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Milwaukee to bid for the 2020 Democratic National Convention | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Thad Nation, Nation Consulting
February 21, 2018
Community leaders announced today the City of Milwaukee’s intention to bid for the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
“This is a very big day for the City of Milwaukee,” said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. “We have wanted to make this bid for many years. With all of the progress and momentum our City has right now, this is the perfect moment for Milwaukee to rise on the national stage.
National Party Conventions are among the largest events that happen in the United States every four years. While the event is only four day long, the work to put on the convention takes years of planning and hundreds of workers and thousands of vendors.
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“Two years ago, the DNC Convention brought 54,000 people and $231 million dollars of economic activity to the City of Philadelphia. That’s the equivalent of hosting a Super Bowl,” said Congresswoman Gwen Moore. “Hosting this convention should bring opportunities across the entire city, businesses big and small will have an opportunity to participate in this economic boon and share their wares with visitors to our city.”
Bidding for a national convention is a rigorous process in order to ensure host cities have the infrastructure and capacity to accommodate this large of an event.
“This is going to be an all hands on deck, bipartisan effort to land one of the largest events that is held in America every four years,” said Alex Lasry, Vice President of the Milwaukee Bucks. “This is Milwaukee’s opportunity to take its place on the international stage and show the world exactly who we are.”
The exposure that a host city gets on both the national and international scene for the better part of a week is invaluable for exposing the region to the world.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase the world class facilities, business climate and opportunities that Milwaukee and Wisconsin have to offer,” said Tim Sheehy, President of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. “This is one more way that Milwaukee will draw the eyes of world to see why this is such a great place to live, work and play.”
For the last few months, preliminary work has been going on behind the scenes in preparation for the Democratic National Committee’s request for proposals from potential host cities interested in bidding on the 2020 DNC Convention.
The DNC’s process for selecting the host city has typically included:
•DNC Issues Preliminary Inquiry re: expressions of interest (late winter)
•DNC issues formal Request for Proposals. (spring)
•DNC Site visits finalist’s cities. (late summer)
•Formal Announcement of Host City. (Winter 2018/Spring 2019)
Neither Milwaukee, nor any other city in Wisconsin, has never played host to one of the two major political parties’ national convention.

author: Thad Nation, Nation Consulting


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Mark Eppli leaves lasting impact on Milwaukee real estate industry | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Rachel Kubik
February 22, 2018
Mark Eppli, a Marquette professor, was nominated for a MANDI award because of his role in founding the ACRE program. (Photo by Rachel Kubik)
Editor’s note: This article is one of an occasional series profiling the 12 finalists for the Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDIs). Mark Eppli is a finalist for the Northern Trust Navigator Award, which recognizes individual leadership.
You can vote today for People’s Choice Award winners. Click here to vote.
Marquette University professor Mark Eppli started the Associates in Commercial Real Estate  (ACRE) program in 2005 with the goal of increasing the number of minorities in the industry.
Today, more than 200 students have graduated from the program. They include Keith Stanley, executive director of Near West Side Partners; Donsia Strong Hill, executive director of LISC Milwaukee; and Common Council members Milele Coggs, Khalif Rainey and Jose Perez. Vincent Lyles, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, is also a graduate, along with James, Clifton and Jalin Phelps, who created JCP Construction.
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ACRE students work with seasoned professionals to gain a better understanding of the real estate industry as well as hands-on experience. The 26-week program focuses on topics such as real estate development, construction management, capacity building and property management.
Eppli said that program’s goal is to help build wealth across all communities. “The idea here is to make sure that we continue to reach out to … economically challenged neighborhoods and train those who live in those neighborhoods to redevelop [them] as well as other neighborhoods,” Eppli said.
Donsia Strong Hill, LISC Milwaukee executive director, welcomes Mark Eppli at the ACRE graduation in 2016. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
“We’re all going to be working with different people of different backgrounds, colors, creeds,” he added. “To have a socially just and equitable society, we have to have all the different people and mindsets, from the board level to the employees to the citizenship.”
Eppli and the Marquette University College of Business Administration started the program, but LISC Milwaukee now administers it in partnership with Marquette, the Milwaukee School of Engineering and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
“Through his really outstanding leadership skills, [Eppli] brought all the critical players to the table to establish that impressive team who shared his vision: that economic development in Milwaukee should include people who reflect the city’s demographics,” said Rana Altenburg, vice president for public affairs at Marquette University.
Eppli said that the most rewarding part of running the program is to see his students succeed. Graduates have developed more than 1,000 apartment units over the years.
Despite its success, ACRE was forced to close down for several years because of the economic downturn in the late 2000s, which limited new real estate development. “We said that’s like providing false hope, and we’re not going to do that,” Eppli said.
The program started back up in 2014, and is now in its ninth year.
Eppli is leaving Marquette next fall to teach at University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is working to transition out of the ACRE program, and to set new goals such as leveraging Milwaukee School of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette equally.
Deshea Agee, executive director of the Historic King Drive Business Improvement District, was a student in the ACRE program in 2004. He said Eppli was hands-on with the class and attended nearly every meeting. “I really got a chance to think about real estate differently than what I knew it to be at the time. … Dr. Eppli really gave me a chance to see real estate from a much more global perspective,” Agee said.
In addition, Agee said he got a chance to have one-on-one conversations about his career goals with Eppli as well as with six other key instructors. He said it was a very welcoming environment with an open-door policy and to this day, he still feels like he can give his instructors a phone call.
Eppli was one of Agee’s mentors when he was one of six students selected from the ACRE program for an internship at Pabst Farms Development LLC, a 1,500-acre master-planned community in Oconomowoc.
Agee said the program exposed him to people, knowledge and career growth. “It really set a fire to say there’s so much more to learn about real estate, about community development, about changing neighborhoods, about creating job opportunities for people.”
Agee passed his real estate sales license test and received a broker’s license in 2006. “Without the ACRE program, that’s probably not something I would’ve done,” Agee said. “The ACRE program was the foundation to establishing my global view of what real estate is.”
“Without Mark Eppli, Milwaukee would be very different,” Agee said. “Without Mark… I wouldn’t be where I am.”

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: February 22, 2018

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

author: Rachel Kubik


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 21, 2018

created: February 21, 2018

author: Adam Carr


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Alice’s Garden director takes ‘farmer to table’ meals to Tandem | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
February 23, 2018
Venice Williams dreamed of her late father the night before she was scheduled to cook lunch and dinner at the Tandem restaurant. She credits him, a chef, caterer and baker, with instilling a love of food and cooking in her and her siblings, two of whom are professional chefs.
It was the first time she had prepared food in a restaurant in quite some time, she said. “I could feel the lovely memories of walking into kitchens, both small and huge, with my father when I came in here today.”
Building on the popular “farm to table” concept, in which restaurants seek out the freshest local ingredients, Tandem owner Caitlin Cullen hosted Williams as a guest chef for a “farmer to table” event. Williams, executive director of Alice’s Garden, prepared several family favorites on a recent Thursday. Tandem, 1848 W. Fond Du Lac Ave., features home-style cooking on Thursdays.
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Saying she felt “a bit nervous” when she heard that reservations were filled more than a week before her guest chef appearance, Williams seemed elated as she circulated through the restaurant greeting customers warmly.
For lunch she cooked Moroccan turkey burgers and vegan and chicken broth versions of a sweet potato, cabbage and chickpea soup. Williams’ dinner menu included barbecued peach chicken with savory mashed potatoes and a corn pudding that she has been making since she was a college student, she said.
Diners Carol Hegland and Evelyn Ang, who said they have known Williams for many years, came together to sample her cooking. Seated at a front window table, they both chose the turkey burger.
Alice’s Garden provides Tandem with herbs for cooking, cocktails and table centerpieces. “We have also provided tomatoes, kale and other produce and we’re looking forward to increasing those options and deepening that relationship for the 2018 growing season,” said Williams. The urban farm focuses on sustainable farming, community cultural development and economic enterprises related to agriculture.
Williams also is a spiritual leader, mentor and activist for racial justice.
Cullen established her sit-down restaurant and bar just north of downtown to strengthen commercial activity in the area and train and employ neighborhood residents. She opened the restaurant in November 2016 in a renovated 1893 building that once housed an historic tavern.
Williams will return to the Tandem as a guest chef on Thursday, March 22.

created: February 23, 2018

author: Andrea Waxman


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 22, 2018


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Youth-led summit inspires conversations about race, healing, responsibility | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jabril Faraj
February 24, 2018
David Muhammad, of the Office of Violence Prevention, addresses a crowd of students at the youth summit. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
After a recent incident at Franklin High School where signs were posted designating drinking fountains “white” and “colored,” Bria Smith, a Harambee resident and a student at the school, approached administrators about holding school-wide discussions about race. Smith, who is black, said communication is necessary to build relationships and bridge racial and generational gaps.
“We want to talk about how we don’t feel like we are important. We want to talk about how we don’t feel that we are accepted in society … We want to talk about how we want to achieve our goals, but someone told us that they’re not achievable because of our skin color,” Smith said, referring to students of color.
“We need to have big discussions about those things, because discussions turn to action, and action turns to solutions,” added Smith, a member of Leaders Igniting Transformation.
That’s exactly what happened at a recent youth-led summit held at Holy Redeemer School, 3500 W. Mother Daniels Way. About 100 young people of color gathered to discuss mental health, the causes of violence and what it is like to grow up in an environment that does not accept who they are. Smith and others said telling their stories and speaking up when necessary, even though it might be uncomfortable, are essential to create a more safe, fair and equitable society.
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Bria Smith speaks during one of the break-out sessions. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
In a small group discussion about mental health, one of four break-out sessions, many young black men talked about personal experiences living with depression. They noted that everyone experiences trauma, but it is greater among the black community, citing mass incarceration and how experiencing and witnessing violence affects individuals. Some said they did not feel they could be open about their emotions, or seek help.
Jaquill Wyatt, 24, who works with Westcare, spoke about being shot and witnessing the death of a friend who was sitting beside him in a car. “You never know what to do [or] how to feel,” he said.
During a presentation by David Muhammad from the city’s Office of Violence Prevention, a majority of the youth in attendance said they had not only witnessed violence, but intervened to prevent it. Many youth spoke about the importance of reaching out to help each other, and attempting to understand what motivates them.
“We’re not asked why we do what we do,” said Elijah Johnson, 19.
Johnson, who attended a small discussion focused on bridging generational gaps, called many young people, including himself “hard-headed.” He said it is important for young people to listen. However, others pointed out that how people are approached matters.
“You have to have that trust with someone before you confront them,” said Arianna King, 16, who attends Urban Underground, an organization that trains youth in leadership and activism.
And, many pointed out that adults have a responsibility to listen, as well.
“If the older generation respects the younger generation, a lot can happen, and vice versa,” said Edward Carlson, 75, who was in the same room as King and Johnson.
MK Asante, a nationally renowned author who gave the keynote address, said adults not only have to listen, but follow, the lead of youth, noting, “They are the ones that are shaping our world.”
District 17 State Rep. David Crowley, who grew up in the 53206 ZIP code, agreed. He said policy-makers and others should be looking to young people for solutions.
“They are not our future — they are our ‘now,’” he said of the youth. “We are passing policies that directly affect them, so they should be at the table and not on the menu like they have been.”
Johnson said the event encouraged him to seek more opportunities to connect with people and to speak up when he feels he can make a difference in someone’s life.
“You won’t be able to change and save everybody, but you can find and see who you can change and save,” Johnson said. “The next time I’m faced, or presented, with that opportunity, I’ll jump at it.”

created: February 24, 2018

author: Jabril Faraj


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 23, 2018


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Fondy Park partners look forward to first full season this spring | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Margaret Cannon
February 26, 2018
Tim McCollow, project manager for HOME GR/OWN is looking forward to Fondy Park’s upcoming season. (Photo by Maggie Cannon)
Editor’s note: This article is one of an occasional series profiling the 12 finalists for the Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDIs). Fondy Park is a finalist for the Brewers Community Foundation Public Space Award, which recognizes public space that helps build community.
You can vote today for People’s Choice Award winners. Click here to vote.
For more than a decade, the city-owned lot on the corner of Fond du Lac and Meinecke in Lindsay Heights was an eyesore. All that filled the space was a broken-down fence and a construction project that never seemed to progress. But last year, community partners transformed abandoned pieces of concrete and gravel into a foundation for a new, eco-friendly park.
Fondy Park, 2200 W. Fond Du Lac Ave. opened on Sept. 16 as a project of HOME GR/OWN, an initiative of the City of Milwaukee’s Environmental Collaboration Office (ECO). ECO’s mission is to turn vacant lots into green spaces throughout Milwaukee. Fondy Park sits adjacent to the Fondy Farmers Market, the city’s largest and most diverse farmers market.
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“The lot was basically useless, and it was dangerous,” said Jennifer Casey, executive director of Fondy Food Center. “We were constantly getting complaints from shoppers and farmers and people saying ‘why don’t you do something with that site’?”
Casey said when she joined Fondy Food Center in 2014, she began talking with various community partners about turning the lot into a park and performance place. None of those talks panned out until 2016, when Tim McCollow, project manager of HOME GR/OWN, found funding through the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District to begin creating a storm water retention park.
Community members, including Walnut Way co-founders Sharon Adams (in sunhat) and Larry Adams (right) gathered for the opening of Fondy Park in September. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
“We really like to do projects that have multiple benefits,” said McCollow. He said Fondy Park was the largest project HOME GR/OWN has ever done.
In addition to providing adaptable space for the farmers market, Fondy Park also serves an environmental purpose by protecting neighborhood homes from flooding and preventing pollution in Lake Michigan.
McCollow said that every square inch of the park is absorbing water, collecting 83,000 gallons of rainwater underground.
“Normally you would want water to flow away from the property; we are actually doing the opposite,” said McCollow.
Reflo, a Milwaukee nonprofit that supports water sustainability and green infrastructure in urban environments, helped design the underground storm water retention system. Executive Director Justin Hegarty said Reflo was excited to be a part of the project.
“It builds off a lot of the strengths of neighborhood partners,” Hegarty noted.
Once funds were generated for the underground storm water management system, it was easier to find funding for the above-ground elements of the park.
“People saw the beauty of the project and were quickly available to raise the necessary funds to start construction in May,” said McCollow.
The Fund for Lake Michigan supported the project. “Everything we fund has to be about improving water quality,” said Vicki Elkin, the executive director. “And we’re always looking for projects that have multiple community benefits.”
While Fondy Park has “tremendous environmental benefits,” Elkin said she also loves that the Fund for Lake Michigan helped create a community gathering spot.
“There are a lot of great things happening in that neighborhood, and this is just one more element that is helping support a really vibrant part of the city,” said Elkin.
Other funders included The Zilber Family Foundation and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. David J. Frank Landscape donated the time and materials to build the park’s fence and gravel pathways.
The park’s features include an event stage, green space, beautiful plants, benches and tables with chess boards etched on the top. Casey said that the opening day for Fondy Park was “full of joy.” The park opened on Fondy Food Market’s 100th anniversary, making it all the more special.
Fondy Park “expands our central role as a key community gathering space in the neighborhood,” said Casey. “Kids and families and seniors and our farmers are able to utilize the park.”
Venice Williams, executive director of Alice’s Garden Urban Farm, 2136 N. 21st St., sells produce at the Fondy Farmers Market. “The park is a place of hospitality for both neighbors and patrons of the market,” said Williams. “Fondy Farmers Market, Fondy Park and Alice’s Garden Urban Farm are all extensions of one another; we breathe life into one another.”
McCollow said that the current Fondy Park is phase one of the project. “We can’t build Fondy Park and then just walk away.”
He said phase two, which will start this year, will include adding solar power to the site, putting a roof on the stage and working to get more events planned throughout the season. He said because this year will be the first full season with nice weather, it will be interesting to see how the community utilizes the park.
“The Lindsay Heights neighborhood is really the premiere eco-tourism neighborhood of the city,” said McCollow.
In December, Fondy Park project team members planted 2,000 daffodil bulbs. Community members should be able to see the daffodils bloom this spring.

created: February 26, 2018

author: Margaret Cannon


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 25, 2018

created: February 25, 2018


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Foreclosed property-turned-restaurant to anchor new development on West National | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
February 26, 2018
Mayor Tom Barrett (back to camera) takes a hammer to a wall in the planned restaurant at 3514 W. National Ave., as Ald. Bob Donovan looks on. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
The building at 3514 W. National Ave., vacant since 2010 and foreclosed by the city in 2014, was nearly torn down.
“The building was in poor condition and qualified for demolition,” said  Mayor Tom Barrett, speaking to a crowd gathered a few doors down from the structure last week.
Instead, he said, the city sold it for $1,000 to the nonprofit Layton Boulevard West Neighbors, which crafted a plan to turn the building into a restaurant with apartments upstairs. LBWN expects it to be a catalyst for a larger development project along the 3500 block of West National Avenue.
Leticia Muñoz, who owns Michael’s Family Restaurant, 2220 W. Wisconsin Ave., will open Orenda’s, an American-style diner that will also serve Latin and healthy cuisine, at the Silver City location. The restaurant will create six new jobs and should be open this summer, she said.
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Half of the nearly $500,000 renovation cost of the building that will house Orenda’s is being provided by the Zilber Family Foundation. Other funding includes a $75,000 forgivable loan from the city, a $25,000 grant from Greater Milwaukee Foundation and a low-interest construction loan from Tri-City Bank, according to Celia Benton, economic development manager at LBWN.
Rendering of West National Avenue Development. (Photo courtesy of LBWN)
“City leaders and other stakeholders knew the 3500 of West National was ripe for catalytic growth, which often begins with the rejuvenation of one block,” Benton said.
According to Shannon Boone, director of real estate at LBWN, board members pushed the organization to secure 70 percent of the renovation costs before LBWN even purchased the discounted building, which before becoming vacant, had been a popular neighborhood diner for decades.
Once most of the funding was secured, said Boone, “It was important to take over the building even though we knew it would probably still only be worth half of the construction costs once renovated.
“The residents wanted something to be done with the building that would create amenities they needed,” she added.
Joseph Ruiz, a longtime Silver City resident, said he remembers the old diner as a popular place, and that it left a void when it closed. “I used to go there for pancakes. It will be real nice to have a place to walk for breakfast again,” Ruiz said.
With the idea of opening a diner in mind, LBWN approached Muñoz, who agreed to lease the building, which will also feature two market-rate apartments upstairs. The opportunity came about after she completed the Bilingual Entrepreneurial Certificate program at the Multicultural Entrepreneurial Institute.
“I was asked if I would be interested in opening a restaurant in this community, which I was very familiar with, and I couldn’t turn the opportunity down,” Muñoz said in Spanish.
The project was part of a vision to repurpose historic buildings on West National Avenue hatched during a December 2014 charette in Silver City hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Community Design Solutions Center. Aside from adding more dining options, suggestions that originated from the charette included adding more work and meeting spaces, parking options and a public plaza. The 5Wise workspace, 3524 W. National Ave., opened on the block last year and LBWN is developing plans to create new parking spaces and build a parklet featuring outdoor seating two lots west of Orenda’s, Benton said.
The restaurant project is in line with criteria identified in the resident-driven Quality of Life Plan for LBWN, developed by Zilber in 2011, according to Boone.
“It beautifies the neighborhood and makes it more safe by eliminating a vacant and blighted property,” Boone said.
Creating a catalytic project and strong commercial corridor along West National Avenue was a major priority of the Quality of Life plan, according to Erin Frederick, senior program officer at Zilber.
“This development project has a strong opportunity to increase economic vitality in the area and create neighborhood jobs,” Frederick said.
Commercial strips are the backbone of any thriving neighborhood, said Ald. Bob Donovan, who represents the area and supported the charette and other development efforts in Layton Boulevard West neighborhoods.
“Now we just need more people to take advantage of the opportunities to develop in this neighborhood,” Donovan said.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to correct the amount of the grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

author: Edgar Mendez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 26, 2018


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No new prison | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Angela Lang
February 26, 2018
(Photo courtesy of ACLU of Wisconsin)
Angela Lang is the executive director of Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC) and a board member of ACLU of Wisconsin. She opposes the plan approved by the Wisconsin State Assembly to build a new $350 million prison.
Wisconsin does not need a new prison.  It needs to adopt smart reforms in its criminal justice system that reduce prison populations, reduce recidivism and make communities safer and stronger.  Many people are trapped in systems of incarceration because they have committed minor crimes that are often the result of substance abuse problems or mental illness.
Rather than warehousing people in prisons, we must provide treatment in our communities.  Too many people who could be supervised safely in their communities serve long sentences that decrease their chances of successful rehabilitation and re–entry.  Similarly, hair trigger revocations of probation and parole send too many people back into the prison system for rule violations.
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ACLU of Wisconsin, African-American Civic Engagement Roundtable, Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC), Black Lives Matter to Wisconsin Unitarian Universalists, EXPO (EX-incarcerated People Organizing), Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT), NAACP Milwaukee Branch, Priceless Incite, Wisconsin Justice Initiative, UBLAC, and Youth Justice Milwaukee are committed to creating meaningful reforms in these systems.
During a time when many states are reforming their broken criminal justice systems and closing down unneeded or unsafe prisons, the Wisconsin legislature seems intent on locking up more Wisconsinites.  Building costly new prisons isn’t a solution to crime.
We need a bold plan that follows the lead of states like Texas, where investment in community-based alternatives to prison not only saved taxpayers money but led to a dramatic reduction in the prison population and, at the same time, a decline in the crime rate that was greater than the national average.
Wisconsin needs legislators who are committed to fixing what is broken.  It is past time to address the continued criminalization of people of color, of the homeless, of the chemically addicted and of people with mentally illness.  We need to provide quality treatment and services.  We need to envision a new criminal justice system — one that is substantially smaller and committed to the personal safety, health and dignity of every individual as well as the broader community.
We should not be creating new laws that ensnare increasing numbers of people, and then building a new prison to accommodate this costly and ineffective punitive approach to criminal justice. We can develop effective means of holding people accountable that increase safety in the short and long term; and address the socioeconomic and structural factors that make crime likely in the first place.
Wisconsin spends billions of dollars on a failed system of imprisonment that does not address the root cause of systematic problems. According to the state’s data, about a third of people who leave the system are convicted and sentenced to a new prison term within three years.
Wisconsin must do better by following in the footsteps of other states and reducing corrections populations and costs by: expanding approaches that have proven track records for keeping people out of prison; reducing the number of prison admissions that don’t involve new convictions; and reducing recidivism by removing barriers to employment.

author: Angela Lang


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SWAN Day MKE 2018: “Women and Nature: Nourishing Our Roots” A Celebration & Exhibition of Milwaukee Women Artists | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jamie Bilgo Bruchman, Swan Day MKE
February 26, 2018
Dive into the creative energy of Milwaukee women artists! Milwaukeeans celebrate the power and diversity of women’s creativity at SWAN Day MKE 2018: “Women and Nature: Nourishing Our Roots,” an art exhibition at the Urban Ecology Center – Menomonee Valley. Over one-hundred artists, spoken word, dance and more will be featured as part of the 11th Annual International Support Women Artists Now Day.
Exhibition: Runs March 24th – May 31st, 2018 at Urban Ecology Center – Menomonee Valley
OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday, March 24th 11am-3pm FREE & Open to the public
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” ― Audre Lorde
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Over one-hundred women-identified artists of all ages, disciplines and levels of artistic experience residing in Milwaukee and surrounding areas were invited to participate in an informal, non-juried celebration and exhibition. Now in its third year, SWAN Day MKE participants move “beyond the swan,” exploring a broader theme of women’s artistic & spiritual connections to nature, and how these roots nourish one’s work, activism and daily living. The response to this year’s theme has been outstanding, and we are delighted to welcome dozens of new artists from a diverse range of artistic backgrounds, ages, cultures, and mediums. Women from Alverno College, Mount Mary University, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, Escuela Verde, L.U.N.A arts collective, Materials Studio & Gallery, as well as individual practices around the Milwaukee area are coming together for what promises to be an amazing celebration of the diverse and beautiful community of women and arts here in Milwaukee.
New for 2018! We are so excited to be hosting our third year at a new venue: the Urban Ecology Center Menomonee Valley Branch. Each year SWAN Day MKE also supports a cause related to our theme, and this year we are inviting people to support our host, the Urban Ecology Center. An environmental community center with three locations in Milwaukee, the UEC works to connect people to nature right in their neighborhood. With your support, the UEC can connect even more folks in our communities to the nourishing power of nature displayed in the SWAN Day MKE exhibition and its arts programming as a whole.
OPENING RECEPTION ACTIVITIES
OPENING RECEPTION REMARKS & PERFORMANCES feature an Opening Libation with Venice Williams of Alice’s Garden honoring women and the environment, classical Indian dance performances by Cyenthia Vijayakumar, storytelling with ExFabula’s Monica Thomas, poetry by Linetta Davis, artist collective L.U.N.A. (Latinas Unidas en Las Artes) will be discussing access, opportunity and the need of Latinx run in gallery spaces in MKE, Mount Mary Student Art Therapy Association will speak about their group installation, and a closing blessing with Alexandra Jenkins of Limitless Expansion.
OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE a Mini-Market – ALL DAY 11am-3pm featuring work for sale by CanelitaBrown accessories and self-care items, Artery Ink – art + wellness greeting cards, prints & T-shirts, Alice’s Garden tea blends, steams, creams, and body soaks, made from herbs grown in the Garden, Ceci Tejeda’s paper mache & plaster sculptures, Caroline’s Raw Creations vegan foodstuffs and treats by August Sweets. Other activities include face painting with Evolutionz Face & Body Art, a coloring table with healing arts facilitator Shami Lock , caricature portraits with Rozalia Hernandez-Singh, and root chakra focus meditation with Alexandra Jenkins. For a complete listing of artists, times, activities & performances, please visit SWAN Day MKE’s Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/swandaymke
Urban Ecology Center – Menomonee Valley
3700 W. Pierce St. Milwaukee, WI 53215
www.urbanecologycenter.org (414) 431-2940
Tues-Thurs 12–7, Fri 12-6, Sat 9-5, Sun & Mon Closed
Contact: Glenna Holstein, Branch Manager
Organized by Jamie Bilgo Bruchman
UEC Volunteer & Menomonee Valley Art Committee Chair
Email: swandaymke@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/swandaymke
Instagram @swandaymke #swandaymke
(Work in progress “Earth Spring” by May Klisch)

author: Jamie Bilgo Bruchman, Swan Day MKE


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Earth Spring May Klisch copy | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 26, 2018


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Community-led work in response to the Department of Justice’s findings not mentioned in Mayor Barrett’s State of the City Address | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
African American Roundtable
February 27, 2018
Today Mayor Tom Barrett addressed the City of Milwaukee during his State of the City Address. He mentioned an affordable housing initiative, our newest library on the city’s south side, downtown’s streetcar, the drinking water partnership with Waukesha, and a home renovation project in the Sherman Park neighborhood. He talked about the work being done in the Health Department under the new interim Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia McManus. Mayor Barrett also mentioned the Fire and Police Commission and their work to appoint Milwaukee Police Department’s new interim Chief of Police Alfonso Morales.
However, at a time when the community’s voice is so critical to the work that must be done in our city –particularly around police reform– it was quite disappointing that the mayor did not uplift the hard work of the Milwaukee Collaborative Community Committee. This committee has been charged with convening and hosting community hubs to facilitate discussions and gather feedback in response to the Department of Justice’s 55 findings and 101 recommendations regarding MPD and the Fire and Police Commission. The Mayor’s office, members of the Common Council, Fire and Police Commission, and MPD have all expressed the importance of this work and the need to work collaboratively. The African American Roundtable wants to make sure their work is continually supported.
Milwaukeeans are working extremely hard to ensure the voices of those affected by current police policies are heard and that their recommendations are prioritized. This past weekend over one hundred community residents were able to share their feedback on the recommendations to the DOJ’s draft report at the Southside Organizing Center’s Safety Summit. We are pleased that the community showed up and look forward to hosting more community hubs to hear from additional residents throughout the city.
It is our hope that the mayor acknowledges and uplifts the work of the community, specifically those working to ensure the voices that so often go unheard are a part of real change in our city. Our city has never seen a community led committee nor these particular agencies working together in this capacity. This committee is responsible for carrying out a very important task, but we are ready and want leadership to know we are watching.
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created: February 27, 2018

author: African American Roundtable


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On the Block: 16-year-old advocate | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Elizabeth Baker
February 27, 2018
“Where are the youth?” Simone Lewis-Turner, 16, asked as she voiced her concerns at a public program about gun violence hosted by the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County at the Milwaukee Public Library Mitchell Street Branch, 906 W. Historic Mitchell St.
In a room full of adults, the Milwaukee High School of the Arts student and member of Urban Underground, said young people are the future. She wants her peers to stand up, be vocal and start making the change they want for their own future.

author: Elizabeth Baker


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Personal stories, national gun safety debate inspire Milwaukeeans to offer solutions | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Elizabeth Baker
February 27, 2018
Panelists Sharlen Moore (left), executive director of Urban Underground, and Dr. Michael Levas, who specializes in pediatric emergency medicine at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin, said gun violence affects everyone. (Photo by Elizabeth Baker)
Debra Gillespie lost her only son to gun violence. She has a message to other parents of victims:
“You need to get out there, once you’re able and strong. We need to make changes so others won’t experience what we’ve experienced.”
The founder of Mothers Against Gun Violence and member of the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County, Gillespie was one of about 100 people who attended a public program on gun violence called “Guns, Grief and Grace in America: Everyone’s Toolkit.” The event at the Milwaukee Public Library Mitchell Street Branch, 906 W. Historic Mitchell St. was co-hosted by the LWV, Milwaukee Public Library and a coalition of groups working to educate citizens about gun violence using a public health framework.
The program began with a moment of silence for the victims of the Parkland, Florida, high school shooting that had occurred just three days prior.
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The purpose was to talk not only about mass shootings, but accidental shootings, suicide, homicide and domestic violence as public health issues.
Panelist Dr. Barbara Moser, chair of the Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee Coalition and family practice physician, stressed the danger of guns when it comes to suicide. According to 2014 data from the Centers for Disease Control, the rate of suicide by firearm was nearly double that of homicide by firearm. Free gun locks were available at the event.
The Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee Coalition provided free gun locks at the event. (Photo by Elizabeth Baker)
Dr. Michael Levas, who specializes in pediatric emergency medicine at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin and treats many child victims of shootings, noted, “This is not just a black issue or white issue, a kid issue or adult issue, an NRA issue or non-gun owner issue. This is a whole society issue, and we can’t look away anymore.”
Attendees formed small groups to talk about ways to address gun violence. All were encouraged to record their personal stories, feelings and experiences related to the issue in the library’s sound studio.
Simone Lewis-Turner, 16, recorded her story about losing friends and family members to gun violence and why she works to prevent that from happening to others. She knows how gun violence can cause life-long trauma, especially among children.
“We shouldn’t have to go through that. Even though we might not personally have a gun or carry one or have someone in our family, it’s still within our communities. Why are people not feeling safe to walk outside because somebody got shot the morning before?” said the Milwaukee High School of the Arts student and member of Urban Underground. “Until we start speaking up about it and making change, it’s going to keep happening.”
Expressing frustration with the fact that despite community conversations about gun violence, nothing really changes, Lewis-Turner took the microphone and offered her own question to the panelists and the audience, “How are we going to make the change an action?”
Panelist Sharlen Moore, co-founder and executive director of Urban Underground, works with city youth and sees how gun violence affects everyone. She encouraged those who are passionate about making real change to choose a community organization to join or support. That way, she said, people can learn how to more effectively listen to each other when it comes to difficult conversations such as this.
Levas added that those who resist changes to the status quo are really good about sticking to a strong, steady message. “I think the next step here is to have a unified message that stays on point that’s equally focused,” he said, emphasizing the importance of depoliticizing the conversation and focusing on gun violence as a pressing public health concern.
Anne Golden, president of LWV of Milwaukee County, said it’s difficult to be optimistic about solutions to gun violence in the U.S., but she was encouraged by the many hopeful community members who offered their ideas. The majority of attendees said in an evaluation of the event that it is “very likely” that gun violence can be reduced in Milwaukee.


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Alverno Community Conference explores “What Is Truth?” | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Kelly Fay
February 28, 2018
Anne C Bailey, Associate Professor of Africana Studies and History at the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences, photographed along the DeFleur Walkway, May 12, 2014. (Photo courtesy of Alverno College)
The Alverno Community Conference, an annual day of learning that provides an opportunity for the extended Alverno community to share current research around a central theme, will be held on Friday, March 16 from 8:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. The event is open to the public and will explore the theme: “What Is Truth?” Through workshops, discussions, and creative activities, the conference aims to explore how truth is defined, offering world views, challenging social constructs and questioning ownership of truth while providing an opportunity for thought-provoking discussion. Participants can choose from 30 topics – all connected to truth – during two sessions.
The day will begin with a keynote presentation by Dr. Anne Bailey, a writer, historian, and a tenured professor of History and Africana Studies at State University of New York at Binghamton (SUNY). She is committed to the concept of “living history,” meaning that events of the past are connected to current and contemporary issues. Her work also deals with the reconciliation of communities after conflicts like slavery, war and genocide.
Participants will then attend breakout sessions, followed by a culminating session where they can share and discuss what they’ve learned, and identify how that can be translated into meaningful action.
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For more information about the 2018 Alverno Community Conference or to register, visit alverno.edu/communityconference. Additional questions can be directed to 414-382-6020, or email alverno.outreach@alverno.edu.
About Alverno College
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 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 has consulted with three U.S. presidential administrations on accountability and outcomes in higher education and for the past eight years has been ranked one of the top five schools in the Midwest doing “the best job of educating undergrads” by U.S. News & World Report.
Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Alverno College is a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college.

created: February 28, 2018

author: Kelly Fay


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Anne C Bailey, Associate Professor of Africana Studies and Histo | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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February 27, 2018

author: Name *


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Greater Milwaukee Foundation accepting nominations for annual Civic Awards | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
February 28, 2018
To recognize the extraordinary contributions of individuals who have helped shape the community in positive ways, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation is currently accepting nominations from the community for its 2018 Civic Awards. Please submit your nomination using the online nomination form or via e-mail by March 5.
Visit the Foundation’s nomination page for details and directions.
The William C. Frye Award honors those who through their volunteer work have made the region a better place. Frye was a prominent community leader who served as chairman of the Rex Chainbelt Company and the Foundation’s Board.
The Frank Kirkpatrick Award recognizes individuals who have brought about significant physical improvement to the community. Kirkpatrick was a prominent real estate developer and radio commentator.
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The Doug Jansson Leadership Award was created in honor of the longtime Greater Milwaukee Foundation president. It recognizes local nonprofit leaders, especially those engaging underserved communities.
About the Greater Milwaukee Foundation
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation is the region’s largest community foundation and was among the first established in the world. For more than a century, the Foundation has inspired philanthropy by connecting generous people to community needs that align with their interests. The Foundation was founded on the premise that generosity can unlock an individual’s potential and strengthen the community as a whole for everyone who lives here. We work in partnership with those who are committed to ensuring greater Milwaukee is a vibrant, economically thriving region that comprises welcoming and inclusive communities providing opportunity, prosperity and a high quality of life for all. More at greatermilwaukeefoundation.org

author: Greater Milwaukee Foundation


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GMF 2016 Logo | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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February 28, 2018


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How to protect kids from common household poisons | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Meg Lesnick, Wisconsin Poison Center for Penfield Children’s Center’s Kohl’s Building Blocks Program
February 28, 2018
National Poison Prevention week is March 18-24, but parents can help prevent poisoning every day. It only takes a second for little hands to access harmful chemicals or medications that are meant for mom and dad.
Make sure that your little ones cannot gain access to these common household items.
Laundry detergent and bleach for high-efficiency washers is highly concentrated. Combine that fact with the squishy, multi-colored packs of detergent that tend to look like candy, and children are not only intrigued, but can also get quite sick with a small ingestion. The laundry room should be blocked off from children and laundry supplies should be placed on a high shelf and put away immediately.
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Many caregivers take a variety of medicines. In particular, make sure to keep diabetes, anti-depressant and heart medications away from children. According to the Journal of Pediatrics, long-acting diabetes drugs are most likely to result in children’s hospital admission and injury after accidental poisoning. Pain medications also pose a risk, whether prescription medication or over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. All of these medications can quickly end up in the mouth of a small child when spilled on a table or the floor. Keep your medications in a locked medicine cabinet and in a child-safe container. If you no longer need your prescription medications, check for safe disposal in your area.
While gummy vitamins make it easy for kids to take their vitamins, they also can pose a danger. The Wisconsin Poison Center gets a number of calls about young children eating handfuls of gummy vitamins. Most of the time these calls don’t turn into a situation requiring medical attention, just an upset stomach. However, if the vitamins contain iron, they can be dangerous in large quantities. A good rule of thumb is to dispense your child’s vitamins yourself and return the bottle to a medicine shelf that is either locked or out of reach.
This may seem like an odd addition to the list, but often these substances are transferred to a container that may be accessible to children. If even a small amount of these liquids are ingested and aspirated into the lungs, it can cause chemical pneumonia. Keep gasoline, paint thinner, lighter fluid, furniture polish, etc. up and away from your children at all times. If you have your children outside with you while you are working on a project, take special care to keep them away from these substances.


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how to html | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 27, 2018
how to html


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 27, 2018


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Running Rebels capital campaign picks up major supporters | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Running Rebels
February 28, 2018
(Photo by Rebecca Carballo)
Two of Milwaukee’s largest private philanthropic foundations have stepped up to make major lead gifts to the Running Rebels $4.1 million Capital Campaign. The Bradley Foundation has committed $500,000 and the Burke Foundation has committed $250,000 to help the organization establish a presence at a beautiful new building located at 225 W. Capitol Dr., while maintaining services at the original Running Rebels location at 1300 Fond du Lac Ave.
Running Rebels Community Organization provides mentor-based programs focused on transforming the lives of some of Milwaukee’s hardest to reach and most at-risk African American youth, with a particular focus on serving boys, teen boys, and young men.
In early 2017, with support from the Zilber Foundation and IFF, Running Rebels purchased the modern new building on Capitol Dr., which was specifically designed for providing youth services and includes classrooms, more private meeting spaces for individual mentoring, a commercial grade kitchen, a gym and locker rooms
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“It’s a major milestone for us to be in this 21st century facility and to be able to provide our community with a higher level of service and to have our own gym,” says Running Rebels Founder and Co-Executive Director Victor Barnett.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Bradley and Burke Foundations for investing in Running Rebels and the young people we serve. The Bradley Foundation has supported our growth for many years. The Burke Foundation came on board this year. We are just amazed at their commitment to youth in Milwaukee,” Barnett says.
In addition to the major gifts provided by Bradley and Burke, one of Running Rebels own stepped up to make a substantial contribution to the campaign. NBA star, Kevon Looney, who started with Running Rebels when he was in fourth grade and now plays for the Golden State Warriors was in town last week to present a $10,000 personal check to Running Rebels and shoot some hoops in the new gym.
“We stress the importance of giving back to all of the kids, so it is incredibly meaningful to have Kevon step up and support the campaign in such a big way!” said Barnett.
Running Rebels, which offers mentoring, arts, athletics, workforce development, tutoring, and college prep services to about 1500 youth annually must still raise about $2 million to complete improvements at both facilities, expand programming, and create a solid foundation for the future.
Founded in 1985, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation supports organizations that are committed to fostering strong families and communities, informing and educating citizens, advancing economic growth and promoting the principles of a free society.
The Burke Foundation seeks to make a difference in the lives of youth by investing in creative, well-conceived and cost-effective educational opportunities that enhance and improve the character, quality and access to education; the personal, social and intellectual development of children and youth; the educational and social quality of community life.

author: Running Rebels


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 28, 2018


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Special report: City leaders call for comprehensive plan to address lead poisoning | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jabril Faraj
February 28, 2018
(From left) Ald. Jim Bohl asks a question as Ald. Milele Coggs and Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton look on. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
Editor’s note: This is one of an occasional series of stories highlighting the health risk — particularly to children — of lead service lines, which deliver water from city water mains to about 70,000 homes in Milwaukee.
Amid revelations that deficiencies within the Milwaukee Health Department hindered the city’s response to the local lead poisoning crisis, community leaders, Health Department officials and aldermen are saying the city must be more aggressive and proactive to protect residents from lead poisoning.
Community groups, including the Freshwater for Life Action Coalition (FLAC), have advocated for more aggressive actions to address lead poisoning — particularly exposure through hazardous lead piping — since late 2015. In interviews with the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, representatives of FLAC, Milwaukee Water Commons, the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin, Hunger Task Force and Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers expressed the need to create a straightforward, comprehensive plan to prevent lead exposure.
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Black Health Coalition President Patricia McManus, who recently was appointed interim Health Commissioner in a 13-1 Common Council vote, said the process must be open and transparent, and that it should include a timeline and priorities for implementation.
“Lead is not normal,” said McManus. “That’s the message that needs to keep being said.”
McManus was a member of Milwaukee’s Water Quality Task Force, which released a report that lists 20 recommendations to make drinking water safer. The report says the city should “ensure vulnerable populations have access to lead-removing water filters” and “do all in its authority to accelerate the removal and/or rehabilitation of lead service lines.”
Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) Director of Disease Control and Environmental Health Angela Hagy wrote in an email that MHD supports a plan that focuses on educating people about the effects of lead exposure, abating sources of lead exposure and testing children for elevated levels.
The Health Department has been aware of the risks of lead exposure from paint since the early 1980s.
According to MHD, about 130,000 homes are at risk for lead paint hazards, less than 20,000 of which have been successfully remediated over the last 20 years. Since 2010, the Health Department’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP), has used more than $17.6 million in federal and city funds to replace 33,737 windows in 4,173 units.
The issue of lead in water was brought to the fore as a result of the 2014 crisis in Flint, Michigan, where residents were supplied toxic water for more than a year.
The City of Milwaukee’s problems with lead in the water first surfaced in 1991, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency created the Lead and Copper Rule, intended to limit the concentration of lead and copper in drinking water. The city failed three of its first four tests and was non-compliant most recently in 1997. Instead of addressing the lead pipe issue then, the city added a phosphoric acid-based compound to the water that coats the pipes to prevent lead from leaching into the water. In every test since, the city has been in compliance.
Though Milwaukee’s water is clean at the source, lead from service lines can dissolve or flake into the water, making it hazardous. More than 70,000 Milwaukee homes, primarily concentrated in the city’s central north and south side neighborhoods, receive their water through lead service lines.
According to Health Department data, measured cases of dangerous lead levels in children’s blood have declined significantly since 2003. That year, of approximately 22,000 children under 6 tested, 8,663 — 37.9 percent — had blood lead levels above 5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL), the level at which the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that public health action be taken.
Of almost 24,500 children under 6 tested in 2016, 11.6 percent — or 2,851 — had levels above 5 µg/dL.
Despite this progress, community advocates and city officials have said the city’s response has not been sufficient, especially as it relates to testing children and making sure families have accurate information about the effects of lead and how to protect themselves.
“No amount of lead is safe and no source of lead is unimportant,” said acting MHD Medical Director Geoffrey Swain during a recent Common Council Steering & Rules Committee meeting. “We have a very long ways to go.”
According to Health Department data, in 2015, five ZIP codes (53205, 53206, 53208, 53210 and 53212) had more than 13 percent of children test above 5 µg/dL. All five ZIP codes have populations that are majority African-American and poverty rates higher than the citywide rate of 29 percent.
Paint, water and soil can all be sources of lead, and lead ingested or inhaled from any source increases the total amount of lead in the body. Until recently, Health Department officials have said paint is the primary source of exposure, a claim disputed by peer-reviewed research and EPA estimates that 30 percent of people with high lead blood levels do not have an immediate lead paint source.
According to a 2014 report by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), exposure to lead can result in childhood brain damage, leading to aggressive behavior, stunted intellectual development, mental health problems and a higher likelihood of committing violent acts. Adults who were poisoned as children can have reproductive issues and exposure as an adult can increase the likelihood of kidney disease, high blood pressure, depression, stroke and memory loss, including Alzheimer’s disease.
The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, which has been the subject of recent scrutiny, employs a two-pronged strategy: replacing windows in homes with lead paint and following up with children who have high blood lead levels.
A recent report produced by MHD stated electronic records for 2015 and 2016 do not show any follow-ups sent for children who tested between 5 and 9 µg/dL. Since 2015, thousands of children did not receive the required follow-ups — either letters or in-home visits for those with higher levels of exposure.
(Click to enlarge)
Health Commissioner Bevan Baker resigned after Mayor Tom Barrett discovered the issues; since then, other concerns have come to light. Health Department officials have testified that MHD was not testing water for lead in the homes of children who tested positive for lead poisoning, despite claiming last summer that they were. And MHD struggled, during the second half of 2017, to abate homes with lead paint because of insufficient staffing levels and the complexity of identifying qualified homes, according to testimony. Weeks after the revelations, MHD released an extensive report detailing the deficiencies.
Since the mismanagement was brought to light, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) conducted a review of the CLPPP and issued a stop order for lead abatement activities, of which it funds a large portion, until corrective actions are taken. DHS will also conduct a review of the program.
These reviews came in the wake of calls from activists and aldermen for an independent investigation of the department.
The Health Department initially fought and later delayed a resolution passed in November that added women of childbearing age (15-45) to the high-risk pool for lead exposure. The measure also clarified that using a water filter is the most thorough means of ensuring lead-water safety, and expanded the age that children should receive regular testing to all those under 6.
After the resolution passed, the Health Department claimed it had been doing what the measure directed all along, and consequently did not intend to change messaging or direction to care providers and filter distribution partners.
However, at a Steering and Rules Committee meeting on Jan. 31, MHD spokesperson Sarah DeRoo said the department is in the process of informing care providers of the updates and plans to advertise in community papers, a step suggested by residents in interviews with the Milwaukee Neighborhood Service early last year. DeRoo also said that Baker discussed the changes on a radio show late last year.
Advocates have criticized MHD and city officials for “reactionary” communication that they say has failed to convey the urgency of the situation. This, they say, has hindered the ability of people to adequately protect themselves and their families.
“I think what we’ve mostly been getting from the city is just enough of a message to get by,” said Kirsten Shead, co-chair of Milwaukee Water Commons’ drinking water initiative, adding that there has been “a general hesitancy” to admit that lead in the water is a big problem.
Barrett has recently defended his response to the issue saying, “Within days, if not hours, if I find out something that I believe the public should know, I share it with the public.”
After Barrett sat on a panel with Virginia Tech Professor Marc Edwards, one of the leading national voices on lead in water, in late 2016 Barrett urged everyone who lives in a home built before 1951 to get a water filter.
However, until late last year the Health Department’s Lead Safe MKE website promoted “flushing” more prominently than using water filters. Flushing — which requires residents to run water for at least three minutes after water has sat in pipes for prolonged periods — has been found to be an inconsistent method of protection.
According to MHD, 1,611 filters were distributed by the Social Development Commission (SDC) and Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers (SSCHC) over two months at the end of 2016, as part of a pilot program. From the beginning of 2017 through the end of January, 1,769 filters have been distributed by SDC, SSCHC, Health Department programs, WIC Clinics and the Department of City Development.
Shead pointed out that the number is relatively small, compared to the 70,000 homes with a lead line. She noted that the real question is whether those filters have been installed on people’s faucets and are being used.
North Division High School students and community members demonstrated on North Avenue in May 2017 calling for clean water. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
“I think we need a much more robust message and campaign around getting filters out into the community,”Shead added.
“This very much echoes the zeitgeist of every other health department I know,” said Yanna Lambrinidou, a national expert and activist who sat on the EPA’s National Drinking Water Advisory Council Lead and Copper Rule work group.
Lambrinidou said public health officials in municipalities around the country, including Milwaukee, have created an environment of “manufactured ignorance” around the issue of lead in drinking water. She said many officials “just repeat and parrot and replicate and sell the dogma that is being passed on to them” by the CDC and other public health institutions.
DeRoo defended the Health Department’s communications. She wrote in an email to NNS that, throughout its history, the department has executed “different advertising and outreach efforts to both the public and medical providers, including billboards and newsletters.” In the past year, advertising has included ads on bus exteriors, bus shelters, billboards and community websites; in addition, MHD has done direct outreach, created partnerships (including with Molina Healthcare, to test children), held events and attended community meetings, according to DeRoo. (DeRoo, who served in her position since September 2012, left the department as of Feb. 23.)
Despite those efforts, few people appear to have adequate information. An informal survey by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service of residents of homes that the city lists as having a lead service line found that only two of 19 people were aware of that fact. Seven of the 19 were generally aware of the detrimental nature of lead exposure, three of whom had a child or grandchild who has been lead poisoned.
Many of those who did not know they had a lead lateral were not surprised. Some said that they have known for some time that many of the homes in the city have lead pipes, just not theirs specifically.
“It’s the government — you can’t trust the government,” said Gavin Weitzer, 33, who did not know his home was serviced by a lead pipe. He said he drinks bottled water, but boils water for cooking, which can actually increase the concentration of lead.
Lead poisoning cases are most highly concentrated on the near north and south sides, in low- and middle-income communities of color.
Ald. Milele Coggs said the city needs to use non-traditional communication methods because the populations that need to be reached don’t use traditional methods.
“We can say that we sent out some piece of paper to people’s homes, and we’ve got it on our websites … it’s still not enough, and we all know that,” said Ald. Jim Bohl. “Something more has got to be done.” On Monday, Bohl proposed “an intensive, citywide effort” to deliver 50,000 filtration devices to homes at no cost, along with an education campaign.
Residents have also suggested the Health Department provide educational materials at libraries and advertise on Facebook. Some said receiving a phone call or seeing signs posted where lead lines exist would get their attention.
FLAC Spokesperson Robert Miranda speaks to reporters in January at City Hall after mismanagement of the Health Department’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Program came to light. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
FLAC Spokesperson Robert Miranda called the Health Department’s efforts “half-measures.”
“These are not comprehensive, strategically planned, well-organized campaigns to remove this very toxic, very dangerous situation from our water supply,” Miranda said.
“We need to be confident that the water coming out of our taps is safe to drink,” said Ald. Nik Kovac. “And if we’re not confident then we need to make radical reforms to make it safe.”
Edwards, the Virginia Tech professor, and Michael Carvan, a professor at UW-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences, have said water that travels through lead pipes should not be considered safe and that the only long-term solution is to remove the pipes.
Since partial replacements were suspended in late 2016, the city’s policy has been to fully replace lead service lines. Through November, Milwaukee Water Works (MWW) fully replaced 500 lead laterals in 2017. In 2018, $8.8 million will go toward replacing 800 service lines, including lines attached to water main projects, licensed child care facilities and where leaks occur, as well as the remaining portion of partially replaced lines. MWW plans to fully replace 1,000 lead lines in 2019.
In projects that affect private residences, the homeowner must pay for the portion of the line that extends from the sidewalk to the home. Homeowners will pay no more than $1,600, which can be spread over 10 years. Only those affected by a city project or leak are eligible for the cost-sharing program.
City officials have dismissed the possibility of further accelerating the process of replacing lead laterals, or paying for the part of the line they consider property of the homeowner.
In December 2016, FLAC sent a letter to all city officials that estimated the total cost of replacing lead laterals citywide at $511 million. The letter suggested using General Obligation Bonds, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and funds from Milwaukee Water Works to replace all lead lines over 20 years at no cost to homeowners. It also suggested creating an Environmental Remediation Tax Incremental District. The city has not responded to these proposals.
Kovac said a local sales tax, much like one suggested by Ald. Robert Bauman in 2015 to fund the Bucks arena, parks and cultural institutions, might provide additional funding for lead line replacement. However, the Republican-controlled state legislature, which must approve any local taxes, has not been friendly to the idea. The legislature ignored Bauman’s proposal, along with other proposals to help fund city and county services.
Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin introduced an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act that would invest federal funds to replace lead lateral service pipes.
However, Bohl noted that even removal of every lead service line doesn’t guarantee people will be safe because lead pipes might exist in the home. Similarly, he said even some generic bottled waters can’t be trusted to be lead-free as they are “straight from the tap in some factory, just run through a minimal filter.”
Shead, Hunger Task Force Executive Director Sherrie Tussler and others say the city’s focus should be on better lead education and more communication about the advantages of filtering. Shead said information about where people can get filters would be helpful.
MHD has provided some examples of filters that sufficiently protect from lead.
Kevin Engstrom, director of environmental health at SSCHC, said parents and care providers need to be more aggressive about testing children. However, he also emphasized the importance of going to people, instead of waiting for them to come.
“It’s not just giving a brochure and saying, ‘You should go here,’” Engstrom said. “With poverty and struggle and barriers, we just want to eliminate any of those steps, any of those barriers, any of those reasons to not get a kid tested.”


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Two development projects to help boost 6th District | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Milele A. Coggs
February 28, 2018
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs said she is pleased with Common Council action yesterday approving two projects that will help breathe new life into underused properties in the 6th Aldermanic District.
On Tuesday (February 27) the Council unanimously approved the recommendation of the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee to sell the former Milwaukee Public Schools building at 500 E. Center St. to RiverBee LLC for the Cream City Hostel, a 53-bed facility that will serve as the city’s first hostel. Customers will be able to rent beds at various lower-cost rates at the location, which formerly housed the Centro del Nino School.
“This property has been vacant for some time and the future hostel will serve as an active neighborhood hub at the crossroads of Harambee and Riverwest,” Alderwoman Coggs said. “I believe the new development will be a positive addition to the area and the city as a whole.”
The second project approved by the Council today involves the former tax deed city- owned property at 3514 N. Port Washington Ave. The Council unanimously approved the recommendation of the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee and sold the property to Fatima Laster as part of a City Art and Resource Community Hub (A.R.C.H.) loan.
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Ms. Laster intends to restore the building as a mixed-use hub that will include an art gallery with flex work and event space for artists on the first floor and two apartments on the second floor.
“This future creative working space and mixed-used home for artists is much needed in the district and I believe it will offer an exceptional environment for inspiring art while also offering the neighborhood a positive and vibrant hub,” the Alderwoman said.
For more information about the A.R.C.H. Program please contact Rhonda Manuel at (414) 286-2037.

author: Ald. Milele A. Coggs


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Courage MKE purchases the Courage House | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Courage MKE
March 1, 2018
On Tuesday, February 20, 2018, Courage MKE purchased property  in Walker’s Point, which will serve as The Courage House, a home for LGBTQ+ youth in need to be provided a home and resources. The Courage House, the first of its kind in the state of Wisconsin, will be located at 1544 S. 6 St, Milwaukee, WI 53204.
The vision of Courage MKE started with co-founders Brad and Nick Schlaikowski, who after hearing stories of homeless LGBTQ+ children, felt compelled to do more for their community. “At 16, youth should be focused on applying for college and what they will wear to prom, not where they are going to sleep that night or how they will afford their next meal,” said Brad Schlaikowski.
Since 2015, Courage MKE has provided over $8000.00 in grants to support local high school Gay Straight Alliances and $6000.00 in scholarships to any student actively involved in their high schools GSA for continuing education. The Courage House has been the driving goal for Courage MKE since the nonprofit’s inception.
“The Courage House is important not only for the next night these kids will be sleeping, but also important for their future,” said Courage MKE Junior Board Member Ash Whitaker. “Many of us take our stability for granted, and to be able to give people, who are deserving, something so necessary is an incredible experience.”
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The Courage House is currently undergoing renovations and licensing with an anticipated opening of fall 2018 as a resource for the community. Under current plans, The Courage House will be able to serve as a home for eight people.
Aside from housing, The Courage will offer programming to include, individual and group therapy, life skills coaching, tutoring and interview/job training.   The Courage Home will be a safe place for residents to be themselves and to be accepted for who they are while receiving the support and guidance they so desperately deserve.
As Courage MKE prepares this house for the community, donations to help furnish this house into a home are gladly welcome.

author: Courage MKE


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If you see dangerous potholes please report them | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee
March 1, 2018
When you mix rain, some snow, and swings in temperature from the 20s to the upper 40s, you have created the perfect conditions for creating potholes.
And some of those potholes can widen and deepen overnight, in just a matter of hours.
The Milwaukee Common Council wants city residents and business owners to help report potholes. If you see potholes – please – report them so city crews can be dispatched to fill them. Please remember that we can’t fix what we don’t know about.
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If you see a really dangerous pothole or a group of them:
Also, Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton asks motorists to please drive safely at all times, and especially when they come across city crews filling the potholes. “Please give the crew members and city vehicles plenty of room to maneuver,” President Hamilton said.

author: City of Milwaukee


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Vote for MANDI People’s Choice winners starting today | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sharon McGowan
March 1, 2018
LISC Milwaukee Executive Director Donsia Strong Hill addresses the MANDI audience at the 2017 dinner. (Photo by Emmy Yates)
Editor’s note: You can vote today for People’s Choice Award winners. Click here to vote.
Beginning today, and through March 14, community members can vote for individuals or organizations to win the MANDI People’s Choice Award, the only award chosen by a popular vote. The top three vote-getters each will win a $1,000 prize.
For the first time this year, the Chase Economic Development award will recognize economic and business development.
The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service published articles about each of the 12 finalists during the past several months. In addition, voters will find videos about the finalists produced by LISC Milwaukee.
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The MANDIs (Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation), sponsored by U.S. Bank in partnership with LISC, honor organizations and individuals for their work to revitalize distressed city neighborhoods.
Sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank, the People’s Choice Awards will be go to three winners, chosen from among the finalists in six categories.
MANDI finalists are selected from public nominations by an independent, cross-sector volunteer committee.  A panel of judges visits each finalist’s site and votes on the winners.
All winners will be announced at a dinner on Thursday, March 15, at the Potawatomi Event Center, 1611 W. Canal St.
Below are the 2018 finalists:
Brewers Community Foundation Public Space Award
BMO Harris Cornerstone Award
Chase Economic Development Award
Northern Trust Navigator Award
PNC Bank Trailblazer Award
State Farm Building Blocks Award

author: Sharon McGowan


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Mayor’s housing plan could help integrate Milwaukee, advocates say | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Elliot Hughes
March 2, 2018
The former Blommer Ice Cream Factory, at 1500 W. North Ave., is being converted into a 64-unit housing complex, with the help of tax increment financing. (Photo by Elliot Hughes)
Mayor Tom Barrett was short on details when he set a goal of building or improving 10,000 affordable housing units in 10 years in his State of the City address. But if done correctly, affordable housing advocates said, 10,000 units could take a real stab at the city’s deeply rooted segregation.
“It could take the city from being one of the cities that’s known for the segregation we’ve had for over 50 years into a more integrated city,” said Andi Elliott, CEO of Community Advocates.
During his 40-minute speech at the freshly constructed Northwestern Mutual Tower earlier this week, Barrett announced that through private partnerships, the city would soon expand a loan program designed to help low-income families improve their homes. And he said he is willing to commit significant “tax incremental financing” to spur construction of affordable housing units, both in the neighborhoods and downtown.
“Growing affordable units in these areas will make it easier for workers to get to nearby jobs,” Barrett said.
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Housing advocates applauded the goal of 10,000 units in 10 years, saying that not only is it doable, but that it is a minimal starting point if the city and community want to reduce segregation, foreclosed homes and poverty. But there are many directions the city could take on its path to creating 1,000 better housing opportunities every year, they said.
For one thing, it matters where the housing would be. Barrett said the new units could be located anywhere in Milwaukee,” but added that he is “particularly interested” in seeing more affordable units in the downtown area.
SEVEN04 Place, an upcoming 60-unit apartment complex, was funded in part by tax increment financing. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Some housing advocates are wary about too much focus on downtown, when neighborhoods farther away struggle with foreclosed homes and rents that cost 80 to 90 percent of some families’ incomes.
“I think affordable housing needs to be sited where the people who need affordable housing are, and where they either work or want to be working,” said Tim Baack, president and CEO of Pathfinders Milwaukee. “That may or may not be in the downtown area.”
But nobody wants to see downtown — which has recently seen a boom in high-end housing and commercial development — become an area that’s only affordable for the wealthy.
If downtown and its adjacent neighborhoods can become mixed-income areas, it could help integrate Milwaukee and connect low-income households to better educational, employment and healthcare opportunities, according to Kori Schneider–Peragine, a senior administrator with the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council.
“We completely agree with affordable housing downtown,” Schneider–Peragine said. “We think that makes a lot of sense.”
Then, there’s the question of just how much emphasis will be placed on homeownership versus renting.
In his speech, Barrett said Associated Bank has become the city’s first corporate partner in expanding the city’s STRONG Homes Loan program. He said that partnership will add $1.5 million into the program’s coffers, which currently disperses up to $20,000 to a maximum of four low-income families every year for home improvements. The city is looking for additional partners as well, Barrett noted.
He also referenced two affordable housing developments funded by tax increment financing — the 64-unit Legacy Lofts, 1500 W. North Ave., and the 60-unit SEVEN04 Place, 704 W. National Ave. — as examples of the city’s more aggressive approach to luring such projects.
Elliott characterized affordable housing as the immediate need, saying too many people are struggling in unsafe properties that are far too expensive.
But Mike Gosman, executive director of ACTS Housing, which helps low-income families become homeowners, is particularly hopeful that Barrett’s housing campaign will increase homeownership. He said homeowners are more likely to fix up and care for their homes, develop relationships with neighbors and “do all the things that help to create a community that is attractive.”
“I’m hopeful, as that plan gets debated and fleshed out, that there’s a significant role for individuals and families that want to become homeowners, not just looking at affordable rental opportunities,” Gosman said. “We’d love to see how we can contribute to the 10,000 goal.”
Wyman Winston, executive director of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, which specializes in affordable rental properties, also acknowledged homeownership is “far better for everyone concerned.”
“I think it’s ambitious,” Winston said of Barrett’s goal. “We are committed to helping the city. I’m just waiting to hear more details.”

author: Elliot Hughes


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 1, 2018

author: Adam Carr


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Reagan High School hosts ‘Opportunity Fair’ to connect students to jobs, internships | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mark Lisowski
March 3, 2018
Reagan students interact with representatives from Aurora Health Care to learn about opportunities in healthcare. (Photo courtesy of Marcy Aycock)
For Reagan high school students who are seeking to participate in an internship before graduating, stepping into the workforce just got easier.
Ronald W. Reagan High School, located on the South Side, recently hosted its first Opportunity Fair, an event that exposed students to at least 20 employers, internships and volunteer opportunities. The fair is one way the school helps students build career-related skills.
“Reagan supports students’ career readiness by reinforcing their academic skills, technical skills and employment skills,” said Molly Schuld, science teacher and coordinator of the fair.
Students on Reagan’s International Baccalaureate Career-related program track take a personal and professional skills course, and are encouraged to complete a 120-hour, paid internship related to their career interests. Gabriella Gonzalez, a Reagan junior, recently landed an internship with Aurora Health Care as a dietary aide.
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“I’m quite a nerd,” she said, “I’ve always wanted to go into the military to help people. I want to go into medicine.” Gonzalez participated in a program with the Medical College of Wisconsin, where she dissected a heart and an eyeball, and is coordinating a blood drive later this semester. She explained that students must have the drive to pursue their career interests, but Reagan makes it easy for students to connect with opportunities.
Carol Stein, former International Baccalaureate (IB) Coordinator and self-proclaimed grandmother figure at Reagan, said it is an “exemplary school,” a place where “it’s cool to be smart.”
A student fills out an information form at the Dental Associates’ booth at the Opportunity Fair. (Photo courtesy of Carol Stein)
The high school opened in 2003 under an IB curriculum, which Stein said promotes “students’ understanding of their roles in an international society and gives them the tools they need to be responsible learners.”
From its humble beginnings, when the school consisted of six faculty members and 127 students, Reagan now instructs students representing more than 20 countries. “Education is kind of sad now,” she said, “[but] Reagan renews my faith that education can be done well.”
Isaac Wells, a junior who commutes two hours daily to attend school, appreciated the Opportunity Fair. “I always wanted to have an internship,” he said. “I want to have an edge when I apply for colleges.” Wells said he comes from a lower-income family, but always achieved good grades and dreamed of a better future for himself. “I’ve seen success and I don’t want to stay poor,” he said.
Wells participates in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) Mentor Program and Talent Search, an organization that offers small scholarships and college tours for high school students. He also is part of the Sponsor a Scholar Program with the Boys and & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee.
“Employers felt [our] students were prepared,” Schuld said, though she acknowledged some were wary about hiring high school students.
Students lined up to interview with representatives from a variety of organizations, including Discovery World, Milwaukee Fire Department and the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). “They were scared initially,” Schuld said, “but they were awesome by the end.” She noted that Reagan’s support system is strong, and that teachers feel confident sending students out into the workforce.
Reagan High School is the newest of several Milwaukee Public Schools that sponsor curricula offered by the National Academy Foundation (NAF), a New York City-based nonprofit that operates in schools across 36 states and serves more than 100,000 high school students.
NAF provides Reagan with resources for work-based learning, according to Marcy Aycock, an NAF representative who works with Reagan faculty. Schuld, who also serves as the academy director for the NAF Academy of Health Sciences at Reagan, implements a health sciences curriculum provided by NAF. “We worked with the NAF advisory board to set up this fair,” Schuld said.
“Reagan is doing a great job,” said Gonzalez. “They set us up for success and help students connect to opportunities.”

author: Mark Lisowski


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 2, 2018


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NNS on Lake Effect: Reckless driving in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 4, 2018
After years of traffic fatalities and injury accidents trending down, both are now on the rise and are soaring to levels not seen in recent years. As police regroup, Milwaukee residents are grappling with the idea that a green light doesn’t mean it’s safe to go.
Related story: Reckless driving forces Milwaukee residents into game of “red light roulette.”
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author: Dwayne Burtin


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0227a_0 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 4, 2018
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Book author reads to children at MCFI | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sharon McGowan
March 5, 2018
Author and social justice advocate Deanna Singh recently discussed her two children’s books, “I am a boy of color” and “I am a girl of color,” at Milwaukee Center for Independence, 2020 W. Wells St.
Singh was invited to present to MCFI’s Children’s Center program about the books, which speak to developing healthy self-images.
Singh said she wrote the books after she learned through her own research that fewer than 22 percent of published books depict children of color. “There are more books on inanimate objects.”
Additionally, she said, many in the education system unfortunately talk about “children as problems to be solved.”
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Following her presentation, children were encouraged to ask questions and create self-portraits.


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25754291637_4ffcd9feac_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 5, 2018


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Adam Carr
March 5, 2018


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Adam Carr
March 5, 2018


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Adam Carr
March 5, 2018


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Adam Carr
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Adam Carr
March 5, 2018


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 5, 2018


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Community leaders: ACLU reports confirm experiences of black, Latino residents with police | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jabril Faraj
March 5, 2018
A Milwaukee Police Department officer pulls over a black resident near 35th and Clybourn streets. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
Community leaders are saying three reports recently released by the ACLU of Wisconsin vindicate members of the black community who have for decades protested the way police treated them.
An examination of Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) records of traffic stops, pedestrian stops, frisks and searches between 2010 and 2017 concluded that 350,000 of those stops — 48 percent of traffic stops and 59 percent of pedestrian stops — fail to show “articulable reasonable suspicion of criminal activity or a traffic or vehicle equipment violation.” The review was conducted by Margo Frasier, a criminal justice consultant and former police monitor and sheriff in Texas who was president of the Major County Sheriffs’ Association.
A separate report by David Abrams, a professor of law, business economics, and public policy at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, shows that Milwaukee police conduct more more than three times the number of stops in primarily black and Latino police districts as in white districts. Abrams also found that black and Latino drivers are more likely to be stopped, even in primarily white areas, and are more likely to be searched than white people, despite the fact that searches of white people more often result in discovery of drugs or weapons.
“That’s just the way that they police — they occupy these areas,” said Nate Hamilton, the brother of Dontre Hamilton, who was shot and killed by an officer in 2014. He added, “I feel like the black community’s being used for profit, when it’s all said and done,” citing high rates of incarceration for black men and the fact that poor residents are disproportionately ticketed.
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“We knew this was part of (former MPD) Chief Flynn’s policing strategy, which we opposed,” said NAACP President Fred Royal, also a member of the Community Coalition for Quality Policing, an advocacy group that includes the ACLU. Royal said MPD has employed a “broken windows” strategy, which called for officers to preemptively stop people in high-crime areas for questioning “even if their home was in that geographical area.”
(From left) Assistant Chief William Jessup, FPC Board Chair Steven DeVougas, former Chief Ed Flynn, now-departed Assistant Chief James Harpole and FPC Executive Director MaryNell Regan prepare to testify before the Common Council’s Steering and Rules Committee in September. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
MPD’s standard operating procedure governing citizen contacts, field interviews, and search and seizure states an officer must be able to articulate facts that “lead a police member to reasonably believe that criminal activity has been, is being, or is about to be committed.”
In an email, MPD Sgt. Sheronda Grant wrote that during the first week of training, an internal affairs officer “instills the importance of following all guidelines set by the agency and thoroughly explains the agency’s Code of Conduct and Core Values” to recruits. Grant did not say whether MPD officers are tested on, or regularly reminded of, these standards.
The ACLU filed a class action suit early last year alleging that MPD’s stop practices are unconstitutional and racially discriminatory. The suit, which includes nine plaintiffs, is expected to go to trial in May.
ACLU of Wisconsin Legal Director Larry Dupuis said Frasier gave the police department some latitude in evaluating the stops. For example, if an officer documented he or she pulled someone over for a broken tail light, she considered this a sufficient reason for a stop. However, if the officer simply listed “loitering,” that would not be sufficient because “what is commonly thought of as loitering is not, itself, a crime.”
He also said it’s possible that, through court testimony of the officer involved, a particular incident could meet the standard. However, he added there are many stops that never would.
“Even if you went back and … asked every single officer, there’s a huge number of these stops that, under any scenario, are unjustified.”
Flynn defended MPD’s stop policies when the ACLU suit was announced, claiming that the department did not engage in stop-and-frisk because it avoided the “trap” of giving those searched a ticket, unlike in New York City where the practice was ruled unconstitutional in 2013.
The third report concluded not only that MPD maintained unconstitutional stop, frisk and search practices but also that the Fire and Police Commission (FPC), the civilian oversight board tasked with oversight of MPD, “has failed to adequately fulfill its official responsibilities.” The report was prepared by Samuel Walker, professor emeritus of criminal justice at the University of Nebraska and a respected criminal justice consultant,
Walker also concluded that FPC Executive Director MaryNell Regan — who has been accused of trying to influence disciplinary action against a friend and recently faced questions about favoritism in choosing an interim chief — has little to no understanding about what constitutes a lawful search, based on her deposition. He noted that the FPC’s decision to “believe management” about whether MPD maintains informal quotas for stops, instead of opening an investigation, constitutes “an abdication of the FPC’s basic mandate to provide independent oversight.”
Regan, who has served in the position since September 2015, did not respond to calls and voicemails requesting comment.
Jamaal Smith, racial justice coordinator for the YWCA of Southeast Wisconsin, said the FPC’s inability to provide adequate oversight is borne out by the data. “If you have 350,000 stop records that fail to show officers had reasonable suspicion, someone dropped the ball,” he said.
Smith said FPC commissioners should be required to undergo an orientation that includes basic information, such as police policies and procedures. Hamilton acknowledged the FPC does not have the resources or the information to be successful but said the body needs to be more bold.
Royal and Smith said that Mayor Tom Barrett, who appoints the commissioners, must be held accountable.
“You can’t keep just looking at the henchmen without looking at the top dog,” Smith said.
Ultimately, however, Hamilton said the responsibility falls to the people of Milwaukee to protect each other. He said individuals must become more knowledgeable about police procedure and policies so they can make specific complaints when those standards are violated. He also said onlookers or passersby must record interactions between citizens and police, adding that it will take people patiently and persistently putting pressure on Barrett, the FPC and interim MPD Chief Alfonso Morales to change the department’s practices.
Royal and Smith said it is essential for the department to implement problem-oriented community policing, and evaluate officers based on their problem-solving and relationship-building ability. Royal suggested giving residents a receipt of police interactions.
“We are people; we are human,” said Smith. “We have to also look at officers in that way as well. But the only way that will happen is if you see officers who are really trying to build (a relationship) with the community.”

author: Jabril Faraj


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 4, 2018