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Wisconsin eviction process: What happens to a tenant’s property? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jonmaesha Beltran / Wisconsin Watch
April 25, 2023
Wisconsinites who experience eviction sometimes lose more than a home.
Those who can’t afford to move and store their belongings may lose them, too — adding to the financial and emotional toll of displacement.
In Milwaukee County, where landlords filed for more than 200 evictions in the first week of April alone — about half of those filed statewide – government and nonprofit officials have in recent years bolstered resources for eviction prevention. But little, if any, aid is available to help residents retain or reclaim their possessions following an eviction.
What happens to a tenant’s stuff during and after an eviction? Here’s what to know.
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First, remember that a landlord can’t remove a tenant without a judge’s order.
It is illegal for a landlord to file for an eviction before giving a tenant a notice, usually of five or 28 days.
When tenants face an eviction, housing advocates suggest they talk to their landlords, apply for rental assistance and find legal support. Milwaukee County residents can visit EvictionFreeMKE.org to find resources, including free legal representation and information about their rights as a tenant.
Milwaukee County is among jurisdictions that used to require any landlord to hire a moving company to assist a county sheriff’s office with eviction. But a 2013 state law made such requirements dependent upon leasing language.
Under that state law, landlords may dispose of items however they want to — without hiring a mover — if a lease specifies that landlords won’t store left-behind items. There is one exception: prescription medication and equipment. A landlord must hold those items for seven days and return them at a tenant’s request.
If the lease doesn’t explain how the landlord will handle left-behind property, Milwaukee County landlords must hire one of the two moving companies approved by the sheriff’s office.
When the sheriff executes an eviction, a tenant who comes to the door gets about 15 minutes to gather their belongings and leave, said Tom Brittain, president of Eagle Movers, one of the bonded moving companies in Milwaukee County certified for eviction-related moves. Sometimes tenants aren’t there when the sheriff arrives. In either case, the sheriff decides what goes with the moving company, according to Brittain.
The movers do not take items the sheriff declares as junk, such as dressers with missing drawers, stained beds or insect-infested furniture, Brittain said. Due to safety concerns, the company also leaves clothing that’s on the floor or dirty. A landlord can ask the movers to place “junk” items on the curb for garbage collection.
State law requires the sheriff to mail a notice to the tenant’s last known address within three days of the removal of possessions. The notice must tell tenants where they can retrieve their possessions.
Landlords and tenants must pay the moving company. In some counties, the moving company’s monthly storage can cost more than the tenant’s rent. Eagle Movers charges landlords $220 per hour for five movers and a truck, Brittain said. The company charges tenants $30 per month for every 100 cubic feet plus a $60 labor charge, Brittain said.
If items go unclaimed for two months, Brittain notifies the tenant by phone, email or letter that their belongings will be sold. About 60% to 70% of people reclaim their belongings, Brittain said.
“I’ve always looked at us as kind of a lifeboat for tenants,” Brittain said.
Currently, there aren’t any programs that assist people with funding to rent trailers or U-Haul vans to move their belongings. But Heiner Giese, an attorney who represents the Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, said there should be.
“They’ve given (millions) to pay for lawyers to help tenants, which is all well and good. They can get a delay or they can get the case dismissed,” Giese said. ”But jeez, you know, they should take some of that money, a very small amount of it and they could really do some good by having a fund available for tenants.”
Sometimes tenants manage to remove their belongings before the sheriff arrives but struggle to find a place for their pets.
Surrendering a pet to an animal shelter can be difficult due to a lack of capacity. Karen Sparapani, executive director of the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission, has seen cases in which a tenant will return to their former rental every day to feed the animal until the sheriff executes the eviction. In other cases, pets are left to starve, said Sparapani.
The sheriff calls Sparapani’s office to pick up animals left behind during an eviction — typically dogs over 40 pounds and many cats, Sparapani said.
The agency will put pets up for adoption if they go unclaimed for more than eight days.
“We can work with somebody who has time to find a place, and we work with them on fees too,” Sparapani said.
Pet owners who return must pay a boarding fee of $20 a day —  plus a $25 impound fee for a licensed animal and $35 for unlicensed animals, Sparapani said. Any necessary vaccines or other treatment will add costs.
The nonprofit Wisconsin Watch (www.WisconsinWatch.org) is a partner of the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and collaborates with WPR, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by Wisconsin Watch do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.

author: Jonmaesha Beltran / Wisconsin Watch


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52832460599_427e5260b8_b | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
April 24, 2023

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Ron Smith


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Housing Authority residents demand investigation, new leadership | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
‘They treat us like gnats’, , A former employee speaks out, , Leadership concerns mount, , For more information,
April 27, 2023
Residents are demanding an investigation of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee after they say they have experienced assault; bedbugs and rats; “lost” rent payments; abusive management;  mold; and no heat.
In addition, they question the leadership of Secretary-Executive Director Willie Hines, who has been with the Housing Authority for over 20 years and is a former Common Council president.
“The people in charge here walk around like they are God,” said Chris Logan, who’s been in her apartment for 10 years. “Willie Hines always tells the story of how he grew up in public housing, but would he want to live the way he forces us to live?”
The agency declined to comment on the residents’ allegations.
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Residents interviewed by NNS said the Housing Authority leadership is held to no standard and is able to treat residents poorly.
Betty Newton has lived in her building for almost two years. She said her older neighbors beg for pest control and to use amenities once offered to them.
“Initially, they told us we couldn’t access certain spaces because of the pandemic,” she said. “Now, there is no excuse. They treat us like gnats and ignore us.”
She said she has complained to her building manager, Hines, the mayor and the U.S. Housing of Urban Development, but her issues have not been addressed.
The Housing Authority is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the mayor and  confirmed by the Milwaukee Common Council. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
According to the agency’s website, it’s goal is to foster strong, resilient and inclusive communities by providing high-quality housing options that support self-sufficiency, a good quality of life and the opportunity to thrive.
But those who serve and reside in its properties say that hasn’t been their experience.
Savella McLaurin was with the Housing Authority for 10 years before leaving.
She worked as an office assistant and was then promoted to serve as manager of the agency’s Merrill Park building.  “Once I was promoted, I was responsible for dealing with a whole new set of issues but had no proper training on how to handle them.”
McLaurin said her biggest issue was the agency’s rent collections system.
“The building had recently switched from a low-income building to a rent assistance building so all the ledgers were wrong,” she said. “Rent assistance wasn’t caught up on their part, but despite that being an issue, my superiors wanted me to hand out 14-day (eviction) notices to residents every month.”
Linda Kvalë, who’s lived in her building for 20 years, said her latest rent receipt showed she owed significantly more money than she pays for rent.
“I opened my latest rent receipt and almost had a heart attack,” she said. “I haven’t slept in days.”
According to Common Ground, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that works on community issues, over 1,000 residents in public housing across 17 different developments in Milwaukee echo the same concerns.
The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, also known as HACM, provides public housing to almost 5,000 low-income, elderly or disabled Milwaukeeans and their families.
“This is an issue of HACM’s leadership systemically failing 5,000 people,” said Kevin Solomon an organizer with Common Ground.
Residents say they’ve been ignored, intimidated and retaliated upon when taking their concerns to leadership.
“We tried to have a meeting with Hines and his team about the concerns we had, but he brought a member of the team that residents are afraid of,” Logan said. “When we told him that we didn’t want to meet with that team member, he said we could meet with all of them or none of them, and they left.”
While the HACM declined to comment for this article, it has denied that it retaliates against residents in other media outlets.
Residents have and are continuing to organize to call for a change in HACM leadership.
“HACM needs new leadership, better training for managers and increased public safety so that residents can feel safe in the homes,” McLaurin said.
Added Solomon: “This is what happens when you have a politician running a housing authority. There are so many examples that you have to look to the top.”
You can follow Common Ground on Facebook to keep up with the issue.


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Ron Smith
April 26, 2023


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5 things to know and do the weekend of April 28 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
April 28, 2023
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Organized by BlankSpace MKE, “Black Restaurant Week” highlights Black-owned restaurants throughout the city and the diverse set of culinary options they offer. The celebration of these restaurants continues through Sunday, April 30. You can find more information about participating restaurants here.
The Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce has organized “Spring Fling,” a vendor market featuring  Black-owned vendors. The market runs from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 28 at Wisconsin African American Women’s Center, located at 3020 W. Vliet St. More information here.
Coffee Makes You Black and Radaya Ellis, also known as 4Waukee, host this monthly concert series to provide artists with a platform to showcase their talents. This month’s concert features performances from Emmitt James, EARFFMAN!, Myquale, Von Alexander and DJ Slow It Down. The event takes place from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 29 at Coffee Makes You Black, located at 2803 N. Teutonia Ave. More information here.
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MPS is formulating its strategic plan for 2023-’28 and is looking for community feedback. You can learn more about the plan and give your thoughts at this feedback session from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 29 at MPS Central Services Auditorium, located at 5225 W. Vliet St. More information here.
“Art in the Green” is an art festival at the Mitchell Park Domes, with artworks for sale, entertainment and food vendors. The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 29 and Sunday April, 30 at the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, otherwise known as “The Domes,” located at 524 S. Layton Blvd. More information and ticket information here.
Dominican Center serves the Amani neighborhood through conversations on addressing reckless driving, access to hydroponics, organizing paths to homeownership and more. To support this work, Dominican Center is hosting a fundraising luncheon starting at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 30 at the Wisconsin Club, located at 900 W. Wisconsin Ave. More information here.

author: Sam Woods


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52852195568_2a784db48d_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
April 27, 2023


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After turbulent summer, Public Allies returns to its roots with new leadership team | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
April 28, 2023
After a turbulent summer in which the former CEO laid off over 30 employees without notice and was forced out, Public Allies has restructured its Board of Directors and named Jenise Terrell as CEO.
In her new role, Terrell wants to get Public Allies back to its roots of non-hierarchical leadership.
Public Allies is a national nonprofit headquartered in Milwaukee that places people, usually 30 years old or younger, in apprenticeship programs with nonprofits to develop community-building skills. The goal of the 10-month program is to create leaders who share common values such as an appreciation for diversity and inclusion and continuous learning.
Alumni of the program locally include Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley; artist and educator LaShawndra Vernon; activist Elle Halo; and entrepreneur Tonda Thompson.
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Terrell was one of the employees let go in July. Less than three weeks later,  CEO Jaime Uzeta resigned after more than 1,000 alumni across the country mobilized under the moniker Save Public Allies to demand his ouster.
Uzeta’s tenure was described by employees as overly hierarchical.
For Terrell, the biggest challenge facing her as CEO is to rebuild a culture of leadership that redistributes much of the power Uzeta had to unilaterally make decisions.
In August, Terrell was named the interim CEO of Public Allies and has guided the effort to rehire previously laid-off staff and restructure the Board of Directors. She was named CEO in February.
Terrell is signaling that although she is CEO, power at Public Allies will not lie solely in her position but will be available to anyone involved in the organization.
“Generations of Allies have learned that leadership is an action, not a position,” she said.
Terrell has worked at Public Allies in different roles for over 20 years. From the beginning, she was drawn to Public Allies because of the organization’s commitment to seeing the potential in people rather than the written lines on their resume.
It’s a mindset that comes from her own personal experience.
A “proud daughter of 53206,” Terrell was one of the “very few” Black people in the Business Administration program at Marquette University when she attended in the 1990s.
She said her time in the program gave her tremendous opportunities to demonstrate her potential in business case competitions and to meet people from all over the country.
She also knew plenty of others who were just as qualified but did not get the same opportunities.
“Throughout my life, I recognize that I am here as a result of people seeing into me, seeing into my promise and potential,” Terrell said. “But from a young age I felt fortunate because I knew not everyone was seen through that lens.”
Terrell wants her legacy to be defined by the opportunities she creates for others.
“I am the byproduct of people who have seen my potential and created room,” she said. “My legacy is to continue widening the door of opportunity.”
Terrell has devoted time to building back trust with Public Allies’ staff and partner organizations.
Even after Uzeta resigned, things at Public Allies did not automatically return to normal. Former staff across the country were still out of work, and some partner organizations who hosted “Allies” — the term the organization uses to describe the people placed in apprenticeships — wanted to know what was next for  the organization.
In short, there was harm that needed to be repaired. To do this, Terrell said that Public Allies relied on a reparations framework developed by Aria Florant, a Public Allies alum and board member.
The framework breaks reparations into four steps: reckoning, acknowledgment, accountability and redress.
The reparations process began with the Board of Directors acknowledging that Uzeta’s actions were flawed and then reaching out to the former employees  to acknowledge these flaws and hold themselves accountable for the harm caused to those affected.
On a national level, this began by replacing more than half the Board of Directors. Two of the incoming board members are alumni who were part of the effort to demand Uzeta’s resignation.
In addition, Public Allies has taken steps to redistribute the power future CEOs have to influence the board unilaterally.
“Whereas typically only the CEO engages with the board, (we wanted) multiple points of connection” between the organization and the board, Terrell said.
Locally, the redress involved reassuring partner organizations that Public Allies was returning to its roots as an organization that valued collaborative decision-making.
Adriana “Nanis” Rodriguez, who was among those laid off, was rehired as the Public Allies Wisconsin executive director in August.
She said the Milwaukee site lost partnerships and funding because of partners seeing Uzeta’s actions as “not in alignment with their values.”
“We had to really work on reassuring them that we are on a different trajectory, that we have new leadership that is supportive of our site, and that we’re committed to our values of radical honesty and transparency,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said that current leaders do not want to hide from the past -but seek to learn from it.
“I’m always open to coffee chats. We believe in this work and are open to questions,” Rodriguez said.
Shavonda Sisson, a Public Allies alum who was instrumental in the effort to oust the former CEO, has been added to the Board of Directors.
During the campaign to force the former CEO’s resignation, Sisson remembers how decision-making was democratized and how alumni trusted each other to make decisions without an established hierarchical power structure.
She said this was possible because of the leadership training that alumni had received through their time with the program.
“I feel like I got my PhD in Public Allies,” Sisson said.
While building back its reputation nationally and locally, Terrell hopes that Public Allies’ comeback becomes a case study for a more inclusive model of leadership for business, nonprofits and even government.
“In terms of the future for us, I want to be able to say two years from now” that “Public Allies is understood to be an institution that helps cultivate leaders,” she said. “And nationally, more than ever, that’s needed.”


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Ron Smith
April 27, 2023


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Ron Smith
April 27, 2023


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Ron Smith
April 27, 2023


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5 things to know and do this week in Milwaukee: May 1 to May 5 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
May 1, 2023
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Muskego Way Forward will be painting the benches at La Plazita in the Muskego Way neighborhood. Stop by anytime from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, May 1 at 1608 W. Forest Home Ave. to help paint. More information on this and upcoming events in Muskego Way here.
Ex Fabula, a storytelling organization that organizes storytelling slams and workshops throughout the city, is hosting storytelling workshops specifically for teenagers who want to hone their storytelling skills. The workshops take place throughout May, beginning from 4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3 at Escuela Verde Newline Community Cafe, located at 3618 W Pierce St. After the workshops, teens will be able to tell their stories at Ex Fabula’s “Teen StorySlam” on Wednesday, May 24 at Escuela Verde Newline Community Cafe. More information on the workshops here.
The Greater Milwaukee Urban League has organized a $1,000 scholarship to help incoming college students purchase books and a laptop. Applicants for the scholarship must submit an application, essay, transcripts and two letters of recommendation by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3. More information and application link here.
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Every Wednesday in May, 5 Points Art Gallery + Studios is hosting performances from local artists through its “Have a Seat” concert series. This week, Ms. Lotus Fankh brings her unique sound inspired by soul, funk, jazz and rock to life from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3 to 5 Points Art Gallery + Studios, located at 3514 N Port Washington Ave. More information on the full month’s event schedule here.
TRUE SKOOL, an organization that uses the arts and hip-hop to empower youths, is hosting a student performance and art showcase to celebrate the work of its student artists participating in its Spring 2023 after-school sessions. This showcase, free and available to all ages, will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 4 at Radio Milwaukee, located at 220 E. Pittsburgh Ave. More information on the event here.
Organizations such as the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Urban Ecology Center, Hummingbird and others are asking residents to hold off on mowing their lawns until June. This allows pollinators time to emerge from winter hibernation, which helps plant life in Milwaukee thrive. Learn more about “No Mow May” here.


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Ron Smith
April 30, 2023


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What Wisconsin women who seek abortion services need to know | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Devin Blake
May 2, 2023
Wisconsin is one of several states that has a near-complete ban on abortion services.
But this does not mean that women have no options.
Knowing what’s available is particularly important in cities like Milwaukee, which has a majority-minority population. Data shows that women of color are disproportionately affected by abortion bans.
Here’s what you need to know
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The latest wrinkle in the nation’s abortion wars involves access to mifepristone, part of the regimen for the so-called abortion pill. After rulings by a federal judge in Texas, the U.S. Supreme Court in April stayed – for now – the restrictions on the drug.
This effectively returns the case to the 5 Circuit to continue with the appeal process. If the 5 Circuit ultimately upholds the Texas court’s decision in another ruling, mifepristone will be taken off the market entirely.
If that occurs, options will still exist for Wisconsin women. The big problem: They will exist out of state.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in June 2022 overturned the 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, which provided constitutional protection for abortion in all 50 states.
Without constitutional protection in place, Wisconsin reverted to a pre-existing law from 1849, which makes it a felony to provide an abortion.
The only scenario in which a provider can carry out an abortion in Wisconsin, under this law, is to save the life of the mother.
The law, however, prohibits providers in Wisconsin from carrying out an abortion but does not prohibit women in Wisconsin from getting an abortion, said Michelle Velasquez, director of legal advocacy services at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.
Women in Wisconsin can still legally get an abortion – through an in-clinic procedure and medication – in another state where it is legal. For many, that will be Illinois.
Banning abortions and narrowing access to abortions affects women of color more than white women because, according to an analysis of data from 2019 by The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, over half of abortions are received by women of color.
Additionally, the rates of abortions within each race are higher among women of color, according to the analysis. For every 1,000 women in each respective race: 23.8 Black women received abortion services; 11.7 Hispanic women received abortion services; 6.6 White women received abortion services. Data for other racial/ethnic groups was not provided.
The Kaiser Family Foundation is a nonprofit organization that conducts health care research and provides health policy analysis.
A ban or narrowing will also worsen health care disparities that are largely due to race “because of all of the racism within the health care system and the lack of access to health care,” Velasquez said.
There are already stark racial disparities in, for example, maternal and infant health, which may widen if access to abortion services is further limited.
“The most marginalized people are the most affected by abortion bans,” Velasquez said.
There also are clear burdens on low-income women created by a ban on or narrowing of access to abortion services.
For Wisconsin women who travel out of state for abortion services, there are associated costs, including travel costs, lodging, child care for women who have other children and the cost of the procedure or medication, said Lexy Ware, call line coordinator for Pregnancy Options Wisconsin: Education, Resources and Support, or POWERS.
POWERS is an organization that offers resources and advocates for pregnant women throughout Wisconsin.
Pregnancy assessment and ultrasound dating are available at Planned Parenthood’s Water Street location in Milwaukee. These can be arranged with the help of an abortion patient navigator or scheduled online.
Abortion patient navigators are often the best way to start, said Velasquez, as they also can spend time with patients to help find appointments in different states and help connect women to logistical and financial resources, including for transportation, lodging and the abortion itself.
Follow-up appointments, for family planning and evaluation of the procedure, can also be scheduled.
Navigators can be called at 414-289-3002 or emailed at abnav@ppwi.org.
POWERS also can help in making out-of-state appointments as well as with connections to affiliated organizations that help with logistics and funding.
To contact POWERS staff, call or text 608-514-1714.
A national directory of abortion providers also is available from Power to Decide, an organization that provides research and resources for sexual and reproductive health throughout the country.
Here’s what to know about abortion access in post-Roe Wisconsin
Wisconsin faces a ‘tangled series’ of abortion laws dating back to 1849 as it heads into a possible post-Roe future

author: Devin Blake


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52834556466_4dd5eacedd_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
May 1, 2023


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Post From Community: 15th Annual Great Midwest Book Fest | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Radiah Hubbert
May 3, 2023
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
UrbanReviewsOnline.com presents the 15th Annual Great Midwest Book Fest.
The Great Midwest Book Fest will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023 from 1 – 4 p.m. at Xchange Event & Creative Space 3334 N. Holton Street, Milwaukee, WI.
Featuring Essence Magazine bestselling author LaJill Hunt, USA Today bestselling author Naleighna Kai. Also featuring London St. Charles, Jeffery Roshell, Tony Lindsay, Olivia Shaw Reel, Eugene Pitchford, Patricia Balentine, R.L. Wilson, K.C. Taylor, Dionne Grayson, and Anthony Alston.
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There will be 12 African American authors selling their own books.
The first hour will be dedicated to author introductions. Each author will get five minutes to either read an excerpt of their book or to tell attendees more about themselves or their books. This will be followed by a 10-15 minute Q&A session with the attendees.
****SWAG BAGS : Buy 1 book from a book event author you get a SWAG bag with 1 free book.
Buy 2 books from 2 different book event authors you get a SWAG bag with 2 free books.
Buy 3 books from 3 different book event authors you get a SWAG bag with 3 free books. ***

author: Radiah Hubbert


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Final-GMBF2023.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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April 24, 2023

author: Name *


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Post From Community: Paint and Hike – Spring Watercolors | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
David Snell
May 3, 2023
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Saturday, May 20, 2023
9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Menomonee Valley
Grab your hiking shoes and a backpack to join others on a hike and paint adventure. Canvasses, paints, brushes, and a guide will be provided – the beauty of nature in the Menomonee Valley will provide inspiration for your painting. Basics on how to mix colors and texturing will be guided by UEC staff.
$12 – $14. See website.
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For questions about this program, please contact Registrar, Augie Rodenbeck, at arodenbeck@urbanecologycenter.org or call (414) 626-8518.
Registration is required for this program.

author: David Snell


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Why odds are stacked in favor of bad landlords in Wisconsin | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
May 3, 2023
In November 2021, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced a lawsuit against Berrada Properties that alleged the company, which owns 8,000 rental units (most in Milwaukee and Racine), has serially violated Wisconsin landlord-tenant law.
The alleged violations included allowing illegal provisions in leases; illegally charging tenants late rent and court fees; and engaging in illegal security deposit deduction practices.
A spokesman for Berrada Properties told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the company  “vehemently denies any assertion of wrongdoing.”
But the lawsuit’s allegations beg the question: If true, why are such violations allowed to accumulate?
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The answer, according to local housing experts, is that Milwaukee’s efforts are stymied by a combination of factors, including lack of funding that delays city actions on possible violations.
But they also include, according to experts NNS interviewed, an intentional weakening by the state Legislature of local governments’ abilities to regulate and the reluctance of tenants to complain because of fears of retaliation.
“These landlords only do what they are allowed to do,” said Robert Penner, an organizer with the Milwaukee Autonomous Tenants Union. “There are supposed to be regulations in place that hold them accountable.”
The first thing Milwaukeeans are told to do when they have a safety issue in a rental unit is to reach out to the city’s Department of Neighborhood Services, or DNS. The department is responsible for enforcing building, zoning, fire, environmental, property maintenance and other ordinances.
According to Tanz Rome, its finance and administration manager with the Department of Neighborhood Services, there were 37,393 complaints filed with the department in 2022, with most of them closed.
In February, there were 879 complaints pending across all sections of the department, she said.
Delays vary by section and non-emergency complaints can take six to eight weeks for inspection, she said. But the department handles any life safety complaints within 24 hours, she said.
In a meeting in October, Department of Neighborhood Services Commissioner Erica Roberts blamed budget constraints, staff turnover and a scarcity of contractors as the source of delays in approving permit applications, demolitions being conducted and inspections being completed.
“They receive a very low percentage of the city’s budget,” Penner said. “And even when they can go out, the most they can do is deem a home unsafe, and tenants have to move or give the property owner a fine.”
According to Neighborhood Services, an inspector may issue a written order, which has a specific timeframe indicated for compliance.
Though illegal under state law, Penner said many tenants are afraid to reach out to DNS because they fear landlords will retaliate.
Although state law says no landlord can retaliate after a tenant has filed a complaint, it assigns no entity to ensure this does not happen.
Rome said, however, that city ordinance protects tenants from landlords who retaliate.
A tenant can file a complaint with Neighborhood Services, and if it is determined that a landlord has retaliated, a citation can be issued to the property owner.
Raphael Ramos, an attorney with Legal Action of Wisconsin, said many non-compliant landlords depend on tenants not reporting issues to avoid having to deal with habitability concerns.
“Code enforcement by agencies like the Department of Neighborhood Services is generally precipitated by tenant complaints,” Ramos said. “Absent a complaint, we have seen landlords sit passively and refuse to make repairs, knowing that not much will happen unless a tenant reports the issue to DNS.”
Both the city and Milwaukee County have taken some measures to put tenant protections in place.
The city has established lead certification for rental units and expanded accessibility accommodation funds. The county has established a right to counsel for low-income tenants facing eviction, expanded tenant-landlord mediation services and increased funding for housing-first policy, which works to house people in need then triage other needs to keep them housed.
But over the years, regulation has been constrained by the state Legislature, some of whose members, including leadership, own rental properties.
In 2009, the city created a residential rental certificate ordinance, which required apartments located mainly near UWM and in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood, on the North Side, to be certified by city building inspectors before they can be rented.
It was overruled in 2015 by Assembly Bill 568, which limits how local municipalities can regulate rental units.
Lawmakers have also changed legislation surrounding eviction procedures. Recent legislation has expedited the eviction process and given landlords the right to get rid of a tenant’s property.
Lawmakers have limited local government’s say in how far back a landlord can go in checking prospective tenants’ financial, housing and criminal histories; limited tenants’ ability to withhold rent; and made it easier for a landlord to shift the costs of exterminating bedbugs or other pests to the tenant.
Penner says these types of changes are the reason so many Milwaukee residents feel powerless.
“Residents need to know that they have some type of power over their living situation, and right now there is no institution that gives tenants power,” he said.
Mediate Wisconsin offers landlord-tenant mediation to those willing to communicate their needs to avoid eviction or other issues.
Ramos stressed the importance of  tenants to know their rights.
“In addition to documenting the conditions at issue, complaints to DNS can provide some protection to tenants by creating a presumption of retaliation if a landlord responds inappropriately, like by trying to evict,” he said.
Even without a field DNS complaint, tenants are still legally entitled to engage in rent abatement, a reduction of rent paid due to material health or safety-related concerns, he said.
Rent abatement is done by a tenant but both the Department of Neighborhood Services and Community Advocates assist tenants in understanding if they should abate and how they can do so with minimal risks.
“Regardless, a tenant cannot be forcibly removed from a property without notice and going through court. You cannot be evicted without due process,” Ramos said.
Above all, Ramos said, there are existing programs that help tenants in need.
Nick Toman, an attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, said tenants should keep all documentation of all interactions with their landlords.
“Get it in writing,” he said. “Landlords are required to provide dates they are going to fix an issue, and you can be entitled to the monetary loss resulting from an issue.”
He said no matter how bad things get, withholding rent without going through proper channels is likely to end badly.
Tenants can call or visit the Rental Housing Resource Center if they have housing questions.

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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Ron Smith
May 2, 2023


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NNS Spotlight: Center teaches students the power of peace | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
May 4, 2023
A group of about 25 students and two facilitators gather slowly into a circle in a wood-tiled meeting space with large bay windows that overlook a nature trail.
Their goal is to come together and learn how to live in peace.
The students are participants in a workshop at the Peace Learning Center of Milwaukee, 3224 N. Gordon Place.
The reason they sit in a circle, said Kamila Ahmed, a facilitator for the Peace Learning Center, or PLC, is because the circle begins and ends nowhere, giving young people equal space to feel comfortable.
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“We want kids to take risks and be comfortable in this space,” she said.
The students, middle schoolers bused in from Trowbridge School in Bay View, learned about healthy communication, nonviolent conflict resolution and other peaceful actions as part of a Peacemakers Workshop.
The circle exercise begins by going over a set of fouls that identify actions that are not conducive to peace.
They include blaming, getting even, teasing, hitting, grabbing, name calling and making threats.
The exercise continues with each youth moving one by one inside the circle to name something they care about.
“It’s a way to help them realize that many of them care about the same types of things,” said Drea Rodriguez, executive director of PLC, a nonprofit.
Organized in 2002, the PLC uses discussion, art, role play and other techniques as part of its curriculum to influence classroom culture; improve communication in families and in the community; and help youths who have already been exposed to violence.
Rodriguez said these are vital lessons in a city that has experienced record levels of deadly violence in each of the past three years – with many of the victims being children.
According to data from the Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Homicide Database, seven children from the ages of 10 to 17 have been murdered this year in Milwaukee. Many teens have been shot and survived.
During the workshops, students learn how to apologize, how to share their feelings, the power of words and how to react when someone hurts you with theirs.
Over the years the organization has served more than 16,000 youths, although the PLC also works with teachers and other groups in the community.
Since September, facilitators for PLC have led workshops with over 85 different groups, including kindergarten through eighth grade students from private, charter and Milwaukee Public Schools. Among them were all the classrooms at Bryant Elementary School, 8718 W. Thurston Ave.
Tiffaney Hollowell, principal at Bryant, said her students and teachers have enjoyed the workshops and feel that they have helped them reduce conflicts at the school.
“I would say we decreased a lot of the playground issues,” she said. “We infuse what they learn with other social-emotional curriculum we teach at the school.”
The school is working to organize a group of parents at Bryant to participate in the PLC’s booster training, which is included in the package PLC offers to schools.
The price of that package depends on each school’s needs and resources, Rodriguez said. The PLC also is  developing a curriculum for high school students.
After the circle exercise, Ahmed leaves the room to retrieve surveys for the youths but comes back empty handed. Co-facilitator Chelsea Muench chastises her for not finding them.
The unease in the air is palpable, as many students don’t realize the facilitators are acting out a skit to show the youths how easily peace can be broken and how it made them feel.
“I ain’t gonna lie, I got scared, like my heart started racing,” said one youth.
Other students agreed.
“That just goes to show that it only takes one person to break the peace,” Muench said.
In addition to the workshops, the PLC launched a new initiative this year to create a Peace Index. The index was funded by a “Data Dream Award” from Data You Can Use, an organization that helps connect people with data to improve communities.
The index consists of data compiled through surveys administered to youths who participate in PLC workshops. Before-and-after surveys indicate how peaceful students feel that day, among other questions aimed at determining what impact the PLC is having on specific ZIP codes and schools.
Victor Amaya, executive director of Data You Can Use, said the project, a collaboration with Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute, provides pro-bono support with the surveys.
“We’re pushing to go a little deeper to tell the story of what is happening in these communities by collecting information and then have conversations around that data,” Amaya said.
Overall, said Rodriguez, her organization hopes to help young people know that they have the power to create peace in their lives and in their communities.
“Anyone can be a peace leader,” she said. “Everyone deserves to have peace in their life.”
Catch up with the people and organizations who make Milwaukee great by reading “NNS Spotlight.”

author: Edgar Mendez


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Ron Smith
May 3, 2023


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Voting has gotten harder in Wisconsin. Organizers have found ways to help | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Mencarini / Wisconsin Watch
May 4, 2023
This story was originally published by Wisconsin Watch.
Around noon on an overcast April Election Day, dozens of canvassers returned to a second-floor conference room of a church on Milwaukee’s North Side.
They were dressed for the weather: Layers, winter hats and a few with ponchos. Within an hour, they would be back out knocking on doors. Walking a line between helpful resources and yet another person asking them to vote again.
“We had four elections just in 2022. Four,” the group’s leader Angela Lang told them. “The last one was in November. We slept for like a day, and we’re back at it. If we were doing all of this, imagine being a voter that’s not involved and engaged.”
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The gathering of Black Leaders Organizing Communities represents a bulwark against an alarming trend in Wisconsin electoral politics: For nearly 20 years, Wisconsin was a model for making voting easy, with the state’s same-day registration a major factor.
In 1996, Wisconsin ranked fourth among the states for ease of registering and voting, according to the Cost of Voting Index. In 2022, Wisconsin was among the most difficult places, ranking 47th.
Disparities in voting access is particularly pronounced among Black and Latino voters, according to recent research from UW-Madison.
The Index, started by researchers at Northern Illinois University, ranks each state using 33 different variables, with registration deadlines carrying the most weight. As other states began to adopt measures Wisconsin has, such as same-day voter registration, Wisconsin’s ranking dipped, but remained in the top 10.
Then Republicans took control of the Legislature and governor’s office after the 2010 election and implemented several measures that made voting more difficult. They extended residency requirements, shortened the period for early voting, increased residency requirements from 10 to 28 days and enacted the state’s voter ID law.
“As soon as Wisconsin adopted that, it really caused the state to drop in accessibility,” said Michael Pomante, a Jacksonville University political science professor and co-author of the Index. “It needs to be said or at least noted to Wisconsinites that their voting has become significantly more difficult for their voters over the years compared to other states.”
Republicans enacted the restrictions in the name of election security. Then-Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, described the voter ID law specifically as making it “easier to vote and harder to cheat.”
There’s no evidence that the laws have significantly affected election fraud.
From 2012 through 2022, there were only 192 election fraud cases, or 0.0006% of all votes cast, Wisconsin Watch previously reported. The data didn’t show that the new laws had reduced the number of cases, the majority of which related to voting by those on felony probation.
Barriers to voting disproportionately affect certain racial groups, according to research from UW-Madison journalism and mass communications professor Michael Wagner.
Black voters spent about 9 minutes getting to the polls during the 2018 midterm election, compared with about 6.5 minutes for non-Black voters. Researchers also found that Hispanic voters spent about 11 minutes in line, more than twice the wait for non-Hispanic voters.
In researching the 2022 midterm election, Wagner’s team found Black voters spent 10.8 minutes getting to the polls and 15.6 minutes waiting in line. For white voters, those times were 6.8 minutes and 7.7 minutes.
“It’s really a tale of two states. On the one hand, Wisconsin has incredibly high voter turnout,” Wagner said, adding that same-day registration and tradition of civic engagement help. “But things are clearly getting worse for Black, Hispanic and lower income voters.”
Closed polling locations and continued underfunding of elections could help explain growing times from 2018 to 2022, he said.
The Cost of Voting Index researchers have linked increased difficulty and a drop in voter participation, but impact varies between groups.
“It actually disenfranchises the undereducated and the lower socioeconomic populations more,” Pomante said. “But if we were to strip those things out and were just looking at racial features, when states have made voting more difficult, it actually spurs Black voters to come to the polls more.”
One reason for that might be the role of community organizers like BLOC, Pomante said.
Wisconsin’s increasingly divisive and contentious politics may also help turnout, Wagner said.
“More people see it as valuable to have their voice heard on Election Day,” he said. “Even if it’s harder, many people still show up.”
Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, proposed a range of voting-related changes in his most recent budget proposal that would elevate the state’s Cost of Voting Index ranking.
Evers has proposed that the Department of Transportation provide identifying information to the Wisconsin Elections Commission so it can automatically register eligible voters. The proposal also allows people to opt out.
The governor also proposed removing restrictions on how early a voter can return their absentee ballot and lowering the residency requirement from 28 days to 10 days. Evers’ budget also includes changes to the type of ID technical college or university students can use and would restore previous requirements that high schools be used for voter registration, something Republicans ended in 2011.
The budget proposal also includes additional funding for local election officials and would allow election workers to start processing absentee ballots before Election Day. Republicans plan to remove all those and hundreds of other measures from the budget bill during the first votes in the process Tuesday.
Last year, Evers vetoed a number of election-related bills passed by the Republican Legislature. They would have prevented a voter’s friend or family member from returning their absentee ballot, required clerks to verify voters are U.S. citizens, and given the Legislature control over guidance to clerks from the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
State Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Saukville, said that if there are issues with the time it takes voters to cast ballots, those are “the fault of local municipalities failing to address the needs of their communities.”
“This trend of higher participation holds up across nationwide elections since passing Voter ID,” he said. “Wisconsin voters routinely rebut the premise of voter disenfranchisement through their actions.”
BLOC doesn’t plan to put politics on the shelf until the 2024 spring primary. Politics and voter education is baked into everything it does, Lang said.
“If we’re having conversations in the field about what does it look like for the Black community to thrive, nine times out of 10, those responses have a political connection, whether it’s the city budget that’s going to come out this fall or it’s the state budget,” she said weeks after the election.
BLOC reaches voters by building trust. It intentionally set up its headquarters in the 53206 ZIP code, among the most-incarcerated places in the state. BLOC’s members grew up in the community and share the same experiences as the people whose doors they knock on.
They see voters walk into their polling place carrying BLOC literature handed out or placed in doors.
But it wasn’t always like this, Lang said, recalling the group’s first election in November 2017 when residents viewed them like just another group dropping in.
Attitudes toward the group changed once people saw that they didn’t leave.
“The team (here at BLOC) came up with this idea last year to do monthly neighborhood cleanups as a way to engage residents around other issues and do something that’s beautifying the community,” Lang said. “I think by just having a constant presence allows us to be those trusted messengers.”
The nonprofit Wisconsin Watch (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with WPR, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by Wisconsin Watch do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.

author: Matt Mencarini / Wisconsin Watch


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Dwayne Burtin
May 3, 2023

author: Dwayne Burtin


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Dwayne Burtin
May 3, 2023


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Dwayne Burtin
May 3, 2023


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Dwayne Burtin
May 3, 2023


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Dwayne Burtin
May 3, 2023


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Distance-to-polling | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
May 3, 2023


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Ease-of-voting | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
May 3, 2023


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Dwayne Burtin
May 3, 2023


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Waiting-in-line | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
May 3, 2023


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5 things to know and do the weekend of May 5 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
May 5, 2023
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Ko-Thi Dance Company is celebrating 54 years with the Maji Drum and Dance Conference, bringing together artists, choreographers and educators to explore the richness of Black dance through workshops, discussions and performances. The conference takes place all weekend. More information about conference schedule and tickets here.
The annual Cinco de Mayo festival hosted by El Conquistador Latino Newspaper and UMOS is back with live music, cultural performances and several competitions, including ranchera dance and Chihuahua beauty contests. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 6 at UMOS, located at 2701 S. Chase Ave. More information here.
We Got This, a youth and community development group that uses gardening as a tool for neighborhood building, is looking for volunteers to help prepare garden beds, plant seeds and clean the surrounding neighborhood. The cleanup will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 6 at the intersection of North 9th and West Ring streets. More information here.
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The Institute for the Preservation of African American Music and Arts, or IPAMA, is hosting an afternoon of fun for all ages. Artist Coco Butterfly will take you step by step through the creation of a mixed-media painting on faux wood. The session takes place from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 6 at IPAMA, located at 3200 W. Hampton Ave. More information here.
Do you ever wonder what is invisibly floating around in the air we breathe? Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Marquette University and other partners have organized a community walk that will collect live data on what the city air contains. The walk runs from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, beginning at the Pulaski Park pavilion, located at 2643 S. 16th St. More information and RSVP for free here.


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Ron Smith
May 4, 2023


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5 things to know and do this week in Milwaukee: May 8 to May 12 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
May 8, 2023
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum is looking for volunteers to plant and maintain the cemetery’s gardens. This is an ongoing volunteer opportunity, but this week, volunteers can help from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, May 9 at Forest Home Cemetery, located at 2405 W. Forest Home Ave. More information and RSVP here.
Urban Ecology Center is continuing its monthly movie and discussions series this week with a free screening of “The Scale of Hope.” The film follows a former climate adviser to President Barack Obama and her attempt to find solutions to climate change that are accessible to individual people. The screening takes place from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10 at Urban Ecology Center’s Washington Park location, located at 1859 N. 40th St. More information here.
Hear a series of 10-minute reflections from multiple perspectives on the Milwaukee Art Museum’s exhibition “Native America: In Translation.” This event runs from 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 11 at Milwaukee Art Museum, located at 700 N. Art Museum Drive. More information on the event here.
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WIS-175, or the Stadium Freeway, is a freeway spur that extends from I-94 to Lisbon Avenue. There are currently discussions on if, and how, to change or possibly replace this freeway because it is “a disconnect between neighborhoods with a lack of pedestrian, bike, and bus access.” You can share thoughts on how to change or replace this freeway at a community meeting from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 11 at the Washington Park Senior Center, located at 4420 W. Vliet St. More information here.
SKY Schools Milwaukee is hosting a free workshop on breathwork designed to help calm nerves, reduce stress and improve everyday wellbeing. The workshop takes place from 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. followed by an optional 30-minute network session on Friday, May 12 at Nō Studios, located at 1037 W. McKinley Ave. More information here.


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Ron Smith
May 7, 2023


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2,000 students gain new worldviews by participating in MPS’ World Fair | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
May 9, 2023
Myanmar came to Milwaukee last month.
Actually, most of the world did.
It was all part of a program that allowed more than 2,000 Milwaukee Public Schools students to showcase what they’ve learned about the United Nations and its 193 member countries at MPS’s World Fair.
The fair, an annual event that is part of the United Nations Schools of International Learning, or UNSIL, program, occurred April 18 at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.
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In preparation for the fair, students from 16 schools did projects surrounding the strengths and challenges of different nations and the role each country plays in its region or continent.
Saw Lun, a fourth grader at Milwaukee Academy of Chinese Language, completed a presentation on Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.
“I learned about the population, exports, holidays and the unique foods,” he said. “I enjoyed being able to tell everyone here about what I learned because I like sharing things, and I’ve tried some of the unique foods before.”
Eighth graders at Victory School decided to do a school cleanup as a part of their sustainability project.
“We noticed that our school and the surrounding area is always dirty because no one really takes responsibility for it,” Tuleen Abu-Fares said.
“And were able to prove to ourselves that a little can go a long way. So, if we just do our part, it matters,” Emily Miranda added.
“I think it was all around fun to give back to our community and show others that they can too,” Noor Aishah Nabi Hussain said.
The World Fair also included performances representing various cultures, including the Milwaukee School of Language band and choir, the Milwaukee Academy of Chinese Language cultural fashion show, the dance team and drum line from Rufus King High School and African dance from Milwaukee French Immersion School.
The fair is a product of local philanthropists: the Annette J. Roberts & Joan R. Robertson Fund for World Peace, World Law and Peace Education. Through the MPS Foundation and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the fund established the United Nations Schools of International Learning curriculum in MPS.
It began in 2016 in nine schools and is now implemented in 16 MPS schools.
“This was the dream of my mother, Joan Robertson, and at 107 years old, she’s thrilled that it continues on,” said Annette Robertson. “It’s a wonderful experience for students, and not only that but we’re preparing them to become great leaders for the world workforce.”
The MPS Foundation collaborates with corporations, foundations and individuals to provide philanthropic support for students, schools and district programs.
You can learn more about the MPS Foundation by visiting its website.


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Ron Smith
May 8, 2023


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OPINION: The fight against Milwaukee’s lead crisis should be driven by community interests, not financial ones | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Robert Miranda
May 9, 2023
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
When speaking about the groups that are on the front lines of community struggles, a more defined notion of the form and function of such groups is necessary to establish a distinction between how a legitimate community front-line group functions and how a special interest group posing as a front-line group functions.
Freshwater for Life Action Coalition (FLAC) and the Get the Lead Out Coalition (GTLO) are examples of front-line groups in Milwaukee.
These organizations have dedicated years to not only talking about social disparities, institutional racism, corruption and apathy, but to bringing forward evidence from the public and historical record to expose the material reality of these forces
Community front-line groups do not just pay lip service to these social concepts by saying all the right phrases without actually investigating and exposing their source.
Community front-line groups are dedicated fully to the interests of the community and do not operate within the corporatized mechanism of the nonprofit industrial complex.
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FLAC and GTLO are completely member-funded and draw on the voluntary efforts of the greater community to hold continuous institutions, such as the City of Milwaukee, accountable for the genesis and perpetuation of oppression and suffering.
We strongly believe that community front-line groups cannot base their existence on the grant-acquisition cycle or on funding from governmental institutions to which they are then beholden. Such organizations may present themselves as community front-line groups while hiding their true nature behind a sleek façade.
FLAC and GTLO do not seek grant money, do not receive money from public or private institutions, do not endorse politicians or political parties and refuse to fall into the trap of merely having a voice at the table. Instead, we project our voice and the voice of the community through strategic use of the media, tactical alliances with public officials and community leaders and direct interaction with other community front-line groups.
It is important that community front-line groups are not shy about engaging in confrontation when necessary.
Directly challenging the institutions of power is a method for breaking through the apathetic acceptance of whatever is told to us and critically engaging with ideas of how public institutions can serve the interests of the masses of people rather than powerful capitalist interests.
Struggle makes us human because the history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles — struggles between groups of people whose interests come into contradiction with each other.
Community front-line groups can be identified through an analysis of the contradictions inherent in the struggle they are engaged in.
In Milwaukee, the vast majority of people have an interest in residing in environments that are free from lead contamination. For example, it is in the interest of the masses of people for Milwaukee’s lead lateral pipes,  which connect 70,000 homes to the public water system, to be removed in the most expedient and cost-effective manner possible without placing undue financial burden on the people living in these homes.
Several generations of Milwaukeeans had no choice but to live in homes with lead laterals due to the 80-year mandate that required every new home built to connect to the public water system with a lead pipe.
The interests of the masses of people come into contradiction with the interests of the institution that implemented this mandate, the City of Milwaukee, which has historically been to make as much money as possible through the installation of lead laterals and to spend as little money as possible to get them removed.
The contradiction in interests is made plain. The self-evidence of Milwaukee having contaminated water is placed in its proper historical context. It not only provides community front-line groups with tools to expose this contradiction but also a guide to action that will work in favor of the masses of people rather than the political and economic interests of the ruling class.
FLAC and GTLO are community front-line groups because they come down definitively in the corner of the masses of people, supporting without stipulation their bid to live in safe, dignified environments, uncontaminated by lead.
The loyalty of other groups is ambiguous.
Organizations that may appear to support reducing lead exposure and eliminating associated social ills are sometimes only paying lip service to this idea to garner community support, while accepting funding from powerful institutions that have an interest in obscuring and mystifying these problems in order to protect their power and profits.
Even though some of the members of these groups may legitimately believe that the people are entitled to a lead-free environment, the actual expression of their interest is contingent on a paycheck or the accumulation of social capital.
As community front-line groups, FLAC and GTLO do not have a financial interest in the removal of the lead laterals. Instead, this interest comes from a commitment to a fundamentally different view of how our society could and should be functioning, not on the basis of profit but on the basis of addressing the most immediate needs of the most oppressed and marginalized people in our community.
In the case of Milwaukee, poor and working-class Black and Brown people are the most affected by lead poisoning
We must not only be able to prove that this is the reality, we must expose why it is the reality and lay out a plan for how this situation can be altered.
FLAC and GTLO are committed to a social model that relies on solidarity rather than profit. This is the essence of what it means to be a community front-line group.
Robert Miranda is a retired veteran and longtime Milwaukee activist. He is currently a member of the Get The Lead Out Coalition Steering Committee.

author: Robert Miranda


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Ron Smith
May 8, 2023


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Ron Smith
May 8, 2023


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Ron Smith
May 8, 2023


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How to use Narcan to save a life during a drug overdose | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Devin Blake
May 11, 2023
It can be rare for public health experts, advocates, nonprofits and politicians to agree on the same thing.
But in the case of opioids, they say: Know how to use Narcan.
Narcan, a brand-name version of naloxone, blocks opioids from binding to receptors in the brain, quickly reversing the effects of an overdose.
“Everyone has the potential to find someone that is experiencing an overdose,” Amy Molinski, peer support specialist at Community Medical Services and one of the peers for the Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative, said.
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The Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative is a collaboration between the Milwaukee Fire Department, the City of Milwaukee Health Department and other groups. It was organized as a response to the rise of drug overdoses.
In 2022, there were 570 confirmed overdose deaths in Milwaukee County, according to the county’s overdose dashboard.
At the beginning of April, there were 17 deaths in Milwaukee County over the course of just a few days because of suspected overdoses. This has prompted officials to warn about the dangers of fentanyl and other drugs.
The risk of overdose is not just for those who use opioids illicitly but also for those who have prescription opioids, said Milwaukee Fire Capt. David Polachowski, who is also the supervisor of the Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative.
“If you don’t have Narcan available,” Polachowski said, “there’s just potential for a fatal overdose.”
In short, Narcan saves lives.
The first step of using Narcan is simply to know the common signs of an opioid overdose.
They include having pale skin and lips; experiencing slow breathing and “snoring” breaths; vomiting; and having a limp body. In addition, victims can have extremely constricted pupils, or “pinpoint” pupils.
The next step is to check for responsiveness.
If someone is experiencing an overdose, they are not able to communicate, said Courtney Geiger, public health strategist with Milwaukee Health Department.
Polachowski said to take the knuckles of your hand and rub it in the center of the person’s chest as hard as you can, while you’re calling their name or just calling out to them.
If the person is unresponsive, the next thing to do is to check for breathing.
An effective way to determine whether someone is breathing is to see if their chest is rising or by placing a hand or head on the person’s chest.
If the person is breathing but is unresponsive, call 911. A person does not need Narcan if they are breathing, as the purpose of Narcan is to restore breathing.
But, Polachowski said, “You need to call 911 in case it’s not an overdose. You want to have EMS (emergency medical services) on its way, so that they can treat the person for whatever reason that they’re unresponsive … if it’s, you know, a diabetic reason or stroke or a heart attack … .”
If the person is not breathing, however, then call 911 and administer Narcan.
“You just put your phone on speakerphone, call 911 and then you start the administration of Narcan,” said Polachowski.
Narcan comes in a nasal spray bottle with enough for two sprays.
To administer Narcan, insert the nozzle into a person’s nostril and spray it once. If you can, tilt their body, or at least their head, to the side to avoid choking or aspiration in case of vomiting.
After the initial spray, wait two to three minutes to see if it works, “which is going to seem like forever,” Polachowski said.
The goal is to get the person breathing again while you wait for EMS to arrive, Geiger said.
If the first spray does not get the person breathing, then administer the second spray into the other nostril. If the person does not begin breathing after the second spray, begin rescue breathing.
For rescue breathing, make sure the person is on their back, clear their airway by tilting the head back and chin up, pinch their nose, create a seal with your mouth around the person’s mouth and gently breathe into their mouth for one second.
Keep breathing into their mouth every five to six seconds, until the person can breathe on their own or EMS arrives.
The last step is to relay to EMS as much information as you have about the person’s situation and what steps you have taken.


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Ron Smith
May 10, 2023


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OPINION: Women and HIV: Ending the stigma starts with you | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Naomi Jones
May 11, 2023
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Women are some of the strongest beings alive. We drive change. We foster innovation. We stand up for ourselves, and for each other.
And yet, women continue to be marginalized in society. Women make less money than our male counterparts for doing the same work. We’re underrepresented on boards, in government, in STEM-related careers. We struggle to get access to the health care we need. Our bodies are policed, and our rights stripped away.
All of that is true for even the most privileged of women. But we can’t talk about women’s issues without digging into the intersectionality of race, gender, sexual orientation—and one’s HIV status.
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Because white women make less than their male counterparts—but women of color make even less than white women. Women who are queer and trans are more likely to be victims of sexual assault than their straight counterparts. Black women are three times more likely to die in childbirth than white women.
And today, nearly 1 in 4 four people living with HIV today are women—with the majority of new cases being among Black women.
Addressing the multitude of systemic and societal issues facing women, including women living with HIV, is a massive undertaking, and my colleagues and I are working to drive change on these issues every day. But one enduring issue—and one we can all start working to change right now—is the stigma surrounding HIV.
The stigma around HIV is driven in large part by “othering”—the erroneous belief that HIV is something that happens to certain groups of people; it happens to them, not to me. It also involves blaming people for having HIV and thinking they must have done something to deserve it through their own personal choices.
And for women, HIV stigma doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Because women already have less control over our sexual lives because of gender-based violence. We’re already shamed simply for engaging in sex. Women of color have faced centuries of discrimination and racism. And the landscape for queer and trans women is downright threatening, with our very right to exist being questioned every day. All of these together create a complex amalgamation of societal stigma and judgment.
Even though HIV and AIDS have been around for decades, there’s still a lack of public awareness about what it is and how it’s transmitted. People living with HIV are treated as second-class citizens. They’re ostracized. They’re disowned by friends and family. They’re refused job opportunities, evicted from their homes and denied access to health care.
People living with HIV can also internalize the stigma they experience and develop a negative self-image, which can lead to mental health issues like depression and anxiety—conditions that are highly stigmatized in themselves.
And so, out of fear of being judged, many people living with HIV keep their status to themselves, not even telling their closest friends or family about their diagnosis. This further reinforces a feeling of isolation and “otherness” within the person living with HIV, which further feeds into mental health issues. In this sense, the stigma against HIV can be more detrimental to the person than the HIV itself.
The stigma around HIV is harmful for people living with HIV—and for everyone else, too. Because women are vital members of our community. They’re doctors and lawyers, teachers and scientists, mothers and caregivers. And when women living with HIV are plagued by stigma, judgment, and all that comes with it, they simply can’t live up to their fullest potential. And that hurts us all.
What’s more, the stigma around HIV can prevent people from seeking the treatment they need or make it difficult for them to keep up with their treatment. People who fear being judged about HIV are also less likely to get tested, and even people who take steps to prevent HIV (like by taking PrEP) can be seen in a negative light. And when people aren’t getting treated, don’t know their status and aren’t taking steps to prevent contracting HIV—that all contributes to the spread of HIV.
First and foremost, remember that HIV is just a virus. It doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t target certain people or groups. It can happen to anyone.
Educate yourself. Today, people living with HIV who have access to care and are adherent to their medications are able to live long, healthy lives with virtually no risk of transmitting the virus to anyone else.
Be curious and open. Make space for conversations about HIV. Listen to women—cis and trans—who are living with HIV and learn from their lived experiences.
Call out stigma when you see it. Be an ally for the rights of women of both cisgender and transgender experience, and help bust misconceptions about HIV when you hear them. Use what you know to educate others.
In other words, normalize talking about HIV. Uproot the stigma. Dismantle false notions.
Getting rid of the stigma alone won’t end the HIV epidemic. And it won’t address the myriad other issues women face. But so long as the stigma persists, so will HIV.
And you have the power to help make that change.
So go do it.
Naomi Jones is a prevention services supervisor, SE Region with Vivent Health, a leading provider of HIV prevention, education and care in Milwaukee and an adjunct faculty member at National Louis University in Chicago.  She holds a master’s in Social Welfare and is an advocate for public health and trans justice. She’s the reigning Miss Trans USA. Naomi has been living with HIV since 2010.

author: Naomi Jones


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Post From Community: BAYSHORE Spring Makers Market | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Brenda Vento
May 11, 2023
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
BAYSHORE is excited to bring our guests the 3rd annual BAYSHORE Spring Makers Market presented by Welcome to Glendale on May 20-21 in partnership with Amdur Productions. The festival is free and will feature live music, food trucks, entertainment, and more than 75 artists, artisans and makers with selections from art to food, clothing to lotions, stationary to furniture, and candles to home decor.
STAY & PLAY: Reserve Your Glendale, WI Hotel Here!
Saturday, May 20, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Hey Julie (Classic Country & Americana) – 10 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Alyssia Dominguez (Country & Pop) – 1:45 – 5 p.m. Food Trucks & Vendors: Rose Mob Grill, Tots on the Street, Nadi Plates, Kona Ice, Kilwins, Tiffany’s Dessert Bar, FreshFin Poke
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Sunday, May 21, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Beautiful Collide (Pop & Rock) – 11 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. Keshena Armon (R&B, Soul & Pop) – 2:15 – 5 p.m. Food Trucks & Vendors: Shorty’s Grilled Cheese, Tots on the Street, Nadi Plates, Kona Ice, El Sazon Dominicano, Kilwins, Tiffany’s Dessert Bar

author: Brenda Vento


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May 1, 2023


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5 things to know and do the weekend of May 12 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
May 12, 2023
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
The Urban Ecology Center hosts recurring botany walks near each of its three locations each month.  This week’s walk meets at the Menomonee Valley location at 10:30 a.m. and will run until noon on Friday, May 12, located at 3700 W Pierce St. More information here.
El Rey Foods is celebrating its 45th anniversary at all locations on Saturday, May 13. The celebration includes piñatas for children under 10 at 3 p.m. More information here.
Safe & Sound is hosting a community party to kick off a safe summer of fun. In addition to free food, swag and games, there also will be resources for summer youth programming available for pickup. The celebration takes place from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 at Safe & Sound’s location at 4422 W. Leon Terrace. More information here.
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Participate in some “chill” yoga and play with baby goats at this fundraising event hosted by MKE Yoga Social. Proceeds from the event go to Harold S. Vincent High School to support its agricultural education program. There are two hour-long sessions, one starting at 10 a.m. and one starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 13 at Harold S. Vincent High School, located at 7501 W. Granville Road. Tickets are $45. More information about the event here. Purchase tickets here.
Mother’s Day is Sunday, but there are events to celebrate mothers all weekend. A few options are below:
Mother and daughter hike at Hawthorn Glen Outdoor Education Center from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 13. The center is located at 1130 N. 60th St. and the cost is $5 for Milwaukee residents. More information here.
“Art in the Park,” led by Brad Anthony Bernard, includes a non-alcoholic sip and paint, community cleanup, free art supplies for youths and free carnations for mothers. The event takes place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 at 2616 W. State St. The event is free. More information here.
Muskego Way mothers and families are invited to “a moment of celebration and self-care” that includes brunch, face painting and skincare. The celebration takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 at 1608 W. Forest Home Ave. This free event is open to mothers and families living in Muskego Way. More information here.
Forest Home Cemetery and Arboretum is hosting a tour of “memorable mothers” buried in the cemetery from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 14 at 2405 W. Forest Home Ave. The tour is $10. More information here.
Learn more about available resources for mental health at this resource fair, running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 at United Community Center, located at 1028 S. 9th St. More information here.


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Ron Smith
May 11, 2023


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5 things to know and do this week in Milwaukee: May 15 to May 19 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
May 15, 2023
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Milwaukee is expanding lead pipe replacement, and four city aldermen are hosting a town hall to explain their plan and get community feedback. The town hall takes place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 15 at Sherman Phoenix, located at 3536 W. Fond Du Lac Ave. More information here.
Milwaukee Recreation’s Partnership for Arts & Humanities Showcase includes opportunities to experience youth art and performances, make your own art and meet some talented youths and their mentors. The event is free to attend and takes place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16 at Turner Hall, located at 1040 W. Vel R. Phillips Ave. More information here.
Residents living in the 53210 and 53216 ZIP codes can get free fresh produce, milk, meat and other grocery items once per month and bread once per week at the Jewish Community Pantry. The pantry offers a general food section, infant section and Kosher section.
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The pantry, located at 2900 W. Center St., is open every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and every Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon, More information here.
Earn & Learn is an annual paid summer employment program for young people ages 14 to 24 years old. Participants in the program are placed in businesses and local nonprofits for seven weeks in June and July for 20 hours per week and take weekly job readiness workshops with the county’s Employ Milwaukee program.
The deadline to apply is Friday, May 19. More information and application link here.
The Hmong American Friendship Association is hosting summer volleyball and basketball camps for youths. Camps begin on June 19, but those interested should register as soon as possible. More information and registration details here.
Chief Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela, is speaking in Milwaukee as part of a nationwide tour. The event begins at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 15 at Turner Hall, located at 1040 W. Vel R. Phillips Ave. Tickets are free, but space is limited. More information here.


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Ron Smith
May 14, 2023


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Places in Milwaukee where you can find help for domestic violence | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
May 16, 2023
Did we miss a program? Please let us know in comments or email emendez@milwaukeenns.org. Put “domestic violence resources” in the subject line.
As cases of domestic violence continue to torment our communities, we have compiled a list of places where you—or someone you love—can get help.
Name: Hmong American Women’s Association
Phone: 414-930-9352
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Address: 3030 W. Highland Ave.
What it does: The first and only Hmong women’s organization in the state, HAWA dedicates its resources to the advancement of Hmong women and girls. It offers culturally appropriate services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Name: HIR Wellness
Phone: 414-763-5815
Address: 3136 W. Kilbourn Ave.
What it does: The organization is a survivor and women-led organization that provides care to victims of crime and violence through a Community Activated Medicine Framework and Intergenerational Healing Approach.
Name: Diverse & Resilient’s Room to Be Safe program
Phone or Text: 414-856-LGBT
What it does: The Room to Be Safe anti-violence program serves LGBTQ survivors of violence (e.g., intimate partner, sexual, hate violence, bullying, as well as religious, police, and state-sanctioned violence) throughout Wisconsin.
Name: UMOS Latina Resource Center
Phone: 414-389-6500
Address: 2701 S. Chase Ave., Suite D
What it does: The UMOS Latina Resource Center provides comprehensive and holistic supportive services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. The center serves all genders, races, ethnicities and age groups.
Name: Milwaukee Women’s Center
Phone: 414-671-6140
What it does: The center provides services that deal with family violence, providing a 24-hour domestic violence crisis line, older abused women’s program, a family support center emergency shelter and a treatment program for batterers.
Name: Sojourner Family Peace Center
Phone: 414-276-1911
Address: 619 W. Walnut St.
What it does: The center works to ensure the safety of victims of family violence and provides a pathway out of violence for victims and abusers through opportunities to make positive and lasting changes for themselves and their children.
Name: Milwaukee LGBT Community Center
Phone: 414-271-2656
Address: 315 W. Court St.
What it does: The center provides assistance to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community who have experienced or otherwise been impacted by intimate partner violence, sexual assault and abuse, stalking, physical assault, harassment, bullying, bias-related incidents, hate crimes and other forms of violence by advocating on their behalf, encouraging and assisting with crime reporting and accompanying crime victims to medical exams or court appearances if requested.
Name: Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers
Age: 414-897-5630
Address: 1032 S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive.
What it does: The centers’ Social Services Department offers help and assistance for those experiencing domestic violence.
Name: Alma Center
Phone: 414-265-0100
Address: 2821 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave., Third Floor
What it does: The Alma Center works locally and nationally to break the cycle of domestic violence in families by changing abusive men.
Name: The Asha Project
Phone: 414-252-0075
Address: 3719 W. Center St.
What it does: The Asha Project is a domestic and sex trafficking prevention organization specializing in African American culturally specific services.
Name: The Women’s Center
Phone: 262-542-3828 (24 hour hotline)
What it does: Based in Waukesha, the center works with adult and child survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and trafficking. Programs include: emergency crisis shelter, transitional living apartments, free onsite child care. Programs are offered in Spanish, and translation in any language provided. All programs are offered at no cost and open to survivors from any community around the state and beyond.  All genders are welcome.
Name: Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center (GLIIHC)
Phone: 414-383-9526
Address: 930 W. Historic Mitchell St.
What it does: The Behavioral Health Department’s Circle of Strength Program staff utilizes a culturally responsive, trauma-informed approach for the prevention and treatment of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, or if you are unsure if you are experiencing any form of abuse or maltreatment, please do not hesitate to reach out to us for help. If you are in immediate danger, dial 911.
Name: Centro Legal
Phone: 414-384-7900
Address: 611 W. National Ave.
What it does: The nonprofit legal service firm works with advocates to help connect survivors of intimate partner abuse access to services while it focuses on legal matters.
Name: Kids Matter Inc.
Phone: 414-344-1220
Address: 1850 N. MLK Jr Drive #202
What it does: The organization helps abused and neglected children heal and thrive while also providing support to foster and kinship children to help prevent further child abuse.


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Ron Smith
May 15, 2023


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What you need to know about the Homes MKE initiative to repair 150 homes | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
May 17, 2023
Some of Milwaukee’s most dilapidated homes are on the road to being repaired this summer.
City of Milwaukee officials, elected leaders and community stakeholders formally kicked off the Homes MKE initiative last month.
The initiative is a program aimed at creating jobs, lifting up neighborhoods and helping Milwaukeeans become homeowners by renovating 150 vacant city-owned properties into high quality, affordable homes for ownership and rental opportunities.
In 2021, Mayor Cavalier Johnson and members of the Milwaukee Common Council allocated $15 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to the Department of City Development for Homes MKE.
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Homes MKE is working with both emerging developers and nonprofit organizations to carry out renovation work across 23 neighborhoods throughout Milwaukee.
“We are hopeful that other developers involved follow our lead in hiring from the communities they are working in,” said Jim Gaillard with Ezekiel Community Development Corporation, one of the groups working on the initiative.
“Homes MKE will stabilize blocks within neighborhoods and send the message that every part of our city matters,” said Alderman Russell W. Stamper II, who represents the 15th Aldermanic District, where the first home will be renovated under the program.
“Implementing Homes MKE aligns with our mission to improve quality of life in Milwaukee by promoting equitable development that strengthens the urban environment,” Milwaukee Commissioner of City Development Lafayette Crump added.
For more information


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Ron Smith
May 16, 2023


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LGBTQ+ people who have been incarcerated face many hurdles. Meet the people helping them. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Devin Blake
May 18, 2023
In Milwaukee, there is no formal reentry program or organization specific to LGBTQ+ people who have been incarcerated.
But various individuals throughout Milwaukee are doing what they can to fill this gap.
Reentry programs provide a range of resources and services for people “reentering” society after incarceration and are crucial in decreasing rates of recidivism, or returning to incarceration after some period of release.
According to 2018 data from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, roughly 36% of people in Milwaukee County are reincarcerated within three years of release.
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Employment, health care and housing are “the principal needs” of people reentering society and are key to lowering rates of recidivism, said Conor Williams, economic policy analyst with the Public Policy Institute at Community Advocates, an organization that provides services for low-income residents.
Williams facilitates the Milwaukee Reentry Council, which works to coordinate reentry resources on a county level.
There are “certainly gaps currently in providing those services or getting people who have been previously incarcerated connected with those things,” Williams said.
Although the need for these resources is common to those reentering, LGBTQ+ people who were incarcerated experience additional hurdles.
According to a 2022 report by the Safety and Justice Challenge, LGBTQ+ individuals who have experience in the criminal justice system face “heightened discrimination and exclusion from employment, education, and other opportunities because of their records, leading to continued homelessness, unemployment and poverty.”
In other words, LGBTQIA+ individuals face the twin hurdles of biases against people who have been incarcerated and biases against people who are LGBTQIA+.
LGBTQIA is an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex and asexual/aromantic.
Daniel Krajewski said it was challenging to reenter society after being incarcerated for over five years.
“Because it’s even harder for us (LGBTQIA+ people) to get housing, financials and everything else that runs side by side to that,” he said.
Lisa Mitchell, incarcerated for over nine years, said she experienced direct discrimination from her probation and parole agent after her release.
“I had an agent who was not friendly to my transgender expression,” she said. “And I had to endure him telling me ‘You got to dress like a man,’ and so he was more goal-oriented towards trying to reform me as far as what he felt I should express and not, you know, really focused on me being a productive member of the community.”
Both Krajewski and Mitchell have become organizers with Black and Pink Milwaukee, which advocates for LGBTQIA+ people who are incarcerated.
“Internal champions” are helping to fill the gaps in Milwaukee’s reentry infrastructure, said Jeanne Geraci, executive director of the Benedict Center, a nonprofit organization that provides programs to women affected by the criminal justice system.
Wendel Hruska, executive director of Project RETURN (Returning Ex-incarcerated People To Urban Realities and Neighborhoods), is one such champion.
“About three or four years ago,” Hruska said, “I had a conversation with a person who I’d known for many years … and who identifies as non-binary. And they brought it to my attention that our website and our materials weren’t very inclusive, which is something we’ve always strived to be … . And I was unaware of the language we were using and how it was pushing people away versus bringing people to us.”
One of Project RETURN’s signature services is its “circles of support” – support groups tailored to the needs of specific demographics of people who have been formerly incarcerated. Some current circles include one for women and one for Muslims, but no circle yet exists for LGBTQIA+ people.
Hruska said he plans to make this happen.
Another champion is Tiodolo De La Garza III, partnership and crisis support manager at the Milwaukee Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.
With his own history of incarceration, De La Garza said he has first-hand understanding of the obstacles faced by those who are LGBTQIA+ and have been incarcerated. After his release, for example, he was homeless for a time.
“We get letters almost every day from someone in some prison or in some facility somewhere,” Ricardo Galaviz, associate director at the LGBT Center, said. “They’re either reaching out because they’re experiencing severe injustice … or they’re reaching out just because they want someone to talk to and they’re just looking to connect with anybody.”


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Ron Smith
May 17, 2023


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Ron Smith
May 17, 2023


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Justice mallet and criminal complaint blank document with police handcuffs | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
May 17, 2023