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‘We keep leveling up’: Liberate MKE continues campaign to defund the police | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
July 30, 2020
Liberate MKE’s mission is to defund the police and use the money to invest in the community. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
A few years ago, Nate Gilliam was driving down Silver Spring Drive around North 39 Street when he saw a group of 25 teenagers and four or five police cars.
He pulled over to find out what was happening. Eventually, the officers let the teens go, but it was that incident, among many, that sparked the thought in Gilliam’s mind.
“The police are not preventing or solving crimes but have time to do this,” he said. “How much money does the police department receive?”
Gilliam, the lead organizer for the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, investigated the City of Milwaukee budget and found that a majority of the budget was going toward the Milwaukee Police Department.
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In 2018, for example, the police department received $293.7 million, which is about 46% of the budget.
He shared his findings with other grassroot organizers, and under the leadership of the African American Roundtable, the coalition Liberate MKE was officially launched on Juneteenth Day in 2019.
Markasa Tucker, the director of the African American Roundtable, said the mission of LiberateMKE is to divest money from the police budget and put it toward things the community wants.
In recent months, “defund the police” has become a battle cry for activists across the country. Groups such as Liberate MKE and Leaders Igniting Transformation are asking that police budgets be used to address problems in the community such as education, health care and mental health.
Black Leaders Organizing for Communities helped Liberate MKE survey residents. (Photo provided by Black Leaders Organizing for Communities)
With help from community partners such as Black Leaders Organizing for Communities and Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, Liberate MKE surveyed residents on where they wanted the money to go. The top three responses were youth employment, violence prevention and affordable housing.
Melody McCurtis, the deputy director of priorities and organizer for Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, said community members were shocked at how much funding was allocating to the police department.
“They didn’t understand how the police could be receiving so much, but never answered their calls, she said. Residents invested money into the budget, but the budget wasn’t being invested in them, McCurtis added.
In addition to surveying residents, Liberate MKE built up its social media presence and released public service announcements on the radio. The goal was to educate and engage people, Tucker said.
“By the time we got to the budget, people were fired up,” Tucker said.
In the end, the police budget was reduced by over $900,000. Earn and Learn, the city’s summer internship program for youth, received an additional $72,000; $300,000 went toward emergency housing; and $240,000 was given to the Health Department to implement the Birthing Moms Pilot Project.
This year Liberate MKE is continuing its push for defunding the police and investing in the community.
Tucker said there has been an increase in education, with more people are learning about the budget and reaching out to elected officials.
“We keep leveling up,” she said.
Rick Banks, the political director of Black Leaders Organizing for Communities and a member of the coalition, said the group always knew it would be a multi-year campaign.
“It’s a continuous process,” Banks said. “This city budget process happens every year.”
He said one of the biggest obstacles the group has faced is the narrative that police equate to safety. Police don’t necessarily prevent crime, and it’s time to try something else, he said.
“Let’s invest in housing so people have a secure place to go. Let’s increase funding for non-conflict resolutions, and let’s give the youth jobs and a place to go,” he said.
In case you missed it: Defund the police? Milwaukee eyes future amid Black Lives Matter protests, coronavirus budget crunch
In case you missed it: Milwaukee police, residents at odds over community-oriented policing


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
July 29, 2020

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Adam Carr


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‘Willing to make changes ‘: Griselda Aldrete reflects on a tumultuous year at the Fire and Police Commission | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
July 30, 2020
“I faced a lot of opposition. I was a new leader with new ideas,” says Griselda Aldrete, who withdrew her name from consideration to be reappointed as executive director of the Fire and Police Commission. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
After a stormy 11 months in office, Griselda Aldrete says she’s walking away on her own terms.
The outgoing executive director of the Fire and Police Commission, who has been a lightning rod for controversy, said in an interview with NNS that she’s proud of her tenure.
“I came in with the bold attitude of being willing to make changes,” she said last week. “In my tenure, I was always a professional, and I’ve been diligent about empowering my staff.”
Aldrete, the first Latina to lead the commission, which oversees all aspects of Milwaukee Fire Department and Milwaukee Police Department operations, said she had the votes to be reappointed.
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Yet she withdrew her name from consideration the day before a decision from the Common Council was scheduled on July 7.
“The climate at City Hall today sadly puts a premium on political point-scoring and conflict,” she wrote in her resignation letter to Mayor Tom Barrett, members of the Common Council and members of the Fire and Police Commission. “This state of affairs presages a confirmation hearing based on spectacle, not merit.”
Aldrete, who was nominated by Barrett in July 2019, has faced a steady stream of criticism from her staff as well as community leaders.
Longtime FPC investigator Cheryl Patane resigned in December and wrote a scathing letter taking Aldrete, among others, to task for allegedly creating a hostile work environment and for “demonstrating a frightening ignorance of FPC operations.”
Then there was the ACLU’s “stop-and-frisk” lawsuit against the city, which placed pressure on the FPC to improve oversight of the police department, meet regularly with the Community Collaborative Committee and improve hiring processes, among other tasks.
Others accused her of failing to meet regularly with community leaders, a criticism that preceded her confirmation as executive director in August.
“It’s imperative that the Fire and Police Commission be directly connected to the community and not rely on others to find out what the real concerns are in our city,” said Jarrett English, during the second of two contentious community listening sessions held by Aldrete before her appointment was approved by the Common Council.
English, at the time a lead organizer for the ACLU who still is involved in community issues, said Aldrete missed several deadlines of the ACLU mandate; hamstrung the FPC by tearing down its structure and losing key employees; and failed to have the experience needed for the role.
Aldrete said her critics are entitled to their opinions. New leaders, she argues, especially those willing to shake the cage, are not always enthusiastically greeted.
“I faced a lot of opposition. I was a new leader with new ideas,” she said.
Aldrete argued during the Public Health and Safety Committee hearing in June that she’s reached out to many in the community and has worked diligently to meet with them and get their input despite the challenges presented by COVID-19.
She said much of the criticism she’s faced preceded not only her but also the tenure of her predecessor, La Keisha Butler.
Although she’s been working from Day One to address the challenges, Aldrete said she and her team were never given a fair shot.
“People always wanted to focus on who was leaving rather than who was showing up every day,” she said. “Politics or not, we have a really strong team that has been working hard for a year, and I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish.”
Aldrete, a former nonprofit leader with an extensive background in criminal justice who holds a law degree from Marquette University, said she came in as executive director feeling prepared to lead. Yet, like anyone else, she had things she needed to learn.
“We shouldn’t demonize people for learning or chastise them for making a mistake because they’re learning,” she said. “I think when we’re dealing with systemic issues, it’s easy to point the finger at one person.”
Whoever takes her place will inherit a commission beset with problems, including staff turnover, internal turmoil and the actions of FPC Chairman Steven DeVougas, whom the Milwaukee Ethics Board recently voted unanimously to investigate over alleged ethics codes violations related to his legal representation of prominent developer Kalan Haywood in late 2019.
Haywood was accused of sexual assault and questioned by police at Sojourner Family Peace Center with DeVougas present. He has not been charged with a crime.
In her resignation letter, Aldrete touted her successes. Among them were the investigation of police officer Michael Mattioli, whom the FPC referred disciplinary charges against related to the death of Joel Acevedo in April. Acevedo died after being held in a chokehold by Mattioli, who was off-duty and hosting a party at his house while the stay-at-home order was in effect.
In her letter, Aldrete pointed to other successes, including the investigation of a leaked video involving DeVougas and Haywood; reforming the standard operating procedures for “use of force” by police; and creating the foundation for complying with the ACLU settlement.
Most recently, Aldrete served in the oversight role of the FPC’s six-month review of the job performance of Chief Alfonso Morales, who was given 11 directives he needs to follow to keep his job.
The focus of her remaining time as executive director will be on conducting promotional examinations to fill vacancies for detective, lieutenant and sergeant positions, a process she said hasn’t occurred since 2016; ensuring complaints of citizens are filed and properly addressed; and continuing to comply with the ACLU settlement. Failure to do so could result in renewed legal action from the ACLU in the coming months.
As for how long she will remain at the helm and what she’ll do next, Aldrete said she was taking things day by day.
“I’m leaving it open,” she said. “I think the universe always conspires to bring good things to good people.”

author: Edgar Mendez


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5 things to do and know the weekend of July 31 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
July 31, 2020
The Ko-Thi Dance Company is hosting the fourth installment of its virtual “SANKOFA” series. (Photo provided by Ko-Thi Dance Company)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon .
1. “DrumTalk” with the Ko-Thi Dance Company
The fourth virtual installment of the Ko-Thi Dance Company’s “SANKOFA” series takes place from noon to 2 p.m. on Friday, July 31. This week’s episode is titled “DrumTalk” and features Ko-Thi Musical Director Kumasi Allen and members of the Children’s Performing Ensemble. Allen will discuss drumming techniques, tradition and more. Visit the group’s Vimeo page to see the full series.
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The deadline to apply for Gov. Tony Evers’ People’s Maps Commission, a nonpartisan initiative, is Friday, July 31. One person representing each of Wisconsin’s eight congressional districts will be chosen. Starting in 2021, the commission will learn about the redistricting process and then proceed to draw fair maps, which will be presented to the Legislature. Click here to apply.
The annual HaRUNbee walk/run for healthy birth outcomes is going virtual this year. The event is hosted by the National Coalition for Healthy Black Families and Bronzeville Week. Participants are invited to complete the walk/run in their neighborhoods on Saturday, Aug. 1. Individuals or teams interested in signing up can click here.
4. Drive-up voter registration at El Rey Foods:
Common Ground is hosting a drive-up voter registration station from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1 at El Rey Foods, 5200 W. Oklahoma Ave. Click here for information.  What you need to know to vote in the Aug. 11 primary
LISC is offering small businesses relief grants through its Rapid Relief & Recovery Fund. The application period for Round 5 is open. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 3. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and to apply, click here.
Bonus: Youth march against gun violence: Friday, July 31
Safe & Sound, the Amani Youth Council, the Dominican Center and Amani United are hosting a youth march against gun violence. The march will take place at Moody Park, 2200 W. Auer St. Organized speakers will begin at 1 p.m. with the march to follow at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 31. All are welcome to join the youth of the Amani neighborhood as they march against gun violence.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed on coronavirus by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
July 30, 2020


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An update on how Community Advocates, SDC are meeting demand for Wisconsin Rental Assistance Program | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
July 31, 2020
Leaders from Community Advocates and the Social Development Commission say their agencies are hiring more staff to help meet the demand from applicants to the Wisconsin Rental Assistance Program. (Photo by Adam Carr)
As residents continue to face hardships in paying rent, we are checking in regularly with the two agencies in Milwaukee that are charged with executing the Wisconsin Rental Assistance Program.
We’ve previously reported that Community Advocates and the Social Development Commission both have faced challenges meeting the demand for help from residents.
Today we look at the progress the agencies say they are making and hear from a tenant and landlord helped by Community Advocates.
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Although Community Advocates has struggled to meet the high demand for the rental assistance program, it has been able to provide aid for some.
Community Advocates received $7 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to assist families in Milwaukee County who face eviction or are behind on rent due to a COVID-19-related loss of income.
Over a thousand people initially reached out for help. Since then, Community Advocates has provided aid to 246 households and has another 900 applications that have been moved to case managers for final approval/processing, according to  Deborah Heffner, the housing strategy director at Community Advocates.
“I help people for a living and then the pandemic hits and I’m not even in a position to help myself,” Mercedez Borges says. The former Thurston Woods resident received rental aid through Community Advocates.
Mercedez Borges, a former Thurston Woods resident, is a small business owner who has lost income because of COVID-19.
The mother of two reached out to the rent assistance program after falling short on bills and struggling to get her landlord to make her home safe for her and her children.
“I had to boil water for my children for almost two months,” she said. “But having a pending eviction on my record made it more difficult to find a home.”
Borges said receiving aid through Community Advocates took almost two months, but she was grateful she applied.
“It was a very emotional time,” she said. “I help people for a living and then the pandemic hits and I’m not even in a position to help myself.”
With the help of Heffner and her team at Community Advocates, Borges was able to move to a more stable home.
“This experience reminded that no one is untouchable when a crisis hits,” Borges said.
Tenants are not the only ones facing challenges to make ends meet.
Some landlords are struggling  as well.
Steven Brick, a landlord in Amani, had tenants lose their income because of issues created by COVID-19.
“It’s just inhumane to evict someone in the middle of a pandemic,” says Steven Brick, a landlord in Amani. (Photo provided by Steven Brick)
He did not want to evict them because they never had problems paying rent until the pandemic.
“I wanted to work with my tenants because we are all in the same boat,” he said. “It’s just inhumane to evict someone in the middle of a pandemic.”
Brick said Community Advocates worked closely with him and his tenants.
“They went above and beyond to help us,” he said. “Deborah Heffner was sending me documents in the middle of the night and on Saturdays to make sure the process went as smoothly as possible.”
Heffner said Community Advocates is still in the process of training new staff and perfecting a system that will speed up helping people.
The Social Development Commission, or SDC, received $6.7 million to assist residents of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Washington counties with rental assistance as part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act package.
Last month, the SDC faced a backlog of more than 24,000 names on the list.
Kim Dawson-Brooks of the Social Development Commission said the agency has provided $635,000 in aid to almost 3,000 families since June 8.
The agency is still in the process of hiring more staff to help speed up the process.
24,000 names and counting: Rental assistance program faces a backlog. Here’s what you need to know.
Social Development Commission continues struggle to keep up with deluge of applicants for emergency rental assistance program
2 agencies struggle to meet demand for Wisconsin Rental Assistance Program

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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50171543021_9f8ce842fd_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
July 30, 2020


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NNS wants to know: How has your family adjusted to virtual learning? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
July 31, 2020
(Photo by Adam Carr)
We are looking to talk with families about their experience with virtual learning for a future story. Whether your experience with virtual learning has been good or bad, we want to hear from you.
Email our education reporter at samwoods@milwaukeenns.org to share your thoughts.

author: Sam Woods


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Post from Community: Schedule of events is set for 8th Annual Bronzeville Week | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Milele A. Coggs
July 31, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs is excited for the kick off of 2020 Bronzeville Week, as the first several days of festive events showcasing culture, history, art, commerce, and entertainment begin Saturday, August 1st. The week-long, city-sanctioned event, running from August 1st – 8th, is sponsored by the City of Milwaukee, Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs and the Historic King Drive Business Improvement District. All events can be viewed on the Bronzeville Week Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BronzevilleWeek.
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“Bronzeville Week is a celebration of culture, arts, entertainment and the rich history of both the Bronzeville District and African-American community,” said Alderwoman Coggs. “This week has become a truly enjoyable and enriching August tradition in Milwaukee, and while the way in which we celebrate will be different this year, I’m excited to announce the wide array of virtual events that will be available to the public.”
This year, Bronzeville Week will feature virtual events starting on Saturday, August 1st with the HaRUNbee 5K Walk/Run for Healthy Birth Outcomes. Residents are encouraged to complete the Walk/Run in their own neighborhood on self-designed routes at any time during Bronzeville Week. Those interested should visit https://raceroster.com/events/2020/29233/harunbee-5k-walkrun-for-healthy-birth-outcomes-virtual-run to sign up and see additional details.
Opening weekend will also include a virtual Pancakes & Poetry event hosted by Dasha Kelly & The Retreat. The event begins at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 1st. The weekend concludes with several events on Sunday, August 2nd. Residents are encouraged to enjoy Brunch in Bronzeville from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at On the Bayou located at 2053 N. Dr. Martin Lither King Jr. Drive and Mi Casa Su Café located at 1835 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Dine-in and carry-out options are available.
Sunday events wrap up with literature and the arts as local author Ebony Lewis will read her book Dear Black Boy: It’s Ok to Cry during the virtual Bronzeville Story Time at 12:30 p.m. Then, virtual Sunday Night Cinema begins at 5 p.m. The event will consist of a VIP screening of Champion Style featuring a talk back with Ray Nitti and Philly Fly Boy in conjunction with the BVI Tourism Board. Those interested should RSVP at bit.ly/ChampionStyleRSVP.
Monday, August 3rd is a day filled with arts and history, starting with the Bronzeville Letters Painting, which will occur on N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. between Clarke Street and Wright Street. The event will feature the painting of letters that spell Bronzeville and will be led by Artists Working in Education. At 1:30 p.m. Lit Wit Lay, a virtual hip-hop dance class, will be streamed online and allow youth to learn movement through music featuring Kalaya Tatum. Monday concludes with MLK Drive after the Unrest, a panel discussion at 5:30 p.m. The panel is a virtual dialogue of the account of 1968 compared to the 2020 uprisings in Bronzeville. Panelists include: Reggie Jackson, Educator/Consultant at Nurturing Diversity Partners; Bria Smith, Student and Activist; Della Wells, Local Artist; and Deshea Agee, Executive Director of the Historic King Drive BID 8.
Additional events and sponsors will be highlighted throughout the week. The full schedule of events is attached and can be viewed at city.milwaukee.gov/BW2020Schedule. Additional information can also be found on the Bronzeville District website at milwaukee.gov/bronzeville.

author: Ald. Milele A. Coggs


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
July 31, 2020


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5 things to do and know this week in Milwaukee: Aug. 3 to Aug. 8 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
August 3, 2020
Join Red Bike & Green Milwaukee and the Ubuntu Research and Evaluation Center on Saturday for a historical bike ride in Bronzeville. (Photo provided by Red Bike & Green Milwaukee)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday. You can also submit items directly by clicking here.
1. Latino Arts celebrates 50 years of Reynaldo Hernandez
Latino Arts, 1028 S. 9th St., is celebrating 50 years of Reynaldo Hernandez, a local artist known for his public murals. The exhibition can be viewed through Friday, Oct. 2. Visit the Facebook event page or website for gallery times and additional details.
2. “On the Frontlines: Doing Journalism that Matters During Turbulent Times”: Tuesday, Aug. 4
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The Marquette University Alumni Association is hosting a webinar from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4. titled “On the Frontlines: Doing Journalism that Matters During Turbulent Times.” The panel includes Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters Princess Safiya Byers and Edgar Mendez and Journal Sentinel reporters Ashley Luthern and James Causey, who were fellows in the O’Brien Fellowship in Public Service Journalism. Click here to register.
3. Washington Heights front yard pop-up: Wednesday, Aug. 5
Local artists, makers and musicians are coming together for a pop-up event in Washington Heights from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5. The pop-ups will be located on North 52nd Street between West Washington Boulevard and West Vine Street. This is an opportunity to support local creatives who would normally be at art fairs and street festivals.
4. Alice’s Garden evening farmers market: Thursday, Aug. 6
Alice’s Garden, 2136 N. 21st St., is hosting an evening farmers market from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6. The evening is an opportunity to purchase fresh produce, meet artisan vendors, enjoy a labyrinth walk and more. The farmers markets take place every Thursday.
5. Bronzeville Week: The Bronzeville ride: Saturday, Aug. 8
Ubuntu Research and Evaluation, along with Red Bike & Green Milwaukee, is hosting the Bronzeville Ride as a part of Bronzeville Week. The Bronzeville Ride will begin at the Ubuntu Research and Evaluation office, 1950 N. Martin Luther King Drive, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8. The event will cover and celebrate the history of Bronzeville. Participants will bike about seven miles. READ: Post from Community: Schedule of events is set for 8th Annual Bronzeville Week
Bonus: Wisconsin voter info session with LIT: Monday, Aug. 3
Leaders Igniting Transformation’s Black Hogwarts is hosting a Wisconsin voter information session on Zoom from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 3. Shauntay Nelson from All Voting is Local will be answering questions about absentee voting, polling places, registration and more. To join the virtual conversation, register here. READ: What you need to know to vote in the Aug. 11 primary
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.

created: August 3, 2020


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 2, 2020

created: August 2, 2020


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Neighborhood private and charter schools make virtual plans as COVID-19 cases create safety concerns | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
August 3, 2020
Students at Messmer Catholic Schools will be learning virtually until at least early October. (File photo by Rachel Kubik)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct a description of  Carmen Schools of Science and Technology.
When leaders of Carmen Schools of Science and Technology were considering when and how to reopen schools this fall, they decided to start virtually after taking a look at COVID-19 data.
“At one point this summer, one of our ZIP codes was at 40 percent of COVID-19 tests coming back positive,” said Jennifer López, the CEO of the public schools network. “So we are very far away from the possibility of opening our schools at this time.”
Carmen, which has schools at all grade levels, is turning to virtual learning despite preferring in-person instruction. This decision comes despite a ruling that schools can reopen for in-class instruction if they provide a plan that is approved by the Milwaukee Health Department.
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As COVID-19 cases continue to soar, schools are wrestling with how to keep students, faculty and staff safe in the fall.
Although they are not obligated to follow MPS’ reopening plan that mandates virtual learning for at least 30 school days, many private and charter schools in Milwaukee have chosen to start the fall semester remotely.
We checked in with school leaders in our neighborhoods to see how their fall plans are shaping up.
Carmen Schools of Science and Technology is starting the school year remotely. (Photo provided by Carmen Schools)
Milwaukee Excellence Charter School
Milwaukee Excellence, an MPS charter school at 4950 N. 24th St., is choosing to follow MPS’ reopening plan for practical reasons. Maurice Thomas said that’s because Milwaukee Excellence contracts with MPS to provide transportation and lunches for its students.
Reopening before MPS is ready to provide those services would not be safe, said Thomas, the director and founder of Milwaukee Excellence.
“We believe that the situation is too risky to try to jump the gun,” Thomas said.
St. Joan Antida High School
For St. Joan Antida, 1341 N Cass St., the decision to begin the year virtually was due primarily in response to MPS’ reopening plan.
President Marikris Coryell said many of St. Joan Antida’s students have younger siblings in MPS schools, which might affect their ability to attend in-person instruction.
The school serves students from 22 ZIP codes throughout Milwaukee.
“A lot of students will have to babysit their siblings in the MPS system when their parents are at work,” Coryell said. “If we went with all in-class instruction, we anticipated absentee issues because of our students’ family obligations.”
Coryell said St. Joan Antida is planning to host small groups at the school for “social services.” This will likely include student check-ins and non-academic programming with outside organizations, such as Pearls for Teen Girls.
“We’re not going to make a commitment to come back to school by a certain day this fall, because at the end of the day we just want everyone to be safe,” she said.
St. Marcus School
While schools like Milwaukee Excellence and St. Joan Antida made the decision to commit to virtual learning early on, other schools waited until recently to discuss remote instruction.
After the Health Department ruled schools could reopen for in-person instruction with approved plans, St. Marcus School began making plans by ensuring there would be space for proper social distancing, schools had personal protective equipment and by replacing bubblers with touchless systems.
“We plan on starting the year with every student who wants to be on campus in school,” St. Marcus Superintendent Henry Tyson said immediately after the Health Department cleared schools to reopen. “We believe we could create a safe environment for kids to learn.”
But as COVID-19 cases continue to surge, Tyson said parents can expect a revised plan.
“It is very fair to say we are re-evaluating what reopening looks like for us in light of recent health data,” Tyson said late last month . “The rate of tests coming back positive has skyrocketed since we began planning in June.”
Messmer Catholic Schools
Messmer Catholic Schools, a network of Catholic schools serving grades K-4 to K-12, originally planned to open in early October. President Jim Piatt said he would like that to still happen but is taking a cautious approach.
“Infection rates in our neighborhoods are extremely high,” Piatt said. “No one expected a July surge. We expected this in late fall, but not now.”
In addition to considering having in-class instruction for K-4 to K-8 students while the high schools learn virtually, Piatt said that Messmer is exploring the option of having small groups of students come in periodically in September to rehearse higher-risk activities such as lunch.
Piatt says those rehearsals will tell leaders if their schools can reopen safely in October.
The bottom line for Piatt is that once students return to in-class instruction, he doesn’t want to have to transition back to virtual learning and start over.
“We don’t want to go backward,” Piatt said.


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NNS on WGLB: Reporter Bridget Fogarty discusses the latest on police-community relations, COVID-19 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
August 3, 2020
(Photo by Adam Carr)
NNS reporter Bridget Fogarty talks with Saryea Murchinson and Dennis Walton of WGLB about community-oriented policing and Milwaukee’s mask mandate.
You can read the Collaborative Community Committee’s report in its entirety here.
You can find out when the Community Collaborative Commission gathers and watch its meetings here.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 2, 2020
“NNS Interview Bridgette July 31”.


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Post from Community: BBB Tip: Hiring a tutor | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wisconsin Better Business Bureau
August 3, 2020
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.
As parents navigate returning to school, and some being informed school will start with virtual learning due to COVID-19, many are turning to tutors to help keep kids motivated and learning. Hiring a tutor for your child is a great way to help them with a subject they struggle in, ensure that they’re staying on top of their curriculum, or prepare them for an assessment. When looking for a tutor, however, it can be difficult to know where to start. There are many different options out there: from frequency and subject matter to types of tutoring businesses. The following BBB tips will help you find the best tutor for your child:

author: Wisconsin Better Business Bureau


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Post from Community: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee extends meal distribution program | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee
August 3, 2020
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.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee (BGCGM) has made the decision to extend its meal distribution program. The program was slated to end July 27, but with the announcement that Milwaukee school students will be learning remotely to begin the 2020-’21 school year, many students’ access to nutrition will be restricted.
“Thousands of kids in Milwaukee won’t be able to rely on school and after school programs to supplement their nutritional needs, and the pandemic has only exacerbated the challenge some families face providing quality food to their families,” said BGCGM President and CEO, Kathy Thornton-Bias. “Boys & Girls Clubs will always remain committed to supporting those who need us most, especially in times of crisis.”
Families can visit one of the following BGCGM Clubs distributing meals every Monday from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. or while supplies last. Each family is provided with three meals per day for seven days for each child 18 and under in their home for a total of 21 meals per child each week.
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Since the pandemic began in mid-March, BGCGM has distributed more than 220,000 meals. A new end-date for the program has not yet been determined.
In addition to meal distribution, BGCGM is also supporting Milwaukee’s youth with in-Club summer programming at several sites. Clubs are operating with reduced capacity and extensive safety protocols in place. Virtual programming is also available at bgcmilwaukee.org. These efforts are a reflection of BGCGM’s commitment to do whatever it takes to ensure kids in under-resourced Milwaukee communities thrive academically, socially, and personally, especially during challenging times.

author: Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee


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Meals_Davis_7-27-20_small_MCP_6418.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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August 3, 2020

author: Name *


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Post from Community: Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center Annual Community Health Fair hits the drive-thru | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center, Inc
August 3, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
The Gerald L Ignace Indian Health Center will host its 4th Annual Community Health Fair on Thursday, August 6 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. In an effort to minimize contact, the event will be held as a drive-thru in the parking lot of the Clinic, located off of 10 & Mitchell Streets. The event is free and open to the community.
Drive through attendees will have the opportunity to receive information on topics such as cancer prevention, smoking cessation, nutrition standards, preventing chronic disease and more.  In addition we will be offering the opportunity to participate in a contact-less screening for prediabetes and high blood pressure.
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To help the community stay safe we will also be handing out our Safer At Home Kits that include cleaning and hygiene items, and of course a pack of re-usable masks donated by our friends at Advocate Aurora.
“During these trying times, we find it even more important to connect with our community and remind them we are here to support their health and well-being,” says Dr. Lyle Ignace, CEO and President of Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center.
In addition, through the planned events attendees can learn important information about their health status through the assessments that will be offered. This event is sponsored in part by the CDC’s Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country grant. The focus of the grant is to reduce the rates of death and disability from commercial tobacco use, diabetes, heart disease and stroke and reduce the prevalence of obesity and other chronic diseases.
“As people have been staying away from healthcare facilities, it’s time to reassure our community that we are taking the proper precautions to make it safe for patients to seek the preventative care for health issues that continue to disproportionately affect the American Indian community when compared to other ethnic groups,” said Ignace.
Testing for COVID-19 will not be offered during the event. If you are experiencing symptoms ((Fever, Cough, Shortness of breath, Sore throat, Headache, Extreme Fatigue, Body or muscle ache, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Loss of smell, Loss of taste), please call (414) 383-9526 to make an appointment to be tested.
To keep attendees and our staff safe, masks will be required for this event. Masks will be provided upon registration.


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July 30, 2020


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Post from Community: Seeds of Health prepared for on-line or in-person fall classes; now enrolling students | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Seeds of Health
August 3, 2020
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.
As the COVID-19 situation changes the face of education with new developments occurring daily, Seeds of Health schools has a message for both returning families and prospective new families: We’ve got you covered.
Whether online, in-person, or hybrid learning, Seeds of Health Schools are ready to deliver quality, individualized instruction to its students when school starts in the fall. Spaces are available for K4–8th grade students at Seeds of Health Elementary.
Seeds of Health Inc. has always prided itself in being ahead of the curve and ready to meet the challenges of our evolving world, and they have fulfilled their students’ and families’ needs throughout the COVID-19 situation.  Seeds of Health schools were proactive last March, ready to begin online instruction the very first day of the school closures. Seeds of Health schools, which include Seeds of Health Elementary (K4-8th grade) and 4 high schools (Veritas High School, Grandview High School, and two Tenor High Schools), are again prepared for multiple educational scenarios in the fall.
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Seeds of Health schools are prepared for in-person instruction as soon as the COVID-19 situation allows. They have been revising their school practices and protocols since this past April by revamping classrooms, buildings, and practices to be in line with COVID-19 protocols. They have solid plans in place for each grade level that align with social distancing protocols and COVID-19 school cleanliness & sanitization standards.
Seeds of Health Schools are also ready for online instruction, if necessary. Seeds of Health will equip each student with a Chromebook and hotspot (if needed) and offer support to students and their families.
Families looking for a school for their K4 – 8th grade student should consider Seeds of Health Elementary, a school with small class sizes, to ensure that each student receives individualized attention– online or in-person. Spots are now open at Seeds of Health Elementary at 1445 S. 32nd Street. Families can register online, curbside, or in-person.
Online registration: Online registration now open at https://sohe.seedsofhealth.org or call Veronica Ramirez at 414-380- 9179.
Curbside registration at Seeds of Health Elementary, 1445 S 32nd Street:
Friday, August 7th 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 13th 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Monday, August 17th 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
In-person registration (with social distancing protocols):
During school hours, register at Seeds of Health Elementary 1445 S 32nd Street, Milwaukee.
Call 414-672-0726 for details.

author: Seeds of Health


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SOH-Logo.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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July 31, 2020


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Post from Community: The library, delivered safely and contact-free | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Helium Books
August 3, 2020
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.
Through it all—the pandemic, resulting closures, and the need to social distance—Helium Books is making sure Milwaukee County residents are not losing access to their libraries.
Operating since September 2019, the local library book delivery service makes reading easier than ever. Readers simply visit the company’s website, create an account, and fill out a form indicating the books they’d like to rent, all within a couple minutes. Then, without having to pay a penny, their desired books will be delivered to their door within 48 hours or less. The process is safe, in accordance with health guidelines, and contact-free.
+ To learn more about the Helium Books rental process, click here.
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While many libraries have reduced hours and capacity, or shuttered their doors completely due to COVID-19, Helium Books is filling the void, allowing library-goers and readers seamless access to the neighborhood staple they may be missing. Although many Milwaukee County residents may not be able to visit their local library, they—by way of Helium Books’s services—are able to once again unlock the magic behind these now-closed doors.
If you or someone you know is patiently waiting for libraries to re-open, Helium Books may be worth looking into. It’s free, it’s fast, and it’s safe. Also worth mentioning, you do not need a library card to use the service.
+ View the Helium Books’s launch day press release here.
If you’d like to learn more about Helium Books, feel free to contact their co-founder, Ian Buchanan, directly at ian@heliumbooks.com. You can also direct emails to support@heliumbooks.com and phone calls/texts to (414) 253-2396.
+ Follow Helium Books on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and TikTok.

author: Helium Books


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July 8, 2020


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The NNS coronavirus update: What Milwaukee residents need to know the week of Aug. 3 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
August 3, 2020
In Phase 4.1, restaurants and bars will be required to submit a safety plan and Risk Assessment Tool to the Health Department if they want to continue serving patrons indoors without capacity limits. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Here’s the latest update on COVID-19 in Milwaukee and the resources you need to combat it.
The City of Milwaukee is now in Phase 4.1 of its COVID-19 safety plan. This update includes the mask mandate and brings changes to the restrictions schools, businesses, bars and restaurants must follow.
Phase 4 allowed establishments to stay open so long as owners and patrons maintained safe practices, which included implementing social distancing and providing protective measures.
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Now, in Phase 4.1, restaurants and bars will be required to submit a safety plan and Risk Assessment Tool to the Health Department if they want to continue serving patrons indoors without capacity limits. All plans will be reviewed, and if approved, the business will be notified if it can operate.
Plans must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 15., and it may take several days for approval. Documents should be sent to cehadmin@milwaukee.gov with the subject line “COVID SAFETY PLAN: [insert name and address].”
The Milwaukee Health Department will host a virtual workshop for restaurant and bar owners wanting assistance in writing their COVID-19 safety plans at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6. For Spanish-speaking establishment owners, the department will host a workshop in Spanish at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4.
Phase 4.1 allows schools to open at a 50 percent capacity rate with a safety plan that is approved by the Health Department. A checklist for plans, which must follow state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, will be available here by the end of the week.
Milwaukee Public Schools have already announced it will begin the school year virtually, with the school board voting last month on a reopening plan.
Although Milwaukee’s mask ordinance has been in full swing since mid-July, Gov. Tony Evers’ issued an emergency order Thursday that requires individuals across the state to wear face coverings when indoors in an enclosed space that is not a private residence.
The order became effective at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1 and expires Sept. 28.
A statewide mask order is a fundamental step in lowering COVID-19 transmission, Dr. Ben Weston of the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management told reporters Thursday. “This is a landmark moment in the history of the state’s fight against COVID-19,” he said.
Unlike the statewide mandate, the MKE Cares ordinance requires masks be worn by everyone 3 and older inside public places outside within 6 feet of non-family/household members.
The city mandate, which went into effect July 16, relies on “self-enforcement.” The Milwaukee Health Department and businesses are responsible for enforcing the ordinance, rather than the Milwaukee Police Department or other local law enforcement agencies.
Milwaukee County issued an administrative order in June that requires any employees, volunteers or visitors (with some exemptions) entering Milwaukee County buildings or outdoor spaces with controlled entry points to wear masks. In spaces where a face mask is required, the county will provide disposable ones to the public. In addition, as of Aug. 1, the Milwaukee County Transit System, or MCTS, requires masks or face coverings be worn on buses. In cases where passengers do not have a face covering, buses will provide a mask as supplies allow.
To obtain a free mask, residents can visit these sites:
NNS reporters also gathered a list of where to buy locally made masks if you’re looking to show some local business love when masking up.
Check the City of Milwaukee Health Department’s website for the most updated facts and answers to questions about the mask ordinance.
Among the unanswered questions COVID-19 brings to this fall and winter, one thing is for sure: The virus won’t stop for flu season.
Though influenza is not as contagious or deadly as COVID-19, the two colliding could make for a dangerous flu season, Weston said last week.
That’s why it will be more important than ever to get a flu vaccine in September or October, he said.
Officials are working to increase access to flu vaccines in Milwaukee County, Weston said, and more information will be available in the weeks to come.
Look here for up-to-date statistics on COVID-19 in the county. More precautions on how to stay safe and information on COVID-19 can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Contact your health provider, call IMPACT 2-1-1 or take a look at the county’s testing site map to find a testing center near you. The free community testing sites are at UMOS, 2701 S. Chase Ave., and Custer Stadium by Barack Obama School, 4300 W. Fairmount Ave.
Check out our continuing coronavirus coverage.
Looking for more personalized direction to resources and information during the coronavirus crisis? Get connected with News414, a texting-based news resource from Milwaukee NNS, Wisconsin Watch and Outlier Media. You can text MILWAUKEE to 73224 and begin to receive free, personalized data via text messages.

author: Bridget Fogarty


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Adam Carr
August 2, 2020


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Here’s an early look at the Milwaukee Health Department’s free mask distribution plan | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
August 4, 2020
Health Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik tweeted samples of the free masks last week. (Photo provided by Milwaukee Health Department)
By the end of August, Milwaukee residents will be able to get free masks provided by the city, officials said Monday.
The Milwaukee Care Mask Outreach Plan— which details how the city will distribute free, reusable masks— is undergoing the final stage of revisions.
Here’s a look at what we know about the plan so far.
What does the plan look like?
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The city’s mask distribution plan will be released early this week, said Marlaina Jackson, the Milwaukee Health Department’s deputy commissioner of community health.
City leaders had originally announced the plan would be ready by Friday, July 31
The Health Department anticipates 500,000 reusable and locally made masks will be produced, Jackson said.
Last month, the Common Council directed Milwaukee Health Department Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik to create a plan to provide free masks as part of the city’s mask ordinance.
The MKE Cares ordinance requires masks be worn by everyone 3 and older inside public places and outside within 6 feet of non-family/household members.
Who is making the masks?
Jackson said masks are being created by Milwaukee businesses.
“While masks are important, we understand the economy has taken such a hit,” she said. “Whatever the Health Department can do to stimulate and support local businesses, that is always going to be our first goal when we have the opportunity.”
Blest LLC, Union Copy Co., Foxxy Locs and FlyBlooms are among local businesses partnering with the department to produce the free masks. Mask creation and designs follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines.
What is the plan’s timeline?
Since the mask ordinance began, the city has distributed disposable masks at health clinics as “Wave One” of a three-part plan, Jackson said.
In “Wave Two,” which will begin in late August, the city plans to purchase and distribute about 500,000 washable, reusable free masks within a 10 -to 12-week period.
Masks will be marked with a stylish design and the City of Milwaukee Health Department logo, Jackson said.
In “Wave Three,” the city will ramp down production of the masks but make sure to always have them available, Jackson said.
Where can residents find the free masks?
The free masks will be available at health centers and the Milwaukee Public libraries, where the disposable masks are already distributed. Jackson said the Hunger Task Force and other community partners will help distribute masks to increase access in child care facilities and other spaces in the community.
Until the reusable masks are ready, the distribution of disposable masks will continue at the following locations:

created: August 4, 2020


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 3, 2020


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‘I have bills, and they need to be paid’: How essential workers are coping with COVID-19 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
August 4, 2020
(Photo by Adam Carr)
Milwaukee’s essential workers continue to toil on the frontlines, risking exposure to COVID-19 by doing so.
Since March, we’ve been checking in with a group of workers who have shared their stories with us. (Note: Names of individuals and some details have been withheld or altered to protect their identity and jobs. The stories have been edited slightly for clarity.)
Early in the pandemic, there was an outbreak at the facility where she works and some residents died. A month later, things had settled down and she felt a little more secure.
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Update: So everyone at the job –  staff, residents – are all negative for COVID-19 right now. They’ve actually relaxed some of the quarantine restrictions now. Some of the residents are able to journey out of their rooms as long as they have a mask on. There are a few who come to eat in the dining room. They have also accepted three new residents. They have to stay in isolation for two weeks, even though a couple of them don’t listen.
We’ve just been stocking up on personal protective equipment. I can only order small amounts of gloves, disposable masks and gowns at a time. My boss is worried about another outbreak. Otherwise it’s business as usual, still wearing masks and changing into scrubs when we get to work. I definitely feel a lot better about everything now than I did back at the beginning!
My family is good. My mom still won’t go anywhere. I started to let my 14-year-old out to do some things. She went to a protest, has been to the mall, and she goes grocery shopping with us. She even ordered a Black Lives Matter mask to wear. I won’t take my 3-year-old anywhere she has to go in a cart. She touches too many things and puts her hands in her mouth. She would definitely get sick. My 20-year-old is still working at the job with me. We do a lot of playing outside, walks and bike riding. My girls got some real nice tans (lol).  But all in all, things are way better now than it was.
In late March, she said: “I sit on the edge of my bed thinking … is this the day? Will I bring it home today? By May, she still had anxiety over catching COVID-19, and her workplace was beginning to expand services.
Update: I do not have the fear that I used to have. We have PPE figured out and everyone is supplied, although some refuse to wear it.  So far, no employees here have been diagnosed with COVID (knock on wood). I don’t feel safer outside of work, as I’m not wearing PPE besides a mask, and too many people have bought into “loss of freedom” and “it’s not that that bad” and “it’s a left wing hoax” conspiracy theories and don’t wear masks. They are just lazy and inconsiderate.
I go grocery shopping on Saturday mornings, have taken a couple of trips to Menards (early morning for garden necessities), but other than that have remained isolated. I’m OK with it, but I have an 88 -year-old friend who lives on her own and is really starting to decline because of the isolation. I can’t visit her because I am too exposed at work.  So . . . I feel safer at work, less safe outside of work.
Maria had not had the opportunity to meet her first grandchild, who was born during the pandemic.
Update: I have not got to meet my granddaughter yet, but I’m hopeful that I will very soon.  I’m just around so many people and I don’t want to risk it. I’m on my eight-week leave from my tax prep job right now. Walmart is stressful. It’s like so many people lost common sense and think just because you work at Walmart,  you’re insignificant. We had a customer throwing a fit because we didn’t have an item in and he started knocking things off the shelfs; parents who do not watch their kids and let them ride bikes all through the store – not just in the bike section to try out the bike either.  I mean from one end of the store to the other.
We asked the kids to please not ride the bikes in the store three times. Then the mom came over and said it doesn’t matter what the employees say, they can do what they want. I try so hard every day to be kind and respectful and treat people how I want to be treated.
Oh, and the mask. I feel so bad for the door greeters. One already quit because of the customers. I don’t feel safer from COVID-19, but what can you do? I have bills, and they need to be paid. I just wish people would think about how they treat retail workers. We try and keep the store clean and safe for everyone but get yelled at, spit on and treated badly. Kindness goes a long way.
The last time we spoke to Jennifer, shedidn’t feel safe working at Amazon.
Update: I haven’t been back to work. Amazon hasn’t increased the wages. They know people need the work, so they lowball everyone and send you out over 100 miles for a three-hour block and you make maybe $60. No way. Not worth it. Not to mention the warehouse doesn’t seem too safe either.
I don’t think things are any safer at all. The proof is in the numbers. I have mixed feelings about things opening up. On one hand, we need to work and do life, and on the other hand, is it really safe enough? Not sure.
Ofelia and her husband had been taking precautions outside of work to protect their family from COVID-19. In June, she said she felt safer than she did in March.
Update: We are taking extra safety measures at work to make sure that our staff and associates feel safe while in the office. At this point, we are not accepting any walk-ins to minimize the exposure to COVID, and we are requiring everyone to wear a face mask and use hand sanitizer upon arrival to their appointment.
My husband and I are still following the same safety precautions. We are still taking this COVID seriously, especially when it has to do with our children’s safety. I like the idea that now the City of Milwaukee has a mandatory mask policy. As far as whether or not schools should open, I feel like it is much safer that the children stay out of schools. They are children and don’t know any better on how to properly stay safe from spreading the virus.
‘Will I bring it home today?’ Essential workers share their COVID-19 stories
‘I won’t feel safer until this is all over’: Checking in on essential workers.


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NNS on ‘Lake Effect’: 5 things to do and know this August | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
August 4, 2020
Alice’s Garden will host markets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings with the health and safety of all attendees in mind. (Photo by Adam Carr)
NNS’s Adam Carr spoke with WUWM and Joy Powers of “Lake Effect” for the August installment of our monthly “5 Things” feature.
This month’s list includes evening markets at Alice’s Garden; a wearable arts fashion show at 5 Points Art Gallery & Studios; Sedan Smith’s annual book bag drive at Sherman Park; a North Side pop-up farmers market; and “Liberation Sessions,” an online civil rights camp for youth.
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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 3, 2020
“0803b”. Released: 2020.


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Post from Community: North Side Pop-up Farmers Market – a new series of outdoor markets | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Northwest Side CDC
August 4, 2020
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.
Visit each of Northwest Side CDC’s new North Side Pop-up Farmers Markets this August. We have several local vendors selling a wide variety of fresh and healthy food, plus cooking demonstrations, raffle prizes, and more!
The outdoor markets will be held rain or shine on Tuesdays between 3:30pm-6:30pm at a different location each week. The dates and locations are as follows:
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This is meant to be a safe, social distancing event, with face masks required.
The attached flyer has a $3 coupon at the bottom, which will be valid for the first 25 redemptions at each market (electronic versions okay). Cash & SNAP/EBT are accepted.

author: Northwest Side CDC


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Pop-up-Farmers-Market.JPG | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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August 4, 2020


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Causey’s Career Corner: The most important job you have right now is taking care of your mental health | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Damia S. Causey
August 5, 2020
As a writer, it’s my job to tell you about jobs, trainings and other career tips to help you navigate the employment market.
But let’s face it: Right now, it’s tough.
Job fairs are gone. Companies are putting workers on furloughs or laying them off. And some companies will not survive, or if they do, their business model will be drastically altered with smaller staffs.
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This is the life COVID-19 has caused, and it is up to us to figure out how to best navigate it.
Even before the first COVID-19 case hit the state in March, the job market for many people of color in this city was bleak.
A July report by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee showed from the years 2014 to 2018, only 17.4 percent of Black men and 14.6 percent of Black women in the city earned $40,000 or more annually.
That ranks Milwaukee near the bottom in the category for large urban cities.
The economic gaps between the haves and have-nots are enormous.
But don’t give up hope. Some jobs will come back, and when they do, I will tell you how to find them and what else you need to do to land your dream position.
But now is the time to begin working on something else that is not career related: Your mental health.
We freely discuss how this pandemic affects us socially: less hugging and cheek kisses; smaller weddings; no huge graduation gatherings; no lunch or dinner dates with friends; and so many other suspended interactions we took for granted.
However, the mental toll is still adding up. I’ve had trouble sleeping. Eating. Concentrating. And quite frankly, working.
The stress and anxiety of COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on my sense of normal. I spend most of my days cooking great meals and exercising — two of the main things that provide me stress relief. On the plus side, I’ve lost nearly 20 pounds since mid-March.
I started with Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service in November . My position as a jobs and career columnist was new for our organization. As it started to take shape, Milwaukee shut down in March to flatten the coronavirus curve.
I do my best to keep my columns upbeat and give great tips and advice on job searches.
But around the end of June, I started to find it hard to write about jobs.
I’ve felt paralyzed by my own anxiety.
Some days wearing a mask is easy, other days, I feel one step away from a panic attack. Wearing a mask for more than 20 minutes inside of store is stressful to me, and a constant reminder of how fragile we truly are.
I’ve changed how I shop by going during non-peak hours to avoid too many people. If I see a full parking lot, I’ll sit for awhile and wait in the car until there are less people before proceeding. Sometimes, I’ve even left a store lot altogether if it appears to be too crowded. I’m sure many of you can relate.
I’m constantly reminding myself not to touch my face, making sure I have hand sanitizer, and I keep paper towels and disinfectant wipes in my vehicle at all times-just in case I need to pump gas, so I won’t have to touch the pump with bare hands.
I am hypervigilant. I know that one moment of forgetfulness or carelessness could infect me or the people I love.
During this time, we all could do better by extending one another compassion as we navigate the unknown for the foreseeable future.
As we start to go back to work, the health practices we’re currently doing will remain a part of our daily lives.
Looking out for one another is one job we can and should all do. Be well, Wisconsin.
About this column: I will share stories of those who have taken a nontraditional approach to employment or an unusual career path. I will also list employment information such as job fairs, resource fairs and job training events. I encourage community organizations to email me at damiacausey@milwaukeenns.org with career information.

created: August 5, 2020

author: Damia S. Causey


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Hidden in plain sight? Black female activists feel left out of BLM movement | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
August 5, 2020
Participants gather at Parklawn Assembly of God Church in June. Some Black female activists in Milwaukee say they feel left out of the ongoing Black Lives Matters protests taking place throughout the city.  (Photo by Sue Vliet)
After spending time in Minneapolis watching protests unfold after the death of George Floyd, Annia Leonard returned to Milwaukee prepared to join similar marches in the city.
But the activist said she was met with resistance.
“Minneapolis was like a war zone,” she said. “Being there made me want to be louder about this issue, but when I attended protests in Milwaukee, there wasn’t space for me.”
“Minneapolis was like a war zone,” says Annia Leonard. “Being there made me want to be louder about this issue, but when I attended protests in Milwaukee, there wasn’t space for me.” (Photo provided by Will Cioci, Wisconsin Watch)
Over the past few months, Black women in Milwaukee have participated in protests – organizing, educating and advocating for change. Yet some told NNS they feel invisible in the movement.
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Many said they feel left out of decision-making processes, leadership positions and the overall narrative of the importance of Black lives.
Leonard, for example, is a youth organizer with Uplifting Black Liberation and Community Vision, or UBLAC. UBLAC is a coalition led by Black women, trans people and queer people with the goal of Black liberation.
Despite her experience in activism and organizing, Leonard said, she still finds herself being ignored and pushed aside.
But this hasn’t stopped Leonard from attending as many protests as she can. She even helped plan the Black Women’s Emancipation March in June.
The case for inclusion
“When you start a movement about the importance of Black people and you don’t highlight all Black people, you limit how far that movement can go,” said Monique Liston, the chief strategist at Ubuntu Research and Evaluation, a Black women-led consulting firm for education, policy and advocacy.
Liston said she has experienced firsthand what it feels like to be invisible erased from a space.
“As an organizer, I’ve walked into spaces with all the necessary information and tools needed to proceed and have had to wait for my male counterparts to arrive to even be noticed,” she said.
The costs of invisibility
Those interviewed stressed that the impact of such incidents takes a toll.
“When Black women are not acknowledged in their work or lived experiences, or even in their death, it makes them seem easily disposable,” says Shavonda Sisson, the creator of the Love on Black Women Fund. (Photo provided by Shavonda Sisson)
“When Black women are not acknowledged in their work or lived experiences, or even in their death, it makes them seem easily disposable,” said Shavonda Sisson, the creator of the Love on Black Women Fund, a people-driven fund that supports Black women in need.
“It makes it easier for us to be victimized. It makes it easier to ignore our physical and mental health needs,” she said. “It even validates why we aren’t paid properly for services.”
Sisson used the death of Breonna Taylor as an example. Taylor, a 26-year-old African American emergency room technician, was killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky, in March.
“When Black men are murdered by police, there is immediate action, but that doesn’t happen for Black women,” Sisson said. “Breonna Taylor was brought into the conversation only after we rallied for George Floyd.”
Elle Halo, another activist, added: “When we start excluding groups, we miss imperative topics that need to be addressed.”
“We forget to address things like how HIV . . . domestic violence or incarceration are plaguing our communities.”
She said she sometimes fights to be included in male-dominated spaces.
“Me being able to wiggle my way into a space isn’t the same as having my voice heard or my opinion respected in that space,” she said.
“Black women and femmes are nurturers and caretakers,” Halo said, adding these attributes are “vital to any space that they are in.”
‘The power of Black women’
Ajamou Butler, the founder of Heal the Hood Milwaukee, an organization committed to healing communities through words and actions, said men have to do better.
“I understand the power of Black women because I literally wouldn’t exist without one,” says Ajamou Butler, the founder of Heal the Hood Milwaukee. (Photo provided by Heal the Hood Milwaukee)
“I understand the power of Black women because I literally wouldn’t exist without one,” he said.
Having Black women in leadership is a must, he said.
“I work with many young girls who have experienced trauma,” he said. “While I am qualified to deal with that, I have witnessed Black women do it better.”
Butler said men must do a better job in helping to ensure the voices of women are heard.
“We have to pay attention to when we are in rooms and there are no women there,” he said.
‘The movement belongs to no one’
“Until we can sit down and collaborate with one another, we will not see the change we are hoping to create,” activist Camille Mays says. (Photo provided by Camille Mays)
Organizers all agree that for any movement to be successful, woman must be present—and appreciated.
Camille Mays, a local activist and mediator, said she’s experienced being undermined in her role as an organizer.
“I had a male organizer tell me that the activist of the year award I won was a pity award,” she said. “I work every day doing this work, and my male counterparts don’t even see me.”
Mays said change can’t happen without all voices being heard.
“Until we can sit down and collaborate with one another, we will not see the change we are hoping to create,” she said. “We have to bridge the divided, put our egos to the side and work together.
“The movement belongs to no one,” she said. “We are all in this together.”


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 4, 2020


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OPINION: I hate lying to my kids about the police. If we tried these reforms, I wouldn’t have to. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Zachery Lathen-Williams
August 5, 2020
(Photo by Edgar Mendez)
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.
Zachery Lathen-Williams is the host of the “One Corner At A Time” podcast and author of “August: A Love Letter.”
I have three children, two girls and one boy. I’ve received emails from their school with instructions on how to talk to them about racism, social injustice and police brutality. A part of me is truly happy — I’d prefer some response as opposed to none at all. That also applies broadly, as we see a large-scale reckoning in America.
But notably, this reckoning has not reached police departments. And while changing the problematic names of food products is fine, police still wield the power to pillage Black lives.
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How do I explain this to my children?
My children think like me, which is most evident in my oldest daughter. She asks difficult questions and never accepts boilerplate answers. On a drive home, she noticed an expletive-laden message directed at the police spray-painted on the bus shelter.
“Why dad?”
I told her, “It’s complicated.” Her sister pressed me. I responded that I’ll talk to them about it when they get older. I remember hearing that from my parents when I was younger and hating it.
The truth is, I have an answer, one that may pilfer any innocence and hope from her immediately. I refuse to give her that answer. Thus, the rationale for my tone — more hopeful than the times may call for — and the drive to learn more about the police.
Recently, such an opportunity presented itself.
In the midst of widespread protest, local church and political leaders organized a “unity walk” with the Milwaukee Police Department. During the walk, I had a chance to talk with MPD Chief Alfonzo Morales, as well as other officers and higher-ups. Of course, cameras were rolling, but it seemed that most officers present, including the chief, were truly engaged with the community and seemed well-intentioned.
The chief told me that police and community relations in Milwaukee were making progress, but “Minnesota set us all back.” With this in mind, I truly believe the Milwaukee Police Department, along with the Fire and Police Commission, has an opportunity to show just how well-intentioned they are and quite possibly spearhead change nationwide.
This can be accomplished by the implementation of the following:
In MPD’s 2018 annual Use of Force report (the most recent year available), there were 682 Incidents. A total of 580 out of 1,917 officers were involved in at least one incident, accounting for 30 percent of active duty officers. Also, 39 officers were involved in five or more incidents. Most alarming, one officer was involved in 24 Use of Force incidents.
I believe Use of Force reports can be improved upon in three ways.
One is being more specific and inclusive. The report identifies 39 officers with “five or more incidents,” which is vague. In the case of 2018’s report, we can presume it to mean anywhere between five and 24 incidents, since that is the maximum given. Also, reporting should include whenever an officer points his weapon or threatens force.
Secondly, there should be a historical account of Use of Force incidents, especially to find patterns among individual officers. How many incidents has the officer with 24 in 2018 had historically? Additionally, public complaints need to be included to corroborate findings that point out a problem officer and quite possibly indicate a larger issue that the city leaders and the Fire and Police Commission can address. If the police truly believe it’s just “a few bad apples,” then expose them and get rid of them.
Lastly, MPD needs to clearly distinguish between Use of Force that is deadly, criminal or excessive from force that is permitted.
In those 682 Use of Force incidents, 97 percent of the first officers involved were male and 72 percent were white. The first subject involved was male 86 percent of the time, and 78 percent of the time, he was Black.
In June 2016, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that the city could no longer enforce its residency requirement that required municipal workers to live within Milwaukee city limits. In turn, the Common Council requires police officers to “reside within 15 miles of the jurisdictional boundaries of the City.”
As of 2018, 33 percent of Milwaukee Police were non-residents. For example, an MPD officer can live in Waukesha, which according to the U.S Census, is 87.8 percent white (Blacks account for only 3.6 percent of the population). A white police officer, who has implicit bias (as we all do), but who also has the power of law to take away life, whose job requires him or her to police a people that he or she only encounters while on the job, can be absolutely perilous for each party involved.
The 15-mile jurisdictional requirement should be repealed, and the residency requirement should be reinstated.
If police officers are our neighbors, it might make it easier for them to exhaust all options before shooting. They may prefer to de-escalate a situation. They may think twice before placing their neighbor in a chokehold.
In an op-ed, Patrick Skinner, a former CIA officer and police officer in Savannah, Georgia, (a place where Blacks represent the majority, 54.4 percent, according to the census) states: “I approach every person I meet on the streets as my neighbor. Often this is literally true because I live where I work. That was a deliberate choice for me, but I respect whatever others choose; I was just trying to figure out how to be a good cop, and, for me, that meant being a good neighbor.”
With the calls to defund/dismantle police increasing, it has to be understood that this outcry is rooted in failed police reform. I mean “failed” because a disproportionate amount of Black and brown people continue to be brutalized at the hands of law enforcement.
The suggestions I’ve offered are by no means revolutionary, but simply common sense. If ignored by the powers that be, it sends a clear message to the community — one that results in expletive-laden messages being written on bus stops, one that results in the calls for defunding or dismantling the police, one that results in me losing the sliver of optimism necessary to write this article.
My children are getting older, and soon I will no longer be able to stall. In years past, the answer has been abundantly clear for people of color, but hope, arising from my children, propels me to look at this as a potential inflection point. The Milwaukee Police Department, Fire and Police Commission and our political leaders have the opportunity to spearhead change.
History is watching.

author: Zachery Lathen-Williams


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Ascension St. Joe’s adds 4 physicians to address ‘primary care desert’ on North Side | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
August 6, 2020
About 55% of Ascension St. Joseph Hospital patients are covered by Medicaid, and an additional 5% have no insurance. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
Getting ahead of a health concern is often the best way of treating it.
For patients, this means seeing a primary care doctor. However, access isn’t always easy.
To help address a “primary care desert,” Ascension St. Joseph Hospital hired four new primary care physicians this year, Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Kluesner said.
St. Joe’s, 5000 W. Chambers St., is the main hospital serving predominantly Black neighborhoods outside the care zones of Aurora Sinai Medical Center and Froedtert Hospital.
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A lack of primary care can result from a number of factors, including people without health insurance and lack of available options in certain areas of the city.
Kluesner said about 55% of St. Joseph patients are covered by Medicaid, and an additional 5% have no insurance. St. Joe’s allows access to primary care for people without insurance and offers financial plans for them.
Kluesner said the new providers will help address health disparities in the community St. Joe’s serves. These disparities include infant mortality and chronic diseases.
The patients at St. Joe’s “have their first heart attack and their first stroke 20 years before the patients just a few miles away in the suburbs,” he said.
Masum Mukit, a family physician who did his residencies in Detroit and Atlanta and is new to St. Joe’s, described family medicine as health care “from the cradle to the grave.”
Family medicine, a form of primary care, can also be a reference point to other areas of medicine.
“Your primary care provider is going to stay on top of all your preventive health needs as well,” Mukit said. “I think it’s really important to help prevent diseases, even more than treating them. If I could prevent that disease in the first place, I think I’ve done my job really well.”
Without primary care, Mukit said, patients are more likely to have undiagnosed conditions that will decrease their quality of life.
In addition to hiring more primary care physicians, St. Joe’s opened a new midwifery clinic in October.
Its staff has delivered 25 babies this year, but their services go beyond helping bring babies into the world.
Nurse midwives can provide routine obstetric and gynecologic, or OB-GYN, primary care to women. They also can relay information on ovulation, menstruation, pregnancy and general health for women.
Gretchen McCool, a certified nurse midwife at the clinic, likens her role to being a “lifeguard at a swimming pool.”
“Our approach to really all of women’s health care is that these are normal experiences that women are going through,” McCool said.
Nate Gilliam, lead organizer for Wisconsin Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals and a member of the St. Joe’s Accountability Coalition, said although he is encouraged by the hospital’s recent efforts, he wants to see even more investment.
“I think they can still do a lot more with their power and resources,” Gilliam said.

created: August 6, 2020

author: Matt Martinez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 5, 2020

author: Adam Carr


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MPS is updating its plan to make the district equitable. Does it go far enough? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
August 6, 2020
MPS’ equity guidebook includes resources on how art can be a gateway to culturally responsive conversations. In this 2014 photo, MPS students participate in a special program taught by Arts @ Large. (Photo provided by Arts @ Large)
Three years after MPS officials admitted to not effectively engaging students of color, school leaders continue work on a plan to address classroom inequities.
The “guidebook” calls for improving MPS staff’s cultural awareness; recruiting and nurturing more teachers of color; and creating spaces for students, family and the community in district decision-making.
The current version of the plan, the district’s third since 2019, outlines five overarching goals that range from equitable academic outcomes across all schools to requiring cultural awareness and responsiveness training of staff.
The plan was presented to the Milwaukee Board of School Directors last week. Another update is due in October that will detail the specific metrics the district plans to use.
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Some community members interviewed by NNS called the draft incomplete. Monique Liston, chief strategist at Ubuntu Research and Evaluation, a group that consults organizations on issues of equity, said she is concerned the document’s language will be hard for the general public to understand and that it lacks specific directives.
The district’s latest plan builds on the work of the district’s Black and Latino Male Achievement initiative, which seeks to improve academic and life outcomes for students. (Photo provided by MPS)
“One of the things we look for in this work is clear language that is logical and direct to the point,” Liston said. “Right now there’s a lot of clouded and flowery language that sounds nice but obscures what is being said and who was involved in the decision-making.”
As an example, Liston noted the plan requires “all school-based teams operate using an equity lens.”
“What exactly are you asking teachers and staff to do?” Liston asked.
Angela Harris, an MPS teacher and chairwoman of the Black Educators Caucus, also called on the district to be more specific. She wants it to name the problems the guidebook is trying to solve, so the district can confront issues directly.
For example, the latest plan does not mention MPS’ settlement with the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights in 2018 that said the district disproportionately suspends Black male students.
The plan, however, does set goals for the maximum percentage of suspensions and behavior referrals for Black male students.
“How can we assist Black boys who are suspended more than anyone else in our district?” Harris asked. “Those are the kinds of questions we should be asking in this guidebook.”
Patricia Ellis, interim director of equity, access and inclusion for MPS, stressed last week that the guidebook is not set in stone.
“This is a living document,” Ellis said. “This guidebook will be updated to reflect changing needs and events.”
The guidebook also contains over 100 pages of resources for staff and students to guide their conversations around equity or implementation of future curricula.
These resources include anti-bias self-checks as well as resources for starting and maintaining meaningful dialogue about race and gender.
The district has set a deadline to implement the equity plan by the end of the 2023-’24 school year.


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OPINION: Changing the name won’t change Reagan. This is a decision for the school’s community. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Kristen Leer
August 6, 2020
(Photo by Adam Carr)
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.
Kristen Leer is a Milwaukee native and MPS alum, currently working with AmeriCorp City Year Milwaukee to support MPS high school students this upcoming school year amid the COVID pandemic.
Some students want to forget about their high school experiences, especially a high school career with the academic rigor of Reagan IB High School (an abbreviated name to the more formal Ronald Wilson Reagan College Preparatory International Baccalaureate [IB] World High School).
The advanced curriculum often kept us up until 1 a.m. We struggled to fit our backpacks and books into very small lockers that were built for middle school children, not to mention the dread of classes in August with no air conditioning. I graduated from Reagan IB High School in 2016.
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I will be the first to admit that I have a more unique connection with my high school than most. During my high school career, I didn’t just go to classes and then go home to watch Netflix – I immersed myself in a myriad of opportunities provided by Reagan IB High School. I participated in the theater department, competed with the forensic team regionally and nationally, was a member of the National Honor Society, was the first editor-in-chief for the high school newspaper The Husky Howler, student monitored classes and the library, etc.
Yes, these all looked great on a college application, but I did these because it allowed me to build a community of support with my high school friends and teachers outside of a classroom setting. It wasn’t just my experiences that kept me close to many friends and former teachers after graduation, but my siblings’ and cousins’ experiences as well. Many members of my family chose Reagan IB based on its academic reputation and the opportunities it provides to gain a head start in life. Their experiences and my own have kept me invested in the culture of Reagan IB High School, even years after graduation.
My personal insights and connections as a Reagan IB High School alum motivated me to write a response to an article by Joey Grihalva titled, “OPINION: Ronald Reagan is a symbol of systemic racism. It’s time to rename our high school.” Despite agreeing with the points that the article argues about Ronald Reagan, the man, and appreciating the conversation that was brought forward, I had a nagging feeling that something was missing from the conversation. Something wasn’t being communicated.
After much verbal processing with Reagan IB High School friends and teachers with whom I am still in contact, two things became clear: 1) the criticism of Reagan IB High School’s name, in this article, wasn’t coming from a member of the Reagan IB community itself, and 2) Ronald Reagan’s name and legacy doesn’t define Reagan IB High School’s legacy.
When I first read the title, I was expecting this article to be written by someone from the Reagan IB community, particularly a student – the writer did use the word “our” in the title. Alas, it was not. The closest connection Grihalva has had with Reagan IB High School is his mother’s transfer as a soccer coach from Rufus King High School (Grihalva’s alma mater) to Reagan IB High School in 2009, 11 years ago. Before his publication about Reagan IB, the author has had thoughts about the name, but only now published his opinion piece in light of current political and social tensions in the post-George Floyd era.
Though I don’t disagree with Grihalva’s points concerning the name, it must be clear that a decision about Reagan IB High School’s name should come from the community itself, including students, teachers, alumni, staff and the students’ families. Problems of any kind in the school should be dealt with by the people they affect.
While Reagan IB High School is a part of the MPS system, Reagan IB should be in control of its name, legacy and reputation – which it is. There have already been active discussions by the faculty and students within Reagan IB’s different multicultural student organizations, before Grihalva’s article, on how and why changing the name could benefit their community.
This process of discussion has been on hold because of external and uncontrollable factors like the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussions currently on the table are concerns about how Reagan IB High School will continue to support its students’ academic and personal success and well-being this upcoming year.
This brings me to my next point. Neither Ronald Reagan’s name, nor his reputation, has stopped Reagan IB High School from providing an excellent education and opportunities to its students, especially for students of color and low-income students. I can say with confidence as a first-generation Latinx female from a low-income background who recently graduated (Spring 2020) from UW-Milwaukee, triple majoring as a McNair Scholar with Honors Distinction. The confidence, academic skills and support that the Reagan IB community gave me allowed me to carry these forward and use them in my personal and academic accomplishments post-graduation.
Many students, including myself, didn’t have the privilege of turning down an acceptance from Reagan IB High School or crossing it off our list of possible schools because of the immense opportunities and academic excellence it provided. Reagan IB High School is ranked #1 in Milwaukee School District High Schools, #3 in Wisconsin High Schools, and #223 in National Rankings.
The record can speak for itself, but it is the voices of the students that should take precedence. Coming from the outside and arbitrarily advocating a name change dismisses the positive experiences and accomplishments so many students have had from Reagan IB.
We don’t, or at least shouldn’t, condemn a child for the beliefs and mistakes of their parents. Instead, we recognize and encourage the potential that child has for doing right and giving a new legacy to the name they bear. The Reagan IB community deserves the same right.
To that point, changing the name won’t change the school. Reagan IB works tremendously on behalf of students of color and will continue to do that for its students no matter the name. Furthermore, changing the name won’t eliminate past agendas of racism from President Reagan’s term, MPS or our school system at a large. Putting too much stake on the name takes away from what Reagan IB High School is and can continue to be.
Are there improvements that can be done with Reagan IB High School and its community? Of course. But since recently becoming a high school in 2003 and being renamed to commemorate the death of the eponymous president, I would say the community has done well within that short amount of time. Just imagine what Reagan IB High School will be like in the next 10 years. Perhaps bearing a different name, but still a respected MPS high school.
Before I end this article, I must make clear that a lot of what I am writing is from my personal experiences and shared secondary experiences from multiple generations of peers and faculty within the Reagan IB community. I submit these points to the discussion for current and future Reagan IB students and community members to consider when talking about this action further. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest are putting a lot of already vulnerable student populations and their families at further risk. Providing additional support for MPS students’ well-being personally and academically this upcoming year should be the first and foremost concern of any MPS teacher, staff and administration.
Thank you for starting the conversation but the Reagan IB community will take it from here.

author: Kristen Leer


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53850294_2112690905487173_4663513792515145728_n (1) | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 5, 2020


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Post from Community: Data Dream 2020: Applications now open | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Data You Can Use
August 6, 2020
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.
Click here to apply.
Overview: Data You Can Use (DYCU) seeks applications for the Data Dream Award. Winners will realize their “data dream” through the professional services of DYCU and expertise of our partners. Milwaukee-area nonprofits will be selected through a competitive process and awarded at Data Day on October 21, 2020.
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What is a Data Dream? The Data Dream competition is an opportunity for an organization to move beyond limitations due to a lack of information, the capacity to interpret data already collected, or some combination of both.  Applicants share what would be different if nonprofit leaders had a certain piece of data—how their planning, service provision, results, or funding might be improved with assistance in securing, analyzing, visualizing or presenting data. Applications are screened and the top candidates will compete in the “shark tank” at Data Day on October 21, 2020. Following a five-minute pitch, celebrity judges will select the winners.
What is Data Day? Data Day is an annual event, hosted by Data You Can Use which provides an opportunity for leaders, from neighborhoods to universities, to better understand what data are available, the implications of data on community revitalization, and how to increase connections between research and practice.
Sponsors and Past Winners: Previous sponsors include the Zilber Family Foundation, the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, The Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, and the Siebert Lutheran Foundation.  Past winners of the Data Dream Award include Core el Centro, ACTS Housing, Bread of Healing Clinic, the Brady Campaign, and Walnut Way. Winners describe the assistance they receive as “transformational” –providing information, insight and action-oriented direction in their use of data.
Learn more through our Data Day flyer here. Feel free to share this with your networks.
Data Dream Questions? Contact Kathleen Pritchard, President, Data You Can Use, Inc., 414-331-7616, katie@datayoucanuse.org

author: Data You Can Use