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One year later: Milwaukeeans reflect on change since George Floyd’s death | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
May 28, 2021
It’s been a year since George Floyd’s death and the resulting protests. The outrage and pain that spilled into the streets were accompanied by calls for change and an end to systemic racism.
So what change has taken hold and what work remains to be done? That’s the question we asked residents, and here’s what  they said.
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Malik Pitchford, a Milwaukee native, studies political science and African and Black diaspora studies at DePaul University.
Over the past year, many held cautious but optimistic outlooks for the future. In June 2020, people around the country found themselves out in the streets in the midst of a pandemic, protesting against policing and the violence police can bring into communities. The burning of a Minneapolis precinct, symptomatic of a people pushed to the edge, served as imagery for feelings felt by those across the United States, and eventually people across the world.
Optimism emerged at this period, but it would not stay for long. Calls for abolishing the police (by the people protesting in the streets every day, also subject to police violence) would eventually give way to calls for defunding the police, then circling back to tired lines of police reform, and finally, grinding down to a stale call to “vote!”
Supporters from afar opted to throw money anywhere and to any organization that claimed they stood for Black lives. In fact, many organizations found this time period a perfect one to consider their own place in a society marked with a racist past and present. This, while politicians swooped in to give their own takes on the state of uprisings in America.
Politicians felt entitled to speak for those in the streets, rather than to listen to constituents, who are often taken for granted. They were quick to distance themselves from any protest or rhetoric deemed too radical. The irony being that Democrats, for example, benefitted in voter registration following protests. Regardless, reforms were promised, voter registration increased, and November brought a new administration, and, for some, renewed cautious optimism.
Police reforms have been suggested and implemented as far back as I can remember, yet none of these reforms seem to prevent the need for protest. We are to believe that Joe Biden—this time around—will usher in the reforms needed to solve the problems Black people have had in America for centuries. Maybe he will. But if history is useful, I remain skeptical.
I am not more pessimistic than last year, however. I still have great faith in the power of community. That is where the real spark for change is, even if some think of electoral politics as the sole mechanism for political change. I am optimistic that if (or when) electoral politics shows itself futile in creating that meaningful change, our communities will continue to step up and be the change needed to secure better lives.
William R. Tisdale is the president and CEO of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council.
In the tumultuous year since the murder of George Floyd, we have re-learned several lessons that come up over and over again in the struggle for justice.
First, we’ve been shown again that the work for justice can take many paths. Grassroots organizing, individual volunteering, direct protest, electoral political efforts, legal action and community-building are all valuable ways that we can express the need for justice and make change.
Second, without question, we see once again that elections matter. It is understandable that many people feel disillusioned with political parties and the power of elected officials to create real change, but it’s also very clear that the current presidential administration has taken steps to advance civil rights in ways that will be meaningful for millions of people. For example, early this year, the Biden administration’s Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that it will enforce the provisions of the federal Fair Housing Act that prohibit discrimination based on sex to include protections based on gender identity and sexual orientation. This is groundbreaking: for the first time, LGBTQ+ people will be protected from housing discrimination by the most powerful, widely applicable federal fair housing law.
Third, and perhaps most important, we have been reminded of the need to be steadfast in our work. The Fair Housing Council has been around since 1977. In our many years, we have seen numerous peaks and valleys in justice work. Sometimes racial justice is topmost in the public consciousness, as it has been in the so-called “racial reckoning” of the past year. At other times, it seems to take a back seat to other issues. What feels or seems urgent in some time periods seems to be less so in others. But the effort to create a more just, equitable world isn’t something we can just dabble in, or work on when headlines are being made. As the famous song tells us, we must always keep our eyes on the prize.
The road to justice is lifelong and requires a commitment beyond the horizon of our understanding. In the oft-quoted words of the Talmud, “Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly now, love mercy now, walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”
We are not free to abandon our striving for justice. Not today, not a year from now, not ever.
Hobe Love is an auxiliary officer with the Milwaukee Police Department.
Since George Floyd’s death, I have seen some good progress within our state as far as law enforcement goes.
Has the progress been what I hoped for? No.
Sadly, it shouldn’t take an incident such as Floyd’s death to “wake up” law enforcement to realize what has been a trend in our profession.
However, what I can sy is that within our state we are now bringing the George Floyd incident into our interviewing process when it comes to applicants applying to become police officers. Those applicants having knowledge on the incident and sharing their thoughts during the interviewing stage is now becoming a helping tool for agencies to decide if they want to potentially hire the applicant.
Also, within the state test that police officers take while in the academy, topics such as crisis management has increased. After George Floyd, these topics are more relevant in becoming a police officer.
As far as what’s the most crucial work that remains? For me, I would say getting police officers on the same page. The fact that there are police officers who find nothing wrong with Derek Chauvin’s actions involving George Floyd tells me there is still a lot of work to be done from inside the law enforcement profession.
Vaun Mayes is a social justice and civil rights activist in Milwaukee and the co-founder of Program the Parks MKE.
In the George Floyd era, we have accomplished a lot, but those accomplishments are under direct fire.
For example, we got rid of an ineffective and detrimental police chief, but now, a judge is trying to help him force his way back onto the force if the city does not pay him lawsuit fees on a forced timeline. I didn’t know this was even possible.
We also have Wisconsin lawmakers writing bills that directly and negatively impact the people and city of Milwaukee. This includes legislation meddling in the affairs of how our Fire and Police Commission is run, trying to give police unions the power to submit approved names on what is supposed to be a community oversight board; pushing to put police in neighborhood “cop houses” when we have strained levels of trust and transparency with law enforcement that have not been fully addressed; and even threatening laws that enable them to “defund Milwaukee” if Milwaukee defunds law enforcement.
And all this from Republicans who are predominantly white males who do not represent Milwaukee, its people or its interests. I don’t understand how a party that has historically denounced, opposed and even flat out denied the issues that people of color have championed can take the front seat in the conversation on what changes we need.
The movement has been hijacked and undermined, and we will not allow almost a year of marches, action and activism to go in vain.
Ellen Gilligan is the president and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.
George Floyd should be alive today. Instead, we are remembering a year gone by without him and left to reflect on how we can better build on the movement his death ignited while honoring his life through real community change.
Our work together depends on us addressing the root causes of the injustice we see. Violent policing tactics cannot be viewed in isolation. Housing discrimination, disparities in access to jobs, health care, quality education – these are all connected through centuries-old beliefs and behaviors codified as practices and policies designed to preserve a hierarchy that prioritizes white safety and prosperity over all others.
As long as racism is embedded in the systems that devalued George Floyd’s life, those systems will continue to produce inequities, including here at home. Without racial equity, our region fails to benefit from the creativity, productivity and experiences of all people.
You might be able to compose a song on a guitar with a missing string, but it will lack proper melody. You might be able to drive a car with one malfunctioning cylinder, but you will lose power and risk long-term damage. You could build a house without shingles, but eventually, the roof will collapse. This is what systemic racism does to a community. It steals our harmony, our effectiveness, our well-being and our potential.
For Milwaukee to thrive, it needs to be a finely tuned guitar, an engine firing on all cylinders, a house built to last. It needs to be a place where no one is left out, and as a result, we all benefit from one another’s contributions. At the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, we call this a Milwaukee for all.
During the last year, the foundation has accelerated work aimed at making systems in our community more equitable. We are investing in access to high-quality early childhood education so all children, and especially Black and brown children, receive the foundational learning and healthy start in life they need. We are expanding equitable economic opportunity in multiple ways, including investments in the stability and growth of entrepreneurs and small businesses, particularly in communities of color. We are collaborating with other funders, nonprofits and the public sector to increase access to desirable, affordable housing to close homeownership gaps and prevent evictions.
Most important, we are doing this work together, with the perspectives and priorities of the community at the center of our decision-making. We are dreaming big about change, and it will take all of us to see it through. Despite the challenges before us, I feel increasingly hopeful about the future as more people join us in partnership, investment and advocacy.
George Floyd should be alive today. His legacy is now ours to keep through our actions.
Bevin Christie is a Sherman Park resident.
In the past year, I’ve seen a lot of performative behavior. It’s as though diversity, equity and inclusion work is now the cool thing to do, not the humane thing to do. I’ve seen more job postings for directors of diversity and inclusion than ever before. People are scrambling to diversify their boards of directors, their talent pipelines, but who is making sure the workplace or organization is a welcoming environment for that diverse talent pipeline?
I’m not seeing the heavy lifting, so to speak.
We need healing, which requires us to take a hard look at ourselves and our roles in this racist society. We need forgiving ourselves and each other as we move through this process. Unfortunately, we still have a large percentage of the population who are in denial and do not wish to acknowledge this country’s racist past, its effects on our communities, and do not wish to work toward healing for a brighter future.
I try to remain positive, but I am also very realistic. This is a movement for equity and inclusion — there is not a school, nonprofit, corporation, government agency or household in this country that does not need to work on being more equitable, inclusive, and kind, but not everyone sees it as their responsibility to make this country whole.
What offers me hope is our young people. I see some great leaders emerging here in Milwaukee and nationally. They have worked tirelessly prior to 2020 and only stepped up their game this past year. I hope we start to listen to them and learn from them as they not only fight for justice but redefine what justice looks like in this country.
Nakisha Adams is an author and CEO of Skribble.
In the past year, there have been some notable policy changes in certain parts of the country. However, I expected to see more progress toward racial justice and reform. While some of the aforementioned changes are steps in the right direction, there is still a long road ahead. More needs to be done to reform a system that is deeply entrenched in systematic racism.
There have to be investments made in communities in the areas of education, affordable housing and mental health services. This is what investing in safety beyond policing looks like. These components are all important to building strong and safer neighborhoods.
We also have to continue to eliminate racial disparities across the justice system, especially practices that specifically target communities of color. There must also be continuous efforts to remove barriers from individuals affected by the justice system, by investing in re-entry services, restoring individuals’ rights to vote, and not silencing the voices of these individuals whose firsthand experiences with the justice system are invaluable to the conversation around reform.
I do feel more optimistic than a year ago because there has been notable achievement. We must continue to address policies at the local, state and federal level, because racial justice does not just affect one area, it encompasses all areas.
Marquayla Ellison is the president of Social X and Tenia Fisher is the director of health and wellness of Social X.
George Floyd’s death caused an uproar in our community that forced us to no longer be silent. Unfortunately, more Black and brown people are continuing to be murdered at the hands of police. This makes it clear that there is still critical work to be done.
In order to make progress, everyone should be able to be their true selves in any space and feel safe. Creating safe spaces starts with the transformation of the police department. We need to ensure that police are a part of our community and their main goal is to keep EVERYONE safe. This action can’t be placed solely on the police. The responsibility lies with training that the police receive. Lastly, building trust between police and Black and brown people is a must. The trust was never established and it’s time to start making a true effort to obtain it.
Although I would love to say I am more optimistic than a year ago, my feelings remain the same. George Floyd was murdered during a pandemic while the whole world was on pause and had no other choice but to react. Now that the world is getting back to “normal,” will the fight for justice remain? With the George Floyd Act still sitting in Senate, when will the words turn into action?
‘Make it about personal responsibility’
Jarrett English is director of housing development for Metcalfe Park Community Bridges.
One year later, George Floyd still doesn’t have his life back. No amount of money will ever return him to this life.
For as many millions who have marched around the world, police are still murdering Black and brown people with impunity.
As communities of color are always told, in as patronizing and derogatory a manner as possible when dealing with the side effects of generational disenfranchisement, brutality, racism: “It’s about personal responsibility.”
In regards to policing in the United States, as a historical enforcer/enabler of all of those societal ills perpetrated against communities of color, let’s return the favor — make it about personal responsibility.
If there are 10 good cops and one bad one, like a terrorist with a racist ideology, it only takes one to cause carnage and calamity. If we won’t excuse extremism outside of law enforcement, we better not continue to excuse extremist within it.
Pathways to some semblance of something on the way to a solution:
In their own words: Milwaukee reacts to death of George Floyd and protests
In their own words, part two: More reactions to the death of George Floyd and the ensuing  protests


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
May 27, 2021

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Dwayne Burtin


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ENGLISHPIC | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
June 1, 2021


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
May 28, 2021


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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: May 31 to June 5 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
May 31, 2021
The Dominican Center is honoring its outgoing executive director Sister Patricia Rogers this week as part of the center’s virtual fundraiser and anniversary celebration. (NNS file photo by Andrea Waxman)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Volunteer opportunities with Metcalfe Park Community Bridges: Tuesday, June 1 through Friday, June 4
Metcalfe Park Community Bridges is looking for volunteers. The organization is reorganizing its office space to make room for the Metcalfe Park Freedom Shop. The office is located at 3624 W. North Ave., on the second floor. Volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 1; from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2; from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 3; and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, June 4. Those interested can call or text Brittney at 414-533-7532 or email Btaylor@metcalfepark.org.
2. Free yoga class in Alice’s Garden: Tuesday, June 1
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Milwaukeeans are invited to enjoy the beautiful landscape of Alice’s Garden while doing yoga. A free yoga class will take place in Alice’s Garden, 2136 N. 21st St., from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 1. Participants are asked to bring their own mat and reusable water bottles. This class will be offered every Tuesday in June through August.
3. Mental health matters drive-through and walk-up event: Thursday, June 3
The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center, 930 W. Historic Mitchell St., is hosting a drive-through and walk-up event from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 3. The clinic’s behavioral health department will be distributing resources and offering educational opportunities for youth, women and men. Read: ‘Come meet me at this fire’: Why this health center is taking a new approach to mental health services.
4. Dominican Center fundraising event and anniversary celebration: Thursday, June 3
The Dominican Center, a nonprofit based in the Amani neighborhood, is hosting a virtual fundraiser to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The celebration will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 3. There will be auctions, testimonies, a special tribute to Executive Director Sister Patricia Rogers and more. To register, make a donation or participate in the auction, click here.
5. Homebuying process and resource workshop: Saturday, June 5
June is National Homeownership Month and to celebrate, Take Root Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Public Library are hosting a free workshop on homebuying. The workshop will take place on Zoom at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 5. Participants will hear from specialists about the homebuying process, what resources are available to them and how they can prepare to buy a home. The workshop is available in English and Spanish.
Bonus: Milwaukee Recreation offers child care options for summer: June
This summer, Milwaukee Recreation is offering affordable child care options for children and youth in kindergarten through 12th grade. There are nearly 70 sites across the city, which include camps, Community Learning Centers and Safe Places. The various locations are set to open in June. Prices may vary. Click here for the full list or here for the interactive map version. For more information, contact your preferred location’s site director.

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
May 30, 2021


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Is weed legal now? Here are 9 things you should know about marijuana law enforcement in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
June 1, 2021
The new county ordinance reducing fines to $1 only applies to violations enforced by the Sheriff’s Office on county land or property. (File photo by NNS)
In late March, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors reduced the fine for marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession of 25 grams or less to $1. Leaders have also pushed for similar legislation in the City of Milwaukee.
Last month, Legalize MKE, a new grassroots community group, organized a virtual educational event hosted by the Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Network. In attendance were several elected officials, representatives of the City of Milwaukee and the Sheriff’s Office, among others. The lead organizer and moderator of the event was Andrea Rodriguez, an educator and community organizer.
Here are some takeaways from the event:
1. Is marijuana possession legal in Milwaukee?
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No. Under Wisconsin law, it is illegal to possess, sell or manufacture marijuana. Some municipalities, including Milwaukee, have enacted local changes related to marijuana law enforcement. This spring, two Common Council members introduced legislation aimed at removing fines for possessing up to an ounce of marijuana, but no changes in municipal laws have resulted yet. In Milwaukee, a first possession offense of 25 grams or less results in a fine of up to $50 plus court costs. Second and subsequent offenses result in a similar fine but can be prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Office and result in state charges. A second state conviction for marijuana possession is a felony in Wisconsin.
2. Will marijuana be decriminalized in the City of Milwaukee?
Maybe. According to Ald. Chantia Lewis, new legislation to reduce the fine for marijuana possession of up to 25 grams to $1 or to remove the fines and court costs altogether will be brought to committee in June. The legislation would mirror that of the county’s but take it a step further, she said. Marijuana use would still be prohibited in certain areas, such as near schools and while driving, she added.
3. I live in Milwaukee County. Does that mean I would only get a $1 fine for possession of marijuana or possession and delivery of drug paraphernalia?
Not necessarily. The new ordinance for Milwaukee County only applies to enforcement by the Sheriff’s Office on Milwaukee County-owned lands and facilities such as parks, according to Milwaukee County Supervisor Sylvia Ortiz-Velez. Municipalities may still enforce state or local marijuana laws. In addition, the county ordinance only applies to possession of under 25 grams of marijuana. Court costs would also still apply, which would bring the cost up to around $140.
4. Does the city enforce current marijuana laws?
Yes. “When there are laws that are promulgated, we enforce them,” said City Attorney Tearman Spencer. He said that he was pleased that there had been a movement to reduce disparities in enforcement in the city. According to a report released in March by the District Attorney’s Office, both marijuana arrests and convictions in Milwaukee County have decreased significantly since 2010. In Milwaukee County, arrests for marijuana possession dropped from 4,785 in 2010 to 1,927 in 2019. Marijuana possession convictions in Milwaukee County also decreased from 1,285 in 2010 to 96 in 2019.
5. Does Milwaukee County enforce current marijuana laws?
Yes. “Ours is an agency entrusted with the responsibility of enforcement,” said Theodore Chisolm, chief of staff in the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office. But, he added, his agency commits its patrol operations to addressing acts of violence and not going after individuals for low-level offenses.
6. Will recreational marijuana be legalized in Wisconsin?
No, not anytime soon, according to Sen. Lena Taylor. Although Gov. Tony Evers put legalization into the current budget proposal, it was removed. The Republican-controlled legislature is not in favor of legalization. During an online event forum hosted by WisPolitics.com in April, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, said it was unlikely that lawmakers would vote in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana.
7. How about medical marijuana?
No. “I don’t see the legislature moving medical marijuana in this session,” Taylor said. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, opposes the legalization of medical marijuana while Assembly Speaker Robin Vos favors tackling the issue as standalone legislation.
8. What are some of the reasons groups are working to reform marijuana laws?
Although marijuana use is similar across all groups, according to multiple research studies, racial disparities continue to exist in enforcement. African Americans are 3.2 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession in Milwaukee County. The conviction rate for marijuana possession was also higher for African Americans than for whites in the county. Those arrests contribute to racial disparities in incarceration. In addition, enforcing marijuana laws is expensive. According to the American Civil Liberties Union report, “The War on Marijuana in Black and White,” billions of taxpayer dollars nationally are spent on marijuana arrests. In addition, many states that have legalized marijuana for recreational and medical use have collected millions in revenue from sales.
9. Why are some groups against legalization or decriminalization of marijuana?
Although a series of Wisconsin referendums in 2018 showed strong support for legalization of marijuana in many areas of the state, including Milwaukee County, some still stand in opposition. The main opponent in Wisconsin is the Republican-controlled Legislature, which has broadly opposed efforts to alter the state’s marijuana laws. Some arguments include a lack of support among their constituents, the role of marijuana as a gateway drug and the possibility of increased marijuana use and exposure among youth. Some Republicans, however, have expressed support for the legalization of medical marijuana and/or decriminalization.

author: Edgar Mendez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
May 31, 2021


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Post from Community: Artists Working In Education community re-engagement plan | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Artists Working in Education
June 1, 2021
(NNS file photo)
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
AWE’s priority this summer is to get out to re-engage in cultivating community and interact with our prioritized neighborhoods, bringing positivity and encouragement. We look forward to slowly resuming our programming while making adjustments that make sense to us. Our 2021 Community Re-engagement Plan will center around the following wellness practices for the foreseeable future as we greet you with restorative joy:
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AWE can’t wait! We are looking forward to attending your event with our Truck Studio or assisting with a public art installation during your community project. We have made a few small changes to keep our artists, staff, and you safe. Don’t worry – you will find the same high-quality, creative experience just with a few more safety measures.
Some of the small changes you will notice are:
To find out more about all of our Creative Services changes please explore our website or reach out to drea@awe-inc.org. Thank you for your continued support and patience!

author: Artists Working in Education


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
June 1, 2021


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Post from Community: Four Milwaukee Public Schools awarded $1,000 for completing a Healthy Schools Challenge focused on developing healthy minds | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
June 1, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Four Milwaukee Public Schools will receive $1,000 awards toward furthering project work focused on Healthy Minds. Audubon Technology Communication High School, Milwaukee Parkside School for the Arts, Hartford University School and Vieau Elementary School all completed project submissions for the Mission: Healthy Kids Healthy Schools Challenge. The Challenge, with a focus on furthering healthy minds, was offered by Mission: Healthy Kids, a partnership of Children’s Wisconsin and Kohl’s that promotes policy, systems and environmental changes in schools that improve school community health.
All Wisconsin schools were invited to participate in the free Healthy Schools Challenge this past March and April. A total of 38 schools completed the Challenge and were entered into a drawing to win one of 20 $1,000 cash awards to be used to further their project work. The project was also coordinated with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and for this year only, completion of this Challenge replaced the 2021 Wisconsin School Health Award.
Schools were asked to identify an area of improvement in their school environment related to healthy minds and then design and describe a project that can show measurable results. The Challenge gave them ideas to look at their physical environment, health education offerings, family and community engagement and social and emotional climate in new ways, with the goal of supporting improvement in emotional health of their students, staff and community.
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Audobon Technology Communication High School focused on improving the social and emotional climate by adding a monthly mental fitness event; Milwaukee Parkside School for the Arts focused on nutrition and health education and plans to create food kits for families; Hartford University School focused on social, emotional and physical climate and plans to create sensory walks to help students feel safe and supported; and Vieu Elementary School focused on improving social emotional climate with plans to implement more mindfulness tools and activities.
“The Mission: Healthy Kids program was thrilled to offer this Challenge to Wisconsin schools, especially to address healthy minds in a school year that was fraught with emotional challenges and change,” said Katie Horrigan, director of education and outreach, Children’s Wisconsin and Mission: Healthy Kids. “Through it all, these schools found wonderfully innovative ways to continue their work to improve the wellness and wellbeing of their school communities.”
“In demonstration of Kohl’s commitment to family health and wellness, we are excited to partner with Children’s Wisconsin through our Mission: Healthy Kids program to recognize deserving Wisconsin schools that continue to innovate and make mental wellness a priority for children and their families,” said Tara Geiter, Kohl’s director of community relations. “On behalf of Kohl’s, I’d like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to the twenty winners of the Healthy Schools Challenge, as well as all of the participating schools, for demonstrating their dedication to mental wellness and recognizing its impact on the children and families they serve.”

author: Children's Hospital of Wisconsin


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Convictions bar Wisconsinites from many jobs, making re-entry ‘a real struggle’ | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sonya Chechik and Kirien Sprecher (Wisconsin Watch)
June 2, 2021
Aftergraduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Janie Ocejo put her socialwork education and bilingual, bicultural background to work by supportingMadison’s Hispanic folks through positions at various community organizations.
Buta series of bad decisions landed Ocejo in prison. While there, she expected tofind work once she was released. After all, she had a college education, workexperience, strong interview skills and had even previously been on hiringteams.
However,rebuilding her life proved to be much more difficult than she expected, and ittook months for Ocejo to land a job. She applied for anything, even positionsshe was significantly overqualified for, and sought services and connectionsfrom organizations where she had once worked.
Becauseof her criminal background, no one would hire her.
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“Doorswere closed because of the stigma,” she said.
Today,Ocejo has found a new cause, prompted by her struggle after two years in prisonto  re-establish a career and a lifeoutside the bars. She now works for Madison-based JustDane, which helpsindividuals and families impacted by incarceration.
WhileOcejo found success, many incarcerated people are less fortunate, findingthemselves locked in a cycle of incarceration, unemployment and poverty.
In2018, one-fourth of the 5 million formerly incarcerated people in the UnitedStates were unemployed — five times more than the general population, accordingto the Prison Policy
Initiative(PPI), a nonprofit that studies and offers solutions to America’s massincarceration problem.
Thishigh rate is not due to lack of trying — 93% of formerly incarcerated peoplebetween the ages of 25 and 44 were actively looking for jobs compared to 83.8%of the same age range in the general population, the same report found.
Andsince Wisconsin and the U.S. disproportionately incarcerate people ofcolor  — with the disparity most pronounced among African Americans — thelong-lasting stigma of having a criminal record disproportionately burdens themas well.
InWisconsin, roughly 6% of the population is Black but makes up about 38% ofpeople who are incarcerated in the jails, state prisons and federalcorrectional institutions in the state, a product, many experts believe, of disproportionate
policing of Black people.
“There’s… that social contract that says if you violate, this here is your punishment.Once that punishment is concluded then you have the opportunity to reclaimcitizenship, your life. And that’s not the reality,” said James Morgan, aformerly incarcerated person who works with Ocejo at JustDane.
Advocatessay more funding for pre- and post-release services and efforts to counter thestigma attached to having a criminal record could boost the odds that peoplewill succeed after serving their sentences.
Reforming resources for re-entry
Wisconsininvests far more to lock up residents than it does to help them succeed outsideof prison. The state spends $1.35 billion a year on housing to incarcerateapproximately 24,000 people but just $30 million on training and re-entryprograms for people who have been released from prison — two-thirds of which isallocated for housing programs. That’s a huge problem, said state Rep. SheliaStubbs, D-Madison.
“We’reincarcerating people much faster than we are reintegrating them back into ourcommunity,” said Stubbs, a former probation and parole officer. “We spend waytoo much money incarcerating people, and not enough money coming back out intoour communities, to help our loved ones. These are our brothers, sisters,neighbors, friends in our community.”
TheUnited States provides only the “bare minimum” when it comes to services andtraining accessible to people during and after their incarceration, said Lucius Couloute, an assistantprofessor at Suffolk University whose research focuses on mass incarcerationand its impacts. Improving this is crucial to helping the formerlyincarcerated rejoin society, he said.
Wisconsin’sDepartment of Corrections offers a variety of programming to those who arecurrently incarcerated including work-release programs, job training andeducation, according to DOC spokesman John Beard. However, the COVID-19pandemic temporarily cancelled a few of these opportunities.
Work-releaseprograms offer incarcerated individuals a chance at making a living wagethroughout their sentence and can help cover income taxes, child support orrestitution owed to victims, or save money for after they’re released,according to the DOC. Prison and jail fees alone can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Butnationally, the majority of
incarcerated individuals are stuck working jobs within their facilities — inmaintenance or food service — earning less than $1 an hour.
Only6% of incarcerated individuals nationwide work in correctional industries,state-owned businesses that typically produce goods sold to governmentagencies. An even fewer find jobs through work release, according to a report by PPI.
Becauseof her circumstances, Ocejo was ineligible for work release — and the $9 to $13pay rate it could provide. Instead, she started out earning 26 cents an hourworking in the prison kitchen. Throughout her incarceration, Ocejo worked herway up to the top rate of $1.60 an hour, driving a forklift for Badger StateIndustries, Wisconsin’s correctional industry.
Although she would’ve preferred a higher paying job outsidethe institution,  “(Badger StateIndustries) gave me a chance to feel like I was doing something to help myselfand a sense of purpose with some income coming in that otherwise I would nothave received.”
MelissaLudin, a regional organizer for the Wisconsin ACLU’s Smart Justice Project,said employment, housing and access to services are often in short supply forthe formerly incarcerated.
“Peopledon’t feel the impact of what that felony does until you get released and yourealize how you are discriminated against,” Ludin said.
Criminal records often barrier
Wisconsinlaw bars discrimination against a person because of a criminal record— unless the crime is “substantially related” to the job. In addition, a“ban-the-box measure” passed in Wisconsin in 2016 prevents government employers
from asking about criminal records on their initial application forcivil-service positions to reduce discrimination.
Butsuch bans do not keep employers from easy access to criminal records throughpublicly available sources such as the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Program(CCAP), said Linda Ketchum, executive director of JustDane.
“CCAPmakes it really easy for people to do anonymous checks on people and makedecisions you will never be able to prove,” Ketchum said.
ColleenRogers, director of human resources at Madison Kipp Corp., said themanufacturer offers employment to currently and previously incarcerated people— part of its social responsibility to reduce barriers to re-entry.
“Employersneed to put their biases aside, if that’s their problem, and give these folksan opportunity … adults make mistakes,” Rogers said. “They make bad decisionsmaybe when they’re younger, and why not give them opportunity to live?”
Certain jobs off-limits
Additionally,people who have committed crimes face greater restrictions in licensing oremployment within specific industries, even if their crime
is unrelated to the job they would perform.
While Ocejo committed crimes — of fraud and forgery — sheemphasized that she “never used or misused my positions to leverage to commit acrime.” Still, it was especially difficult for her to find positions similar towhat she had before her incarceration.
KippCorp. sees hiring currently and previously incarcerated people as a win-winsituation — giving people skills and an opportunity to gain income and workexperience while helping fulfill Kipp’s needs as a busy manufacturer, Rogerssaid.
“They’reour employees. We don’t care where they came from. I need your skills and we’regoing to invest in you,” she said.
Peoplewith criminal records likely recognize that they’re in a fragile position inthe labor market and — when they are given a second chance — they work extrahard to prove their worth, Couloute said. Research from Johns Hopkins bears this out,finding that such employees actually perform better than people who had notbeen incarcerated.
Rogershas seen this counter narrative play out in real time as Kipp benefits from theskillsets people acquired prior to going to prison and their motivation towork.
“They’regreat employees. They want to work,” she said.
Ocejo ultimately landed a job at a nonprofit. Then she beganworking for JustDane, which hired her because
of her background so she could put her lived experience to work as thebilingual resource specialist and peer support program coordinator.
“There are many agencies who work with and say they supportindividuals like me, but I can’t necessarily say they will actually hire us,”Ocejo said.
Advocates: New strategies needed
JeromeDillard, statewide director of Ex-Incarcerated People Organizing, saidWisconsin has been slow to embrace the types of reforms that could help formerinmates succeed.
“Actually,we are still under the tough-on-crime rhetoric, and I want to say that re-entryis a real struggle for many returning from our state prisons in Wisconsin,” hesaid.
Buthe is heartened that DOC Secretary Kevin A. Carr in January cut the 18 standardrelease conditions in half. That change has helped drive down “crimeless
revocations”which send people back to prison for rules violations — not new crimes — andinterrupts one’s ability to rebuild.
“Ireally feel that Secretary Carr has heard us and felt the pulse of thepopulation and realized — and he said it publicly — that corrections can’tcontinue doing business the way it is,” Dillard said.
Couloutesaid policy changes — such as additional funding for education, mental healthand to treat addiction — will effectively cut incarceration.
“Whenwe think about mass incarceration, we often think about it as an individualproblem, as people making bad choices. But at its root, it’s people who aregiven bad options,” he said.
Eventually,things started to fall into place for Ocejo. A second chance was all she everwanted.
“Maybemy story is unique,” Ocejo said. “I could’ve fallen through the cracks andstayed there and not be the person that I really am. Because really it’s just aseries of mistakes — decisions I made that were mistakes — and to be never letout of those mistakes, it’s horrible.”
This
story was produced as part of an investigative reporting class at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication
under the direction of Dee J. Hall, Wisconsin Watch’s managing editor. The
nonprofit Wisconsin Watch (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with
WPR, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism
and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by
Wisconsin Watch do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison
or any of its affiliates.


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More bus route changes take place Sunday, June 6: Here’s what you need to know | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
June 2, 2021
A number of changes will be coming to the Milwaukee County Transit System as part of a larger redesign this year. (NNS file photo)
Phase 2 of MCTS Next, the county’s plan to reimagine Milwaukee’s bus system, will launch on Sunday, June 6. With it, 11 bus routes will see major changes, including higher frequency and new stops.
This phase is a continuation of the MCTS Next program, which has been in development for over three years and implemented the first changes in March. The goal is to increase high frequency service and improve access to jobs, shops and services across the city for transit riders.
Here are the affected routes:
Purple Line – This bus route has been extended to Bayshore and will continue to run at high frequency. To see a video breakdown of Purple Line changes, click here.
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Route 11 – This is a new route that will replace service on West Hampton Avenue previously handled by Route 12. Buses will run from West Hampton Avenue to North 124 Street. Here’s a full list of stops for the route. For a video detailing the new route, click here.
Route 12 – Routing is being adjusted. The route is being expanded north to West Brown Deer Road, removing service on West Hampton Avenue. Service will also shift from Wisconsin Avenue to Wells Street between North Sixth and North 12 streets. Some stops are being removed on this route. For a video breakdown, click here.
Route 14 – Some stops are being removed on this route.
Route 21 – Some stops are being removed on this route.
Route 34 – This is a new route that will replace Route 80’s service on North Hopkins Street. It will run from North 5 and West Clybourn streets to North 92 and West Grantosa Drive. Buses will run every 25 to 30 minutes on this route. Here’s a full list of stops for the route. For a video breakdown, click here.
Route 53 – Some stops are being removed on this route.
Route 57 – Some stops are being removed on this route.
Route 58 – This is a new route that will replace Route 80’s service on Villard Avenue. It will run from North Green Bay and West Hampton avenues to North Lovers Lane Road and West Silver Spring Drive. Here’s a full list of stops for the route. For a video breakdown, click here.
Route 80 – This route will expand north to East Locust Street to provide high frequency service. Routing has been adjusted and replaced by other routes, and some stops are being removed. For a video breakdown, click here.
Route 88 – This is a new route that will run on West Brown Deer Road from North Green Bay Road to North 124 Street. Here’s a full list of stops for the route. For a video breakdown, click here.
‘Opening up a whole new world’
Matt Sliker, a spokesman for the Milwaukee County Transit System, said the changes will help save time and connect people to new areas. Route 88, for example, will bring service to an area that had previously been inaccessible by bus with a Woodman’s  grocery store and an Aldi grocery store.
“If there’s no bus routes, people are landlocked in,” Sliker said. “We’re opening up a whole new world here.”
Sliker said the changes will make 60% of bus routes high frequency, an increase of about 20% from previous years. Ridership has also increased since the first changes were implemented, Slicker said.
David Salmon, a member of the Milwaukee Transit Riders Union, called the increased frequency changes a “big win” for transit riders, though he wants to see more.
“I would like to see it be more ambitious,” Salmon said. “It’s still an improvement on where the system has been.”
For more information
To find out more, visit this link. If you have questions, call the MCTS Next Hotline at (414) 344-6711 or MCTS customer service desk at (414) 937-3218 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
There will be an online informational session at noon Tuesday, June 2.
In case you missed it: Bus routes throughout Milwaukee County will change beginning March 7. Here’s what you need to know.

author: Matt Martinez


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Post from Community: Historic King Drive BID #8 celebrates accomplishments of departing executive director | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Historic King Drive BID #8
June 2, 2021
Deshea Agee speaks at an event in 2017. (NNS file photo)
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
The Historic King Drive BID # 8 today announced that Executive Director Deshea Agee is leaving the position later this month to pursue other opportunities and the BID has begun a national search for new leadership.
“We are so grateful to Deshea for his tremendous leadership over the last five years,” said BID Board President James Phelps. “During his tenure, the BID has experienced significant new growth and supported the creation of more than 20 Black or Brown-owned small businesses in the King Drive Corridor. We look forward to building on this great work in the years ahead.”
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The Board of Directors has engaged a search firm to launch a local and national search to identify the next leader for the BID. Agee will continue to serve the BID in a part-time, advisory capacity until the new Executive Director is on board.
During Agee’s tenure, the BID has seen many significant successes, including:
“It has been a tremendous honor to help lead the Historic King Drive BID during a time of great opportunity,” said Executive Director Deshea Agee. “I am proud of our shared success and know that the Corridor will continue to build on this great momentum in the years ahead.”
The BID has several major initiatives that will be lead by the new Executive Director, including:
The BID will also continue to invest in small businesses and support major initiatives such as the grand re-opening of America’s Black Holocaust Museum, construction of ThriveOn, the partnership between the Medical College of Wisconsin and Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the development of the Dohmen Foundation headquarters building, the potential for Hop streetcar expansion and the potential advancement of American Family Insurance offices and the Milwaukee Public Museum complex.
“We have never been more excited about the future of King Drive,” said Phelps. “We look forward to finding the next visionary leader who will help us continue to make this the best King Drive in the nation.”
ABOUT HISTORIC KING DRIVE BID #8
Since its inception in 1992, the BID’s mission has been to improve the King Drive District by fostering a culture that enjoys a trendy and authentic retail experience while attracting businesses who embrace the commitment to hard work and strong character that the area was founded on. And so far, expectations have been exceeded. In the past 15 years there has been over $400 million of new development in the BID. BID members, partners, and the Harambee residential community work together to cultivate a thriving community. For more information on the Historic King Drive Bid #8, visit Historic King DriveBID.

author: Historic King Drive BID #8


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June 2, 2021


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Post from Community: TMJ4 News honored with 2021 Walter Cronkite Award | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
TMJ4 News
June 2, 2021
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A months-long investigation into Wisconsin’s broken unemployment system earned TMJ4 News a 2021 Walter Cronkite Award, a national award from the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center. The award honors journalism that seeks truth, examines inequities, serves the public and demonstrates the indispensability of a free and trustworthy press.
“In his time, Walter Cronkite had the courage to report the reality of the Vietnam War to the American people,” said Annenberg professor Marty Kaplan, director of the school’s Norman Lear Center, which administers the award. “In our time, these Cronkite Award winners have the courage to report that reality really exists.”
The Walter Cronkite Awards recognized the TMJ4 I-Team for its series, “Unemployment System Collapse.” The investigation began in March 2020, when businesses shut down and people lost their jobs due to the onset of Covid-19. Over the course of a year, consumer investigator Kristin Byrne, producer Marty Hobe and photojournalist Tamott Wolverton regularly reported on the state’s overly complicated and neglected unemployment system that collapsed under the pressure of the pandemic. Policies implemented years before, as well as missteps made early in the pandemic, led to thousands of people stuck waiting for unemployment benefits, some becoming homeless in the process.
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The I-Team collaborated with non-profit news service, Wisconsin Watch, to obtain open records, documents and data used in the series.
“To this day we continue to hear from unemployed Wisconsinites waiting in limbo for their benefits,” said Nicole Buckley, senior manager of investigative and enterprise content for TMJ4. “This is not an issue that popped up overnight but was certainly magnified during the pandemic. It’s our job to shed light on problems happening in our community, hold our officials accountable and give a voice to those who feel they aren’t being heard.”
To date, the TMJ4 I-Team has helped 83 people collect nearly $400,000 in unemployment back pay.
The Walter Cronkite Award jury commended the TMJ4 I-Team’s “great storytelling and selfless tenacity” as “a great example of journalism as a public service.”
Other winning entries include:
•PBS FRONTLINE, “Policing the Police 2020”
This long-form account of Newark’s half-decade struggle to fix the relationship between its police department and its Black residents was hailed by the jury as “thoughtful, balanced and inspiring.” “What this story does – beautifully – is illuminate,” judges said about the work of correspondent Jelani Cobb and filmmakers James Jacoby and Anya Bourg, “shedding light on police reform without drama or hyperbole, using a story of abuse and intolerance to bring a sense of calm and search for solutions,” not only for policing, but also for education, housing, health care and other systems permeated by racial inequity.
•12 News, KPNX (Phoenix, AZ), “The Work is Hard and Not Done: Being Black in the Valley”
The Tegna-owned NBC affiliate wins for its documentary of systemic racism seen through the long lens of the Black experience in Arizona. Its “highly compelling” archival footage was applauded by the jury for “providing a historical perspective on racism in Arizona over nearly the last century.” “Every single interview” with experts, community leaders and residents “carries so much emotion.” Past and present are “seamlessly strung together” into “an impactful narrative that is not broadly known, and that makes you realize how much has changed and how much more needs to be done.”
•CBS News, “Bravery and Hope: 7 Days on the Front Line”
Judges lauded this harrowing documentary about a Bronx hospital at the pandemic’s epicenter as “moving and at times heartbreaking, a first draft of history, an extraordinary public service.” CBS News veterans Guy Campanile and Mitch Weitzner secured “remarkable access” for Campanile and CBS News producers Andrew Bast, T. Sean Herbert and Gilad Thaler. “At immense personal risk,” they let ER and critical care workers, patients and loved ones tell their stories without a correspondent or narration, “capturing their dedication, horror and exhaustion,” and cutting through the fog of misinformation and disinformation.
•CNN, “Coronavirus Outbreak in China”
David Culver’s reporting was among the first to emerge from Wuhan before the outbreak was declared a pandemic. The 24 hours that Culver, producer Yong Xiong and photojournalist Natalie Thomas spent in Wuhan on the eve of lockdown provided essential contacts for months of reporting from Beijing, starting with a two-week quarantine. They were the only foreign TV network team to speak with whistleblower Dr. Li Wenliang; two weeks later, Culver was live on air and reported news of Li’s death when it broke. The jury recognized CNN’s “exceptional real-time access. They were right where and when they should have been.”
•NBC Montana, Maritsa Georgiou’s reporting on “USPS Blue Box Removals”
In a pandemic election year particularly reliant on voting by mail, the US Postmaster General implemented nationwide policies whose effect was to gum up and slow down mail delivery. When he put those measures on hold, NBC Montana’s Maritsa Georgiou “clearly had a hand in it,” the judges said. Her “dogged” reporting for this Sinclair-owned station broke the story of mailbox removal in Montana, especially in Democratic areas. “She shined a light on practices that could have disenfranchised Montanans”; her reporting rippled across the nation, prompting more coverage and “ultimately bringing about change.”
•CNN, Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s pandemic fact-checking
Presented in tandem with the Cronkite Awards by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, the Brooks Jackson Prize for Fact-Checking goes to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, for his correction of COVID-19 misinformation. The jury praised him as an important voice throughout the pandemic and in many formats. He delivered on-air fact-checking segments, participated in town halls and hosted a COVID-19 podcast. “Dr. Gupta has been a consistent and reliable messenger for accurate information. He delivers the facts clearly and states them with purpose and authority.”
About Scripps
TMJ4 is Milwaukee’s NBC affiliate. The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media company focused on creating a better-informed world. As the nation’s fourth-largest local TV broadcaster, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of 61 stations in 41 markets. The Scripps Networks reach nearly every American through the national news outlets Court TV and Newsy and popular entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Grit, Laff and Court TV Mystery. Scripps is the nation’s largest holder of broadcast spectrum. Scripps runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and is the longtime steward of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, “Give light and the people will find their own way.”

author: TMJ4 News


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Post from Community: Take Root Milwaukee & Milwaukee Public Library celebrate National Homeownership Month in June with free virtual workshops in English & Spanish | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Take Root Milwaukee
June 2, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
During the month of June, entities across the nation celebrate National Homeownership Month by hosting events and offering opportunities that help individuals and families explore and achieve the American dream of owning a home. This year, Take Root Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Public Library are partnering to deliver free educational workshops to those in the Milwaukee area who are interested in learning about the home purchase and home rehab process.
“The goal of these workshops is to ensure that Milwaukee-area residents are not only able to obtain homeownership, but also maintain it through the years by connecting them to the resources they need now, as well as those they may need down the road,” explains Johanna Jimenez, Program Manager for Take Root Milwaukee.
The virtual sessions are being offered in English and Spanish on the first two Saturdays of the month and will give residents the opportunity to learn about the home buying and home rehab process from start to finish. The types of loans and grants available to both homebuyers and existing homeowners will also be highlighted.
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“MPL has forged a wonderful partnership with Take Root Milwaukee to further connect the community with these beneficial homeownership resources. Homeownership does not have to be just a dream. Our hope is that the right information and community resources will inspire you to take the next steps to realize that dream,” expressed Hermoine Bell-Henderson, Coordinator of Business, Technology, and Periodicals at Milwaukee Public Library.
Normally held as in-person events across the city, this year’s workshops will be held over Zoom to ensure the public’s health and safety:
VIRTUAL WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Workshops are free, but advanced registration is required. Attendees will be connected to local lenders, realtors, homeownership specialists, neighborhood organizations, and City of Milwaukee representatives for a presentation and a question-and-answer session. Details and links to register can be found on the Take Root Milwaukee website.
About Take Root Milwaukee
Take Root Milwaukee is a consortium of more than 50 community organizations, neighborhood groups, HUD-certified housing counseling agencies, Realtors, and Lenders working to promote sustainable homeownership in the City of Milwaukee. Take Root Milwaukee members offer free or low-cost services and products that can help you buy, keep, or fix a home. For additional information, please visit www.TakeRootMilwaukee.com or call us at 414.921.4149.
About Milwaukee Public Library
Milwaukee Public Library is an anchor institution that helps build healthy families and vibrant neighborhoods – the foundation of a strong Milwaukee. Since 1878, Milwaukee Public Library has been a free provider of education and information for residents of Milwaukee and beyond. With 14 locations, and nearly three million items in circulation, MPL offers free access to a rich collection of materials both physical and digital, access to technology, classes, exhibitions, programming and more. From toddlers to scholars, MPL serves more than one million patrons who come through its doors annually and many more around the globe who use its resources at www.mpl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, MPL relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support Milwaukee Public Library at www.mpl.org/support

author: Take Root Milwaukee


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Post from Community: Froedtert Hospital announces $11.5 million scholarship fund in partnership with MATC and UWM | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin
June 3, 2021
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Froedtert Hospital announced today an agreement to establish an $11.5 million Froedtert Hospital Scholarship Program. In partnership with the Milwaukee Area Technical College (“MATC”) and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (“UWM”), the 20-year program will fund scholarships for underprivileged and deserving students with each institution receiving $5.75 million. More specifically, funds may be used toward full- and part-time certificate, undergrad, and post-graduate courses of study in health-related fields.
“The Milwaukee Area Technical College and the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee were chosen for their strong local presence and steadfast commitment to providing educational opportunities to those who live and work in the community,” said Eric Conley, executive vice president, Froedtert Health, and president, Froedtert Hospital. “Equally important was the opportunity each institution offers students who traditionally might not have access to post-secondary education, fundamental to the scholarship program. Foundationally, this gift also continues to honor our commitment to health equity across the region by helping eliminate health care disparities and addressing social determinants of health like education and employment.”
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The scholarship program was developed to address multiple needs identified by Froedtert Health, such as: (1) to expand the pool of highly skilled and well-trained health
care workers in Southeast Wisconsin and (2) to meet the needs to the ever-changing and increasingly sophisticated medical field.
Portions of the scholarship funds will also be allocated to graduates of Milwaukee Public Schools and will also include a need-based component.
“This is the largest-ever donation to the Milwaukee Area Technical College Foundation and it represents the opportunity to transform hundreds of lives in our community,” MATC President Dr. Vicki J. Martin said. “We are grateful for this meaningful gift from Froedtert Hospital and together we will prepare Milwaukee’s diverse future health care workforce, reduce skills gaps and workforce shortages, and continue to break down the barriers that stand between students and an education that connects to a career with a family- supporting income. The support Froedtert Hospital is providing to our partners at UWM and the inclusion of opportunities specifically for MPS students will further strengthen the work of M3 to transform the future of Milwaukee through education.”
“We are extremely grateful to Froedtert Hospital for this gift, which will provide educational opportunities for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of students from Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin,” UWM Chancellor Mark Mone said. “It will support and enhance the work that UWM, MATC and the Milwaukee Public Schools are already doing through our M3 partnership to support families, improve graduation rates and better prepare students for college. Working together, we can support students in health care at all stages of their college career.”
The program will be funded through a charitable grant from the Kurtis Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital Trust and is pursuant to a Community Partnership Initiative Funding Agreement between Froedtert Hospital, the Kurtis Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital Trust, and the Wisconsin Attorney General. That agreement is subject to approval by the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
Additional details on the scholarships will be provided when the agreement is finalized.


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Post from Community: gener8tor Art announces 2021 cohort | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
gener8tor
June 3, 2021
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Four visual artists have been selected to each receive a $15,000 grant and to participate in the 2021 gener8tor Art program.
gener8tor Art is a free,12-week accelerator designed specifically for visual artists to achieve greater visibility and success by providing the support and mentorship needed to navigate the art industry. Of the top accelerator programs in the country, Milwaukee-based gener8tor is the only one to offer grants and programming for artists.
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The following artists and collaborators have been selected to receive the grant awards and positions in the program: Phoenix Brown (Milwaukee, WI); Jessica Harvey (Milwaukee, WI); LaNia Sproles (Milwaukee, WI); and Hope Wang (Chicago, IL). The selected artists are incredibly diverse in their artistic practices, which include painting, collage, weaving, installation, drawing, printmaking, photography, video and social practice.
Phoenix Brown uses painting, printmaking and drawing to highlight dialogues around Black feminism, personal narrative and pop culture. She uses diverse mediums and methods of making to confront western art history’s portrayal of nature, still life, and the Black female body.
Jessica Harvey uses photography, video, sound, archival resources and objects constructed from everyday materials to create images and installations that focus on memory and place, with a particular emphasis on the role of women in personal or familial histories. Through humor and tragedy, Harvey creates a new way of re-evaluating life, death and the mythology of our own history.
LaNia Sproles uses printmaking, drawing and collage to interwork philosophies of self-perception, queer and feminist theories, and inherent racial dogmas. Her work focuses on the black femme body as a location of trauma and compromised autonomy, while the figures in her work act as a reclamation of space as a queer Person Of Color.
Hope Wang specializes in weaving, screen-printing, painting and photography to create trompe l’oeil documentations of sites of industrial labour, including building facades that have been eroded, redacted or defaced. By focusing on these architectural “scars,” Wang explores how people form complicated relationships with the structures of their daily lives.
“I am excited to work with such a talented group of artists,” said Maureen Ragalie, Director of gener8tor Art “I look forward to working with these artists not only on their creative practice, but also on creating a sustainable business structure to support their creative practices.”
The artists were selected from a pool of more than 250 applicants after multiple rounds of application reviews and virtual studio visits. They were chosen based on a jury’s gauge of the artist’s talent, the compelling nature of their bodies of work, their strong career goals, their ability to be significantly impacted by the program, and the social impact of their work. The six jurors represented a cross-section of art industry professionals, including curators, gallerists, artists and academics.
gener8tor Art’s 2021 jurors included: Danny Báez (Co-Founder and Director of MECA International Art Fair in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Co-Founder and Board Member of the ARTNOIR Collective, and Director of Regular Normal Gallery in NYC); An Duplan (trans* poet, curator and artist, Founder of the Center for Afrofuturist Studies and Program Manager at Recess in NYC); María Del Mar Frederique (Director of MECA International Art Fair in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Program Officer at Titin Foundation and Project Manager for JustKids); Lucy Mensah (Independent curator and Assistant Professor of Museum and Exhibition Studies at the University of Illinois in Chicago’s School of Art & Art History); Nicole Soukup (Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art at Minneapolis Institute of Art); and Vincent Uribe (Director of LVL3 Gallery in Chicago and Director of Exhibitions at Arts of Life, Inc.).
Brown, Harvey, Sproles and Wang will participate in the 2021 gener8tor Art program starting on June 3. The 12-week program is completely free for participants and includes coaching, mentoring and networking with gener8tor staff, as well as visual art leaders from Milwaukee and across the country. It ends in August 2021 with a showcase for the artists to present their work to industry professionals, supporters and community members.
In addition to the 12-week accelerator, gener8tor Art hosts free professional development webinars, with topics including: creating a budget for your art project; preparing for a virtual studio visit; digital strategies for artists; and how to write an artist statement. gener8tor Art also hosts an art collector education series for new collectors, with topics ranging from the art market to how to buy artwork from auction houses. You can sign up for future webinars on the gener8tor Art website.
gener8tor Art is made possible through support from the American Family Institute for Corporate and Social Impact.
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gener8tor is a turnkey platform for the creative economy that connects startups, entrepreneurs, artists, investors, universities and corporations. The gener8tor platform includes pre-accelerators, accelerators, corporate programming, conferences and fellowships focused on entrepreneurs, artists and musicians. gener8tor.com
gener8tor Art is a 12-week accelerator program for visual artists. gener8tor Art helps artists achieve greater success by providing the support and mentorship needed to maintain a sustainable practice and navigate the industry. https://gener8torart.com/
The American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact is a venture capital firm and partner of choice for exceptional entrepreneurs who are building scalable, sustainable businesses in a long-term effort to close equity gaps in America. The Institute invests in companies working to provide economic opportunity for all, to build resilient communities, to create healthy youth development and to increase learning and academic achievement. It is based in Madison, Wisconsin and can be found on social media @AmFamInstitute or on their website amfaminstitute.com/.


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June 2, 2021


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Post from Community: MPL restores browsing at branch libraries on June 7 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Library
June 3, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Milwaukee Public Library has announced a planned restoration of certain services beginning Monday, June 7, 2021. On that day, patrons will be allowed to resume browsing materials in the stacks for both children’s and adult materials in all branch locations. Browsing remains restricted at Central Library while staff prepare spaces for a safe and healthy return by August.
“It has been over a year since our patrons were able to browse and select their own materials,” said Milwaukee Public Library Director Joan Johnson. “While we were delighted to be able to safely offer materials pickup and computer usage, browsing the stacks is one of the things we know our patrons miss the most.”
While the City of Milwaukee health orders requiring masks expired June 1, staff and visitors to any City of Milwaukee building will continue to be required to wear a mask, and that includes libraries. Social distancing requirements and capacity limits also remain in place. Currently, MPL locations are capped at 25% capacity based on floor space. Allowing browsing will double the amount of available floor space for patrons to visit so total capacity will increase.
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Curbside service remains an amenity for patrons by request, but community spaces and other meeting rooms continue to be closed and in-person indoor programming remains paused.
For more information, please visit www.mpl.org and follow the library on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

author: Milwaukee Public Library


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
June 3, 2021


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What Milwaukee homeowners (and those who want to be) should know | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
June 3, 2021
June is National Homeowners Month, and several webinars are planned to help residents understand the process of buying a home. (NNS file photo)
During June, many agencies and community groups celebrate National Homeownership Month as an opportunity to educate the public.
With that in mind, here are some resources for homeowners-and for those interested in buying one.
BMO Harris Bank is hosting a free virtual homebuying webinar from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Monday, June 14. Click here to register. This and other sessions are also helpful for those who might be worried whether they have the financial means to be homeowners.
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The webinars go over the homebuying process, people’s eligibility for down payment assistance and key tips on preparing for homeownership.
“Not only do we want to help people buy homes,” said Sang Kim, the regional president of BMO Harris Bank. “We want to help keep people in their homes.”
Take Root Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Public Library also are offering free educational workshops this month to residents.
This year’s workshops take place over Zoom:
Homebuying process and resources: Register here.
Home rehab process and resources: Register here.
The workshops are free, but advanced registration is required. Attendees will be connected to local lenders, Realtors, homeownership specialists, neighborhood organizations, and City of Milwaukee representatives for a presentation and a question-and-answer session.
Housing Resources Inc., a nonprofit, offers homebuying courses and counseling. You can call 414-461-6330.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developmentoffers homebuyers resources throughout the state.
Homeowners with mortgages through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authorityhave access to multiple programs.
Acts Housing offers homebuying classes as well as financial assistance to those who need it.
Just like renters who fall behind on their rent, some homeowners also are finding it hard to keep up with their finances during the pandemic.
Here are some resources:
Mediate Milwaukee offers mediation for tenants, landlords, homeowners and lenders to help work through conflicts and come to agreements. You can call 414-939-8800 or email apply@mediatemilwaukee.com.
Legal Aid Society of Milwaukeecan provide legal assistance to income-eligible tenants in dispute with landlords, as well as to homeowners. You can call 414-727-5300.
Legal Action of Wisconsin can provide legal assistance to those facing foreclosures and provide information on tenant-landlord relations. You can call 855-947-2529.
Social Development Commission can assist in issues with lead, weatherization and other housing-related issues. You can call 414-906-2700.
Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Councilcan help homeowners protect themselves from mortgage and foreclosure prevention scams as well as from predatory home loans. You can call 414-278-1240.
Housing Resources Inc. can provide counseling to homeowners and has programs to help people prevent foreclosure. You can call 414-461-6330.
Federal loan programs:  Those with federally or Government Sponsored Enterprise- backed mortgages are covered by the CARES Act. Mortgage forbearance is available to those who request it. The CARES Act also suspended foreclosures on many government/GSE-backed loans from March 18, 2020, until at least June 30, 2021.
If you think you are at risk of becoming homeless, you can always  or text your ZIP code to TXT-211.

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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5 things to do and know the weekend of June 4 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
June 4, 2021
The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center’s Native Wellness is kicking off the season Saturday with June in Bloom, which includes a workout, a smudging ceremony and more. (Photo provided by Jeremiah Wayman, Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Deadline approaching: Small Business Recovery grant: Monday, June 7
Applications for the Wisconsin Tomorrow Small Business Recovery grant program are still being accepted. Local business owners are encouraged to apply. The deadline to apply is 4:30 p.m. on Monday, June 7. An expected $420 million is to be distributed to small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is being funded through the American Rescue Plan Act. To apply, click here. The grant application is available in English, Spanish and Hmong.
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2. Capitol Stampings jobs fair: Saturday, June 5
Capitol Stampings, 2700 W. North Ave., is hosting a job fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 5. Walk-ins are welcome, but to secure an interview time, email hr@capitolstampings.com or call 414-267-2330. The company is looking to hire quality and maintenance technicians and press coil, brake press and punch press operators.
3. Mexican Fiesta’s VivaMKE marketplace: Saturday, June 5
Mexican Fiesta recently created a new initiative called Viva Milwaukee or VivaMKE. The group’s first event under this initiative is the VivaMKE marketplace, which features local vendors and artists. The marketplace will be held at Flores Hall, 2997 S. 20th St., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 5. Mexican Fiesta’s margarita fundraiser will also take place the same day.
4. Niche Book Bar pop-up shop: Saturday, June 5
The Niche Book Bar is returning to the Sherman Phoenix, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave. The locally owned bookstore will be doing a pop-up shop at the Phoenix on the first Saturday of every month from June to September. This month, the pop-up will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 5. Read: NNS Spotlight: She’s writing a new chapter for Black-owned bookstores in Milwaukee.
5. Native Wellness Garden: June in Bloom: Saturday, June 5
The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center‘s Native Wellness Garden, 3780 S. 6th St., is celebrating its 2021 event opening, June in Bloom, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 5. Katy Laroque will kick off the event with a workout followed by a smudging ceremony with Daniel Preston. There will also be health screenings, light snacks and refreshment and healthy recipe taste testings.
Bonus: Career Fair 2021: Saturday, June 5
The South 27th Street Business District Job Association is hosting a career fair. Local employers, including the City of Milwaukee, will be present. The career fair will take place at the Salvation Army, 2900 W. Coldspring Rd., from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 5. Attendees should bring extra copies of their resume, a pen and notepad, application preparation information and business cards. Click here for more information.
Don’t forget: More bus route changes take place Sunday, June 6: Here’s what you need to know


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Here’s how Milwaukee families can get free meals for kids delivered to them this summer | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
June 4, 2021
Two new programs will deliver free meals to families with children 18 and younger this summer. This photo is from a community meals event in 2014. (NNS file photo)
Milwaukee families with children 18 and younger can get food delivered to their doorsteps for free this summer thanks to two newly announced programs.
For families living in the 53205, 53206 and 53233 ZIP codes, Milwaukee Public Schools, the MPS Foundation and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation MKE Responds Fund have organized the  “Summer Meal Delivery Pilot Program.” The program will deliver two-day packs of food containing two breakfasts, lunches and milks to designated bus stops (and in some cases, individual homes) every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from July 7 through Aug. 25.
To sign up for the program, click here. .
In addition, the Hunger Task Force and Gourmet Gorilla, a kids meal supplier based in Chicago, will be distributing seven-day meal packs to families with children 18 or younger anywhere in Milwaukee County. The program is called “Gorilla to Go” and will run from June 14 through Aug. 30.
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Ashley Best, community nutrition program manager at the Hunger Task Force, said the program is now placing families on a waitlist after officials were deluged with meal requests for 3,000 children during the first 24 hours of “Gorilla to Go.”
Best said she expects to receive funding to enroll families on the waitlist but said those on the waitlist may not receive a box immediately when the program starts this month.
To get on the Gorilla to Go program’s waitlist, click here.
Best also asked that families who are receiving free meals through another program, such as MPS’ or the Boys and Girls Clubs’ summer meals programs, refrain from signing up for Gorilla to Go.  We want to “make sure that everyone who is hungry gets something,” Best said.
Those who live in the 53205, 53206 or 53233 ZIP codes can register to receive meals for the Summer Meal Delivery Pilot Program through June 11. Your child does not need to attend an MPS school to qualify.
Bus-stop deliveries will begin on July 7 and run through Aug. 25 every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. In some cases, deliveries will be made to a family’s doorstep if members are unable to make it to a drop-off site.
Boxes will include two breakfasts, two lunches and two milks per person in the family that registers. Vegetarian and religious dietary restrictions can be accommodated upon request.
Kelly Rickman Bosh, development and donor relations manager at the MPS Foundation, said the goal is to serve 1,000 meals per day.
Families who do not live in the specified ZIP codes or are otherwise not participating in this delivery program can still pre-order meal bundles for pick up on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon at these schools.
Pre-ordered meal bundles will contain a packaged breakfast and lunch for anyone in the community that is 18 and younger. On Mondays and Wednesdays, the meal bundles will contain two days’ worth of breakfast and lunch. On Fridays, children will receive breakfast and lunch for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Families can pre-order meals for pickup at MPS Summer Meal Program sites here.
Families participating in the Gorilla to Go program will have seven-day meal packs delivered to their doorstep once per week.
In addition to a standard box of food that includes meats, families will be able to receive a vegetarian box, or a box containing foods relevant to southeast Asian cuisine. The Hmong American Friendship Association, which operates a food pantry at 3824 W. Vliet St., is being consulted on which foods should be included in that box.
The program is based on a similar one piloted in western Kenosha County that is led by Gourmet Gorilla and the Sharing Center, a nonprofit in Kenosha County that offers services and supplies to local families. Sharon Pomaville, executive director at the Sharing Center, said families may not be prepared for the quality of meals they receive through this program, citing the abundance of fresh ingredients and lack of pre-processed foods.
“It’s like Blue Apron,” Pomaville said, referring to the for-profit weekly meal kit supplier. “The biggest complaint we receive is that families have to cook all the time because there’s no prepared meals.”

author: Sam Woods


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NNS on ‘Lake Effect’: 5 things to do this June in Milwaukee neighborhoods | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
June 4, 2021
Attendees enjoy the 2017 Juneteenth Day parade. (NNS file photo)
NNS’s Adam Carr joined WUWM and Joy Powers of “Lake Effect” for the June installment of our monthly “5 Things” feature.
This month includes the outdoor multimedia exhibition Art Start: See Me Because, Vol. 8, the book release of Brit Nicole’s poetry book “Moods, Melanin & Magic… Manifesto” at the Bronzeville Collective, March with PRIDE for #Blackslivematter, the 50 anniversary of Milwaukee’s Juneteenth Day Parade & Celebration and a variety of in-person and virtual Jane’s Walk events.

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
June 3, 2021
“0603b”. Released: 2021.


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Post from Community: How should Milwaukee spend American Rescue Plan funds? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mayor Tom Barrett
June 4, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Mayor Tom Barrett, in consultation with members of the Milwaukee Common Council, is asking Milwaukee residents to share their priorities for the expenditure of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds. The City will receive a total of $394 million in federal assistance to help recover from the pandemic, and public input will help determine how this money is spent.
An online survey is available in three languages: English, Spanish and Hmong. The survey asks respondents to prioritize spending options among various categories including: housing access, eviction prevention, internet access, early childhood education, economic and workforce development, infrastructure and transportation, public health, public safety, and climate change and environment. It also invites people to list other priorities that they may have.
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The survey results will be used in the City’s ARP planning process and inform the City’s use of funds over the next two years. Mayor Barrett has already initiated this effort, previously announcing that $3.8 million in ARP funds will be used this summer to provide employment opportunities to young people.
“The money Milwaukee is receiving opens an unprecedented opportunity for our city, a chance to make investments that would be impossible without the ARP funds,” Mayor Barrett said. “We already know the money will be spent to improve lives, solve problems and address racial equity issues. The opinions shared through our survey will be carefully considered as we make specific budgeting decisions about the funds.”
People are invited to take the survey at engagemke.com/arp at any time through the end of June.

author: Mayor Tom Barrett


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
June 4, 2021


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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: June 7 to June 12 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
June 7, 2021
The Milwaukee Public Library is lifting its browsing restrictions starting Monday, June 7. Patrons will be allowed to browse materials at all branch locations except the Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave. (NNS file photo)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Walk with County Executive David Crowley: Monday, June 7
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley is leading a walk in honor of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Crowley will be joined by the Milwaukee County Disabilities Services Division, and Milwaukee residents are invited to join in. The walk will begin at the Washington Park Senior Center parking lot, 4420 W. Vliet St., at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 7. The walk will be lined with purple pinwheels as part of the effort to raise awareness.
2. Milwaukee Public Library restores services: Monday, June 7
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The Milwaukee Public Library is lifting restrictions at branch locations starting Monday, June 7. Patrons will be allowed to browse materials at all branch locations except the Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave., where browsing remains restricted. Staff and visitors are required to wear masks when entering the library. The library will continue to offer curbside services to patrons by request.
3. Alice’s Garden evening market: Tuesday, June 8
Alice’s Garden, 2136 N. 21st St., is hosting an evening market from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8. The market features local creatives and makers. There will be food, jewelry, clothing, soaps, juices, herbal products and more available for purchase. This is a recurring market and will take place throughout the summer.
4. Artist in residence application deadline: Friday, June 11
Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative is looking for its next artist in residence. The organization is planning a mural for 1247 S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive. The theme will be women’s empowerment and feature an image of Dolores Huerta, a civil rights activist and co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Friday, June 11.
5. “Seeds of Liberation” gallery exhibition and open mic: Friday, June 11
Victory Garden Initiative is presenting “Seeds of Liberation,” a gallery exhibition, at its farmhouse, 249 E. Concordia Ave., at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 11. The gallery features work by local artists. There will also be an open mic, and poets, musicians and spoken word artists are encouraged to sign up. For more information on the open mic or gallery, email Ni’Sea Thurman-Wamubu at nisea@victorygardeninitiative.org.
Bonus: Summer Meal Delivery Pilot program registration deadline: Friday, June 11
This summer, Milwaukee Public Schools, the MPS Foundation and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation are partnering together to offer the “Summer Meal Delivery Pilot Program.” This program is for families living in the 53205, 53206 and 53233 ZIP codes. Participants will receive two-day packs of food starting Wednesday, July 7. The program will deliver meals at designated stops every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 11. Read: Here’s how Milwaukee families can get free meals for kids delivered to them this summer.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
June 6, 2021