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10 years after his death, Dontre Hamilton’s family calls for more policing reforms | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez and PrincessSafiya Byers
April 23, 2024
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with comments from the Milwaukee Police Department.
Nearly 10 years after her son, Dontre Hamilton, was shot and killed by a Milwaukee Police Department officer, Maria Hamilton is still fighting for change.
“The system failed me and my family, and I still want justice,” she said. “It wasn’t about Dontre being mentally ill, it was about a system created to do exactly what it did.”
What it did, she said, is that it failed to protect her son and hold people accountable for his death.
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Dontre Hamilton, who was 31 and suffered from schizophrenia, was approached by officers while sleeping at Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee on April 30, 2014.
A confrontation ensued before he was shot 14 times and killed by officer Christopher Manney. Manney was fired for violating police department policy for patting down Dontre without cause but was never charged in his death.
Hamilton said she’s still upset that Manney was not prosecuted and disappointed that a new policy that mandates the release of police body cam footage within 48 hours is being held up in the courts. She said it’s another example of the police department lacking transparency.
“We need for [police] to start giving the community information, start recording data and come out and tell the people: ‘Hey, we’ve tackled this; we’ve changed this; we’re working on this,’” she said.
Still, Hamilton said, there have been some wins since her son’s death.
Officers who are assigned body cameras must wear them at all times on duty. Use-of-force policies have been updated, and crisis intervention training is mandatory for officers. The city now deploys Crisis Assessment Response Teams, which pairs officers and clinicians, to mental health calls.
In a statement to NNS, the Milwaukee Police Department said: “The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) has worked tirelessly to rebuild our community’s trust and have made great strides. MPD can proudly claim its Use of Force policy is consistent with the nationally recognized “8 Can’t Wait” campaign.  In addition, all our officers are trained in Crisis Intervention, De-Escalation Training and in Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement.”
“MPD believes that no one should cause harm to our community, and that includes our own.  We hold our members to the highest professional standards and work hard to instill a culture of professionalism and community engagement.”
Nate Hamilton, Dontre Hamilton’s older brother, said he’s happy with those changes, adding the leadership transition at MPD from Alfonso Morales to current Chief Jeffrey Norman has also been positive.
“Where we are now is probably better than before Dontre died,”  said Hamilton, who chairs the Community Collaborative Commission, or CCC.
The CCC has been working with the MPD to develop standards for community-oriented policing and to improve law enforcement practices.
“We want to create a different outlook on how police engage with the community,” he said.
When asked if he felt that police and community relations have improved since his brother’s death, he said it depends on the situation.
“There’s still some strain,” he said. “I personally have had some positive police interactions over the past 10 years.”
Markasa Tucker-Harris, a community activist, started organizing by working with the Hamilton family in 2014. She said nothing has changed since Dontre Hamilton’s death because there has been no divestment from MPD.
“Policing as a system is violent; the roots historically and systemically are violent and continue to be,” said Tucker-Harris, executive director of the African American Roundtable, or AART. “People don’t need to be murdered to experience harm, which they are.”
Milwaukee County Board Supervisor Sequanna Taylor, who sponsored the effort to install a memorial bench and plaque in Hamilton’s memory at Red Arrow Park in 2022, said she believes policy changes have improved policing but have not created the level of change that people need.
“In some ways, it may be a smaller snail walk than some want to see,” Taylor said. “We would all like to see more.”
With the 10th anniversary of her son’s death on April 30, Maria Hamilton and her supporters want to use Dontre Day as a time to honor her son’s memory and to promote peace and unity in Milwaukee.
Each year, community members come together at Red Arrow Park to celebrate the life of Dontre Hamilton.
This year’s activities include a rescreening of “The Blood is at the Doorstep,” a documentary highlighting the Hamilton family’s fight for justice, at the Oriental Theatre, 2230 N. Farwell Ave., at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 26.
A community event will be held at Red Arrow Park from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. The family also is hosting a fundraiser dinner from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 28 at Trendsetters, 6633 W. Mill Road.
Maria Hamilton said mothers from around the world who have also lost children to violence will be in Milwaukee this weekend to support each other.
She said her work with Mothers for Justice United, a group she founded to provide therapy and other support for women, “Dontre Day,” and other advocacy efforts are part of her healing process. But, most important, they support the change she wants to see.
“We have to keep fighting for policy change to be the city we know we can be instead of being known as the worst place to raise a Black child,” Hamilton said. “It’s a daily uphill battle but I’m in it for the long haul.”

author: Edgar Mendez and PrincessSafiya Byers


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Dontre Day 2016 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
April 23, 2024

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Tannette Elie


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‘Sometimes it seems unreal’: Milwaukee man votes for the first time after prison | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Devin Blake
April 24, 2024
If Andron Lane is meeting someone for the first time, he will more than likely find a moment to say he is grateful for them.
“He’s super uplifting and super positive. He’s always got some kind words to say,” said Gabi Hart, Lane’s friend and co-worker.
These days, Lane is especially grateful for the fact that for the first time in his life, after 20 years of incarceration and roughly five years on parole, he was able to vote.
“It was something I thought I never would do in my life,” Lane said.
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According to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, someone with a felony conviction cannot vote if they are still “on paper,” or under some form of supervision by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, including parole, probation and extended supervision.
In January, Lane completed his parole and was finally “off paper.”
This meant no more drug tests, no more check-ins with parole officers, no more paying supervision fees.
It also meant his right to vote was restored – a right he exercised just a few weeks later for the 2024 spring primary.
But this watershed moment in his life was very close to not happening.
On the day of the primary, Lane and Hart left work together, as Lane was planning to vote near the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace, 3536 W. Fond du Lac. Ave.
Lane thought that he could vote anywhere. But the poll workers explained that polling places are determined by one’s home address.
Lane and Hart were not deterred.
“He didn’t show any signs of giving up. I wasn’t showing any signs of giving up – he was voting that day,” Hart said.
The poll workers helped Lane figure out where he needed to go, and he and Hart jumped back in his car.
When they got to the right place – a housing complex near King Park – Lane walked the path up to the entrance, with its columns towering on both sides.
But upon entering and talking to the poll workers there, Lane was told he did not have the right documentation to vote.
The poll workers knew it was his first time voting, and they helped him.
Lane was eventually able to pull up a utilities bill from his phone, confirming his address.
The poll workers cheered.
Later, they asked to take a picture with him.
This moment, it seemed, was important not just for Lane.
As Hart watched him navigate the process, she reflected on her life.
“Almost every man that I know and love has either been in prison or is in prison right now or also is facing prison right now,” Hart said. “It definitely meant a lot to me to see him take one of many of his first steps of adult life that he missed by being incarcerated.”
Shortly after voting, Lane texted Todd Jones, someone he’s known since childhood and with whom he also was incarcerated for some time.
“He just sent me a picture of going into the ballot box,” Jones said. “I didn’t say anything. It was one of those things where all I could do was – I just hearted it.”
“As speechless as he was when he sent me the picture, I was as speechless looking at it,” Jones added.
Jones also has a felony conviction but is still on paper. Although he advocates around social and political issues in other ways, Jones looks forward to the day that he can advocate by way of voting.
“The restoration of voting is America’s way of saying that ‘we’re equal,’” Jones said. “We can get up in the morning, and everybody can put their pants on the same way.”
The fact that Lane is known for his gratitude and positivity does not mean that his life is not without difficulties.
Since his release, he has struggled with serious depression and substance abuse.
Accessing this new civic part of himself – by being a voter, knowing how to vote and paying attention to the issues and candidates on the ballot – has helped Lane to shed his old identity of a prisoner and embrace a new one – that of a citizen.
“I’m no longer 331729. I’m no longer inmate Lane or felon Lane,” he said. “Sometimes it seems unreal.”
In case you missed it: How does a pardon work in Wisconsin? Here are 3 tips to help you apply for one
Devin Blake is the criminal justice reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. His position is funded by the Public Welfare Foundation, which plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.

author: Devin Blake


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First-Time Voter | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
April 24, 2024


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53661493262_be93bfaf26_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
April 24, 2024


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5 things to know and do the weekend of April 26 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
April 25, 2024
LaNelle Ramey, Taylore McBride, Dr. Stephanie Maney and Rodney Lynk Jr. will discuss the importance of mentoring Black youths and violence prevention from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 26 at 1555 N. Rivercenter Drive. Lauren Feaster, CEO of Professional Dimensions, will serve as moderator. Refreshments will be provided. Click here to register. More information here.
To spread awareness about autism, a walk will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 27. The walk will begin at Bradley Tech High School, 700 S. Fourth St., and end at the Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive. Click here to register. More information here.
Dream Team United WI will hold a free grocery giveaway from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 27 between West Greenfield Avenue and South 18th Street. The event is open to the public and community resources will be available. More information here.
Safe & Sound is partnering with the Milwaukee Police Department to host a drug take back event on Saturday, April 27 at various locations across Milwaukee’s North and South sides. You can turn in unused medications to be disposed of safely and properly.  More information here.
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Project Clean & Green is a citywide program that promotes neighborhood pride and ownership through coordinated cleanup. The annual initiative, which provides free bulky items collection for Milwaukee residents, runs through May 24, with collection crews servicing one zone per week.  Ald. Andrea Pratt announced that residents in the 1st District will be taking part in the program starting next week.  To learn when Project Clean & Green will be in your neighborhood, call 414-286-CITY or click here.
Amani United and the Milwaukee Police Department are partnering to lead a walk at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 26. During this walk, you will learn about a concept called crime prevention through environmental design, or CPTED. This is meant to reduce crime in neighborhoods. The meetup spot will be between West Locust and North 26th streets. More information here.
MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary offers free lead testing for children  from age 9 months to10 years old. The sanctuary and resource center, at 2461 W. Center St., will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 27 for families wanting to get lead testing done. Transportation will be available. Call 866-907-1493 to schedule a ride. For more information, call Katie Doss at 414-406-0600.

author: Chesnie Wardell


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Drug Take Back | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
April 25, 2024


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BLACKWOMEN | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
April 25, 2024

author: Ron Smith


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HISTORIANS | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
April 25, 2024


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LIT | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
April 25, 2024


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SUMMER-YOUTH-PROGRAM | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
April 25, 2024


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TABLE | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
April 25, 2024


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WELLNESS-TOGETHER | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
April 25, 2024


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WTS | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
April 25, 2024


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5 things to know and do the week of April 29 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
April 28, 2024
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
The Milwaukee Public Library Good Hope Branch invites teens to enjoy snacks and play video games from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, April 29 at 7715 W. Good Hope Road. Featured games will include  “Just Dance,” “Minecraft,” “Mario Kart” and more.  More information here.
Network with neighbors and hear neighborhood updates at the Walker’s Point community gathering from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30 at 1288 S. First St. Feel free to bring any announcements or news to share with the neighborhood.  More information here.
Ubuntu Research & Evaluation will host a focus group for residents in the Black community to discuss topics related to science, health and environmental issues. It will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30 at The Table, 5305 W. Capitol Drive. Dinner will be provided and participants will receive a $75 gift card.  Click here to register.  More information here.
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The Latino Entrepreneurial Network Inc. will kick off its 11th annual Small Business Academy from 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, April 30 at 3419 W. Forest Home Ave. Participants will learn about artificial intelligence, the stock market and more. The academy will run through Friday, May 3. Click here to register.  More information here.
The Milwaukee LGBT Community Center will hold a writing workshop for queer individuals from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 2 at 315 W. Court St. Share your writing projects or come up with a creative piece during the session. More information here.
North Shore Bank, LaundryCares Foundation and the City of Milwaukee Office of Early Childhood Initiatives are collaborating to close the early childhood literacy gap in Milwaukee with the opening of a new “Read, Play, Learn” space at the Quick Wash Laundromat, 7903 W. Capitol Drive. To celebrate the new space, Milwaukee residents are invited to attend a “Free Laundry and Literacy Day” at the Quick Wash from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30. The event will include complimentary laundry services, early financial literacy activities for children and adults, refreshments and more.  More information here.


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Queer Writing Session | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
April 26, 2024


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Senior Center quilters create a vibrant hub of social connection | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
April 29, 2024
From master quilters to enthusiastic beginners, a vibrant community of seniors gathers weekly to share stories, wisdom and laughter as they work on their quilt pieces at the McGovern Park Senior Center.
McGovern Park Senior Center, 4500 W. Custer Ave., is one of five Serving Older Adults, or SOA, senior centers in Milwaukee County that offers a variety of programming for residents over 50.
But on Wednesdays, a large room at McGovern is reserved for quilters.
Since the early 2000s, the group of 10 to  20 seniors has gathered at the Senior Center each week to learn from one another and make art together.
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After a career as a seamstress, Ethel White started quilting in 2003 after her husband took her to an exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive. She was so impressed that she taught herself to quilt.
“I initially couldn’t see the art in quilting,” White said. “But the exhibit we’d seen had these specific quilts and I couldn’t believe how similar they were to the quilts my mother and grandmother would make.”
White has since had her quilts exhibited locally and nationally and has won awards for her work. But despite being a master quilter, White still spends her Wednesdays at the McGovern Park Senior Center.
“I started at the Center Street Library and started coming here in ‘05, ‘06,” she said.
Group members say quilting is a fun and relaxing way to stay busy after retirement. And it teaches patience and problem-solving, they said.
Many of the quilters share the common interest of quilting for their families. They also say they quilt to feel closer to their ancestors, including mothers, grandmothers and aunts who quilted as children.
Juanita Wade, 92, has been sewing since she was about 9 years old. Being one of 15 children, she said her family had to make due by creating their clothing.
She got into quilting around 2004.  Now, she and her family make and donate about 600 small quilts to Froedtert Hospital & Medical College of Wisconsin Palliative Care Program annually.
“We have a variety of incredible quilters groups that donate beautiful quilts coordinated by our Volunteer Services Department to our palliative/hospice patients throughout the hospital,” said Stacy Waxara, nurse manager for the Palliative Care Program. “They provide the most beautiful gifts to patients and families, all out of love.”
Others have been quilting for less time and say participating in the group offers them a trusted community and the opportunity to learn and grow from others.
Cynthia Coleman works with different art forms but started quilting in 2019. She said she learns from other members of the group.
“Coming every week helps you be motivated and keeps you accountable because people are looking for your finished product,” she said. “And it’s nice to get opinions from people you know and are comfortable with.”
Earlene Rosboro-Butler teaches a class for quilters at other centers but attends McGovern’s quilting group because it’s filled with “kindred spirits.”
Regardless of their reason for attending, when the group gathers at the McGovern Park Senior Center, colorful fabric fills tables and a symphony of gentle rustles, rhythmic clicks and soft murmurs fills the room.
“We come and make friends and miss each other when we aren’t here,” said Coleman. “This is a good place to be.”
In case you missed it: Here are programs that connect isolated Milwaukee seniors
For more information on Serving Older Adults and its programs or how to help, click here.

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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McGovern Park Senior Center Quilters | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
April 26, 2024


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Milwaukee advocates on edge as WIC funding faces uncertainty | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Trisha Young
April 30, 2024
Tiffany Qetairi and her youngest daughter, Daynla, stood out in their matching pink dresses and black leather jackets as they strolled the produce section of their favorite Milwaukee grocery store.
At 3 years old, Daynla spells her name and shyly expresses her mission: finding the snack she asked to come to the store for – blueberries.
Qetairi and her four children are among many families supported by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, commonly known as the WIC program.
Ealier this year, WIC faced a budget shortfall of  $1 billion. But Congress approved a last-minute funding agreement for government programs such as WIC for fiscal year 2024, ensuring food assistance for thousands of Wisconsin families.
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“It can be hard for parents who struggle to afford nutritious food. You see kids come home to nothing to eat,” Qetairi said.
She said the WIC program has helped support the healthy growth of her children and that she hopes to see the program grow to support more people.
The WIC program offers federal funding to states to support low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women as well as infants and children up to age 5 who are identified as being at nutritional risk.
The fiscal challenge had organizations like The National WIC Association and local advocates like Sherrie Tussler, CEO of the Hunger Task Force on edge
“We can’t assume a social safety net will always be in place,” Tussler said.
According to Tussler, 27,000 families may not have received their WIC support in Wisconsin if the program if Congress had not agreed to fund the federal program.
“We’re in a time where we have to hold our elected officials accountable because we’re seeing these programs under attack,” Tussler said.
Tussler believes the political environment has changed people’s perception of basic social benefits like WIC, which have existed since the 1960s to combat malnutrition in the U.S.
“This has to start with how we educate the community on how important these programs are,” she said.
For mothers like Qetairi, nutrition provided by WIC plays an important role in helping her feed her children.
“Parents need that support for raising healthy children,” she said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, closely links proper growth and development to healthy nutrition in children.
WIC covers the costs for infant food and formula as well as a variety of nutritious foods
Qetairi said WIC also provided her with nutritional classes and educational resources for raising all of her children, including one who is now 24 years old.
“People don’t realize how needed the program is and what it includes,” she said.
Some Milwaukee advocates are urging eligible individuals to apply for benefits, highlighting the program’s vital role in providing nutrition to vulnerable populations.
Among them is Ann White, WIC program director for Seeds of Health, an advocacy group for urban Milwaukee youths and families.
“This funding would allow WIC to continue serving all eligible participants, avoid wait lists as well as maintain the current amount of cash value benefits for fruits and vegetables we provide families,” said White.
Tussler, of the Hunger Task Force, also encourages anyone who believes they need assistance to apply.
For many Milwaukee families struggling to put food on the table, WIC is a vital lifeline. Just ask Qetairi.
“Without the WIC program, I don’t know how some of the children in my home would have made it,” she said.
Blanket of Love provides assistance to vulnerable and at-risk pregnant women, particularly African American and Spanish-speaking mothers. More information here.
Alicia’s Place is located at Midtown Center, 4144 N. 56th St., and will assist with filing for FoodShare and WIC programs. The center welcomes English, Spanish, Hmong and Burmese speakers.
Robles FoodShare Resource Center, 723 W. Historic Mitchell St., also provides FoodShare and WIC assistance and welcomes Spanish speakers. More information here.
The Hunger Task Force now also has a dedicated WIC specialist. Tosha Freeman, the Task Force’s WIC outreach manager, can be reached at 414-777-0483.  More information here.
Visit the Milwaukee Health Department’s website to find various clinics in the Milwaukee area that provide WIC Services
Apply for WIC benefits at the  Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ website here.
For more information, including eligibility and locating WIC offices nearest you, click here.
If you or someone you know needs emergency food, call 2-1-1, or visit the IMPACT 211 website here.

author: Trisha Young


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WIC Family | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
April 27, 2024


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Milwaukeeans get better access to FoodShare through resource centers | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Meredith Melland
May 1, 2024
When Lewis Hicks went to the Marcia P. Coggs Human Services Center, 1220 W. Vliet St., in March looking for FoodShare services, he found help from an unexpected source — the Hunger Task Force.
Instead of the MilES office, he found the Hunger Task Force’s newest FoodShare Resource Center, which opened in November.
He discovered the office that used to provide FoodShare assistance in the building, Milwaukee Enrollment Services, or MilES, moved from the Coggs Center to a new location over a year ago. “I was trying to renew my FoodShare benefits,” Hicks said. “I used to always come down here.”
The Hunger Task Force, a food bank and advocacy organization based in West Milwaukee, now operates three FoodShare Resource Centers to address hunger in Milwaukee neighborhoods: the Coggs Center; the Robles Center, 723 W. Historic Mitchell St.; and Alicia’s Place, 4144 N. 56th St., in Midtown Center.
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The FoodShare Resource Centers are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The resource centers help clients with FoodShare, Wisconsin’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as “food stamps.”
Applicants who meet requirements get benefits on a debit-like QUEST card to spend on food.
“The FoodShare program really dwarfs the work of the Hunger Task Force and all of the food pantries across Milwaukee County, and it provides that benefit every single month,” said Hunger Task Force CEO Sherrie Tussler.
While the Hunger Task Force may provide emergency food to 30,000 to 40,000 people a month, FoodShare serves around 240,000 people in Milwaukee County monthly, Tussler added.
MilES manages FoodShare program assistance in Milwaukee County for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, or DHS, at two locations: the MiLES Offices, 6055 N. 64th St..; and at United Migrant Opportunity Services, or UMOS, 2701 S. Chase Ave.
However, as state offices have closed or relocated over the years, Tussler said the Hunger Task Force’s job is “to monitor access to the program and to advocate for improved access and to sometimes knock down the barriers.”
The Hunger Task Force opened the Robles FoodShare Resource Center on Historic Mitchell Street in collaboration with DHS in 2010 after the original Robles Center that handled FoodShare cases closed, Tussler said.
The location, which served 863 people in February, primarily serves Hispanic and Spanish-speaking clients, according to Allen Castillo, Hunger Task Force’s FoodShare program manager.
“We get a lot of the refugee populations over there because a lot of their housing placements are on the South Side,” he said.
The Hunger Task Force added Alicia’s Place in the Midtown Center in the Capitol Heights neighborhood in 2021, naming it after Alicia Williams, a former FoodShare assistant known in the North Side community.
Castillo said Black and Asian populations and a wide variety of age groups commonly use Alicia’s Place, which saw 312 people in February.
The Coggs FoodShare Resource Center in King Park worked with 159 clients in February, according to the Hunger Task Force.
The centers are designed with a self-service model: People can use the desks, computers, phones and printers at no cost, and FoodShare advocates are on hand if needed.
“The advocate’s job is really to educate and empower people to be able to sort of take control of the benefits on their own,” Castillo said.
The staff cannot approve applications, but they can help people through an application or renewal process, explain what kind of documentation they may need to submit and help them file for a fair hearing.
They can also help people file to replace spoiled food from power outages or check if they are eligible for expedited benefits.
Hicks stopped by the Coggs Center to print documentation, which he normally does at the library.
“I have my last five check stubs on my phone and she [the advocate] just had me send it to her phone and we printed it off,” he said.
The Hunger Task Force’s 15-member FoodShare advocate team speaks 15 different languages, including Spanish, Hmong, Lao, Burmese, Pashto and Dari.
“We never tell people that they need to get help from one specific person because everybody is able to help them, but getting served by somebody who looks like you and speaks your same language is always going to be our approach, because it just goes into the dignified service piece,” Castillo said.
The resource centers also use an interpretation service with access to more than 70 languages and create flyers in different languages.
“We want people to ultimately feel comfortable,” Castillo said.
Learn more about how to get help accessing (and replacing) FoodShare benefits here.
In case you missed it: Milwaukee advocates on edge as WIC funding faces uncertainty
Meredith Melland is the neighborhoods reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.

author: Meredith Melland


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53646831662_8fa4332c8a_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
April 26, 2024


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Robles FoodShare Resource Center | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
April 26, 2024


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53647092823_63ee6cbb0c_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
April 26, 2024


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What you need to know about the SDC’s closing | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Devin Blake, PrincessSafiya Byers, Meredith Melland and Edgar Mendez
May 1, 2024
Facing an uncertain future, the Social Development Commission Board of Commissioners is expected to meet Thursday night to plan next steps after the agency abruptly shut down last week.
The closing of the  quasi-governmental community action agency, which managed approximately 30 programs and employed 85 people, has left a major gap in services for many Milwaukee residents.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the agency closed its offices Friday and laid off its employees with no effective reopening date following weeks of turmoil. SDC publicly reported a “misallocation of funds” for its weatherization program, suspended that program, fired its finance director and then had George Hinton, its CEO, resign at the request of the board.
“The interim CEO made that decision [to close] based on the finances of the organization and, primarily, the organization’s inability to meet payroll,” said William Sulton, an attorney who represents SDC.
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The organization faces a state-ordered forensic audit, which examines the use of funds and will investigate matters such as why contractors were unpaid by SDC. The findings of the audit can be used as evidence in court.
The SDC board had scheduled an election for commissioners in some of its districts for April 30, but the board canceled the election at a meeting before this week, according to Sulton.
Elmer Moore Jr., chair of the SDC Board of Commissioners, and other commissioners have not responded to requests for comment on the agency’s closure and the board’s next steps.
Here’s what we know so far:
According to John Hyatt, the president and CEO of IMPACT 2-1-1, while the SDC’s closing surprised the nonprofit community, services are still continuing.  Impact 2-1-1 is Milwaukee’s central access point for people in need.
IMPACT 2-1-1 data show that the agency referred around 500 callers to services provided by SDC in the first quarter of the year. Around 200 of those calls were for services that ended before the abrupt closing of the SDC.
As for the rest of the calls, Hyatt said there are other agencies that provide those services.
For instance, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, was IMPACT 2-1-1’s primary referral to the SDC but Riverworks Development Corp. also provides that service.
There are a few challenges, however.
“When someone goes to a place for services for so long, that agency and the people that work there can become trusted advisers to them,” Hyatt said.
He also noted capacity and transportation as potential issues.
The SDC and Riverworks Development Corp. were the only two agencies in Milwaukee County offering extended services for those who have filed extensions for tax filing.
“There are a number of agencies that provide the same services for a reason,” Hyatt said. “It’s because of the number of people in need of those services, so capacity could become an issue. We don’t want to send more people to an agency than they have the capacity to help.”
Sulton said SDC serviced clients through the VITA program and has clients with unfinished work.
The Board of Commissioners “will continue to discuss how to not only reopen SDC but also how to ensure that folks that benefit from the VITA program and other programs can continue to get service through those programs,” Sulton said.
Debora Taylor said her mother was a client at SDC before the organization hired her as a youth worker and eventually a program manager for its Head Start program.
“You could say I grew up in the agency,” she said.
Taylor and others were laid off in 2013, when the organization lost its funding for Head Start, which at the time was SDC’s largest program.
“People were devastated,” said Taylor, who worked for more than 30 years at SDC and now lives in Memphis.
She said it’s sad to see that the organization she grew up with appear to be in even more dire straits now.
“There’s always been controversy with SDC and their funding, but I don’t know if it can come back from this. It’s a great loss,” Taylor said.
Ald. Larresa Taylor, who represents the 9th District, where SDC’s Northwest office is located, said the organization’s food pantry filled a vital role in the neighborhood.
“We’re a food desert, so what do we do now to get food to those residents?” Taylor asked.
She said many in her area have mobility issues and that she had been in contact with the organization to find a solution to help those residents with accessing services.
The alderwoman said she had difficulty communicating with the SDC’s office, a sign that things were unstable.
“It’s really a big disappointment to myself and the residents that that office has closed,” Taylor said. “I think that agency is essential to the community, especially those areas that are most unfortunate.”
The State of Wisconsin established the Social Development Commission to research and propose solutions to local social issues. However, as times changed, the agency’s focus shifted to providing direct services like GED classes, health and wellness and financial assistance.
As a quasi-governmental agency, SDC has a Board of Commissioners and is managed by an executive team hired by the commissioners, Sulton said.
Six commissioners are elected by the public to the board to represent six districts, and the other commissioners are appointed by different government offices or community organizations, like the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
SDC works with both the city and county. But as far as the management and organization of SDC is concerned, SDC’s board is ultimately responsible, said Jeff Fleming, director of communications and public engagement for the mayor’s office.
There is a contractual relationship between the city and SDC, but it is the type of relationship the city has with other nonprofits, Fleming said.
The city contracts with SDC for various programs, like weatherization and lead abatement, and the mayor’s office will “make sure that that work gets done,” Fleming added.
SDC is “an important agency addressing poverty in Milwaukee. And there’s not any single agency that can take over its work, so it’s important to have that work continue in a way that serves the people in Milwaukee and that’s clearly a goal in the mayor’s office,” said Fleming.
Jill Lintonen, communications director and public information officer for the Milwaukee County  Department of Health and Human Services, or DHHS, said that the suspension of SDC operations will have “minimal impact” on programs and services provided by the county.
The “only line of service” between DHHS and SDC was for substance use prevention and “that work will transition to other vendors doing prevention work in our community,” Lintonen added.
Do you have questions you want answered about the SDC? Thoughts you want to share? We are here for you. Let us know what’s on your mind by emailing us or commenting. You can also text us through News414, and our reporters will work hard to get the answers you deserve.


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53692877134_22eb450d14_o-1 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
May 1, 2024


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53692877134_22eb450d14_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
May 1, 2024


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Social Development Commission | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
May 1, 2024


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5 things to know and do the weekend of May 3 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
May 2, 2024
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
UMOS will host a Cinco de Mayo fest at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 4 at 2701 S. Chase Ave. Enjoy food, live entertainment, contests and other festivities. More information here.
The American Red Cross is seeking volunteers for its “Sound the Alarm” event from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4 at 6680 N. Teutonia Ave. You will install free smoke alarms in the homes of Milwaukee residents and educate them about how the devices can save lives during a house fire.  Click here to register.  More information here.  From the archives: Fire safety 101: The habits and resources you need to survive
Milwaukee Recreation will hold an inaugural May Day celebration from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 4 at the Hawthorn Glen Outdoor Education Center, 1130 N. 60th St. You will learn about native plants, explore nature trails and more. Click here to purchase tickets and register.  More information here.
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The City of Milwaukee and First Lady Dominique Johnson will host the inaugural M.O.M.S. – Mothers of Milwaukee Symposium, a free event that includes workshops, guest speakers and resources for mothers to connect and learn about women’s health. The event will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 4 at 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave. Food will be served. Click here to register. More information here.
The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center will host a mental health and wellness powwow from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 4 at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, 1721 W. Canal St. The event will feature vendors, mental health resources, dance performances and more. Dinner will be provided. More information here.


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“Honoring the Heartbeat” powwow | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
May 2, 2024


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What you need to know if you used the SDC to file income taxes | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers and Meredith Melland
May 3, 2024
Clients of the Social Development Commission’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, program will get assistance from the IRS after the quasi-governmental community action agency abruptly shut down last week.
William Sulton, an attorney who represents the Social Development Commission, said the IRS will help the agency provide assistance and communicate with clients concerning their tax returns.
The IRS will reach out to schedule appointments with clients at The Sulton Law Firm office, 2745 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, likely starting in two weeks, he said.
“We believe we’ll be able to do this in a timely fashion, and we really do appreciate all of the help from the regional office of the IRS,” Sulton said.
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Diane Robinson, SDC’s manager of the free tax prep VITA program, expressed a commitment to follow through on the remaining tax returns in light of the agency’s closing.
Sulton estimates about 800 clients have been affected.
“There were some folks for which SDC needed to file an extension, but there was nobody left behind. Anybody who needs an extension has one filed,” he said.
SDC is one of Milwaukee’s largest operators of the VITA program, an IRS service that provides free tax assistance for individuals or families with household incomes under $64,000 and for people who have disabilities or limited English-speaking abilities.
SDC completed tax returns for hundreds of clients, including some clients with extensions filed, before the agency closed. But others will need to be finished in the coming weeks, Sulton said.
According to Darryl Johnson, executive director of Riverworks Development Corp., or RDC, the group will also be joining efforts to service SDC’s VITA clients.
“We’re still in the process of coming up with a strategy that will help determine how to help everyone efficiently,” Johnson said. “Right now, we are waiting to see what our role will be.”
Sulton said there will be about 35 volunteers working with the IRS to assist clients during normal business hours and after 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
“Folks will be contacted through the IRS and its partners and so folks should respond to that so that we can get these meetings scheduled to make sure we can get these returns filed timely,” he said.
Sulton said the IRS will create a schedule for the services in a 60-day period, and he anticipates all of the returns will be completed within that window.
Both Sulton and Johnson are awaiting more concrete details from the IRS. They are hopeful they will have more information to share next week.
Do you have questions you want answered about the SDC? Thoughts you want to share? We are here for you. Let us know what’s on your mind by emailing us or commenting. You can also text us through News414, and our reporters will work hard to get the answers you deserve


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SDC VITA Program | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
May 3, 2024


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Social Development Commission closes | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
May 3, 2024


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5 things to know and do the week of May 6 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
May 5, 2024
It’s Monday in Milwaukee and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
MilWALKee Walks will hold its monthly meeting from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, May 6 at the Milwaukee Public Library Washington Park Branch, 2121 N. Sherman Blvd. You will hear updates on upcoming events, develop strategies to make Milwaukee safer and more.  More information here.
Ex Fabula will host its “Teen StorySlam: Left No Crumbs” from 6 pm. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7 at 906 W. Historic Mitchell St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Teens will share personal stories related to a particular theme while community members listen. Youths also will have a chance to win prizes.  If interested in being a storyteller or volunteering, click here.  Free tickets are available here. More information here.
Attend a free ceramics class with Master Artist Maria de Los Dolores at Mitchell Street Arts. She will teach you how to use a ceramic wheel. The class will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7 at 710 W. Historic Mitchell St. Click here to register. More information here.
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The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp. will hold office hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7 at the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave. Entrepreneurs and small business owners can receive support through the organization’s programs, business financing and coaching. More information here.
Walker’s Point Association will hold its May “Coffee Connection” from 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, May 7 at 158 S. Barclay St. Residents can get free coffee and connect with familiar faces from around the neighborhood. More information here.
Vendors with food peddler vehicles have until Friday, May 17 to apply for the Capitol Drive-Density Limited Zone, which was created by Ald. Lamont Westmoreland. The new zone will ensure cleanliness, traffic safety, better parking and more. It will benefit not only vendors in the 5th District, but drivers who travel on West Capitol Drive, according to Westmoreland. If interested in having a food peddler vehicle in this zone, you will need a permit.  More information here.


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Ceramics at Mitchell Street Arts | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
May 3, 2024


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CIRCLE | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
May 5, 2024


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GATHERING | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
May 5, 2024


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HEALTHEHOOD | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
May 5, 2024


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HIRINGEVENT | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
May 5, 2024


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PITCHBLACK | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
May 5, 2024


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PRAYERMKE | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
May 5, 2024


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SERVICES | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
May 5, 2024


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SHOWCASE | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
May 5, 2024


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TRAINING | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
May 5, 2024


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WORKSHOP | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
May 5, 2024


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Here are opportunities Milwaukee high school graduates should know about | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
May 6, 2024
With high school graduation season fast approaching, many seniors are likely working to determine their next steps.
Many may be grappling with the decision of whether to pursue a traditional four-year college degree, explore different educational pathways such as trade schools or community colleges or enter the workforce directly.
But the good news is Milwaukee offers numerous opportunities to help navigate these decisions,  whether you choose to continue your education or not. Here are some places to start:
Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Promise Program offers free tuition to new high school graduates. Students can gain up to 75 credits in free tuition. You can find more information at MATC’s website.
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If you haven’t already applied for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA, it can help with the cost of college. Federal Student Aid offers grants, loans and work-study to help you pay for college or an approved career school.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Education, as of April 25, Wisconsin is down nearly 6,000 FAFSA submissions, compared to the same time last year. The deadline to apply is June 30. More information here.
The Fair Opportunity Project offers a series of free services like a college application guide, free essay reviews for scholarships or applications, virtual mentoring and a service that helps students and families complete FAFSA applications.
“We want students to know it’s not too late to complete FAFSA,” said Carole Trone, executive director of the Fair Opportunity Project. “Completing FAFSA opens up about $15,000 in funds for college.”
Milwaukee Area Technical College Apprenticeships: offer an “earn while you learn” program in construction, industrial fields, information technology, or IT, and service. The program provides both on-the-job training and related classroom instruction provided by MATC. For more information, you can contact David Stuart at stuartd@matc.edu.
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development offers pre apprenticeships and apprenticeships in which students can learn skills necessary for apprenticeships and then participate in the “earn while you learn” program. More information is available on the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s website.
AmeriCorps offers opportunities to serve communities locally and nationally. The program comes with a stipend as well as education awards for AmeriCorps members and supplemental health insurance, loan deferment and child care. Benefits vary by program.
For more information, you can visit the AmeriCorps website.
United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee offers employment opportunities through Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Youth Services. With resources and coaching, the program helps Milwaukee County residents ages 16 to 24 create and implement a career plan.  More information here.
Employ Milwaukee offers a series of work opportunities and programs that can help kick-start a career. The group has Earn & Learn opportunities, apprenticeships and more. More information here.
City Year Milwaukee offers training and on-the-job learning to eligible applicants ages 17 to 25. If you filled out a common application to apply to colleges, you can use it to apply to City Year.  Learn more here.
If you know of opportunities we have not included on this list, email us at: pbyers@milwaukeenns.org or put in comments.


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Skilled Trade & Technical Fair | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
May 3, 2024


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After months of being ignored, Housing Authority residents take a new approach to making their demands known | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
After months of being ignored, Housing Authority residents take a new approach to making their demands known
May 7, 2024
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with comments from Amy Hall, marketing and communications officer for the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee.
Frustrated by unresolved complaints, public housing residents have tried unsuccessfully for months to attend the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, or HACM, board meetings.
But some meetings were either canceled or changed to a phone call at the last minute, preventing the residents from participating.
Common Ground and HACM residents have been reaching out to Chairwoman Sherri Reed Daniels since July 2023 and she has never responded, said Kevin Solomon, a Common Ground organizer,
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Common Ground is a 15-year-old nonpartisan coalition that addresses community issues.
The group requested five minutes to speak at HACMs February board meeting, but Reed Daniels did not respond and the meeting was moved to phone call only.
Then in March, residents requested five minutes to speak. Their board meeting was canceled noting a “lack of agenda items requiring action.”
The board’s April meeting, which residents also requested five minutes to speak, was moved to phone-call only.
The phone-call only meetings have not provided the option for public comment.
Taking a different approach to make their voices heard, Housing Authority residents and Common Ground members held a news conference in April in front of Reed Daniels’ home, urging her and the rest of the board to attend their resident meetings, hear residents’ concerns and see living conditions.
“Since you don’t want us to come to your meetings, we invite you to ours,” said HACM resident Stacy Ream. “Come talk to residents, come listen to the neighbors, come see the mold, the rat problems and the broken appliances.
Ream has been a resident of public housing for more than a decade. She lives in College Court on the Near West Side.
Pastor Will Davis, who is on Common Ground’s strategy team, said the group has been reaching out to HACM’s board for nine months and being ignored has become a pattern.
“Once is a chance, twice is a coincidence, three times is a pattern,” Davis said. “And this board now has a pattern of hiding.”
He said Common Ground’s attempts to be on the agenda and attend board meetings are ultimately about accountability.
“Sherri Reed Daniels is not being accountable to residents or the public,” Davis said. “She is not doing her job and holding Director Hines accountable. Chairwoman Daniels: Step up or step down.”
Davis was referring to HACM Secretary-Executive Director Willie Hines Jr.
NNS attempted to reach Reed Daniels for comment. However, Amy Hall, HACM’s marketing and communications officer, said Reed Daniels has been unavailable for comment due to a personal matter.
Commissioner Brooke VandeBerg has been the acting chair since HACM’s April 10 board meeting.
According to the Board of Commissioners’ website, VandeBerg’s term expired on Nov. 7.
In response to residents’ concerns, Hall told NNS, “If they’re referring to the invitations (to residents’ meetings) they dropped off for Commissioners on April 10, then I know Acting Chair VandeBerg has been in communication with Common Ground about that possibility.”
She said HACM “has systems in place to address residents’ concerns, and the agency is continuously looking for ways to improve its service delivery.”
“A lot of the work currently being done through HUD’s corrective action plans is focused on that,” Hall said, adding that HACM shared information with residents last fall on the different avenues they can take to get their issues addressed.
For years, residents have demanded an investigation and leadership change at the Housing Authority, alleging lost rent payments, poor management and maintenance problems.
As a result of their continuing demands that something be done, the City of Milwaukee began overseeing Housing Authority residents’ maintenance concerns.
The Common Council also approved $250,000 in funding in October to enable the Housing Authority to accelerate maintenance and repair work and to make other improvements to properties.
But residents say nothing has improved.
Vivian Jones, a Lapham Park resident, invited Reed Daniels to come see the problems with public housing in her neighborhood.
“Ms. Daniels, if you want to know the truth about HACM, come see Lapham Park,” Jones said. “I’ll show you the bedbug-infested apartments, the rat holes, the places where trespassers hide and the locations where people were murdered. I’ll tour you around myself. Will you come? Are you willing to see the truth?”
Residents also urged public officials, including the mayor, Common Council members and state representatives to attend their meetings and see how they live.
“The board doesn’t want to address our problems,” said Roye “Chris” Logan, a HACM resident who is heavily involved in trying to hold the agency accountable. “But we plan to speak on these problems until they are solved.”


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Common Ground Press Conference | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
May 2, 2024


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UPDATE: SDC board chair Elmer Moore Jr. is out as commissioners prepare to meet Thursday | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Meredith Melland
May 8, 2024
Elmer Moore Jr., the chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the Social Development Commission, has resigned, NNS learned Wednesday evening.
William Sulton, the SDC’s attorney, confirmed that Moore resigned last week.
The news comes as the agency’s Board of Commissioners will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 9 at the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin, 1920 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
There will be a virtual option for the public to attend the meeting via Zoom.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Sulton said Barbara Toles, the board’s vice chair who represents SDC District 2 and currently remains as vice chair, is taking on the responsibilities of the chair before the board takes official action or moves to vote for a new chair.
Moore is chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, or WHEDA.
Moore did not immediately respond to requests to confirm his resignation as of Wednesday evening.
The Social Development, or SDC, abruptly shut down its operations and laid off its employees a little under two weeks ago. Since then, the board has been trying to figure out the next steps, Sulton said.
The shutdown has left many residents wondering what will happen to vital services and programs such as tax preparation and job training.
Sulton said the meeting will be significant and he expects there will be discussion on the agency’s programs and funding for those programs.
What you need to know about services after SDC’s abrupt closing
What you need to know if you used the SDC to file income taxes
What you need to know about the SDC’s closing
Do you have questions you want answered about the SDC? Thoughts you want to share? We are here for you. Let us know what’s on your mind by emailing us or commenting. You can also text us through News414, and our reporters will work hard to get the answers you deserve.
Meredith Melland is the neighborhoods reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.


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SDC Main Office | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
May 8, 2024


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What you need to know about services after SDC’s abrupt closing | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
May 8, 2024
The sudden shutdown of the Social Development Commission, or SDC, in late April has left residents wondering what will happen to vital services and programs such as tax preparation and job training.
In the interim, other nonprofits are stepping up to fill some of the void.
However, the long-term impact on those programs and the people who rely on them remains uncertain.
William Sulton, an attorney who represents the Social Development Commission, said last week that the SDC is referring to the closure as a “pause,” and the Board of Commissioners is continuing to meet to determine how and when to reopen the agency.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
The board is scheduled to meet on Thursday, May 9 to discuss funding and programming, among other things, Sulton told NNS on Tuesday.
The 61-year-old quasi-governmental community action agency hosted over 30 programs and partnered with many more.
According to the SDC’s 2022 annual report, the agency served about 20,000 people annually, providing nutrition, residential, career and a series of other services.
Many Milwaukee residents have taken to social media to express concerns about the closing. But many services will still be provided, said John Hyatt, the president and CEO of IMPACT 2-1-1.
IMPACT 2-1-1 is Milwaukee’s central access point for people in need.
IMPACT 2-1-1 data show that the agency referred about 500 callers to services provided by SDC in the first quarter of the year. Around 200 of those calls were for services that ended before the abrupt closing of the SDC.
As for the rest of the calls, Hyatt said other agencies are now providing those services.
Many agencies and nonprofit organizations are scrambling to find and create capacity to oversee the shuttered programs.
Clients of the Social Development Commission’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, program will get assistance from the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS.
Sulton said the IRS will help the SDC provide assistance and communicate with clients concerning their tax returns.
The commission’s adult education programs have also been picked up by other agencies.
According to Holly McCoy, the executive director of Literacy Services of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Area Technical College has taken the lead on ensuring displaced students have a place to complete their programs.
“Former SDC staff reached out to assure students would be able to complete programs,” McCoy said. “These services are free and accessible at several locations.”
Bria Grant, the founder and executive director of UniteWI, a statewide coordinated care network, said the agency is taking on some of the people served by the SDC and is partnering with other groups to advocate and provide support where it can.
While many SDC programs have not yet been picked up by other agencies, some agencies are exploring ways to continue the commission’s nutrition and career services programs, according to Grant.
“We are working to help former employees maintain employment,” she said. “And we are working to connect those who were being served to other agencies.”
IMPACT 2-1-1: You can dial 2-1-1. IMPACT 2-1-1 will have the most current information on where you can go for assistance. Learn more here.
Do you have questions you want answered about the SDC? Thoughts you want to share? We are here for you. Let us know what’s on your mind by emailing us or commenting. You can also text us through News414, and our reporters will work hard to get the answers you deserve.


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5 things to know and do the weekend of May 10 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
May 9, 2024
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Connect with maternal health advocates and receive resources, complimentary appetizers and more at the “Community Connect” networking event sponsored by Culture X Design and GE HealthCare. The event starts at  6 p.m. on Friday, May 10 at 5020 W. Vliet St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. More information here.
Adopt-a-River is a program sponsored by the Milwaukee Riverkeeper, a science-based advocacy organization. Riverkeeper volunteers will clean the Mitchell Park Lagoon from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 11 at 524 S. Layton Blvd. Cleaning supplies will be provided.  Click here to register. More information here.
If you want to learn more about your family history, you can work with a genealogist from the Milwaukee County Genealogical Society from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 11 at the Milwaukee Public Library Mitchell Street Branch, 906 W. Historic Mitchell St.  More information here.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Plastic-Free MKE encourages you to bring any clothes, small houseware or supplies you no longer want and swap them with others. This swap will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 11 at 2677 S. 16th St. Remember to bring your own bag to collect your items in. Click here to register. More information here.
The Fondy Farmers Market spring opening day will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 11 at 2200 W. Fond du Lac Ave. Spring produce, flowers and more will be available for you to purchase. More information here.
Letter carriers across Milwaukee will be collecting non-perishable food contributions on Saturday, May 11 to support the Hunger Task Force. Their efforts are part of the annual “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive hosted by the National Association of Letter Carriers. The one-day initiative aims to stock food banks in U.S. cities and towns. Milwaukee residents can donate non-perishable food by leaving it in a bag outside their mailbox and a letter carrier will pick it up.  More information here.


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Mitchell Park Lagoon Cleanup | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
May 9, 2024


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Leaders, community members weigh in on the SDC’s shutdown | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
May 9, 2024
Social service advocates and community residents are speaking out about the sudden shutdown of the Social Development Commission, or SDC.
The social service agency’s closing has impacted thousands of low-income residents who have relied on the longstanding service provider for a range of social services, including food, employment, substance use prevention and education.
SDC laid off its staff and suspended all of its operations at the end of April, following the “misallocation of funding” for its weatherization program and the resignation and firing of executive staff.
NNS asked people who work in or touch the same sectors as the SDC to weigh in on the impact of SDC’s suspension of services as well as who could fill in the gaps.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Drea Rodriguez, executive director of the Peace Learning Center of Milwaukee, is concerned about the impact the SDC’s closing could have on the many residents who depend on its services.
“I’m hopeful to hear elected representatives publicly weigh in on how the funding SDC was given will be transferred to other organizations that can continue these vital efforts,” Rodriguez said.
As a community health worker, Shay Dotson connects people who are re-entering the community after incarceration with a range of services, including employment resources. She thinks the SDC’s shutdown will make this task more difficult.
“It’s going to take all of us to get this work done in order to fill in the gap and the huge hole the community is definitely going to feel with the suspension of SDC,” Dotson said.
Alan Chavoya is the outreach chair of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression, or MAARPR, a group that advocates for greater police accountability.
He and his fellow MAARPR members were “shocked” at the news but placed its shutdown within a grander trend of defunding essential public services.
“It’s also the result of the county prioritizing funding the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office with millions that could be used to fund institutions like the SDC,” Chavoya said.
Walter Lanier, president and CEO of the African American Leadership Alliance of Milwaukee, or AALAM, said the SDC’s absence was immediately felt throughout the community.
“The SDC is a significant-sized organization that touches a lot of lives, not just those of the employees that were laid off,” Lanier said.
He said he’s concerned about the effect the SDC’s closing will have on the Black community.
“I can’t help but think about 15 or 20 years ago when the OIC (Opportunities Industrialization Center of Greater Milwaukee) was closed and the ripple effect it had not only on the employees, vendors and contractors but on the economy of the city, the Black community in particular.”
Jim Gaillard, vice president of Ezekiel Hope, said the SDC’s closing is devastating to the underfunded and underserved in Milwaukee. Ezekiel Hope is a Milwaukee nonprofit that trains unemployed and underemployed people in the skilled trades.
The SDC’s skilled trades program was where Gaillard sent people to be trained to work with Ezekiel Hope.
“They were providing training and getting people paid,” he said. “The community should be outraged  because we don’t have anything else like it.”
In light of the SDC’s closing, Maricha Harris, executive director of the Dominican Center, which is located in and serves the Amani neighborhood, called on the community to come together.
“We don’t know what the future holds, so how can all of the organizations around the city make sure that those services and resources are picked up somewhere?” Harris said.
Harris said the Dominican Center partners with Ezekiel Hope on a housing program, which is impacted by SDC’s closure because Ezekiel’s trainees were first sent to SDC for training.
She said she hopes the SDC reopens.
Elizabeth Brown, president of the resident-led neighborhood group Amani United, said the SDC’s closure is a great disservice.
“A lot of people are going to be affected, like as far as with the tax help, for energy assistance, for those who can’t go a far distance,” Brown said.
Brown said Amani residents might have to travel farther away from the neighborhood to get training to participate in programs like Ezekiel’s.
“A lot of people want to work in their own community. It’s more convenient,” Brown said. “It’s simpler as far as getting your kids to school, going to work” and checking in on kids during the day.
Maria Beltran, a Lindsay Heights resident, said she has used the SDC’s services for years, from getting new furnaces to the weatherization of her home.
Most recently, she had participated in the SDC/s lead abatement program. This meant work was supposed to be done to reduce lead hazards in and around her home.
“A lot of people were waiting to get their homes done, and now there is no one to monitor getting these jobs complete,” said Beltran, whose two children have tested positive for lead in their blood.
She now fears that the lead abatement process, which has already taken years from when she first applied to the program in 2019, is going to be a lot harder to access.
“The impact of the SDC closing is going to be drastic. It’s going to hurt a lot of people,” Beltran said.
Angelique Sharpe is among many in the community calling for a thorough investigation of the situation at SDC. Sharpe, who is an economic solutions strategist and founder and owner of LADYINC Ventures, calls it a blow to residents.
“The impact of SDC’s closing is tremendous and there’s way too many livelihoods at stake, especially innocent parties who are already dealing with struggle and strife,” she said.
“Whatever is decided, let’s not make this about the perpetrators, mission first,” Sharpe said. “All power to the people.”
Kamaljit K. Jackson, director of the Wisconsin Minority Business Development Agency, said, “the SDC has been a haven – providing resources and support to the many to navigate challenges inherent in everyday life.”
Despite the closing, she said she has hope that others will rise to the challenge and utilize the loss as an opportunity to transform how the community is served.
“Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit,” Jackson said. “Calling all partners to let us plant those seeds together for the betterment of our neighbors.”
Meredith Melland, Trisha Young, Devin Blake, PrincessSafiya Byers and Edgar Mendez contributed to this story.

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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May 8, 2024


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4 takeaways from Thursday’s SDC Board of Commissioners meeting | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Meredith Melland
May 10, 2024
The Social Development Commission’s Board of Commissioners met on Thursday evening to discuss the future of the suspended SDC, with board chair Barbara Toles urging the board to keep the agency working.
No specific details were disclosed about how the agency will move forward.
The SDC abruptly suspended its operations two weeks ago, leaving residents with questions on the future of SDC’s services and programs, such as job training, free tax preparation and education services.
The board met at the African American Chamber of Commerce, 1920 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, with an option to join virtually through Zoom. Nearly 20 people attended the meeting either in person or by Zoom.
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Here are four key takeaways:
The SDC is too important to the community to not reopen, Toles said.
“SDC has been in existence for over 60 years,” she said. “We are an agency that addresses poverty in our community, and there are way too many people living in poverty for us to not have this agency working.”
Toles, the SDC District 2 commissioner and former vice chair, is now serving as the board chair after Elmer Moore Jr. resigned from the position and the board last week.
Toles thanked the commissioners for committing to continue to serve on the board and for supporting her as the new chair. She also thanked the SDC’s attorney, William Sulton, for his work.
A member of the public, who attended the meeting via Zoom, asked Toles whether the SDC plans to pay employees who are still owed paychecks. Her question came as the board was starting to vote to move into closed session.
“Right now, we don’t have an answer for you at this time,” Toles said.
During the public comment section, Frederick Nelson, a representative of Employ Milwaukee, said Employ Milwaukee is hosting a hiring event with over 20 employers from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14 at its facilities at 2342 N. 27th St.
“It is open to the public, but we did want to target SDC employees,” he said.
The commissioners spent most of the meeting in closed session, citing a need to discuss legal and personnel matters.
A board can enter closed session and send members of the public out of the room to discuss certain topics, according to Wisconsin state law. These topics can include  employment contracts or legal counsel regarding litigation.
Board members did not discuss any new or old business when the meeting returned to open session.
Leaders, community members weigh in on the SDC’s shutdown
What you need to know about services after SDC’s abrupt closing
What you need to know if you used the SDC to file income taxes
Do you have questions you want answered about the SDC? Thoughts you want to share? We are here for you. Let us know what’s on your mind by emailing us or commenting. You can also text us through News414, and our reporters will work hard to get the answers you deserve.


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SDC Board meeting | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
May 10, 2024


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5 things to know and do the week of May 13 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
May 12, 2024
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
If you are a Black entrepreneur or professional, MKE Black Inc. invites you to attend a session on government contracts. You can learn how to find and qualify for lucrative government contracts. This session will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Monday, May 13 at Coffee Makes You Black, 2803 N. Teutonia Ave. More information here.
Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee holds office hours for people in need of legal assistance with housing, estate planning and other matters. The next session will be led by attorney Anthony Garcia from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, May 14 at the Dominican Center, 2470 W. Locust St. More information here.
Independence First will host a workshop for people with disabilities that will focus on creating healthy habits through self-care, nutrition and more. The workshop will be held from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14 at 540 S. First St. To register, contact Emily Cadman at 414-226-8197 or email ecadman@independencefirst.org. More information here.
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The Milwaukee Police Department District 2 will hold a crime and safety meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15 at 906 W. Historic Mitchell St. Residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and hear neighborhood updates. More information here.
Entrepreneurs will have the chance to pitch their business products to the Kohl’s Supplier Diversity team at The Entrepreneurship Connection. Winners of the pitch competition will be invited to attend Kohl’s supplier expo event in June. The pitching will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15 at the Greater Milwaukee Urban League, 435 W. North Ave. Registration is mandatory. More information here.
Employ Milwaukee will hold a Social & Human Services Hiring Event from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14 at 2342 N. 27th St. On-the-spot interviews will be conducted for a variety of social and human service positions. Candidates must bring their résumés to the interview. Register here.  More information here.


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Milwaukee Police Department District 2 meeting | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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May 10, 2024


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How ‘The Autobiography of Malcolm X’ changed the life of this incarcerated man | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Devin Blake
May 13, 2024
Malcolm X once wrote that, “People don’t realize how a man’s whole life can be changed by one book.”
For Victor Thomas, who is about halfway through a 40-year prison sentence, one book that has had an effect on him is the one in which this quote appears, “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.”
The book was published nearly 60 years ago, but its racial and political ideas have current-day applications for Thomas and, he argues, all Americans.
“Even those who are not justice-impacted, they might, after reading this book, come away with a different outlook,” Thomas said.
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As Malcolm X’s 99th birthday draws near on May 19, there is continued interest in his life and legacy.
While Thomas draws such far-ranging lessons from the book, he was initially struck by the personal parallels between X’s life and his own while growing up in Milwaukee’s 53206 ZIP code, notorious for high rates of incarceration and poverty.
“Just like Malcolm, I was born into and came up in poverty, had a parent murdered while still a child, was removed from my parents’ custody for some years,” Thomas said.
Also like X, Thomas said he had ”many untapped intellectual abilities and other gifts as a child,” the encouragement of which could have “led to a very different path in life.”
But, like X, Thomas dropped out of school.
Thomas ran away from home as a teenager and then “got off into the life of crime,” he said.
Eventually in 2007, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
By the time X was 20, he also was serving a lengthy sentence.
But X’s story did not end with prison, of course.
Neither has Thomas’.
“I ended up in prison rigorously pursuing a journey of self-education and transformation,” Thomas said.
Others in Thomas’ life see the change, too.
“The Victor that I know today is completely different,” said Kamonti McFarlane, Thomas’ cousin. “I think he had a lot of time to think about how life has unfolded for him.”
Forgiving the man who murdered his mom and letting go of the anger were essential parts of the change, said McFarlane.
“My unresolved grief was very much unknown to me, and it was no one but me who was finally able to draw that correlation,” Thomas said. “When I did, I reached out to Cedric Robinson, the person who murdered my mother, and I expressed my forgiveness towards him.”
Thomas eventually wrote a letter supporting Robinson in his pursuit of parole “because he also deserved a second chance at life,” he said.
Jodi Melamed, a professor in the department of English at Marquette University, said that creating room for this kind of change is an enduring legacy of X’s autobiography.
The book “shows us that prisons can be schoolhouses of the oppressed, where people learn practices of personal and collective liberation,” she said.
It is the connection between the personal and the collective that Thomas describes as a particularly eye-opening aspect of X’s writing.
The book “has helped me to understand how my experiences were not unique to myself, how other people who had encountered the same experiences were able to transcend,” he said.
He tells fellow incarcerated individuals about the book routinely.
“A lot of them are very pessimistic and have very low expectations for themselves,” Thomas said. “So with regards to them, I tell them that this book is an example of being able to be rehabilitated, transform your life and exceed all expectations that was placed on you.”
He also recommends the book to prison staff but for different reasons.
“A lot of staff members are jaded by their jobs,” Thomas said. “I also would like for them to be able to read the book so that they can understand how a person can go from one end of the spectrum to the other.”
Thomas works as a certified peer specialist for other incarcerated individuals.
He supports those with substance use disorders, mental health disorders as well as those who have trauma and conflict issues.
“Every day, I’m passionate about this, like my supervisors don’t even set the bar as high as I set for myself, in order to truly make a difference in people’s lives,” Thomas said.
This devotion to strengthening others, echoes a quote from X’s autobiography, a quote that could have easily come out of Thomas’ mouth:
“Don’t be in a hurry to condemn because he doesn’t do what you do or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn’t know what you know today.”
Devin Blake is the criminal justice reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. His position is funded by the Public Welfare Foundation, which plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.


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Victor Thomas | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
May 10, 2024


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SDC Board of Commissioners to meet again on Thursday | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Meredith Melland
May 14, 2024
The Board of Commissioners for the Social Development Commission, or SDC, will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, as services for many low-income Milwaukee families remain in limbo following the SDC’s abrupt suspension of services in late April.
SDC closed and laid off its employees over two weeks ago, a move that William Sulton, the SDC’s attorney, has called a “pause” in operations until the board determines steps to reopen the agency.
Thursday’s meeting will be held at the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin, 1920 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
Since mid-April, the board has been meeting on a weekly basis (virtually or in-person) on Thursdays, instead of its usual monthly schedule.
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4 Takeaways from Thursday’s SDC Board of Commissioners meeting
Leaders, community members weigh in on the SDC’s shutdown
What you need to know about services after SDC’s abrupt closing
What you need to know if you used the SDC to file income taxes
Do you have questions you want answered about the SDC? Thoughts you want to share? We are here for you. Let us know what’s on your mind by emailing us or commenting. You can also text us through News414, and our reporters will work hard to get the answers you deserve.
Meredith Melland is the neighborhoods reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.


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SDC Board Meeting May 9, 2023 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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May 14, 2024


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Sickle cell disease disproportionately affects Black people. Here’s what you need to know | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Trisha Young
May 15, 2024
Porscha Burks lives a normal life in many ways. She is the mother to an 8-year-old boy and works as a patient service representative at a North Side clinic.
However, there is one thing that sets her apart from the average person.
Burks has been living with sickle cell disease her entire life.
“I don’t think people understand how difficult living with sickle cell is,” she said.
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For Black patients, like Burks, there are many barriers to sickle cell treatment, the biggest among them being lack of access to quality health care and limited blood donations, experts say.
Sickle cell disease occurs when red blood cells bend into a crescent or sickle shape instead of their normal round shape, blocking blood flow and preventing oxygen from circulating throughout the body.  This leads to frequent and severe pain throughout a person’s life.
For Burks, living with sickle cell disease has meant daily treatments with pain medication and monthly blood transfusions.
Even with those treatments, she said she still experiences chronic pain, which sometimes lands her in the emergency room.
“Pain and fatigue is an everyday thing,” Burks said. “It’s difficult mentally and physically.”
Approximately 100,000 Americans are living with sickle cell disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC.
Sickle cell disease disproportionately affects the Black community.
The disease occurs in 1 out of every 365 African American births, the CDC reports.
About 95% of people with sickle cell disease in Wisconsin are Black, according to the National Institute of Healths, or NIH.
Advocates and providers in Milwaukee are trying to bridge that gap and are asking members of the community to help by donating blood, which is integral to much of the treatment of sickle cell.
According to the NIH, only about 5% of blood donations come from Black donors, which can pose problems in providing matched blood to Black recipients.
Patients with sickle cell disease may rely on regular blood transfusions throughout their lifetimes to prevent health consequences such as organ and tissue damage, severe pain and strokes, according to the American Red Cross.
Despite her challenges with sickle cell, Burks said she’s grateful to live in Milwaukee, where there is a strong support system, which includes medical providers who understand the disease.
According to Children’s Wisconsin, Milwaukee is a crucial hub for advancing treatments for sickle cell disease, as it is home to approximately 85% of the 1,200 diagnosed individuals in the state.
For example, Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin will be opening a blood center on Milwaukee’s North Side, Versiti on King, which will be located on North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
“We’re committed to having a more permanent versus transactional relationship with the Black community,” said Chris Miskel, Versiti’s president and CEO.
Versiti on King will offer job training, social services and assistance with blood donations as well as education about blood donation, diseases and resources.
According to Dr. Prithu Sundd, senior investigator for Versiti Blood Research Institute, “There is a built-in stigma to treating a disease where the majority of patients are Black.”
Sundd said that many clinics may wait longer to give pain treatment to sickle cell patients because of outdated beliefs that African Americans have higher pain tolerances.
One NIH study found that non-white patients in the emergency room are less likely to get pain medicine, wait longer and are less likely to be admitted than white people.
According to another NIH study, lack of quality medical care may make it difficult for Black patients with sickle cell disease to deal with the health-related stigma and racial bias they already face.
While treatments for sickle cell disease are improving and provide hope for better outcomes, Sundd believes there’s still much work to be done.
“In our research, we are trying to find ways that prevent the symptoms from ever happening,” Sundd said.
“We need more African Americans in Milwaukee to donate blood,” Sundd said.
This is because people with African ancestry have better outcomes when receiving blood donations from others with similar ancestry due to genetic similarities.
According to the American Red Cross, 1 in 3 African American blood donors is a match for a patient with sickle cell diease.
Sundd said he recognizes that racial disparities and stigma surrounding health care can discourage Black people from donating blood.
Burks agrees. “We need more education in the community and that means providers need to be doing more outreach work,” she said.
Meanwhile, Burks has high hopes about the future for those who live with sickle cell disease.
“This is a disease that can be cured. It’s just a matter of when,” she said.
Milwaukee Blood Donation Center, located at 638 N. 18th St. More information here.
American Red Cross Southeast Chapter, located at 2600 W. Wisconsin Ave. Find more locations for blood drives happening near you here.


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Sickle Cell | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
May 14, 2024


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Porsha Burks, sickle cell patient | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
May 14, 2024


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5 things to know and do the weekend of May 17 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
May 16, 2024
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Every Friday, Mi Casa Su Cafe hosts “R&B Fridays After Work Set” from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The next one is scheduled for Friday, May 17 at 1835 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. There will be a live DJ, guest performances and more. More information here.
Amani’s annual spring plant sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 18 at 2470 W. Locust St.  Residents can purchase plants and mulch grown by Teens Grow Greens and the Domincan’s Center hydroponics lab. You can also pre-order here and pick up during plant sale hours. More information here.
VIA Community Development Corp. will hold its annual housing resource fair from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 18 in the east parking lot of Sacred Heart, 1545 S. Layton Blvd. Attendees will receive resources, advice from real estate professionals and more. Click here to register.  More information here.
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Food Not Bombs MKE will hold a food drive for individuals to pick up or donate food. It will take place from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 18 at Jackson Park, between South 43rd Street and West Kinnickinnic River Parkway. More information here.
Vendors will gather from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 19 at Walker Square Park, 1031 S. Ninth St. To cultivate community, there will also be a car show, food, music and resources. If you are interested in becoming a participating vendor, click here to sign up.   More information here.
Celebrate “Earth Day in May” at the Sherman Park “Bloom & Groom” plant and vegetable sale between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 19 at 3000 N. Sherman Blvd. Attendees can take advantage of a variety of eco-friendly resources, participate in a “Stuff Swap” and more. This free event will take place regardless of weather. Click here to register for the “Stuff Swap.” More information here.


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Amani Bloom and Groom Sale | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
May 16, 2024


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Here’s what we know three weeks after the SDC’s closing | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Meredith Melland
May 16, 2024
Many questions remain since the Social Development Commission, or SDC, closed its doors in late April, halting a variety of social services and laying off employees.
The SDC Board of Commissioners met Thursday evening to discuss how to restart some of SDC’s programs, with most of its time spent in closed session, but did not take any action.
Before going into closed session, board chair Barbara Toles said that the board would discuss a plan to pay employees who are owed paychecks and any immediate bills that need to be paid.
“… We’re going to work on a plan of action so that we can work on what does it look like in terms of us being able to reopen SDC as soon as possible,” she said.
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After the meeting, Commissioner Terese Caro said she expects the board to spend the next few meetings working mostly in closed session while commissioners continue their discovery phase and deal with sensitive information.
(You can find previous NNS’ stories about SDC services, tax preparation and other topics at the bottom of this story.)
Here’s what else we have learned:
Calvin Mosley, 65, is one of many Milwaukee residents still waiting to find out what happened to the income tax documents they left with SDC.
“I’m sitting here wondering where my tax information is,” Mosley said. “I took my paperwork to (SDC) in February.”
He said the last time he heard from SDC was in early April, when he stopped in and was told that the agency was backlogged and would give him a call.
“Now I’m in limbo,” Mosley said. “I don’t know if I’ve been penalized. I don’t know anything.”
The regional office of the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, now has SDC’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program files, Sulton said.
The IRS, La Casa de Esperanza and volunteers are spearheading an effort to complete the tax cases of SDC’s VITA clients, Sulton said, but they have not released a schedule for appointments or communications.
The organizations have tax client contact information and will reach out to schedule appointments, so clients do not have to contact the organizations.
“Hopefully, next week or shortly thereafter, they should be receiving communications from the IRS and La Casa about how they can get their taxes filed,” Sulton said.
Jeremy McGovern, certification and communications coordinator for the City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services, said the SDC’s abrupt closing was surprising.
The city’s Neighborhood Improvement Project works with SDC and other community-based agencies to help residents bring their homes into code compliance.
The completion of eight ongoing projects with SDC is suspended, McGovern said. There are another 10 applications under review.
Homeowners and contractors involved with the SDC’s Neighborhood Improvement Projects have reached out to department staff, he said, but the department does not have answers yet.
“Obviously, the serious issues facing SDC make its reopening a complex situation. We are looking at alternatives for those clients working with SDC while the agency remains closed.”
Ella Wilson had been getting work done on her home through the program to address code violations before the SDC closing.
“They did the roof and railings,” she said. “They got started on the windows and gutters, but no one has been back and I still have the violations.”
Wilson said she wasn’t aware the SDC had closed until she received a text from News414, a service journalism project collaboration between NNS and Wisconsin Watch.
She doesn’t know how to move forward.
“I can’t get through to anyone. I just want the work they started to be completed,” she said.
Leaders, community members weigh in on the SDC’s shutdown
What you need to know about services after SDC’s abrupt closing
What you need to know if you used the SDC to file income taxes
Do you have questions you want answered about the SDC? Thoughts you want to share? We are here for you. Let us know what’s on your mind by emailing us or commenting. You can also text us through News414, and our reporters will work hard to get the answers you deserve.
PrincessSafiya Byers and Edgar Mendez contributed to this report.
Meredith Melland is the neighborhoods reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.


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Social Development Commission | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tannette Elie
May 16, 2024