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Post from Community: Independent redistricting committee urges public to attend Wednesday night hearing | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee County Independent Redistricting Committee
October 5, 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 County’s Independent Redistricting Committee (IRC) is encouraging the public to attend a public hearing on Wednesday, October 6, and provide input on the new Supervisory District map of Milwaukee County.
“Public input is essential to the democratic process of redrawing Milwaukee County’s political districts, and we want to encourage members of the community to come let their voices be heard at our meetings. We want to hear from you. We need your feedback and ideas. Help us ensure that Milwaukee County’s political districts are drawn to fairly represent every community,” said Committee Chairwoman Jean DiMotto.
The Board of Supervisors voted to reject (16-0) the first draft of a supervisory district map at a special Board meeting Friday. The IRC scheduled an additional public hearing to solicit more input from the community to inform the committee’s updated maps.
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The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission will present the most current version of a new supervisory district map at the public hearing. Links to current and previous versions of the supervisory district map are available at the County Legislative Information Center (CLIC). An interactive version of the potential supervisor district map is also online.
Anyone who wishes to appear before the Independent Redistricting Committee and provide their input on the proposed political districts is encouraged to sign up on the County Clerk’s web site. Wednesday’s IRC public hearing begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held virtually.
Community organizations are encouraged to let their networks know about the opportunity to participate in the redistricting process and to invite their members to attend and speak.
The Board of Supervisors established the Independent Redistricting Committee, comprised of retired judges, “to maintain the integrity of the redistricting process and to mitigate any conflicts of interest or claims of politicization,” and charged the committee with full responsibility for drafting new Supervisory districts based on the 2020 U.S. Census.
Wednesday’s public hearing will be livestreamed and archived via CLIC.


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Post from Community: Safe & Sound purchases new headquarters in Sherman Park neighborhood | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Michael Collins
October 5, 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.
Safe & Sound is excited to announce the purchase of its new headquarters. The new building, which was purchased in September, is located in the Sherman Park neighborhood (4422 W. Leon Terrace), one of the neighborhoods Safe & Sound serves as part of its efforts to help residents create a safer Milwaukee. Safe & Sound will be relocating from its current office space at 801 W. Michigan, which is owned by Marquette University and is being redeveloped.
Joe’Mar Hooper, Executive Director of Safe & Sound, says “As an organization that serves residents in ten priority neighborhoods, including Sherman Park, our mission of service will be greatly enhanced by residing in one of the neighborhoods we serve. In addition, we are excited to finally have a space large enough for us to be able to engage the community and host meetings and programming in our own building.”
Originally constructed in 1932, the building was previously owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was their first location in the city of Milwaukee. For the renovations of the building, Safe & Sound has engaged two local, minority owned firms as the project team.  JCP Construction will serve as the general contractor while Dream Builders is the project architect.  Renovations to the building will begin this fall, including a conversion of the sanctuary into an open plan workspace, with a goal of a full move into the building in the 1 quarter of 2022..
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As an introduction to the neighbors in the Sherman Park community, Safe & Sound will host a Fall Festival event in the parking lot of our new building (4422 W. Leon Terrace) on Thursday, October 21 from 4-6pm. There will be free candy for the kids, community resource and health information tables and a variety of local vendors. Tours of the building will also be offered during the fall festival. The event is rain or shine.

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: October 5, 2021

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

author: Michael Collins


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Building-Exterior.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
October 5, 2021

author: Name *


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Post from Community: SHARP Literacy and students unveil diversity mural in Bronzeville on October 6 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
SHARP Literacy
October 5, 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.
What: As part of SHARP Literacy’s STEAM-based educational program, the organization partnered with several Milwaukee-area schools to create a large-scale mural, Helping Hands, which will be unveiled in Milwaukee’s historic Bronzeville district on Wednesday. Community Artist Vedale Hill led the public art project, which included the participation of fourth and fifth grade students from Augustine Prep, Kluge Elementary School, Rogers Street Academy and Swallow Elementary School.
Hill guided the students in the painting of wooden hands in a symbolic way, focusing on elements that relate to their own communities like support, strength and generosity. The painted hands represent how each student sees themselves individually, and how each hand can play a role in their own communities. The workshop provided students with elements of social emotional learning, which is integral to all SHARP programs.
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The 4 x 12’ mural includes a total of 150 hands painted by elementary students, along with SHARP supporters who participated in the organization’s annual fundraiser A Novel Event last February. Students from Augustine Prep, Swallow Elementary and Rogers Street Academy will be in attendance for the unveiling.
When: Wednesday, October 6, 2021
10:00 am
Lynda Kohler, President/CEO of SHARP Literacy
Vedale Hill, Community Artist
10:15 am
Unveiling of mural by Lynda Kohler and students
Where: 2209 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, at the corner of Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and Garfield Avenue. The mural is located on the Garfield Avenue side of the building.
For more information, visit www.sharpliteracy.org

author: SHARP Literacy


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We’ve updated our list on where you can get free food or low-cost meals | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
October 5, 2021
If you’re hungry, help is available in many forms. For example, you can use FoodShare to buy produce at farmers markets like the Fondy Farmers Market, pictured here. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
If you or someone you know needs food, here is information on where to find food pantries, meal distribution sites, meals for children and more.
We update this information regularly.
Do you know of a resource that is not listed here? Text “MKE” to 73224 and let us know or email info@milwaukeenns.org.
Find a food pantry near you
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If you are looking for food now, the best place to start is by using the following resources. These resources can connect you to food pantries and meal sites within your ZIP code.
The Hunger Task Force has created an interactive map complete with soup kitchens, MPS meal sites, non-MPS meal sites, mobile markets, meal sites for seniors and more. You can search by ZIP code or by resource type to find what you are looking for at a location near you. The map is updated daily, but call the location before you visit to make sure it is still open.
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin also has an interactive map of food pantries and meal program. The map is updated regularly but call the location before you visit to make sure it is still open.
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin also has a map of farmers markets that take Women, Infants and Children, or WIC, credits. You can learn more about the WIC program here.
Use the 2-1-1 Wisconsin website to find the food pantry in your neighborhood.
Call Impact at 2-1-1, which can connect you to food pantries and meal programs in your area. You can also text your ZIP code to TXT-211.
You can also text “MKEfood” to 73224 to connect with one of our reporters about food resources.
Do I need a photo ID to go to a food pantry?
For some, yes. This is because some pantries are required to verify that you live in the area they serve. However, not all pantries require an ID.
If you are not sure if you need an ID, call the food pantry directly or text “MKE” to 73224 and a reporter can get you the information you need.
Other free food options
Tippecanoe Presbyterian Church is serving 300 free meals every Saturday outside of Damascus Gate restaurant, located at 807 W. Historic Mitchell St. Distribution starts at 11 a.m. and continues while supplies last, usually until noon. The Rev. Karen Hagen said this service will continue through the end of October.
The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center will be giving away free produce every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. in its parking lot at 930 W. Historic Mitchell St. Produce is grown at the center’s Native Wellness Garden. Products vary and are available on a first come, first serve basis. The giveaways will continue every Wednesday into October. For more information, call 414-316-5011.
Pay-what-you-can
Some restaurants and grocery stores allow customers to pay what they can, even if that is $0. However, there is often also a suggested price or way to donate for those who want to support these efforts.
Tricklebee Café, located at 4424 W. North Ave., is a community cafe offering vegan and gluten free options. The café is open for dine-in from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Call 414-488-2477 to order for pickup.
greater good(s) MKE, located at 5205 W. North Ave., is a pay-what-you-can produce store open every Wednesday from noon to 7 p.m. and every Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon.
Victory Garden Initiative, or VGI, is a food justice nonprofit and urban farm based in Harambee. In addition to other programming, VGI hosts a pay-what-you-can farmstand. All food at the farmstand is grown at VGI’s farm across the street. You can count on the stand to be set up every Friday from noon to 3 p.m.
VGI also maintains a pay-what-you-can “u-pick” system in which people are encouraged to head across the street to pick their own vegetables at their farm. U-Pick is scheduled for Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Both events continue through Oct. 29 and are located at 249 E. Concordia Ave. Staff will be present to assist as needed. Donations are accepted.
Emerald City Catering, located at 3555 S. 13th St., said that people can call to reserve leftover meals or meals made with extra produce the company did not use. Meal prices will be pay-what-you-can. Call 414-672-3434 anytime between noon and 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday to inquire about pay-what-you-can options.
MKE Good Food Bus is a mobile food truck that offers produce on a pay-what-you-can scale. Cash, PayPal, Venmo and CashApp accepted. Text 414-367-9459 for the exact location of the truck. The truck will generally be in these neighborhoods on the following days:
Get free or low-cost food delivered to you
For those who are 60 or older, Meals on Wheels will deliver meals to you and anyone living with you who also qualifies. You can view eligibility requirements and apply here and view this month’s menu here.
Additionally, for those 60 or older and/or have a qualifying disability in the 53204, 53205, 53206, 53215, 53223, 53224 and 53225 ZIP codes, Friedens Community Ministries will deliver food from one of its four pantries. Call 414-289-6030 to sign up.
Get money for food
Those making less than the maximum income requirements can get EBT credit to buy food through Wisconsin’s FoodShare program. You can check to see if you are eligible here, and instructions on how to apply here.
Parents of children who receive free or reduced-price school meals may also be eligible to receive credit to buy food through Pandemic EBT, or P-EBT. Three P-EBT programs focused on school age children, children under 6, and summer meals respectively. You can view eligibility for each program here.
If you have not received P-EBT for last school year (2020-21) but believe you might be eligible, call 833-431-2224 before Oct. 8.
If you are eligible but have not received any funds or a letter saying you are eligible, call 833-431-2224 and email PEBTsupport@wisconsin.gov.

author: Sam Woods


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 4, 2021

created: October 4, 2021

author: Dwayne Burtin


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How new program brings health care, social services together with one click | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
October 6, 2021
Emily Kenney, director of systems change for IMPACT, makes referrals to community resources daily. Now, she’ll be able to do so with one click. (Photo by Matt Martinez)
Health care providers and social service workers in Milwaukee can now better communicate with each other digitally to serve patients with a single click.
Organizers say IMPACT Connect brings residents, local health organizations and social services together more efficiently. One of the partners is IMPACT 2-1-1, a service that functions as an access point for Milwaukee residents to get connected with services.
For the average person, this means you could be screened at any of the partnering organizations and then referred to the appropriate resource.
The goal is to make navigating resources less difficult. It differs from IMPACT 2-1-1, which operates mostly over the phone and digitally, by providing in-person assistance at doctor’s appointments and health screenings, among other services. The program also helps providers confirm that people received services.
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This is a collaboration between IMPACT, Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, Advocate Aurora Health, Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County and the Milwaukee Healthcare Partnership.
The partnership launched Aug. 12 with the Froedtert Health System, although it’s been in development for over three years, said Greg Stadter, program director for the Milwaukee Healthcare Partnership, a co-op of private and public organizations that seeks to improve access to health care for underserved communities.
Emily Kenney, director of systems change for IMPACT, said the new service uses the same resource database as the 2-1-1 system, but it offers more potential for providers to communicate and curate resources together.
Emily Kenney browses the IMPACT Connect digital platform, made by the tech company NowPow. (Photo by Matt Martinez)
By having the partners on a single shared platform, it increases the chances of “closing the loop,” or ensuring patients get the help they need, she said. The tech company NowPow is behind the new digital space.
“We want to make sure we’re actually resolving issues, not making people churn over and over,” Kenney said.
The partnership wants to add more organizations, Kenney said, including smaller resources embedded in the community.
Caitlin Dunn, director of population and digital health for Froedtert Health, said patient care will be a little different because of the new system. People at doctor’s appointments will be asked more questions about their financial and housing stability, for example.
Considering how much of someone’s health is determined by genetics, environment and economic stability, partnering with community organizations only seemed natural, she said.
“There’s a wide recognition that medical care only accounts for about 20% of a person’s health outcome,” Dunn said, noting that the other 80% is affected by their situation outside the medical system. The system will allow Froedtert to screen and refer people on a larger scale.
Deb Heffner, housing strategy director for Community Advocates, said the system will help serve people as a whole when they need services. For the Rental Housing Resource Center, which Heffner coordinates, the program will help realize the goal of making the center a “one-stop shop” for those with housing concerns.
“We all recognize the immense connection between housing and health,” Heffner said. “Now we’ll be able to connect people with a fingertip.”
Stadter said moving some referrals to a face-to-face process will help clients understand the resources better and give more convenient access to information.
“You know, wait times for community members can be over 10 minutes, so unclogging that system and letting people really quickly and efficiently find what the needs are and make referrals, we feel helps keep the burden off the 2-1-1 phone line,” Stadter said.
Stadter said the program will help open opportunities for social service workers to refer back to health care organizations, which was more difficult before the partnerships were established.
“If it’s just a one-way street, how is the community a meaningful partner?” Stadter asked. “If this provides better access to health care, too, we really see it as a two-way street.”
By connecting the resources, Kenney said everyone at the organizations will be better equipped to help the people they serve. The partners won’t have to rely on the knowledge of one social worker or employee, they will all be on the same wavelength. She views it as a step forward.
“My whole career, the way that people resolve their problems vary based on who they’re connected with,” Kenney said. “I want to end that. I want a system where all the helpers are equipped with the same ability.”

created: October 6, 2021

author: Matt Martinez


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 5, 2021


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Post from Community: Fundraiser for Afghan refugee resettlement at MobCraft Beer Brewery & Taproom, October 21st | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Claire Elizabeth Hackett
October 6, 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 Peace Corps Association is having a fundraiser at MobCraft Beer Brewery & Taproom on October 21st from 6 – 8 p.m. to raise funds for the resettlement of the Afghan refugees, who are currently housed at Fort McCoy, WI. The event is open to the public.
“The goal is not just to raise money for refugee resettlement. It’s also to raise awareness,” said In-Jee Lee, president of the Milwaukee Peace Corps Association.
There are currently 13,000 Afghan refugees living at Fort McCoy, one of the largest populations in the nation. Some of them will be resettled in Milwaukee.
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“Peace Corps Volunteers are service-minded people. That’s why we joined the Peace Corps. Our service doesn’t end once we return to U.S. soil. We continually look for ways to serve our country and communities,” said Lee.
MobCraft will donate 15% of their proceeds of the night from 6 – 8 p.m.; and guests are invited to give additional donations. The Milwaukee Peace Corps Association will match donations up to $500.
The donations raised will go to the two organizations in Milwaukee focused on refugee resettlement, Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan and the International Institute of Wisconsin. There will be speakers at the event to talk about their efforts, and to answer any questions.
“As is often said, it takes a village to raise a child; we say that it also takes a community to resettle a refugee family or someone who is displaced from their homeland. Without your assistance and support, our efforts would fall short in our endeavor to have them become part of our community,” said Alexander P. Durtka, Jr., president and CEO of International Institute of Wisconsin.
MobCraft Beer Brewery & Taproom is located at 505 S. 5th Street Milwaukee, WI 53204. It is the first crowd sourced brewery in the world, where people can vote what beer is brewed next. Their location in Walker’s Point has been open since 2016.

author: Claire Elizabeth Hackett


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MPCA-Logo-Circle-with-transparency.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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October 6, 2021


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Inside the NNS newsroom: A new role for reporter Ana Martinez-Ortiz and how you can help her | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
October 7, 2021
The new career and jobs beat is going to focus on providing relevant resources and information to the community. (Photo by Tonda Thompson)
Hi, my name is Ana Martinez-Ortiz, and I began writing for Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service in 2018 as a general assignment reporter. A couple of years later, I became the community engagement reporter and now, I have a new title: career and jobs reporter.
The career and jobs beat is going to focus on providing relevant resources and information to the community. That may seem vague but let me explain a little more.
NNS is all about service, it is in our name, and in this new beat, I plan to continue that mission.
I will let readers know about employment programs and opportunities, what you need to know about these programs and how to get involved. I’ll also be writing about individuals and their careers as part of a duo-effort to celebrate people and illuminate career possibilities.
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Some articles will be spotlights on a particular program or person, some will be explainer articles and others will be listicles.
My hope is that you learn about employment opportunities and career possibilities. Maybe you’ve always wanted to be an electrician but didn’t know what it would be like or maybe you’re looking to make a career change but need some help, either way, I got you covered.
I want NNS to be your go-to no matter what questions or concerns you have.
This is a new beat for NNS, and I am looking forward to growing and developing it. Below is a list of ways you can help.
How you can help
Reach out:
If you know of a job training program or organization, a job fair or someone who excels in their career.
If you have an experience with a particular organization or program and want to share.
And finally, if you have any questions or concerns.
You can email me at amartinez-ortiz@milwaukeenns.org or call/text me at 414-858-8520.
Read: Reporter’s Notebook: Community engagement goes both ways: Introducing Ana Martinez-Ortiz.
Read: Inside the NNS newsroom: Meet Ana Martinez-Ortiz, community engagement reporter.

created: October 7, 2021

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 6, 2021


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NNS on ‘Lake Effect’: 5 things to do this October in Milwaukee neighborhoods | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
October 7, 2021
NNS reporter Matt Martinez checks out La Placita, a new plaza in front of the flagship El Rey grocery store on Cesar E. Chavez Drive. (Photo by Adam Carr)
NNS’s Adam Carr joined WUWM and Joy Powers of “Lake Effect” for the October installment of our monthly “5 Things” feature.
Listen to the interview here.
This month includes the brand new A Taste of Lindsay Heights café, Voices of Milwaukee Bronzeville book talk with Dr. Sandra E. Jones, our collaborative “A New Way Forward” Frank Talk events with the Zeidler Group, the opening of La Placita on Cesar E. Chavez Drive and Dia de los Muertos Festival and 5k Run/Walk in Forest Home Cemetery.
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author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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Post from Community: MATC unveils new community artwork focused on breaking down barriers; Work to be shared with public Oct. 15-16 as part of Gallery Night Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Area Technical College
October 7, 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.
Community artists, including two Milwaukee Area Technical College students and an alumnus, gathered today to publicly unveil MATC’s Community Arts project “Breaking Through. The artwork will be open to the public Oct. 15-16 as part of Gallery Night Milwaukee at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus, 700 W. State St.
Last December, community artists were invited to send proposals for new or already-created art to be used to beautify MATC’s Downtown Milwaukee Campus, which has recently undergone renovations.
Dr. Vicki J. Martin, MATC president, explained, “The name of this show — “Breaking Through” — speaks to our work to break down barriers between students and their academic and career success. That includes providing a safe place where differences are valued and celebrated, and where we can create a sense of belonging.”
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Work from 13 artists was selected and is now installed across the campus.
Community artists Byada, Kevin Boatright, Rochelle Weiner Carr, Enrique Del Aguila, Melissa Dorn and Libby Sutton joined Dr. Martin today; along with Julie Ashlock, Darele Bisquerra and Melissa Hartley-Omholt of the MATC Community Arts Committee.
Other artists in this inaugural show are Kim Burnett, Steffon Dixon, John Kowalczyk, Lennis Mathews, Dennis Robert, Julia Scheckel, Eric Stenzel.
Dr. Julie Ashlock, chair of the Community Arts Committee, said, “Too rarely artists actually get paid to share their efforts, the toils of their creation. So often it stacks up in their studios, living a life unfulfilled. This show opens up those doors and offers us a glimpse into the lives, hearts, souls and minds of others who through training, practice and devotion to their craft have achieved a level of mastery that, coupled with hard work and desire, brings them to that magical place of creation. To make something from nothing but a thought, a fleeting vision, an impassioned research-driven quest or a deeply ingrained memory is a gift they are sharing with us.”
Each artist spoke about their work and thanked the college for the opportunity.
Student artist Del Aguila explained that he had made a smaller version of his artwork “Corazon de la Vida (Heart of Life)” earlier, but expanded upon it for the show. His work captures many important symbols of the Latino culture. Creating this piece “took me to the next level, to detail I’d never explored,” he said. “To me it says, ‘This is the moment, we’ve got to live.’”
Student photography artist Sutton, who works in health care, hit on a common theme for several artists. “Working on artwork gave me something to ground myself during the last two years of the pandemic,” she said. “It helped me channel my frustration and energy into something positive.”
MATC’s artwork will be open to the public during Gallery Night, from 5-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15; and 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 16. To learn more about the artwork, visit: https://www.matc.edu/community/community-art-breaking-through.html.
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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Byada_small.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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October 7, 2021


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’People just don’t quite understand how dangerous it can be’: Leaders work to keep Hmong community informed about COVID | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
October 7, 2021
Mayhoua Moua, executive director of the Milwaukee Consortium for Hmong Health, has been trying to get the word about COVID-19 out to the community. (Photo by Matt Martinez)
When Mayhoua Moua explains the coronavirus to members of her community, she often uses her own life to make her point.
A Laotian refugee who came to the United States in the mid-1970s, Moua has spent most of her life translating for her neighbors. As a young girl, she grasped English quickly. Now, she’s continuing that work by trying to inform her neighbors about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moua, the executive director of the Milwaukee Consortium for Hmong Health, an organization meant to serve the community’s health needs, said discussing COVID-19 to the Hmong community has its challenges. They include conquering a language barrier while making sophisticated medical information understandable. Recently, the Delta variant and breakthrough cases have made a challenging task even harder.
Wisconsin has the third-largest Hmong population in the United States, behind California and Minnesota. The Hmong population makes up roughly 38% of the state’s Asian population, making it the largest Asian ethnic group in Wisconsin.
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There have been roughly 5,200 cases among the Asian population in Milwaukee County and 290 hospitalizations since the beginning of the pandemic. About 58% of the Asian population is fully vaccinated. Rates of cases, hospitalizations and deaths are lower in this population than compared to other racial groups.
COVID-19 vaccination data does not take specific ethnicities into account but details data on the general Asian population in Milwaukee.
The vaccine provided temporary peace of mind, but now breakthrough cases – cases in which a fully vaccinated person gets the coronavirus — have Moua worried again.
“They think they’re OK, so now they can start gathering again,” Moua said. “Now we’re telling them, ‘No, no, no, it’s not safe.’ Even though you’re vaccinated, you need caution. And they say, ‘We thought we were supposed to be protected.’”
Lang Xiong, health advocate, job placement specialist and housing counselor with the Hmong American Friendship Association, an organization that provides resources for the Hmong community and operates a food pantry, manages a COVID-19 hotline. He said that when people call, he can offer them specific guidance on information they’re looking for, including locating vaccines and getting appointments scheduled for them.
Lately, however, duties on the hotline have included clearing up misunderstandings caused by breakthrough cases and the Delta variant. Xiong said older members of the community with a language barrier have been particularly confused.
“We’ve gotten questions like: ‘Is it something new? Is it not COVID-19 anymore? How serious is it?’” Xiong said.
In many ways, the consortium has gone back to basics. Trying to explain, for instance, that the virus can be spread by touching or talking closely to someone. Moua’s team has tried to illustrate this with videos and demonstrations through on-site workshops.
“We know how to anticipate our enemies,” Moua said. “Then with COVID, we can’t see it coming. We don’t know who may be carrying the virus. With that, our people just don’t quite understand how dangerous it can be.”
One of the biggest challenges is testing, she said. Getting all the members of a household tested for COVID after a positive exposure can be difficult, especially if they’re not feeling symptoms.
It goes hand-in-hand with her organization’s contact tracing effort, which has been trying to track the spread in the community.
“The education and the precaution and getting them to go get tested is a challenge for us right now,” Moua said. “Somebody might say, ‘Why get tested? I don’t feel the symptoms. It’s just my child.’ You interact with them, the whole family interacts with them.”
Moua was concerned about the testing rates in the community, especially as the Delta variant caused cases to increase. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, says the variant is more than two times as contagious as other variants. Unvaccinated people are more likely to get infected and transmit the virus, the CDC says.
To help get the message out, the consortium works with other Southeast Asian groups, too, such as the Karenni community from Myanmar. Maria Chay, a Karenni community health worker with the consortium, helps connect members of the community with vital health care.
Chay said her work focuses on translating for a group that’s new to the country. Beyond the language barrier, transportation can be difficult. Often only one member of a family in the Karenni community can drive. As they relied heavily on carpooling and public transit, the pandemic reduced their options as bus services temporarily stopped and people were less willing to give them rides over concerns of the disease.
Trying to explain things over the phone has also made things harder, Chay said. Using a modern solution, Chay has made and shared videos on Facebook in the Karenni language. She’ll also send English versions to clients and call to confirm they understand the information.
“We don’t see each other, and we don’t interact with each other,” Chay said. “If we’re in-person, they can just come here, I translate and then do my workshop. But with COVID, I had to send them (the English version), call them and then call them again.”
Xiong said his organization employs a number of methods to get the message out. Informational flyers are passed out at its food pantry, which serves about 150 families, as people come to get meals for the week. The organization also partners with Nyob Zoo TV Milwaukee, a television news program presented in Hmong on the last Sunday of every month.
Xiong said the organization also taps into the community’s clan system. The Hmong community is made up of 18 clans, each with its own representative on Wisconsin’s Hmong 18 Council. Using those avenues to get people health information has been effective, he said.
“The community is very happy to have a group that knows the culture and knows the language,” Xiong said.
Moua’s work will continue even after the pandemic ends, as she tries to raise awareness for cancer screenings and other chronic diseases in the community as well. For now, she hopes that people in the Hmong community will take the proper protection needed to combat COVID-19.
“Anything that is preventable, we need to prevent it,” Moua said. “If you know, you’re supposed to take precautions, take precautions and prevent it from happening. That’s something that our people don’t understand until they can see it–and that’s when it’s too late.”
The Milwaukee Consortium for Hmong Health is located at 1802 W. Walnut St. It can be reached at 414-212-8087.
The Hmong American Friendship Association is located at 3824 W. Vliet St. It can be reached at 414-344-6575.


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5 things to do and know the weekend of Oct. 8 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
October 8, 2021
Pete’s Pops is bringing back Pop Art Day, where children can exchange a piece of art for a popsicle. (Photo provided by Pete’s Pops)
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 .
1. Sculpture Talks 2021: Trenton Baylor and Michelle Grabner
The Milwaukee Artist Resource Network, Milwaukee Art Museum African American Art Alliance and Sculpture Milwaukee are hosting a dialogue series called “Sculpture Talks.” Trenton Baylor and Michelle Grabner will talk about Baylor’s sculpture practices and the work of Thaddeus Mosley. The conversation will take place virtually and in-person at the Milwaukee Artists Resource Network, 191 N. Broadway, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8.
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2. Music Under the Stars with Sam Guyton and Generation Z
Arts @ Large is hosting Music Under the Stars. This week’s concert features Sam Guyton and Generation Z, a pop cover band. The concert will take place at Arts @ Large, 1100 S. 5th St., from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8. Proof of vaccination or a negative test result are required upon entry.
3. Criminal record expungement and pardon readiness orientation
Clean Slate Milwaukee is hosting criminal record expungement and pardon readiness orientations. This week, the orientation will take place at City On A Hill, 2224 W. Kilbourn Ave., from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9. Click here to register. The next orientation will take place at COA Youth & Family Centers, 2320 W. Burleigh St., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 12.
4. Pete’s Pops annual Pop Art Day
Pete’s Pops is bringing back Pop Art Day. Children 12 and under can exchange one piece of art for a popsicle. The art will be displayed at the pop shops. Pop Art Day will be happening at all three locations: the Pop Window, 3809 W. Vliet St.; the Pop Shed, 916 E. Russell Ave.; and the newest pop shop, 1977 S. 71st St., from noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10.
La Familia De Arte and Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative created 12 tiled concrete posts, which will be installed as a memorial to the pandemic. The tiles were designed by 30 local artists and include inscriptions made by youths and adults listing their everyday heroes. The installation will be taking place at 911 S. Cesar Chavez Drive, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10.
First Fall Festival
The Northwest Side Community Development Corporation is hosting its first Fall Festival. The event will take place at the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District West Basin, formerly known as the Bee Bus Line, 4330 N. 35th St., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9. There will be free pumpkins, crafts, music, food, games and more. Representatives from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District will be on site to talk about the West Basin stormwater project.

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Dwayne Burtin
October 7, 2021


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Author finds peace in helping others overcome trauma | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
October 8, 2021
Eileen Alvarado, 50, a youth advocate, author and survivor of trauma, hopes her third book, “Caught in My Thoughts: Fearlessly Finding MY PEACE,” will help others overcome their trauma. (Photo provided by Eileen Alvarado)
For a long time, Eileen Alvarado didn’t want to be seen.
That’s despite working with youths in schools and in the community where she taught them about partner and sexual violence, how to protect themselves and how to address their trauma. She’s even written two books that draw from her own abusive upbringing.
“A lot of my personality wasn’t just being an introvert, it was anxiety of being around people,” she said. “The more I hid from those feelings the more paralyzed I became.“
Struggling, the 50-year-old took time off from her job as a youth advocate at the Milwaukee Center for Children and Youth to focus on her third book, “Caught in My Thoughts: Fearlessly Finding MY PEACE.” Writing that book, which was launched at an event in late August, has now helped her break those shackles, Alvarado said.
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It’s a semifictional tale of a princess who undergoes changes while seeking salvation from a prince. The story drew from her traumatic past and how she longed for a prince to save her from her hurt and pain, she said. As she wrote it, she delved deep into her childhood and consciously thought about the situations that made her most anxious. She said she realized then that it was relationships and her fear of rejection that drove her to isolation and fueled her depression.
“The more I understood that, the more it gave me compassion for myself,” Alvarado said. “It wasn’t that I didn’t love myself, it was about overcoming my thoughts that kept me bound and affected my relationships.”
Catherine Velazquez, who first met Alvarado in 1987, said reading the book helped her better understand her longtime friend.
“Her smile lights up the room, but one part of me now realizes that some of her smile was part of her defense mechanism,” she said. “It covered her pain and was her way of battling.”
Velazquez said the book, which is meant for readers of all ages, also helped her understand her own personal life.
“She talks about fear and insecurity and things we walk in our own life,” she said. “We all have experienced some sort of trauma, and if we don’t address it, then it carries over into other parts of our life and even how we interact with our children.”
Alvarado said her goal is to help people begin to unmask those uncomfortable thoughts and to realize they can overcome them.
“The things that go through our mind, feelings of sadness and not wanting to go on in life are real,” she said. “In being emotionally aware and facing those fears there is healing.”
Alvarado has been overwhelmed by the response she’s gotten from her book. A local producer created a short film based on the story. During the launch event, more than 40 books were purchased and donated to teens, and she’s working with a nonprofit to sponsor more free books to distribute to youths.
She also received grant support to start a book club for students at local schools and is using the book and a lesson guide she created to help them open up and talk about their own experiences.
“We discuss the characters and how it relates to them,” Alvarado said. “With it, they’re able to talk about feelings and emotions, boundaries and trauma without feeling intimidated.”
Michele Wink, co-founder and director of Milwaukee Center for Children and Youth, an organization created to fill gaps in services and advocate for young people in need, said that what Alvarado does is extremely brave.
“She does public speaking and does other things even though they give her anxiety because she wants to help people,” said Wink, who allowed her to use some of her work time to write. “Her book, its messages and goals are very compatible with our mission to thrive and not just survive.”
Alvarado, who just released another book, this one featuring poems, said she’s ready to take on her challenges.
“Before I could never be me because I was caught up trying to be someone I thought people would like,” she said. “I’ve been able now to find that peace of mind and find what love was for me.”
Book it
You can purchase Alvarado’s third book, “Caught in My Thoughts: Fearlessly Finding MY PEACE” by visiting eileencruzalvarado.com.

author: Edgar Mendez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 7, 2021


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How one man uses his passion to create affordable housing in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
October 8, 2021
“I personally and professionally knew how housing is key for stability, so when I found out there was a way to assist in that effort and earn a living, I quickly started down that path,” Que El-Amin says. (File photo by Sue Vliet)
Que El-Amin comes from a family that believes in serving others.
His grandfather fought for African American voting rights in Louisiana. His father ran the New Horizon Center, a Milwaukee social service agency and daycare center. And his mother is a mental health therapist.
But when he felt that social service was not the best route for him, he found another way to follow in the family’s footsteps: Through housing.
El-Amin has combined his passion for architecture with his need to serve by creating affordable housing for some of Milwaukee’s most economically challenged neighborhoods.
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“I’ve grown up in Milwaukee, I’ve seen how it’s changed,” El-Amin said.
El-Amin is building 43 affordable townhomes at North 37 Street and West Villard Avenue. And last summer, he began a $60 million project that will turn a former Briggs & Stratton industrial site on West Center and North 33rd streets into about 200 apartments when it opens next year.
From the neighborhood
El-Amin, 36, grew up in the Villard Avenue neighborhood and said he knows how important is for the area to have decent and affordable housing.
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2005 with a graphic design degree, he began his career in residential real estate by co-founding Scott Crawford Inc. in 2007.
“I personally and professionally knew how housing is key for stability, so when I found out there was a way to assist in that effort and earn a living, I quickly started down that path,” he said.
Being a developer is one of the many hats El-Amin wears in his everyday life.
He also co-founded with his brother, Khalif, the Young Enterprising Society, or YES, which runs several programs for students and young entrepreneurs in Milwaukee.
“I love that we’ve been able to give others opportunities,” he said. “Milwaukee is a hard place to grow up in, so being able to see people making a living off their ideas and start businesses and finish college feels good.”
Though El-Amin loves Milwaukee, he wants to see the city do better.
“We are OK with mediocrity,” he said. “As a city we hardly ever do anything that is the best in the world. When you look at places like New York City and Chicago, they strive for things that are the best in the world. We have to reach for the best.”
Colleagues say his greatest asset may be his kindness.
“He’s one of the hardest-working people I know,” said Greg Meier, El-Amin’s mentor and one of the first people to invest in one of his projects. “But on top of being capable and able to move the business forward, he is genuinely nice.”
An avid traveler, El-Amin said New York City is one of his favorite cities because of its tall buildings. He also named Washington, D.C., as another because it was one of the first places he saw Black people in spaces he hadn’t seen before.
His mother, Amatullah Umrani, said being well-traveled is one of her son’s best attributes.
“It allows him opportunities to be with persons of various socioeconomic statuses,” she said.
“He’s living out our (his parents) wildest dreams,” Umrani said. “He’s doing things I never imagined.”
El-Amin also does photography and videography, both locally and during his travels. He once even moved to Dallas for a short film.
And El-Amin said there is more to do.
“I think I have new big goals to achieve every day,” he said.
“It sounds cliché, but I’ve learned that to achieve the goals you have to be consistently persistent,” he said. “You have to work at it every single day, and that means weekends, holidays and birthdays, too.”
In case you missed it:
‘We’re on our way up’: The rebirth of Villard Avenue continues
Brothers teach technology and entrepreneurial skills to city kids

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: Oct. 11 to Oct. 16 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
October 11, 2021
Voces de la Frontera is hosting a day without Latinx people and immigrants as part of its efforts to ask Congress for a path to citizenship for undocumented essential workers. (Photo provided by Voces de la Frontera Action)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Day without Latinx people and immigrants: Monday, Oct. 11
Voces de la Frontera is hosting a day without Latinx people or immigrants. The group will meet at the Voces de la Frontera offices, 733 W. Mitchell St., and marching to the Federal Courthouse, 517 E. Wisconsin Ave., at 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 11. The march is part of an effort to raise awareness for a path to citizenship for immigrants. Read: OPINION: ‘We deserve to be citizens just like everyone else’: Why Congress needs to create a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients.
2. “Frank Talks” with Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service: A New Way Forward: Wednesday, Oct. 13
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is joining the Zeidler Group for its monthly discussion series, “Frank Talks.” NNS recently published a collection of essays called “A New Way Forward,” in which the authors reflected on the lessons they learned during the pandemic and how they’ve informed their vision for a better Milwaukee. This month’s discussion, “Frank Talk: A New Way Forward (Part 1),” features Kennita Hickman, Dom Portis and Sophia Torrijos. The discussion will be taking place virtually from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13. Following the panel discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to join breakout rooms and continue the conversation. Click here to register.
3. La Placita grand opening: Thursday, Oct. 14
Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative is hosting the grand opening of La Placita, an urban plaza. The celebration will take place at El Rey, 916 S. Cesar Chavez Drive, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14. La Placita features a project in which community members were asked to reflect on the farmworker movement and inscribe messages onto ceramic tiles. The project honors the farmworker’s movement and celebrates the lives and legacies of Cesar E. Chavez and Dolores Huerta, the co-founders of the National Farmworkers Association.
4. Junior’s Smoked BBQ at the Sherman Phoenix: Thursday, Oct. 14
Junior’s Smoked BBQ will be at the Sherman Phoenix, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14. This is a collaboration between Junior’s Smoked BBQ and Kujichagulia Producers Cooperative. Junior’s Smoked BBQ will be at the Sherman Phoenix every Thursday during the month of October.
5. City of Milwaukee Ethnic and Diverse Business Coalition public hearing: Friday, Oct. 15
The City of Milwaukee’s Ethnic and Diverse Business Coalition is hosting its third public hearing. The hearing will take place virtually at 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 15. Click here to sign up. The coalition worked with Griffin & Strong to conduct a disparity study regarding the percentage of minority and women owned firms that work with the city.
Bonus: Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center holiday toy event registration: Ongoing
Registration for the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center’s holiday toy event opened earlier this month. Children 18 and under are eligible to register. Households must provide proof of children with one of the following: immunization records, W2 records, school records, birth certificates, Social Security card or insurance card. A tribal ID, letter or proof of native descendancy is also required. Registration ends Thursday, Dec. 9. To register, call or email Alicia Terry at 414-316-5004 or aterry@gliihc.net.

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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 10, 2021

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OPINION: Now is the time to invest in Milwaukee youths. And we can do that by using American Rescue Plan Act funding. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Terry Murphy & John Rakowski
October 11, 2021
(Photo by Wes Tank)
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.
Terry Murphy (above) and John Rakowski
Did you know that nearly 40% of Milwaukee’s residents are under 24? This generation is literally the future of our city and yet we have systematically underinvested in our youth.
The Wisconsin Public Policy Forum’s report on funding for youth development in Milwaukee, commissioned by Beyond the Bell in 2017, cited the lack of local investment in youth programming. The $394.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds received by the City of Milwaukee represent a historic opportunity to make BOLD investments in youths’ physical, mental and social-emotional health as part of our city’s equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and historic levels of violence.
Milwaukee’s youths have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 and continue to be highly vulnerable to the persistent challenges of interpersonal, community and systemic violence. Our youths’ needs and interests have been well documented over the years in the various neighborhood, city, county and community-academic plans*.
Our city has many individuals and organizations doing outstanding work to advance the health, well-being and long-term success of our youth. Unfortunately, many of these programs and services are under-resourced. Additionally, the pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on the staffing and capacity of these programs at a time when our city needs them the most.
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We acknowledge the mayoral recommendations of $3.8 million toward summer jobs for youths and $1 million for racial equity training and equity data collection. However, there needs to be a stronger commitment by the city to investments in youth engagement and violence prevention.
We need the City of Milwaukee to commit to:
1. Prioritizing youth in all ARPA allocations, annual budgeting and city planning
2. Making an immediate investment of $30 million of ARPA funds to provide adequate funding and resources to scale youth-focused strategies commonly identified in the above-referenced plans, such as:
Keys to the success of this investment are the following elements:
We represent organizations and individuals brought together by Beyond the Bell Milwaukee, and we have a shared commitment to the city’s young people. We hold the belief that the needs and interests of Milwaukee’s youths must be a top priority for the City of Milwaukee as we work to recover from one of the worst global pandemics in modern history.
We call on city leaders to act now on behalf of children and youth in our city with an immediate investment of $30 million dollars of ARPA funding. We invite Milwaukee youths, other residents, youth development providers, and community leaders to join this advocacy campaign by signing this letter.
Terry Murphy and John Rakowski are co-chairs of Beyond the Bell’s policy working group.
*Plans including but not limited to Milwaukee’s Blueprint for Peace, Milwaukee’s My Brother’s Keeper Action Plan, Medical College of Wisconsin’s Violence Prevention Initiative, Amani, Metcalfe Park, Muskego Way, Lindsay Heights, Layton Boulevard West and Clarke Square Neighborhood Plans (funded by Northwestern Mutual Foundation and Zilber Family Foundation).

author: Terry Murphy & John Rakowski


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Dwayne Burtin
October 10, 2021


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 10, 2021
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Post from Community: BBB Tip: How to know if someone stole your identity | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wisconsin Better Business Bureau
October 11, 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.
Identity theft is stressful, and it can do tremendous damage to your finances. It’s important to recognize the signs early. The earlier you notice something is amiss, the faster you can take action to minimize the damage. BBB recommends the following tips to help you recognize the signs of identity theft as soon as possible.
Common Signs of Identity Theft
For More Information
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If you suspect you are the victim of identity theft, visit identitytheft.gov to report the matter and get a personalized recovery plan.
Find out more about protecting your child’s identity by reading the BBB Tip: Preventing Child Identity Theft.
Report scams to BBB.org/ScamTracker.
For more information or further inquiries, contact the Wisconsin BBB at www.bbb.org/wisconsin, 414-847-6000 or 1-800-273-1002. Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following the Wisconsin BBB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2020, people turned to BBB more than 220 million times for BBB Business Profiles on 6.2 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at BBB.org. There are local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada and Mexico, including BBB Serving Wisconsin which was founded in 1939 and serves the state of Wisconsin

author: Wisconsin Better Business Bureau


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BBB-tag_7469.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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Post from Community: Cheryl Moore, Ph.D., named executive director of the Alverno College Career Studio | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Alverno College
October 11, 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.
Cheryl Moore, Ph.D., has been named executive director of the Career Studio at Alverno College, where she will lead efforts to prepare students for competitive futures. Moore assumed the role on September 1.
Moore has more than 15 years of higher education experience. She came to Alverno from Cardinal Stritch University, where she served as an assistant professor and chair of the undergraduate business program. While there, she redesigned the undergraduate business program, which involved curriculum mapping, course revisions, and infusing experiential and innovative learning strategies into student learning. She also was influential in helping devise university diversity and inclusion efforts to recruit and retain faculty, staff and students.
“I am delighted to be a part of an educational institution that actualizes innovative learning and the empowerment of women to pursue unlimited opportunities in their personal and professional spaces,” said Moore.
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Moore previously owned a human resources consulting firm that provided training, executive talent acquisition and career development strategies, helped organizations implement recruiting processes and diversity strategies, and consulted with business leaders. She also held consulting roles with MRA – The Management Association and Northwestern Mutual.
Moore is a member of the Academy of Management Association and World Future Society. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C., a Master of Business Administration from the Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University, and a Ph.D. in Organization and Management with a specialization in Leadership from Capella University.
Alverno’s Career Studio empowers students and alumnae to create meaningful professional lives by teaching career planning strategies, facilitating purposeful experiences and building community connections through networking and on-campus recruiting events with employers. It provides job search assistance to students through resume and cover letter review and interview preparation, offers graduate school planning and coordinates the highly successful internship program. Internships and other professional experiences are built into the curriculum of most of Alverno’s majors, and many students participate in multiple internships during their undergraduate experience.
About Alverno College
Founded in 1887 by the School Sisters of St. Francis, Alverno College promotes the academic, personal and professional development of its students in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Undergraduate programs for women are offered in more than 60 areas of study, and graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology, school psychology, music therapy, music and liturgy, and business are open to women and men.
A leader in higher education innovation, Alverno has earned international accolades for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, which emphasizes hands-on experience and develops in-demand skills. The college, Wisconsin’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution, ranks among the top schools in the Midwest for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and innovation by U.S. News & World Report. For two years, The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education named Alverno the country’s most inspiring college.
Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Alverno College is a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college.

author: Alverno College


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Post from Community: Dominican Center receives grant to work with Legal Aid Society to offer housing assistance to Amani residents | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dominican Center
October 11, 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 Dominican Center (DC) is pleased and honored to announce it has received a generous $32,500 grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation for Amani housing support.
DC is committed to providing encouragement, opportunities, training, resources and seats at the table to help Amani residents revitalize their neighborhood. DC works with the Amani United neighborhood association’s Housing and Economic Development committee to secure funds to create and complete projects that support the Amani Revitalization plan, a document written with resident input that is designed to provide a plan to build a better future. DC has also worked with neighborhood partners on the Block by Block initiative, which aims to revitalize the entire community, one block at a time.
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This generous grant will allow DC to continue providing housing resources and access for residents to housing programs and neighborhood partners who offer beneficial services that support the Amani Revitalization Plan. DC believes hometown neighborhoods provide a safe, clean and environmentally healthy ecosystem where residents can live in a comfortable home, connect socially, access fresh food and engage in recreational and civic activities. DC strives to make sure that families are assured access to quality services and all members of the family are nurtured, encouraged and secure.
“We can’t do this work alone. We’re so grateful that Greater Milwaukee Foundation has generously invested in the work we’re doing to support our residents,” said Dominican Center Executive Director Maricha Harris. “Stable, quality housing is essential and foundational to healthy communities. We look forward to working with our partner Legal Aid Society to offer housing assistance to Amani residents.”
For more than a century, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation has helped individuals, families and organizations realize their philanthropic goals and make a difference in the community, during their lifetimes and for future generations. The Foundation consists of more than 1,400 individual charitable funds, each created by donors to serve the charitable causes of their choice. The Foundation also deploys both human and financial resources to address the most critical needs of the community and ensure the vitality of the region. Established in 1915, the Foundation was one of the first community foundations in the world and is now among the largest.
Dominican Center is located at 2470 W. Locust Street, in the Amani neighborhood. It works with Amani residents and partners to build a better future. Dominican Center serves as the community anchor for the White House Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, Building Neighborhood Capacity Program and is the lead community partner for the US Department of Justice’s Innovations of Community Based Crime Reduction grant for Amani.
Please contact Christina Chronister at the Dominican Center for additional information at
(414) 444-9930 or by email at christina@dominican-center.org

author: Dominican Center


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Register for Wednesday’s ‘Frank Talks’ with the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
October 11, 2021
Sophia Torrijos (from left), Kennita Hickman and Dom Portis will discuss their essays about moving forward during the pandemic from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is joining the Zeidler Group for its monthly discussion series, “Frank Talks.”
NNS recently published a collection of essays called “A New Way Forward,” in which the authors reflected on the lessons they learned during the pandemic and how they’ve informed their vision for a better Milwaukee. This month’s virtual discussion, “Frank Talk: A New Way Forward (Part 1),” features Kennita Hickman, Dom Portis and Sophia Torrijos and will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Following the panel discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to join breakout rooms and continue the conversation. Click here to register
In case you missed it:
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
OPINION: The ‘starving artist’ was all too normal before the pandemic. Let’s not repeat that toxic trope.
OPINION: When it comes to our education system, it’s time to let young people lead the way
OPINION: The pandemic revealed massive inequities in our food system. We are working to rebuild it better.


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Amani United in fight over leadership | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
October 12, 2021
Members of Amani United, the resident-led community group, are engaged in a leadership power struggle. (Photo by Adam Carr)
This story has been updated with comments from the Dominican Center.
The former president of Amani United, the resident-led community group, is fighting to get his job back after being impeached Saturday over allegations of negligence in his position.
Corey Kirkwood, a local activist, had been serving in the top leadership role since January,
“He’s simply not doing his job,” said Elizabeth Brown, the chairwoman of Amani United and the person who raised performance concerns about Kirkwood. “Ten months into his term, he hasn’t even met our partners. That’s literally his job.”
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Amani United gathers residents to discuss and attempt to resolve problems in the Amani neighborhood. It also oversees Amani’s neighborhood revitalization program.
Brown said Kirkwood refuses to work with other members of the group, causing Amani United to be ineffective.
Kirkwood disputes the allegations.
“This impeachment is the result of personal issues, not community issues,” he said.
Amani United hosted a private meeting Saturday for residents with a mediator where group members stated their issues with Kirkwood. He was supposed to be given the opportunity to respond to concerns. Kirkwood did not attend the meeting because he said he was given the wrong address.
The 14 people who attended the meeting voted to impeach Kirkwood.
Kirkwood said he believes the process of impeaching him was illegal and said he plans to sue both Amani United and the Dominican Center, which is the primary partner organization of the group.
“I don’t really see a legal matter,” said Maricha Harris, the executive director of the Dominican Center. “This was a democratic process created and carried out by Amani residents.”
“This was the shortest impeachment process I’ve ever seen,” Kirkwood said. “And an impeachment process has never happened in any other neighborhood group.”
Kirkwood said he plans to sue for defamation and to get his job back. The group’s vice president Jarvis West is leading the group for the remainder of the term.
“The only money I may receive is the stipend I was never paid and mileage,” he said.
The position is supposed to come with a $200 stipend, Kirkwood said.
Barbara Smith, a former Amani United president who sits on the board of the Dominican Center, believes the initial election was done illegally.
“In order to run, you have to be a resident of Amani, show up to at least three out of five of the monthly Amani meetings, and at least be aware of the Amani revitalization plan,” Smith said.
Some in the community have accused Kirkwood of not living in Amani. Kirkwood said he was forced to move because of harassment from members of Amani United but he still resides in Amani.
He accused members of the group of stalking him by showing up to his home unannounced.
He said the January election had the most votes ever in an Amani United election, which is why he will continue to fight for his spot.
“There is a leadership process document that should have been followed for both the election and the impeachment processes,” said Harris. “I believe Corey took part in creating it.”
If he gets the spot back, he wants to make Amani United a nonprofit and continue to get residents involved.
In the meantime, Kirkwood said he will continue to serve the community.
“My goal has always been to bring love back into Amani,” he said. “I will continue to that.”
About Amani United
Amani United will continue meeting monthly. You can keep up with it on its Facebook page. You can contact the leaders at (414) 444-9930 or 1amaniunited@gmail.com

created: October 12, 2021


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8122295964_c6ccac67e0_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 11, 2021


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DSC05825 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 11, 2021


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Dr. Mary and Ted Kellner invest $3 million in Stritch students, initiatives and literacy efforts | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Cardinal Stritch University
October 13, 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.
During the inauguration of Dr. Dan Scholz as the 10th president of Cardinal Stritch University on Oct. 5, 2021, the University announced that Dr. Mary and Ted Kellner, respected leaders in the Milwaukee business and philanthropic communities, have made a $3 million gift to support students and the University’s literacy efforts. The gift is the largest in Stritch’s 84-year history.
“Our gift to Stritch is a sign of confidence in Dr. Dan Scholz’s presidency, and the academic and administrative team he is assembling to steward the future of the University,” said Dr. Mary Kellner. “It is a demonstration of our belief in Stritch, its mission and its purpose in our community.”
The gift will support a number of University initiatives, including:
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The Dr. Mary and Ted Kellner Challenge Match, which encourages Stritch alumni, friends and supporters to demonstrate their support of and belief in the University, also was introduced at the ceremony.
“The entire Stritch family is incredibly grateful to Dr. Mary and Ted Kellner for their confidence in our University and our students,” said Dr. Scholz. “Their support has been unwavering over the last several years. Thanks to Mary and Ted, we have the opportunity to build upon the University’s legacy and provide a transformational liberal arts education in the Catholic, Franciscan tradition that prepares students for a life of leadership and service.”
“All members of the Board of Trustees and the senior administrators who serve on the President’s Cabinet and Deans Council have joined Dr. Scholz with their own philanthropic gifts in response to the Kellner Challenge Match” said Marc Barbeau, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Relations. “Collectively we too believe in Stritch and welcome our alumni, friends and partners to join us by demonstrating their support.”
Dr. Mary Kellner earned an Ed.D. in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service from Stritch in 2007. She has served on the University’s Board of Trustees since 2009. Mary and her daughter, Dr. Kristin Schultz, ’13, who earned a Ph.D. in Leadership with a focus on Clinical Depression and Meaning Making, are the first mother-daughter doctoral degree recipients in Stritch history.
Ted Kellner is Chairman and CEO of T&M Partners, a holding company for personal investments. In 1980, Ted co-founded Fiduciary Management, Inc., a $20 billion money management firm headquartered in Milwaukee. In 1984 he co-founded Fiduciary Real Estate Development, a real estate firm that today oversees $1.7 billion in assets, which consists primarily of over 8000 multi family apartment units in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. He is Executive Chairman of Fiduciary Real Estate Development. In addition to his professional work, Ted has long served as a philanthropic leader in the state of Wisconsin. He continues to serve on he boards of Children’s Hospital, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and the UW Foundation. Mary and Ted’s generosity over the years has often focused on enhancing opportunities for those pursuing their educational dreams – from grade school through graduate and professional programs.
About Stritch – Cardinal Stritch University is a fully accredited Catholic institution founded by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi in 1937. Stritch is one of the largest Franciscan institutions of higher education in North America and offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate, certificate and professional development programs designed to help students develop new skills, gain career-related experience and build professional networks. Franciscan values are infused into the Stritch experience that prepares students of all ages, faiths, races and socio-economic backgrounds to succeed in the communities where they live, work, serve and lead.

created: October 13, 2021

author: Cardinal Stritch University


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Mary-and-Ted-Kellner.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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October 11, 2021


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High-tech cameras part of broader initiative to improve safety on Villard Avenue | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
October 13, 2021
Manisha Dotson, owner and founder of The Nisha Group, said she believes safety initiatives will help drive crime away from Villard Avenue. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Obiora Obi, owner of Oasis Lounge on West Villard Avenue, said he didn’t always get the response he wanted when he posted about events he was hosting on social media.
“People would say things like: ‘No way. I won’t come to that area,’ ” said Obi, whose lounge is located at 3120 W. Villard Ave. “It hurts to hear that about your neighborhood.”
He’s gotten better responses lately, he said. He thinks it’s because people have taken notice of changes in the neighborhood: cleaner storefronts, rehabbed buildings and new development, streetscaping and engineering changes and more new businesses.
“Crime has been coming down now, too, because people are doing their part,” said Obi, who is one of 230 owners who are members of the Villard Avenue Business Improvement District, or Villard Avenue BID.
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The BID’s latest effort, a partnership with the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee Police Department, is called Operation Green Light. The project has brought four high-tech cameras to different intersections in the neighborhood. The cameras provide real-time intelligence for investigations to help curb reckless driving and other crimes, according to Angelique Sharpe, director of the Villard Avenue BID.
“People are going to know that they can’t just come here and do what they want,” she said. “It’s not just about traffic, either. It will help deter things like dumping, loitering and improve safety in general.”
Ald. Ashanti Hamilton, who worked for years to help bring Operation Green Light to Milwaukee after learning about a similar program in Detroit, said the technology and partnership between residents and police will pay dividends.
“We’re letting people know that there are eyes and ears that law enforcement has access to that can help us prevent crime,” he said. “Along with cooperation from residents and business engagement, we’re talking about a holistic view of public safety.”
He said some people may be wary of cameras and their impact on privacy, but that special attention will be paid to ensure that surveillance is used properly.
Four high-tech surveillance systems, such as this one above a traffic light on North 35th Street and West Villard Avenue, have been installed in the neighborhood. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
The cameras can rotate 360 degrees, zoom in and cover the entire business district, Sharpe said. Another important aspect of the project is that business owners who sign on to participate are expected to do much more than call 9-1-1 to report crime. They also commit to comply with city ordinances for their building, provide adequate lighting, clean up garbage and snow in the winter, and they must help deter loitering, among other obligations. The BID helps business owners connect with local programs to cover some of the costs of improvements.
“If you mean well and care about this neighborhood, then these are things you should want to do anyways,” said Manisha Dotson, owner of The Nisha Group, 3328 W. Villard Ave. Dotson, who has made several improvements to her storefront and renovated the inside of her building, was one of the first business owners on Villard to sign up for Operation Green Light.
She moved her business, which provides security guards and training, landscaping and other services, to the neighborhood five years ago. She said she believes that Villard will return to its once glorious past.
“This used to be like a downtown, and it can be excellent again,” Dotson said. “These cameras are going to force criminals to go somewhere else because they know people are watching here.”
Cameras are just one part of a larger public safety initiative on Villard called “Vision Zero,” a public safety approach that has been adopted across the country, including in Madison, to address reckless driving.
The four-pronged plan focuses on equity; education and outreach; engineering; and enforcement. It’s also heavily reliant on collaboration between residents, business owners and other stakeholders, including the city and law enforcement. Phase One of the plan was put into motion during the summer and included several initiatives to address reckless driving, Sharpe said.
“There are changes in the roads now, curb extensions and bike lanes and high visibility crosswalks that people need to get used to,” she said. “We’re working to change behaviors and have to build that infrastructure for people to feel safe riding their bikes on Villard.”
The BID and other partners used a concert series, Summer Vibes on Villard, and other public events to raise more awareness about reckless driving, including hosting art contests for youth and sharing information on vehicle insurance and license recovery.
Phase Two is Operation Green Light, she said. Those plans coincide with ongoing efforts to activate public spaces using art and draw development and businesses to the area, including to the sites of old Villard Library and Villa Theater, both of which are city-owned properties. The long shuttered library, at 3310 W. Villard Ave., replaced by the new Villard Square Library in 2011, represents a major opportunity for a catalytic development, Sharpe said.
“My hope and what residents have shared is that they would like the space to be utilized as an incubator space to host multiple small businesses,” she said.
Obi hopes that more people will continue to give Villard a chance.
“When people find out that the neighborhood is getting better, that the police department is watching and that members of the BID are engaged, this area will draw investors and different clientele to come check it out,” he said.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 12, 2021


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Post from Community: Free pumpkins, family fun at St. Ann Center Bucyrus Campus | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care
October 13, 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.
A gourd time will be had by all at Pumpkin Palooza, a free pumpkin giveaway hosted by St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care-Bucyrus Campus. The family-friendly event is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 16, at 2450 W. North Ave.
Pumpkins will be available (one per family, while supplies last) in and around St. Ann Center’s Indaba Band Shell grounds, just off N. 25th St. and west of the building. The event also features pumpkin painting, entertainment by Clowning Blinky, goody bags for the kids, apple cider and a Halloween photo booth. Children are welcome to come in costume.
The community is also invited to tour St. Ann Center’s new Intergenerational Play Garden, a wheelchair accessible playscape and STEM learning center for people of all ages and abilities. Tours will be given 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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Guests are encouraged to wear face masks, which will also be available on-site.
Pumpkins were purchased with a donation from event sponsor All of Us Research Program. Other sponsors include Pete’s Fruit Market, North Avenue/Fond du Lac Marketplace Business Improvement District 32 and Saint John’s on the Lake.
For more information, call Gloria Miller at 414-210-2428.


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pumpkin-patch-kids.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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October 13, 2021


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Post from Community: Vliet Street Pumpkin Patch | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mark Curran
October 13, 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.
Address: 3743 W Vliet St, Milwaukee, WI 53208
Description:
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Join us for a spooktacular day at the Vliet Street Pumpkin Patch!
Our Halloween celebration will have plenty of fun and goodies – come by to paint and take home a free pumpkin, enjoy free goodie bags and hot cider, take part in pumpkin bowling and more!
You can also visit Pete’s Pops next door for a delicious seasonal treat.
Costumes are encouraged!
*Pumpkins available while supplies lasts*

author: Mark Curran


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NWSP-Vliet-Pumpkin-1.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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October 13, 2021

author: Name *


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Post from Community: Women’s Fund presents: Disruptors, Changing the Power Dynamics | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee
October 13, 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.
When: Thursday, Nov. 18 at 11:30 am
Location: The Pfister Hotel 424 E Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee
This year, the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee Presents…Disruptors, Changing the Power Dynamics. During this dynamic luncheon, the Women’s Fund deepens the community conversation about gender and race and the impact of intersectionality for women in Milwaukee. The annual event will be held on Thursday, Nov. 18 at 11:30 AM at the Pfister Hotel.
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Johnson Controls, as Speaker Sponsor, brings Abby Phillip, senior political correspondent and anchor of Inside Politics Sunday on CNN, to the event to talk about her journey, share stories from the road traveling with politicians, and relate her personal insights about how gender and race impact women. In conversation with Phillip is recently retired Dr. Joan M. Prince, Vice Chancellor Emeritus of Global Inclusion and Engagement at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a nationally renowned advocate for equity. Together they discuss the complexities and underscore the importance of understanding the unique experiences of women of color, to advance equity for all women in the Greater Milwaukee community.
Additionally, the Women’s Fund celebrates various “Disruptors” in the Milwaukee community, named by Johnson Controls as the Speaker Sponsor, Associated Bank as the Signature Sponsor, and other event sponsors. These “Disruptors” are people who are changing the status quo and creating social change. They are innovative and breaking new ground. They are bold thinkers, leading by example, inspiring others, and shifting attitudes, behaviors, and culture.
Visit The Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee for more information on the event and tickets.

author: Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee


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Annual-Event-Poster.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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October 13, 2021


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Historic Harambee neighborhood building named after Reuben and Mildred Harpole | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
October 14, 2021
Reuben Harpole (far right) is honored during a ribbon-cutting this week. Daniel J. Bader (middle), president and CEO of Bader Philanthropies, said the Harpoles “spent the majority of their lives serving our community on many levels.” (Photo provided by Bader Philanthropies)
Reuben Harpole, the “unofficial mayor of Milwaukee,” earned another honor this week after Bader Philanthropies announced the newly renovated Harambee neighborhood building at 3338 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive will be named in honor of him and his late wife, Mildred.
The late Mildred Harpole, shown with her husband, Reuben, worked tirelessly on behalf of the community. (File photo provided by the Harpole family)
“Reuben and Mildred spent the majority of their lives serving our community on many levels – in our schools, neighborhoods, philanthropy and through countless civic endeavors,” said Daniel J. Bader, president and CEO of Bader Philanthropies in a news release.
“This building and its tenants were born in response to what we heard directly from our neighbors. It’s only fitting we name a community building to honor their determination, perseverance and courage to make the lives of others better. It is a testament to their legacy that continues to inspire so many people today.”
The historic Harambee building houses Sam’s Place, a Milwaukee-based eatery and jazz café; Shalem Healing, a nonprofit clinic that serves the uninsured and underinsured; and Refua Medicinals, a business that combines the use of Chinese herbs with modern nutritional science.
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We recently wrote about Reuben Harpole as part of our “Living Legends” series.
LIVING LEGENDS: Reuben Harpole’s secret: Be true to the day you were born
We also remembered Mildred Harpole after she died in 2019.
Milwaukee mourns death of ‘queen of our community’: Mildred Harpole fought for education equity, equal rights

created: October 14, 2021


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 13, 2021


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‘It’s not just about pink ribbons’: What those who work year-round want you to know about breast cancer | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
October 14, 2021
A number of breast cancer support groups serve the Milwaukee community, including some that are targeted toward specific demographics. (Stock photo)
When Kathryn Walker was told she had breast cancer when she was 28, she learned what it meant to feel alone.
Despite the support she got from family and friends, she felt very few people could relate to her struggles of being  the youngest person at the cancer center. She had questions and concerns about having cancer but no one she felt she could turn to.
When she reached out to After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, a breast cancer support group based in Milwaukee, she was able to find a solution: more specifically, a person. She was paired with a breast cancer survivor who had gotten her diagnosis around the same age who became her mentor. Now, five years later, she’s a mentor herself.
Although October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, those who are survivors and those who support those who have the disease know that cancer is a daily endeavor.
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After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, or ABCD, was founded by Milwaukee broadcast journalist Melodie Wilson, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. Ellen Friebert Schupper, executive director for the group, said Wilson discussed her diagnosis on the air, which was unprecedented at the time.
“She realized there was just this void of emotional support for people with breast cancer,” Friebert Schupper said.
Wilson, who died in 2009, led a campaign for public awareness for 17 years.
Friebert Schupper said the organization has about 750 mentors nationwide.
“Sometimes you just need people there to validate what you’re going through,” said Walker, now 33, who treasures being there for women in some of their darkest moments.
The struggles don’t end even if the cancer is gone. Walker said survivors can need mentorship just as much as those in the middle of treatment.
“People think now you can resume where life paused,” Walker said. “In reality, this changed who I was and who I am. It changed the fabric of my life and my priorities. It’s hard to reconcile with what you just went through.”
Increasing detection
With fewer women getting mammograms during the pandemic, many cases are going undetected, Friebert Schupper said.
Mayhoua Moua, executive director for the Milwaukee Consortium for Hmong Health, said breast cancer is one of the deadliest diseases her community faces for that exact reason.
Her organization provides screenings for cervical and breast cancer, which both have a disproportionate mortality rate among Hmong women.
“To my people, when you hear the word ‘cancer,’ it’s a death sentence,” Moua said.
Moua said many clients don’t get screened until they start experiencing physical symptoms, and by then, it’s often too late. Much of the consortium’s efforts stress education on the benefits of early detection.
“We try to tell them that cancer is not like a headache or a stomach ache,” Moua said. “You don’t feel it until it’s already in late stages.”
Carol Cameron, program manager at the Wisconsin Intertribal Pink Shawl Initiative, a nonprofit that focuses on breast cancer awareness for Native American women, said similar issues also exist in the Indigenous community. When she first started, she recalled some people dismissing breast cancer as a “white woman’s disease.”
Cameron said her organization tackles the issue by presenting it through a cultural lens. The group, for example, goes to Native American cultural events like powwows to spread the word wearing vibrant pink shawls and performing traditional dances, hence the name.
Cameron said the need for resources in communities of color is great as “cancer doesn’t discriminate.”
Working toward equity
Lakesha York, administrator for the Wisconsin Breast Cancer Coalition, a Milwaukee-based public policy and advocacy group, said her organization attempts to spur conversations around racial equity.
In Wisconsin, Black women have a higher mortality rate than their white counterparts and are diagnosed at later stages of cancer on average, according to reports from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and Wisconsin Medical Society.
The coalition trains people to advocate for change in breast cancer policy. And it also hosts informational sessions. For example, a session called “breast cancer and the environment” details everyday items in homes that could lead to a higher risk of breast cancer.
Lindsey O’Connor, a survivor of breast cancer and board secretary for the coalition, said breast cancer’s persistence makes it an issue that needs to be addressed long term.
“It’s not just about a pink ribbon,” O’Connor said. “It’s not just about awareness. This is a disease that can come back. I can never stop thinking about it.”
Resources you should know
The Wisconsin Well Woman Program provides screening services for uninsured or underinsured women. Call 414-286-2133 for more information on how to apply.
To reach After Breast Cancer Diagnosis for mentorship services, call 414-977-1780.
The Milwaukee Consortium for Hmong Health can be reached at 414-212-8087.
The Wisconsin Breast Cancer Coalition can be reached at 414-963-2103.
The Wisconsin Pink Shawl Initiative has a contact form on its website and a Facebook page. They can be reached at pinkshawl@att.net.


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Post from Community: Neu-Life hosts immersive student-led experience at Milwaukee’s Gallery Night | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Neu Life Community Development
October 14, 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.
Neu-Life Community Development will host a new installation exhibit “Metamorphosis: An Immersive Art Experience” on Friday, October 15 at The Shoppe (155 N. Milwaukee St.) from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. The show is the first time Neu-Life’s annual Student Art Show will exhibit downtown as part of Milwaukee’s Gallery Night, and will celebrate Neu-Life’s 20 years of work in the community. The event is open to all, and will feature free appetizers from Neu-Life’s Farmfork Youth Culinary Arts program students.
Neu-Life is a near-North Side nonprofit providing year-round educational and recreational programs for youth, from early childhood to young adults. The annual Art Show presents a unique opportunity for youth participating in Neu-Life’s programs to unite and work together towards a common creative goal.
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Previously, the show has highlighted individual works of student art. This year’s exhibit will be experiential and immersive exhibit, and highlight core themes to Neu-Life’s work over the past 20 years: Youth, Growth, History, Education, and The Future. Youth designed and implemented experiences that reflect these themes, including features like light pillars and interactive green screens.
To learn more about the exhibit from Misha Siegfried, Neu-Life’s Creative Director – and lead on Metamorphosis – listen to the most recent episode of Imagine This Podcast here.
Neu-Life works with Imagine MKE through its Neighborhood Partnerships initiative, which focuses on working alongside neighborhood partners to drive forward events and programs that enable arts, culture, and creativity to contribute to building stronger and safer communities.

author: Neu Life Community Development