music, cuisine, resource sharing and retail vendors.” The event takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10 at Fondy Park, located at 2200 W. Fond Du Lac Ave.
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The Hip Hop Caucus, a national nonprofit organization connecting hip-hop to civic engagement, is coming to Milwaukee as part of a nationwide tour to get out the vote. The event in Milwaukee runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10 at America’s Black Holocaust Museum, located at 401 W. North Ave. Free registration for the event here.
While Mexican Independence Day is not until Sept. 16, UMOS is hosting a Mexican Independence Day Festival from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 at 2701 S. Chase Ave.
VIBEZ Creative Studio is back out in the community with this paint and sip event. Paint is provided by VIBEZ, and sips will be provided by Triciclo Peru. The event runs from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11 at Triciclo Peru, located at 3801 W. Vliet St. Register for $10 here.

created: September 9, 2022

author: Sam Woods


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52343551538_d36107d9a4_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
September 8, 2022


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Post From Community: BBB Tip: Be safe when sharing back to school photos of your kids | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Lisa Schiller
September 9, 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.
With the school year starting again, social media is full of adorable back-to-school photos. Often, these pictures feature a child holding a “first day of school” sign with basic information, such as their name and grade. But before you jump on the trend and snap a similar picture of your little one, read these tips and be cautious about what you share.
More back-to-school tips from BBB.
See BBB’s article on sharing senior photos on Facebook, this scam alert about Facebook quizzes, and sharing your COVID-19 vaccine card on social media.
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Check out BBB’s new page dedicated to scams on social media.
For more tips for staying safe online, read BBB’s tips on staying cyber secure.
For more information or further inquiries, contact the Wisconsin BBB at www.bbb.org/wisconsin, 414-847-6000 or 1-800-273-1002. Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following the Wisconsin BBB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2020, people turned to BBB more than 220 million times for BBB Business Profiles on 6.2 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at BBB.org. There are local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada and Mexico, including BBB Serving Wisconsin which was founded in 1939 and serves the state of Wisconsin.

author: Lisa Schiller


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Post From Community: MCTS seeks teens for new transit teen advisory board | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jacqueline Zeledon
September 9, 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 MCTS Transit Teen Advisory Board is a new community outreach program open to Milwaukee County residents ages 14 to 18. This exciting initiative empowers teenage residents to advocate for MCTS through fun and interactive sessions designed to develop their leadership skills. Teens will learn and share information about how public transportation affects them, their peers and their families.
Applications to join are now being accepted through Friday, September 30. The term begins in October 2022 and runs through June 2023. The board will meet twice a month, after school at the MCTS Administration Building.
MCTS is seeking up to 22 community-minded teens. Each member will represent one of Milwaukee County’s supervisory districts. Members will receive a monthly $40 stipend and bus fare.
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Who is eligible:
Please email any questions to Community@mcts.org.
Editor’s Note: The shortened link for the new advisory board is RideMCTS.com/TeenAdvisoryBoard.

author: Jacqueline Zeledon


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unnamed-1.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
September 9, 2022

author: Dwayne Burtin


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NNS on ‘Lake Effect’: 5 things to do this September in Milwaukee neighborhoods | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
September 9, 2022
NNS’ Sam Woods joined WUWM 89.7-FM, Milwaukee’s NPR and Joy Powers of “Lake Effect” for the September installment of our monthly “5 Things” feature.
This month includes the Silver City International Festival; Music on the Beerline; a live reading of the upcoming play “Where did we sit on the bus?” and a showing of the new documentary, “The Rebellious Life of Rosa Parks,”; the “See Me Because” art show; and the Stop the Violence Walk/Run for Peace.
Listen to the interview here.
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48706968591_2de4ec7da3_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
September 8, 2022


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Post For Community: Alverno College report reveals pathways and barriers to public office for women | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Kelly Cole
September 9, 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 latest report from the Alverno College Research Center for Women and Girls (RCWG) is out. Wisconsin Women in Public Life ― Elected Officials sheds some light on women in public office, the various pathways they took to achieve success, and the challenges they overcame while running for office and serving as an elected official.
In the fall of 2020, the RCWG surveyed 98 women who held public office across Wisconsin in partnership with the Strategic Research Institute of St. Norbert College. The non-partisan survey’s findings included:
The findings were then used to develop questions asked during in-depth interviews conducted in 2021 with some of the respondents. The findings from the qualitative interviews include:
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Based upon the study’s findings, the report also offers suggestions for empowering women to run for public office. These include:
“What I hope the current report makes clear is that we cannot take democracy for granted; democracy is foundational to the well-being of all communities, and women’s voices are vital to that well-being,” said Lindsey Harness, Ph.D., director of the Alverno College Research Center for Women and Girls. “It will take all of us working to ‘build the bench’ in order to ensure that all women are equally represented in political office. Without a diversity of voices, our democracy does and will suffer. It is for this reason that RCWG seeks to listen to and amplify the voices of women and girls, especially those who may face marginalization beyond their gender. Thus, it is RCWG’s hope that this report is seen and experienced as a call to action.”
The full Wisconsin Women in Public Life ― Elected Officials report can be found at www.alverno.edu/Research. The project is sponsored by the State of Wisconsin Women’s Council and the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee.
The Alverno College Research Center for Women and Girls is a center devoted to taking scholarly research that applies to the real world where it can inspire, transform and support initiatives that improve the lives of women and girls in Wisconsin and beyond. The center also partners with community agencies to foster discussion about important issues and identifies emerging research topics that can make a difference in women’s lives.
About Alverno College
Founded in 1887 by the School Sisters of St. Francis, Alverno College promotes the academic, personal and professional development of its students in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Undergraduate programs for women are offered in more than 60 areas of study, and graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology, school psychology, music therapy, music and liturgy, and business are open to women and men.
A leader in higher education innovation, Alverno has earned international accolades for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, which emphasizes hands-on experience and develops in-demand skills. The college, Wisconsin’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution, ranks among the top schools in the Midwest for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and innovation by U.S. News & World Report. For two years, The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education named Alverno the country’s most inspiring college.
Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Alverno College is a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college.

author: Kelly Cole


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Women-in-Public-Life_Cover-1500px.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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September 6, 2022

created: September 6, 2022

author: Name *


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Post From Community: Justice for All: The Legacy of Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Lucas Johnson
September 9, 2022
Photo: Chief Justice Abrahamson, August 2011. Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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.
“Justice for All: The Legacy of Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson” features Chief Justice Abrahamson’s groundbreaking career, her impact on the Wisconsin court system, and her place in history through text and personal photos. It highlights causes she championed: women’s rights, civil rights, public understanding of the court system, and the importance of an independent judiciary, and presents these themes through archival photos, video clips, stories, quotations, and a link to a comprehensive interactive website.
Milwaukee City Hall Rotunda: 200 E Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53202
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Sept. 1 – Sept. 30
(open during City Hall hours)
Free
Contact info: (414) 286-2489

author: Lucas Johnson


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wl-2019-05-shirley-abrahamson-legacy-fade-1200×630 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
September 9, 2022


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Post From Community: Playwright Marie Kohler to appear at Boswell Books on Monday, September 19 at 6:30 p.m. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Cindy Moran
September 9, 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.
Name of Event: Marie Kohler appears at Boswell Book Company to talk about her play Boswell and to present scene readings from the play with director Laura Gordon and American Players Theatre actors Brian Mani and Ty Fanning.
Dates & Time: Monday, September 19, 6:30 pm
Description: Join Milwaukee-based playwright Marie Kohler as she visits Boswell Books for a presentation and dramatic scene reading from her play titled Boswell. Marie will share stories about the journey of her play Boswell from her discovery of his Journals in the library of her family home, to being inspired to write the first version of the play for Renaissance Theaterworks, to its successful run at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2019 and now to its exciting opening Off-Broadway this fall. Boswell director Laura Gordon and accomplished American Player Theatre actors Brian Mani and Ty Fanning will join Marie and present scene readings from the play.
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Kohler’s Boswell is set in the 1950s when an American graduate student discovers lost journals from James Boswell’s wild and woolly Tour of the Scottish Hebrides with Samuel Johnson. She falls in love with the lively narrative and the possibility of a more authentic life.
Location: Boswell Book Company; 2559 N Downer Ave, Milwaukee, WI. 53211 Cost: The event is free to attend, but advance registration is required.
Click here to register at mariekohlermke.eventbrite.com
Website: Boswell Book Company
Phone: 414-332-1181
About Marie Kohler
Marie Kohler is a director, writer, actor, dramaturg and award-winning playwright. Kohler is a co-founder of Renaissance Theaterworks, where she served as Co-Artistic Director from 1993 – 2012 and Resident Playwright from 1993 – 2020. She is a freelance writer for local and national publications and has been Playwright Respondent and Director Respondent at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. She was named Artist of the Year by the Milwaukee Arts Board in 2005 and Friend of the Arts in 2020. mariekohler.com/
About the play
The Edit gives Kohler’s play 4 stars and calls it: “an excellent example of history being brought to life, and it undoubtedly is a fabulous platform for the talent it showcases.” And from Broadway Baby, which also gives the play 4 stars: “There is an infectious energy and clear commitment to detail in this production: it is very well loved and immaculately researched . . . and playwright Marie Kohler certainly seems to enjoy the opportunities to draw out elements of bawdiness and humour to lighten the earnest literary tone.”
To learn more about Boswell and its Off-Broadway run this fall, please visit mariekohler.com/ for the latest updates.

author: Cindy Moran


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Post From Community: Program shines light on difficulties human trafficking survivors face | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Patrick McSweeney
September 9, 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.
Hundreds of people ranging from social workers to first responders, lawyers, law enforcement officers and mental health therapists are expected to attend the ninth annual The Epidemic and The Game on Saturday, Sept. 17.
“Many human trafficking survivors face difficulties that are seldom talked about, keeping them from successfully changing their lives,” said Debbie Lassiter, D. Div., CEO and co-founder of Convergence Resource Center (CRC), which is sponsoring the program. “Whether it be the grief of returning to a way of life they no longer are accustomed to, mental health struggles, financial burdens, or the process of developing a new identity and healthier being, we’re here to help survivors overcome the Life.”
The three-hour event will include round table discussions along with presentations on the challenges of living after experiencing human trafficking. The program begins at 9 a.m.at Cardinal Stritch University’s campus in Glendale and also will be live streamed online. Registration for The Epidemic and the Game is free and available on Convergence Resource Center’s website.
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Lassiter said the program’s theme, “Human Trafficking and Overcoming The Life After,” will feature survivors and their support team members who will talk about what Overcoming the Life is all about and how to be of assistance and aid to survivors making this change.
“I believe that my primary purpose is to be able to help the next woman in need,” said Sarah Demerath, a human trafficking survivor who is now a CRC facilitator, victims advocate and graduate of The Epidemic and The Game. “I have conquered many challenges and hardships in my life, including a 19-year battle with heroin addiction, homelessness, incarcerations and other traumas. I know how hard it is to ask for help and I want survivors to know we will walk beside them on this journey. They aren’t alone.”
Other CRC staff taking part in the program include Desirae Casarez and Dr. Michele Cohen. Casarez is a survivor and a CRC facilitator. Cohen is a psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of complex and acute trauma, secondary traumatic stress, adjustment, anxiety and mood-related challenges, self-esteem, chronic and persistent mental health issues, and grief counseling.
About Convergence Resource Center
Convergence Resource Center (CRC) is a faith-based nonprofit community service organization providing support for adult women rebuilding their lives after trauma with an emphasis on justice involved women and female survivors of human trafficking. It collaborates with more than 50 community service organizations locally and nationally through partnerships and membership in several human trafficking task forces and recently opened an office in Madison. To learn more, call (414) 979-0591 or visit www.convergenceresource.org.
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For More Information
Patrick McSweeney                                Debbie Lassiter, D. Div.
McSweeney Public Relations                Convergence Resource Center
(262) 320-7288                                         (414) 979-0591
patrickmcsweeney22@gmail.com        ceo@convergenceresource.org

author: Patrick McSweeney


text:
Convergence-Resource-Center-logo.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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September 7, 2022


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Post From Community: Radio Milwaukee names public media leader Maxie C. Jackson III as new Executive Director | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jeff Bentoff
September 9, 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.
Public media leader Maxie C. Jackson III has been named executive director of non-commercial 88Nine Radio Milwaukee (WYMS-88.9FM), the station announced Wednesday.
Bringing over three decades of management, content and audience development experience in radio, television, digital and live events, Jackson most recently served as the Chief Content Officer for New England Public Media (NEPM).
“Maxie is a public media powerhouse,” said Erickajoy Daniels, chair of the Radio Milwaukee executive director search committee. “From programming to management to audience development, he brings comprehensive and national experience to the role of executive director. Our board of directors is thrilled to be bringing Maxie to Milwaukee and looks forward to the impact he will have on the organization and the city at large.”
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Prior to NEPM, Jackson served as a public media consultant and leader of two national media organizations, Pacifica Foundation and National Federation of Community Broadcasters. He also served in executive roles at public radio stations WCPN, WNYC, WETA and WEAA.
“I’ve had the pleasure of serving a diverse portfolio of audiences and organizations and look forward to bringing those experiences forward in my role as executive director,” Jackson said. “Radio Milwaukee’s mission of championing music, arts and culture, neighborhoods and community organizations strongly aligns with my passion for using public media to celebrate the nuance and intersectionality found throughout the patchwork of communities across the nation. More directly, public service and institution building are my motivations.”
During his public media career, Jackson has impacted public media funding, technology, recruitment and programming through service on committees initiated by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Public Radio Exchange, British Broadcasting Corporation, the African American Public Radio Consortium and National Public Radio. Jackson is a graduate of Morehouse College (BA) and Michigan State University (MA).
As Executive Director, Jackson is responsible for management of the station and leading the organization. He officially started in his role today, Sept. 7, and will be establishing residency in Milwaukee effective immediately. His wife will relocate following their youngest son’s graduation from high school in May 2023. In the interim, Jackson will commute on a weekly basis.
The Radio Milwaukee board began an extensive national search for a new executive director in February 2022 after the prior director resigned. Community leader and former Radio Milwaukee board president Danae Davis served as interim executive director for the organization from February to August.
A search committee made up of current board members, a community member and a Radio Milwaukee staff member interviewed numerous local and national candidates. Cory R. King of Kittleman & Associates, LLC conducted the search for the board.
News Media:
–       Headshots of Jackson can be downloaded at: https://bit.ly/MaxieJackson
–       For more information and interview requests with Jackson or Daniels, contact Jeff Bentoff at jeff@radiomilwaukee.org or (414) 465-8710.
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Radio Milwaukee (WYMS-FM 88.9) has been a positive force for Milwaukee on air, online and in the community since its 2007 launch. Through its creative programming and content, non-commercial Radio Milwaukee utilizes a multimedia platform for creating a better, more inclusive and engaged community. 88.9FM broadcasts and streams a unique blend of musical styles, including at least one song by a Milwaukee artist each hour, and short Uniquely Milwaukee stories that foster engagement and positive change. On 88.9FM-HD2 and hyfin.org, the station operates an Urban Alternative channel, HYFIN, that focuses on connecting with young, diverse audiences through the full spectrum of Black music. The organization runs a 24/7 all-Milwaukee music channel at 414Music.fm online and 88.9FM-HD3 on-air. The award-winning station receives the great majority of its financial support from its 6,000 contributing members, more than 150 underwriters and 25 foundations. Learn more about Radio Milwaukee and stream the station at RadioMilwaukee.org or via the 88Nine mobile app.

author: Jeff Bentoff


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Dwayne Burtin
September 9, 2022


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Here’s what to know about abortion access in post-Roe Wisconsin | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Samantha McCabe / Wisconsin Watch
September 11, 2022
Since the U.S. Supreme Court revoked the federal constitutional right to an abortion in June, Wisconsin physicians have operated under a near-total abortion ban from the 1800s. Physicians call the language articulating the ban’s narrow exceptions vague. That makes the question of what they should do in certain situations open to interpretation.
Legal questions surround Wisconsin’s abortion law as well. Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul is suing legislative leaders over the 173-year-old ban, hoping state courts will agree with his argument that it conflicts with more recent abortion legislation and shouldn’t be enforced.
Amid the uncertainty, Wisconsin Watch spoke to experts to answer your questions about abortion and reproductive rights in the state.
Still have questions? 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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While Wisconsin clinics have halted elective abortions since the Supreme Court ruling, abortions remain legal in neighboring states, including Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois.
Some states have attempted to ban leaving the state for an abortion, but “Wisconsin has no such law,” said Diane Welsh, who specializes in health law at the Madison-based firm Pines Bach.
In Illinois, abortion remains legal until the fetus reaches “viability,” the time at which an attending physician determines there is a “significant likelihood of a fetus’ sustained survival outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures.” That usually happens around 24 weeks of pregnancy — determined by counting from the first day of the pregnant person’s last period. But viability can differ between pregnancies.
Illinois clinics are not legally required to contact a parent or legal guardian for those under 18. Illinois also does not require patients to endure a waiting period, view an ultrasound or receive information from the state, as some other states do.
In Minnesota, the Supreme Courtrecognizes a state constitutional right to abortion, and in July, a judge struck down certain restrictions, including a 24-hour waiting period and a requirement that parents or a legal guardian of a minor seeking an abortion be notified.
Like in Illinois, abortion in Minnesota is legal until viability.
Abortion access in Iowa remains legal, although that could change. Iowa currently bans abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. That’s 22 weeks after the last menstrual period. This deadline has exceptions to protect the health of a pregnant person or save the person’s life.
Iowa requires people seeking an abortion to sit through a counseling session and wait at least a day before the procedure. The state requires parental or guardian notification for patients aged 17 years or younger.
Planned Parenthood clinics in Wisconsin can help patients navigate out-of-state appointments. That includes providing information and financial support, said Mike Murray, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin.
The organization also offers pre- and post-abortion care. For instance, if you don’t know the exact date of your last menstrual period, you can schedule a free “pregnancy assessment and ultrasound dating” at clinics in Madison, Milwaukee and Sheboygan.
AbortionFinder.org offers a full list of abortion providers.
If you need help with funding, here are a few of your options:
Wisconsin’s abortion ban does not include criminal penalties for a pregnant person obtaining an abortion, so you cannot face prosecution for obtaining an abortion in or outside the state. Instead, Wisconsin’s law leaves providers of in-state abortions open to prosecution.
“From a purely medical standpoint, I would want my patient to be able to be entirely honest so I could offer her the best possible management for her concerns in the most holistic manner, addressing not only her physical concerns but also emotional, social, and whatever else these challenging situations involve,” said Dr. Kristin Lyerly, a Green Bay obstetrician and gynecologist.
Additionally, federal privacy law prohibits health care providers from disclosing information about a patient’s post-abortion care, Welsh said.
Still, patients could become involved in an investigation of an abortion provider, which could include collection of evidence like cell phones, Lyerly said.
Patients should be careful about sharing information, said Lyerly, who recommends that recipients of abortion care outside of Wisconsin call the clinic where they received care to seek guidance. Many clinics offer 24-hour hotlines for issues that may arise. If the complications worsen quickly, though, call 911 or show up to the nearest emergency room.
The lone exception in Wisconsin’s abortion ban is for life-saving “therapeutic abortions.” The law says the procedure must be deemed necessary “or is advised by 2 other physicians as necessary, to save the life of the mother.” There are myriad circumstances in which an abortion might be necessary to prevent disease or death, OB-GYNs say.
Professional associations, health systems and hospitals — even physicians themselves — are developing policies to guide pregnancy-related care, as Wisconsin Watch recently reported. But whatever advice they provide will not be binding — nor universally applicable. The circumstances under which a person will receive an abortion in Wisconsin will ultimately depend on the health system or hospital — and, when it comes down to it, individual doctors.
That means medical interventions during a pregnancy could vary widely. The uncertainty may cause delays in intervention, especially in rural areas.
If you have a life-threatening condition and you’re pregnant, immediately seek a doctor’s guidance.
Patients who feel that a physician or health system isn’t promptly addressing their needs should “seek a second opinion, from another provider — including a provider in a neighboring state,” Welsh said.
Yes. Emergency contraception — often called the morning-after pill — remains legal and available for purchase in Wisconsin. The most well-known brand is called Plan B, but Aftera, Take Action, and My Way are all available without a prescription. Emergency contraception does not function as an abortion — it works by preventing or delaying ovulation to prevent fertilization within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
Planned Parenthood offers emergency prescription medication to walk-ins during their business hours. That requires a brief visit with a health care provider on site. Wisconsin pharmacies continue to provide emergency contraception, although some limit how many one person may buy at once. Health care providers advise against stockpiling them anyway, since they expire after about a year. The pill typically costs $40-$50.
Some emergency contraception pills are less effective for people weighing more than 165 pounds, research shows. Planned Parenthood typically offers a version called Ella, which remains effective for people weighing up to 195 pounds.
Yes. Almost immediately after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, some people who use period-tracking apps like Clue and Flo began deleting them, fearful that their data could be used against them.
The Federal Trade Commission has warned tech companies against misusing data from those seeking reproductive health care following an executive order from President Joe Biden.  Congress is examining additional protections, but experts still recommend caution.
You should be concerned about data privacy in general, especially when seeking an abortion, said Dorothea Salo, a professor who specializes in information security and privacy at the Information School of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Be especially wary of most commercial search engines, she said.
“We know they collect and retain search data, including search queries; we know they associate that data with individual searchers; we know they share, aggregate and sell it all over creation; we know that law enforcement agencies access it,” said Salo, who uses DuckDuckGo.
As far as browsers go, Brave is more privacy-centered than Google Chrome.
Additionally, federal law allows internet providers to analyze, share and sell data on individual customers’ internet use habits. Even VPNs — virtual private networks — are not guaranteed to protect your data, Salo cautioned.
If this sounds overwhelming, Salo recommends starting with a step-by-step digital security guide, like this one from the Digital Defense Fund.
Yes. Just as traveling across state lines for an abortion remains legal in Wisconsin, so does helping someone do so.
No. Wisconsinites must travel to another state to legally receive abortion pills in the mail.
Wisconsin law bars anyone other than a physician to administer abortion medication, and only after they perform a physical examination and share certain information. While the law doesn’t make recipients of mailed abortion pills subject to criminal prosecution, the person shipping the pills could face charges, Welsh said.
One legal workaround: picking up pills in another state. Certain Planned Parenthood locations outside of Wisconsin offer telehealth visits for the abortion pill. The closest is in Illinois. Accessing the abortion pill after your telehealth visit would require picking up a prescription while visiting that state or having them mailed to an address inside of that state.
Pregnancy clinics, also known as “crisis pregnancy centers” or CPCs, typically present themselves as health clinics, but they primarily aim to dissuade pregnant people from accessing abortions — including by spreading misinformation, research shows. Often religiously affiliated, some centers provide pregnancy tests, testing for sexually transmitted infections and ultrasounds, “however, the images are frequently non-diagnostic and often obtained by untrained, unlicensed staff,” according to a review of academic literature on CPCs published by the International Journal of Women’s Health.
“These facilities engage in purposefully manipulative and deceptive practices that spread misinformation on sexual health and abortion,” the review found. “CPCs have also been shown to delay access to medically legitimate prenatal and abortion care, which negatively impacts maternal health.”
CPCs may be located close to reputable abortion clinics and designed like a normal physician’s office. These unregulated centers are not medical establishments, so they are not bound by any privacy laws, and have been shown to collect patients’ personal data.
The Crisis Pregnancy Center Map, a project of two professors at the University of Georgia College of Public Health, tracks 58 known centers in Wisconsin.
Disclosure: Pines Bach provides pro bono legal representation to the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, but it did not provide legal services related to or participate in the writing or editing of this report. 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.

created: September 11, 2022

author: Samantha McCabe / Wisconsin Watch


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Dwayne Burtin
September 9, 2022


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Dwayne Burtin
September 9, 2022


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5 things to know and do this week in Milwaukee: Sept. 12 to Sept. 16 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
September 12, 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 Near West Side Partners hosts a week of events highlighting gems on the Near West Side. Among the festivities is the Rev-Up MKE pitch competition, where entrepreneurs compete for support in opening their business. A full list of the week’s events can be found here. More information on the pitch competition here. In case you missed it: Business class is in session: Catching up with previous Rev-Up MKE winners and finalists
Using archival footage, new interviews and excerpts from her writings, “The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks” is a documentary on the civil rights icon that goes beyond her famous refusal to yield her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama. The documentary will be shown at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 14 and 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15 at the Oriental Theatre, located at 2230 N. Farwell Ave.
The African American Roundtable continues to host monthly phone banking events to talk with residents about public safety and the power of “participatory budgeting,” referring to the process of residents taking an active role in crafting local government budgets. This event starts at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15. Register here.
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Learn about the history of Muslim astronomers at this event organized by the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition and Muslim student organizations at UW-Milwaukee and Marquette University. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a food reception, while the program begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15 at the UWM Manfred Olsen Planetarium, located at 1900 E. Kenwood Blvd. Students can register here for $10; general public $15.
Learn about current challenges to voting for people with disabilities and how those challenges can be addressed in this webinar hosted by the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County, and the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition. The virtual event runs from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15. Register for free here. In case you missed it: Advocates for voters with disabilities express angst over case that’s before Wisconsin Supreme Court

created: September 12, 2022


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Ron Smith
September 11, 2022


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NNS Spotlight: ‘I get to ask questions’: Elmer Moore Jr. plunges into new role at Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
September 13, 2022
Elmer Moore Jr. says he has the best of everything in his new role as the CEO of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, or WHEDA.
WHEDA is a state agency that works to provide  affordable housing and improve the quality of life of Wisconsinites.
Moore, 44, was appointed by Gov. Tony Evers in March and has been spending his days since gaining a clear understanding of his job.
“My primary job right now is learning,” Moore said. “This role includes a lot, like I’m a part of the governor’s cabinet.”
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He said though he never imagined being in his role, it’s exactly where he’s meant to be.
“I am a part of the lucky minority that has absolute clarity about why I exist. I understand that my existence is to be catalytic to communities,” he said. “WHEDA is an incredibly interesting organization with a lot of amazing resources, and those resources start at the brain power and mission of the leadership team. “
Moore said being part of that leadership team is aligned with his purpose of centering on humans.
“Elmer is committed to helping other people and initiatives be the best they can be,” said Lafayette Crump,  Milwaukee’s city development commissioner. “He does care a great deal about helping others access their full potential.”
Originally from Baltimore, Moore came to Milwaukee in 2013 with no interest in staying in the city. But said he fell in love with Milwaukee.
“Joaquín Altoro (the former CEO of WHEDA) took me on a two-and-a-half-hour driving tour of the city and that changed the geography of the city for me,” he said. “I started to see it as a city of neighborhoods and cultural history.”
Moore has held several roles since moving to the city, including a long stint with Scale Up Milwaukee, an initiative that works with entrepreneurs to build economic growth for the entire region.
He also serves as chairman of the board for the Social Development Commission, board member for the Harbor District and as an adjunct instructor for Marquette University and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, instructing students on entrepreneurship.
He said all these roles have aligned with his purpose.
“My first week of business school someone explained that you can change your industry, or you can (change) your function,” he said. “Well, I don’t know what my function is, and I definitely don’t have an industry, and that’s how I’m doing what I’m doing.”
Moore has a bachelor’s degree from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia Business School in New York City.
“Elmer is so passionate about the community. I met him in a discussion about equity,” said Abra Fortson, the government affairs and executive support manager for the Social Development Commission. “He is enthusiastic about everything Milwaukee.”
Said George Hinton, the CEO of the Social Development Commission, “He’s a leader who is not afraid to roll up sleeves. He’s not afraid to dive in and have those difficult conversations.”
Moore plans to leverage his background in business development, job creation, strategic partnerships, and community engagement to support WHEDA’s commitment to housing equity and economic opportunity.
“The value in being an outsider coming into this organization is I get to ask questions,” he said. “It’s helpful. It opens how we introduce and reintroduce ourselves and how to connect and reconnect.”
Moore said WHEDA does extremely complicated work, and his vision is that the organization continues to reach the people it serves.
“I want people to know what WHEDA does, so they know when to call us,” he said.
WHEDA focuses on affordable housing, but Moore said that doesn’t always look like what we might imagine.
“WHEDA is helping people buy homes on an individual level, helping developers build buildings on another level and WHEDA is even adding black millionaires to the work through our work and support of developers like Brandon Rule.”
Outside of his work, Moore said he spends a lot of time with his wife and son. He’s also an avid biker.
“During the pandemic, Elmer started baking,” said Crump. “He got pretty good at baking delicious bread and the commitment he put into learning how to bake and create his flavors of bread is a testament to the way he approaches everything.”
Despite Moore’s many accomplishments, he said he’s happy about his work for another reason.
“I can’t believe the things I’ve done,” he said. “I’ve made my mother proud.”

created: September 13, 2022

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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Ron Smith
September 12, 2022


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Ron Smith
September 12, 2022


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Trauma in your past? It affects who you are and how you react today | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
September 14, 2022
Have you ever wondered why you do the things you do? Why you feel the things you feel? Why those feelings sometimes turn to uncontrollable anger?
Or sadness?
Or fear?
In scenarios like that, it’s easy to ask the “wrong” question: as in, “What’s wrong with me?”
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But experts say that attitude doesn’t lead to the root cause of many behavioral and mental health problems. There isn’t something wrong with you. The answer, instead, lies in the past.
The better question is: “What has happened to me?”
This, according to the literature and the experts, is the basis of trauma-informed care, an understanding of which is driving a relatively new approach in behavioral health that is being put into practice, not just in therapy settings, but in workplaces.
So, what is trauma-informed care?
It is a process that has been adopted by health care providers, business and government entities, among others, to better serve clients – and their own employees— who have experienced trauma.
In practice, it is a set of guidelines to make workplaces and care settings more understanding of trauma and its effects.
Here’s what it isn’t.
It isn’t a means to give up or give in to your past traumas, as in, “this is just the way I am.” It is a way of understanding what has shaped you and your behaviors and, if change is important to you, changing that.
“It about building the resiliency within and trusting yourself to make the right decision,” said Brandon Currie, CEO of STRYV365, a youth development organization in the city that focuses on a trauma-informed approach.
Traumatic events, high-stress situations a person experiences, can occur at any stage of life.
Some common traumatic events occur in childhood. These are called ACEs – Adverse Childhood Experiences. ACEs can involve child neglect, abuse and the presence of substance abuse in the home, to name a few.
One in six adults have experienced four or more ACEs in their life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Emily Mazzulla, chief trauma and resilience psychologist for Scaling Wellness in Milwaukee, or SWIM, an organization that advocates for trauma treatment in the city, said a person’s response to trauma will differ depending on the event. Some people may experience a sustained change in mood and behavior while others might avoid things that remind them of the event.
Mazzulla said that people might be able to tell if they have trauma if they find themselves reliving the event or feeling as they did when the event occurred. Or they might find themselves thinking about an event when they don’t want to. Trauma can also disrupt thinking and is associated often with strong negative feelings such as anger, fear or sadness.
Mazzulla defined trauma-informed care this way:
“Trauma-informed care recognizes the role of trauma and responds in a way that supports and encourages engagement of people who have had traumatic experiences,” Mazzulla said.
Mazzulla based much of her definition on the “Four R’s approach,” which details how trauma can be noticed and addressed.
The four R’s of trauma, as defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, include:
Lia Knox, a behavioral health consultant and psychologist in Milwaukee and contributor to Black Space, a mental health space for people of color, works specifically with workplaces to ensure trauma-informed policies are implemented. In her work, she relies heavily on six guiding principles.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lays out these six guiding principles for trauma-informed care:
Currie said traumatic situations can often become normalized, even part of the daily routine. An integral part of his organization’s approach is introducing kids to insights on how to manage their body’s reactions to stress by finding outlets to overcome it.
Knox said it’s important to destigmatize talking about traumatic events.
“It’s OK to talk about past and current trauma,” Knox said. “Whenever we talk about something that may have happened to us that we feel is shameful, embarrassing or hurtful, we tend to shut it down . . . without realizing the person sitting next to us or across from us may have experienced the same thing or something similar, and that person could be our lifeline.”
Some resources to know
Mental health professionals can help individuals deal with trauma. If you’re looking for mental health resources, check out our previous NNS reporting.
Wellpoint Care Network, previously SaintA, offers trauma-informed care services for kids at locations around the city. Its main campus is located at 8901 W. Capitol Drive. Call 414-463-1880.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services offers ways to reduce toxic stress and address trauma through its Resilient Wisconsin program.

created: September 14, 2022

author: Matt Martinez


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Ron Smith
September 13, 2022


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Acts Housing has launched program to buy homes to be resold to residents at affordable prices | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
September 15, 2022
Milwaukee County’s American Rescue Plan Act Task Force has recommended investing $2.5 million in Acts Housing’s recently launched Homeowner Acquisition Fund.
The fund will be used to purchase Milwaukee homes and resell them at affordable prices to residents.
The organization broke its own record in 2021, helping 305 families purchase homes. But its president and CEO, Michael Gosman, believed the organization can do more.
“While I’m thrilled, it’s not enough,” Gosman said in April.
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Acts Housing vice president of real estate, Dorothy York, said the fund will give clients a shot at a new home without competing with investors who can pay more to purchase properties.
“Over the last few years, we’ve had people do the work but still struggle to compete for a home,” York said. “Residents are doing everything they need to do and are willing to pay what investors are willing to pay but can’t compete with the cash offers investors can make.”
The fund, for which the organization is working to raise $10 million, will be used to purchase at least 100 homes in 2023 and to resell them to individual buyers.
“Access to inventory has been a roadblock,” York said. “The Homeowner Acquisition Fund will make homes available and create more homeowners in general.”
Homes purchased will be available to residents who complete homebuyer education through any agency, York said.
Some agencies that offer homebuyer education are Acts Housing, Housing Resources Inc., GreenPath Financial Wellness and the United Community Center.
Acts Housing leaders wrote to the both the city and the county for funds to support the acquisition fund. Last Thursday, the county’s task force supported their request.
Acts Housing is now looking for local contractors to help rehabilitate homes and is hiring people to work on the acquisition fund.
Acts Housing is collecting private funds. Click here to learn how to donate.
You can follow the group’s LinkedIn account and stay up to date on its website.

created: September 15, 2022


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Ron Smith
September 14, 2022


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Post From Community: Development teams announced for Homes MKE Initiative | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Department of City Development
September 15, 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.
MILWAUKEE – The Department of City Development (DCD) is announcing the development teams selected to participate in the Homes MKE initiative. Through a competitive RFP process, these development teams will work with DCD and community partners to renovate vacant City-owned residential properties that will help build stronger neighborhoods throughout Milwaukee.
The selected development teams are a mix of emerging developers, for-profit developers, and non-profit developers. They include: Acts Community Development, Advanced Investors, FIT Investment Group, LLC/Westcare Wisconsin, Inc., Maures Development Group, One 5 Olive/Milwaukee Community Land Trust, Rico Love Foundation LLC/Mayfield Properties, Strong Blocks, CME Development, LLC, Even Life, Inc., Ezekiel Community Development, Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, Servant Manor, T.A.S. Solutions, LLC, Walnut Way Conservation Corp./Silicon Pastures II, LLC, and Walters Renovations, LLC.
“Growing up in Milwaukee, I experienced the effects of housing insecurity like many residents and families currently are. This is personal for me, so we are working to deploy the Homes MKE initiative to revitalize vacant residential properties into renovated homes,” said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. “Together with our partners in the development community, we are building stronger neighborhoods, promoting homeownership, and working to ensure every Milwaukeean has access to the quality, affordable housing they need.”
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The Milwaukee Common Council will consider the selected development teams for Homes MKE through File #220656, which will first be heard by the Zoning, Neighborhoods, and Development (ZND) Committee on Tuesday, September 13. After Common Council approval, DCD will execute development agreements with the selected teams and begin implementation of Homes MKE.
In 2021, Mayor Cavalier Johnson and members of the Milwaukee Common Council allocated $15 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to DCD for the Homes MKE program. The goal is to renovate vacant houses in the City’s inventory of tax-foreclosed residential properties and return them to productive use.
The goals of Homes MKE are to:
Stay up-to-date on Homes MKE at milwaukee.gov/homes.mke.


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September 14, 2022


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Post From Community: Mayor Cavalier Johnson praises $3.2 million from U.S. Department of Commerce to spur business growth in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Department of City Development
September 15, 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.
MILWAUKEE – Mayor Cavalier Johnson is praising the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) for awarding a $3.2 million grant to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee to build infrastructure and develop the Kneeland Properties site in the Menomonee Valley. This grant is funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act and EDA’s Coal Communities Commitment.
The Kneeland Properties site was used as a coal storage yard for nearly a century and has yet to see redevelopment. As a significant amount of real estate around the area had long been used for coal storage, the City of Milwaukee and its partners have been working to prepare these parcels for redevelopment by remediating contamination, planning for infrastructure, and recruiting new development that benefits the community.
This grant will support light industrial development and create jobs that were contemplated in the Menomonee Valley 2.0 Plan, as part of the East Valley Gateway FaB Cluster. The site will also include an extension of the Menomonee Valley Riverwalk. The EDA investment will be matched with $798,540 in local funds, and is expected to create 140 jobs and generate $10.5 million in private investment. The City of Milwaukee is working with Menomonee Valley Partners and other local organizations on this redevelopment effort.
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In praising this federal grant funding from the EDA, Mayor Johnson released the following statement:
For years, the Menomonee Valley has witnessed new industrial development and robust economic growth. The Kneeland Properties site is one of the remaining parcels in the Valley that will boost this positive momentum. New investment at the Kneeland Properties site will create manufacturing jobs for local residents that will generate economic growth in our city, our state, and our region.
I’m grateful for the support of President Joe Biden, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and our partners in Wisconsin’s Congressional Delegation for delivering this federal funding to Milwaukee. With this EDA grant, Milwaukee’s Redevelopment Authority will have the tools to build new infrastructure and prepare this site for redevelopment.
This is the power of partnerships on full display. I am looking forward to returning this site to productive use, generating new economic activity, and realizing the full potential of the Menomonee Valley. Thank you to the President and our federal partners for helping move Milwaukee forward.
This grant is funded under EDA’s American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance program, which makes $500 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance federal grant funding available to American communities, including Milwaukee. The Economic Adjustment Assistance program is EDA’s most flexible program, and grants made under this program are helping hundreds of communities across the nation plan, build, innovate, and put people back to work through construction or non-construction projects designed to meet local needs. EDA’s Coal Communities Commitment allocates $300 million to support coal communities as they recover from the pandemic and to help them create new jobs and opportunities, including through the creation or expansion of a new industry sector.


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Post From Community: U.S. News & World Report recognizes Alverno for strong commitment to teaching, innovation | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Kelly Cole
September 15, 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.
Alverno College was recognized for its strong commitment to teaching in rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report. The college was also highlighted as the most innovative school in Wisconsin. The publication’s 2023 America’s Best Colleges guidebook also noted Alverno’s first-year student experiences, senior capstone, social mobility, ethnic diversity, service learning, economic diversity and undergraduate nursing.
This marks the thirteenth consecutive year Alverno was recognized for its commitment to undergraduate teaching, the only college in the state included in this category for its entire 13-year history. The ranking highlights schools “where the faculty have an unusually strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.”
“We are deeply committed to student success, and to preparing exceptional women to have an impact in their communities,” said Joseph Foy, Ph.D., interim president and vice president for Academic Affairs at Alverno. “It’s an honor to be recognized for our commitment to teaching because our students, and their personal and academic growth, are central to everything we do. I am proud of our staff and faculty who extend this excellence to women and men in our graduate and adult programs as well.”
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Alverno was ranked the second most innovative school among Midwest regional universities, higher than any other Wisconsin college or university. Schools in this category are “making the most innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.”
Alverno was also given honors in several other categories including the list of “Best Value Schools” among regional universities, which factors academic quality and cost after accounting for total expenses and financial aid. “First Year Experience” highlights schools skillfully bringing together small groups of students with faculty or staff on a regular basis as part of curricular and academic programming. “Senior Capstones” are culminating activities for students nearing graduation. At Alverno, regardless of their major, students articulate what they learned, what it means to them, how their learning is a part of them, and how it drives their future goals and actions. Alverno was the only Wisconsin school noted in this category.
Further, the college ranked second for “Ethnic Diversity” among Midwest regional universities where students are most likely to encounter undergraduates from a different ethnic group than their own. Of the undergraduate population for the 2021-22 school year, 24% of Alverno students identified as Hispanic or Latina, 16% as Black or African American, 6% as Asian and 3% as two or more races. This makes Alverno, Wisconsin’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution, one of the state’s most diverse colleges.
Alverno was also recognized as a top performer for “Social Mobility,” which measures how well schools graduate students who receive Pell grants.
With these rankings, Alverno College is noted among such prestigious schools as Brown University, Duke University, Harvard University, Princeton University, Stanford University and Yale University.
This year’s rankings evaluated an all-time high of 1,500 U.S. bachelor’s degree-granting institutions on 17 measures of academic quality, including graduation rates, first-year retention and faculty resources. Colleges and universities are grouped into 10 ranking categories based on their academic missions. Within each category, the sum of weighted, normalized values determine each school’s overall score. The full listing can be found at usnews.com.
About Alverno College
Founded in 1887 by the School Sisters of St. Francis, Alverno College promotes the academic, personal and professional development of its students in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Undergraduate programs for women are offered in more than 60 areas of study, and graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology, school psychology, music therapy, music and liturgy, and business are open to women and men.
A leader in higher education innovation, Alverno has earned international accolades for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, which emphasizes hands-on experience and develops in-demand skills. The college, Wisconsin’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution, ranks among the top schools in the Midwest for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and innovation by U.S. News & World Report. For the past two years, The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education named Alverno the country’s most inspiring college.
Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Alverno College is a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college.


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September 12, 2022


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Post From Community: UMOS to help navigate unemployment insurance application process | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Roderick Ritcherson (for UMOS)
September 15, 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 Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and UMOS are partnering to increase equitable access to Wisconsin’s unemployment insurance (UI) program after DWD received a $3 million federal grant.
The Unemployment Insurance Navigator grant will enable DWD to implement a program, in collaboration with UMOS, that will target migrant and seasonal farmworkers workers, individuals with limited English proficiency, and individuals living and working in rural and urban areas who have been historically underserved, low paid, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.
“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with DWD as this UI Navigator Program fits well with the UMOS mission of helping others help themselves move forward with their lives,” says Lupe Martinez, President, and Chief Executive Officer. “UMOS will assist historically underserved eligible workers, including migrant and seasonal farmworkers that travel from other states to work in Wisconsin’s agricultural industry, navigate the unemployment insurance program application process.”
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“Wisconsin’s UI program should be available to all workers who otherwise qualify, but we know that certain barriers to program access have long existed,” DWD Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek said. “Through this grant, DWD will partner with a proven winner in UMOS and help increase equitable access to much needed UI benefits for individuals with limited English proficiency, computer skills, internet access, mental or physical disabilities, and other barriers to program entry.”
DWD chose to partner  with UMOS because of first-hand experience with populations that have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty. The approach uses practices that have worked for UMOS in its other program operations.
“UMOS plans to employ bilingual and multicultural UI Navigators throughout Wisconsin. UMOS also plans to collaborate with local workforce boards in South Texas to assist farm workers with Wisconsin UI information as needed once they return to their home state,” Martinez concluded. For UMOS employment opportunities go to https://umos.org/career-opportunities/. For more information call 414-389-6000 or 1-800-279-UMOS (8667).
The UI Navigator program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA. More information on the UI Navigator grants can be found on the Department of Labor’s website.

author: Roderick Ritcherson (for UMOS)


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September 12, 2022


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Post From Community: Teens Grow Greens to expand through new development: The Green Acre | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mark Curran
September 15, 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.
Teens Grow Greens, a non-profit that engages teens through paid internships and apprenticeships that teach life skills through hands-on experience announced today the expansion of the organization through The Green Acre: a $7 million mixed-use development to grow workforce, education and community located at 4215 North Green Bay Avenue, Milwaukee.
The Green Acre will be built on the site of Webers Greenhouse, in business since 1931, and run by Teens Grow Greens since 2018. Webers has served as an experiential learning space for students and a store for community members to purchase flower, herb, and vegetable plants with all proceeds benefiting Teens Grow Greens programs. Teens Grow Greens began in 2014 with a nine-month paid internship where Teens develop life skills through hands-on experience. It has now expanded with apprenticeships available to successful graduates of the internship program and “Mids Grow Greens,” a summer program for middle schoolers.
The Green Acre will include several new greenhouses and learning spaces, improve skill-building employment opportunities for youth, increase resources for residents of the Rufus King neighborhood, and stimulate economic development along Green Bay Avenue.
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“Webers has served us well for five years now,” said Charlie Uihlein, Teens Grow Greens Executive Director. “It has expanded the breadth of experiences for our teens and has built organizational capacity. The Green Acre will allow us to build on that momentum and address more needs that fall within our mission to develop teens through experiences that cultivate belonging and connections to opportunities.”
Planning of The Green Acre included surveying the Rufus King neighborhood residents to learn how the facility can best fit the needs of the community. Because of these surveys, Teens Grow Greens will offer gardening and cooking classes, as well as space available for community events. The new development will expand the Teens Grow Greens mission and the apprenticeship program, and will continue to serve the community just as the historic Weber’s Greenhouse has done for nearly 100 years.
Teens Grow Greens is partnering with Quorum Architects, Inc. and Catalyst Construction to lead The Green Acre project. The first phase will begin with the donation of the hoop houses on the southern end of the site in spring of 2023, and will later include the building of the teaching and growing greenhouses, to be completed by United Greenhouse Systems. The first phase of the project will be completed in the fall of 2023.
To date, $3,340,000 has been pledged toward the project. Funding of the project includes a designated grant of $100,000 from Impact100 Greater Milwaukee, and a $592,700 State of Wisconsin grant designated for the expansion of the Apprentice program. Naming and program sponsorship opportunities still exist.
Webers Greenhouse will continue regular business hours this season, Wednesday – Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Opening day for the fall season is slated for September 10, 2022, offering mums, pumpkins and other fall decor.
ABOUT TEENS GROW GREENS:
Teens Grow Greens develops Teens through transformative experiences that cultivate belonging, life skills, and connections to opportunities that grow leadership. We envision a future of healed and healthy humans leading change in their communities. Visit teensgrowgreens.org to learn more.

author: Mark Curran


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Dwayne Burtin
September 9, 2022


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5 things to know and do the weekend of Sept. 16 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
September 16, 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.
Hispanic Heritage Month began Thursday, and continues through Oct. 15. Events include the official kickoff at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 at the Deer District, Fiserv Forum Plaza. More information on events celebrating Latinx culture this weekend and throughout the month can be found here.
Milwaukee Film’s annual Culture and Communities Festival is a selection of screenings and events “focused on traditionally marginalized communities.” This year’s festival includes film screenings, a Latinx pop culture trivia night, a conversation about Black entrepreneurship in Milwaukee and more. The festival runs through Sunday, Sept. 18 at locations throughout the city. Some events are free, others require the purchase of a festival pass ($100 for Milwaukee Film members, $125 for non-members.) More information and a complete list of programs can be found here.
Music on the Beerline’s last show of the 2022 season features New Orleans-style brass group Extra Crispy Brass Band and the improvisational jazz band Erotic Adventures of the Static Chicken. The show runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16 at the Beerline Plaza, located at 3350 N. Holton St.
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Birthworkers United hosts this community baby shower and resource fair. The event is open to all and will have resources for new parents, such as information about doulas and prenatal care, and non-parents, such as barbers and mental health resources. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum, located at 2620 W. Center St.
As part of an effort to address rising levels of violence involving youths, community partners have organized We Locked In MKE. This overnight event is aimed at youths ages 13 through 17 and will feature food, music, entertainment, resources and more. The event runs from 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17 to 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 3248 W. Brown St. For more information, email welockedinmke@gmail.com.

created: September 16, 2022


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Ron Smith
September 15, 2022


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5 things to know and do this week in Milwaukee: Sept. 19 to Sept. 23 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
September 19, 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.
Muskego Way Forward is holding a welcoming celebration for a new mobile parklet off the intersection of South 16th Street and West Forest Home Avenue. These parklets slow down traffic while also providing a venue for entertainment, casual dining and socializing. The parklet will be up until Oct. 31, and this week’s welcoming celebration starts at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 1606 W. Forest Home Ave.
See previews of upcoming PBS documentaries on Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and “Making Black America: Through the Grapevine,” a documentary series by Henry Louis Gates Jr. Discussions after each preview will be held by Clayborn Benson III, Dr. Rob Smith and Earl Arms, respectively. This free event runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum, located at 2620 W. Center St.
Enjoy churros, coffee and a guided tour of Latino Arts Inc.’s current exhibition “The Effects of Time on Memory” from managing artistic director Jacobo Lovo. The talk begins at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22 at Latino Arts, Inc., located at 1028 S. 9th St.
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Learn about plans to replace West National Avenue’s pavement from South 1st Street to South 39th Street and contribute your opinion at this community meeting. The meeting takes place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22 at Bradley Technology and Trade School, located at 700 S. 4th St.
The city of Milwaukee Office of Workforce Development is hosting three job fairs across the city from noon to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, where you can drive or walk-thru and receive information from companies hiring in fields including manufacturing, health care, retail and more.
The three locations are:
Midtown Center, 5700 W. Capitol Drive;
Northcott Neighborhood House, 2460 N. 6th St.;
Prince of Peace Catholic School, 1015 S. 24th St.
Join the first anniversary celebration of Ambition Center MKE, a coworking and event space just outside the Williamsburg Heights neighborhood. The celebration runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 530 E. Vienna Ave.

created: September 19, 2022


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Ron Smith
September 18, 2022

created: September 18, 2022


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Looking to lead? Here are ways Milwaukee youths can serve their community | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
September 20, 2022
Milwaukee is full of opportunities for youths to get involved in their communities.
Here are a few:
Milwaukee County is accepting applications for the Milwaukee County Youth Commission.
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The Youth Commission works in partnership with the county board chairwoman and the county executive to make advisory recommendations about policy and budgetary decisions to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors and to advance the county’s mission of achieving racial equity.
The commission will also receive support from various county departments.
The application submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30.  Applications can be submitted to county.milwaukee.gov/youthcommission.
There will be one commissioner to represent each of the 18 supervisory districts in Milwaukee County and two commissioners who will represent the county executive and board  chairperson and serve as co-chairs.
Youth commissioners receive $12.50 per hour for participating in meetings and activities. They also will get technology support to participate in remote meetings as well as transportation and a meal for in-person meetings, which take place on weekdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The MCTS Transit Teen Advisory Board also is looking for teens to join.
This is a new community outreach program open to Milwaukee County residents ages 14 to 18. It encourages teenage residents to advocate for the Milwaukee County Transit Board through interactive sessions designed to develop leadership skills.
Each member will represent one of Milwaukee County’s supervisory districts. Members will receive a monthly $40 stipend and bus fare.
Applications to join are now being accepted through Friday, Sept. 30. The term begins in October and runs through June 2023. The board will meet twice a month after school at the MCTS Administration Building, 1942 N. 17 St.
The Milwaukee Youth Council, a group of young leaders ages 14 to 18 who serve and advance the interests of city youths as a representative body, is seeking members for a new term beginning this fall.
The Youth Council members represent young people in their aldermanic districts and meet with leaders like the mayor, Common Council members, the Milwaukee Public Schools superintendent, business owners and community groups to advocate for issues relevant to youths in the city.
The Youth Council has 17 members, one from each of the city’s 15 aldermanic districts and two at-large members. Currently, there are vacancies in districts 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15 and one at-large spot.
To join, you must  live in the City of Milwaukee and either live in or attend a school located within one of the vacant districts. Those interested can learn more and apply online by visiting Milwaukee.gov/YouthCouncil.
Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT): It works to transform communities through a bold, proactive agenda led by young people. You can find more information here.
Cream Skills: It works to promote entrepreneurship to underprivileged youths through sports. You can find more information here.
TrueSkool: It works with local and national artists, middle and high school aged youths and many others to empower youths and young adults through its pipeline services. You can find more information here.
Operation Dream Inc.: Operation Dream provides developmental opportunities and mentoring support for over 250 boys and young men primarily of color, from kindergarten through high school, who need positive role models.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee offers a series of programs in clubs throughout the city. You can find more information here.
Running Rebels: The organization builds relationships with youths by providing the resources and skills necessary for them to become thriving, connected and contributing adult members of the community. You can find more information here.
Silver Spring Neighborhood Center: It works to build a safer, stronger neighborhood and community on Milwaukee’s Northwest Side. It offers a series of services including youth and teen programming. You can find more information here.

created: September 20, 2022


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29554740047_11a0f989cb_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
September 19, 2022


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IMPACT 211 data reveals community needs and systemic problems | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
September 21, 2022
This year marks the 20th year the social service organization IMPACT 211 has been in existence.
Accompanying this anniversary is nearly 20 years of data that detail community needs in and around Milwaukee County that lack systemic solutions.
IMPACT 211 is a free, confidential helpline and online resource directory that connects residents to resources such as food pantries, housing shelters or even holiday gifts.
For instance, if people are looking for a meal, IMPACT 211 can quickly get them information on food pantries in their area, with a street address and hours of operation.
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However, sometimes IMPACT is unable to connect people to resources they seek. Reasons for this could be, for example, because the caller refused a referral for whatever reason; the program they were referred to was out of funds or the caller is ineligible for the program; or the caller lacks reliable transportation to take advantage of the program being referred.
In 2005, the top three biggest unmet needs were finding child passenger seats, community shelter options and domestic violence shelters.
Last year, the biggest unmet needs were food (including finding food pantries and help getting groceries,) help with automobile expenses (gas, repairs, etc.,) and help finding household appliances.
Bob Waite, senior account manager at IMPACT, said these unmet needs offer a picture for IMPACT of problems lacking systemic solutions.
“When we make a referral, we’re making a referral to a place that is accurate and will fulfill the need,” Waite said. “But what we don’t have good data on is when someone goes there, did they get the service they were looking for.”
“That’s a hidden unmet need that we struggle trying to collect,” he added.
When IMPACT staffers make a referral, they are looking for an organization or program that is built to handle a large volume of requests.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, residents would often call in looking for diapers. At the time, IMPACT had not identified an organization that could consistently handle the volume of requests.
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County recently founded a diaper bank to help meet this need.
Yet IMPACT’s data points to a communal need without a systemic solution.
Dan Herda, director of communications at United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, said in 2021, the diaper bank distributed about 200,000 diapers to local nonprofits, which then distributed them to people requesting them. Herda also noted that while this diaper bank is one of the largest distributors in the area, it is not the only one.
Herda said this is a problem that resists a long-term solution because demand for diapers will likely continue as long as children are being born.
“The fact that we distributed 200,000 diapers last year and nobody told us to stop . . . tells me that there is still a need,” Herda said. He noted that United Way also is involved in advocating for diapers to be categorized as a tax-exempt expense to further alleviate this persistent need.
Waite said efforts such as this have had a noticeable effect.
“We get very few calls for diapers now,” Waite said.
However, not all needs have found reliable solutions. Transportation to services remains a consistent issue as people are unable to get to services that IMPACT recommends, while others look for reliable transportation in their day-to-day lives.
To meet this need, IMPACT started a pilot program with Lyft to provide vouchers for callers needing transportation. It’s funded by a $10,000 grant from United Way Worldwide.
Emily Kenney, director of systems change at IMPACT, said because program funding ends at the end of December, it cannot be counted as a systemic solution to transportation gaps.
Additionally, Kenney noted that dollars spent on this rideshare program, while effective, are also dollars that could be going to the MCTS bus system, which offers a more robust solution to transportation needs.
“We do have a public transportation system, so to what extent should we be putting money there … versus an alternative system?” Kenney asked.
“On the other hand, this is something that is working and nimble. Whereas public systems are not as nimble,” she added.
Learn more about IMPACT 211 here.
You can also donate to the organization here.

created: September 21, 2022


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Ron Smith
September 20, 2022


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Post From Community: Northwestern Mutual announced as Greater Milwaukee Urban League Ball presenting sponsor | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Greater Milwaukee Urban League
September 21, 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.
Northwestern Mutual, one of Milwaukee’s most respected companies, will be the presenting sponsor of Greater Milwaukee Urban League’s 37 Annual Black and White Ball, Focused on The Future. The event takes place Saturday, November 5, 2022, at the Wisconsin Center.
The Black and White Ball is Greater Milwaukee Urban League’s largest fundraiser of the year. Money raised during the event helps support education, employment, and advocacy programs throughout the year.
“The Black & White Ball is a fun and fulfilling event for people who care deeply about fostering racial wealth equity in our hometown,” said John Schlifske, Northwestern Mutual chairman, president and CEO. “At Northwestern Mutual, we are committed to building Black opportunity and prosperity, and we take great pride in working alongside the Greater Milwaukee Urban League to drive that work forward and create lasting change in our community.”
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Founded in 1919, Greater Milwaukee Urban League is one of the oldest National Urban League affiliates in the country and one of the oldest civil rights organizations in Wisconsin. GMUL offers programs that provide educational support, employment resources, and advocacy work in many areas including health and voter education.
“We appreciate the generous support of Northwestern Mutual,” stated GMUL president and CEO Dr. Eve M. Hall. “Northwestern Mutual is a long time supporter of GMUL. Working together, we will continue to empower communities and change lives in Milwaukee.”
One of the highlights of the Ball will be the featured entertainer. This year, Milwaukee’s own Eric Benét will provide a special live performance.
Ticket and sponsorship information can be found at tmul.org by clicking on the Black and White Ball link. Both in-person and virtual tickets are available.
Urban LeagueThe Greater Milwaukee Urban League is an affiliate of The National Urban League. We lead through education and outreach, employment and empowerment, and advocacy to achieve economic vibrancy and equal access to all industries and disciplines that positions African Americans to create wealth and live a better quality of life. The Greater Milwaukee Urban League’s vision is to ensure that Wisconsin becomes a top 10 place for African Americans to live and thrive and where the greater Milwaukee area becomes a leader in education and socioeconomic inclusion. For more information, visit www.tmul.org and follow us on Facebook, twitter, and Instagram: @urbanleaguemke.

author: Greater Milwaukee Urban League