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Youth group vows to continue push to abolish metal detectors, police from MPS schools | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
October 25, 2019
South Division High School, 1515 W. Lapham Blvd., is one of many area high schools that have walk-through metal detectors at the main entrance. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
Although Milwaukee Public Schools has backed off from purchasing 16 new X-Ray-style metal detectors, members of a youth advocacy group say they will continue their fight to abolish the machines as well as police from all schools.
“Right now, young people in Milwaukee Public Schools suffer through a harsh school environment with metal detectors at the front door and severe exclusionary school punishment such as suspensions and expulsions,” said Dakota Hall, the executive director of Leaders Igniting Transformation, or LIT, which focuses on social and racial justice issues.
“We plan to fight for the resources necessary to ensure that every school is equipped with the quality staff,  including teachers, nurses, social workers and counselors that young people deserve,” Hall said.
The school board’s Committee on Accountability, Finance and Personnel voted 3-2 on Oct. 22 to deny a proposal to purchase the metal detectors. The five-year contract with ADANI Systems would have cost the district $217,000, with the new machines replacing 12 detectors in operation at MPS.
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District spokesman Andrew Nelson wrote in an email to NNS that walk-through metal detectors have been in operation at MPS for more than 10 years. Currently, 18 MPS middle schools and high schools use metal detectors, while 12 also use X-ray machines to scan bags.
He said there have been 15 incidents in MPS schools involving firearms or other weapons so far this school year and 40 last year. The specifics of those incidents were  not provided.  According to a running Washington Post database, there have been nine school shooting incidents at U.S. schools so far in 2019.
Most research examining whether metal detectors make schools safer has found no clear evidence that they reduced violence. A comprehensive study on school security measures, including metal detectors, published in April in the journal Violence and Gender, found that they don’t keep students safe from gun violence.
The study stated that visible security measures such as metal detectors and cameras can help to alleviate student and parent fears, but that increased mental health services and educational programs aimed at reducing violence could be more effective.
Tony Goglio, whose son attends Bay View High School, is against more advanced security measures, but he acknowledged there are limitations to the current metal detection devices being used.
“It fails to catch many things. Kids work around them by putting things in their shoes,” Goglio said.
Still, he said, “mass shooters will not be deterred, much less stopped by a metal detector or sign.”
Other parents expressed support for increased security measures.
“I think any extra level of security is a good thing. I don’t see any drawbacks,” wrote Emme Maldonado, in a Facebook post.

author: Edgar Mendez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 24, 2019

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: October 24, 2019

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

author: Adam Carr


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Post from Community: Stritch hosting naturalization ceremony Monday, October 28; More than 140 to become United States citizens | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Cardinal Stritch University
October 27, 2019
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 Milwaukee U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office, along with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Cardinal Stritch University, will host a special naturalization ceremony Monday, Oct. 28, at 11 a.m. in the Sister Camille Kliebhan Conference Center on the Stritch campus at 6801 N. Yates Rd., Milwaukee.
A total of 145 candidates from 50 nations will take the Oath of Allegiance and become United States Citizens at the ceremony. Judge Beth E. Hanan, United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, will preside at the ceremony. Stritch President Kathleen A. Rinehart, J.D., will deliver remarks to the candidates and their guests. Michael Valverde, USCIS Deputy Associate Director for Field Operations Directorate will make the motion to accept the new citizens.
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The ceremony is open to the public.
About Stritch | Cardinal Stritch University is a fully accredited Catholic institution founded by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi in 1937. Stritch is one of the largest Franciscan institutions of higher education in North America and offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate, certificate and professional development programs designed to help students develop new skills, gain career-related experience and build professional networks. Franciscan Values are infused into the Stritch experience that prepares students of all ages, faiths, races and socio-economic backgrounds to succeed in the communities where they live, work, serve and lead.

created: October 27, 2019

author: Cardinal Stritch University


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Post from Community: Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin to salute military heroes on Veterans Day | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin
October 27, 2019
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 Veterans Day, Nov. 11, Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin will be honoring veterans for their dedication to our country and commitment to saving lives through blood donation.
Versiti encourages community members to thank and honor our local veterans by giving blood on Nov. 11, at one of its nine donor centers around the state, or at one of its community blood drives:
– Milwaukee, 11:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., 638 N. 18th St.
– Kenosha, 9:30 a.m. – 5:15 a.m., 8064 39th Ave.
– Wauwatosa, 6 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., 8733 W. Watertown Plank Road
– Greenfield, 7:00 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., 7210 W. Edgerton Ave.
– Manitowoc, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., 619 Reed Ave.
– Marshfield, 10:00 a.m. – 5:15 a.m., 508 N. Central, Suite 101
– Racine, 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., 1120 S. Sunnyslope Drive
– Waukesha, 6:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., 2111 Springdale Road
– West Bend, 7 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., 130 Valley Ave.
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“We salute our everyday blood donor heroes for saving lives – and we salute our military veterans for their service and sacrifices made. Donating blood is a small gesture to honor those to whom we owe so much,” said Fay Spano, director of public relations, Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin.
Versiti salutes its many Wisconsin veterans for their commitment to saving lives through blood donation, including two Milwaukee area residents: Vietnam veteran Richard (Dick) Radomski, a blood donor since 1958, and 20-year air force veteran Joe Puca, who has donated since 1996. They will be sharing their stories and donating at the Milwaukee donor center (638 N. 18th Street) at 11:45 p.m. on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
“I could really see the need for blood while I was serving, and I still see a need for it today,” says Puca. “This is a gratifying way I can give back to the world around me. I just try to give back in any way I can.”
To schedule an appointment, call 1-877-BE-A-HERO (1-877-232-4376) or visit versiti.org/Wisconsin.
Anyone 17 or older who is in good health and meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to donate blood. Appointments are preferred, but walk-in donors are also welcome. Parental consent is required for 16-year-olds to donate. The entire process takes about an hour. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes birth date.
About Versiti
Versiti, a national leader in blood health innovation, was formed with the mission to improve the health of patients and enable the success of our healthcare partners nationally. We provide innovative, value added solutions in the fields of transfusion medicine, transplantation, and blood-related diseases to meet the needs of each of our customers. The collective efforts across Versiti result in improved patient outcomes, expanded access to care, and cost efficiencies for healthcare systems nationwide. For more information, visit versiti.org.

author: Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin


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Versiti_RGB_18.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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October 24, 2019

author: Name *


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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: Oct. 28 to Nov. 2 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
October 28, 2019
The Milwaukee Justice Center Mobile Legal Clinic, a project of Marquette University Law School and the Milwaukee Bar Association, is hosting an expungement clinic Wednesday. (File photo by Scottie Lee Meyers)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some events we think you shouldn’t miss. 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. Justice Votes 2020 town hall: Monday, Oct. 28
Formerly incarcerated individuals and their families will host a town hall meeting with the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates Monday, Oct. 28. They will discuss racial profiling, targeted policing, among other topics. A watch party of the livestream will take place at 6 p.m. at Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Court.
2. Expungement clinic: Wednesday, Oct. 30
The Milwaukee Justice Center Mobile Legal Clinic is hosting an expungement clinic Wednesday, Oct. 30. Those interested will have an opportunity to meet with a volunteer attorney and learn more about the expungement process. The clinic will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Capitol Street Library, 3969 N. 74th St. For more information, call (414) 278-2046 or email expungemke@gmail.com.
3. Black entrepreneurship in Milwaukee forum: Wednesday, Oct. 30
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The Milwaukee Film Festival and Black Lens MKE are hosting “Boss and the persistence of Black business,” the second forum in a series on Black entrepreneurship in Milwaukee, on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Local black entrepreneurs will discuss what it’s like to do business in Milwaukee. It’ll also touch on the documentary, “Boss: The Black experience in business.” The forum will be held from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Ivy House, 906 S. Barclay St.
4. Haunted house concert with SistaStrings and Nickel&Rose: Thursday, Oct. 31
Celebrate Halloween with a performance by SistaStrings and Nickel&Rose on Thursday, Oct. 31. The groups will be playing some spooky tunes in a haunted house in the Bronzeville neighborhood. Participants are encouraged to come in costume. Seating is limited. To RSVP, email nickelandrose@gmail.com. Donations are suggested. The address will be disclosed upon RSVP confirmation.
5. Project RETURN’s annual fundraiser: Saturday, Nov. 2
Project RETURN will be holdings its 39th annual Celebrate the Return fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 2. The organization focuses on helping ex-incarcerated people return to society through various services. The event offers an opportunity to hear from formerly incarcerated individuals and to celebrate those who help them. The event will be held at the Marquette University’s Weasler Auditorium, 1506 W. Wisconsin Ave., and begins at 5 p.m. For tickets, click here or contact Amanda Smith at (414) 374-8029 or at amanda@projectreturnmilwaukee.org.

created: October 28, 2019

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 27, 2019


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NNS on WGLB radio: ‘Remembering Bronzeville’ to premiere on Milwaukee PBS | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
October 28, 2019
Milwaukee filmmakers Karen Slattery and Mark Doremus join Harry Oden, who grew up in Bronzeville, to reminisce about the historic African American community with Saryea Murchison and Dennis Walton of WGLB radio.
They recall the prominent African Americans who built the community and sustained its values despite the racial discrimination that confined them to a small area in one of the oldest, most rundown parts of Milwaukee around the time of World War II.
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Here’s a link to an NNS story about the film: Soon-to-be-aired documentary celebrates Bronzeville’s rich legacy.
Air dates and times were announced in a separate story.

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 28, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 28, 2019
“Track 1” from Untitled – 10-25-19. Track 1.


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NNS, two other nonprofit newsrooms receive Google support for News414 project to engage residents of Milwaukee underserved neighborhoods | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
October 28, 2019
Senior Staff Writer Edgar Mendez, along with the rest of the NNS newsroom, will continue to offer front-line reporting on behalf of Central City neighborhoods thanks to a grant from Google.
The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is collaborating with two other nonprofit newsrooms in a special project to learn what residents want to read and then to send those reports to their phones via text messaging.
The News414 project is launching with $234,000 in support from the Google News Initiative Innovation Challenge. The project is one of only 34 in North America to receive funding.
News414 will draw upon the strengths of Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, based at Marquette University with deep roots in the city’s underserved neighborhoods; the Madison-based Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, which holds power to account and distributes its content for free to hundreds of news organizations nationwide; and the Detroit-based Outlier Media, which aims to fill information gaps and increase accountability by empowering residents.
The newsrooms will invest $110,000 of their own resources in management and implementation of News414, including reporting and updates of previous reports, plus technology and marketing.
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“For many years, coverage of communities has been a one-way street,” said Ron Smith, editor of Neighborhood News Service, which is based at Marquette University.  “Now we have bandwidth to ask our audience what they want, and what they want to read from us. Then we will be able to serve them in ways that we could never do before.”
The newsrooms will join forces to use innovative technology and research techniques to discover the information needs of residents, investigate their most pressing issues and to deliver accountability journalism.
News414 seeks to equip residents with information they need to advocate for a better quality of life from their government and elected officials, and to better navigate the existing system.
“News414 is simple, but it offers profound possibilities,” said Andy Hall, executive director of the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, an independent, nonpartisan news organization.  “This is public service journalism that truly serves the public.”
The center will be responsible for overall operations of the project, which includes hiring a project manager and an engagement manager. The job openings will be posted in early November.
Information — both “news you can use” and in-depth pieces exploring the causes of problems plaguing neighborhoods — will be texted directly to residents’ cellphones for free. Subscribers to the texting service will become crucial sources of news tips and on-the-ground information.
Candice Fortman, CEO of Outlier Media, said the collaborative project will bring to Milwaukee the service journalism approach Outlier has used to decrease information gaps and increase accountability in Detroit.
“Providing residents with direct access to high-value, fact-checked data allows newsrooms to redistribute some of their watchdog function and then focus scarce reporting resources on the accountability projects likely to have the most community impact,” Fortman said.
“We also believe in the power of newsroom collaboration. The more opportunities journalists have to work together using shared resources and learning, the stronger our news ecosystems will become.”
To receive updates as the News414 project takes shape, sign up here and add news414@wisconsinwatch.org to your address book.


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OPINION: Here’s how we can fix our budget crisis: Spend more on people, less on police budget | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Devin Anderson & Rick Banks
October 28, 2019
(Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Editor’s note: Got 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.
Anderson (above), Banks (below)
Rick Banks, political director of Black Leaders Organizing for Communities, and Devin Anderson, lead organizer for the African-American Roundtable, reimagine what public safety looks like and how the municipal budget could move us toward that reality.
The City of Milwaukee is facing a series of crises seemingly at odds with each other. On one hand, Milwaukee has helped fuel mass incarceration as much as, if not more than, many other cities in the country, and wants to do its part to end it. On the other hand, the primary way that we currently create safety is to send people to jail. The common thought is that if we lock fewer people up then there will be less safety. How are we to end mass incarceration?
In another series of conflicting crises, the city’s police budget has ballooned close to 25% since 2014 to the point of unsustainability. Yet, many neighborhoods continue to lack access to the opportunities and services necessary to thrive. Since city leadership is reluctant to reduce police numbers to ease the budget, how do we fund community services?
To solve this budget crisis and deal with mass incarceration, we must reimagine what public safety looks like and how we create safe and thriving neighborhoods. If creating safety means cutting critical services to neighborhoods in order to continue locking people away for years, then we cannot expect to ever be out of these situations.
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During Police Chief Alfonso Morales’ testimony to the Finance & Personnel Committee on Oct. 10, he acknowledged that “more police will not drive down crime.” Meanwhile, the police union and Ald. Bob Donovan and Ald. Mark Borkowski have resorted to fear tactics, claiming that fewer officers “could increase response time and encourage criminals.” Yet in 2018, a year that saw a reduction of 27 sworn officers, both homicides and non-fatal shooting decreased from 2017. Thus, if credit is given to the Milwaukee Police Department, it was able to do more with less.
Even with more revenue from the state and local taxes, with our current priorities, we’ll only continue to invest more into police, leaving our budget and pension system out of balance. Rising police costs will continue to cause cuts in other city departments such as libraries, public works and neighborhood services, worsening the underinvestment into neighborhoods. In no scenario is spending almost half of our budget on police a just, equitable or sustainable investment.
We believe that true public safety comes from people having their basic needs met. If we take a step back and analyze what creates safe neighborhoods, we see that it is not the number of police officers but the presence of and access to resources and opportunities. A smarter investment would begin to tackle the roots of crime and violence — poverty and trauma.
Our plan would prioritize things that do just that: a $9 million investment into non-police violence prevention programs that target those most likely to be a perpetrator or victim of violence; a $9 million investment into the city’s youth jobs programs that employs and trains thousands of the city’s young people; and a $7 million investment into affordable housing strategies that empower and rebuild neighborhoods. The city should also dedicate a portion of these funds to be allocated via participatory budgeting, a process that would seek input from all residents on how the funds should be spent.
We call for this because we’ve seen that people with jobs (especially young people) and a decent, secure place to call home are much less likely to commit crimes. We’ve seen that people who are less socially isolated, have positive mentors and a support system are less likely to commit crimes. We believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. As easy as it is to see the downtrodden and “troublemakers” as people to be thrown away in prisons until they just magically “get it together,” the more just approach would be to make sure that all people are economically secure and connected in the love a community.
The city can afford to take this approach if we change our priorities. It is time for the Common Council and the mayor to listen to the will of the people, who were very clear about where they want their tax dollars to go, by reducing the police budget and investing in meeting the needs of their constituents.

author: Devin Anderson & Rick Banks


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Interested in going to college? Here are six tips you need to know when applying | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
October 29, 2019
The MATC Promise program provides free tuition for students like Carissa Peters, 27. Many universities across the state have created guaranteed transfer agreements that allow students who start at MATC to complete their bachelor’s degree at their university. (File photo by Edgar Mendez)
Let the race begin!
The first college application priority deadline for many universities across the nation is Nov. 1.
But if you are thinking of applying for school and have not begun the process, don’t worry! We’ve got you covered.
Zuleyka Rios, the assistant director of multicultural recruitment at Marquette University, and Katie Doyle, an undergraduate counselor for students in Milwaukee County at Cardinal Stritch University, work closely with students going through the college search process.
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We asked for their advice, and here’s what they said:
1. Make a list of universities you are interested in.
“It is never too late to get started,” Rios said. Identifying five to six universities you are interested in will focus your search right from the start.
From that list, she recommends students identify a few “target” schools. Target schools are institutions students feel confident they will be accepted at.
2. Visit schools.
“There is a home for everyone,” Rios said. “We are fortunate to live where there are many great universities in the city or within a couple of miles of Milwaukee.”
Visiting schools can help you to find out about the admissions process in person, many times with a student tour guide by your side. It also can give insight into what your campus experience may be like.
Start at a school’s website to find information on official tours and major-specific visit days. If you cannot visit, some university websites have virtual tours and other online resources.
3. Start and submit your applications.
Taking the leap and opening an application can be a daunting task in itself.
Whether applying through the Common App, the University of Wisconsin System or through an individual university’s own application process, make sure you understand the school’s requirements.
You may have to request transcripts, letters of recommendation and ACT scores, depending on whether or not a school requires them. There are several schools in Wisconsin that are “test optional” and do not require a student submit a standardized test score. Connecting with your high school counselor can make the process a lot easier.
4. Tackle the college essay.
The college essay can be the toughest part of the process for applicants, Rios said.
“It may be hard to think of a succinct story to tell or something important they want to make sure to share with a college,” she said. “I think everyone has some story to tell – think about who you are, think about your values and goals, think about experiences that you have had that have defined you.”
Here are some tips Rios offers as a guide to focusing your essay:
5. Focus on financial aid.
“The tuition sticker price can scare students away from applying,” Doyle said. “My best advice is to submit your application and see whether or not you get in.”
Scholarship opportunities and financial aid programs can make college an affordable investment, Doyle said.
Doyle said many universities offer additional scholarships to students who are accepted that may require an additional application. Students should look into opportunities at each school they are considering.
One of those opportunities is the MATC Promise program, which helps students attend the Milwaukee Area Technical College for free.
Rios said many Wisconsin universities have partnered with MATC and created guaranteed transfer agreements that allow students who start at MATC to complete their bachelor’s degree at their university.
FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, allows students to apply for federal aid for the school year. Submitting the FAFSA also allows students to be eligible for student aid programs on campuses.
“The sooner the student submits this to schools, the sooner schools can create financial aid packages for each student after they are accepted to the university,” Rios said. The FAFSA application opened Oct. 1. Click here to create your FAFSA account.
6. Ask the professionals.
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” Doyle said. “It is literally our job to answer your questions!”
Reaching out to an admissions office will help you learn about the application process.
MPS students should also connect with advisers in the College and Career Center in their high school.

created: October 29, 2019

author: Bridget Fogarty


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Post from Community: MPS hosts job fair | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Schools
October 29, 2019
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.
With 159 schools across the city of Milwaukee, many employees are continually needed to keep all the schools in Milwaukee Public Schools running smoothly and provide the best environments for students. MPS is making the call across the city to come join their team. The district-wide MPS Job Fair will be Saturday, November 2, 2019 from 9 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. at Washington High School. Applicants are encouraged to bring their resume as interviews will be held on site.
The district currently has a high need for kitchen managers, school paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, and building service helpers, with an ongoing need for teachers. Most of these positions follow the school calendar and school hours, with weekends, holidays, and summers off.
Applicants are
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MPS offers great benefits for full-time employees.
In addition, MPS offers extensive opportunities for professional development, including degree completion options for employees seeking a teaching career.
MPS is one of the largest employers in the state of Wisconsin with about 5,000 teachers and an additional 5,000 full- and part-time staff. Many options for career advancement are available.
Help shape the futures of our students while growing your own career. View open positions and read more about benefits on our website at mpsmke.com/careers.
Washington High School is located at 2525 N. Sherman Blvd. in Milwaukee.
About Milwaukee Public Schools
Milwaukee Public Schools is committed to accelerating student achievement, building positive relationships between youth and adults and cultivating leadership at all levels. The district’s commitment to improvement continues to show results:
Learn more about MPS by visiting our website. More news is available at mpsmke.com/news.

author: Milwaukee Public Schools


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Milwaukee mourns death of ‘queen of our community’: Mildred Harpole fought for education equity, equal rights | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
October 30, 2019
Mildred Harpole, shown with her husband, Reuben, worked tirelessly on behalf of the community. (Photo provided by the Harpole family)
Longtime Milwaukee educational and equal rights activist Mildred Harpole died Oct. 24, her husband, ReubenHarpole Jr., confirmed Wednesday. She was in her 80s.
“She was a super lady who certainly had a way with words,” recalled Harpole Jr., who remembered the first time they met. At the time, he was a student at MATC, and she was attending Marquette University.
“I was so impressed by her. She was overwhelming, and I didn’t know if I had the vocabulary to keep up with her,” he said.
He later enlisted in the service, and while stationed in Texas, she called him.
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And he made his move.
“I proposed to her,” Harpole Jr. said.
Born in Cleveland, Harpole graduated from Marquette University before receiving a law degree from Western Reserve Law School and a master’s degree from Cardinal Stritch, according to her husband.
She worked as a reading specialist at Milwaukee Public Schools and also as an administrator at Harambee Community School. At MPS, she often protested against segregation and a lack of resources at primarily African American schools. In an archived interview that’s part of the UWM Libraries’ March on Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project, Harpole spoke on the issue.
“Some, many of the schools had poor books or textbooks. They had overcrowding. Old buildings. That environment was poor. They didn’t have what I considered quality materials,” Harpole said.
Harpole, who once ran for a seat on the school board, said she initially worked to overcome those challenges by creating material based on newspaper stories or television reports.
“We had very little material … so we could be creative and innovative in our approach, and so I loved that,” she said in the interview.
She also helped to form two “Freedom Schools,” which offered educational opportunities to children of African American migrants who moved to Milwaukee, according to a news release from the Milwaukee Times.
After leaving MPS, Harpole served as director of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity for the Milwaukee office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD.
There she advocated on issues involving fair housing and homelessness before retiring in 2002.
She and her husband, also a longtime community activist and educator, had founding roles in numerous Milwaukee nonprofits and other organizations, including the Central City Teacher  Community Project, Milwaukee 100 Black Men, MPS Homework First Program and the Children’s Performing Arts group, which became the Ko-Thi Dance Company, according to a 2015 article on the UWM website. They also worked together on a television show called “Black Thang,” where they helped students learn about writing and cinematography.
Together, the couple, who married in 1959, received many prestigious awards and honors, including the Vatican II Award from the Milwaukee Archdiocese in 1993; the Frank P. Zeidler Public Service Award in 2013; the first Distinguished Educator of the Year Award at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2015; and the Whitney M. Young Jr. Legacy Award from the Milwaukee Urban League in 2018.
Harpole served as chairwoman of the Health Committee for the Harambee Health Center and was active on many boards, including the City of Milwaukee Arts Board, Community Brainstorming Conference, TEMPO, Family Service of Milwaukee, the Milwaukee County Cultural Artistic and Musical Programming Advisory Council, among others. She also served as national president of Eta Phi Beta sorority from 1990 to 1994.
On Wednesday, Ald. Cavalier Johnson issued a statement to NNS about Harpole.
“Mildred was tireless in her desire to educate the public on the issues of the day – no matter if they were hot-button or more subdued. Mildred approached every challenge with a calm grace that could ground the situation and affirm to everyone that everything would be all right,” he wrote in the email. “Mildred was deeply loved by her community, by her husband, Reuben, who my heart breaks for. Mildred Harpole will be sorely missed.”
Council President Ashanti Hamilton also shared his thoughts on Harpole.
“She  was a queen of this community,” he said. “She fought for fair wages, access to quality education, served as a mentor and was a great example of how to stay involved and engaged in community activism at every stage of your life. I think her legacy  is going  to be that you always put your best foot forward, and you never have to accept what other people think of you.”
Mayor Tom Barrett called Harpole  “a powerhouse and civil rights champion in our community. “
In addition to her husband, Harpole is survived by her son, John and daughter, Annette.
Visitation for Harpole will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 at Northwest Funeral Chapel, 6630 W. Hampton Ave.  A Mass will be celebrated at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 1927 N. Vel Phillips Ave. After the Mass, a repast and testimonial for Harpole will be held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum, 2620 W. Center St.

created: October 30, 2019


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HARPOLES | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 30, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 30, 2019


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NNS Video: Franciscan Peacemakers opens retail store, outreach center for victims of sex trafficking | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mark Doremus and Karen Slattery
October 30, 2019
Milwaukee’s Franciscan Peacemakers has opened a storefront retail store in Walnut Hill as part of its mission to get victims of sex trafficking off the streets and into a better life.
The nonprofit organization, now in its 25th year, expanded its focus in 2012 to employing women who make, market and sell handcrafted bath and body products and jewelry.
The Peacemaker retail store offers products hand-made by women who are rebuilding their lives after escaping drugs and prostitution. Proceeds support the effort to reach more victims of sex trafficking in southeastern Wisconsin. (Photo by Mark Doremus)
The product line has achieved success, reaching $130,000 in sales at farmers markets, events and online.
The brick-and-mortar store, which opened Saturday, is anchored at 3333 W. Lisbon Ave.
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“Franciscan Peacemakers feels extraordinarily grateful to have moved onto this very vibrant block in Walnut Hill in a Milwaukee neighborhood most affected by the issue we have been addressing head on for decades,” Deacon Steve Przedpelski, executive director of Franciscan Peacemakers, said in a statement.
“We hope the retail store will make visible to the public what we have experienced since we started our social enterprise – that alternative ways of doing business that truly honor human dignity are not only possible, but necessary. “
Store hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays.

author: Mark Doremus and Karen Slattery


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 29, 2019


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OPINION: ‘I give gratitude to life and death all year long’: Reflections on Día de Muertos | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Celeste Contreras
October 30, 2019
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Días de Muertos is the time of year when I celebrate and give thanks to those who have gone before me. This includes my ancestors, loved ones who have taken their lives and always my grandparents. During this time, I will build a home altar full of photos of friends, grandparents, even pets who have passed on. I also add sculptures from Mexico such as skeleton figures, the mask of life, death and rebirth. I also use a popoxcomitl or copalera to burn traditional medicines such as copal, cedar and sage, candles and food, or flowers like the cempazuchitl (marigold). This altar usually stays up for two months, but I always have one or more altar in my home all year long.
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Spiritually I follow the Mexica (pronounced Me-shee-kha) ways, from my mother’s side, meaning I give gratitude to life and death all year long. I have gone through a traditional Mexica naming ceremony and I ask for assistance from my elders to help teach me our traditions of the past. Through ceremony, my art and my research of death ceremonies, this time of year comes quickly every year. I am consciously learning new parts of this ancient death ceremony every year and am able to offer more of myself to my community through these teachings from my abuelas and elders.
This year, I am the artist-in-residence with the Milwaukee Public Library, so with the support of the library we have planned Ofrendas de Mitchell/Offerings of Mitchell. Ofrendas de Mitchell is focused on the offerings we give to the altar for the Days of the Dead. We will have three weeks of celebration, and so far, we have held two free community workshops.
The first one focused on screen printing and the importance of print and the history of print from Mexico. We screen printed three original designs I created in honor of traditional offerings we place on the community altar. During the second workshop, we built the community altar, as well as making and eating traditional tamales.
During the third and final week, the community will gather on  for a celebration and procession. México Indígena will perform a Mexica dance about life and death with world class flautist, Ramiro Duarte. The procession will begin at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join us.
At this point in Milwaukee, I am overly excited to see ALL of the many events happening around the city! I feel a little responsible for this Día de Muertos takeover and I genuinely feel so grateful for this amount of awareness my community is bringing to the surface about our ancient holiday. When I founded Milwaukee’s Day of the Dead Parade in 2009, I honestly never wanted to be the leader of it. I just wanted to show up and then go home, but the work I did — we did — as a community has lead us all to this awakening of our ancestors’ traditions. This will heal our communities because we are taking responsibility for our cultural traditions.
I am so excited, humbled and grateful. Thank you, Milwaukee!

author: Celeste Contreras


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OPINION: The loss of Strauss Brands is a win for Century City residents | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Renee Lynn Glembin
October 30, 2019
Empty land in the Century City Business Park. (Photo by Adam Carr)
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Renee Lynn Glembin is a lifelong Milwaukee resident, writer, teacher and social justice advocate. She argues that Century City is better off without Strauss Brands and that Mayor Tom Barrett should look to re-create the kind of business community that is found in the Menomonee Valley.
While the loss of the Strauss Brands production facility to the Century City Business Park is being lamented as a major blow by Mayor Tom Barrett to the City of Milwaukee and its North Side residents, I say it is a win for all, particularly for the community that borders the property.
Although Barrett attempted to assuage the public by claiming there was full transparency in both the sale and purchase of this land and then blame animal rights activists for spreading misinformation about the facility’s operations, evidence to the contrary shows there was little transparency about what type of production facility was moving into the long vacant Century City space and it was, in fact, the animal rights group’s protest that brought the issue to the attention of the public and neighboring community who ultimately voiced their dissent.
This dissent was heard and valued by 7th District Ald. Khalif Rainey, who reneged on his original enthusiasm of the facility in support of what his constituents wanted. This essentially resulted in Strauss pulling back its offer, releasing a statement that claimed in part that while it had hoped to bring an “economic boost” to the area (saying nothing about the generous federal tax breaks it would receive for building in an economically depressed area), “We honor and respect the community and don’t want to make our home in a place where our presence would not be seen as a benefit.”
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Clearly, the neighbors of Century City, who had long hoped for the revitalization that was promised with the birth of the business park in 2009, did not see the proposed slaughterhouse as the type of investment they could embrace, nor did they see the presence of it as a benefit.
Although most people eat products that come out of such a facility as Strauss Brands and do not share the ethical concerns of the animal rights groups about the care and treatment of the animals “processed” there, most of these same people do not want such a place in their backyard. Meat production facilities are not happy places people want to gather around. These are not places where most people can tolerate working. They can be traumatizing and dangerous places for workers and the turnover is high.
There is also evidence that people who work there are not only at risk of being physically harmed but in danger of being more apt to harm others. It is simply not “normal” to kill 500 animals a day (which is what the proposed plant would have required). Not even if you are an avid hunter would you do this. Nor is it psychologically healthy to be surrounded by graphic death day in and day out. This is not, contrary to what Mayor Barrett has proclaimed, “misinformation.” There is a growing body of research to support these claims and I implore him, and others who doubt these assertions, to read up on it before they proclaim these jobs as great opportunities for some Milwaukee residents.
Also, to no one’s real surprise (except Strauss who claimed to hope that the facility would attract some), slaughterhouses are not magnets for other businesses. Take, as an example, Milwaukee’s Menomonee River Valley and its revitalization since the closing of Cargill Slaughterhouse in 2014. As reported in Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, Cargill cited the reasons for closing the facility as a “limited cattle supply” and a changing market. However, there was suspicion that the new Potawatomi Hotel and Casino might also have had something to do with it. Was it really a coincidence that just one year later, Potawatomi acquired the Cargill buildings and property for $6.3 million, and although they have not yet revealed what will be built there, they are prepared to now have the land cleared in time for the 2020 Democratic National Convention. What will be developed there next remains to be seen. But rest assured, it will not be another slaughterhouse, not even a modern “updated” facility the mayor assured the Strauss plant would be. Why? The area has flourished without it.
In addition to Potawatomi, the entire Menomonee River Valley Redevelopment area has created thousands of family-paying jobs and is thriving because the Menomonee Valley Partners had a vision of a progressive city and worked to create a place where people want to be. Restaurants, hotels, shops and green spaces that include the Hank Aaron Trail now highlight the area and create a welcoming place where people want to work and take leisure. Although the Menomonee River Valley business group called Cargill “a good neighbor,” note that a slaughterhouse is not now part of that revitalized landscape. Nor is it part of any suburban or innovative city’s prospect, nor did the Strauss facility even consider the valley as a possibility. That is because the Menomonee Valley has a contemporary, progressive vibe full of possibilities and optimism now.
Mayor Barrett seemed to feel the potential of that progressive vibe when he stated in the 2006 Menomonee Valley annual report: “The Menomonee Valley of today stands as a symbol of Milwaukee’s renaissance … I am proud of our work and look forward to continued successes in attracting new companies and additional jobs to the valley.”
Mr. Mayor, this renaissance cannot stop with the Menomonee Valley. It must also include Century City Business Park and the neighborhoods surrounding it. The people of this city deserve this and, in fact, have now, with the rejection of Struass, unequivocally demanded it.
If you cannot deliver on this, perhaps a new mayor will.

author: Renee Lynn Glembin


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Post from Community: Panel will explore civil liberties of the formerly incarcerated | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Alverno College
October 30, 2019
(Image courtesy of Alverno College)
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.
Alverno College is hosting a panel discussion that will explore the ways in which formerly incarcerated people suffer restrictions on their civil liberties long after they are released. Many who have been released from prison experience social stigma, difficulty securing housing and employment, and a suspension of their voting rights. This event will build upon a discussion on the same topic held in April, and a panel of local experts and activists will discuss topics such as the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility, Wisconsin women’s prisons and the impact of incarceration on family members. The event is Wednesday, November 13 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Bucyrus Conference Center inside the Sister Joel Read Center. The panelists are people who advocate on behalf of the formerly incarcerated and include:
The discussion is free and open to the public, and is funded by a grant from the University of Wisconsin – Stout’s Center for the Study of Institutions and Innovation. To register please visit www.alverno.edu/civil. Questions can be directed to the Assessment and Outreach Center at alverno.outreach@alverno.edu or 414-382-6020.
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About Alverno College
Founded in 1887 by the School Sisters of St. Francis, Alverno College promotes the academic, personal and professional development of its students in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Undergraduate programs for women are offered in more than 60 areas of study, and graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology, school psychology, music therapy, music and liturgy, and business are open to women and men.
A leader in higher education innovation, Alverno has earned international accolades for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, which emphasizes hands-on experience and develops in-demand skills. The college, Wisconsin’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution, ranks among the top schools in the Midwest for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and innovation by U.S. News & World Report. For the past two years, The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education named Alverno the country’s most inspiring college.
Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Alverno College is a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college.

author: Alverno College


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emiliano-bar-PaKHbtTDqt0-unsplash (1).jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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October 29, 2019


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OPINION: ‘More than face painting and colorful skull decorations’: Reflections on Día de los Muertos | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jacobo Lovo
October 31, 2019
Jacobo Lovo presents to a school group in the Latino Arts Inc. gallery. (Photo provided by Jacobo Lovo)
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Jacobo Lovo is an artist, educator and the managing artistic director at Latino Arts, Inc. He writes about how the annual Día de los Muertos he helps produce empowers and educates the community.
As Día de los Muertos grows in popularity I feel fortunate that through Latino Arts, Inc. we are able to help share this wonderful cultural celebration that is deeply rooted in tradition, history and serves as powerful reflection of the complexity and depth of our collective Hispanic identity. Because of the surge in popularity of Día de los Muertos, it’s important to continue to educate the community on the cultural origins of the tradition. While we invite others to join in on the celebration, it’s crucial to reinforce that this celebration is much more than face-painting and colorful skull decorations.
It’s also important to acknowledge that most people’s understanding of Día de los Muertos is based on the colorful ofrendas, or altars, used to celebrate the tradition in states and parts of Mexico like Michoacán, Puebla and Oaxaca and will vary from place to place. In our annual Día de los Muertos Ofrenda Exhibit at Latino Arts, we have invited community members, schools, artists and the Mexican Consulate in Milwaukee to share ofrendas to help us celebrate the tradition and also help us continue to educate the community.
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We are honored to count on the participation of so many that helps us illustrate how this wonderful celebration continues to grow, and, in some respects, evolve. Día de los Muertos has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, as a part world cultural heritage, an honor normally reserved for geographical locations.
We invite the community to visit the exhibit Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ($1 donation is suggested when visiting the gallery). This year’s opening reception will be on Friday, Nov. 1 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. followed at 7 p.m. by our annual Día de los Muertos concert. This year, we are thrilled to have Jarabe Mexicano joining us again with their concert, “Amor Eterno: Un Homenaje a Juan Gabriel.”
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Dia de Los Muertos has become part of mainstream pop culture, but what are its true cultural origins? What does it mean to those celebrating it today? From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, a Lunch and Learn session will focus on Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead, exploring its precolonial origins, its evolution after the conquest, and how it has been adapted in Hispanic culture and beyond.
Moderator: Jacobo Lovo, Managing Artistic Director
Panelists:
Tickets for all the Día de los Muertos concert and Lunch and Learn can be purchased here.

created: October 31, 2019

author: Jacobo Lovo


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NNS Update: Residents rally behind program to ensure mothers have clean drinking water for their children | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
October 31, 2019
Community members show their support for the Birthing Moms pilot program. “This is arguably the most important gift they will receive along with the gift that comes with education,” says the Rev. Mary Martha Kannass, the pastor of Hephatha Lutheran Church. (Photo by Princess Safiya Byers)
Crying mothers shared stories of when they found out their child had lead poisoning.
Children marched through the audience chanting, “Stop lead! Stop lead!”
And community leaders spoke on the importance of children living lead-free lives.
For two hours last month during a summit at the Hephatha Lutheran Church, 1720 W. Locust St., residents shared emotional stories of their experiences with lead poisoning and their support for one solution: the Birthing Moms pilot program.
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The program would provide lead education kits and a certified filtering pitcher after mothers give birth. The mothers would receive the pitcher from the Milwaukee Health Department before they left the hospital.
“This is arguably the most important gift they will receive along with the gift that comes with education,” said the Rev. Mary Martha Kannass, the pastor of Hephatha.  “Nurses will sit down with each mom and explain to them what lead poisoning is and how it can be avoided. They will also get literature to take home.”
Several city officials who were at the meeting pledged to support $240,000 in funding for the pilot program as a part of the City of Milwaukee’s 2020 budget.
“As a father, my job is to care about family,” Ald. Nik Kovac said. “And really, we are each other’s family in this city. And there should be no child that doesn’t experience clean water, clean food, clean air and a clean home that will not poison them.”
The Coalition On Lead Emergency, or COLE, arranged the summit to inform, engage, educate and gather support from local officials on the proposal.
The Milwaukee lead crisis has been a topic of controversy in Milwaukee for some time. Knowing how children are affected, residents are demanding that something be done.
Elizabeth Brown, a community member, said, “As a mother who has had children contract lead poisoning, I think the bill is a good idea. Though my children were OK after they contracted it, they had some struggles that could have been avoided had they not contracted lead poisoning.”
In May 2018, the Hephatha church partnered with neighborhood organizations such as the Dominican Center to form COLE. Members include the African American Breastfeeding Network, Amani United, the Dominican Center, Leaders Igniting Transformation and many more.
The goal “is to organize people to fight for a lead-free Milwaukee,” said Richard Diaz, who is the Amani community organizer for the Dominican Center.

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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Post from Community: Film Girl Film festival | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Film Girl Film Festival
October 31, 2019
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 Film Girl Film Festival will take place for the fourth year Nov. 8-10 at the Underground Collaborative at 161 W. Wisconsin Avenue underneath the Grand Avenue Mall. Afterwards, there will be an opening night party at No Studios at 1037 West McKinley Avenue.
Opening night kicks off at 7pm Nov. 8 with the short film “A Thousand Needles,” which blends interviews and artistic visuals to discuss the reality of living with reproductive health issues such as uterine fibroids and endometriosis. It will be followed by the feature documentary, “The Unlikely Story of the Lesbians of First Friday,” which tells the story of a group of lesbians who lived in Roanoke, Virginia in the 80s who not only created a community of safe spaces, but threw a number of fantastic events. Director Kathryn L. Beranich, who was born and raised in Milwaukee, will be present for a Q&A following the screening.
The opening night party will take place afterwards at No Studios from 9pm-11:30pm. There will be free pizza provided by Pizza Shuttle. Other snacks and drinks will be available for purchase with credit or debit at the bar. More information can be found on filmgirlfilm.com or at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/film-girl-film-festival-17430368428. Tickets to the opening night festivities can be purchased on the No Studios website at the following link: https://community.nostudios.com/events/24914
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The Milwaukee Women’s Film Festival was founded by film critic Andrea Thompson. She became inspired when people in the local film community and Hollywood insiders alike started having in-depth discussions of the obstacles and disparate treatment women in the industry continue to endure. As the festival grew, Andrea decided to rename it the Film Girl Film Festival to foster partnerships across the worldwide community while featuring and supporting the Milwaukee arts scene.

author: Film Girl Film Festival


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Posts from Community: Alds. Johnson, Dodd, Lewis invite residents to the Northwest Job Fair at Midtown Center | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Cavalier Johnson
October 31, 2019
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.
Alderman Cavalier Johnson and Alderwomen Nikiya Dodd and Chantia Lewis invite residents to partake in the Northwest Job Fair at Midtown Center, next week.
The job fair takes place Thursday, November 7th from 11 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., at the Midtown Center U.S. Bank Branch at 5526 W. Capitol Dr.
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This will be a fantastic opportunity for members of the community who are actively seeking employment to leave a lasting impression on interviewers from multiple companies and corporations.
The event is free and open to the public. Sponsors include the 2, 5, and the 9 Aldermanic Districts.
What:        Northwest Job Fair at Midtown Center
When:       11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thursday, November 7th
Where:     U.S. Bank Branch at Midtown Center
5526 W. Capitol Dr.

author: Ald. Cavalier Johnson


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Northwest-Job-Fair-FLYER-jpeg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
October 31, 2019


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5 things to do this weekend: Nov. 1 to Nov. 3 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 1, 2019
Capuchin Community Services is inviting volunteers at St. Ben’s to a community listening session this weekend. (Photo provided by Capuchin Community Services)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some events that can enrich your weekend. 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. Vigil for children lost to abuse: Friday, Nov. 1
The Guardians of the Children-HAWG City Chapter is hosting a vigil for children who were victims of child abuse on Friday, Nov. 1. The vigil will be held at 800 W. Concordia Ave. and will begin at 6 p.m.
2. The Breakfast Club II: Saturday, Nov. 2
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The Wisconsin Black Restaurant Association Guide will be gathering on Saturday, Nov. 2. At this meeting, the group will be discussing the opportunities within the 2020 Democratic Convention. It will be held at the Wisconsin African American Women’s Center, 3020 W. Vliet St., from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
3. Ben’s community meal listening session: Saturday, Nov. 2
Capuchin Community Services is inviting volunteers at St. Ben’s to a community listening session on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 930 W. State St. The session is an opportunity to meet with the new ministry director and the new pastoral director. During the session, guests are encouraged to share their ideas for the future of St. Ben’s Community Meal. Donuts and coffee will be served. RSVP by calling (414) 933-1300,Ext 1123 or click here.
4. Holiday food drive: Saturday, Nov. 2
MAP Realty Group and the Hunger Task Force are hosting a holiday food drive on Saturday, Nov. 2. People are encouraged to drop off non-perishable items at MAP Realty Group, 2473 S. Howell Ave., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
5. Call to action in defense of DACA: Saturday, Nov. 2
As part of the #HomeIsHere campaign, Youth Empowered in the Struggle, or YES, and Voces de la Frontera are asking Milwaukeeans to join them in the fight to protect DACA recipients, their families and immigrants everywhere. The event will be held at South Division High School, 1515 W. Lapham Blvd., from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2.
Bonus: UWM’s annual autumn pow wow: Saturday, Nov. 2
The American Indian Student Association at UW-Milwaukee is hosting its 42nd annual autumn pow wow on Saturday, Nov. 2. The pow wow is free and open to the public. It starts at noon and will take place at the UWM Student Union, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., in the ballroom on the first floor.

created: November 1, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 31, 2019

author: Adam Carr


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Post from Community: Founding school families celebrate a new permanent home for Rocketship Transformation Prep | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Rocketship Transformation Prep
November 1, 2019
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.
Founding families at Rocketship Transformation Prep threw a party Thursday morning to celebrate a permanent home for their school community.
With big smiles, cheers, confetti, and dancing, the students and parents of Rocketship Transformation Prep cut a bright red ribbon and crossed the threshold into the newly remodeled home of their school at 5501 N. 68 St.
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“We are so proud of our new home,” said founding Principal Kourtney Vang. “Our school families and their children deserve this safe, clean, beautiful space that facilitates joyful culture and strong learning.”
About 60 community members attended the celebration, sponsored by PNC bank. Milwaukee Bucks mascot Bango was on hand, courtesy of the Bucks Community Foundation. After remarks by the school’s staff and board leadership, guests were treated to breakfast and school tours.
Tynetta Oliver’s four-year old daughter, Amari Lee, attends Rocketship Transformation Prep. Oliver, who is also the school’s office manager, shared her personal story as a part of Thursday’s event.
Oliver started working for Rocketship in 2016 when she was an expectant mother and recent graduate of Alverno College. She helped recruit some of Transformation Prep’s founding families.
“The mission was amazing, and I needed to be a part of this organization,” Oliver said. “The mission to close the achievement gap was something I needed to be a part of.”
Then came time for Oliver to choose a school for her daughter. Amari Lee has Autism Spectrum Disorder, which meant she entered school with limited communication and social skills. After trying out another school for one month, Oliver realized Rocketship Transformation Prep was what her daughter needed.
“Rocketship was the choice for my daughter. The inclusive classrooms inspired me. I felt like I needed a school for my daughter where she could be included.”
In just a few short months, Amari has made significant progress. Oliver shared a video clip of Amari reading a book, something she has learned to do since attending Rocketship.
“So this is why I chose Rocketship Transformation Prep,” she shared with the applauding audience.
Transformation Prep opened in August 2018 in temporary space at the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center. In August 2019, the school moved into its new home, a building that previously housed Blessed Savior Catholic School. This allowed the school to nearly double its enrollment, from 80 to 150. A second phase of renovation will turn the former church sanctuary into a gymnasium and cafeteria by August 2020. When fully enrolled, the school will have 400 students.
Rocketship came to the Silver Spring neighborhood because many school-age children had been traveling long distances outside of their community to attend a high-quality school. To address this challenge, Rocketship joined the Choice Neighborhood Initiative, a partnership between the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the City of Milwaukee and partners including the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center and Carmen Schools of Science and Technology. Through this partnership, more than $30 million is being invested in the Silver Spring neighborhood to provide families with a comprehensive suite of educational and social services.
Rocketship Transformation Prep is a public charter elementary school, providing a free public education to children in grades K4-4 grade. The school is a part of the Rocketship Public Schools network, which also operates Rocketship South Side Community Prep, 3003 W. Cleveland Ave. In total, there are 19 Rocketship schools nationwide.
For more information, please visit www.rocketshipschools.org.

author: Rocketship Transformation Prep


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OPINION: ‘A ritual that keeps me directly connected to my indigenous roots and land’: Reflections on Día de los Muertos | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Nicole Acosta
November 1, 2019
Ride Bike & Green at the 2015 Day of the Dead Parade. (Photo by Nicole Acosta)
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Nicole Acosta is a photographer, artist and communication and marketing associate at Ex Fabula. She writes about the tradition’s important connection to her identity.
Día de los Muertos is a very sacred tradition for me.
Many years ago, I was searching for a way to re-connect with my cultural heritage as a first generation Mexican American. My family never celebrated this day because they were from a part of Mexico that never really celebrated it.
But as I grew older and began having my own children, I felt it was critical to form our own traditions, especially because I was a single mother and my children looked to me as their main family. I began to think about what I wanted to hand down to them so that’s when I began to start my own research and then eventually sought mentorship from Zulay Oszkay, who was the managing artistic director at Latino Arts Inc. at the time.
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(Photo by Nicole Acosta)
That’s really where my love for this celebration blossomed. I not only installed my own ofrendas (altar for a passed loved one) but also led all of the gallery tours and workshops for visiting groups and schools.
Over the years, I have honored many loved ones and also made political statements through my altars.
For me, the days that we honor the dead is a ritual that keeps me directly connected to my indigenous roots and land and is also critical to the act of self-preservation and political resistance.
I have spent the last three years shifting from my work at Latino Arts Inc, to helping create and organize Escuela Verde’s beautiful celebration, to this year, when I have the privilege working with Jesus Gonzalez at Zocaló and Mariyam Nayeri at Botanica Galactica.
This collaborative celebration starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2 is taking place at the gallery space located inside Botanica Galactica.
Event- goers will be able to see local community members’ altar installations and purchase unique Día de Los Muertos-inspired goods from local vendors. Community can also enjoy Zocaló food truck park, where live music and performances will take place, drinks will be served and the food trucks will be open for business; there will also be a community altar, for folks to contribute to for the night!
People can still get involved by installing their own altar at Botanica Galactica by sending an email to altaresmke@gmail.com, spreading the word or just attending!
Learn more about the event here.

author: Nicole Acosta


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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: Nov. 4 to Nov. 9 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 4, 2019
Artist-in-residence Celeste Contreras will paint Aztec dancers during a night of live figure drawing at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the Milwaukee Public Library’s Mitchell Street Branch, 906 W. Mitchell St. (File photo by Sue Vliet)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some events we think you shouldn’t miss. 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. Public hearing on 2020 Milwaukee County budget: Monday, Nov. 4
The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors is holding its annual public hearing regarding the county budget on Monday, Nov. 4. Milwaukee residents are encouraged to come and offer their input. The hearing will be held at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St., starting at 6 p.m.
2. “Coming to Milwaukee: Immigration Stories”: Tuesday, Nov. 5
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Ex Fabula, No Studios and 88Nine Radio Milwaukee are presenting “Community Stories Live” on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The theme is immigration and several Milwaukeeans will share their experiences. It will take place at No Studios, 1037 W. McKinley Ave., from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event is free.
3. Live figure drawing with México Indígena: Wednesday, Nov. 6
Milwaukee artists are invited to join artist-in-residence Celeste Contreras for a night of live figure drawing at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the Milwaukee Public Library’s Mitchell Street Branch, 906 W. Mitchell St. Aztec dancers from the group, México Indígena, will be posing for artists and sharing traditional stories on Día de los Muertos.
4. Job fair at Midtown Center: Thursday, Nov. 7
Milwaukee residents are invited to the Northwest Job Fair on Thursday, Nov. 7. The fair, which is free and open to the public, will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the U.S. Bank branch at Midtown Center, 5526 W. Capitol Drive.
5. Fourth annual Film Girl Film Festival: Friday, Nov. 8 through Sunday, Nov. 10
The fourth annual Film Girl Film Festival will take place on Friday, Nov. 8 through Sunday, Nov. 10. Opening night will feature the short film “A Thousand Needles” at the Underground Collaborative, 161 W. Wisconsin Ave., at 7 p.m., followed by an after party at No Studios, 1037 W. McKinley Ave., from 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Tickets for the party can be found here.

created: November 4, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 3, 2019

created: November 3, 2019


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‘A teachable moment’: 5 takeaways from Strauss Brands’ decision not to move slaughterhouse to Century City | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
November 5, 2019
Strauss Brands announced plans in September to relocate a meat processing facility from Franklin to the Century City Business Park near North 30th Street and West Capitol Drive. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Strauss Brands announced plans in September to relocate a meat processing facility from its Franklin location to the Century City Business Park. Located in the 30 Street Industrial Corridor, the facility near North 30th Street and West Capitol Drive, would have brought hundreds of jobs to a once-thriving business corridor.
The proposal, however, was met with pushback from animal rights protesters and ultimately from Common Council members.
Last week, Strauss Brands announced it would no longer be moving the slaughterhouse to Century City.
We asked community leaders and residents to weigh in on the controversy.
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Amani United President Brother RiceBey lives in Amani, a neighborhood that borders the Century City location. He said he and his neighbors did not hear about the development plan until Strauss Brands dropped the deal.
How do you feel about Strauss Brands ultimately not bringing a slaughterhouse to the 30th Street Corridor?
“Amani was the last to hear about the deal,” he said. “We were kind of left in the dark.”
“I feel two ways: It’s prime real estate and opportunity for some, but I also don’t think this is the appropriate area,” RiceBey said. “It’s an inhumane development for an environment that is already inhumane.”
What response have you seen from the community?
RiceBey said many residents are frustrated by the lack of information from the company, the city and the district’s alderman.
“To be honest, I think they knew they would have seen this type of opposition from the community,” he said.
What do you think could have been done differently through the process?
RiceBey said the company itself should have done more homework and reached out to the residents before talking to officials.
“When you bring this type of development to a neighborhood, talk to who the decision is going to impact first,” he said. “Let the people know, or it looks like a shady deal.”
Moving forward, residents and leaders should continue to be more civically engaged, RiceBey said. “I’m not even gonna get mad at the city,” he said. “Everyone just needs to be more of a concerned citizen.”
He said attending neighborhood meetings and engaging in the organization’s revitalization plan “for the residents, by the residents” is one way to become more informed. “The only thing we have to gain is a better neighborhood.”
Cheryl Blue is the executive director of the 30th Street Industrial Corridor, which manages Business Improvement District No. 37, where the slaughterhouse would have relocated.
She said the space has been vacant for a couple of decades, and many businesses in the area ultimately supported bringing in the meat processing facility. “We were encouraged by the fact that the company wanted to come into the area,” she said.
How do you feel about Strauss Brads ultimately not bringing a slaughterhouse to the 30th Street Corridor?
“My concern was that everything happened so fast and people didn’t get the facts,” she said.
Blue said the quickest-spreading information in opposition to the Strauss Brands plan— that the slaughterhouse would bring an increase in stench, rodents, crime and drugs in the surrounding neighborhoods— is inaccurate. She said much of the misinformation sparked from a protester-led Facebook group, and that Strauss Brands had plans to address those issues.
What do you think could have been done differently through the process?
“I’m not here to blame, but I think it is a teachable moment,” Blue said. She said for future business endeavors in area, community engagement and presentation of facts should be the priority.
The 30 Street Industrial Corridor’s work puts community engagement in Century City at its forefront. “We’ve been working in the area for years now and we are committed to the success of the area, which includes the people and the residents,” Blue said.
“It is in everyone’s best interest for this area of the city to be prosperous in Milwaukee and in the world,” she said.
Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton said Strauss Brands was counting on the Department of City Development to handle the community engagement process for them.
How do you feel about Strauss Brads ultimately not bringing a slaughterhouse to the 30th Street Corridor?
“I think there should have been more outreach by Department of City Development to allow for the company to communicate to the broader community what their proposal was,” Hamilton said. “That should have happened at the very beginning of this process.”
He said too much effort was put on masking what the actual operations were, and there was not enough communication to residents.
What response have you seen from the community?
“There were a number of people who wanted to see progress at that site and the opportunity to have living family wages,” Hamilton said. “But there were also concerns regarding the impact of bringing a facility like that to the neighborhood.”
What do you think could have been done differently through the process?
“It seems as if all the media coverage has been kind of focused on who to blame as opposed to getting the appropriate information,” he said.
Going forward, he said, he is willing to work with the aldermen and community groups to provide a space for more in-depthdiscussion.
“All decisions about this location will be made with the facts,” he said.
Ossie Kendrix, the president of Milwaukee’s African American Chamber of Commerce, said Strauss Brands moving into Milwaukee could have been beneficial for Century City and the whole city.
How do you feel about Strauss Brands ultimately not bringing a slaughterhouse to the 30th Street Corridor?
“I’m disappointed,” Kendrix said. “When I think about 125 city residents that find a way to travel to Franklin for work, every day, I can only imagine how much better life would be for them and more city residents that wouldn’t have to travel as far.”
What do you think could have been done differently through this process?
“I can’t help but question if due process was really a part of the experience for Strauss,” he said. “Strauss should’ve had an opportunity to face questions relative to their operation and impact on the community.”
Kendrix also thinks it would have been impactful for the business to hear from city residents that work now for Strauss and city residents that reside within proximity to Century City.
Sister Patricia Rogers is the director at the Dominican Center. For the past 10 years, she has been working at the center, which facilitates resident-led neighborhood revitalization within communities in the Century City area.
How do you feel about Strauss Brands ultimately not bringing a slaughterhouse to the 30th Street Corridor?
“After talking with some residents, I am very happy that they did not bring that here,” Rogers said. “The residents opposed to the deal knew the possible cost to the environment and the stress that it would be on families living near a slaughterhouse.”
What response have you seen from the community you’re connected to?
The proposed wages of $14 to $15 an hour “would not be sufficient for the kind of disruption (residents) would have from this type of company,” she said
Community members are frustrated with the misinformation and lack of communication, she said, especially regarding the number of jobs the facility would bring. Rogers originally heard about 50 jobs would come to the community with the slaughterhouse addition, which differs than the officially announced 250 jobs.
What do you think could have been done differently through the process?
Rogers said elected officials and the company could have been much more transparent.
“If Strauss had bothered to come to the different neighborhoods and explained their process, if the alderman and mayor had come to the residents and been honest about the amount of jobs, it would be different,” she said.
What do YOU think?
What’s your take on the issue? Please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “Century City” in the subject line or share your comments on Facebook.

created: November 5, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 4, 2019


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OPINION: A ‘development that’s not community centered from the start is a failure from the start’ | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jarrett English
November 5, 2019
Looking north above the intersection of North 27th and West Hopkins streets, the largely undeveloped Century City Business Park lies to the left. (Photo by Wes Tank)
Editor’s note: Got 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.
First off, this is NOT about a slaughterhouse.
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This is about black people, in a plurality black metropolis, in a community that has been violently, intentionally, economically and politically marginalized, in a city and state where political and business leaders have failed miserably in their duty to bring sustained, accessible, equitable, opportunity to those most in need.
This is about the people and a fundamental disconnect between themselves and their government.
When you have a population that is actively and historically disenfranchised as black folks are in Milwaukee, you get politicians doing what they want for their own ambitions (and elections) rather than what the people want.
When you have a system like this, you get elected officials who think they are their own boss. The truth being, their “boss” is distributed in the persons of hundreds of thousands of people.
These officials treat the people as fools incapable of knowing what’s best for themselves, their families and communities. This is striking because it’s not unlike the way plantation owners treated the human beings whose freedom they stole. Most of you can extrapolate from there, but for those who can’t, it seems Milwaukee is run like a plantation, where people without privilege have as little input as possible.
“Accessibility” and “equity” it seems are the dirtiest of words to some folks in our government.
Second, the mayor’s office and administration made a fatal mistake.
The fact is, development that’s not community centered from the start is a failure from the start.
Period.
The mayor’s office got too bold, trying to hit a home run like the Menomonee Valley Partners did. Rather than reflecting and engaging with the community — the Valley folks have had hundreds of meetings with community folks and other partners — they kept going under the false assumption that Century City was a blank slate in the same way the colonizers of old looked at the land. They didn’t even consider the desires and needs of the people already living there until they were called out.
I’m reasonably well connected in the community and I personally didn’t hear about any community meetings regarding Strauss Brands before it was in the Business Journal. And if the mayor’s office did have meetings, did more than 10 people show up from a community of thousands? What time of day did it happen? What input and thoughts did the community have? Where are the notes?
You know the answer. They are nowhere to be found.
So what’s the lesson? If you’re the elected chief executive of city government in a participatory democracy, you’ve got to act like it. In every neighborhood, regardless of its makeup, all the time. That’s not what happened and the mayor should know better after 15 years, right before an election.
Third, white folks from both city and suburbs need to get their priorities straight. Regardless of their widely differing political persuasions and beliefs, they have inadvertently conspired to put themselves in a position to make a choice that’s not theirs to make and to make life harder for the residents of Century City and 30 Street Corridor.
It’s a privileged, implicitly racist position, regardless of your politics, to go to a majority black community that is not yours and demand that something be stopped just because you want it to be. Damn the needs, desires and opinions of the people who already live there.
That’s called being a colonizer.
Y’all (white people) have done this to the detriment of the entire world for the last half millennia.
You need to stop. Milwaukee is a great place to start.
If you were being true to the values you profess, you would have helped create a community-centered alternative from the beginning. If you truly desired to see something there to benefit the people of that community, you would have organized for it 20 years ago alongside them as their livelihoods were being stolen and jobs were hemorrhaging from the area.
I, personally, am not a fan of slaughterhouses, but we have people who can’t even feed their families or who are currently living on the street. If you all want to do something, HELP the community do something about that. No more dictating.
It’s telling that a group of five or six white folks can stop a $60 million development in a black neighborhood with a one–week campaign, but literally hundreds of black, Latino, and Asian people organizing the #LiberateMKE effort have to mount a yearlong campaign just to get the city to consider reallocating $25 million to community development and youth employment.
The folks who stopped this thing aren’t better organizers.
They’re just white.
The Strauss saga is a failure all around and a perfect example of how and why Wisconsin is 10 years behind where it should be.
The same site was also prevented from building high-speed trains not long ago. High-speed service would have started in 2017.
The most impacted people — the black people of the Century City community — need to be at the direct center, driving any decisions being made about their neighborhoods.
And I am personally ready to throw down with them to make sure that happens.

author: Jarrett English


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NNS Spotlight: Nonprofit uses data research to spur change in communities | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Caroline White
November 6, 2019
Katie Pritchard, executive director of Data You Can Use, works with community groups on data projects that seek to foster awareness and create change. (Photo by Caroline White)
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.
Numbers can tell only part of a story.
They mean nothing without context.
And that’s where Data You Can Use steps in. The nonprofit works to provide useful local data so organizations can create change on a community level.
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“In some of these neighborhoods, people have a fear of research because they’ve always been the subject, but they never see the results. That can be very damaging,” said Katie Pritchard, executive director and president of Data You Can Use. “If you’re only telling one part of the story, it doesn’t help anyone.”
Pritchard and Carrie Koss Vallejo, a data and research consultant, combined their comprehensive nonprofit experience to start Data You Can Use in 2016 at the UWM Zilber School of Public Health, 1240 N. 10 St. Together, with their small staff and an extensive professional network, they help their clients find, collect, analyze and understand data to better serve the community.
Lending a helping hand
Data You Can Use has worked with the Dominican Center and Amani United, among others, on a safety initiative for the Amani neighborhood on the North Side. First, it gathered the data already out there: population, education, crime, etc. Then it collected data that only Amani residents themselves could share.
Here’s where the second part of Data You Can Use’s slogan comes in — “from people you can trust.”
Rather than walk into a neighborhood staffers aren’t familiar with to survey strangers, Data You Can Use worked with community volunteers and trained them to conduct the surveys.
CORE El Centro, a nonprofit natural healing center in Walker’s Point, worked with Data You Can Use to measure its impact on clients. (File photo by Edgar Mendez)
The survey showed the majority of residents was concerned about reckless driving. Amani neighborhood volunteers then took that information and started a movement to encourage safe driving by posting road signs and hanging up informational flyers.
Data You Can Use also helps those searching for data through its Data Dream competition. Local organizations are invited to apply for a $5,000 grant by pitching a problem that data could help them solve. Then the top three applicants present their project during the annual Data Day. This year, both the Brady Campaign Milwaukee staff and Walnut Way Conservation Corp. were named winners. The date of Data Day 2020 has yet to be announced.
In 2018, CORE El Centro, a nonprofit natural healing center, was one of the Data Dream winners. Barb Wesson, the outcomes manager, is familiar with the quantitative data CORE El Centro has on its clients. But when the staff started to wonder why their movement studio wasn’t getting as much use for other services, the numbers alone did not tell them why.
“We wanted to find a better way to measure the impact of what we do,” Wesson said. “One of the things Data You Can Use does really well that I don’t do at all is qualitative data analysis, and that’s what we needed.”
Over the course of several months, Data You Can Use aided the center’s staff in narrowing their research questions, choosing their participants and conducting focus groups.
In addition to working with specific clients, Data You Can Use also gathers data for neighborhood portraits for residents to learn more about their communities and the city’s “indicators.”
The indicators Data You Can Use focuses on are population, equity and access, market value and health. They are meant to help community members and policymakers explore the growth and changes in the city.
Pritchard stressed the importance of allowing community organizations to contribute and give context to the data that’s out there.
Groups “help us do our job better,” Pritchard said. “The community can do better by working together.”

created: November 6, 2019

author: Caroline White


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 5, 2019


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Post from Community: Black Lens presents My Sherman Park Nov. 12 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Safe & Sound
November 6, 2019
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.

author: Safe & Sound


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My Sherman Park Flyer | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 6, 2019

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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My Sherman Park Flyer | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 6, 2019
My Sherman Park Flyer


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Post from Community: Lead in Milwaukee: A community-wide response | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
UW-Milwaukee
November 6, 2019
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 Public Health presents Lead in Milwaukee: A community-wide response.
A panel of experts and advocates engage in a community conversation around the lead problem in Milwaukee, sharing information about current efforts, and lessons learned from other cities.
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5 – 5:30 pm – Refreshments & Networking
5:30 – 7 pm – Panel Discussion
Free and open to the public.
Please RSVP by November 14 to George Henion at henion@uwm.edu.

author: UW-Milwaukee


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Post from Community: MATC to hold open house for prospective students Nov. 7 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Area Technical College
November 6, 2019
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.
Prospective students are invited to Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Open House, from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7. Come to the Student Center at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus, 700 W. State St., and then visit labs and classrooms to take part in hands-on activities.
Free parking is available in the parking structure at the northwest corner of 8 and State Streets. Attendees who plan to apply for admission are encouraged to bring a copy of their high school or college transcripts.
Participants will learn about MATC’s more than 170 academic programs and meet with faculty and staff. Representatives from MATC’s four campuses – Downtown Milwaukee, Mequon, Oak Creek and West Allis – will share details about campus-specific programs and activities. Staff from admissions, registration, financial aid, counseling and student life will be on hand to answer questions and talk about student organizations and athletics. Representatives also will be available to discuss options for students interested in continuing to four-year colleges and universities after earning an MATC associate degree; as well as GED, HSED , Adult High School and English as a Second Language programs.
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Lab tours and hands-on activities are available in many areas. Some include surgical technology, dental hygiene and dental assisting, registered nursing and nursing assistant, phlebotomy, music occupations, audio production, photography, nail technician, CNC Swiss setup and operation, architectural technology, civil engineering, automotive technology, diesel and powertrain servicing, barber and cosmetology, chemical technician, electronic and mechanical technology, electricity, computer gaming and simulation and more.
Spring semester starts on Jan. 21. Early applications are encouraged to ensure ideal class schedules. High school students who want to enroll next fall should apply now for the best opportunity to obtain financial aid. Students interested in applying for the MATC Promise for New High School Graduates must complete the MATC application, the Promise interest application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by Feb. 7, 2020. Priority applications for the MATC Promise for Adults should be submitted by Dec. 11, 2019, with a final deadline of Jan. 8, 2020. The MATC Promise programs provide free college tuition and fees for eligible students. For more information, visit www.matc.edu/promise.
More information on the open house is available at http://www.matc.edu/openhouse/ or call (414) 297-6228.
Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in theregion since 1912. Nearly 35,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 150 academic programs; transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 35 four-year colleges and universities.  Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the national standard for academics and student services.

author: Milwaukee Area Technical College