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5 things to know and do the weekend of Dec. 17 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
December 17, 2021
Newline Community Café is hosting a book sale and giveaway Friday. (Photo provided by Newline Community Café)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Vote in the Virtual Teen Art Contest: until Saturday, Dec. 18
All submissions to the Milwaukee Public Library’s Virtual Teen Art Gallery are on display through Saturday Dec. 18. Virtually tour the gallery and vote for your favorite works here. The three submissions with the most votes will continue to be displayed after voting has concluded.
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2. Flood the Holidays – Inundación de Libros: Friday, Dec. 17
Escuela Verde’s Newline Community Café hosts this community event that includes books for sale from La Revo Books, free books from Barby the Book Fairy and more. The event runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 17 at 3618 W Pierce St.
3. The Black Diaspora Symphony Orchestra Presents: An Evening of Lullabies and Dirges: Saturday, Dec. 18
This concert honors the children of Milwaukee and Waukesha who have been killed in 2021; those who have died from drug overdoses; healthcare workers struggling with patient deaths due to COVID-19; and anyone else who has also lost a loved one. The event is free, starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 1445 N. 24th St.
4. Kujichagulia Holiday Market: Sunday, Dec. 19
Meet the makers behind the Kujichagulia Producers Collective for an afternoon holiday market complete with food and live music. The market runs from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 19 at Sherman Phoenix, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
5. Kwanzaa Workshop: First Fruits of the Harvest: Sunday, Dec. 19
Learn more about what Kwanzaa is and how to observe it at this workshop, which includes food, entertainment and a free Kwanzaa guide with a donation. The event runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 19 at 3910 W. Lisbon Ave.
In case you missed it:
9 ways you can help others this holiday season
Milwaukee Recreation offers free or low-cost ways to stay active this winter
18 winter activities for you and your loved ones

created: December 17, 2021


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
December 16, 2021

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: December 16, 2021

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

author: Dwayne Burtin


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How to stay COVID-free this holiday season | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
December 17, 2021
Students at St. Margaret Mary School received doses of the vaccine at a clinic held on Nov. 9. (Photo by Matt Martinez)
With COVID-19 cases rising in Milwaukee and the holidays coming, we want you to be safe.
NNS caught up with Kristin Johnson, a physician’s assistant at Progressive Community Health Centers, and Katie Lepak, project officer with the Milwaukee County Public Health Collaborative, a COVID-19 response effort by public and private partners of Milwaukee County, about how you and your loved ones can have a healthy holiday season.
Get tested
The only way to know if you have COVID-19 is to get tested. A number of local clinics, community health centers and testing sites are available to the public.
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HealthyMKE.com is updated frequently with new locations on where you can get tested or vaccinated. The website is a tool to help people find no-cost places to get tested as some providers have started charging for services.
The Milwaukee Health Department offers COVID-19 testing at the Northwest Health Center, 7630 W. Mill Rd.; Southside Health Center, 1639 S. 23 St.; and the Menomonee Valley site at 2401 W. St. Paul Ave.
Timing is key. Someone getting tested has to consider when they will need their results and when testing sites will be open. With holiday hours, it’s important to pay attention to operations, Johnson said. It’s also important to note that there are no set guarantees when it comes to result times, Lepak said.
Lepak recommended getting tested within about 72 hours of your plans. Getting tested earlier and self-isolating for a few days can also be a good strategy to limit exposure or get your results sooner.
Lepak said it’s important to do research before you get tested, as there are now more tests available than there were before. For instance, there are:
Those  flying should also pay attention to testing guidelines from their airlines and other carriers as they may require a specific test.
Those using at-home tests may have questions about their results or if they performed the test correctly, Lepak said. She recommended finding trusted testing sites in the community, using HealthyMKE and asking questions or getting another test for those on the fence.
Milwaukee’s COVID-19 hotline is 414-286-6800.
Get vaccinated
COVID-19 vaccines are available for free throughout the city. Vaccination clinics and drives can be found at HealthyMKE.com.
Vaccines are now available for everyone over age 5. The Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine available to those under age 18.
The Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines are available in two doses, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is available in one dose. The doses for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine are separated by three weeks and four weeks, respectively.
It takes two weeks for the vaccine to become fully effective in the body.
Those who get vaccinated now will at least have partial protection from the coronavirus by the holidays, Johnson said. She also recommended getting a booster shot for those who are eligible – namely those who are six months removed from their last dose of the vaccine.
The Pfizer vaccine was recently authorized for boosters in 16- and 17-year-olds.
Consider smaller gatherings
Johnson said those gathering with family should consider hosting events with smaller numbers of people where social distancing is possible.
Those at family gatherings should also consider wearing a mask and using extra precautions if anyone present is immunocompromised or ineligible for the vaccine.
Wear a mask, especially when indoors and traveling
Johnson said people, regardless of vaccination status, should mask up when they are indoors, especially in large groups with people they may not know.
Johnson suggested getting an N95 mask for people who might be traveling on planes, trains or buses to give yourself better protection as those are now more widely available.
Wash your hands
Washing your hands frequently will reduce your likelihood of getting COVID-19 and other illnesses.
If you test positive, stay home
If you receive a positive COVID-19 test, it’s important to stay home and isolate for at least 10 days.
Be sure to stay in contact with your medical provider if you have symptoms and keep an eye out. If you have emergency warning signs, such as trouble breathing, seek emergency medical care.

author: Matt Martinez


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Pandemic benefits for students approved for 2021-’22 school year | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
December 17, 2021
Pandemic EBT has been approved for the 2021-’22 school year. These payments will arrive on QUEST cards or P-EBT cards starting in March. (Stock photo)
Pandemic EBT, or P-EBT, has been approved for the 2021-’22 school year.
This means that parents of students who learn remotely or are unable to attend school due to COVID-19 will be paid to supplement the cost of meals that would have been covered by the National School Lunch Program had the child attended in-person.
A parent is eligible to receive P-EBT for each child who meets the following criteria:
Parents of eligible students will receive $7.10 per day that their child spent learning virtually or could not attend school due to COVID-19.
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The first P-EBT payment will not be until March. More information about the benefits schedule is here.
This P-EBT program does not apply to parents of children aged 6 or younger. A 2021-’22 version of the Pre-6 P-EBT program has not been submitted.
More information about the 2021-’22 P-EBT program can be found here.
FoodShare emergency allotments for January not yet approved, by state officials are not worried
FoodShare recipients during the pandemic have been getting an extra $95 in their accounts each month, regardless of the level of FoodShare they qualify for.
However, it is not guaranteed that FoodShare recipients will see the extra funds in January.
The extra $95 is an “emergency allotment” of FoodShare benefits that has been provided to FoodShare recipients since April 2020.
However, the emergency allotments are tied to the existence of a federal public health emergency, which is scheduled to expire on Jan. 16, 90 days after it was last renewed in October.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services, or DHS, the state agency that administers FoodShare, said that the federal government has said that DHS will be notified at least 60 days before the public health emergency expires.
“At this time, the public health emergency lasts until January 16, and because we have not been notified by the federal government that it will be ending, we expect it to be renewed at that time for another 90 days,” said Elizabeth Goodsitt, communications specialist at DHS.
Regardless of the continuance of the emergency allotments, FoodShare recipients will need to complete their annual renewals, with no exceptions, starting on Jan. 1. Not all recipients will need to complete a renewal in January, but renewals can no longer be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

author: Sam Woods


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Post from Community: AMA offers 10 health recommendations for New Year | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
American Medical Association
December 17, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
With the new year approaching, the American Medical Association (AMA) is offering 10 recommendations to help Americans make the most impactful, long-lasting improvements to their health in 2020 and beyond.
“A new year is the perfect time to consider your personal goals, and how you can make positive health choices in the coming year,” says AMA President Gerald E. Harmon, M.D. “Small lifestyle changes today can have a lasting effect in improving your health.”
The AMA’s 10 recommendations for a healthier new year, include the following:
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1. Make sure your family is up-to-date on their vaccines—including the annual influenza vaccine for everyone age six months or older and the COVID-19 vaccine for everyone age five and older. Anyone with questions about the COVID-19 vaccines should speak with their physician and review trusted resources, including getvaccineanswers.org. Following evidence-based public health measures, such as physical distancing and wearing face masks, is also vitally important to help protect against COVID-19.
2. Learn your risk for type 2 diabetes—take a simple online 2-minute self-screening test at DoIHavePrediabetes.org. Steps you take now can help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, which is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes, including hospitalization or death.
3. Know your blood pressure numbers—visit ManageYourBP.org to better understand your numbers and take necessary steps to get high blood pressure — also known as hypertension — under control. Doing so will reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke.
4. Manage stress—a good diet, sufficient sleep (at least 7.5 hours per night), daily exercise and wellness activities, such as yoga and meditation, are key ingredients to maintaining and improving your mental health, but don’t hesitate to ask for help from a mental health professional when you need it.
5. Be more physically active—adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity.7
6. Reduce your intake of processed foods, especially those with added sodium and sugar—eat less red meat and processed meats, and add more plant-based foods, such as olive oil, nuts and seeds to your diet. Also reduce your consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and drink more water instead. Drinking sugary beverages, even 100% fruit juices, is associated with a higher all-cause mortality risk, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.
7. If a health care professional determines that you need antibiotics, take them exactly as prescribed—antibiotic resistance is a serious public health problem and antibiotics will not make you feel better if you have a virus, such as a cold or flu.
8. If consuming alcohol, do so in moderation as defined by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans—up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, and only by adults of legal drinking age.
9. Talk with your doctor about tobacco and e-cigarette use (or vaping) and how to quit—declare your home and car smoke- and aerosol-free to eliminate secondhand exposure.
10. Pain medication is personal—if you are taking prescription opioids or other medications, follow your doctor’s instructions, store them safely to prevent diversion or misuse, and properly dispose of any leftover medication.
The AMA also encourages everyone who is eligible to visit healthcare.gov to sign up for health coverage, which includes recent changes that improve access and affordability. The deadline to enroll for 2022 coverage is Jan. 15, 2022. More health resources and tips can be found by visiting ama-assn.org.
The AMA is committed to improving the health of the nation by leading the charge to prevent and reduce the burden of chronic diseases, like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The AMA will continue its efforts aimed at helping the U.S. achieve no new preventable cases of type 2 diabetes and helping all adults meet their blood pressure goals to ensure patients live richer and fuller lives.

author: American Medical Association


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Post from Community: Kennita Hickman is first Black woman to win local music award | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Catera
December 19, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Kennita Hickman, owner and chief culture curator of Catera, a musician management and media company, won the 2021 Radio Milwaukee Music Ambassador award. This award is given to individuals or organizations for their outstanding work towards advancing and elevating the Milwaukee music scene. Kennita is the first Black woman to win the Radio Milwaukee’s Music Ambassador award since the awards began in 2007.
Radio Milwaukee emailed in a statement, “Anyone who knows Kennita knows she’s a BOSS. Through her work with Catera, she uses her creative marketing know-how and entrepreneurial spirit to uplift our music community and show them new and unique opportunities.”
Catera’s recent projects include the curation, promotion, and production of Artist Eats, a series highlighting independent musicians and local restaurants as a bridge to food and music, two avenues that bring diverse groups of people together. Hickman also lined up local musicians for Lakeside at MAM, a summer activation program at the Milwaukee Art Museum to encourage a safe gathering place outdoors. In addition, Hickman facilitated local talent for Music on the Beerline, a one-day event with Riverworks MKE to activate underutilized outdoor space in Harambee. Hickman has also penned several opinion pieces for local news outlets on the importance of pay equity, and work balance for creative entrepreneurs.
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“I’m humbled to have been chosen as the winner for this prestigious local award. Thank you in part to Radio Milwaukee for ensuring that Milwaukee’s music scene continues to thrive. Catera is proud to be a part of it,” Hickman said. “As a Black-woman entrepreneur, this is, even more, special because of those who continuously work to amplify artists of color but are often overlooked. This award is for them,” Hickman added.
Past recipients of the Radio Milwaukee Music Ambassador award include Milwaukee Public Library’s “Library Loud Days,” Vic Thomas, Milwaukee World Festival, Jim Linneman, Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, and Kelsey Kaufman, Cactus Club.
About Catera
Kennita Hickman is the Chief Culture Curator for Catera. She is a brand influencer strategist, project manager, and event producer for creative entrepreneurs. She serves as a board member for #IVoted and Milwaukee Theatre Alliance. Prior to her work at Catera, she wrote for various music publications including Urbanology, Relevant, and The Source, and served as Director of Artist Support and Outreach for Imagine MKE, an arts non-profit. Learn more about Kennita and Catera’s work at https://www.instagram.com/cateramusic or https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennita-hickman

created: December 19, 2021

author: Catera


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5 things to know and do this week in Milwaukee: Dec. 20 to Dec. 24 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
December 20, 2021
Vaun Mays poses in front of gifts given at 2020’s RBG Gift Must. (Photo provided by Vaun Mays)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Holiday Floral Show at The Domes: Now until Jan. 3
Come see poinsettias, amaryllis, single stem white mums (resembling snow balls), snow white pop mums and cyclamen at the Mitchell Park Domes’ Holiday Floral Show. The exhibit runs until Jan. 3 when The Domes are open. Holiday hours can be found here. The Mitchell Park Domes are located at 524 S. Layton Blvd.
2. Winter Solstice Adult Candlelight Walk: Tuesday, Dec. 21
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Celebrate the Winter Solstice with the Urban Ecology Center by going on a walk in Riverside Park. Walks leave every 30 minutes, beginning at 4 p.m. and ending at 9 p.m., on Tuesday, Dec. 21. The event takes place at the Urban Ecology Center’s Riverside location at 1500 E. Park Place. This event is for adults.
3. Learn words in a new language: Wednesday, Dec. 22
Every Wednesday, Triciclo Perú, a Peruvian restaurant, offers an opportunity to learn or practice a new language. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22. Triciclo Perú staff will facilitate conversations at 3801 W. Vliet St.
4. The Winter Snow-Down Festival: Begins Thursday, Dec. 23
MA’RUF Center for Youth Innovation hosts a series of events for its “Winter Snow-Down Festival,” starting with a dodgeball tournament from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 23 at 2110 W. Hampton Ave. See the full list of events and RSVP here.
5. RBG Gift Must 2021: Friday, Dec. 24
Program the Parks MKE is giving gifts away for the seventh annual RBG Gift Must celebration. The group will meet at Sherman Park, 3000 N. Sherman Blvd., at 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 24 to honor those killed in Milwaukee in 2021. Then the group will announce and head to the selected neighborhood from there. The neighborhood will not be announced ahead of time so as to remain a surprise.
In case you missed it
How to stay COVID-free this holiday season
9 ways you can help others this holiday season
18 winter activities for you and your loved ones

created: December 20, 2021


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
December 19, 2021


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
December 20, 2021


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Post from Community: STRYV365 hosts Milwaukee youth a “A Motown Christmas” event | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
STRYV365
December 20, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
STRYV365, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit dedicated to helping community youth overcome trauma through education, sports and activities, hosted local students at “A Motown Christmas” music event at the Riverside Theater.
Launched in 2020 by Milwaukee native Brandon J. Currie, Ph.D., STRYV365 works with schools and caregivers to provide tailored, multi-faceted curriculum and programming that engages youth in a fun and positive way.
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“Childhood trauma is widely recognized as a serious issue, especially among some of our most disadvantaged communities. It’s not enough for us to merely raise awareness of its impact,” Currie said. “At STRYV365, we are people of action, working every day to equip our youth with the tools they need to break the cycle of trauma and meet their full potential.”
Currie emphasizes the importance of engaging with students in multiple ways, especially because the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected communities of color and further exposed inequities in education, employment and social mobility for these communities. Inviting students at STRYV’s partner schools to a performance of “A Motown Christmas” was an opportunity for Milwaukee-area youth to experience live music in a safe, family-friendly environment.
Since 2020, STRYV365 has served more than 3,500 students. After participating in the organization’s programming, 85 percent of students reported finding different ways to understand, analyze and solve problems without conflict and 83 percent said they learned skills for critical thinking and healthy decision-making. Of the more than 900 teachers, staff and caregivers who have participated in STRYV365 workshops and professional development opportunities, 86 percent said they use the strategies they learned in their work.
Current STRYV365 partner organizations include the Medical College of Wisconsin; the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee; the Malaika Early Learning Center; Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy; the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE); SaintA; Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC); the Milwaukee Academy of Science; and the Brown Deer School District.
To learn more about STRYV365 or to support its mission, please email info@stryv365.org or call (414) 502-9576.
About STRYV365
STRYV365 works collaboratively with schools and youth caregivers to provide a tailored, multi-faceted curriculum that engages youth in a fun and positive way. STRYV365 does not supplant efforts that already exist, but builds upon the existing infrastructure to meet youth where they are. By using sports and activities, we teach youth the skills and mindset to overcome trauma and meet their full potential. Visit https://www.stryv365.org to learn more.


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STRYV365-Logo.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
December 17, 2021

author: Name *


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Post from Community: USCIS announces FY 2021 accomplishments | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
December 20, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently released preliminary fiscal year (FY) 2021 agency statistics and accomplishments. These preliminary statistics highlight important immigration trends and illustrate the work accomplished by USCIS in FY 2021. The agency will publish final, verified FY 2021 statistics in January 2022.
“I’m immensely proud of the USCIS workforce and for their achievements in a year of many challenges and rebuilding. From responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing processing delays to enacting numerous operational and policy changes in response to executive orders from the Biden-Harris Administration, FY 2021 marks a year of growth and renewed vision for our agency,” said USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou.
“In the upcoming year, we will continue to serve the public with compassion and reflect America’s promise as a nation of welcome and possibilities for all. As we administer our nation’s immigration system as an engine of American strength, we will adjudicate requests with fairness, efficiency and integrity.”
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Addressing Challenges
Response to Executive Orders
Humanitarian Programs
Increased Public Engagement
USCIS hosts public engagements on local and national levels involving our community relations officers and subject matter experts. In March 2021, we conducted an agency-wide review of public engagement to reinvigorate our outreach efforts. The review identified key priorities and ways to increase engagement opportunities.
Online Filing and Tools
The agency’s transition from paper applications to a fully digital filing and adjudication experience continues to be an important priority for USCIS. Consequently, USCIS continues to expand our online filing capabilities.
Increased Data Transparency
USCIS has increased data transparency and availability of new and expanded quarterly reports continues to be an important priority for the agency.
For more information on USCIS and our programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), Instagram (/uscis), YouTube (/uscis) and Facebook (/uscis).


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OPINION: Why I share my love of nature with other Black Milwaukeeans | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Steven Hunter
December 21, 2021
Steven Hunter hikes the Lincoln Creek Greenway in the 30th Street Industrial Corridor. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
I’ve always been interested in health, vitality and nature.
Probably something spurred from being an only child up North while my cousins down South were “country strong,” which always showed whenever we visited.
I’ve always been aware of the need to be healthy and active for the sake of one’s quality of life. I’ve also known from an early age that this has little to do with financial or social status — anyone can be fit and healthy if they choose.
It stuck out to me that people make different choices, and I didn’t understand why until later on. Why don’t some people enjoy pushing themselves? Feeling that they’re moving toward being their best? Don’t they know you can’t be a helper if you aren’t strong enough?
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While I learned about the value of service growing up in church, conversations around self-esteem came in high school. At Riverside University High School, I learned about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and the idea of self-actualization. This concept helped me string together these thoughts.
I began to study, on my own, how fitness and self-esteem can be a reciprocal system that teaches you more about who you are, what you can do and how you can engage.
I actually began offering my classmates fitness training as well as personal development in high school. I brought “roast beast sammiches” for the girls who I learned suffered from eating disorders. We’d skip class, sit in the hallways, eat and talk. I didn’t get how upper middle class white girls felt bad about themselves. From my perspective as a Black boy, they were the most celebrated and sought-after humans. Right up there with Asian babies.
I joined the U.S. Army during high school and went to basic training the summer between my junior and senior year. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I was able to study behavioral health in an organization that has trained thousands and thousands of people! I also learned more about my particular strengths, motivations and how I might best serve society. I became very interested in people’s ability to heal and develop their own resilience.
After the military, I went to massage therapy school, furthering my studies in healing through holistic health. I began to see the clear disparity in how African Americans were treated in health care and the lack of connection to natural healing. And so I founded Beans and Cornbread, an organization committed to wellness for African Americans. While the organization was short-lived because I was new to nonprofit work, I continued to make wellness work a part of everything I got into.
Over the past 25 years, I’ve continued to learn, working with various local arts organizations from African dance to therapeutic arts. While working with various groups, it seemed most of my performances connected to nature — from global warming to migration of the Monarch butterfly to water conservation to Native American folk tales, to list just a few. All of these shows were backed by science and research, which continued to grow my learning.
Nearby Nature MKE came into my life just as I was thinking about what to do with myself. It is a perfect fit. I have spent most of my working life in areas where what I brought to the table was a hard sell to a community that has historically been left out and kept away from any and all advantages.
Nearby Nature MKE is an organization whose mission is to reconnect Black folk back to nature, offering nature education classes in schools, churches and neighborhood centers. We hike, plant trees, kayak, engage in land stewardship and restoration, build trails, teach nature education, bird watch, track animals, identify plants and trees and share about blue and green careers.
I recognize the very real need to reconnect African Americans to the healing power of nature.
We are focusing on the Lincoln Creek Greenway neighborhoods and the north end of the 30th Street Corridor. While we have maps going back to 1820 showing this watershed, most Milwaukeeans I’ve encountered don’t know where this is. We have a lot of fun, take an exploratory pace, add some art and have good conversations.
We bring healing and cultivate empowerment by building pathways to nature, and thereby, to one’s self.
Steven Hunter is a proud Milwaukee Public Schools graduate, veteran, founder of Beans & Cornbread Wellness for African Americans and has worked in creative youth development for 25 years. He is the program director at Nearby Nature MKE.

created: December 21, 2021

author: Steven Hunter


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Post from Community: Milwaukee County leaders to sign $71 million opioid settlement agreement | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Office of the County Executive
December 21, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
County Executive David Crowley, County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson, and Milwaukee County Corporation Counsel Margaret Daun will hold a press conference today, Tuesday at 1 PM on the Wells Street steps of the courthouse to sign a settlement agreement that will bring $71 million to Milwaukee County.
The settlement agreement is part of multidistrict litigation against opioid makers filed in the Northern District of Ohio.
Milwaukee County will receive the $71 million over 18 years. It is the largest recovery for any local government in the state. Approximately $281 million is going to all litigating local governmental entities in Wisconsin.
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The agreement was reached after more than a year of careful negotiation with the Attorney General, Governor, State Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee, local governments, national class representatives, state attorneys general, and defendants.
All funds from this settlement agreement will be used for education, treatment, and abatement of the opioid epidemic.

author: Office of the County Executive


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Post from Community: The Salvation Army to provide Christmas day dinner in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Salvation Army Milwaukee County
December 21, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
The Salvation Army is just a few days away from the 32nd Christmas Family Feast. The annual event typically serves over 8,000 people a sit-down meal inside the Wisconsin Center. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it will look a little different this year.
Instead of the sit-down option, all the meals will be takeout and curbside pickup only from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Wisconsin Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., in Milwaukee. Meals will be served on a first, come first serve basis while supplies last.
The event is free and open to the public with no reservations required. The takeout entrance will be located at 4 and Wisconsin. The curbside pickup will take place on Wells Street.
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“Christmas Family Feast is a Milwaukee tradition bringing together those in need and those of means for a day of food, fun and fellowship. While we can’t dine-in together this year, we still wanted to provide a meal for those who may need one,” said Major Steve Woodard, Coordinator for The Salvation Army of Milwaukee County.
Everyone that arrives will receive a to-go Styrofoam box filled with turkey, ham, yams, mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, green beans and dessert. All volunteers and staff will be wearing masks and all CDC guidelines will be observed.
Christmas Family Feast is sponsored by: Sysco, All Saints Cathedral, AT&T, Brewers Community Foundation, Cedar Crest Ice Cream, Divine Shepherd Luthern Church, Hunger Task Force, Jammin 98.3, Milwaukee Courier, Milwaukee County Transit System, Molina Healthcare, Pick ‘n Save, Cream City (WI) Chapter: The Links Incorporated, The Milwaukee Times, WE Energies Foundation, Wisconsin Center District, and WNOV.

author: Salvation Army Milwaukee County


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We’ve updated our guide to getting free or low-cost meals | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
December 21, 2021
Many grocery stores, including Pete’s Fruit Market, take FoodShare. Find out how to apply or how to get help applying for FoodShare below. (File photo by Lydia Slattery)
Start here for up-to-date information on food pantries
Food pantry hours can vary from day to day, especially during the holidays and with COVID-19 cases rising over the past few weeks. If you are looking for a food pantry, take a look at the resources below or call the pantry you want to visit beforehand.
Use the 2-1-1 Wisconsin website to find the food pantry in your neighborhood. You can also call IMPACT at 2-1-1 or text your ZIP code to TXT-211, which can connect you to food pantries and meal programs in your area.
The Hunger Task Force has created an interactive map complete with soup kitchens, MPS meal sites, non-MPS meal sites, mobile markets, meal sites for seniors and more. You can search by ZIP code or by resource type to find what you are looking for at a location near you. The map is updated daily, but call the location before you visit to make sure it is still open.
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Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin also has a collection of resources, including a pantry locator and information and help with applying for FoodShare and Women, Infant and Children, or WIC, credits.
You can also text “MKEfood” to 73224 to connect with one of our reporters about food resources.
Do I need a photo ID to go to a food pantry?
For some, yes. This is because some pantries are required to verify that you live in the area they serve.
If you are not sure if you need an ID, call the food pantry directly or text “MKE” to 73224 and a reporter can get you the information you need.
Pay what you can
Some restaurants and grocery stores allow customers to pay what they can, even if that is $0. However, there is often also a suggested price or way to donate for those who want to support these efforts.
Tricklebee Café, 4424 W. North Ave., is a community cafe offering vegan and gluten free options. The café is open for dine-in from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Call 414-488-2477 to order for pickup.
The Victory Garden Initiative’s pantry will be opening back up on Tuesday, Jan. 4 and every Tuesday thereafter from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Hot meals cooked by Harambee resident Helen Dixon will be served.
Free or low-cost food delivery (60 and older)
For those who are 60 or older, Meals on Wheels will deliver meals to you and anyone living with you who also qualifies. You can view eligibility requirements and apply here and view this month’s menu here.
Additionally, for those 60 or older and/or have a qualifying disability in the 53204, 53205, 53206, 53215, 53223, 53224 and 53225 ZIP codes, Friedens Community Ministries will deliver food from one of its four pantries. Call 414-289-6030 to sign up.
The Hunger Task Force, DoorDash and the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha have partnered to deliver free meal stockboxes to seniors (60 or older) with a monthly income of less than $1,396 for an individual or less than $1,888 for a two-person household. Eligible ZIP codes can be found here.
Get money for food
Those making less than the maximum income requirements can get EBT credit to buy food through Wisconsin’s FoodShare program. You can check to see if you are eligible here, and you can find instructions on how to apply here.
Parents of children who receive free or reduced-price school meals may also be eligible to receive credit to buy food through Pandemic EBT, or P-EBT. You can find more information about who is eligible here.


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OPINION: Wisconsin’s report cards for schools are bending the truth | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Isral DeBruin, Colleston Morgan and Spencer Schien
December 22, 2021
(Photo by Wes Tank of TankThink)
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
(Top to bottom) Isral DeBruin, Colleston Morgan and Spencer Schien
Milwaukee parents deserve to know the score when it comes to school quality and student achievement, but the scoreboard is broken exactly when we need it most.
Wisconsin publishes annual report cards for each school receiving public tax dollars, including Milwaukee Public Schools, public charter schools and private schools that accept state-funded tuition vouchers. These report cards are meant to be a scoreboard, helping parents and other stakeholders keep track of school quality.
State education officials recently released the first report cards since the pandemic, providing an initial citywide picture of how COVID-19 impacted student academic performance. That picture isn’t a pretty one: More than 80 percent of Milwaukee students scored below grade level in reading and math.
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And yet – more than 70 percent of Milwaukee schools received a report card rating of “meeting expectations” or better. How? Unfortunately, state leaders made two critical choices that broke the scoreboard, making it easier for schools to earn deceptively high ratings even as student achievement dropped.
State officials moved the goal posts
Just weeks before report cards were published, the Department of Public Instruction, or DPI, quietly and without explanation or public input changed the scoring rules. By moving the goal posts, DPI made it easier for schools to earn higher ratings.
A new analysis from Milwaukee nonprofit City Forward Collective found this change gave 74 Milwaukee schools better ratings than they otherwise would have received, including 42% of schools operated by MPS, 27% of charter schools and 19% of private schools. MPS also benefited on its districtwide report card, improving its rating from “meets few expectations” to “meets expectations” even though its actual score went down slightly.
State law puts extreme emphasis on students’ academic growth
This last-minute change comes on top of a problematic law signed by former Gov. Scott Walker that grades most Milwaukee schools on a deceptive curve. Under the law, schools serving high-poverty communities get nine times more credit for student growth (how much students grow from one year to the next) than they do for student achievement (whether students are on grade level). In wealthier suburban communities, student growth and achievement are weighted more equally.
To be fair, students from low-income households are more likely to come into school performing below grade level as a result of the structural inequities they face. A high-quality school that serves many such students must be especially good at helping them get caught up – a process that generally takes more than one year. For this reason, it makes sense for report cards to measure both growth and achievement.
However, weighting growth at nine times the importance of achievement – and only for a subset of the state’s poorest students – makes Wisconsin an extreme outlier. It’s also inequitable, giving parents a misleading picture of how well students are being served by a given school. Parents should be able to assume a school rated “meets expectations” is preparing most students to meet grade-level expectations. That is not currently the case.
How can we fix it?
State policymakers should consider the following actions to ensure that parents have a scoreboard that provides clear and accurate information about how students and schools are doing:
This matters a lot – especially now
Right now, the scoreboard says most Milwaukee kids are losing. Even though some schools received higher report card ratings based on the easier scoring criteria, at least four out of five Milwaukee students are not performing at grade level. Black students, students with disabilities and students from low-income households are all disproportionately represented in this group.
These are uncomfortable truths, but to quote James Baldwin, “Nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
More than ever, parents, caregivers and other stakeholders in our K-12 education ecosystem need to be able to understand exactly how Milwaukee students and schools are performing. State officials must fix the scoreboard so parents can make smart choices for their children and hold those in power accountable for ensuring our city’s students and schools recover and thrive.
Isral DeBruin, Colleston Morgan and Spencer Schien are on the staff of City Forward Collective, a Milwaukee nonprofit dedicated to eliminating inequities in education and ensuring every child has the opportunity to attend a high-quality school. For more information, visit www.cityforwardcollective.org.

created: December 22, 2021


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city-forward | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
December 21, 2021


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
December 21, 2021


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Where to find mental health resources this winter | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
December 22, 2021
One building on West Capitol Drive houses both the Behavioral Health Division’s Access Clinic East and Outreach Community Health Center’s Behavioral Health Clinic. (Photo by Matt Martinez)
As winter begins, many may struggle with mental health concerns.
Seasonal affective disorder can increase feelings of anxiety and depression, and the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to increase the demand for mental health services.
Here are some places and services to consider if you’re struggling this season:
Services from the city and county
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For adult services from the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division, call 414-257-8085. For children’s services, call 414-257-7607.
Access Clinic East, located at 210 W. Capitol Drive, is operated in partnership with Outreach Community Health Centers. It can be reached at 414-257-7665. It is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and has walk-in assessment hours from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Access Clinic South, located at 1635 W. National Ave., is located in Sixteenth Street Community Health Center’s National Avenue Clinic. It can be reached at 414-257-7900. It is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and has the same walk-in hours as Access Clinic East.
Know the warning signs of a mental health crisis
Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division has a list of signs of crisis at this webpage. They include:
In case of a mental health crisis
Call 911 or the national suicide hotline at 800-273-8255 (TALK). You can also text “Hopeline” to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
Milwaukee County’s crisis line is 414-257-7222. The Children’s Mobile Crisis Team can be reached at 414-257-7621.
There are three crisis resource locations in the Milwaukee area. Behavioral Health Division Psychiatric Crisis Services, 9455 W. Watertown Plank Road, provide crisis services 24 hours a day, including a psychiatric emergency room.
There are crisis resource centers on the North and South sides of the city. The North Side Crisis Resource Center is at 5409 W. Villard Ave. Call 414-539-4024. The line operates 24 hours a day.
The South Side Crisis Resource Center is at 2057 S. 14 St. Call 414-643-8778.
The Trevor Lifeline is available at 1-866-488-7386 and provides crisis and prevention services for LGBTQ+ youth specifically.
Other warmlines
The Trans Lifeline, 877-565-8860, provides services for the transgender community. Due to the pandemic, people may have trouble reaching the lifeline because of shortened hours. Call between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Central Time for the best chance to speak with someone.
The Milwaukee County Warmline is available at 414-777-4729.
Service providers in Milwaukee
Mental Health America of Wisconsin provides a database that allows those searching for services to find organizations that can meet their specific needs.
IMPACT 2-1-1 can also help connect those seeking services with organizations around the city. Call 2-1-1 or text your ZIP code to 898-211. You can also access online chat through its website.
AMRI Counseling Services can be reached at 414-455-3879. It has two locations in the city: 4001 W. Capitol Drive and 3536 W. Fond Du Lac Ave., Suite 019. It offers mental health services, including family counseling.
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee offers counseling and therapy services to families on a sliding scale and accepts BadgerCare and Medicaid. It can be reached at 414-771-2881. The organization is located in Milwaukee at 2021 N. 60 St.
Aurora Health Care offers family counseling services at 1020 N. 12 St. To make an appointment, call central scheduling at 414-773-4312.
Muslim Community & Health Center can be reached at 414-939-4411 and is located at 803 W. Layton Ave.
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers offers behavioral health services at four locations in the city. It can be reached at 414-672-1353.
The four locations are:
Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. offers behavioral health services at two locations.
The MLK Heritage Health Center, 2555 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, can be reached at 414-372-8080. The Isaac Coggs Heritage Health Center, 8200 W. Silver Spring Drive, can be reached at 414-760-3900.
Progressive Community Health Centers offers behavioral health services at two locations.
The Lisbon Avenue Health Center is at 3522 W. Lisbon. The Hillside Family Health Center is at 1452 N. 7 St. Both locations can be reached at 414-935-8000.
Outreach Community Health Centers offers mental health resources. Call 414-727-6320.
Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Centers, 930 W. Historic Mitchell St., can be reached at 414-383-9526.
Pathfinders, an organization that provides housing and support for homeless and runaway children, has mental health services. To contact the main office, call 414-964-2565. To contact the Youth Shelter, 1614 E. Kane Place, call 414-271-1560.
SaintA offers behavioral health services at locations around the city. Its main campus is located at 8901 W. Capitol Drive. Call 414-463-1880.
Ascension Wisconsin offers mental health services at its Columbia St. Mary’s location, 2323 N. Lake Drive. Call 414-585-1620.
Walker’s Point Youth and Family Center, 732 S. 21 St., offers free counseling services for youth from age 11 to 22. It also offers emergency housing for homeless and runaway youth. For emergency services, call 414-647-8200 and dial extension 0. For non-emergency services, dial extension 2. The hotline operates 24 hours a day.
If you’re looking for help with addiction, check out our list of places to get resources.
If you’re looking for school-based programs, check out our reporting here.
Did we miss a resource? E-mail reporter Matt Martinez at matthew.martinez@marquette.edu.
A medida que comienza el invierno, muchos pueden tener problemas de salud mental.
El trastorno afectivo estacional puede aumentar los sentimientos de ansiedad y depresión, y la pandemia de COVID-19 ha seguido aumentando la demanda de servicios de salud mental.
Estos son algunos lugares y servicios que puede considerar si tiene dificultades esta temporada:
Para servicios para adultos de la División de Salud del Comportamiento del Condado de Milwaukee, llame al 414-257-8085. Para servicios para niños, llame al 414-257-7607.
Access Clinic East , ubicada en 210 W. Capitol Drive, es operada en asociación con Outreach Community Health Centers. Puede comunicarse al 414-257-7665. Está abierto de 8:30 am a 4:30 pm y tiene un horario de evaluación sin cita previa de 8:30 am a 2:30 pm de lunes a viernes.
Access Clinic South, ubicada en 1635 W. National Ave., está ubicada en Sixteenth Street Community Health Center’s National Avenue Clinic. Puede comunicarse al 414-257-7900. Está abierto de 8:30 am a 4:30 pm y tiene el mismo horario de atención sin cita previa que Access Clinic East.
La División de Salud del Comportamiento del Condado de Milwaukee tiene una lista de signos de crisis en esta página web . Incluyen:
Llame al 911 o a la línea directa nacional de suicidio al 800-273-8255 (TALK). También puede enviar un mensaje de texto con la palabra “Hopeline” al 741741 para comunicarse con la línea de texto de crisis.
La línea de crisis del condado de Milwaukee es 414-257-7222. Puede comunicarse con el Equipo Móvil de Crisis para Niños llamando al 414-257-7621.
Hay tres ubicaciones de recursos de crisis en el área de Milwaukee. Los Servicios de Crisis Psiquiátrica de la División de Salud del Comportamiento, 9455 W. Watertown Plank Road, brindan servicios de crisis las 24 horas del día, incluida una sala de emergencias psiquiátricas.
Hay centros de recursos de crisis en los lados norte y sur de la ciudad. El Centro de Recursos de Crisis de North Side está en 5409 W. Villard Ave. Llame al 414-539-4024. La línea opera las 24 horas del día.
El Centro de Recursos para Crisis de South Side está en 2057 S. 14th St. Llame al 414-643-8778.
Trevor Lifeline está disponible en el 1-866-488-7386 y brinda servicios de crisis y prevención específicamente para jóvenes LGBTQ+.
The Trans Lifeline , 877-565-8860, brinda servicios para la comunidad transgénero. Debido a la pandemia, las personas pueden tener problemas para llegar a la línea de vida debido al horario reducido. Llame entre las 10 am y las 4 pm, hora central, para tener la mejor oportunidad de hablar con alguien.
La línea directa del condado de Milwaukee está disponible en el 414-777-4729.
Mental Health America of Wisconsin proporciona una base de datos que permite a quienes buscan servicios encontrar organizaciones que puedan satisfacer sus necesidades específicas.
IMPACT 2-1-1 también puede ayudar a conectar a quienes buscan servicios con organizaciones de la ciudad. Llame al 2-1-1 o envíe un mensaje de texto con su código postal al 898-211. También puedes acceder al chat online a través de su página web .
Puede comunicarse con los servicios de asesoramiento de AMRI al 414-455-3879. Tiene dos ubicaciones en la ciudad: 4001 W. Capitol Drive y 3536 W. Fond Du Lac Ave., Suite 019. Ofrece servicios de salud mental, incluida la consejería familiar.
Caridades Católicas de la Arquidiócesis de Milwaukee ofrece servicios de asesoramiento y terapia a las familias en una escala móvil y acepta BadgerCare y Medicaid. Puede comunicarse al 414-771-2881. La organización está ubicada en Milwaukee en 2021 N. 60th St.
Aurora Health Care ofrece servicios de asesoramiento familiar en 1020 N. 12th St. Para programar una cita, llame a la central de programación al 414-773-4312.
Se puede comunicar con el Centro de Salud y Comunidad Musulmana al 414-939-4411 y está ubicado en 803 W. Layton Ave.
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers ofrece servicios de salud conductual en cuatro lugares de la ciudad. Puede comunicarse al 414-672-1353.
Los cuatro lugares son:
Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. ofrece servicios de salud del comportamiento en dos ubicaciones.
Se puede comunicar con el Centro de Salud MLK Heritage, 2555 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, al 414-372-8080. Se puede comunicar con el Centro de salud Isaac Coggs Heritage, 8200 W. Silver Spring Drive, al 414-760-3900.
Progressive Community Health Centers ofrece servicios de salud del comportamiento en dos ubicaciones.
El Centro de Salud de la Avenida Lisboa está en 3522 W. Lisboa. El Hillside Family Health Center está en 1452 N. 7th St. Se puede comunicar con ambas ubicaciones llamando al 414-935-8000.
Outreach Community Health Centers ofrece recursos de salud mental. Llame al 414-727-6320.
Puede comunicarse con Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Centers , 930 W. Historic Mitchell St., al 414-383-9526.
Pathfinders , una organización que brinda alojamiento y apoyo a niños sin hogar y fugitivos, cuenta con servicios de salud mental. Para comunicarse con la oficina principal, llame al 414-964-2565. Para comunicarse con el Refugio Juvenil, 1614 E. Kane Place, llame al 414-271-1560.
SaintA ofrece servicios de salud del comportamiento en lugares de la ciudad. Su campus principal está ubicado en 8901 W. Capitol Drive. Llame al 414-463-1880.
Ascension Wisconsin ofrece servicios de salud mental en su ubicación de Columbia St. Mary’s, 2323 N. Lake Drive. Llame al 414-585-1620.
Walker’s Point Youth and Family Center , 732 S. 21st St., ofrece servicios de asesoramiento gratuitos para jóvenes de 11 a 22 años. También ofrece viviendas de emergencia para jóvenes sin hogar y fugitivos. Para servicios de emergencia, llame al 414-647-8200 y marque la extensión 0. Para servicios que no sean de emergencia, marque la extensión 2. La línea directa funciona las 24 horas del día.
consulte nuestra lista de lugares para obtener recursos.
consulte nuestros informes aquí.
matthew.martinez@marquette.edu


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City struggles to find solutions to slow the high pace of drug overdose deaths | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
December 23, 2021
If current trends hold, 630 individuals could die of drug overdoses in 2021, according to Karen Domagalski, operations manager for the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office. (File photo by Edgar Mendez)
Rafael Mercado works on the front lines of the city’s battle against drug overdoses.
And he’s not happy with what he’s seeing.
“This year was really bad,“ said Mercado, founder of Team HAVOC and co-founder of the MKE Heroin Diaries Facebook page. “I don’t see things getting better next year either.”
From Jan. 1 to Dec. 21, there were 527 confirmed drug overdose deaths, while toxicology tests are pending in 84 more suspected cases, according to data from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office. Last year, 546 individuals died of drug overdoses in Milwaukee County, setting a record.
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If current trends continue, 630 individuals could die of drug overdoses in 2021, according to Karen Domagalski, operations manager for the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Mercado said that the limited number of treatment centers in the area are still playing catch up from COVID. Stress and isolation caused by the pandemic drove more people to use drugs, exacerbating a long-existing shortage of treatment options, advocates say.
“Even when someone does want help, they can’t get it at that time, so they just say ‘forget it,’ ” he said.
More than half of this year’s victims were white (282), and 190 African Americans have died of drug overdoses, compared with last year’s total of 153. NNS reported in May that the number of African Americans dying of overdoses in the county has increased over the past several years. The other victims were Hispanic (33), Native American (9), East Indian (3) and multiracial (6). Two UW-Milwaukee students died from overdoses on campus this year. Three victims were just 1-year-old.
The 53204 ZIP code, which includes Clarke Square, Historic Mitchell Street and the Walker’s Point neighborhoods, continues to be the area in the city with the most victims (48) and where the largest number of fatal drug overdose incidents occurred (53). Several ZIP code areas on the city’s North Side also experienced high numbers of fatalities, including 53208 (38), 53209 (30), 53210 (30) and 53212 (33).
More resources to help could be on the way soon, said Michael Murphy, chairman of the City-County Heroin, Opioid and Cocaine Task Force. On Tuesday, Milwaukee County leaders announced that they will receive $71 million, to be distributed over 18 years, as part of a larger settlement won by Wisconsin and other states against opioid manufacturers accused of fueling the epidemic. About $20 million of those dollars will go to the City of Milwaukee, Murphy said.
He said the Common Council is looking to expand the Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative, or MORI , a partnership between the Milwaukee Fire Department, Milwaukee Health Department and community organizations. MORI deploys a rapid-response team to homes or hospitals to conduct outreach to people who survived drug overdoses who might be ready to seek treatment.
Murphy said the task force will discuss the settlement during its next meeting on Jan. 20. The group has been criticized for its failure to meet regularly. In fact, the task force met only twice in 2021, once in 2020 and twice in 2019. This despite the explosion of drug overdose deaths over that time period. According to Murphy, the challenge remains getting enough task force members to attend meetings to meet quorum.
“I’ve been struggling to get people,” he said. “I’ve added some new members and that’s why you’ll see an improvement over the next year.”
Legislators in Wisconsin hope to add a new tool in the battle against drug overdoses: fentanyl test strips. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that can kill in trace amounts and has driven the increase in fatal overdoses both locally and nationally. Currently, the test strips are considered drug paraphernalia, but if passed, Assembly Bill 619/Senate Bill 600, would change that. No vote has been scheduled yet on the bills, but one of the supporters of that legislation is Sen. Lena Taylor.
“People say that this is encouraging drug addiction,” she said. “It’s really about the value of life, overall.”
Taylor said that although the strips would help those who are struggling with addiction, they would also help others who could come into contact with fentanyl.
“Why would we not want to do what we can to help to help law enforcement and also first responders?” Taylor said. “People don’t realize the depth of fentanyl and what it’s in.”
Taylor said she would also like to see more drug treatment become available in the city.
“When you look at the maps and you see where the deaths are occurring compared to where the services are, you see huge voids,” she said. “I hate to say it but it’s shameful, and it’s our reality.”
As for Mercado, who is also a spokesman for a national campaign from the Washington D.C.- based Addiction Policy Forum to raise awareness about opioids in Latinx communities, he wants families to seek support.
“We have to break this stigma of not wanting people to know that your loved one needs help,” he said. “By the time something bad happens it’s too late, and now you are left with the guilt.”
Drug treatment services in the Milwaukee area are available at the following places (and others):
10th Street Comprehensive Treatment Center
Rogers Behavioral Health
West Milwaukee Comprehensive Treatment Center
First Step Community Recovery Center
Meta House
West Allis Community Medical Services
United Community Center

created: December 23, 2021

author: Edgar Mendez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
December 22, 2021


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PHOTOS: See the homes of 18 residents who are lighting up their neighborhoods this holiday season | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
December 23, 2021
While the pandemic overshadows another holiday season, our residents are sharing light and cheer with their neighbors.
This is not a “best of” gallery but rather a sampling of homes throughout our neighborhoods with eye-catching decorations.
The team at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service wishes you and yours a joyous holiday season.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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5 things to know and do the weekend of Dec. 24 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
December 24, 2021
Northcott Neighborhood House will be giving away toys this Saturday. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. No garbage pickup: Friday, Dec. 24
The City of Milwaukee will not be picking up garbage or recycling on Friday, Dec. 24 or Monday, Dec. 27.  You can view your collection date here.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
2. Family Dinners and Toy Giveaway: Saturday, Dec. 25
Bring your kids to get a free home cooked meal for four from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Dec. 25, at Northcott Neighborhood House, located at 2460 N 6th St. No registration required.
3. Christmas Dinner at Wisconsin Center: Saturday, Dec. 25
No reservations required for a free box filled with turkey, ham, yams, mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, green beans and dessert, courtesy of the Salvation Army. The giveaway runs from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 25. The takeout location will be at the intersection of 4th St. and Wisconsin Ave. and curbside pickup on Wells St.
4. Kwanzaa Opening Ceremonies at Wisconsin Black Historical Society: Sunday, Dec. 26
Observe the first day of Kwanzaa with food and community at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society. Doors open at 1 p.m. and programming begins at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 26 at 2620 W. Center St. Event is both in-person and virtual. Either a negative COVID test within 72 hours or COVID vaccination card or photo required for in-person entry.
5. Magic of Lights: ongoing
Take the family to catch a light show at American Family Field, until Jan. 2. Tickets are $22-38 per vehicle. Located at 1 Brewers Way.

created: December 24, 2021


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
December 23, 2021


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How United Community Center works to address Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss in Milwaukee’s Latinx community | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
December 24, 2021
Participants at the Adult Day Center make decorations for Puerto Rican Discovery Day. (Photo provided by United Community Center)
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, a neurological condition that causes people to lose their memory, is hard for anyone to deal with.
But for elders on Milwaukee’s South Side, who may be far away from a place they used to call home and surrounded by a language they didn’t grow up speaking, the effects can be even more difficult.
That’s why caregivers at United Community Center’s Latino Geriatric Center developed a culturally competent approach to help Milwaukee’s Latinx population.
“You have to understand someone’s culture, their language, their life story,” said Wendy Betley, senior program director for Wisconsin for the Alzheimer’s Association. “If you understand who that person is, you can provide better care.”
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The Latino Geriatric Center, 1028 S. 9 St., provides a space for elderly people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
It offers services like the Adult Day Center, which provides a home-like environment to elderly residents for up to five days a week. Participants engage in activities like coloring and fitness exercises while being helped by the center’s staff.
Such efforts are critical for a population that’s affected heavily by the disease. About 13% of Latinx residents in the United States are thought to have Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, higher than the rate for non-Hispanic whites, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Services are also scarce. Betley said because of the low number of people who specialize in Alzheimer’s or dementia care, it can be difficult to find people who provide the services in Spanish.
The language barrier is just one thing that keeps people from seeking help. Hesitation because of immigration status is another. Undocumented immigrants, for instance, might not qualify for as much financial assistance and may be fearful of institutions.
Dr. Piero Antuono, a professor of neurology, pharmacology and toxicology at the Medical College of Wisconsin who volunteers at the Latino Geriatric Center, said a lack of medical insurance creates more complications.
Antuono said the center strives to establish connections with the patients and their families..
“You need a level of trust,” Antuono said. “That trust comes from knowing you personally. If you don’t have the ‘personalismo,’ they won’t open up to you.”
Diagnosing Alzheimer’s requires doctors and other medical staff to be able to evaluate the disease’s progression.
One common test is identifying objects, for instance, so a doctor at the clinic will ask about objects patients might recognize based on their background.
“With Alzheimer’s, the tough part comes after the diagnosis,” Antuono said. “These medical changes spill over.”
Ana Castaneda, elderly programs manager at the United Community Center, said many people in the community don’t know where to go once a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
One of the most important things, Castaneda said, is to make the center feel like home.
“It’s hard to trust a loved one to someone,” Castaneda said. “We want people to know that here, they’re treated like family.”
For more information
Email Ana Castaneda at acastaneda@unitedcc.org or call 414-384-3100.


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5 things to know and do this week in Milwaukee: Dec. 27 to Dec. 31 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
December 27, 2021
Members of the St. Joe’s Accountability Coalition sit in front of banners with the names of each principle of Kwanzaa, which you can observe this week in our neighborhoods. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Kujichagulia Open Mic: Monday, Dec. 27
Check out a night of creativity and fun, hosted by Brit Nicole and Ms. Lotus Fankh. Registration is free. Event begins at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 27 at Sunstone Studios, 127 E. Wells St.
2. Ujamaa 2021: Wednesday, Dec. 29
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Attend a night of entertainment, vendors, spoken word, a children’s area and more with Heal the Hood MKE and FitForYouMKE. The event will feature Marcell Jackson, Rashidah Butler Jackson and performances from youths from Running Rebels Community Organization. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the show begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 29 at 3020 W. Vliet St.
3. Volunteer Nights at DreamBikes: Thursday, Dec. 30
Volunteer your time and practice working with bikes this Thursday, and every Thursday, at DreamBikes. All tools are provided and no experience needed. Masks required. Volunteering runs from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30 at 2021A N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.
4. Free admission to the Milwaukee County Zoo: through Dec. 31
There is free admission to the zoo from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every day this week through Friday, Dec. 31. The zoo is located at 10001 W. Bluemound Rd. Parking is still $15. Masking and physical distancing required inside buildings.
5. A conversation about unlocking the vote in Wisconsin: Tuesday, Dec. 28
EXPO, or Ex-Incarcerated People Organizing, presents a discussion on why it’s time to unlock the vote in Wisconsin from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28 at Much Better Barbershop, 6119 W. Capitol Drive.

created: December 27, 2021


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
December 26, 2021

created: December 26, 2021


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kwa | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
December 26, 2021


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OPINION: Our neighborhoods are drowning in liquor stores — and it connects to rates of violence | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jamaal Smith
December 27, 2021
Jamaal Smith writes: “Knowing and understanding the growing number of alcohol outlets and its connection to violence is just as important as the daily discussions on access to firearms in this country.” (Photo by Adam Carr)
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
(Photo provided by Jamaal Smith)
A few weeks ago, I took my 13-year-old son to get his haircut on a Sunday morning because, as many parents know, it is imperative for middle schoolers to look their best for school picture day.
On our drive home, we listened to satellite radio as they discussed the increase in alcohol abuse during this global pandemic. I began counting the number of liquor outlets in the neighborhood and asked my son to participate.
In a five-mile stretch, my son and I counted 18 liquor stores, yet there was not one grocery store with a focus on fresh, healthy foods. Many liquor stores have a small inventory of “food,” but they are mostly used for liquor, cigar and cigarette purchases.
This journey led me to recall studies that show a connection between alcohol consumption and violence — the five-mile stretch my son and I drove were through neighborhoods that have been historically impacted by violence.
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The World Health Organization, or WHO, defines violence as “the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against another person, that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation.” In its policy briefing “Interpersonal Violence and Alcohol,” WHO states that harmful alcohol use is estimated to be responsible for 26% of male and 16% of female disability-adjusted life years lost through homicide. Further, the role of harmful alcohol consumption as a risk factor for violent victimization and perpetration is increasingly being identified throughout the world.
In the Blueprint for Peace, Milwaukee’s community-driven violence prevention strategic plan, an identified risk factor that contributes to violence is “high alcohol outlet density.” This means that neighborhoods with a higher density of bars and alcohol outlets, such as convenience and liquor stores, tend to have higher rates of violence, including child maltreatment.
In the 1991 urban classic film “Boyz n the Hood,” Furious Styles (Laurence Fishburne) takes his son Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and friend (Morris Chestnut) to Compton to show them the impact of gentrification. In the discussion, Furious asked, “Why is there a gun shop on every corner in this community?” When a local resident asked, “Why?” Furious continued, “I’ll tell you why — for the same reason there’s a liquor store on almost every corner in the Black community. Why? They want us to kill ourselves.”
We have to ask ourselves some thought-provoking questions: What message does the high volume of liquor stores send to our communities, especially those highly impacted by violence? What message does this give to our children, who see advertisements on various alcoholic brands in these same neighborhoods?
This is exactly why we must understand the complexities of violence as we discuss prevention strategies. Knowing and understanding the growing number of alcohol outlets and its connection to violence is just as important as the daily discussions on access to firearms in this country.
The Blueprint for Peace is the foundational plan that can guide violence prevention in Milwaukee and lead to the creation of collaborative opportunities that uplift fundamental change in our neighborhoods.
A proud native of Milwaukee and graduate of Milwaukee Public Schools, Jamaal Smith has committed the last 10 years of his life to serving the Milwaukee community in roles at Safe and Sound, YWCA Southeast Wisconsin, NAACP Milwaukee and more. He is currently the violence prevention manager at the City of Milwaukee Health Department’ Office of Violence Prevention.

author: Jamaal Smith


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Smith Headshot 2 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
December 26, 2021


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NNS Spotlight: Bellies and Babees gives struggling mothers a helping hand | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
December 28, 2021
Bellies and Babees aims to empower mothers in Milwaukee. From left: Nichole Watts, Melinda Wilcoxson and Sam Watts. (Photo by Matt Martinez)
Melinda Wilcoxson and Nichole Watts wanted to find a way to help mothers.
So they created Bellies and Babees, a nonprofit prenatal care coordination and child care agency that helps women in their time of need.
“Yes, we’ll give you baby items if you need it,” Wilcoxson said. “But we also give you lifelong learning lessons and life skills and goals.”
Their main goal is to help women become “self-sufficient because we’re not going to be here all the time,” she said.
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The organization, located at 5757 W. Oklahoma Ave., assigns a one-on-one care coordinator for pregnant women and women with infants. The care coordinator can assist mothers with pregnancy planning and help them determine their eligibility for community services.
Bellies and Babees formed in March and employs 15 care coordinators. It has served about 275 families since it started, said Sam Watts, office manager.
Wilcoxson said her organization goes beyond just giving women temporary help.
“What is the reason that you’re not keeping employment?” Wilcoxson asked, for example. “What is the reason that you can’t have housing? We want to dig deep into their issues and problems and help give them resources and tools to meet those types of goals because we can give them baby items all day, but that’s still not going to help them in the long run.”
That’s why Watts said Bellies and Babees helps mothers get a high school education and works to teach them job skills, such as interviewing.
The organization also works with Employ Milwaukee, a workforce development effort in Milwaukee County, on job-training classes to help mothers prepare for employment and to be able to provide for themselves.
‘They need someone to be behind them’
“Honestly, I think the biggest thing is they need someone to be behind them,” Watts said. “Whether it’s finding transportation or figuring out child care for a couple of hours because they can’t bring all of their kids with them to the appointments.”
As a certified doula, Wilcoxson works with women to help determine how they want to deliver the baby and is a constant partner throughout the pregnancy process.
The organization is funded by BadgerCare and also receives donations from agencies and community members.
Bellies and Babees provides services in Spanish, too, with seven care coordinators who are fluent Spanish speakers. Wilcoxson said the organization also in the process of hiring staff to help reach the Hmong population.
Bellies and Babees also operates a clothing bank and hosts special events, such as a coat drive that served 180 families before Thanksgiving.
“We want them to create memories with their kids here, too,” Wilcoxson said. “Things that their kids will remember like: ‘Remember when we went to see Santa Claus?’ even though they may not be able to do that any other time. We want to give them those memories, too.”
For more information
Call 414-539-6492 or visit Bellies and Babees’ Facebook page.
Eligibility for the program depends on a mother’s circumstances. To enroll, a mother must be pregnant or have a child under 2 months old. However, if they receive services from another prenatal care agency, they can enroll if they have a child under 6 months old. Families can also transfer from another agency into Bellies and Babees at any time.
Once a family is enrolled in the program, they can stay with the agency until the child is 7 years old.
In order to use the organization, you must be enrolled in BadgerCare Plus. Those interested can get help enrolling at the site as well as through other services like FoodShare, Women, Infants and Children and Wisconsin Works programs.

created: December 28, 2021


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
December 27, 2021


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‘Lifesaving, life-sustaining and life-restoring’: Repairers of the Breach celebrates 30 years of serving homeless residents | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
December 29, 2021
Tommy Kirk, pictured with board president Rebecca North, has been with Repairers of the Breach for a year and enjoys connecting people to what they need. (Photo by PrincessSafiya Byers)
The Rev James West, the executive director of Repairers of the Breach, spent three months trying to lose 30 pounds — a pound for every year the nonprofit that serves Milwaukee’s homeless residents has been open.
He knew he needed to start a weight loss journey and was motivated by the idea that it could help Repairers of the Breach, 1335 W. Vliet St., raise money to expand its reach.
So Repairers of the Breach launched the 30 for 30 campaign, which allowed people to pledge money for every pound West lost.
West ultimately lost 17 pounds and raised $1,500. He said the experience helped him find a new way of looking at how his organization serves the community.
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“Lifestyle changes are hard and that made me think about the people we serve,” West said. “If that one lifestyle change was that hard for me, and I have the means to do it, imagine how difficult they are for the people we serve.”
‘Lifesaving, life-sustaining and life-restoring’
The nonprofit opened in 1991 and focused on advocating for and with people facing homelessness. Three years later, it became Milwaukee’s first daytime homeless resource center.
Since then, it has continued to grow. Repairers of the Breach operates on a $1.17 million budget and serves about 80 people daily, West said.
“Our goal is lifesaving, life-sustaining and life-restoring,” he said. “To celebrate 30 years, we want to dig into that life-restoring piece.”
He said Repairers of the Breach hopes to raise enough money to give at least five people the opportunity “not to worry” for six months to a year.
“It’ll be kind of a pilot program,” West said. “If we take care of their housing, food, basic needs and therapy if they need it for at least six months, we allow them not to worry and to be able to that restoring that we want.”
Tommy Kirk, center manager for Repairers of the Breach, said the nonprofit focuses on ways to better serve residents.
In addition to being an emergency warming center anytime it’s under 20 degrees, Repairers of the Breach also houses a day sanctuary for people to get out of the cold, a resting room for people who work second or third shift, an emergency clothing center and programs such as art therapy.
“The part that is near and dear to my heart is being able to check in on what they need,” Kirk said. “Unfortunately, our members won’t always tell us what they need so being able to have those conversations and provide them with what they might need is amazing.”
West said Repairers of the Breach, which employs 12 people, is primarily staffed by volunteers. “Everyone else is just here because they believe in our mission,” he said.
Carol Ryan, for example, retired from Froedtert Hospital over 10 years ago and now spends her free time volunteering in the Repairers of the Breach free emergency clinic.
“I wouldn’t know what to do if I couldn’t do this,” Ryan said. “I love being able to provide medical care, a hot meal and a kind word.”
How you can help
Repairers of the Breach is always looking for donations and volunteers.
“If you don’t have money or time to give,” West said. “Reach out. There is always something you can do to help.”
Click here to find ways you can assist Repairers of the Breach.

created: December 29, 2021

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
December 28, 2021


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Our favorite stories of 2021: Crosswalk murals on North Avenue part of a larger effort to address reckless driving in the city | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
December 29, 2021
Youths and adults paint murals along several North Avenue crosswalks as part of a project to raise awareness about reckless driving in the community. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Edgar Mendez
There’s no doubt about it. Reckless driving is a major problem in Milwaukee.
But there are many who are working to do something about it. And this includes a team of youths and adults who participated in the “Cross/Words/North” project, an effort to increase a sense of community and raise awareness about reckless driving along North Avenue.
They painted murals across four crosswalks, each featuring images that represent the themes of empowerment, diversity, love and unity. Themes they hoped would help persuade people to think of their community and slow down.
Their efforts to make Milwaukee better made this my favorite story of 2021.
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Read: Crosswalk murals on North Avenue part of a  larger effort to address reckless driving in city


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edgar | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
December 28, 2021


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OPINION: A look at 2021 through ‘Community Voices’ | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 30, 2021
(Photo by Wes Tank)
Adam Carr
In 2021, we published 65 submissions to Community Voices, our home for opinion pieces and personal essays. Each piece is worth revisiting on its own merits, but taken as a whole, the collection is a “year in review” through the eyes and experiences of our community.
The pandemic continued to be on the minds of many, as evidenced by Clarence Montgomery’s history lesson on vaccine apprehension and Damia Causey’s reflection on why she got the vaccine. We also heard Marquis Gilbert’s journey from artist to life insurance agent during the pandemic.
While an “end” to the pandemic still eludes us, we asked six community leaders to reflect on lessons learned and their vision for a better Milwaukee. That insightful series of essays was collected as A New Way Forward.
We always work to include youth voices and 2021 saw powerful contributions. We featured inspiring winners from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and César E. Chávez writing contests as well as the inaugural Rosa Parks Tribute Scholarship essay contest. We also published newsletters written by students at the Vel R. Phillips Justice School, including this one detailing their time with filmmaker Marquise Mays.
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Milwaukee’s 2021 will be remembered for the consecration of one sports legacy and the end of another. While our city was in the national spotlight during the Bucks’ championship run, Pancho Sanchez penned a love letter to Milwaukee neighborhoods. And to honor the legendary Hank Aaron after his passing, Frank Schneiger reminisced on Aaron’s transcendence of baseball.
As voting rights became a prominent national conversation, our community spoke out about local issues. Paru Shah wrote a primer on efforts to suppress the vote; Benjamin Rangel discussed fair maps; Tehassi Hill advocated to fairly recognize Native American peoples; and Sarah Noble examined the implications of voter suppression and abortion bans.
In response to a rise in anti-Asian sentiment and the shooting of six Asian women in Atlanta, Jenny Lee wrote about the longstanding racism and misogyny directed at Asian women, while Alex Hanesakda described why he’s “done keeping his head down.” During the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, May yer Thao shared how the evacuation sparked memories of her family’s refugee experience.
The spirit of protest continued to unfold in city’s streets. Montell Infiniti Ross wrote about the enduring impact of the March with Pride for #BlackLivesMatter; a host of community members reflected on change since George Floyd’s death a year later; and Eric Kleppe-Montenegro chronicled his local organizing work across the Colombian and Palestinian struggles.
Our neighbors weighed in on public safety concerns, including Vaun Mayes arguing “youth crime will not change until we change our approach” and Dr. Patricia Najera detailing her dismay about reckless driving in Milwaukee.
Relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 began to arrive and were immediately met by ideas on how to spend it. This included Melody McCurtis’s advocacy for participatory budgeting, Angela Harris’s critique of MPS’s input process, Ryeshia Farmer’s call to fund community over police and a coalition advocating for investment in our youth.
The term “Critical Race Theory” was thrust into the public’s consciousness, including in our own backyard. Dr. Javier Tapia explored the origins of the term, while Nicolo Onorato argued that students deserve a more honest, challenging account of American history.
This year, we debuted our first two “audio CVs.” Saryea Murchison shared her kidney failure story and Shannon Ross detailed how he found freedom through reading and writing while incarcerated.
And this is a fraction of pieces published throughout 2021. To explore more Community Voices from 2021, click here.
If you have something on your mind that you’d like to write about in the coming year, get in touch: acarr@milwaukeenns.org

created: December 30, 2021

author: Adam Carr


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
December 30, 2021


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Our favorite stories of 2021: NNS Spotlight: ‘Sisterhood is key’: Daughters of Tradition offers a safe space for Indigenous girls | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
December 30, 2021
Daughters of Tradition is a place where young girls learn about tribal traditions, discover the power of their voice and join a sisterhood. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
One of the things I love about being a journalist is discovering new places, groups and people in Milwaukee. The city has so much more to offer than people realize, and I enjoy being able to share what I learn with our readers.
This year, I discovered so much, from the Black Panthers to the Milwaukee Diaper Mission to the Hmong American Women’s Association to Riverworks Financial Clinic. It’s hard to pick just one story.
That being said, one of my favorite stories from 2021, was ‘Sisterhood is key’: Daughters of Tradition offers a safe space for Indigenous girls.
I spent a morning with Daughters of Tradition as the girls learned about the significance of the rainbow in both Pride and Native Hawaiian culture, prepared their podcast “N8V-T” and bonded over shared laughs.
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It was a joy to share in their experiences and write their story.
As I look ahead to 2022, I plan to continue developing my new role as the career and jobs reporter and to write stories that celebrate, illuminate and educate.

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
December 29, 2021


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5 things to know and do the weekend of Dec. 31 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
December 31, 2021
With COVID-19 cases once again on the rise, you may need to plan ahead to get tested. (NNS file photo by Adam Carr)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. COVID-19 tests limited availability this weekend: Ongoing
Increased demand has led to the City of Milwaukee Health Department’s COVID-19 testing locations expanding their hours recently, but these locations will be closed Saturday, Jan. 1 and Sunday, Jan. 2. For testing locations and their hours, go here.
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2. Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve: Friday, Dec. 31
Bounce Milwaukee is hosting a family-friendly New Year’s Eve party from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Paid ticket include rock climbing, laser tag, food, family portrait and more.
3. Cosplayers Countdown 2022: Friday, Dec. 31
Battle Lounge hosts this New Year’s Eve cosplay party with karaoke, costume contest and more at 5419 W Lisbon Ave. This event starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 31. Those in costume get in for free.
4. First Day of the Year Hike: Saturday, Jan. 1
Start the year off by walking in Hawthorn Glen, a nature and education center located at 1130 N. 60th St. The hike begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 1. Click here to register. For more information, call 414-647-6050.
5. Yoga Fest: Saturday, Jan. 1
Milwaukee Recreation offers free yoga classes to start off your 2022 at Beulah Brinton Community Center, 2555 S. Bay St. Class size is limited ,and pre-registration is required. Bring your own yoga mat, water and towel. Face masks or face coverings are required. Register for classes, which begin at 9 a.m., here.

created: December 31, 2021