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Eviction records will no longer be available online for longer than 2 years | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
October 24, 2023
The Wisconsin Supreme Court voted earlier this month  to limit the length of time eviction records can be kept online from 20 years to two years in cases without a money judgment.
While evictions where money is owed will remain public for 20 years, advocates for tenants are calling the Oct. 9 ruling a big step forward.
“This is a great move in the right direction toward our ultimate goal, which is tackling the homelessness crisis.” said Carmen Ayers, a staff attorney and housing priority coordinator with Legal Action of Wisconsin.
Legal Action, a legal aid firm and advocate for safe and affordable housing for low-income families, filed a petition to reduce the length of time eviction records are searchable from 20 years to one year in an effort to make the process of evictions fair to tenants.
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Many landlords consult eviction records through the statewide court website when deciding whether to rent to applicants. The argument from tenant advocates is that this data can put some renters at an unfair disadvantage.
“Because of eviction records, people are forced to rent poor quality housing at a more expensive price because those landlords are the only ones that’ll rent to them,” said Rachel Fox Armstrong, Legal Action’s development and communications manager.
She called evictions traumatizing and destabilizing events that can lead to a spiral into poverty.
Last year in Wisconsin, there were 25,819 filings for eviction, with 1,621 resulting in judgment of evictions being granted, according to Wisconsin’s Department of Administration.
And a recent report from Eviction Lab, which tracks evictions across the country, found that eviction actions are disproportionally filed against renters of color and that those most threatened by evictions are young children.
When Legal Action turned in its petition, Heiner Giese, an attorney for the Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, got started on a memo opposing it. The Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, or AASEW, is a trade organization representing owners and managers of rental housing in Wisconsin.
“While we can agree that online access to eviction records should be restricted after two years, you can’t just wipe out public records,” he said. “Records are the best indication landlords have of the type of tenant someone might be.”

created: October 24, 2023


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26515636729_aee6a9fd65_k-1 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
October 23, 2023

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: October 23, 2023

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

author: Ron Smith


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Board of Supervisors will decide fate of report about deaths in Milwaukee County Jail | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Devin Blake
October 25, 2023
After a 14-month span during which six people died in custody at the Milwaukee County Jail, the Board of Supervisors on Monday will decide whether to formally accept a report from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office that explains policies and procedures at the jail.
In May, the board formally requested a “baseline report” about the operations of the jail. But some residents continue to express frustration that the report does not give clear answers about why these deaths continue to occur.
Kerrie Hirte, whose daughter died in the jail in December 2022, told NNS that the report does not provide the answers that she is looking for.
In particular, Hirte wants a clearer picture about the policies and procedures for the jail relating to suicide.
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Hirte’s daughter, Cilivea Thyrion, died by apparent suicide, even though at the time of her death, she was housed in a special needs pod. These pods are typically for people who have mental or behavioral health needs.
Getting her questions answered by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office will save lives, Hirte said.
“It could change in there (the jail),” she said. “But if nobody speaks out, there’s going to be less of a chance for change.”
The sheriff’s office did not respond to a request for comment about the report.
Since the board’s request for the report in May, two people havedied in the jail, according to statements from the MCSO.
The board requested that the report include information about the organizational structure of the jail, third-party investigations, internal disciplinary proceedings and policies and procedures relating to mental health treatment and suicide prevention.
Supervisor Ryan Clancy, who chairs the Judiciary, Law Enforcement and General Services Committee, wants the report sent back to his committee to allow more discussion.
“We’d schedule a public hearing on just this item so we have the space to get the answers for the questions that the public has,” he said.
You can contact your county supervisor before Monday’s meeting, which takes place at 6 p.m. Monday at the Bradley Pavilion in the Marcus Performing Arts Center, located at 929 N. Water St. Free parking is available for those who attend.
Devin Blake is the criminal justice reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. His position is funded by the Public Welfare Foundation, which plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.

created: October 25, 2023

author: Devin Blake


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53249042035_aa9b4cc365_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
October 24, 2023


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Instacart now accepts SNAP payments. Here’s what you need to know. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
October 26, 2023
Instacart is now accepting SNAP payments, expanding to all 50 states and Washington D.C.
The online grocery business has allowed SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, to be used as a payment option since 2020. But it announced the expansion in August.
Milwaukee residents who receive SNAP benefits and do not have reliable transportation can get groceries delivered to their homes.
Sherrie Tussler, the CEO of the Hunger Task Force, said the news is huge for Milwaukee because transportation plays a huge role in whether people have access to healthy food.
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During the height of the pandemic, she said, the Hunger Task Force saw an uptick in people who did not want to leave their homes. The organization started working with the food delivery company DoorDash to get stock boxes delivered to seniors.
Because that program only served older residents, the Instacart option “will be great for all those people who don’t fall into that category but need assistance,” she said.
More details about Instacart and SNAP
Tussler said Outpost Natural Foods and the Hunger Task Force Mobile Market, a grocery store on wheels, offer incentives for produce purchases.
You can also find food pantries near you by using IMPACT 2-1-1. Text MKEFOOD to 898-211.

created: October 26, 2023

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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6296294902_0e6b87e887_k-1 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
October 25, 2023


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7732840192_e5ded4750b_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
October 25, 2023


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Where you and your family can celebrate Dia de Los Muertos in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
October 26, 2023
Dia de Los Muertos is a Mexican holiday that reunites the living and the dead through ofrendas (offerings/altars), face painting, music and more. Although it’s traditionally celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2, you don’t have to wait until then.
Here is a list of Dia de Los Muertos events in Milwaukee starting this weekend that you and your family can attend.
Latino Arts Inc. is hosting a Day of the Dead Ofrendas exhibit at its Latino Arts Gallery at 1028 S. 9 St., inside the United Community Center. The exhibit features installations from the Mexican Consulate, local schools and artists. The recommended donation to visit the exhibit is $1. The organization will also host a Café con Arte event at the gallery on Thursday, Oct. 26 and a Day of the Dead Concert by Tres Souls on Nov. 3. Registration is $5. More information here.
Walker’s Point Center for the Arts will host its 31st annual Dia de Los Muertos Exhibition from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27 at 839 S. 5th St. The exhibit will feature community altars from several Milwaukee schools, organizations and artists. School groups, organizations and others can request trips to the exhibition and personalized activities. More information here.
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Friends of the Domes will hold a Dias de Los Muertos celebration from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27 at the Mitchell Park Domes, 524 S. Layton Blvd. The event will include music, dancing, food and art vendors, a decorated Desert Dome and ofrendas. Admission is $16 and no tickets will be sold at the door. More information here.
The festival and 5K event will once again take place on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum, 2405 W. Forest Home Ave. The event kicks off with face painting and registration at 8:30 a.m. and a run/walk at 9:30 a.m. A festival featuring arts and crafts, local vendors and food trucks, face painting, music and dance will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. More information here.

author: Edgar Mendez


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6296294902_0e6b87e887_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
October 25, 2023


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5 things to know and do the weekend of Oct. 28 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
October 27, 2023
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news byclicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Essential Life Home Care Services LLC will be giving away free candy bags from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27 at 4919 W. Good Hope Road., Suite 101.  More information here.
If you have any exotic pets that you can no longer care for, then bring them to the Exotic Pet Surrender Event hosted by Havenwoods State Forest Park and J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue. The event will be held from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Havenswoods State Forest Park, 6141 N. Hopkins St. Domestic pets, such as dogs, cats, rabbits, pigs and chickens will not be accepted. More information here.
Milwaukee’s first ReefingUSA show is from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 2200 W. Mount Vernon Ave. With free admission, you will be able to check out a variety of reef aquariums and  purchase corals from vendors. There’s a chance to win door prizes. The first 100 people to arrive will receive free coral fragments. More information here.
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Red Bike and Green will be hosting a “Black Nerd Cosplay Ride,” where organizers hope to see you  dressed in a costume and partake in a short bike ride on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 2344 N. 16th St. Meet at 1 p.m. Ride at 1:30 p.m.  More information here.
A spades and dominoes game night will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29. This free event is for individuals of any expertise who are willing to get competitive and make new friends. It will take place at  7571 N. Teutonia Ave. More information here.
Where you and your family can celebrate Dia de Los Muertos in Milwaukee
We’ve updated our list on where to find trick-or-treating and other free Halloween events in Milwaukee

created: October 27, 2023

author: Chesnie Wardell


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21093143608_a02ab7761f_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
October 26, 2023


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Adults can catch the Halloween spirit in Milwaukee with these events | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
DeMar Walker
October 27, 2023
Halloween isn’t just for kids.
Here are some events happening in Milwaukee for the older set.
Boss Ladies MKE is hosting a Halloween party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27 at 270 E. Highland Ave. There will be a costume contest, networking, drinks, light food and activities. More information here.
Candlelight will bring a live, multisensory musical experience to Calvary Presbyterian Church, 628 N. 10th St., at 6:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28. Get your tickets now to discover Halloween-inspired music under the gentle glow of candlelight. More information here.
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Come out and have a scary fun time with Black Leaders Organizing for Communities, also known as BLOC, from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28. Walk through BLOC’s haunted house at 3500 N. 26 St. The first 200 kids will receive a free candy bag. More information here.
Brew City Bombshells is hosting a Halloween Dance Party Show from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Falcon Bowl, 801 E. Clarke St. There will be a best costume contest with a small gift prize for the winner. More information here.
Have some Halloween magical fun from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Brumder Haunted Mansion, 3046 W. Wisconsin Ave. The show will feature comedians, magicians and Two Brothers One Mind. More information here.
The Wisconsin Chinese Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Asian Moon Festival & Halloween Extravaganza from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29 at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St. The event will feature traditional moon festival celebrations combined with the spooktacular thrills of Halloween. More information here.
Join Red Bike and Green Milwaukee from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 2344 N. 16th St. Dress as your favorite character from a movie, book, or video game and take a short bike ride around the neighborhood. More information here.
The Milwaukee Hip Hop Museum is hosting a Halloween tour and costume party from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29 at Johnson Park, 2222 N. 19th St. More information here.
Unleash your inner ghoul with Social X MKE as it closes out Wisconsin Tech Month. Social X MKE will host a Halloween-themed party from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 30 at No Studios, 1037 W. McKinley Ave. More information here.
Paint while enjoying delicious food from the food trucks & your drink of choice from the bar from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at Zócalo Food Park, 636 S. 6th St. More information here.
From 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, join Lakefront Brewery, 1872 N. Commerce St., for a double feature of the movies, “The Addams Family” and “Scream.” More information here.
Any upcoming events in the city? Email us at demar.walker@milwaukeenns.org
Where you and your family can celebrate Dia de Los Muertos in Milwaukee
We’ve updated our list on where to find trick-or-treating and other free Halloween events in Milwaukee

author: DeMar Walker


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10554603886_8a7618441b_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
October 26, 2023


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5 things to know and do the week of Oct. 30 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
October 30, 2023
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Unleash your inner ghoul with Social X MKE as it closes out Wisconsin Tech Month. Social X MKE will host a Halloween-themed party from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 30 at No Studios, 1037 W. McKinley Ave. More information here.
Barbershop Books offers free haircuts to kids ages 1 to 8 every Tuesday through a partnership with MKE 4 Kids. Kids can explore books with their parents during their appointments. The next opportunity for a free haircut is Tuesday, Oct. 31. Here’s where you can find available locations and book an appointment. More information here.
Regardless of your dancing ability, you can still learn urban line dancing for $7 with Desiree “Butterfly” Morton. Individuals 21 and up can attend a session from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays at Garfield 502, 502 W. Garfield Ave. The next class is Tuesday, Oct. 31. More information here.
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The Dominican Center partners with Safe and Sound Inc. to ensure residents are receiving fair housing treatment. The two organizations will host a presentation by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 2470 W. Locust St.  More information here.
If your child is from the ages of 6 and 12, take them to the Milwaukee Public Library Zablocki Branch, 3501 W. Oklahoma Ave., from 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 1 for fall craft activities with Kid’s Club.  More information here.

created: October 30, 2023


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52649399035_87165c4c51_k-1-1 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
October 29, 2023

created: October 29, 2023


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52649399035_87165c4c51_k-1-2 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
October 29, 2023


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52649399035_87165c4c51_k-1-3 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
October 29, 2023


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52649399035_87165c4c51_k-1 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
October 29, 2023


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Longtime owner of Toy Dimension still fighting to keep his business alive | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
November 1, 2023
The Toy Dimension has recovered from yet another financial setback and is back to operating as usual.
After having a great year in 2020, despite the pandemic, the collectibles store was on the verge of closing in 2021 after owner Henry Smith suffered two back-to-back strokes that left him incapacitated for weeks.
Because Smith was unable to work for an extended period, he fellbehind on billsand becameconcerned about the future of the store located at 5925 W North Ave.
“Rent was past due at the store,” Smith said. “The landlord was patient with us, but there wasn’t much I could do until my health was back intact. Not being able to do what I needed to do was a real challenge.”
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Toy Dimension is a museum of sorts, and Smith is known in the community for being able to teach patrons the history of each figure or comic book displayed on the store’s walls.
Community members are happy to see the store back up and running.
“It’s one of a handful of retail shops in the corridor that cater to collectors by offering a unique and highly specialized experience,” said Tracy Staedter, the executive director of Uptown Crossing Business Improvement District #16.
Smith said a GoFundMe account, created by his fiancé, with the help of people he’s yet to meet, kept the store open while he recovered.
Smith said he was able to apply for disability after the strokes to balance his personal bills. Although business is a little slower, he remains hopeful.
“Being in the toy business is a lot like dealing with stocks,” said Smith, who has had a passion for toys ever since he was a kid. “The value of a product is determined by age and condition, of course, but there are outside factors that you can’t really control.”
Though his store has been slow to recover, and he’s still working through the long-term effects of multiple strokes, Smith is happy to be back.
“I love what I do, and it’s not just about the toys,” he said. “I’ve been able to build community here and now I see collectors that I met as children bringing their children in. It makes me happy to see them.”
Smith hosts a comic and toy show at Burnham Bowl, 6016 W. Burnham St., West Allis, every other month. The next show will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 3. For more information, you can email toydimension@juno.com or call 414-476-5596.

created: November 1, 2023


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53255293006_f7b4879899_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
October 31, 2023

created: October 31, 2023


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Milwaukee Public Schools promised transportation stipends due to unreliable busing. Few parents received them. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jonmaesha Beltran / Wisconsin Watch
November 1, 2023
Belinda Rodriguez depends on Milwaukee Public Schools busing contractors to transport her grandchildren to and from school. That poses problems. The bus sometimes arrives late to drive her 6-year-old granddaughter, Magaly Coronado, to her South Side Milwaukee school, or deliver her home.
That tardiness leaves Rodriguez anxious about the child’s whereabouts and wondering why one grandchild gets picked up and not the other, even though they ride the same route and live less than two miles apart.
“This is not good because sometimes we don’t have gas money or a car to take her to school,” Rodriguez texted to Wisconsin Watch in February — part of a series of messages documenting spotty bus service to her household.
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Coronado’s bus driver has been late again this school year, including during a day Wisconsin Watch visited her bus stop in October.
School districts across Wisconsin and nationwide have faced a years-long bus driver shortage, which the COVID-19 pandemic worsened. Bus delays and cancellations during the return to in-person learning in 2021 left many students late daily and even prompted families to consider switching schools.
Responding to the problem, the district eliminated hundreds of routes, added to drivers’ workloads and launched efforts to compensate families for the hassle of finding alternative transportation.
This included mailing reimbursement contracts to a small subset of households that faced the most severe busing problems. The school board separately allocated $500,000 in federal pandemic relief — tapping the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) — to compensate parents for transportation costs.
But school district officials left families largely in the dark about how to collect compensation, Wisconsin Watch found. Budget documents show the district did not spend the $500,000 it allocated, and officials say the district halted the parent contract program at the end of December 2021 after disbursing just over $8,200 to 124 households in a district that serves about 67,500 students.
The district says it fixed its driver shortage, eliminating the need for compensation. Parents disagree and said they could still use compensation for transportation inconveniences.
Busing reliability has improved over the past two years, parents told Wisconsin Watch through its News414 collaboration with Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. But drivers sometimes still show up late. Parents on those days must drive their children to school or keep them home due to a lack of transportation.
“When I think about myself and in getting my daughter to school, a lot of times we don’t rely on the bus because she was always getting to school late,” said Milwaukee Public Schools parent Sharlen Moore, adding that being reimbursed monthly for gas would be helpful.
Shiela Cusack of Milwaukee’s South Side remembers many days during the 2021-22 school year when drivers for Wisconsin Central School Bus, one district contractor, failed to pick up her daughter and take her across town to Milwaukee High School of the Arts.
During one of her multiple calls to the company, she was encouraged to apply for a bus driver position. She wasn’t interested.
Milwaukee Public Schools saw driver shortages that school year ranging from 30 to 70 drivers due to COVID-19 sickness or those who quit due to pandemic concerns, according to David Solik-Fifarek, senior director of business and transportation services. He described the disruption as brief.
“There were just some days where students were not getting picked up. Three days later, they were getting picked up again,” Solik-Fifarek said.
Buses failed to pick up at least 700 students on time or at all for the first day back for 40 of the district’s roughly 150 schools following the pandemic shutdown, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported in October 2021.
The crisis prompted district officials to cut 600 routes, remove about 200 buses from service, increase driver routes from two to three and recruit more drivers.
But those strategies didn’t immediately solve the problem as the district waited for new drivers to complete training.
The district sought to compensate the most affected families by mailing reimbursement contracts to about 1,000 households monthly between November and December 2021 where buses didn’t show up for multiple days in a row, Solik-Fifarek said.
School board directors Megan O’Halloran and Sequanna Taylor (who is now a county supervisor) additionally saw opportunity in the district’s $506 million final round of ESSER funding. The board unanimously approved their proposal to allocate $500,000 of the pandemic aid to reimburse families for bus passes, gas and mileage.
“Perhaps this a redundant amendment, and we already have plans,” O’Halloran said during an October 2021 budget meeting.
Local media reported on the compensation vote, but the school district did not tell parents how to access the funds.
“I don’t think we did a great job with informing parents about that benefit,” said Aisha Carr, another school board director.
By the time the district mailed out the contracts, 124 of which were returned, 95% of bus routes were running on any given day, Solik-Fifarek said. The majority of contracts went unreturned for a variety of likely reasons, he added, including that the family had switched addresses, switched schools, didn’t get their mail or decided they didn’t need the small stipend.
The district had enough drivers in the pipeline by mid-December to further stabilize the busing system, allowing officials to end the compensation program, according to Solik-Fifarek.
“That was a very short-lived program,” he said.
The district did not spend the additional $500,000 it allocated for transportation stipends, according to a May 2023 document submitted to the school board directors. The document, an update on ESSER spending, proposed removing the stipend allocation in a budget revision.
“I think that’s extremely unfair,” Cusack said.
District officials did not answer Wisconsin Watch’s questions about whether the funds were reallocated for another purpose.
Wisconsin Watch asked school board president Marva Herndon and board member Henry Leonard about how the district spent the money. Herndon told a reporter to submit a public records request, and Leonard said he didn’t know where the money would have gone. Wisconsin Watch is waiting on the district to fulfill that request.
Some residents say the requirement that drivers work a third route has kept the system moving slowly.
“If (drivers) get a hiccup on their first or second route, it’s going to impact everything else that comes after it,” Moore said.
Heather Peña, whose sixth and seventh grade daughters rely on the bus, said late buses were a particular problem during colder temperatures.
In February Peña lacked a car, causing the children to miss school one day when the bus was late.
“I wasn’t going to have them waiting outside for a half an hour for a bus that was going to show up late and have them freeze their butts off,” she said.
Cusack’s daughter was often late to her first class due to unreliable bus service in February, the mother said.
“There’s still days where I have to take my daughter to school. She doesn’t even know if the bus is coming,” Cusack told Wisconsin Watch.
Adding an additional route to drivers’ schedules and offering them longer hours largely works, but it can create a time crunch, Solik-Fifarek acknowledged. He added any change to previous routines can create challenges.
“You set these routes up and then all of a sudden you add another kid, another kid, and another kid and before you know it, the route is running 20 minutes longer than it was a month ago,” he said. “And then it requires some fixing.”
Some drivers remain frustrated that the extra demands make staying on time more difficult, particularly when bad traffic or weather strikes, said Farina Brooks, a longtime bus driver and community leader.
Brooks’ first daily route starts on Milwaukee’s West Side. She then serves the Far Northwest Side. Her third route covers the East Side, she said.
In the early months of the busing overhaul Brooks would show parents her far-reaching duties on a map to assure them she wasn’t late on purpose.
“We have a heart. Most of us have children, and we understand that these babies have to stand out here. It’s not like we want them to, but there’s only so much we can do,” Brooks said. “We have to run the route the way it is and the way the times are set up. It’s frustrating to us because there’s nothing we can do.”
Milwaukee Public Schools contracts with a variety of busing companies to serve students. Those needing to report a busing issue can find phone numbers for each of those companies at this website. Parents can separately contact the district’s transportation office by calling 414-475-8922 or emailing tran@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.
The nonprofit Wisconsin Watch (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, WPR, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by Wisconsin Watch do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.
This article first appeared on Wisconsin Watch and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

author: Jonmaesha Beltran / Wisconsin Watch


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MKE-Bus-1 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
November 1, 2023


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One of Milwaukee’s most controversial landlords is providing scholarships to tenants | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
November 1, 2023
Jazzmine Franklin got a text from her property management company encouraging her to apply for scholarships for her children.
So she did.
And three of her children won scholarships from Berrada Properties.
This year, Berrada Properties gave out two $5,000 scholarships, 10 $1,000 scholarships and a laptop to every student who applied.
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Berrada Properties, owned by Youssef “Joe” Berrada, is one of Milwaukee’s most controversial landlords after filing evictions on 800 of its tenants in January 2022.
In 2021, the state Department of Justice sued Berrada and his companies, alleging that they violated the rights of tenants. Berrada and his companies have denied wrongdoing and the suit is pending.
“The management team and the ownership team are very conscientious people who have warm hearts, and you don’t hear that a lot,” said Archie Blunt, the director of community outreach with Berrada Properties. “And I wouldn’t associate with anything that was less than . . . I hope what I can bring here is to show this other side and create more positive impacts.”
Blunt said the scholarships are a response to what the company is seeing in the community.
“We started to look at how can we help this tenant base after seeing all this stuff that’s happening with the kids and violence and them not having anything to do,” Blunt said. “And we decided we have to start protecting our assets, which are the children and the people inside of our buildings. That that was the focal point of starting a program.”
The property management company awarded the scholarships through Edvest 529, an online college savings account. It scheduled times for awardees to meet with a college savings consultant to start an account and to create a plan.
“The goal of Edvest is to remove some of those barriers to college saving,” said Khaleel Ali, a college savings consultant with Edvest. “We make the saving process accessible and flexible for different families.”
Berrada Properties has also partnered with Milwaukee College Prep, a four-campus network of K3-8 schools, to give students exposure to the trades through a five-week paid internship.
It also plans to open a tenant learning center this year, where staff will teach financial literacy and work with residents who want to own homes.
“And I think by doing that, not only are we educating our tenant base, but I just think we’re helping them become better citizens in general,” Blunt said.


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53132833809_689e733143_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
October 31, 2023


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5 things to know and do the weekend of Nov. 3 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
November 3, 2023
IIt’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Milwaukee Public Museum has partnered with the Potawatomi Casino Hotel to offer special programming to celebrate Native American Heritage Month throughout November. You can learn about the traditions and contributions of Native Americans. The museum, located 800 W. Wells St., will grant free admission to Wisconsin tribal members. More information here.
The Redress Movement, an inclusive organization that combats racism in Milwaukee County, seeks  feedback from community members on a project called “Mapping Racism and Resistance in Milwaukee County.” This discussion will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Washington Park Senior Center, 4420 W. Vliet St. More information here.
The quarterly meeting of the Harambee Neighborhood Improvement District and Community Development Alliance will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the St. Marcus Burleigh Campus, 110 W. Burleigh St. Discussions will center on neighborhood improvements. Register here.  More information here.
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Chained Dogs Milwaukee is a nonprofit organization that saves dogs that are chained and neglected. It invites the community to its first “Biscuits and Beer” event from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall, 1920 S. 37th St. Admission is $5, and individuals are welcome to donate dog food. This family friendly event will feature a chili contest, dog peanut butter licking contest and a pumpkin-carving contest. More information here.
Each year, First Stage sponsors an “Amplify Reading Series.” Beginning at 7 p.m. on Saturday Nov. 4, Ty Defoewill read the play, “Big City Harmony,” as part of the series. The play tells the story of Harmony, an Anishinaabe girl on a journey of self-discovery and culture. The reading will be held at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, 325 W. Walnut St.  “Pay what you choose” admission is available on a first-come, first-served basis with a minimum ticket price of $10 per person. More information here.

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5 things to know and do the week of Nov. 6 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
November 6, 2023
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance
Come to the youth paint and sip night from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at  Kosciuszko Community Center, 2201 S. 7th St. Milwaukee Christian Center’s Youth Program will provide resources, supplies, food, and non-alcoholic drinks. More information here.
Residents in need of food are welcome to visit the WestCare Wisconsin E.A.T.S. Food Pantry starting at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 335 W. Wright St. in the Harambee neighborhood. There are no ZIP code restrictions, and no ID is required. Individuals are welcome to come every week if they would like. More information here.
Experience a free art therapy wellness series that can help improve your mental health from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at the Milwaukee Art Therapy Collective, 9224 W. Burleigh St. Moms Mental Health Initiative is a co-sponsor along with the Milwaukee Art Therapy Collective. More information here.
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From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9, Healthy Start families and community members are invited to come out and discuss ways to improve the lives of children. The event will be held at Employ Milwaukee, 2342 N. 27th St., Room 18. Whether you plan to attend virtually or in person, registration is required. More information here.
Enjoy coffee, games and conversation with Judge Molly Gena at Escuela Verde’s Newline Community Cafe, 3618 W. Pierce St., from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9.  Gena was elected in the April spring election to Branch 2 of the Municipal Court. From 2007 until her election, she worked as an attorney for Legal Action of Wisconsin, a nonprofit civil legal aid law firm. More information here.

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NNS Spotlight: How Mitchell Street Arts plans to revive arts and culture on Milwaukee’s South Side | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
DeMar Walker
November 7, 2023
Mitchell Street Arts is bringing new energy to the arts and culture scene on Milwaukee’s South Side.
“It falls at the intersection of arts education and community organizing,” Executive Director Rew Gordon said.
The organization’s goal is to serve as a hub where artists and residents can come together to create a vibrant space that provides a range of community programming.
The idea for a South Side arts and culture collaborative originated from a series of conversations between residents, artists and community leaders in 2021. From those conversations, Mitchell Street Arts was born.
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“It was the product of two years of intense work, a lot of people contributing their thoughts and hands to it,” Gordon said.
The organization held its grand opening on Aug. 18, which marked the culmination of two years of hard work by volunteers who helped with everything from painting to electrical work.
Mitchell Street Arts is located on the first floor of the Kunzelmann-Esser building, a former furniture store.
The location, at 710 West Mitchell St. serves as a multipurpose space and includes an exhibition gallery, public arts stage and co-working space.
Gordon wants Mitchell Street to become an important arts and culture hub while also boosting the South Side economy.
“It’s about getting them (artists and creatives) in the door. It’s about opening the space to them, so they feel welcome to provide services or their offerings to the community,” said Creative Events Director Nicole Acosta.
To assist with events, Mitchell Street Arts also offers sliding-scale rates to those who are interested in hosting events at their location
An initiative of Mitchell Street Arts is the TWIG artistic residency program. Now in its first year of operation, TWIG provides local artists with their own studio space to delve into their practices. The program also supports networking opportunities, as well as a gallery show for resident artists.
TWIG serves as an extension of the upcoming NEST residency program, which will provide national and international artists with an opportunity to live and work in Milwaukee.
“For local Milwaukee artists, we really want our residents to feel like Mitchell Street Arts is a part of their home in the larger city,” Gordon said.
The NEST program, which is scheduled to launch at a later date, will provide furnished apartments where international artists can live, create, and engage with the city in various ways.
Nohemí Chávez, a local Mexican American designer, is one of TWIG’s resident artists. Chavez and her creative partner and photographer, Jovanny Hernandez Caballero, are the multimedia duo SOMOS, a Spanish word that means “to exist.”
Their practice documents their cultural influences in different locations throughout Milwaukee. Chávez designs, builds and models the pieces, while Caballero photographs the images.
“I wanna showcase the area in a much more beautiful way,” Chavez said.
She believes Mitchell Street Arts is a space where she is cultivating a movement in which Black and Brown people can be at the forefront of fashion and photography.
It is her hope that their work will be an example of the amazing potential Milwaukee has to offer young creatives.
Gordon shares this vision.
“Mitchell Street will be a flower you’ve never seen before,” Gordon said.
Learn more about Mitchell Street Arts by checking out its website.
Catch up with the people and organizations who make Milwaukee great by reading “NNS Spotlight.”

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Advocates push for more urgency to end MPD’s unconstitutional stop-and-frisks. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
November 8, 2023
It’s been seven years since Stephen Jansen was a plaintiff in the American Civil Liberties Union’s landmark Collins lawsuit against the City of Milwaukee over the police department’s unlawful stop-and-frisk policies and five years since a settlement in the case was reached.
Jansen, co-chair of the Community Collaborative Commission, is still waiting for several terms of that settlement to be met, particularlyone that mandates an end to racial bias in stops by Milwaukee police.
The main task of the Community Collaborative Commission, or CCC, is to work with the MPD on a plan to develop standards for community-oriented policing and to improve law enforcement practices in Milwaukee, including those related to stop-and-frisks.
A September report by the Crime and Justice Institute, which tracks the Milwaukee Police Department’s compliance with the Collins settlement, found that Black residents in Milwaukee of typical driving age were 4.5 times more likely to be stopped than whites; 10 times more likely to be subjected to a field interview; and eight times more likely to be subjected to a frisk-type encounter.
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“The report made real the disparity between the policing that takes place in different communities based on color and concerns that people have in our community about policing,” Jansen said. “It’s a call for action to make real the type of social justice in police reform that we’ve been seeking.”
He said he wants to see more officers of color, police training data that’s available to residents,  more mental health support embedded in the police department and a real community policing plan.
In addition to an end to racial bias in stop-and-frisks and other police encounters, the Collins settlement also mandates more rigorous data collection, training for officers and discipline for those who demonstrate bias or fail to document stops, among other terms.
MPD reached compliance on several other terms of the settlement , including implementing a better system to track and process complaint; training related to constitutional stops; investigating complaints; and performing more audits of data. The department has also made progress in other areas, including measures related to diversity, supervision and discipline and its work with the Community Collaborative Committee to host community meetings in different aldermanic districts.
MPD issued a statement to NNS that acknowledged the racial disparities that exist in the city and nation.
“MPD has agreed to conduct additional analysis to help identify the drivers of disparity in the City of Milwaukee. We are eager to move forward with this important next step,” the statement reads in part. “We certainly agree that everyone deserves to be treated fairly and equally and will continue the work to ensure that is our community’s reality.”
The MPD has secured funds from the city to conduct additional analysis to better understand why disparities in police stops continue, according to the CJI report.
The deadline to reach full compliance with the settlement was originally five years, but ACLU officials now say they will monitor compliance until it is reached for five consecutive years.
The report also cited a need for more urgency by the department to mend its relationship with the community. It states that in 2024 the department should develop a community engagement plan that helps create a culture of trust and respect between the MPD and the community.
“It is essential to include in that community plan what they have heard in community meetings and partnership with the CCC,” the report noted.
Jansen said meetings held in different aldermanic districts that were organized by the Community Collaborative Commission and MPD have yielded some interesting ideas but lack the community participation needed to get a better sense of what changes should be made.
The CCC tried unsuccessfully to have the city fund a survey by a nonpartisan group that gathers input from community members on stop-and-frisks.
Jansen said city leaders balked at that plan and are also to blame for not mandating the types of changes needed to move the MPD toward compliance with the settlement.
“It’s not just local community leaders who should be pushing for change but the Common Council and the mayor spearheading the kind of police reform that we need,” he said.
Milwaukee city leaders, including Mayor Cavalier Johnson, have not issued public responses to the latest CJI report.
Olga Akselrod, a senior staff attorney in the ACLU’s Racial Justice Program, said: “The city has certainly made progress with regards to its systems for documentation and supervision of policing as well as in establishing policies that are really important to constitutional policing.”
Nevertheless, she said, MPD is still conducting unconstitutional stops at rates that violate the terms of the agreement.
“We are looking at steps we can take to improve compliance,” Akselrod said. “It’s important to point out that the problems in policing will require a multitude of different strategies.”
She also called on local officials to do more.
“The city receives these reports,” Akselrod said. “The city should absolutely be making sure that the MPD is accountable for the findings in the report.”
Amanda Merkwae, advocacy director for the ACLU of Wisconsin, said one major challenge for the city is complying with Act 12.
She said Act 12 eliminated the ability of the Fire and Police Commission, or FPC, in Milwaukee to set policy changes and also took away the avenue for Milwaukee residents to weigh in on changes to standard operating procedures before they go into effect.
“The FPC is now serving in more of an advisory role, and they’ve also taken the public out of the process,” Merkwae said.
As for Jansen, he said he’s tired of waiting for real change to happen in the city. He wants political leaders in Milwaukee to do what it takes to make those changes happen.
“All of our elected officials need to be actively involved in this, because it’s not just an issue of MPD accountability,” Jansen said. “These issues have existed for decades, and I cannot see anyone running for office or in office without being asked about their plans for reforms of the police department.”

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Milwaukee is relaunching an initiative that brings neighbors together to address safety issues. Here’s what you need to know. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Meredith Melland
November 9, 2023
After starting as a pilot program in a few city neighborhoods, the Alert Neighbor Program is being expanded citywide in an effort to give residents the tools to reduce crime in their neighborhoods.
The City of Milwaukee program will provide funding for safety improvements such as surveillance cameras, lighting and signage to organized watch groups that are committed to addressing crime and safety issues.
The city’s Office of Community Wellness and Safety has budgeted $300,000 for the program.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson, 6th District Ald. Milele Coggs, 15th District Ald. Russell Stamper II and other city officials stressed the importance of community collaboration during a news conference on Nov. 2 at Waico Apartments, 1800 N. 12th St.
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“No one person and no one entity can do this all by themselves,” Johnson said. “Public safety needs everybody to be in the game.”
The Alert Neighbor Program is a collaboration between the Milwaukee Department of Administration, the Office of Community Wellness and Safety, the Milwaukee Police Department, the Mayor’s Office and neighborhood and block watch groups.
The program was created by Coggs and Stamper as a pilot program in 2021, with 15 groups in the first cohort and 25 groups in 2022, according to Patricia Ruiz-Cantu, community outreach manager for the city’s Department of Administration.
Here are some things you should know about the Alert Neighbor Program.
Applications will open on Friday, Nov. 10 and will be available until Dec. 11.
Neighbors can organize to form a group or existing block watch groups can apply online at milwaukee.gov/anp.
The program requires a minimum of eight households to commit to participating in a neighborhood block watch or task force that works with the Milwaukee Police Department and other partners to addresssafety issues.
If accepted, a block watch group is expected to go on a neighborhood safety walk with city partners before receiving funding and to meet regularly.
A contribution of $20 per resident is required to help fund lighting, cameras and other equipment.
The Alert Neighbor Program will prioritize neighborhoods with high rates of drug-related complaints and crime, active groups and groups that can meet the $20 funding match.
City employees have not specified how many groups they plan to accept in this application cycle.
Ruiz-Cantu said it was difficult to manage 25 groups at once in the last cohort.  “My goal is to get 10 and service them right away and then reopen again,” she said.
The program will be ongoing with other opportunities to apply. Groups can reapply if they are not accepted.
The program’s direct impact on public safety is not easy to assess.
“It’s difficult to measure crimes that did not occur,” Johnson said at the news conference.
Milwaukee’s serious crimes rate decreased by 14% from 2021 to 2022 and is down 23%, year-to-date, from 2021 to 2023, though some specific crimes have increased, according to MPD’s crime map.
Coggs and Stamper both said they have seen positive outcomes from the program in their districts.
“Anecdotally, we hear from residents that are a part of the Alert Neighbor Program all the time about how this has helped bring their neighborhood together and has pushed out some of the bad activity that we’re having,” Coggs said.
To learn more about the program and guidelines, visit the Alert Neighbor Program website, contact (414) 286-5626 or email paruizc@milwaukee.gov.
Meredith Melland is the neighborhoods reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.

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author: Meredith Melland


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5 things to know and do the weekend of Nov. 10 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
November 10, 2023
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
A social dance in honor of Veterans Day will be held from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10 at the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center, Inc., 930 W. Historic Mitchell St. Individuals are encouraged to wear their regalia and ribbon skirts. A host drum will be present for entertainment along with food. More information here.
Baked Dreams Bakery and Cafe will celebrate its grand opening from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 at the Sherman Phoenix, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave. The community is invited to come out and support chef and owner Tamesha Patrice. More information here.
Best Babies Zone, or BBZ, is an initiative that focuses on combating infant mortality because of racial disparities. From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 and 18, parents are invited to share stories about their parenting and pregnancy experiences. The workshops will be held at the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, 5460 N. 64th St. Free childcare will be provided along with gift cards. Registration is required.  More information here.
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Come to the 11th annual Kops Park Stocking Stuffer Craft Fair and Bake Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 3205 N. 85th St. Vendors, crafts and free coffee will be awaiting you! More information here.
Food for Health, a Milwaukee nonprofit organization, wants you to be healthy for the holidays by attending its workshops on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2007 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Among highlights are stretching, a seminar and a cooking demonstration.  More information here.

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How tenants are pushing the Housing Authority to make improvements | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Residents speak out, ‘I was complaining and complaining’, , Taking ‘our power back’, , What’s next?, , Department of Neighborhood Services, For more information,
November 10, 2023
After years of complaining about unsafe living conditions, tenants of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, or HACM, are organizing and advocating for themselves.
Common Council President Jose Perez said at a public meeting in September that issues concerning HACM have been on his radar since 2013.
But only since March, after Common Ground publicly announced its concerns with the Housing Authority, did council members sit down to discuss solutions.
Common Ground, a 15-year-old nonpartisan coalition that addresses community issues, met  with tenants, collected stories and presented more than 1,000 cases of residents who say they have experienced assault; endured bedbugs and rats; had to deal with “lost” rent payments; abusive management; mold; and no heat.
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Joseph Pinto, who lives in HACM’s Southlawn apartments, said he and others had been making complaints for years with no actions or help until he met Common Ground organizers in the summer of 2020.
Pinto and other Southlawn residents shared concerns about reckless driving. Common Ground organizers then started collaborating with tenants to organize around security and traffic issues.
“We won speed bumps, traffic signs and pothole repairs,” Pinto said.
That was the spark that got the ball rolling.
Mitchell Court residents heard about the work Common Ground had done with Southlawn residentsand reached out to organizers about maintenance problems.
“I was complaining and complaining,” said Chris Logan, a Mitchell Court resident. “And no one was hearing me. So when I heard about a meeting to address concerns, I didn’t know if I should trust it, but I went.”
After hearing from Southlawn and Mitchell Court residents, Common Ground organizers and residents started looking into other Housing Authority properties.
“Every meeting brings tears to my eyes,” said Nicole Smith, a Southlawn resident. “Once I started attending meetings and hearing what other people were dealing with, my issues felt insignificant.”
Residents said they continued to show up because they began to see changes as a result of their organizing with Common Ground.
One Lincoln Court tenant, Patrick Murphy, said he’d been dealing with a leaky ceiling and black mold in his unit for seven years. Once Common Ground got involved, the issue was addressed.
Common Ground is made up of over 40 congregations, schools, small businesses, neighborhood groups and other organizations.
When working with HACM residents, Common Ground took its usual approach of setting goals, creating strategies and demanding change from powerful interests.
“Common Ground taught us how to organize and take our power back,” Logan said. “I never saw myself as a leader. Now I stand up and talk in front of people.”
Kevin Solomon, an associate organizer with Common Ground, said good organizing starts with listening, so that’s what he did.
“We went door-to-door for months in the snow, rain and heat talking to residents of HACM properties—getting to know folks and hearing their stories,” he said.
Once organizers built relationships and understood the issues, they worked with residents to convene group meetings, develop tenant-organizing teams, provide training and strategize how to win desired changes.
Together with tenants, Common Ground started the Tenants United campaign to address systemic issues and give residents safe, comfortable places to live.
“Only when the people affected by a policy build enough capacity to make their case and have numbers (of people) behind them, will politicians seriously listen to them,” said Louise Cainker, a professor of social and cultural sciences at Marquette University.
The Common Council approved an ordinance change that would give the Department of Neighborhood Services, or DNS, clear authority to inspect properties and issue code violations to HACM — an oversight Common Ground identified in late 2022.
Starting Jan.1, the city will review the concerns of HACM tenants. The Common Councilfunded two full-time Department of Neighborhood Services inspectors focused on HACM, Milwaukee’s second-largest landlord.
HACM Secretary-Executive Director Willie Hines Jr. said in September that his agency will regularly report its progress in addressing complaints to the Common Council.
So far, Common Ground has uncovered rent and maintenance failures within the Housing Authority.
Common Ground leaders plan to unveil the next phase of their Tenants United campaign to reform HACM at a fall assembly on Sunday at Mount Mary University.
“The people can save the people,” Pinto said. “No one cares more about our lives than us, so we are the ones that have to make the change.”
Common Ground will hold its fall assembly from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12.


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5 things to know and do the week of Nov. 13 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
November 13, 2023
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Chess players of all skill levels are invited to the Garden Homes Chess Club from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at the Milwaukee Public Library Atkinson Branch,1960 W. Atkinson Ave.
BizStarts is a business development program that supports entrepreneurs. BizStarts will host its November Coffee Connections from 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 161 S. First St. in the Walker’s Point neighborhood. The purpose is to promote diversity and networking in the area. Coffee and refreshments will also be provided. More information here.
From noon to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14, Employ Milwaukee will have a resource table at the Milwaukee Public Library Mitchell Street Branch, 906 W. Historic Mitchell St. This is your chance to explore career opportunities, training programs and more.
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T. Herro Foundation is collaborating with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee to provide free open gym sessions every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Mary Ryan Boys & Girls Club at 3000 N. Sherman Blvd. The next session is Wednesday, Nov. 15 for basketball players who are 13 and up.  More information here.
The Hmong American Friendship Association will give away donated clothing at its next closet giveaway from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 3824 W. Vliet St. More information here.

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JusticePoint continues jail alternatives work as Milwaukee tries to cancel contract | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jonmaesha Beltran / Wisconsin Watch
November 14, 2023
This story is part of a collaboration between Wisconsin Watch, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and The Appeal.  Click here to read highlights from the story
After starting to move out of its Milwaukee Municipal Court building office earlier this month, JusticePoint Inc. has learned it can continue providing incarceration alternatives to residents while a lawsuit it filed against the City of Milwaukee continues.
The nonprofit, which has spent years serving low-income Milwaukeeans and those with mental health and addiction challenges, sued the city in July after two Municipal Court judges sought to cancel its Municipal Court Alternatives Program contract without public explanation.
On Nov. 6, Judge Joseph Donald of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals issued an order requiring the city to continue paying JusticePoint for its services while the nonprofit appeals a lower court’s dismissal of its lawsuit.
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Milwaukee’s Municipal Court would have otherwise lacked a diversion program for the first time since the 1980s.
“We feel a tremendous obligation to the clients we serve,” said Nick Sayner, JusticePoint’s co-founder and CEO. “We serve some of the most vulnerable people in the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County as a whole. And the Municipal Court’s system and structure can do a lot of damage to that population if the courts are not aware of the full context that an individual or defendant is dealing with.”
But the contract the city seeks to cancel lasts only through 2023.
JusticePoint program director Sue Eckhart has spent most of her decades-long career supporting indigent residents and others who landed in court because they could not pay fines for civil infractions, such as illegal parking or loitering.
Nov. 3 was the second day this year on which Eckhart thought it was her last leading the alternatives program.
A Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge had dismissed JusticePoint’s lawsuit in October, and a temporary order that delayed the ruling’s effect was set to expire. Eckhart worried many would end up “falling through the cracks.”
“We had left so many individuals kind of just hanging,” she said.
But Donald’s ruling offered Eckhart some relief.
Municipal Court officials said they have not identified a vendor to replace JusticePoint, which has contracted with the city since 2015.
“No final decisions will be made until the current contractual obligation is finished,” Municipal Court’s Chief Administrator Sheldyn Himle told Wisconsin Watch in an October email, adding that judges may directly refer defendants who cannot pay fines to alternative services without a vendor’s help.
Some judges have already stopped referring defendants to the nonprofit and are instead trying to monitor community service efforts themselves, leading to confusion, Eckhart said.
“We’re getting calls from people who don’t know how to do it, don’t know where to go, want some help from us,” Eckhart said. “And then we’re seeing people that just don’t come back to show that they’ve done it for the court.”
Eckhart worries removing JusticePoint from the Municipal Court would lead to more arrest warrants as fewer people return to handle their infractions.
JusticePoint was serving clients in 123 open cases as of Nov. 3. Some had court dates set for next year and were referred by Judge Molly Gena, Eckhart said.
During a June Milwaukee Common Council committee meeting, Gena said terminating the contract would make her job “a lot harder.” She said she could order people to pay fines but can’t address root causes that will send them back to court.
“It was indicated that maybe the other judges have a plan — I don’t,” she said, referring to the prospect of losing JusticePoint’s services.
The nonprofit’s clients in years past had a 52% community service completion rate compared with the 35% completion rate of those facing judge-ordered community service, former Municipal Court Judge Derek Mosley said during a 2018 Milwaukee Common Council committee meeting.
JusticePoint says its role in forging personal relationships and connecting people to transportation, jobs and other resources increases the odds of completion.
In suing to save its contract, JusticePoint argued the city violated the Wisconsin Fair Dealership law, which protects “dealers” — typically business owners — whose economic livelihood could be imperiled by “grantors,” who, through a contract, give dealers the ability to sell or distribute goods or services. The law prohibits a grantor from terminating a relationship with a dealer without good cause, proper notice and the ability to fix any issue at hand.
Circuit Court Judge J.D. Watts ruled in October that the Fair Dealership law did not apply to the case. JusticePoint and the city had forged a typical vendor-vendee relationship without a community of interest and no interdependence to merit fair dealership protection, Watts ruled.
Jeff Mandell, JusticePoint’s attorney in the lawsuit, disagreed.
“It struck me as really bizarre that the Circuit Court was so invested in insisting that these services really had nothing to do with the city, and even the city was not willing to say that,” Mandell said. “The city had other arguments about why it thought the dealership law shouldn’t apply here.”
Assistant City Attorney Kathryn Block, who is representing the city in court, declined to comment.
Still unclear in the dispute: why the city seeks to terminate the contract.
Two Municipal Court judges, Phil Chavez and Valarie Hill, recommended terminating the contract before Gena was elected to the court in April, Wisconsin Watch and Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service previously reported.
The city sought to cancel the contract under a “convenience” clause, rather than for cause, allowing it to be halted for any reason.
Neither the judges nor anyone else have publicly explained the move. But the two judges told Himle, the court’s chief administrator, they “lost faith” in JusticePoint over the longstanding practice of sharing citations with attorneys at Legal Action of Wisconsin, a nonprofit that provides free legal services to people with low incomes, according to a May 15 email between Sayner and Himle.
The city attorney’s office had advised JusticePoint to share citations during pilot phases of a program to help people with low incomes find legal representation, Sayner responded to Himle at the time. Sayner also told Himle that JusticePoint hadn’t received broader feedback from the court for several years, but was open to it as long as the program’s principles remained consistent.
Sayner told Wisconsin Watch that JusticePoint partners with systems that often treat defendants, victims and witnesses unfairly. The lack of transparency about the contract cancellation “brings up all of the concerns that the public and the community generally have about these systems,” he said.
The city acknowledged in a legal filing that the Municipal Court Alternatives Program “has generally been successful and has assisted many residents and generally streamlined the process for many people the Municipal Court serves.”
“The city had reasons to terminate the contract,” Block said in court without specifying. But such reasons were not relevant to whether the city had the right to do so, she added.
A coalition of 24 local organizations this summer urged the city’s Common Council and Mayor Cavalier Johnson to save the program, but officials say neither has control over the contract. The council funds but does not oversee the program, allocating $487,000 for JusticePoint’s services this year.
Art Heitzer, an attorney with the National Lawyers Guild’s Milwaukee chapter, criticized the city for using tax dollars to defend the cancellation in court.
“Fighting this lawsuit and spending money and potentially running up attorney fees that they have to pay on the other side if JusticePoint wins is not in the best interest of the city or the taxpayers,” Heitzer said.
Johnson declined to comment.
“The selection, deployment and accountability of this service rests entirely with Municipal Court administrators and the elected judges. The mayor will not be commenting on JusticePoint or successor programming because he has not been involved in any aspect of the work,” spokesperson Jeff Fleming wrote in an email.
Mandell takes issue with that distancing attempt.
“Usually, when a defendant has nothing to do with something, they tell that to the court, and that’s not what the city has done here,” he said. “At no point have they said, ‘Hey, this was not our decision. We didn’t do this.’”
Joseph Ellwanger, a former pastor of Cross Lutheran Church in Milwaukee who supports JusticePoint’s services, also finds the situation curious.
“It is rather strange that the Common Council apparently legally has no way to oversee or intervene in the contract even though it’s the city that provides the money for the contract,” he said.
The nonprofit Wisconsin Watch (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, WPR, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by Wisconsin Watch do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.
This article first appeared on Wisconsin Watch and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

created: November 14, 2023


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Ron Smith
November 14, 2023


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His next challenge after 28 years in prison: Building up his credit | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Devin Blake
November 15, 2023
After being incarcerated for 28 years, Roy Rogers left prison with no credit, making the process of re-entering society even more challenging.
Within two years after being released, however, Rogers has improved his credit significantly, allowing him to continue building a steady and stable life.
Rogers specifically developed a plan for his credit before leaving prison – something for which prisoners need more support and resources, he said.
Recidivism rates are largely driven by economic challenges people face upon returning to their communities, said Doug Ryan, vice president of policy and applied research at Prosperity Now, a national nonprofit, based in Washington D.C.,that advocates for policies to reduce the country’s racial wealth gap.
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Rogers knows all about such challenges.
“If you don’t have the basic things you need to succeed, it can put you in a position where you have to make certain choices,” he said. “And sometimes you might not make the correct one. And it starts a spiraling down effect.”
Housing and employment are often cited as two of the most important resources for people to successfully return from incarceration. But good credit is often a prerequisite for both.
“I found out that by me having pretty much a non-existing credit life, that that impacted everything,” said Rogers. “Anything that involved loans. Anything that involved renting. Anything that utilized a credit score as part of its matrix – it was negative for me.”
In Wisconsin, according to publicly available data, the percentage of people who were reincarcerated within three years of release, between 2000 and 2018, was roughly 40%.
Rogers is adamant that people should have access to more financial literacy resources and education  while they are in custody, particularly in facilities run by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, or DOC.
Kevin Hoffman, DOC’s deputy director of communications, told NNS in an email that there are “limited opportunities” for people who are incarcerated to build their credit.
Hoffman added, however, that the DOC does offer materials and classes on financial literacy.
Some prisoners also have the opportunity to participatein work-release programs, where they can earn money and pay toward their legal obligations or delinquent accounts before their release.
Rogers works asa data solutions processor by day. But he also is a staff member of The Community, a nonprofit that, among other things, has worked to increase the financial literacy of those who have been incarcerated.
Rogers’ experience in building his credit helped inform the content in The Community’s educational packet about financial literacy.
The cornerstone of Rogers’ credit-building strategies has been finding ways to consistently demonstrate financial responsibility.
One key method for doing this, Rogers said, is creating small amounts of debt then paying it off.
“I began to learn how to build credit coming from a deficit. And for me that started out with simply getting a secure credit card,” Rogers said.
“Right now, my credit is decent,” Rogers said. “I fluctuate between 690 and 700.”
(According to Equifax, one of the three largest consumer credit reporting agencies, the general rule of thumb is that a credit score from 580 to 669 is considered “fair;” 670 to 739 is considered “good;” 740 to 799 is considered “very good;” and 800 and up is considered “excellent.”)
If more people had opportunities to learn about credit while they were incarcerated, more people could ultimately use credit as a tool after their release, Rogers said.
These opportunities would “help you level the playing field a little bit. And give you an advantage you would not have without it,” he said.
Strategies like demonstrating financial responsibility, and others, are spelled out in The Community’s financial literacy packet, which can be requested for free by emailing info@thecommunitynow.us.
Credit Builders Alliance, or CBA, is a national nonprofit advancing the cause of credit building for people who have historically had no credit or who have bad credit, including people who have been incarcerated.
Devin Blake is the criminal justice reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. His position is funded by the Public Welfare Foundation, which plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.

created: November 15, 2023


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OPINION: Explore the world in Milwaukee: Go to grocery stores with international roots | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Megan Bollen
November 16, 2023
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service invites community members to submit opinion pieces of 500-800 words on topics of interest to central city Milwaukee. To send a submission for consideration, please email info@milwaukeenns.org. The views expressed are solely those of the authors.
If you live anywhere in the Milwaukee area, you live within 15 minutes of a grocery store representing another part of the world.
International diversity is one of the wonderful aspects of living in our city, yet it is easy to fall into routines where you rarely leave your own neighborhood.
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This unintentionally fuels misunderstandings and even disregard for others in our dramatically segregated city.
When you intentionally visit a place outside of your neighborhood (and personal circle) with a positive and curious mind, you are creating an opportunity to bridge divides and to grow in awareness and understanding.
In reality, this might amount to nothing more than seeing a new part of town or becoming aware of a new global sweet.
That’s fantastic. The action and intention of simply going, crossing a self-imposed barrier, is powerful on its own.
With this in mind, I want to invite you to try a grocery store you have yet to explore on the list below. I encourage you to visit with a curious mind and attention to finding beauty and commonalities wherever you go.
There are too many international grocery stores in our city to put in this small list.
The ones here are merely a few meant to get you started, and to represent multiple world regions.
Keep exploring.
Megan Bollen has been teaching global studies at Alverno College for 10 years and made visiting different grocery stores in our area and writing about this connection to geography a part of the course.
What stores would you add to her list? Put in comments.

created: November 16, 2023

author: Megan Bollen


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Where to find free Thanksgiving meals in Milwaukee (and how to help your neighbors) | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers and Meredith Melland
November 16, 2023
We’ve compiled a list of community meals and turkey giveaways before Thanksgiving and on Thanksgiving Day.
And we also offer tips on how you can donate your money or time to help keep people fed this holiday season.
(Did we miss anything? If so, please put in comments or email us.)
Families can receive turkey baskets from Ebenezer Stone Ministries and the Milwaukee Police Department District 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 2333 N. 49th St. Turkey baskets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. More information here.
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Brentwood Church Of Christ, in partnership with Molina Healthcare and Meijer Foods, will hold its annual Community Turkey Giveaway from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17 at 6425 N. 60th St. while supplies last.  More information here.
City of Light Church will host a Thanksgiving edition of its monthly Grocery Giveaway from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov 18 at 6725 W. Burleigh St. Register here.  More information here.
COA Goldin Center will hold a Harvest Brunch Celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 2320 W. Burleigh St. The event will feature live entertainment, a photo booth and a turkey giveaway. For more information, call 414-265-7689.
Families can receive free turkeys at the Taylor-Made Foundation’s Turkey Drive from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 at Brown Street Academy, 2029 N. 20th St. The distribution line will be located in the rear of the building on 21st Street. Fill out this form to volunteer. More information here.
Greater New Birth Church will hold a turkey giveaway from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 8237 W. Silver Spring Drive. Each household is limited to one turkey while supplies last. A photo ID or driver’s license is required to receive a turkey.  Volunteers are needed at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16 and Friday, Nov. 17, and at 5 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 to prepare for the turkey giveaway. More information here.
Hanan Refugee Relief Group is hosting a Thanksgiving Drive-Thru Giveaway on Saturday, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Salam Elementary School, 815 W. Layton Ave. Halal turkeys, dry and canned goods and winter kits will be provided to those in need. Individuals 14 and older are welcome to help set up and hand out items. Register to volunteer here. More information here.
The Gathering will provideThanksgiving dinner for those in need from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 at three locations: Ascension Lutheran Church, 1236 S. Layton Blvd.; Running Rebels, 1300 W. Fond du Lac Ave.; and St. Paul COGIC, 2661 N. 53rd St. More information here.
Families can receive a free turkey and free bags of food from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19 at  Atmosphere Church MKE, 929 S. 37th St.  More information here.
Dr. Martin Luther Jr. Community Center will hold its annual turkey giveaway from noon to 3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 20 at 1531 W. Vliet St.  More information here.
Join the Milwaukee Public Library for a community meal and enjoy trivia and games from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at the Mitchell Street Branch, 906 W. Historic Mitchell St. Walk-ins are welcome while spots are available. RSVP here to secure a spot. More information here.
Missionary Currie for Women and Children Inc., is hosting a turkey giveaway at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21, while supplies last. Sign up to volunteer here.  More information here.
Launch for Life will give away free Thanksgiving dinner baskets from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 3041 W. North Ave. All baskets come with a turkey, sides and dessert. More information here.
The Dominican Center will hold an Amani Grocery Bag giveaway from noon to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at the Dominican Center, 2470 W. Locust St. Amani families can receive a bag filled with all the fixings and a gift card. Registration is required. More information here.
Dream Team United MKE will hold its fifth annual free Thanksgiving Day feast and giveaway from noon to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 23 at the intersection of North 35th and West Center streets. Volunteers are needed for Thanksgiving Day. Donations will be accepted until Saturday, Nov. 18. More information here.
Northcott Neighborhood House will give away pre-made meals from Big Daddy’s BBQ and Soul Food from 8 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Nov. 23 at 2460 N. 6th St. No registration is required. Volunteers are also needed.  More information here.
For food pantries: text your ZIP code to 898-211
IMPACT 2-1-1IMPACT 2-1-1 will have the latest information on what food pantries are open near you. Text your ZIP code to TXT-211 [898-211].
Capuchin Community Services is accepting volunteers through Thanksgiving at its House of Peace location, 1702 W. Walnut St. Sign up here. More information here.
Community Projects for Seniors: Volunteer opportunities for Community Projects for Seniors’ Thanksgiving meal delivery and preparation are already full, but one-hour volunteer orientations for Christmas meal service are available at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16, 10 a.m on Saturday, Nov. 18 and 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2. More information here.
CBS 58 Food Drive at American Family Field: Friday, Nov. 17
Donate turkeys and healthy nonperishable food items for seniors, families and children at CBS 58’s annual Thanksgiving event from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m on Friday, Nov. 17 at American Family Field, 1 Brewers Way.  More information here.
Winter Coat Drive: Drop off new or used winter gear through Monday, Nov. 20 at Joyce’s House Education Center, 5601 W. North Ave.; House of Vitali-Tea, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave; or the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce, 2900 W. Vliet St.  More information here.
All About Increase will be collecting hats, scarves and gloves for children and adults during its Second Annual Increase to Warmth Drive through Friday, Dec. 1. More information here.


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5 things to know and do the weekend of Nov. 17 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
November 17, 2023
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Milwaukee Riverkeeper is looking for volunteers to clean up the Mitchell Park Lagoon from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 18. Meetup will be at the Mitchell Park Pavilion, 2200 W. Pierce St. Registration is required, and supplies will be provided. More information here.
A community walk along the Kinnickinnic River Trail will be held from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18. Join Yesi Perez, Dr. Kirsten Beyer and Esperanza Gutierrez as they explore how water can positively impact our mental health. Refreshments will be available after the walk and an optional post-walk focus group will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the UMOS Latina Resource Center, 2701 S. Chase Ave, Suite D. Participants will receive a $25 gift card for their time and feedback.  More information here.
Simple But Clean Barbershop will host “Cutzgiving,” a free haircut, food and activity day for children from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 2491 S. 9th Place. Participating barbers will be entered in a raffle for a pair of clippers. More information here.
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Milwaukee Dream Center will host a free Thanksgiving community event beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 929 S. 37th St. Bring identification and proof of address to receive free bags of food and a free turkey. More information here.
World Day of Remembrance MKE honors those who have lost their lives as a result of reckless driving and other forms of  traffic violence. The Coalition for Safe Driving MKE will hold a vigil honoring road traffic victims from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19 at All Saints Catholic Church, 4051 N. 25th St. Refreshments and resources will be available. More information here.

created: November 17, 2023


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NNS Spotlight: Fitness instructor on a mission to help Black cancer survivors in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
November 17, 2023
For Leonard Wilson, what began asa passion for fitness has become a mission to improvethe lives of Black cancer survivors in Milwaukee and their loved ones.
Wilson is a fitness trainer and founder of Divine Intervention Fitness and has formed community partnerships to train youths and adults to live healthier lifestyles since 2006.
It all started with a 16-week study conducted by Men Moving Forward, a program through Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin to conduct studies on African American men with prostate cancer.
“I was seeing guys as young as 42 and as old as 81 participating in this study,” said Wilson, a Lindsay Heights resident.
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Knowing that the study would eventually end, Wilson worried about what would be next for the men involved. So he applied for a grant fromthe American Cancer Society and Kohl’s Healthy Families program, which awardedhim $30,000.
In June, Wilson welcomed his first cohort of 15 participants who were ready to start his eight-week program with a new mindset toward exercise and nutrition.
“If you exercise and change the way that you eat, you can really lower the risk of cancer,” said Wilson.
One of the evidence-based approaches Wilson uses to motivate his clients to alter their lifestyles to combat cancer is a 2019 study by the American Association for Cancer Research that shows the percentages of cancers caused by various factors, with tobacco being the highest percentage.
Wilson saidhe’s had participants with lung cancer who are now coming back to him since they are noticing differences in their bodies such as having the stamina to complete exercises.
The cohort meets every Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Organization for Active Seniors in Society, or OASIS, 2414 W. Mitchell St. At the sessions, Wilson gets participants familiar with workouts and provides healthy food demonstrations.
For example, Wilson teaches participants resistance band workouts to developtheir upper body parts such asbiceps and triceps.
Willie Ellis is among the participants from the Men Moving Forward Program who are now a part of the cohort.
Ellis is a 71-year-old prostate cancer survivor who is from the Capitol Heights neighborhood. His wife is a breast cancer survivor.
Ellis loves to work his shoulders on the military press machine. However, that’s not the only thing he does well.
“I can do four sets of 34 push-ups now,” he said.
Wilson promised Ellis that he would be able to do 50 push-ups in 16 weeks.
“For my birthday I did 71 push-ups straight,” said Ellis.
Before beginning such strenuous exercise, Ellis reads and prays to develop a strong mindset.  He also listened to doctors during his cancer journey. This gave him the strength he needed to fight back.
“When I was diagnosed, I just felt confident that I could somehow survive this,” Ellis said.
The American Cancer Society released a 2022-2024 report that states that Black men are 73% more likely than white men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and are twice as likely to die from it.
“I want to live longer and watch my grandchildren grow up,” Ellis said.
A key aspect of the help Ellis and others have received to make sure they stay healthy is education on proper nutrition.
That is why food demonstrations are held regularly in the kitchen below the gym to promote healthy eating.
“I bring in people from the community to make plant-based and healthy eating meals,” Wilson said.
Wilson is now working with his second cohort of survivors. So far, six new people have joined his program and some previousparticipants have come back.
Ellis and Wilson both encourage the younger generation to exercise regularly and to eat healthy meals.
“You need to focus on your future, not just today,” Ellis said.
If you are a cancer survivor and areinterested in joining the program, email difitness@yahoo.com or call 414-736-8708.
Catch up with the people and organizations who make Milwaukee great by reading “NNS Spotlight.”


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5 things to know and do the week of Nov. 20 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
November 20, 2023
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Men and boys are invited to Gee’s Clippers Barber and Beauty Salon, 2200 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 20 for a conversation on the challenges Black men face such as mental health, fatherhood and more. Raffles, resources and food will also be available. More information here.
Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center will hold its annual harvest feast from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21 on the second floor of 930 W. Historic Mitchell St. Individuals can pick-up a meal, explore resource tables and receive health screenings. More information here.
Regardless of age, anyone is welcome to enjoy a night of board games from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at the Milwaukee Public Library Center Street Branch, 2727 W. Fond du Lac Ave.  More information here.
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This event at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 315 W. Court St. A hot meal of turkey, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole will be served. This eventis open to all and anyone is welcome to bring a dish. To sign up to bring a dish to pass, contact Christie Carter at ccarter@mkelgbt.org More information here.
Every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., residents in the 53210 and 53216 ZIP codes can receive free legal advice on estate planning, driver’s license recovery and other legal matters at the Sherman Park Community Association Building, 3526 W. Fond du Lac Ave. The next session will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 22. For attorneys’ office hours check out this flyer.  More information here.

created: November 20, 2023


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created: November 19, 2023


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PHOTOS: Citywide Middle School Girls Basketball Tournament | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jonathan Perez
November 21, 2023
Milwaukee Recreation Youth Sports hosted the third annual Citywide Middle School Girls Basketball Tournament at South Division High School on Friday and Saturday.
Congress School won the championship game, beating Golda Meir 35-21
Thirteen middle school teams, grades sixth through eighth, played in the single elimination tournament.
Milwaukee Recreation is a department of Milwaukee Public Schools that promotes healthy lifestyles through recreational and educational experiences.
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created: November 21, 2023

author: Jonathan Perez


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