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City of Milwaukee continues to see hospitalizations related to K2 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Health Department
September 1, 2018
Read a recent related story from Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, Officials ramp up awareness campaign after two suspected synthetic marijuana-related deaths.
The City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) is once again reminding residents to steer clear of synthetic cannabinoids, also known as K2, Fake weed, or Spice, which contain rat poison. There have been eight probable cases in the city of Milwaukee within the past two weeks. This brings the total number of cases to 34 confirmed and 13 probable in Milwaukee, as of August 30th. To date, there has been one death associated with K2 use in Milwaukee County.
“This recent increase in cases means that this product is circulating in our community again,” said Lindsey Page, Infectious Disease Epidemiologist. “These products are not safe and should not be used”
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K2 can cause severe bleeding, unexplained bruising, and could lead to death. Individuals should expect several months of follow-up treatment after poisoning occurs.
If you have purchased K2, or Fake Weed:
The MHD encourages people to call 911 or immediately go to an emergency room if they or someone they know are experiencing a serious reaction to synthetic cannabinoids.
For more information on K2, visit the MHD at milwaukee.gov/synthetic-weed.

author: City of Milwaukee Health Department


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Crossing the Line looks at housing and development in Milwaukee, 50 years later | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
September 1, 2018
is a program series sponsored by the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and Saint John’s On The Lake in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the 200 consecutive days of demonstrations for fair housing legislation in Milwaukee.
Below is the schedule of events, which are open to the public at no charge.
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William R. Tisdale, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council, will talk on “What housing discrimination looks like today.”
Appetizers and ice tea will be served in the Saint John’s On The Lake gallery where people can view the Wisconsin Historical Society’s photo exhibit on fair housing demonstrations in 1967-1968.
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Michael Gosman, president of ACTS, will talk on “How home ownership can combat segregation.”
Marc Levine, UWM emeritus professor of history, economic development and urban studies, will talk about his research on housing segregation affecting middle and upper middle income African-American families. Talk title: “Segregation, Race and Poverty in Milwaukee: Are Things improving?
Panel topic: “Economic development without displacement: Easier said than done?” Panelists are:
Donsia Strong Hill, executive director of LISC
Keith Stanley, executive director of Near West Side Partners
Joaquin J. Altoro, Vice President Commercial Banking, Town Bank
Kalan Haywood, President, Haywood Group, LLC.
Sharon McGowan, editor of the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, will moderate the discussion. Registration is required for this event.
The Wisconsin Historical Society exhibit, “Crossing the Line: The Milwaukee Fair Housing Marches of 1967-1968,” will be displayed at Saint John’s from Sept. 19 to Oct. 9.
“The Long March to Freedom,” an illustrated booklet of articles produced by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service will be available at each of the programs. The articles first appeared at www.milwaukeenns.org.
– Saint John’s On The Lake, 1800 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee
– Milwaukee Center for Independence, 2020 W. Wells St., Milwaukee. Enter parking lot from
  Kilbourn Ave. between 20th and 21st Street. Enter the building from the parking lot.

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: September 1, 2018

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

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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Happy Labor Day | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 3, 2018
While heat and humidity look to stretch beyond Labor Day, with school back in session for students around Milwaukee, summer feels as if it’s over. These are photos from another eventful July and August in Milwaukee’s neighborhoods.

created: September 3, 2018

author: Adam Carr


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Confirming Dr. Kowalik is a step in the right direction for Milwaukee’s health | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
LaShawndra Vernon
September 4, 2018
LaShawndra Vernon, a nonprofit management professional, called on the Common Council to confirm Dr. Jeanette Kowalik as Milwaukee health commissioner.
Health and wellness in Milwaukee has been in a state of emergency for over a decade. Although philanthropy targeted resources to address the many gaps in health equity, we still haven’t significantly moved the needle for families living in Milwaukee. We’ve worked together across sectors and achieved numerous milestones, but we’re not even close to closing the gap in health outcomes.
In order to resolve the health disparities in Milwaukee, we need leadership that understands health across socio-cultural backgrounds and leads with an equity lens. We’ve been fortunate to have the leadership of Dr. Patricia McManus during this transition of leadership at the health department. I look forward to the transition to another highly qualified leader, Dr. Jeanette Kowalik to lead the Milwaukee Health Department. She is the right choice to serve as the health commissioner of Milwaukee. Confirming Dr. Kowalik is a step in the right direction towards improving the health and wellness of our community.
Dr. Kowalik is from Milwaukee and her return to Milwaukee exemplifies her intent to restore outcomes-driven health practices at home. She started her career as an undergraduate intern at the City of Milwaukee Health Department focused on community-level interventions to decrease infant mortality disparities among African American & Latinx adolescents. Since then, Dr. Kowalik has served as the associate director of the Women’s and Infant Health unit to meet the needs of Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) members and partners. In her role she is responsible for the Collaborative Innovation and Improvement Network (CoIIN), focused on prematurity and infant mortality prevention. We need a leader that possesses a deep understanding of the necessary actions to prevent prematurity and ensure that more babies are able to blow out their first candle in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee’s need for new leadership is urgent. Our communities are plagued with violence and it is adversely impacting families. Lack of opportunities for sustainable income is feeding toxic stress, making it more difficult for people to thrive. As long as our black and brown babies are four times more likely to die in their first year in Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Health Department should be our highest priority. Poor health outcomes for black and brown families are symptomatic of an unhealthy environment that re-victimizes us daily. We must treat the neglect of our communities like the epidemic it is.  We expect our leadership to support health and wellness.
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Dr. Kowalik’s professional experience in public health, personal values and demonstrated commitment to Milwaukee will contribute to an accountable, outcomes-driven health department. Under her leadership, MHD programs and services will once again emphasize equity and address the social determinants of health that lead to the startling racial and socioeconomic disparities that impact so many of us.
We strongly urge the members of the Common Council to confirm Dr. Kowalik as our new Health Commissioner.  But no one person can do it alone. We need Dr. McManus to remain engaged in the onboarding process to ensure the best health of the community.  We urge everyone to get behind Dr. Kowalik in fighting for a healthier and more equitable Milwaukee.
Update: The Common Council has confirmed Dr. Kowalik’s appointment as Milwaukee Health Commissioner.

created: September 4, 2018

author: LaShawndra Vernon


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 4, 2018


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Milwaukee’s Ladies of Charity group aims to clothe 1,000 children this year | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
September 4, 2018
Cathryn Blunt determines if a pair of pants will fit her son. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
Bertha Harris had Lady Luck on her side the day she walked into the Children’s Clothing Center at 1936 Vel R. Phillips Ave. A friend from 14 years ago recognized her earlier that day and gave her a free ride in his taxi. And, although she lacked the required voucher, Harris left the center that day with three garbage bags full of clothes for her sons.
“I’m so grateful; you folks are absolutely lovely,” she said to the volunteers.
The Children’s Clothing Center was founded 50 years ago by the Ladies of Charity Milwaukee chapter. Each chapter within the international organization dedicates itself to some form of charity.
“Our emphasis is on clothing the children,” said Francie Shea, one of 120 volunteers.
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Each year, the group opens its doors from August through April, every Thursday and the second Saturday of the month. Although the store is small, Shea said it’s beneficial being in an accessible area that’s on a bus route.
“We have usually 1,000 each year that we service,” she said.
Parents or children who wish to pick up clothing must have a voucher supplied by social workers or schools. The voucher provides a child with five tops, three pants, a hoodie, a winter coat, gloves, a hat, seven pairs of socks, underwear, a book and a dictionary — for free.
The store is organized by age and category, to make it easier for the volunteers. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
Customers can also request a uniform. Harris’s eldest son, Courtlyn, was originally supposed to attend Alliance High School, but she switched him to Destiny High School because it requires a uniform.
“I wish all schools did uniforms,” said Harris. “It makes it easier for parents like me who can’t afford a thing.”
Harris was forced to leave all her belongings, including those of her four sons, in her house after she was evicted. Currently, she lives with her sister.
“Just plain and simple we don’t have any clothes; we don’t have anything,” Harris said. “Now I have to start all over.”
A majority of the clothes and funding to support the Children’s Clothing Center comes through donations. Volunteers also dig through “lost and founds” and scour rummage sales for quality clothing.
Volunteer Gail Adams often frequents rummage sales just before they close. If she’s lucky, she’ll fill her entire car. Once the clothes are acquired, some volunteers wash them, and others sort them.
“Everybody has their niche,” said Adams. “It’s a well-oiled machine.”
Volunteers put pajamas, shorts, dresses and infant clothes in bins up front for families to search through, while everything else is hung up in back. Underwear and socks are always bought new, and the entire store is organized by age and category. When an individual comes in, volunteers divide and conquer. Some search for winter coats, others for pants and a few for shirts. A voucher allows one visit a year.
However, “We have exceptions,” Adams said. “People have bedbugs [or] fires; people get evicted.”
Volunteers bring the clothes to the front table, where customers can view their options. One time, Shea said, a group of teenage boys came in and refused every option presented to them. Eventually, the women allowed them to peruse on their own in the store, only to choose the same items that the volunteers had offered.
Parents usually want to make sure the clothes are the correct size and that they match their children’s style. Cathryn Blunt, for example, wanted to make sure her daughter’s winter coat was both functional and fashionable.
Blunt’s three children attend Congress School, Milwaukee School of the Arts and Carter’s Christian Academy. This was her third year coming to the center.
“I try to save up,” Blunt said, but over the summer she takes off from work to spend quality time with her children.
The Children’s Clothing Center allows her to enjoy her children and provide them with new clothes, she said.
The center clothes many children, but Adams and Shea know they could be helping many more.
“We are missing so many kids, and that hurts,” said Adams.

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 3, 2018


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On the Block: Be kind | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Grace Connatser
September 4, 2018
Bobby Thompson, 70, has been volunteering at Washington Park Senior Center for five years. She said she gives back to the community through the senior center because that’s what her mother and grandmother taught her when she was a child.

author: Grace Connatser


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44344036792_056cecc501_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 3, 2018


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Thousands ride in Milwaukee for Harley-Davidson’s 115th Anniversary Parade | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Analise Pruni
September 4, 2018
Motorcycle riders from all over the globe came to Milwaukee to celebrate and ride in Harley-Davidson’s 115th Anniversary Parade. Events kicked off earlier in the week with music stages and rides throughout the city. The festivities culminated in a parade that started at Miller Park and continued down North Lincoln Memorial Drive on Sunday afternoon. The ride was scheduled to end at Veterans Park, but the plan changed after heavy rain Saturday night muddied the grounds.
Sky-high handlebars mingled with Low Riders’ rumbles. Eventually riders put their kickstands up to enjoy after events around the city. Casual observers and “ride or die” bikers could all find activities to enjoy during this Harley-Davidson-flavored Labor Day weekend.

author: Analise Pruni


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How to deal with seasonal allergies | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Madison Marx
September 5, 2018
In the late fall, ragweed is the most common problem. Ragweed produces pollen from August to November, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Mold and fungus are also airborne during the summer and fall months. Thankfully, hay fever declines when heavy frost and cold weather occurs.
Here are some suggestions to limit your seasonal allergy symptoms:
Avoid exposure to allergens
Avoiding allergens, if possible, is the best “treatment” for any allergy. Keep doors and windows in your home closed and avoid outside activity when the pollen count is high.
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Check pollen levels
If pollen levels are high in your area, it’s wise to limit your outdoor activity. Typically, pollen levels are high in the morning. You can check pollen counts here.
Remove pollen
Wash pollen off your skin and your hair as soon as possible after spending time outside. You should also change your shoes and clothes inside the front doorway to reduce the amount of allergens you may be bringing into your home.
See a doctor
Over-the counter medicines, such as antihistamines, can relieve many allergy symptoms. Other treatment options include nasal decongestants, nasal sprays and eye drops. In severe cases, an allergist may recommend allergy shots.

created: September 5, 2018

author: Madison Marx


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Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan to launch pilot program for School-Centered Mental Health in partnership with United Community Center | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
September 5, 2018
Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan (LSS) announces the launch of its School-Centered Mental Health model, a community-based program that utilizes schools as a hub to provide services to students and their families both at school and in the home. The pilot program with United Community Center (UCC), which begins this school year, stands to help students and their families focus on mental health and empower them to stay in control of their mental wellness through intentional engagement of the entire family and the school system.
“As a country, we have fallen short meeting the mental health needs of our children. Lutheran Social Services’ school-centered mental health model addresses this need and helps remove barriers families face in getting access to the care they need,” said Héctor Colόn, President and CEO of LSS. “Through our pilot with United Community Center, we hope to close the gap and give children the resources they need to grow into successful and thriving young adults by building healthy communities, beginning with a strong foundation of mental wellness.”
LSS’s comprehensive school-centered mental health model focuses on improving health equity of the children and families in communities throughout Wisconsin. LSS’ pilot program will build on the current success of its school-based mental health programs by expanding beyond therapy in the school setting to providing supports and services in the home and community. The model features a coaching approach to empowering the child, the family, their school and community at large.
“The United Community Center understands the importance of preparing our staff to help meet the challenges our students face with stress and anxiety. Too often these challenges impede their learning,” said Ricardo Diaz, Executive Director of United Community Center. “LSS brings a great deal of expertise in this area, and know this will benefit students in Milwaukee. This partnership will hopefully be just the start of a long-term relationship to best serve the families of our community.”
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The pilot programs will be housed at UCC’s Bruce Guadalupe School and Acosta Middle School, 1028 South 9th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204.
The pilot program is expected to result in reductions in the need for foster care and youth justice programs, lower truancy rates, improved school attendance, improved academic achievement and improved safety with reduced school violence.
In order to address policy change needed to sustain and scale the comprehensive model, and remove silos for all those working on improving the mental health of children in Wisconsin, LSS has formed a Partners of Change Committee to meet in September. The committee will be made up of county and state government representatives, mental health advocacy groups, local health systems, community organizations, committed funders and community members with lived experience.


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Pop-Up MKE’s third round features herbals, ‘hustlin’ T-shirts | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Grace Connatser
September 5, 2018
Mike Hodges, the owner of Happy Hustlin’, says the business has turned his life around. (Photo by Grace Connatser)
Five years ago, Mike Hodges was a criminal stuck in a rut. Now, he has turned his life around with his screen-printing business, Happy Hustlin’.
“I said, ‘now hold on, I know there’s other options out here,’” Hodges said. “I can use the same energy … in positive, productive ways.”
Happy Hustlin’ is one of seven businesses introduced in the third round of Pop-Up MKE, a program that gives businesses a physical retail platform rent-free for one month. Happy Hustlin’ is located at 1617 W. North Ave. along with Basia Rose Designs. Yenepa Herbals and LoveSum Court are located at 1008 S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive. POPtherapy, FlyBlooms by Funky Fly FlowerChild and Distinctive Designs by Tomira are located at 339 W. North Ave.
Hodges both creates his own T-shirt designs and offers designs from other creators. He founded his business in 2014 after deciding to begin a life of “self-rehabilitation.” He said the name Happy Hustlin’ comes from being a “hustler” for good instead of bad.
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Happy Hustlin’ most recently was located in the Milwaukee Mall, 2100 W. North Ave. The mall closed for redevelopment this past spring, leading the already-overlooked businesses within to fend for themselves. Despite limited resources and finances, Hodges simply rolls with the punches.
“It’s Happy Hustlin’,” he said. “You go with the flow. You work with what you got.”
Angela Kingsawan (behind table) sells her Yenepa Herbals products at a storefront at 1008 S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Angela Kingsawan was raised in her indigenous Aztec culture, also known as Tigua in the native Aztec language, Nahuatl. She identifies as Tigua, Mexica and Raramurí. As an herbalist for 24 years, she has focused on going back to her traditional roots. She grows her own herbs in her backyard and within her home. She even makes medicine by hand, especially since one of her daughters is allergic to penicillin.
“I’m very old fashioned,” Kingsawan said. “I do everything on the stove. I don’t use blenders or food processors. I grind in my molcajete (a traditional Mexican mortar and pestle).”
Kingsawan owns Yenepa Herbals, where she sells homemade cosmetic and medicinal products such as salves and sprays. Although she’s conducted herb-related business for many years, she officially established Yenepa Herbals last year. She said “everything” she brings to her business is indigenous. Yenepa means “ancient” in Nahuatl, a nod to her Tigua background. “When I was growing up, (my grandmother) taught me a lot about how to interact with nature,” Kingsawan said.
Neither Hodges nor Kingsawan is particularly interested in the profits, they just want to help out their communities. They keep prices low to attract low-income families, and they hope to bring inspiration to others through their work.
“I want to make things affordable for minority communities,” Kingsawan said. “Most people can’t afford to go into Outpost or Whole Foods. But they still deserve to use things that are good for them, and they should have that accessibility.”
“I can’t give you a thousand dollars, but I can give you some hope and inspiration,” Hodges said. “If I inspire somebody else, then that’s my million dollars.”
Hodges is a single father of two girls, Maria, 8, and Zoe, 2. He said he wanted to go down a different path so that his children can follow in his footsteps. “I want my kids to see the process of being an entrepreneur,” Hodges said. “I hope they choose to be entrepreneurs outside of having a regular 9-5 (job). I just try to present them with better and more options.”
Kingsawan also hopes that her three daughters will follow in her exploration of Tigua culture. Just as she grew up in an Aztec world, she said she hopes her daughters will continue it. “My older daughters and I started Aztec dancing,” she said. “We started doing it for performance, but then we started meeting people and we … only did it for ceremony. We would travel around the country (to dance).”
Iveliz Guirau, known by her business name Boss Lady E., has known and shopped with Hodges since last year. She said Hodges’s ability to maintain his business while also being a single father inspires her. “I love that … he came from the Milwaukee Mall and got a bigger blessing,” Guirau said. “Because he’s been grinding very hard. He’s earned it.”
Tasha Jones said it’s refreshing that he’s not the suit-and-tie type. “In this city, what you see with businesses, people maintain a façade,” Jones said. “They have to wear a professional suit, a tie, and do all of these things to appease … society. He does none of that. He’s an outlier.”
Beth Haskovec, the commercial revitalization program officer at Local Initiatives Support Corp. (LISC), is the go-to person for the pop-up project. The goal is to continue building economic development in underprivileged Milwaukee neighborhoods without displacing families during redevelopment. Haskovec said she wants to work on what’s already there rather than replace those businesses with something new.
“(We’re) using the pop-ups as a strategy for anti-displacement work,” Haskovec said. “Making sure that as the neighborhoods around downtown grow and change, people of color are building wealth and are able to stay in those neighborhoods.”
Haskovec said LISC secured funding for the project through the City of Milwaukee and Chase Bank. Not only did Pop-Up MKE provide a free retail space, but it also gave tenants entrepreneurship and business financing training and resources. Overall, she said the boost from the program was enough for business owners such as Hodges and Kingsawan to get on their feet, make connections and increase their share of the market, even if the space is only temporary.
“They’re starting to build a reputation and a relationship with the neighborhoods,” Haskovec said. “That doesn’t just stop after 30 days.”
Haskovec said she hopes LISC can do a similar project in the near future. “I think if we invest in (small business) and provide incentives for it, it can grow.”


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Alverno College receives National Science Foundation grant to prepare high-achieving, low-income women for careers in STEM | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Alverno College
September 6, 2018
Alverno College has been awarded a $974,698 grant from the National Science Foundation to fund and support the college’s New Futures in Science and Mathematics Program, which is designed to help high-achieving, low-income women graduate with a degree in a STEM discipline.
Using an engaging cohort model, the program aims to increase student retention and graduation through integrated advising, mentoring, tutoring and professional development, furthering Alverno’s mission of educating women for in-demand careers at a time when workforce needs are quickly evolving.
“In addition to financial support, this grant promotes the success of women in STEM by designing collaborative learning and building peer support within a larger STEM learning community,” said Angela Frey, Ph.D., chair of Alverno’s STEM program and a professor of biology. “This will benefit not only students in STEM, but all our students.”
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The New Futures in Science and Mathematics Program supports Alverno’s efforts to grow enrollment in strategic areas and includes four objectives:
Frey is the program’s principal investigator. Lauralee Guilbault, Ph.D., professor of physical sciences, and Susan Pustejovsky, Ph.D., professor of mathematics and computing, serve as co-principal investigators.
“This grant allows us to continue the essential work of developing strong women leaders in STEM fields, where women have long been underrepresented,” said Scott Zeman, Ph.D., the college’s vice president of Academic Affairs. “We’re thrilled to be recognized for our long-standing commitment to educational excellence and extending opportunities to those who may not always have the door open to them.”
Among Alverno’s existing programs that the New Futures program leverages is the college’s Girls’ Academy of Science and Mathematics. Founded in 2011, the academy has offered applied science and math classes to local high school girls, most of whom are minorities. The Girls’ Academy will serve as a pipeline for prospective candidates for the New Futures in Science and Mathematics Program.
According to catalyst.org, women in 2015 made up only 24 percent of those employed in STEM fields. The gap is wider for women of color. Asian, African American and Latina women made up slightly less than 10 percent of working scientists and engineers in the United States in 2015.
Project summary and activities
Research confirms that students must feel a sense of belonging in the field to see themselves as scientists, so the New Futures in Science and Mathematics program will engage students early on and involve them in community-building activities. One of these activities is a new bridge program, connecting all new incoming STEM students before orientation, resulting in strong cohorts. A first-semester seminar will include problem-solving projects and focused interaction with faculty, other New Futures Scholars and other first-year STEM majors. Additional activities include peer mentoring, professional experiences, advising, and independent research on and off campus to build self-efficacy in STEM fields.
Most of the grant money will be directed toward financial assistance, with $700,000 over five years supporting scholarships. Each year, up to 35 students will receive $3,000 to $10,000 based on unmet financial need, with an average scholarship amount of $5,000 per student.
Professional development is another key component of the program and is intended to help students successfully enter the workforce or post-secondary education. Alverno will fund professional membership fees for Scholars and offer community-based research opportunities.
About Alverno College
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 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, has been ranked one of the top five schools in the Midwest doing “the best job of educating undergrads” by U.S. News & World Report for the past eight years. In 2017, 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.

created: September 6, 2018

author: Alverno College


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
September 5, 2018

author: Name *


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MANDI celebrates 20 years — nominations are now being accepted | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
LISC Milwaukee
September 6, 2018
The Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation or MANDIs is celebrating 20 years of recognizing excellence in community development.
Join LISC-Milwaukee as we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the MANDI Awards and continue to celebrate the “good news” of successful efforts to revitalize neighborhoods and strengthen our great community.  Applications for the 2019 MANDI Awards are now being accepted. The MANDIs are comprised of the following award categories:
To nominate a deserving individual or nonprofit organization or business working to make Milwaukee communities better, stronger and more sustainable, visit mandiawards.org to complete the online application.
The MANDI Awards categories, criteria and selection process are outlined on the website. Nominations will be accepted through midnight, October 24, 2018.
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Finalists in each category will be announced in December. Winners will be announced at the official MANDI Awards Gala on Thursday, April 11, 2019, at Potawatomi Event Center.
Join LISC-Milwaukee and MANDI 2019 as we celebrate 20 years of neighborhood leadership, innovation and sustainability.
Apply now!

author: LISC Milwaukee


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Milwaukee Youth Council makes violence prevention a top priority | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
September 6, 2018
Youth Council President Emoni Gambrell-Toliver says it’s the council’s job to be the voice for youth. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
The City of Milwaukee Youth Council’s top priority in the upcoming school year is working to curb violence, making the city a safer place for residents, and specifically students and youth.
The council made the decision after 19 homicides occurred in August.
“I’m here today because we fear for our lives,” said Bria Smith, who represents the 6th Aldermanic District. “We fear for the safety of our community.”
Smith has been living in the Harambee neighborhood for the past 10 years. She recalled attending events and gatherings that ended early as the sound of gunshot echoed through the neighborhood. Families would return home with a sense of hopelessness. Smith said that she no longer feels hopeless because of her participation on the Youth Council, whose members are banding together to take a stand against violence.
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She attributed part of the problem to the fact that young people have become conditioned to think violence is acceptable. A bullet does not see color, nor does it discriminate, she said.
“The topic and discussion of gun violence isn’t a political issue to be labeled Democratic or Republican,” Smith added. “Gun violence is a human rights issue.”
Several other Youth Council members agreed that the normalization of gun violence needs to be eradicated for the community to thrive.
Joya Headley, who represents the 15th Aldermanic District on the Youth Council, speaks at the meeting. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
“[They’ve been] brainwashed and conditioned to be against each other,” said Joya Headley, who represents the 15th District.
Headley, who is entering her second year on the council, believes that community members don’t fully understand the capabilities and power they have when they unite. “It takes a village to raise a child,” she said, quoting the popular phrase. But the “village” needs to invest in nurturing, energizing and bringing up youth.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Milwaukee Homicide Database, all the homicide deaths in August were from gunshots. Of those deaths, 5 percent of the victims were between the ages of 10 and 17 and 58 percent were between 18 and 29 years old.
The Youth Council called for a cease-fire over the Labor Day weekend. A Milwaukee Police Department spokesperson said there were no gun-related deaths over the long weekend.
According to Reggie Moore, director of the city’s Office of Violence Prevention, “The stronger the neighborhoods, the stronger the youth.” The Youth Council and OVP joined forces last year to survey young residents for the Blueprint for Peace. The blueprint, which was released last November, is a city-wide plan designed by the community to combat the many forms of violence. By continuing to join forces, OVP and the council hope to address gun violence in both adults and youth and encourage them to be peacemakers.
Through Blueprint for Peace, Moore hopes peacemakers will be inspired to create after-school programs for young people. In the past, OVP hosted classes to teach people how to intervene in a safe way and to recognize if someone is going to flee, fight or freeze.
“We have to be the change,” he said. “We as adults are responsible for the community.”
Although the group plans to organize community meetings and additional programming, Youth Council President, Emoni Gambrell-Toliver, who represents the 3rd District, stated there aren’t any concrete plans yet. Kalan R. Haywood II, a former Youth Council president and candidate for state representative, praised the council, calling it the face of change.
Right now, the council’s primary focus is to be a voice for youths at a time when leadership is desperately needed. Gambrell-Toliver pointed out that the members’ peers, friends and family members are facing the repercussions of a violent community.
In addition to lending their voices, Gambrell-Toliver also encouraged young people to reach out via Twitter or Facebook if they need someone to talk to.
“If you ever have a problem, if you ever feel like you want to go out and do something crazy; like you need to talk to somebody, we are here to help you,” she said.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated since its original publication.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 5, 2018


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29554740047_11a0f989cb_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 5, 2018


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MPS career fair offers rewarding opportunities for teachers, paraprofessionals, and other key district staff | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Schools
September 6, 2018
(Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Public Schools)
Milwaukee Public Schools will hold a special career fair on Saturday, September 8 to hire teachers, paraprofessionals, facilities staff, and school nutrition service workers. The district has immediate job openings in these areas. Teachers may be eligible for on-site job offers.
What: MPS Career Fair
When: Saturday, September 8, 2018; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
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Where: South Division High School, 1515 W. Lapham Blvd, Milwaukee WI 53204
Career Fair attendees will get information on jobs that are available now and can apply on site. Teacher and paraprofessional candidates may be offered on-site interviews and possible on-site job offers. All applicants must successfully pass a physical examination and criminal background check.
Facilities and school nutrition applicants must take a test, which will be offered on site. Applicants may also choose to attend testing sessions on September 24 or 25.
Several entry-level openings in facilities and maintenance are available; these positions are rarely open due to a strong pathway for advancement. The facilities and school nutrition positions provide opportunity for advancement to managerial-level positions.
School nutrition and facilities positions are included in the district’s progressive Road to $15 compensation plan, which will move all employees to a minimum of $15 over the next two years.
Interested applicants can review open positions at mpsmke.com/jobs prior to the career fair. For more information, call the MPS Office of Human Resources at 414-475-8224.

author: Milwaukee Public Schools


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Teacher and Student | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 6, 2018


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New funding opportunity open to On the Table MKE participants in 2018 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
September 6, 2018
Join the Greater Milwaukee Foundation on Tuesday, Oct. 9, for a special day of building relationships and taking action together to make southeastern Wisconsin a better place to live. On the Table MKE is a big collection of small gatherings where people share a meal and talk about topics that matter in their lives and communities. Any individual or organization can host a table and bring others together for conversation and change.
Register to host or join a table at onthetableMKE.org/register
View the On the Table MKE 2018 Welcome Guide in English or Spanish.
Funding opportunity for On the Table MKE participants
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New this year, On the Table MKE participants will be eligible to apply for small amounts of funding to strengthen community, deepen civic involvement and cultivate new ideas developed during their conversations. Ideas to Action funding will range in amount from $500 to $2,500, with anywhere from 20-40 awards expected, contingent on quantity and viability of applications. The program will use a streamlined online application process.
Criteria
Application timeline
Selection process
Questions
Educator resource
Youth voices matter. Local teachers and school administrators can engage their students in the civic conversations of On the Table MKE using a custom lesson plan that aligns with educational standards.
The Foundation introduced On the Table MKE in 2017 as a new way to build relationships, generate ideas through respectful dialogue and put those ideas in motion for the benefit of the community.  In its first year, On the Table MKE engaged more than 5,400 people across 73 ZIP codes in meaningful conversation to ignite action. At least 150 different topics were explored. The Foundation’s Voices from the Community report examines the experience of participants.
More information at onthetableMKE.org.

author: Greater Milwaukee Foundation


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Greatest barrier to affordable housing in county is low incomes, report finds | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Analise Pruni
September 7, 2018
Elizabeth Brown, who struggles to pay her rent, takes advantages of resources available at COA Goldin Center. (Photo by Analise Pruni)
Elizabeth Brown, a lifelong Milwaukeean, currently lives in the Amani neighborhood with four of her nine children in a three-bedroom home she rents for $775 a month. She said it’s too much, given the rundown condition of the house and the fact that she doesn’t have a paid job.
Brown began to count the number of houses she’s lived in and quickly gave up.
“I mean wow, it’s a lot.”
Two of her sons, who are in their mid-20s, are in and out of the house and help Brown pay the rent while she searches for a job. Brown was working towards a degree in human services but had to leave school the last time she couldn’t afford her rent. She lost her house.
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“On 11 and Burleigh of all places,” she sighed.
Brown has worked in childcare, housekeeping, food service, human services and personal care, as a night auditor for Hyatt and as an administrative assistant. She now volunteers at the Ethel Nutis Gill Family Resource Center at COA Goldin Center almost every day. She cannot find a job and many of the places she has applied to have told her she is overqualified.
Brown is like many of the people described in a recent report by Wisconsin Policy Forum (WPF), which found that just over half of Milwaukee County’s renting population is considered rent burdened. This means they spend at least 30 percent of their income on housing. Officials and community members have sought solutions to increase affordable housing. However, “The Cost of Living” study showed that low income is the larger problem, compared to an overall lack of affordable housing.
Elizabeth Brown’s daughter, Soleil, boxes up vegetables and canned goods to take home. (Photo by Analise Pruni)
In 2016 there was a shortage of roughly 63,000 affordable housing units for households earning less than $25,000 per year in Milwaukee County. The median income is $31,572 per year.
Since the Great Recession of 2008, home ownership has declined in favor of renting. According to the report, Milwaukee County has the 11 highest percent of renters among similar-size counties in the nation, at 50.6 percent. The county does not stand out in comparison with neighboring counties’ median rent, which was $834 in 2016. However, even Milwaukee County residents who earn the median income can’t afford the median rent, unless they spend more than 30 percent of their incomes on housing.
In an attempt to address this issue, the Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund was created in 2007 to provide affordable housing for low-to-moderate-income households.
“You have really deep poverty in certain parts of this community — with the African-American community, [and] to a certain extent Hispanics,” said Ald. Michael Murphy, the leading force behind the trust fund.
Murphy acknowledged that simply addressing housing is not sufficient. He proposed a “multi-pronged attack.”
“I think all the issues that revolve around poverty are interrelated,” said Murphy.  Providing housing, education and transportation to jobs would be part of the solution. “It’s just not one single thing. If it were, then somebody would’ve done it already.”
In the four-county Milwaukee metro area, roughly 40 percent of African-American households pay at least half of their income on rent, compared to 21 percent for white households.
For Brown, having to spend her own money on repairs to fix basic necessities such as windows and doors, is unfair. She said sometimes landlords are willing to work with low-income tenants. However, tenants who are behind on rent can only ask so much and they still end up falling behind trying to fix “unlivable” situations, she added.
Marilyn Green, a part-time food pantry assistant at the COA Goldin Center, wonders why anyone would want to live in the neighborhood.
“Everybody wants to get out,” said Green. “You come here when you have nowhere else to go. You have people living with people, living with people.”
She said that even if low-income families in overcrowded conditions are making rent, basic necessities such as buying food become the next problem. Many children come to the COA Goldin Center for after-school activities because of the free food.
The report concludes that federal or state action may be necessary to increase the supply of housing that is affordable for very low-income households.
“Low incomes, rather than high rents, appear to be the primary issue,” the report said.
Brown acknowledged the complexity of Milwaukee County’s affordable housing crisis.
“It’s not just black and white,” said Brown. “It is so much in between.”

created: September 7, 2018


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 6, 2018


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Iconic Lindsay Heights mural restored for 18th annual Harvest Day | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Grace Connatser
September 10, 2018
From left, Emily Moore, Qaamar Morehouse, Brandon Carson, Jr., Quin’Niya Richardson, Shavante Grant and Christina Theobald helped restore the “Caring Neighbors” mural. (Photo by Grace Connatser)
Harvest Day has been a cornerstone event for the Lindsay Heights community for 18 years, but this year was special.
The “Caring Neighbors” mural that stands next to the Walnut Way headquarters, 2240 N. 17th St., was painted in 2006 by ArtWorks for Milwaukee. Since then, panels had been knocked out after a car accident and paint was chipped and peeling. During the summer, several young artists working with ArtWorks stepped forward to restore the mural to its original form.
Christina Theobald, the lead artist on the project, said it took months to complete. Work began in mid-July and ended the morning of Harvest Day. Qaamar Morehouse said the artists worked from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. most days of the week refinishing the mural. The process involved cleaning off debris, sanding down sections that had peeled away and recreating the original paint colors. Theobald said some of the colors were so worn that the wood behind them was visible.
“It was kind of like doing a puzzle, trying to understand where the artist before you was coming from, then trying to replicate that, but still putting yourself in it,” Theobald said.
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Emily Moore, Brandon Carson, Jr., Quin’Niya Richardson and Shavante Grant also worked on the mural and were at Harvest Day to celebrate its restoration.
Many of the young artists said the mural gives Lindsay Heights something to be proud of. The community-based theme brings people together, Theobald said.
Richardson, a former intern at ArtWorks, said she had never noticed the artwork in Lindsay Heights until she began her internship.
Harvest Day attendees enjoy watching performers on stage. (Photo by Grace Connatser)
“I didn’t start to pay attention to the artwork in communities until I got into this,” Richardson said. “I started looking around. There’s a lot of beautiful artwork around this neighborhood.”
Morehouse, the youngest of the interns at 14, said he was proud of the work he did.
“I’m really glad I got involved in this, because it really helped me mature a little bit,” Morehouse said. “It actually helped me get another job.”
Brandon Carson Jr., said he found a personal connection to the mural while he was repairing it. One of the figures in the mural looks exactly like him, right down to the black do-rag on his head.
“It’s like a personal piece,” Carson said. “Something I can always remember.”
Terry Murphy, the executive director of ArtWorks, said she had noticed the deterioration of the mural and decided to do something about it. She got funding for the project through a Heart of Canal Street grant from Potawatomi Hotel and Casino. She said the mural should last for at least another 15 years after ArtWorks applies an anti-graffiti coating to it.
“I thought this would be a great project to re-engage new youth,” Murphy said. “(The mural) has become an icon of the progress of Lindsay Heights. It’s something you want to preserve.”
Deaduri Gales, Harvest Day’s chief organizer, said this year’s group of vendors was bigger and more diverse than ever. Organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Social Development Commission and the All of Us Research Program staffed informational tents and tables throughout the event. Vienna Beef, That Salsa Lady, Nature’s Tasty Treats and several other food vendors offered choices including barbeque, queso and chips, and lemonade.
Retail businesses included Aquarius Creations, which sells bath products, and Happy Hustlin’, which sells T-shirts, and others. The stage featured DJ Kima Hamilton of 88.9 Milwaukee, K-Stamp and Nefertari African Dance Company. All the vendors and performers were local, and some originate from Lindsay Heights.
“Each year, I’m always amazed,” Gales said. “I really enjoy the community; everybody just getting together and sharing the music and food … trying to change the narrative of what’s happening in Milwaukee.”
The Nefertari African Dance Company performs at every Harvest Day event, but this year the group celebrated its 50th year in performance. Nefertari has brought African traditions to the North Side since 1968 and has been performing at Harvest Day since 2000.
Director Marilynn Douglas said the dancers perform West and South African dances all over Milwaukee and the country. But, Douglas said, Harvest Day is too important to miss because of Nefertari’s connection to Walnut Way. Douglas was a good friend of Mario Hall, a Walnut Way staff member who died in September 2013. Douglas said she has dedicated each year’s performance to him since his death.
“It’s just something we’ve been doing … in honor of our good friend Mario, who passed away several years ago,” Douglas said. “We always make sure we come. It’s our way of celebrating his life.”
Vanessa Britton-Winston, a Harvest Day attendee, said going to the festival has been a tradition in her family for several years. Because her children perform in the Nefertari African Dance Company, the event has made its way into the family’s schedule every year.
“This is a beautiful day,” Britton-Winston said. “It’s such a great opportunity to connect with people … and rub shoulders with people like me.”
Walnut Way Executive Director Antonio Butts said not only was the turnout greater than past years, but this year’s theme, “Lead From Where You Live,” brings something special to the neighborhood by focusing on leadership and engagement.
“We’re encouraging all neighbors throughout the Lindsay Heights neighborhood to engage and be a part of the transformation that’s happening here,” Butts said. “The mural further inspires. It’s a symbol of what’s possible.”

created: September 10, 2018


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 9, 2018

created: September 9, 2018


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NNS joins 150 nonprofit newsrooms for NewsMatch 2018 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
September 10, 2018
More than 150 nonprofit newsrooms across the country, including Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, will participate in this year’s NewsMatch, the largest grassroots fundraising campaign to support nonprofit news organizations. The national campaign will launch on Nov. 1, 2018.
In 2017 NewsMatch helped to raise more than $4.8 million from individual donors and a coalition of private funders. This year the number of nonprofit news organizations participating has jumped by more than 40 percent.
“There is an incredible amount of excitement building around NewsMatch 2018 from news organizations across the country,” said Sue Cross, Executive Director and CEO of the Institute for Nonprofit News, which serves as one of NewsMatch’s nonprofit partners. “We are encouraged to see such strong growth in community support of news because NewsMatch makes it easy for communities and individuals to find and fund their local sources of trusted news.”
In 2018, more than 150 organizations will be eligible to receive matching funds for individual donations up to $1,000. Donors will be able to contribute between Nov. 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018, at NewsMatch.org—the first and only one-stop platform for donating to nonprofit news. Donations can also be made directly to participating newsrooms.
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NewsMatch’s national call to action rallies those who believe in freedom of the press and helps empower journalists to do their jobs by telling stories that spark change and hold leaders accountable. The campaign is driven by a partnership with the Institute for Nonprofit News and the News Revenue Hub, Democracy Fund, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The Miami Foundation serves as fiscal sponsor for the fund. The Facebook Journalism Project also made a $1 million donation to NewsMatch in 2018. Donors and foundations can join NewsMatch 2018 or support individual newsrooms by contacting The Miami Foundation’s Lindsey Linzer (LLinzer@miamifoundation.org).
Knight Foundation launched the inaugural NewsMatch in 2016, helping 57 nonprofit news organizations raise more than $2.4 million. In 2017, the campaign expanded to include a coalition of funders, raising $4.8 million for nonprofit news organizations, and equipping them with professional fundraising, tools and technology and cultivated over 43,000 new donors.
Belt Media Collaborative; Better Government Association; Block Club Chicago; Bridge Magazine; City Bureau; Flint Beat; East Lansing Info; Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism; KCUR-FM; Madison365; Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service; MinnPost; Ohio Center for Investigative Journalism; South Dakota News Watch; St. Louis Public Radio; The Chicago Reporter; The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting; Wausau Pilot and Review; WDET; WFYI Public Media; and Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism.
These nonprofit news organizations are all members in good standing of the Institute for Nonprofit News. To be a member, an organization must be a 501(c)(3) or have a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor, must be transparent about funding sources, and produce investigative and/or public-service reporting. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Visit newsmatch.org for more information.

author: Dwayne Burtin


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Three reasons to read Milwaukee Blueprint for Peace | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dr. Robert Smith
September 10, 2018
Dr. Robert S. Smith, Harry G. John Professor of History and the director of the Center for Urban Research, Teaching & Outreach at Marquette University, challenges Milwaukee residents to read the Milwaukee Blueprint for Peace, calling it “informative” and “concise.”
Let’s make the goal of this piece clear up front. I dare you to read the Milwaukee Blueprint for Peace! Matter of fact, I double-dog dare you. (I hope that phrase isn’t offensive now.)
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Trust me Family, as a so-called academic I know how hard it is to read through policy reports and other wonky documents. One of the reasons so many bills in state legislatures and Congress slide through with disastrous provisions is simply because nobody wants to read all that junk; except the overly ambitious intern who probably does a cursory skim at best.
The Office of Violence Prevention though deserves a shout-out for the Milwaukee Blueprint for Peace. It’s deeply informative, while also digestible and concise. It was informed by an exhaustive number of community experts leaning in to address a vexing problem, but does not absolve government of its roles and responsibilities. And, most importantly, it calls for a re-imagination of how to address the myriad forms of violence that weaken our families and communities, while also acknowledging how massive a job the Office of Violence Prevention is called upon to do.
Many of us are going to say, “I know that information already…” Maybe. Others of us won’t even bother making the false promise. Much appreciated. Nonetheless, here are three reasons why we each should take a few minutes and read or reread “The Blueprint.”
#1 – The Blueprint Educates
The Blueprint synthesizes and contextualizes data and information that explains – indeed complicates – our collective understanding of violence. The Blueprint defines and highlights the collective toll exacted by gun and gang violence, domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, drug-related violence, self-inflicted violence and structural violence. For many, the inclusion of structural violence alongside the other types is a welcomed, albeit longstanding, critique of our broader society.
Because structural violence “refers to harm that individuals, families and communities experience from economic and social structures.” The Blueprint is therefore implicating the very structure of government in which the Office of Violence Prevention rests. More so, The Blueprint states that “structural violence in Milwaukee includes institutional racism and other forms of oppression such as sexism and classism.” Props!
This more sophisticated understanding is profoundly important because the path to a healthier, less violent city requires the appropriate redress of issues that go well beyond demanding young people behave better or administering token reforms within the criminal justice apparatus. Explaining these disparate forms of violence as part of a larger social exhibition confirms this as a vast American problem and public health crisis. Few will disagree that “The injury, pain, and trauma that results from violence can severely impact the physical and mental well-being and sense of worth and safety of individuals and communities.” For those living in poverty, they know all too well that “Poverty is traumatic. Segregation is traumatic. Experiencing life as a ‘have not’ among ‘haves’ is traumatic.” The Blueprint outlines the depth of violence we experience in our lives, both seen and unseen, immediate and gradual, personal and structural.
#2 – Cross-Sector Implementation is the Only Way
No singular office or agency can address this hydra. Police forces have failed to significantly reduce violence despite the criminalization of masses of people and despite full scale militarization. Government has failed to undo patterns of structural violence, and will continue to double down on the practices that propel structural violence given its never-ending appetite for capital.
A defining value of The Blueprint is its commitment to mobilizing existing strategies while making space for emerging alliances and creative ideas to thrive. In this respect, The Blueprint maximizes the knowledge housed at the grassroots level, calling on the vast array of more imaginative community reservoirs. This approach allows it to be “a living guide that can be responsive and updated as issues,
priorities, and effective ideas emerge.” The Blueprint also focuses its implementation efforts on priority neighborhoods, improving the likelihood of an impact.
#3 – Immediate Involvement
You can click here and join the effort. The OVP leadership team has and will remain open to collaborators, and we can each take part in the community programs and events currently underway. We can each make the decision to take part right now, in whatever ways we can contribute to the solution development process.
Look Fam’, our nation is deeply committed to violence. It is a defining narrative in the American experience beginning with examples like chattel slavery and even with our celebration of the American Revolution. Indeed, our nation’s commitment to violence is put on display every weekend throughout the fall and winter. So, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday as we boldly celebrate that bloodlust, it is possible for those truly interested, “…to join together to meet this moment of urgency and opportunity to make Milwaukee one of the safest cities in the country,” because we can read The Blueprint.

author: Dr. Robert Smith


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On the Block: Open book | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sarah Lipo
September 11, 2018
Robert Hardy has been living in the Clarke Square neighborhood for two years. He met his friend Jose Serrano on a bench in the park outside the Mitchell Horticultural Conservatory, although he has only been in the Domes once. He said everyone has different interests that make them who they are, and when you talk to others you can learn a lot.

created: September 11, 2018

author: Sarah Lipo


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 10, 2018


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Walnut Way launches ‘Lead From Where You Live’ initiative | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ryeshia Farmer
September 11, 2018
Walnut Way Executive Director Antonio Butts discusses the Lindsay Heights block captain initiative. (Photo by Ryeshia Farmer)
Walnut Way Conservation Corp. has launched a new initiative, “Lead From Where You Live,” intended to encourage grassroots leadership. One brunch meeting has been held to introduce the initiative and more are upcoming.
In July, canvassers visited more than 1,000 homes in Lindsay Heights to discuss the initiative and invite people to the brunches.
Lead From Where You Live was created to “uplift natural leadership” of community members, according to Antonio Butts, executive director of Walnut Way.
The initiative includes an effort to institute neighborhood block captains. They will receive training on how to organize their blocks by hosting block parties and participating in focus groups.
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Block captains also will be responsible for addressing littering, holding community meetings, aiding homeownership efforts, informing residents of activities and communicating with each other.
According to Butts, more than 15 people have signed up for the role.
Butts said that Lead From Where You Live discussions will emphasize that everybody can lead. “What [residents] do at any level in the neighborhood, even picking up a piece of paper, impacts the quality of life in Lindsay Heights.”
Lead From Where You Live was inspired by economic development in downtown Milwaukee, according to Butts. Recent developments include the new Milwaukee Bucks stadium, named the Fiserv Forum, and The Hop, the new streetcar.
Butts said people are wondering what the implications of the downtown developments are for their lives and families, and what information they need to influence the process.
Residents discuss priorities for Lindsay Heights at a community brunch at Walnut Way. (Photo by Ryeshia Farmer)
Resident Joe Dupar, who attended the first meeting, said he is concerned about gentrification in the neighborhood.  Dupar asked how Walnut Way’s initiatives would foster a more authentic sense of community in Lindsay Heights.
According to Butts, Walnut Way plans to implement ideas that residents suggest during the brunches. He said the organization would issue a report about their concerns and interests, as well as what Walnut Way will do to address them. Butts also promised to honor requests to contact the city about street repairs and property damage caused by rodent contamination.
At the meeting, residents identified Lindsay Heights businesses that reflect the type of economic development that they support. These include The Tandem, a restaurant at 1848 W. Fond Du Lac Ave., The Juice Kitchen, a juicery at 1617 W. North Ave. and coffee houses Coffee Makes You Black, 2803 N. Teutonia Ave. and Sweet Black Coffee, 2035 W. Fond Du Lac Ave. The Juice Kitchen is located in the Innovations and Wellness Commons, which also includes Fondy Food Center offices and a commercial kitchen run by the Milwaukee Center For Independence.
“With the tremendous amount of development coming into the community, residents are looking to create opportunities for … their individual households,” said Butts.
Area resident Maria Beltran said she attended the brunch to encourage neighborhood leaders to keep people informed. She questioned how the Lead From Where You Live initiative would operate, who would be allowed to participate and how block captains would be assigned throughout the neighborhood.
Butts said these questions would be answered at the second brunch, which has not yet been scheduled.
Beltran said that the neighborhood has changed over the years, noting that once Lindsay Heights was a place where everyone felt safe, children played outdoors and if one person barbecued everyone in the neighborhood was invited to eat. Now neighbors no longer want to participate in neighborhood activities because of crime.
Beltran added that it is time that residents “get the community back.”
“We just want to create a space where everybody can be as honest as possible, and we can hear your voice,” said Butts, adding “It’s very important that [residents] change the perception of Lindsay Heights and its neighboring communities and [that we] take control of the narrative in doing so.”
The brunches are funded by a $60,000 community capacity grant from Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), an organization that supports community development. Walnut Way is seeking additional funding to execute the block captain initiative.
According to Butts, monthly brunches to discuss the block captain role will resume later soon and will involve residents in commercial development planning.
As a result of Lead From Where You Live, Dupar hopes to see “support and togetherness for Lindsay Heights as a whole.”
The brunches and the block captain initiative will “create a pathway that will allow residents to be involved in economic development and get in front of the trends that suggest that the neighborhood will change,” Butts said.

author: Ryeshia Farmer


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Festival celebrates cultural and ethnic diversity of Silver City neighborhood | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sarah Lipo
September 12, 2018
Local vendors and artists participated in the Silver City InterNational Festival on Milwaukee’s South Side. (Photo by Sarah Lipo)
Angelica Escamilla was an enthusiastic participant in the Silver City InterNational Festival held on the South Side last weekend.
Escamilla runs a dance studio bearing her name, which teaches individuals about their Mexican background and traditions. She said it is important for Latinos in the neighborhood to understand where they are from.
“There’s a lot of people in the community that are of Latino background,” she said, “and unfortunately, (they) have no idea what their culture really is. So through what we do and the teachings we offer the kids, we hope we can instruct and offer a little enlightenment to those people.”
Escamilla said that the festival exposes young people to her organization.
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“Because of these performances that we do at this Silver City festival, we actually get kids from the communities and then they come knocking on our door for classes,” she said.
This was the seventh year of the festival, which celebrates the cultural and ethnic diversity of the Silver City neighborhood and Milwaukee through food, the arts and music. The sponsoring organization, Layton Boulevard West Neighbors (LBWN), works to stabilize and revitalize the Silver City, Burnham Park and Layton Park neighborhoods.
Escamilla Entertainment performs at the Silver City InterNational Festival, showcasing Mexican dances and dress. (Photo by Sarah Lipo)
Lidia Villazaez, LBWN community outreach manager for Silver City, organized the event and said the festival has come to include all cultures within Milwaukee, especially Latino and Asian traditional food, dance and art.
The festival was held on West National Avenue between South 33rd Street and South 35th Street.
The Layton Boulevard West area includes the Hank Aaron State Trail, the Urban Ecology Center, Three Bridges Park, Miller Park and the Mitchell Park Domes. It is one of Milwaukee’s most diverse neighborhoods, with historic architecture and numerous stores and restaurants.
Villazaez said that the festival has gone through various name changes. It was called the International Food and Art Walk until 2016.
“In general, (the festival) started to try and encompass some of the diversity in the area. As the time went on, we noticed how diverse the community was getting,” Villazaez said.
There were three stages at the festival: the Silver City Premier Stage, the Portal Stage and a stage at Mamie’s Restaurant, 3300 W. National Ave.
Many local artists performed. The acts included Roll Train, Salsa Power, Jingle Dress and the Rising Dragons, to name just a few.
Twelve food vendors and many artists sold their works as well. Villazaez said organizers contacted artists from Silver City and throughout Milwaukee.  Some artists helped to organize the festival.
“We do try and focus it on the neighborhood businesses, but since it’s grown throughout the years we are also trying to (include) the diversity of the entire city,” Villazaez said. The festival “is a place where you can come in and … witness a little bit of everything.”
Jose Aduirre, who grew up in Silver City and has lived in the area for the last 20 years, said this was the second time he attended the festival, and he appreciates how many cultures are represented. “You can enjoy different cultures and try different foods you have never tried before,” he said.

created: September 12, 2018


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 12, 2018


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Getting children to school on time | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Rebecca Michelsen, Penfield Children’s Center
September 12, 2018
If adults plan ahead, mornings can be stress free.
If you are like most parents, the morning rush is an everyday occurrence and can be difficult to navigate, especially when you have young children.
Below are some tips for getting the whole family out the door and fed on time:
Pack lunches, iron and lay out outfits and make sure all homework is already in backpacks and waiting by the door. Items that easily become misplaced should be ready to grab on the way out, including keys, parking passes and glasses.
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Make sure kids are dressed and ready to go before allowing time on tablets or for other play activities. Hang up a morning routine chart on your child’s wall that he can easily follow that shows him in pictures and words what he needs to do in order.
Divide and conquer. One parent might be in charge of making sure kids’ teeth are brushed and breakfast is on the table, another parent or older children can handle getting little ones dressed and putting lunches in backpacks before heading out.
Include a calendar of the academic year, school lunch menu, important school and work papers and upcoming field trip information.
Simple and nutritious foods include yogurt pouches, hardboiled eggs, crock-pot oatmeal and frozen egg muffins. Frozen egg muffins are a great, make-ahead breakfast idea that the whole family will love and can easily be baked to accommodate different tastes and diets. To make frozen egg muffins, simply spray a muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. Add your “mix-ins” such as pre-cooked bacon, green peppers and tomatoes. Next, whisk together 12 eggs in a bowl and pour equal servings into the muffin tins. Top with cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until done. Individual muffins can be popped out of the tin and frozen until ready to eat. To re-heat, thaw egg muffins in the fridge overnight and microwave for 20-30 seconds.
Pack a breakfast-on-the-go pack for the car- Dry cereal, breakfast bars, applesauce pouches, 100% juice boxes, mini water bottles and dried fruit are all great options that can stay in the car.
With a bit of preparation, your mornings will become a lot less chaotic for the entire family.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 11, 2018


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Girls excel through Girl Scouting, new troops forming now | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast
September 12, 2018
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast (GSWISE) invites all girls and adults to join in the fun and believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)™. Girl Scouts is the number one youth-serving organization for girls and provides them with a safe girl-led environment where they learn-by-doing in a collaborative, supportive all-girl space to take chances, try new things, and learn to succeed through failure—improving all aspects of their lives.
Thirty New Badges Help Power Future Women Leaders
Starting this Fall, girls ages K5-18 will have even more opportunities to earn badges and experience new hands-on programming in robotics, space science, mechanical engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, environmental stewardship, and college exploration. Girl Scouts of the USA released thirty new badges designed to prepare girls to empower themselves and unleash their inner strengths, while giving them a foundation to pursue non-traditional careers and advocate for their communities.
Proven Leadership Outcomes
The 2017 report from the Girl Scout Research Institute, The Girl Scout Impact Study, shows that participating in Girl Scouts helps girls develop key leadership skills they need to be successful in life. Compared to their peers, Girl Scouts are more likely than non-Girl Scouts to be leaders because they:
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Importantly, what girls gain through Girl Scouting positively affects all areas of their lives. For example, Girl Scouts do better than their non-Girl Scout peers in the classroom, earning better grades and aspiring to higher educational attainment, and are more likely to seek careers in STEM, law, and business – industries in which women are underrepresented.
The unique Girl Scout environment provides fun, exciting, and essential experiences that carry into girls’ future careers and life success; the KPMG Women’s Leadership Study of more than 3,000 professional and college women shows that early exposure to leadership has a a significant impact on a woman’s perceptions of her ability to lead. Additionally, 76 percent of women today wish they had learned more about leadership and had more leadership opportunities while growing up, demonstrating how imperative it is for girls and volunteers to join Girl Scouts.
“We believe that every girl should have the opportunity to reach her full leadership potential,” said Christy Brown, CEO, Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast. “Only Girl Scouts can provide the safe girl-led environment where girls learn to face challenges head-on, embrace failure as a learning opportunity, create lasting relationships, and find dynamic solutions to social issues – all while building the skills and courage they need to take the lead every day and empower themselves for life.”
Sign her up and volunteer today at gswise.org.

author: Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast


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Let The Music Play Grant program accepting online applications | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee World Festival, Inc
September 12, 2018
Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. and American Family Insurance announced that the Let The Music Play grant program is now accepting online applications. Non-profit organizations, or school programs that support music education, are eligible to receive these $2,500 Let The Music Play grants.
“We are proud to work with American Family Insurance to support music education, enriching the community and investing in the arts and our young performers. We hope this program gives students an opportunity to discover their talents and experience the joy of performance,” said Don Smiley, President and CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.
The Let The Music Play grant program is open to non-profit organizations and schools that serve Milwaukee County through music based programming for students aged 11 – 18. The program is intended to represent the variety of music based activities taking place in the greater Milwaukee community and is open to programs ranging from band, orchestra and jazz to musical theater and dance. Recipients must demonstrate the ability to present a finished, 7-10 minute performance.
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The selected recipients will also showcase their talents at various events, including Summerfest, during the 2019 festival. Deadline for submitting applications is November 1, 2018.
To apply, visit https://summerfest.com/let-the-music-play/

author: Milwaukee World Festival, Inc


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Right Wisconsin: No regrets for referring to MPS students as “…little convicts being sent to the penitentiary.” | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Schools
September 12, 2018
In comments made today on WTMJ radio’s Steve Scaffidi Show, Jim Wigderson, editor of Right Wisconsin, said he doesn’t regret referring to Milwaukee Public Schools’ students as “…little convicts being sent to the penitentiary” in a recent Right Wisconsin post.
Here are the questions from WTMJ’s Scaffidi along with Wigderson’s responses.
Scaffidi: “Do you regret using the word ‘convicts’ in the sense that it was perceived, for people that didn’t look at the link, as an indictment of all 77,000 students, do you regret using that word? Would you have done it differently now?”
Widgerson: “Well as a writer, any time I look back at something it’s like George Lucas looking back at the Star Wars movies, you’re gonna rewrite things a hundred thousand times. I always have to look at things, how I wrote it, at the time that I wrote it, it’s just like an artist making a painting you make a decision with the brush stroke that you make at the time and that’s the way it is. I could kill myself just looking at every little piece that I’ve written and the choices that I make and word choices and things like that. But, looking back at what I wrote and putting in that link and what I intended and, no, I probably would still leave it the same.”
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Later in the interview, Scaffidi repeated the question.
Scaffidi: “Looking back at the piece, again I asked you this before I’m gonna close with this, do you regret using the word convicts in the way that you used it in the sense that people didn’t make that association directly to Deonte Long?
Widgerson: “Again, as a writer you look at things and you hope that people get the full intent of what you’re writing. I mean, that’s the goal. So, to that extent, you know I probably would have used that word and I probably would have put a comma after it and said, “like Deonte Long” comma. That’s the only change I could possibly think of making.”
The link Wigderson refers to involves one former MPS student. In that statement, Wigderson clearly refers to more than one student by using the word convicts. In fact, Widgerson’s own response to Scaffidi’s second question makes it clear he was referring to more than one child by indicating he was using one student as an example.
Every adult in this community should be concerned that Wigderson’s comments show no regret for his offensive, hurtful, and derogatory statements referring to children as “…little convicts being sent to the penitentiary.”
MPS and caring community members will continue to stand tall with our young people, supporting their many accomplishments and committing ourselves to their success.


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Doors Open highlights King Drive as ‘spotlight neighborhood’ | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Max Nawara
September 13, 2018
Fatima Laster is renovating the 5 Points Art Gallery and Studios. (Photo by Max Nawara)
Doors Open Milwaukee is an annual event sponsored by Historic Milwaukee that provides tours of historic or influential buildings to the public. This year’s Doors Open, taking place on Sept. 22-23, is highlighting King Drive as a “spotlight neighborhood.” Below are some of the featured sites.
2775 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive
Marquita Edwards, founder and director of the King Drive Commons Gallery and Studio, spends her time searching for diamonds.
“I always look for the diamond at the center of an individual,” said Edwards. “With that, I try to look for the diamond at the center of this community. We have art, talent and culture but we don’t have it represented.”
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Through Doors Open Milwaukee, Edwards hopes to showcase these “diamonds.”
Edwards has spent the last 10 years creating an inclusive art gallery where members of the Harambee community can exercise their creativity.
With the help of the Martin Luther King Economic Development Corp. (MLK EDC) and its late director, Welford Sanders, she began looking for African-American artists who did not have a venue to display their art.
According to Edwards, “The vision is … to give everyone something they can feel good about — something that’s going to raise the sense of worthiness and being part of a community.”
Sandra Mitchell, an artist and Harambee resident, said, “I was overwhelmed with joy to find out that there was a place like this in the neighborhood. I love art!”
Marquita Edwards, Sandra Mitchell and Yawei Sun designed “A Whale of a Tale,” entirely out of trash. (Photo by Max Nawara)
Last summer Mitchell worked on a collaborative piece with Edwards and artist Yawei Sun to shed light on the damage that pollution is doing to the earth. The piece, a blue whale made completely from trash, is titled “Whale of a Tale.”
In addition to community involvement, Edwards focuses her efforts on education. “I’ve worked as an elementary teacher, I’ve worked as a preschool administrator. I have a knowledge of how important learning is at all ages,” she said. She hopes that the Doors Open Milwaukee event will help her educate both children and their parents.
The King Drive Commons Gallery & Studio for Arts & Culture of the African Diaspora has a full gallery of artwork and offers poetry events, face-painting, African storytelling, cooking classes and educational events focusing on science, technology and math.
The gallery will be open for Open Doors Milwaukee on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
3514 N. Port Washington Ave.
This art gallery and studio space, formerly a funeral home, is bustling with life.
Fatima Laster is blending the old with the new as she remodels the Johnson-Goolsby funeral home into an art gallery, convention space, commercial kitchen for catering events and 24-hour art studio. The cream-brick building is located at the intersection of Keefe Avenue and Port Washington Avenue in the Harambee neighborhood.
“I want to preserve this history,” said Laster. She is remodeling the roof and sectioning off the parlor and basement into studios, but she plans to keep the original brick facade, ornamental archways, stone fireplaces and dumbwaiter for carrying supplies.
Laster said that people have told her that they don’t know anything about art. She hopes that the Doors Open Milwaukee event can change that.
“I want to raise awareness and expose art to the community,” she said. “My goal is to show people that there are jobs in art.”
Laster hopes to host local, national and international artists of color, and eventually host events such as the Milwaukee Film Festival.
“I want to be able to show people that somebody who looks like me or identifies with me can do something like this,” she said.
While the gallery is not yet finished, Laster hopes construction will be complete this fall. She will offer tours of the unfinished gallery for Doors Open Milwaukee from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 22 and 23.
She plans to educate visitors on the history of the building, as well as her vision for the gallery.
“Everyone is welcome,” stated Laster. “The mission is not to exclude, but to elevate.”
300 W. Walnut St.
Daphne Jones, president of Glorious Malone’s Fine Sausage, dreamed of keeping her mother’s legacy alive in Milwaukee. Today, the business is not only alive, but thriving.
Glorious Malone’s, now located on the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and Walnut Street, started in the kitchen of Jones’ childhood home. Her mother, Glorious Malone, was known for her specialty cold cut called head cheese. Jones said that her mother and father made head cheese as a gift of love for friends and family during the holiday season.
Daphne Jones, president of Glorious Malone’s, at Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and Walnut Street. (Photo by Max Nawara)
“They enjoyed making it and they enjoyed giving it,” said Jones. “Before you knew it, we had a lot of production in the kitchen. Our first manufacturing place was in the kitchen in our home!”
According to Jones, it didn’t take long before her family realized they had a product they could sell. The family business continued to grow, but Malone never strayed from her roots.
“She (Malone) could have gone anywhere but she wanted to stay here,” said Jones, referring to the current Glorious Malone’s location. “She wanted to build here because she wanted people to see that if she could do it, they could do it. She wanted what she was accomplishing to be an inspiration … She wanted to be that spark.”
Like her mother, Jones values her product and her community.
“I don’t only get to make something that’s very good, wholesome, natural and delicious. I also get to keep going forward and to be able to use this as a platform to speak to people about accomplishing, dreaming, wishing and trusting,” said Jones.
Jones plans to use Doors Open Milwaukee to inspire others and teach them about her mother’s legacy.
The manufacturing plant will be open to the public on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Other Doors Open sites on King Drive are listed below.
2600 N. 2nd St.
All Peoples Gathering Lutheran Church in Harambee was originally built in 1906 under the name Epiphany Lutheran Church. The church prides itself on a commitment to inclusiveness and social justice. It will be open for Doors Open Milwaukee on Sunday, Sept. 23, from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
401 W. North Ave.
America’s Black Holocaust Museum, which closed its doors in 2008 to move to a virtual museum, is reopening late this fall. The museum’s goal is to build public awareness of the harmful legacies of slavery in the United States and to promote racial repair, reconciliation and healing. It will be open to the public on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
3300 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive
While Bader Philanthropies was founded only 25 years ago, its cream-brick global headquarters, located between Harambee and Williamsburg Heights, was built in 1927 as office and retail space and was left vacant for a number of years. Bader Philanthropies has invested about $250 million into major social needs with the goal of lifting individuals and communities in Milwaukee and across the world. The Bader Philanthropies building will be open on Sunday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
2200 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive
Gee’s Clippers, a long-time favorite of Milwaukee Bucks players and other major league athletes, has relocated to a former bank dating back to the 1930s on Martin Luther King Drive and Garfield Avenue in Bronzeville. The barber shop is filled with sports memorabilia collected by the owner, Gaulien “Gee” Smith. Gee’s will be open to the public on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2215 N. 4th St.
What was once the Historical Garfield School, built in 1887, is now home to one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Visitors can check out the historic apartment building’s original hardwood floors, tall windows, high ceilings and artist murals on Sunday, Sept. 23, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
1950 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive
Formerly Reader’s Choice, Milwaukee’s only black-owned bookstore, Kindred is now home to an art studio and non-profit organization that provides mentoring, life coaching, social services and programs in visual art, poetry, writing and gardening. The building will be open to the public on Saturday, Sept. 22, and Sunday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
310 W. Locust St.
This library branch used to be known as Locust Library when it was built in 1971. In 1973, the library was rededicated in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. The library holds a sizable collection of permanent art installations, some that feature Dr. King. The branch is slated to be rebuilt in the near future, so visitors are invited to take a look at the historic building on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1821 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive
The Nostalgia Home Decor storefront was built in 1902 of Milwaukee cream brick and ornamental wood trim. It became a Historic Landmark after it sustained damage during the 1967 civil rights demonstrations. The owners, Georgette Muilenburg and William Bachle, carry obscure vintage items from the mid 20th century. They also offer a space that holds workshops in textile arts, creating succulent terrariums, knitting classes and poetry. Nostalgia Home Decor will be open on Saturday, Sept. 22, and Sunday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
1739 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive
Pilcrow Coffee, named after the symbol for creating a new paragraph, is a small coffee roastery in Bronzeville. Pilcrow’s tasting room and roastery are open for visitors during the Doors Open Milwaukee event. Tasting and tours will be available from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, and Sunday, Sept. 23.
2215 N. Palmer St.
St. Marcus Lutheran Church, built in 1914, follows the castle-like Neo-Gothic style of architecture with an elaborate and high altar, a large pipe organ and stained-glass windows showcasing the work of Milwaukee artisans. The church will hold a small Gospel Choir show, pipe-organ recitals, live art exhibits, children’s art activities, a free lunch with a German band and a presentation on beer brewing with a free beer tasting in its café. It will be open on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sunday, Sept. 23, from 7:30 a.m. until 12 p.m.

created: September 13, 2018

author: Max Nawara


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House passes Rep. Moore’s bill to designate Vel R. Phillips post office building | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Congresswoman Gwen Moore
September 13, 2018
(Photo by Adam Carr)
Today, Congresswoman Gwen Moore’s (WI-04) bill to designate the facility of the US Post Office located at 2650 North Doctor Martin Luther King Drive in Milwaukee as the “Vel R. Phillips Post Office Building” passed the US House of Representatives. Last night, Congresswomen Moore delivered the following remarks on the House floor in support of her bill:
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the House is going to take up and, hopefully, pass legislation that I’ve introduced to honor a Wisconsin hero and one of my sheros Vel. R. Phillips. The bill would designate a post office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in her honor.
Vel was the first of so many things: the first African American and the first woman to become an Alderman in the City of Milwaukee; the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School; the first African-American judge in Milwaukee County; the first and only African American to win election statewide in Wisconsin. But her life and contributions cannot simply be summed up by adding up her many firsts. Such an approach gives short shrift of her local and national impact. For you see, Mr. Speaker, she was a soldier for social justice in the national movement for desegregation in housing and the open housing movement.
I first met Vel when I was 16 years old and she was the judge in an oratorical contest, that encounter has had a lifelong impact on me. Vel passed away earlier this year in her 90s but her legacy of love, service, and commitment lives on, and thank you so much, Mr. Speaker, for your indulgence. I yield by the balance of my time.
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author: Congresswoman Gwen Moore


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 13, 2018

author: Adam Carr


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County committee defeats proposed bus fare enforcement policy | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Analise Pruni
September 14, 2018
Transit riders wait for a bus. (Photo by Analise Pruni)
The president of the Milwaukee County Transit System, along with several bus drivers, argued against a proposal that could put law enforcement officials on buses to enforce fare collection, among other policy changes.
The Milwaukee County Transportation, Public Works and Transit Committee voted 3-2 against the policy, which would prohibit MCTS from providing service to anyone who does not pay the proper bus fare. However, the item will still proceed to the full County Board for a vote, and could potentially be adopted. Action items voted on by a committee proceed to a vote before the full board, whether they are “recommended for adoption” or “recommended for rejection.”
Vice Chairperson Dan Sebring, who proposed the policy, stated that MCTS loses an average of $336,000 annually from bus fare evasions. That represents about 1 percent of the system’s $30 million in annual bus fares.
Sebring said that every 90 minutes a bus is in service, somebody doesn’t pay the full fare.
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The current policy allows bus operators to ask for the full fare only once. Even if riders don’t pay, they are able to stay on the bus.
Daniel Boehm, MCTS managing director, opposed the changes. “We think we have a good policy,” he said. “We wish more people would pay the fare, yes, [but] I don’t know that this ordinance gets us there.” He added that the proposal was unclear about the consequences for MCTS employees who failed to eject fare evaders from the bus.
A committee of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors rejected a proposal that would have changed how riders who don’t pay the proper fare are handled. (Photo by Analise Pruni)
Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic, who voted against the proposal, called it “totally out of touch with reality.” She added, “There’s a reason people can’t pay fares,” noting that her district has some of the highest unemployment, segregation and poverty rates in the county. Sebring represents the 11District, which includes southwest Milwaukee and parts of suburban Greenfield and Franklin.
Dmitrijevic cited two major flaws in the plan: driver safety and enforcement. She said she fears increased violence toward drivers over fare disputes. She also questioned the cost effectiveness of hiring law-enforcement personnel to monitor bus fares, which was one of Sebring’s suggestions.
With payment options such as the M-Card, Go-Pass and bus tickets, Sebring insists there’s no reason for anyone to not pay the fare.
“To continue a policy that costs the taxpayers over a quarter of a million dollars every year is a violation of the public’s trust,” said Sebring. “It’s well past time this policy was changed.”
Carolyn Fenner has been riding the bus for more than 20 years and has witnessed many fare disputes. She suggested that more transit security is needed but acknowledged pros and cons regarding Sebring’s proposal.
Another rider, Lennia Fields, said that bus drivers should enforce fares and call dispatch if there are disputes.
Referring to stationing law enforcement officers on buses to ensure fare collection, Fields said, “We pay a lot of taxes and we have a lot of crime, and I don’t think the bus should warrant that type of attention.”
Sebring and Patti Logsdon voted in favor of Sebring’s amendment, while John Weishan Jr., Dmitrijevic and Sylvia Ortiz-Velez voted against it.
Ortiz-Velez said transportation is critical for people to get ahead. “For us to … cut that off from people who are on the very edge of the fringe of life, I think would be a mistake,” she said.
MCTS bus operator Michael Brown said his job is to get people where they need to go. He stated that Milwaukee citizens and policy makers need to work on the deeper-seated problems in the community that leave people unable to pay bus fares, such as poverty and unemployment.
“I drive routes in one of the worst neighborhoods, going up and down Burleigh, and you have to come up with something better than wanting to arrest these people,” said Brown. “I let them ride.”
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to explain that the full Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors still needs to vote on the proposed policy that would  prohibit MCTS from providing service to anyone who does not pay the proper bus fare. The article implied that the committee’s action was final. We apologize for the error.

created: September 14, 2018