text:
We asked you what you’re thankful for. Here’s what you told us. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
November 25, 2020
Second of two parts.
If you’re reading this, you have a reason to be thankful.
In a year of unprecedented deaths because of COVID-19, we should not take anything for granted.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
With this in mind, we asked seven residents: “What is a person, project, organization, institution or movement that you are thankful for, that’s making an impact in Milwaukee?”
I found my safe place just when I needed it the most
Jenny Lee is a stay-at-home chef and former newspaper journalist. Lee recently wrote, “OPINION: Conversations with white people about their racism can be uncomfortable. Do it anyway.”
I didn’t know joining ElevAsian in January 2020 would become so necessary when COVID-19 hit. I just wanted to join a group with people who look like me, people who are Asian American in Milwaukee.
I was oblivious to the coronavirus until it hit Wisconsin in March. I became scared when I heard that Asian Americans across the world were beaten, spit on and stabbed by strangers who blamed us for the coronavirus just because it was first detected in China. A virus exists in the air. It doesn’t discriminate. It infects anyone.
I am grateful for ElevAsian, an informal group that uplifts the Asian American Pacific Islander community in Milwaukee. Elevate Asians. ElevAsian. With all the anti-Asian sentiment because of COVID, I needed this group to talk to.
The group officially began in 2017 as a Facebook group and now has over 140 members. Co-founders Jessica Boling, Erik Kennedy, May yer Thao and Shary Tran kept seeing each other at events where they were the only Asians in the room. They became friends who started the invite-based group, which became a safe space for Asian Americans to be themselves.
I am Korean American, born and raised in a predominantly white town in Wisconsin. For most of my life, I convinced myself I was comfortable being the only Asian in the room. In the past 12 months, I experienced microaggressions that made me fall backward into an abyss. Shary was the one who taught me how to resolve a conflict with a white friend, so I could repair the friendship.
ElevAsian is a group I needed for my soul. I thank them so much.
Click here for more information about ElevAsian, and if you’d like to join, please contact sharytran@elevasionwi.com.
In case you missed it: NNS Spotlight: ‘We want to be part of the conversation’: Group aims to elevate fellow Asian Pacific Americans
LaTasha Lux took this photo in May at the first protest she attended in Milwaukee. (Photo by LaTasha Lux)
is a proudly tattooed wife, mother, lover of sci-fi, book nerd, “Disnerd” and photographer. She recently wrote, “OPINION: ‘Afraid for my life’: Who are you supposed to call when it’s the police committing the crimes?”
This has been quite a year. It’s easy to look back on the preceding months of 2020 and point out all the bad, all the negatives. With Thanksgiving 2020 fast approaching I was asked the question: “What is a person, project, organization, institution or movement that you are thankful for that’s making an impact in Milwaukee?” Easy answer for me … The Peoples Revolution.
Since March, The Peoples Revolution has taken to the streets in all kinds of weather, protesting social justice issues that primarily impact people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community. It has been my honor to photograph them as they march with allies in communities from Greendale to Wauwatosa, from Milwaukee to Kenosha, from Burlington to Washington, D.C.
That in itself is impressive enough, but that’s not all The Peoples Revolution is doing. By attending Fire and Police Commission meetings and school board meetings, The Peoples Revolution is shining a bright light on issues that would normally remain hidden, such as police brutality and misconduct, student-on-student racial violence and violence against trans women and men. They have arrived at the table and are demanding a seat.
As I write this, The Peoples Revolution has been marching for 173 days. Through hot summer days and now cold autumn nights, they’re still out there with calls to communities to “wake up” and chants of “Black lives matter.”
I have personally witnessed them being verbally abused and threatened, and still they march. They have been tear-gassed, fired upon with rubber bullets and pepper pellets, and still they march. They have been arrested, detained, had their property confiscated, and still they march.
I am in awe of them.
is a writer, Brown Beret and union organizer from Milwaukee. He recently wrote, “OPINION: ‘They are my ancestors’: My 17-year journey to becoming a Brown Beret.”
Earlier this year, I was working at a call center that vacated most of its building due to COVID-19. My department was the one exception, and I felt that wasn’t right.
I called everyone in my department, including my supervisor, to say, “Tomorrow, let’s go to the department supervisor’s office and let her know we demand to work from home.” They all agreed, and the next day, before we went in, I was told we would be working from home. There had been rumblings about what was going to happen, and it got back to them, so we didn’t even have to storm the office.
The next day, I received a phone call from a friend I hadn’t seen in years. It was Lindsay Adams, a friend of friends whom I had become close to through community work with Common Ground. Imagine my surprise when she asked if I was interested in being an organizer for the Milwaukee Area Service & Hospitality Workers Organization, also known as MASH.
Had Lindsay heard me? It was a signal, and Lindsay was the messenger. I agreed to the job, feeling a newfound passion and sense of purpose.
Through the union I have met genuine, passionate people who live to serve the working class. There is no guff here, and most of the people working here have been organizing since they were teens. Some have been living this life since the ’60s.
Where do I fit in? I am a person who knows about the service industry, the uncertainty of the income and lack of benefits. I hear the needs of my fellow bartenders, servers and bussers. Aside from that, being bilingual and very well connected to my South Side community are obvious assets.
MASH is a veritable tapestry of personalities, all with one common goal — to show strength and power in numbers in the workplace. We deserve a spot at the table with the bosses, and the organization pushes to let us know that. Solidarity is in no short supply, and all the right causes are supported, with dignity and pride in the worker’s spirit upheld.
We get the day off on March 31 as well — the birthday of renowned labor leader César Chávez.
Milwaukee gives thanks 2020: Four shout-outs to those who stand out
OPINION: Milwaukee gives thanks: Four shout-outs to those who stand out
OPINION: Milwaukee gives thanks: Four shout-outs to those who stand out


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 24, 2020

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: November 24, 2020

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

author: Adam Carr


text:
Juan Miguel Martinez | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 24, 2020


text:
LaTashaLux Pic | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 24, 2020


text:
5 things to do and know the weekend of Nov. 27 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 27, 2020
This Black Friday, don’t forget to shop small and support local businesses such as Kujichagulia Producers Cooperative. (Photo by Adam Carr)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed on coronavirus by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!

created: November 27, 2020

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 25, 2020

created: November 25, 2020


text:
Community businesses plan for a virtual Black Friday | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
November 27, 2020
“We are really pushing a digital Black Friday this year,” says Lilo Allen, a co-founder of The Bronzeville Collective MKE. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
Despite the pandemic, neighborhood businesses are preparing for the busiest shopping season of the year — but it will look a lot different in 2020.
Some owners are restructuring how they will serve their customers.
CirculateMKE, a market that creates space and opportunity for shoppers and local entrepreneurs to experience the diverse cultures of Milwaukee, canceled a Black Friday Market due to COVID-related restrictions and has now turned its customers’ attentions online.
“Although we can’t be together physically, there are local entrepreneurs taking the extra steps to make products and services available for the holiday season,” said Shalina Ali, a co-director of the market. “So we are going to be amplifying those businesses on our online platforms.”
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Ali said CirculateMKE has also been considering making product boxes. People can keep up with local businesses and their Black Friday sales on CirculateMKE’s social media accounts.
Other local small businesses are following suit.
“We are really pushing a digital Black Friday this year,” said Lilo Allen, a co-founder of The Bronzeville Collective MKE. “We are planning small in-person gatherings, like a coat drive, but I would advise people to curbside pickup as much as possible.”
Raven Davis, the owner of Imagine This Customs, has always offered pickup and delivery to shoppers. She has added shipping as an option for local customers as well.
While these business owners acknowledge it will be more difficult, they ask that people still make the effort to shop local.
“I hope people will be intentional in their holiday shopping,” Allen said. “Your money goes further in a local store than it does at a larger corporation.”
“Try to support local businesses,” said Davis. “Sometimes your business is the only income they have.”
Ali added: “The way we make it out is by supporting one another.”

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


text:
STRONG mental health program for youth plans move to Holton Youth and Family Center | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
November 27, 2020
The STRONG team poses in front of the program’s new home: the Holton Youth and Family Center. (Photo provided by Christian Family Solutions)
Successfully Treating and Reaching Our Next Generation, a mental health service provider for children ages 5 to 14, will be moving next year to the Holton Youth and Family Center, 510 E Burleigh St.
The program, also known as STRONG, plans to lease space at the center for five years. With the help of generous donors, CFS is renovating the Holton facility to meet the needs of the STRONG program. An open house is planned for January.
STRONG is a day-treatment psychotherapy program for children and adolescents in Milwaukee, run by Christian Family Solutions. Day treatment refers to daily sessions of intensive therapy for weeks at a time.
Ashley Schoof, director of STRONG and southeast Wisconsin clinical director for Christian Family Solutions, said kids in the program have sessions three hours a day, five days a week.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
“We have sessions every single day,” Schoof said. “There’s lots of repetition to try to establish those habits.”
STRONG is the only day-treatment program of its kind in Milwaukee.
Linda Hall, director for the Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health, said there are fewer day treatment programs in the state than there used to be.
Hall said the payment rate provided by Medicaid and Badgercare has remained stagnant over several years, making it harder for day treatment programs to stay open.
The program specializes in improving impulse control, emotional regulation and communication, and treating trauma. Hall said in order to qualify for day treatment, children must show they need help in more than one service area. Hall described the entry to day treatment as a “narrow gate.”
Schoof said the Holton facility is larger than the current building at 2669 N. Richards St., and the program plans to increase the number of children served.
The program can fit about 40 kids comfortably in the current building, Schoof said, but can fit 60 to 70 in the Holton facility. The increased capacity could be crucial. Schoof said the program saw its busiest summer ever this year.
The pandemic has caused an increase in demand, Schoof said. Children are experiencing more social anxiety because of new realities brought on by the disease. In some cases, it’s fear to go places because of the virus. In others, it’s missing social cues because of being isolated from other kids.
“Kids almost forget how to be social,” Schoof said.
Schoof said she has also seen an increase in suicidal thoughts for some kids since the pandemic began. While it is most prevalent in the 12- to 14-year-olds in the program, Schoof said she has also seen it in some 7- to 9-year-olds.
Children in the STRONG program attend three psychotherapy sessions each day, which last about three hours. Schoof said some of these sessions are based on art, movement and goal setting. Other sessions are dedicated to reflection and how to reach set goals.
Mario Costantini, chairman of the Holton Youth and Family Center board of directors, said the program will provide psychotherapy for children who would not normally have access to it.
“Every year, we’re rethinking the needs of the neighborhood,” Costantini said.
Costantini, who has been on the board for the youth center since the late ’80s, said it’s in the “prevention business.” Reaching kids at an early age has better effects than later in life, he said, and it’s crucial to giving them a better chance in the world.
“It’s hard to think of a problem in Milwaukee that isn’t related to what happens in the first 18 years,” Costantini said, citing segregation, unemployment and crime as examples.
Costantini said the most effective way to reach kids in his experience is to establish an emotional connection.
Schoof said STRONG emphasizes involvement with the family. She said that a patient’s family is considered part of the treatment team, and leaders see better outcomes when the family is more involved.
“We are only a small little snippet in their lives,” Schoof said. “They [family members] know them better than anyone.”
How to enroll
The STRONG program accepts family or professional referrals and serves children with both commercial and state insurance. Inquiries and referrals can be made by calling the Christian Family Solutions referral appointment line at 800-438-1772.

author: Matt Martinez


text:
5 things to do and know this week in Milwaukee: Nov. 30 to Dec. 5 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 30, 2020
The Milwaukee Diaper Mission is hosting a diaper and period supply drive to help local groups on Giving Tuesday, Tuesday, Dec. 1. (Photo provided by Milwaukee Diaper Mission)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Supply drive for Milwaukee Diaper Mission: Tuesday, Dec. 1
Milwaukee Diaper Mission and Milwaukee Turners are hosting a diaper and period supply drive at Turner Hall, 1034 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1. The items needed include disposable diapers and wipes, cloth diapers and accessories, disposable period supplies, cloth pads and menstrual cups. Food and other basic needs items will be donated to Ayuda Mutua MKE, Metcalf Park Community Bridges and other community organizations. If you can’t make the event, you can donate here.
2. Milwaukee Recreation teaches ancient astronomy: Tuesday, Dec. 1
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
The Hawthorn Glen Outdoor Education Center and Milwaukee Recreation are hosting a class on ancient astronomy. The class will take place at Alexander Hamilton High School, 6215 W. Warnimont Ave., from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1. Participants will study the sky and learn how ancient civilizations from Egypt to the Middle East to the Americas observed the sky. The class is designed for children ages 6 and up and costs $4 for residents and $6 for non-residents. To register, click here or call 414-647-6050.
3. Winter parking regulations: Tuesday, Dec. 1
Winter parking regulations in the City of Milwaukee begin Tuesday, Dec. 1 and continue until Monday, March 1. Follow the signs posted on the street before parking. Parking is not allowed on through highways or bus routes from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. If there is a snow emergency, alternate side parking will be required from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. On even-numbered days (before midnight) a car must be parked on the even side of the street and vice versa for odd-numbered days. Click here, to receive parking alerts and here to learn more information.
4. “Native Strong” town hall meeting on COVID-19: Thursday, Dec. 3
The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center is hosting a virtual town hall meeting on COVID-19. The meeting is a part of its weekly “Native Strong” series. The meeting will take place on Facebook Live from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3. The meeting will focus on testing availability, proper cleaning and hygiene procedures, debunking myths and more.
5. Saving Our Sons new office location and information meeting: Friday, Dec. 4
Saving Our Sons Mentoring Movement, a local mentoring service for young boys, is inviting people to join the program. The group recently moved to a new office, 11414 W. Park Place, Suite 202, and will have its first meeting from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4. Potential mentors, mentees, volunteers and more are invited to join. To learn more, click here.
Bonus: Make it your business to keep NNS in business
The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is conducting our annual fundraising campaign. As a nonprofit newsroom, you are never charged to see our work. Yet our labor is not free. Our staff needs and deserves to be paid. Please support us so we can continue telling the stories of ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Donate here.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.

created: November 30, 2020


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 29, 2020

created: November 29, 2020


text:
Inside the NNS newsroom: Meet Adam Carr, deputy editor for community engagement | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
November 30, 2020
“The opposite of only reporting “bad news” isn’t just doing “good news” — it’s capturing the complexity and depth of the whole story,” says Adam Carr, a deputy editor at NNS. (File photo by Brendan O’Brien)
Name: Adam Carr
What I do at NNS: In our small but mighty newsroom, my job is best captured by “other duties as assigned.” These days, this includes overseeing our “Community Voices” column, working with reporters on sourcing, feeding our media partnerships and organizing special projects.
How long I’ve worked here: I was the first person to join the staff after the original team that launched NNS in 2011. So, I’m coming up on nine years with NNS.
Why I love NNS: The opposite of only reporting “bad news” isn’t just doing “good news” — it’s capturing the complexity and depth of the whole story. When we’re at our best, this is the work we do at NNS, which is sorely needed in Milwaukee.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
What are you most proud of? While the majority of my work is behind-the-scenes, and without a byline, occasionally I put my creative muscles to use for NNS.
During the summer of 2019, we had a blast taking family portraits on a vintage couch and living room at Washington Park Wednesday, Music in Mitchell Park and Silver City InterNational Festival. Then, this spring, we showcased graduates whose ceremonies were scrubbed by the pandemic with a photo shoot on front lawns throughout our neighborhoods.
How to help
Make it your business to keep NNS in business by donating. Your money pays for the dedicated staff of reporters and editors who work hard to connect you to our communities.

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


text:
The NNS coronavirus update for the week of Nov. 30: Council OKs steep fees for businesses; Sixteenth Street opens 2 new winterized tents | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
November 30, 2020
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers opened two new winterized structures at its Parkway Clinic location, 2906 S 20th St. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Here’s the latest update on COVID-19 in Milwaukee and the resources you need to combat it.
Common Council OKs larger fines
The Milwaukee Common Council voted on Nov. 24 to increase the limit on fines given to businesses for violating COVID-19 protocols.
This decision will allow the Milwaukee Health Department to fine businesses up to $5,000 if they are not in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines set out by the city. Previously, the maximum amount for a fine was a flat $500.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Mayor Tom Barrett will now have to sign off on raising the penalties. In addition, the item approved by the council does not specify how the Health Department will determine the specific fine for violations.
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers opens winterized tents
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers has opened two new winterized tents for COVID-19 testing and follow-up care.
The tents, located at the Parkway Clinic, 2906 S 20 St., opened last week. One tent will provide COVID-19 testing and flu vaccinations. The other, known as the Safe Care Tent, will allow follow-up care and urgent care services for people with COVID-19.
“Now that the winter months are getting even closer, it’s important that we make sure that the structures that are used are winterized and safe for residents to use,” Barrett said.
The tents are available by appointment only. Anyone interested should call 414-672-1353.
Wisconsin records over 100 deaths
Wisconsin recorded 104 COVID-19 related-deaths last Tuesday, the first time that the state has broken the threshold of 100 deaths.
This total is not indicative of deaths on a single day but a tally of all previously unreported deaths.
The state is also seeing decreasing numbers in cases, as the Department of Health Services reported a drop in the seven-day average.
Ben Weston, director of medical services for the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management, said in a media briefing that the trends were encouraging but continued to urge caution.
Resources to know
Places where you can get free flu shots
How you can help friends and loved ones who test positive
Where to get free masks
To obtain a free mask, residents can visit these sites:
NNS reporters also gathered a list of where to buy locally made masks if you’re looking to show some local business love when masking up.
Check the City of Milwaukee Health Department’s website for the most updated facts and answers to questions about the mask ordinance.
Look here for up-to-date statistics on COVID-19 in the county. More precautions on how to stay safe and information on COVID-19 can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Contact your health provider, call IMPACT 2-1-1 or take a look at the county’s testing site map to find a testing center near you. The free community testing sites at the Northwest Health Center, 7630 W. Mill Rd., and Southside Health Center, 1639 S. 23rd St., are now open and operating.
Miller Park test site now has weekend hours
Miller Park’s testing site began offering hours for the first time Saturday. The site will be open for drive-thru and walk-up testing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Its weekday hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The site, located at 1 Brewers Way, has been one of the busiest in the city.
For more information on testing, including how to identify symptoms and when you should get tested, visit TestUpMKE.com. Available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Burmese and Arabic.
Check out our continuing coronavirus coverage.
Looking for more personalized direction to resources and information during the coronavirus crisis? Get connected with News414, a texting-based news resource from Milwaukee NNS, Wisconsin Watch and Outlier Media. You can text MILWAUKEE to 73224 and begin to receive free, personalized data via text messages.


text:
Inside the NNS newsroom: Meet Dwayne Burtin, NNS deputy editor for digital strategy | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
December 1, 2020
“I love that we are able to connect and engage with the community in a way that no other news organizations can,” says Dwayne Burtin, deputy editor for digital strategy and a 2020 Marquette graduate. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
Name: Dwayne “Wayno” Burtin
What I do at NNS: I assist NNS staff on producing and publishing content and with technical support. I help maintain our digital presence on the web and in social media. I lead on community fundraising efforts and handle much of the brand identity and marketing for NNS.
How long I’ve worked here: I’ve been with NNS since its launch in 2011.
Why I love NNS: I love that we are able to connect and engage with the community in a way that no other news organizations can. More than 80% of our staff are from the communities we report on, so our understanding and ability to report on the things that matter to the community in the most accurate way is unparalleled.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
What are you most proud of? I’m proud of our growth. We entered the picture at a difficult time for newsrooms across the country. They were already shrinking, and the media in general came under attack on the basis of “fake news” and increased scrutiny and distrust from the public. We’ve maintained, we’ve grown and gotten stronger in so many ways, and throughout our journey we’ve stayed true to our mission. We focus on disenfranchised communities and people, and we amplify those stories to create impact within those communities. One of those stories: ‘Hidden in plain sight? Black female activists feel left out of BLM movement.’
How to help
Make it your business to keep NNS in business by donating. Your money pays for the dedicated staff of reporters and editors who work hard to connect you to our communities.

created: December 1, 2020


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 30, 2020


text:
Kantara Souffrant knows the Milwaukee Art Museum isn’t for everyone. Her new job is to change that. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
December 1, 2020
“It’s my job to make sure everyone feels respected and accepted in the space,” says Kantara Souffrant, the incoming curator of community dialogue for the Milwaukee Art Museum. “That includes understanding the barriers that keep people from experiencing the Milwaukee Art Museum.” (Photo by Rosen-Jones Photography)
Kantara Souffrant believes that art demonstrates what people value.
And as the incoming curator of community dialogue for the Milwaukee Art Museum, it’s her job to ensure community engagement is a focus of programming at the museum through partnerships with Milwaukee’s art community and the community at large.
“I use art as a way to look at structure, access and community,” said Souffrant, who will start in January. “It’s one way of measuring how a community is doing.”
An artist-scholar and a museum educator, Souffrant earned a doctorate in performance studies from Northwestern University and serves as an assistant professor of global/non-Western art history and visual culture at Illinois State University.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
From 2015 to 2018, she was the manager of the school and teacher program at the Milwaukee Art Museum, where she connected students with art in the museum’s collection and revitalized the training and educational materials for the museum’s Haitian art collection.
While at Illinois State University, her research interests included Haiti and the Haitian diaspora. As the daughter of two Haitian immigrants, Souffrant, 34, said the museum’s Haitian art collection showed her a history she didn’t know.
‘A lot of learning and unpacking to do’
One of her goals is to make sure everyone feels welcome at the museum.
“I understand that it hasn’t traditionally seemed accessible to Black, brown and low-income people,” she said. “It’s my job to make sure everyone feels respected and accepted in the space. That includes understanding the barriers that keep people from experiencing the Milwaukee Art Museum.”
Marcelle Polednik, the Donna and Donald Baumgartner director at the museum, said Souffrant’s role serves “as a critical piece to the important work the museum needs to start doing — today.”
Megan McGee, a friend of Souffrant’s and the executive director of Ex-Fabula, a nonprofit that uses storytelling to connect communities, said Souffrant’s work involves breaking down cultural barriers.
“Many institutions like the art museum are grounded in whiteness,” McGee said. “If we want those institutions to serve everyone, there is a lot of learning and unpacking to do, and that is what Kantara’s work is about.”
McGee said Souffrant’s warm and authentic personality is one reason she is good for this position.
“Whenever I hear her speak, I learn so much,” McGee said. “She makes history come alive.”
Souffrant will also serve on the museum’s senior leadership team, helping to make art relevant to Milwaukee’s diverse communities, addressing social issues through art and being responsible for off-site projects.
“Kantara is genuinely interested in making connections,” said Marcela “Xela” Garcia, the executive director of Walker’s Point Center for the Arts. “She is someone that will approach the work in an honest and genuine way.”
Garcia and Souffrant met when Souffrant originally worked at the Milwaukee Art Museum.
“She showed up when it wasn’t required,” Garcia said. “She is interested in seeing Milwaukee become a better place.”
“It is my goal to leave the community in a better place than when I came,” Souffrant said.


text:
NNS news brief: MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary seeks volunteers | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
December 1, 2020
MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary provides basic necessities to Amani residents. (File photo by Sarah Lipo)
The MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary has more work than it can manage, and it’s looking for more volunteers.
The sanctuary’s Doorway Ministry previously served an average of 30 to 50 households each time it opened, but it has been juggling from 120 to 150 since the pandemic hit. And the need keeps rising, according to Sister MacCanon Brown, the organization’s president.
Because it is serving more households in the middle of a pandemic, Brown said she needs more volunteers.
“We have an average of 15 volunteers handling donation intake, organizing, distributing, and trying to give personal attention to each person that comes through our door,” Brown said.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
The Doorway Ministry primarily receives and distributes food donations. But it also gets basic hygiene products and clothing. It has been a large distributor of masks throughout the pandemic as well.
The Doorway Ministry has taken place at the sanctuary at 2461 W. Center St. since 2016 and continues every Tuesday. It has recently added a weekly distribution location at Hephatha Lutheran Church, 1720 W. Locust St., to keep people from standing outside in the cold. That site is open Thursdays. Both sites are open from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Volunteers do everything from accepting donations to distributing them to those in need.
“The church has been closed completely since the beginning of the pandemic,” Brown said. “It was a blessing that they were willing to open so that we could give people a small break from the elements when they need us.”
Brown, the founder of the shelter, has been serving those facing homelessness for the past 28 years, and she said the work is essential.
“This is a lot of work,” she said. “But the over 100 people that stand in line for over an hour proves that it needs to happen.”
Brown said any help is welcome, regardless of how long you can help or how many times you can come. COVID-19 safety measures are always in place, she said.
To find out how to volunteer, click here.
—PrincessSafiya Byers


text:
Post from Community: Medical College of Wisconsin joins national research effort to study new COVID-19 treatments in non-hospitalized patients | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Kerri Allen
December 1, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
COVID-19 patients recovering at home are the focus of a new clinical trial at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) that will study the newest, most effective treatments for the disease.
The trial, ACTIV-2, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study with sites all across the nation. It is geared specifically toward non-hospitalized patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last six days. With the medical community’s knowledge of COVID-19 progressing each day, this study is built to be adaptive. As new treatments for the disease are developed, ACTIV-2 patient participants will benefit. If a therapy appears effective, it can be advanced rapidly to testing in larger groups of volunteers.
“Current ACTIV-2 patients across the nation are receiving an antibody treatment that has proven to be very encouraging, and we expect a rapid acceleration of additional treatments in the near future,” said Zouyan Lu, MD, assistant professor of infectious disease at MCW and principal investigator of the study. “The ACTIV-2 trial is an exciting opportunity for patients in southeastern Wisconsin to access to the nation’s most effective COVID-19 therapies.”
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
ACTIV-2 was established as part of NIH’s Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV), a public-private partnership program created to speed development of the most promising treatments and vaccines.
MCW is currently the only participating site in Wisconsin. Eventually, MCW will also be enrolling patients for the ACTIV-3 trial, similar to ACTIV-2, but for patients who are hospitalized.
Over the course of one month, volunteers will have in-person visits with a doctor to check on the status of their health. Throughout the following several months, they will also have phone calls or video chats from home with a researcher.
Those interested in participating can visit https://www.riseabovecovid.org/en to learn more.

author: Kerri Allen


text:
Post from Community: MKE Black announces new executive director | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
MKE Black
December 1, 2020
(Photo provided by Rick Banks)
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Effective today, December 1, 2020, Rick Banks, one of the MKE Black Co-Founders, will take the helm as the volunteer Executive Director of MKE Black Incorporated. Co-Founder Paul Wellington, who’s served as Executive Director since MKE Black’s founding will stay involved as Director of Operations and Technology and continues to serve as the Treasurer of the Board of Directors.
“I thank Paul tremendously for his leadership, efforts to grow MKE Black and to serve the culture.” Rick Banks said. “We have achieved over 5000 app downloads, grown our team from 3 to 7, gained over 10,000 social media followers and supported dozens of Black-owned businesses affected by COVID-19 and community unrest. We couldn’t have asked for a better first year!”
MKE Black was also joined this year by Ayrton Bryan, serving as Director of Strategic Partnership and Initiatives, Kim Erdman serving as Community Events Planner, and Solana Patterson-Ramos, serving as Community Outreach Coordinator. Amir Zakir, owner of Royal Beauty Cuts and Styles will also continue his role on the board.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Moving forward to 2021 MKE Black will be looking to certify their 501(c)3 and B-Corp status, establish independent Boards of Directors, fundraise to add more functionality to the mobile app and continue to collaborate with other organizations to promote Black culture.
MKE Black is currently 100% volunteer run. To learn more about MKE Black go to https://mkeblack.org. Non-tax deductible donations can also be made at the website above.

author: MKE Black


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 1, 2020


text:
Post from Community: MPL receives $100K from Impact100 to expand Hotspot program | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Library
December 1, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
The Milwaukee Public Library (MPL) through the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation, has been awarded $100,000 from Impact100 that will add 225 devices to its popular Hotspot lending program, which increases internet access for Milwaukee residents by allowing up to 10 devices to connect to the library’s Wi-Fi from anywhere with just one Hotspot.
“MPL is honored to receive this very generous award, and to partner with Impact100 to address the alarming disparity in internet access in Milwaukee,” said Joan Johnson, Library Director. “In the City of Milwaukee, less than 40% of low-income households have internet access at home. This population is suffering setbacks in multiple areas more than ever given the transition to online environments for school, work, medicine, finance, and the legal system as a result of the pandemic. The mission of MPL is to help residents read, learn and connect, not just to our resources but to each other and the world beyond. Thanks to the generosity of Impact100, the expansion of our Hotspot program increases our ability to do that.”
To ensure equal access for all patrons, Hotspots are available on a first-come, first-served basis at Central Library and all neighborhood branch libraries. As such, the devices cannot be held or reserved, and because they are intended for short-term, immediate use, checkout can’t be renewed in a 21-day period. If Hotspots aren’t returned after 21 days, they are deactivated. Unlike other materials in the MPL system, Hotspots must be checked out and returned to the same location. Check out is limited to patrons 18 years of age or older.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
“Our grant evaluation process started long before COVID-19,” said Impact100 President Robin Martin.  “We were already impressed with the library’s transformative and impactful Hotspot project. We never imagined it would take on even more significance this year.  We are thrilled and honored to be able to support Milwaukee Public Library’s work to stay connected in these very unusual times.”
About the Milwaukee Public Library
Milwaukee Public Library is an anchor institution that helps build healthy families and vibrant neighborhoods – the foundation of a strong Milwaukee. Since 1878, Milwaukee Public Library has been a free provider of education and information for residents of Milwaukee and beyond. With 14 locations, and nearly three million items in circulation, MPL offers free access to a rich collection of materials both physical and digital, access to technology, classes, exhibitions, programming and more.  From toddlers to scholars, MPL serves more than one million patrons who come through its doors annually and many more around the globe who use its resources at www.mpl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, MPL relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support Milwaukee Public Library at mpl.org/support.
About Impact100
Formed in 2015, Impact100 Greater Milwaukee is an organization of women leveraging their collective contributions to award $100,000 grants to nonprofit organizations to strengthen the Greater Milwaukee community. Over the past five years, Impact100 Greater Milwaukee has awarded more than $1,600,000 to twenty-five nonprofit organizations through member contributions. Globally, Impact100 has more than 60chapters that have contributed almost $80 million since the end of 2019. Impact100 Greater Milwaukee is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit www.impact100mke.org.

author: Milwaukee Public Library


text:
Post from Community: Nonprofit seeks 60,000 men to help end human trafficking | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Convergence Resource Center
December 1, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
A small faith-based nonprofit community service organization hopes to raise an army of at least 60,000 men before the end of the year to oppose human trafficking and the commercial sex trade. The campaign received the backing of leaders from law enforcement, state and local politicians, religious institutions and business leaders during an online news conference today.
“We are facing an epidemic in our state and our nation that most people don’t realize exists, even though it’s out in the open,” said State Rep. Jason Fields. “It’s human trafficking involving the commercial sex trade – a multimillion-dollar criminal enterprise that exists in cities, suburbs, small towns and rural areas – and that is victimizing vulnerable teen boys and girls in every community.”
Fields, who has introduced or supported a number of bills aimed at helping human trafficking victims escape the commercial sex trade, led the kickoff of the HEMAD (Human trafficking Educators working with Men and boys to stand Against the Demand) campaign. HEMAD asks men to take a public stand against human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of adults and children.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
The campaign will run five weeks – lasting until Dec. 28. Organizers hope 60,000 men will take the HEMAD pledge this year. Last year, the goal was 6,000 men – twice the number from 2018. Thanks to social media, the campaign went viral with more than 45,000 men in 11 states and two foreign countries taking the pledge.
HEMAD is a program of Convergence Resource Center (CRC), a faith-based nonprofit community service organization helping women rebuild their lives after trauma with an emphasis on justice involved women and female survivors of human trafficking.
“The statistics are staggering,” said Acting Chief Michael Brunson Sr. of the Milwaukee Police Department. “Eighty percent of human trafficking cases in the U.S. involve sex trafficking, and this is a crime being committed in every county in our state. One in three runaways will be lured into sexual exploitation within 48 hours of leaving home and the average age of entry into the commercial sex trade is 13 – that is a kid in the seventh grade!”
“In 2019, more than half of the criminal human trafficking cases in the U.S. were sex trafficking cases involving children,” said Chief Deputy Denita Ball of the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office. Ball served 25 years in the Milwaukee Police Department, including time in the Sensitive Crimes Section that deals with sex crimes. She said that while law enforcement agencies are working together and sharing information, they need the public’s help.
“Traffickers are using social media platforms to recruit and advertise,” she said. “The average trafficker has five victims who see an average of 30 “clients” a day – seven days a week. We need more citizens to get involved. If you see something, say something and call police. You might save a life.”
“We will not tolerate these horrific actions in our community and we’re going to fight harder than ever to turn these numbers around and save these children and young adults,” said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. He added that the city is working with CRC, the Milwaukee Joint Human Trafficking Task Force and other groups to fight human trafficking.
During the online event, Fields showed a brief video illustrating the issue of human trafficking and how men can play a key role in ending the demand of sex trafficking. He then led the dozens of leaders in a pledge to stand up against traffickers.
“HEMAD is doing important work in building awareness of the signs of human trafficking,” said Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul in a statement. “Wisconsinites can help combat this terrible crime by standing up and pledging to take action against it.”
A study on sex trafficiking of juveniles and young adults by the Medical College of Wisconsin found that 55 percent were under age 18 when they were first trafficked for sex and one in four had been trafficked multiple times. The study recommends additional training for street-level police officers to better distinguish between prostitution and sex trafficking of adults, focusing awareness and prevention efforts toward individuals at risk for sex trafficking victimization, identifying and addressing the factors that enable sex trafficking to occur in certain areas and developing ways to identify locations where juveniles are trafficked through collaboration between the community, the criminal justice system, local healthcare systems, and social service and advocacy agencies.
“About 300,00 children are at risk of being sex trafficked each year in the U.S.,” noted Fields. “That’s the combined populations of Kenosha, Racine, Waukesha and Wauwatosa or Green Bay, Eau Claire, Sheboygan, Oak Creek, Mequon and Germantown. That’s a lot of kids and they are worth saving!”
Fields added that nearly 45,000,000 cases of human trafficking have been reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888 or text 233733) in the past five years and the number of human trafficking cases in the U.S. is rising every year.
“This is a multimillion-dollar demand-driven industry that we need to put out of business. We can squash that demand by publicly taking a stand,” said Fields. “I challenge my fellow community leaders in the state assembly, the state senate, county commissions and city councils, school boards, civic organizations, churches and block watch groups to take the HEMAD pledge and share it with their constituents.”
About Convergence Resource Center
Convergence Resource Center (CRC) is a faith-based nonprofit community service organization providing support for women rebuilding their lives after trauma with an emphasis on justice involved women and female survivors of human trafficking. It is a contracted member of the Milwaukee Joint Human Trafficking Task Force (MJHTTF). To learn more, call (414) 979-0591 or visit www.convergenceresource.org.
About HEMAD
Human trafficking Educators working with Men and boys to stand Against the Demand (HEMAD) is a program of Convergence Resource Center directed at men on the importance of ending human trafficking. To learn more, visit  https://www.convergenceresource.org/hemad-campaign or contact HEMAD@convergenceresource.org.

author: Convergence Resource Center


text:
HEMAD-logo.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
November 23, 2020

created: November 23, 2020

author: Name *


text:
Causey’s Career Corner: Here are 10 ways to ace your virtual interview | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Damia S. Causey
December 2, 2020
We are now eight months into COVID-19, and the way we search for employment has drastically changed. While the internet and social media have been staples in employment searches and applying for jobs for the last several years, most interviews were still held in person.
Enter 2020.
The economy is still in recovery mode now due to the pandemic, but several employers have retooled their business practices to align with coronavirus protocols and are beginning to hire again.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
So you’ve submitted the application, received the coveted callback and have a virtual interview scheduled. Congratulations! Now how do you adroitly put your best screen forward to ensure your virtual interview is successful?
I’ve learned several tips that have helped me during multiple weekly Zoom meetings since the pandemic began. Here are my top 10.
1. . Nothing is worse than getting ready for an interview only to realize your internet is lagging or not functioning correctly. Check with your internet company to see if you are eligible for a free software upgrade. Your internet speed will be very important to prevent screen freeze and unintentional disconnection during your interview.
2. . I set up Zooms with friends just to check my microphone and video. And always show up to your virtual interview a few minutes early. This will give you time to make sure all your connections are properly set up and you won’t feel rushed.
3. . Do not have it overly crowded or cluttered. Make sure it is clean! When I take part in virtual meetings I usually do them in front of my home bookcase. Books make a nice backdrop, and it makes you look studious! A white background with a plant or two also is a nice setup.
4. . Lighting is very important in virtual meetings. Make sure your light source is in front of you and not behind you. If the light is behind you, it will cast a shadow and you will not be visible to your interviewer. Natural light from a window is best, but it may not always be possible. As more of us continue to work from home, selfie lights are gaining popularity.
5. . Even if there are people in your home, stress to them that quiet is absolutely necessary! You wouldn’t bring children, your mama or pets to an in-person interview, so  treat a virtual interview the same way. Maintain professionalism at all times.
6. . Online interviews are still real interviews! Wear business attire, put on a tie, comb your hair nicely, iron your shirt, and even if your potential employer can’t see them, wear shoes. All of these things put you in the right mindset for an interview.
7. . Pay attention to unnecessary fidgeting. While hand gestures aren’t a bad thing, less is more.
8. . You could also have notes visible to you but not the interviewer for points you don’t want to forget.
9. . Make sure you can be heard well. This is where the test runs come in. And please, don’t chew gum.
. Create a LinkedIn career profile. It is a great resource to present your strengths at a glance and connect with companies you would like to work for.
Most of all, try and remain positive during this ever-changing time in our world. COVID-19 has changed the way we live, work and socialize, but we are a resilient people and will get through this.
The interview process is definitely different but being in the comfort of your home surrounded by things that bring you peace and make you feel good can be an advantage. Put your best face, and lighting, forward, and believe that what is meant for you, will be for you. Stay positive, stay safe and be well.
I will share stories of those who have taken a nontraditional approach to employment or an unusual career path. I will also list employment information such as job fairs, resource fairs and job training events. I encourage organizations to email me at damiacausey@milwaukeenns.org with career information

created: December 2, 2020

author: Damia S. Causey


text:
Post from Community: MPL pivots to contactless pickup throughout system on 12/3/2020 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Library
December 2, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Beginning tomorrow, Thursday, December 3, Milwaukee Public Library will shift operations at Central Library and all neighborhood branch libraries from in-person service to curbside materials pickup only.  This is a result of the 7-day rolling average positive case rate for COVID-19 exceeding 15% in the City of Milwaukee.
To ensure the health and safety of our patrons and our staff, MPL will remain in a curbside service model until the positive case rate remains at or under 15% for at least 7 days.  MPL will continue to offer robust virtual programming for all ages, and complete online resources including e-books and periodicals, homework help, and hundreds of databases and information sources.
Patrons can request materials online or by calling Ready Reference at 414-286-3011.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Patrons are encouraged to stay connected to mpl.org for updates and follow MPL on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn) for the latest information on programming and other virtual offerings.


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 2, 2020


text:
Post from Community: Online puppy scams rising sharply in 2020, BBB warns | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wisconsin Better Business Bureau
December 2, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased demand for pets as people seek adding a pet to the family to ease the loneliness and tension of prolonged time at home. Many feel that they now have more time to train a puppy. With this rising demand has come a spike in pet scams, in which an online search ends with a would-be pet owner paying hundreds of dollars or more to purchase a pet that ultimately doesn’t exist. Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises extreme caution when shopping for a pet online, especially in light of scammers’ evolving tactics.
Soon after cities and states began to impose tighter restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19, BBB Scam Tracker saw a spike in pet fraud reports, with nearly 4,000 reports received in 2020 from the U.S. and Canada. Data from BBB Scam Tracker shows more reports about fraudulent pet websites in April than in the first three months of the year combined. The COVID bump is continuing into the holiday season with consumers reporting 337 complaints to BBB about puppy scams in November 2020, a dramatic increase from 77 for the same month in 2019.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
The median loss reported to Scam Tracker in 2020 is $750. Those aged 35 to 55 accounted for half of BBB reports in 2020.
Law enforcement and consumer advocates now say a person searching online for a new pet is extremely likely to encounter a scam listing or website.
The pandemic has given scammers a new tool in their arsenal. Scam Tracker reports show that many fraudsters are telling would-be pet owners they cannot meet the animals before sending money. Petscams.com, which tracks and exposes these scams, recommends using another tool popularized by COVID-19 — video conferencing — to meet the animal and owner virtually before buying as a way of reducing scam vulnerability.
“COVID-19 has made for a long and uncertain year, and a ‘quarantine puppy’ or other pet has proven to be a comfort for many people, but it also has created fertile ground for fraudsters,” said Jim Temmer, BBB Wisconsin president and CEO. “People currently shopping for pets online are prime targets for fraudsters trolling the internet looking for want-to-be pet owners. Knowing the red flags associated with this scam can help consumers avoid heartache and losing their money.”
At the current pace, pet scams reported to BBB will be nearly five times as many as in 2017, when BBB published its first in-depth investigative study on pet scams. The projected dollar loss from these scams is expected to top $3 million, more than six times the total losses reported in 2017. According to the Canadian Antifraud Centre (CAFC), complaints about pet frauds reported to them have also increased by a third since 2017.
BBB Scam Tracker Data
Year
Pet Scam Reports
Losses
2017
884
$448,123
2018
1,578
$718,248
2019
1,870
$1,016,380
2020 (Jan. 1 – Nov. 30)
3969
$2,843,552
2020 (projected)
4,300
$3,100,000
An Oshkosh woman reported in June 2020 that she lost $1,130 after attempting to purchase a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from a website: “I sent a message regarding purchasing a puppy from a breeder and was contacted by text. They asked me about my experience with animals and we had a conversation about how to get the puppy shipped to me. I made the payment and never heard from them again.”
With the increase in scam activity has come an evolution in tactics. Scam Tracker data indicates that mobile payment apps like Zelle and CashApp are often used now, whereas Western Union or MoneyGram wire transfers were popular payment methods documented in the 2017 study. Both Zelle and CashApp have issued warnings about pet scams. In addition, pet scammers now commonly use online advertising tools such as sponsored links to boost their fraudulent listings in search results.
The 2017 BBB study noted that most scammers are unable to process credit cards. Although that remains the case, some pet scammers now use fraudulent online forms to collect credit card information. Since the scammers do not have legitimate arrangements to process credit cards, victims may receive an error message stating that the card was declined. Scammers then direct the buyer to send money a different way. But now the scammers have stolen the credit card number, and use these stolen cards to pay for domain names of websites and otherwise fund their scam activities. Pet buyers using a credit card need to monitor their credit card statements carefully.
In addition to telling buyers they cannot meet a pet before paying because of the pandemic, fraudsters have made COVID-19-related money requests for items such as special climate-controlled crates, insurance and a (non-existent) COVID-19 vaccine, according to Scam Tracker reports. There also were instances where purchasers wanted to pick up the pet but were told that wasn’t possible due to COVID-19 restrictions.
In July 2020, a Fairfield, California, woman told BBB she had attempted to purchase a Yorkshire terrier puppy from an online seller who would accept payment only via mobile apps or gift cards. As instructed, she initially paid $600 for the puppy by purchasing a pair of $300 Vanilla cards and sending photos of the front and back to the seller. Two days later, she was asked to use the same method to pay another $750 for “reimbursable pet insurance.” When she was asked the next day to similarly pay $850 for a “regulated crate,” she told the seller she had exhausted her funds and no longer wanted to proceed with the purchase. The woman told BBB the seller promised to refund her by gift card, but did not and never contacted her again.
In August 2020, a Seneca, Illinois man reported to BBB that he believed the dachshund puppy he paid $700 for through Zelle was on its way to him when scammers asked for more money to be wired for a special climate-controlled crate. The wire request raised a red flag for the man, but he said he mistakenly believed the Zelle payment was protected. The fraudulent sellers cut off communication with him, and he lost the $700.
While puppies remain the most common bait in a pet scam, 12% of pet scam complaints to BBB were about kittens or cats. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) data shows that scams involving kittens have more than doubled since 2017. The FTC also received 185 reports of parrots being ordered but not delivered during the first half of 2020. Fraudulent listings for Yorkshire terriers and French bulldogs are particularly pervasive, according to Scam Tracker reports.
A Centralia, Illinois, woman told BBB in April 2020 that she paid $750 for a corgi puppy she found online as a surprise for her husband’s birthday. She said the Texas-based seller sent her pictures and a video of the puppy, but after she sent the money via Zelle, the seller stopped responding to her contact attempts. The woman subsequently learned the seller was using another person’s photos to promise the puppy to multiple buyers, with a similar outcome in each case.
“It’s so sad that such rude and dishonest people are out there taking advantage of innocent, trusting people,” the woman told BBB.
A Coppell, Texas, woman shared a similar story with BBB in May 2020, paying $1,050 via Zelle for an English bulldog that never arrived. She said the seller provided photos, paperwork and a profile of the dog, as well as purported shipment tracking information from a site that turned out to be fraudulent.
There have been a few law enforcement actions against pet scammers since BBB’s previous study was issued in 2017. In the U.S., a man was arrested in Minnesota for pet fraud in December 2019. In Canada, a woman was arrested for puppy fraud in Waterloo, Ontario in September 2020, and a Newfoundland woman was recently sentenced to 33 months in prison for this fraud.
BBB recommendations for buying pets online:
Who to contact if you are the victim of a pet scam:
For more information or further inquiries, contact the Wisconsin BBB at www.bbb.org/wisconsin, 414-847-6000 or 1-800-273-1002. Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following the Wisconsin BBB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2019, people turned to BBB more than 183 million times for BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.8 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. There are local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada and Mexico, including BBB Serving Wisconsin which was founded in 1939 and serves the state of Wisconsin.

author: Wisconsin Better Business Bureau


text:
Inside the NNS Newsroom: Meet Paul Salsini, writing coach | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
December 3, 2020
As the volunteer writing coach for NNS, Paul Salsini makes sure our writers shine. (Photo provided by Paul Salsini)
Name: Paul Salsini
What I do at NNS: I work with reporters on their stories, always trying to make them better and more readable.
How long I’ve worked here: Four years
Why I love NNS: I love working with young, and maybe not so young, reporters and writers as they cover people and events in the Milwaukee area. I worked at The Milwaukee Journal for 37 years and in the last years was the paper’s writing coach. It was the most satisfying work I did there. The same is true at NNS, but here I get to read stories from underserved neighborhoods that I know so little about. So it’s an education for me. Also, I’ve been writing fiction lately, so it’s great to be doing journalism again.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
What are you most proud of? I thought Edgar Mendez’ profile of Pulaski/Carmen coach Melvin White was a fine example of someone using his own life experiences to help youth live better lives.
How to help
Make it your business to keep NNS in business by donating. Your money pays for the dedicated staff of reporters and editors who work hard to connect you to our communities.

created: December 3, 2020


text:
NNS Spotlight: She’s writing a new chapter for Black-owned bookstores in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
December 3, 2020
Cetonia Weston-Roy, the founder of the Niche Book Bar, wanted a bookstore that promoted Black literature such as Lewis Lea Jr.’s novel “Trilithaeons: In Dissonance.” (Photo provided by Lewis Lea Jr.)
Editor’s note: This story is part of an  occasional series that highlights groups and people worth knowing in Milwaukee. To nominate a person or a group, email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “Spotlight” in the subject line.
The Niche Book Bar is a relatively new staple to Milwaukee’s scene.
From farmers markets to neighborhood parks to local hubs such as the Sherman Phoenix or Alice’s Garden – the book bar has been almost everywhere with no intention of stopping anytime soon.
Currently, the bookstore is a bike with a display case attached, but there are plans for a brick-and-mortar store in the future.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Here are four things to know about Milwaukee’s newest Black-owned “bookstore.”
Cetonia Weston-Roy, 27, officially launched the Niche Book Bar earlier this year, but the idea came to her several years ago. The niche is Black literature by Black authors, both local and national.
“It’s needed for us to see ourselves positively and wholly in everything that we do,” she said.
While her son took a nap, Weston-Roy enjoyed a book and a glass of wine. As she read, she thought that there should be a bookstore that doubled as a wine bar. She tweeted out her idea and went back to reading.
As time went on, the idea continued to ferment and with the closing of The Reader’s Choice, the last Black-owned bookstore in Wisconsin in 2018, Weston-Roy decided to make her idea into a reality.
The Niche Book Bar features Black literature and includes a range of genres from fiction to mystery and horror to romance and everything in between. For almost each of the categories, Weston-Roy lists which wine they pair best with. Sauvignon blanc, for example, goes best with autobiographies and biographies, and Pinot noir goes best with mystery and horror.
“It’s been very positive,” she said. “There’s been a lot more attention than I thought.”
Angel Bell, a local Milwaukeean and author, said the Niche Book Bar is making it convenient for Black people to engage with Black literature, especially during this historic time. It coincides with the Black Lives Matter movement and is something that is really needed in the community, Bell said.
Bell first heard about Weston-Roy while reading an article about literature.
“Her purpose and reason for starting the bookstore sparked my interest,” she said.
Angel Bell and Cameron Fry are working on their second book about Cameron’s drowning experience. (Photo provided by Angel Bell)
Weston-Roy started connecting with local Black authors and created the Black Authors Collective, initially the Black Authors Pop-Up.
“I found there were more authors than I originally thought,” she said. “And I know there are many more.”
Her goal was to not only promote local Black authors but also to encourage people to read books with Black protagonists where the main topic wasn’t trauma. Books by award-winning science fiction author Octavia Butler were among the first she read that featured Black people as the main characters.
“It should be normal that you’re featured and reflected in books,” Weston-Roy said.
Weston-Roy said she wanted to read a book and see herself, a young Black woman, represented, so she started reading books by Black authors.
Lewis Charles Lea Jr. is a member of the Black Authors Collective. His book, “Trilithaeons: In Dissonance” is featured in the local authors’ section.
Lea’s novel follows the protagonist Alexis on her time-traveling journey to discover why the residents of Glass City live a pain-free life. The cover was designed by a Rufus King High School graduate, Desharr Saddler. The story, which parallels Lea’s own journey, is about self-discovery and the rejection of exterior labels.
“I wanted to do it [write a book] as a kid but the outside world stopped the process,” he said, adding that he got the motivation to finish the book from his sons.
Lea, who works in education, was looking to connect with local authors as part of an initiative to get students to read more. While on the hunt, he encountered Weston-Roy who was hosting an event at Coffee Makes You Black, 2803 N. Teutonia Ave.
She was open and enthusiastic, Lea recalled. When he heard about the Niche Book Bar, Lea loved the idea.
“I right away tried to get my book on the shelf,” he said.
Bell said Weston-Roy’s commitment to including and spotlighting authors on the Niche Book Bar Facebook page encouraged her to ask Weston-Roy about joining the book bar and being spotlighted.
Bell and her son Cameron Fry, 13, co-wrote the book “Why Bully Me?” about Cameron’s experience with bullying in kindergarten. The book took about two years to write and was published on June 1.
She said Cameron wanted to write the book to spread awareness about bullying and prevention methods.
“The reality of what he faced can help someone else,” she said.
For now, the Niche Book Bar is actually a bicycle, but Cetonia Weston-Roy hopes to turn it into a brick-and-mortar stores. (Photo provided by Cetonia Weston-Roy)
The Niche Book Bar is currently a blue bike with a wooden yellow display case attached on back.
The case holds over a dozen books for all age ranges.
Weston-Roy chose a bike as her mode of transportation because of budget. Although she initially planned to open a brick-and-mortar store, the coronavirus pandemic slowed down funding.
The bike has been a blessing in disguise and has allowed her to attend events such as farmers markets and ride through various neighborhoods and connect with more people.
During one of her first ventures, she went to Carver Park, where a little girl wanted to look at the books. Another time, a woman gave her a children’s book about wearing a mask, and yet another time she spoke with someone about how Black protagonists are missing from literature and always cast as the slave.
It is something inspiring that has never been seen before, Lea said, and it showcases books not found in large bookstore chains.
“I think it’s important for Milwaukee because we learn through stories,” he said. “Sometimes when you hear stories from your own area, it’s inspiring.”
One of the books available at the Niche Book Bar is Weston-Roy’s own book, “The Misadventures of Toni Macaroni in The Mad Scientist.” The book’s protagonist, Antoinette Macarthur, otherwise known as Toni Macaroni, is based on Weston-Roy and follows Toni as she tries to avoid eating her dad’s cooking.
Weston-Roy recently launched a Kickstarter to raise funds for a brick-and-mortar store. Her plan is to open the bookshop in Bronzeville, where she plans to serve wine and start genre-based book clubs.
The book selections continue to grow, and Weston-Roy started book subscription services for children and adults.
Bell, Cameron and Lea are all working on their second book.
Bell and Cameron plan to write a book about Cameron’s drowning experience. Lea’s second book follows some of the characters in the previous novel but isn’t necessarily a sequel. For now, he’s focusing on finding beta readers to read his draft and give him strong feedback.
Weston-Roy continues to encourage everyone to read.
“One of the best ways to inform people and get empathy is to read,” she said.


text:
50590729767_550423199c_o (1) | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 3, 2020


text:
‘We have to pay attention’: Community organizers plan to hold politicians accountable | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
December 3, 2020
Groups across Milwaukee worked hard to get out the vote this year. Now they are turning their attention to holding elected officials accountable. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
It’s not over.
As this year’s election season comes to an end, groups like BLOC, Voces De La Frontera and North Side Rising are already gearing up for the next political battles.
“We’re taking a short break and then we’ll be back preparing for spring elections,” said Angela Lang, the executive director of Black Leaders Organizing Communities or BLOC.
Lang said BLOC already is discussing accountability programs, its yearly fellowship and how the group will be following the elected officials.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
“Being civically engaged is about more than the politics,” Lang said. “It’s about community.”
Lang said after a busy and tough year, BLOC will go back to its roots.
“We reach out to the community, hold elected officials accountable and build community,” she said. “It is expected that we are going to stop paying attention now that the election is over, so we have to pay extra attention.”
The spring election will be April 6, with a primary expected in some races for Feb. 16. Four Milwaukee school board members will be up for election as well as three Wisconsin Court of Appeals judges and the Wisconsin superintendent of public instruction.
(The deadline to file nomination papers is Jan. 5; the final list of candidates won’t be known until then.)
Other groups echo BLOC’s plans for after the November election.
“Now we are responsible for holding our president-elect accountable,” said Alejandra Gonzalez, a volunteer for the advocacy group Voces De La Frontera. “A lot of promises were made, and we have to make sure that there is a follow-through.”
He said his group also needs to mobilize for the next election.
“I know we just completed an election, but there are elections next spring,” Gonzalez said. “People need to make an effort to learn about those position because they affect us as well.”
Gonzalez said the next election is especially important.
“Elections are coming up for Milwaukee Public Schools board members,” Gonzalez said. “The people who that decision affects [aren’t] old enough to vote, so we have to do the work for them.”
Dana Kelley, the lead organizer for North Side Rising, said now is the time to come together and put aside partisanship.
“We have to remember why we all went out to vote in the first place,” Kelley said. “Whatever you went out there for is what you need to be focusing on now.”
Her group’s goal is to create better lives for residents on the North Side of Milwaukee by advocating for the Green New Deal, a proposed package of legislation meant to address climate change and economic inequality.
Kelley said residents must hold local politicians accountable “because your elected officials work for you.”
In case you missed it
How one Milwaukee group plans to build civic power beyond the 2020 presidential election
NNS Spotlight: New group works to give North Side residents a seat at the table


text:
Post from Community: Zoo gifts help nonprofit | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Katie Krecklow
December 3, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Gifts through the Zoological Society not only help a local nonprofit, some of them can be used for an entire year! The Zoological Society is a nonprofit organization with a mission to conserve wildlife and endangered species, educate people about the importance of wildlife and the environment, and support the Milwaukee County Zoo. Here are some unique local gifts that can also help a nonprofit.
All these gifts can be purchased online, over the phone or in person. Each gift includes shipping and handling and can be mailed to the recipient or the gift giver.
Visit zoosociety.org or call 414-258-2333 to order your gifts today.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!

author: Katie Krecklow


text:
Milja-14.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
December 2, 2020


text:
5 things to do and know the weekend of Dec. 4 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
December 4, 2020
The Urban Ecology Center is hosting a candlelight hike for children at its Riverwest Park location. (Photo provided by Urban Ecology Center)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. “Los Rostros Ocultos/Hidden Faces” exhibit: Friday, Dec. 4
Angelica Contreras’ exhibit “Los Rostros Ocultos/Hidden Faces” is on display at Latino Arts, 1028 S. 9th St. The exhibit will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4. It will remain on display until Friday, Feb. 19. The opening reception will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4. The exhibit explores the relationships between tradition, identity and pop culture. Pre-registration is required to visit the gallery.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
2. Family free day: Milwaukee County Zoo: Saturday, Dec. 5
Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W. Bluemound Rd., is having a family free day from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. Tickets are required and can be purchased here. Parking and concession fees still apply but entry to the zoo is free. Masks are required for guests ages 3 and older.
3. Candlelight hike for children: Saturday, Dec. 5.
The Urban Ecology Center is hosting a candlelight hike designed for children. The hike will take place at the Riverside Park location, 1500 E. Park Place, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. Walks begin at 4 p.m. and continue every 20 minutes. Tickets cost $14 or $9 with the price break. Participants are asked to register in advance. Children will hear the story “The Mitten” by Jan Brett during the hike and receive a goodie bag with hot chocolate and cookies.
4. District 6: Dr. James G. White District Difference Makers Awards: Ongoing
Ald. Milele Coggs is asking District 6 residents to submit nominations for the annual Dr. James G. White 6th District Differences Makers Award. The award is given to individuals who have worked to improve the quality of life for themselves, their neighborhoods and the City of Milwaukee. Nominations are being accepted from now until Friday, Jan. 8. To find a nomination form, click here or call 414-286-2994.
5. Kohl’s Family Sundays: The gift of art: Sunday, Dec. 6
The Milwaukee Art Museum and Kohl’s are hosting “The Gift of Art.” The event is a part of the museum’s “Kohl’s Family Sunday” series. This week, families can make creative gifts and sing along with Kai Simone of Skai Performing Arts Academy. The event will take place virtually beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6. For more information, click here.
Bonus: Make it your business to keep NNS in business
The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is conducting our annual fundraising campaign. As a nonprofit newsroom, you are never charged to see our work. Yet our labor is not free. Our staff needs and deserves to be paid. Please support us so we can continue telling the stories of ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Donate here.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed on coronavirus by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.

created: December 4, 2020


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 3, 2020


text:
Inside the NNS newsroom: Meet Edgar Mendez, senior staff reporter | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
December 4, 2020
I’m proud that I’ve been able to provide an authentic and nuanced story about many challenging issues in Milwaukee,” says Edgar Mendez, who’s been with NNS for 10 years. (NNS file photo)
Name: Edgar Mendez
What I do at NNS: I report on public health and safety and public policy.
How long I’ve worked here: 10 years
Why I love NNS: I love working at NNS because our mission to provide coverage of undercovered communities aligns with my values and my love for the community.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
What are you most proud of? I’m proud that I’ve been able to provide an authentic and nuanced story about many challenging issues in Milwaukee, including the Sherman Park unrest and also stories related to the current pandemic.
For example: One article I wrote examined whether things had changed in Sherman Park three years after the unrest and another explored whether “stay at home” arrests revealed racial disparities in enforcement.
How to help
Make it your business to keep NNS in business by donating. Your money pays for the dedicated staff of reporters and editors who work hard to connect you to our communities.


text:
NNS wants to take your family’s holiday portrait, for free! | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
December 4, 2020
It has been a long year and NNS wants to end it on a sweet note by celebrating our community — that means you!
Our photographers will be taking free family portraits just in time for the holidays.
On Dec. 19 and 20, photographers from NNS will meet families in our community at their front door for a physically distant photo shoot. After coordinating a time, all you need to do is get dressed up in your holiday best and the photographer will take a keepsake photo of you and your family in front of your home.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Afterward, we will share a digital version of the photo with you and include it a gallery on our site.
Curious what this might look like? We did a similar physically distant photo shoot for the Class of 2020, with the results in this gallery.
To sign up, fill out this Google Form. Deadline to participate is 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15.


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 4, 2020


text:
‘There’s a false sense of security’: We check in on four essential workers on the frontlines | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
December 4, 2020
Essential workers say they are worried we are becoming too lax as COVID-19 cases rise. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Since March, we’ve been checking in with a group of essential workers who have shared their stories with us about how they have been faring on the frontlines of the COVID-19. (Note: Names of individuals and some details have been withheld or altered to protect their identity and jobs. The stories have been edited slightly for clarity.)
‘It was a rough two weeks’
Ofelia, a staffing consultant: Ofelia and her husband had been taking precautions outside of work to protect their family from COVID-19. She was feeling much safer in June.
Update: My family and I are much better now after our COVID scare. Even though we took all the necessary precautions, we still became positive for the virus. It started with my husband. He got it from one of his co-workers who tested positive and still went to work like that. Once my husband was positive, it took three days for the rest of us to get infected. We are much better now, but it was a rough two weeks.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
People need to realize that this is very real and should take the virus seriously. We are taking extra precautions. We sanitize constantly. We practice social distancing, and we avoid large crowds and gatherings. Things at work are much better. We scan everyone before they enter the building and sanitize after each person leaves our office.
‘I think everyone is getting COVID weary’
Linda , a public health nurse: Wracked by anxiety early in the pandemic, she worried about bringing the virus home. By summer, she was feeling less fearful but still didn’t feel safe.
Update: Today (and the next 10 days) I am quarantining. A staff member tested positive for COVID, and everyone in our clinic was exposed and needed to be tested and has to quarantine. Because we are essential health care workers, once we present a negative result five days after exposure, we can return to work but need to quarantine for a total of 14 days after exposure in our personal life. I think everyone is getting COVID weary and we’ve all let down our diligence in hand washing, mask wearing and social distancing. Clinic staff is a little less careful about wearing proper PPE.
We should be taking proper precautions: wearing lab jackets, face masks (N95 or molded surgical), face shields and gloves. I don’t see that many clients, but I know I am getting sloppy about not wearing a lab jacket or face shield and am wearing a cloth mask instead. There’s a false sense of safety, but everyone was slapped back to reality with the clinic closure.
Outside of work, it’s incredibly depressing to see people behaving so carelessly— not wearing masks, not social distancing and having social gatherings. I was at a car dealership in rural Wisconsin a few weeks ago, and people were looking at me and my friend like we had two heads. Of approximately 30 people in the showroom, we were the only two with masks.  I feel horrible for my brothers and sisters of the stethoscope (RNs) who have been understaffed, overworked and burnt out since April.
Please, please, please wear a mask to give them a break. No need for signs, parades or concerts. Just wear a friggin mask and stay the heck at home. Wearing a mask has become a political statement. It’s not. It’s a health preservation statement. Medical workers need a break. Hopefully within 6 months mask wearing will be a memory because everyone will be immunized. But, then again, immunizations are likely to become another political statement.
‘All of us have been healthy’
Lisa, a chef/supervisor at an assisted living facility: Early in the pandemic, there was an outbreak at the facility she works at, and some residents died. By summer, all residents and staff at her facility were COVID free.  Things seemed to settle down by August, and she said she was feeling a lot more comfortable.
Update: Since the last time we spoke things have definitely been OK here at the job. Residents can move around outside of their rooms as long as they have a mask on. Some eat in the dining rooms but only one per table. Still can’t do any activities with them as a large group, but a few together at a time. No one has tested positive for COVID in months, so that’s good.
We just started to let visitors come, but it can only be one at a time, and they must visit in the gathering rooms in our basement. Staff still has to change into scrubs upon arrival and change back before they leave. PPE has been a little bit easier to get. So all in all, it’s pretty calm around here except staff call-ins and no shows, but that’s a totally different story!
My family has been good. My mom still hasn’t been out of the house since March. My kids and I occasionally go out to eat or to the store but always wear masks and sanitize after. All of us have been healthy.
‘I’m just so drained mind, body and soul’
Maria, a former Walmart worker and tax preparer: Maria had not had the opportunity to meet her first grandchild who was born during the pandemic and was frustrated at being mistreated by customers at work.
Update: As far as how I’m feeling,  I’m doing all right. I’m just so drained mind, body and soul. I did get to meet my grandbaby. She is such a blessing in so many ways. I will cherish every minute I spent with her and my daughter. I got to see a lot of my family, which was amazing. But now that the holidays are here, I’m missing them so and feel very alone, but that’s life.
As for my job at Walmart, I am no longer there. It got to be too much, and it does not help when the company as a whole does not really support their associates. I loved my job. The people I worked with are amazing, but to upper management you’re just a number. I did not feel safe from the beginning and in the end, it was the same. The things you have to put up with are just not worth the stress. I thanked God for the job when so many did not have one, but my mental and physical health are more important than a paycheck.
‘More concerned now than I was in the beginning ‘
Jennifer, a former delivery worker: Safety concerns led her to leave her job at Amazon this summer.
Update: Nothing’s changed. I’m still not working. I’m very much more concerned now than I was in the beginning of the pandemic due to the rise in positive cases. I’m still staying home and still wearing a mask when I do step out.
In case you missed it
‘I have bills, and they need to be paid’: How essential workers are coping with COVID-19
‘I won’t feel safer until this is all over’: Checking in on essential workers
‘Will I bring it home today?’ Essential workers share their COVID-19 stories

author: Edgar Mendez


text:
NNS on ‘Lake Effect’: 5 things to know for December in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
December 6, 2020
The Milwaukee Winter Farmers Market, seen here during the kickoff of the 2019 season, has adopted many pandemic precautions to keep vendors and shoppers safe. (Photo by Adam Carr)
NNS’s Adam Carr joined WUWM and Joy Powers of “Lake Effect” for the December installment of our monthly “5 Things” feature.
This month’s features include the Milwaukee Winter Farmers Market at The Domes; new tenants at the Sherman Phoenix; the newest art exhibition at the Latino Arts gallery; a year-end digital showcase from the Heard Space collective; and the virtual Kwanzaa 2020 celebration at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!

created: December 6, 2020


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 6, 2020
“1204b”. Released: 2020.


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 6, 2020


text:
5 things to do and know this week in Milwaukee: Dec. 7 to Dec. 12 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
December 7, 2020
Food Pantry needs volunteers from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 12. If you are interested, email volunteer@riverwestfoodpantry.org (Photo provided by Riverwest Food Pantry)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. “Level Up”: A virtual networking and mentorship event: Tuesday, Dec. 8
Leaders Igniting Transformation, or LIT, and Mentor Greater Milwaukee are teaming up to present “Level Up,” a virtual networking and mentorship event. The event is taking place virtually from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8. To register, click here. The event includes a presentation from Mentor Greater Milwaukee, a panel with city leaders and mentorship experts and networking opportunities.
2. Affordable housing forum: Wednesday, Dec. 9
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
CommonBond Communities is hosting its annual affordable housing forum, “Intersections of housing and mental health,” from 11 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Dec. 9. This year, the forum will be held virtually and is free to all attendees. To register, click here. The panel of experts includes Martina Gollin-Graves, president and CEO at Mental Health America of Wisconsin; the Rev. Walter J. Lanier, senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church of Milwaukee and director of student resources at Milwaukee Area Technical College; and Omkar Sawardekar, a diversity and inclusion specialist and an organizational change consultant.
3. Wellness Commons ribbon cutting ceremony: Wednesday, Dec. 9
This week, Walnut Way is celebrating the completion of Phase II of the Innovation and Wellness Commons. To mark the occasion, Walnut Way will be livestreaming the ribbon-cutting ceremony from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9. The link will be posted on Walnut Way’s website. The Commons, located on the corner of North 16th Street and West North Avenue.
4. “Snow & Tell” with Safe & Sound: Friday, Dec. 11
Safe & Sound is celebrating the holiday season with “Snow & Tell.” As part of the celebration, the organization is asking residents of Clarke Square and Layton Boulevard West to share their holiday traditions, stories and photos. Submissions are due by Friday, Dec. 11. The celebration will begin at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17. To submit a story and photo, email Brad at brad@safesound.org or call him at 414-308-0243. To join the virtual celebration, click here.
5. Riverwest Food Pantry: volunteers needed: Friday, Dec. 11
The Riverwest Food Pantry, 924 E. Clarke St., is in need of volunteers to help sort food. Volunteers are needed from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 12. If you are interested, email volunteer@riverwestfoodpantry.org.
Bonus: Free holiday portraits: Sign up by Tuesday, Dec. 15
It has been a long year and NNS wants to end it on a sweet note by celebrating our community — that means you!
Our photographers will be taking free family portraits just in time for the holidays.
On Dec. 19 and 20, photographers from NNS will meet families in our community at their front door for a physically distant photo shoot. After coordinating a time, all you need to do is get dressed up in your holiday best and the photographer will take a keepsake photo of you and your family in front of your home.
Afterward, we will share a digital version of the photo with you and include it a gallery on our site.
Curious what this might look like? We did a similar physically distant photo shoot for the Class of 2020, with the results in this gallery.
To sign up, fill out this Google Form. Deadline to participate is 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15.
Bonus: Make it your business to keep NNS in business
The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is conducting our annual fundraising campaign. As a nonprofit newsroom, you are never charged to see our work. Yet our labor is not free. Our staff needs and deserves to be paid. Please support us so we can continue telling the stories of ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Donate here.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.

created: December 7, 2020


text:
Here’s what you need to know about rollout of COVID-19 vaccine | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods and News414
December 7, 2020
By now, you may have heard news about a vaccine to thwart COVID-19.
Click here to learn more.

author: Sam Woods and News414