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Tortilla shop, Indian eatery among businesses benefiting from South Side BID | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Molly Rippinger
January 8, 2015
Robert Montemayor, owner of Monterrey Market and president of the South 13th Street and West Oklahoma Avenue BID, is invested in bettering his community. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
Ambrocio Chairez and his brother, Daniel Chairez, took a risk in the aftermath of the economic recession when they opened the doors to Tortilleria El Sol in 2009. The shop, which specializes in fresh tortillas, is located at 3458 S. 13th St.
“We opened right in the middle of the recession, but we had a lot of faith and were able to pull it off,” explained Ambrocio Chairez, who went with his brother to Mexico before opening to learn how to make tortillas and to purchase the machines that they now use in their storefront.
In the nearly six years since opening, the Chairez brothers’ business has grown significantly by word of mouth. “We still have never placed a single advertisement,” said Ambrocio Chairez. Each day the brothers fill orders from area residents and deliver their tortillas to restaurants across Milwaukee, including Harbor House at 550 N. Harbor Drive, Bel Air Cantina at 1935 N. Water St. and Café Calatrava located inside the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Tortilleria El Sol has seven employees, but the brothers expect to double their staff once they find a warehouse to expand production and increase distribution to area grocery stores, businesses and restaurants. Products include corn tortillas, corn tortilla chips, tostadas and fresh salsa, and the business expects to produce fresh flour tortillas by the end of the month.
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Tortilleria El Sol, a retail and wholesale tortilla shop located at 3458 S. 13th St., has had great success since opening in 2009. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
A few years ago the Chairez brothers and other small business owners from the neighborhood began exploring the idea of establishing a business improvement district (BID) along South 13th Street between West Cleveland and West Morgan Avenues, and West Oklahoma Avenue, between South Chase Avenue and South 15th Street.
Robert Montemayor, owner of the full-service grocery store, Monterrey Market, at 3014 S. 13th St., was an initial supporter of the BID, which was approved by the Common Council in December 2013. Montemayor is now president of the South 13th Street/West Oklahoma Avenue BID board.
“We want to utilize the BID to create a better environment for our community,” explained Montemayor. BID board meetings have included discussions about increasing security, starting cleanup initiatives and working to establish a neighborhood identity that would be recognizable to those passing through the area.
Montemayor hopes that neighborhood improvements will help spark more economic development and entrepreneurship. Already, there is a growing dining culture that matches the diverse community, including Mexican restaurants JC King Tortas and Taqueria Arandas, and Bombay Sweets, an Indian eatery.
Historically, the neighborhood of the South 13th Street/West Oklahoma Avenue BID was considered the center of Milwaukee’s large Polish population, but now it is a predominantly Hispanic community. According to 2010 U.S. Census data, 63 percent of the population within the 53215 ZIP code identified as Hispanic.
Montemayor and his wife, Leonor, are proud to provide jobs for 36 employees, most of whom live in the surrounding neighborhoods. “We’ve been able to be a huge partner with our neighborhood, which has been so important to us,” explained Montemayor.
Harold Betthauser, another business owner in the neighborhood, runs a used furniture and antique shop called The Colonels’ Choice, at 2918 S. 13th St. Betthauser, who is also a certified auctioneer, has been in business for nearly two decades. He said the BID is a step in the right direction. “The neighborhood is coming along.”
Linda Baker has lived in the area for a decade and has noticed a few improvements in recent years, but believes there is more that could be done. “I’ve seen that some of the stores have gotten better lighting for their windows, but haven’t noticed much else,” said Baker.
Ambrocio Chairez and Babita Kumar, co-owner of Bombay Sweets with her husband, Narinder, both hope to see neighborhood security increased with the BID funds. “We care about our community and we want to preserve it,” said Chairez.
According to the Department of City Development, each commercial property will be taxed $1.10 per $1,000 of assessed value for the BID. Montemayor explained that there is also a $150 minimum and $1,500 maximum in place. In total, the BID taxes would amount to a little less than $45,000 annually. “You have to make an investment to get a better neighborhood,” said Montemayor.

created: January 8, 2015


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 7, 2015

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: January 7, 2015

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

author: Adam Carr


text:
Heat-related complaints jump sharply during bitter cold week | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
January 10, 2015
Brutally cold temperatures make it difficult for furnaces to reach the required 67 degrees. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Melissa Balistreri, 23, joked that a friend describes her apartment as a sauna, but Tuesday morning, when the recorded temperatures ranged from 1 to 11 degrees, she noticed that her apartment was getting cold.
Despite a space heater, the temperature in her apartment continued to drop. Concerned about the health of her 1-year-old son, the single mother called Prowess Commercial Real Estate, which manages the building at 2484 S. 9 St. for the owner, Waterstone Bank. An employee who was shoveling snow at the building was sent to her apartment and told Balistreri he would raise the boiler temperature.
When she woke up Wednesday, it was very cold and she called Prowess again and got no answer. Thinking they would surely follow up with her, she didn’t leave a message.
By Thursday, it was 50 degrees in the apartment. She left messages with Prowess throughout the day and didn’t get a call back until late afternoon. The maintenance supervisor told Balistreri that she hadn’t gotten the messages because the company was moving offices. She said she would send someone to fix the heat that afternoon. By then Balistreri felt her son’s health was in danger, so she took refuge at an aunt’s home.
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Again Friday, she was unable to reach anyone at Prowess. When she checked in at her apartment, she found the company had put a space heater in her dining room and had left it turned on in the empty apartment. Balistreri noted that not only was this a fire hazard, it was also running up her electric bill. The temperature in her bedroom registered 40 degrees on Friday evening.
Prowess could not immediately be reached for comment.
Balistreri said she planned to call the city’s Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS) on Monday morning but expects she will have to remain with her aunt through the weekend.
Complaints about a lack of heat to DNS increased dramatically this week. Between Monday and mid-afternoon Friday, the department had received 74 complaints from residents who have no heat and “significantly more” than that reporting insufficient heat, according to spokesman Todd Weiler. In a normal winter week, the department gets about 10 complaints, he said.
The City of Milwaukee building code requires that the inside residential temperature, as measured three feet above the floor, be at least 67 degrees, according to Weiler.
He noted that this requirement does not apply when outside temperatures fall below 10 degrees below zero, because a Wisconsin energy code limits the size of heating units that can be used to heat homes.
If renters have insufficient heat, Weiler said, they should first contact their landlords. If they can’t reach them or don’t get results, they should call DNS at 414-286-2268 and DNS will attempt to contact the landlord. If that does not result in a remedy, Weiler said residents would be required to move to an alternate location. “Right now a lot of the emergency shelters are full up with homeless people, so it’s going to be a very difficult situation,” he added.
Weiler also cautioned that using a cooking stove, a propane or kerosene space heater, or any solid-fuel heating device inside a building other than a fireplace is illegal and dangerous. In addition to posing a risk of fire, such heaters consume a lot of oxygen and can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, he said.

created: January 10, 2015

author: Andrea Waxman


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 10, 2015


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Cold-weather closures compel some groups to stay open for first time | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
January 12, 2015
Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, 2819 W. Richardson Place, extended its hours because of weather-related school closings. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Sub-zero temperatures and wind chills shut down Milwaukee area schools and many daycare facilities for two days at the end of last week, leaving working parents with precious few childcare options.
Kimberly Janusz, who lives on Milwaukee’s South Side, was forced by the closures to scramble to find childcare for her three children while she worked both days.
“It’s tough for a working parent when my kids’ school and daycares are closed,” said Janusz, who eventually found a sitter.
Most of the city’s nonprofit organizations also close when MPS closes, further dwindling the number of places for parents to take their kids. For many Milwaukee youngsters, the closures also meant no warm place to go and no meal to eat that day. All Milwaukee Public School (MPS) students receive free lunch.
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Anna Bierer, director of programming at Neighborhood House, and Maya McCullough hang out during a pick-up game. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
In response, some local organization stayed open this year, reversing their policy of closing when MPS closes.
The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee kept the doors open at the Mary Ryan branch, 3000 N. Sherman Blvd., and the Don and Sallie Davis branch, 1975 S. 24th St. The centers were chosen because of their central location in the North and South Sides of the city and their capacity, said Vincent Lyles, president and CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee. Lyles said it was the first time the club stayed open during an MPS weather closure.
“We feel really good about giving kids a safe, warm place to play and be surrounded by inspirational adults,” Lyles said.
He said after this week the organization would reevaluate whether it will stay open during future weather closures, but, judging by his first impression, the decision was a success.
“We’ve seen about 50 to 100 kids per site today,” said Lyles on Thursday.
Full programming was also offered during a cold weather closure for the first time at the Neighborhood House, 2819 W. Richardson Place, which provides early childhood services and activities for youth between the ages 6-18, said Anna Bierer, director of programming. The center also extended its hours to give parents more time to get to work.
While temperatures outside hovered around zero and snow fell heavily, teenagers were in the gym shooting hoops.
“Even though it’s cold outside, these kids are still able to get their exercise,” said Bierer, who’s been with the organization for 10 years.
Neighborhood House serves youth that already are participating in programming there, but first timers are also welcomed, Bierer said. Newcomers must take home sign-up information and bring it back the next time they come. Prior to last week, only the early childhood education program at the center stayed open when MPS closed. The new policy was created at the beginning of the current school year and Thursday was the first time it was implemented.
The organization, which also provides breakfast, lunch and snacks for the youth, had about 50 percent attendance in its early childhood education program Thursday, according to Bierer. Even though some parents chose to keep their kids home, she said the center would continue to open during bad weather, adding, “We’re giving working parents an option and teens a warm place to go.”

created: January 12, 2015

author: Edgar Mendez


text:
16221150976_151ee232a5_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 10, 2015


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Near West Side Partners, Inc. formed by Milwaukee business and civic leaders | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Near West Side Partners, Inc
January 14, 2015
Leaders from several of Milwaukee’s largest business, education and non-profit organizations today announced the formation of Near West Side Partners, Inc. (NWSP), an organization with a mission to revitalize and sustain the Near West Side as a thriving business and residential corridor, through collaborative efforts to promote economic development, improved housing, unified neighborhood identity and branding, and greater safety for residents and businesses.
“On behalf of all participating organizations, we are excited to announce the formation of the Near West Side Partners organization,” said Rana Altenburg, vice president of public affairs at Marquette University and president of the NWSP Board of Directors. “By collaborating across our organizations, we are confident we can make a positive impact on the Near West Side neighborhood and create an even more vibrant place in which to work, live and play.”
The formation of NWSP is an outgrowth of the Near West Side CEO Symposium — a meeting of the leadership of the largest employers and organizations on Milwaukee’s Near West Side hosted by Harley-Davidson CEO Keith Wandell and convened by Marquette University President Michael Lovell in October 2014.
Organizations that have pledged support and involvement in NWSP include some of our community’s leading business, non-profit and civic organizations with a presence in the Near West Side, including Aurora Health Care, Avenues West Association, Harley-Davidson, Marquette University, MillerCoors, Potawatomi Business Development Corp., and Wiegand Enterprises, among others.
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“The creation of the Near West Side Partners is an exciting opportunity for our community as a whole,” said Keith Stanley, executive director of Avenues West Association / BID. “Our neighborhood has made good progress over the last few years, and the commitment of some of Milwaukee’s largest employers will help us move our part of Milwaukee to even greater heights.”
With direction from the Steering Committee and Board of Directors, the NWSP will include four active working teams in the areas of Safety, Housing, Neighborhood Identity and Branding, and Commercial Development. NWSP will focus on an area bounded roughly by I-43 to the east, I-94 to the south, Highway 41 to the west and on the north, Vliet Street west of 27th Street and the north side of Highland Avenue east of 27th Street.
The Steering Committee is looking at best practices for neighborhood improvement, both from within Milwaukee – especially the Menomonee Valley – and from cities across the country. Members of the Steering Committee will be visiting four target cities in February and March to research and apply best practices from other successful improvement projects.
“We already have tremendous assets and great momentum within the Near West Side. We are confident that by bringing together organizations and individuals from across our neighborhood, we can make a real difference in our shared community,” said Altenburg.
In the coming months, NWSP anticipates it will be able to make announcements regarding new initiatives and in-progress efforts in each of its four focus areas.

created: January 14, 2015

author: Near West Side Partners, Inc


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Donating blood saves lives | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
American Red Cross
January 15, 2015
The American Red Cross always needs blood and platelet donations to help save lives. (Photo by American Red Cross)
This January, the American Red Cross is celebrating National Blood Donor Month, recognizing the lifesaving contribution blood and platelet donors make to modern healthcare. As 2015 gets underway, the Red Cross offers tips for a successful donation experience.
Before your donation:
During your donation:
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After your donation:
Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Platelets can be given every seven days up to 24 times a year. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in most states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
For more information or to schedule an appointment to donate, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org. Donors can also use the Red Cross blood donor app, which is free and available for download now. It can be found in app stores by searching for American Red Cross.

created: January 15, 2015

author: American Red Cross


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 14, 2015


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Mosaic Community Days | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Freesia McKee
January 15, 2015
ArtWorks for Milwaukee will be creating 80 mosaic centerpieces for the MANDI Awards this spring!
Join us at the ArtWorks studio this Saturday, January 17th from noon to 3:00 pm to participate in creating these pieces.
We will provide all of the supplies. No prior mosaic experience needed. Drop in and try your hand at transforming an old vase, coffee can, or glass jar into something beautiful.
This is a free event that takes place during the Third Ward Gallery Day, so lots of other art galleries in the area will be open as well. We’ll also host workdays on Saturday, January 24th and Saturday, January 31st from noon-3:00 pm.
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Donations of vases, glass jars, or other vessels are welcome. This may not be an age-appropriate activity for small children as mosaic tiles may have sharp edges.
: We are located in the Marshall Building (207 E. Buffalo Street, Suite 600–Buffalo Street & Water Street) in the Third Ward. The ArtWorks studio is in Plaid Tuba, straight ahead of the elevators on the 6th floor. The building is wheelchair-accessible.

author: Freesia McKee


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photo-2 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
January 15, 2015

author: Name *


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Riverworks’ successes brighten future of northeast side | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matthew Wisla
January 15, 2015
Darryl Johnson leads Riverworks Development Corp. as its executive director (Photo by Matthew Wisla)
CTC Supplies, a manufacturing company on the northeast side, wanted to buy a new building in the neighborhood in 2009, but was hesitating over city requirements to make fencing and landscaping improvements. When Chris Grandt, director of neighborhood development at Riverworks Development Corp., was making the rounds talking with business owners, he told CTC about façade and landscape improvement grants available through Business Improvement District #25, one of two BIDS run by Riverworks.
“Riverworks educated us about working with the city and what’s available in grants,” said Sandy Woycke, CTC CEO. “They really impressed me and helped us, so I wanted to give back by getting involved with the board.”
Today, CTC Supplies employs about 12 people at its manufacturing plant at 3845 N. Bremen St. in Riverwest The company specializes in janitorial supplies and Woycke is a board member of BID #25.
Small manufacturers such as CTC Supplies, have proliferated in the BID in recent years. “Riverworks has the reputation of being a go-to organization for getting things done,” said Leo Reis, executive director of LISC Milwaukee. The organization has garnered confidence from the business community as well as credibility in the neighborhood, he said. It has also drawn the attention of funders.
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In recent months Riverworks has announced two significant new investment agreements to support its neighborhood development work. The Kresge Foundation awarded a $725,000 grant to Riverworks and its partner, the Harambee Great Neighborhood Initiative, through a partnership with the Greater Milwaukee Committee.
Bob Gintoft, Riverworks Development Corp board member, said the organization’s ability to collaborate distinguishes it from other groups. (Photo by Matthew Wisla)
In addition, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation brought Harambee and Riverwest into the Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative along with six other neighborhoods already in the program, including Layton Boulevard West, Sherman Park and Capitol Heights. The initiative provides technical and financial support, and the city contributes up to $10,000 in matching grants.
At its inception in 1991, Riverworks focused on industrial development across a 10-block area of the Harambee neighborhood that had recently lost a large American Motors Corp. car factory, according to board member Bob Gintoft. Soon it expanded its reach to include all of Harambee and Riverwest. BID #25, where CTC Supplies is located, was created in 2000, and #36 was created in 2005.
Today, Riverworks is looking to broaden its reach again with plans to link with businesses along its borders in Shorewood and Glendale. “We have people who work and shop in Bayshore and on Oakland Avenue, and they have people who frequent our businesses along east Capitol Drive,” said Darryl Johnson, executive director of Riverworks since 2003. He added that the organization is reaching out to nearby businesses to understand their employment needs and how neighborhood residents could fulfill them.
New investments
Much of Riverworks development in recent years has been based on small retail or manufacturing businesses. “We have a tested market already where people come in and do things on a small scale,” Johnson said.
The Kresge investment is intended to spur further development. “Kresge has a number of models for integrating art and culture as a community development tool to bring more investment and small business development,” Johnson said.
When retail mogul S.S. Kresge established the foundation in 1924 he decided to focus its giving on building and maintaining existing nonprofits instead of launching new ones. Despite his wealth, Kresge had a reputation for frugality, reportedly giving up golf because he couldn’t tolerate losing balls. Today the Kresge Foundation is a $3 billion fund focused on carefully targeted investments that create opportunity for low-income people, according to reports and its website.
Johnson plans to use the Healthy Neighborhoods designation as an opportunity to focus grassroots efforts on changing how residents perceive their neighborhood. One “early action project” under consideration would be to recognize homeowners who do an outstanding job maintaining their property. An award could come with a gift card to a home improvement store. The recognition would set an example for others and provide an incentive for keeping up homes and lawns.
“It’s a win-win for us to connect with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and other neighborhoods that have been part of the program for a while,” Johnson said. “We get to see what they have done right and some things they have done wrong. The key is how you get people to start thinking differently about where they live.”
Experienced leadership
Johnson, 55, is unassuming and soft spoken. Despite his quiet demeanor, he demonstrates the decisiveness of an executive who has been developing neighborhoods and leading community organizations in Milwaukee for 32 years, beginning with the Parkside Housing Cooperative in 1983.
Even before taking the helm at Riverworks, Johnson was concerned about how the physical environment in a neighborhood shapes people’s perceptions. He believes boarded-up storefronts and narrow windows make neighborhoods feel closed, static and uninviting. He is a stickler about windows.
“When we start working with businesses we see if there’s a way to open up as many windows as possible,” Johnson said. “It sends a different vibe throughout the whole community.”
When it comes to investment funding, Johnson is particular about the grants he seeks. “We don’t chase money; I don’t believe in it,” Johnson said. Instead, his philosophy is to listen to residents and focus on their needs, pursuing only the investments that make sense for the community and being open to opportunities when they ally with local interests.
Although Riverworks began with a focus on industrial development, it now looks at community development holistically. “We work with CEOs and business owners, and we also work with people in our neighborhoods who are in despair: people who need assistance and a leg up,” Johnson said.
Collaboration with other organizations is critical for Riverworks. “The biggest difference between Riverworks and other organizations is that other groups often try and do things on their own rather than building their organization as a collaboration,” Gintoft said.
Most initiatives undertaken by Riverworks include partnering with allied organizations or the city. Last October, Riverworks was among 11 organizations nationwide to receive a safety award from the MetLife Foundation and LISC for its partnership with the Milwaukee Police Department to reduce crime in Harambee. The alliance between Riverworks and the police helped reduce crime across a five-block area, according to LISC. Other accomplishments LISC cited include developing the Beeline recreational trail along a section of the Milwaukee rail corridor in Harambee, and building a Kaboom! playground.
Keeping flexible
As the needs of local employers and neighborhood residents evolve, Riverworks programming has remained flexible. The organization recently phased out a long-running collaboration with MATC that trained metal press operators. Changes in manufacturing technology and offshore manufacturing had all but eliminated the need for that vocation in the U.S. Riverworks recently launched a new program that facilitates job placement by working to understand the needs of local employers, and matching prescreened residents with job opportunities.
Riverworks Cleans is a workforce enhancement program pairing the organization with the city to maintain city-owned lots. Most of the workers have barriers to employment, such as criminal records. Participating in the program helps demonstrate their willingness to work and makes them more attractive to employers, according to Johnson.
Between last August and December these and other Riverworks programs averaged more than one job placement a week, a strong showing at a time when there are limited employment opportunities in the city, Johnson said. In all, the organization helped 34 neighborhood residents find work.
Working with a wide range of partners has intensified the need for Riverworks to measure programs and report results. “We are a data-driven organization,” noted Grandt.
Riverworks keeps tabs on city databases of foreclosed and tax delinquent homes and businesses in its neighborhoods, as well as generating its own metrics for resident engagement and all its programs, according to Grandt.
The organization also compiles monthly data for LISC on changes in the net worth of residents, income levels and credit scores, according to Reis. LISC supports Riverworks’ Financial Opportunity Center, which provides financial coaching and education along with information about public benefits, such as the Affordable Care Act, to unemployed or underemployed residents.
The success of the Financial Opportunity Center helped prompt a planned move later this year to a new headquarters more than twice the size of its current location at 526 E. Concordia Ave. Plans are still being drawn up, but it’s safe to assume that the building will boast plenty of large windows.

author: Matthew Wisla


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Majority of Milwaukee school board members are up for re-election | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Molly Rippinger
January 16, 2015
Members of the school board listen as a student provides testimony on behalf of a charter school. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
The terms of five members of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors end in 2015, meaning the nine-person board has the potential for new faces come April.
The expired terms include those of Michael Bonds, board president; Meagan Holman, vice president; Mark Sain, District 1 director; Jeff Spence, District 2 director; and Terry Falk, who holds the board’s at-large seat.
Bonds, Sain, Spence and Falk are seeking re-election.
“We’ve got really well-meaning, smart people on the board,” noted Spence, who has served on the board since 1999, making him the most senior member. A board member can serve an unlimited number of terms. He added that the members try to find common ground to improve outcomes for students.
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Student Achievement and School Innovation. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
“I sincerely believe that anyone who runs for the school board has to do it from the perspective of really caring about this community and what happens for young people,” said Spence. “It takes a special individual to be willing to put themselves out there for something that doesn’t get a lot of praise, but often gets a lot of ridicule.”
Wendell Harris, Sr., vice chair of the Wisconsin NAACP and an active volunteer with area youth, is challenging Spence for the District 2 seat. “Milwaukee’s schools are our city’s future,” said Harris, who said that the public deserves to have a greater say in the policies and actions of the school system.
District 2 stretches across the northwest Milwaukee, covering neighborhoods such as Washington Heights and Sherman Park.
According to the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, legal qualifications for becoming a school board member include being a United States citizen, at least 18 years of age and a resident of the district for at least 28 consecutive days at the time of declaring candidacy. The candidates were also required to collect the signatures of at least 400 registered voters from their district to complete their nomination papers.
Holman, who represents District 8, is the only incumbent not seeking re-election. Carol Voss, a marketing director and mother of two Milwaukee Public School (MPS) students, declared her candidacy in early December as the sole candidate in the district.
In the District 3 race, Stephany Pruitt, a licensed professional counselor at Positive Outlook Clinical Services, is challenging Bonds.
No candidates entered the race for District 1 or the at-large seat, thus securing the seats of Sain and Falk for another term.
According to the Office of Board Governance, the main function of board members is to formulate and adopt policies and to approve budgets during their four-year term.
Board members are paid $18,121 annually, except for the president, who receives a yearly salary of $18,667. According to Eugene Jones, assistant board clerk of the Office of Board Governance, salaries for board members have not increased since 2000.
The board election will be held on April 7, and board members will take office on April 27.

created: January 16, 2015

author: Molly Rippinger


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 15, 2015


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On The Block: Let’s dance! | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
January 16, 2015
Students from Vieau, Maryland Avenue Montessori, Grantosa Drive and Bruce Guadalupe schools spent a recent morning dancing with Danceworks and friends from local senior centers at Milwaukee Youth Arts Center.


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OHMS construction skills training moving to Barack Obama School | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
January 19, 2015
OHMS founder Ezzard White explains his construction training program to representatives from the National League of Cities and My Brothers Keeper in August 2014 at Barack Obama School. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
The One Hope Made Strong (OHMS) survey course of skilled trades for the construction industry will begin holding classes in the industrial technology labs at the Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education on Feb. 2.
According to OHMS founder Ezzard White, Pastor Theresa Thomas-Boyd of the OHMS organization signed a contract with Milwaukee Public Schools on Jan. 14. MPS spokesperson Tony Tagliavia was unable to immediately confirm that a contract had been signed.
OHMS has been working to negotiate an agreement with MPS to move to Barack Obama School, 5075 N. Sherman Blvd., since last summer.
“It’s been a long hard fight but I’m the kind of guy that doesn’t quit. I promised something to the students and I want to make sure I deliver exactly what I said I would do for them,” White said.
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Barack Obama School has an up-to-date industrial technology training lab. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
White launched the free classes for low-income residents 18 and older at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 1927 N. 4th St., and the Inter-Denominational Church of the One Lost Sheep Foundational Ministries, 2567 N. 8th St., in September 2013.
Without workshop space and tools, which he needed for hands-on training, White was initially limited to teaching theory and demonstrating the skills.
Last April, he moved the program into unused industrial technology labs at North Division High School when he reached an agreement with Milwaukee Recreation. But the recreation department’s parent organization, Milwaukee Public Schools, terminated the agreement in June because, it said, White did not pass the criminal background screening MPS requires of all district contractors. White was convicted of two felonies more than 20 years ago and has had no further convictions, he said.
White and his students were able to return to the program’s original home at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church to complete the spring term. Classes continued at the church during the fall 2014 term and the winter term that began Jan. 12.
White said that more than 60 students are registered for classes being held on Mondays (Electrical Fundamentals); Tuesdays (Conduit Bending and Basic Wiring); and Wednesdays (Electrical Circuits, Math and Grounding Theory) from 6 to 8 p.m. Each class is limited to 35 students and students are still being accepted for all three modules. White recommends that students take no more than two modules at a time.
White offers the OHMS program without charge, but students must pay $40 in facility fees to Milwaukee Recreation for each of nine 10-week modules. Topics include electricity, blueprint reading, plumbing, welding, building construction, masonry, general drafting, carpentry and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning). White also teaches students about what to expect when working in the construction field.
White said he is planning a ceremony in mid-February for the approximately 120 students who have completed all of the modules. They will be presented with certificates of completion.
Individuals interested in taking classes should call administrator Ruby Dawson at 414-445-0373.

created: January 19, 2015


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

created: January 18, 2015


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Milwaukee police say officers who arrested reporter feared for their safety | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Brendan O’Brien
January 20, 2015
Squad cars are parked outside of the City of Milwaukee Police Administration building. (Photo by Brendan O’Brien)
Milwaukee police officers feared for their safety when a local reporter abruptly drove up next to their squad car and asked why they were in the area, just a week after two New York policemen were shot and killed in their squad car while on patrol, a spokesman for the Milwaukee Police Department said.
Jabril Faraj, at the time a freelance journalist, was subsequently arrested in the 2700 block of Auer Avenue at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 27 and cited for “resisting or obstructing” a police officer and improperly parking a vehicle. Captain Gary Gacek, a spokesman for the department, said Faraj pulled up to officers in his vehicle, swore at them as he demanded to know why they were in the area and ignored officers’ orders to drive away.
Faraj disputes the police account of the incident.
“They thought ‘oh no, this is a New York situation all over again,’” Gacek said. “The defendant should have been a little bit more in tune to what’s going on around the country and threats made to officers and officers being ambushed, shot and killed…based on the defendant’s initial unsafe and unexpected actions, you’ve got officers on edge, you’ve got them on guard, you’ve got them on the defensive.”
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Gacek was not at the scene when the incident occurred, but helped deploy police that day. He said he does not know why the officer didn’t respond to Faraj’s questions about what police were doing in the area. Gacek said if Faraj approached the officers without being confrontational and told them why he was in the area, the incident might have been avoided.
“It just wasn’t a very good situation and it could be handled a lot better by the defendant,” he said. “In hindsight, I’m sure the officers would probably have handled it a little bit differently, but at that time what’s going through their mind is ‘what if this guy is going to do something to us.’ ”
The City of Milwaukee Municipal Court Building. (Photo by Brendan O’Brien)
Faraj, who has since been hired by the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service as a part-time reporter, said he went to the neighborhood as a journalist after hearing that there was going to be a protest.
“Apparently, this was supposed to be a community meeting and not a demonstration…I heard from someone that there won’t be any marching,” he said.
As he was leaving the neighborhood, Faraj said he became curious when he noticed several squads, an unmarked police car and a bus that he thought might be used to take a large number of people into custody. After driving slightly past a police squad parked near the corner of 27th Street and Auer Avenue, Faraj put his car in reverse, stopped, rolled down his window and asked an officer about the heavy police presence, he said.
The details of what happened next are in dispute. Gacek said Faraj swore at police officer Branko Stoj, demanding to know why there was a heavy police presence in the area, and then refused to move his vehicle after he was asked to do so several times.
Faraj said he was polite to Stoj when he pulled up to him and attempted to pull away quickly when the officer told him to move along. He said Stoj then ordered him to put his car in park.
“The officer jumped out of his car…opens my door up…and then essentially pulled me out of the car,” Faraj said. “I (was) being pulled out of my car and handcuffed for asking them a question.”
The lead-up to Faraj’s arrest began a day before when several people blocked traffic, danced on top of vehicles and played loud music during a protest, said Gacek during an interview on Jan. 13. Police were in the area the next day, on Dec. 27, after hearing another protest was planned, but believe it was cancelled because of their presence, he said.
“Police are concerned about protests every day that there is a protest,” Gacek said. “Our concern is to make sure that we are able to facilitate a lawful, peaceful exercise of people’s First Amendment rights.”
As officers searched his vehicle, he overheard police discuss whether he was “one of the three (they) were looking for,” Faraj said.
Police officer Joseph Anderer, who was involved in the arrest, told Faraj he was being arrested because he is a “domestic terrorist,” Faraj said.
Gacek said that he could not prove or disprove the interchange. “There is nothing along those lines that [has] been articulated in the citation and it’s not a question that I am going to be able ask the officer unless I give that officer due process rights,” Gacek said. “It’s a potential allegation of misconduct.”
Police at the scene did not tell him why he was being arrested, Faraj said.
“I had no idea at the time…I’ve had time to think about it and I believe that I was arrested because they did not want to answer the question that I asked,” he said. “There was no immediate suspicion. It wasn’t until the question was asked that there was a response.”
Faraj was taken to a police station where he was processed and asked about items such as a camera and a walkie talkie that police found in his car. Police insinuated that he stole the walkie talkie and interrogated him, Faraj said.
“I think they were trying to get to me. They accused me of stalking police … they asked me several times what I was doing and why I was in the area,” he said. “They asked me if I was trying to kill a cop, or had been conspiring to kill a cop … and asked if I had ever written anything supporting the killing of cops.”
During his time in police custody, police officers told Faraj that he was “lucky he didn’t get shot,” he said. He was fingerprinted, held in a cell for about an hour, issued a municipal citation and released, according to Faraj.
Because the original “resisting or obstructing a police officer” citation handed to Faraj was not complete due to words missing from a summary of the incident, Stoj had to reissue the citation, according to Gacek. He delivered an amended citation in person to Faraj’s home on Dec. 31 rather than mail it to avoid confusion, Gacek said.
“Is it out of the ordinary to do that? Yes, but only because the front of the citation usually doesn’t require amending,” he said. “Is it out of the ordinary to provide personal service when there is an amendment made to a citation? Absolutely not.”
Faraj said he felt threatened when a police officer came to his home to deliver a revised citation.
The narrative written on the back of each citation might shed light on the details, but the citations were unavailable as of this writing. Staff at the Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee Municipal Court and the Milwaukee City Attorney’s office either said they did not have access to the citations or did not know where they were.
If the city attorney’s office determines the citations have legal merit, they will be sent to municipal court where Faraj will be able to contest them, Gacek said. Faraj said he plans to fight the charges during his court date on Feb 13.
“It’s the police’s word against a civilian’s,” he said. “I will put my word up against anyone else’s.”

created: January 20, 2015

author: Brendan O’Brien


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 19, 2015


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On the Block: Talking “O” Burgers with Oscar | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
January 20, 2015
Oscar Castaneda, owner of Oscar’s Pub and Grill, 1712 W. Pierce St., talks about its signature burger, which was recently featured on the website Buzzfeed.com’s list of best burgers in the country.


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15673202163_f843b33624_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 18, 2015


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Art, music, poetry highlight library’s MLK Day celebration | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jabril Faraj
January 21, 2015
Milagro Jones paints one of the long canvases laid out in a side room at the Martin Luther King branch as he talks about his plans to transfer from MATC to UWM. Jones, 25, wants to major in film and political science and aspires to direct films. Jones, who has been homeless on and off since he was born and currently lives at a local shelter, said he came to help paint a mural at a Martin Luther King Day celebration because “[it’s] something community-based.”
About 60 children, parents and other young adults participated in mural painting, one of the first activities scheduled for the Milwaukee Public Library’s day-long event to celebrate and remember the legacy of the civil rights leader on the national holiday that honors his life and achievements. Mayor Tom Barrett also stopped by to lend a hand in creating the piece of community art.
The event also included music, dance and theater performances commemorating King and the civil rights movement. Local writer Dasha Kelly presented a poetry reading. As a result of the national holiday, area schools were closed and city workers enjoyed the day off of work; all other MPL branches were closed, as well.
Summer-Nicole Eddi, 8, reaches for some not-so-light reading at Harambee’s Martin Luther King library on MLK Day. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
Milwaukee Public Library Director Paula Kiely said that because the branch is named after King, it’s fitting that it stays open for the holiday. She also noted that “libraries are such a great community place” and said she was glad that children, families and other members of the community had somewhere to go on their day off. Even those working the event, which has been going on for several years, were excited to participate, she said.
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“We do have library staff working today and we ask for volunteers and we’ve never had any shortage of staff willing to step up,” Kiely said. “So, I think it goes to show just how committed the staff is to library service and to being part of what’s really become a special day for us.”
The mural will become a permanent fixture in the King Library’s children’s section. Visual artist Fatima Laster, who was asked to envision and create a concept for the mural, chose to focus on a message of peace, citing the pervasiveness of “unrest and discord and violence against children and amongst children.”
“I want them to take away [the knowledge] that, you know, the violence is not okay and it’s not normal,” Laster said of the children in attendance.
Glenda Johnson, a group leader with COA Youth & Family Centers’ Goldin Center, 2320 W. Burleigh St., said events like this are right in line with the experience the center is looking to provide to urban youth. “We try to keep them busy [in] the community to show them different things that go on besides being in the neighborhood that they’re in. We branch them out so they can meet [people] and do different things,” she said.
Johnson, who came with a group of children, said another group of elementary and high school students would screen “Selma” that night, and stressed the importance of cultural education opportunities as a way to inspire young people.
Dominique Carr, 24, attended with her daughter and godson. She said they came because the 2- and 5-year-olds “need to learn about Martin Luther King Jr. Day and what it stands for.”
“That’s our history,” Carr said. “We came a long way. It’s not perfect but we came a long way.”
Carr said, to her, the holiday signifies the idea that “the more people you impact to change, the faster change can happen,” which was echoed by Laster.
Laster, who grew up down the street from the King Library, said art has always been a way for her to escape from reality and express a hope for something better. “It’s a way to voice, visually, what you want to say to the world and to the community,” she said.
Jones, whose name means “miracle,” agreed with Laster about the importance of having a voice. “We’re all humans, we’re all the same creation, we’re all equal, we all need a voice cause if we’re going through something and can’t nobody hear us crying out, then, ain’t nobody gonna answer us and help us out.”

created: January 21, 2015

author: Jabril Faraj


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 20, 2015


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16143054319_2997cae568_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 20, 2015


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College Possible Milwaukee gives back on MLK Day | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
College Possible
January 21, 2015
On Monday, January 19, College Possible Milwaukee participated in one of the nation’s largest day of community service, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  MLK Day is an opportunity for College Possible AmeriCorps members and staff to give back to the community that supports the College Possible program.
This year, all 38 College Possible Milwaukee AmeriCorps members and staff unloaded and sorted over three tons of food at the Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin warehouse.
“As an AmeriCorps program, we are committed to serving our community every chance we get,” said Kelly Schaer, College Possible Milwaukee Program Director. “Whereas many people experience having a day off on MLK Day, our team is committed to having a day on. Our full-time service members give all of their time and energy to non-profit work in Milwaukee and this is one more opportunity to help make a difference.”
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Launched in 2008, College Possible Milwaukee serves more than 3,300 low-income high school and college age students by helping them get into and through college.

author: College Possible


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 21, 2015


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Diverse and Resilient announces leadership awards | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Diverse & Resilient
January 21, 2015
Diverse and Resilient has selected eight leaders as recipients of the 2014 LGBT Leadership Awards. The awardees are individuals and organizations who have demonstrated leadership in improving the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the state of Wisconsin.
Leonard Sobczak has been awarded the Bayard Rustin Leadership Award in recognition of his longstanding commitment to LGBT wellness, environmental issues, and civic and political causes. Sobczak is a quiet yet strong force for change and he leads as an out gay man.
Sobczak is the president of Eastmore Real Estate and the CEO of the Wisconsin Gazette, a leading voice on LGBT issues. He is currently vice president of the Shorewood Business Improvement District and served on the State of Wisconsin Transportation Projects Commission. He formerly was chair of the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission.
In addition to civic leadership, Sobczak has made lasting contributions to nonprofits in the health and environmental sectors. He is a longstanding board member at Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters and has served on Diverse and Resilient’s board since the agency’s inception.
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Bayard Rustin, the award’s namesake, was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. Rustin was a mentor and adviser to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the chief organizer of the historic 1963 March on Washington.  The Bayard Rustin leadership award honors his legacy of working behind the scenes to improve people’s lives through social justice.
Other leadership awards include:
The awards will be presented at Reviving the Dream, Diverse and Resilient’s signature event that honors the legacy of Bayard Rustin. The event will be held on March 19, 2015 at Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin. In addition to presentation of the leadership awards, the event will include mingling, activities, and a plated dinner.
Please join us in congratulating the 2014 awardees, each of whom is making a difference for LGBT people in Wisconsin.

author: Diverse & Resilient


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How health and wealth can go hand in hand | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
UW-Extension
January 21, 2015
The UW-Extension suggests that making healthy choices, such as eating more fruits and vegetables in place of processed snacks, can help prevent illnesses and reduce health care costs. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
Research shows that healthy habits can also save money. Gayle Coleman, nutrition education specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Extension, offers 10 tips for increasing your health—and wealth—in 2015.
To learn more about eating healthy on a budget, contact your local county UW-Extension office at http://yourcountyextensionoffice.org.

author: UW-Extension


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MPD stops too often undermine community trust, ACLU survey finds | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
ACLU of Wisconsin
January 21, 2015
Today, the ACLU of Wisconsin released survey results of over 800 Milwaukee residents’ attitudes about police, which demonstrate that Milwaukeeans are less likely to trust or seek help from police officers if they have had contact with police. This finding is especially true in the six zip codes (53212, 53206, 53208, 53213, 53218, and 53216) that correspond to neighborhoods heavily policed by the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD). The ACLU mostly surveyed younger people between the ages of 14 and 24.
The survey data indicates that individuals who have had contact with the MPD are more likely to have negative attitudes about the police department than respondents who have not had contact with them. More importantly, people who have had experiences with law enforcement were far less likely to think calling the police was helpful or want to assist in an investigation. Even those who did not report a negative experience, but did have significant contact with police, reported that they were less likely to assist in a police investigation or report a crime.
“It is time to end over-reliance on police practices that include huge numbers of officer-initiated pretextual stops.  The sheer volume of stops (243,328 stops in 2013 in a city of about 600,000 people), raises questions regarding whether the number of officer-initiated pretextual stops are undermining trust in public safety,” said Chris Ahmuty, Executive Director of the ACLU of Wisconsin.
“A patrolling strategy that deeply stigmatizes Black and Latino residents and neighborhoods by targeting them for stops may negate much of the good that may result from community-oriented policing programs. Milwaukee residents should not have to settle for second-class police service, or be treated as second-class citizens by the police,” Ahmuty concluded.
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The summary report and survey instrument is attached and can be found at: http://aclu-wi.org/sites/default/files/media/pdf/2015_1_20ReportSummary.pdf

author: ACLU of Wisconsin


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Interim director at SOC plans to develop leaders, expand volunteer base | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
January 22, 2015
Tammy L. Rivera, interim executive director at Southside Organizing Committee, said she plans to organize larger collective efforts in the neighborhood. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Tammy L. Rivera’s top goal as the new executive director of the Southside Organizing Committee is to diversify funding for the 26-year-old organization. Currently, SOC’s only funding is through Community Development Block Grants, she said.
Rivera succeeded Steve Fendt, who was voted out by the organization’s board of directors in November after 22 years of service.
Rivera has committed to lead SOC for one year, and brings decades of experience working with nonprofits and other organizations to an organization that, under Fendt’s leadership, stood at the forefront of many issues, including supporting the city’s residency requirement and advocating for increased neighborhood safety.
Her initial plans include fundraising and further development of SOC’s infrastructure. These efforts are part of the next phase for SOC, said Rivera, who described the organization under Fendt as remaining in the “founder phase” of the organizational growth cycle.
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The Southside Organizing Committee is housed in the Ascension Lutheran Church building, 1300 S. Layton Blvd. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Once those areas are addressed, Rivera envisions SOC expanding its role as a central hub for leadership training and organizing in the community. The organization serves more than 88,000 residents, according to its Web site.
“We need to empower the neighborhood and help them tackle issues they want to tackle,” Rivera said.
On SOC’s short list is determining how recent immigration reforms, which are still the subject of a federal court battle, will affect the effort to secure driver’s cards for undocumented workers, an issue in which SOC organizers have been deeply involved.
Rivera, who was born and raised in Walker’s Point and has worked with the United Community Center, Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee, and Voces De La Frontera, among other organizations, is in the process of completing her Ph.D. at UW-Milwaukee, focusing on leadership development.
SOC board member Graciela Hernandez, who served as the temporary director after Fendt was let go, said Rivera was chosen to lead the organization because of her strong reputation and extensive experience in the community, and because she’s on board with SOC’s mission.
In discussing Fendt, Hernandez said his dismissal wasn’t because he did anything wrong, but because it was time for change. She said some people in the community were upset that he was forced out, but said most expressed excitement at possible changes at SOC.
Rivera said she is excited about the potential for organizing in the neighborhood, which she sees as drastically different from the way it was when she grew up there.
“The South Side is diverse, ethnically, age wise, [in] socio-economic status, and things are changing rapidly; we need to revisit how we will organize in the future,” Rivera said.

created: January 22, 2015


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On the Block: Freedom through dance on King Day | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Molly Rippinger
January 22, 2015
Gye Nyame, a children’s African dance ensemble, performed during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.


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The importance of BIDs to the city’s economy | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Keith Stanley
January 22, 2015
An early morning on Historic Mitchell Street, which is part of BID #4 (Photo by Adam Carr)
Keith Stanley, executive director of Avenues West Association/BID #10, explains the importance of business improvement districts (BIDs) to the city’s growth and development.
Times Square is one of the most famous examples of a business improvement district (BID) and the work that a BID can do in a local community. From its very “seedy” and crime-ridden past of the 1960s and 1970s to its triumphant return starting in the early 1990s, Times Square is an example of what can become of many areas in the City of Milwaukee with a little hard work, financial resources and support from the local business community.
Similar to a main street program, design, safety, promotion, and economic development are key focus areas for a BID, but it is much more. The most important component to a BID is the taxing authority. Businesses voluntarily tax themselves, working with a municipality, and those funds are used to hire staff, provide resources, promote and develop the area. This funding structure allows for long- term planning, staffing and commitment.
BID funds can also be tools for business recruitment and retention, promotion and economic development. Façade grants and business loans are just some of the resources offered. In order to promote the area and bring patrons and dollars to the local community, many BIDs sponsor events like concerts, parades and street festivals that can attract millions of dollars — strengthening the economic base.
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It is not just about the promotion of business. Many BIDs in the city offer security and sanitation services. They provide street ambassadors, surveillance cameras and services like graffiti removal.
“The spirit of the BID is designed to mirror the spirit of Times Square,” commented Arthur O. Sulzberger, Jr. publisher of the New York Times and one of the leading partners in the story of the resurgence of Times Square in an online video. This statement really sums up the purpose of a BID.
Milwaukee has seen many successes with its BIDs. BIDs in areas from downtown to the near west side of Milwaukee have proven to be strong partners in economic development, working with local and state government in addition to being a platform for local businesses.
Many of us each year enjoy the many concerts, parades and festivals sponsored or organized by BIDs. In addition to revenue generation for local communities, the BID is also a way to provide a platform for local music, performing and visual arts.
There are 34 BIDs in the city and many of them are changing the landscape of the local community. New businesses, new development and events are all a part of the many ways BIDs promote a better Milwaukee. As we move forward with many ideas, plans and projects that will benefit the city, our local BIDs will continue to play a major role in how our communities respond and adapt.
Crimes like prostitution and robbery were a regular occurrence in Times Square 30 years ago and now Disney, Planet Hollywood and ABC’s Good Morning America studio dot the landscape.
Many will point out that Milwaukee is no New York City, but that sentiment is a two- way street. Dealing with the density of crime and the perception of the Times Square area was a difficult task and needed people and resources committed to the change.
Stakeholders who were interested in developing a better Times Square in the early 1990s were challenged with an area of the city with the most infamously filthy and undevelopable land in the state.
In fact, there is no area in the City of Milwaukee with such a reputation. If there are businesses that are willing to commit themselves and a community willing to change for the better, results are guaranteed. Short-term goals are needed with an acknowledgement of the past and planning for the future. That is the equation of the key to success in developing our business districts across Milwaukee.
Times Square is a great example because it shows the transformation of a community from the depths of despair to the highest levels of achievement. I think Milwaukee has all the bones, leadership and commitment from our businesses to do just that.
As we continue to work towards a better Milwaukee, I am sure our BIDs and their laser focus on the business communities they serve will continue to be a tool for change.

author: Keith Stanley


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2 copy | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 21, 2015


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 28, 2015

created: October 28, 2015


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Chocolate maker, other artisans carve out community in Washington Park | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Molly Rippinger
January 23, 2015
Tabal Chocolate, the only certified organic chocolate made in Wisconsin, is produced at 3329 W. Lisbon Ave. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
Dan Bieser, founder and owner of Tabal Chocolate, is busy transforming cacao beans into beautiful bars of specialty chocolate in his workshop above Amaranth Bakery and Cafe. Humming machines churn up to 60 pounds of chocolate at a time as the intoxicating smell of chocolate wafts throughout the room.
Bieser, a high school principal turned artisan chocolate maker, is one of the more recent additions to the band of creative entrepreneurs who showcase their talents in the corridor of Lisbon Avenue between 35 and 33 Streets. Over the past decade, artisans including bread bakers, potters, painters, poets and craftsmen have carved out their own community within Washington Park and the surrounding neighborhoods.
“It feels like we’re starting to build up this little pocket on Lisbon,” said Daisy Bouman, co-director of Express Yourself Milwaukee, a nonprofit located at 3331 W. Lisbon Ave. that focuses on providing art therapy for at-risk youth. Express Yourself, which was founded in 2003, moved into its current studio space in 2011.
Dave Boucher (left), co-owner of Amaranth Bakery and Cafe, and Dan Bieser (right), founder and owner of Tabal Chocolate, are both located in the Washington Park area. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
“I needed a change,” explained Bieser, who launched Tabal in 2012. “A friend of mine was going up to Toronto to learn how to make chocolate during spring break and I decided to tag along. I came back inspired and started making chocolate for my friends and family.”
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In order to professionally produce chocolate, Bieser needed to work in a certified kitchen. A few friends recommended that he meet Dave Boucher, co-owner of Amaranth Bakery and Cafe, with his wife, Stephanie Shipley. “I walked in the door and have been here ever since,” said Bieser. He uses the Amaranth ovens for roasting the cacao beans, but conducts the rest of the process upstairs in rooms that have been converted into his chocolate workshop.
Boucher and Shipley opened the doors to Amaranth, at 3329 W. Lisbon Ave., in 2006. Amaranth specializes in organic artisan breads, pastries, sandwiches, soups and salads that are made with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. The bakery and cafe is open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We started as a community project to bring people together at a common meeting place,” said Boucher. “We’ve continued building collaborations, building relationships and Dan, of Tabal, is one of those.”
Tabal is the only organic chocolate produced in Wisconsin that is certified by Nature’s International Certification Services (NICS). Bieser is committed to sourcing the best ingredients from sustainable sources in countries such as Bolivia, Peru and Costa Rica. “I’ll actually Skype with the farmers,” explained Bieser. “We’re also hoping to go to Peru this summer to learn more about where the cacao is grown.”
Bieser purchases the cacao beans directly from the farmers. Once they arrive in Milwaukee he begins the multi-day process that transforms the beans into bars of chocolate.
Tabal distributes to approximately 40 stores across the Milwaukee area. “We’re trying to slowly branch into Madison,” explained Bieser. “I’m excited about the growth.”
Bieser estimated that he has produced approximately 10,000 chocolate bars in the past year and he hopes to double production in the year to come. The 3-ounce bars are available in nearly a dozen different varieties, such as Costa Rican 70% cacao with sea salt or Bolivian 70% cacao with almonds. Tabal also sells Bolivian cacao nibs, 1-ounce chocolate bars, chocolate-dipped organic Oreo cookies and cacao nib clusters.
Bieser’s products have been available at Outpost Natural Food, a locally owned cooperative grocery store with four locations throughout greater Milwaukee, since May 2013. “Our customers appreciate Dan’s process and the high quality product it yields,” explained Zack Hepner, local purchasing specialist for Outpost. “It means a lot to our customers that he is based here in Milwaukee and has invested so much in a neighborhood.”
In Mayan, the word tabal means “relationship,” and it represents the connection Bieser has established not only between himself and the farmers who grow the cacao, but also with the local community.
“We’ve found this wealth of resources within the neighborhood,” said Bouman, who is also the graphic artist for Tabal and designed the company’s new packaging. “The dedication Dave and Dan have to the community is incredible.”
“There’s so much to say about Amaranth and what they have done for the community,” said Bess Earl, sustainable communities coordinator at Washington Park Partners, a collaboration of neighborhood organizations, businesses and residents. “Hopefully people in Milwaukee will soon identify Lisbon Ave. as a place where artists gather.”
“I feel good about helping stabilize the neighborhood,” said Bieser, who has hired a handful of part-time employees from the surrounding area. If business continues to grow, Bieser would like to build his own facility in the neighborhood and hire more employees from the Washington Park area.

created: January 23, 2015


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 22, 2015


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Bus system rolls out improvements while streetcar battle rages | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matthew Wisla
January 26, 2015
Passengers board the new Purple Line express bus northbound at 27th Street and Oklahoma Avenue. (Photo by Matt Wisla)
Like many central city residents, the Smith family doesn’t own a car. Yvett, 55, retired last year so her transportation needs are not as critical as those of her four sons, ages 34, 22, and 19-year-old twins. They depend on the bus to get them to work or job interviews every day.
“A lot of young people are looking for work and need the buses to get out to jobs,” said Smith, who lives in the Concordia neighborhood. Standing in a bus shelter at 27th Street and Wisconsin Avenue, Smith tugged her coat up against the winter wind and said that new bus lines that restore service dropped earlier will help residents. “I’m glad more of the service seems to be coming back now,” she said before boarding her westbound bus.
As the proposed city streetcar continues to be hotly debated, the Milwaukee County Transit System launched four new bus routes this month in addition to two others that were started in August 2014. Of the six new routes, three are designed to connect central city residents with potential employment opportunities outside the city. The other three routes are intended to help shorten travel times and relieve overcrowding on the buses.
Bus passengers traveling along 27th Street will now have a choice between express and local service. The new Purple Line Metro EXpress has bus stops spaced about a quarter-mile apart, compared to every one-eighth of a mile on the Route 27 local. The Purple Line has 126 fewer stops than the local, which means faster travel times for riders.
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Transit map highlights new routes that connect city workers with suburban employment and shorten travel times. (Click to enlarge)
For example, passengers traveling to St. Luke’s Medical Center on 27th Street and Oklahoma Avenue who boards a Purple Line Metro EXpress at Hampton Avenue and Green Bay Road would arrive about 20 minutes faster than if they took a Route 27 bus, according to the Milwaukee County Transit System.
The new service provides relief for riders along one of the city’s most heavily trafficked routes. Buses along that corridor frequently operate at their seating capacity or are overloaded with passengers standing in the aisles, according to Jacqueline Zeledon, communications manager, Milwaukee County Transit System.
Another new route, the 30X Sherman-Wisconsin Express, adds express service to several of the busiest bus treks in the city. The existing Route 30 bus has the highest ridership in the system and is the main transfer line for other busy routes. It averages about 14,700 daily rides and approximately 8,600 riders on Saturdays and 5,500 on Sundays, according to the Milwaukee County Transit System.
The new 30X express bus follows a similar path as Route 30, running from UWM to Sherman Boulevard and Florist Avenue through the East Side and downtown.
Both the Purple Line Metro EXpress and 30X Sherman-Wisconsin Express routes were identified as needed improvements in the Five-Year Transit Development Plan that the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission announced in 2010.
The new Gold Line Metro EXpress runs along Wisconsin Avenue from where Smith caught her bus. It’s an express line similar to the existing Route 10 and connects UWM, Marquette University and Brookfield Square Mall.
The fourth new bus line, Route 61 Appleton-Keefe, is the latest route specifically designed to help connect workers from the central city with employment opportunities — in this case jobs northwest of the city. Beginning at 35th Street and Capitol Drive the bus runs northwest along Appleton Avenue to a Walmart store at W190 N9855 Appleton Ave. On weekdays the bus adds another two miles to its northbound route and connects with the Germantown Industrial Park. The timetable for that segment of the route coincides with shift changes, according to Zeledon.
Kerry Thomas, executive director of MetroGo, a group focused on improving transit around Milwaukee, said job opportunities are growing outside the city and the new bus lines are an efficient way of getting people to work. “It’s exactly where we need to be,” she said.
Route 61 is being funded through the Zoo Interchange lawsuit that was settled in May 2014. The lawsuit alleged that the interchange project failed to adequately address the needs of city residents who rely on public transportation. As a result of the suit, state and federal transportation authorities agreed to spend $13.5 million on bus routes linking city residents to employment opportunities north of the city.
Clarene Mitchell, director of communication and collaboration for the Black Coalition of Wisconsin, said the group is satisfied with the new Route 61. (Photo by Matt Wisla)
“We are satisfied with the results of the suit and this latest bus route,” said Clarene Mitchell, director of communication and collaboration for the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin, one of the groups that initiated the lawsuit. “We hope as much vigor will go into improving public transportation as interstate projects in the future.”
Route 61 joins two routes launched in August  that link to employment centers and also resulted from the Zoo Interchange settlement. Route 279 connects to the Menomonee Falls Industrial Park and runs from Burleigh Street and Fond Du Lac Avenue north to 76th Street and northwest along Highway 145. And Route 6 links to the New Berlin Industrial Park after trekking along Capitol Drive, Mayfair Road and Moorland Road.
Commenting on the settlement and the new bus lines, Wisconsin Secretary of Transportation Mark Gottlieb said the routes “probably didn’t happen in an optimal way” but added that he’s pleased that one of the new lines launched in August “got off to a fairly successful start.”
Ridership on Route 6 is averaging about 368 people a day during the week, while Route 279 averages about 74 rides, according to the transit system. Mitchell pointed out that new routes can take a year or more before reaching sustainable ridership levels. The early acceptance of Route 6 may reflect local employers who had immediate hiring needs, such as FedEx.
According to Zeledon, transit system planners are reviewing existing bus lines and identifying new routes that will bring workers from the city to suburban job locations. New routes will be announced later this year, she said.
One of the most significant systemwide changes to affect bus riders in recent years occurred in September with the introduction of the M-CARD, which now represents about 70 percent of total fare sales, according to the transit system.
The card is free and can be picked up at more than 100 locations around the city. Later this year the transit authority will begin charging a nominal fee for the cards and cardholders will be able to go online and transfer money onto their cards for future rides, Zeledon said. Until then, cardholders must continue going to a service location to add money to their cards.

created: January 26, 2015


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 25, 2015

created: January 25, 2015


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NNS on Lake Effect: Poverty in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
January 27, 2015
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporter Brendan O’Brien speaks with Mitch Teich of Lake Effect Radio about poverty in Milwaukee.

created: January 27, 2015

author: Dwayne Burtin


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The Commons improves prognosis for Lindsay Heights revitalization | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
January 27, 2015
Leonard Brady, an octogenarian who was born and raised in the Lindsay Heights community, addresses the crowd as Alderman Russell Stamper and Mayor Tom Barrett look on. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Christal West remembers North Avenue when it was a busy commercial street where shoppers bustled in and out of Woolworth’s, Sears, Powell’s jewelry store, Galst Food Market and Jake’s Delicatessen. The architecture on the street was beautiful, she said, and she felt safe and comfortable growing up nearby.
West, 49, and her husband, Jarvis West, who now live at 21 and Meinecke, joined the crowd celebrating the recent groundbreaking for the Innovation and Wellness Commons at North Avenue and 16 Street.
They came, she said, because they volunteer at Walnut Way Conservation Corp. the lead agency for the project and they wanted to show their support.
“I think it’s going to bring back a sense of pride,” West said when asked what the Commons will mean to the community. Personally, she is looking forward to better access to healthy food.
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The groundbreaking marks an important milestone for the Lindsay Heights community. When complete, a major catalytic project identified in the 2008 Lindsay Heights Quality of Life Plan will be realized.
Katherine Baker, who lives next door to Walnut Way, wasn’t sure what the commotion was about the day of the groundbreaking, but when told about the Commons she seemed pleased.
“I like Walnut Way,” she said. “They do a lot for the neighbors, especially the kids,” she added. And she hopes the Commons will uplift the neighborhood.
Sharon Adams, Walnut Way founder and director of programs, also reminisced about a better time in the neighborhood. She grew up on 17 Street, she said, “when every child who lived in this community who desired to go to college could.”
But after years of decline, Adams said, “the odds are changing again.” She told the assembled residents, supporters and dignitaries about the $6 million investment in the Commons and asserted that if she were a betting woman, she would bet on it.
Broadening definition of health
“The Innovation and Wellness Commons has its roots in the commitment to health and healthy living that permeates the work of Walnut Way in particular, but also the other community groups in Lindsay Heights,” said Susan Lloyd, executive director of the Zilber Family Foundation, a major funder of revitalization projects in the neighborhood.
Lloyd noted that the community has expanded the definition of health and wellness to include not only physical, mental, psychological and spiritual health, but also economic health.
Sharon Adams greets a well-wisher. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Led by Walnut Way, the community initially envisioned a Center for Neighborhood Innovation two blocks to the east, and a restaurant and culinary kitchen in the 1600 block of North Avenue. The Commons will contain both and more.
In Phase 1, Walnut Way envisions “a healthy food oasis” for Lindsay Heights and its surrounding neighborhoods. It would include food retail, production and wholesale tenants.
The 100-year-old-plus building between 16 and 17 streets on the south side of North Avenue will be renovated to house a commercial kitchen operated by Milwaukee Center for Independence, a nonprofit for people with disabilities; a juice bar, and an Outpost Natural Foods “pop-up store.” Fondy Food Center will also locate its administrative offices there. The building already has a full complement of tenants who have signed leases. The $2.2 million first phase is expected to be completed in summer 2015.
Phase 2 will consist of 9,000 square feet of new construction on a parking lot at the corner of 16 Street and North Avenue. The two-story building will be connected to the renovated building and will contain a grocery store, fitness area, employment services center, wellness services, programming for families and children and the administrative offices of Walnut Way. Phase 2 tenants are still being confirmed, according to JoAnne Sabir, associate director of Walnut Way. The organization plans to offer reiki, yoga, nia and massage therapy, Sabir said.
Meeting unfilled needs
Unlike the other Phase 1 tenants that have five-year leases, Outpost’s lease is much shorter because the purpose of the store is to experiment and learn how a co-op can benefit the neighborhood, explained Outpost General Manager Pam Mehnert.
“We look for partners in the community who have similar missions to ours. As a co-op we’re here for our member owners, of course, but our mission is to create healthy, diverse and sustainable communities,” Mehnert said. She added that Outpost has had a relationship with Walnut Way since 2010 and gave a $30,000 grant toward a feasibility study for the Commons.
A large crowd gathers to celebrate. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Outpost will work with the community to understand how it can best meet food needs that are missing, Mehnert explained. “We want to fill a food niche that is not being filled there right now,” she said.
Mehnert noted that the higher cost of natural and organic foods may deter people living in poverty. But she is interested in figuring out “what can we do to make something work.” Outpost plans to conduct community meetings prior to any final decisions on the product mix.
If the pop-up works well Outpost will open a larger store in the Phase 2 building, she said.
The $6 million Commons project is being funded by grants from the federal Office of Community Services ($650,000); Zilber Family Foundation ($500,000); Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. ($400,000); and many other contributors.
Co-developer Fix Development is providing guidance on funding, financing, design, tenant recruitment, construction and property start-up for the Commons, according to the company’s Web site.
Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who announced the WEDC grant, said there was a lot of competition for the grant, which was awarded to the City of Milwaukee and will pass through to Walnut Way. The grant committee was impressed by the enthusiasm of the tenants that have committed to five years at the center, she added.
Much of the work to put together a project of this magnitude is invisible, noted Lloyd. “You see the planning part. You see the celebratory moments, but sometimes you miss all of what has to happen in between,” she said.
Lloyd said “(the groundbreaking is) a major milestone in a catalytic project that … will transform that entire corner of North Avenue in Lindsay Heights.”
“Large catalytic projects take a long time to get off the ground, but once they do, they have such a phenomenal impact on the community that you forget all the sweat and tears that went into making such a success,” Lloyd added.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 26, 2015

author: Adam Carr


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16323814706_1886972c26_b | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 26, 2015


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Agencies, volunteers hit streets to count Milwaukee’s homeless population | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Brendan O’Brien
January 28, 2015
An unidentified homeless man holds a sign asking for money at 25th Street and West St. Paul Avenue. (Photo by Brendan O’Brien)
A chronically homeless alcoholic veteran in his late 40s or early 50s fought for his life in a Milwaukee hospital bed as doctors warned that if he did not change his ways, he would soon be dead, recalled Bob Burmeister, a homeless advocate, describing his hospital visit with the man he knows as Fred two months ago.
“He melted down on the streets. He was in intensive care, buckled in because he was going through detox so bad,” Burmeister said.
The problems that plague Fred are similar to the pervasive challenges that confront many homeless people Burmeister encounters through Mr. Bob’s Under the Bridge, an outreach organization that distributes clothes and toiletries.
“Fred chooses to be where he is and that’s part of his addiction. If he goes into the veteran’s hospital, then he won’t be able to (drink). There’s a lot of that…that’s their lifestyle and some like the lifestyle of not being responsible for anything,” Burmeister said.
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The stubborn mental and physical health problems that persist among the city’s chronically homeless individuals are part of the reason the number of homeless has remained steady at 1,450 since 2009, according to data generated from point-in-time counts that occur in January and July each year.
“It’s so hard to tap into resources for individuals who have chosen to make this their life,” said Nancy Monarrez, of Milwaukee County’s Continuum of Care, a group of organizations and individuals that serve the homeless.
Nevertheless, “the number one reason for homelessness is not drugs and alcohol, but the fact that they don’t have a job to pay the bills,” Monarrez said. Burmeister also blames the relatively unchanged number of homeless on the recession, weak job market and housing market collapse during the last decade.
On Wednesday and Thursday, advocates for the homeless will be participating in “You Count,” an effort by Continuum of Care to get a statistical snapshot of all of the sheltered and unsheltered homeless people in the city.
The count will involve dispatching volunteers and police officers throughout the city during a 12-hour period to find and survey people who live in parks, under viaducts, along the river and in alleyways. They will also visit meal sites and shelters to survey and count the homeless. The survey consists of questions to determine demographic information and reasons for being homeless.
The increased accuracy of the homeless count over time may also explain why the overall number of homeless is not significantly decreasing, Monarrez said.
“We have been perfecting this well-oiled machine to count the homeless. The numbers haven’t gone down because perhaps our reporting has gotten better and maybe we were duplicating some counts,” she said. “I believe we have done a better job counting during the last couple of years than we have in the past.”
For the first time, homeless individuals who refuse to take the survey on Wednesday and Thursday will still be counted and volunteers will attempt to gather information about their gender, race, ethnicity and age range, Monarrez said.
“We want to address those that are falling through the cracks,” she said.
Another goal of the count will be to gain a better understanding of what causes homelessness among teenagers. Volunteers and advocates will be actively seeking out teenagers to count and survey at the Pathfinders emergency youth shelter, Monarrez said.
The information that is collected will be given to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which mandates the count and uses it to determine funding for organizations that help the homeless.
“The count helps identify issues and helps bring awareness in our community,” said Cindy Krahenbuhl, executive director of Guest House of Milwaukee, the city’s largest homeless shelter.
Agencies and advocates also use the data each year to pinpoint what resources are needed to help the homeless and identify any evolving trends, Krahenbuhl said. In addition to the data-gathering effort, one of the keys to understanding homelessness is open lines of communication among agencies, she said.
“We really need to be in partnership with the other systems…we really need the help of the police department and partnership with the mental health delivery system,” Krahenbuhl said. “It has improved a lot in the last few years and we will see it get even better as we move forward.”

created: January 28, 2015


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 27, 2015


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St. Joan Antida High School authorized as IB school | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
St. Joan Antida High School
January 28, 2015
St. Joan Antida High School has been authorized as Milwaukee’s newest International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, becoming the first girls-only high school to offer the prestigious IB Diploma program in Wisconsin. It is only one of 12 such schools in the United States. The authorization is a culmination of a three-year, in-depth analysis of the school’s written curriculum, and its ability to offer the required college-level course work.  Starting with the 2015-2016 academic year, St. Joan Antida High School will begin offering students the rigorous college preparatory curriculum.
“It’s an exciting time for us,” stated Mr. Paul Gessner, SJA’s Head of School.  Gessner has seen firsthand the impact that the IB’s challenging curriculum has on preparing urban youth to cultivate their potential and fully engage their future.  Before assuming leadership at SJA in 2012, Mr. Gessner served for fifteen years as a teacher and administrator at Rufus King International School. “By implementing the IB Diploma Program at St. Joan Antida, we are empowering young women to excel at higher levels than a traditional curriculum allows. Poverty has never been an indicator of potential, and we want our young women to have every academic opportunity they need for success in their lives.”
To celebrate this achievement, the school will be hosting a reception on the evening of Wednesday, January 28th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the school, located at 1341 N. Cass Street in Milwaukee.  Scheduled to speak are Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Dr. Kathleen Cepelka, Superintendent of Catholic  Schools for the Milwaukee Archdiocese, Terrence Brown, Vice President of School Choice Wisconsin, and Sr. Anne Marie Baemmert, Provincial Leader of the Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida. State Senator Paul Farrow, State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa, and 4th District Alderman Bob Bauman are also scheduled to attend.
In addition to offering students high-level course work, the IB Diploma Program also places an emphasis on developing a life of inquiry, critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and leadership through service.   Because the program offers challenging courses as well as international standardization, it is recognized by colleges and universities around the world as a premier academic curriculum, one that excels in preparing students for learning, working, and leading in a global economy.
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“It’s time to change the discussion surrounding education in Milwaukee,” Gessner offered.  “As a community, we need to stop talking about circumstances that students have, and instead should be implementing programs proven to help students overcome adversity and be prepared for higher education.  In this, we can change the trajectory of poverty for our students and community.  Becoming an IB World School is St. Joan Antida High School’s commitment to making that happen.”

author: St. Joan Antida High School


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Three employment opportunities at Habitat for Humanity | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity
January 28, 2015
Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity affirms its social and legal commitment to promote an atmosphere and environment that recognizes the principle and practice of equal employment opportunity. As such, Milwaukee Habitat does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We welcome minority applicants. Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity is a drug-free and smoke-free workplace.
Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity is currently hiring a Project Manager, Construction Supervisor, and ReStore Deconstruction Manager:
Title: Project Manager Department(s) Construction
Reports to: Construction Director
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Position Overview:
The Project Manager oversees all aspects of the construction projects ensuring projects remain on schedule, stay within budget, and are built or renovated safely and in a quality manner. This includes coordinating contractors and suppliers and monitoring contracted work. It also includes working with the Construction Supervisor to plan weekly schedules for habitual volunteers, weekly volunteer groups and AmeriCorps members. It also includes working with the fund development and volunteer services departments as needed to fulfill the overall needs of the organization.
Job Tasks and Responsibilities:
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics:
To apply, follow this link.
Title: Construction Supervisor
Department(s): Construction
Reports to: Project Manager
Position Overview:
The Construction Supervisor oversees all job site related activities on assigned rehab and new construction houses, ensuring all phases of the master construction schedule are maintained. The role of the Supervisor is to coordinate all field activities to insure delivery of appropriate tools and materials, lead and teach AmeriCorps members, volunteers and homeowners on site, monitor quality control and track job status and report it to the Project Manager.
Job Tasks and Responsibilities:
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics:
To apply, follow this link.
Title: ReStore Deconstruction Manager
Date Prepared:December 5, 2014
Department: ReStore
Reports to: ReStore Director
Position Overview:
This individual oversees and manages the Deconstruction Services business for the Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
Job Task and Responsibilities:
Responsible for overseeing all aspects of Deconstruction Services, including planning for and expanding upon the Deconstruction Services business through servicing existing contacts and establishing relationships with new donors, individuals, businesses and partners.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics:
To apply, follow this link.

author: Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity


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GOP lawmakers unveil plan to fight Milwaukee poverty | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
January 29, 2015
jsonline.com

created: January 29, 2015

author: Andrea Waxman


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King’s visits to Milwaukee left permanent mark | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
January 29, 2015
OnMilwaukee.com


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Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
January 29, 2015
88NINE Radio Milwaukee


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Deadline for Health Insurance Marketplace coverage fast approaching | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Health Department
February 2, 2015
With the final deadline to purchase health care coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace quickly approaching, Mayor Tom Barrett, the Milwaukee Enrollment Network (MKEN), and the City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) are reminding area residents that resources for enrollment assistance are available.
“There are just two weeks left to purchase private health care coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace,” said Mayor Tom Barrett. “I urge all who have questions about renewing their health care coverage or exploring new options to take advantage of the numerous resources available for assistance before it’s too late.”
Throughout Milwaukee, more than 17 special enrollment events will be held before the February 15 deadline. Regularly scheduled enrollment assistance will continue at more than 10 community agency locations, including the City of Milwaukee Health Department’s three health center locations. Find a full calendar of special events and regular enrollment support hours at www.mkehcp.org.
“Nine out of 10 Wisconsinites who enrolled through the Health Insurance Marketplace found that they qualified for financial assistance,” said Heather Dummer Combs, MKEN enrollment project manager. “So, with more insurance plans offered in this enrollment period, consumers should shop for the plan that fits their health needs and budget.”
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Seven Milwaukee Public Library branches will also continue to offer special computer hours staffed by trained individuals from Covering Kids & Families, Milwaukee Health Services, Inc., and the MHD during the below times:
Individuals with questions regarding the Health Insurance Marketplace are encouraged to visit www.healthcare.gov or call (800) 318-2596.

created: February 2, 2015

author: City of Milwaukee Health Department


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Does “Broken Windows” Theory Hurt Milwaukee? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
February 2, 2015
UrbanMilwaukee.com


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Oshkosh developer pitches apartments for National Avenue building | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
February 2, 2015
Milwaukee Business Journal


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The Women of #BlackLivesMatter | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
February 2, 2015
The Atlantic