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Post from Community: New Near West Side mural honors Milwaukee baseball legends Hank and Tommie Aaron | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Near West Side Partners, Inc
October 14, 2021
(Photo provided by Near West Side Partners)
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 Near West Side recently gained a new mural depicting Hank and Tommie Aaron, two baseball legends who played for the Milwaukee Braves.
Created by artist Rosy Petri, “Brave Brothers” is about more than Milwaukee’s athletic legacy. Petri, who typically uses quilts and fabrics as her medium of choice, wove themes of racial justice, mental health, and history into the installation.
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Driven by a love for baseball and her research into the Negro Leagues, Petri sought to tell the stories of sports heroes who overcame the odds to become symbols of  respect.
“People identify with sports stories,” Petri said. “This piece re-introduces Hank Aaron as not only a figure for philanthropy and social justice, but also a figure of integrity, professional prowess, and compassion.”
The mural highlights a non-dominant perspective on a history many are familiar with and invites viewers and residents to consider the challenges Black athletes face while also celebrating triumphs and progress in equity.
“Brave Brothers” is one piece in a larger series by Petri, titled “Men and Women on the Negro Leagues.” The complete series is located in Atlanta.
Petri’s installation is one of eight murals included in Near West Side Partners’ “Painting the Near West Side” project, one of six Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) Action Activities aimed at community improvement. “Brave Brothers” is located at 2222 W. Clybourn Avenue, where it can be seen from I-94. Learn more about “Painting the Near West Side” and other Action Activities on the Near West Side website.

author: Near West Side Partners, Inc


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 14, 2021

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: October 14, 2021

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

author: Dwayne Burtin


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She turned her frustrations from the summer of 2020 into art | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
October 14, 2021
Rosy Petri documented the experiences of Black women during the summer of 2020. (Photo provided by Rosy Petri)
Overwhelmed by the combination of the COVID-19 pandemic, protests surrounding the killing of George Floyd and the fallout from the Trump presidency, Rosy Petri decided to turn her frustrations into art.
“I just thought if I’m angry and tired and feeling unsafe and unheard, what’s it like for Black women who are doing this vital unseen work and often go without recognition,” Petri said.
She gathered the stories of 25 Black women who work actively engaging in, advocating for and educating Milwaukee communities and created a “time capsule” of what life was like for them during the summer of 2020. A part of this is an oral history project that currently lives on the Haggerty Museum of Art’s Google Arts & Culture site as a part of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Mary L. Nohl Fund Fellowship for Individual Artists.
In the piece, she ask the project’s participants what message they wanted to leave for Black women in the future.
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These “love letters to Black women,” serve as a way for Petri and the others to bring love and joy to what was tough year for everyone.
“For the first part of this project, I wanted to focus on our (Black women’s) peace and joy and our community,” Petri said.
As an artist, mother and storyteller Petri, 34, infuses self-discovery, history and “radical Black joy” into her fabric art practice.
“My work is an offering of color, rhythm and celebration for them,” Petri said.
When completed, the project will feature 25 fabric portraits that people will see during a traveling exhibition and maybe even a book to be used as a tool for the future, Petri said.
Petri’s “Brave Brothers” is located at 2222 W. Clybourn Ave. and can be seen from Interstate 94. (Photo provided by Near West Side Partners)
She believes it is important to document all perspectives of history. So, in the summer of 2020, Petri put out an ask to two women she knew to recommend Black women doing “dope” work in the city, and the recommendations started pouring in.
“Before I knew it, there was a whole spreadsheet of women for me to talk to,” Petri said.
She spent months interviewing each woman about their work, experience and life.
“I haven’t even processed all 25 of the interviews yet,” Petri told NNS in an interview during the summer. “There is so much there, I had to process that it was all over.”
Petri said she did not realize how difficult the project would be until she started doing it.
“We were doing an oral history project in the middle of a pandemic,” she said. “We had to be realistic and consider keeping people safe and what we would do if someone who was participating died of COVID in the middle of this.”
‘She allowed me to be vulnerable’
She also had not considered the emotional drain of listening to the trials and triumphs of other women while dealing with similar issues.
“I’ve never felt more comfortable talking to someone,” said Angela Harris, a Milwaukee Public Schools teacher who participated in the project. “She allowed me to be vulnerable.”
“I hope that this will serve as reminder that work is always happening, even in the hardest moments someone was fighting for your liberation,” Harris said.
“Rosy gave me an invitation to sit and think about myself in a way that allowed me to realize how valuable I am,” added another participant, Lyanne Jordan, who works for Maroon Calabash, a community of “Black radical doulas.” “She just made space for me; it was like therapy.”
Jordan said the project holds a special place in her heart.
“I want women to see the spectrum of Black woman-hood and see that the type of Black woman you are is deserving of love and joy and whatever else you want,” Jordan said.
Petri also is one of the participants in the Near West Side Partners’ “Painting the Near West Side” project.  In “Brave Brothers,” Petri depicts baseball legends Hank and Tommie Aaron, who played for the Milwaukee Braves. The installation is located at 2222 W. Clybourn Ave. and can be seen from Interstate 94.
Although Petri said the oral history project was challenging, she is proud she persisted.
“This is acknowledgment that we survived,” said Petri.
How you can help
Petri is currently raising money for an industrial sewing machine that will help her complete the project.

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 13, 2021

created: October 13, 2021


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5 things to do and know the weekend of Oct. 15 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz & Sam Woods
October 15, 2021
Celebrate fall this weekend with Near West Side Partners’ Fall Fest, St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care’s Pumpkin Palooza and more. (File photo by Edgar Mendez)
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. Celebration of Latinx Heritage Month: Culturas Celestiales: Friday, Oct. 15
The UWM Planetarium, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and the UWM Roberto Hernández Center have partnered to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month with “Culturas Celestiales.” Each Friday in October, a guest speaker will talk about a Latinx region, its culture and its night sky. This week, Guilherme Marranghello will talk about Brazil. The show will take place virtually from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15. Tickets are “pay what you can.”
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2. Pumpkin Palooza at St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care: Saturday, Oct. 16
St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care, 2450 W. North Ave., is hosting Pumpkin Palooza from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16. There will be pumpkins, pumpkin painting, goody bags and more. Children are invited to come in costumes. There will also be tours of the center’s new play garden from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
3. Near West Side Partners and Pete’s Pops Fall Fest: Saturday, Oct. 16
Near West Side Partners along with Pete’s Pops are hosting Fall Fest on North 38th and West Vliet streets from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16. There will be pumpkin bowling, hot apple cider, popsicles, pumpkin painting and more. This event is free and open to the public. The Vliet Street Pumpkin Patch will be located at the Vliet Street Oasis, 3743 W. Vliet St.
4. Garden market at Scooters Garden of Hope: Saturday, Oct. 16
Groundwork Milwaukee is hosting a garden market at Scooters Garden of Hope, 2464 N. Buffum St., from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16. There will be free produce, a cooking demo and activities for children. There will also be a preservation workshop from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Space is limited for the workshop; to register click here. Participants will learn how to dry herbs and make vinaigrettes.
5. Fall color hike in Havenwoods State Forest: Sunday, Oct. 17
Nearby Nature is hosting a fall color hike in Havenwoods State Forest, 6141 N. Hopkins St., at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17. Staff from Nearby Nature will lead participants on a hike through Havenwoods to enjoy the fall foliage.
BONUS: Caché MKE celebrates Hispanic Heritage: Friday, Oct. 15
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with El Conquistador, 102.5 The Pulse, and Caché MKE from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Café El Sol, located inside the United Community Center at 1028 S. 9th St. There will be traditional Puerto Rican music and Parranda La Vacuna.

created: October 15, 2021

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz & Sam Woods


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Post from Community: MATC to host public COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the downtown Milwaukee Campus Oct. 18 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Area Technical College
October 15, 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.
Milwaukee Area Technical College will host a free, public COVID-19 vaccine clinic from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18, at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus. The clinic will be held in Room M605, of the Main Building, 1015 N. 6th St..The Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be administered.
Free vouchers for the parking structure at North 8th and West State Streets will be available, and snacks and wellness kits will be offered.
Walk-ins are welcome, but you may pre-register at https://tinyurl.com/4tma7cdm.
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The one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is recommended for individuals 18 and over. The Pfizer vaccine may be administered to anyone 12 years of age and up with parental approval. Vaccines are free, but please bring your insurance card.
For more information on both clinics, call Dr. Veal at  414-297-8095.
Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. More than 30,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 170 academic programs; and transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 40 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

author: Milwaukee Area Technical College


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Post from Community: Statement on Holocaust comparisons | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Jewish Federation
October 15, 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 Milwaukee Jewish Federation is dismayed by the increasingly frequent Holocaust comparisons being made in local public discourse, as well as on social and news media. Invoking Nazi imagery and rhetoric to express a position on public health protocols and other current issues that do not involve the systematic genocide of an entire people, trivializes the brutal murders of the six million Jews and five million other human beings. It harms the Jewish community and others by dishonoring the memories of family and loved ones who were killed, as well as needlessly stirring up painful experiences of Holocaust survivors and their descendants.
From 1933-1945, the Nazis targeted Jews and other minority groups though persecution, violence, and ultimately death. The Holocaust should be remembered with sensitivity and studied with precision in order to accurately understand the lessons of this history; it should not be exploited for opportunistic purposes.
While individuals are entitled to their opinions on public policies, making false equivalencies to the Holocaust must be condemned because they open the door to Holocaust denial and other forms of dangerous antisemitism. The Jewish community calls on our elected officials, community leaders, and engaged citizens to stop using the Holocaust to make political points. It is unacceptable, and those who do so must be held accountable.
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The Milwaukee Jewish Federation is proud to serve as a resource in antisemitism prevention and Holocaust education through the following programs:
Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center
Contact: HERC@MilwaukeeJewish.org | HolocaustCenterMilwaukee.org
Services: Educator workshops, printed and digital lesson plans and resources, community programs
Jewish Community Relations Council
Contact: KaiG@MilwaukeeJewish.org | MilwaukeeJewish.org/JCRC
Services: Antisemitism audit, incident response, speakers and educational resources
Confidential reports of antisemitic incidents can be made at MilwaukeeJewish.org/Antisemitism.
About the Milwaukee Jewish Federation: For more than 100 years, the Milwaukee Jewish Federation has been dedicated to building a strong Jewish community. We distributed $19 million last year to Jewish and non-Jewish organizations locally and around the world, and manage philanthropy through our $200 million Jewish Community Foundation.

author: Milwaukee Jewish Federation


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Post from Community: Supervisor Willie Johnson, Jr. recognized with Distinguished Worldwide Humanitarian Award | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Brian Rothgery
October 15, 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 Supervisor Willie Johnson, Jr. recently received the Marquis Who’s Who Distinguished Worldwide Humanitarian Award. Supervisor Johnson was also recognized as a Featured Member in Marquis Millennium Magazine and a Marquis Who’s Who Top Professionals of the Year Inductee.
“I am honored to be a recipient of the Distinguished Worldwide Humanitarian Award,” said Supervisor Johnson. “I have dedicated my career to helping those in need and look forward to continuing to serve my community for years to come.”
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The Marquis Who’s Who Distinguished Worldwide Humanitarian Award goes to individuals who strive to make a positive impact on their communities and the world.
Supervisor Johnson, Jr. has received dozens of awards for his work as a County Supervisor during his tenure on the County Board, including the “Equal Rights Champion” award from Equality Wisconsin the Community Advocate of the Year for 2012 award from Fair Wisconsin Education Fund. The Harambee Great Neighborhood Initiative recognized his unwavering commitment to the Harambee community and its residents with the 2014 Harambee Community “I’m In” Award, and in 2019, the Friends of Lincoln Park presented Supervisor Johnson, Jr. with appreciation for “Exceptional Service” to the Lincoln Park Community.
Supervisor Johnson was born in Waukegan, Illinois, on March 22, 1951. A resident of Milwaukee since childhood, he graduated valedictorian of his class at Lincoln High School and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a concentration of courses in Economics from Northwestern University. He received his Master’s Degree and a Doctor of Philosophy in Humanities from the Wisconsin University of Theology. Prior to his election, Supervisor Johnson worked for the Milwaukee County Department of Human Services Financial Assistance and Child Welfare divisions.
Supervisor Johnson was first elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2000 and represents several neighborhoods in the City of Milwaukee, including Harambee, Riverwest, Brewers Hill, Williamsburg Heights, Lincoln Park, Hillside, Halyard Park, Haymarket, Schlitz Park, North Division, Arlington Heights, and Rufus King. He also represents a portion of Whitefish Bay.

author: Brian Rothgery


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UPDATE: Future of Toy Dimension in jeopardy after owner has 2 strokes | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
October 15, 2021
Henry Smith has been running the Toy Dimension for over 20 years. (File photo by Sue Vliet)
Henry Smith remembers sitting in the rain across the street from his store, begging people passing by to call 911 as he lost his ability to walk or even stand.
“I could barely crawl,” Smith said. “It was like I was conscious, but I didn’t understand what was going on.”
Smith, 62, suffered a stroke that August day.
He was locking up his collectibles store, the Toy Dimension, at 5925 W. North Ave., just like any other day when the first stroke occurred.
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The second one, which led to two four-hour surgeries and caused him to be out of commission for weeks, hit later that night when he was home.
Now because of his health challenges, his business is at risk of closing after having a great year in 2020 despite the pandemic.
Smith is struggling to keep up with his bills.
“Rent is past due at the store,” said Dana Wilson, Smith’s fiancé. “The landlord is trying to be patient with us, but before Henry can go back to the store, we have to make sure his health is intact.”
The Toy Dimension is a museum of sorts, and Smith is known in the community for being able to school patrons on the history of each figure or comic book displayed between the store’s walls.
In an interview last year with NNS, Smith said that while other businesses have suffered during the pandemic, he’s been able to weather the storm.
“I’m selling a want. I’m not selling a need,” he said at the time.
“People need bread; they need to put gas in their car. They don’t necessarily need a Han Solo figure.”
Now, he wants to get back to his store. But his body isn’t quite ready yet.
The strokes have hurt his short-term memory as well as the use of cognitive skills he feels he’s taken for granted.
“I love being at the store and I really miss it,” Smith said. “I’ve always been independent so not being able to do the things that I need to do is leading to a depression.”
Since he has been out of commission, Wilson has helped manage the store, but Smith said he feels like he’s pushing his responsibilities onto others.
“This isn’t about pride,” he said. “It’s about being responsible.”
In the meantime, Smith is slowly making his way back into the store with the help of Wilson.
“I’ve taken him by the store a few times,” she said. “People come in as soon as they see the lights on. They love to see him.”
How you can help
The store remains unopen while Smith continues to recover, but you can call 414-915-0642 to set up an appointment or contact Smith directly.
Smith is considering starting a gofundme fund-raiser to help keep the Toy Dimension open as he recovers, but he said he doesn’t know how. He wants anyone who thinks they can help to reach out to him.
“This was a major bump in the road,” Smith said. “But I’m working to learn to adapt and not let it hold me down.”


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Wisconsin imprisons 1 in 36 Black adults. No state has a higher rate. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Clare Amari / Wisconsin Watch
October 17, 2021
Wisconsin imprisons Black residents at a higher rate than any other state in the country, a new report found, highlighting long-standing and deep disparities in the state’s criminal justice system.
The report, authored by The Sentencing Project and released on Wednesday, used data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics to calculate states’ rates of imprisoning white residents and people of color.
A “staggering” one of every 36 Black Wisconsin adults is in prison, the report found. Black people comprise 42% of the Wisconsin prison population, but just 6% of the state’s population.
The analysis also examined the disparity in imprisonment rates between Black and white people. Nationwide, Black Americans are imprisoned at nearly five times the rate of white Americans, the report found, and in Wisconsin, the ratio is even higher: Nearly 12 times the rate.
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The report cites pervasive racial bias across the criminal justice system. It notes that Black Americans face disproportionate arrest rates and factors that can lead to longer prison terms —  including a greater likelihood of being charged as a habitual offender and more time spent in jail awaiting trial.
Re-entry is particularly difficult, according to Ramiah Whiteside, who was incarcerated for over 20 years. Now an organizer with EXPO, a Milwaukee-based advocacy organization for formerly incarcerated people, Whiteside encountered discrimination in finding employment, securing stable housing —  and even buying life insurance.
“When it comes down to hiring you with a felony or waiting on other people less qualified, a lot of places wait,” he said.
For these reasons, incarceration is also associated with reduced lifetime earnings and negative life outcomes among children, contributing to high crime rates and “neighborhood deterioration” that exacerbate existing disparities, the report noted. Advocates have called for more funding for pre- and post-release services and efforts to counter the stigma attached to having a criminal record.
Milwaukee County Supervisor Ryan Clancy said governments “overinvest” in policing and punitive measures “rather than the systems and programs we know will make us safer and (give us) better places to live.”
Advocates for prison reform in Wisconsin were disheartened by the report’s findings, calling them “depressing” and “embarrassing.”
“To me, it’s like a slap in the face,” Whiteside said. “How can we be the worst? That particular status quo is unacceptable.”
While the report found some of the most extreme disparities in Wisconsin, the problem exists nationwide, even in states with relatively low rates of incarcerating Black people. Hawaii, the state with the lowest racial disparity, imprisons Blacks adults more than twice as often as whites.
The report also found that states in the northeast and upper Midwest showed the greatest racial disparities in their prison systems.
“If nothing else, this report says we’re all doing something wrong, including the advocates,” said David Liners, a statewide coordinator for Wisdom, a statewide faith-based social justice organization.
“We haven’t really raised the sense of urgency that as a state this is a complete violation of what we in Wisconsin like to think that we are,” Liners said. “We don’t like to think of ourselves as the most racist state in the union, or the harshest people on Earth when it comes to Black people … Unfortunately it’s not who we want to be but who we are right now.”
A 2020 study by the Wisconsin Court System found that men of color, particularly Black and Native American men, are significantly more likely to receive prison sentences than their white counterparts — 28% and 34% more likely, respectively, with white men 21% less likely than non-white men to receive a prison sentence.
Liners applauded The Sentencing Project’s recommendations for reducing the disparity. They include decriminalizing low-level drug offenses, eliminating mandatory minimum sentences and adopting racial impact statements to gauge the effect of proposed crime legislation on different populations.
“For Wisconsin, though, I believe we need something much more fundamental,” he said. “We need leadership to stop pretending that we have a slightly damaged system that needs a few adjustments. Instead, we need to re-imagine every step of the process, from policing to extended supervision, and everything in between.”
Others noted that Wisconsin’s split state government — a Republican-run Legislature and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers — makes sweeping changes difficult. “The challenge, of course, is amassing the political will in a divided government,” said state Rep. Evan Goyke, D-Milwaukee, and former public defender.
In a statement, Kevin Carr, secretary for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, made a similar point.
“I understand that, for too long, with too little result and at too large a cost to taxpayers, Wisconsin’s criminal justice policies have increased incarceration and had disproportionate effects on communities of color,” Carr said. “Governor Evers offered multiple proposals related to criminal justice and juvenile justice reform in the budget he sent to the Legislature, only to have the Republican-controlled Joint Committee on Finance throw them out.”
Carr said the state prison system has taken administrative steps to lower the prison population by expanding eligibility for the Earned Release Program and changing community supervision policy, resulting in fewer people returning to prison. And although the prison population dropped during the pandemic — reaching its lowest level in two decades — it has begun inching back up past 20,000 as courts return to processing cases. The state’s total prison population as of Oct. 8  exceeded the design capacity of prisons by 16%.
Goyke pointed to some measures that could ease the impact of incarceration, including Assembly Bill 69, which passed the Assembly and is now before the Senate.
The bill would allow lower-level, nonviolent offenders, including those with convictions for drug possession, to get their records expunged. Currently, a person is only eligible for expungement if the judge makes that determination at a sentencing hearing, and only if the person is 25 or younger. The bill would eliminate those conditions.
“Thousands of people would benefit from this legislation,” he said, noting that more than 200 professions in Wisconsin bar some or all applicants with criminal records from getting licensed.
“I’m not suggesting it’s the only thing we should do as a Legislature,” Goyke added. “We need to take as many (steps) as we possibly can.”
Wisconsin has also seen calls for action from the judiciary. From the day she was sworn into office, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Dallet has stressed the imperative to reduce racial inequities in the state’s justice system.
Dallet was elected in 2018, one of three left-leaning justices on the seven-member court. After the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020, Dallet and dozens of current and retired state Supreme Court and appellate court judges called for a re-examination of how people of color are treated in Wisconsin’s justice system.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to the issues of racial disparity and mass incarceration,” they wrote in an open letter. “Too many people of color are behind bars in Wisconsin. We need to carefully consider treatment as a means of addressing issues of trauma, mental illness, and addiction.”
That letter led Dallet to form a group of representatives from the criminal justice system and community groups which she co-chairs with Bayfield County District Attorney Kimberly Lawton. A subcommittee of the state’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, the group is in the early stages of learning about the causes of inequity and possible solutions, she said.
“I think unfortunately Wisconsin has been at the top of the list of incarcerated people of color — specifically, African American — for years now,” Dallet, a former prosecutor, said in an interview. “It’s not an honor that we want to hold. It’s not an honor.”
Whiteside said he has seen small victories recently — such as the Department of Corrections’ decision to stop using terms such as “inmate” and “offender.”
“The fact that we’re having this conversation, and I’m included in this conversation — that’s a win,” Whiteside said. “Whether it’s the different language that the DOC used — saying ‘people in our care’ versus inmate or offender — those are small but big for us. … That’s a win. But all of that is not enough. Those statistics didn’t just happen overnight.”
Dee J. Hall contributed to this report. The nonprofit Wisconsin Watch (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with WPR, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by Wisconsin Watch do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.

created: October 17, 2021

author: Clare Amari / Wisconsin Watch


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black_white_incarceration_ratios | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 13, 2021


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covid_prisons_06_whitesidev2_published.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 13, 2021


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david_liners.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 13, 2021


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State of the state_16_published.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 13, 2021


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5 things to know and do this week in Milwaukee: Oct. 18 to Oct. 22 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
October 18, 2021
See “Ofrendas,” or offerings, to deceased loved ones similar to this during the “Day of the Dead Ofrendas” exhibit at Latino Arts. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
1. Genealogy Stories with Clayborn Benson, featuring Tiffany Miller: Tuesday, Oct. 19
Clayborn Benson III, genealogy expert and founding director of the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, interviews Tiffany Miller about her genealogy story. The event will be streamed live on Facebook starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
2. Data Day 2021: Wednesday, Oct. 20
Data You Can Use, a nonprofit that helps people access data and make it useful in improving community conditions, hosts its seventh annual Data Day. On Data Day, community members can learn more about what data is available and how people can use data to solve problems in our neighborhoods. Register to attend for free here. In case you missed it: NNS Spotlight: Nonprofit uses data research to spur change in communities
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3. Call to Mind Live: Youth Incarceration & Mental Health: Wednesday, Oct. 20
In this virtual event, WUWM 89.7 Milwaukee’s NPR will speak with formerly incarcerated people and experts to explore youth mental health needs. The panel will also discuss available resources and alternatives to incarcerating young people with mental health needs in Wisconsin. The event begins at 7 p.m. Register here.
4. Café con Arte: Day of the Dead Ofrendas: Thursday, Oct. 21
Latino Arts managing artistic director Jacobo Lovo guides a gallery tour and discussion surrounding the exhibit, “Day of the Dead Ofrendas,” at 8:15 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 21. The exhibit features installations from the Mexican Consulate, University School of Milwaukee and other local artists. This is a family friendly event for all ages. Registration is $5.
5. LGBTQ+ & Allies Virtual Career Fair: Thursday, Oct. 21
In an effort to help LGBTQ+ individuals and allies find employment opportunities with companies that are committed to pro-fairness values, the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce is hosting the virtual LGBTQ+ & Allies Career Fair. Attendees will be able to videoconference one-on-one with employers, interact via chat, see open job listings, get their resume reviewed live, and more. The fair will run from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21. Register here.
BONUS: Supporting Your Transracially Adopted Child: Milwaukee: Wednesday, Oct. 20
Join therapist Jaclyn Skalnik, founder of Adoption Wellness, for a workshop to help parents learn ways to support their transracially adopted children throughout their lives and how to build a sustainable social support community for your family. The workshop will take place from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20 at Holy Grounds Coffee House at East Brook Church, 5409 N. Green Bay Ave.

created: October 18, 2021

author: Sam Woods


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 17, 2021


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Post from Community: Seeds of Health gears up to celebrate Tenor High School’s new Journal Square location and a 2021 CARW Deal of the Year nomination | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Seeds of Health schools
October 18, 2021
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.
www.seedsofhealth.org
Seeds of Health (SOH) has a lot to celebrate this fall as they plan for a November move to the new Tenor High School at 918-922 N. Vel Phillips Avenue (Journal Square). The move comes after an extensive search started five years ago by Seeds of Health Executive Director Marcia Spector. Spector’s goal then, as it is now, was to give as many Milwaukee area urban youth the opportunity to complete high school in 3 years and attend MATC their 4th year – for free. She enlisted PARADIGM Real Estate Corporation’s President and CEO Brian Parrish to lead the search.  Parrish took the challenge very seriously and discovered not only the perfect location but the perfect space in the former Milwaukee Journal Sentinel building at 918-922 N. Vel Phillips Avenue.  The move will be an exciting one for current and future Tenor High School students, and SOH and PARADIGM are proud to announce the nomination for the CARW 2021 CRE Deal of the Year Award in the “Development” category. Winners will be announced at CARW’s Wednesday night awards event.
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In today’s real estate climate, finding the perfect space is never easy, and this deal was certainly no exception. But both Spector and Parrish worked tirelessly to find the perfect location, driven by the end result – the opportunity for more Milwaukee urban youth to believe that getting a post-secondary education is an attainable dream.
That’s because 918-922 N. Vel Phillips Avenue will soon open its doors to Tenor High School students. (Currently, Tenor students attend classes at either the school’s Jackson Street or South 1st Street location.  This November, students at Tenor Jackson Street will move to their new home on N. Vel Phillips Avenue, while students at the current 1st Street location will move to Jackson Street.) The move to this location is just another example of how Seeds of Health continues to evolve and offer more opportunities for Milwaukee urban youth. The story behind this deal is a great example of how Seeds of Health won’t stop until they find the perfect solution for their current and future students.
Real estate deals happen every day. But not every day does a deal have the power to inspire young adults and set them up for future success. When Brian Parrish first set out five years ago to find a new location for Tenor High School, he knew it wasn’t going to be an ordinary deal. He also knew it wasn’t going to be easy – for Tenor is no ordinary school. His client had very specific criteria to meet for the selection of a new school site that would accommodate the needs of the school’s innovative programming.
Location matters, especially for schools. Parrish’s first consideration was, of course, location. Location is everything when it comes to real estate, and schools are no exception.  Parrish explained, “When Seeds of Health approached me with the task of finding an additional home for their school program, I knew that the location would make or break this challenge. We looked at over 100 sites – including sites that were available and those not on the market.”
As Parrish searched, he kept his client’s specific criteria in mind. “Seeds of Health was looking for an affordable 30,000 – 60,000 square foot building. The building would require wide column spacing and sufficient structure in place to allow for the expensive conversion to classrooms and modern spaces for Tenor’s unique programs, one being Project Lead the Way. In addition, the school needed to be within walking distance to MATC.”
Map showing locations of Tenor High School Journal Square Campus and Tenor High School Cathedral Square Campus. *Baseline map provided by Google, enhanced by Chemistry in Place.
Proximity to MATC is part of Tenor’s magic. The secret to Tenor’s success lies in its 3 +1 educational model, where students complete high school in three years and then spend their fourth year at MATC – free of charge. Tenor students can graduate either with a certificate in a trade, or a year’s worth of credits under their belt – which they can take to pursue an associate degree or transfer credits to a four-year university.
Parrish explained how Tenor’s 3 + 1 model affected the search and the challenges that the pandemic presented in the search. “Because of the unique relationship between Seeds of Health and MATC, the school needed to be near it, which would create even greater synergies and growth for its program. With the uncertainty at the onset of the pandemic, when most real estate development projects paused, the new building was identified in the Journal Square campus, just two blocks from MATC and adjacent to the future MATC dorms. We moved quickly to tie it up and study its feasibility from there.”
The discovery of the site was step one. According to Parrish, there were still a few hoops to jump through after the site was established. “First, Seeds of Health had to sell their building on South 1st Street.  The initial deal fell through, but Zizzo Marketing Group quickly stepped up to buy the building and lease it back to Seeds until the end of 2021.  Zizzo has become a major partner for Seeds of Health and the two look forward to their growing relationship in the years to come. Next, Seeds of Health had to run a school, and pivot to virtual, AND look at expanding all during the pandemic. This was very challenging.”
Overcoming challenges and looking to the future with innovation and foresight is the Seeds of Health way. With a nod to the power of persistence, hard work, and the power of synergy, the deal came together.  “After 5 years of searching, the former Milwaukee Journal Sentinel building was in our sights. The very first time we saw the expansive building at 918-922 N. Vel Phillips Avenue, we knew it had the potential to not only educate but provide future opportunities. Was it realistic? At that point, our team said that this location would give us the best chance to serve kids who are underserved. This prime location would enable Milwaukee’s urban youth to envision a bright future with opportunities. Beyond the benefits for the students, we wholeheartedly knew that this school would continue spreading the message of Vel R. Phillips, a civil rights leader, legal pioneer, wife, mother, politician, philanthropist, and more. It was meant to be, and I look forward to seeing Seeds of Health continue their meaningful and necessary work.”
Perfect location, perfect building for Tenor students. “The building will feature large spaces to allow for classrooms that can be rearranged depending on class size and use. Other features include interactive spaces and alcoves, a multi-purpose first-floor cafeteria, a special education room, and office spaces for admin and meetings. In addition, the environment will meet all Milwaukee Health Department and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) health and safety requirements.”
Picture above is a rendering of science lab space that will be in Tenor High School Journal Square Campus. *Rendering by Emmons Business Interiors (EBI) and Chemistry in Place
Tenor High School Journal Square Campus is infused with color. *Photos by Chemistry in Place. Rendering by Emmons Business Interiors (EBI) and Chemistry in Place.
Students can focus on the future while appreciating the rich history that surrounds them. “The entrance to the building features a plaque highlighting one of its most famous occupants, Christopher Latham Sholes, the chief inventor of the first practical typewriter. Sholes served as editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel from 1861 to 1865 and greatly impacted the evolution of journalism. Stories such as his allow Tenor to continue the narrative of a site so deeply rooted in the making of Milwaukee. The site structure was historically two individual structures. The north structure was a multi-tenant factory building. The site was occupied and used by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as offices and printing, as well as various office and manufacturing tenants, including machine shops, a clothing manufacturing facility, an electric sign shop, and refrigeration machinery. The rich history of tenants will serve as inspiration to students, supporting Tenor’s message that their futures hold countless opportunities.”
A world of possibilities awaits students, just outside the school doors. “In addition, the location near FISERV Forum and across the street from the UWM Panthers Arena puts students in the heart of a thriving area where Tenor will be perfectly positioned to form partnerships with area businesses and introduce students to the possibilities that Milwaukee offers. It should prove to the students that anything is possible, and their future is what they want it to be.  The opportunity to transform this building and expand its education program underscores Tenor’s dedication to the ongoing revitalization of Milwaukee’s urban community.”
A great team makes for a successful deal that will forever change the lives of Milwaukee’s urban youth. Parrish says the deal came together thanks to the people behind it. “It took an incredible team to make this deal happen, ranging from the fearless leader and Executive Director, Marcia Spector, Board President David Hase, Board member, architect Bruce Marne, Jodi Weber of Seeds, IFF (non-profit lender), Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA), Berghammer Construction and their extensive list of subcontractors, and the entire Seeds of Health Board of Directors who made tough decisions about growing and investing during a period of great uncertainty.  Also, a special mention to Josh Jeffers of J Jeffers Group (Seller), Attorney Danielle Bergner, and Kristian Sydow of Boerke Co. who represented the Seller.  Most of these stakeholders have made subsequent charitable donations to Seeds of Health in recognition of the impact this project will have on Milwaukee area urban youth.”
Regardless of the outcome of Wednesday’s awards ceremony, the real winners will be the students who walk through the doors of the new Tenor High School when it opens this fall.
About Seeds of Health, Inc.
Founded in 1983, Seeds of Health, Inc. is the only K4-12 charter school agency in the state of Wisconsin serving approximately 1,300 students in four high schools and a K4-8 elementary program. The five individual and unique education programs serve a broad range of student needs – from at-risk to college-bound. Seeds of Health is Milwaukee’s innovative “homegrown” answer to imaginative, collaborative, and cutting-edge education options, with the vision to positively impact the growth and development of urban children. For more information, please visit www.seedsofhealth.org.

author: Seeds of Health schools


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Tenor-High-School-images-10.2021.JPG | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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October 18, 2021

author: Name *


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Little progress in finding facility to house Milwaukee youths once Lincoln Hills, Copper Lake prisons close | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
October 19, 2021
The Felmers O. Chaney Correctional Center, 2825 N. 30th St., is being considered as a possible location for a new facility to replace Lincoln Hills. (Photo by Ana Martinez Ortiz)
Nearly four months after missing a second deadline to close the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake youth prisons, officials still have not decided on a replacement facility to house local youths.
A proposal from a bipartisan group of legislators to authorize nearly $42 million in bonds to construct a new Type 1 juvenile correctional facility in Milwaukee County was introduced in August, but no public hearing has been held or scheduled.
“I find that concerning,” said Sen. Lena Taylor, a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 520. “I see the benefit of services to our young people when they are close to home and for the reunification of their families.”
A Type 1 juvenile correctional facility features secure fences, locked doors and staff surveillance of youths assigned there by the court. Lincoln Hills, which houses males, and Copper Lake, which houses females, are two of three state-operated Type 1 juvenile correctional facilities in Wisconsin.
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Another co-sponsor, Sen. Tim Carpenter, said he’d be surprised if that proposal, along with companion Assembly Bill 524, weren’t brought forth for discussion soon.
“These bills are bipartisan, and legislators realize this is an important issue that needs to be addressed,” Carpenter said.
After years of investigations and lawsuits related to allegations of abuse and excessive use of force at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake, state lawmakers passed Act 185 in 2018.
The act ordered the replacement of those facilities with smaller, regional ones that would keep youths closer to home. Plans to build a new facility in Milwaukee County fell apart when the state’s Joint Finance Committee cut funds for the proposed project in 2020.
While the latest plans to fund that project languish, a new controversy has emerged, with some questioning potential plans to open the new youth facility at the current location of the Felmers O. Chaney Correctional Center, 2825 N. 30th St., which offers work release and other programs to 100 people.
“Transforming Felmers Chaney Correctional Center into a juvenile facility is a possibility we are considering,” wrote John Beard, director of communications for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, in an email to NNS. “It’s in Milwaukee County, the location Governor Evers identified in his budget proposal.”
Beard said 26 of 61 youths currently housed at Lincoln Hills/Copper Lake, are from Milwaukee County, and that a new facility would keep them closer to home and to culturally relevant treatment and programs. In addition, he said, “the state already owns the property, and the surrounding community has proven it is willing to support a correctional institution and the persons in our care.”
Joseph Ellwanger, a member of the Felmers O. Chaney Advocacy Board, which works to support reduced recidivism and successful re-entry programs, among other issues, said it’s a bad idea to close the facility or move people out.
“We have 2,600 people coming back every year from the [prison] system to Milwaukee,” Ellwanger said. “We need more pre-release space, not less.”
The value of the Felmers O. Chaney Correctional Center, named after a former leader of the Milwaukee NAACP, is that it allows people to get a job, save money and set up housing upon release, he said.
“Unless they have a job or housing to go to, they are literally fearful of what’s going to happen when they return,” he added.
Carpenter said it’s important for the local government and the surrounding community to have input on the placement and construction of a new corrections facility.
Beard said the state cannot move forward with closing the youth prisons until a replacement is funded.
As of now, there is no timeline for when that will happen.
But Ellwanger and others question the need for a youth prison, citing the drastic decrease in the number of youth at Lincoln Hills.
Maya Neal, the senior political manager for Leaders Igniting Transformation, or LIT, an advocacy group led by youth of color, said her organization also opposes a new facility. She said that policing, prisons and other forms of incarceration and punitive measures aren’t effective.
“We ignore the fact that crime is caused by other things, by other problems, and if we ignore them, it’s still going to happen,” she said. “We can’t push the problems out to Lincoln Hills and can’t push it into a facility in Milwaukee either.”
Neal said youths at LIT are asking for more mental health services, paid opportunities to learn skills and other resources.
“People trying to solve this problem in our state legislature and locally need to think about the sustainability of the decisions that they are making,” she said.
Taylor said she respects and understands such views. She said it is necessary to create a pathway to new approaches that have proven to be more successful and move away from creating mini-adult prisons. Still, she said, the amount of money being spent sending local youths to Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake is also unsustainable.
“We can go and deal with this now rather than later, and it’s going to cost more later,” she said. “It’s what the court has ordered us to do.”

created: October 19, 2021

author: Edgar Mendez


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51499601272_0d3285a01e_k (1) | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 18, 2021


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Post from Community: First Stage’s annual ImpACT event highlights community impact and commitment | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
First Stage
October 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.
First Stage, one of the nation’s leading theaters for young people and families, held its 9 Annual ImpACT Event on Thursday, September 30, 2021, at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. The event is held annually to introduce new supporters to First Stage and showcase its impact in the community. This year’s event also reflected the organization’s deepened commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice strategies.
The event included presentations from Artistic Director Jeff Frank and Programming Director Julia Magnasco, a riveting spoken word piece written and performed by Samantha D. Montgomery, First Stage’s Director of Community Engagement and Artistic Inclusion, a preview of STEP KIDS, part of Amplify – First Stage’s BIPOC Short Play Series, with young performers Tateiona Watson and Gavin Miller and Director of Artistic Operations Jeff Schaetzke, and some final thoughts and reflections from Laura Orr, Vice President of Governance on First Stage’s Board of Directors.
This year’s keynote speaker was popular Milwaukee dancer/choreographer Christopher Gilbert who shared stories on how he found his own light and how First Stage was part of that journey. He is a First Stage Theater Academy teaching artist as well as the director and choreographer for STEP KIDS, the second offering in First Stage’s fall Amplify – BIPOC Short Play Series. STEP KIDS is now streaming on the First Stage YouTube channel at: youtube.com/watch?v=E9R_Es4t4Z0
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Other event highlights included remarks from Julia Magnasco, First Stage Director of Programming. She shared: “This past year in schools was unlike any other, with administrators, teachers, parents and students all navigating uncharted waters. Our Theater in Education Department wanted to support our schools in the best way possible and stay connected to our classrooms, so we recorded more than 20 arts-integrated workshops for teachers to access on-demand, when it worked best for them and their curriculum. We had over 30 schools and 15 after school providers partner with us virtually this past season and utilize our virtual library of workshops.”
She also added, “Since the summer of 2020, First Stage returned to in-person classes in our Theater Academy . . . and this past summer was no different. By adhering to strict health and safety guidelines – including wearing masks, limiting class sizes, following social distancing practices, ongoing sanitizing of our classroom spaces and asking our students and staff to perform daily wellness checks – we were able to facilitate nine successful weeks of in-person Summer Theater Academy classes, with over 780 enrollments, including 10 students in our Next Steps classes for young people on the autism spectrum.”
In reflecting on the past year filled with its many challenges and opportunities, Jeff Frank commented: “I trust that you can see and feel a deepened commitment [from First Stage] to reflect our community on stage – and that is not the only place that this commitment is deepening. We’ve long believed that young people and their families connect more deeply to the material when they see themselves on stage – that is why we have young people on stage alongside our adult professional actors – it is also why we must look even more deeply at representation throughout each facet of our programming and our staffing.” In First Stage’s commitment to Equity, Diversity, Justice and Inclusion (EDJI) work, he asked the question: “What kind of future do we want to co-author with our community and our young people?”
To view highlights from the 2021 ImpACT event, the link can be found here: youtube.com/watch?v=hbR5xeuDwas
To view the Annual Impact Report video, please go to: youtube.com/watch?v=dshvIQlI0aE
To view the Annual Impact Report pdf, please go to: https://www.firststage.org/about-us/annual-impact-report/
GET INVOLVED
For more information on donating to First Stage and ways to donate, please visit: firststage.org/support-us/ or contact First Stage Development Director Nancy Clarkin at nclarkin@firststage.org or (414) 267-2938.
To learn more about First Stage’s 2021/22 season, please visit www.firststage.org or call (414) 267-2961.

author: First Stage


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It’s never too late: Six adult education programs in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
October 20, 2021
Adults looking to further education should check out these programs offered through local organizations. (File photo by Edgar Mendez)
Leer en español: Nunca es demasiado tarde: Seis programas de educación para adultos en Milwaukee
It’s never too late to further your education. Organizations throughout the city offer adult education programs for individuals looking to earn their GED, High School Equivalency Diploma, also known as the HSED, or to improve their basic skills.
Check out the list below.
Did we miss an adult education program? Comment below or send an email with the subject line “Adult Education Program” to amartinez-ortiz@milwaukeenns.org.
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1. Dominican Center
The Dominican Center offers several adult education programs to Amani residents. In the Adult Basic Education program, students receive one-on-one support in reading, writing, math, computer literacy and social studies. In the Arts and Culture program, students engage in poetry, art, music and more that enrich the body, mind and spirit. And finally, it offers GED/HSED preparation classes in partnership with Milwaukee Area Technical College.
The adult education classes are offered at the Dominican Center, 2470 W. Locust St., from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday.
2. Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee Area Technical College offers adult high school to individuals who are 16 and older looking to earn their high school diploma. Courses are offered in-person and online. The application form can be found at the downtown Milwaukee campus Welcome Center, 700 W. State St., Room S115, or the Main Building Room, M222C. The program offers daytime, evening and weekend classes.
3. Adult Learning Center
The Adult Learning Center, 2224 W. Kilbourn Ave., helps prepare adult students to take the high school equivalency diploma or GED exams. To get started, individuals can apply online under the “Become a Student” tab. Tuition costs $20 per semester and semesters last 16 weeks.
4. YWCA Southeast Wisconsin
YWCA Southeast Wisconsin has an Adult Education Department. Adults can take part in the GED Preparation Program, which helps prep them for the GED exam through one-on-one tutoring, open lab time and classroom-style instruction. To learn more, sign up for an information session, which takes place at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Thursdays.
5. Journey House
Journey House offers a Basic Skills/GED program in both Spanish and English. The classes, which help prepare students for the GED exam, are open to residents 18 and older. Students can find classes that fit best with their schedule. The organization also has an English Language Learners program for adults looking to improve their English skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Click here to register for either program.
6. Literacy Services
Literacy Services, 555 N. Plankinton Ave., has several adult education programs, including Adult Basic Education, English Learning Language and Adult Secondary Education. In the Adult Basic Education program, students receive one-on-one lessons to improve their reading and spelling skills. In English Language Learning, students receive support with their English skills in reading, writing, spelling and speaking. Adult Secondary Education prepares students for the GED or HSED tests. To enroll in any of the programs, click here or call 414-344-5878.
In case you missed it: ‘I put that bookbag on and did what I had to do’: How adult learners can put high school behind them.

created: October 20, 2021

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 19, 2021


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OPINION: ‘My proving ground was the cell’: How I found freedom as a reader and writer while incarcerated | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Shannon Ross
October 20, 2021
Throughout his adulthood, Shannon Ross has been an avid reader and writer, constantly expanding his vocabulary, studying the worlds created by authors and expressing his own voice. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Shannon Ross is the founder and executive director of the The Community, a nonprofit organization working to help incarcerated Wisconsinites prepare for re-entering their life after their release, as well as a graduate student at UW-Milwaukee and co-owner of a transportation company.
Throughout his adulthood, Ross has been an avid reader and writer, constantly expanding his vocabulary, studying the worlds created by authors and expressing his own voice. And he managed this while spending 17 years in prison between the ages of 19 to 36.
In this audio “Community Voices” story, in his own words, he shares how he successfully pursued his passions while in prison.
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author: Shannon Ross


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 19, 2021
“ShannonRoss”.


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Post from Community: Alderman Hamilton notes opening of new restaurant in Rufus King Neighborhood | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Ashanti Hamilton
October 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.
Alderman Ashanti Hamilton invites community members to check out a new family-owned restaurant – Daq Shack at 4191 N. Green Bay Ave. – that is marking its grand opening in the historic Rufus King Neighborhood today.
“The Daq Shack is an awesome addition to the Rufus King Neighborhood, offering a full menu and bar. These are small business owners who persevered through the pandemic to bring a dynamic business to the area, and I welcome them and wish them prosperity and success,” Alderman Hamilton said.
For additional details on the Daq Shack, please scan the attached QR code.
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What: Grand Opening of Daq Shack
Where: 4191 N. Green Bay Ave.
When: Open today from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

author: Ald. Ashanti Hamilton


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Post from Community: Drive-thru job fairs bringing opportunity to the community | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Department of Workforce Development
October 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.
Northside and Southside events take place next Wednesday (October 27, 2021) from noon to 4 p.m.
The City of Milwaukee Office of Workforce Development will be holding Northside and Southside Drive-Thru Job Fairs on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 for Milwaukee Job Seekers looking for immediate employment opportunities.
The Job fair events are enthusiastically supported by Common Council President Cavalier Johnson (2nd District); and Council Members Ashanti Hamilton (1st District); Nikiya Dodd (5th District); Milele A. Coggs (6th District); Chantia Lewis (9th District) and José Pérez (12th District) as a creative way to bring immediate job opportunities to residents (where they live) and in a manner that is safe during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic recovery.
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The Drive-Thru Job Fairs will focus on neighborhoods within the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th and 12th Aldermanic Districts, all of which have been hit hard by COVID-19.  All attendees will receive a no-contact bag packed with information on employment assistance programs and employers hiring right now, and the events will feature 50 + employers from manufacturing, office, healthcare, retail, transportation/logistics and much more.
The Drive-Thru Job Fair events on October 27th are co-sponsored by Milwaukee Common Council, DirectConnectMKE, Northwest Side CDC, State Department of Workforce Development, Job Center of Wisconsin, Employ Milwaukee, Social Development Commission, the Milwaukee Urban League, Milwaukee Public Schools, UMOS, Inc., and the City of Milwaukee.
Northside Location 1:
St. Matthew CME Church Parking Lot
2944 N. 9th Street.
*Enter lot from 8th St.
Northside Location 2:
Northside Church of God Parking Lot
4858 N. 19th Street
*Enter lot from 19th St
Northwest Side 1:
Walgreens Parking Lot
9040 W. Good Hope Rd.
*Enter lot from G.H. Rd.
Southside Location 1
Light of the World Church Parking Lot
1310 S. Cesar E. Chavez
*Enter lot from 16th Street

author: Department of Workforce Development


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Flyer – DriveThru-JobFair Rcvd Oct 11 for 10-27-21 ENG – Final copy | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 20, 2021


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Flyer – DriveThru-JobFair Rcvd Oct 12 for 10-27-21 HMO copy | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 20, 2021


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Flyer DriveThru-JobFair Rcvd Oct 12 for 10-27-21 SPA copy | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 20, 2021


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Post from Community: Greater Together Awards recipients have been strengthening community for decades | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
October 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.
This fall, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation honored five remarkable people for their contributions and commitment to the Milwaukee community and beyond through the organization’s annual Greater Together Awards. Through, philanthropy, professional and community leadership, Virgis and Angela Colbert, Mark Eppli, Carmen Pitre and Ness Flores have been at the center of generational change in this region. Here are their stories:
(Photo provided by Greater Milwaukee Foundation)
Colberts’ investment and heart remain in the community where they worked and raised their family
Virgis and Angela Colbert were honored with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s William C. Frye Award for their exceptional civic and nonprofit board service in Milwaukee over the decades, particularly in the areas of education and the arts. More about the Colberts >
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The William C. Frye Award honors exceptional civic contributions to create positive change across our region
(Photo provided by Greater Milwaukee Foundation)
Eppli built, champions program that has helped diversify real estate field, build wealth in MKE
Mark Eppli received the Foundation’s Frank Kirkpatrick Award for his work with the Associates in Real Estate Program. The rigorous 9-month program trains people of color in the fundamentals of the real estate industry and the wide variety of available career paths. More about Mark Eppli >
The Frank Kirkpatrick Award honors commitment to enhancing community spaces and places
(Photo provided by Greater Milwaukee Foundation)
Pitre helps change the way community addresses domestic violence, serves survivors
Carmen Pitre received the Foundation’s Doug Jansson Leadership Award for her leadership over the past 20 years of the Sojourner Family Peace Center, Wisconsin’s largest provider of domestic violence prevention and intervention services. More about Carmen Pitre >
The Doug Jansson Leadership Award honors inspirational leadership in the nonprofit sector
Ness Flores, 2021 Presidents Leadership in Racial Equity and Social Justice Award at the Waukesha County Courthouse (Photo provided by Greater Milwaukee Foundation)
Flores drew upon personal experiences to fight on behalf of underserved communities
For his work over the past 50 years on behalf of underserved communities, particularly migrant farmworkers, Ness Flores received the President’s Leadership in Racial Equity and Social Justice Award from the Foundation. More about Ness Flores >
The President’s Leadership in Racial Equity and Social Justice Award honors those who have worked to make our region welcoming and inclusive for all people, of all races, places, identities, and backgrounds.
“Imagining the lives that have been changed by the work and generosity of this year’s Greater Together Award honorees is awe-inspiring,” said Foundation president and CEO Ellen Gilligan. “My sincere congratulations go to Virgis and Angela, Ness, Carmen and Mark, who have all channeled their wisdom and personal passions to help build a Milwaukee for all.”

author: Greater Milwaukee Foundation


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 20, 2021

author: Dwayne Burtin


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Post from Community: Milwaukee Public Schools recognizes School Board Director Marva Herndon | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Schools
October 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.
Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) joins the Wisconsin Music Educators Association (WMEA) in recognizing Milwaukee Board of School Directors member Marva Herndon as the recipient of the 2021 WMEA Distinguished School Board Member award. Each year, the WMEA recognizes a school board member who is an advocate for the importance of music as part of a well-rounded education.
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author: Milwaukee Public Schools


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Post from Community: People’s Maps Commission shares refined draft voting maps for public input | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
People’s Maps Commission
October 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.
Today, the People’s Maps Commission released updated versions of initial maps the Commission released last month. Commission maps released today include seven electoral maps for public consideration, as the Commission gets closer to its goal of creating unbiased and nonpartisan maps for Wisconsin voters. Members of the public are welcome and encouraged to use the PMC public comment portal to submit final feedback and suggestions by noon on Wednesday, October 27.
“The Commission has worked hard to update our preliminary maps, taking into account the input we’ve received since their initial release. We especially worked to ensure communities of interest weren’t split while ensuring that candidates of choice for minority populations get a fair shot,” said PMC Chair Christopher Ford. “We trust that our transparent and deliberate process will more clearly reflect the communities where Wisconsinites live, work, and vote.”
Over the course of the last year, the nine PMC commissioners, representing Wisconsin’s eight congressional districts, have hosted multiple public hearings to ensure Wisconsinites were an integral part of the map drawing process.
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Last month, on September 30, 2021, the Commission released a first, preliminary round of draft maps for public review and consideration. The updated preliminary maps released today incorporate feedback that the Commission received and consolidate the nine preliminary drafts into the seven released today. The Commission eliminated one of its previously released Congressional maps, and is releasing a fourth Congressional map for public input. Congressional Draft 4 responds to public input desiring more competitive Congressional districts, while respecting the Commission’s other criteria.
All preliminary maps and updated maps released today were drawn according to the Commission’s criteria, including best efforts to not split the communities of interest submitted by residents in each particular region of the state.
Based on feedback received regarding preliminary maps released last month, the Commission is also providing additional information regarding how updated maps released today affect minority communities.
The Commission’s newest Assembly maps, labeled Refined Assembly 1 and Refined Assembly 2, each has nine districts in the Milwaukee area with majority-minority (non-white) voting age populations. Of those, both Refined Assembly 1 and Refined Assembly 2 have seven districts with substantial Black voting age populations, ensuring that in each the Black community’s candidate of choice is electable. There are also two districts in each plan with substantial Hispanic voting age populations, likewise allowing the Hispanic community to elect its candidates of choice. Each plan also has a tenth majority-minority district in the Racine area when considering population of all ages.
In the corresponding Senate maps, Refined Senate 1 and Refined Senate 2, each has two districts with substantial Black voting age populations, ensuring that the Black voting age population candidates of choice are electable. Refined Senate 1 includes two majority-minority districts and Refined Senate 2 has three majority-minority districts.
Latest series of maps includes:
Refined Assembly Draft 1
Refined Senate Draft 1
Refined Assembly Draft 2
Refined Senate Draft 2
Congressional Draft 2
Congressional Draft 3
Congressional Draft 4
The Commission will incorporate incoming feedback and plans to release final maps in early November.

author: People’s Maps Commission


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Post from Community: Prepare for higher heating costs this winter | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Citizens Utility Board
October 20, 2021
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Brace yourselves for higher heating bills this winter, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin utilities and the Energy Information Administration are warning of higher heating costs this winter given natural gas prices that are twice what they were a year ago.
Depending on how severe the winter is, households could pay hundreds of dollars more this winter compared with last winter, when natural gas prices were much lower.
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Citizens Utility Board urges customers to take advantage of Focus on Energy rebates that can help homeowners and renters save this winter if they add some insulation before the cold snaps hit. Here are some tips to consider if you have some money to spend to make some upgrades:

author: Citizens Utility Board


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Post from Community: We are looking for volunteers to help with our holiday dinner giveaway | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Pamela Clark
October 20, 2021
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If you know if any colleagues, friends, family or organizations to volunteer and want to be a part of serving our community and develop social relationships with Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. please let me know.
We are giving away two thousand (2,000) grocery dinners for families in need for Thanksgiving and another 2,000 for Christmas and we need help. Our staff will be working inside taking care of patients and we are looking for as many volunteers as possible.
It’s a 2 day event — the first day to pack groceries and the second day to distribute.
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For more information contact Pamela Clark at 414-267-2655 or email pclark@mhsi.org

author: Pamela Clark


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Holiday-Dinner-Volunteer-2021.JPG | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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October 20, 2021


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Post from Community: BBB Tip: Don’t let the microchip shortage ruin your holiday shopping | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wisconsin Better Business Bureau
October 21, 2021
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It’s always a good idea to get your holiday shopping done early, but this year it’s more important than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a microchip shortage and supply chain issues. This means electronics, toys, and other products will be (or already are) in short supply.
Supply shortages, in turn, result in fewer holiday bargains and higher than normal prices.  This means that sticking to your budget and scoring all the gifts on your list will be harder than usual. To make a success of your holiday shopping this year despite the challenges, BBB recommends the following tips.
Read the BBB Tip: Smart Shopping Online and visit BBB.org/Holiday-Tips for more ways to get your holiday shopping done safely this year.
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Always make purchases from businesses that follow BBB Accreditation Standards and BBB Standards for Trust.
If you come across a scam while holiday shopping, report it to BBB Scam Tracker. Your report can help others stay alert to the danger.

created: October 21, 2021

author: Wisconsin Better Business Bureau


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BBB-Logo-for-Patch.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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October 21, 2021


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Post from Community: Four Milwaukee-Area nonprofits receive the 2021 Data Dream Award which provides $10,000 in pro-bono research services to help agencies use data for better results | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Data You Can Use
October 21, 2021
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Data You Can Use (DYCU), a Milwaukee-based nonprofit research group, named four nonprofits as winners of their Data Dream Awards, and announced the appointment of a new president, Dr. Victor Amaya, during their 7 Data Day conference.
The Data Dream Award provides $10,000 in pro-bono services to help nonprofits gather and interpret data to improve the effectiveness of their programs. Pro-bono services are provided by Data You Can Use and the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute. Winners were selected through a competitive process and vetted by a panel of expert judges in data sciences and philanthropy.
Winners and sponsors of 2021 Data Dream Awards include:
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•Southside Organizing Center (SOC) won their Data Dream, sponsored by the Zilber Family Foundation, to analyze census data to see what has changed in their southside Milwaukee neighborhoods since the last census. SOC would like to determine if their service boundaries should change to best support Milwaukee’s Latino/a/x residents, and particularly the low-income population. SOC is a neighborhood-based organization dedicated to the development and sustainability of Milwaukee’s near south side neighborhoods. SOC works with and for residents to create a safe, livable, and economically vibrant community.
•Riverworks Development Corporation won their Data Dream, sponsored by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, to better understand the impact of small business development in the Harambee neighborhood. Riverworks Development Corporation drives social and economic development by aligning residents and businesses with specialized resources that strengthen Harambee, Riverwest and surrounding communities. Riverworks envisions a vibrant and diverse community of residents, businesses, and stakeholders who jointly create and maintain a prosperous neighborhood and quality of life.
•JobsWork MKE won their Data Dream, sponsored by the Siebert Lutheran Foundation, to understand and quantify the annual cost of living in poverty in Milwaukee, both to individuals and to the greater community. The mission of JobsWork MKE is to prepare and encourage individuals living in poverty in the City of Milwaukee to achieve economic self-sufficiency through sustainable employment. They serve individuals coming primarily from Milwaukee’s north side neighborhoods that have the highest poverty and unemployment levels in the city.
•United Community Center/Centro de la Comunidad Unida (UCC), won the People’s Choice Award Data Dream sponsored by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, to better understand how the social determinants of health can be impacted through their programs and to measure their impact. The UCC provides programs to Hispanics and south side residents of all ages, in the areas of education, cultural arts, recreation, community development, health and human services.
Data You Can Use announced the winners at their 7th Data Day, an annual conference for leaders, from neighborhoods to universities, who want to better understand the implications of data on community revitalization, and to increase connections between research and practice.
During the closing of Data Day, Founding Executive Director and President, Dr. Kathleen Pritchard, announced Dr. Victor Amaya as the organization’s next President. Dr. Amaya will start December 1, and Dr. Pritchard will retire on December 31, 2021.
Appointed by the board of directors, Dr. Amaya will lead Data You Can Use’s strategy and operations with a goal of increasing the use of data to drive impact and improve conditions in the community.  Dr. Victor Amaya is a veteran educator, instructional coach, and school leader. Most recently, he led the Impact Department at City Year Milwaukee, the local affiliate of a national educational non-profit. Dr. Amaya was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and immigrated to Milwaukee when he was twelve. He is an MPS graduate of Riverside University High School and earned his BA in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Dr. Amaya holds a Director of Curriculum and Instruction license and a District Superintendent’s license and earned an MS in Administrative Leadership, and a Doctorate in Leadership in the Advancement of Learning from Cardinal Stritch University.
Data Day also featured keynote speaker, Dr. Emmanual Letouze, founder and CEO of the Data Pop Alliance, who shared his knowledge regarding using data as a “language, lens, and lever” for social change.
Two hundred participants, primarily from the greater Milwaukee area, attended the virtual Data Day, which also featured presentations from local agencies. All Data Day presentations are available at https://www.datadaymke.org.

author: Data You Can Use


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Post from Community: Historic King Drive BID #8 announces new executive director | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Historic King Drive BID #8
October 21, 2021
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The Historic King Drive BID #8 today announced Raynetta “Ray” Hill as the new Executive Director, following a local and national search. Hill will step into the new role following Deshea Agee’s departure in June earlier this year.
“It is an honor to return to the BID to continue the incredible and important work that Deshea had advanced,” said Raynetta Hill, Executive Director. “The BID embodies the hard work and strong character that defines the businesses and residents in the Corridor and I am thrilled to continue to move the King Drive forward and work with such committed stakeholders.”
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(Photo provided by Historic King Drive BID #8)
More than 80 candidates were interviewed in the search for a new Executive Director, seeking individuals with key criteria including the ability to gain confidence and establish trust with business owners and city officials, a deep passion and desire to improve the city, and experience in economic development or revitalization.
“We are confident that Ray will excel as Executive Director,” said BID Board President James Phelps. “With tremendous experience and active involvement with the BID, Ray brings the expertise and passion that will enable us to continue our mission to become the best King Drive in the nation.”
Prior to her new role as Executive Director, Hill served with the BID as Associate Director from 2016–2018. Most recently, Hill held leadership roles at CommonBond Communities, including Director of Community Engagement and Fundraising and Regional Manager of Property Management and Advancement Services, leading efforts to ensure thousands of Wisconsin residents have a safe, stable home with support services to help them thrive. Including overseeing a 14.1 million redevelopment project of 90-units on Milwaukee’s north side. Hill was appointed in 2019 by Governor Evers to the Wisconsin Economic Development Housing Authority (WHEDA) board. She also serves on Forward Community Investments (FCI) board and was most recently awarded as one of the 2021 Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 under 40 recipients.
The BID has several major initiatives that will be led by Hill, including:
The BID will also continue to invest in small businesses and support major initiatives such as the grand re-opening of America’s Black Holocaust Museum, construction of ThriveOn, the partnership between the Medical College of Wisconsin and Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the development of the Dohmen Foundation headquarters building, the potential for Hop streetcar expansion and the potential advancement of American Family Insurance offices and the Milwaukee Public Museum complex.

author: Historic King Drive BID #8


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 21, 2021


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Post from Community: MATC and Prospanica Milwaukee to host free virtual Latinx career opportunities conference Oct. 28 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Area Technical College
October 21, 2021
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Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Steering Committee and Prospanica Milwaukee will hold its second free virtual Latinx career opportunities conference from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 28. “Pursuing and Achieving Your Goals. Yes, We Can!” is designed for Hispanic/Latino/a students who want to explore career opportunities and pathways. Students will receive guidance on how to address job career choices as well as options to transfer to a four-year institution. The session will focus on MATC programs and career paths.
Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director, Voces de la Frontera, will present the keynote address. The event seeks to bring hope and recognition to Latinx students who have been resilient throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Register at https://tinyurl.com/v27hu93u. For more information, contact Maria Solano-Solano at solanosm@matc.edu.
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Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. More than 30,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 170 academic programs; and transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 40 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

author: Milwaukee Area Technical College


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Post from Community: Sherman Phoenix Foundation poised to rise | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sherman Phoenix
October 21, 2021
(Photo by Adam Carr)
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The Sherman Phoenix Foundation, announced in June 2021 as the nonprofit arm of the Sherman Phoenix, has gathered its inaugural board of directors and launched its search for a founding executive director.
The inaugural board of directors for the Sherman Phoenix Foundation comprises local community leaders and business executives with experience across a variety of industries throughout the area.
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“The Sherman Phoenix Foundation has been blessed with a diverse group of leaders – primarily couples – joining the Board of Directors. The curation of the founding board in this way was intentional, meant to reflect the loving and lived-in community spaces at Sherman Phoenix that feel like family and are essential to the mission of the Foundation,” said JoAnne Sabir, Co-Developer & Owner, Sherman Phoenix, LLC.
Directors on the Sherman Phoenix Foundation Board include:
“To see so many passionate leaders coming together to help shape the future of the Sherman Phoenix is incredibly inspiring,” said Ron Adams, board chair of the Sherman Phoenix Foundation and VP of Field Diversity and Inclusion at Northwestern Mutual. “The Sherman Phoenix Foundation was created to support and serve the Sherman Park neighborhood and finding the right executive director is essential for us to advance our work in a meaningful way.”
Search Begins for Executive Director of the Sherman Phoenix Foundation
Since its inception in 2018, the Sherman Phoenix has remained focused on providing an inclusive community space, encouraging entrepreneurship, and helping create jobs for community members to gain valuable work experience. The executive director of the Sherman Phoenix Foundation will be charged with continuing this focus, and working to support the mission of the nonprofit organization.
“We’d like to identify a passionate leader to build on the legacy of the Sherman Phoenix,” said Sabir. “Our ideal Sherman Phoenix Foundation executive director will provide leadership, manage daily operations and build community relationships that drive positive results as we seek to support economic equity and empowerment, strategic investment and training, entrepreneurial success and emotional wellness for leaders of color.”
The national search for the Sherman Phoenix Foundation Executive Director will be led by Goodwill TalentBridge in partnership with the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources . As part of its larger commitment to partner with the Sherman Phoenix, Goodwill will also host on-site recruitment events to connect people seeking employment to local employers hiring across a wide range of career opportunities and industries.
Interested applicants can find more information and apply at goodwilltalentbridge.com/current-job-openings/executive-director-sherman-phoenix-foundation.
ABOUT THE SHERMAN PHOENIX FOUNDATION
The Sherman Phoenix Foundation is focused on critically needed leadership, training and action by leaders of color on economic equity and empowerment. The Foundation will work to collaborate with leaders working to build inclusive and just economies for communities of color. It will support strategies focused on:
Additionally, the nonprofit organization will lead all programming at the Sherman Phoenix that brings cultural and economic vibrancy to the hub, including technical assistance for the 25+ small business tenants, wellness programming, educational offerings and arts and cultural events.
ABOUT SHERMAN PHOENIX
The Sherman Phoenix was birthed after the police shooting of an unarmed Black man in the Sherman Park neighborhood of Milwaukee in 2016. Our community came together to transform a fire-damaged bank building into a thriving hub for 25+ Black-owned businesses.
Having opened in late 2018, the Sherman Phoenix quickly became a model for healing our city by generating positive economic and social returns in communities of color and a vibrant community space that embraces talent and innovation, employs over 100 people, builds community wealth, and inspires new narratives for our future. The Sherman Phoenix includes much-needed community spaces to curate art exhibits, film showings, and cultural events. For more information, visit www.shermanphoenix.com.
ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN
Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization helping people overcome challenges to build skills, find employment and progress in their life and careers. For more than 100 years, Goodwill has been connecting job seekers with employers in the community and inside its own retail, laundry and staffing social enterprises to provide employment, training and support services.
As the largest Goodwill among 156 nonprofit Goodwill organizations in North America, the organization has more than 90 locations across a 23-county territory. In 2020, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago served nearly 40,000 people experiencing employment
challenges and made 4,327 job placements in the community. Visit www.goodwillsew.com for more information.

author: Sherman Phoenix


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Post from Community: Urban Underground announces DoorDash’s support for community engagement efforts in MPS District 4 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Urban Underground
October 21, 2021
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Urban Underground announced that DoorDash, the leading last mile logistics company, donated $25,000 to the organization in support of School Board Director Aisha Carr’s District 4 initiatives centered on increasing parental and community engagement efforts in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS).
“We are incredibly humbled by the support of DoorDash through support for Milwaukee. District 4 is the largest of eight districts in MPS, with thirty-six schools and an enrollment of over 14,000 students, some of which Urban Underground serves. It was a natural fit to partner with Director Carr who is supporting a district with one of the greatest needs,” said Sharlen Moore, Urban Underground.
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“As the proud and unapologetic representative of the children, families and communities residing in School Board District 4, I’m incredibly excited and overwhelmingly grateful to be the recipient of Urban Underground’s $25,000 donation from DoorDash to support our efforts to recruit and engage children and families within the 53206 zip code. Through this generous and thoughtful contribution, it is my hope that local, statewide and national partners join District 4’s efforts to support communities deprived yet deserving of so much.”
“DoorDash is honored to be able to support community engagement efforts in Milwaukee through our Community Credits program” said Alexi Madon, Senior Manager, Government Relations. “We’re pleased to partner with Urban Underground and Director Carr to make it easier for parents and families to engage with their local schools and bolster their involvement by ensuring they don’t have to worry about cooking a meal or obtaining essential items.”
DoorDash’s Community Credits program provides donations of DoorDash gift cards to nonprofits to help them empower the communities they serve, reduce food insecurity, and encourage participation in programs that expand access to opportunity.

author: Urban Underground