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MATC Promise program gives thousands an education lifeline | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
March 7, 2019
Carissa Peters, 27, is an adult Promise student at MATC. She is grateful for the program, which provides free tuition. Before she was accepted, she “had to work and go to school, which was tough because my classes were so demanding.” (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Editor’s note: This article is one of an occasional series profiling the 12finalists for the Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation, also known as the MANDIs. MATC Promise is a finalist for the Associated Bank Trail Blazer Award”for an innovative approach to a community problem.
This story has been updated to correct the age of Carissa Peters.
Carissa Peters had her future all mapped out: Graduate from high school. Head to college. Earn a degree.
And she was well on her way toward fulfilling her goals until a major impediment unraveled her plan — money.
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“Paying out-of-state tuition there was really expensive,” Peters said. “I had to work and go to school, which was tough because my classes were so demanding.”
Struggling to juggle work and school, she left Xavier University, a historically black college in Louisiana, in 2011 and returned to Milwaukee, where she found a job as a flight attendant.
As she traveled the world for work, school became somewhat of an afterthought, until she decided her education could wait no longer. She researched local colleges and came across a program at Milwaukee Area Technical College  that promised free tuition — music to her ears.
“Now I could focus on what I wanted to do with my future without having to worry about how I would pay for school,” she said.
Peters, who made the Provost’s List this year, is one of thousands of participants in MATC Promise, which provides a free education for low and middle-income students. The program, launched in 2017, was originally open only to new high school graduates in the  Milwaukee area. Last year it expanded to include adults who started but didn’t finish college.
The program was funded through a public/private partnership supported by more than 230 private donors who provided more than $2 million, said Johnny Craig, vice president of student services and enrollment at MATC.
Johnny Craig, vice president of student services and enrollment at MATC, speaks with a student. “Education is one of those tools that doesn’t change you, it changes generations,” he says. “Your cousins, your kids, they might see opportunity to obtain a college degree that they didn’t before.”
Craig said there are more than 75,000 low-income students in Milwaukee and 135,000 adults who “started college and life happened. The Promise program allows us to meet their needs.”
Students in the program, who also must apply for federal financial aid, receive up to 75 tuition-free credits, with an average scholarship of $930 per participant.
“Education is one of those tools that doesn’t change you, it changes generations,” he said. “Your cousins, your kids, they might see opportunity to obtain a college degree that they didn’t before.”
MATC graduates earn $400,000 more in their lifetime than someone with only a high school degree, he added.
The top programs for Promise students are nursing, business, human services and education, said Virginia Gnadt, coordinator of public relations for MATC.
While new high school graduates entering the program are able to choose any educational focus, adult Promise students get funneled into one of Wisconsin’s top 50 in-demand fields such as early childhood or health care, Craig said. The goal is to help the adults find employment immediately upon completion of the program.
“We want them to build skills to get a higher-paying job and help support the regional economy right away,” Craig said.
While getting a job after graduating is the long-term goal for Rogelio Balderas, 20, it was the idea of staving off debt that drew him to MATC.
His decision did not please everyone in his family.
“Not many people in my family went to college so they didn’t really understand the burden of those who go into heavy debt while getting their degrees,” he said.
Balderas plans to transfer his MATC credits to a local university. He knows that he’ll probably have to pay tuition once he get to that point, but he enjoys not having financial constraints right now.
“It gives me that ease of mind that helps me keep my focus on my larger goal of obtaining a degree in economics,” Balderas said.
Peters, whose grade point average hovers near a perfect 4.0, is waiting to learn whether she’s been accepted into MATC’s highly popular registered nursing program. Her plan to earn a college degree, once derailed, is finally back on track.
“I’m one step closer to my goal of becoming an anesthesiologist,” Peters said. “I’m grateful for that.”

author: Edgar Mendez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 7, 2019

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Adam Carr


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40129463713_e779b6bf86_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 6, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 6, 2019


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Milwaukee Backline and Austin KUTX’s “The Break” musicians join forces for SXSW showcase | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
88Nine RadioMilwaukee
March 7, 2019
A March 12 showcase at Austin’s Barracuda club during South by Southwest will feature up-and-coming artists selected by Milwaukee’s Backline, an initiative of 88Nine Radio Milwaukee (WYMS-FM) and gener8tor, and the “The Breaks” hip-hop show on Austin’s KUTX-FM.
The showcase will feature Milwaukee Backline artists Crystal Knives, Lex Allen and Zed Kenzo, plus a special Milwaukee guest; and Austin’s Deezie Brown, Torre Black, The Teeta and Jake Lloyd, and a special Austin guest who will headline the show.
The show will run from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. March 12 at Barracuda, 611 E. 7th St., Austin. The show is free, but space is limited and advance registration at backlinesxsw.eventbrite.com is required.
“Backline’s main goals have been to help Milwaukee musicians achieve greater success and ultimately establish Milwaukee’s reputation as a vibrant music city,” Backline Program Director Mag Rodriguez said. “We look up to cities like Austin. From everything Austin does for their local musicians, to proving how music cities accelerate local economies, the city is truly inspiring.”
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The announced Milwaukee artists playing at the showcase completed the first musician accelerator last year with Backline. Backline’s free 12-week accelerator sessions include creation of new music, mentorship and connections from local and national experts and $20,000 grants used in consultation with Backline to further the musicians’ careers. More information on Backline and the accelerators is at backlinemke.org.
The Austin artists were selected by The Breaks, an influential hip-hop show on Austin’s KUTX featuring Confucius Jones and Fresh. More information on The Breaks is available at kutx.org/the-breaks.

author: 88Nine RadioMilwaukee


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New initiative to support non-profits and job seekers in Greater Milwaukee region | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jobs That Help
March 7, 2019
A new resource to support non-profit organizations and job seekers in the greater Milwaukee region, Jobs That Help, celebrates one month since launching.
Jobs That Help was launched in February by a team of Milwaukee non-profit professionals in order to provide non-profit organizations and job seekers in the greater Milwaukee region with a high-quality, specialized jobs listing website.
The website (www.JobsThatHelp.com) allows non-profit organizations with job openings in the greater Milwaukee region to easily list their open jobs, in turn enabling job seekers to easily search non-profit job openings and find jobs that match their skills and interests.
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All services of Jobs That Help are offered for free to the community.
“Our non-profits form the backbone of our communities not only through the critical services they provide, but through offering meaningful employment opportunities in our communities. We are proud to be helping our non-profits secure the best talent possible, while helping our local job seekers find the best match for their skills and passion,” says Ben Hastil, who founded and operates Jobs That Help.
Currently, the website (www.JobsThatHelp.com) features over 200 job openings in the greater Milwaukee region from more than 60 non-profit organizations in the area, with more job openings from non-profit organizations being added every day.
For more information about Jobs That Help, visit www.JobsThatHelp.com, contact the Jobs That Help team at info@jobsthathelp.com, or connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

author: Jobs That Help


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Full Rectangular Logo.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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March 3, 2019

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On the Block: Wandering Into Black History | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Analise Pruni
March 7, 2019
When Leonard Glover brought his two children to the Martin Luther King Library, he didn’t know that it was the fifth-annual Black History Month Read-in. After a little convincing, they all decided to stay. He said he thinks it is important for his kids to see Black role models from the community, such as Ald. Milele Coggs and Rep. Kalan Haywood, who read African-American poems and stories.

author: Analise Pruni


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Zablocki Community School celebrates Winter Walk to School Day FRIDAY, March 8th | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wisconsin Bike Fed
March 7, 2019
“Walking to school is an easy way to be healthy, reduce pollution, and helps kids arrive ready to learn. Getting morning exercise has proven to increase school performance.” says Jake Newborn, Programs Director the Wisconsin Bike Fed.
This event is a kick off for Zablocki’s Walking School Bus, similar to Lincoln Ave Community School’s successful program.
“The walking school bus is a perfect example of what community schools do,” Ryan Hurley, the Milwaukee Community Schools Partnership director at United Way says. “They engage the community to ask, ‘What are the challenges? What are the barriers to student success? How do we all come together to organize and address those challenges?’”
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Since it is still winter in Wisconsin in March each student who walks will receive a custom Winter Walk Club neon blue knit hat!
7:15-7:35 AM students arrive. Zablocki Community School, 1016 W Oklahoma Ave, Milwaukee

author: Wisconsin Bike Fed


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Habitat for Humanity launches historic Midtown housing initiative | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mark Doremus
March 8, 2019
As part of its Midtown 100 initiative, Habitat for Humanity plans to build 25 homes this year. Officials said the project will create the highest concentration of affordable, single-family homes built in Milwaukee since World War II. A “wall-raising” took place Thursday to officially launch year two of the effort.

author: Mark Doremus


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Let’s flip the script: Milwaukee and ‘the rest’ of Wisconsin need to work together to move Forward | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jarrett English
March 8, 2019
Above the Rufus King and Garden Homes neighborhoods, looking south. (Photo by Wes Tank)
Editor’s note: Got something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Jarrett English has a history of working collaboratively and successfully with people and organizations from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and a broad range of ideological positions and religious views.  He has a passion for and commitment to ending mass incarceration and advancing racial justice.
Being on the hit list of an assassin can be harrowing.
But trying to stay alive always teaches you a few things you need to know.
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First, you find ways to protect yourself from future assassination attempts, and, second, you learn you are far more important than you ever thought you were.
But the thing about hit jobs is they never start shooting right away. They have to do their research and lay the groundwork.
Our city, Milwaukee, physically and ideologically, has been under siege for a large part of the last 20 years.
Milwaukee is perpetually at the top of the list of the ‘worst of’ when it used to be one of the best.
The most segregated.
The most incarcerated.
The most undereducated.
None of those things happened by themselves.
Someone, via direct and indirect influence, made things this way. We’re going to undo that.
We are a city that suffers at the hands of a particular type of external psychological warfare that, like a person who suffered from domestic violence, we’ve internalized. A phantom, and maybe even more effective, “Northern” Jim Crow.
Depending on the cultural context, it can be described sometimes as “a slave’s mentality” and other times as peer pressure-perpetrated self-hate. This has real consequences for our people in our city and, whether others believe so or not, Wisconsin at large.
It’s past time we put a boot up the backside of ‘that!’
We ain’t the Third Coast. We’re the Central Coast.
We (Milwaukee) are not a seed in a pod but the tree that made forest.
Milwaukee isn’t Wisconsin’s past, but it is Wisconsin’s only viable future.
It’s time that the “rest” of Wisconsin, which has been convinced and coerced to exile Milwaukee by race baiters and snake oil salesmen, make the peace that will make our state motto mean something again (or maybe for the first time ever).
We can only move Forward, together. It’s time that we be about it.
The amount of truly accessible opportunity and education available to a community is DIRECTLY proportional to the amount of peace and prosperity that community has. Milwaukee deserves that just as much as Kaukana and Eau Claire.
The one thing all Wisconsin people agree on, which the record numbers of statewide education referendums passed during the last election proves, is that our kids need classrooms not cages.
It’s time to divest from prisons and put that money into our communities and schools.
This weekend, starting at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 10 at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, hundreds will gather to continue the monumental and critically important work of reconnecting our people in this state! You can sign up here.
Madison government may be the transmission, but Milwaukee is definitely the engine and we need to make sure the rest of Wisconsin is connected because, like it or not, Wisconsin can’t succeed if Milwaukee fails.
So we’re going to push Madison, HARD, and make sure it’s putting our resources where they are needed most. With our communities and our kids.
ALL Wisconsin kids deserve the best education in the world regardless of what part of the state they’re in. We spend more on locking human beings in cages then we do on individual students trying to get an education.
It’s past time we look at our reality and understand that every time we lock a human being in a prison cage, and continually build more cages to put more human beings in, WE, regardless of an individual’s real or falsely incarcerated faults, as the People of Wisconsin have failed because we didn’t make sure that person had what they needed to succeed in the first place.
We can do better than that.
Much better.
Where the people are is where the power IS GOING to be.
Let’s get that work!!!
See you Sunday.

author: Jarrett English


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ENGLISHPIC | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 8, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 8, 2019


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5 things you need to know this week in Milwaukee: March 10 to March 17 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Elyse McFeggan
March 11, 2019
The ninth annual “Girl’s Day” at City Hall exposes young women of high school and middle school age to strong female role models in political leadership positions as well as careers in public service. (Photo courtesy of the City of Milwaukee.)
1. Fire and Police Commission research committee meeting on Tuesday, March 12
The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission’s research committee will host a meeting from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St. in Room 301-B. At the meeting, a controversial decision to install public video surveillance cameras throughout Milwaukee will be discussed. The cameras provide live and recorded video feeds to police departments. For more information on the cameras, visit the city’s website. To learn more about the meeting, visit the legislative research center’s website.
2. Miller Park season hiring event take place Wednesday, March 13
Miller Park will hold a season hiring event from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday. Most applicants will receive job offers the same day. Employees will receive uniforms, paid training and free meals. For more information, call (414) 902-4700.
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3. Celebrate Pi Day at The Tandem on Thursday, March 14
The Tandem is set to celebrate Pi Day with Venice Williams, executive director of Alice’s Garden Urban Farms. Williams will cook a variety of fresh pot pies, including vegan and vegetarian options. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at The Tandem, 1848 W. Fond Du Lac Ave.
4. ‘Girl’s Day’ at City Hall takes place Thursday, March 14
“Girl’s Day” takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall. It will be hosted by Alderwomen Milele A. Coggs, Chantia Lewis and Nikiya Dodd. It will feature speakers, panel discussions, and multiple workshops. There will be opportunities to network and get involved in public service organizations led by women.
5. Winter Farmers Market enters final month Saturday, March 16
Milwaukee’s winter farmers market is still going! From 8 a.m. to noon, a farmers market will be held in the greenhouse annex at the Mitchell Park Domes, 524 S. Layton Blvd. There will be an array of fresh foods and drink. You can find more information on the Milwaukee winter farmers market’s website.
Got something we need to know? Please send to info@milwaukeenns.org for consideration. Put “5 things to know” in the subject line.

author: Elyse McFeggan


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 11, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 10, 2019


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New NNS editor visits ‘Lake Effect’ | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
March 11, 2019
(Photo by Wes Tank)
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service Editor Ron Smith appeared on WUWM’s “Lake Effect” with host Mitch Teich to discuss his vision for the nonprofit news organization.

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 11, 2019
“0228a”. Genre: Other.


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Residents urged to donate baby supplies for the It Takes a Village: Community Baby Shower & Resource Fair | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Milele A. Coggs
March 12, 2019
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs and Alderman Khalif J. Rainey are asking for residents’ help in collecting donations for the It Takes a Village: Community Baby Shower & Resource Fair. This event is planned in conjunction with Awareness for World Doula Month and is a day of pampering and resources for expecting mothers and families. Bins for donation drop offs will be placed in the first floor rotunda at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St. and donations can be made starting tomorrow – Wednesday, March 13.
“I encourage all residents to take part in this donation drive and help support Milwaukee’s expecting mothers,” said Ald. Coggs. “This is a great opportunity to give back to your community.”
Alderman Rainey said the baby shower and resource fair will take place at The Sherman Phoenix (3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave.) on Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “There’s no better feeling than to help provide a strong and healthy start to a new life – please donate to this great initiative,” he said.
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Suggested donation items include:
Diapers, baby blankets, hygiene kits, dye/perfume free laundry detergent, dye/perfume free baby soap, wipes, Desitin, A&D ointment, saline nasal spray, nose suction device, breast pumps, breast pads, onesies, bibs, bottles, gift cards, and wipes.
More information about the event can be found here: https://milwaukeenns.org/2019/02/27/it- takes-a-village-community-baby-shower-resource-fair/

author: Ald. Milele A. Coggs


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This homework is music to MPS students’ ears | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Analise Pruni
March 12, 2019
On any given day, it is not unusual to find students pulling bows across strings, putting mouthpieces on clarinets or pressing down the keys of saxophones in the orchestra room at the Golda Meir School at 227 W. Pleasant St.
But taking their instruments home is another story.
Yet 20 students from the third to the 11 grade were able to do so earlier this month, thanks to the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, which has four campuses, including one on the East Side.
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In September 2017, the conservatory conducted its first community-wide instrument drive and   yielded nearly 200 donations.
The conservatory partnered with Badger State Instrument Repair in Elkhorn and Music & Arts in Muskego to have the donated instruments repaired and then presented to the students, many of whom could previously only rent or borrow an instrument.
“I grew up in Milwaukee playing violin, and I remember the first day I got my first violin,” Shalisa Kline Ugaz, executive vice president of the conservatory, told the children. She said she was almost 8 years old when she borrowed her first violin because she didn’t have one of her own until she was 12.
Sixth-grader Sam Freund opens and inspects a violin that was donated in a community instrument drive and now belongs to him. (Photo by Analise Pruni)
“One of the challenges is having your instrument at school and you don’t have it to practice at home,” Kline Ugaz said. “We don’t want them sitting under your bed. I know that’s a nice place to store them, but we want you to be playing it every day.”
Ijoister Harris is the orchestra director at the school and was given his first violin as a child as well. He grew up in Milwaukee, attended MPS and also the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music during his youth and has been teaching at MPS for 28 years.
“A lot of them [students] had the dilemma where they could not have an instrument at home,” Harris said. “Renting it can be costly, so to have an instrument that they now own with the conservatory’s assistance is absolutely incredible.”
Eleven-year-old Sam Freund wants to be a computer engineer when he grows up, but he also likes playing the violin as a hobby and received one to take home that day.
“I like to play whatever Mr. Harris gives me,” Freund said. “Outside of school I usually listen to rock.”
Woodwinds, flutes, strings and brass instruments were handed to the children who waited patiently for the go-ahead to try them out. Sixth-grader Michael Holman put his mouth up to his new saxophone and blew outward while he pressed down the keys.
When his father, Phil, was a child, he took music lessons at the conservatory.
“I had the opportunity growing up, but I didn’t really value it,” Phil Holman said. “But we’ve exposed him [Michael] to it and, as I got older, I understood the value.”
Karen Herzog, director of grants and communications for the conservatory, said some of the donated instruments included a violin that was played by a World War II soldier in Trinidad and another that was more than 100 years old. There was also a saxophone that was played for audiences at the 1964 World Fair, alongside clarinets, cellos, flutes, bassoons, French horns and oboes with unknown pasts.
The second community-wide instrument drive is planned for Oct. 5.
“The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music’s mission is to make sure that everyone who wants to play an instrument can take lessons and they can do that,” Kline Ugaz said.


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Project lends the next generation of entrepreneurs a helping hand | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
March 13, 2019
Community members gather for the grand opening of the new Pete’s Pops storefront on the Near West Side. Owner Pete Cooney had been selling his popsicles for three summers when he heard about the inaugural Rev-Up Milwaukee small business competition. (Photo by Robyn Di Giacinto)
Editor’s note: This article is one of an occasional series profiling the 12finalists for the Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation, also known as the MANDIs. Rev-Up Milwaukee is the “Chase Economic Development Award” finalistfor economic and business development.
Once a year, the Eagles Ballroom at 2401 W. Wisconsin Ave. converts from a music venue for famous acts to a breeding ground for community innovation and entrepreneurship.
Rev-Up Milwaukee is the “Shark Tank”-style live pitch event that invites entrepreneurs to develop and share the business concepts they want to bring to the city’s Near West Side. More than 300 community members and judges gather annually at the event hosted by the Near West Side Partners. Finalists compete for the grand prize of $10,000 in start-up business funding, $25,000 in in-kind services and the establishment of a storefront in the area.
“You have to be there to feel the excitement,” said Kelsey Otero, the associate director of social innovation at Marquette’s 707 Hub and lead coordinator of the event.
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Susie Roberts won the competition in 2018 for KalyANa Organics, her organic, gluten-free bakery that prepares packaged mixes and ready-made baked goods. Though she prepared with the Rev-Up team and practiced for weeks, Roberts said she still felt nervous on the pitch day.
“Everything was such a blur to me,” said the Sherman Park native, laughing. “The only thing I remember is them saying ‘And the winner is…. KalyANa Organics!’”
Roberts bought the Dousman-based baking company two years ago and had been selling her baked goods in select locations. She had been looking for a storefront in the Near West Side neighborhood for about two months before she heard about the competition.
The annual Rev-Up pitch event culminates at the Eagles Ballroom. (Photo by Sarah Lipo)
“I wanted to somehow bring the business closer to home, and Rev-Up Milwaukee helped me do that,” Roberts said.
About 60 entrepreneurs from and outside of Milwaukee applied for the 2018 competition, and seven finalists were selected to participate in the live pitch event, Otero said. Finalists received one-on-one mentorship from business professionals at Marquette University’s 707 Hub, a center of innovation for entrepreneurs and professionals to collaborate, in preparation for the live pitch day.
“We are creating that next generation of entrepreneurs to return to the neighborhood’s roots,” Otero said. “People from outside the Near West Side look here and see a place of promise.”
Those roots run back to what the Near West Side Partners call the “anchor institutions,” or the neighborhood’s first startups that became big–name companies, such as Harley-Davidson and MillerCoors.
Since the competition’s start three years ago, two businesses opened and two more are in their final preparations to open. According to Rev-Up Milwaukee, these businesses have created 27 jobs and employed more than a dozen Near West Side residents. Otero said business owners embrace the “underlying narrative of hiring through the neighborhood,” with the hopes to expand the role of entrepreneurship in Milwaukee.
Roberts said she shares the Rev-Up vision to grow the neighborhood and make it a better place to work. “I want to be in this area to pull in employees from the community, especially young people.”
Lisa McKaye, of Lisa Kay’s Catering won the Rev-Up Milwaukee competition in 2017. While the competition initially gave her an enhancement in her business, she soon will have a permanent, home-based kitchen, Otero said.
Pete Cooney won in 2016 for his business “Pete’s Pops.” Cooney had been selling his popsicles for three summers when he heard about the inaugural Rev-Up Milwaukee small business competition.
His business, which had consisted of only a single pushcart of ice pops, is now a colorful storefront that sells more than 50 flavors of popsicles at 3809 W. Vliet St.
“I knew that my product was really good for what we’re trying to do on the Near West Side,” Cooney said. He said he was first drawn to the live pitch competition because it would give his business the chance to be a “positive anchor” in the community.
Cooney said his vibrant storefront, equipped with “The Pop Window” and an open-air garage door window, always attracts curious passersby and many regulars.
“Every day, the first thing we do is roll up that garage door,” Cooney said, describing the calm before the storm of clients on a summer day. “There’s music playing, people just hang out.”
Across the street from his business is the Hmong American Friendship Association. Cooney said that in his first few weeks of construction, a young member of the Hmong community walked over to his store to see what was going on. “We never get anything like this over here,” the boy told Cooney excitedly, “and it’s really cool that you did this.”
Cooney said he appreciates the live pitch event and its support even after the competition.
“Rev-Up Milwaukee has given my business a boost and a reason to keep going,” he said.

author: Bridget Fogarty


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 12, 2019


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Your cheat sheet to voting in the April 2 MPS school board election | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
March 13, 2019
Larry Hoffman addresses the MPS board on the subject of school uniforms in February 2017, as President Mark Sain (center) and Vice President Larry Miller listen. (File photo by Jabril Faraj)
Just about everyone in Milwaukee knows what the acronym MPS stands for.
After all, the Milwaukee Public Schools plays a pivotal role in shaping the lives of our children.
Yet the people elected to lead the sprawling school system don’t always get the attention they deserve, despite the fact that their leadership can impact generations.
With school board elections taking place April 2, we thought we would give you a handy primer to understand what’s at stake:
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What exactly is the school board?
The Milwaukee Board of School Directors comprises nine members — eight representing numbered districts and one at-large member. The at-large member may fill a seat that is temporarily vacant, if a special election is not held, and votes with the rest of the board.
The board defines its districts so that each represents an equal number of households. To find your district, click here.
Directors serving currently are:
District #1 — Mark Sain (president)
District #2 — Wendell J. Harris, Sr.
District #3 — Vacant (see at-large member)
District #4 — Annie Woodward
District #5 — Larry Miller (vice president)
District #6 — Luis A. (Tony) Báez, Ph.D.
District #7 — Paula Phillips
District #8 — Carol Voss
Member at Large — Terry Falk
Members of Youth Empowered in the Struggle march at the MPS Central Office before a school board vote to designate the district a safe haven for undocumented immigrant students and their families, in 2017. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
Who are the candidates completing their terms this spring?
Sain, Harris, Voss and Falk complete their terms in April. Only Harris is running for re-election. Candidates seeking election to the vacant seat in District 3 will be on the April 2 ballot.
How long is the term of office?
Four years. Directors may run for as many terms as they wish.
How much do directors make?
The salary is approximately $18,000 per year plus health and dental benefits. The position is considered part time and some directors have full-time jobs in addition to their work on the school board.
What do I need to know about meetings and other ways to follow what the school board is doing?
Regular board meetings are usually held on the last Thursday of the month, unless that falls on a holiday. Committee meetings and regular board meetings generally begin at 6:30 p.m.
Meeting dates and times may change, so it is best to confirm with the Office of Board Governance by calling (414) 475-8284 or clicking on the “Agenda List” link in the right-hand column on the Eletronic School Board website.
Unless otherwise noted on the website, all meetings are held in the Donald J. O’Connell Memorial Auditorium of the MPS Central Services Building, 5225 W. Vliet St.
All board meetings are broadcast live on radio 88.9 FM and board and committee meeting are livestreamed here.
The school board’s Beyond the Board Room initiative also provides a newsletter and a number of other opportunities for more communication with school board directors.
What are the major responsibilities of the school board?
The school district educates its students, hires employees, takes care of MPS’ facilities, including a number of district-owned parks, arranges school bus contracts and the like, Sain, said. The board chooses and works with “the CEO of the district,” the school superintendent, Sain said, to make sure laws and policies governing these activities are followed.
Coming up: The candidates and the issues

author: Andrea Waxman


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At least the celebs involved in the college-bribery scheme value an education. Many of us don’t. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 14, 2019
We are not doing enough to show our kids the importance of education. If rich people are willing to pay bribes to ensure their children get into the best schools, then why are those of us who are much poorer not valuing the benefits of learning. The rich aren’t spending this money for nothing. (Photo by Tessa Fox)
Editor’s note: Got something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Dwayne Burtin is the deputy editor for digital at the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a Milwaukee native.
There’s no way you haven’t heard of the latest college bribery scandal. I’ve never seen bail set so high for indictments not involving serious drugs or violent crimes. These people are “rich rich.”
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They are the 1%. The elite. The we-don’t-care-about-the-price rich. Their kids can and should be set for life financially, and already have endless connections — and yet, these elite, rich parents are still so desperate that their kids get into the “best” schools, they are willing to pay. A lot.
Lori Loughlin (Aunt Becky from “Full House”) and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, have been accused of spending $500,000 to get their two daughters accepted to the University of Southern California as recruits on the rowing team — these girls apparently have never row, row, rowed a boat in their lives.
If rich and famous privileged people are willing to pay hundreds of thousands in bribes to get their kids into college that lets me know that education is magical and worth a whole lot more than many of us give it credit for.
Education has to be a higher priority in the black community.
These people aren’t spending this money for nothing. We may not have a cool $500K available for bribes, and even if we did, we shouldn’t because it’s illegal. But what we do need to have is the mindset that higher education is crucial to the betterment of our children’s lives and our families in general.
I’ve heard too many times the statement that a college education isn’t for everybody. That statement has always bothered me. What does it even mean? To me, it says that education was never a priority and, as a result, college is not a great option for James because he probably won’t make it through. That’s problematic. James needs an education.
It doesn’t have to be Ivy League. I’m not even saying it has to be a traditional four year university. I’m all for trade schools.
I am saying that education is a crucial priority. It’s not even about making money or a career. Yes, that’s a part of it. We want a return on our investment, but really, it’s all about the mindset.
I come from generations of hard workers. The mindset was get grown, get a job and work hard. That’s great. Working is cool. But we end up working for the elites who have the money to bribe their kids way into college, and then we end up working for their kids who are designing futures for other kids who look like them. Not us, not cool.
I grew up thinking I would be one of those workers, and as a result I didn’t go to college. I didn’t unlock my mind until later in life and lost precious time because of it. I was also late instilling that education mindset into my children.
We have to build a love for education early. We have to unlock our children’s minds right from the beginning. Education is magical. The way we think, feel and interact with the world is all influenced by our knowledge, experience and understanding.
Brown skin is a barrier to privilege, but education can give us access that we otherwise don’t have, and lack of education is one of the main reasons we are so far behind on so many statistics.
These people are paying good money to illegally get their kids into college. It must be worth it.

author: Dwayne Burtin


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 14, 2019


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Retirees find their perfect job at Miller Park | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Madeline Parshall
March 14, 2019
Retirees are lining up to work at Miller Park this summer to earn extra money, find their encore career, and be part of the iconic Brewer game experience.
A wide variety of positions, non-traditional work hours, and an energetic sports-driven environment are bringing more retirees than ever to work at Miller Park.
“The retiree community here at Miller Park has a great deal to offer in almost every job that is available here. From longtime fans who’ve loved the Brewers their whole lives and finally get to be part of the team, to newly retirees, who want short-term work,  to the empty-nester couple who are earning extra cash to travel, we really have opportunities for everyone,” said Kevin Jezewski, General Manager, Delaware North Sportservice.
“Ask Jim Krznarich, 80, of Milwaukee. Brewers fans can catch Krznarich in his customized beer cart ‘Jim’s Wagon’, selling beer between home plate and TGI Fridays on game day. “I love meeting people, it’s just awesome. I love what I’m doing, I don’t even consider it a job.”
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Krznarich started working at Miller Park in 1964 back when it was still County Stadium. “I went to get Packer tickets and they were all sold out. I wondered if I sell beer could I get in?” Krznarich’s been at Miller Park ever since. “It turned out to be a wonderful thing.” Krznarich’s favorite part of the job; talking to the fans. “When you’re talking to the people it goes fast, it’s just awesome. You’d be surprised by all the people I’ve met working at Miller Park.” He is planning to return for his 55th year this March. “I don’t regret it,” he says, “I’ll tell you that”.
As opening day approaches on March 28th, positions at Miller Park are filling fast. Employment opportunities include concessions, club level staff, culinary, food, and beverage, vending, catering, supervisors, bartenders, waitstaff, and warehouse personnel. Interested applicants should visit  www.baseballmke.com to apply or call (414) 902-4700 for more information.

author: Madeline Parshall


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Untitled design (1).png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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March 13, 2019


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Two Alverno College students honored with 2019 student activist awards | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Alverno College
March 14, 2019
Two Alverno College students are being recognized by the Wisconsin Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies (WIPCS) for their work related to peace and justice in their communities. Alejandra Gonzalez and Sarah Pearson are both receiving the 2019 Student Activist Award. According to WIPCS, the awards are presented each year to “Wisconsin college or university students who have made an outstanding contribution to activism related to peace and justice issues.” The awards will be presented at the WIPCS spring conference at St. Norbert College on April 5.
Gonzalez focuses on two main issues — increasing participation in the political system and immigration reform. She is the assistant director of the Alverno College Campus Election Engagement Project and is a Newman Civic Fellow for the 2018-19 academic year. In both of these roles her goal is to increase voter turnout among young people. Gonzalez also founded the Alverno chapter of Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES!), the youth wing of Voces de le Frontera. In this role she has met with public officials and made numerous presentations in support of the DREAM Act. She also developed “Know Your Rights” materials for immigrants and organized workshops after receiving training from the American Civil Liberties Union. Gonzalez has spoken on immigration reform at Beloit College, St. John’s on the Lake and Congregation Emanu-El B’Ne Jeshurun, and she has met with members of Congress to lobby for the DREAM Act.
Pearson is the co-founder and president of the Women’s March Wisconsin, for which she has led planning and served as a voice. She has also worked on voter registration events, given training on how to lobby legislative offices effectively, spoken out against gun violence, and been an advocate for survivors of sexual assault. Pearson is on the steering committee for the Wisconsin Poor People’s Campaign and serves on the Coalition for a People’s Sheriff. She frequently travels for her activism, including attending the Washington, D.C., confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Her work with several organizations and for many causes demonstrates her commitment to creating a more equitable society.
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About Alverno College
Alverno College promotes the academic, personal and professional development of its students in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Undergraduate programs for women are offered in more than 60 areas of study, and graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology, school psychology, music therapy and business are open to women and men.
A leader in higher education innovation, Alverno has earned international accolades for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, which emphasizes hands-on experience and develops in-demand skills. The college, Wisconsin’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution, ranks among the top schools in the Midwest for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and innovation by U.S. News & World Report. For the past two years, The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education named Alverno the country’s most inspiring college.
Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Alverno College is a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college.

author: Alverno College


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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March 14, 2019


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‘We don’t just build buildings; we build communities:’ Welford Sanders legacy comes to life in Harambee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Allison Dikanovic
March 14, 2019
The old Nunn Bush Shoe Factory is a landmark in the Harambee neighborhood, and it is now home to affordable housing and office space for community-serving organizations. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
Editor’s note: This article is one of an occasional series profiling the 12finalists for the Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation, also known as the MANDIs. The Welford Sanders Historic Lofts and Enterprise Center is a finalist for the State Farm Building Blocks Award.”
Betty Speed, a 61-year resident of Harambee and president of the Martin Luther King Neighborhood Association, remembers a time when her neighborhood was the place to be.
“Third Street used to be a hustling hub where you could buy a fur coat,” she said. “But after the riots in the ’60s, all of that left. We were barren.”
In recent years, she said that the Welford Sanders Historic Lofts and Enterprise Center, 2812 N. 5th St. and other community-supported development projects in Harambee are strengthening a sense of neighborhood pride that she has held onto all these years.
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“This neighborhood is coming on back,” she said. “People like Welford Sanders believed in this neighborhood, that it could return to those glory days.”
Welford Sanders was the former executive director of the Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation, an urban planner and a beloved local leader. He died in 2015, but his vision–and name–lives on through the Welford Sanders Historic Lofts and Enterprise Center.
Leo Ries, Sanders’s successor as the Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation executive director, led the $21 million development project, which transformed a 200,000-square-foot old shoe factory into 59 units of affordable housing and office space for community-serving organizations.
A window in a hallway of apartment units reveals a decoratively lit courtyard that is open to all residents of the Welford Sanders Historic Lofts and Enterprise Center. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
“This was a major physical presence in the neighborhood,” Ries said. “So if we really wanted to make a significant high-profile impact and kind of knit the neighborhood together around a very visible structure, this was it because it was so prominent.”
The Alma Center, Milwaukee Jobs Work, Project Return and nine other organizations moved into the renovated office spaces in 2017, and just under a year ago, residents moved into apartments that feature exposed brick, wood floors and abundant natural lighting. The sixth floor of the building hosts a common space, an exercise room, a movie theater, a communal kitchen, a fireplace, a billiard room and a library dedicated to Welford Sanders’s life. The boiler house next door became Dreamland Childcare, and the building is now fully leased.
“It brought a new sense of vibrancy to the neighborhood,” Speed said.
Ries said his organization strives “to lift the quality of life and the general physical appearance of the neighborhood without displacing the residents who are already here.”
“When a project like this comes into a neighborhood, it’s sometimes seen as intrusive,” Speed said. “But this is here to help the neighborhood remain strong, not to move out anybody.”
All the units in the lofts are reserved for those who qualify as low or moderate income, and there are several tenants using Section 8 rental assistance. Ries said most of the new residents are families.
“They are really nice units, well kept up,” Speed said. “People like to live in nice places, and these gave them an opportunity.”
The development was the fifth and largest installment of the King Drive Commons project, which began in the early 1990s. It includes mixed-used projects dispersed throughout the surrounding blocks–bordered by N. 2nd and 6th streets and W. Center and Hadley streets–that house nearly 200 rental housing units and commercial space, such as the Rise and Grind Café at 2719 N. King Drive.
Ries and Speed both agreed that the latest development is part of a wider effort to create what they called “the MLK village.”
“The idea is to give people a sense of identity and a sense of connection to this community that is centered right around this neighborhood,” Ries said. “A line I use that Welford used a lot is, ‘We don’t build buildings. We build communities.”
Speed said the neighborhood association plays a big role in building this community by hosting regular resident meetings, holiday parties and neighborhood clean-ups. This summer, she said, they plan to go block by block hosting evening cookouts so neighbors can meet and socialize.
“We want all of our neighbors to know each other, to break bread together,” she said.
She said that in the MLK village, there are a “hodgepodge of services that are in walking distance,” many of which are black-owned, including a library, a bank, a police station, a market, a drug store, a clinic, a salon, a barbershop, nonprofits, restaurants, bars and other small businesses. The organizations in the enterprise center also offer services to neighbors.
Michael Adams, director of employee development at Milwaukee Jobs Work in the enterprise center, said that people who live in the lofts have come over and received workforce development and soft skill training from his organization. He said the redevelopment of the building has allowed the organizations to get to know each other and refer clients to different services within the building, making it a “one stop shop” of sorts.
“A person can come here and get some strong supports without having to spend a lot of their day getting from point A to point B,” Adams said. He also noted that he was disappointed that the contractors did not hire any of the people who had received training from Milwaukee Jobs Work to be employed on the project, even though several of the organization’s clients attended a job fair the developers hosted.
The development utilized low-income and historic tax credits and a mixed financing model, with several private and public sector partners. More than 40 percent of those who worked on the project were previously unemployed or underemployed, and more than 27 percent of the project’s subcontracts were awarded to small businesses.
“You can put your money behind programs, but sometimes with these programs you hit some people and miss others,” Speed said. “But when you do the bricks and mortar work, and pair that with programs, you create a village. You create a strong community, and that’s what Welford Sanders was about.”

author: Allison Dikanovic


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 13, 2019

author: Adam Carr


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Will Common Council override mayor’s veto of taco truck ban? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
March 14, 2019
A customer waits for his food at Taqueria Arandas taco truck. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Although Mayor Tom Barrett has vetoed a ban of food trucks along a stretch of West National Avenue that runs from South 27 to South 39 streets, the issue appears to be far from over.
Patty Doherty, a longtime aide for Ald. Bob Donovan, believes the Common Council will vote to override the veto.  A two-thirds majority vote is needed to do so.
Donovan, who recently announced he will retire after his term ends in 2020, sponsored the proposal to prohibit food trucks, which the Common Council passed unanimously in late February.
Donovan championed the ban because of safety concerns and complaints from business owners. He also has supported food truck bans elsewhere in his district, including along some stretches of South 35th Street, West Mitchell Street and West Lincoln Avenue.
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Two aldermen who initially supported the ban told the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service they have changed their minds.
Tony Zielinski, who represents parts of the South Side and Bay View on the Common Council, said in an email: “I did not hear any opposition to the proposal before the vote-that is why I supported it at the time. After hearing from residents, I am opposed to the proposal.”
In addition, Ald. Cavalier Johnson also stated he would vote in support of the mayor’s decision but did not explain why.
The mayor’s veto, which was communicated to council members on March 6, but not made public until Tuesday, temporarily eased the mind of Francisco Santos, the owner of Taqueria Arandas taco truck. His truck was parked near the corner of South 37th Street and West National Avenue, an area that will be off-limits if the ban is reinstated.
“I’m happy that I won’t have to leave for now because that would really hurt my business,” Santos said. “My clients know where to find us.”
Santos’ truck, which had a steady flow of customers around midday, appears to be the only food truck along the proposed route of the ban, which is why he thinks he was singled out.
“It seems like it was only me that they are going after, but what can I do?” he said.
Donovan mentioned the truck during an interview with Urban Milwaukee shortly after the ban. He said he had reached out to the owner about complaints, but said the owner “just didn’t want to work with us.”
Santos, whose truck was parked next to a two-hour parking sign, acknowledged that his truck does not usually move every two hours.
“We move when we can, but sometimes it’s only once a day,” he said. Moving more often could cause accidents, he said.
It’s a claim that Doherty finds ridiculous. She said problems have increased because no one enforces the area’s two-hour parking limit.
In the letter to the Common Council that explained his veto, Barrett said a ban would only move trucks to other locations, could stymie entrepreneurs and that a “de-facto district-wide ban enacted over time” could become a liability for the city.
Barrett said he’s already addressing parking enforcement concerns.
“I have consulted with the Milwaukee Police Department, DPW Parking Enforcement, and the Health Department on enforcement practices for the ordinances we have in place,” Barrett wrote. “I am positive that current enforcement activity is adequate and responsive.”
Donovan plans to dispute those claims during the council’s March 26 meeting.
For Doherty, the issue is simple.
“If the trucks would follow the rules in these areas, no one, not the business owners, the residents, or the alderman, would object to them parking on National for the time limits allowed,” Doherty said.

author: Edgar Mendez


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Diversity’s on the menu. How refugee chefs are changing Milwaukee’s culinary landscape | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
March 15, 2019
Abebech Jima and her family came to Milwaukee from Ethiopia three years ago looking for a chance to start over.
Like many refugees seeking asylum, the family wanted to live somewhere safe and away from the life-threatening conflict tearing their country apart.
Eventually Jima and her husband, Zerihun Tadesse, connected with Kai Gardner-Mishlove, who would pick refugees up at the airport, show them their apartment and help them adjust to life in Milwaukee.
The newcomers would repay Gardner-Mishlove with food, a symbol of their gratitude. The meals she ate in their homes tasted better than any food she had ever eaten in a restaurant. So after experiencing many flavors, spices and dishes, Gardner-Mishlove realized that other people deserved to get a taste, too.
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And Tables Across Borders was created.
“People don’t realize how diverse the refugee community is in Milwaukee,” she said. “Each culture has the soul food of that cuisine.”
Gardner-Mishlove eventually joined forces with Saehee Chang, whose mother was a refugee from North Korea and has connections in Milwaukee’s food network.
Through Chang, Gardner-Mishlove contacted several restaurant owners in Milwaukee: Greg Leon from Amilinda at 315 E. Wisconsin Ave; Christie Melbye-Gibbons from Tricklebee Café at 4424 W. North Ave.; and Caitlin Cullen from The Tandem at 1848 W. Fond Du Lac Ave.
Together, they formulated a plan to hold six dinners with meals prepared by refugee chefs who identified as Ethiopian, Rohyinga, Congolese, Syrian, Karen and Serbian.
The restaurants set up a schedule: Amilinda would have Ethiopian cuisine on Feb. 25 and Syrian cuisine on April 8; The Tandem would have Rohingya cuisine on March 11 and Serbian cuisine on May 13, and Tricklebee would have Congolese cuisine on March 25 and Karen cuisine on April 29.
When word got out, all dinners, priced at $60 each, were sold out.
Tables Across Borders hopes to continue showcasing refugee chefs. In the future, it plans to partner with additional restaurants that wish to host a pop-up dinner.
Jima, who prepared the meal for the first Tables Across Borders event, said through food, people feel encouraged to share and forge connections.
“Food is the best way to communicate your idea or your problem,” she said.

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 15, 2019


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Milwaukee County provides more than $2 million in support for St. Anthony place, opening today to support the formerly homeless | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chris Abele, Milwaukee County Executive
March 15, 2019
The historic, former St. Anthony’s Hospital, at 1004 N. 10th St., will soon have a new name and new purpose after more than three decades of sitting vacant. St. Anthony Place, opening Friday, March 15, 2019, now features 60 modern apartments, 39 of which will house individuals with housing vouchers from the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services’ Housing Division.
“St. Anthony Place is a huge step in Milwaukee County’s effort to end chronic homelessness in our community and provide permanent, supportive housing for those in need,” said Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele. “Since our coordinated effort to provide housing first began in 2015, overall homelessness in Milwaukee County has dropped by 40 percent. This project will surely help us reduce that number even further. It’s a prime example of how Milwaukee County leverages creativity, resources and partnerships to reinvent a vacant space for public good.”
St. Anthony Place is a development of Chicago-based Heartland Housing, a subsidiary of Heartland Alliance focusing on the development of people through the preservation and creation of affordable and supportive housing. This project is also supported by neighboring Capuchin Community Services, Ascension Wisconsin, the City of Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
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“We couldn’t have made such a historic project like St. Anthony Place happen without the kind of partners we have in Heartland, Capuchin, Ascension, and others,” said Milwaukee County DHHS Director Mary Jo Meyers. “Their help in focusing on the social determinants of health in Milwaukee County will go a long way toward accomplishing our mission of empowering safe, healthy, meaningful lives.”

Milwaukee County provided a $1.8 million grant for the project that saves the old St. Anthony Hospital, whose importance to the African American community is recognized in the buildings listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, the County is co-locating a Day Reporting Center inside the facility as a community-based alternative to incarceration; contributing $50,000 annually for support services from the Housing Division; and contributing $400,000 annually in the form of 39 project-based, County-administered vouchers using the Housing First philosophy.
“The 39 individuals placed in St. Anthony were placed through our Milwaukee County Housing First program, specifically targeting those who have a lengthy homeless history,” said Milwaukee County DHHS Housing Administrator James Mathy. “Housing First recognizes that housing without preconditions is the cure for homelessness. Since starting this project in 2015, we have housed more than 750 homeless individuals and remain on track to become the largest county in the nation to end chronic homelessness.”
Anyone can help support Milwaukee County Housing First by making a donation to the Housing First Endowment, a project in partnership with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, by visiting county.milwaukee.gov/HousingFirst.
A ceremony will be held Friday, March 15 at 11 a.m. to celebrate the opening of St. Anthony Place at St. Benedict the Moor Parish, 924 W. State St.

author: Chris Abele, Milwaukee County Executive


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North Shore Bank to host series of free, bilingual seminars on financial goals | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
North Shore Bank
March 15, 2019
North Shore Bank today announced that it will host a series of free seminars for people looking to take control of their finances and learn steps needed to reach financial goals. The seminars, which are open to the public, will be held in the community room at the North Shore Bank Jackson Park office (4230 W. Oklahoma Ave). There will be four seminars that will be presented in both English and Spanish, and three seminars that will be presented in only Spanish.
“At North Shore Bank, we strive to be an asset to our customers and the communities we serve at every phase of their financial life,” said Alfredo Martin, branch manager at North Shore Bank. “These free seminars are just a way we live up to that mission. We have some important topics on the schedule, and we’re excited to help people achieve their financial goals.”
The seminar schedule is as follows:
Introduction to Electronic Banking – See how the latest tools can help make your banking transactions even easier and save you time.
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Understanding & Managing Personal Credit – Join us and the Latino Entrepreneurial Network to learn the basics of personal credit and what it means to you. Spanish-only seminar.
Credit and Budgeting – Talk about tips for easy ways to establish credit and budgeting tools available to you. Spanish-only seminar.
How to Apply for a Loan & Credit Cards – Along with the Latino Entrepreneurial Network, find out what you need to apply for a loan or a credit card.
Financial Goals – Let’s talk about steps you can take to meet your goals.
Managing Your Bank Accounts – Let’s take a closer look at your accounts and give you tips to better manage your money. Spanish-only seminar.
The Importance of Saving – Along with the Latino Entrepreneurial Network, learn why it’s important to set aside money in a savings account.
All seminars are free and open to the public. RSVP by calling Alfredo Martin at 414-327-2000 or email him at amartin@northshorebank.com.

author: North Shore Bank


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Experience ‘Ballot Bash:’ A party with a purpose | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mark Doremus
March 18, 2019
Five seats on the Milwaukee Public school board are in play in the upcoming spring election. With that in mind, Leaders Igniting Transformation, also known as LIT, threw a civic engagement party March 14 to encourage voters of all ages – but especially youth – to make it to the polls.
Young people in the LIT program are looking to MPS for policy changes that would reduce suspensions and expulsions and to lower the police profile in the public schools. “If you want change – vote” was the message at “Ballot Bash.”
The LIT Youth Power Agenda:
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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 17, 2019


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Landscaping enterprise employs Lindsay Heights residents who face hiring barriers | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
March 18, 2019
Blue Skies Landscaping employees Jacob Liptack (left) and Jordan Walker lay bricks at The Brewery, the former home of Pabst Brewing, in fall 2014. (Photo by Erica Heisdorf Bisquerra)
Editor’s note: This article is one of an occasional series profiling the 12 finalists for the Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation, or MANDIs. Blue Skies Landscaping is a finalist for the Chase Economic Development Award, which honors economic and business development.
When Henry Hopkins was released from prison in October 2017, he returned to his mother’s home on 14th Street in Lindsay Heights.
Growing up in the neighborhood, he had been attracted to the fast life, he said. He ran in the streets and sold drugs, sometimes, out of the 17th Street house that would later become Walnut Way Conservation Corp.
Now, thanks to Blue Skies Landscaping, a social enterprise initiated by Walnut Way co-founder Larry Adams, Hopkins is employed and has earned a steady income for the last year.
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Having a job has made a difference, Hopkins said.
“It’s helping me with my child support. It’s keeping me focused. Now I look forward to working for the rest of my life.”
In addition to serving as a pathway to employment in a community where unemployment is three times the national average, according to Blue Skies’ web page, the company earns income for Walnut Way. It also contributes to improving the health and beauty of the community’s environment and has contributed to Lindsay Heights’ designation as the city’s first Eco-Neighborhood.
During the growing season, Blue Skies employs about a dozen city residents, most of whom reside in or have ties to Lindsay Heights. Blue Skies crew members perform a variety of landscaping services, including installing and maintaining gardens and trees; masonry walls, paths and other hardscape; and green infrastructure on residential, commercial and municipal property. The company recently added the installation of rainwater capture systems to mitigate stormwater pollution, and coordination of solar energy installation to its list of services. It employs about half of its summer staff in the off-season in training, equipment maintenance and snow removal.
Blue Skies gets strong support from anchor institutions across the city, such as Aurora, said Antonio Butts, executive director since July 2017.
“We’re responsible for St. Ann’s (Center for Intergenerational Care-Bucyrus) design and installation; Pete’s Fruit Market, America’s Black Holocaust Museum, The Griot Apartments, pocket parks along North Avenue and within the blocks and Fondy Farmers Market,” he said.
With the City of Milwaukee’s Home GR/OWN initiative, Blue Skies has transformed 34 vacant lots into public parks.
Jermaine Wilson, of Blue Skies Landscaping, monitors and maintains a city-owned bioswale on Sherman Park Boulevard in summer 2018. (Photo by Jeremy Davis)
Jeff Spence, director of community outreach and business engagement for the Metropolitan Milwaukee Sewerage District, said his organization has worked with Blue Skies in several capacities. The district has provided Blue Skies employees with green infrastructure and water management training. Spence is impressed with the forward-thinking approach the enterprise exhibits.
“Not too many people have been able to do what Walnut Way has done” with Blue Skies, he said citing the unique combination of practical capitalism, social equity and environmental sustainability. “And it’s not done (for) just one person to benefit. It’s to benefit the community,” he said.
In the drive for environmental justice for all communities, Walnut Way and Blue Skies Landscaping are at the forefront, he said, and Lindsay Heights “is an underserved community that is seeing itself in a different light.”
Larry Adams launched the social enterprise in 2012. Since his retirement in 2015, Jeremy Davis has led the effort and Adams said he gives Davis, “who has taken it very far, … a lot of credit.” Having young people invest in knowledge and skills to carry an organization forward is critical to its strength, he said.
When Hopkins moved back to Lindsay Heights and reached out for help, Adams sent him to Milwaukee JobsWork, where his brother Michael Adams enrolled Hopkins in a workshop that taught him how to create a resume, fill out job applications and handle a job interview. Jeremy Davis, Walnut Way’s environmental specialist, interviewed and hired Hopkins, whose first choice of jobs was the landscaping business in his neighborhood.
The Vermont-based Institute for Sustainable Communities awarded Walnut Way a $150,000 grant last year, which boosted Blue Skies’ financial position as well as providing it with technical assistance and connections to organizations engaged in environmental, economic and social equity around the U.S.
Over six years, Blue Skies has seen an increase of more than 2000 percent in earned revenue from $17,365 in 2012 to more than $450,000 in 2018. That accounted for between 30 and 40 percent of Walnut Way’s total 2018 operating budget, according to Butts.
Blue Skies seeks to build a highly skilled team and it invests earnings in training and certifications for employees.
“I think the beautiful part of the landscaping program is that (it equips employees) with knowledge that can provide for families in the long run,” Larry Adams said.
Arborist, pesticide and permeable pavement training as well as small engine maintenance and repair are some of the skills crew members are trained to do. In 2018, employees attended a 35-hour green infrastructure training and the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program. Now six of only 15 who have this certification in Wisconsin are employed by Blue Skies.
Hopkins is one of them, Blue Skies is also funding his continuing education in an MATC welding program. On Feb. 1, Hopkins moved into the Legacy Lofts, a newly developed mixed-income apartment building on North Avenue, near his family home. He said he recently received cost of living and performance raises.
“Since I had this job, Jeremy and Mr. Larry been working with me, showing me (that there’s) a different way. Now I feel like I want to be a role model for … kids in the neighborhood.”


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47175333982_624bd8066e_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 17, 2019


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After sitting vacant for 30 years, a former hospital is reborn as a resource center for the homeless | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mark Doremus
March 19, 2019
Supporters of St. Anthony place celebrate its grand opening. (Photo by Mark Doremus)
St. Anthony Place is part of an ambitious effort to house and care for Milwaukee’s homeless population.
The Housing First initiative seeks to end chronic homelessness in Milwaukee County. The program recognizes that a safe place to live is the essential first step for recovery and re-entry into the community.
Housing First took a big step forward March 15 with the addition of 60 affordable apartments at the corner of North Tenth and West State streets.
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St. Anthony Place is located at 1004 N. 10th St. It includes an outreach center, a warming space and a medical clinic. An evening meal is served six days a week. A barber shop, showers, a free laundry, and an eye-glass dispensary are all located on-site.
Clients can also get local bus tickets, clothing, hygiene products, birth certificates and IDs, education and employment services and resource referrals. There is also a check-in center for persons who have been diverted from jail into the community.
Saint Anthony Place is a partnership of Heartland Housing, Capuchin Community Services and Ascension Wisconsin, which will operate St. Ben’s Clinic in the building. The project was financed with federal and state tax credits, a grant from Milwaukee County and funds from Enterprise Community Investment, US Bank, the Zilber Family Foundation, the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco and Capuchin Milwaukee. Lead partners included the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.
To learn more, contact Housing First at (414) 278-4678.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 18, 2019


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Beware of “Storm Chasers” and other doorstep contractors | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wisconsin Better Business Bureau
March 19, 2019
Wisconsin is suffering from flooding like other parts of the country and Better Business Bureau Serving Wisconsin (BBB) says that does not stop “Storm Chasers” and warns that transient businesses may attempt to cheat homeowners and businesses out of money.
Storm Chasers typically follow the headlines and quickly move into regions hard hit by wind, flooding and the other ravages of weather. Nonetheless, unethical contractors will visit neighborhoods to convince consumers and businesses that their property needs urgent repairs.
“Don’t be fooled by a business truck, website, or business card. Marketing material does not mean they are capable of doing the job safely or properly,” says Jim Temmer, CEO/president of BBB Serving Wisconsin.  “They may be operating illegally, lack insurance or proper licensing and training.”
Such contractors attempt to lure their victims with an appealingly low price, urge them to hand over a deposit and sign a contract on the spot, so that work may begin the following day. Unfortunately, there are a number of possible unfortunate problems for victims.
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A rogue operator may ask you to sign a contract that would allow them to negotiate on your behalf with your insurance company. In cases like these, the insurance check may go straight to the contractor regardless of the quantity and quality of work.
Some of them will complete the job as agreed upon, but consumers complain to BBB about substandard craftsmanship and materials. If they disappear after working on a roof, electrical system or other property, you will have to find a reputable specialist to finish the job.
Some contractors don’t want to fix work that was botched by someone else because of liability risks, especially if the materials are not suitable for the job or if the work was not carried out properly. That means victims will be required to have the job redone at their own expense, and will lose any deposit paid in advance.
The chances of recovering your money depend to a large extent on whether you can find the criminal. Generally, after scamming consumers in one neighborhood or region, they will move on to find more victims in other states, cities and towns.
Unfortunately, in the worst case scenario, a storm chaser or other door-to-door contractor will pocket your money and disappear without doing any work at all.
BBB Serving Wisconsin offers tips to avoid problems with unethical contractors:
Don’t do business at your front door This is probably the worst way to make a buying decision. Criminals and scammers are hoping to get you to sign a contract for potentially expensive work without allowing you sufficient time to read it and do your research.
Get several quotes – Compare the same work and materials with a minimum of three contractors. If one quote is too high or low, ask why.
Obtain recent references – Check with people who have had work done by the same company within the past year or two. The more recent the better. Ownership of a business can change hands quickly, and employees who did such a good job six months ago may be replaced with others who are not as careful or reliable.
Verify their licensing and credentials. – Anyone can slap a name on a truck or a business card. You can check on their corporation status with the state’s WDFI office. In addition, ask for contact information for their insurer to make sure they have current insurance.
Get everything in writing – You should receive a written estimate that includes the materials, their cost, estimated cost of labor and all verbal promises.
Check with Better Business Bureau – Look up a business or professional’s BBB Business Review to see what sort of experiences other consumers have had, or select a trustworthy professional from the BBB Accredited Business Directory. Report scams and fraud to BBB’s Scam Tracker.
For more information or further inquiries, contact the Wisconsin BBB at www.bbb.org/wisconsin, 414-847-6000 or 1-800-273-1002. Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following the Wisconsin BBB on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

author: Wisconsin Better Business Bureau


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Eat your heart out, Bob Donovan: We have no appetite for your ban on taco trucks | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Julio Guerrero
March 19, 2019
A customer waits for his food at Taqueria Arandas taco truck. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Editor’s note: Got something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Silver City in Milwaukee is home to many amazing Latino business owners and entrepreneurs. They own grocery stores, bars, restaurants, auto repair shops, coffee shops, consulting firms and yes, taco trucks.
These small business owners and entrepreneurs are vital to the growth and health of our community. They work long hours knowing that the success of their business is not always guaranteed. Being a business owner is a struggle, but they keep at it in their determination to achieve the American dream for themselves and their families.
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Ald. Bob Donovan recently pushed for a taco truck ban on National Avenue between South 27th and South 39th streets. Mayor Tom Barrett responded by vetoing this proposed ban. Would this ban be enacted, it would seemingly target one taco truck: Taqueria Arandas, which is owned by Francisco Santos and is often parked near South 37th Street and National Avenue. To our knowledge, there have never been any citations put on record involving Taqueria Arandas.  Donovan will need the support of nine other Milwaukee aldermen to override the mayor’s veto.
Santos feels targeted, and we are concerned that Donovan is using his position to bully and scare him. We are concerned that Latino business owners are being singled out and not being treated with the respect they deserve. We want to stand in support of the mayor’s veto. We want to send a clear message to the other members of the Common Council that we do not want them to rubber stamp Donovan’s ban for the sake of “collegiality.” Politics as usual may be standard operating procedure, but our community deserves better.
We want to send a message to the community that if we believe that our Latino brothers and sisters are not being treated with the respect and dignity that they deserve, we will rally behind them as a community and we will support them. If we feel an elected official is not acting in alignment with the best interest of our community, it’s our responsibility as community leaders and members to step up and make it known. Ald. Donovan is free to take whatever positions he chooses; as a community, we are free to come together over tacos and disagree. This is what democracy looks like.
During a time when many people are telling our community what we should be against and what we should be afraid of, we want to push back and unite around what inspires us. We love our neighborhood and our neighbors in Silver City. We love our small business owners and entrepreneurs who work hard to support their families. We love our taco trucks, and we most definitely love our tacos.
We want to invite everyone to join us outside of Velobahn Coffee & Cycle, 3618 W Pierce St, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, March 22 to rally in support of the mayor’s veto, in support of Franciso Santos and Taqueria Arandas and in support of the food, culture and flavors that make Silver City and the South Side of Milwaukee so great. P.S. The taco trucks take cash only, so please stop at an ATM on your way here.

author: Julio Guerrero


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Milwaukee storytellers share their Family History stories at Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ex Fabula
March 19, 2019
Every family has a Family History story! Ex Fabula and Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum are pleased to present this program of true, personal stories from community members. This noncompetitive curated StorySlam will take place at WBHSM located in Milwaukee’s Amani neighborhood; doors open at 5pm, event goes to 7pm.
The community members telling stories onstage were selected in advance; they are currently working with Ex Fabula storytelling coaches to prepare new stories on the theme of Family History. “This workshop proved again how so many of us have stories within our family and the workshop process helps us tell those stories better.” Says Rochelle Fritsch, Storytelling Coach, Ex Fabula. “As facilitator, the big kick for me is hearing stories and walking away with knowledge I didn’t have coming in the door- that’s exactly what happened at the Telling Your Family Story Workshop.”
Throughout the evening, attendees will hear true, personal stories that explore the full range of human emotions and experiences. The community members telling stories onstage were selected in advance; they are currently working with Ex Fabula storytelling coaches to prepare new stories on the theme of Family History. Audience members can also participate by submitting UltraShorts, which are brief, true personal stories written on slips of paper and then read onstage by the emcee.
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This event is part of the Equity and Inclusion/Capacity Building project, which is funded by Aurora Health Care Foundation, the Brico Fund, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Herb Kohl Philanthropies, the Brewers Community Foundation, the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts, We Energies Foundation and Kohl’s Cares. Thanks to these sponsors this event is free to the public; to reserve your spot please register at exfabula.org/familystories.
Story. Stage. You. These three elements bring Milwaukeeans together at StorySlam: Family History- to listen, to learn, and to find common ground. Join Ex Fabula and WBHSM to discover how unique each person’s Family History is. Contact Nicole Acosta to learn more about this wonderful community event.

author: Ex Fabula


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 19, 2019


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Versiti encourages organ donation during Donate Life Month | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin
March 19, 2019
When a mysterious illness brought her to the brink of death, Milwaukee’s Aaliyah Milledge was given the gift of life through a double lung transplant. During Donate Life Month this April, Versiti Organ and Tissue is honoring countless donors whose spirit lives on in others through the miracle of organ, tissue and eye donation.
This April, Versiti Organ and Tissue is encouraging community members to indicate their willingness to be organ, tissue and eye donors through state and national registries. Throughout Donate Life Month, we also take time to honor donors and donor families who have generously given so that others may live.
Approximately 2,000 Wisconsinites and 110,000 Americans are awaiting organ transplants. More than 138 million people, approximately 56% of the U.S. adult population, are registered organ, eye and tissue donors. But, until individuals take the simple step of registering their willingness to donate, their wishes won’t be known.
Organ donation gives Aaliyah a second chance at life
In August 2017, 16-year-old Aaliyah developed an awful cough that quickly turned more serious. By the holidays, she was in the hospital as both of her lungs were failing. She wasn’t getting enough oxygen, and while doctors couldn’t diagnose her condition, she had to be placed on life-support.
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Eventually, doctors determined Aaliyah needed new lungs. In August 2018, after a month on the waiting list, a match was found and Aaliyah underwent a double lung transplant. The transplant cured her condition and continues to breathe life into Aaliyah’s future hopes and dreams.
“To be able to give someone a gift of an organ and a second chance at life is priceless,” said Aaliyah’s mom, Jeaniffer. “We’re thankful for her donor and the precious gift of life they gave us.”
Giving a second chance at life
Versiti Organ and Tissue is dedicated to saving and extending the lives of patients while caring for donor families. In 2018, Versiti Organ and Tissue facilitated 238 life-saving organ transplants.
You can make difference by:
For more information and to join the registries, visit versiti.org.

author: Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin


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6 things to know about what’s happening with Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake youth prisons | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Allison Dikanovic
March 20, 2019
Lincoln Hills School for Boys and Copper Lake School for Girls have undergone criminal investigations and been subject to numerous lawsuits for allegations of abuse, neglect and excessive use of force. (Courtesy of Department of Corrections)
When it comes to replacing Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake youth prisons, there is no shortage of opinions. Or outrage.
That was the case last week after Gov. Tony Evers announced where the state-run facilities will be located and it became clear that Milwaukee will become home to two new facilities–one run by the state and one run by the county.
In his budget proposal, the governor suggested postponing closing Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake indefinitely and dramatically increasing the amount of funding for the new replacement facilities.
Neighborhood residents, elected officials and advocates all expressed frustration with the news, which reached a crescendo at a meeting last week hosted by Milwaukee Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton, whose district is where the contested site is located.
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The system established to replace Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake will have an effect on the city’s young people for years to come. (For a deeper dive, check out our explainer piece.)
Here are six things you need to know to catch up with the latest news:
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Evers announced last week that the Department of Corrections will begin to build two Type 1 secure facilities for youth with the most severe offenses. One of the locations is in Milwaukee, 6600  N. Teutonia Ave., and it is the same site where Milwaukee County was planning to build its new youth facility. The other state-run secure facility will be in Hortonia, Wisconsin.
Kevin Carr, Department of Corrections secretary, said although the site has been chosen, the land has not been purchased from the City of Milwaukee yet. Mayor Tom Barrett expressed his support, saying he is a “fan of this site.”
The state-run facility will have 32 beds, Carr said. As of December 2018, there were 19 youths from Milwaukee County who would be housed in the replacement facility.
State Sen. Lena Taylor said the Milwaukee County site will be at least 14 acres.
In January, Milwaukee County announced its two final locations for a proposed facility for youth with less severe offenses: 6600  N. Teutonia Ave. and 6101 W. Mill Road.
The county has re-opened its search for a site after the governor’s decision to build on the one it had chosen, said Mary Jo Meyers, the county’s director of the Department of Health and Human Services. She added the county also is considering privately owned land.
In his budget proposal, Evers requested an increase in state funding for Act 185 from $80 million to $274 million.
The proposal increased the amount for the state-run facilities for Serious Juvenile Offenders from $25 million to $115 million for the two facilities. His plan also increases the amount for counties to compete to open centers for youth with less severe offenses from $40 million to $100 million.
Additionally, the proposed budget nearly quadruples the amount allocated to expanding Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center, from $15 million to $59 million. As of last week, Mendota had a capacity of 43 beds but only had 24 youth staying there, according to Department of Corrections data. As of December 2018, there were only seven youth from Milwaukee placed at Mendota.
The governor’s budget proposal also gets rid of the requirement that the state Department of Health Services needs approval from the Joint Committee on Finance before constructing the expansion of Mendota.
Act 185 required that Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake be closed by January 2021, but Evers’ budget removes that deadline.
The budget proposal also extends the timeline of the grant program for counties by three months. As is, counties need to submit their grant proposals to get state funding for new facilities by the end of March. Evers proposes changing the deadline to June 30. Recommendations would then be due to the Joint Committee on Finance by October 1, instead of July 1.
The county-run facility for youth with less severe offenses will cost an estimated $39 million, Meyer said.
The facility will have 40 beds that will be separated in “pods” of 8-10 youth. It will be staffed to have one adult per every five youth, and staff will be trained in “youth development principles.” Meyers said this will include education, vocational training and mental health treatment. There are currently 56 youth from Milwaukee County at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake who would qualify to be in the county facility.
Meyers said that the county would like to offer alternatives to correctional placements for youth but that Act 185 mandates funding be used solely for buildings.
Sharlen Moore, co-founder of advocacy organization Youth Justice Milwaukee, reiterated the group’s position that the current reform legislation calls for too many new facilities.
“Act 185 needs to change,” Moore said. “It needs to provide more flexibility so that we’re not building a building to cage young people, but so that we have an opportunity to provide mental health treatment, mentors, education. It’s a lot of money that they’re putting into building a building!”
For every young person a county sends to Lincoln Hills or Copper Lake, the county needs to pay the Department of Corrections a daily rate.
Meyers said it costs a county $144,000 a year per youth.
For fiscal year 2019-2020 the yearly rate for a young person to go to Lincoln Hills or Copper Lake is $182,865.
For 2020-2021, it goes up to $200,932.
Any funding adjustments would need to be approved by the state legislature. Lawmakers in Madison are discussing a bill that could potentially make changes to Act 185 as well as the proposed budget over the next few months.
We know this is a complicated issue. If you have questions, please send them to info@milwaukeenns.org with the subject line “youth prisons,” and we will do our best to get them answered.


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Equity Forward: Nonprofit leadership summit | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Alliance for Strong Communities and Families
March 20, 2019
Recent reports on the state of equity in the social sector’s workforce and leadership show that diversity initiatives over the last 20+ years are not going far enough to create meaningful diversity and inclusion. Practitioners and thought leaders across the country have called for a renewed commitment and new strategies that address structural and systemic barriers that have persisted for generations.
This event will bring together national partners and local leaders to share knowledge, discuss common challenges, and consider opportunities for accelerating our collective efforts over the next three to five years. Participants may register for the first day only or both days:
Thursday, June 6 from 1-6 pm
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Participants will convene with fellow practitioners and advocates for shared learning, discussion, and action planning. The half-day convening will include:
Friday, June 7 from 8:30 a.m.-Noon
Participants will reconvene to consider common goals and create action plans. This action- oriented session will use human-centered design exercises to tap into participants’ knowledge and expertise and allow them to uncover and build solutions and next steps.
Learning Objectives
Who Should Attend
View full event details online at http://tinyurl.com/y257sklu Look for registration in April.
Contact Jerica Broeckling with any questions or for more information
About the Alliance’s Commitment to Equity
The Alliance for Strong Families and Communities has worked to strengthen the social sector’s leadership and capacity since its founding more than 100 years ago. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the nonprofit workforce has become a cornerstone of our efforts to create equitable systems by leveraging the influence and expertise of our network of thousands of social sector leaders across the country.
Short Save the Date Announcement
SAVE THE DATE! Mark Your Calendars Now! Equity Forward: Nonprofit Leadership Summit June 6-7 in Milwaukee. This summit features the latest research, trends, and action planning with national thought leaders and local organizations. Join with others to co-create solutions that lead to a stronger, more inclusive, and more diverse social sector workforce in Milwaukee and beyond. View full event details online at http://tinyurl.com/y257sklu. Look for registration in April. Sponsored by the Alliance for Strong Communities and Families. Contact Jerica Broeckling with any questions or for more information


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Kohl’s donates $1.5 million to Discovery World for STEM education access | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Kathryn Kazan
March 20, 2019
Kohl’s will award a $1.5 million grant to Discovery World, over three years, to increase access to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education for children and families in Milwaukee’s most vulnerable communities through , a hands-on, educational program that encourages students and families to use technology to turn imagination into reality.
“Kohl’s is proud to continue our partnership with Discovery World to provide opportunities for students and families to participate in free, interactive STEM programming, increasing their knowledge of the disciplines and exposing them to careers in the field,” said Jen Johnson, Kohl’s senior vice president of communications. “We applaud the work Discovery World is doing in bringing hands-on, age-appropriate learning centered around design and creativity to kids in our community.”
Discovery World will allocate Kohl’s funding to bring highly innovative STEM education to the fingertips of more local children and families through the following efforts:
“Kohl’s Design It! has become a pivotal resource for local students and families to receive hands-on educational programming focused on creativity, innovation and design,” said Amy Panicucci, Discovery World’s director of marketing. “Kohl’s generous support helps us educate, motivate, mobilize, and inspire the innovators and entrepreneurs of tomorrow by providing impactful and engaging educational experiences today.”
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Since 2010, Kohl’s and Kohl’s Cares have committed $7.5 million to Discovery World to launch and support the Kohl’s Design It! educational program, which includes the Kohl’s Design It! Lab and the Kohl’s Design It! Mobile Lab.

author: Kathryn Kazan


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Lead-Safe Milwaukee Resource Fair during National Public Health Week April 1-7 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Health Department
March 20, 2019
National Public Health Week (NPHW) celebrates the power of prevention, advocates for healthy and fair policies, shares strategies for successful partnerships, and champions the role of strong public health systems. The City of Milwaukee Health Department invites all residents, community advocates, and city leaders to attend a family-friendly Lead-Safe Milwaukee Resource Fair, which will be held during NPHW.  Free lead-safe home kits and water filters will be distributed to eligible families, while supplies last.  Lead testing and lead-safe activities are also available for children.  For more information, please refer to the attached flyer.
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Bradley Tech High School
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700 S. 4 Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Thursday, April 4, 2019
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
North Division High School
1011 W. Center Street, Milwaukee, WI 53206

author: City of Milwaukee Health Department


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Our Community, Our Solution job & resource fair | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Social Development Commission
March 20, 2019

author: Social Development Commission


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 20, 2019