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Reclaiming the ‘public’ | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Rick Deines
August 20, 2018
The Milwaukee Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Rick Deines, a conversation facilitator with The Zeidler Center for Public Discussion, writes that using our public spaces is critical to building community.
My family has lived in Milwaukee for 37 years. We have been nurtured by the whole community through our public opportunities. Far from being self-made people, we have depended on and used for free the parks, the schools, the libraries and the public square.
Through these, we have grown into more responsible citizens and people who care about our present and future. We have not been activists but participants and beneficiaries. If every family took advantage of those opportunities, we would strengthen our community.
There are many things that contribute to “building community.” However, it seems undeniable that a priority is the places we call “public.”
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Public places are those places where you and I can go regardless of education, income, age, etc., do important things and interact with one another however formally or informally.
Public places build and sustain our community. This is action we can begin today!
I want to suggest four public opportunities that with our increased participation begin to impact our social fabric in ways that will lead to our making better choices about who we want to be and who we choose to represent our interests politically.
Not every neighborhood park, library, school or voting booth is created equal. However, with some focus and attention from citizen, alderperson, mayor, county executive and governor, these resources can be a strong fabric in every neighborhood. Plus a new kind of city would begin to emerge.
Parks: My neighborhood park for the past 30 years is Lake Park. It’s a no-brainer being near the lake in an upscale community. Even with county cutbacks, the Lake Park Friends and the drivers behind renovating the Lighthouse have made sure, as much as possible, that any resident and family can walk, run, bike, lay in the sun, play ball, tennis, sled, ice skate — for free. It’s public.
Contrast the recent crime activity in Washington Park and other communities labeled “not us.” It’s not a level playing field. These communities have also been working for years to bring resources into the parks to give all of our citizens places to be active for free!
The incredible Urban Ecology Center is a key player in reviving the parks.
Libraries: My favorite library is the architectural gem at 8th and Wisconsin. Many of the homeless find some solace in its proximity. Enter the building and it’s a sacred space. The mixed population and general quiet soothe the “savage beast” in me. The resources to understand the world, Milwaukee and my life are legion. An upper level gives us a chance to research Milwaukee in ways that Frank Zeidler (then) and John Gurda (now) have pioneered.
And the East Library brings that larger reality into my neighborhood on North Avenue. I’m there several times a week just to rub shoulders with the diversity that Milwaukee is. Yes, there are some libraries that are homogeneous, but for me they have also been safe and “filled with revelation” about who my neighbors in different ZIP codes are.
I’m convinced that individuals and families will enrich themselves and each other by spending more time in libraries. It’s a much better source of humanness than the Internet, which I also use frequently.
Schools: Moving to Milwaukee late in the summer, the slots of the more prestigious schools, like Rufus King were filled. Our 7th grader went to our neighborhood school, Hartford Avenue, a school that seems above average and our 11th grader graduated from Riverside, a school in transition at that time. They now have had children in public schools in Minnesota and Michigan. Public education taught our children as much about social skills as academic skills.
Private, charter, choice, and homeschools have added to the debate. My only plea is that we not abandon schools where every child can be in a safe, high-quality learning environment. The interim superintendent at MPS is a cheerleader and our citizen responsibility is to support him and MPS, even if we choose to send our children to other learning environments.
The Public Square: We are a representative democracy. How do we reclaim the power of each citizen and of us together as a force?
When troubling decisions are made and supported by our politicians on a daily basis, it is not enough to say, “This is not who we are.” Voting as a right and responsibility becomes more important than ever. Voting and organizing are two ways to make the Public Square an arena for meaningful citizen engagement.
This is not partisan. I’m finding few representatives in either party who boldly present a challenge to the present malaise. Who can I vote for with full-hearted passion? I need a choice!
We can get started by naming and supporting representatives who clearly place the public interest above their own self-interest. We, together, can put parks, libraries, schools and voting front and center. Family-supporting jobs, health care, etc. can follow.
By radically increasing participation in our public places, our community will become more connected and healthier. And it’s all free.
“Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth,” said Abraham Lincoln. (Now that’s “radical.”)

author: Rick Deines


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 19, 2018

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Adam Carr


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Addiction policy forum launches statewide resource to address Wisconsin’s addiction crisis | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Michelle Jaskulski, Addiction Policy Forum
August 21, 2018
Addiction Policy Forum, a leading addiction nonprofit organization, has expanded its Addiction Resource Center (ARC) to include a database of treatment resources, facilities, and healthcare providers specific to Wisconsin residents.
In 2016, Wisconsin had more than 1,000 deaths from drug overdoses, and opioids accounted for 81 percent of those fatalities. As of August 14, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner reported 168 confirmed overdose deaths to date in 2018. As families navigate resources for substance use disorder, the Addiction Resource Center (ARC) offers two ways to find lifesaving help; an online portal and confidential phone line.
“Wisconsin saw a 25 percent increase in overdose deaths in 2016. With resources added to the ARC database to help connect Wisconsin residents to local substance use disorder services, we hope to see these numbers decrease as more patients and families access the help they need,” said Jessica Hulsey Nickel, Addiction Policy Forum President and CEO.
The ARC includes a comprehensive, interactive website to help individuals and families struggling with addiction learn about substance use disorders and access critical resources. This platform dispels harmful myths about addiction by presenting the science behind the disease in easy-to-read formats, guiding concerned individuals through a self-assessment tool, helping to develop a proposed action plan and providing a database of local treatment providers.
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The ARC also includes a resource line staffed by addiction counselors, licensed social workers, and peer recovery support advocates that provide callers with substance use disorder-related information, education on treatment options, and support. Wisconsin residents can call the line at 1-833-301-HELP (4357), Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.
“We have experienced firsthand the impact addiction has on a family” said Michelle and Darrell Jaskulski, co-chairs of APF’s Wisconsin State Chapter. “Two of our sons struggled with substance use disorder for years but are currently in recovery — a tool like ARC would have been a tremendous help when we were looking for options. The availability of comprehensive resources can make it easier on families who are experiencing the toughest of times.”
Addiction Policy Forum, which has chapters in 28 states and a national office in Washington, D.C., plans to continue adding state-specific resources to its database throughout 2018. In addition to addressing addiction through community resources, APF is committed to affecting policy change at the local, state and national levels and raising awareness of the nationwide addiction crisis.


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Black August Friday Freedom Flick, “LUMUMBA” by Raoul Peck | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Arthur Heitzer
August 21, 2018
Black August Friday Freedom Flick,
https://www.facebook.com/events/315664758981701/
“LUMUMBA” by Raoul Peck (Haitian director of “I Am Not Your Negro” re James Baldwin)
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Discussion afterwards facilitated by UWM Africology Prof. emeritus Patrick Bellegarde Smith, based on his notes in teaching on Patrice Lumumba, anti-colonial leader, Prime Minister of the (former Belgian) Congo, and then assassinated with western involvement.
Friday, August 24 at 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Peace Center, 1001 E Keefe Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Free and open to all interested.  Dedicated to strengthening movements for peace, freedom & liberation.
Wheelchair Accessibility: via portable temporary ramp into first floor where movies will be shown.
“Lumumba is an extraordinary film for both cinematic and political reasons, and its affective and aesthetic power derives not only from its stunning indictment of international complicity in the assassination, but also, and primarily, from Peck’s brilliant and deeply moving use of storytelling to depict a leader caught in the crossfire of colonial economic interests and African ethnic intrigues.” — Julia Watson, “Raoul Peck’s Lumumba: A Film for Our Times,” in Research in African Literatures, Indiana Univ. Press (Summer, 2002)

author: Arthur Heitzer


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Patrice Lumumba, October, 1960.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
August 21, 2018

author: Name *


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Mayor announces two development sites in Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley Industrial Center to be sold | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee
August 21, 2018
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett will announce Wednesday that the two remaining parcels in the City’s Menomonee Valley Industrial Center are set to be developed. Badger Railing will acquire 1.8 acres to expand its facility, and Splat! dpi will buy 2 acres for a new building to house its commercial printing operation.
In other portions of the Menomonee Valley, developable sites remain for businesses looking for attractive new locations – near a capable workforce.
Badger Railing, one of the first companies to locate in the industrial center, plans to expand to accommodate new equipment on land immediately north of its current building.
Splat! dpi is a growing specialty printer, and its operation will house large pieces of equipment in a new building in the north portion of the industrial center. Both land sales require approval from the Redevelopment Authority and the Common Council.
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This announcement caps a fifteen-year effort to redevelop the site of the old Milwaukee Road Shops. Eleven businesses operate in the City’s Industrial Center with more than 14-hundred employees.  That is more workers than originally projected.
The 60-acre development stands alongside public spaces, biking and hiking trails, and modern stormwater management features. It was developed using Tax Incremental Financing along with funds from other levels of government, including the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

author: City of Milwaukee


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On the Block: Returning home | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ryeshia Farmer
August 21, 2018
Unique Russ lived a few short blocks away from where the Sherman Park unrest occurred in 2016 and where Still Waters Collective’s “The Soapbox” took place for the first time that year. The Soapbox gave frustrated residents a platform to voice their concerns about conditions in the area and the police killing of Sylville Smith.
On the two-year anniversary of The Soapbox, Russ, who works for Still Waters Collective, hosted the second Soapbox event. She said she feels the area is safer than it was two years ago.

author: Ryeshia Farmer


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 20, 2018


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Pete’s Pops opens new location on Near West Side | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Robyn Di Giacinto
August 21, 2018
Community members gather for the grand opening of the new Pete’s Pops storefront on the Near West Side. (Photo by Robyn Di Giacinto)
Tyvek wrap lined some of the windows of the new Pete’s Pops storefront at 3809 W. Vliet St. But even if the façade was still in progress, by early afternoon the business’s grand opening was already in full swing.
The whir of passing cars and motorcycles was peppered by the beat of funk chart-toppers and the squeals of sticky-fingered children. The line for “The Pop Window” snaked out the door. Customers at the end peered through the open bay window at a huge blackboard scrawled with 24 different popsicle flavors.
“It’s perfect for a popsicle shop,” said founder Pete Cooney, surveying the flashy metallic siding during his first break of the afternoon. “It’s bright and fun. That’s the whole idea.”
Pete’s Pops started in 2014 as a single pushcart selling five flavors. Now, the company has opened its first brick-and-mortar location, a formerly vacant 1,000-square-foot space that features a walk-up retail window and commercial kitchen.
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Cooney committed to locating the storefront on the Near West Side in 2016 after winning $10,000 from the inaugural Rev-Up Milwaukee competition, a “Shark Tank”-style live pitch event organized by Near West Side Partners. The grand opening was originally slated for June but had to be pushed back to allow for extensive renovations.
Near West Side resident Annie Harrell shares a sweet treat with her grandchild, KJ. (Photo by Robyn Di Giacinto)
“It’s been really busy and well received,” Cooney added. “I think everyone’s having a good time.”
Annie Harrell, a Near West Side resident who has lived on 44th Street for the past 11 years, had been watching the progress of the store’s renovations for months. But she didn’t realize it was the grand opening until earlier that day, when she saw signs and a crowd of people while driving home from the grocery store.
“It’s kind of exciting to have something different in the neighborhood,” she said as she held a popsicle for her young grandchild, KJ. Harrell added that she hopes to continue visiting Pete’s Pops as long as weather permits.
On the other end of the sidewalk, Lionel Lin and Randy Torkelson echoed her enthusiasm. The longtime Near West Side residents said they first heard about the grand opening on Facebook and were eager to show their support for a new local business.
“We haven’t seen anything new for years,” said Torkelson, who’s lived on 61st Street since 1989. “It’s nice to see some investment in this side of the neighborhood.”
So far, the store has hired seven local high schoolers as part-time employees. The youth approached Cooney about working for him shortly before the store’s soft opening on Aug. 11.
Jason Terry, a part-time employee and a sophomore at Hamilton High School, said he hopes to continue working at Pete’s Pops during the school year. He said his favorite part of the job is “making customers happy,” adding, “It’s a nice place to work.”
Cooney said the part-time youth employees all did a great job and are great kids. “They’re excited to be involved and we’re excited to have them.”
Pete’s Pops Vliet Street location will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m. through the end of the season. Cooney plans to complete renovations over the winter and re-open next spring with both weekday and weekend hours. The business’ pushcart will continue to operate at farmers markets and other outdoor venues as usual.

author: Robyn Di Giacinto


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30293615558_1183a91b04_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 20, 2018


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Family spreads small-business roots on South Side with new flower market | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sophie Bolich
August 22, 2018
Sisters Monica and Jessica Beltran were never risk takers, until the risk involved quitting their jobs and turning their lives upside down.
“I never liked change,” said Monica, co-owner of Gardenia Flower Market, which opened April at 2101 W. Mitchell St. “I was afraid to graduate high school, to move out of my parents’ house and to graduate college. Quitting my job to start this business with my sister, I wasn’t scared for the first time.”
The sisters left their jobs in 2016 to buy an abandoned building and revamp it into what is now a flourishing plant and flower shop. Monica was a pastry chef and Jessica had a manager position at Pete’s Fruit Market,
“It was a risk because my old job was very secure,” Monica said. “But because it’s something we can grow as a family; it was easy to say yes. I knew the vision my sister had would work.”
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Gardenia co-owner Monica Beltran arranges a bouquet of sunflowers. The shop offers fresh-cut floral arrangements for restaurants, proms, funerals and more. (Photo by Sophie Bolich)
The market is located in the Muskego Way neighborhood on the South Side. Inside, the space is light and breezy with hardwood floors and fresh, white walls. Plants cover every available surface; there are tables laden with leafy ferns, shelves of knobby bamboo, climbing vines snaking up the walls, baskets of fragrant flowers and, in one corner, a tank of goldfish.
Jessica said arranging flowers had always been a hobby before it became her career.
“I made arrangements for my siblings’ weddings,” she said. “When we started selling plants at Pete’s, I saw that people liked it and I thought, ‘I’m in the wrong business. I need to be with flowers and plants.’”
Jessica and Monica say naming the store was sentimental for them because the gardenia was their grandmother’s favorite flower. Jessica said she also liked the name because it has the same meaning in both English and Spanish.
“Because we live in a neighborhood with a lot of Spanish-speaking people, we want to make them feel more comfortable, so they don’t have to go somewhere else that might not be able to speak Spanish,” she said. “We can answer their questions and we also learn a lot of nicknames for plants from their native areas.”
Neither sister had a formal business education. Instead, they learned from experiences at other businesses, reading and picking it up on the fly.
Jessica and her husband, Oscar Marin, also have a dry cleaning business on 44th Street and Fond du Lac Avenue.
The shop sells mostly exotic indoor plants, including palm and rubber trees and an assortment of cacti and succulents. (Photo by Sophie Bolich)
“The other business helped us learn, but it’s mostly reading about it and then doing it,” Jessica said.
Marin said he and his wife always admired the building while driving past. They wondered why nobody bought the place, which had been abandoned for more than 10 years. In early 2015, they took the leap and bought it, then spent two years fixing it up, keeping the original floors, doors and structure, and updating utilities.
Jessica and Marin have four kids ranging from 6-months to 4-years old. Both parents said they think it’s beneficial for the kids to spend time in the shop.
“They’re helping out, getting their hands dirty,” Marin said. “It’s good for them to see mom and dad working on something that’s important to us.”
Owning two small businesses has been no easy feat, according to Marin, but he said all the work is worth it.
“It’s a sense of pride. I think people are starting to move away from the big box stores and realize the value in going to small businesses where the owners are knowledgeable and can answer questions,” he said.
Eventually, Jessica and Monica want to start doing workshops in the community and for local schools. Monica said she has always been drawn to teaching, so this job provides a perfect opportunity to work with kids.
The sisters are also working with the Muskego Way Neighborhood Committee on a project to beautify the neighborhood with sidewalk planters. The shop is also involved in local service projects such as an upcoming school supply giveaway at Reyna’s Hair Salon, 1609 S. 11th St. on Aug. 26.
“We wanted to bring a nice shop to the neighborhood, and we want people to stay in the neighborhood and invest here,” Jessica said. “There’s a lot of liquor stores and convenience stores. This is something different.”

author: Sophie Bolich


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 21, 2018


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How to discard your medicine properly | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Madison Marx
August 22, 2018
Consumers should remove unused medicines from their homes to help reduce the chance that others may accidentally take or intentionally misuse the unneeded medicine.
Medicine flushed down the toilet flows directly to Lake Michigan because it passes through wastewater treatment plants that are not designed to remove drugs, according to the Fund for Lake Michigan. A large and growing number of chemicals related to unused medicine are currently being detected in Lake Michigan near Milwaukee.
Here are some tips for properly discarding your unused medicine:
Drop boxes
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Residents of Milwaukee County can take back their unused medicine on any day of the year at one of 82 locations in the county. A map of all locations with either a drop box or drug disposal envelops can be found at takebackmymeds.com.
Disposal in the household trash
You also can follow these simple steps to dispose of most medicines in household trash:
For more information, please click here.

author: Madison Marx


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Abandoning Integration: HUD Diminishes Power of the Fair Housing Act | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
William R. Tisdale
August 23, 2018
Last week, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced plans to undo major fair housing advances made during the Obama administration. Instead of requiring that HUD-funded communities affirmatively further fair housing by undertaking efforts to promote integration, HUD’s emphasis is shifting to a more general goal of simply increasing affordable housing supply.
While increasing affordable housing opportunities is a praiseworthy aim, it is a weak and irresponsible response to community needs unless it happens within a framework of pro-integrative policy.
Our cities remain highly segregated based on race and income. Metropolitan Milwaukee is the most segregated urban area in the nation for African Americans, and has the lowest African American suburbanization rate of any metropolitan area in the US. This segregation contributes to shocking racial disparities in income, health, education and homeownership. These disparities don’t just harm some individuals, or just people of color; they hurt all of us because they undermine the collective wellbeing of our neighborhoods, our schools, our labor market and our health care systems.
Increasing affordable housing stock, in and of itself, does nothing to dismantle segregation. In fact, affordable housing development has often served to perpetuate racial segregation and disparities, because it has been sited in under-resourced areas, and thus contributed to the concentration of poverty.
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When the federal Fair Housing Act was signed into law 50 years ago, our Congress intended it to do two things: to outlaw individual acts of discrimination and to promote integration, thereby creating markets in which all people have equal housing opportunities.
The promise of the Act has never been fulfilled; our federal government has failed, time and again, to enforce it proactively. In fact, federal, state and local governments have all permitted and even embraced public policy that reinforces segregated housing patterns. The Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council is currently convening a community book read of The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America, by Richard Rothstein, a masterpiece that details this phenomenon. (Rothstein will be visiting Milwaukee in October to discuss this book; see the Council’s Facebook page for more information.)
Yes, we can create more affordable housing. And yes, we can combat individual acts of illegal housing discrimination. But – and it’s hard to believe it’s still necessary to state in 2018 – we know that . It never will be. Segregated housing conditions will always be harmful, even if all neighborhoods include more affordable housing choices.
In order to enforce the federal Fair Housing Act and promote equal housing opportunity, affordable housing development must be thoughtfully, deliberately designed to promote integration. Our government helped create our segregated living conditions, and it must have an active role in undoing them.

author: William R. Tisdale


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Community Care to host FREE health matters event at its Vliet Street Center on September 23 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Community Care
August 23, 2018
Community Care Inc., will be hosting to Community Health Matters Event from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, September 23, at its Vliet Street Day Center located at 3220 W. Vliet Street.
The event is free and open to the public and will include: flu shots, blood pressure checks, blood glucose checks for diabetes, memory screenings, depression screenings, chair fitness screenings, educational presentations and meet and greets with Community Care doctors as well as other local health and wellness providers including Dee’s Medical Services LLC, SDS Senior Program, Survey of Health Wisconsin (SHOW), Victory Garden Initiative, a mobile food pantry, and more.
According to Kenneth Munsen, chief executive officer, “We know there are many people our community in need of quality health services for either themselves or their loved ones. The goal of the event is to support these individuals by providing them valuable resources and to give them the opportunity to become familiar with Community Care’s quality program and services.”
The Health Matters Event is one of many events that Community Care Inc has planned in honor of national PACE (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for Elderly) Month.  Community Care Inc. is Wisconsin’s only PACE provider serving over 500 adults in Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha Counties.  PACE programs provide and coordinate all needed preventive, primary, acute and long term care services so that older individuals can continue living in the community, rather than living in a nursing home.
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Community Care Inc., headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., is a private nonprofit organization that serves the long-term care and health needs of more than 10,000 older adults and adults with physical or intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1977, Community Care is the only Wisconsin managed care organization to offer all three programs of Family Care, Family Care Partnership and Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). The organization provides care in the 14 eastern Wisconsin counties of Calumet, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca and Winnebago.
For more information about Community Care, visit www.communitycareinc.org.

author: Community Care


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Special report: Residents reporting nonviolent crimes face long waits for MPD response | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
August 23, 2018
A Milwaukee Police District squad patrols in the Amani neighborhood. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
This is the second in a two-part series about Milwaukee Police Department response times. Read the first installment here.
South Side resident Dede Kupper and her husband Dan, a mechanic, woke up on a recent morning to find that their 2012 GMC Denali had been broken into and that thieves had stolen a bag containing $800 worth of tools.  Kupper called the police, and after an hour of waiting, she called again.
“He [the police officer] told me it didn’t sound like $2,500 worth of stuff was stolen, which makes it a felony, so they weren’t going to send a squad. I told them I wanted one sent anyway,” she said.
Three hours later, Kupper said, an officer showed up.
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“I don’t think they [police] considered it an issue but to us it was a big deal. Just because your life is not in danger, does that make it not worthy of a police response?” Kupper asked.
Her story is common in Milwaukee, where residents who report nonviolent crimes including stolen vehicles (68 minutes), theft (58 minutes) or theft from vehicle (58 minutes) face a long wait for a police response, if they respond at all, according to Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) dispatch data analyzed by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.
(Click to enlarge)
Margie Ramirez, who lives near West Greenfield Avenue, called 911 last summer after she heard a commotion in the street and looked out to see a woman ripping her clothes off, running in the street and throwing herself to the pavement.
“I thought she was going to get hit by a car,” Ramirez said. She waited an hour for police to arrive, and when they didn’t show up, called them back, she said.
“They said they had other calls to respond to and never came. I felt like they didn’t even care,” Ramirez said.
In general, police in Milwaukee were slow to respond to many violent and nonviolent crimes, according to an NNS analysis of more than 1 million MPD dispatch records that occurred during the five-year period between 2013 and 2017. The average response time by MPD for all types of calls was 33 minutes in 2017, down substantially from 65 minutes in 2015, but up slightly from 32 minutes in 2013. Calls for assistance from MPD are prioritized by the department to determine what calls get the quickest response, said Assistant Police Chief Ray Banks in an interview following a July meeting in the Amani neighborhood.
The priorities range from 1 to 6, with 1 being the highest priority.
The data shows average response times of more than 45 minutes for nonviolent crimes including property damage (47 minutes), reports of a wanted subject (61 minutes) and graffiti (62 minutes). These crimes might not be considered urgent, but nevertheless affect the quality of life of residents, according to Ald.  Bob Donovan. Donovan described response times in general in the city as “dismal” and criticized the lack of action to improve them.
“We’re heading in the wrong direction,” he said. “What steps have been taken to address these deficiencies? I would argue that very little has been done to address these quality of life issues,” he said. MPD declined to comment for this story. Among the questions was why response times spiked dramatically in 2015.
Ald. Jose Perez said that he and other aldermen have been working with Paulina De Haan, emergency communications and policy director for the city of Milwaukee, to streamline the dispatch process and improve communication between residents and 911 dispatchers.
“Those jobs are tough, and we want to make sure the dispatcher is someone who understands the community and can communicate what information is needed to get a quicker response,” said Perez, during a July interview with NNS.
Tammy Rivera, executive director of Southside Organizing Committee, is part of a group working to shape a comprehensive plan to improve police policy and community relations. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
When that quick response doesn’t occur, it damages trust people have that police are responsive to their concerns, said Sharlen Moore, executive director of Urban Underground, a local youth-led social justice organization.
Tammy Rivera, executive director of Southside Organizing Committee said she consistently hears from community members that police take too long to respond to calls.
“I don’t have a scientific gauge of what an expected response time is, but I do know that many times I hear from the community that it’s been deemed unacceptably long,” she said.
Rivera said that while she believes that people — especially those who are victims of violence — expect an immediate police response, she knows that might not be possible. She also understands why people get upset when police don’t respond or take a long time to do so, including in cases involving property damage.
“It may be because someone’s tire got damaged, but these things can really impact someone’s life and sense of safety. If police don’t show up, then crimes like that end up being underreported because people think it’s not worth calling anymore,” Rivera said. Response times for property damage calls in the 53215 ZIP code, where her organization is located, averaged 41 minutes in 2017, down from 45 minutes in 2016.
Tom Schneider, executive director of COA Goldin Center, a nonprofit in the Amani neighborhood, said while it’s important to note that calls to police necessitate different responses, it is important that the community, as well as the police, work to reduce response times. “People have to be willing to make a call, which sometimes has to do with whether or not they feel the police will respond.”
(Click to enlarge)
Response times in Milwaukee are high for several reasons, according to city leaders and law enforcement representatives. They include a shortage of resources for law enforcement, flawed policing strategies that originated under former MPD Chief Ed Flynn, and a high number of crimes and criminals on the streets.
“The number of officers we have currently working our streets in Milwaukee is inadequate,” stated Donovan in an interview with NNS earlier this summer. MPD officers have faced increased peril this year, with two losing their lives in the line of duty since June. Residents have also been shaken by violence in the city, including 19 murders in August, as of Aug. 27.
Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales addressed the violence during a recent news conference, where he outlined his ongoing plans to help stop the bloodshed and improve response times.
“I promised to send 100 officers back to the district by June 1 and accomplished that. This allows officers to be more proactive and respond more quickly,” Morales said. Morales also vowed to continue to hold community listening sessions and improve relations between residents and police, which he said was one of the keys to reducing violence in the city.
Mike Crivello, president of the Milwaukee Police Association, said he expected response times to drop under Morales due to his focus on improving relations with residents and the increase in neighborhood beat cops.
“When police have a smaller area to patrol they truly get to know those people, truly care and are able to respond better. They’re able to better crack down on these quality of life issues that impact residents,” Crivello said.
Still, he added, with limited manpower and high levels of crime, response times will suffer and residents such as Kupper will continue to be frustrated.
“If an action has been taken against me, be it a threat or vandalism, I deserve the attention of the police department as much as everyone else does,” Kupper said. “It’s not fair that … every little noise you hear makes you fearful because somebody might be stealing from you, and there is nothing that will be done about it if you don’t catch them yourself,” said Kupper, who added that she has a concealed carry permit.
Editor’s note: Sophie Bolich and Abby Ng contributed to this story. Matt Schumwinger, principal at Big Lake Data, provided data processing and geocoding. This story has been updated to include three more homicides that occurred since the article was first published.

author: Edgar Mendez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 22, 2018


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Yenepa Herbals Grand Opening on Chavez Drive | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Angela Kingsawan
August 23, 2018

author: Angela Kingsawan


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 23, 2018


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Plan for streetcar expansion on King Drive moves forward amid development in Bronzeville | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Abby Ng
August 24, 2018
Karen Thomas (right) stops at the proposed King Drive corridor improvements station. (Photo by Abby Ng)
After living in Bronzeville for more than 30 years, Sharon Abston said she thinks it is about time change came to the neighborhood.
“I’ve seen a lot of change in other corridors of the city, but I would always look and ask, ‘Why isn’t that happening on King Drive?’” she said.
The Griot Apartments, the Historic Garfield Apartments, America’s Black Holocaust Museum and Pete’s Fruit Market are all part of a new wave of construction in the neighborhood, and more development is on the way.
The City of Milwaukee Department of City Development (DCD) and the Historic King Drive BID presented their final plan for streetcar expansion and economic development along Martin Luther King Drive at a recent community workshop.
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The meeting was the last in a yearlong series and marked the end of the Equitable Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Planning Study on the North Side. The South Side portion of the study will conclude at a meeting in Walker’s Point on Sept. 8.
With construction on the first segment of The Hop nearly complete, the plan is part of Mayor Tom Barrett’s vision to extend the streetcar beyond downtown.
At the open house-style workshop at the former Foot Locker and recent pop-up shop, 339 W. North Ave., attendees were able to hear an overview about different parts of the plan, including proposed corridor improvements, implementation strategy, public art strategy and anti-displacement strategy.
The overarching goals of the plan are to preserve choice and equity, said Sam Leichtling, DCD long range planning manager.
Workshop attendees were able to give suggestions at the final “share your thoughts” station. (Photo by Abby Ng)
“Preserving choice means making sure existing residents, whether they’re homeowners or renters who want to stay in the neighborhood, have the choice to do so,” Leichtling said. “We define equity as making sure that as there’s new wealth created by all this development downtown, existing residents and groups that have been historically underrepresented are able to build wealth from these new opportunities.”
Deshea Agee, executive director of the Historic King Drive BID, said that although the project is about transit, “it’s more than just about the streetcar.”
“It’s about economic development generally,” he said. “This plan is framed in a way that regardless if the streetcar comes or not, this plan is something that we can work with.”
“This process has helped illustrate the way that transit can also serve to accelerate some of the other changes that people want to see as far as attracting businesses and making King Drive feel more walkable,” Leichtling added.
Detailed information regarding zoning, bikeways, mixed-income and affordable housing, and focus areas for residential and retail development, such as the revitalization of the Coakley Building, are included in the 101-page document.
Most of the plan’s recommendations came directly from resident feedback at previous meetings, said Vanessa Koster, DCD city planning manager.
“Community engagement has been paramount in making this effort successful,” she said.
Karen Thomas, WestCare Wisconsin employee, said she is grateful for the emphasis on community outreach.
“I love that they actually did listen to the residents and put their concerns at the forefront to let the public know they are listening,” she said.
Although community members said they felt included in the process, some residents still have concerns, especially regarding gentrification and displacement.
“I’m a realist from the standpoint that I know that with change like this, some people are going to be left out,” Abston said.
To address the concerns about gentrification, DCD released a separate anti-displacement plan in February that will be used in conjunction with the TOD plan. The strategy lists methods such as assisting homeowners in maintaining their homes, helping renters become homeowners, and prioritizing mixed-income and affordable housing in areas at risk of displacement. Leichtling said he hopes this strategy will also serve “as a way to continue to talk about the issue locally, to make sure people know what resources are available to them.”
The anti-displacement document is available online, but Thomas said she and others still want to know more.
“They need to do more in-depth pop-up meetings to talk just about displacement,” Thomas said. “That would ease some of the tensions in the neighborhoods.”
Ald. Milele Coggs tried to address some of these concerns at the workshop.
“I believe that the people who have already invested here should benefit from that growth and should not be pushed out of it. That’s why you see the anti-displacement part of this plan,” Coggs said in a brief speech. “It will continue to be something that I hold DCD and myself accountable to in order to make sure the growth that can and will happen when we get the streetcar is going to be … a victory for the area and for the city of Milwaukee.”
Now that the final draft has been released, the Common Council must approve adoption of the plan this fall as part of the city’s comprehensive plan. Once approved, the project will need further funding before implementation can begin.
“What they’ve presented is just the beginning,” Coggs said. “[When] we begin to implement components of it and we see the effects of it being what was intended, then I’ll be happy.”

author: Abby Ng


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We Got This to conclude 5th season on Saturday | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Milele A. Coggs
August 24, 2018
The young men of “We Got This” wait in line to greet supporters and get paid by Andre Lee Ellis. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
The award-winning We Got This community beautification and improvement program, created by artist and activist Andre Lee Ellis, will wrap up its fifth season tomorrow — Saturday, August 25 — at N. 9th & W. Ring Streets in the 6th Aldermanic District.
Tomorrow boys and young men involved in We Got This will be working in the community garden from 8 a.m. to noon, and a special closing ceremony celebration will be held from noon to 3 p.m.
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs said she is pleased to see the continuing, positive momentum that We Got This is providing in the community. “For donors and mentors, the initiative is a great way of paying forward and helping the community by helping the boys and young men who are involved,” she said. “I encourage the community and the media to attend the celebration tomorrow and to support We Got This.”
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Years ago, Mr. Ellis and his wife Angela adopted an abandoned community garden next to their house at 9th and Ring, making it an informal meeting place for the community. Young men and boys can get paid for working in the garden and cleaning up the community – all while being taught a sense of responsibility and the value of work.
“We Got This has given many youths the opportunity to build a good work ethic while also keeping them on a positive path,” Alderwoman Coggs said.
The sponsors for tomorrow’s event include: Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation, Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, County Executive Chris Abele, Treasurer Spencer Coggs, Bruce Spann & Associates, Pete’s Fruit Market, City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention, and Anthony Stanton Sr.

author: Ald. Milele A. Coggs


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 24, 2018


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Urban Ecology Center celebrates National Honeybee Day at Washington Park | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sharon McGowan
August 25, 2018
The “Bee Aware” interest group at Washington Park celebrated National Honeybee Day on Saturday, Aug. 18 with a Bee Day party. The group aims to educate local residents about bees and works to inspire people to support healthy bee populations.
The event was held at the Urban Ecology Center at Washington Park, 1859 N. 40th St. Attendees learned about bees, enjoyed honey-themed snacks and participated in crafts.

author: Sharon McGowan


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About 100 young adults take advantage of job and resource fair geared to them | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jenny Whidden
August 27, 2018
Two young people listen as a recruiter from Walmart speaks to them about job opportunities. (Photo by Jenny Whidden)
Jacqueline Hernandez is a single mom of four, and she needs a job. The problem is she didn’t graduate high school or get a GED. On top of that, her children are all under 8 years old, making her schedule tough to work with.
This was Hernandez’s situation as she walked into a youth job fair at Journey House, but she walked out with more prospects than she has had in a while.
“This is a really good opportunity because it gave me different options that I didn’t know were out there,” Hernandez said.
The fair was sponsored by the City of Milwaukee, Pathfinders, Journey House and SaintA. The Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS) conceived the fair as an event for Milwaukee’s youth.
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“Our main thing is that we really wanted to somehow get to what they call ‘opportunity youth.’ They’re out of school and out of work. It was like, ‘How do we get these youth off the streets? What is it that they need to be doing something very positive in life?’” said Jameelah A. Love, a peer mentor at SaintA and a member of the fair planning committee.
The organizations conducted a survey of 17- to 25-year-olds to find out what they needed most. The survey revealed what young people need to reach stability and independence.
“Young people experience a lot of different barriers, but the main two are always employment and housing, and they tie into each other,” Love said. She said most of the time, you cannot have one without the other.
Love works in the Youth Transitioning to Adulthood Program at SaintA, which she took part in when she graduated out of foster care. She said it is amazing to help youths through events such as the job fair, because they are on the same path she was, and she understands their struggles.
Jackie Madrigal and Jorge Garcia add their information to an email list as Jose Torres, Midwest recruitment manager at City Year, looks on. (Photo by Jenny Whidden)
Love said job fairs catered to young people are valuable because employers go into the event understanding that they will find job hunters who are young and possibly inexperienced.
“(Employers) come because they want to hire young people, and when they come here, they come understanding who their audience is,” Love said. “When a young person comes up to them, and he’s 19 but he’s never had a job before, they expected that and they’re willing to work with that.”
Hernandez said she met employers at the fair who would train her and help her get a GED.
Hernandez is the breadwinner for her children, and has no family or friends supporting her. She said she is just looking for something that brings money home.
“I’m looking for a job that has good pay, something that is worth me leaving my kids so that I can provide for them. I don’t want to waste my time,” Hernandez said. “My kids are my world. If I could work from home, I would. Any mom would want that.”
Hernandez said her next steps are to submit her applications for jobs she learned about at the fair and hope for the best.
The job fair was preceded by a two-hour skills building workshop. The skills included resume writing, interviewing and elevator pitches, which are 30-second introductions to employers.
“We did what we could to make sure that not only were we connecting youth to the jobs but also that we were giving them the skills that they needed when they got face-to-face with the employers,” Love said.
To tackle the housing portion of the survey responses, a DNS inspector conducted tenant training sessions during the job fair.
“It’s everything you need to know about being a successful tenant in a home, from paying your rent on time to your rights as a tenant,” Love said.
There were more than 40 different employers at the fair, including Qdoba, Walmart and Aurora Health Care.
“It was a busy fair. There were over 100 people here,” said Leianna Rau, a talent acquisition coordinator at FedEx. “It was very successful on our part. I’m looking forward to meeting and following up with these candidates.”
Rau said her table was successful in part because there are entry-level positions at FedEx that suit young people who may be looking for their first jobs.
Jorge Garcia and Jackie Madrigal, senior high school students at Escuela Verde, attended the fair at the suggestion of their advisor.
Garcia said the job fair was helpful because it exposed students to various opportunities. He wants to be an electrician, and while at the fair he discovered that Milwaukee Area Technical College offers a program for the trade.
Madrigal has been looking for a job for a while, and she liked that the fair was geared to young people.
“Sometimes they don’t communicate what age you have to be to apply for a job, but here they tell you, and I actually have a lot of opportunities,” Madrigal said.

author: Jenny Whidden


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 26, 2018


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How unfair housing policies shaped inequality | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Margaret Rozga
August 27, 2018
Margaret Rozga, poet, civil rights activist and professor emerita of English at UW-Waukesha, writes that anyone who wants to understand the reasons for residential racial segregation should read the “The Color of Law” by Richard Rothstein, which lays the blame squarely on government policy.
“The Color of Law” is the best book I read in 2017. Historian Richard Rothstein, a Distinguished Fellow at the Economic Policy Institute, presents a clearly written case that profoundly extended and deepened my understanding of unfair housing, that is, residential racial segregation, in the United States.
Rothstein documents thoroughly the ways federal, state and local government policy were complicit in constructing patterns of segregation. When I finished that first reading, I felt everyone had to read this book. It provides the groundwork for deconstructing residential segregation and working toward more inclusive communities.
I often recommend this book in person to friends and in social media to reach a wider audience. My individual reach, however, is limited. I’m happy to say a much wider reach is now in process. The Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council (MMFHC) and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) initiated a community program to encourage a wide range of groups to read this book. To further its impact, this program will also bring Rothstein to Milwaukee on Oct. 16.
Along with six other people, I am in one of these groups. A friend invited me to join with several mutual friends. We all live within a few miles of each other and meet in each other’s homes. Other groups reading and discussing this book include groups of friends, neighbors and co-workers. In all, according to MMFHC’s Kori Schneider Peragine, 65 people signed up to host groups to read and discuss the book, and already over 300 people have registered to attend Rothstein’s Oct.16 presentation at the Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Cooley Auditorium, 1015 N. 6th St.
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In this, my second reading of the book, I continue to find that its detailed examples and easy-to- follow structure further my understanding. Others in the group are reading the book for the first time, and I see among them responses similar to mine. They are shocked to learn this history. One member of our group said of the book’s subtitle, “A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America,” that you can’t forget what you never knew, and at least in our group, none of us ever knew of the government policies that established patterns of racial segregation.
Among these policies, as Rothstein shows, was the Federal Housing Authority’s policy begun in 1937 to refuse to guarantee mortgages in neighborhoods that included African-Americans. These neighborhoods were considered credit risks, not because of any credit check on the African- Americans living there, but simply because they were there. Red was used in the FHA’s color-coded system of marking credit risk, and thus the origin of the term “redlining.”
I heard the term redlining many times before reading the book, but I thought then that it was a policy that originated with banks and real estate companies, not with the federal government. If the government helped create patterns of segregation, then the government now has an obligation to help deconstruct those patterns.
Actually, the fair housing section of the 1968 Civil Rights Law includes a provision to affirmatively further fair housing. For more than 46 years, though, the provision was not enforced. The HUD initiative in 2015 to affirmatively further fair housing was the first positive step the government took to follow what has been law since 1968.
In light of this history of official governmental non-compliance, HUD Secretary Ben Carson’s decision to delay again enforcement of this provision is especially disturbing. It continues a pattern of governmental complicity in segregation. It cries out for pushback. It helps explain the frustration and even cynicism about the government’s record and intentions among those committed to racial and social justice.
Rothstein’s work helps me understand the implications of redlining. It made mortgages harder to obtain and impossible to obtain without higher interest rates and predatory terms. Consequently, it is harder to build equity in your home and harder to sell it since another family in search of a home also cannot get a mortgage. The only buyers with the cash to buy the devalued property would be slum landlords.
FHA mortgage guarantees made home ownership for white people an investment, a way to build a nest egg. But for African-Americans, automatically excluded from such guarantees, home ownership was not an investment but merely another expense. A major reason for the wealth gap between whites and blacks started here.
Rothstein begins the book with a summary of commonly held misconceptions of how segregated and unequal neighborhoods developed. These misconceptions also explain some of the resistance to government efforts to further fair housing. Highlighting these misconceptions, as his book does, can help lessen resistance to fair housing.
It is not enough, however, for isolated individuals to learn the forgotten, or hidden, facts of the history of government complicity in housing segregation. This history needs to become part of widespread and shared community understanding so we can move forward to the inclusive community we need. The Fair Housing Council and LISC deserve applause for their initiative to develop that community understanding.
To reserve a seat for the free Richard Rothstein presentation, follow this link to the Eventbrite reservation page.

author: Margaret Rozga


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Make-A-Wish chapter seeks to serve more Hispanic families | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sophie Bolich
August 28, 2018
Ximena Contreras, 5, hugs Snow White during a trip to Disney World. (Photo courtesy of Azucena Montes)
Just like her favorite Disney princess, “Cinderelly,” Ximena Contreras has endured hardships but was granted a wish to make her dream come true — not by a fairy godmother, but the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
On a recent Friday afternoon, Ximena is still wearing her school uniform, a blue polo and jumper, while watching cartoons. The 5-year-old kindergartner giggles with her sisters, wears her brown hair in pigtails and never strays far from her mother’s side as she talks about the family’s recent Make-A-Wish trip to Walt Disney World.
After Ximena was diagnosed with cancer last year, Make-A-Wish approved her referral and started making arrangements to grant her wish.
“I think if I tried to explain, I couldn’t finish telling you everything about how much it meant to me that they made her dream come true,” said Ximena’s mother, Azucena Montes, in Spanish. “There is a fear that exists because her future is not guaranteed. It’s very difficult for me as a mother because when that happened she was only 4 years old.”
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Montes said she and Ximena considered California as a wish destination because the family has relatives there, but they ultimately decided on Florida because it was an opportunity Montes “never thought would be possible.”
Azucena Montes holds her daughter, Ximena Contreras. (Photo by Sophie Bolich)
“We never imagined that we would go to Disney World,” she said. “Because it’s expensive and I have several kids, it would’ve been difficult.
Montes was especially happy to spend time with all of her children at once.
“For one reason or another I haven’t been able to have all my kids together, but we were all together for this occasion,” she said. “I have five kids and the oldest is 18 but she’s already working. And my son lives with his dad. I’d never had the opportunity to take a photo with all five together, so that was really beautiful.”
Ximena said the trip was fun for her, and she got to meet Mickey Mouse and lots of princesses.
With the diagnosis and the trip, Montes said she felt like everything was happening very fast. Now she is readjusting to normal life and is focused on praying and doing everything she can for her daughter.
“Sometimes I don’t want to think about it, but in my head I think about all that has happened and all the things she’s had to live through,” Montes said.
Make-A-Wish connected with Ximena through a referral, which can be submitted by a medical professional, parents or legal guardians of the child, the child herself or any family member able to explain the child’s medical condition.
According to Yesica Desarden, mission outreach coordinator for the Wisconsin chapter of Make-A-Wish, about 500 children are diagnosed with a medically qualifying condition each year in Wisconsin; however, the foundation does not have sufficient resources to fulfill all of those children’s wishes.
Desarden said Make-A-Wish has particular difficulty reaching Hispanic families, which is why her job was created in March. She is charged with recruiting Hispanic families in Wisconsin for the program.
Desarden uses social media and connects with clinics to find potential wish recipients, but said she hopes to get more referrals directly from the community.
“The program is a great resource, but a lot of the challenge is families not being aware or being afraid to take advantage of the resources that are out there because of the political landscape,” she said. “It helps people to see someone who looks like them working with this foundation, so they can talk to me, ask questions and become trusting of the organization.”
With an uptick of referrals in the future, Make-A-Wish will need more volunteers to help coordinate wishes, and Desarden says her priority is to recruit Spanish-speaking volunteers.
Desarden worked with Ximena and her family as the wish coordinator, and said Walt Disney World is one of the most common wishes for the kids.
Though Montes said she would never want anyone to go through what Ximena and her family have endured, the wish experience was amazing.
“We were really left speechless by how lovely we were treated,” she said. “We felt so comfortable and enjoyed everything, and If I could do something to help other children who are going through the same thing or have other illnesses, I’d be willing to help.”
Make-A-Wish referrals can be made online by visiting wisconsin.wish.org/refer or over the phone for Spanish-speakers at 414-763-8668.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 27, 2018

author: Adam Carr


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Milwaukee Pride launches campaign for rainbow crosswalks | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Pride, Inc
August 28, 2018
(Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Pride, Inc.)
Milwaukee Pride, in partnership with local LGBTQ and neighborhood organizations, has advanced a proposal to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s office requesting the installation of rainbow crosswalks in Cathedral Square.
“We ask the City of Milwaukee to honor its incredible LGBTQ legacy with a decorative rainbow crosswalk at the intersection of Jefferson and Wells,” reads the proposal. “This crosswalk, as the first Milwaukee monument to LGBTQ people, will be not just a symbol of local pride, but a testament to historic local triumph.”

author: Milwaukee Pride, Inc


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 28, 2018


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On the Block: Aiming for state | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
August 28, 2018
Aitza Romero is one of the lead runners on the Rufus King High School cross-country team, which had its first practice last week. Last year, Romero was the only runner to make it to the state tournament. This season, she plans to take her whole team with her.

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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Teens engage community at West Side Carnival | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Selma Aly
August 28, 2018
Members of the 27th Street Drug Free Communities (DFC) FACT group, part of Wisconsin’s youth-led tobacco prevention movement, participated in a Family Carnival on the Near West Side of Milwaukee recently. There, the group used a model of a lung to demonstrate to other youth at the carnival the damage that smoking can do to your lungs.
“We also asked people whether they had family member or friends who smoked Newport cigarettes,” said FACT member Unique Smith.
According to Smith, Newports and other menthol cigarettes are easier to start and harder to quit and are the most popular tobacco product in communities of color.
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The Carnival, held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, is one of many projects the 27th Street DFC FACT group has kept busy with this summer, including a “Billboard Campaign.”
“We’re enjoying being able to help out the community by spreading awareness on tobacco and other dangerous substances,” Smith said.
To join or learn more about FACT, visit Factmovement.org.

author: Selma Aly


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
August 28, 2018

author: Name *


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Valley Week 2018 runs September 22-29 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Menomonee Valley Partners
August 28, 2018
Menomonee Valley Partners announces the 2018 Valley Week, presented by Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, running September 22 – 29. Events highlight the authentic Valley experience, showcasing nature, great jobs, and entertainment in the heart of the city. Experiences include a Fishing Clinic, Kayak Tour, Happy Hour on the River, the popular Ultimate Beer Run, and more.
“Last year’s inaugural Valley Week attracted hundreds of people to the Valley, many who explored a part of the city they never had before,” said Corey Zetts, Executive Director of Menomonee Valley Partners. “Twenty years ago, there was no reason to come to the Valley, and now there are so many. Valley Week shows that this is truly a great place to visit and a great place to work.”
Valley Week events are listed at ValleyWeek.com. Proceeds from the events support Menomonee Valley Partners, a nonprofit organization formed in 1999 to revitalize the Menomonee Valley.
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Events include:
Enjoy specials throughout the week and support Menomonee Valley Partners, from an oil change at Badger Truck Center, eat-in and take-out specials at Pizzeria 3301 at Villa Palermo, Bloody Mary concoctions at Sobelman’s Pub & Grill, and a special Valley Week menu from Twisted Fisherman.
Valley Week is presented by Potawatomi Hotel & Casino. Supporting Sponsors include Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Komatsu Mining Corp, Menomonee Valley Business Improvement District #26, Rexnord, and We Energies. Located in the heart of Milwaukee, the Menomonee Valley is a thriving district with a unique mix of industry, entertainment, and nature.
For more information and to register for events, visit ValleyWeek.com.

author: Menomonee Valley Partners


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Black August Friday Freedom Flick, “Visions of Abolition: From Critical Resistance To A New Way Of Life” | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Arthur Heitzer
August 29, 2018
“Visions of Abolition: From Critical Resistance To A New Way Of Life”
Coinciding with the national prison strike in the U.S., explore the alternatives to our prison system
++ Discussion afterwards
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++ Free and open to all interested. Dedicated to strengthening movements for peace, freedom & liberation.
++ Wheelchair Accessibility: via portable temporary ramp into first floor where movies will be shown.
https://www.visionsofabolition.org
Visions of Abolition is a new feature length documentary about the prison industrial complex and the prison abolition movement.
Part I “Breaking down the Prison Industrial Complex” weaves together the voices of women caught in the criminal justice system, and leading scholars of prison abolition, examining the racial and gendered violence of the prison system. Our film features the work of Susan Burton, a formerly incarcerated mother who established A New Way of Life, a group of transition homes for women coming home from prison in South Los Angeles (39 mins).
Part II “Abolition: Past Present and Future,” documents the recent history of the prison abolition movement through the organizing efforts of Critical Resistance and explores the meaning of abolitionist politics. By focusing on the collaboration between Critical Resistance and A New Way of Life, (known as the L.E.A.D. Project) the second half of the film unfolds a vision of abolition in practice (48 mins).

author: Arthur Heitzer


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
August 29, 2018


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How to volunteer in September | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Martha Cannon, Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee
August 29, 2018
Children and adults gathered for the UNCOM Walk for Wellness, which focuses on the importance of healthy eating and active living to prevent obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
As the calendar turns to fall, there are many opportunities to help others. Volunteer Milwaukee, a service of the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee features a calendar of events for volunteers, both one-time and ongoing. Here are a few of the opportunities in September and beyond.
10th Annual UNCOM Walk for Health and Wellness
Set up and break down, monitor walk course, help with photo shoot and assist vendors with food at Kadish Park Friday, September 21; 1:30-4 p.m. and 4-7p.m. Come out and support United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee!
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Contact Nettie Perry at netconsultant@twc.com or 414 364-6799.
P.E./Health Gym Aides
Monitor hallway transitions from gym back to class and assist in discussions and facilitating classroom activities during health class with middle school students at Milwaukee Academy Of Science; flexible weekday hours.
Contact Volunteer Coordinator at volunteercoordinator@MAScience.org or 414-933-0302.
Farmraiser Helper
Set up, serve food and beverages and help with children’s activities as Victory Garden Initiative celebrates a successful harvest Saturday, September 15; shifts available between 2:00 and 8:30p.m.
Contact Eric Anderson at eric@victorygardeninitiative.org or 414-431-0888.
Harvest Heroes
Harvest food from Walnut Way Conservation Corp garden which includes washing, weighing, prepping, and storing crops; Saturday mornings, September-October 27; 7:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. or 7:00 a.m.-noon.
Contact erica@walnutway.org or 414-264-2326.
Mini-Marathon
Hand out packets September 20 and 21, assist at start and finish line, check gear, monitor course and more at Milwaukee Brewers Mini-Marathon to benefit the MACC Fund Saturday, September 22. Register online here
Contact Race Coordinator at race@brewers.com.
Doors Open Milwaukee
Historic Milwaukee needs you to greet visitors, answer questions and track attendance at one of 160 buildings throughout metro Milwaukee at Doors Open Milwaukee September 22–23; 4-hour morning and afternoon shifts. Sign up here.
Contact Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@historicmilwaukee.org or 414-277-7795.
Read With Me
Share the excitement of books and read with young children ages 2-5, as often as you’d like on Tuesday Wednesday, and Friday mornings at Next Door; Capitol Drive and N. 29 Street locations. Fall program begins September 17.
Contact: Martina A. Stevens at mstevens@nextdoormil.org or 414-562-2929 ext. 2529.
Preserve Fresh Produce to Feed the Hungry
Chop, blanch, freeze, and can fresh produce to feed the hungry Thursdays 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m., September-November for The Gathering at All Saints Cathedral. Individuals and small groups welcome.
Contact: Angela Wright at soulfood@thegatheringwis.org or 414-272-4122.
13th Annual Milwaukee Fatherhood Summit
Serve as greeters, registration attendants, hospitality, room/hall monitors, parking attendants and security for Social Development Commission; Oct. 4, 4-8pm, Oct. 5, 7 a.m.-noon or 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct 6, 7 a.m.-noon. Register by September 14.
Contact Diane Robinson at drobinson@cr-sdc.org or 414-795-1771.
Environmental Health – After School Program
Assist educator in providing after-school environmental health and outdoor recreation related to KK River to 4 and 5 grade students at south side schools for Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers mid-September-mid December. Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred, not required.
Contact Kate Jaeger at kate.jaeger@sschc.org or 414-897-5184.


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Joint Statement on the Sterling Brown case | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Ashanti Hamilton
August 29, 2018
As Council members we’ve had front row seats to witness far too many situations where the law fails to deliver justice. Despite how we may sometimes feel about the legal process we must remember that it is important to honor that process. While this is a national issue we have had more than our fair share here locally. We are striving to be better stewards of administering justice, and it is in that spirit that we make this joint statement.
The City Attorney’s legal response to the petition filed by Sterling Brown’s attorney does not reflect the policy position of the city. We hold that every resident should be approached with the highest level of professionalism and always treated with dignity and respect by all city employees. The content of the body- worn camera videos from the incident with Sterling Brown clearly do not reflect what we expect from police officers or any other city employee.
As a Council, we are calling for unity from the many people who are rightly paying close attention to this case. We think that this case – and the too many others like it in our community and beyond – should get all of us to focus on enacting the systematic change we have been calling for.
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We are collectively redirecting our efforts to identify solutions (including the directives to the MPD that are a part of the stop-and-frisk lawsuit settlement with the ACLU) that will prevent incidents like the one involving Sterling Brown and others in the community from occurring in the future.

author: Ald. Ashanti Hamilton


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Milwaukee Holiday Parade organizers retire from annual event | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Holiday Parade
August 29, 2018
The Holiday Parade Foundation of Milwaukee, Inc., the organizer of downtown’s Milwaukee Holiday Parade, announced today that last year’s parade was its last. The DeGrace family, who has organized the annual, free event for 66 years, is retiring from putting on the annual parade.
The Milwaukee Holiday Parade has been an annual holiday kick-off staple in Milwaukee for the past 92 years. Originally started by the now-defunct Shuster’s Department Store as a kick-off to the holiday shopping season, the parade continued since 1953 under the leadership of three generations of the DeGrace family.
“The parade has been a part of my family since my father took it over in 1953, and the decision to retire both our work and the parade was extremely difficult for me and my family. We did not make this choice lightly,” says parade producer, Suzanne DeGrace Spaeth. “The massive community support and our many-thousands of rain-or-shine attendees are the reasons we’ve continued the parade for all of these years.”
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The DeGrace siblings, who have organized the parade for decades with the help and support of about 50 longtime volunteers, said decreased financial support, vendor changes, and downtown construction and route logistics have culminated into the “perfect storm,” and maintaining the parade at the level its legacy deserves is no longer feasible.
Last year’s sponsors included, among others, major sponsor Boston Store, which filed bankruptcy and closed its stores this year. Parade organizers did not receive the necessary funds for the parade this year, after struggling last year, as well. Fundraising goals in recent years have been $150,000 annually, which is the minimum required to launch the parade in its longstanding, current format that includes a live-television event featuring over 100 units of marching bands, giant helium balloons, floats, local personalities, live animals, costumed characters, specialty vehicles, and more. Construction and development throughout downtown Milwaukee along both the parade route and staging areas also increase logistical difficulties.
“Maintaining our dad’s legacy has been the focus since his passing in 1995,” DeGrace Spaeth said. “We have been able to do that for so many years, but now, as we’re getting older, as the landscape changes, and as financial support grows more difficult, we simply can’t operate the parade in its current form, which is the standard and legacy we’ve worked to uphold.”
Parade organizers say they’d love to see another group and holiday parade take shape in Milwaukee, but unfortunately, the time for theirs to end has come.
“This decision is both heartbreaking and bittersweet for my family,” DeGrace Spaeth said. “The parade has gone on for 65 years longer than anyone thought it would, and I’m so proud of all of our generous sponsors and dedicated volunteers that have made the parade possible.”
The Milwaukee Holiday Parade has traditionally been held on the Saturday morning prior to Thanksgiving Day. The scheduled date was postponed only once in the history of the parade, after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on Friday, November 22, 1963.

author: Milwaukee Holiday Parade


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‘Soapbox’ project invites city residents to discuss social issues | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 29, 2018
Linetta Davis, right, listens as her 10-year-old daughter Zora shares her thoughts on a conflict she had with a friend. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
A small group of city residents gathered around picnic tables in a garden on West Lisbon Avenue on a recent afternoon to talk about gender. About 10 participants read and responded to poems and discussed a wide-range of related issues — how they were taught to express emotions — or not; strong black women who are oppressed; and how some advice young people receive from parents is no longer relevant.
Participant Martina Patterson, an artist, said that one of her students once told her, “The advice my mother has to give me is from another time. It used to be that bullying was in your face. Now it’s on Facebook.”
The Lisbon Avenue gathering was the last in a series of experimental social conversations called Soapbox Milwaukee that took place in city neighborhoods in August. Among the project’s goals was to help individuals develop their voices, build the capacity of city residents to communicate about issues important to them and include community artists in the conversation.
Soapbox was created by poet and Still Waters Collective founder Dasha Kelly Hamilton. She launched “Soap Box Therapy” in August 2016 to give city youth an opportunity to voice their responses to the killing of Sylville Smith by an MPD officer and its aftermath. Then, the youth erected a literal soapbox and performed original spoken word poems in a small park near the shooting site. It gave the young people an outlet for their emotions and a chance to be heard.
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This summer, Still Waters Collective partnered with UW Extension and community artists to extend the Soapbox concept.
The project comprised three phases. First, organizers held pop-up survey events in 12 neighborhoods and public spaces such as the Black Arts MKE Festival and “The Calling” sculpture park outside the Milwaukee Art Museum. They set up a couch, armchair and coffee table and had a musician play bass. People were invited to share their perspectives, ideas and opinions on four topics: generations, incarceration, privilege and gender.
Angela Allen (left), community educator at UW-Extension, listens as Dasha Kelly Hamilton, Still Waters Collective founder, makes a point. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
The topics, chosen by Kelly Hamilton, were based on research on what topics resonated with participants, said Angela Allen, associate professor and communities educator at UW-Extension.
“We learned a lot from every event and (the responses) reminded us of things we already knew. We were excited at every event because we heard something new,” Allen said.
In the second phase, the responses collected were displayed at an event in Sherman Park. Some of the statements were turned into art or performance and everyone was invited to “get up on the box and get it off your chest.”
Finally, organizers facilitated small group conversations on the four topics.
At the last conversation, about gender, participants spoke of family attitudes about “masculine” and “feminine” behaviors, how a lack of language to describe feelings can result in negative behaviors, and painful experiences of childhood sexual abuse. Two participants shared poems, one by a noted poet and an original work, and group members discussed lines that resonated with their own life experience.
In one exchange about communication difficulties, Kelly Hamilton said, “Sometimes I’m responding to what I felt you said, not what you actually said.”
Metcalfe Park resident Destinny Fletcher, 25, attended four of the five Soapbox events. A Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin community health navigator working in the Amani and Franklin Heights neighborhoods, Fletcher said she had never participated in anything like Soapbox before. She saw the gatherings promoted on social media and also received a personal invitation, she said.
“They were definitely good conversations” around themes of privilege, incarceration and gender — “subjects we tend (not to discuss) as much as we should in our city.” She said she went because she wanted to hear other perspectives on community issues beyond just those of the people she knows.
Fletcher found the discussion about privilege particularly interesting, she said.
“We were talking about the many different privileges that we take for granted” and how things that are often not seen as privileges — like being tall — give a person privilege from the point of view of people who are not tall.
The group talked about being “grateful for what you have but also (being) mindful of your words and your actions,” according to Fletcher. The discussion got more intense between black and white participants when the subject was racial privilege, she said. She noted that there were also Latino and Native American participants among the diverse group and racial privilege pertaining to those races seemed to be less well understood.
Fletcher said she looks forward to participating in Soapbox again when it resumes in the spring.
She said these conversations are important. “If you have something to say about the things that are going on … you should come speak. You never know what you’ll learn from these conversations. You never know who you’ll meet.”

author: Andrea Waxman


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Gentrification panel on Sept. 26 sold out | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
August 30, 2018
(Photo by Edgar Mendez.)
As downtown Milwaukee undergoes a building boom with the construction of the Bucks arena and the streetcar, pressing questions emerge: Is gentrification occurring in Milwaukee? Will economic development force the displacement of current residents from their neighborhoods? Is the investment that accompanies gentrification good for low-income neighborhoods? Are the city’s efforts to help renters become homeowners and help homeowners keep their properties sufficient to ward off displacement?
The discussion, titled “Economic development without displacement: Easier said than done?” is sponsored by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and Saint John’s On The Lake.
Four Milwaukee leaders who have confronted these questions in their development work will participate in a panel discussion at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the Milwaukee Center for Independence, 2020 W. Wells St.
Panelists are Joaquin Altoro, Vice President Commercial Banking, Town Bank; Kalan Haywood, President, Haywood Group, LLC; Donsia Strong Hill, Executive Director, LISC; and Keith Stanley, Executive Director, Near West Side Partners. The panel will be moderated by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service Editor Sharon McGowan.
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Parking is available behind the Milwaukee Center for Independence on Kilbourn Avenue, between 20th and 21st streets. Entrance to the center is from the parking lot.
Admission is free, but registration is required.

author: Dwayne Burtin


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Dwayne Burtin
August 30, 2018


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Dwayne Burtin
August 30, 2018


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Sherman Phoenix offers opportunities for mentorship, community investment | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Abby Ng
August 30, 2018
Juli Kaufmann points out where new shops and seating will be inside the Sherman Phoenix. (Photo by Abby Ng)
Monica Oliver never imagined she would open a pizza restaurant. After 15 years working behind a desk to support two children, she did not think opening her own business was a possibility until she heard about the Sherman Phoenix, a new commercial center in the former BMO Harris Bank, 3526 W. Fond Du Lac Ave., in Sherman Park.
With the help of Sherman Phoenix developers JoAnne Johnson-Sabir and Juli Kaufmann, Oliver was able to find the space and resources she needed to start her own pizza place, called Sauce and Spice.
She also found a valuable mentor in Giacomo Fallucca, chairman and CEO of Palermo Villa, Inc.
“A lot of people have ideas, have things they want do to, but they don’t know how to go about it,” Oliver said. “I would never have known how to start a restaurant. For someone to be able to open the door to entrepreneurship … it’s a blessing.”
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As a mentor, Fallucca works closely with Oliver as well as Johnson-Sabir and her husband, Maanaan Sabir, who are also owners of Sauce and Spice. They meet weekly to discuss everything from decor to menu and pricing.
“He’s a very, very busy person, but he’s taken his time to teach us and run a fine-tooth comb through every single detail,” Oliver said. “I don’t know a lot of people who do that.”
Real estate developer Juli Kaufmann said construction on the former BMO Harris Bank and the future Sherman Phoenix is on schedule for an opening in early November. (Photo by Abby Ng)
Fallucca, who is not only donating his time but all the equipment for the restaurant, said he is motivated by the enthusiasm and desire to see change in Milwaukee that everyone involved in the Sherman Phoenix shares.
Through mentoring others, Fallucca said he wants to pass on the knowledge he received from his mentors. He hopes that doing so will build much-needed trust between people of different backgrounds in Milwaukee.
“I’ve been accused of being a white businessman who doesn’t care about the city… but I really want to make our city a better place,” Fallucca said. “I believe it is in part the responsibility of business owners to do what we can do. I have to focus on what I can do.”
Mentorship is an important and unique aspect of Sherman Phoenix’s business model, according to Kaufmann. Forming this support network is meant to ensure the success of all tenants and employees.
“We’re bringing together neighbors and some really unusual suspects that understand what it takes to not only imagine and discuss healthy communities, but activate [them],” Johnson-Sabir said.
Other mentorships have been formed at the Sherman Phoenix in addition to the one between Oliver and Fallucca. Colectivo co-founder Paul Miller serves in a role similar to Fallucca’s, helping with Sabir’s new coffee shop, Shindig Cafe.
The Sherman Phoenix is more than just a building to Johnson-Sabir and Kaufmann. The new health, culture and wellness hub is about people, family, neighbors and community.
“This has become everything we’ve imagined in terms of connectivity,” Johnson-Sabir said. “We’re raising the spirit of possibility.”
Johnson-Sabir and Kaufmann are looking to involve more members of the community through investment. With $300,000 more needed to reach their $4 million goal, they are inviting interested community members to invest a minimum of $1,000.
With more than 25 tenants in the Sherman Phoenix, double what Kaufmann said she originally anticipated, they are able to take on more investors, including those who live in Sherman Park and nearby. By opening up investment opportunities, Kaufmann said she hopes to remove the exclusivity and elitism seen in typical development projects.
“There are plenty of people who invest in places where they’ve never stepped foot,” Kaufmann said. “It’s so disconnected and that’s not the way we originally built communities. We built communities by believing in each other and supporting each other and creating this network of financial opportunity. … This building, once it is up and running, will be owned by over 50 and hopefully closer to 100 investors from all walks of life.”
Ultimately, Johnson-Sabir and Kaufmann said they hope the Sherman Phoenix will bring economic and cultural gains to residents and will serve as a model for future development in Milwaukee.
Depending on funding, they expect Sherman Phoenix to open in early November.
“There will be more risks and more challenges, but we just feel so affirmed by the goodness of people,” Kaufmann said. “It’s a project filled with joy.”


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 29, 2018


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West Allis Police Department uses armored vehicle to serve search warrant on Milwaukee’s North Side | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
August 30, 2018
An armored vehicle is parked outside a residence on North 33rd Street. (Photo by Gab Taylor via ComForce)
While driving on Burleigh Street Wednesday afternoon, Dennis Walton, the former co-director of the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative, noticed heavy police activity so he decided to find out what was happening. Walton, who was featured in the documentary “Milwaukee 53206,” said nothing could have prepared him for what he saw when he reached North 33rd Street near West Auer Avenue.
“They were out here like it was Desert Storm. There was a vehicle out here as big as a tank with a tower and man with an AR-15 in it,” said Walton, describing the gun turret on top of the vehicle.
Several area residents, who asked not to be identified, also said the vehicle looked like a tank.
“It was huge,” according to a female resident who said she witnessed several heavily armed officers conduct a raid at a home on North 33rd Street. According to the woman and other residents, police did not make any arrests but did remove evidence from the home.
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The tank is a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, which was utilized to serve a search warrant by the West Allis Police Department, according to Milwaukee Police Department spokesperson Sheronda Grant. West Allis PD Deputy Chief Robert Fletcher wrote in an email to NNS that West Allis police did not directly coordinate with MPD, although MPD squads could be seen in the video, which had been viewed more than 9,400 times as of 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Fletcher said he can’t discuss specifics of the incident on 33rd Street, as it is part of an ongoing criminal investigation. However, he said the use of the vehicle was “not used in response to or influenced,” by the murder of Officer Michael J. Michalski. Michalski was shot while attempting to arrest a wanted felon in July. West Allis PD uses the vehicle to serve some of its search warrants, according to Fletcher, based on the suspect’s past criminal history or potential for use of a weapon or explosive.
An armored vehicle was utilized in a raid on North 33rd Street near West Auer Avenue. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Asked about comments by community members that the vehicle made it seem like their neighborhood was being invaded by an occupying force, he wrote, “What’s vital for the community to know is the West Allis Police Department is committed to keeping community members and members of the department safe during law enforcement operations. That is the purpose and intent of the vehicle.”
The vehicle was provided to the West Allis PD from the Madison Police Department earlier this year, according to a Madison news report. A Journal Sentinel article last July said that the West Allis PD was looking into acquiring an MRAP, a military surplus vehicle that is provided to local police departments for free, although there are costs associated with branding.
Molly Collins, advocacy director for the ACLU of Wisconsin, said her organization urges West Allis PD and all police departments in the state to refrain from using such vehicles.
“Good relationships are built on trust. … Seeing any police department — in this case, the West Allis Police Department — come into a residential neighborhood with a heavily armed and armored vehicle undermines any such trust. … If the city wishes to improve relationships between the police and the public, police need to show that they care about the neighborhoods they are in. Entering neighborhoods as if they were war zones shows exactly the opposite,” Collins said in a statement.
According to Walton, who is now working on an initiative called Made Men Worldwide, deploying a heavily armored vehicle in the middle of the afternoon in a community full of families and children sends a bad message to residents.
“If there is that much of a threat in our community that police have to come in fully militarized then why aren’t they going door to door warning residents?” Walton said.
Ald. Khalif Rainey, who represents the neighborhood where the raid took place, Council President Ashanti Hamilton and several other alderpersons did not immediately respond to a request by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service for comment.
Walton said he’s trying to understand the message West Allis PD was trying to send by coming into the neighborhood with an armored vehicle.
“I know we have a lot of negative stuff happening in our communities, but do they really think that they need to come in like the military? I live here, and I don’t carry a gun. I think it’s disrespectful,” Walton said.

author: Edgar Mendez


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Dwayne Burtin
August 30, 2018


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Dwayne Burtin
August 30, 2018


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‘Mama Freeman’ needs your help | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Valerie Van Weelden
August 31, 2018
Martha “Mama Freeman” has been serving Milwaukee’s Garden Home Community since 1969. She runs Alpha Omega Ministries which serves ANYONE in need. Alpha Omega, located at 4389 N 27th St, provides food, clothing, emotional support, and church services. Mama Freeman collects food from local resturaunts and accepts donations to stock the food and clothing pantries. She has streets named after her. I personally have witnessed her loving and helping drug addicts, prostitutes, homeless people and people down on their luck.
https://www.npr.org/2015/10/12/447202840/the-milwaukee-mom-who-isnt-afraid-to-step-in-front-of-guns
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/meet-the-77-year-old-grandma-scaring-away-milwaukees-criminals/
The Legacy of Mama Freeman
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The building was inspected by The City of Milwaukee and has been issued multiple code violations that need to be addressed immediately.
To save the building she needs help from the community:
#1 – Professional contractors to work pro bono or at reduced rate
#2 – Supplies and materials for projects
#3 – Financial support
This woman and building have impacted many lives, please help by putting this story out there.
Thank you,
Valerie Van Weelden
Friend of Mama Freeman
262-347-6873

author: Valerie Van Weelden


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mama freeman.jpeg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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August 30, 2018


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Big Clean MKE aims to spruce up city neighborhoods | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sarah Lipo
September 1, 2018
Ald. Russell Stamper (at microphone) speaks at Big Clean MKE at the Fondy Food Center. (Photo by Sarah Lipo)
A citywide cleanup conducted as part of Hip-Hop Week also honored the memory of Greg “Ziggy” Zyszkiewicz, an employee of the Department of Neighborhood Services who was killed in March 2017 while carrying out his duties.
Mayor Tom Barrett said at the cleanup event that Zyszkiewicz, who was 64, gave his life to make this city better.
“And with his loss, I think it is incumbent on us to carry the torch. I think all of us, every single resident of this city, can play a role in keeping this city clean,” Barrett said.
Ald. Russell Stamper said that his office often gets calls about cleaning up trash in the inner city.
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“We have to get the mindset to change, to get people to understand and to take pride in their community,” Stamper said.
Big Clean MKE, sponsored by the City of Milwaukee, Bader Philanthropies and Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, took place at four locations throughout the city, in conjunction with the city’s first Hip-Hop Week MKE.
Volunteers at Big Clean MKE hand out t-shirts at the Fondy Food Center. (Photo by Sarah Lipo)
Volunteers gathered at the MPS Tot Lot at north 40th Street and Custer Avenue; Dr. Lester Carter Park at 24th Place and Burleigh Street; LaFollette School at 10th and Ring streets; and the Strong Neighborhoods Lot at 32nd Street and Garfield Avenue.
The event kicked off at Fondy Food Center, 2200 W. Fond du Lac Ave. After the cleanup, volunteers were invited to a picnic lunch at the center.
According to Ald. Khalif J. Rainey, Hip-Hop Week served as a way to bring people together in a safe space to be entertained and discuss how to improve the lives of Milwaukee residents. He added that empowering people is central to Hip-Hop Week’s mission. In addition to the cleanup, activities included financial and health seminars and concerts throughout the city.
Edward Wingard, a Public Ally with Milwaukee Public Schools, said that Hip-Hop Week created a platform for local artists and brought together a diverse crowd.
Stamper said he hopes that as the city becomes cleaner, there also will be less violence.
“The potential that we have is unlimited and I feel like if we can get the community to be clean, and for people to stop littering, people will take pride in their neighborhood and there’ll be a stop to the violence,” Stamper added.
R’Tianna Williams, one of the younger volunteers at West Care Wisconsin, said she believes it is important to keep the city clean.
“Kids my age … [can] come out and help in the community,” she said.
Stamper said he hopes that Big Clean MKE will have a positive impact throughout the city. “We have a beautiful city, and we need to showcase that.”

created: September 1, 2018

author: Sarah Lipo


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 31, 2018