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Urban Ecology Center’s new Washington Park manager hopes to lure kids outdoors | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
February 2, 2015
Terry Evans chats with attendees at Winterfest. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
When Terry Evans was about 12, his father, an Air Force technical sergeant, took him and his younger brother camping for the first time. As a military child, Evans moved often and encountered many new environments and cultures. But that camping trip in the Black Hills of South Dakota stands out in his memory.
The simplicity of living in nature, at least temporarily, without material distractions struck a deep chord in Evans’s soul. And he credits his father with opening his eyes to the wonder of nature. Now, he strives to convey that feeling and create similar memories for his three daughters, and for other children and families as well.
“I want (my daughters) involved in more outdoor activities to understand the environment and be more responsible as far as taking care of the environment,” he said.
Evans recently took the helm at the Urban Ecology Center in Washington Park as branch manager. He stood out among the applicants, according to Beth Heller, senior director of education and strategic planning, because he has deep connections to the community and is committed to bringing the center’s mission — to foster ecological understanding as inspiration for change — to kids in Washington Park.
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Terry Evans wants to instill a love of nature and outdoor activities in neighborhood children. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
“We’re at a phase in our life here at our Washington Park branch where we’re maturing as an organization. This is the time when we want to become the daily experience that people have with nature,” Heller said. She and her colleagues think Evans can accomplish that.
Evans, who lives in the Capitol Heights neighborhood, came to the position from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, where he worked in youth development. His latest job as area director was to oversee about a quarter of Milwaukee’s 43 clubs and he was instrumental in opening seven new sites for the organization. Prior to that, Evans worked as a community organizer at Safe & Sound and planned programs related to health, safety, job training and quality of life at the Social Development Commission and Department of Corrections.
The biggest difference with this job, Evans said, is the opportunity to be outdoors teaching ecology and science. That’s exciting to him because he is concerned that so many kids prefer computer video games and television to playing outside. It will be a challenge to lure them into environmental education, Evans said, but once that door is cracked, the possibilities are unlimited.
“I think all the jobs I’ve had have had a purpose. I think this (job has) a deeper purpose,” Evans said. He wants to help community members appreciate the natural world and the bonds that nature can build within families.
And Evans has the vision, the work ethic and the energy to get done whatever he undertakes, according to former colleague LaNelle Ramey, an area director at the Boys & Girls Clubs.
“He can see what things can look like before anybody else does. And if you give him a task, he starts thinking right away what can happen with that. He has no problem being the worker bee to get it to happen,” Ramey said.
When he was promoted to an executive position at the Boys & Girls Clubs, Evans always found a way to stay connected with the youth, Ramey added. He made himself available for events, functions, activities, programs “or simply going into the games rooms and having conversations, or into the gym coaching from the sidelines,” Ramey added.
“The best way to describe Terry is as a visionary and a workhorse.”


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 1, 2015

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: February 1, 2015

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

author: Adam Carr


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16172582919_c6573bc431_h | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 1, 2015


text:
YMCA emerges from bankruptcy after judge OKs reorganization | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
February 2, 2015
jsonline.com

created: February 2, 2015

author: Andrea Waxman


text:
Controversy swirls around “new opportunities” for Milwaukee public schools | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
February 3, 2015
A teacher leads a class at Woodlands East, a school chartered by UW-Milwaukee. Certain charter schools could be replicated under a plan put forth by Republican legislators. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
A charter school replication process and a turnaround school plan to allow takeover of struggling public schools by charter school entities are among the most controversial aspects of the “New Opportunities for Milwaukee” plan authored by Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and State Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) and released to the public last week.
The Republican legislators stated that they plan to introduce the legislation soon. The first of a five-chapter plan titled “Empowerment through Education,” states that expansion of proven charter schools is essential in Milwaukee. The plan calls for charter schools that exceed the test scores of public schools by 10 percent for two consecutive years to be allowed to replicate their charter without an authorizing entity. Currently, all local charter schools must be authorized by UW-Milwaukee, MATC or the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee.
It’s not clear whether the plan would result in charters running without an authorizing entity or whether the replicated schools would be overseen by the original entity. Either way, explained Sean Roberts, executive director of Milwaukee Charter School Advocates, the end result would be a more streamlined process for replicating successful charter schools.
Students at public schools such as Riverside High School would be hurt by the creation of a “turnaround district,” according to Dr. Michael Bonds, president of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
Public school officials went on the offensive when the plan was released.
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In a statement, Dr. Michael Bonds, president of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors, called the plan a step backwards from positive discussions that MPS officials and Republican leaders had recently. Bonds stated that charter schools, ”are not the simple answer to the challenges facing urban education,” citing a Stanford University study that found only 14 percent of charter schools nationally outperformed traditional public schools.
More controversial is the “turnaround schools” plan, which would take struggling public schools and transform them to charter schools. The report stated that this would decentralize power and allow the school to untangle itself from bureaucracy. The legislators are calling for creation of a board that would entertain proposals from charter school operators.
According to Bob Peterson, president of the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association, “Darling and Kooyenga’s plan creates a school takeover zone that hands over dozens of Milwaukee’s public schools to private entities, while offering no resources or support.”
Peterson described the proposal as a “new form of colonialism.”
Bonds warned that the creation of a turnaround district, “would have a devastating financial impact on the education of students remaining in MPS.” MPS schools received $6,442 in state aid per student as of 2013, a number that is expected to remain relatively flat, and enrollment has been declining for years. Bonds said that the plan could also lead to layoffs of hundreds of staff and that the proposal ignores the high costs that have been associated with the creation of turnaround districts in other cities.
Darling and Kooyenga’s proposal cites New Orleans as an example of a city that effectively transitioned public schools to charters, citing increasing graduation rates in the city.
Roberts said he’s waiting for more specifics about the plan before offering his opinion, but said it makes sense to him, so far.
“To allow public schools to have more freedom while being accountable for their results; that’s what charter schools do,” Roberts said.

created: February 3, 2015

author: Edgar Mendez


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 2, 2015


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Mayor Barrett and Alderman José Perez urge unemployed Milwakeeans to learn more about “Compete Milwaukee” transitional job openings | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee
February 3, 2015
The City of Milwaukee is pleased to once again offer transitional jobs information sessions for Milwaukee residents. In collaboration with the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board (MAWIB), the United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS) and in association with the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, two sessions are being held for unemployed individuals interested in 115 newly-created six-month transitional jobs with the City of Milwaukee.
Transitional Jobs participants who are successfully recruited, interviewed and employed will have the opportunity to work in the Department of Public Works, the Department of City Development and Neighborhood Services, and the Port of Milwaukee.  The 115 workers will gain skills and experience while working under the direct supervision of city supervisors and alongside city employees and will be paid at least $10.10 per hour.
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Individuals interested in applying for the Compete Milwaukee transitional jobs  meet the following requirements and attend the information session on February 11, 2015:
: Individuals who participated in the Transform Milwaukee Jobs Program are not eligible to participate in Compete Milwaukee.
For more information, job seekers can call UMOS at (414) 389-6000 and visit the Compete Milwaukee website.
“I want to encourage Milwaukee residents to take a close look at the Compete Milwaukee program, which provides transitional jobs at the City of Milwaukee to unemployed individuals.  If you, a family member or an acquaintance might be eligible for the transitional jobs program, we urge you to attend the informational session on February 11th to learn about this opportunity.  We have had a good response, and there are still many placements available,” said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.  “Our continued hope is that these individuals receive quality training and experience and go on to gain full-time employment.”
Alderman José G. Pérez, a co-sponsor of Compete Milwaukee, said participants have an array of possible job and skill opportunities because of the variety of city departments taking part in the initiative. “Compete Milwaukee is offering an open doorway where residents in some of the city’s most challenged areas can make their way into the employment pipeline,” Alderman Pérez said. “This is a program that should not be missed, and I encourage job seekers who live in the targeted area and who meet the qualifications to come down on February 11th and see what Compete Milwaukee has to offer.”
“We are eager to continue with these temporary job placements as a means for participants to gain skills that will make them more competitive and could lead to full-time, family supporting employment, and we are grateful for the support of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families and the City of Milwaukee,” states Lupe Martinez, President and Chief Executive Officer, UMOS.

author: City of Milwaukee


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How to improve children’s dental health | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Wisconsin Dental Association
February 4, 2015
Pediatricians, dentists and dental hygienists are promoting the dental health of children throughout Wisconsin. (Photo courtesy of the Wisconsin Dental Association)
The Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (WIAAP) and the Wisconsin Dental Association (WDA) announced a new collaborative effort to reduce tooth decay among children statewide, especially those in low-income families.
Tooth decay, a preventable disease, is five times more prevalent than asthma in American children and seven times more common than hay fever. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent oral health report noted that, for the first time in 40 years, the number of preschoolers with cavities increased.
Early examination and identification of high-risk children by a dentist followed by appropriate intervention, such as fluoride varnish or treatment of small cavities, combined with education of parents and caregivers can prevent dental disease and significantly reduce the long-term costs and pain associated with undiagnosed decay.
Here are tips to help prevent early childhood cavities:
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WIAAP and WDA are encouraging their pediatrician, dentist and dental hygienist members to regularly conduct oral health examinations of infants and young patients in their practices, to apply fluoride varnish during early childhood checkups and to educate parents and pregnant women on the importance of good nutrition and daily oral hygiene practices for all family members.
For more information, call 920-560-5624, visit WIAAP.org

created: February 4, 2015


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 3, 2015


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SDC offers free tax preparation: Income qualified families are eligible | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Social Development Commission
February 4, 2015
Update on 1/28/17 — click here for SDC’s 2017 VITA program schedule.
The Social Development Commission announced today that it is offering FREE tax preparation services at all three of its sites, to households earning less than $56,000 annually. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is available to Milwaukee County residents from January 20 through April 15, 2015, at SDC’s Chase Avenue, Richards Street and Teutonia Avenue sites. All sites can prepare a limited number of tax returns each day, so services are available on a first come, first serve basis.
“We are pleased to be the lead agency for these important tax preparation services,” said George Hinton, Chief Executive Officer of SDC. “One of SDC’s overarching goals is to help move people out of poverty and tax returns are just one strategy to facilitate that. The IRS estimates that one out of five individuals that qualify for unearned income tax credits, don’t claim them or other deductions such as Homestead Credit. We want to assist our community and, in the process of helping them prepare taxes, help ensure they receive monies due them.”
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In addition to providing free tax preparation, all of the SDC tax preparation are ‘super sites,’ which means that other services are also available such as health insurance enrollment and public benefits applications and renewals assistance is available by certified staff from health center partners. Financial institutions are also on site at SDC Super Sites to give clients the opportunity to open bank accounts and obtain other financial and other asset building opportunities.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is a project of the Milwaukee Asset Building Coalition (MABC). VITA assists low-income Milwaukee County residents achieve financial independence through education, planning and income development. The Social Development Commission is the lead agency for MABC.
When filing joint tax returns, both individuals must be present, and valid picture IDs are required. For a list of other items to bring, go to www.cr-sdc.org or call (414)963-2694.

author: Social Development Commission


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Super Senior Friday helps seniors “take care of you” | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Social Development Commission
February 4, 2015
Over 300 Milwaukee County seniors are expected to attend the Social Development Commission Senior Companion Program’s 9th Annual Super Senior Friday, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm on Friday, February 6, 2015 at the Milwaukee County owned Clinton and Bernice Rose Senior Center, 3054 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
With over two dozen programs and agencies supporting a variety of activities, workshops, exhibits and health checks, Super Senior Friday will provide Milwaukee County older adults with services, resources, and information to help them to better “Take Care of You.” There will be a free lunch for 250 seniors.
Packer legend, LeRoy Butler, will speak on the role elders played in his life at 9:15 am and meet and greet attendees throughout the morning.
Free VITA income tax and Homestead credit e-filings courtesy of AARP and SDC Energy Assistance applications will help attendees to increase their financial security. Free health and wellness screenings will be offered in the Auditorium. Exciting workshops on Getting the Most From Your Benefits, Cooking on a Budget and Dementia Care are also scheduled.
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The Susan G. Komen Foundation in partnership with the Columbia St. Mary’s Health System will provide on- site mammograms for women with and without insurance through their mobile mammograms unit. Women who are interested should call (414)389-4885. Nurses Effecting Change will offer free Clinical Breast Exams throughout the event.
• Super Senior Friday is a free event open to all Milwaukee area seniors. It is sponsored by the Milwaukee County Department of Family Care, the Milwaukee County Department on Aging and the SDC Senior Companion Program.
The SDC Senior Companion Program is funded by a grant from the National Corporation for Community Services and the State of Wisconsin.


text:
The Case for Reparations | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
admin
February 4, 2015
The Atlantic

author: admin


text:
53206: A Dream Deferred | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
admin
February 5, 2015
Milwaukee Magazine

created: February 5, 2015


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Pilot program to offer housing, support for homeless young adults | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jabril Faraj
February 5, 2015
Journey House plans to raze this property at 2330 W. Mineral St. and use it along with the empty lot (left) to build an eight-unit housing unit. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
Milagro Jones sits in a small, hidden lounge on the fourth floor of one of the buildings at MATC’s downtown campus, where he’s in his first semester. Jones, 25, has been homeless for much of his life as his mother, who suffers from bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia, moved from city to city, state to state, staying in different shelters.
Jones has struggled with hunger, anxiety and paranoia, and has been subjected to unstable environments, crime and incarceration. “The fact that I haven’t had a stable living situation has always been a factor in … everything,” he said.
A fledgling program called the Campus Housing Initiative is attempting to address the need for housing among homeless and transitional young adults in Milwaukee. The program, a collaboration between Journey House and Wraparound Milwaukee’s Project O-YEAH, will provide affordable housing, work and education opportunities to youths ages 16 to 25, with the eventual goal of self-sufficiency. O-YEAH is a federally funded initiative designed to help young people successfully transition to adulthood.
Journey House CEO Michele Bria said the program emerged from the Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative’s quality of life plan. “One of our strategies is to address housing, especially [blight and] foreclosures,” she said. “Another strategy is to help our youth become all that they can become.”
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Milagro Jones relaxes in a lounge at MATC’s downtown campus, where he is in his first semester. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
The hope, said Bria, is to get rid of nuisance properties, beautify the neighborhood and address the glaring need for high-quality, affordable housing for homeless, motivated young people, especially those aging out of the foster system.
Journey House, a community organization in Clarke Square with a self-help approach, was awarded $200,000 through a competitive Milwaukee County process, said Brian McBride, a project coordinator with the county who oversees Project O-YEAH. The organizations have been working together for more than a year on the program. A pilot house at 741 S. 23rd St. is expected to begin housing a limited number of youth in March.
The housing initiative will identify foreclosed and other nuisance properties in the Clarke Square neighborhood. The properties will be renovated to be as aesthetically inspiring and operationally efficient as possible.
“We’re really providing a quality apartment … for them so that they can go on to meet whatever their goals are,” Bria said. “We’re very meticulous [about] how we care for our facilities.”
McBride said Project O-YEAH would identify participants based on need and tangible progress toward work or educational goals. “It’s not a set process, right now,” he said. “Who is in need of housing? Who’s meeting certain goals? Who’s employed? Who has current income coming in?”
For those young people — many of whom end up “couch surfing” from residence to residence — an important first step is to alleviate the burden of housing insecurity. “If you don’t have your housing and food taken care of, how can you do anything else? It just makes it more challenging,” Bria said.
But Bria and McBride both stressed that the 18-month program isn’t a “handout.” There will be a rental cost of about $500 per month, though a “tiered system” would allow individuals to live rent-free for a couple months until they are able to incrementally increase their contribution.
“We just don’t want to offer somebody who is not doing anything productive an opportunity to live free — you’ve got to be able to work toward your goals,” McBride said.
In addition, the program will provide participating youth with access to a GED program, job training and financial coaching.
Jones, who is in the process of looking for work to support his 5-month-old daughter, called the initiative a “step in the right direction” and said someone in his position could definitely take advantage of this program.
“I’m an intelligent young man, I want to do something good in this world, I want to be able to accomplish things so I can help others and, basically, all a person like me needs is help,” Jones said.
However, he also acknowledges that he’s fortunate to be able to pursue an education while still homeless. Jones said many young people in his position are dealing with depression and often “lose the spirit and the will to even go on.” He questioned the criteria of the program, noting that just because homeless youth aren’t working or attending school doesn’t mean they don’t have the ability or ambition to become contributing members of society.
Jones added that there are a lot of programs that claim to help the homeless but many of them simply “make you feel like things are even more hopeless.”
That’s exactly what this initiative hopes to address, said Bria. “The goal is to help our young people achieve their dreams.”

author: Jabril Faraj


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 4, 2015


text:
Police chiefs call on Congress to fund home visits for at-risk mothers | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
admin
February 5, 2015
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel


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Will Streetcar Help The Inner City? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
admin
February 5, 2015
UrbanMilwaukee.com


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Refugee group to visit state capital to discuss college aid reform | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wyatt Massey
February 6, 2015
Citizenship students in the Older Refugee Program at Neighborhood House, with instructor Crystal Custalow, right. (Photo courtesy of Neighborhood House of Milwaukee)
Refugees from Southeast Asia and Africa will travel to Madison on Feb. 10 to speak with state legislators about expanding a three-decade old college aid program for minorities.
The delegation is made up of members from the International Learning Center, an educational program of Neighborhood House of Milwaukee. They will meet with Sen. Chris Larson and Rep. Evan Goyke.
ILC delegates are advocating for expansion of the Minority Undergraduate Retention Grant to include all refugees. The current program, which went into effect in 1985, only applies to “a student who is either an African American; American Indian; Hispanic; or Southeast Asian from Laos, Cambodia, or Vietnam admitted to the U.S. after December 31, 1975.”
Hram Lian Kulu, an ILC student from Burma, spurred the trip to the capital. He tried applying for the grant during his first year in college, but noticed that he was not eligible. Reforming the program is a way to recognize the presence of multiple minority groups in Wisconsin, Kulu said.
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“I hope to bring attention to this issue that refugees are here and are still coming into the state,” Kulu said. “We would like the same opportunities as other groups of people in a country we plan to make our home as citizens.”
Recipients must be enrolled in the Wisconsin Technical College System, a nonprofit independent college/university or a tribal college. During the 2013-14 academic year, 877 students received aid from the grant program, ranging from $250 to $2,500 per year.
Crystal Custalow, citizenship instructor at ILC, noted that the visit to Madison is an important step for the group as they work toward U.S. citizenship. It is an opportunity for ILC students to participate in the kinds of democratic processes taught in the ILC citizenship program.
“Real empowerment comes from advocating and speaking for oneself and one’s community,” Custalow said. “This is an opportunity for refugees to speak in a personal way in support of legislation that can make a difference in their futures and their children’s futures.”
Taw Taw, a refugee from the Mae La refugee camp in Thailand, sees this as a chance to understand U.S. democracy outside of the classroom.
“I want to learn how leaders help the people in America,” Taw Taw said. “I want to know if they can help us change the grant so that more people can get more education.”
Goyke, who represents the 18 District, said he is inspired by the group’s mission.
“I’m proud to represent many of these individuals,” Goyke said via email. “Each has … a desire to create a bright future for their families and children. I look forward to hearing their ideas and charting a path for us to work together throughout the legislative session and beyond.”

created: February 6, 2015

author: Wyatt Massey


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 5, 2015


text:
Gallery: Black male artists bring ‘fresh perspectives’ to Bronzeville | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Alhaji Camara
February 8, 2015
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The Fresh Perspective series plans to give black men in Milwaukee a chance to stage art shows and sell their work. Its coordinators strive to break down stereotypes against black men that say “they can’t do that.” The first Fresh Perspective show was on Feb. 6 and 7 at 2200 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in the Bronzeville district.

created: February 8, 2015

author: Alhaji Camara


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Common Council to vote on divisive streetcar plan Tuesday | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
February 9, 2015
South Side resident Chris Woodley was among several in the crowd who questioned the benefits of the streetcar for central city residents. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
After months of heated debate, the controversial streetcar plan, championed by Mayor Tom Barrett, and derided by other public officials, will finally come to a vote Tuesday in the Common Council.
Last week, at a public meeting at Journey House, 2110 W. Scott St., South Side residents joined the debate over the plan. While some expected the rift between Barrett and Alderman Bob Donovan, a mayoral candidate who represents the area, to dominate the meeting, instead sharp criticism of the streetcar plan from audience members in the packed Longfellow school cafeteria took center stage.
In an impassioned plea Cynthia Greenwood, who lives on the South Side and worries about a lack of jobs for city residents, argued that money being spent on the streetcar would be best used somewhere else.
“We have to invest in those who are hurting the most,” Greenwood said. From the back of the cafeteria came shouts of “when will the central city stop being ignored?”
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South Side Alderman Bob Donovan listens to Rich Neuber, a community member who is opposed to the streetcar plan. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Barrett explained the federal dollars allocated for the project cannot be diverted to other resources, a statement that Donovan refuted. Barrett added that while it is necessary to invest in all areas of the city, especially those with the most need, it’s also crucial to invest and built positive momentum in areas of the city that are doing well.
He stated that numerous development projects currently underway or recently completed downtown are keys to the city’s long-term health. Barrett pointed to $2.6 billion in development in downtown Milwaukee since 2005, with $980 million of development underway. While downtown only encompasses 3 percent of the city’s land, it is 18 percent of the city’s tax base.
“The city has invested millions on the foreclosure crisis,” Barrett said. “We’re able to do that because we have a healthy tax base downtown.”
Continued development downtown also creates family-sustaining construction or other trade-specific jobs, stated Barrett.
Jorge Franco, CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin, agreed that the streetcar is a way to improve the quality of life in the city, adding that an influx of young professionals will positively impact the tax base.
“That helps create employment,” Franco said.
According to reports, Barrett has secured enough votes to win approval for the $124 million streetcar, which would initially serve only downtown Milwaukee. Supporters envision that it eventually will be extended to UW-Milwaukee, Brady Street, Walker’s Point and Bronzeville, among other locations, but it is not expected to run through the central city. Full operation of the downtown routes would begin in mid-2018.
The capital construction costs of the streetcar would be paid for by a mix of federal and Tax Incremental District (TID) funding.
Donovan, who recently introduced an alternative transportation plan for the city, and Alderman Joe Davis have led a petition drive to secure the 31,000 signatures needed to force a referendum on the issue. As of late last week more than 17,000 signatures had been collected.
Donovan said that even if streetcar opponents aren’t able to gather enough signatures by Tuesday’s vote, state law permits 60 days to gather the needed signatures and they will continue their drive.
Rich Neuber, who also called for a referendum, works for an organization on the South Side that provides meals to the homeless. He described the plan as another example of the “haves” having more.
“We barely have enough resources to serve 120 homeless people, but you’re more interested in a streetcar that only serves a small part of the city,” he said.

created: February 9, 2015


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 8, 2015


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 9, 2015


text:
Free weekend of activities at MAM is GMF’s February Gift to the Community | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
February 9, 2015
Continuing its year-long presentation of Gifts to the Community, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation invites everyone to a free weekend of unique experiences at the Milwaukee Art Museum in February, featuring unlimited access to the new, special exhibition Inspiring Beauty: 50 years of Ebony Fashion Fair, which showcases over 80 ensembles from 60 of the world’s most famous designers, representing 17 countries.
“Ebony Fashion Fair, and the pioneering work of Eunice Johnson as its director and producer, tore down barriers between high fashion and the broader community, particularly for African-American women,” said Ellen Gilligan, president and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. “The Milwaukee Art Museum’s importance in our region and this exhibition’s significance in our history make this gift of access a truly wonderful opportunity to come together as a community.”
Admission to the Milwaukee Art Museum and Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair will be free to everyone on Saturday, Feb. 21, and Sunday, Feb. 22. The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. No reservations are required.
While the main galleries of the museum are undergoing renovations, a variety of special activities will be taking place throughout the Quadracci Pavilion and adjacent spaces:
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Donors of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation have a strong history of supporting the Milwaukee Art Museum. In the last three decades, the Foundation and its donors have provided more than $10 million in grants to MAM.
“The generosity of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and its community of donors has benefited Milwaukee organizations for a century,” said Daniel Keegan, director of the Milwaukee Art Museum. “Their ongoing commitment to education, the arts, our neighborhoods and its citizens, has contributed greatly to Milwaukee’s vitality and quality of life. We are deeply grateful for GMF’s investment in this special, free access weekend to the Milwaukee Art Museum.”
February’s Gift to the Community is the second this year offered in honor of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s centennial. These unique experiences showcase the people, places and opportunities that make greater Milwaukee special. New gifts are being revealed each month on FOX 6 Milwaukee.
In January, for the first Gift to the Community, 26,737 people enjoyed a free, all-access weekend at the Milwaukee Public Museum.
Details about the February Gift to the Community are available at greatermilwaukeefoundation.org/gifts and at mam.org/calendar.
Learn more about the 100-year history of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation at greatermilwaukeefoundation.org/timeline.

author: Greater Milwaukee Foundation


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New VA community center combats veteran homelessness | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Molly Rippinger
February 10, 2015
The building that now houses the Community Resource and Referral Center was built in 1925 and originally housed a moving company that used horses and carriages. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
Editor’s note: This article is one of an occasional series profiling the 14 finalists for the Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDIs). The Department of Veterans Affairs Community Resource and Referral Center is a finalist for the State Farm Building Blocks Award, which recognizes a real estate project that enhances the community.
For Allena Flood, experiencing homelessness was both a blessing and a curse. Flood, who served in the Navy as an information systems technician from 2000 to 2008, had fled domestic violence along with her three children.
She sought refuge at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC) in Milwaukee, where the staff assessed her situation and formulated a plan that helped her tap into a wealth of resources.
“I can’t even begin to tell you everything that they have done for me to make sure that I have gotten back on track,” said Flood, 33.
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Allena Flood, a Navy veteran, was homeless last year, but through VA resources was able to get back on her feet quickly. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
In three months, Flood found a renewed sense of security with the help of the VA. Through the resources at CRRC, she received assistance in finding and furnishing a home, obtained legal counsel to address her domestic violence situation and got a government job as a regional claims assistant for the Milwaukee VA Pension Center. “Everything I lost, I have back all over again,” said Flood.
“I don’t think people realize what the VA does in terms of helping veterans,” she added. “Whenever you find yourself in a bad position, or even if you just need someone to talk to that understands what you go through, the VA is there.”
CRRC opened its doors at 1818-1830 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in December after a two-year restoration of the historic building, which was sitting vacant at the time of purchase.
Barbara Gilbert, program manager of the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, explained that her CRRC staff was conducting community outreach in the year leading up to the official opening of the new facility. “The CRRC is such a wonderful place for veterans to come and receive concrete resources,” said Gilbert. “Still, quite a bit of our work is on the streets or under bridges trying to reach all veterans.”
CRRC offers veterans access to basic resources, such as showers, laundry and food. Certain health care services also are available and there soon will be computers for veterans to use for job searches. “Veterans can walk in off the street and take care of themselves here,” said Flood.
According to January 2014 data collected during the Milwaukee Point in Time Count conducted by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), only 10 veterans described their living situation as unsheltered, whereas 105 veterans said their living situation was sheltered.
“To some extent, we’ve done a great job of ending homelessness because we’re not finding the same high number of veterans on the streets,” said Gilbert. HUD defines unsheltered homeless as those residing in places not meant for habitation, such as abandoned buildings or on the street, and sheltered homeless as people living in emergency shelters or transitional housing.
CRRC focuses mainly on the needs of veterans in Milwaukee County, but Gilbert explained that the center helps any veteran who walks through the door. The new Milwaukee facility joins a network of 26 CRRCs located in other major cities across the country.
Barbara Gilbert, program manager for the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, oversees how aid is administered to veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
Burton Metz, vice president at Wangard Partners, Inc., worked with the VA to find the site for the center and helped lead the $2.4 million restoration project. The building, which was constructed in 1925, originally housed a moving company that used horses and carriages. Throughout the decades, the space was also an auto repair shop and a media studio.
In order to maintain the historic integrity of the 7,500-square-foot building, which is registered at the state and national level as a certified historic building, great care was taken to restore original elements, such as the overhead door. The original single-pane windows in the garage door were painstakingly replaced to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) standards, a green building-certification program. “We had to keep the same look, but increase efficiency,” explained Metz.
Scott Drees, director of construction at Wangard Partners, helped coordinate the teams of consultants that focused on things such as energy efficiency, electrical and plumbing systems. “We’re proud to say that over 90 percent of the waste during construction was recycled or repurposed,” said Drees. He noted that even soil from the original horse stables was saved during demolition to be used for garden beds located behind the building.
Jerome Knapp, executive director of the King Drive Business Improvement District, said CRRC is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. “To have them come in and invest that much money into it and to have a really great organization in there is fantastic,” Knapp said.
The Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission protects the stretch of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive between North and McKinley avenues to preserve the historic integrity of the buildings.
“It’s important for those buildings to be maintained from an historic perspective, but also just to keep intact the fabric of the neighborhood,” said Knapp, who realized the importance of the historic district distinction after many of the buildings north of North Avenue were demolished during the 1980s. “Maintaining the historic buildings throughout our district has always been important, and having developers come in and recognize that is fantastic,” said Knapp.
“Hopefully, our efforts here work as a catalyst for more development between North Burleigh down to Schlitz Park,” said Metz, who noted both the strength of the King Drive community and the need to help continue revitalization efforts.
CRRC is the third resource focused on veterans in the King Drive BID. The others are VETS Place MLK, which provides transitional housing for a dozen homeless or low-income veterans, and the Center for Veterans Issues, where veterans can find numerous services and resources.
For veterans such as Flood, the people and facilities at CRRC have made all the difference, and she is now ready to “pay it forward” to other veterans who might be facing similar situations. “I want to give veterans the same assistance and level of professionalism that I’ve received,” explained Flood.

created: February 10, 2015

author: Molly Rippinger


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Amani neighborhood credits drop in crime to ‘comprehensive community effort’ | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Brendan O’Brien
February 11, 2015
The Ford Family enjoying their time at ‘drop-in’ at The Gill Family Resource Center at the Goldin Center. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
Resident involvement and collaboration between local organizations and government agencies has caused a dramatic drop in crime in the Amani neighborhood during the last two years, according to the COA Youth & Family Centers, an organization in the heart of the inner city neighborhood.
Amani, a neighborhood from 20th to 27th streets and from Center Street to Keefe Avenue, had a 32 percent decline in crime since 2013, a much steeper decrease than the 10 percent decrease for the entire city of Milwaukee, data gathered by COA showed.
“This drop in crime didn’t happen by accident. It involved a comprehensive community effort. Residents got involved and the neighborhood developed a sense of empowerment,” said Tom Schneider, executive director of COA, which runs the Goldin Center, 2320 W. Burleigh St., within the Amani neighborhood.
A sign hangs on a fence advertising the planned renovations at Moody Park. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
Schneider credited several initiatives at the Goldin Center with contributing to a safer neighborhood, including expansion of youth and family programs and a new family clinic created by Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and Marquette College of Nursing.
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The opening of the Ethel Gill Family Resource Center by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation at the Goldin Center has also brought the community together with various programs and classes geared toward family and parenting, Schneider said.
“What we learned was that it takes a comprehensive effort to make significant change,” Schneider said.
With help from the Dominican Center for Women, 2470 W. Locust St., residents also played a part in reducing crime by creating the Amani United Neighborhood Association, organizing several block watch groups and mobilizing the neighborhood during cleanup efforts.
“We want people to engage in what is really happening in their community … we are doing a very good job at sustaining the neighborhood together,” said Arlene Patterson, president of the Amani United Neighborhood Association. “The association’s goal is to make people aware and get them out and involved and let them know that they mean something to their community.”
Amani saw assaults and burglaries slashed by more than a fourth, thefts cut in half and sex offenses down by a quarter, according to data from the city. The number of homicides, however, has remained steady with three or four annually in the neighborhood during the last three years, a statistic that frustrates neighborhood leaders including Patterson, whose son was killed by gunfire in 2006.
“The ‘no snitch, don’t tell’ (mentality) has screwed up Milwaukee…that’s why we have so much gun violence,” she said. “These guns are so plentiful and it’s terrible.”
Patterson said although there is a lot of work to be done to combat gun violence, she credits the Milwaukee Police Department with being a strong partner in the fight against crime in Amani.
“The department is having a really great impact on the neighborhood,” she said.
Neighborhood leaders look forward to a new Calvin Moody Park, which was once an eyesore and crime hub in the heart of Amani. Residents have worked with the Milwaukee County Parks Department on the $2 million park renovation project that includes a 3,000-square-foot community center, walking paths, lit basketball courts and a splash pad. The park is expected to be complete next fall.
“When residents know their voice counts, good things can happen. The Amani voice is just warming up,” said Sister Patricia Rogers, executive director of the Dominican Center for Women.

created: February 11, 2015

author: Brendan O’Brien


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 10, 2015


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Community Connection small grants of up to $500 are available | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Zilber Family Foundation
February 11, 2015
Funding is now available for the Community Connections Small Grants Program, a pilot program of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Northwestern Mutual Foundation and the Zilber Family Foundation created to support resident-led efforts to improve the quality of life in neighborhoods. The program awards grants of up to $500 to fund neighborhood projects, events and activities. All grant applications are reviewed and scored by a group of residents from some of the neighborhoods listed below. The review team makes recommendations about which grants to fund. To date, over 20 projects have been funded and led by residents in the neighborhoods mentioned below.
Resident-led groups living and working in the following neighborhoods can apply: Amani, Baran Park, Capitol Heights, Clarke Square, Concordia, Harambee, Havenwoods, Johnsons Park, Layton Boulevard West, Lincoln Village, Lindsay Heights, Martin Drive, Metcalfe Park, Muskego Way, Riverwest, Sherman Park, Silver Spring, Thurston Woods, Tower Hill Waukesha, Old North Milwaukee and Washington Park. Projects should benefit a specific neighborhood and be planned and led by a group of at least three people. At least one group member needs to live in the neighborhood where the project will be done.
Applications are due April 6 so we appreciate your help in publicizing the program to your networks within these neighborhoods. To apply, at least one resident from the group must attend an informational session, the first of which will be held February 17th.  Please visit the website at ccsmallgrants.org for upcoming informational session dates and access to the application.
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Milwaukee Streetcar Approved | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
admin
February 11, 2015
UrbanMilwaukee.com


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Neighborhood House hosts health fest 2015 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Neighborhood House of Milwaukee
February 11, 2015
Last year’s Health Fest drew over 125 people.
Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, a community center now in its 70 year, is hosting Health Fest 2015, an annual event offering free health screenings, health information, and generous give-aways on Saturday Feb. 14, 2015, 10am – 2pm.
Health Fest 2015 is co-sponsored by APAMSA (Asian American Medical Students Association) of the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Highlights of this year’s event include free screenings for diabetes and high blood pressure; breast exams; HIV and STD testing offered by the City of Milwaukee Health Department; vision tests; enrollment assistance for the Affordable Care Act; a karate demo; plus valuable give-aways and raffle items to support healthy living. In addition, health product vendors and health care advocates will offer hands-on activities for adults and kids.
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“Health Fest 2015 is a great opportunity to start the new year with good health information for making positive choices,” said Neighborhood House Executive Director Jeff Martinka. “Neighborhood House is happy to partner with APAMSA and the Medical College of Wisconsin once again in this community health initiative.”
Health Fest 2015 will take place Saturday Feb. 14, 2015 from 10am – 2pm at the Neighborhood House main site, 2819 W. Richardson Place, one block west of 27 and one block south of State Street. Contact Niki Espy, nespy@nh-milw.org, 414.933.6161, ext 156.

author: Neighborhood House of Milwaukee


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At-least-125-attendees | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
February 11, 2015

author: Dwayne Burtin


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Milwaukee’s deep racial, economic divisions are challenges to rebirth | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
admin
February 12, 2015
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

created: February 12, 2015


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Public health school students trained to tackle deeply rooted social problems | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
February 12, 2015
The UW-Milwaukee’s Zilber School of Public Health, 1240 N. 10th St., is located in the Brewery, a complex near downtown that once housed the sprawling Pabst Brewing complex. (Photo by Alhaji Camara)
Editor’s note: This article is one of an occasional series profiling the 14 finalists for the Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDIs). The Zilber School of Public Health is a finalist for the State Farm Building Blocks Award, which recognizes a real estate project that enhances the community.
For Lilliann M. Paine, the first student to earn a master’s degree at UWM’s Zilber School of Public Health, tackling Milwaukee’s stubbornly high infant mortality rate can seem like a daunting, almost unwinnable task.
“I know that we’re not going to move the needle overnight,” said Paine, who is the program manager for the Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families (LIHF), a program designed to improve birth outcomes for African Americans in Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha and Beloit. “It’s going to take a generation.”
At least now, said Paine, who grew up on Milwaukee’s North Side, “We (African Americans) have a seat at the table, a voice.”
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When Magda Peck, a nationally renowned expert in the public health field, became the school’s founding dean in 2012, she envisioned helping to shape students such as Paine who would work to solve problems that have been plaguing Milwaukee and other poor communities for generations.
Peck considers Milwaukee the sentinel city of America; a place to confront these problems head on. “It is the most important community because it has the greatest assets and the greatest problems,” Peck said.
Prior to opening, the school established a strong partnership with the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD), which has an office on campus.
“It’s become a real synergy,” said Geoffrey R. Swain, medical director and chief medical officer at MHD.
The health department provides students with a real-world learning laboratory and in turn, it gets field support for its workforce, including graduate students and professors who help analyze data, Swain said.
MHD takes that data and uses it to solve local problems, said Jessica Gathirimu, director of family and community health services at the health department.
Professors and students at Zilber are working on research projects that include examining the role of young fathers during a partner’s pregnancy and looking at the best way to help people make healthy food choices.
These projects are relevant anywhere, but in Milwaukee, where many social problems border on an epidemic, studies such as these are imperative, explained Peck.
Many public health students are regularly out in the community, confronting the problems at ground zero. “They’re brave risk-takers,” Peck said.
Partnerships with the health department and area nonprofits have resulted in 27 student field placements between 2012 and 2014. Student projects have included helping write parenting books for at-risk families and evaluating the Victory Garden’s Blitz Initiative, in which volunteers plant hundreds of raised-bed gardens in yards, schools, community centers and other locations.
Second-year doctoral student Megan Meyer, originally from Minneapolis, described the school as both a hub for learning and a tool for integrating into the community.
She arrived in town having worked on access to dental care in Minnesota, and saw the school as an opportunity to expand upon her skills. “I wanted to take a look at how we create services that support patients who are low-income or have other barriers. This institution allows me to look at these questions,” Meyer said.
So far, she’s worked on infant mortality and community engagement projects, and hopes to find an organizational fit in Milwaukee upon completing her doctorate.
Perhaps as important as building and training a public health workforce in Milwaukee is keeping students in the region after graduation, said Peck.
So far, the majority of the students who’ve come through the door have stayed in the area to work, said Nicole Schanen, senior communications executive at the school.
While the school prepares students to work anywhere in the country or the world, the relationships they build with local organizations make them more likely to stay in the city to work, explained Peck.
Many of those relationships are initiated at Zilber, which serves as a public meeting space for local organizations. The building hosts hundreds of events each year, serving numerous diverse initiatives addressing health disparities in the city, Peck said.
Those connections then extend out to the community, said Peck, which will lead to “changes that we can see and taste, in one generation.”
For Paine, who is responsible for community organizing, engagement and identifying best practices for the Lifecourse initiative, it’s also about connections and relationships. “I’m connecting the dots back to infant mortality,” she explained.
And she’s proud to be doing it in neighborhoods similar to the one she grew up in. “I’m a liaison for my community and an informant to my colleagues,” Paine said.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 11, 2015


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The Governor Who (Maybe) Tried to Kill Liberal-Arts Education | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
admin
February 12, 2015
The Atlantic


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GED challenges both students and teachers | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Molly Rippinger
February 13, 2015
Keisha Gathright (left), Manuel Saldivar (center) and Becky Zingsheim (right) prepare for the GED in a class at UMOS. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
A more rigorous high school equivalence exam unveiled in 2014 has considerably challenged Milwaukee students academically, according to participation and performance data.
During 2014, the first year of the newly-structured GED (General Educational Development) test, about 88 percent fewer students passed the exam at United Migrant Opportunities Service (UMOS), a social services organization in Milwaukee, than they did in 2013, according to testing data compiled by Pearson, a test provider.
The new GED, which now aligns with the more difficult Common Core State Standards, tests reasoning through language arts, mathematical reasoning, science and social studies. Students are expected to have a firm understanding of mathematical problem solving, the sciences, civics and government, economics and geography along with the ability to read closely, write clearly and understand written text.
Academically, the restructured sections have been challenging for test-takers, according to instructors.
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“It seems the students need more preparation and experience,” said Maria Madrigal-Alvarez, GED instructor at UMOS.
UMOS student Maritza Santiago, 29, who took the older version of the exam, noted the stark differences.
“It’s much harder and there’s a lot more writing,” she said.
Instructors have also had trouble transitioning to the new curriculum, which was developed by the American Council on Education (ACE) and Pearson VUE, a national testing company.
“It was difficult to understand what the new changes were and what materials we needed,” said Madrigal-Alvarez.
She said UMOS instructors purchased the only two teaching manuals that were available when the GED was released in the hopes of gaining a better grasp of the exam.
Carole Jameson, a part-time GED instructor at UMOS, teaches a student. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
“We didn’t know what the new test was going to be like,” said Carole Jameson, a part-time GED instructor at UMOS. “We didn’t have a clue as to what we were supposed to be teaching the students.”
Jake Gorges, learning lab manager at the YWCA of Southeastern Wisconsin, said the students have voiced their frustration with the new exam.
“A lot of people are coming off and saying, ‘This is no good.’ But, this is all we have at this point,” he said. “There’s no question about the difficulty of this test, but when people graduate they are career and college ready.”
YWCA officials have created preparation programs that teach students the fundamental skills in subjects that are critical to the GED.
“We’re trying to help them build a strong foundation,” Gorges said.
Despite the increase in rigor, test-takers are still pursuing a high school equivalency diploma in order to get higher-paying jobs or to pursue higher education, according to Tony Tsai, education manager at UMOS.
“I understand the need to prepare the candidates for the workforce,” Tsai said. “If the GED continues to be an alternative for high school drop outs, then there is no reason to make it more difficult than high school comprehension.”
Data from Pearson shows that UMOS students are not the only ones grappling to meet the more rigorous standards. Of the 240 people in Milwaukee who completed the GED in 2014, only 49 percent passed. As of January, there were 874 individuals registered to take the GED in Milwaukee.
Statewide, 912 people passed in 2014, which is a sharp decline from the year prior when 11,378 individuals earned their GED, data showed. In 2013, UMOS alone had 285 students pass the GED, yet in 2014 only about 10 percent of the 406 students to take the test passed.
Carolyn Spain, chief examiner and the director of judicial affairs and assessment at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), attributed the low GED turnout in 2014 to the way MATC and other pre-college programs pushed for people to take the old test while it was still available.
“We did such a great job scaring people about the test that now we need to ‘un-scare’ them,” she said.
According to data from ACE, it is normal for the number of test scores to drop in the year following the introduction of a new GED. After the test was changed in 2002, national participation dropped to about 550,000 from the 2001 mark of 1.1 million test-takers. In 2003, the numbers returned to the more expected averages of 775,000 to 800,000.
“Back when we had the old paper test, we would test everyday and have about 15 to 20 people fill those seats,” said Spain. “Now we have a lot less people coming in to test.”
Aside from the elevated academic standards, the GED’s new computerized formatting has challenged some test-takers. A benefit of the electronic format is that it allows students to have instant feedback detailing where they excelled and need to improve. But, according to the UMOS instructors, some students are uncomfortable taking a computer-based test.
“It never would have occurred to me that students might have trouble at the keyboard,” said Jameson, who has had to help students with basic computer skills, such as typing or using the mouse.
Pearson addressed the problem by encouraging students to access free online typing tutorials. MATC and UMOS have also collaborated to assign an instructor to teach basic computer skills.
“Before students take the test they need to have sufficient PC and keyboarding skills,” said Tsai said. “Otherwise, the test is a huge challenge.”
Another hurdle is that some students cannot access the online materials at home, making studying outside of the classroom nearly impossible.
“I have some worksheets that I can give them, but I think without access to a computer it’s very difficult,” said Jameson.
Madrigal-Alvarez added that some of her students have computers, but limited access to the Internet. For those who do have access, the online resources make preparing for the test easier.
“Studying on the GED website is great because it tells you what you need to work on to pass,” said Santiago. “We didn’t have that before when it was all on paper.”
Preparation time for the new GED is another challenge, varying with each student.
“It all depends on how often people come into the lab and do work and what their skill set is at beforehand,” said Gorges. “I believe people should look at this as a part-time job and it’s going to take multiple months.”
“If everyone is putting out 100 percent, they could do it a semester, but they have a real life,” said Jameson. “I have people doing third-shift jobs and then they come to school first thing in the morning.”
Other obstacles have included the method of payment, which now requires students to pay online.
“The payment method is an additional hurdle,” Tsai said. “Most students don’t have a credit or debit card.”
To help students, UMOS worked with Pearson to establish a billing agreement that allows them to accept money orders.
“This is just not on their radar,” Jameson said. “They work with a food stamp card and the cash they have in their pocket.”
Not wanting the method of payment to deter her students, Jameson has even offered to use her own credit card for students who want to take a practice exam but only have cash.
In Wisconsin the GED costs $33.75 per section, making the full examination $150 including the $15 registration fee. The old GED was $65 for the full examination. Other added expenses include practice tests, which are $6, and exam retakes that are $30 each.
“It’s a staggering amount for people who may be on fixed incomes,” Gorges said.
There are programs that help students afford the test, such as Wisconsin Works (W-2), which reduces the exam cost to $35 and retakes to $10 each.
“It’s a big help,” said UMOS student Bernice Aviles, who explained that paying the full price would be a burden to her tight budget.
“I’ve been struggling since I got out of high school because I was a dropout. Every job now requires a GED, or else you’re stuck getting paid minimum wage. It’s hard, especially if you have a family,” she said.
During February, the cost of practice tests has been reduced from $6 to $1. A free practice test is also available, but it does not generate a score.
UMOS is working to help their students afford the GED through a recently formed LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) council, which will have a fund specifically for the exam.
Cindy Steffens, a student at UMOS, believes people should not be afraid of the new GED standards.
“Give it a try,” she said. “People shouldn’t feel like they can’t do this because they’re in their 20s or 30s.”
Gorges shares Steffens optimism, saying that even if students fail the GED, the skills they acquired will translate to other facets of life.
“Prep programs will never make someone worse at living,” he said. “If people come in, prep and become better at reading, then they are going to read better in all aspects of their life. They simply can’t get less academic.”

created: February 13, 2015


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 12, 2015


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Gallery: Milwaukee Gospel Jubilee readies to grace the Pabst stage for a second year | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Alhaji Camara
February 13, 2015
Gospel groups from around the city gathered at Bachar Outreach Ministries Church (1501 W. Ring Street) to rehearse in advance of the second Milwaukee Gospel Jubilee on Friday, Feb. 20th at the Pabst Theater. Groups scheduled to perform include Spirit of Charms, Voices of Faith, Masonic Wonders, Independent Gospelettes, Sounds of Faith, Living Sacrifice, and Pastor Rodney Cunningham and Company. Read our coverage of last year’s event.
Proceeds will benefit Progressive Community Health Centers and the event is sponsored by UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. Tickets are available here.


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16490370526_9760df7c8e_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 13, 2015


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One Way to Lower Recidivism in Milwaukee: Social Impact Bonds? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
admin
February 16, 2015
WUWM

created: February 16, 2015


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Running Rebels lose afterschool program funding | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Cozette McLemore
February 16, 2015
Keeping Milwaukee teenagers safe, just got harder. With a reduction of funding being allocated to local after school programs, the Running Rebels Community Organization is struggling to obtain the financial resources necessary to continue its after school program that has helped keep so many youth keep off the streets and focused on positive activities. This video talks about the devastating impact of the funding shortfall and what we can do about it.
Running Rebels believes it is not enough to simply provide a supervised recreational area and tutoring for their after school program… the key to transforming youth is tapping into their passions, whether it’s a love for basketball, or poetry, or rap or their desire to make money and use these interests as a way to engage them in effective one-on-one mentoring, case management and lifelong support. Which is why Running Rebels program supervisors are trained in the evidence based JCIP (Juvenile Cognitive Intervention Program), a cognitive-behavioral based program that guides youth through a process of examining their beliefs that are driving their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; leading to either desired or undesired consequences in their lives. The goal of JCIP is to teach the youth skills that will assist them in identifying, controlling and changing their personal thinking patterns and underlying beliefs that are unproductive and/or destructive. In addition, supervisors are trained in Restorative Justice Practices, Community Building, Trauma-Informed Care, CPR & First Aid and Fulfill the Dream, a culturally relevant character development program. Running Rebels is aligned with the Center for Youth Engagement’s Beyond the Bell Initiative and Community Building Milwaukee.
To meet the total recreation and mentoring needs for Running Rebels’ after school programming will require $95,500.
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Running Rebels After School Program Budget:
1 full-time program coordinator: $40,000
2 part-time program staff: $35,500
Food/Beverages: $5,000
Outings and field trips: $3,000
Student Transportation: $6,000
Supplies: $3,000
Youth stipends and incentives: $3,000 (each year Running Rebels identifies a number of at-risk youth that require a guided paid work experience with oversight by a trained mentor to pave the way for future employment ouside the agency)
If we can also get our link posted in efforts to raise funds: https://www.crowdrise.com/rebelsafterschool
Thank You!

author: Cozette McLemore


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Transitional jobs program struggles to find eligible participants | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jabril Faraj
February 16, 2015
Empty seats litter the after-work information session, which drew less than 20 people. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
Jared Iles, a Salvation Army Emergency Lodge resident, has been on a quest for employment since August of last year.
But all the 44-year-old ex-offender, who was convicted of a felony in 2013, has to show for his eager attitude is a stack of business cards from temp services throughout Milwaukee that have not yielded any work.
It would seem Iles has the ideal pedigree for Compete Milwaukee, a City of Milwaukee transitional jobs program, but he is childless, making him ineligible.
“There ain’t nothing I can do about it. I’m just trying to find work,” he said during a recent informational meeting about the program, where he learned he does not meet the requirements.
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The Compete Milwaukee program hopes to fill 115 temporary job openings that pay $10.10 an hour within the city’s public works and neighborhood services departments as well as the Port of Milwaukee.
Johnny Sims (right) and others look on as local officials address the crowd of potential participants. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
Iles was not alone at the information session on Feb. 11 at a MATC facility at 816 W. National Ave. More than half of the 80 job-seekers who attended did not meet the requirements of the program which include living within a specific geographic area, caring for at least one child and having a child support order, welfare reunification plan or status as an ex-offender. Program participants must have been unemployed for at least four consecutive calendar weeks, not having worked more than 16 hours in any week since.
Prior to the Feb. 11 sessions, about 60 of the 115 positions were still available. Ernesto Baca, a contract manager at United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS), said information sessions last month drew about 250 people.
During the evening session, Alderman Ashanti Hamilton said that if programs like this don’t provide opportunities people can take advantage of then they can’t be considered a success.“If you relaxed those requirements, a whole lot more people would be able to qualify for the program — you would be able to allocate the resources a whole lot easier and you would have a greater impact,” he said after the session.
The program is a collaboration among the City of Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF), UMOS and the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board (MAWIB).
It is “focusing on individuals who live in areas where there’s high unemployment” to “create positive momentum in their lives” and act “as a springboard,” Mayor Tom Barrett said after the session.
imported stylesheet
Program requirements
•Must reside in this geographical area at the time of enrollment: Sherman Boulevard on the West, Silver Spring Drive on the North, Hwy I-43 on the East, and Mitchell Street on the South.
•Must be 18—64 years old at the time of enrollment.
•If 24 years of age or older, MUST be the biological, adoptive or primary relative caregiver of a child under the age of 18.
•Individual must have one of the following: a child support order, a child welfare reunification plan or be an ex-offender.
•Must have been unemployed for the last four (4) consecutive calendar weeks prior to enrollment.
•Cannot be receiving W2 benefits and not eligible to receive Unemployment Insurance Compensation.
•Have an annual household income that is less than 150% of the federal poverty guideline for the household size.
According to DCF, the process for determining requirements starts at the federal level. However, neither Wisconsin state statutes governing the Transform Milwaukee Jobs program or Social Security Administration standards governing federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding mandate the need for a child support order, welfare reunification plan or status as an ex-offender.
“The goal was to use the allocated funds to have the most impact by targeting parents who had the highest barriers to employment,” DCF spokesman Joe Scialfa said in a statement.
The program will cost $2.1 million in 2015 and will be paid for through tax-levy financing, a Community Development Block Grant and a TANF grant.
Another program-requirement casualty is Shaniqua Stampley, a 24-year-old single mother who said she makes about $645 a month working part-time caring for her grandmother. Stampley said she works about three hours a day.
“It’s hard finding a job,” said Stampley, who attended the earlier information session. “I really thought that I had an opportunity, here … and then I started hearing the qualifications.”
Calvin Skenandore, 40, has primarily worked temporary jobs for the last 15 years. But Skenandore, who is an ex-offender, said he needs something more stable to support his girlfriend and her three children, who he views as his own. In the mean time, though, he needs the “money in his pocket.”
“I get up early in the mornings, I go look for work, then I go to work,” Skenandore said. “I don’t have a real job. And, what I need is a real job with real income.”
Leslie Silletti, a City of Milwaukee policy resource coordinator and director of Compete Milwaukee, addressed the possibility of not filling all 115 placements.
“I think we’re going to need to re-group with UMOS and [MAWIB],” she said, mentioning the potential for ongoing recruitment or another general recruitment session. But she dismissed the possibility of using different criteria.
“No, unfortunately not,” Silletti said. “We’re locked in, at least for this year.”
For those who qualified, though, the program could be the foot in the door they’ve been looking for. Johnny Sims was one of those people. The 35-year-old Sims has a child support order and has been unemployed for almost six months.
“I don’t care what [I’m] doing — I want to do it,” he said. “It’s a boost … I’m very happy.”


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 15, 2015

created: February 15, 2015


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Boys & Girls Clubs leader La’Ketta Caldwell elevates voices of youth | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Naomi Waxman
February 17, 2015
MANDI finalist La’Ketta Caldwell brings a passion for young people and the arts to her job as senior program manager for the Boys & Girls Clubs. (Photo by Alhaji Camara)
This article is one of an occasional series profiling the finalists for Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDIs). La’Ketta Caldwell is a finalist for the Northern Trust Navigator Award, which recognizes an individual for outstanding leadership and collaboration.
Even when posing for a photograph, La’Ketta Caldwell is simultaneously poised and relaxed. Surrounded by a group of young women, a photographer clicking away, her warm grin set the girls around her at ease. Recounting an imagined dinner party with Beyoncé, Caldwell, 38, seems perfectly comfortable perched among 13-year-olds. The glints in their eyes and quiet giggles indicate that there on a couch at the Boys & Girls Clubs, they feel at home as well.
2015 has barely begun, yet the effervescent Caldwell already has been selected to receive a “40 Under 40” award from the Milwaukee Business Journal and is a MANDI finalist for her work as senior program manager at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee.
“This is the year of La’Ketta Caldwell,” proclaimed Kelly Savage, a State Farm public affairs specialist and friend of Caldwell’s.
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Asyria Pryor, Khaila Heard, La’Ketta Caldwell, Bianka Robinson and D’Naya Collins relax at the Boys & Girls Clubs on North 6th Street. (Photo by Alhaji Camara)
Marina Murphy, now a program assistant at Marquette University, met Caldwell as a young teen at St. Joan Antida High School. “She saw a lot of leadership qualities in me and I really appreciated it,” said Murphy. “A lot of people told me when I was growing up that I wasn’t very typical, that I was a little advanced, but I never really believed it. [Caldwell] got me working with [Chief Operations Officer] Denisha Tate at the Boys & Girls Clubs as a freshman. She knew I needed something concrete to work on.”
Vincent Lyles, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, has seen the results of Caldwell’s work. “The kids come because they fall in love with Miss La’Ketta,” he added, shaking his head and smiling. “All those kids follow her. She’s got that kind of presence… they want to be heard. Miss La’Ketta listens. She understands where they’re coming from.”
Caldwell’s journey has been a winding one and she credited her growth to her family, both biological and chosen. “I’ve always had a village,” she said, “Everybody who has been with me – all of those voices, that huge village, I am because of them.” From padding through the creeks of Paducah, Ky., to the streets and community centers of Milwaukee, Caldwell has brought this concept of a village — a community of adults who influence and inspire young people — to her work with youth.
The most important part of that work, Caldwell emphasized, is validation and empowerment. “If you believe in someone and love on them, that’s all our babies need. I don’t think I’m the greatest youth worker in the world but my mama loved me and she told me I could do anything. And I believed it!”
Caldwell has left handprints all over the city of Milwaukee. Building a family around her, so far from her Kentucky home, she immersed herself first in Cavalry Baptist Church, then Unity Gospel House of Prayer, organizing workshops and events for young women.
La’Ketta Caldwell joins a group of young people playing foosball in the game room at the Boys & Girls Clubs on North 6th Street. (Photo by Alhaji Camara)
The Milwaukee Repertory Theater, First Stage Children’s Theater, the American Heart Association, Running Rebels, Pearls for Teen Girls, Urban Underground, Milwaukee Urban League, the annual Girls’ Day at Milwaukee City Hall – Caldwell is seemingly everywhere. Her experience has taught her the value of collaboration. “By ourselves, we can do okay, but together we can do the darn thing!” she said.
Caldwell’s efforts have attracted funding that helps sustain the Boys & Girls Clubs. “The (State Farm) Youth Advisory Board does not typically give a grant twice to the same organization,” said Savage, “but they did for La’Ketta because she understands what the youth need.”
Too often, Caldwell observed, the young people she encounters are coming from a place of trauma and pain. A rash of shooting deaths in 2012 inspired her to create a program called “Can You Hear Us Now?” that culminated in a documentary exploring the emotional impact of community violence and trauma on young people. Through the lens of the documentary, made with filmmaker Mark Doremus, Caldwell elevated the voices of youth and allowed a larger community to understand her work.
A few years ago, Caldwell was asked to speak at the City of Milwaukee’s Take Back the Night, a march dedicated to ending systemic violence against women. When she took the stage, she caught sight of a sign held proudly aloft reading, “Molested but still beautiful.” Moved deeply by the message, she set to work interviewing women about experiences with sexual violence and trauma, ultimately creating the play “Unclothed,” which went on to be performed on stages across Wisconsin.
Caldwell hopes to transform “Can You Hear Us Now?” into a play that integrates poetry, dance and photography. For her, healing and art go hand in hand.
“Arts have been the vehicle to help me make sense of the world,” she confessed. “Senior program manager, what does that mean? I’m an artist.”

created: February 17, 2015

author: Naomi Waxman


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 16, 2015


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Screen Shot 2015-12-03 at 11.24.35 AM | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 3, 2015

created: December 3, 2015


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How to stay safe in bitter cold temperatures | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
FEMA Region V
February 18, 2015
(Photo by Adam Carr)
Dangerously low temperatures and bitterly cold wind chills continue to be in the forecast for much of the Midwest this week. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) wants individuals and families to be safe when faced with the hazards of cold temperatures.
“Whether traveling or at home, subfreezing temperatures and wind chills can be dangerous and even life threatening for people who don’t take the proper precautions,” said Andrew Velasquez III, FEMA regional administrator. “FEMA continues to urge people throughout the Midwest to monitor their local weather reports and take steps now to stay safe.”
During cold weather, you should take the following precautions:
You can find more information and tips on being ready for winter weather and extreme cold temperatures at www.ready.gov/winter-weather.
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created: February 18, 2015

author: FEMA Region V


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 28, 2015

created: October 28, 2015

author: Adam Carr


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 17, 2015


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Pan-African group helps refugees, immigrants adjust to U.S. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
February 18, 2015
(From left) Filimon Hailu, 17, tutors Mulubrhan Yosief, 9, and Saron Weldemariam, 10, during an after-school session at the Pan-African Community Association. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Editor’s note: This article is one of an occasional series profiling the finalists for Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDIs). The Pan-African Community Association is a finalist for the BMO Harris Bank Cornerstone Award, which recognizes an organization for tenacious commitment and effectiveness.
Wendmy Nida Moyenga entered Washington High School as a sophomore several months after emigrating from Burkina Faso, a country in sub-Saharan west Africa. She started her morning in the school’s English as a Second Language class and made friends there. After the first hour, however, she had to plunge in to regular high school classes. Then 16, Moyenga found the language and cultural differences challenging, but was most upset by the bullying.
“There were some days when I didn’t want to go to school,” said Moyenga, 21. Students made fun of Africans, who they believed didn’t have houses and lived among animals, she added.
Though life at school didn’t improve much until the next year, Moyenga said she forced herself to focus on her studies. “I put in my mind (that) I’m not here for them,” she said. “I’m here to learn.”
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Wendmy Nida Moyenga receives academic, personal and financial support through the Grace Scholars program at Mount Mary University. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
After that first semester, Moyenga connected with the Pan-African Community Association (PACA). There she found a supportive environment and a lot of practical help with English and homework. PACA’s business club also captured her interest.
Providing people of African descent in Milwaukee with a community dedicated to preserving and enriching African cultural values is a big part of PACA’s mission. And easing the transition to American life for immigrants and refugees from Africa and other countries is another part, said Fessahaye Mebrahtu, PACA’s executive director.
The business club Moyenga joined helps youth acquire employment and entrepreneurial skills. In addition to running a community garden, the youth operate an occasional farmers market and do other volunteer work in the community. PACA employs the teens in the summer to teach the younger kids, said Michael Grochowski, education program director.
“We want to give them the experience of being the ones who serve,” Grochowski said.
The after-school and summer programs focus on developing leadership skills. “We all see how great these youth are. They are capable of stepping up and becoming leaders in the community and we want them to realize that,” Grochowski added.
Hailemariam Yosief also found help at the community association. A former food store owner in Asmara, Eritrea, Yosief was a winner of the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program lottery and came to the U.S. in September 2010. His wife and six children followed two months later. Yosief visited several cities before he settled on Milwaukee, where he has four cousins.
Yosief, who has been making pizzas at a popular East Side pizzeria for more than three years, said his family has benefited the most from PACA’s after-school tutoring program.
He said he came to the U.S. for his children, not for himself. “(In Eritrea) the government is bad. There is not enough freedom and not a good future for my kids,” Yosief said.
PACA Executive Director Fessahaye Mebrahtu stands near a mural designed by immigrant and refugee children at the Pan African Community Association. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Believing that education is the key to a successful future, Yosief has high expectations for his children’s academic performance. “(My kids) know why we came to America. They know they must work hard,” he said.
Yosief is a volunteer driver for the after-school program, picking students up at their homes in a PACA-owned van and taking them to the association at 4063 N. 64 St. After the session he drives them all home. When the organization can manage it, he receives a small stipend.
Last year, when Yosief was ready to buy a house, PACA referred him to ACTS Housing for help. After six months of looking, he bought a duplex on the 3600 block of 94 Street. ACTS helped him with the documents and credit history and PACA also provided support.
For refugees and immigrants such as Yosief, “the goal is to be self sufficient in a very short time,” Mebrahtu said. Eight months after their arrival, all government assistance except food stamps expires, so learning English and finding employment are critical, he explained. PACA also connects new immigrants to the social services they need.
As a refugee resettlement agency that receives federal funds, PACA is required to assist refugees from all countries. Since 2010, the organization has helped resettle about 600 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Burma, Iraq and Bhutan, he said. More than 60 percent of the refugees PACA has helped are Burmese, according to Mebrahtu.
While the majority of African immigrants and refugees in Milwaukee are concentrated on the Northwest Side, the Burmese and Iraqi communities have settled on the South Side. For about six months in 2013, PACA operated a second location in Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic School, 2733 W. Euclid Ave. Mebrahtu said PACA was unable to continue funding that office but he still hopes to re-establish an after-school program for South Side children.
Among the challenges PACA’s clients struggle with, Mebrahtu noted, are unrealistic expectations about America and a longing for home.
After a visit to Burkina Faso last summer, Moyenga said it was difficult to return to Milwaukee. She said she did so because “I feel I have more opportunities here for education and a career.” PACA helped Moyenga with her college applications and she is now a sophomore at Mount Mary University majoring in biology and health sciences. She hopes to become a pharmacist or medical doctor.
Through a university work/study program she is now employed for 10 hours a week at PACA. Fielding phone inquiries and tutoring younger students help her improve her communication and leadership skills, she said.
“I feel I can be a role model for (the children.) They can see that if they work hard, they can get scholarships and go to college.”

author: Andrea Waxman


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Milwaukee teen tells story of Somali’s troubling history in upcoming book | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wyatt Massey
February 19, 2015
Zeynab Ali works with various community partners, such as Reggie Moore, director of the Center of Youth Engagement, to spread her message of nonviolence. (Photo by Wyatt Massey)
Zeynab Ali was 6 years old and barely removed from refugee camps in Kenya when she dedicated her life to being an activist.
The Milwaukee teenager was motivated to act the first time she watched television and saw starving children in a UNICEF commercial.
“It’s hard to see someone suffering,” Ali said. “That was a call to action for me.”
Ali’s voice has made her a strong advocate for gun legislation reform in her position as a representative in the City of Milwaukee Youth Council. (Photo by Wyatt Massey)
Ali’s career as an activist continues, at age 16, with an upcoming book. She is writing a historical narrative of Somalia and its civil war, a brutal three-decade conflict that affects her life every day. The ongoing conflict displaced Ali’s family, forcing them to move to refugee camps in Dabaab, Kenya.
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Scheduled to be released in the summer or fall of 2015, Ali’s book is intended to change the perspectives of politicians, as well as community members, hoping they will become more aware of global issues.
“Somalia is a forgotten country,” Ali said. “People are expected to somehow survive
throughout the humanitarian crisis occurring in the country.”
Ali’s book includes the history of Somalia, from ancient times to present. The final section will detail her family’s experience with the war in Somalia and their time in Kenya. This section, Ali warned, will include “horrifying things.” Her parents witnessed Somalian militants kill family members and friends.
“Every time, they tell us such stories I try not to cry, but instead I vow to always make sure my parents get the future they deserve,” she said.
She will also detail her experience growing up in refugee camps in Kenya. Ali said she is “blessed” to remember so much about her time there. The experience drives her desire to eradicate worldwide poverty and terrorism using nonviolent measures.
In addition to writing a book, Ali has gotten involved in various Milwaukee organizations, such as the City of Milwaukee Youth Council and Serve 2 Unite. She organizes events and does photography for Serve 2 Unite, an organization that trains nonviolent leaders.
Ali uses her book, her blog and her example to raise awareness and influence others to do more. She refuses to let a troubled history affect her mission of making a difference.
“It’s sad to say that it’s always tragedies that influence us to do things,” she said. “All of us should collaborate to come up with effective ways to [address] issues.”

created: February 19, 2015


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 18, 2015


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The Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s MATCH DAY returns for 2015 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
February 19, 2015
On March 19, members of the community will come together again to raise funds for 20 nonprofits participating in the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Match Day. The event is designed to raise awareness for basic needs in the greater Milwaukee area.
Thanks to a pool of matching funds contributed by funders including the Brewers Community Foundation, The Ceres Foundation and Meijer, each donation made online on March 19 will be proportionally matched based on the total amount raised. Last year, more than $3 million was raised overall through the event.
“We are excited to bring Match Day back for another day of giving in 2015,” said Ellen M. Gilligan, President and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. “In the first three years, more than $7.6 million was raised for organizations in the greater Milwaukee area that serve our neighbors in need. Our participating nonprofits are vital to providing basic needs for so many in our community, and the funds that are raised on this day strengthen their capacity to serve those who need it most.”
Sponsored by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the event showcases 20 participating agencies in southeast Wisconsin that meet individuals’ basic food and shelter needs, including:
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To create Match Day, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation has partnered again with Razoo, the world’s fastest-growing crowdfunding site for causes.
For more information on Match Day, visit www.MatchDayMKE.org and follow the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Match Day on Facebook and Twitter.


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Measles vaccination rates improving but potential for outbreak remains | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
February 20, 2015
Carmeleta Harris and JaQuinn Clay wait while a Milwaukee Health Department official checks their daughter Jemiah’s immunization records on the Wisconsin Immunization Registry. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
On a recent, bitterly cold Saturday morning, Carmeleta Harris and JaQuinn Clay sat with dozens of parents on hard plastic burgundy chairs in the lobby of the City of Milwaukee Health Department’s (MHD) Keenan Health Center, 3200 N. 36 St.
“We’re here to get our daughter immunized,” Harris said.
Alarmed by news of a national measles outbreak— 14 cases have been confirmed in Illinois — that has health officials around the country on high alert, Harris and Clay were worried when their daughter Jemiah showed up with a letter from school alerting them she was missing two shots, including the MMR vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella. Children typically receive two doses of MMR, first at 12-15 months and then at 4-6 years, according to MHD.
In Milwaukee, 89 percent of K-12 grade students have their required vaccinations, an all-time high, and 3 percentage points higher than the rate in 2013, according to Paul Biedrzycki, director of disease control and environmental health for MHD. The compliance rate at Milwaukee Public Schools is 90 percent, according to Tony Tagliavia, spokesman for the district.
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Paul Biedrzycki, director of disease control and environmental health for the Milwaukee Health Department, said a full measles vaccination confers lifelong immunity. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
That rate is not high enough to protect Milwaukee residents from an outbreak of a disease such as the measles, warned Biedrzycki. He added that anything less than a 95 percent compliance rate leaves the population vulnerable to an outbreak such as the one that just occurred in Illinois, where the immunization rate for school-age children is higher than Milwaukee’s. In 2014 more than 97 percent of school-age children in Illinois were fully immunized.
The city also lags behind the state rate for immunizations, which is between 92 and 93 percent, said Biedrzycki, who added that pregnant women and children under the age of 12 months are the most vulnerable to become infected with measles, a highly contagious and sometimes deadly viral disease.
“Seeing cases in surrounding states has us taking a proactive approach to protect the community,” Biedrzycki said.
In response to the national outbreak, and also to the fact that the MPS deadline for students to get up to date on their shots was near, the city hosted two free vaccination clinics in February, one on the South Side and another at Keenan. MHD is closely monitoring the measles situation around the nation to determine if additional clinics are needed, said Sarah DeRoo, health communications officer for the city. Typically, two vaccination clinics are held annually at back-to-school fairs.
Approximately 100 people attended each of the February clinics, DeRoo said, though not all needed the measles vaccination.
A small segment of school-age children, between 1-2 percent, opt out of the shot, but are still able to attend local schools with a “personal conviction waiver,” which exempts them for medical, personal or religious reasons.
Many of those who choose not to get their children vaccinated view it as a safety issue and consider the shots dangerous, said Biedrzycki.
“About one in a million who receive the vaccine will develop an allergic reaction to it,” he said, adding that not being immunized presents a greater risk for individuals and the community as a whole.
Laurel Woods, a graduate student at Marquette University who practiced as a family physician in the state of Washington for more than 10 years, said that for most people, the memory of how bad measles can be is gone.
“They don’t think it’s a big deal,” Woods said.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one-quarter of those who contract measles will be hospitalized; one out of 1,000 will develop brain swelling that can lead to brain damage and one or two of 1,000 will die, even with the best care.
Yvonne Marquez sat in the Keenan Health Center lobby with her daughter, Antonia, and son, Santana, waiting their turn for shots.
“I watch the news so I’ve been hearing about the outbreaks,” said Marquez, adding, ”You never know what the future will bring.”

created: February 20, 2015

author: Edgar Mendez


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 19, 2015