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Food Truck Wednesdays kick off in the Menomonee Valley | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Michelle Kramer
May 14, 2017
(Photos courtesy of Menomonee Valley Partners)
Food Truck Wednesdays kick off at the Menomonee Valley Community Park on Wednesday, May 17 from 11am-1:30pm and continue twice a month through October. Four food trucks will start the summer series with foods to please every palate, from American to Cuban to Vietnamese. These include Bebe’s Bistro, Denson’s Catering, Little Havana, and Tasty Café.
Food trucks park on S. 36 Street near Charter Wire, just west of the intersection of Canal Street and Milwaukee Road. The adjacent Menomonee Valley Community Park has 20 acres of park space with picnic tables, walking paths, and thousands of native plants and trees. Menomonee Valley employees and neighboring residents are encouraged to bike or walk along the Hank Aaron State Trail on Food Truck Wednesdays.
Food Truck Wednesdays will be held on: May 17 and 31, June 14 and 28, July 12 and 26, August 9 and 23, September 6 and 20, and October 4 and 18. A variety of food trucks will visit throughout the summer; updated food truck schedules will be posted RenewTheValley.org.
Food Truck Wednesdays were very popular when they launched in 2016 and are returning for a longer season in 2017.
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Menomonee Valley Partners organizes Food Truck Wednesdays, among other programs, to foster a thriving district for the enjoyment of Valley employees as well as the greater Milwaukee community. May through October is an ideal time to have a meal outside in the Menomonee Valley’s park spaces. More information is available at RenewTheValley.org or call 414-274-4655.

author: Michelle Kramer


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food truck pic | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
May 12, 2017

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Name *


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4-H SySTEMatics program to hold annual science fair | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Grace Arend
May 15, 2017
UW-Extension Milwaukee County’s 4-H Program will hold its seventh annual science fair and recognition ceremony on Wednesday May 17.
The event will take place at Journey House on 2110 W. Scott St. The science fair will be held from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with a recognition ceremony from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Seventh and eighth grade students from seven Milwaukee schools currently take place in the UW-Extension 4-H SySTEMatics Program. The science fair is the capstone project of the program. Students have selected a topic they are interested in and will present to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) professionals.
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“This event is a way to bring together youth from across the city and celebrate their knowledge, work, and time that they have put towards their future. The science fair gives the youth a chance to work on a project they are interested in and present their hard work to a STEM professional that can serve as a role model, which I have personally seen to help boost their confidence in their skills,” said 4-H SySTEMatics Coordinator Eva Terry.
Each participant will receive a 4-H ribbon for acknowledgement of his or her hard work in the program as well as a UW-Extension certificate that can be used when applying to high school and other programs. Top science fair projects will receive honors, including the Thiry of Science award, named after program founder Mary Thiry.
Three of the science fair judges are UW-Extension 4-H SySTEMatics Program alumni, including two graduating high school seniors who are preparing for their college studies in STEM fields. Seniors Batoul Jaber and Alex Ocampo will receive an alumni award for their hard work and dedication to the STEM program. Jaber will be attending MSOE’s Biomedical Engineering program and Ocampo will be attending UW-Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Vice Chancellor of UW Colleges and UW Extension Aaron Brower will be this year’s guest speaker and will help present alumni awards after sharing words of encouragement and inspiration with the students. State Program Director of 4-H Youth Development Dale Leidheiser and 4-H County Supervisor Sequanna Taylor will also attend the event to help present science fair awards and support the program. Mike Dietrich from LAB Midwest will be attending to discuss a new summer 4-H SySTEMatics opportunity, where students will participate in a 2-day experience that includes visiting Milwaukee STEM companies, as well as tour UW-Madison’s STEM programs to learn about the university.
The 4-H SySTEMatics program promotes interest in STEM fields and the continuation of STEM education through high school and college. Students have spent the year participating in hands-on activities, including an event at UW-Waukesha where students could participate in STEM activities and learn more about college life. Last year, youth reported that they believed their confidence and presentation skills increased from participating in the Science Fair, along with their STEM knowledge and how to complete a scientific procedure.
This event is open to the media, as well as program participants and family members. Those interested in volunteering with 4-H SySTEMatics or bringing the program to their school are also welcome.
For more information, please contact Communications Assistant Grace Arend at (651) 968-7820 or grace.arend@ces.uwex.edu.
UW-Extension
UW-Extension offers timely access to University research and knowledge through educational colleagues in 72 county offices, on five 4-year campuses and within three tribal nations, offering educational programs that address the important issues of individuals, families, businesses and communities. For more information on UW-Extension Milwaukee County, visit Milwaukee.uwex.edu.
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author: Grace Arend


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Summerfest brings performing artist Jahmes Tony Finlayson to Penfield Children’s Center | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Penfield Children’s Center
May 15, 2017
(Photo courtesy of Penfield Children’s Center)
On May 12, Summerfest brought performing artist Jahmes Tony Finlayson to Penfield Children’s Center in honor of both Penfield and Summerfest’s 50Anniversary celebrations.
Children aged 6 weeks to 6 years enjoyed learning about African drums, shakers and many other instruments. They also listened to songs that taught about African American history and danced while Jahmes played.
Penfield Children’s Center creates a positive start in life for infants and children, many of whom have developmental delays or disabilities, by providing early education, health services and family programming. Serving more than 1,500 children annually, Penfield delivers research-based programs at the critical time of early brain development when physical, cognitive, language, social, and self-help skills are formed.
Throughout 2017, Penfield will be hosting a variety of events to celebrate 50 years of serving Milwaukee’s most vulnerable children.
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Thank you for your continued support of our children and families at Penfield Children’s Center!

author: Penfield Children’s Center


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 15, 2017

author: Adam Carr


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College Possible students graduate from Mount Mary University | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
May 15, 2017
Darneisha Virginia and Nury Plascencia, two of four College Possible students Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service followed in a series of articles that began when they were high school seniors, received their diplomas at a Saturday graduation ceremony at Mount Mary University.
With blessings from the university’s School Sisters of Notre Dame and applause, joyful shouts and a few tears from parents, grandparents, siblings and friends, they and their classmates completed their undergraduate careers.
Virginia and Plascencia earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in social work and justice, respectively, in four years.
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author: Andrea Waxman


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NNS on Lake Effect: College Possible, Four Years Later | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
May 15, 2017
NNS reporter Andrea Waxman goes on the air with Lake Effect’s Joy Powers to discuss College Possible, a regional organization that helps low-income students get into college.
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author: Dwayne Burtin


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0511bNEW | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
May 15, 2017
“0511bNEW”.


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34533298111_c25d4049fb_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 14, 2017


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Planting hope through storytelling | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Rick Deines
May 15, 2017
Esther Nisenthal Krinitz (Polish/American, 1927 – 2001) Road to Krasnik, 1994, embroidery and fabric collage. (Image courtesy of Art & Remembrance, Washington, D.C.)
Rick Deines, a conversation facilitator with The Zeidler Center for Public Discussion, urges Milwaukeeans to visit the current exhibit at the Jewish Museum, which tells the story of Holocaust survivor Esther Krinitz through collage and embroidery.
“Esther Nisenthal Krinitz was 15 when she defied Nazi orders, separating from her family as they and the other Jews of their Polish village reported to a nearby train station. Making their way to a village where they were unknown, Esther and her younger sister survived the war by posing as Polish farm girls. They never saw their family again.
“Fifty years later, determined to show her daughters the family she had lost, Esther turned to needle and thread to create a series of 36 hauntingly beautiful, exquisitely detailed works of fabric collage and embroidery — a legacy born of love, loss, and the sheer force of memory.”
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These words come from the promo of the Jewish Museum in Milwaukee publicly announcing its current exhibit that closes on May 26. It is a gift to us, free to attend at the museum located at 1360 N. Prospect on the lower east side. It is a fine contribution to the ever-growing “storytelling” occurring across Milwaukee.
But how many Milwaukeeans from across the cultural and economic spectrum know about it or are enabled to attend? How can we as a community expand this awareness and make the invitation and actual participation a greater reality? It is one way for us to build and strengthen community in our city.
And these are the “little gems,” the “hidden treasures,” the “serendipitous moments.” These are opportunities that we haven’t planned for but sometimes break into our consciousness and care is shifted.
Esther Krinitz in this exhibit is both artist and historian. In fact, as I walked through the 30-some pieces of embroidery I was so caught up in one (history) or the other (the artistry) that it took more attention from me to appreciate how both art and history make this exhibit so powerful.
That is often the case with good storytelling and Milwaukee has numerous examples of this activity. There is a group named Ex Fabula that is committed to strengthening community bonds through the art of storytelling. The Hmong share their history through the story cloth. Public art increasingly reveals some of the unheard stories in our neighborhoods. Recovery groups provide ongoing opportunity for healing through sharing stories of addiction. Veterans groups use storytelling to come to terms with the pain and joy in their lives.
Too often these activities are publicly unknown or unrecognized. Yet they express the deeper dimensions of what distinguishes and binds us together. They are so important.
That is one value of the Esther Krinitz exhibit. And while seemingly familiar, the Jewish Holocaust is a story that begs re-telling — until 6 million stories are told. This is the human experience at its best and its worst. Devil and angel. Horror and courage. Cowardice and bravery. We need reminders of both ways human beings can react to shifts in social contexts. With a nation as divided as we are in the U.S., it may become increasingly necessary to be clear about who we are and why.
And art. Because the embroidery is so beautifully presented, it might be easy to miss the dark side of Esther’s story. The colors are bright and expressive but in stark contrast with the struggle, they add to one’s realization of what happened. Esther and her sister found their way out of the immediate death brought on by the Nazis to their village. My imagination was jolted time and again as step after step they moved with resolve to a new place. Their lives were forged out of the circumstances of the imminent death of their loved ones and fellow Jews.
Venues like the Irish Cultural Heritage Center on Wisconsin Avenue and the American Black Holocaust Museum, which is beginning construction of a new site at 4th and Garfield, contribute their part to shaping a narrative that reflects the diversity and the common humanity of the Milwaukee community.
We owe a deep gratitude to these storytellers and purveyors of history who often slip under the public radar. They get too little attention. They need community support and exposure.
At the same time, extra effort is needed to give people maximum opportunity to access these events. Lack of information is a form of poverty and restriction.
Milwaukee is building community with those who tell these stories. John Gurda, Dasha Kelly, Adam Carr and Reggie Jackson are but a few examples of those carrying the narrative of our city. Storytelling is “in” and with good reason. Without stories we miss both the singularity and the complexity —the life-giving dimensions of the experience of our neighbors.
The Jewish Museum invites us all into Esther’s world. And you may experience one of those rare moments of raised consciousness and deepened care.

author: Rick Deines


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 14, 2017


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Annual plant sale to take place this Saturday | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Grace Arend
May 16, 2017
From 8 a.m. to 1p.m. on Saturday May 20, the Master Gardener Volunteer Program will host its 22 annual plant sale in the DNR area of the Wisconsin State Fair Park.
Over 13,000 perennial plants will be available for purchase, with prices running from one to ten dollars for bulbs, native plants, grasses, ground covers, perennial flowers, fruits, herbs, and ground covers.  Trees, large shrubs, and butterfly garden kits will also be available for $12-$25.
“For over 20 years these dedicated volunteers have planned and prepared, dug and potted thousands of beautiful perennials for this, their only fundraiser every year. Then they generously use the proceeds to support the many educational activities and community projects they do with the UW-Extension in Milwaukee County,” said UW-Extension Milwaukee County Consumer Horticulture Agent Sharon Morrisey.
All plants are Wisconsin grown. Every plant will be displayed with pictures and plant information, so that buyers can make the best selections for their needs. Over 120 Master Gardener Volunteers will be on hand to answer your plant questions.
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As sale day nears, the Southeast Wisconsin Master Gardener Program (SEWMG) Facebook page will list available plants. Donated plants are limited to only a few gardens that were carefully screened over the last year for jumping worms.  No worms or signs of worms have been found in any of these gardens. Two local nursery growers have generously provided additional plants for the sale.
Admission is free, but State Fair Park does charge for parking. Cash and checks will be accepted for payment, but credit cards will not. An ATM will be on the grounds for cash withdrawals.
Come early for the best selections!
For additional information, Visit the SEWMG Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sewmgplantsale/ or contact Grace Arend at (651) 968-7820 or grace.arend@ces.uwex.edu.
Master Gardener Volunteer Program
The Milwaukee County UW-Extension Master Gardener Program provides horticulture information to the community through trained individuals -Master Gardener Volunteers- who in turn donate their time in educating the public about gardening and the environment. The Milwaukee County UW-Extension Master Gardener Program has been providing education throughout metro Milwaukee for over 40 years.
UW-Extension
UW-Extension offers timely access to University research and knowledge through educational colleagues in 72 county offices, on five 4-year campuses and within three tribal nations, offering educational programs that address the important issues of individuals, families, businesses and communities. Find out more about UW-Extension Milwaukee County at Milwaukee.uwex.edu.
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‘Community Build Day’ brings Walker’s Point park close to completion | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Keith Schubert
May 16, 2017
Sean Kiebzak (front) poses with Bradley Tech interns (from left) Brionna Jeffries, Zion Griffin, Deovyian Banks, Rebecca Schanen, Giovanni Perez and Jamie Daniels. (Photo by Keith Schubert)
About 70 community members participated in installing a 7,000-gallon underground cistern for the new Paliafito Eco-Arts Park, one of the last steps before the Walker’s Point park is complete.
The park, a project of Arts @ Large and Reflo Sustainable Water Systems, will serve as an “eco-arts” learning center, engaging students, families, educators and neighborhood residents in hands-on, project-based environmental and arts learning.
The half-acre park, at South 3rd and Walker streets, also will host multiple free summer programs, such as an acoustic concert series called Music Under the Stars, in partnership with Latino Arts and Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and youth-driven theatrical productions of Shakespeare plays. Programming also will include yoga, art making and culinary arts workshops.
The cistern will serve as an underground water catchment system to collect rainwater and provide water for the park. However, the benefits will reach beyond the park, said Justin Hegarty, executive director at Reflo.
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An enormous tarp is laid out to hold the 7,000-gallon cistern. (Photo Courtesy of Arts @ Large)
“The cistern is designed to catch up to 90 percent of water runoff from this area, which will reduce flooding in the local neighborhood,” explained Hegarty. “It will also take pressure off our sewer system, so when it does rain too much, no sewage water will flow into Lake Michigan, which will help with water-quality issues.”
The park is scheduled to be finished by mid-July. “It’s something the community has been hungry for,” said Sean Kiebzak, program director at Arts @ Large. The turnout to install the cistern is testament to that, he added. Organizers expected about 30-50 volunteers, and more than 70 showed up.
Volunteers included students from Escuela Vieau and interns from Lynde & Harry Bradley Technology and Trade School. Marko Radmanovic, assistant principal at Escuela Vieau, said the park “will give our students access to an outdoor classroom where they will be able to do hands-on eco and arts learning projects, something that wouldn’t be possible without this park.”
The Bradley Tech interns have been working with Arts @ Large for the past year learning about construction management and engineering. They have been participating in hands-on projects such as Paliafito Park, as well as attending workshops on construction and engineering.
“Working in the field is very important for these students because it connects to what they’re learning in the classroom,” said Scott Sommer, the industry liaison at Bradley Tech. “It gives them a better understanding of the time and talent it takes to complete a project like this from the beginning, to the shovel, to the completion.”
Many of the interns, such as Zion Griffin, a junior at Bradley Tech, are planning to take the construction and engineering career pathway.
“I’ve been working with Arts @ Large for a while and it’s been very helpful. … I’ve been learning a lot by working with them on this project and others,” said Griffin.
Intern Alexander Reyes, a junior at Bradley Tech, said the park provides value to the community. “I’ve lived in Milwaukee my whole life and a lot of people give it a bad rap, but to see the community come together and grow and bond together helps eliminate the bad rap. It’s a good feeling,” he said.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to add the address of the park.

author: Keith Schubert


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Gee’s Clippers grand opening set for Wednesday in Bronzeville | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Milele A. Coggs
May 16, 2017
The newly expanded Gee’s Clippers Barbering and Beauty Salon, 2200 N. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr., will hold a grand opening ceremony tomorrow (Wednesday, May 17). The free public event will begin at 11 a.m. and will feature live entertainment and light refreshments, according to Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs.
“The new and improved Gee’s Clippers will ensure that owner Gaulien Smith and his talented staff continue to serve customers in the heart of Bronzeville and in the Historic King Drive Business Improvement District for many years to come,” Alderwoman Coggs said.
“I encourage residents and business owners to join us tomorrow for this celebration,” she said.
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author: Ald. Milele A. Coggs


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On the Block: Gardens for food | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Alexandria Bursiek
May 16, 2017
Nichole Logan, 30, has lived in Milwaukee since 2011 and in that time she has noticed a food desert in Milwaukee’s inner city neighborhoods. Logan volunteered recently to help build gardens for the Victory Garden Initiative BLITZ event. During the two-week event more than 300 volunteers will build about 500 garden beds for Milwaukee residents.
Logan, who works for QuadMed, a health care company, said that building gardens for residents provides them with better access to healthy foods.

author: Alexandria Bursiek


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Thai Lotus in Silver City to close current location | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Layton Boulevard West Neighbors
May 16, 2017
Trick or treating at Thai Lotus 37th and National Aveune in 2011.
Thai Lotus Restaurant will close their 3800 W. National Avenue location on Saturday, May 20th. Since opening this location in 2005, Thai Lotus has been a favorite for neighbors and visitors seeking great Thai Food.
Owner Raphael Sivongsa says it was a difficult decision to close this location, but hopes to find a different, smaller location in Silver City focused on carry out and deliveries. In the meantime, you can visit their other location in Riverwest at 1000 E. Locust Street.
Be sure to visit the restaurant and thank them for 12 great years in Silver City!
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author: Layton Boulevard West Neighbors


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 16, 2017


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Character Education Conference focuses on improving school culture | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Kelly Fay
May 17, 2017
(Photo courtesy of Alverno College)
Alverno College will host the 13 annual Character Education Conference on June 20. This year’s theme is True Colors of Character, and the focus will be on social justice, citizenship, community, empathy and respect.
The opening keynote will be given by Thomas R. Hoerr, Emeritus Head of School of New City School in St. Louis. He currently teaches at the University of Missouri – St. Louis and holds a PhD from Washington University in St. Louis. Hoerr has written four books including “The Formative Five: Fostering Grit, Empathy, and Other Success Skills Every Student Needs,” which shows educators how to foster the skills that today’s students need: empathy, self-control, integrity, embracing diversity, and grit.
LeRoy Butler, Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer and community activist, will deliver a keynote address over lunch. In a grass roots effort, his “Butler vs. Bullying” campaign aims to bring professionals, teachers and parents together to discuss the social problems that come from bullying. Over the past year, Butler has traveled to schools and churches across Wisconsin to talk with victims of bullying, as well as those who have been the bully. His hope is to bring awareness to the issue, to allow both sides a safe place to openly discuss the problems at hand, and to find a positive resolution.
The 13 annual character education conference will include breakout sessions led by national and local experts in the field. Some of the topics covered include using play to build character, mindfulness in the classroom, respect and responsibility, character based discipline, and stirring student passion through social justice and service learning. School administrators, counselors, K-12 teachers, pupil services professionals, coaches, school board members, parents and community leaders are encouraged to register. The conference is sponsored by the School District of South Milwaukee in partnership with Alverno College and the Wisconsin Character Education Partnership (WCEP). The School District of South Milwaukee has been recognized as a National School District of Character by WCEP. For more information or to register, please visit www.alverno.edu/characterconference.
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Alverno will also offer pre-conference workshops on June 19. The workshops will focus on mindfulness and character education training, designed to help school teams incorporate character education into their curriculum. For more information on the pre-conference workshops or to register, please visit https://www.alverno.edu/characterconference/pre-conference-workshops.php.
About Alverno College
Alverno College, a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college for women, exists to promote the personal and professional development of its students. The college has earned accolades and respect internationally for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, and has consulted with three U.S. presidential administrations on accountability and outcomes in higher education. For the last seven years, Alverno College has been ranked one of the top five schools in the Midwest doing “the best job of educating undergrads” by U.S. News & World Report. Educators from throughout the world visit Alverno to learn about its proven, student-centered teaching methods.
Alverno offers more than 60 major areas of study, including graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology and business that are open to women and men. For more information about Alverno, visit www.alverno.edu or call 414-382-6100.

author: Kelly Fay


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
May 17, 2017


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Spoken word artist uses poetry to connect with students, promote change | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Alexandria Bursiek
May 17, 2017
Editor’s note: This article is one of an occasional series on community artists in Milwaukee.
When Jendora Kelley says goodbye to students at Carmen High School of Science and Technology Northwest Campus at the end of the day, they take turns giving her hugs. Many of them call her “Mama Kelley” and tell her about their day.
Kelley, who is a spoken word poet, was previously in charge of discipline at Carmen High School, but now focuses on facilitating mediation, teaching culture and helping with conflict resolution as the community culture leader at the school.
“Culture is a way of life; it is teaching children and youth how to live,” said Kelley. She explained that students are unable to understand consequences if they do not know what is expected of them. Teaching students about culture helps them understand what is expected of them both in school and in the real world.
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Kelley offers two programs at Carmen: M.U.D (Mothers Understanding Daughters) and MENtality, during which students engage in conversation with adults as a way to learn lessons through storytelling.
Kelley, who writes about inspiration, respect and her personal experiences, considers poetry a way to share stories and to connect with youth. She said that she also uses spoken word and public speaking to motivate and inspire people.
She was first introduced to poetry as a child but she didn’t consider herself an artist until she auditioned for “The Vagina Monologues” in 2014. That’s when she met Catina Cole, the founder of MPower Theater Group, a nonprofit acting troupe that focuses on social justice issues. Kelley is a member of the group and will perform in “Yetta Young’s Butterfly Confessions” in June.
Kelley has shared her poetry at open mic nights, but realized that she prefers to speak at gatherings centered on a cause. She said that the art of spoken word brings a “reflective state” to a gathering of people and can be an “exclamation point” at an event.
Samantha Collier, the founder of Team Teal 365, an organization that works to empower survivors of sexual assault, has known Kelley for about five years. Collier said she has heard Kelley recite poetry at a number of events.
“I think that her words are very healing,” said Collier. “She speaks for the voiceless; she has a very powerful stance and resilience, and the community needs to hear that every day.”
Collier added, “No matter what you go through there is light that shines in the midst of darkness. … I think she does a magnificent job showing the light that shines in herself and in other people.”
Annia Leonard, a youth programs training assistant at Planned Parenthood, heard Kelley speak at a recent march commemorating Bloody Sunday, the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.
“Just looking around at people’s faces while she was talking you could really see that they were paying attention, really determined and more energized to fight for their rights and fight for justice,” said Leonard.
Kelley’s mother died three years ago and has become an important part of her motivation and inspiration. The youngest of five children, she said that she feels her mother’s presence and influence in her life more now than when she was alive.
“I have had the honor of turning the knowledge that I obtained from her into wisdom,” said Kelley.
She added that her mother was the original “Mama Kelley” and she considers it an honor having her students call her by that name.


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Milwaukee Continuum of Care Point in Time Homeless Count | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Nancy Esteves
May 18, 2017
(Photo by Jabril Faraj)
The Milwaukee Continuum of Care has started planning their Point in Time Homeless Count which will be held on the night of Wednesday July 26, 2017.  We’re looking for volunteers to assist with donations to provide to those experiencing homelessness.
Each year, our outreach workers and volunteers assist with the count to have a better understanding of how many men, women and children are experiencing homelessness on any given night.  This helps our efforts in continuing receiving funding from our Federal Partners.
Please help us provide those experiencing homelessness some basic essentials like shampoo, water, sleeping bags, etc. Please visit our Amazon Wishlist:
Point in Time Milwaukee
Link: http://a.co/83ohLRV
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As a reminder all donations are tax deductible.

author: Nancy Esteves


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 20, 2017


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MPL project receives tax credit award from WHEDA | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Library
May 18, 2017
Milwaukee Public Library (MPL) received an announcement today from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) that the development team of Royal Capital Group and Maures Development Group has been awarded $805,063 in Low Income Housing Tax Credits.  The credits will be used to finance apartments to be built above a new library that will replace the aging and inefficient Mill Road branch.
The plan calls for 65 units of mixed-income apartments with a 17,500 square foot library on the ground floor. The new library will be located at 7717 W. Good Hope Road.  The apartment building will be designed by Engberg Anderson Architects, and the library by Zimmerman Architects.
“We are thrilled and grateful for the award from WHEDA for the Good Hope project and look forward to breaking ground on another new state-of-the-art branch for our patrons,” said Paula Kiely, Milwaukee Public Library Director.  “We have been working to improve the library experience by removing barriers and changing the way people think about libraries and what they offer.
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Modernizing our spaces allows us to advance our mission to help patrons read, learn and connect.”
Alderwoman Chantia Lewis whose district includes the new library said: “The new library and housing adds vitality and value to the 76th and Good Hope Road area and is a huge step forward for the redevelopment of the 9th District.  Also, as a military veteran I am particularly pleased that this project includes 13 housing units set aside for veterans.”
This plan continues the successful replacement of the Villard Avenue and East branch libraries with new mixed-use buildings. The Milwaukee Public Library’s Villard Square Branch opened in October 2011. The new East Branch opened in November 2014.
“We’re exceptionally excited about this significant investment into a growing part of our community,” said Kevin Newell of Royal Capital Group. “We’re hopeful that this partnership will be catalytic for other investment opportunities in the 9th District under the dedicated leadership of Alderwoman Lewis.”
Mayor Tom Barrett, the Milwaukee Common Council and the Library Board of Trustees have identified $18 million for library redevelopment projects by 2020. MPL anticipates spending $4.5 million on each of the four libraries slated for redevelopment – Forest Home, Mill Road, Capitol and Martin Luther King. In all, five branch libraries will be renovated or replaced. The Tippecanoe Library was fully renovated in 2015 but remained in the same building. By 2020, MPL will have replaced or updated the entire branch system with 21st century, technology-rich facilities many of which will be part of a multi-use facility.
“Our plan for a mixed-used development with a modern library as the centerpiece to replace the Mill Road branch demonstrates my commitment to a first-rate library system that offers educational resources, new job opportunities and innovative technology to Milwaukee residents,” said Mayor Tom Barrett.

author: Milwaukee Public Library


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Researchers find air mattresses present a growing safety risk to infants, recommend changes | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
May 18, 2017
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of Georgia have found that as air mattresses become increasingly popular, the inflatable beds place infants at great risk for sleep-related death. They call for a greater recognition of air mattress use in both policy statements and data collection about infant deaths.
Writing in the American Journal of Public Health, Jennifer Doering, associate professor of nursing at UWM, and Trina Salm Ward, assistant professor with a joint appointment in the School of Social Work and College of Public Health at UGA, note that the mattresses’ low cost and portability are attractive features in low income, transient populations. But their design brings a risk.
“Even when fully inflated, air mattresses can mold to the infant’s face and obstruct the airway by forming an occlusive seal,” they write. “The risk increases when air mattresses leak during use. Under-inflation was a factor in some of the infant deaths reviewed.”
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The National Child Death Review Case Reporting System has recorded 108 infant deaths involving air mattresses in 24 states between 2004 and 2015. However, Doering and Salm Ward suggest that infant deaths are underreported because of the limited numbers of states and variations in when those states began reported to the system. Moreover, “air mattress” is not an explicit choice on the reporting form.
The researchers examined policy statements from 12 leading organizations, including federal agencies, professional provider organizations, health professional and consumer organizations and parent organizations. They found only one that mentioned the hazard to infants presented by air mattresses.
They note that other common bedding options, including mattress toppers and mattresses with adjustable firmness, present an unrecognized hazard because they have not been adequately distinguished from traditional spring mattresses.
Doering and Salm Ward offer several recommendations to improve consumer messaging about air mattresses. They suggest, for example, that public health organizations should explicitly warn about the hazard of air mattresses when providing information about low-cost bedding options as a way to combat bedbug infestations.
They also call for changes in data collection, for example to include hazardous sleeping surfaces in reports on infant deaths. They also recommend that researchers specifically ask about use of air mattresses and air components in traditional mattresses when assessing infant sleep location.

author: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee


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Residents call new Bader headquarters ‘welcome change’ for Harambee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Naomi Waxman
May 18, 2017
Elizabeth Coggs (left), regional vice president of WestCare Wisconsin, chats with Harambee resident Stephanie Kendrick. (Photo by Naomi Waxman)
Stephanie Kendrick, 62, sported a sunny smile as she bustled around an enormous white tent on a bright spring morning in the Harambee neighborhood.
Grinning and chatting enthusiastically with neighbors, local business people and city officials, Kendrick said she is thrilled that Bader Philanthropies, Inc., is breaking ground on its new worldwide headquarters in the area she has called home for 49 years. She lives just blocks from the Bader site.
“This is a welcome change,” she said. “We need this. Thinking about it, I just get happy!”
Neighborhood residents recently gathered with city officials, including Mayor Tom Barrett and Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, representatives of nonprofit organizations and business owners at a ceremonial groundbreaking for Bader Philanthropies at the site of its new global headquarters, 3318 N. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive in the Harambee neighborhood.
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Harambee resident Mike Hardison, 57, lives just a few doors down from the construction site and also supports the project.
Neighborhood residents, city officials and others gathered to mark the groundbreaking for the new Bader Philanthropies headquarters. (Photo by Naomi Waxman)
“I’m interested to see what they’ve got to offer to the community,” he said. “We need this here to make [Harambee] a better and safer community.”
Hardison, who moved to the neighborhood at 11 years old, is particularly interested in employment opportunities for youth.
“We’ve got to give the kids something to do,” he added. “Bader might be a big change for the neighborhood and I’m happy they’re here.”
Bader announced its intention to relocate from Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward to Harambee in August 2016 with the goal of developing and expanding its commitment to the neighborhood.
The renovated facility, first built in 1927, will allow the foundation to host twice the number of guests in meeting spaces and includes plans for a landscaped area and 50 parking spaces. Bader has contracted with a number of African-American-owned businesses to participate in the renovation, including JCP Construction, Spann & Associates, LLC, Spencer Renovation & Construction, Zoe Engineering, LLC and White Glove Group. Bader plans to complete the project by May 2018.
“I believe that we are here for a purpose,” Daniel J. Bader, president and CEO of Bader Philanthropies, told the crowd. “A part of that purpose is to help other people, and Bader Philanthropies embodies that core belief.”
For Pamela Morgan, 63, the new Bader headquarters is literally the answer to her prayers.
“I prayed that more life would be brought to the neighborhood,” she said. “I’m so impressed at [Bader] coming in here and giving hope to a lot of hopeless people.”
Morgan recently moved into Heart & Hope Place, just down the street from the new Bader site, and has already observed how Bader’s decision has affected the area.
“Every time you see somebody pass here they smile and take pictures,” she said. “Even I take pictures! It’s like having a big birthday cake in here.”
Coggs said that until recently raising citywide interest in developing the north end of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive has been a struggle, but Bader’s decision is a harbinger of change.
“It is easy to sit in glass towers and serve the peasants,” she said, “but it is another thing entirely to put your headquarters where the community needs you.”

author: Naomi Waxman


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 18, 2017


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Common Council calls for reducing incarceration | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jabril Faraj
May 19, 2017
The Phenomenal Men’s Support Group educates young people about what a jail cell is like through its Cells on Wheels program. (Photo by Madeline Kennedy)
The Milwaukee Common Council recently passed a resolution calling on Milwaukee County, the State of Wisconsin and the federal government to prioritize prevention and address crime holistically to reduce incarceration.
The resolution states that African-Americans in the city, county and state have been disproportionately affected by incarceration. It adds that incarceration “disrupts families and communities, and a record of incarceration is a significant barrier to subsequent employment.” The resolution calls for the county, state and federal governments to pass legislation that would do away with mandatory minimum sentences, treat youth offenders “as deserving of compassion” and ensure they are receiving the necessary rehabilitation and support services.
The Common Council’s action has no practical effect. The state legislature is considering a slate of bills that would make it easier to incarcerate youth offenders, lengthen mandatory minimum sentences and increase the scope of crimes they apply to. Another state bill would give slightly more leeway for individuals to have certain offenses expunged.
The city resolution notes that African-Americans comprise 6.6 percent of Wisconsin’s population but 42 percent of the men and 24 percent of the women incarcerated in Wisconsin State correctional facilities. It also states that 12.6 percent, or one in eight African-American working-age men in Wisconsin were incarcerated, nearly double the 6.7 percent average rate in the United States.
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The measure was sponsored by alderpersons Nik Kovac, Russell Stamper, Jose Perez, Cavalier Johnson, Chantia Lewis, Robert Bauman and Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton.
Johnson, who represents District 2, spent his “most formative years” in the 53206 ZIP code, an area that accounts for 10 percent of the city’s crime despite housing only 4 percent of its population, he said. The ZIP code, where 94 percent of residents are black, is also Milwaukee’s poorest, with a poverty rate of almost 48 percent and a median yearly household income of $22,238.
Sharlen Moore, director of Urban Underground, and her son Malachi, 11. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
The idea that harsher penalties and stricter enforcement deters individuals from engaging in crime is simply false, Johnson said.
“We don’t want to be like a dog chasing our tail,” he said. “We’ve been doing the same thing for decades, trying to throw the book at people and trying to lock people behind bars for longer periods of time and hoping that action alone turns our neighborhoods around in a positive way.”
Johnson added, “I think that one of the things that we’re losing is this idea that we are all human, and that we are all connected, and that we all need to invest in one another.”
The resolution also notes that investment in job access and training, public transit, education and art are essential to keep people from interacting with the criminal justice system in the first place.
In the wake of the resolution, community leaders are saying the city must acknowledge its own role in the situation.
“They’re passing the buck,” said Shanyiell McCloud, founder of Clean Slate Milwaukee, which helps individuals expunge their criminal records. “It’s all politics.”
She said much of the incarceration issue revolves around access to employment in Milwaukee’s low-income central city communities. “There’s a lack of jobs, period; there’s a lack of businesses; there’s a lack of higher education opportunities. You literally have to leave the community to seek out those things.”
She added that mass incarceration also is an issue of disproportionate enforcement, from the police who arrest individuals to the judges who sentence them.
According to a 1999 Stanford University study, 13 percent of illegal drug users were African-American, exactly their proportion of the national population. However, “35 percent of those arrested for simple possession and a staggering 74 percent of those sentenced for drug possession” were black.
“We really need to start, just structurally, changing how we look at things, how we view things,” said Sharlen Moore, executive director of Urban Underground and a founding member of Youth Justice Milwaukee, a campaign advocating for juvenile justice reform. “We have to have some sort of shift (in thinking) in order for us to see any sort of tangible result.”
“If we did the same thing to suburban neighborhoods — you know, if we policed them the same that we police communities of color — we would find the same things,” said Moore.
Individuals and organizations in Milwaukee have increasingly called for a change in police strategy, and for the city to prioritize preventative services. In February, the ACLU of Wisconsin filed a class action lawsuit against the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) alleging its policies and practices violated people’s constitutional rights and that the way they are applied is racially discriminatory. MPD, whose budget was 45 percent of the city’s total budget in 2016, received $23 million more in 2017, while alternative approaches have failed to secure additional investment.
Moore said the community needs to come together in order to “activate our elected officials.”
“I think, [as a] community, we have to put more pressure on those individuals to do the things that we need to do, because, at the end of the day, we pay their salary … they are public servants — they work for us,” she said. “And if [they’re not doing] what we need them to do, then we need to find somebody else that will.”

author: Jabril Faraj


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Youth art auction supports Neu-Life’s mission to empower youth | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Keith Schubert
May 19, 2017
Neu-Life Community Development hosted its 10th annual Youth Art Show and auction on May 13. All money raised will be used to support Neu-Life programs.
The organization’s young artists produced more than 30 pieces of art, a cookbook, journals and other creative items that were auctioned off. Attendees were also able to bid on spring garden cleanup service for their yard and a meal prepared and catered by the youth.
“We like to think of it as a ‘friendraiser’ where people from different communities can come and learn about our organization while we raise some money,” said Tracy Hrajnoha, director of partnerships & community engagement.
Neu-Life’s mission is to empower youth by equipping them with the information, strategies and support systems to have better self-images, develop better life management skills and make better life choices.
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Last year the art show raised more than $6,000.


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Mayor Barrett releases 2016 infant mortality data & fetal infant mortality review report | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Health Department
May 22, 2017
Today, Mayor Tom Barrett and the City of Milwaukee Health Department announced Milwaukee’s 2016 infant mortality data and simultaneously released the 2012-2015 Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) report. Together, the reports provide an update on the citywide progress in reducing infant mortality along with an in-depth look at the causes and risk factors contributing to infant deaths and stillbirths in the city.
Preliminary data from the City of Milwaukee Health Department indicates that in 2016, 88 infants died in Milwaukee prior to their first birthdays, the second lowest number in recent history. Using three-year rolling averages, which are statistically more reliable than single-year data, the overall infant mortality rate for the city of Milwaukee from 2014-2016 has decreased to 9.0 infant deaths for every 1,000 live births. This is the lowest rate in recent history.
“We are encouraged to see that steady progress continues in preventing infant deaths,” said Mayor Tom Barrett. “However, a 13 percent decline since setting our citywide goal is not enough, and the racial disparity in birth outcomes remains unacceptably high. When the leading causes of infant deaths are mostly preventable, we must use these reports to prioritize steps toward prevention.”
The 2014-2016 three-year rolling average rates also decreased among both African-American and Hispanic populations, with the black rate dropping to a low of 13.6 per 1,000 live births. The rate for Hispanic infants declined to 4.2 per 1,000 live births. The rate for non-Hispanic white infants saw an increase to 5.0 per 1,000 live births. However, black infants remain nearly three times more likely to die before their first birthday than white infants.
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While the current infant mortality rate tentatively brings the city below its goal of reaching an overall infant mortality rate of 9.4 by the release of 2017 data, officials caution that subsequent years may see rates once again increase, and that even if the overall rate remains below the goal of 9.4 a year from now, it is unlikely the City will meet its 2015-2017 goal of 12.0 for the African-American rate. As a result, they call for more intensive, communitywide attention to the leading causes of infant deaths.
The Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) report, the seventh released since 1993, presents a comprehensive analysis of the causes and contributing risk factors for all infant deaths and stillbirths in the city from 2012 through 2015, as well as an understanding of the disparities in causes of infant death among racial and ethnic groups.
The FIMR report finds the leading cause of all infant deaths from 2012-2015 in Milwaukee remains complications of prematurity, which accounted for 55.8% of all infant deaths. Prematurity was followed by congenital anomalies (birth defects), which accounted for 20.8% of infant deaths, and sleep-related deaths, which accounted for 15.9% of all infant deaths. Racial and ethnic minorities bear a disproportionate burden of prematurity-related deaths, with the overwhelming burden found among black mothers.
“The call to action is clear. The leading cause of infant deaths remains complications of prematurity,” said Commissioner of Health Bevan K. Baker. “While we must redouble our efforts to improve access to quality health care and improve individual behaviors such as smoking, we will not be able to address this issue without focusing on the primary driver of premature births: chronic, unmitigated stress, particularly from poverty, unemployment, excessive incarceration rates, housing instability, racism, and other socioeconomic factors.”
To eliminate this disparity, Mayor Barrett and health officials call for greater communitywide investment in addressing the root causes of infant deaths, particularly among black mothers. To lead a coordinated effort, Mayor Barrett serves as co-chair of the Milwaukee Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families (Milwaukee LIHF), a collaborative led by United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, with support provided by the UW School of Medicine and Public Health from the Wisconsin Partnership Program. The collaborative, focused on reducing Milwaukee’s racial disparity in birth outcomes, recently announced its prematurity prevention priorities.
“United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County is committed to investing human and financial capital into promoting positive birth outcomes for all families”, said Nicole Angresano, Vice President of Community Impact at United Way. “I can think of no more important outcome than that of a healthy baby, born ready to thrive.”

author: City of Milwaukee Health Department


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Milwaukee Boys & Girls Club teens get big surprise from Aaron’s | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Patrick Christman
May 22, 2017
Teen members at the Don & Sallie Davis Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee will get a giant surprise when Aaron’s, Inc. unveils a newly refurbished teen center on Wednesday, May 24.
Dozens of associates from Aaron’s volunteered Monday and Tuesday, installing new electronics and appliances and moving in new furniture, valued at over $29,000.
This marks the 21 renovation nationwide by Aaron’s, the lease-to-own retailer of furniture, electronics, appliances and technology with more than 1,800 company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada as well as an e-commerce platform, Aarons.com. Each Boys & Girls Club renovation is aimed at helping teen centers boost membership and provide teens with a safe and healthy environment to thrive in their community.
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author: Patrick Christman


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Community members celebrate new mural documenting history of UMOS | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Lydia Slattery / Wisconsin Watch
May 23, 2017
On a rainy Saturday afternoon about 150 people gathered for the unveiling of Milwaukee’s newest mural on the wall of the Butters-Fetting building at 1669 S. First St. The mural tells the 50-year history of UMOS (United Migrant Opportunity Services) and depicts the struggles of migrant workers and immigrants in Wisconsin.
The mural was a 15-month project led by artist and Peck School of the Arts instructor Raoul Deal. The project involved historians and UWM art students who mentored high school interns from ArtWorks for Milwaukee. The mural was ArtWorks’ largest project in 16 years.
The event, held in a tent, featured music, food and dancing. Speakers discussed their experience working on the mural and thanked everyone involved for their support.
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author: Lydia Slattery / Wisconsin Watch


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34689295611_26611f422e_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 23, 2017

author: Adam Carr


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 22, 2017


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Safe & Sound honors Bader Philanthropies, Milwaukee Bucks for community leadership | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Safe & Sound
May 23, 2017
Safe & Sound is pleased to announce its 2017 award recipients, who will be honored at a gala, Building Community One Block at a Time, on September 14, 2017, at the Italian Community Center. Each year, Safe & Sound honors collaborative and inspiring leaders in the Milwaukee community. This year’s Safe & Sound Awards Gala recipients, who have made immense contributions to neighborhood development, include:
Herb Kohl Champion Award: Bader Philanthropies, Inc.
Corporate Leadership Award: Milwaukee Bucks
Law Enforcement Leader Award: U.S. Marshal Kevin Carr
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Resident Leader Award: Josephine Key and James Key
Youth Leader Award: Angelica Soto
Named the 2017 Gal-a-Lotta partner, Safe & Sound’s gala will be courtesy of Care-A-Lotta, the charitable arm of the Bartolotta Restaurant Group. Co-Chairing the event are John and Connie Kordsmeier and Lafayette Crump of Prism Technical. Special thanks to presenting sponsor Johnson Controls, a past award recipient and long-time supporter of Safe & Sound’s neighborhood strategies.
Nearly 20 years ago, Safe & Sound was founded with a mission to unite residents, youth, law enforcement and community resources to build safe and empowered neighborhoods. For event and sponsorship information visitsafesound.org/SSAG2017 and or contact Anne Temple at (414) 708-2794 or anne@safesound.org.

author: Safe & Sound


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Bucks, Johnson Controls announce major investment at Westlawn Gardens | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Cavalier Johnson
May 24, 2017
The Milwaukee Bucks are partnering with Johnson Controls to construct a $150,000 multi-sport complex at Westlawn Gardens’ Browning Elementary School and the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center.
The announcement was made yesterday (May 23), and according to Alderman Cavalier Johnson, the new complex will include multiple basketball courts, a 200 meter track, playing fields, and other amenities. Additionally, the Bucks and Johnson Controls will also donate $60,000 annually for the next 10 years toward community programming at Browning, 5440 N. 64th St., and the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, 5460 N. 64th St.
“The Milwaukee Bucks are demonstrating that their commitment to our community goes far beyond the cranes in the sky downtown, and Johnson Controls continues to be a valued corporate citizen in our community,” Alderman Johnson said.
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“The students served at Browning Elementary School, the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, and the residents of the greater neighborhood are thankful and appreciative of this wonderful commitment that will benefit Milwaukee’s youth and young adults,” he said. “My great thanks to the Bucks and Johnson Controls for their tremendous contribution to the neighborhood.”
The complex is set to be completed by the start school this fall.

author: Ald. Cavalier Johnson


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How to navigate changes to the MCTS Go Pass | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Keith Schubert
May 24, 2017
(Photo by Matt Wisla)
The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is making significant changes to the Go Pass. Since its inception in 2014, senior citizens and persons with disabilities have been able to ride free using the Go Pass.
In April, MCTS mailed a letter to all current Go Pass holders to notify them that MCTS will be ending free rides to seniors and persons with disabilities starting June 26. From then on, eligible Go Pass riders will pay a one-time $5 fee and a daily fare of $1. The new fares and fees are expected to bring in more than $2.15 million a year, according to budget documents.
Riders must pass an initial “means test” to determine if they are eligible to receive the new Go Pass benefits. To be eligible, individuals 65 years old and older must be a Milwaukee resident receiving Medicaid or FoodShare benefits
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Those under 65 years old must be receiving Social Security income through SSI or SSDI, or have a Veterans Disability designation and be receiving Medicaid or FoodShare benefits.
Riders are required to bring one of the following four documents to confirm eligibility.
Riders must go to the Milwaukee County Aging and Disability Resource Centers at 1220 W. Vliet St. to fill out the initial means test application. They are encouraged to complete the application in advance and can download it here.
MCTS estimates that 11,000 of the 26,000 Go Pass holders will have their passes deactivated because of failure to pass the initial means test.
Those riders who fail the means test have other options for reduced fares.
All riders ages 6-11, 65 and over or with qualifying disabilities will be able to choose between the reduced rates of $1.10 a ride, $2 for a 1-Day Pass, or $32 for a 31-Day Pass. Riders can fill out this form and bring it to MCTS at 1942 N. 17th St. to see if they have a qualifying disability.
Riders can visit any MCTS fare outlet to get a Reduced Fare M-CARD as well as to load money and passes onto the card. Click here for a list of fare outlet locations.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 23, 2017


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Victory Garden Initiative helps grow healthy food by building garden beds | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Alexandria Bursiek
May 24, 2017
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The two-week Great Milwaukee Victory Garden BLITZ, which runs through May 27, will result in about 500 new garden beds for Milwaukee residents. This will raise the total number of gardens built by the Victory Garden Initiative to more than 3,500 beds.
“I love food, I love eating food, growing it and I love when other people are excited about food. I want to encourage more people to grow food because it’s better for you, for the earth and way tastier,” said Emily Dufford, outreach coordinator at Victory Garden Initiative.
More than 300 volunteers, both individuals and groups, are helping VGI build the raised garden beds, which are filled with organic soil from Blue Ribbon Organics; each resident is also given fruit, flower and vegetable seeds.
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In Milwaukee County, a bed costs $175 and outside about $200. However, VGI offers subsidized rates for individuals who cannot afford to pay the full price; beds can cost as little as $25.
Gardens ordered for Washington Park, Clarke Square, Layton Boulevard West, Lindsay Heights, and the 53218 ZIP code are automatically included in the subsidized program. Residents who do not live in one of those neighborhoods are able to negotiate a price based on what they can afford to pay.
VGI rented or borrowed all of the equipment for building the garden beds. Sponsors for the BLITZ event include Zilber Family Foundation, Elm Grove Junior Guild and Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin.
Lorri Mason, who has lived in Milwaukee all of her life, heard about the VGI BLITZ last year but missed the deadline for ordering a bed. She said that ordering a bed early was important to her this year.
“I wanted to be able to grow my own food and also just help support the Victory Garden,” said Mason.
She plans to make meals from the fruits and vegetables she grows, and to share some of the produce with her family and friends. “I think it’s awesome that they are doing this,” said Mason. “It’s a wonderful idea to let the community be involved in growing nutritious food.”
Melissa Graham, 28, volunteered as a way to support VGI; she said that she believes in healthy eating, nutrition and giving back to her community. A Milwaukee resident for most of her life, Graham added that her favorite memory from childhood was helping her grandmother in the garden.
“[Gardening] fosters a lot of good things,” said Graham. “You’re growing good community, you’re growing good families, you’re growing good food and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
According to Kelly Moore Brands, community programs manager for VGI, because the gardens are available throughout Milwaukee, volunteers have the opportunity to learn about different areas of the city.
“It is a really powerful experience to go into every ZIP code in Milwaukee or go into neighborhoods that they might never go into,” said Brands, community programs manager for VGI.
“There is a lot of connection happening when you are a volunteer or when you get a garden,” she said. “Our volunteers always have a great time.”


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NAMI 5K walk draws hundreds to support people living with mental illness | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Hailey Richards
May 25, 2017
Participants in the NAMI walk begin the 5K at Veterans Park. (Photo by Hailey Richards)
A red and white tent shakes back and forth as a gust of wind hits volunteers’ backs. Glancing out at the heavy rainfall, walk manager Susan Schoenmarklin shares her personal journey as a caregiver for her son, who struggled with a mental health condition.
“I felt isolated. Really, there was little to no support. It was a ‘no casserole issue.’…No one is going to show up to your house offering a casserole when you’re really in need. That’s just the reality,” said Schoenmarklin.
On the eastern edge of Veterans Park, hundreds of participants and volunteers stand and chat, waiting for the 5K fundraiser for NAMI Greater Milwaukee to begin.
NAMI Greater Milwaukee is part of the national nonprofit organization National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), which works to support, educate and improve the lives of those who live with mental illness, as well as their families and caregivers, and to reduce societal stigma.
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To provide free services such as peer support groups and 12-week classes, NAMI relies on help from sponsors and fundraising events. NAMI Greater Milwaukee enlisted Schoenmarklin, once a board member, to take charge of the 15 annual NAMIWalks 5K, which raises funds for the organization.
Schoenmarklin said she felt people were judging her as her son struggled with severe depression at a young age.
“He was 5 years old when he was diagnosed, and I didn’t know what to do or how to help him. I felt like a failure as a parent,” said Schoenmarklin.
Signs depict the rates of mental illness. (Photo by Hailey Richards)
Another gust of wind rolls off Lake Michigan, as heavy rain pours down on the walkers. Zipping up her pink jacket, Schoenmarklin adjusts her cold-weather headband.
Schoenmarklin said she was working at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin when someone told her about NAMI. “I looked into it and decided to take a 12-week course intended to educate caregivers about mental illnesses. It was such a phenomenal resource. I decided to volunteer and teach the class. Ever since then my heart has been in it for NAMI,” she said.
While the bad weather decreased attendance, Schoenmarklin is one of 2,000 people who registered for the Milwaukee NAMIWalks. NAMIWalks, which take place in 80 cities throughout the country, is the largest and most successful mental health fundraising event in the country, according to the NAMI website.
Participants pass signs stating “One in four adults experiences mental illness” and “One in 20 lives with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.”
“A lot of people here are walking for those in need, those they love, and those they lost to suicide,” said NAMI Executive Director Peter Hoeffel, speaking to the crowd congregating at the gazebo before the walk began.
“They are our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and our soldiers,” said Hoeffel.
For 22-year-old walk participant Amanda Smith, NAMI offers more than support. The organization has encouraged her to be open about her mental health.
“I heard about NAMI when I was volunteering for a suicide walk,” said Smith, surrounded by a group of women wearing neon green shirts with the words “Manda’s Pandas.”
Sitting in a wheelchair with her legs in two boots, Smith said she brought her support group and caregivers to her first NAMI walk.
“These are the people who have supported me and help me take care of myself. In the beginning of my mental wellness journey I felt that I couldn’t be open. I wish I had known about the resources available to me,” said Smith.
“It takes months and months to get doctors to understand and listen to you. It’s even worse when you don’t know where to go or who to turn to. I felt like no one wanted to listen to me and what I was going through,” Smith added.
Edward Wingard, 20, said he understands the stigma associated with mental illness.
“The black community …has made mental illness either a butt of a joke or something you can pray away: nothing you can really openly discuss,” he said. “And as a man, if you are showing any kind of emotion it’s automatically considered weak. No wonder people don’t want to share; they’re too afraid of what society will say.”
Wingard said he changed his thoughts and dialogue concerning mental health after receiving educational training at Public Allies.
NAMI helps people living with mental illness to create a wellness recovery action plan, and operates a crisis intervention team. The group also visits high schools to perform a play, “Pieces, In My Own Voices,” to humanize those with mental illnesses.
“While it is better now than when I was a kid, we are still not where we need to be,” said Smith. “I work hard every day to live a normal life.” She volunteers with high school peer groups to offer support.
“The support groups help everyone recognize that everyone’s journey and mental health is different. My personality disorder is not the same as your personality disorder; my bad days are not the same as yours,” said Smith.
Schoenmarklin, whose son is now a junior in college, added, “My story had a happy ending, but so many don’t, especially because society refuses to talk about it and quite frankly we are all hiding.”
An hour earlier at the start of the 5K, Hoeffel stood on a 3-foot platform and stated, “My name is Peter Hoeffel. I’m the executive director at NAMI Greater Milwaukee. I suffer from an anxiety disorder and diabetes, and I should be able to talk about that in the same sentence.”

author: Hailey Richards


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 24, 2017


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Alverno College launches new teacher licensure program for paraprofessionals | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Kelly Fay
May 26, 2017
Alverno College is launching a new teacher licensure program in the fall, aimed at paraprofessionals who have an associate’s degree or at least 60 college credits. The new program can be completed in 24 months, and courses will be offered in the evening and online. For 130 years, Alverno College has been educating teachers, and our ground-breaking abilities-based curriculum is one that more and more school districts are adopting. Students in this program will have the advantage of experiencing the curriculum firsthand, learning from educators who are leaders in the field.
“We’re excited to offer this new program that will allow professionals already working in the classroom to advance their careers,” said Patricia Luebke, dean of the School of Education at Alverno College. “Whether starting out as a paraprofessional or a teaching assistant, graduates of this program will be prepared to take their place in the front of the classroom.”
The bachelor’s degree completion program is open to both men and women, and requires 60 credits to complete. There are opportunities to earn credit for prior experience, including classroom experience, relevant community or volunteer work, in-service training and other professional development. The program also includes an 18-week student teaching experience that paraprofessionals may complete at their current sites. Students who don’t have the required 60 college credits at enrollment will have the opportunity to earn those credits. “We’ll work with students individually to get them where they need to be to enter the program,” said Luebke.
The program will begin in August. An information session will be held on June 8 at 5 p.m., and is free and open to the public. For more information about the new teacher licensure program for paraprofessionals, please visit https://www.alverno.edu/admissions/degree-completion.php#para-to-teacher-licensure. To register for the on-campus event, please visit https://www.alverno.edu/admissions/degree-completion-info.php.
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About Alverno College
Alverno College, a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college for women, exists to promote the personal and professional development of its students. The college has earned accolades and respect internationally for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, and has consulted with three U.S. presidential administrations on accountability and outcomes in higher education. For the last seven years, Alverno College has been ranked one of the top five schools in the Midwest doing “the best job of educating undergrads” by U.S. News & World Report. Educators from throughout the world visit Alverno to learn about its proven, student-centered teaching methods.
Alverno offers more than 60 major areas of study, including graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology and business that are open to women and men. For more information about Alverno, visit www.alverno.edu or call 414-382-6100.


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ivaleseclass | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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May 24, 2017

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Award ceremony honors girls for projects that make a positive impact | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Lydia Slattery / Wisconsin Watch
May 26, 2017
Alanna Bullock (left) and Adrianna Harris received an award for creating hygiene kits for people who are homeless. (Photo by Lydia Slattery)
Members of a local Girl Scout troop who spent months collecting deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other toiletries to create kits for people who are homeless were among the 700 scouts honored at a recent awards ceremony.
The girls in Troop 8221 created the kits by asking friends, neighbors and family members to donate items throughout spring and summer 2016. Last fall, they gave the finished kits to United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, which distributed them to people in need.
The annual ceremony filled the Miller High Life Theatre with Girl Scouts, their friends and families. The first Girl Scouts Highest Awards Ceremony took place in 1919.
Alanna Bullock and Adrianna Harris, both 12, are in Troop 8221, which has 15 members.
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“I’m really close with my whole troop. We’ve been together for years,” said Adrianna, who lives on the North Side of Milwaukee.
Added Alanna, “I joined Girl Scouts because my mom wanted me to because it will look good for college and jobs, and I’ve also met some of my best friends here.”
Frances Dobbs traveled to the Amahoro Children’s School in Rwanda to set up a library. (Photo courtesy of Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast)
Alanna’s mother, Christy Brown, is the CEO of Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast. The organization has more than 29,000 members from Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha counties.
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast focuses on empowering its members, who each strive to be a G.I.R.L, “go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader.” They sometimes do crafts, but are also developing life skills and making a difference in the world, according to the organization’s website.
The members of Troop 8221 received a Bronze Award, given to girls in grades four and five. When the speaker called the troop’s name and announced its project, the girls stood up, smiling and waving as their parents took pictures. Alanna and Adrianna both wore tan vests decorated with patches showing the activities they completed.
The Girl Scouts Bronze Award honors girls for developing their leadership skills and making a positive impact in the community.
“I feel Girl Scouts and this project are teaching me to communicate with other people,” Adrianna said.
Frances Dobbs, 17, won a Gold Award at the ceremony for her project, called “The Things We Take for Granted.” She collected nearly 1,100 books and other school supplies to create a library for the Amahoro Children’s School in Rwanda. She chose the project, the largest in her 12 years as a scout, because her aunt began the school in 2013.
“I learned how to be a leader in my community. I had to educate people about Rwanda, the school and the project so they would donate supplies to the library,” said Dobbs, who lives on the South Side and has been a Girl Scout for 12 years.
The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can receive. It’s only awarded to high school students, honoring them for outstanding accomplishments in leadership, planning and advocacy.
“The project was really meaningful to me because I saw a different world from Milwaukee, and I got to learn about a new culture. They have a harder time getting school supplies than we do in the U.S.,” Dobbs said.
She traveled to Rwanda to help set up the library after she collected suitcases full of books and supplies.
Brenda Vento, senior director of marketing and communication for Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast, said that members often support the Girl Scouts throughout their lives. “They come back as donors, volunteers and ambassadors to the Girl Scout organizations. A lot of girls also go on to be camp counselors,” she said.
The organization celebrated its 100-year anniversary on May 19 at Clarke Street School,  the place where the first meeting was held a century ago. Gov. Scott Walker pronounced May 19 the official Girl Scouting in Southeastern Wisconsin Day.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 26, 2017


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Sister Joel Read, Alverno College’s longest-serving president, passed away at 91 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Kelly Fay
May 26, 2017
Former Alverno College President Sister Joel Read, SSSF, ’48, one of the nation’s longest-serving college presidents and a renowned advocate for education reform, died May 25. She was 91 years old.
During her 35 years at Alverno’s helm, Sister Joel grew her alma mater into the internationally renowned educational institution it is today. She led the development of Alverno’s 8 Abilities and assessment-based learning model, which has produced legions of successful graduates and inspired educators around the globe.
“Sister Joel was a courageous and pioneering leader who not only strengthened but embodied Alverno’s mission to educate strong women. Through her tireless work and countless achievements at Alverno, in the Milwaukee community and elsewhere, her impact knows no bounds,” says Alverno President Andrea Lee, IHM. “The Alverno community deeply mourns her passing, but we vow to carry on the incredible legacy she leaves behind.”
“Sister Joel devoted her incredible talents to building a revolutionary educational institution that has thrived for decades,” says Mary Meehan, PhD, who succeeded Sister Joel as president and served in that role from 2004-16. “Sister was a colleague, mentor and friend to me, and I will forever be grateful to her for her constant support and encouragement. Anyone who knew her would agree that she was a teacher from whom we all learned so much.”
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Born Janice Anne Read on Dec. 30, 1925, to Joseph and Ellen Read, she later took the religious name of Sister Joel in honor of her parents. She grew up in Chicago, and the nuns who taught her during elementary and high school inspired her to heed the call to religious life.
“The School Sisters of St. Francis taught at the elementary school which I attended from fifth grade on. They wouldn’t fuss about little things, trivia. They were very good to one another and when I saw them together, they were a very joyful group. So in that sense, it was attractive,” Sister Joel once told Alverno Magazine.
Sister Joel spent several years teaching at the Our Lady of Good Counsel parish school in Aurora, Ill. She took her first vows with the School Sisters in 1945 and earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Alverno in 1948. She also completed a master’s degree in history from Fordham University in New York, where she also pursued doctoral-level work.
Alverno welcomed Sister Joel back to campus in 1955 to chair its history department, offering her a chance to return to her ultimate love of teaching.
“When you decide in life that you are going to be a teacher — and by joining the SSSF that decision was made for me — I began to understand what a teacher can do for someone if she is effective as a teacher,” she told Alverno Magazine. “And I think, that when I was a teacher, that was the most exciting part.”
After more than a decade of teaching, Alverno’s first lay Board of Trustees in 1968 appointed Sister Joel as president. At a critical juncture for the College, she worked with faculty to carry out a new vision for education. Those efforts bore fruit in 1973, when Alverno introduced its distinctive abilities-based curriculum and assessment-as-learning approach, a hallmark that continues to distinguish Alverno graduates today. Educators from around the world continue to visit Alverno to study this unique approach to education.
Other achievements under Sister Joel’s visionary leadership include the introduction of one of the first college internship programs in the country; the launch of the Weekend College, targeted at working women; and the creation of the Digital Diagnostic Portfolio, which allowed students to follow their learning progress online. She also oversaw multimillion-dollar fundraising campaigns that expanded the physical campus, as well as scholarship and academic offerings.
“I don’t have any problem raising money,” she once said. “If I were asking for myself, forget it. When you’ve got something very worthwhile and you see what it means to individual students, you see them transformed; you go for it.”
Sister Joel’s many achievements aren’t confined to Alverno — she also left her mark on the Milwaukee community, as well as throughout the state of Wisconsin and the United States. In the 1960s, Sister Joel was one of several Alverno women at the forefront of advocating for women’s rights, and the National Organization of Women honors her on its website as being among NOW’s founders and pioneers.
“Pioneer” is an apt word to describe her status among educators; in 1986, the book The Many Lives of Academic Presidents called Sister Joel “one of a handful of college presidents who have broken new educational ground in the past 100 years.” She shared her boundless wisdom as member of the boards of numerous local, state and national education organizations as well as with two U.S. presidents, who invited her to the White House to discuss educational policy.
Some of her many and varied honors include being named as a presidential appointee to the U.S. Commission for the Celebration of International Women’s Year in 1975, the first recipient of the Harvard University Graduate School of Education’s Anne Roe Award and the Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership’s Lifetime Leadership Award.
Sister Joel retired as Alverno’s president in 2003, but her legacy lives on. The Sister Joel Read Conference Center and Sister Joel Read Outstanding Educator Award ensure that her name is known to a new generation of Alverno women, a generation whose education still bears Sister Joel’s indelible stamp.
“Take risks,” she once told Alverno graduates. “Don’t ever think that something can’t be done. It can. Opportunity is everywhere.”


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Joel_1984 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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May 26, 2017


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Block Build MKE repairs 30 homes on one block in Clarke Square | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Keith Schubert
May 27, 2017
Volunteers build a handicap ramp for a physically challenged Clarke Square resident. (Photo by Keith Schubert)
Maria Gonzalez bounced back and forth between stirring the Mexican hot chocolate and crushing peppers for the chicken mole for the volunteers helping renovate her house.
Gonzalez has lived in her Clarke Square home with her two children for more than 10 years. Without the means to repair her house on her own, she was excited to find out it was chosen to receive major repairs during the second annual Block Build MKE.
“People used to sell drugs on the corner, and when the cops would come for them they would run through my backyard, and it ruined my fence,” she said.
In addition to installing a new fence and a motion-sensor light, volunteers made minor beautification repairs to Gonzalez’s house. She believes the home improvements will increase her safety. “My house was broken into three times in one month, so hopefully if they see a light they will be scared away,” she said.
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Two volunteers update a worn-out walkway. (Photo by Keith Schubert)
Block Build MKE, an extension of Revitalize Milwaukee, brought together dozens of local sponsors and more than 400 volunteers on a recent weekend. Together, they rehabilitated and revitalized 30 homes on one block in Clarke Square. The homes benefited from everything from yard cleanup and painting, to repairs of plumbing, windows, electrical systems and flooring.
Revitalize Milwaukee’s mission is “to stabilize vulnerable neighborhoods and revitalize communities by providing free, critical home repairs, accessibility modifications and comprehensive services for low-income homeowners who are senior citizens, veterans and/or persons with disabilities.”
For more than 15 years, Revitalize Milwaukee, formerly known as Rebuilding Together Greater Milwaukee, has completed home updates for about 1,700 homes and invested more than $12.5 million in Milwaukee-area housing.
“The work we’ve done hand in hand with the community has been life changing for the organization, the volunteers and the homeowners. It has been a great opportunity for people to come to collaboratively make change in the neighborhood,” said Chief Executive Officer Lynnea Katz-Petted.
Alderman José G. Pérez has called the project a “big win,” adding, “It’s a blessing to have an organization like Revitalize Milwaukee that is willing to help communities like Clarke Square. This type of community engagement is a powerful tool that brings people together, lets them know … that we’re in this together.”
Of the 30 homes, 15 received critical repairs or accessibility modifications. Rhonda Cruz’s home was modified to improve its accessibility.
Cruz has lived in Clarke Square with her husband, Ruben Cruz, for more than 30 years. Currently, her daughter and two grandchildren live there as well.
“We have been trying to remodel our house ourselves, but it’s hard. My 5-year-old grandson was just diagnosed with sensory autism, so we have a lot of other priorities that come before remodeling our house.”
Volunteers installed alarms on the windows on the second floor or her house, where her grandson spends most of his time. “My grandson knows how to open the windows up there, and because of his autism, it scares us,” said Cruz.
Tracy Johnson volunteered at the event with REACH (Real Estate Alliance for Charity). She said it felt good to work with volunteers in a neighborhood she doesn’t visit often. “I’ve heard about the Clarke Square neighborhood, but after today I have a new appreciation for how much people care about their houses and the neighborhood,” added Johnson, president and CEO of Commercial Real Estate of Realtors Wisconsin.
“Events like this show people are involved in the community and that they want to see positive change,” said Eliel Contreras, patrol officer for the Milwaukee Police Department. “When people participate in the community and show that they care, it helps reduce crime.”

author: Keith Schubert


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Memorial Day honors those who died serving their country | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sharon McGowan
May 29, 2017
While many Americans think of Memorial Day as the unofficial first day of summer, the holiday originated as a day to honor those who died in the Civil War.
General John Logan, commander of the Great Army of the Republic, selected May 30 as Decoration Day. He chose the date because no battles took place on that day.
After WWI, the holiday was adjusted to honor Americans who had died fighting in any war, not just the Civil War. It became a federal holiday in 1971, to be celebrated the last Monday in May.
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author: Sharon McGowan


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Walker’s Point Center for the Arts hosts Memorial Day art project | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Lydia Slattery / Wisconsin Watch
May 29, 2017
On Friday afternoon, 13 grade school-aged children gathered at Walker’s Point Center for the Arts to make flags commemorating lost family members, veterans and even pets. The Memorial Project was meant to get attendees thinking about what Memorial Day means.
Maiku Vang, art education coordinator for Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, led the Memorial Project. She stood in the front of the art room asking the children to think of their loved ones and heroes, and how to draw them. Some children raised their hands asking if they could draw their dogs on the flags.
The students first sketched relatives and heroes, along with symbols such as rainbows and suns, on cloth. They chatted with one another, comparing their designs.
After they finished outlining their flags, the students lined up to put on aprons and get their brightly colored paint.
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The Memorial Project was part of the workshop series Afternoons with Art held every Friday afternoon at the center. The classes encourage children to have fun and express themselves through art.


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Marquette University partners with Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Marquette University
May 30, 2017
Marquette University and Milwaukee Area Technical College have established a formal partnership to better serve transfer students and facilitate the transfer process. This guaranteed admission agreement allows qualifying students to plan their transfer in advance by drawing on Marquette advising resources to ensure a smooth transition and be guaranteed admission to nearly any Marquette undergraduate program. Marquette Provost Dan Myers and Provost Mohammed Dakwar from MATC were the signatories.
MATC has campuses in Downtown Milwaukee, Mequon, Oak Creek and West Allis with more than 10,000 full-time enrolled students. MATC serves a large multicultural and local population with many students being the first in their family to attend college. Marquette enrolls several students from MATC each year. MATC students that follow the Liberal Arts Transfer track can complete an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science while also earning many transferable credits towards a Marquette Bachelor’s degree.
This guaranteed admission agreement is the second of its kind for Marquette University. The first was finalized earlier this year with the College of Lake County in Illinois. Both are examples of Marquette’s efforts to increase transfer student enrollment by developing clear pathways for student transfer from community colleges.
Marquette continues to identify strategic transfer partnerships with community colleges around the country. More information can be found online.
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author: Marquette University


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Municipal Court takes Warrant Withdrawal Wednesday on the road | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
May 30, 2017
A defendant comes before Municipal Judge Valarie Hill in a meeting room converted into a courtroom at Greater New Birth Church, 8237 W. Silver Spring Drive. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
The Greater New Birth Church, located at 8237 W. Silver Spring Drive, was transformed into a temporary courtroom during the second “Warrant Withdrawal Wednesday” event, sponsored by Milwaukee Municipal Court last week.
The first set of “Warrant Withdrawal Wednesdays,” which took place on three consecutive weeks in November, helped more than 1,500 defendants clear warrants, while 1,048 had their driver’s license suspensions vacated.
According to City of Milwaukee Municipal Court Judge Valarie Hill, half of the 2,400 people who set up payment plans in November have been compliant so far.
“This one comes with a twist,” Hill said.
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After a brief court hearing, defendants were able to meet with officials from the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), get help writing a resume, sign up for a job training program or even get a job, with some employers looking to hire on-site.
Malissa Cooley, a representative of Greater New Birth Church, said the event was an opportunity to build up the community.
“A lot of times when people have warrants or don’t have licenses their lives stagnate. Getting all that cleared up and being able to find a job helps them move forward,” Cooley added.
A Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles official fields questions from an attendee. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Unlike the three Wednesdays in November, when capacity was unlimited, the most recent event was limited to the first 256 attendees who pre-registered by calling a hotline set up by the Municipal Court. According to Hill, the number was limited because regular court sessions were still being held at the courthouse downtown and because the judges wanted to expedite the process for those who registered.
Hill described it as a “one-stop shop.”
During the court hearing, defendants who had their warrants lifted were given three options. They could choose to set up a plan to pay a minimum of $20 a month by mail, online or over the phone, or $20 every three months at the Municipal Court building. The other option was for defendants to inform the judges that they are indigent. Those who said they couldn’t afford to pay were immediately referred to JusticePoint, which was on site. JusticePoint is a program that helps evaluate individuals to determine whether they qualify for indigency, mental health, or alcohol and drug treatment, among other services.
After the November warrant withdrawal event, aldermen and court-watchers raised concerns over whether the court does enough to identify individuals who can’t afford to pay their fines and qualify for an indigency hearing. According to data collected during the first warrant withdrawal event, 109 individuals, or 4.5 percent, were referred to Justice 2000.
Hill told the group gathered for the first round of court sessions that if they couldn’t pay their fines they needed to inform the court when their case was called.
Gretchen Schuldt, executive director of the Wisconsin Justice Initiative (WJI), said she was pleased to learn that attendees were informed of their right to an indigency hearing at last week’s event.
“We hope they’re informing each and every defendant of their rights, all the time,” Schuldt said.
According to Linda Hitz, service coordinator for JusticePoint, individuals were quickly screened and then given an appointment for a later hearing to determine whether they qualify for community service or other options offered through the program, in lieu of paying fines.
Once individuals completed the court proceeding, they were encouraged to take advantage of the additional resources on hand. Timothy Gray, who saw a Facebook post about the event and quickly registered, said he was happy he did.
“Man, it feels good to clear up and get my [license] back,” he said, while standing in line to meet with DMV officials.
According to Sheldyn Himle, chief court administrator for the Municipal Court, DMV officials provided attendees with information about reinstatement fees, vehicle registration, how to obtain a license and whether they had overdue fines in other municipalities.
The judges haven’t decided whether there will be similar warrant withdrawal events in the future, but Branch 3 Judge Phillip M. Chavez, who also heard cases Wednesday, noted that people who have municipal warrants or driver’s license suspensions don’t need to wait for one.
“You can come to municipal court anytime during regular hours and take care of these issues the same way we’re doing it here,” Chavez said.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to refer to JusticePoint, not Justice 2000. The organization changed its name to JusticePoint in 2015. We regret the error.

author: Edgar Mendez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 29, 2017


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34485306500_8996474a10_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 29, 2017


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On the Block: Recycled garden | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Keith Schubert
May 30, 2017
Rhonda and Ruben Cruz have lived in the Clarke Square neighborhood for 30 years. “It’s a nice neighborhood; I know all my neighbors on a first-name basis. We watch out for each other,” said Rhonda Cruz.
The two take a lot of pride in their home. To enhance their yard, Ruben Cruz recently planted a garden. Using websites such as Craigslist and OfferUp, a mobile app for buying and selling items locally, they were able to create the garden entirely from recycled material.