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MPS wants police out of schools. A state-mandated contract could complicate things. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
July 1, 2020
Under a state-mandated contract, MPD officers comb the streets for truants and shuttle them to a center where an MPS social worker evaluates their needs. MPD officers Shane Pecoraro and Ray Monfre are shown on the job in 2014. (File photo by Kelly Meyerhofer)
Although the MPS Board of School Directors has unanimously voted in favor of ending contracts with the Milwaukee Police Department, there is one contract that stands in the way.
Since 1993, MPS has contracted with the police to help run the Truancy Abatement and Burglary Suppression program, or TABS.
According to state law, Milwaukee Public Schools is required to pay the salaries and fringe benefits of four law enforcement officers who work full time. The district currently receives no funding from the state to cover the costs of the program, which was $400,000 for the 2019-2020 school year.
In addition to cutting $478,242 in contracts with the Milwaukee Police Department during a special June 18 meeting, the directors voted to “hold” the TABS money to see if there is a way to honor their legal obligations without contracting with the police.
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President Larry Miller, who proposed the idea, is optimistic the district can satisfy state law without contracting with the police.
“I do not want to send this $400,000 to the police,” Miller said during the meeting. “My thinking is that we do not spend this money until we get a judgment from our lawyers and have total clarity on whether or not we have to.”
In a statement before the meeting, the Milwaukee Police Department expressed support for MPS if it decided to end the contracts.
“We agree with many voices from our community who believe that the funding should be reinvested into our public-school system to support social services,” the statement read.
An MPS spokesman told NNS that the city attorney’s office is exploring legal options and that the district would not comment on ongoing legal matters. The city attorney’s office did not respond to two requests for comment.
The MPS board is now exploring ways of continuing the district’s TABS program without law enforcement. (File photo by Kelly Meyerhofer)
The TABS program was established in 1993 after a similar program in San Jose, California. The program was funded through the state budget as a three-year pilot program before MPS assumed responsibility in 1996. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, which was also a partner in the program until the 2018-2019 school year, secured grant funding for the program before ending its involvement.
According to the contract for the 2019-2020 school year, the four officers contracted by MPS investigate calls of suspected truancy and bring young people identified as truant to the designated youth center located at the Milwaukee Public Schools Facilities & Maintenance Building, 1124 N. 11th St.
(If the young person has a warrant or has been reported missing, officers take them to a police station for processing.)
Once in the youth center, MPS staff work to identify the reasons a student isn’t attending  school. Officer can issue a truancy citation, the penalty for which ranges from $94 to $500 for students and $181 to $500 for parents, according to the 2017-’18 TABS Operations Manual. Officers also provide security at the youth center as needed.
According to data from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the habitual truancy rate among MPS students between 2007 and 2017 has hovered around 50 percent with no clear trend up or down. The recorded rate was at its lowest during the 2009-2010 school year at 45.79 percent, and its highest during the 2013-2014 school year at 53.73 percent. A student is considered “habitually truant” if they miss part or all of 5 or more days during a school semester.
The state law requiring MPS to pay the salaries and benefits of four police officers also states that the district contract with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee.
However, in August 2018, the Boys and Girls Clubs sent a letter to MPS saying it would no longer participate in the TABS program, according to minutes from the board’s February 2019 meeting.
The statute mandating MPS provide and fund TABS still states that the district must contract with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee.
Dawn Matson, vice president of marketing at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, said the organization stopped participating in TABS because it strayed from its core ideals.
“The decision to no longer participate in the program was tied to refocusing our work to dedicate all resources to support our mission,” Matson said.
From the archives: Special Report: Nearly three-quarters of MPS high school students labeled ‘truants’


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
June 30, 2020

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Adam Carr


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NNS reporter Edgar Mendez offers reflections on his city in ‘This is Milwaukee’ project | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
July 1, 2020
(Photo by Kevin Miyazaki for This is Milwaukee)
Edgar Mendez has been with Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service since the beginning, writing hundreds of stories during his nine-year tenure. That work has given him a unique vantage point to witness the everyday reality of North and South side neighborhoods — and what’s changed over time.
He recently participated in This is Milwaukee, an exploration of citizenship and democracy with a diverse group of Milwaukeeans, from established mainstays to emerging leaders. This is an excerpt from his interview.
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author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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Post from Community: United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County supports MKE Cares Legislation | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County
July 1, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County today sent a letter to Mayor Tom Barrett and Common Council President Cavalier Johnson to show support for MKE Cares legislation proposed by Milwaukee Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, requiring people in the city to wear masks in public spaces.
A portion of the letter states: “At United Way, we have seen firsthand how COVID-19 has changed the lives of so many people throughout our community. We know how quickly the virus spreads and how quickly it affects the health and safety of so many people.
“We also know the economic impact this virus has had on the city and on so many of its residents. United Way supports the re-opening of businesses in a safe and thoughtful manner. The MKE Cares Legislation is one way we can help prevent the further spread of COVID-19, while still supporting local businesses and the jobs connected to these businesses.”
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United Way has been at the center of COVID-19 support, providing essential services and supplies to nonprofits throughout Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties.
Several new studies published this month support wearing masks to curb the transmission of the novel coronavirus. The broadest, a review funded by the World Health Organization, concluded that wearing face masks reduces the risk of coronavirus infection.
The letter from United Way continues:
“We understand there are a variety of opinions on wearing face coverings, but we firmly believe that this is a necessary step in order to control further outbreak of the virus. Mandating the wearing of masks is about one thing: saving lives. It will take all of us, working together, to control this pandemic. Our city must take the necessary and important steps to ensure that we’re keeping everyone safe. That’s why we strongly support MKE Cares.”


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EXCLUSIVE: Milwaukee Police Department’s stay-at-home arrests reveal deep racial disparities | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
July 2, 2020
Most of the safe-at-home arrests occurred on the city’s North Side. A spokeswoman for the police department says: “The Milwaukee Police Department took great pains to ensure that our members educated the public prior to taking enforcement action.” (File photo by Edgar Mendez)
African Americans make up the majority of residents arrested on charges of violating Milwaukee’s stay-at-home order, according to data obtained from the Milwaukee Police Department through a public records request.
Of the 177 individuals arrested from March 27 to May 12, 138 were African American (78 percent), and 21 were Hispanic (12 percent), according to MPD data. Only 6 percent of those arrested were white.
The stay-at-home measure began being enforced in Milwaukee and other cities in Wisconsin as fears grew over the spread of the coronavirus.
On April 21, the Milwaukee Common Council unanimously approved a $500 fine for violations of the statute after widespread reports of noncompliance to the order. Police had begun to enforce the order before that measure.
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MPD spokeswoman Sgt. Sheronda Grant said 173 people were arrested for committing other crimes while violating the stay-at-home order.
The other four arrests involved a business owner who refused to abide by the order; two individuals caught fleeing from police; and another person involved in a fistfight that resulted in a nonfatal shooting, she said.
When asked about racial disparities in arrests, Grant told NNS: “The police department did not target anyone for being outside their places of residence or business.
“The Milwaukee Police Department took great pains to ensure that our members educated the public prior to taking enforcement action.”
But leaders from the ACLU of Wisconsin say the arrests point to a troubling pattern by the Milwaukee Police Department.
“We’re concerned that these arrests reflect the disparate treatment at the hands of Milwaukee police that the community has long experienced,” the ACLU of Wisconsin said in an email to NNS.
(Maps created by John Johnson, research fellow at the Marquette Law School)
The organization has consistently criticized the MPD and the Fire and Police Commission for their efforts to comply with the terms of a $3.4 million settlement in the ACLU’s stop-and-frisk lawsuit against the city.
The class-action lawsuit, filed in February 2017, was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin and the law firm Covington and Burling., representing Charles Collins and eight other Milwaukee residents.
Collins, a military veteran and longtime Milwaukee resident in his late 60s, was pulled over by MPD officers while driving home with his wife after visiting their son in 2014. Like the other plaintiffs, he broke no laws and was never charged.
Mayor Tom Barrett said Wednesday he was troubled by the disparities in arrests, especially considering ongoing racial equity issues.
“The intention has never been to penalize or punish people, but find what is the most effective way for people to take actions to protect their best health interests,” said Barrett, adding that African American and Latino populations in the city have been hit hardest by COVID-19.
The data also reveals that most of the arrests occurred on the city’s North Side. Of those arrests, 46, or 26 percent of the total, occurred in the 53206 ZIP code, an area known for its concentrated poverty, extreme joblessness, levels of mass incarceration and declining incomes for those who are employed.
Twenty arrests (11.3 percent) were made in 53209 and 16 (9.4 percent) occurred in 53216, also on the city’s North Side. Sixteen individuals were arrested in 53212, which includes neighborhoods on the North and Northeast side.
Aside from those ZIP code areas, only 53204 on the near South Side had more than 15 arrests. In addition, 17 minors were arrested for violating the order. All of the minors were African American or Hispanic, the data shows.
Grant said 53206 experienced the most calls for police service for all ZIP codes during the time the order was in place, while 53209 had the fifth-most calls.
“We are obligated to respond to calls for service regardless of the ZIP code from which the calls originate,” she said.

author: Edgar Mendez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
July 1, 2020


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NNS Spotlight: Milwaukee County program offers mothers a ‘Healthy Start’ | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
July 2, 2020
A mother and her child pose with their “navigator,” Tina Klos (right), and Milwaukee Health Department’s Ricky Traner (left) after successfully completing a parenting support group. (Photo provided by Sara Silver-Traband)
Editor’s note: This story is part of an  occasional series that highlights groups and people worth knowing in Milwaukee. To nominate a person or a group, email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “Spotlight” in the subject line.
Daisha Winder first learned about Milwaukee County Healthy Start in December 2019 when she was five months pregnant.
The program, which seeks to reduce and ultimately eliminate maternal child-health disparities for Black women in Milwaukee, assigned Winder a  “maternal health navigator” named Tina.
Tina helped connect her with resources she’d need as an expectant mother, including getting a car seat, new clothes and diapers ahead of her child’s birth.
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“She’s very nice,” Winder said. “Most of the family knows her and we love her. Wouldn’t change nothing about it.”
Healthy Start began last year as a result of a five-year, $5 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services. It is a joint effort of the Milwaukee Health Department, Easter Seals Southeast Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin, MyNP Professional and the Black Child Development Institute.
According to a report from the state Department of Health Services, Black women experience pregnancy-related mortality five times more than non-Hispanic white women in Wisconsin. The reasons: lack of access to care and chronic disease.
Sheena Slade-Walker, a prevention manager with Healthy Start, said the program’s main goal is to tackle such issues.
Though the program’s target demographic is Black women, Slade-Walker said any woman in her child-bearing years can apply.
The program, which enrolled 59 people from late August 2019 to March 31, is available to women who are pregnant, considering pregnancy or have children under 18 months old. It also is available to their male partners and anyone caring for an infant. Healthy Start seeks to serve 350 clients during its second grant year.
“They just do a lot of different things that are helpful when you’re getting ready to have a baby,” Winder said.
Winder participated in a maternal support group that provided her with information about pregnancy and child care, including how to navigate hospitals and different techniques she could use during her pregnancy. The staff also provided her with handmade blankets.
Not for women only
In addition, the Milwaukee Health Department administers fatherhood outreach programs that feed into Healthy Start.
Erica Olivier, director of the department’s Maternal and Child Health Division, often oversees the programs, which inform fathers and soon-to-be fathers of benefits they can receive.
“Having the father of the baby involved is just a statistical strength,” Olivier said.
Olivier voiced concern that fatherhood support programs are often overshadowed, even though the father plays an integral role in child development. For example, Olivier said single fathers with children under the age of 5 can qualify for the Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program, even though the name does not include fathers.
Olivier said in some cases fathers are averse to support, often because they view the systems as being specifically tailored to mothers. She’s been working with other service providers to include more father-specific programming.
“Inevitably,” she said, “we all have the same intention of doing better at building the family as a whole, and that takes acknowledging all of the caregivers and doing better at servicing them and meeting them where they’re at and tailoring ‘What does health and support look like to you?’”
How to participate in Healthy Start
The Healthy Start program is free. It can be reached at (414) 292-4243 or through email at healthystart@chw.org. Its website is milwaukeehealthystart.org.

author: Matt Martinez


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5 things to do and know the weekend of July 3 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
July 3, 2020
Ko-Thi Dance Company’s second installment of the SANKOFA Series is called “Family Affair” and features Sonya Thompson, the associate artistic director, and her daughters, Ne’Veah Brown and Kiomara Thompson. (Photo provided by the Ko-Thi Dance Company)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as we continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon .
1. Ko-Thi Dance Company’s SANKOFA Series
Ko-Thi Dance Company’s second installment of the SANKOFA Series is taking place at the studio, 1037 W. McKinley Ave., from noon to 2 p.m. on Friday, July 3. The second installment is called “Family Affair” and features Sonya Thompson, the associate artistic director, and her daughters, Ne’Veah Brown and Kiomara Thompson. Sonya Thompson will discuss how Ko-Thi shaped her idea of legacy and how she passes her legacy on to her children.
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2. Voces de la Frontera census and voter registration caravan
Voces de la Frontera is leading a bike and car caravan from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 3. The caravan will meet at 6 p.m. and begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Voces de la Frontera office, 1027 S. 5th St. The goal of the caravan is to help residents living in the 53204 and 53215 ZIP codes fill out the census, register to voter and request an absentee ballot. Masks and gloves will be provided.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office has issued a reminder that fireworks are illegal in Milwaukee County. The Milwaukee County Ordinance 47.05 (2) prohibits people from setting off fireworks in parks and parkways. Failure to adhere to the ordinance could result in a $200.50 citation.
4. Black LGBTQIA Womxn’s March: Sunday, July 5
Due to the weather, the Black LGBTQIA Womxn’s March was rescheduled to this weekend. The march itself will begin at Cathedral Square Park, 520 E. Wells St., at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 5 followed by a block party. There will also be time dedicated to making signs before the march. Face masks are highly recommended. My transgender comrades and I are fighting for our lives and marching to be included
Earlier this week, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley announced that Milwaukee County is partnering with call center staff at the Milwaukee County Transit System, Department of Health and Human Service and Child Support Services. The partnership is part of Milwaukee’s effort to get a complete count for the 2020 census. Call center staff will be reminding residents to participate in the census and helping them fill it out in English or Spanish. Why the 2020 census should continue to matter to you
Bonus: “Independence” day protest and block party: Saturday, July 4
Youth organizers are hosting a Black Lives Matter protest and block party starting at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 4. The protest will begin at Rufus King High School, 1801 W. Olive St., and continue to Riverside University High School, 1615 E. Locust St. A celebration will follow at Riverside University. There will be food and entertainment.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed on coronavirus by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
July 2, 2020


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Post from Community: MATC ReStart Program helps students repay up to $1,500 of MATC past-due balances | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Area Technical College
July 5, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Lack of funds and past student debt prevent many students from finishing their college degrees. Milwaukee Area Technical College is taking another step to address these challenges by launching a debt scholarship program to help eligible returning students repay up to $1,500 of past-due balances owed the college for expenses such as tuition, books and other fees.
“Our research showed that many students were unable to finish their academic programs due to relatively modest debt owed the college,” said Dr. Vicki J. Martin, MATC president. “MATC degrees and diplomas help individuals gain jobs that earn family-sustaining wages. We want to remove the barriers blocking our students from finishing college. Along with programs like our tuition-free MATC Promise, we believe MATC ReStart could make a crucial difference in changing lives for the better, especially in this time of economic distress caused by the pandemic.”
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MATC ReStart began as a pilot program called “Start Fresh” in Spring 2020, helping 56 qualified students return to continue working towards their degree. Nearly 7,000 students potentially fit the MATC ReStart criteria for the fall semester. They must apply by July 17 and fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or create a payment plan at program orientation. Eligible students must have completed six MATC credits but not have earned an associate degree, and enroll in at least six credits in the Fall 2020 semester.  Eligible returning students should already have been contacted by the college if up-to-date contact information is available.
To continue in the program, students must do the following each semester: enroll in six college level credits, earn a grade point average of 2.0 or better, successfully complete 67 percent of credits attempted and perform 15 hours of volCalled MATC ReStart, the program is being offered to returning students who last attended MATC between Fall 2009 and Spring 2018, and who have an existing account balance of $1,500 or less. Students can earn up to $500 in scholarships to repay their debt each semester they are successfully enrolled at MATC for up to three semesters. It does not apply to debt owed on government student loans.
The seed funding to begin the MATC ReStart program came from proceeds from MATC’s participation in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) broadcast incentive auction in which the MATC Board of Directors sold a portion of the airwaves used by Milwaukee PBS’s Channel 36. Some of the funds were designated for making college education more accessible and affordable.
For more information, visit matc.edu/restart or email restart@matc.edu.

author: Milwaukee Area Technical College


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Post from Community: The Milky Way Tech Hub Fund targets $50 million raise to create tech opportunities for Black Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milky Way Tech Hub
July 5, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
The Milky Way Tech Hub aims to create a narrative that Milwaukee and its surrounding communities are the most diverse and inclusive tech ecosystem in the nation. Through venture pitch events, community online workshops, and a concierge accelerator, The Milky Way Tech Hub is already attracting national and international entrepreneurs to Milwaukee in addition to the local talent already here. The Milky Way Tech Hub’s goal is to use its resources and programs to turn these relationships into opportunities and jobs for our diverse citizenry.
To that end, the Milky Way Tech Hub is launching a tech fund in partnership with IP Zone Company, a New York-based spinout of American Express, to provide the level of capital that tech companies need to help them reach successful exits. We have begun to circle money in an effort to reach our goal of raising $50 million this year. The fund will target scalable tech companies that have substantial intellectual property and a willingness to relocate or invest and partner with Milwaukee and its citizens. Importantly, the Milky Way Tech Hub commits to investing in Black founders, people of color (POC), women, and other underrepresented demographics.
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Several tech companies in the 5G, AI, and Internet of Things spaces have granted exclusive rights to the fund and recently a top 5 automotive company has agreed to invest. This new endeavor requires strategic collaboration at the city and state level. The Milky Way Tech Hub intends to transform Milwaukee, leveraging public and private capital in a way that will benefit an inclusive group of entrepreneurs. Our partnership with the American Family Institute for Corporate and Social Impact has helped to generate momentum around the efforts to build out a tech ecosystem that reflects Milwaukee’s diverse population.
We believe education will be critical to this mission and it is why the Milky Way Tech Hub has dedicated significant resources to building a world-class, competency-based innovation and intellectual property training program that will be available to ecosystem participants. Of course, while bold ideas and commitment are great, significant capital is necessary to effectuate real change. We believe the success of our effort will be greatly enhanced with substantial support and resources for startups from our corporate partners and our city and state governments. Capital is at the top of the list.
Currently, Milwaukee is home to the 53206 ZIP code, which has the unenviable distinction of owning the highest incarceration rate for Black men of any locale in America. That same ZIP code has also been labeled as the worst place for Black people to live and raise children. We believe these heartbreaking labels make it clear that now is the time to invest in a complete narrative shift for the city of Milwaukee.
The Milky Way Tech Hub believes that on a level playing field where there is equal access to capital and resources, technology, and innovation can serve as vehicles to improve the socio-economic conditions in our urban areas. While technology now plays a role in almost every aspect of daily life and business, according to a study led by Silicon Valley Bank, only 1% of Black businesses are backed by venture capital further widening the digital divide and the vast economic disparities that presently exist.
All individuals or organizations that are interested in supporting this effort should reach out to Nadiyah Johnson, CEO and founder of Jet Constellations, at nadiyah@jetconstellations.com or submit their information using our form.

author: Milky Way Tech Hub


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5 things to do and know this week in Milwaukee: July 6 to July 11 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
July 6, 2020
The Mobile Legal Clinic is going virtual on Mondays and Wednesdays. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. The Mobile Legal Clinic is going virtual
The Mobile Legal Clinic normally offers clinics at various locations such as public libraries. Due to COVID-19, the clinic has started offering its services online via Zoom. The Civil Legal Clinic takes place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays. Volunteer attorneys will offer legal advice on issues such as landlord/tenant, family law, small claims and more. The Expungement/Pardon Clinic is offered from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays. Both clinics are free. To schedule an appointment call 414-278-2046.
Read: ‘One thing can follow someone for a really long time’: How to get your record expunged in Wisconsin
2. Car wash fundraiser for Milwaukee first responders: Wednesday, July 8
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Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy, 4030 N. 29th St., is hosting a car wash fundraiser from noon to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8. The car wash costs $10, and all proceeds will go toward Milwaukee’s first responders.
An additional purpose of the fundraiser is to purchase food from local businesses at Sherman Phoenix for a food giveaway scheduled for July 13. It’s a dual effort to support minority-owned businesses and to have the students work collectively toward a good community cause.
3. Milwaukee Urban League and MATC offer GED and certificate program
The Milwaukee Urban League and Milwaukee Area Technical College have partnered to offer a new program. Participants can earn their GED and a health care customer service certificate online. To register, email Maura Fitzgerald at mfitzgerald@tmul.org or call 414-374-5345. Classes begin Wednesday, July 8 and end Friday, Aug. 28. Financial assistance is available.
4. “March On, Milwaukee”: Food and culture in the Cream City: Wednesday, July 8
“March On, Milwaukee” is a monthly discussion series that looks at key moments in the city’s history. The conversation takes place among educators, activists, scholars and others. This week, the topic is “Food and Culture in Cream City: Walker’s Point” featuring Marcela Garcia. The discussion will take place at noon on Wednesday, July 8. Join through Zoom; the meeting ID is 856 3438 8608.
5. Study group examines what it means to “defund the police”: Thursday, July 9
Devin Anderson of Liberate MKE, a campaign driven by the African American Roundtable, is hosting a study group on what it means to defund the police. The meeting will take place online at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, July 9. To register for the study group, click here.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
July 5, 2020


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Post from Community: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee keeps safety top of mind as more clubs re-open | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee
July 6, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
After being closed for more than three months in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, today Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee (BGCGM) re-opens 25 additional Clubs, bringing the total number of sites providing in-person programming to 32. Today’s openings mark the largest number of Clubs re-opening at once and reflect a strong commitment to serving Milwaukee’s youth at a time when they need us most.
The health and safety of our members and staff remains our highest priority. All sites are operating at reduced capacity and under strict health and safety protocols as outlined by the CDC, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and Milwaukee Health Department. For more information on BGCGM’s COVID-19-specific safety protocols, visit bgcmilwaukee.org/summer-registration. We are closely monitoring guidelines put forth by public health officials and base all operational decisions on these guidelines.
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author: Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee


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NNS on WGLB: Reporter Sam Woods discusses the exception to recent MPS decision to terminate contracts with MPD | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
July 6, 2020
(Photo by Adam Carr)
NNS education reporter Sam Woods talks with Saryea Murchinson and Dennis Walton of WGLB about the decision by MPS to end all but one contract with the Milwaukee Police Department, how MPS may be legally obligated to still contract with the police for truancy prevention and what might come next.


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DSC05107 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
July 6, 2020


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
July 6, 2020
“NNS Interview July 3 Sam”.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
July 6, 2020


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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: New mural honors Joel Acevedo | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
July 6, 2020
The Acevedo mural is located on West Greenfield Avenue and South Sixth Street. (Photo by Adam Carr)
A new mural by community artists honors Joel Acevedo, who died of injuries from a fight with an off-duty Milwaukee police officer in April.
The mural is located on West Greenfield Avenue and South Sixth Street.
Off-duty Milwaukee Police Officer Michael Mattioli has been charged in connection with the death of Acevedo, 25, following a fight inside Mattioli’s home near South 45th Street and W. Cleveland Avenue.
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Post from Community: Local teen advocates reflect on 10-year anniversary of Wisconsin’s Smoke-Free Air Law | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Shorewood FACT
July 6, 2020
(left to right: Kayla McPike, Ta’Niya Robinson, Nia Kamara and Fednise Stark)
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Sunday, July 5th is the 10th anniversary of Wisconsin’s Smoke-Free Air Law, a law that prohibits smoking in enclosed public spaces and protects employees and others from the hazards of secondhand smoke. As teens across the state celebrate this milestone law that changed their way of life, they also want to remind others that tobacco products like menthol are still as harmful as ever, especially in African American and low-income communities. And that tobacco companies are pushing alternative products such as electronic cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products like cigarillos to teens like them.
But, youth members of Shorewood FACT, part of Wisconsin’s youth-drive tobacco prevention movement, are onto their tactics, and warn the community any chance they get. They are using the 10th anniversary of Wisconsin’s Smoke-Free law to reflect on the impact of the law and continue to bring attention to issues that still challenge their communities.
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Fednise Stark: “Wisconsin is still better smoke-free because fewer people are  exposed to secondhand smoke. People now smoke fewer cigarettes while they are working than they do at home, so the chance of them quitting is greater. Still, products like menthol make tobacco easier to start and harder to quit.”
Kayla McPike: “Wisconsin has been so much better since it became smoke-free. Not only is it environmentally better but the law has helped slow down the curve of teens that are exposed to tobacco. Unfortunately, tobacco companies are using candy-flavored tobacco products to try to recruit their next generation of smokers, but we won’t let them.”
Ta’Niya Robinson: “Blacks in Wisconsin smoke at higher rates than the general population, and most use menthol and as a result face worse health outcomes. These rates would be even higher if not for Wisconsin’s Smoke-Free Air Law. We must continue the push for even more smoke-free spaces!”
Nia Kamara: “Wisconsin is better smoke-free because it minimizes the health risks of being exposed to secondhand smoke. Unfortunately, there’s still too many, especially people of color or who live in poverty, that use tobacco, and kids that are getting hooked on flavored tobacco products. That’s why our work can’t stop.”

author: Shorewood FACT


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The coronavirus is far from over: What Milwaukee residents need to know the week of July 6 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
July 6, 2020
Though Milwaukee’s COVID-19 cases are fairly steady in comparison to other places, “we must be aware of what’s going on elsewhere that will inevitably reach us,” says Dr. Ben Weston of the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management. (File photo by Adam Carr)
Here’s what you need to know about how COVID-19 is affecting Milwaukee.
1. Milwaukee remains in Phase 4 of reopening.
Read more information on what Phase 4 means for businesses, churches, beaches, restaurants and other spaces here. Remember, wearing a mask, washing your hands often and practicing physical distancing are still the best ways to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
2. The state is seeing an increase in cases involving young people.
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3. Milwaukee officials are paying attention to rising cases in other cities— and say you should too.
4. As the days get hotter, protect yourself from heat and coronavirus.
Additional quick tips for keeping safe over the summer can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Where can I get tested?
Free drive-through and walk-up COVID-19 testing is available on both the North and South sides.
The North Side site is located at the Custer Stadium by Barack Obama High School, 4300 W. Fairmount Ave., and the South Side site is located at UMOS, 2701 S. Chase Ave.
Those with symptoms, essential workers and individuals who have recently been in larger crowds that may have made them more at risk for COVID-19 are encouraged to get tested.
This interactive map from the Milwaukee County/State of Wisconsin Expanded Community Testing Initiative displays the location and contact information of 21 COVID-19 testing sites
In addition, CVS Health has opened four new test sites in Milwaukee as it expands its coronavirus testing program.
The services will be offered to both insured and uninsured patients, with no out-of-pocket costs.
If you are wondering what it is like to get tested, educator and activist Kika Meraz shared her experiences getting tested for COVID-19 on Milwaukee’s South Side in this Community Voices piece.
Looking for more personalized direction to resources and information during the coronavirus crisis? Get connected with News414, a texting-based news resource from Milwaukee NNS, Wisconsin Watch and  Outlier Media. You can text MILWAUKEE to 73224 and begin to receive free, personalized data via text messages,

author: Bridget Fogarty


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Post from Community: Theodore Lipscomb named to top job at LISC Milwaukee to expand economic development investments, deepen response to COVID-19 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
LISC Milwaukee
July 7, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has named the former chairperson of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors to lead its local investments in affordable housing, businesses, health, and jobs in underserved communities, especially those where a history of racial discrimination has left lasting scars.
Theodore Lipscomb, who has spent the last 12 years as a Milwaukee County Supervisor, will serve as the new executive director of LISC Milwaukee and build on the organization’s $184 million portfolio of community development support throughout the city. Over the last 25 years, LISC Milwaukee programs and capital have leveraged more than $604 million in total development activity.
In his new role, Lipscomb will draw on his extensive work at the county helping to establish budgets, invest in parks and transit, and fight for new resources that benefit residents and communities.
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“Theo’s experience directly aligns with LISC’s efforts to build a broadly shared prosperity across the city—one that offers opportunity to all of Milwaukee’s residents, regardless of race, class or ZIP code,” said Maurice A. Jones, LISC president and CEO.
“This is particularly important right now, as we all work to navigate COVID-19, economic recession and the continued fight for racial justice,” he continued. “To fuel recovery, we have to invest in the well-being of residents, small businesses and local nonprofits, all of which are critical to driving growth that is both inclusive and sustainable in the years to come.”
In addition to his public service, Lipscomb has deep roots in community development. He worked across the state of Wisconsin as a project manager for the Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development and as director of community development for the West End Development Corporation. His private-sector experience includes work at a prominent Milwaukee architecture firm and managing urbanWealth LLC, which acquires and manages quality rental homes.
“This is a critical time for our city which makes me even more excited to lead the exceptional team at LISC Milwaukee.” Lipscomb said. “We have a wealth of local talent and untapped opportunity within our community. With the right kind of partnerships and increased investments, we can harness that potential; we can bridge the gaps in health and wealth that affect so many in our city and catalyze opportunities for all our neighbors to thrive.”
A life-long Milwaukeean, Lipscomb has long volunteered his time and leadership skills to directly impact the health of Milwaukee communities. He has served as commissioner of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission; a director of the Wisconsin Counties Association, the Milwaukee County Research Park Corporation, and the East Wisconsin Counties Railroad Consortium; and a trustee of the Milwaukee Public Library.
Lipscomb is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning and has completed additional coursework in finance, law, and property management.  He can be reached at tlipscomb@lisc.org.

author: LISC Milwaukee


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Adam Carr
July 7, 2020


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Social Development Commission continues struggle to keep up with deluge of applicants for emergency rental assistance program | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
July 7, 2020
The Social Development Commission is combing through a list of 24,000 names of people seeking emergency rental aid. (Photo by Adam Carr)
A backlog of at least 24,000 applicants for emergency rental assistance has left the Social Development Commission, or SDC, scrambling to help residents in dire straits.
The SDC received $6.7 million to assist residents of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Washington counties through the Wisconsin Rent Assistance Program, or WRAP. The funds were provided as part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act package.
So far, the SDC has approved 154 people for aid and given out $260,096 through the WRAP program, officials say.
Last week we wrote about what you need to know about the WRAP program.  This week, we circled back with  Kim Dawson-Brooks, the agency’s marketing and communications specialist, and Elmer Moore, SDC board chairman, to get the latest information.
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: Since June 8, SDC has approved 154 people for aid and given out $260,096 through the WRAP program. SDC has denied 113 people aid, and staff are currently processing 195 applications.
Most of the people inquiring about the WRAP program live in Milwaukee County. About 97% are from Milwaukee County and the rest live in Ozaukee or Washington counties.
: There was an overwhelming interest in the program. We are doing our best to keep up with the high demand. We are not the only agency providing rent assistance, so a part of the process is ensuring that we are not giving aid to someone who has received it elsewhere.
Once all information is in and someone is approved, they should receive aid in 10 days or less.
: There are currently seven employees working the WRAP program. SDC is in the process of hiring eight more.The SDClost five employees who were from temp agencies over the last week.
Each WRAP employee contacts 25 new applicants a day and follows up with 15 applicants in the process a day.  Each of the seven staff members talks to around 200 people a week. SDC reaches out to a little over 1,000 people a week for the WRAP program.
Worried about being able to pay rent? Here are some resources to help.

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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The heat is on: How the coronavirus will make it harder for vulnerable residents to keep cool this summer | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
July 7, 2020
Milwaukee County Parks opened wading pools and splash pads at eight locations over the weekend. Parks officials say they hope to add more to the list in the coming weeks and that the open facilities will have limited capacity. (File photo by Sue Vliet)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include the revised hours for the cooling center at North Division High School and to add more information about IMPACT 2-1-1’s hot weather resources.
As temperatures are expected to soar into the 90s this week, Milwaukee residents face two intersecting challenges: how to stay cool during a pandemic that has closed most in-person respites from the heat.
Libraries, senior centers, churches and other air-conditioned spaces have historically served as cooling sites, but they are currently closed to in-person visits because of COVID-19. Other places to go for relief from heat have limited their capacity and require social distancing.
In addition, the pandemic has delayed the city’s preparations to battle extreme heat— the No. 1 weather-related killer in Wisconsin, according to the National Weather Service.
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The Milwaukee Heat Task Force, a collaboration of almost 40 community organizations and government agencies, identifies and organizes cooling sites each year to provide residents most vulnerable to excessive heat with resources and information as part of its 2019 Excessive Heat Event Coordination Plan.
“Excessive heat events” are identified by heat index values, which measure how hot it really feels when factoring humidity with the actual air temperature. The local criteria that signals extreme heat is a maximum heat index of about 95 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Because of COVID-19, the task force has not been able to meet and will not be able to provide an update to the plan for 2020, said Dr. Nick Tomaro, the public health emergency response planning coordinator for Milwaukee.
“It doesn’t mean we aren’t planning,” he said. “But, like most things in the COVID response, there’s a lot we have to respond to on short notice.”
When people call 2-1-1 during hotter weather months, operators direct them to the cooling sites in their ZIP codes, said Vickie Boneck, the director for marketing and communications at IMPACT 2-1-1.
Calls to the hotline, which serves as the area’s central access point for people in need, tripled from 500 to 1,500 a day at the start of the pandemic in March, Milwaukee NNS reported in May.
“The community response to extreme heat has been hampered by COVID-19 restrictions,” Boneck said, adding there now are cooling center resources available as IMPACT 2-1-1 resource specialists coontinue  to help callers.
One official cooling center has opened at North Division High School, 1011 W. Center St. The hours are from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. through July 10. Officials will reassess the need to stay open closer to the weekend.
(Anyone seeking relief from the heat is asked to enter through the MKE REC entrance adjacent to the tennis courts and practice social distancing. There will be water, meal service and masks available in the air-conditioned gym, according to a news release.)
Who’s at risk?
The same populations at highest risk for severe illness from COVID-19 also face the highest risks of heat-related illnesses or heat mortality. People with underlying medical conditions like cardiovascular disease and the elderly are part of the most vulnerable populations, but it is hard to protect them from both extremes at once.
As people at higher risks for COVID-19 are encouraged by the Centers for Disease Control and city officials to stay home, many lack access to air conditioning and experience social isolation, a risk factor for heat-related mortality, according to the Milwaukee County Heat Vulnerability analysis.
The analysis, which was created by Building Resilience Against Climate Effects program within the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, also shows how summer heat feels different depending on where you live.
Milwaukee’s North and South side neighborhoods are the most vulnerable locations during excessive heat, in comparison to neighborhoods closest to the lake, according to this map. These most vulnerable neighborhoods are made up of predominantly African American and Latino residents, who have disproportionately been impacted by COVID-19.
Help is available
To get connected with information or resources in hot weather, call the Milwaukee County Aging Resource Center at 414-289-6874 for assistance.
For free information and assistance regarding community resources and services for adults with differing abilities ages 18 to 59, you can call the Disability Resource Center of Milwaukee County at 414-289-6660.
The hotline staff members have been working since the pandemic’s start to connect callers with resources they need, and to get answers to whatever questions they have.
“We want to be that no wrong door, that one-stop-shop,” said Shakita LaGrant-McClain, interim director of the Milwaukee County Department on Aging.
Other resources available to cool down:
Here are tips on being prepared for summer heat from Milwaukee County:


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As coronavirus cases rise in Latinx community, health care providers confront language barrier | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
July 8, 2020
Dr. Jorge Ramallo, who works at the Sixteenth Street Community Health Center, says a language barrier can make it challenging to communicate the complexities of COVID-19. (File photo by Edgar Mendez)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify the title of Dr. Zeno Franco of the Medical College of Wisconsin.
How do you explain COVID-19 to Spanish-only speakers during a time when many who are proficient in English struggle to fully understand the pandemic?
That’s the question health care providers are trying to answer as coronavirus cases are hitting the Latinx community in Milwaukee harder than other groups.
As of July 6, Hispanics and Latinx residents led Milwaukee County in cases with 4,384. According to the American Community Survey, there were about 41,000 Spanish-speakers in Milwaukee County as of 2016.
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Never-ending updates on health guidelines, safety practices and more need to reach the Latinx community more than ever as providers in Milwaukee try to break the language barrier to save lives.
“Sometimes I’ll see documents in the hospital where I’m like ‘you know, I understand it’ but if I gave it to my grandmother, she’s not going to understand that,” Fabiola de Chico, a bilingual patient navigator at Ascension St. Francis Hospital, said.
“It takes a village to get the message across,” de Chico added.
Can we talk?
Dr. Jorge Ramallo, an internal medicine specialist at the Sixteenth Street Community Health Center, said he tries to avoid medical jargon during visits.
“We do this for English-speaking patients all the time anyway,” Ramallo said. “We try to avoid fancy words they may not know and keep it as simple as possible.”
And Rosa Aguilar, a nurse practitioner at Ascension Angel of Hope clinic on Orchard Street on the South Side, said she tries to break down information about the virus in more practical terms.
Instead of telling patients the coronavirus is spread by droplets, Aguilar said she tells them: “The virus is spread when you talk.”
“Instead of saying ‘airborne,’ I tell them that ‘it floats in the air.’”
Despite their best efforts, it can still be difficult to get the message across. Ramallo said he has several patients who cannot read and write.
“We need to talk in a way that we don’t make our community feel inferior or … uneducated,” de Chico said. “We need to make them feel comfortable and make sure that they know that we care for them.”
Dr. Zeno Franco, an associate professor of family and community medicine at the  Medical College of Wisconsin, said it’s important for messaging to “meet the assumptions and realities” of people in the Latinx community. For instance, some subsets within the Spanish-speaking community are from entirely different backgrounds and countries. He notes the nuance in words between Puerto Ricans, Mexicans and South Americans.
Franco said there is a divide in public health messaging that needs to be addressed.
“They may not have heard the messaging in the same way because they’re fully Spanish-speaking or they’re not bilingual,” Franco said. “So they’re not being exposed to the same level of public health messaging that an Anglo person would be.”
Getting the word out
To get the message to as many people as possible, Ascension has aired information through Spanish-language radio, including Radio Caliente 97.9 FM, about testing sites and health guidelines.
Franco said we should not assume everyone’s situation is the same, adding that some Latinx people could not completely distance or separate as experts recommended during quarantine because they are “doubled or tripled up” in houses.
Ramallo said the rise in COVID-19 cases could be attributed to culture and socioeconomics. Many Latinx people have jobs that cannot be done from home, such as manual labor. Franco mentioned that it is important to tailor the messages to specifically address being safe at work.
“It’s not just about being safe in general,” Franco said. “It’s about being safe as an essential worker in a restaurant or being safe as an essential worker in a food production facility.”
In addition, the particularities of Latinx culture highlight the need for more Latinx providers who can relate to them.
Ramallo said there are “absolutely not” enough Latinx doctors in Milwaukee, following a national trend. Under 4% of doctors identified as Latinx in 2019, despite making up 18.5% of the population.
“We’ve had an issue of underrepresentation of Latinx doctors in the entire county,” Ramallo said. “Our medical schools are not admitting enough Latinx medical students, and we’re not actually creating that pipeline of clinicians that look like their community.”
The importance of representation
Ramallo said representation is more important than just language. Studies have shown patients seeing a doctor of the same race has helped promote better health outcomes.
“They can relate more to their physician,” Ramallo said. “In a subconscious way, they open up more to them and they’re actually more likely to take their advice.”
Ramallo tries to spend extra time with Spanish-speaking patients for this reason. He also makes sure they have his card before they leave. He said that building that connection with the Latinx community will be important going forward.
Franco said he worries the Latinx community is not taking the virus seriously enough. He said he has seen older couples in grocery stores without masks; he attributes part of this to a lack of public health messaging but says it may also be “bravado.”
“You know, people kind of view the need to be at work, and to kind of be fearless and get things done,” Franco said. “That’s an important part of what it means to work in this country.”
Franco said the Latinx community’s “social culture” can be an issue as well. With its heavy emphasis on family gatherings and togetherness, it can be difficult to convince people to socially distance.
Franco noted a number of other complicating features, including concerns about immigration status and lack of health insurance, can prevent patients from seeking health care. Franco said there is a “primary care desert” for the Latinx community, which also is an issue for the Black community.
“The city itself has a history of segregation of economic disenfranchisement for minority communities,” Franco said. “It’s easy for that to be under the surface most days until something like COVID-19 happens and then you see disproportionate deaths in one of the minority communities almost immediately. All of a sudden, those disparities are laid bare.”


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Post from Community: City of Milwaukee Health Department Announces a Cooling Center Opening | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Health Department
July 8, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
On July 7 the City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) announced the following change to the Cooling Center hours:
North Division High School
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1011 W. Center
Milwaukee, WI 53206
1pm – 6pm
Tuesday, July 7th – Friday, July 10th
Air Conditioning and water available.
Everyone is asked to enter through the MKE REC entrance adjacent to the tennis courts, social distance and Mask Up MKE

author: City of Milwaukee Health Department


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LGBTQ+ voices from within the Black Lives Matter movement | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
July 9, 2020


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Dwayne Burtin
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Post from Community: Library Director Paula Kiely announces retirement | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Library
July 9, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Milwaukee Public Library Director Paula A. Kiely announced her intent to retire this summer, capping off a rewarding and impressive 25-year career with MPL where she led the reinvention of the physical library as a flexible, technology-rich, people-first environment though innovative mixed-use development of new branch libraries and remodeling projects at Central Library and other branches.
Outside of the physical spaces, Kiely will be remembered for her impact of the library on preschool development through programs like Books2Go, and the Office of Early Childhood Development housed at Central Library. She elevated teen services with dedicated spaces for teens, including Makerspaces at the Mitchell Street and soon-to-be-opened Good Hope branch libraries.  Through an historic partnership with Milwaukee Public Schools and the Mayor’s Office, she led the creation of LibraryNow which put nearly 80,000 library cards in the hands of Milwaukee students to access resources wherever they are.
“It has been my honor and a true privilege to serve as City Librarian for the past 14 years, after first being appointed to the role by Mayor Tom Barrett in September of 2006,” said Kiely. “This is a hard decision, especially during these challenging times, but it’s time to focus on my family.  There has never been a day where my work at the library wasn’t focused on elevating and enriching the lives of the residents of our great city.  Now there is an opportunity for the city to bring fresh leadership to the library.”
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“Throughout her career, Paula has been a model of servant leadership,” said Milwaukee Public Library Board Chairwoman Dr. Michele Bria.  “She focused on the community and meeting particular neighborhood needs and interests, while ensuring equity of access.  She is hardworking, persistent, and has always worked for what was best for the library and the people it serves.”

Kiely also led efforts for green initiatives including the creation of a green roof and installation of solar panels at Central Library.  Solar panels were also installed at Tippecanoe and Atkinson branches, and numerous efforts to control storm water are also underway, including rain gardens and parking lot resurfacing.  She challenged people’s perception of the library as an old, dusty place where visitors would be “shushed” into a modern, welcoming and entertaining space with the Library Loud Campaign which brought a hip-hop concert, a haunted house, a Mexican wrestling match, and a rap battle all to the library. Kiely was also successful in bringing the first StoryCorps Outpost outside of New York City to Milwaukee in 2007.
“Paula Kiely embodies the notion of the public library as an enduring institution because of its constant evolution,” said Mayor Tom Barrett. “Her emphasis on literacy of all kinds – digital, reading, financial – led to increases in electronic resources, WiFi, laptops, computer classes, job labs and the addition of Career Online High School.  Through her leadership, MPL streamlined operations with adoption of RFID, Self-Check-out, and automated book returns and increased access for all residents.”
Kiely continued, “I am especially thankful to Mayor Barrett for his trust, confidence, and support. I am also grateful for the support and commitment of the Board of Trustees, our Friends and Foundation, and public servants who are committed to our community and enriching the lives of all residents of every age.”
Before she leaves at the end of August, Kiely intends to prepare the library for a full restoration of services; complete the work of a Board task force on financial sustainability, and continue to advance MPL’s work toward social justice and racial equality.”
For more information, or to schedule an interview, please contact Eileen Force Cahill at 414-793-4543 or at eforce@milwaukee.gov

author: Milwaukee Public Library


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5 things to do and know the weekend of July 10 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
July 10, 2020
Radio Milwaukee is giving away free yard signs that read “Get Up, Stand Up, Don’t Give Up the Fight.” (Photo provided by Radio Milwaukee)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. New cooling center at North Division High School: Friday, July 10
Earlier this week, the City of Milwaukee Health Department opened North Division High School, 1011 W. Center St., as a cooling center. The center will be open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, July 10. People are asked to enter through the Milwaukee Recreation doors, which are next to the tennis courts.
Read: The heat is on: How the coronavirus will make it harder for vulnerable residents to keep cool this summer.
2. “Get Up, Stand Up, Don’t Give Up The Fight” yard sign pickup: Friday, July 10
Radio Milwaukee is giving away free yard signs that say “Get Up, Stand Up, Don’t Give Up The Fight.” The quote comes from the Bob Marley song “Get Up, Stand Up.” Signs will be available to pick up at the Radio Milwaukee station, 220 E. Pittsburgh Ave., from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, July 10. Social distancing measures will be put in place.
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3. Grand opening of the Underground Makers Market: Friday, July 10
The Underground Makers Market is open for business in the lower level of the Sherman Phoenix, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave. The grand opening is being held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, July 10. The market consists of four female-owned businesses. During the event, there will be raffles, giveaways and photos.
4. West Vliet Street neighborhood rummage sale: Saturday, July 11
West Vliet Street is hosting its annual neighborhood rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 11. West Vliet Street is located between North 43rd and North 62nd streets. Although the pandemic has changed things, businesses will continue to offer great deals to shoppers. Social distancing measures and other precautions will be put in place.
5. Meditate and rest in Alice’s Garden: Sunday, July 12
The Zen Dragonfly and Alice’s Garden are hosting a “REST Sunday” from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 12. The event is a part of the Safe Space Sundays sessions and will take place at Alice’s Garden, 2136 N. 21st St. This week’s session will explore rest, resistance and restoration through meditation and sound healing. The space is open to Black men and women. Attendees are invited to bring a blanket and pillow. Masks are required.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed on coronavirus by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.


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Adam Carr
July 9, 2020


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Post from Community: Common Ground to host safe voter registration drive-thru station in Sherman Park | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Common Ground
July 10, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
We must offer safe and easy ways to register, vote absentee, and cast our ballot at the polls so that all of our votes are counted.
Who: Common Ground & Milwaukee Voters
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What: Safe Voter Registration Drive-Thru Stations
When: Saturday, July 11th 9am – 3pm
Where: St. Catherine’s Parish parking lot – 5101 W. Center St. (parking lot entrance from 52nd street)
Common Ground leaders will register people to vote on tablets, using social distancing, masks, shields, gloves and sanitizers for hands and screens. Common Ground has set the goal to register and re-register 2500 voters across Wisconsin, focusing on Milwaukee where voter turnout dropped by 40,000 votes between the 2012 and 2016 elections. The presidential election in Wisconsin was won with just 22,000 votes.
This is the organization’s first in-person organized action since COVID-19 struck Milwaukee. The small group of volunteers will be trained with doctor-approved methods for interacting with all who come to register. Voter registration drive-up stations are being organized on the City’s South side for July 18th and 19th.
All wishing to register to vote must bring a valid proof of residence (see options below) and wear their face masks.

author: Common Ground


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
July 10, 2020


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NNS on ‘Lake Effect’: 5 things to do and know in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
July 10, 2020
This mural in Harambee is one of many that has gone up since the protests began. (Photo by Adam Carr)
NNS Deputy Editor Adam Carr spoke with WUWM’s Joy Powers of “Lake Effect” for the July installment of our monthly “5 Things” feature.
This month’s list includes some of our recent accountability reporting from NNS staffers Princess Safiya Byers, Edgar Mendez and Sam Woods; the reopened Fondy Food Market; recent murals connected to protest; the March On, Milwaukee digital history series; and the True Skool Block Party 2020.
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Adam Carr
July 9, 2020
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NNS on Wisconsin Public Radio: Reporter Edgar Mendez discusses record-setting pace for overdose deaths in 2020 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
July 10, 2020
(File photo by Edgar Mendez)
NNS’s Edgar Mendez joined Wisconsin Public Radio to discuss his recent story on the record-setting pace for overdose deaths in 2020 and pressures during the pandemic that have exacerbated challenges faced by those battling addiction.
Listen to the interview here.


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Views from the frontlines: Three community photographers document protests in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
July 10, 2020
This gallery compiles images and captions from three photographers, featuring images they chose to represent their experiences of covering marches and protests in Milwaukee.
The photographers are Anthony Boyd, LaTasha Lux of LaLux Photography and Dwight D. Williamson Jr.
Anthony Boyd
My current obsession is the struggle of Black Lives in my city. One of the most segregated cities in the country, Milwaukee is an otherworldly place where longstanding and well-documented truths of one community are commonly discredited, ignored and unseen by neighbors only blocks away. I am obsessed with documenting these struggles, capturing our fight, telling our stories and sharing the pride of being Black in Milwaukee.
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My dream is to move spirits. To humanize, in hopes that one day Black Lives will finally be recognized.  Finally Matter.
LaTasha Lux, LaLux Photography
I am a proudly tattooed wife, mother, lover of sci-fi, book nerd, “Disnerd” and photographer. Photography has been my passion for several years. If I had to name a particular style for my photography, I would have to say photojournalistic, although I love shooting portraits and special events. Being able to freeze a moment in time — a kiss, a smile, a laugh — to me, is like magic.
Dwight D. Williamson Jr.
Dwight D. Williamson Jr. is an artist, athlete and activist based in Milwaukee. He has an extensive background in youth development, public health and economic development. When he isn’t telling stories, or fighting for social justice, you can find Dwight biking the Oak Leaf trail, or trying to “break 80” at a local golf course.
In case you missed it: Check out more photos of marches in Milwaukee.


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107867068_3294759384081615_4631282310998554446_n | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
July 13, 2020


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Anthony Boyd | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
July 13, 2020


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
July 13, 2020


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5 things to do and know this week in Milwaukee: July 13 to July 18 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
July 13, 2020
Enrollment at Milwaukee Public Schools is open. (File photo by Max Nawara)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Energy Assistance Program extends hours
The Energy Assistance Program, a Milwaukee County program that provides eligible residents with a one-time annual payment toward heating and electric bills, has extended its hours. The program’s hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday. These extended hours will be in place until Monday, Aug. 31. Residents can schedule an appointment over the phone by calling 414-270-4653 or by clicking on this link.
2. Peace Garden Project’s free wellness kits: Monday, July 13
The Peace Garden Project MKE will be giving away free wellness kits at the Sherman Phoenix, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, July 13. The kits include an oil diffuser, oil samples, sidewalk chalk and more. The giveaway is a part of the Peace Garden Project’s partnership with Milwaukee’s Mental Health Civic Response team.
3. Milwaukee Public Schools enrollment: Tuesday, July 14 and Wednesday, July 15
Parents can register their children at Milwaukee Public Schools online, over the phone or in person. Phone registration is available 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 414-267-5100. Curbside registration will be at the MPS office, 5225 W. Vliet St., from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14 and Wednesday, July 15.
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4. Friends of Real Food monthly meeting with Groundwork Milwaukee: Thursday, July 16
Friends of Real Food is hosting its monthly gathering on Zoom from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 16. This week’s speaker is Deneine C. Powell, the executive director of Groundwork Milwaukee. The organization is known for its community gardens, urban farm and youth and community programs. To join the Zoom meeting, send an email to realfoodanne@gmail.com.
5. Annual Capuchin Walk for the Hungry goes virtual: Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18
This year, the Capuchin Community Services’ Walk for the Hungry will take place virtually. Participants are encouraged to walk around their neighborhood or at community sites on Friday, July 17 or Saturday, July 18. The purpose of the walk is to raise awareness of poverty in southeast Wisconsin. The proceeds from the walk will go toward St. Ben’s Community Meal program and House of Peace. Registration costs $30 for adults and $20 for children and comes with a t-shirt. READ: Where those in need can find food this summer (and how everyone can help)
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
July 12, 2020


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‘I don’t wear it for me, I wear it for you’: Why it’s important to mask up | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
July 13, 2020
Although wearing a face mask was a new concept for many when the coronavirus began to spread in March, it didn’t faze community organizer Andrea Rodriguez.
Twenty years ago, the Milwaukee native lived in Beijing, where it is common for residents to wear masks daily.
Unaccustomed to the practice, she asked her coworker why.
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“The very simple answer I got back then was: ‘I don’t wear it for me, I wear it for you,’ she said.
Andrea Rodriguez (Photo provided by Andrea Rodriguez)
Now, nearly everyone in the City of Milwaukee will be required to wear masks, thanks to the Common Council’s unanimous approval of the MKE Cares ordinance Monday. The citywide mandatory masking policy will take effect Thursday, according to the City Clerk’s Office.
Rodriguez has advocated for wearing masks even before the ordinance, which mandates residents to wear face coverings in public spaces. In addition, the measure requires the Milwaukee Health Department to create a “Masks for All’ program where residents can request and receive free masks. City officials say they will announce how those free masks will be distributed soon.
Confusion about masks
Dr. Joyce Sanchez, an infectious disease specialist and assistant professor of medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, said in the haze of the pandemic’s beginnings, mixed messaging from government and health officials created confusion on whether or not to wear a mask.
There was little research on the benefits of cloth face coverings in reducing the transmission of COVID-19 and a massive shortage of PPE, or personal protective equipment, in hospitals nationwide, she said.
But the fact that COVID-19 can be transmitted before an individual develops symptoms or by people who never develop symptoms made it “exquisitely clear” that face coverings are important in stopping the spread, Sanchez said.
But face coverings alone won’t protect others and yourself from the coronavirus, Sanchez said.
Continuing precautions like hand washing, physical distancing and minimizing close interactions will limit transmission of the virus.
Dr. Joyce Sanchez (Photo provided by Medical College of Wisconsin)
“The primary transmission of COVID-19 is through the inhalation of respiratory droplets,” Sanchez said. “Face coverings, by virtue of them being able to stop droplets from traveling do play a role in bringing down that transmission and bringing down that spread.”
She also said there is sufficient evidence to debunk certain misconceptions about wearing a cloth face covering.
One of the myths is that face coverings can make breathing difficult or increase the risk of inhaling toxic carbon dioxide. Sanchez said the majority of people, regardless of health conditions, can safely wear cloth masks without a drop in oxygen or rise in carbon dioxide levels.
The City of Milwaukee ordinance passed after public pressure from a letter co-signed by hundreds of business owners, more than 12,000 people adding their names to a change.org petition as well as input from local health care providers and health professionals and online comments from the general public, said Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa in a statement Monday.
The proposal requires masks for everyone 3 and older inside public places and outside within 6 feet of non-family/household members.
The city mandate relies on “self-enforcement.” The Milwaukee Health Department and businesses are responsible for enforcing the ordinance, rather than the Milwaukee Police Department or other local law enforcement agencies.
Last month, Milwaukee County unveiled its Universal Face Mask Policy for county-run facilities. Face masks are required to be worn at all times by employees, contractors, vendors, volunteers, service users and the general public entering county facilities and grounds with a controlled entry point.
What you need to know about face masks
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers information on how to properly wear cloth face coverings and highly encourages washing cloth face coverings after each use.
The CDC only lists “children under age 2, or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance” as the individuals who should not use cloth face coverings.


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50108536873_dd1afccb8a_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
July 13, 2020


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OPINION: Here’s why Milwaukee remains a racist city | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bob Graf
July 13, 2020
(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.
Bob Graf is a lifelong resident of Milwaukee who has been active in social justice and peace nonviolent actions.
Milwaukee is a racist city. This is a harsh and hard statement for me to make about the city I grew up and now, 77 years later, I still live in.
But after watching coronavirus take so many lives in the African American and Hispanic communities and watching how the murder of George Floyd exposed the deep-seated racism in this country, I need to say it.
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When I was a youngster growing up on the West Side of Milwaukee, I noticed my parents referred to African Americans using an Arabic word they said was for “Negroes.”  But from the smirk on their faces, I knew it was a derogatory term.
After I retired some years ago, I decided to try to understand my feeling of racism in myself and in Milwaukee. I, particularly, looked at systematic or institutional racism.
Most of us know that in the 2000 and 2010 U.S. census, Milwaukee was ranked one of, if not the most segregated city in the United States. (It probably will still be on top in the 2020 census).
With the help of friends, I researched and wrote essays about the structural racism of Milwaukee and saw how it did not just happen but was consciously chosen. Here are some stories and research that led to my conclusion.
In 2017, I created a racial division spreadsheet so the data could speak for itself. I broke every ZIP code by its racial majority, the location of the 70,000-plus lead lateral water pipes, the rate of homicides, infant mortality, educational levels, disabilities, unemployment and the city’s investment in each ZIP code by Tax Incremental Financing, or TIF.
TIF is a system where property taxes are frozen in an area. Business and developers receive loans from the city, and as they are paid back, the monies are invested in the TIF area. The original idea of TIF areas was to help economically low-income areas develop. However, Milwaukee has used the TIF program to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in white neighborhoods, like downtown, but avoided investments in low-income Black neighborhoods.
For example, the spreadsheet shows that as of 2016, the city investments into the white downtown areas of 53202 and 53203 were $300,085,000 but in the poorest and most distressed African American ZIP code of 53206, the city made no TIF investment. Of course, the return on the investment has gone into these same downtown areas.
Another example from the spreadsheet is the location of the poisonous lead lateral water pipes, predominantly in the African American and Hispanic ZIP codes. In the 1990s, city officials were notified of the danger of lead water pipes and the health hazard they presented to people in these areas. Yet the city failed to replace them.
In 2015, Flint, Michigan, brought to our attention the dire health consequences of lead water pipes, especially on children. A 2015 study in Flint found that 4.9% of children 5 and under who were tested had dangerous levels of lead in their blood. The spreadsheet shows that in the same year, 10.51% of Milwaukee’s children, 5 years and under who were tested in predominately black ZIP codes had dangerous levels of lead in their system. In the ZIP code of 53206, 19.9% of children 5 and under tested had dangerous levels of lead poisoning.
There was a cry for a systematic long-term replacement for the 70,000 residential lead lateral water pipes in the city. Milwaukee officials did a lot of talking about lead water pipes, passed out some water filters but only put in the budget replacement of 500 lead residential water pipes a year and only when they break. At this rate, if only the lead water pipes broke, it would take us into the year 2158 to remedy this health hazard.
Milwaukee is rated as one of the worst cities for many things, like the worst city to raise African American children. The spreadsheet and worst city ratings show how much a systemic racist city Milwaukee has become.
There are many more examples of racism in Milwaukee. For example, with the coronavirus pandemic, I decided to look at hospitals in the predominantly white and African American ZIP codes. There was one in all the African American ZIP codes and five in the predominately white ZIP codes.
Since the ’60s, Milwaukee has not tolerated overt racism, but systematic structural racism has prevailed. It is not only the city officials who perpetuate this racism, but it is all of us who consistently support and vote them into office.
We need to start with us, to admit Milwaukee is a racist city and then to work together to undo this systemic racism.  Every time there is a movement of people to make a change and to take nonviolent action, my hope renews. Perhaps with the coronavirus and the response to the George Floyd murder, the movement will grow and last until there finally is systemic change in Milwaukee.
As history has shown, real change in Milwaukee and elsewhere to eliminate systemic racism will not come from the ballot box. Milwaukee is now more racist than it was in the 1960s, despite our voting for Democrats, whom we consider the lesser of two evils.
Real change comes only when we withdraw our support for the structures and persons in our city and take direct nonviolent action for change. We are Milwaukee: We are the only ones who can eliminate racism in Milwaukee.

author: Bob Graf


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The coronavirus is far from over: What Milwaukee residents need to know the week of July 13 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
July 13, 2020
The Common Council is scheduled to vote Monday on requiring residents to wear face masks. (Photo by Adam Carr)
The City of Milwaukee continues to be in Phase 4 of its reopening, and COVID-19 cases are still actively spreading throughout the community.
Here’s what you need to know about the coronavirus and Milwaukee’s response for the week.
The Common Council is scheduled to vote on the issue in a virtual meeting at 1:30 p.m. Monday, July 13. The proposed ordinance would require face coverings to be worn in public spaces — indoors at all times, and outdoors when within 6 feet of another individual not from one’s household — with some exceptions.
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Science and Centers for Disease Control recommendations have been clear to show that face coverings can make a difference, said Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, the lead sponsor of the proposed ordinance.
If more people wear masks, “we will be protected,” she said during a virtual meeting Thursday. “Why if we have the option to do something that’s proven to make a change, would we not?”
The proposal relies on “self-enforcement.” The Milwaukee Health Department and businesses would be in charge of enforcing the ordinance, rather than the Milwaukee Police Department or other local law enforcement agencies.
A collection of businesses involved in MandateMasksMKE, which began from the #MaskUpMKE campaign early on in the pandemic, are among those supporting the proposed ordinance.
You can watch the Common Council meeting live on the city channel at 1:30 p.m. Monday, July 13.
Whether there is a mask mandate or not, health experts like Ann Christiansen of the North Shore Health Department still urge people to wear cloth face coverings to limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect others.
Along with face coverings, washing your hands often, maintaining distance from others and staying home if you are sick are still some of the best ways to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
As the people want to enjoy summer weather, officials in Thursday’s meeting advised the danger of gathering in groups in public spaces like the beach without face coverings and other safety precautions.
Dr. Ben Weston of the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management said young people make up many of the state’s positive cases. The average age now is 35, he said, and young people are more likely to transmit the coronavirus to people at higher risk of health complications.
Residents can and should get tested, officials say, whether feeling sick or not experiencing symptoms.
The State of Wisconsin advises residents to contact your doctor and ask to be tested. You can also complete an online health screening assessment, and a licensed health practitioner will contact you.
Though there have been recent reports of longer lines at the North and South side National Guard sites, drive-through and walk-up COVID-19 testing are still available.
The North Side site is located at the Custer Stadium by Barack Obama High School, 4300 W. Fairmount Ave., and the South Side site is located at UMOS, 2701 S. Chase Ave.
This interactive map from the Milwaukee County/State of Wisconsin Expanded Community Testing Initiative displays the location and contact information of 21 COVID-19 testing sites.
Read the City of Milwaukee’s weekly Phase 4 Assessment Update.
More precautions on how to stay safe and information on COVID-19 can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Check out our continuing coronavirus coverage.
Looking for more personalized direction to resources and information during the coronavirus crisis? Get connected with News414, a texting-based news resource from Milwaukee NNS, Wisconsin Watch and Outlier Media. You can text MILWAUKEE to 73224 and begin to receive free, personalized data via text messages.
Still have coronavirus questions about Milwaukee’s response that remain unanswered? Email NNS Reporter Bridget Fogarty at bfogarty@milwaukeenns.org.


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Post from Community: Common Ground hosts voter registration drive-thru | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Common Ground
July 14, 2020
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.
Common Ground held a voter registration drive-thru on July 11th modeled after the drive-up COVID-19 community testing sites. Common Ground helped those who needed to register, re-register or check their registration status in the Sherman Park neighborhood. Leaders and volunteers wore masks and gloves and followed doctor-approved safety precautions to protect themselves and those coming to register.
“Because of COVID-19 we have had to adapt and develop creative ways to reach our neighbors safely. There are just 115 days until the November election and we have work to do!” remarked Patricia Obluck, Common Ground bilingual organizer and Sherman Park resident.
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Voter turnout in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin could determine the result of the 2020 presidential election. In 2016, the Wisconsin election was determined by 22,000 votes. Voter drop-off from 2012 in Milwaukee was severe, with 40,000 fewer people voting in 2016 than they had in the previous election cycle. Voter registration has been historically low due to the pandemic.
If the April 7th election debacle in Milwaukee was any indicator of what’s to come this fall, we are in for a fight. That’s why Common Ground is helping to register 2,500 voters, following up with each of them from the time they register to the time their ballot is counted. Overall, Common Ground will be working to turn out 13,000 people to vote in Milwaukee.
“Common Ground is not supporting a candidate or a party. We are supporting the people and our right to vote,” said Saidirick Walker, Common Ground leader and a member of Invisible Realities Ministries on N. 54th and W. Center Street in Sherman Park.
On July 18th and 19th Common Ground along with Voces de la Frontera and Layton Boulevard West Neighbors will host voter registration drive-thrus on the South side of Milwaukee: Saturday, July 18th from noon to 6:00pm at El Rey (5200 W. Oklahoma Ave.) and Sunday, July 19th from 2:00pm to 6:00pm at the Basilica of St. Josaphat (2333 S. 6th St., rear parking lot). All wishing to register to vote must bring a valid proof of residence (see options below) and wear their face masks.
There are many lessons to be learned from the past four years and the past four months. A health crisis has broken out as COVID-19 spreads throughout the world and a moral crisis has erupted as acts of police brutality fill our streets and screens from Kentucky to Minnesota to right at home in Wisconsin. Common Ground leader Pastor Joy Gallmon of St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church laid out two of those many lessons: “We must protect the vote because our lives are at stake. We must get out the vote because the lives of our children, neighbors and communities are at stake.”
Common Ground is a non-partisan group of ordinary citizens of Southeast Wisconsin, dedicated to identifying problems facing our community and implementing creative solutions. You can join the campaign by contacting us directly at info@commongroundwi.org or learn more at commongroundwi.org.


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‘This virus is going to make us or break us’: Checking in with two COVID-19 survivors | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
July 14, 2020
Not everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 dies.
But the people who survive sometimes fail to make the headlines.
Since April, we have checked in with two COVID-19 survivors.
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Rep. David Bowen, 33, of the Rufus King neighborhood; and Rebecca Quesada, a 65-year-old ESL support teacher from the Jackson Park neighborhood, continue to share their journeys since testing positive.
‘I’ve been marching despite the virus’
: “I’ve been marching as part of the movement for racial equity after the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others. I’ve been marching despite the virus, and I took that decision because people were already concerned about the health of their communities before COVID-19.
“If you already feel like your life is at risk from a system that isn’t giving justice to Black people that are going through these situations with law enforcement, you already feel like you’re living in a pandemic. It’s important for folks to keep that perspective in mind.”
‘I have continued to volunteer’
: “A lot of people have called me to ask if I was OK after the story came out. Apparently, they didn’t know I had it!”
“Other than that, I have continued to volunteer with Generations Against Bullying, or GAB, which is a worldwide anti-bullying information group. I have been putting together an anti-bullying informational packet for the Girls Scouts to create an anti-bullying course. The Scouts will get a badge for going through the course from GAB.”
‘We could’ve obliterated the virus’
: “I hate to say, ‘I told you so,’ but if we were smart, we would’ve shut down the entire country early. Not only that, but we would’ve provided adequate stimulus and support for people to stay in their homes, especially people in service sector jobs or other jobs that carry a high risk of getting the virus. We could’ve obliterated the virus if we supported people like this, and we wouldn’t be in the situation we are now. To me that’s just common sense.”
‘I wouldn’t wish it on anyone’
: “I see both sides of the coin. I know as well as anyone how dangerous this virus can be, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. But I also feel for the business owners because this is putting them out of business. Even ones who have been here for 30 to 40 years.”
“What I don’t understand is people running around without masks or without social distancing. I don’t think they understand that they can be a carrier even if they don’t feel sick.”
‘People are just seeing how bad it is now’
: “COVID-19 and the recent marches are similar in that it took George Floyd’s death from a cop suffocating him with his knee to see how bad police brutality is, and it took COVID-19 for people to see that not enough is done for the health of Black families. The severity was already there, people are just seeing how bad it is now.”
‘This virus is going to make us or break us’
: “This virus had total control of my body and who I was as a person when I had it, and I think the restrictions the virus has put on this great nation are similar. I think that this virus is going to make us or break us as a nation. Let’s take this seriously for what it is.”
In case you missed it: What’s it like to test positive for the coronavirus? We talk to three residents to find out.
In case you missed it: From growing more spiritual to becoming more focused on erasing health inequities: Catching up with two COVID-19 survivors

author: Sam Woods