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Bakari Center aims to keep justice-involved youth close to home, reduce recidivism | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Allison Dikanovic
December 18, 2018
The building at 32nd and Hampton was renovated to create a “homelike feel” for youth who will be placed at Bakari Center for treatment. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
Bakari is the Swahili word for “promising.” Those who have been working for more than a year to bring the Bakari Center to life hope the name proves to be appropriate for the new Milwaukee County residential treatment facility for youth.
Bakari Center, located at 4777 N. 32nd St., received state licensing on Friday and will be the first facility in Wisconsin to use an evidence-based model of care known as the “integrated treatment model” to reduce youth recidivism. The model uses a kind of therapy for youth and their families to develop a vision of what “a life worth living” would look like.
Mark Mertens, administrator at the Milwaukee County Division of Youth and Family Services, described Bakari Center as “a step down from a corrections facility.”
“The fact is that there are a lot of youth in our community who still need some sort of residential program, proper care and supervision while they’re getting their treatment needs met, but don’t need to be in a secure setting,” he said.
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Mertens said the need for Bakari Center came from the desire to have alternative placements — other than the state’s contentious youth prisons, Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake —for youth who have committed crimes. Data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private philanthropy, shows that youth prisons are not effective at preventing youth from offending again, and that they are even less effective for youth who commit less serious crimes.
“Hopefully, we can reach some kids earlier and provide them the treatment that they need, to prevent them going to corrections down the road,” he said.
According to the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services, more than 80 percent of youth in the justice system have experienced trauma in their lives. In 2016, 76 percent of youth at Lincoln Hills were receiving mental health services, reported the Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health.
Mertens said there is a shortage of non-secure, residential options for youth to provide needed treatment, and that the courts are placing youth out of Milwaukee County, and at times, out of Wisconsin.
“We started to see kids getting placed out of state,” said Mertens. “We didn’t want that, so we wanted to create our own resource. This will hopefully fill that void.”
“We are short on these kinds of options,” agreed Joe Donald, the presiding judge of Milwaukee County Children’s Court.
Milwaukee County contracted with Wisconsin Community Services to operate Bakari Center. Up to 24 boys, ages 13-17, can stay there at a time, but the facility will start with just six. According to Mertens, the average stay of a youth at Bakari Center will be four to six months, but treatment will continue for four months after he leaves.
Mertens said the center is part of a broader initiative by Milwaukee County to transform the youth justice system from one that focuses on punishment to one that focuses on treatment and re-engagement.
Instructors from the Norris School District, as well as Bakari Center staff, will assist youth with their homework in small groups in each floor’s learning lab. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
The bean bag chairs in the common area, pingpong table in the cafeteria and large windows in every room give Bakari Center the feeling of a newly renovated college dorm building.
“We wanted to create a homelike feel,” said Chad Meinholdt, the administrator of specialized services at Wisconsin Community Services and a lead on the project.
The first floor also has a conference room for family visits.
Each youth will have his own bedroom with at least one large window, which he can decorate himself, and a full bathroom.
Each floor has a “teen room” to hang out in, as well as a “learning lab” stocked with Apple computers, where the boys will do schoolwork. Norris School District, based in Mukwonago, will provide the educational services through individualized, online curricula that are intended to help the boys catch up if they are behind in school, Meinholdt said.
Milwaukee County consulted with Henry Schmidt, an assistant clinical professor of psychology at the University of Washington, to train staff in the integrated treatment model he developed specifically for youth in residential treatment.
Schmidt said the program is trauma-informed, strengths-based and emphasizes a successful transition home.
“If we took a broad perspective, we would see criminal behavior as one aspect of a larger life,” Schmidt said. “The behaviors that are happening in that realm are people trying to solve problems in one way… We want to give [the youth] skills to solve problems in a better way.”
Meinholdt said all staff in the building are trained in the methods of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), which works on building skills to more effectively manage emotions, form relationships and deal with stressful situations. He said DBT uses a specific language to describe skills and tools, so youth, staff, therapists and families will all be on the same page.
Mertens said the county chose this model because the consistency gives youth many opportunities to keep practicing new skills.
“Everyone in the program is reinforcing and providing the therapy all day long,” he said.
Bakari Center’s location in the city, near neighborhoods where many of the youth come from, is intentional and part of the treatment model.
“We want the youth to be able to navigate the situations and circumstances that occur in their community that have derailed them in the past,” Schmidt said.
Mertens said that part of the treatment at Bakari Center would include connecting youth to supports in the city that they can continue to access once they move out. Meinholdt said that the center already has a partnership with the YMCA for youth to have regular access to recreation.
“These are our kids,” added Donald. “We need to be able to equip them with the skills to navigate and live in Milwaukee, because that’s where they’re from.’
Working directly with the youths’ families throughout their stay at Bakari Center and after is another way the model supports a successful transition.
Family members will be involved in their youth’s progress at Bakari Center and will receive therapy themselves. Meinholdt said this will help parents reinforce the skills the boys learned while at Bakari Center when they get home. The family will continue to work with the same therapist for at least four months after the youth returns homes.
Rochelle Landingham, director of Family Strong, LLC, advocates for families who have children in Wraparound, a county service provider. She said involving the family in treatment makes sense because “a lot of time the trauma or issues that a young person is going through is directly related to their family situation.”
“The kids are going to go home at some point,” Donald said. “It makes it more difficult to ensure a long- term positive outcome if we don’t address the environment they’re returning to.”
These long-term positive outcomes have been shown to improve for youth who have participated in an integrated treatment model in other places. According to the Washington State Institute for Public Policy, the program significantly reduced recidivism rates for youth.
After state lawmakers voted in March to close Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake by 2021, the state and county began developing new approaches to youth justice. Bakari Center is an initial piece of that, but Mertens said the county is working to reform its youth justice system as a whole, through a coordinated initiative called Project Rise.
The county is preparing to propose building a new secure residential facility for youth as well, one of several correctional facilities that will be located around the state. According to Mertens, Milwaukee County will be monitoring the success of Bakari Center as “a pilot of sorts” to see if it wants to implement the same model in the future secure center.
Mertens said that the county’s goals are to reduce the number of youth in corrections and to provide more community-based alternatives. He said that though Bakari Center is located in the community, it isn’t an example of “true diversion,” which would keep a young person out of the system altogether.
Sharlen Moore, co-founder of the advocacy organization Youth Justice Milwaukee, said that Bakari Center is part of a “continuum of care” that will help get youth re-connected with their families and communities. As the county moves forward with more reform plans, she said she hopes that community members will have a say in the decisions being made.
“We have to keep making sure that young people and families are consulted and supported around the work that needs to be done to restore and build community trust around youth justice,” Moore said.

author: Allison Dikanovic


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 17, 2018

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: December 17, 2018

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

author: Adam Carr


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HUD lauds HACM’s impact as it closes out Voluntary Compliance Agreement | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee
December 18, 2018
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) have completed a four-year Voluntary Compliance Agreement (VCA) with recognition that HACM has greatly exceeded goals for the Section 3 program that provides job and contracting opportunities to public housing and other low-income residents.
Section 3 is a HUD workforce development program that sets hiring and contracting benchmarks for housing and community development projects receiving federal assistance. The program is designed to provide greater access to employment and other economic opportunities for low-income and very low-income persons, particularly those who are recipients of government assistance for housing.
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Over the last four years, HACM strengthened its Section 3 program to make it more comprehensive and robust. HUD recognized HACM as a national leader in developing innovative processes to exceed Section 3 results.
“Creating employment opportunities is one of the most effective ways to help low-income individuals and families move from dependency to self-sufficiency,” said Anna María Farías, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “I applaud the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee for meeting the requirements of the Voluntary Compliance Agreement and I look forward to its continued efforts to advance this important program.”
From October 2013 through September 2018, 64.7% (268) of all new hires (414) qualified as Section 3, more than doubling the 30% goal. In addition, 15.9% (66) of the new hires were HACM’s own public housing residents or rent assistance participants.
Through HACM’s Section 3 contracting program, HACM awarded 33.1% ($15,054,683) of construction contracts ($45,348,201 total) to Section 3 businesses between October 2013 and September 2018, more than tripling the 10% Section 3 goal. HACM also awarded 30.1% ($6,662,602.64) of non-construction contracts ($22,098,754.64 total) to Section 3 businesses, exceeding the 3.0% goal by 10 times.
In all, $21,717,285.57 (32.2%) of the total awarded contract amount of $67,446,955.86 during the period was awarded to Section 3 businesses.
“Working together with our community, the Housing Authority has achieved the intent of the Section 3 provision – to ensure that our investments have the greatest positive impact on the residents and neighborhoods we serve,” said Tony Pérez, Secretary-Executive Director of HACM. “We are thankful to HUD for its guidance and support, to MICAH and other community groups for their partnership, to our staff for their diligence and hard work, and to our residents for their faith and participation in the program. We are also deeply indebted to the leadership of the HACM Board of Commissioners and the confidence and trust placed in them by Mayor Tom Barrett.”
“We can now see the importance of having relationships that help strengthen our community and can be modeled in other cities. MICAH’s Jobs and Economics Committee and HACM have decided that we will continue to meet to further ensure equity and access to jobs with family supporting wages along with quality housing. I can say I’m proud of what has been accomplished with the residents at Westlawn and the safety net put in place to help with the residents’ transitions,” said Lee Henderson-Tatum, MICAH VP/Jobs and Economics Co-chair
Among the several initiatives HACM implemented to enhance its Section 3 program was the development of online portals that enable residents and businesses to register, search and apply for jobs and contracts. As of October 2018, 901 residents in the Milwaukee area have self-certified themselves on HACM’s Section 3 Resident Registry and listed their job skills and experience. The Section 3 Resident Registry is available to any business seeking to hire and by the public. HACM contractors are required to use the registry when hiring new employees. HACM currently has 163 business registered in its online Section 3 Business Concern Registry, enabling them to receive notices and preference for contracting opportunities.
Alonzie Bingham, a former resident of the Westlawn neighborhood that is now being redeveloped, says the Section 3 program provided him with a new career pathway. After learning about the program and signing up for the Section 3 Registry, Bingham was contacted by a contractor working at Westlawn and offered employment.
“I appreciated the opportunity to receive hands-on construction training and to learn new things,” said Bingham. “Now I’m looking at a construction apprenticeship as the next step.”
HACM participated in several outreach efforts to educate residents and businesses about Section 3, including hosting and attending training sessions, fairs, and other events.
HACM has also engaged in several workforce development initiatives specifically aimed at Section 3 residents. One such initiative is the At-Promise Resident Training Program that HACM developed to provide low-income HACM residents with a new pathway to self-sufficiency. The program builds upon the stability of HACM’s quality, affordable housing by also offering on-the-job training, life skills development, and post-secondary education that together can transform residents’ lives. At-Promise provides motivated residents with the opportunity to overcome barriers that could otherwise keep them locked into a cycle of poverty.
Latisha Fowler, another former Westlawn resident, has experienced the benefits of the At-Promise Resident Training Program. “I signed up for the Housing Authority’s Section 3 Registry where I received information about the At-Promise program. I successfully made it through the screening process, boot camp and the training session and I started work as an Administrative Specialist. I remember when I used to pay my rent at the Westlawn office. I would see what the office workers were doing and think, ‘I’d like to do that.’ Now, through the At-Promise Program, I am doing just that and working towards a full-time position.”
“The collective effort of the HACM team and our partners continues to produce innovative solutions to foster inclusive communities and provide opportunities for our residents beyond the foundation of affordable, high-quality housing – opportunities that offer our residents a path to self-sufficiency,” said Pérez.
For more information about HACM’s Section 3 program, please visit HACM Section 3 Program.

created: December 18, 2018


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 18, 2018


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On the Block: Come back to Sherman Park | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Grace Connatser
December 18, 2018
Khalid Walid went to buy a cup of coffee at the Sherman Phoenix to support the start-up businesses that just opened there. He hopes that the new building’s positive community impact will convince former Sherman Park residents to return to the neighborhood.

author: Grace Connatser


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Drug task force seeks community input on how to tackle epidemic | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Max Nawara
December 19, 2018
Participants at the City-County Heroin, Opioid and Cocaine Task Force’s fourth community engagement session meet in their focus groups. (Photo by Max Nawara)
John Russell doesn’t consider himself a “former” addict. He’s doing well in recovery, but he acknowledges that he’ll be dealing with addiction for the rest of his life.
At one of the meetings he attends to manage his recovery, Russell learned about Milwaukee’s City-County Heroin, Opioid and Cocaine Task Force.
The task force, charged with investigating and making recommendations on how to reduce drug overdoses in Milwaukee and Milwaukee County through a public health lens, holds community engagement sessions for experts and affected community members — such as Russell — to offer solutions to the city’s drug epidemic.
“We need to have more support from those that have actually experienced addiction firsthand rather than just having people who think they know the issue making all the decisions on the things that are supposed to help us,” Russell said.
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Russell participated in a focus group on prevention and education at the most recent community engagement session, held last month.
John Russell, a recovering addict, votes on proposed solutions for Milwaukee’s overdose epidemic. (Photo by Max Nawara)
“I came up with something,” he said. “For instance, maybe a television program that says, ‘Make it cool to be clean.’ When I was growing up it was portrayed through the media that the cool guys were the ones that smoked cigarettes, drank beer and did drugs.”
He also said the focus group discussed getting better funding for drug safety programs in schools and implementing safe injection sites.
Tiffinie Cobb, substance abuse and injury prevention manager at the Milwaukee Health Department, said that the goal of the task force is to reduce substance abuse-related overdoses.
In researching its plan to reduce overdoses, task force members decided they needed to get a better idea of what was going on in affected communities. “[Our research] led into our community engagement sessions,” said Cobb.
The task force’s initial plan was released in April. Recommendations included funding prevention programs to keep individuals from developing substance use disorder; establishing systematic efforts to prevent drug trafficking among youth; ensuring adequate access to timely, affordable and quality services for all people with substance use disorders; and developing programs in collaboration with the criminal justice system that treat addiction as a disease, while working to reduce the availability of illicit substances.
Cobb said that there were already a number of community-backed initiatives trying to tackle Milwaukee’s drug and overdose epidemic, which has led to 260 drug-related deaths so far this year. One example is Milwaukee County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, an organization that focuses on using youth and family education to communicate the harmful consequences of drug abuse.
Ald. Russell Stamper and Ald. Michael Murphy, members of the task force, emphasized the importance of community input.
“One of the main goals of the task force is the community engagement sessions,” Stamper said at the fourth session. “This is most important because we can discuss how this epidemic has affected our neighborhoods and our communities, especially if you’ve had personal experiences. We want to hear how you have overcome them.”
The first community engagement session was held in June. The task force has had three others since then with an average of about 48 participants per session, according to Cobb. Each session has five focus groups, covering overdose prevention, treatment, prevention and education, criminal justice and community collaboration.
Cobb said that the task force takes these brainstorming sessions into account while identifying how to combat Milwaukee’s epidemic.
She also added that the community engagement sessions have been “well-received,” and that task force members have been able to hear from people from all walks of life.
Russell said he was excited to be a part of these sessions.
“I’m glad to be a part of something that can help build the community and really put this on the forefront,” he said. “Drug addiction knows no bounds. It doesn’t discriminate. I’m just grateful for the opportunity.”

created: December 19, 2018

author: Max Nawara


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Council approves measure to fight resident displacement in areas near downtown | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Milele A. Coggs
December 20, 2018
(Photo by Adam Carr)
The Common Council today approved legislation moving the city closer to having an anti-displacement tax fund program that aims to keep longtime residents from being displaced because of the development boom taking place in downtown Milwaukee.
The resolution – Council file #181287 – directs the Department of City Development (DCD) to develop a proposal for an anti-displacement tax fund program similar to the Atlanta Westside Future Fund Anti-Displacement Tax Fund Program, and to submit the proposal to the Common Council for review within 90 days.
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, primary sponsor of the legislation, said the building boom taking place in downtown Milwaukee and in neighborhoods along the periphery of downtown is threatening to displace residents who have had a hand in taking care of their neighborhoods for many years. “The unprecedented building boom (downtown) has brought a wave of new construction with many positive benefits, including population growth and an expanded tax base,” the alderwoman said.
“But it also threatens the character of the areas in which it is occurring and may displace longtime residents either directly, through removal of their housing units, or indirectly, through being priced out of their neighborhoods as gentrification occurs,” Alderwoman Coggs said. “I am grateful for the overwhelming support from my Council colleagues on this measure, because they see the value in offering support to longtime city residents who have shown devotion and a strong commitment to their neighborhoods long before the boom started to take shape.”
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“This anti-displacement tax fund program offers that much-needed support and is a step in the right direction,” she said.
The City of Atlanta is combating displacement in its four Historic Westside neighborhoods through the Westside Future Fund’s Anti-Displacement Tax Fund Program, an initiative that will pay qualifying current homeowners’ property tax increases to help ensure that these homeowners are not displaced because of the rising property taxes that result from development in their neighborhoods.
In November — through an amendment that was part of the adopted 2019 city budget — the Common Council approved a footnote instructing DCD to develop an anti-displacement tax fund program similar to the Atlanta Westside Future Fund Anti-Displacement Tax Fund Program. Today’s action by the Council officially orders the development of the program.
Co-sponsors of the legislation are Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II, Alderman José G. Pérez and Alderman Cavalier Johnson.

created: December 20, 2018

author: Ald. Milele A. Coggs


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 20, 2018


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Washington Park celebrates season with new holiday decorations | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
December 20, 2018
(Photo courtesy of United Methodist Children’s Services.)
Residents attending the annual gathering of the Washington Park Neighborhood Improvement District and Washington Park Partners were pleased to see dozens of solar-powered holiday wreaths decorating Lisbon Avenue on their way to the recent event at United Methodist Children’s Services, 3910 W. Lisbon Ave.
“We recognized for years that Lisbon Avenue has never been lit up,” said Bobby McQuay, co-chair for Washington Park NID and a resident of the neighborhood since 1979. “So, we started the process to figure out how we could do that.”
Several years ago, the NID approached the city to see if Washington Park could get holiday lights similar to those strung across downtown and other surrounding neighborhoods. The project never came to fruition.
Earlier this year, Serena Lor, the community health worker and community organizer at UMCS, found the wreaths in the basement. Lor approached Phoua Vang, NID manager, about resurrecting the project. In November, they began planning how to use the decorations and get residents involved.
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Washington Park residents attend the neighborhood’s annual gathering. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
According to Lor, Vang approached the city about permits, which poles they could use and how to connect the lights to electricity. During the course of several days, Lor and Vang counted 27 poles on Lisbon between 32 and 45 streets where they could hang wreaths.
Lor researched how to attach the wreaths to the poles. Although they ended up purchasing the attachment pieces from somewhere on the East Coast, Lor said everything else was done locally. For example, residents decorated the wreaths and Sunny Home Improvement, 3605 W. National Ave., was hired to install and maintain them.
The project cost $5,600, including lights, solar panels, city fees, contractors and decorating materials. To lower electricity costs, Vang and Lor attached solar panels to the wreaths to help power the lights.
McQuay said residents are noticing the new lights, and some are bringing their children out to see the decorations. “It’s a way to boost the holiday spirit in the community,” he said.
“What we’re hoping to do is kick off a tradition,” McQuay said. “As time goes on and the years go on, hopefully, we can get better.”
The decorations are just one of the positive changes happening in Washington Park, said McQuay, who noted that the neighborhood took a dip, but is coming back. There’s an increase in home ownership and people want to make a difference, he added.
“You can actually see on the streets,” he said. “There’s some energy around.”
DaVaughn Patterson says Washington Park has been going through some positive changes. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
DaVaughn Patterson grew up in Washington Park, and like McQuay, he’s witnessed the neighborhood change.
“I’ve seen it change from bad to a whole lot better now,” Patterson said.
Patterson works in construction and enjoys seeing the home improvements and additions around the neighborhood.
“I see more people taking pride in their homes [and] buying homes,” Patterson said.
For the past several years, Patterson has made an effort to attend neighborhood gatherings. The meetings offer an opportunity for community members to get together and share their concerns, he said. People can speak with police officers, learn about programs and share their ideas for neighborhood improvement, he added.
Residents also have celebrated together at block parties, including a huge one at Washington Park.
“It was nice to get the kids to come out and not only have them be a part of it but show them that there’s a community that’s backing them,” Patterson said.
“Washington Park is a case study in how neighborhood-based initiatives can improve quality of life for residents,” said State Rep. Evan Goyke, who attended the annual gathering and has represented Washington Park since 2012. The annual Washington Park gatherings are evidence of how far the neighborhood has come, he added. Goyke noted that changes include a decrease in crime and an increase in homeownership.
Lecrystal Griffin, who has been living in the Washington Park neighborhood for 21 years, started coming to community gatherings several years ago. She then joined the health committee and the Washington Park Partners steering committee.
“I feel like we [have] a voice,” she said. “It makes me feel empowered.”

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 19, 2018


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BID hopes to return vibrancy to Villard Avenue | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
December 21, 2018
The North Milwaukee Arthaus, 5151 N. 35th St., is one of several new developments in the Villard Avenue Business Improvement District. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Arthur Schmitz, a 95-year-old author and veteran of World War II, is filled with  fond recollections of Villard Avenue in the 1920s and ’30s.
“I basically lived at the Ritz theatre and Shorty’s restaurant got their share of my money,” said a smiling Schmitz, who grew up near Villard Avenue in North Milwaukee before the street and surrounding area were consolidated into the City of Milwaukee in 1929.
He lived in the neighborhood until the 1940s, when he left for the war, and though some things had changed on Villard Avenue upon his return, the 7,200-square-foot Ritz movie house, located at 3608 W. Villard Ave., Shorty’s, Wilbur’s Bakery and the old hardware store were all still in operation. Villard Avenue, which locals referred to as the “Village,” was still bustling, Schmitz said.
But the fortunes of the Ritz, which became the “Villa” before closing in 1986, and many other businesses and factories along or near Villard Avenue changed in recent decades.  The building that housed the Ritz is now owned by the city of Milwaukee, and is one the street’s many vacant properties.
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The neighborhood’s commercial sector crumbled as companies that had long provided stable employment to nearby residents closed, according to Stephanie Harling, executive director of the Havenwoods Economic Development Corp.
“I mean, it’s the Milwaukee story. You can look around that area and see how many industrial businesses have left. That and all the population that aged and moved out of the neighborhood led to the problems we have now,” Harling said.
Those problems include increased crime, a high number of vacant properties, disinvestment and blight in general, said Harling. The Havenwoods EDC, which has had success revitalizing the Havenwoods neighborhood on the northwest side, is working with stakeholders on Villard Avenue to help turn the neighborhood around by attracting new businesses and spurring other improvements in the area. That work is being guided by the  Villard Avenue Business Improvement District (BID), which had taken a hiatus for several years before launching again last year.
Much of the first year has been spent reorganizing the BID, which runs on Villard from Teutonia to Sherman, but extends one block north and south in some parcels. One of the BID’s first major challenges is to increase safety in the area, Harling said. The “Green Light Project.,” aimed at tackling crime, is already underway and involves Milwaukee police districts 4 and 7.  The project is being piloted in the Villard BID to fight crime in the area by installing security cameras.
Arthur Schmitz, author and World War II veteran, and Angelique Sharpe, Villard BID Liaison at Havenwoods Economic Development Corp. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Milwaukee Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton, who represents the area, said he first learned of the project while visiting Detroit. He said Villard Avenue would be a perfect place to pilot the strategy in Milwaukee.
“I think we have the right pieces here on Villard to make the project successful. We have residents, business owners and the BID that all want to work together to make this area safer,” Hamilton said.
According to Hamilton, the program, which will launch in 2019, involves MPD purchasing software to integrate cameras at businesses and traffic lights with the ShotSpotter system. Business owners, with the help of a grant,  are responsible for purchasing cameras to scan their properties. Calls that come in to MPD for service will trigger the system and police officers will be able to see what’s happening in real time, Hamilton said.
Aside from the Green Light Project, the Villard Avenue BID also hopes to create a safety committee and will host facilitated discussions to engage residents and others to help shape a vision for the community. That vision will eventually become the action plan, according to Jeff Hanewall of Engberg Anderson Architects. Hanewall, who was recently elected as the BID president, owns a commercial property on Villard Avenue, which he uses for storage. He said he’s excited about the Green Light Project and also the start of the process to learn what improvements residents would like to see on Villard Avenue.
“Should we be looking to recruit certain types of businesses? Should we focus on sustaining what we have or should we focus on facade improvements? Those are all possibilities, but we need to hear from the community first,” Hanewall said.
Hanewall also noted that the neighborhood has seen momentum in recent years, even without a functioning BID.
“The Villard library is one example of a substantial project that has occurred recently. There has been investment in the area without any real incentive so that’s a positive,” he said.
The Villard Square Library, 5230 N. 35th St., is a mixed-use development that features three floors of affordable housing above the ground level library. Another major development project that began recently is 3600@Villard, a 43-unit apartment building with commercial retail space. The $7.3 million project, being developed by Brinshore Development and Index Development Group, has garnered support from the city, which created a tax incremental financing (TIF) district to help raise $500,000.
Other recent developments include the opening of a new restaurant, Fiyahside Jamaican Cuisine, 3709 W. Villard Ave. A proposal is also on the table to redevelop the former Villard Avenue Library, 3310 W. Villard Ave., according to Angelique Sharpe, Villard BID liaison at Havenwoods EDC.
Another new project that is underway but still in need of funding is the North Milwaukee Arthaus, 5151 N. 35th St. The Arthaus building, which houses the Quasimondo Physical Theatre, once served as the North Milwaukee Firehouse.
On the upper floor of the firehouse was a community center, recalled Schmitz. “That’s where I first learned how to play chess,” he said.
The building was purchased last year from the city for $42,000, according to Brian Rott, Quasimondo’s artistic director. Its first play, “Celsius 232,” was staged there recently. Plans include dance classes that will draw students from the area’s many surrounding schools, said Rott, who is also a member of the Villard BID board.
Though the building is early in the renovation phase, and classes won’t debut there until at least the summer, Rott hopes it one of many projects that will help recreate a sense of community along Villard Avenue.  “We want to be a part of bringing life back to this area,” Rott said.
George Dixon, pastor for 17 years at the House of the Lord Church, 3418 W. Villard, said he isn’t sure exactly what changes will occur but hopes they make the neighborhood safer, and give young people and elders more to do.
“I just want to see more places where people feel safe and can do something positive,” Dixon said. “I want things to be like they used to be back in the day on Villard Avenue.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the address of the North Milwaukee Arthaus. We apologize for the error.

created: December 21, 2018

author: Edgar Mendez


text:
Rep. Moore fights to re-enfranchise incarcerated Americans | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Congresswoman Gwen Moore
December 21, 2018
Yesterday, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI) introduced H.R. 7359, the Voter Information and Access Act (VIAA). VIAA would provide detained and incarcerated persons, who are eligible to vote, information on voting eligibility, registration, and access to absentee ballots and polling places. Upon the bill’s introduction, Congresswoman Moore released the following statement:
“The freedom to vote and the power to have our voices heard is a fundamental tenet of our democracy. However, in jails and prisons across the country, nearly half a million individuals awaiting trial or on the precipice of release are being systematically disenfranchised and denied access to essential information about their voting rights,” said Congresswoman Moore. “The Voter Information and Access Act would help right this wrong by supplying detained and incarcerated persons with the information they need to access the ballot box. At a time when the right to vote for so many Americans is under attack, it’s essential we pass this legislation and move forward in our fight to reduce recidivism and increase societal reintegration.”
“The Campaing for Youth Justice supports the VIA Act, sponsored by Congresswoman Moore. We know that too many children, particularly those charged as adults, become eligible voters while pending trial. In addition, thousands return home from a period of incarceration with no history of voting. Too often, these youth come from communities that are disenfranchised and grossly over-represented in prison. The VIAA would enable them to engage in the democratic process and take a critical step to reneging positively in civic life,” said Marcy Mistrett, CEO, Campaign for Youth Justice.
“The VIAA will provide critical voting rights information and assistance for millions of eligible voters who currently are hindered in participating in the electoral process. Hundreds of thousands of these potential voters need assistance while jailed awaiting trial without access to voter registration or voting access. Tragically, an estimated 17 million, eligible Returning Citizens, are caught in a limbo of fear, confusion, miseducation or lack of information about their voting rights and do not participate as voters. The VIAA answers a vital need in fulfilling the quest for an inclusive and robust Democracy,” said Barbara R. Arnwine, President, Transformative Justice Coalition.
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author: Congresswoman Gwen Moore


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 21, 2018


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NNS reporter Edgar Mendez goes live on WGLB 1560AM | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 24, 2018
The North Milwaukee Arthaus, 5151 W. Villard Ave., is one of several new developments in the Villard Avenue Business Improvement District. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Mendez discussed his article on development efforts in the Villard Avenue commercial corridor, which coincidentally is also home to the WGLB studios. They discuss the area’s “boom times,” the impact of deindustrialization and current revitalization efforts. This includes work by the local BID on the Green Light Project, a public safety initiative in conjunction with MPD, as well as new developments and future plans for community listening sessions.

created: December 24, 2018


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WGLB-NNS Interview 12.21.18 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 24, 2018
“181217_0336” by My Recording.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 24, 2018


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Sculpture of community self-portraits unveiled; artist-in-residence announced for Mitchell Street library | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Allison Dikanovic
December 24, 2018
Erick Ledesma’s sculpture “Common Thread” will be on permanent display at the Milwaukee Public Library Mitchell Street Branch. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
Next time you walk through the front doors of Milwaukee Public Library’s Mitchell Street branch, prepare to be welcomed by the faces of neighbors. A shelf in the northeast corner of the library now houses a vibrant sculpture showcasing self-portraits that have come to life. Erick Ledesma, the inaugural artist-in-residence at the branch, worked in collaboration with local youth and other community members to create the piece, titled “Common Thread.”
“I wanted to make this sculpture an homage to the people, especially the teens and kids, that I got to interact with here, giving them ownership of their space, and letting them know that they should be proud of the spaces that they interact with, because they turn us into who we are,” Ledesma said.
For the past year, Ledesma has been working to turn the library into a creative community space by engaging residents, especially youth, in making multimedia art that explores themes of culture, history, family and identity. Anyone who visited the library was welcome to participate.
The sculpture was unveiled Wednesday evening at a packed event celebrating the culmination of Ledesma’s residency.
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“I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea of community lately, and I think it means… coming together in unity to create something,” Ledesma said. “That’s what we did here.”
Library patron Jessica Romany contributed a one-line portrait to the sculpture and participated in Ledesma’s programming throughout the year.
“It meant everything to me because I’m not usually a social person,” Romany said. “To meet people like this and see their passion for art makes me want to be in a place like this. It makes me feel like home.”
From left: Jessica Romany, Brandon Minga, Paula Kiely, Celeste Contreras, Erick Ledesma and John Kowalczyk celebrate the end of Ledesma’s year-long tenure as artist-in-residence and the beginning of Contreras’s term. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
In addition to the sculpture project, Ledesma gathered people to create art and build community through several other projects. Last spring, he worked with teen interns to create murals for the library’s makerspace. During the summer, he led a community canvas project, in which groups of people created paintings together, and a food and arts exchange called the Iron Board Café.
The idea for the Iron Board came from a trip Ledesma took back home to Puerto Rico before he started his residency. As a way to support those affected by Hurricane Maria, he made community meals in local plazas and invited people to eat for free. In a few months, he said he fed over 1,500 people.
Witnessing how food can bring people together made Ledesma want to incorporate cooking into his creative work. Every other week in the library’s makerspace, he introduced an art project and prepared a traditional Puerto Rican dish, such as fried plantains, Puerto Rican corned beef or empanadas. Kids would make a piece of art and exchange it for a plate of food.
Ledesma said he hopes exposure to new experiences, such as trying unfamiliar food, will have a lasting impact on the young people he worked with, whether or not they end up pursuing art.
After unveiling the sculpture, LaShawndra Vernon, executive director of Artists Working in Education, Inc. (AWE) announced that the next artist in residence at the Mitchell Street Branch will be Celeste Contreras, who founded Milwaukee’s Dia de los Muertos Parade.
Contreras has a track record of making community art, especially incorporating themes of death, rebirth and family. She said she has an abundance of ideas for her residency, but wants to co-develop the direction her projects will take alongside community members.
“I want to publish a book for the library by the people,” she said. Contreras called books “sculptures that you get to touch.” She envisions building a beautiful bookshelf to house the homemade books.
Contreras said that she sees the library as an ideal place to pursue her passion of making art in community because it’s so accessible.
“It’s in the coolest space,” she said. “It’s not like a gallery or part of an institution like a university. It’s just a library, where everyone can come.”
That’s the idea behind the initiative that fuels the residency, called Gathering Art, Stories, and Place.
A collaboration of Milwaukee Public Library, AWE, Listening to Mitchell artists Sonja Thomsen and Adam Carr, and Ex Fabula, which is funded in part by the National Endowment of the Arts, aims to “change the narrative of what libraries can be,” according to Vernon.
Wednesday’s event also included a performance by Sista Strings, a booth to create short stories with Ex Fabula and a temporary installment of the Listening to Mitchell project, which is in the process of being archived at the library.
According to Katie Loughmiller, arts project coordinator for Milwaukee Public Library, programming for Gathering Arts, Stories and Place will continue throughout 2019.
“I will keep coming to the library, because I want my kids to grow up in a community like this, where we’re all together, making things, where we all love each other,” Romany said.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 23, 2018

created: December 23, 2018


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Holiday lights show cheer in neighborhoods across the city | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 25, 2018
At NNS, we cover Milwaukee’s North Side and South Side, which include an incredible and diverse range of communities. The photos in this gallery include holiday lights at homes in each of the neighborhoods where we report.
This gallery is not an attempt to express “the best” of each neighborhood. Rather, it is a sampling of homes that demonstrate an exceptional amount of holiday cheer.
The team at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service wishes you and yours a meaningful Christmas!
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created: December 25, 2018


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Favorite of 2018: Food, culture, wellness entrepreneurs celebrate at Sherman Phoenix grand opening | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
December 26, 2018
Milwaukeeans from throughout the city attended the Sherman Phoenix grand opening. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
In the summer of 2016, I, like so many in Milwaukee and across the nation watched the news coverage of the unrest in Sherman Park. After the dust settled, I thought that the building at 3536 Fond du Lac Ave. would remain vacant as a constant reminder of the anger and sadness that plagued the city.
When talks of transforming the space into something new began, it seemed too good to be true. Often, vacant buildings in Milwaukee tend to remain empty. Other times, the purchasing and renovation process takes years, but with Sherman Phoenix that was not the case.
In two years, Milwaukeeans turned a vacant building into a marketplace filled with potential. Its grand opening signifies not just a change for the neighborhood, but a change for Milwaukee as a whole.
Click here to read the story.
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created: December 26, 2018


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8th annual MKE Business Now Summit tackles entrepreneurship and job creation | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Milele A. Coggs
December 27, 2018
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs has announced registration open for the Saturday, January 26, 2019 MKE Business Now Entrepreneurship Summit. The free event, to be hosted at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School, 3275 N. 3rd St., includes workshops, panel discussions, and a resource fair with dozens of organizations that are available to help Milwaukee entrepreneurs.
Please go to https://bit.ly/2AfoQFa to register for the Summit.
The 8th annual summit will tackle issues such as entrepreneurship and growing a business. A wide variety of business leaders are coming together to teach others in the business community about creating a business and how to have that business thrive.
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“Whether you are looking to grow or start a business, this important annual event has been incredibly successful and has drawn great reviews from current business owners and new entrepreneurs. The firsthand knowledge and information gleaned from experienced business owners and experts has helped budding entrepreneurs work to create thriving new businesses in our community,” Alderwoman Coggs said.

created: December 27, 2018


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Favorite of 2018: UMedics trainers teach urban first aid for gunshot victims | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Analise Pruni
December 27, 2018
Martine Caverl, co-founder of UMedics, demonstrates urban first aid on workshop participant Lawton Merritt. (Photo by Analise Pruni)
My favorite story was about an urban first-response program called UMedics. The workshop taught community activists, nurses and other participants how to treat a gunshot wound in an emergency situation. I was surprised at how many people in the room said that they had been shot at in Milwaukee; people from the North Side, South Side and places throughout the city.
I figured out that I was one of the only people in the room who had not personally encountered gun violence, which made me realize I had no idea how many people were really affected by guns in my own city.
After a hands-on active-shooter scenario in which groups of participants were asked to control and contain an emergency situation, they all said that they now knew how to help somebody who had been shot. Stopping gun violence in Milwaukee will not happen overnight; however, initiatives such as UMedics will help save lives.
Click here to read the story.
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author: Analise Pruni


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Milwaukee Public Library seeks development partners | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Library
December 28, 2018
The Milwaukee Public Library (MPL) has issued a Request for Proposal from qualified firms who want to partner on a mixed-use development of a replacement of Milwaukee Public Library’s Capitol branch at 3969 N 74th Street.
“MPL is changing the way people think about libraries while we continue to help patrons read, learn and connect.” said Library Director Paula Kiely. “We are improving the library experience with more flexible and open floor plans, better technology, and exciting new features such as our makerspaces at Mitchell Street and at the new Good Hope branch when it opens in 2019.”
The library is seeking a catalytic development that not only provides a 21st century, technology-rich building for residents, but improves the economic vitality of the neighborhood. The proposal should feature the new library as the most visible component of a mixed-use project. The non-library component(s) must be housing, retail, office or another commercial use as long as the use is appropriate for co-location with a public library, and should strive to add to the tax base for the City of Milwaukee.
“Our plan for a mixed-used development for the Capitol branch is the next step in our comprehensive library replacement strategy,” said Mayor Tom Barrett. “Our public/private partnerships on these mixed- use library projects have added millions of dollars in tax base to the City of Milwaukee and hundreds of new apartment homes. With this new project, City government, Milwaukee Public Library staff, and private developers will add educational resources, new job opportunities and advanced technology for children and families in the area near the Capitol branch.”
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This plan follows the successful replacement of the Villard Avenue, East, and Forest Home libraries with new, mixed-use buildings. Mayor Tom Barrett, the Milwaukee Common Council, and the Library Board of Trustees have identified $18 million for library redevelopment which has been allocated to the Forest Home, Mill Road, Capitol and Martin Luther King branches.
By 2021, it is expected that MPL will have replaced or updated the entire system with 21st century, technology-rich facilities.
Proposals are due Tuesday, January 29th, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. to MPL Library Construction Project Manager Sam McGovern-Rowen. Visit http://www.mpl.org/about/library_development/ for more information.

created: December 28, 2018

author: Milwaukee Public Library


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Favorite of 2018: Juvenile justice advocates garner community input in effort to improve outcomes for youth offenders | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Allison Dikanovic
December 28, 2018
Simone Lewis-Turner, 16, asks Mark Mertens, director of the Milwaukee County Division of Youth and Family Services, about the role youth voice will have in pending juvenile justice reform. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
Early in 2018, state lawmakers passed a bill that will close Wisconsin’s youth prisons. After heavily reported instances of abuse, lawsuits and criminal investigations, this felt like a long time coming. But what was to come in place of the contentious prisons was unknown, and in large part still is.
My favorite story this year is about a group of people who are working to make sure that local youth, families and community members have a say in how the county and the state are going to reform the youth justice system. Youth justice relates to a lot of issues Milwaukee is grappling with, such as how to reduce racial disparities and mass incarceration, and better care for those who have experienced trauma. In some ways, the group’s work feels similar to our mission at NNS: to open up a conversation about how policies and decisions are going to affect those who live in Milwaukee’s neighborhoods, and to make sure community members have a space to weigh in on those matters.
It was a privilege to witness residents and officials listen to each other and talk about how they want to transform this system into one that would have better outcomes for everyone.
Though I just started as a staff reporter at the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service toward the end of 2018, I’m curious to see how the story of Milwaukee’s attempt at youth justice reform will continue to evolve in 2019, and am excited to continue to cover how these changes will affect people in the neighborhoods we cover.
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Click here to read the story.


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Favorite story of 2018: Fifth summer of ‘We Got This’ focuses on reading, jobs | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
December 31, 2018
Kavayah Lashay (center) talks to Stephanie Morris (left) as Turyah Harrison and Kaliyah Johnson (right) browse through books in the We Got This garden. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
I always find it difficult to narrow down the stories I write for NNS to my favorite of the year. I truly love many of them. This year, I am choosing a story I wrote at the beginning of the summer about the work grassroots organizer Andre Lee Ellis is doing to empower black boys and young men in the “We Got This” garden at 9th and Ring streets.
In the spring, Ellis told me that he planned to expand his literacy program, started with a Little Free Library in summer 2017, to all children and adults who wanted to come to the garden on Wednesday evenings. It is one of many pieces I have written about Ellis since I met him in the summer of 2012 and wrote my first story about his contributions to the wellbeing of his community — a Christmas-gift giving project that he and a young man from the neighborhood carried out that December. He founded his summer youth mentoring and employment program, “We Got This,” in summer 2014.
I love this story because it highlights Ellis’ ever-expanding aspirations, as well as those of the community of supporters he has built in the 53206 ZIP code. It speaks of the beauty of Milwaukee summers, city neighborhoods and youth, and the power of caring for one’s neighbors. It is a tale of what any one of us might do to improve lives in our communities.
Click here to read the story.
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created: December 31, 2018

author: Andrea Waxman


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20189849430_a5e8c6de21_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 9, 2015

created: August 9, 2015


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20189852140_7495fc32e8_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 9, 2015


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20189853890_394c55057f_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 9, 2015


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20189857630_63da068d98_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 9, 2015


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20189914258_fd5c71cf2c_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 9, 2015


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20189917118_19f5b6dc51_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 9, 2015


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Favorite of 2018: MPD slow to respond to violent crime calls, police data shows | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
January 1, 2019
(Photo by Edgar Mendez)
As a resident of Milwaukee’s central city, I hear it all the time. You call the cops and hope they show up promptly, if at all. And although most residents understand that a quick response is not always possible, considering the high volume of calls for help the Milwaukee Police Department receives, it was still important to examine just how long it takes on average for police to respond to violent crime calls.
By analyzing more than 1 million police dispatch records, we were able to learn the response times for several violent crimes, including reckless use of a weapon (74 minutes), and strong-armed robbery (38 minutes). The response times for other calls, as well as the reasons for slow police response times in the City of Milwaukee, are highlighted in this article, which was my favorite of 2018.
Click here to read the story.
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created: January 1, 2019


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On The Block: Mentoring for young boys | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
January 2, 2019
Donna Johnson, a resident of the Lincoln Creek neighborhood near 25th Street and Capitol Drive, attended the recent opening of a photo exhibit at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, 2620 W. Center St. The photos chronicle the work of “We Got This” founder Andre Lee Ellis.
Johnson, who grew up near the Black Historical Society when it was the Center Street Library is concerned about the changes in the city that affect the wellbeing of youth, including her grandchildren. She came to the exhibit to support Ellis’ work in his community garden at the corner of Ninth and Ring streets in the Borchert Field neighborhood.
Ellis started the mentoring and employment program for black boys and young men after a youth was murdered on his corner and the mother of another boy appealed to him for help keeping her son out of trouble. The program has expanded over the five years since Ellis launched it and he has drawn in adults from his community and across the city to help.
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created: January 2, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 1, 2019


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High school senior offers healthy food options at pop-up lunch eatery | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sarah Lipo
January 2, 2019
Dominique Alvarado (left) and Joselyn Arreguin work together to create Mexican tortas at Sabor Verde, their pop-up restaurant. (Photo by Sarah Lipo)
Joselyn Arreguin is spending her senior year of high school a little differently than most students. Every other Friday she chops, grates and simmers food at a pop-up lunch eatery called Sabor Verde, housed in Velobahn Coffee & Cycle, a coffee and bicycle maintenance shop at 3618 W. Pierce St.
The shop is connected to Escuela Verde, the school where Arreguin is a senior. Seniors are expected to complete a yearlong thesis project, which entails identifying something they are passionate about that can benefit the community.
Sabor Verde is open twice a month from noon to 2:30 p.m., and it specializes in vegetarian and vegan food. So far, the pop-up restaurant has featured soups, paninis and tortas for a suggested $5 donation. The money raised at each of the pop-up events pays for groceries for the next meal in two weeks.
Arreguin said she wanted to create Sabor Verde because she wants to encourage healthy eating. “I am cautious of what I put into my body,” she said. A vegetarian for two years, Arreguin said she wanted “to show the community that vegetarian food can be good.” She said that preparing soup is her favorite.
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Dominique Alvarado, Arreguin’s mentor for the project, taught cooking workshops at Escuela Verde last year, and this summer she opened Algo Dulce, a business that makes gluten-free Mexican food. Alvarado helps Arreguin run Sabor Verde and helps prepare the food every other week.
Paris Breen, a junior at Escuela Verde, serves salad to customers at Sabor Verde. (Photo by Sarah Lipo)
Alvarado said she has showcased her food at farmers markets and at various pop-up restaurants. “Lots of my friends really encouraged me to [open the business]. I was doing it on a small scale with parties and events. Just in general, there is not a whole lot of representation of what Mexican food actually is in Milwaukee. My family has always had an authentic Mexican diet.”
She added that Mexican food in the U.S. often involves deep frying and lots of sour cream.
The food prepared at Sabor Verde is not usually based on a recipe. “A lot of my cooking is influenced by my grandma. I don’t get much satisfaction from following a recipe,” Alvarado said.
Alvarado had worked with Arreguin at past workshops. “I’ve always worked with teens. I think it is very important to be a mentor, especially with those of color or those not necessarily well-connected,” she said.
Alvarado said she also hopes students realize it is important to be “open-minded to working with people who are different from you.”
Rick Goyette, the co-owner of Velobahn Coffee & Cycle, said he and Escuela Verde have always had good synergy because his business is connected to the school. He said he looks forward to working with Sabor Verde and Escuela Verde in the future.
He said he also appreciates the customers the pop-up restaurant brings into his cafe.
Arreguin said she hopes a new student picks up the pop-up idea after this year, but as of now she does not plan to continue the project after graduation. She said was recently accepted at a culinary school in Chicago, and her dream is to be self-employed, because she enjoys working in her own rhythm.
“I really see myself cooking in the future. I don’t see myself ever getting bored of it. It’s a good way to stay healthy,” she said.
Paris Breen, a junior at Escuela Verde, volunteers at Sabor Verde and said working there has improved her communication and culinary skills. She said she would consider continuing Sabor Verde as part of her senior project “so others can have the same opportunities I am having.”

author: Sarah Lipo


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Community members look to new county sheriff to bring change to Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Max Nawara
January 3, 2019
Sheriff-elect Earnell Lucas poses with attendees at a community discussion he organized. (Photo by Max Nawara)
Following Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke’s resignation in 2017, Gov. Scott Walker decided against appointing a new sheriff, leaving the choice up to the voters. After a victory at the polls in November, Sheriff-elect Earnell Lucas — who will take office on Jan.7 — has vowed to be the “people’s sheriff.”
Some constituents are urging him to spend more time in the community.
In November, Lucas invited Milwaukee County residents to the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, 2620 W. Center St., for a community discussion about his plans for the Sheriff’s Office. At the event, residents shared their concerns and offered suggestions to the sheriff-elect. Although dozens of residents turned out, some said they are worried that this kind of event doesn’t reach the right people.
Danielle McClendon-Williams, the safety chair of resident-run Amani United Neighborhood Association, has dealt with a great deal of crime in her life: her mother and uncle were shot by home invaders and her children were mistreated by Milwaukee police officers after a minor stop for a broken tail light. She said that Lucas needs to get into the community to hear stories like her own.
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“We’re basically preaching to the choir,” she said. “It’s always the same people (at these events) and never anyone from the community.”
Harrison Kern, an ex-MPD officer who previously worked with the sheriff-elect, said he thinks Lucas is a “great guy” with great ideas, but he agreed that the Sheriff’s Office needs to be more community oriented.
Danielle McClendon-Williams, safety chair of Amani United, livestreams Lucas’ event on Facebook. (Photo by Max Nawara)
“It’s good any time the community follows up after an election, but it would’ve been nice to see three times the turnout and see more diversity,” said Kern. “If people are truly concerned about the push for change, they would be more constant and aggressive at events like this.”
Most of the attendees were from various Milwaukee community organizations. No residents from the surrounding neighborhoods, Amani and Metcalfe Park, was there to offer input.
Britney Roberson, project coordinator of the Amani Byrne Initiative at the Dominican Center, said that she would like to see a greater presence from the sheriff’s office in the neighborhood.
In the two-year period she’s worked in Amani she hasn’t seen any officers from the sheriff’s department.
She added that she would like to see sheriff’s deputies at Moody Park. “Over this past summer is where we wanted to see them, and we hadn’t really seen them in the park.”
She noted that after Clarke left office and Interim Sheriff Richard Schmidt took over, she started to see things moving in the right direction. Now, she has suggestions for Lucas.
“Moving forward, my hopes with the new sheriff is that he is able to leverage his resources a little bit better,” Roberson said. “That way we will be able to see more [sheriff’s deputies] in parks all across the city.”
She also added that she hopes to see representatives from the sheriff’s department at community meetings to make sure residents’ needs are being heard.
“With Clarke you saw nobody from the sheriff’s department,” she said. “[Schmidt] brought back the community engagement office. … We started seeing those sheriffs. Moving forward, I would hope that the incoming sheriff would do the same thing, but I also hope he puts some focus on the county parks.”
According to Lucas, Clarke “divided wedges” in the community through hateful tactics and negligence. McClendon-Williams said that Lucas has work to do to fix community relations after such a divisive sheriff.
“We need change,” she said. “I’m done judging who’s good or who’s bad. We just need change. We need new blood in there and we need the right blood.”
She had suggestions on how Lucas’s office could be the change the community wants to see.
“They need to make it easier to talk to citizens,” McClendon-Williams said. “If you take an event like this to the street you’ll hear from more members of Milwaukee’s communities.” She also suggested that Lucas walk around neighborhoods and wait outside of high schools to hear from and familiarize himself with Milwaukee’s youth.
Lucas said that he’s committed to spending time in classrooms throughout the city of Milwaukee, “whether it be public school — which I am a product of — or any of our other schools, so that young people can look and say, ‘I’ve met Mr. Lucas. I’ve heard his story … he is here trying to help us get our lives on a track to do great things,’” he said.
Lucas added that his transition team comprised many young people and he values their opinions and the opinions of other youth very highly.
“I truly believe that the children are our future,” he said. “We’ve got to teach them well and let them lead the way.”
Lucas said he’s excited to take on the role of Milwaukee County Sheriff and is ready to make changes.
“What [change] would look like to me is fair treatment of all people as humans,” McClendon-Williams said, emphasizing that Lucas needs to get involved with people from all walks of life.
Lucas insisted that he is committed to Milwaukee as a whole.
“We’ve got to come together and determine that we have to do what’s in the best interest of this community,” he said. “That’s how we’re going to solve the problems that we face.”

created: January 3, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 2, 2019


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Swearing-in Ceremony for 16th District State Representative-Elect Kalan R. Haywood II | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Athena Communications LLC
January 3, 2019
The public is invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony for 16 District State Representative-Elect Kalan R. Haywood II, on  at Cardinal Stritch University, Kliebhan Conference Center, 6801 N. Yates Rd.
The ceremony will be officiated by Milwaukee County Chief Judge Maxine A. White and include remarks from Lieutenant Governor-Elect Mandela Barnes, City of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Municipal Court Judge Derek Mosley, Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton, State Senator Lena Taylor, Alderwoman Milele Coggs, Milwaukee County Sheriff-Elect Earnell Lucas and a host of other business and community leaders.
At 19 years old, Haywood will be the youngest state legislator in Wisconsin. He will represent Wisconsin’s 16th Assembly District after a hard-fought primary against four Democratic challengers and no Republican challenger.
“We are in challenging, but exciting times. Times that present us with the opportunity to introduce fresh energy and a new perspective to address complex issues like education, mass incarceration and jobs that heavily impact my district and the state. I intend to work with my colleagues in the State Assembly and represent those constituents of the 16 district who want positive change. Our time is now. Tomorrow is here”, said State Representative-Elect Kalan Haywood II.
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On January 7Haywood will officially take the oath of office as state representative in a Madison ceremony with all members of the Wisconsin State Assembly. The Milwaukee event is an opportunity for local supporters and residents to witness and share in the ceremonial swearing-in for Haywood.
Parking is available at Cardinal Stritch University and light refreshments will be served immediately following the ceremony.

author: Athena Communications LLC


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MPS crisis response team helps students process grief, confront trauma | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Allison Dikanovic
January 4, 2019
Monica Kendrick points to collages made by her fourth-grade students in memory of Sandra Parks. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
Stanley Levells recalled feeling worried watching the news one Monday night in November, as a reporter announced that a stray bullet had broken through the window of a house at 13th and Hopkins, killing a 13-year-old girl.
“Every time I hear of something happening in the central city, especially if something happens to a kid, I am always praying that it’s not one of our kids,” said Levells, the eighth-grade teacher at Keefe Avenue School.
The morning after that newscast, he had to tell his students that their classmate, Sandra Parks, had been shot and killed in her home the night before.
“I have a rambunctious group of teenagers in my classroom, and as I looked at them… I could see in each of their faces that a little bit of their innocence was being taken away while that news was being relayed to them,” he said, with a weary heaviness.
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“It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my entire adult life.”
When Levells announced Sandra’s death, members of Milwaukee Public Schools’ crisis response team were there with him, and others were dispersed throughout the school as the news was shared with students.
“They were right there with us, and they stood by us,” Levells said.
The MPS crisis response team is a group of school psychologists, social workers and counselors who respond when a student or a teacher dies from any cause, and the school administration asks for support. Team members work full time in different schools and are trained to be a part of the group that responds to a crisis.
“Our job is to stabilize the situation, support the kids who need immediate support, and get things back to a state of being predictable,” said Dena Radtke, MPS manager of school social work and transition services.
The crisis response team has existed more than 20 years, and it is called upon between 20-25 times a year. Radtke leads the team with Travis Pinter, MPS manager of school psychology and allied health services.
The National Association of School Psychology notes that schools play an important role in a community’s ability to heal from a crisis, as they can serve as a safe haven and “as a focus of normalcy in the face of trauma.”
“We recognize that students are not able to learn unless they are in a safe and secure environment,” said Rosario Pesce, school psychology coordinator of clinical training at Loyola University Chicago. “We’re forced to respond when something happens because schools have to get back to some form of functioning while meeting the needs of students.”
Middle school students at Keefe Avenue School decorated a board in the hallway with emojis to honor their classmate, Sandra Parks. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
When the crisis response team members arrived at Keefe that Tuesday morning, they informed staff of Sandra’s death and crafted the message to share with students. Pinter said it’s important for the news to be delivered in a sensitive yet factual way.
Teachers read the same message to every class at the same time, down to the minute.
Monica Kendrick, the fourth-grade teacher at Keefe, was distraught after learning of Sandra’s death. She was very close with Sandra and now teaches her younger brother.
“Here, that day, I couldn’t function,” Kendrick said. “I broke down and couldn’t tell my class what happened. [The crisis team] came in and took over my class. … To have that type of support was amazing.”
Levells said the response among students in his class varied. “A few totally broke down and got pretty hysterical… some were more stoic and calm,” he said.
“For most of the kids, it’s business as usual, and then we pull others out into other spaces where we can work with them without disrupting the environment,” Pinter said. “The majority of the students just kind of want to go about their day.”
Students have the option of leaving class to receive support from the crisis response team. At Keefe, the library was transformed into a counseling center. A box of tissues was on each table.
“In that space is where all the heavy lifting occurs,” Pinter said.
Team members worked with students in groups or individually, helping them process their grief. Pinter said the most important thing is for students to be able to express themselves without further upsetting other students. He said this is difficult because everyone’s response to a death is different, and for older students, the social pressure of peers’ responses can influence their reactions.
Sarah Reuter, an MPS social worker, facilitated the crisis response team at Keefe that day. She said that her role is to make sure students have the support they need. If a student is too overwhelmed, it might be best to go home for the day.
“In other cases, it’s just the initial shock, and they need to talk through that with somebody and feel what that really means, and then they feel like they can go back to class and be with their friends,” Reuter said.
Pinter said that the heart of the crisis team’s work is grief counseling, but when tragic circumstances stir up memories of traumatic events, the team has to work through that first.
More than 60 percent of kids in urban areas nationwide have experienced at least one traumatic event by age 16, according to the National Childhood Traumatic Stress Network.
In 2017, there were 45 children under the age of 18 who were shot and five killed as a result of gun-related homicides in Milwaukee, and in 2018, there have been 50 children shot and four killed, according to the City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention.
Since Sandra was killed as the result of gun violence, hearing the news could set off a trauma response in some kids who may have witnessed violence, Pinter said. The trauma response produces a heightened sense of fight, flight or freeze. “They’re hyper vigilant; their heart rate is accelerated,” he said.
“They could be in the middle of a social studies class, surrounded by their peers, in a very safe environment, but they don’t feel that. They don’t feel safe, which affects how they think… They’re in the back of the brain, worrying about stuff,” Pinter added.
He said that this fear can prevent students from processing sadness, which may cause them to lash out or act defensively.
MPS teachers are trained to address trauma.
“[The training] gave us strategies … to help cope with the stuff the kids are experiencing and struggling with… to understand why they may be acting out,” Kendrick said.
“Sometimes when they’re angry it comes out very nasty to us, the teachers… because they don’t always know how to deal with the emotional stuff that’s going on in their lives,” she said.
In addition to providing trauma training, the district is working to incorporate skills that build resilience in students into its curriculum, to help everyone cope better when incidents occur and to help students better manage their emotions and mental health in general, according to Kimberly Merath, MPS social and emotional learning supervisor.
These kinds of supports become critical after the crisis team leaves, usually after one day.
That Tuesday at Keefe, Reuter and other team members joined the staff meeting after school. They prompted reflection among those gathered and offered resources to connect teachers to counseling services. From that point, the crisis team handed the work off to the school psychologist and social worker at Keefe.
Keefe is also part of School Community Partnership for Mental Health (SCPMH), a collaborative initiative that increases schools’ capacities to provide mental health care to students by partnering with community providers.
Sebastian Family Psychology Practice, LLC, the community provider that offers counseling services at Keefe, estimates that 16,000 students in MPS are in need of some level of mental health intervention.
According to the National Association of School Psychologists, at least one in five children and adolescents nationwide experience a mental health problem during their school years, and 60 percent of students do not receive adequate mental health services.
Kendrick said moving on after Sandra’s death is proving to be difficult for her fourth-grade class.
When she assigned her students a collage-making activity as a chance to express who they are and what they care about, nearly every student’s poster included a photo of Sandra. They’re displayed in the hallway outside of Kendrick’s room.
She said that personally, Sandra’s death continues to weigh on her. “I’m more sensitive, and we’re all more sensitive since we have these strong relationships with our kids,” she said.
Kendrick takes special care to call home to check on Sandra’s brother. She lets him stay after school in her room to finish his math homework or play computer games, and often drives him home after basketball practice. She said as a teacher, she wears “many hats.”
Kendrick and Levells both said that they wish the school and the district could have done more to support their students’ parents and families after Sandra’s death. The crisis response team sent a letter home with students to pass on information about what happened, but Kendrick said she wishes there could have been a meeting.
“I think that could be a family bonding type thing that would help us get through something like this,” she said.
Levells said that he has noticed a change in perspective among some of his students after Sandra died.
“Some have now learned that life can be taken at the drop of a pin, even if you’re not doing anything wrong,” he said. “I think there are some who realized that, and thought ‘we better start doing things that are right… maybe try to do a little bit better and be kinder to each other.’”

created: January 4, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 3, 2019


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Sherman Park residents, police work to overcome distrust | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Areonna Dowdy
January 5, 2019
Willie Murphy has been captain of Milwaukee Police Department District 7 since June.
(Photo by Areonna Dowdy)
Although it has been more than two years since Sylville Smith was shot to death by a Milwaukee police officer, leading to violent protests, the shooting continues to affect the relationship between law enforcement and residents, according to Camille Mays, community organizer at the Sherman Park Community Association.
The shooting caused a lack of trust between the community and police officers, said Mays.
Capt. Willie Murphy of the Milwaukee Police Department’s District 7, which includes Sherman Park, said he hopes to change that.
“I want to help repair the Sherman Park community because as a police captain it is a priority to serve and protect as well as being a leader to model the right way to do things,” said Murphy, who has been in his role since June.
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Murphy grew up in Milwaukee’s central city near Palmer and Burleigh and has seen many interactions between the police and community residents. He said he sees a difference in policing compared to when he grew up.
“When I grew up, the police never had problems with the youth or residents in my community. Now that I am a captain in a different neighborhood, I see that it can be a challenge to deal with youth,” said Murphy. “Some come from homes that are economically depressed and homes that are broken.”
(Photo by Areonna Dowdy)
Murphy is working to rebuild the trust in the community with a special emphasis on youth.
“I plan to go into the community with my officers to get to know the residents. I want to keep officers in their assigned areas, so the residents and officers can become familiar with each other and the problems that go on in the community,” he said.
According to Mays, relations between community members and police need tremendous improvement. She said that she has not seen any improvement since the Smith shooting, but has faith that will change with Murphy as the captain.
Mays praised the community liaison officers in District 7, saying that they are models for the behaviors and activities that should be standard for all police officers. Community liaison officers work for the Milwaukee Police Department to help address issues such as drugs, violence and theft, along with police officers and department leaders.
“Community liaisons are important to the community because they are the link between the residents of a particular community and the police,” said Steve O’Connell, director of block watches for District 7. “Just like community liaisons establish relationships, the police have to be willing to do the same in order to improve community and residents’ relationships.”
Reggie Moore, director of violence prevention for the City of Milwaukee, said that police should center their efforts around the Milwaukee Blueprint for Peace. The blueprint is organized around six broad goals: stop the shooting; promote healing and restorative justice; support children; youth and families; promote economic opportunity; foster safe and strong neighborhoods; and strengthen the coordination of violence prevention efforts.
“Looking at these goals will help the police …look at violence from a public health perspective,” Moore said.
Promoting economic opportunity and supporting children, youth and families would help foster better relationships between the police and community members, according to Moore.
Noted Mays, “What is vital to better relationships is more police who understand cultural issues and systematic social disparities.” She added that the city residency requirement should be reinstated.
In 2013, the state legislature invalidated the city’s 75-year-old residency requirement. Law enforcement officers, firefighters and designated emergency personnel still need to reside within 15 miles of the city’s boundaries.
In addition, before officers work in a particular neighborhood, Mays said, they should attend events where community members are doing positive activities, so they have a better understanding of the neighborhood.

created: January 5, 2019

author: Areonna Dowdy


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 4, 2019


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Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin temporarily not allowing kids under 12 to visit patients in the hospital | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
January 7, 2019
Statement from Mike Gutzeit, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin:
“To help prevent the spread of the influenza virus and other viral illnesses, and to protect the health of our patients, families and staff, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin is implementing an annual temporary visitor restriction at both our Milwaukee and Fox Valley hospitals (as well as the Surgicenter).
Effective Jan. 9, no child under the age of 12 will be allowed to visit in any inpatient care area. This policy does NOT include clinic appointments or Emergency Department visits.
Flu season has begun in Wisconsin and we want to implement this restriction in advance of any increase of viral illnesses in our community. Limiting visitors to our hospitalized patients will help keep them safe while they’re in our care.
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PLEASE NOTE: This restriction only applies to visitors. Families with children under the age of 12 may still seek medical attention in one of our clinics, Urgent Care locations or Emergency Department.
While we understand and appreciate the inconvenience this may cause some families, patient safety is our primary goal.
This restriction will be assessed regularly to determine how long it will be in place. Updates will be provided at chw.org/restriction.
It is still not too late to get vaccinated. Getting the vaccine is still one of the best ways to prevent the illness and reduce its severity. It’s also important to wash hands regularly and thoroughly, and stay home if showing any flu symptoms.”

created: January 7, 2019

author: Children's Hospital of Wisconsin


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NNS reporter Allison Dikanovic goes live on WGLB 1560AM | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
January 7, 2019
NNS reporter Allison Dikanovic recently appeared on WGLB 1560AM’s Morning Mix, which airs Mondays and Fridays at 8 a.m., joining hosts Dennis Walton and Saryea Murchison. Dikanovic discussed her latest story, on the Milwaukee Public Schools crisis response team, and specifically about the team’s role at Keefe Avenue School after 13-year-old Sandra Parks was killed.
They discussed the way that trauma can affect students’ ability to learn and stay focused in school, and what MPS does to support its students and teachers when tragedy strikes. Walton lives near Keefe, and he shared some of his insights from working regularly with kids in that neighborhood.
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author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 7, 2019


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OTB Davis_mixdown | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 7, 2019
“OTB Davis_mixdown”. Released: 2019.


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Track 1 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 7, 2019
“Track 1” from Untitled – 01-04-19. Track 1.


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Basia Rose Designs boutique opens on North Avenue in Lindsay Heights | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
January 8, 2019
Basia Spencer, owner of Basia Rose Designs, poses with some of her gowns. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
In 2015, Basia Spencer occasionally had some free time. She had recently given birth and was looking for something to do while her daughter, Violet, slept. Then an aunt gave her a sewing machine and helped her finesse her technique.
At first, Spencer made blankets and bibs. Over time, she began to feel more confident and branched out into the fashion world when friends and family asked her to make them custom dresses. Her good taste in clothes and knack for design inspired her to open Basia Rose Designs. Originally, Spencer sold her merchandise online and through word of mouth, but in December she opened her own shop at the Innovations and Wellness Commons, at 1617 W. North Ave.
Spencer is the first vendor to lease the space, a former Outpost store that was the home of Pop-Up MKE during the summer. Various entrepreneurs set up shop for 30 days at a time, rent free, as part of the LISC Milwaukee program.
According to Spencer, when she was in the pop-up shop, customers took an instant liking to her designs and often returned. Consequently, she was given an additional 15 days in the space.
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Spencer offers a range of dresses, blouses and skirts, most of which she designed herself. Her other services include tailoring and alterations.
Friends of Basia Spencer worked the runway and wore her designs during Basia Rose Design’s grand opening. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
Her exploration into fashion and design began while she attended Bradley Tech High School, where she was voted “best dressed.” Her interest continued through her time at Milwaukee Area Technical College.
“I always remember Basia staying on top of the fashion, even when we were back in high school,” said Spencer’s cousin, Nyisha Spencer.
At MATC, Spencer founded and presided over the Fashion Club. In 2015, she graduated with a marketing degree and a focus in fashion. Soon after, she began working as a manager for TJ Maxx in the children’s and men’s departments.
Still, she said her leap from high school fashion maven to boutique owner took her by surprise.
“It kind of came unexpectedly, but it’s a good match for me,” Spencer said.
An old friend from high school asked Spencer to make some matching pieces for a family photo. When the friend shared the photo online, it quickly went viral. Spencer recalled being surprised by the number of “likes” the photo received, but the attention encouraged her to become an entrepreneur.
While preparing to open her own boutique, Spencer would practice on items she picked up from Goodwill. She began building up a clientele, partly through her job as a seamstress for The Fur Vault at Macy’s in Mayfair Mall.
After she left Macy’s, she began working as a seamstress for Workroom Associates in Mequon. Many of her co-workers gave her advice on pricing items and tricks of the trade. Her aunt, Mary Spencer, taught her how to sew and mentored her when she was starting out. Mary Spencer admitted to being nervous about letting Basia use her sewing machines, but now passes down old ones to her.
“She was very dedicated and would come all the way out to my house and allowed me to teach her some skills,” Mary Spencer said.
Basia Spencer has set up areas for other vendors in the boutique.
Daniel Reed sells hats and t-shirts he designs under the label Danny Warbuck$. His business started when he designed a hat to raise awareness for breast cancer, and the idea grew from there. Reed and Spencer met at Samuel Morris Middle School and have always supported each other’s entrepreneurial endeavors, he said.
“It [Basia Rose Designs] is a great example for young millennials, especially young minorities,” Reed said.
Beth Haskovec, commercial revitalization program officer at LISC, said she hopes that Spencer’s store is successful, so that she can extend her lease beyond a year. It also has the power to influence other business owners, she said.
Milwaukee-based entrepreneurs are revitalizing neighborhoods and supporting one another, Haskovec added.
“Now we need to keep them here in Milwaukee.”

created: January 8, 2019


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On the Block: Growing up near Washington Park | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Analise Pruni
January 8, 2019
With a fresh layer of snow dusting the ground, Terrance Davis said that it’s a great time of year for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in Washington Park. He has been the visitor services specialist at the Urban Ecology Center, which is located in the park, for the last six years.
Davis lived in the neighborhood when he was younger and said that he has enjoyed coming back to serve the community he grew up in. One of his favorite events is the Winterfest celebration where people are invited for free food and activities. The annual event takes place on Jan. 26 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.


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How to avoid scams in the new year | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Lisa Schiller, Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin
January 9, 2019
Consumers can adopt a few savvy habits to stay scam-free throughout the new year.
Several types of scams emerge throughout the year but if you remember a few simple tips, it could help you avoid scams all year long.
Here are some tips for a scam-free 2019:
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created: January 9, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 8, 2019


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M-cubed helps boost MPS grad rate, send more grads to college | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Area Technical College
January 9, 2019
In its first two years, the M³ (pronounced M-cubed) initiative – which brings together Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Area Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – has helped increase the MPS graduation rate and the percentage of MPS grads going on to college.
In releasing results at a two-year impact update Wednesday, leaders at the three institutions committed to accelerating the progress and to moving the needle in one area that has not yet seen growth: the one-year retention percentage for MPS graduates who attend either MATC or UWM.
More than 130,000 students are collectively served by MPS, MATC and UWM. In January 2017, the organizations publicly announced M³, a collaborative effort to create a better K-through-16 educational system, one that will feed the region’s growing need for college-educated employees.
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Through M³, educators across Milwaukee’s three largest public education institutions work in teams to smooth transitions between the institutions and implement programs that benefit the entire student population. Curricula and instructional approaches in math, science and reading are being aligned throughout the three institutions. Research and resources are being shared, with an eye toward accelerating student progress from middle school to high school and on into college.
At the impact update held at MATC’s Downtown Milwaukee Campus, M³ leaders shared the early results with legislators, businesspeople, families, faculty and staff. MPS Superintendent Keith Posley, MATC President Vicki Martin and UWM Chancellor Mark Mone reiterated their resource investments and invited feedback about how to accelerate M³ progress.
“Education is power,” Dr. Posley said Wednesday. “We’re combining these three institutions together … This is transformational work.”
Success is being tracked through key metrics. That includes the MPS four-year graduation rate, which rose from 58.2 percent for the class of 2015 to 62.2 percent for the class of 2017. Final 2018 numbers are expected to rise another few percentage points. M³ has also helped increase the percentage of MPS graduates entering college within one year from 44.2 percent for the class of 2015 to 46.2 percent for the class of 2017. The initiative boosted the percentage of MPS students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from 60.8 percent in 2016 to 74.6 percent by 2018.
Higher targets for all figures have been established for 2019-20, and leaders outlined specific steps to help more MPS students succeed when they enter college. Sixty-five percent of MPS students continue after one year at UWM and 44 percent continue after one year at MATC.
“We will not rest until our students are successful at the level they deserve and our community needs,” Dr. Martin said Wednesday.
Additional M³ efforts include combined professional development sessions for MPS, MATC and UWM faculty members. Trips to UWM and MATC campuses connect MPS students with educational avenues aligned with their career interests. Job fairs have introduced students to area employers and Parent Institute programs ensure parents have the tools to navigate their children’s path to college.
In addressing the audience at the update event, Dr. Mone called working in public education “a calling. That is the spirit most of us work in … how important it is to transform lives and create opportunities for individuals.”
He added that he is proud of the work that has been done, “but we have much more work in front of us.”

author: Milwaukee Area Technical College