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The ins and outs of Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership program | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
March 3, 2022
Namirah Joy lives with her mother, Wendy Winston, in their dream home in Midtown. (Photo provided by Wendy Winston)
Wendy Winston has known about Habitat for Humanity for the last 15 years, but it wasn’t until she had her daughter that she decided to become a homeowner.
And she said it was the best decision she’s ever made. Winston and her 5-year-old daughter, Namirah Joy, now live in her dream home in the Midtown area.
In November of 2020, Winston applied for Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership program while still looking for places to rent. She was accepted and started working on her “sweat equity” hours by March of 2021 and was in her new home by September.
“From what I know of the program, my process was actually a short one,” Winston said. “The process was amazing.”
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“And I love my home,” she added.
She said the team working with her was accessible when she had questions and that they still are even though she’s no longer in the program.
Winston said being a homeowner has changed her quality of life. When she was renting, she was paying more than $1,000 to get the quality of home she wanted, and now she’s paying $730 a month.
“I’m taking my daughter on vacation in a few months,” Winston said. “I can do that now because I can save money.”
She said the process itself helped her create bonds with her neighbors.
“During my sweat equity hours, I met one of my closest friends. She lives down the street from me and I live next door to her parents,” she said. “We wouldn’t have become friends if we didn’t meet while completing our requirements to be homeowners.”
Those accepted into Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity’s program don’t pay a down payment. Instead. they contribute hundreds of hours of work in constructing their home and the homes of their neighbors.
Now, Winston said she’s become more focused on the community.
“I’m planning to start attending the neighborhood meetings again,” she said. “It was a requirement initially, but I appreciated how informed I was on what was going on in the neighborhood.”
Natasha Gray, the director of family services at Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, said that’s the goal of the program.
“We are trying to create bonds and build communities,” she said.
Gray said the “sweat equity” requirement helps the process by having homeowners, neighbors, staff and volunteers work together.
“It creates some buy-in to know you help build your neighbor’s house,” Gray said.
She said the program is hard work, but she is in constant awe of the ending.
“From the small milestones to seeing people go through sweat equity to finally being able to have a closing celebration is so amazing to see,” she said.
Winston agrees that the process can be challenging but doable.
“When I applied for the program, I had a toddler and was taking care of my mom who was struggling with cancer,” she said. “There wasn’t time for much else, but I knew what I wanted to do, so I did it.”
In November of 2020, Winston applied for Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership program while still looking for places to rent. (Photo provided by Wendy Winston)
Nine things you should know
1. What you need to know about the program
These opportunities are coming at a time when Milwaukee is in an affordable housing crisis. One in three renters are spending half or more of their income on housing, according to Jake Brandt, the director of marketing and communications for Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity.
Milwaukee Habitat’s mortgage won’t exceed 30% of a family’s income. Typical mortgage payments will average $600 to $800 per month, based on family income and type of home.
2. How can I learn more about the program?
Register and watch the free, no-obligation homeowner orientation online here. The orientation will cover the requirements, benefits and other details about Milwaukee Habitat’s affordable homeownership program.
3. How do you know if you qualify?
The main qualification is the need for affordable housing. This means you must be a first-time homebuyer with inadequate housing.
All qualifications are online here.
4. How do I apply?
After watching the online orientation, you can fill out an application here.
The application process is easiest when applicants turn in all necessary documents when they return the application. Here are the documents needed.
5. What if I have more questions about the process?
Most questions are covered in the homeownership orientation, so be sure to pay attention to that. If you have questions after that, you can email Mirella Reyes at mreyes@milwaukeehabitat.org.
6. How long should I wait to hear back about my application?
People should hear back within four to six weeks.
7. What do you need to do as a homebuyer?
Once accepted into the program as a partner family, you will complete “sweat equity.” This means you will contribute hundreds of hours of work in the construction of your home and the homes of your neighbors.
This means you will gain construction skills, home maintenance skills and take financial education classes to help prepare for the unexpected.
8. Can I still apply if I do not meet all of the qualifications?
Program leaders say you should apply anyway – even if you have bad credit.
9. Anything else I need to know?
It can take from 12 to 18 months to complete building a home. There are a few home designs Habitat uses, but homebuyers can help pick flooring, counters, paint colors and siding for their homes.
“This is a long process and doubts will kick in,” Winston said. “But be patient and stay organized because it’s worth it.”


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 2, 2022

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Dwayne Burtin


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Untitled design-16 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 2, 2022


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5 things to know and do the weekend of March 4 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
March 4, 2022
Learn how to design floral arrangements from an award-winning floral designer this weekend at the Mitchell Park Domes. (NNS file photo by Edgar Mendez)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here.
1. Closing reception for “No More Stolen Sisters”: Friday, March 4
The closing reception for “No More Stolen Sisters,” an exhibit of artworks representing the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirits, will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 4 at the Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, located at 839 S. 5th St. The exhibition will continue to be open to the public during gallery hours through March 11.
2. Canvassing the Creative Corridor: Saturday, March 5
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Replacing the old Briggs and Stratton building, the Community Within the Corridor is an incoming mixed-use building with affordable housing units and a creative space called the Creative Corridor. Learn more about the project and canvass the surrounding neighborhood from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 5, beginning at 2748 N. 32nd St. More information here.
3. Floral Show at the Domes: Saturday, March 5
Learn the ins and outs of floral arrangement with Jihye Kim Schumann. The class runs from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday March 5 at the Mitchell Park Domes, located at 524 S Layton Blvd. More information here.
4. Women’s Day marches: Saturday, March 5 and Sunday March 6
International Women’s Day is March 8, but this Saturday and Sunday there are two events. The first demonstration is in support of reproductive rights and begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 5 at Lynden Hill, located at the intersection of North 22nd Street and West McKinley Avenue. The second demonstration honors female essential workers and begins at noon on Sunday, March 6 at Red Arrow Park, also known as Dontre Hamilton Park, located at 920 N. Water St. More information about the first demonstration here, and the second here.
5. Double your donation to Hunger Task Force: now until March 10
From now until March 10, your donation of any amount to the Hunger Task Force will be matched by local donors. More information here.

author: Sam Woods


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 4, 2022


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 3, 2022


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OPINION: ‘Another siren’: Reflections on chaos from a man raised in Milwaukee and living in Ukraine | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Victor Valionta
March 4, 2022
Victor (right) took this photo as he said goodbye to his aunt, her three children (including his godson) and their father before they started their journey to leave Ukraine. (Photo provided by Victor Valionta)
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
(Photo provided by Victor Valionta)
Another siren. Another run to the bomb shelter. We heard such stories about countries such as Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. We sympathized. We said, “Thank God it’s not us.” In my case, it is no longer the story I can tell. Now, I empathize.
My name is Victor Valionta. I was born in the Soviet Union, raised in Milwaukee and transformed into my adulthood in Ukraine.
I was in basic training for the U.S. Army Reserves when the attack happened on 9/11. I felt rage and pain. I wanted to be a part of the solution. I pushed harder, I studied harder, and I had a purpose. I wanted to protect not only the country but also all that it stood for. The country had given me shelter when I first arrived as a refugee in 1995 and so much more since then.
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It is a similar feeling that I am experiencing right now –similar in a way of wanting to protect what I came to love and admire. In 1995, Ukraine was not the Ukraine I know today. We have been moving in the right direction, despite many challenges and hurdles. With every single day, I saw improvements. I saw the level of safety, comfort and unity come to a level never seen before.
I was fortunate to have traveled around the world and have seen the good and the bad. From the devastation in Haiti of yet another disaster, to Denmark, a country I look up to as an exemplar of a civilized society.
Currently I am in Lviv, known as the most nationalistic city in Ukraine. In Russian media, Lviv is often referred to as the beacon of evil — that we terrorize the Russian-speaking population, burn our children and who knows what else. In Ukraine, and to the rest of the world, Lviv is known as the soul of Ukraine, a cultural capital of our country. I can only attest to the latter. I have always spoken the language I want to speak in, be it Ukrainian, Russian or other. Ukraine, in general, has become more diverse in the last 10 years than I have ever seen before. Albeit remnants of the Soviet blindfold to race and different cultures does linger from time to time.
Victor’s Aunt Inna, seen here, brought her family of six to this one-room building in a village outside of Lviv, where they slept, played and ate. (Photo provided by Victor Valionta)
Although we in Lviv are not experiencing the military action that is seen in central, eastern and southern parts of our country, we have become a hub for refugees. Within the last few days, I have had to coordinate a passage for my aunt and her three children to NATO-controlled territory. They have stayed for a week in a village on the outskirts of Lviv. Yesterday I was able to take them to a nearby city, where my friend’s mother welcomed them into their home just so that they could take a shower. We then drove back to the village, through about five checkpoints and said our goodbyes. I am both glad and very sad that they have now been able to cross the border.
This morning, I gathered a few items of clothing, cleaned up my apartment and passed the keys to my neighbors, whose relatives came from the eastern part of Ukraine and needed a place to stay for a few days as they coordinate their exit route with their kids.
What connects me, and all of this to Milwaukee? To Lviv? What unites us? Everything!
The unwavering support from the United States, from all of my friends, acquaintances and relatives — verbal, visual, financial and within military parameters — is beyond essential to our fight for freedom. From the terror we all experienced in the United States on 9/11 to the terror that has now entered my life, our lives, in Ukraine, we all stand united.
For this, and so much more, I will forever be grateful.
A quick call with my mom, who still resides in Milwaukee, ends with yet another siren that calls me to take shelter.
Victor Valionta was born in the Soviet Union, raised in the United States and currently lives in Lviv, Ukraine.

author: Victor Valionta


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274695768_5086152388111549_1057443021547003573_n | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 3, 2022


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What you should do to keep your baby safe after powder formula recall leaves parents scrambling for replacements and answers | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
March 4, 2022
Some Similac powder products were recalled due to reported cases of salmonella and Cronobacter, forcing some mothers to scramble for alternatives. (Photo provided by Bellies and Babees)
The recent recall of powder formula products for babies spurred anger, concern, confusion and a frantic search for answers – and replacement supplies – for mothers in Milwaukee who relied on the products.
The voluntary recall on Feb. 17 by Abbott Nutrition included Similac, Alimentum and EleCare and was in response to reported cases of salmonella and a rare bacterial infection called Cronobacter sakazakii.
Cronobacter can cause infections in the blood and swelling in the brain and spinal lining.
Among those affected by the recall was Tiffany Brown, a mother of eight who is enrolled in Bellies and Babees, a prenatal care organization.
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“I’m pissed off,” Brown said. “How long has our milk been contaminated, and we’re just finding out about it now?”
Here’s what you need to know if your formula was recalled and how you can ensure your child remains healthy and safe.
1. The latest developments
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has more information on the recall and a list of formula substitutes. A March 2 news release details the latest developments on the recall.
2. How to check if you have a recalled product
Look for the “lot number.” This is a seven- to nine-digit number on the bottom of the container.
The formula is recalled if:
To verify the status of the lot number, you can visit SimilacRecall.com and select “Check Lot Number” or call 800-986-8540.
If the product is recalled, do not use it. You can exchange it for a refund. Those looking to exchange recalled goods should take them to the store where they originally purchased them.
3. Symptoms to look for
Families whose children have used the recalled formulas should watch out for the following symptoms:
If any of these symptoms are present, families should call their medical provider.
Dr. Jasmine Zapata, state epidemiologist for maternal and child health with the Department of Health Services, said that families should have a “low threshold” for seeking medical care if their child consumed the recalled formula.
“If you notice anything abnormal from that happy, healthy baseline, get it checked out,” Zapata said.
Ariel Cruz, social media marketer and care coordinator with Lola’s New Beginnings, a local prenatal care agency, said that her organization has been recommending the Wisconsin MyWIC app to mothers. The app has information for users on what alternatives they can purchase.
WIC stands for Women, Infants and Children Program.
4. What if I have more questions?
Katy Murphy, WIC director at Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, said in an email that families should call their WIC representative for support services.
Murphy also recommended that families with questions who are not enrolled in WIC call the Milwaukee Health Department hotline at 414-286-6800.
Food pantries may also be able to help those looking for formula. She recommended calling 2-1-1, Milwaukee’s social services hotline, to find options.
WIC is also providing support for breastfeeding services during the recall as an alternative to formula feeding. You can contact a local WIC office for support services.
Jasmine Zapata (Photo provided by University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health)
Milwaukee mothers react
Brown said that when she got the call about the recalled formula, she checked every can in the house. When she went to verify the lot numbers, she found cans she got in December had been recalled.
Her son, born in November 2021, had trouble eating for months. Having raised children before, she didn’t know why he was being such a fussy eater. Though this fussiness wasn’t conclusively linked to the formula, she said she isn’t going to be switching back to the powdered milk.
“It’s a very scary situation,” Brown said. “I’ve never had this issue before.”
Brown has been going into her own pockets for replacements, paying for 10 bottles of liquid formula each week that cost her about $105 from the grocery store. The liquid formula doesn’t last as long, she said, and is more difficult to keep in stock.
“For the safety of my son, I’m willing to spend that type of money,” Brown said.
Vanessa Vasquez, a mother on the South Side, found out she had a can of recalled formula after taking her baby to the pediatrician because he refused to eat.
When the pediatrician switched her to a new formula, Vasquez had to go to five different stores to find a single can of it. Her son now avoids milk entirely, and she’s had to find new ways to get him the nutrients such as smoothies and mixing it with baby food.
“It’s been a huge setback,” Vasquez said.
For another mother, the recall has been a learning experience. Elizabeth Deja, who has a 9-month-old child, noticed that her baby was vomiting more and having trouble keeping food down.
Shortly after, she heard about the formula recall on the news. Her first call was to her prenatal care agency, Bellies and Babees, to get guidance.
“I was nervous,” Deja said. “I was like: Well, if I keep giving it to her, it’s just going to keep harming her … She went through two cans already, so how much more is her body going to take? Is she going to keep acting different? There was a lot of things going through my head.”
Deja took her daughter to the doctor, who said the problems were likely not related to the formula recall. As a first-time mom, Deja said that she often second guesses her intuition and questions everything. Her advice to others: advocate for yourself and your kids.
“You’ve got to believe in yourself and have that motherly instinct,” Deja said.
Teresa De La Garza, program director for Bellies and Babees, said that mothers should stay educated on the topic and pay close attention to their children.
“My advice is for them to be in tune with their baby,” De La Garza said. “If Elizabeth wasn’t an active mother, she wouldn’t have known there was an underlying issue.”

author: Matt Martinez


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‘They got closer’: Census changes help correct historic undercount of Wisconsin’s Indigenous population | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Frank Vaisvilas / Green Bay Press Gazette
March 5, 2022
Coming from mixed ancestries, Brenda John always struggled with how to accurately identify herself when filling out census questions.
“I’m Oneida, I’m also part non-Native,” she said. “I don’t have the option to say both without going into a generic mixed race bucket that can no longer be used for important things like grants for our community. People also don’t understand the difference around the Hispanic questions and, again, the question of what to do if you are both Hispanic and black, or Hispanic and Native, can result in not getting counted correctly.”
John, who lives on the Oneida Reservation in Wisconsin, said she understands the importance of the census to her tribe and also to Wise Women Gathering Place, the nonprofit where she works, because those figures are used in determining federal funding.
A push by tribal and federal officials to encourage participation in the 2020 U.S. census resulted in what tribes are hailing as the most accurate picture to date of the size and diversity of people with Indigenous ancestry in Wisconsin.
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Combined with improvements to the census itself, that effort helped push the percentage of people reporting they were Indigenous combined with another race, such as white or Black, up 165% in Wisconsin from 2010 to 2020. In Brown County, the number of people reporting they were all or partly Indigenous increased by more than 3,200 people, or 143%.
The percentage of people responding that they were American Indian or Alaska Native alone, with no other race, increased by only about 10% in Wisconsin.
Tribal officials across the U.S. have long argued that Indigenous people have been undercounted by the federal government, which finally led to a change in data collection for the 2020 census. Those changes included more options and clearer instructions for reporting ancestry of multiple races, resulting in large gains not just for Indigenous people, but for other racial groups as well.
Melissa Nuthals, of the Oneida Nation’s self-governance office, said the majority of American Indians have other races in their makeup and that diversity had not been reflected in past census tallies. She said less than 7% of Oneida citizens are full-blooded Oneida with no other race.
“They are improving their methods,” Nuthals said of the census data collection.
The 2020 question about multiple races more clearly directs the respondent to add their full racial ancestry as well as the name of their tribe. Detailed results from those questions have not yet been released by the Census Bureau.
John said she initially put off filling out the census form because she felt anxious about intrusive questions and wondered if she would be correctly identified and counted. Once she started, those fears slipped away.
“The process was so easy compared to other years,” she said. “I finally said to myself ‘I’m just going to check out this (online) link’ and hoped it wouldn’t be too overwhelming, and it was easy.”
On the Oneida Reservation, about 65,000 acres starting on the west side of Green Bay and continuing into Outagamie County, the census has always reported a smaller population than the Oneida government’s own count.
Besides a change in questions and better tabulations by the federal government, Nuthals said tribal outreach also helped improve the population reporting.
She said many Indigenous in the past wouldn’t fill out the census forms because of distrust of the federal government and concerns about privacy.
Nuthals said some had specific concerns, such as if they had too many people living in their household and they were receiving federal funding. In all these situations, she said tribal officials worked to alleviate those concerns for the 2020 census.
As a result, the Oneida Nation had the fourth-best census response rate of the more than 500 Indigenous nations with reservations in the U.S.
The total population for enrolled citizens of the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin is a little more than 17,000. In 1970, that estimate was 6,500 people. Nuthals said more Oneidas enrolled as citizens with the tribe in the early 2000s after a large per capita payout was offered.
Enrollment in the Oneida Nation typically requires a person to be at least a quarter Oneida, a formula referred to as blood quantum.
In 2000, the Census Bureau count of enrolled citizens was about 7% lower than the tribe’s number. In 2010, improvements to the census left it about 2.7% lower than that tribe’s count, and this time around the census count was only lower by about 1%.
“They got closer to being accurate,” Nuthals said.
Nuthals said federal grants and funding had once been heavily reliant on census statistics, so accuracy was important. That’s less the case now, because many federal agencies now use the tribes’ self-reported population counts. However some funding may still consider census counts and political districts are drawn based on census numbers.
The population of enrolled citizens on the reservation is currently 4,626, which is up from 3,121 in 2000. Nuthals said the increase is also attributed to more housing being built on the reservation and its proximity to Green Bay for employment opportunities.
In 2010, there were 2,275 housing units in Hobart compared with 4,259 in 2020, Nuthals said.
The overall population on the reservation for all races increased from 22,776 in 2010 to 27,110  and officials say that’s largely due to increased housing availability on the east side in Hobart and on the west side of Green Bay.
While the population reporting became more accurate during the 2020 census despite the challenges from the pandemic, Nuthals said a lot of information wasn’t accurately collected because of the pandemic, such as household incomes, poverty rates and education levels.
“Hopefully, we can get it all in 2030,” she said.
Frank Vaisvilas is a Report For America corps member based at the Green Bay Press-Gazette covering Native American issues in Wisconsin. He can be reached at 920-228-0437 or fvaisvilas@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank. Please consider supporting journalism that informs our democracy with a tax-deductible gift to this reporting effort at GreenBayPressGazette.com/RFA.


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Brenda-John | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 2, 2022


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Dustin-Elm | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 2, 2022


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Jonas-Johnson | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 2, 2022


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5 things to know and do this week in Milwaukee: March 7 to March 11 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
March 7, 2022
MPS’ student job fair is back. Employers should register to attend as soon as possible. (NNS file photo by Talis Shelbourne)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here.
1. La Revo Books birthday party: Tuesday, March 8
La Revo Books, a bookstore with books by and for people of color, is turning one year old! Celebrate with cake, giveaways and light refreshments from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 9 at Tres Hermanos Restaurant, located at 1332 W. Lincoln Ave. Click here for more information.
2. Let’s Talk Womxn Milwaukee: Tuesday, March 8
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Let’s Talk Womxn’s Milwaukee chapter will host a gathering of over 20 women chefs, restauranteurs and entrepreneurs in celebration of International Women’s Day. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8 at the Story Hill Firehouse, 407 N Hawley Rd. More details, including a list of vendors and ticket information, can be found here.
3. Black immigrant and refugee experience: Tuesday, March 8
Hear from Black women immigrants and refugees on their lived experiences through this panel discussion sponsored by the Milwaukee chapter of Links, a volunteer service organization led by women of African descent. The online discussion starts at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 8. Register to attend for free here.
4. Hiplet Ballerinas: Wednesday, March 9
The traveling ballet incorporating the rhythms of African drums with Tchaikovsky, arabesques and beat-boxing or even Tango comes to Milwaukee. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 9 at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, located at 929 N. Water St. Ticket information and more here.
5. 2022 MPS Student Job Fair: Wednesday, March 9
Businesses looking for employees are encouraged to register to attend the 2022 MPS Student Job Fair to tap into the next generation of talent. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9 at the UWM Student Union, located at 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 6, 2022


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NNS on ‘Lake Effect’: 5 things to do this March in Milwaukee neighborhoods | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
March 7, 2022
Science Strikes Back is a science fair open to scientists of all ages taking place at Escuela Verde this March. (NNS file photo by Adam Carr)
NNS’s Adam Carr joined WUWM 89.7-FM, Milwaukee’s NPR and Joy Powers of “Lake Effect” for the March installment of our monthly “5 Things” feature.
Listen to the interview here.
This month includes Let’s Talk Womxn Milwaukee’s International Women’s Day event, Damia Causey’s Ujima Reading Circle, Trap Therapy from Tarsha Wiggins, a tour of The Community Within The Corridor and Science Strikes Back at Escuela Verde.
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author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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sciencestrikesback | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 7, 2022


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Post from Community: City departments to detail anti-eviction measures, results at committee meeting | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Milele A. Coggs
March 7, 2022
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
This week, various City of Milwaukee departments will discuss ways they are working to keep tenants from being evicted in the face of a major increase in eviction proceedings affecting rental properties across the city.
Common Council file #211794 – sponsored by Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs – will be taken up by the Community and Economic Development Committee at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday (March 9). The measure will bring various City agencies to the committee meeting to discuss anti-eviction strategies and programs, particularly their status and outcomes to-date.
Alderwoman Coggs said the evictions issue has been a key priority as Berrada Properties (major landlord with thousands of rental units across the city) has filed an onslaught of evictions (including more than 800 since January 1) in recent months, affecting large numbers of families and disrupting neighborhoods.
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“Additionally, there has been a significant investment of federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) dollars that both the city and county have made into efforts to assist those who have been evicted, and it’s important for the Council to receive an update of where we are at in the city with evictions – as well as outcomes – from the organizations that are supposed to be helping residents deal with eviction,” she said.
Wednesday’s Community and Economic Development Committee meeting will be televised live on the City Channel (channel 25 on Spectrum Cable and channel 99 on AT&T U-Verse in the City of Milwaukee) and via streaming video on the city website at city.milwaukee.gov/Channel25.

author: Ald. Milele A. Coggs


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Post from Community: Farming for the future | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dominican Center
March 7, 2022
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
If you walk past the Dominican Center (DC) at 24 and Locust in the heart of the Amani neighborhood, you will see something you could never expect. A warm red glow radiates from the basement windows. Inside is DC’s hydroponics lab and what hits you first are the smells of spring and walls of glistening green produce.
“There is power in building self-sustainable communities,” said DC Executive Director Maricha Harris. “Not only can urban agriculture and agriculture technology (AgTech) be leveraged to create access to fresh produce in our communities, but it can also be leveraged to create jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities. I’m excited about the ways we can use hydroponics to develop an ecosystem that focuses on the intersections of food, education, vocational training and financial sustainability.”
DC’s hydroponics lab supports the Amani Revitalization Plan’s concentration areas of Education and Family Well-Being and Housing and Economic Development. Wes Landry, DC’s hydroponics expert has worked with Amani residents building the lab from the ground up. He refers to the plants as his “babies” and strives to learn everything he can about urban agriculture. Before the pandemic, DC’s hydroponics lab was producing enough produce to share with residents and friends, and enough to sell to a chef who used fresh basil in his local restaurants. “Last year, because DC’s Bloom & Groom plant giveaway was canceled due to a pandemic flower shortage, we grew marigolds and other flowers to hand out as gifts to Amani residents,” Landry said. “We also grew basil, dried it and ground it up. We gave that away to residents as a holiday gift.”
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This year, Landry has been working on a growing schedule and has tested and harvested crops of bok choy, several types of lettuces and basil. He has plans to develop systems to grow healthy leafy greens next, in addition to flowers and any other crop that the Amani residents are interested in. “If anyone has ideas let me know, I’ll try it,” he said.
To bring urban agriculture and hydroponics to Amani, DC turned to an expert in the industry, FullCircle26, Inc. (FC26I). “FullCircle26, Inc., is a valuable partner in this work,” said Harris. “They are experts in agriculture and agriculture technology, and their passion for helping communities of color is palpable.”
FC26I is a full service North American sales and distribution organization of AgTech and STEM/STEAM products. The company is committed to providing access to new plant growing technologies, learning tools and training for all ages. FC26I is also launching a non-profit organization called Next Generation Harvest, with a mission to provide greater access for generational change. FC26I is led by Founder and CEO Shelley Mathews. “Hydroponics is a way to grow fresh produce year-round and offers all the essentials for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) training for youth, teens and adults,” said Mathews. “The Dominican Center has been on the forefront of community-based plant growing through hydroponics and can be a leader in AgTech for the future.”
Mathews fosters a solid relationship with DC and the building that houses the organization. “I was led back to my childhood school (St. Leo’s was formerly housed in the building) … as a solution to the challenges of urban farming and the accessibility to fresh produce in 2019,” she said. “When I first met with the DC and Amani United team, a young man said, ‘People wonder why there is so much craziness in 53206 … it’s from our children being raised with lead in their systems (from non-removal of lead pipes) and no access to fresh produce.’ He saw hydroponics as a solution and his statements confirmed my mission, purpose and the dedication of our FullCircle26, Inc., team’s efforts,” Mathews said.
In 2021, DC achieved FC26I’s first 3D Model of Sustainability™ Award for growing plants for STEM education, food sustainability and enterprise. Despite the enormous achievement, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, DC’s hydroponics lab had to shut down temporarily. “During this time of shutdown, the FC26I team provided virtual trainings to schools and clients. Seeing the outstanding results of these programs and needing a location for FC26I’s Hydroponics Science and You Lab, DC was the perfect host partner,” said Mathews. “We hope to reboot and strengthen DC’s hydroponic lab with other AgTech tools, STEM educational and vocation training, giving access to farming for the future. … The Center could be the ‘Wakanda’ of AgTech and STEM/STEAM educational and vocational training for the Amani residents, Milwaukee schools and a model for other non-profits striving for a successful social enterprise tool.”
About the Dominican Center
Dominican Center is located at 2470 W. Locust Street, in the Amani neighborhood. It works with Amani residents and partners to build a better future. Dominican Center serves as the community anchor for the White House Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, Building Neighborhood Capacity Program and is the lead community partner for the US Department of Justice’s Innovations of Community Based Crime Reduction grant for Amani.
Please contact Christina Chronister at the Dominican Center for additional information at
(414) 444-9930 or by email at christina@dominican-center.org
About FullCircle26 Inc. (FC26I)
The team at FC26I delivers professional sales representation, consulting, program development and distribution of Farm and STEM products from a Milwaukee, Wis., distribution center for North America. We assist small companies in gaining access to international distributors and customized markets. FC26I CEO Shelley Mathews is available for speaking engagements, workshops, lectures and conferences.

author: Dominican Center


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hydro_mrWes-small.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
March 7, 2022

author: Name *


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Post from Community: “Truth Check” campaign launched during Black History Month event | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jump At The Sun consultants
March 7, 2022
(Photo provided by Jump at the Sun consultants)
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
A new campaign was launched recently to provide Black communities with the skills to stop the spread of false and fraudulent health information on social media. “Truth Check,” a national campaign of The Center for Black Health & Equity that’s being led locally by Jump at the Sun Consultants, the Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network and Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Poverty Network, was the focus of the virtual event, “Honor, Restore, and Protect Black Health.” More than 160 individuals turned out virtually on Feb. 23, to get tips on how to identify and put a stop to deceptive information that spreads like wildfire on social media, and instead share vetted information that others can trust.
The event included a panel featuring distinguished health equity leaders from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services: Michelle Robinson, PhD, Director of DHS Office of Health Equity, Diamond Hanson, DrPH, MPH, Outreach Program Manager for the Wisconsin DHS, COVID-19 Response and Recovery Team, and Jasmine Zapata, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer and State Epidemiologist for Community Health at the Wisconsin DHS. They discussed the impact of health misinformation on communities of color and ways to improve your health.
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“There are many individuals that are really trying to reduce the health disparities that exist and reduce the systematic biases that can impact care, but in the immediate we all must teach one another how to advocate for ourselves and for our families,” Dr. Hanson said.
Introducing the Truth Check campaign and toolkit were Michael Damond Campbell of Jump at the Sun Consultants and LaTroya Hester, Director of Communications for The Center for Black Health & Equity.
“Because we know that misinformation spreads just like the virus has, it is so important for us to recognize how important we are as influencers in the Black community, how people are looking at us when we post online … and when people see us sharing that content they often make health-related choices based on that information,” Hester said.

author: Jump At The Sun consultants


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 7, 2022


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Post from Community: VIA CDC announces new executive director | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Via CDC
March 7, 2022
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
The Board of Directors of VIA CDC (Community Development Corporation) and the School Sisters of Saint Francis are pleased to announce the appointment of JoAnna Bautch as Executive Director of VIA CDC, an award-winning community development organization that has leveraged over $50 million in neighborhood investment since 1995.
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Bautch comes to VIA CDC from Citizen Action of Wisconsin, where she served as the Director of Movement Politics. There, she worked to achieve the mission of social, economic, and environmental justice. JoAnna played a key role by leading programming that develops local leaders into progressive candidates that are ready to run for and win elected office, especially women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ candidates. Previously, JoAnna served at the United Community Center (UCC), where she focused on her community-centered work by leading communications efforts focused on uplifting the education, economic development, and health of Milwaukee’s southside neighbors.
Bautch is a community organizer and communications professional who has spent her career working with advocacy and non-profit organizations across Milwaukee. Growing up in Milwaukee, JoAnna attended and graduated from Milwaukee Public Schools and then received her Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Alverno College.
“I grew up in the neighborhoods that VIA Community Development Corporation has served for over 25 years on Milwaukee’s near south side. This area is home to some of the most diverse constituencies in the state of Wisconsin and I am so very honored and excited to have been chosen to be the next executive director for VIA CDC, a non-profit organization dedicated to working with all of its neighbors to see our communities grow and succeed together,” said JoAnna.
Bautch takes over as Executive Director at a time when VIA CDC is in one of its strongest positions in recent history. Since 1995, VIA CDC has contributed to the neighborhood revitalization of Silver City, Burnham Park and Layton Park by facilitating and supporting:
“We all deserve to live in a place that nourishes us with a healthy and sustainable environment, equitable economic opportunity, and grassroots community leaders. I am committed to working collectively and collaboratively to create a Milwaukee where we can meet those goals and, in turn, empower all of our people to rise and thrive together,” said Bautch.
“The VIA CDC Board and School Sisters of Saint Francis – US Province leadership unanimously selected JoAnna Bautch. JoAnna has a proven track record of leadership and infectious enthusiasm for supporting the growth and development of the Milwaukee community,” said Marjorie Rucker, VIA CDC Board Chair and Executive Director of The Business Council, Inc. “We are very excited to have JoAnna lead VIA CDC during a time of growth and we look forward to continuing to work towards our mission.”
Brianna Sas-Perez, VIA’s outgoing Executive Director will remain in advisory capacity through May 2022. JoAnna Bautch transitions into her new role, officially commencing on March 21, 2022. To learn more about VIA CDC and their latest news please visit viacdc.org.
About VIA CDC
VIA is a community development organization that cultivates community and neighborhood well-being through housing, economic development, and grassroots leadership development. We collaborate with neighbors, business owners and other stakeholders to nourish our community by connecting people, promoting resource sharing, and supporting community revitalization initiatives. Our mission is to be a partner in building strong, healthy neighborhoods where all of us can thrive.

author: Via CDC


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JoAnna Bautch | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 7, 2022


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She’s 17, has a nursing degree, and she’s still in high school | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chesnie Wardell
March 8, 2022
Imunique Triplett hold her doula certificate, one of her achievements. She is close to earning a nursing license before graduating from high school. (Photo provided by Imunique Triplett)
Imunique Triplett is steps away from getting her nursing license, and she hasn’t even graduated from high school.
The 17-year-old, who plans to graduate from Rufus King High School in May, has a head start thanks to the M3 (M-Cubed) College Connections Program.
This is a free program in which Milwaukee Public Schools collaborates with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Milwaukee Area Technical College to allow students to earn college credits toward a degree while still in high school.
In the Nursing Pathway component of the program, students have the potential to earn their state certification as a nursing assistant and possibly their license as a practical nurse.
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Triplett found herself facing a critical decision when weighing whether to pursue entry into the program.
She knew she would be giving up much of her normal high school experience if she enrolled. And she felt she wasn’t ready for college life. But she swept aside her reservations and started the program at age 15. Two years later, she earned her practical nursing degree on Dec. 17.
An opportunity
James Sokolowski, MPS postsecondary engagement coordinator, said M offers a huge opportunity for students in MPS to study nursing.
The program recognizes that nurses are in high demand in Milwaukee and other communities.
But Sokolowski said, aside from launching students onto a degree and a career, the program strengthens the partnership between MPS, UWM and MATC.
“The program grew out of the intention to work together,” he said.
Sokolowski said that students are required to fill out an application displaying their interest in the program. Then a committee of MPS, UWM and MATC staff reviews the applications and analyzes students’ grades, transcripts and course selections.
The students who are chosen are notified at the end of their sophomore year, and their courses begin in the summer of their junior year.
The selection process takes an inclusive approach.
“We want students to be successful and high performing, but we also don’t want to shut out students who might have had some struggles along the way,” Sokolowski said.
It took Triplett, who is the second youngest of five siblings and was born and raised in Milwaukee, two years to complete the program. She described it as rigorous and containing little room for error.
“It’s either you pass, or you didn’t,” she said.
Caught between high school and college, the time commitment between the two varied. But college ultimately demanded more attention.
Triplett loves to read for pleasure, but during her college studies, she buried herself in flashcards and medical books.
Triplett said her last semester was the hardest, and it took a toll on her mental and emotional health. She said she would go two weeks without self-care.
“Other times, I wouldn’t sleep until 6 a.m. when I had an exam at 8 a.m.,” Triplett said.
Initially, she felt intimidated while taking nursing classes at MATC because she was the youngest of her classmates. Many of them had children, were married and had 15 years of field experience.
She said she had no clue that nursing would be in the picture for her because she was frightened by many aspects of the field.
“I didn’t want to encounter blood, death and the things I saw illustrated on TV,” Triplett said.
During her junior year, she took nursing prerequisite courses for two semesters and during her senior year, she took actual practical nursing courses.
Triplett is studying for one more exam called the NCLEX-PN, which is a state licensing exam that comes after getting the practical nursing degree. That’s scheduled for April 19. For now, she’s into practical nursing. But ultimately Triplett wants to be a registered nurse who specializes in obstetrics.
She’s also looking at being a midwife, and she’s already obtained a doula certificate that enables her to assist with the mental well-being of women in labor.
‘The ideal mentee’
Whitney Bingham, who is Triplett’s mentor at Running Rebels, a youth organization in Milwaukee, encouraged her to do the doula training through Birth & Embrace Communities because she knew of her interest in moms and babies.
Bingham said, “Imunique is the ideal mentee to have. She is coachable, driven and always has the willingness to set and accomplish goals.”
Bingham completed the doula training herself. She said the training is only 30 hours and has no age restriction.
“I had no idea that I would be graduating before high school with a college degree,” Triplett said.
Triplett now works as a caregiver and is undecided about whether to attend New York University or Marquette University after graduating from high school.
During the summer, she will be applying for an apprenticeship with the ROADS program, associated with the Medical College of Wisconsin. ROADS stands for Research Opportunity for Academic Development in Science, a program that gives high school students experience in research laboratory settings.
Triplett was the youngest in her M3 cohort, Sokolowski said. “She’s the trailblazer of the program,” he said.
Triplett said her friends and family are proud of her achievement.
“We definitely cried about it,” she said.
Applications are open
The application period for the M3 (M-Cubed) College Connections Program for 2022-’23 is now open for interested students. The deadline for the Nursing Pathway component of the program is March 24.

author: Chesnie Wardell


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Imunique | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 7, 2022


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On the South Side, a historic Ukrainian church does what it can to support a country | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
March 9, 2022
Before services began, churchgoers gathered to pray for Ukraine and sang a rendition of the Ukrainian national anthem. From left, Prokopiy Chorney and Fr. Mykola Limar. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
It’s Sunday at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
At the head of the church, the priest stands and recites hymns and prayers in the Ukrainian tongue. At its rear, a choir accompanies him, completing the other half of the service. For two hours, they harmonize and pray as the priest moves through each part of the Mass in the Orthodox tradition.
Between them is the congregation, mostly silent. Their heads are bent in reverence, pensive and clouded by current events. Most of them still have family in Ukraine – some were even born there. A recent invasion by Russian forces has resulted in casualties and destruction.
But it’s Sunday. The people are gathered in prayer just as they have been for over a century. And here, there’s work to be done.
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The church, a stronghold for the city’s Ukrainian community since 1917, is rallying to support loved ones overseas.
St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been a stronghold for the city’s Ukrainian community since 1917. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
Far-stretching roots
The church, located at 1231 W. Scott St., was originally built in 1858. The building has been moved twice.
Much of the church’s decor is still the same as it was at its founding, said Ed Bergey, parish treasurer. That includes the iconostasis, translated from Greek as “icon stand,” a wall of religious icons and paintings common in Orthodox churches that separates the sanctuary from the rest of the chapel.
In an excerpt from the Encyclopedia of Milwaukee, a digital urban historical project by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, writer Bill Reck describes the development of St. Mary’s after it was purchased by Ukrainian community members in 1917. It had previously been a Norwegian Lutheran church.
“This site, now known as St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, long formed a central hub for the city’s ethnic population,” Reck wrote. “For example, in the early years of the parish, Orthodox as well as non-Orthodox Ukrainians gathered for services, but also for opportunities to socialize with other Ukrainians, despite religious and cultural differences among the group.”
A large reason for the influx of Ukrainians in the area was displacement after major conflicts, such as World War I and World War II. After fleeing Europe and finding themselves in Milwaukee, they took it upon themselves to keep the customs alive.
“For people in Ukraine, most of their life was around the church,” Bergey said. “They had church services that lasted hours and hours and hours, and they didn’t have any pews to sit in. It was a tremendous part of their life. They lost that when they came here, and they tried to maintain it.”
As new arrivals to the country, the church served as a place to meet fellow Ukrainians.
“They were displaced people,” Bergey said. “They came here looking for a common language and a common history, if you will.”
After services on Sunday, the congregation still gathers in the basement of the church. They eat, drink and socialize just as the church’s forbears did. Bergey said the gatherings remain an important part of the community in the city.
The church wears its age on its sleeve. Severe problems with the roof and beams of the church have forced staff to put up bungee cords to reinforce the walls, Bergey said. The parish staff is hoping to make repairs soon.
Parish Board President Sophia Torcivia has been leading efforts to help Ukrainians. “I’m like the go-between,” Torcivia says. “I keep going to where the most good can be provided.” (Photo by Sue Vliet)
‘The go-between’
It’s rare to catch Sophia Torcivia, parish board president of St. Mary’s Church, in a moment of downtime. On top of trying to keep the church in one piece, she’s got people depending on her. On top of the work she does at the church, she keeps busy by volunteering at a food pantry.
Her latest project is rallying medical supplies to send to the Ukrainian front.
In recent weeks, Torcivia has been constantly motoring forward. With a list of needed medical supplies, Torcivia has been on the phone constantly, dialing potential donors and drumming up support wherever she can.
“I’m like the go-between,” Torcivia, who was born in the Ukraine but whose family fled when she was a child, said. “I keep going to where the most good can be provided.”
It’s not without its toll. She said she had a splitting headache from having cried so much over the last few days and was desperately trying not to cry anymore.
In some moments, though, such as the Ukrainian national anthem being played at the church, she can’t control her emotions.
“It’s just so barbaric,” Torcivia said of the Russian invasion. “It’s undisciplined. It’s killing for killing’s sake.”
Even through it all, she doesn’t plan to stop trying to help anytime soon. For Torcivia, this is a mission.
“If I can be of help to the Ukrainian people in any way possible, that’s why God put me on this Earth,” Torcivia said. “If that takes my time, then it’s well worth it. If I can just see that maybe I saved two people, even one – well, one is better than none.”
How to help
Those who wish to send donations for medical supplies can do so by sending them to 1231 W. Scott St. Supplies can also be donated after Sunday services, which start at 10 a.m.
The church has a goal of raising $60,000 for repairs. It has a GoFundMe page for people to donate online.


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51923070663_2c82420b6a_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 8, 2022


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 8, 2022


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Post from Community: Milwaukee mayoral candidates forum March 16th at Turner Hall Ballroom | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Press Club
March 9, 2022
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson and former Alderman Bob Donovan, the top two finishers in the February 15 primary, will face off in an election forum set for 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 16 at Turner Hall Ballroom, 1040 N. Vel R. Phillips Avenue.
The forum, co-hosted by the Milwaukee Press Club,  WisPolitics.com, the Pabst Theater Group and  Listen MKE, [a collaboration among the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WUWM 89.7, and Milwaukee PBS] will be free and open to the public. Registration for in-person attendance is required and seating will be limited.
The forum also will be livestreamed at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Facebook page for those who cannot attend in person.
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Johnson and Donovan will take questions on topics of importance to Milwaukee and its residents from a panel of journalists and from the audience.
The panel:
James Causey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist and special projects reporter – Moderator
Alison Dirr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter
Rich Kirchen, Milwaukee Business Journal reporter
Derrick Rose, WISN TV anchor/reporter
To register to attend the forum in person, go to: https://milwaukeepressclub.org/events/.
To view the livestream March 16, go to: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Facebook page. Please use #MKEMayoralForum22 for social media.
For questions or more information, contact Joette Richards at the Milwaukee Press Club,joette@milwaukeepressclub.org or call 262-894-2224.

author: Milwaukee Press Club


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Post from Community: Spectrum partners with Ovation TV to present $10,000 grant | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Spectrum
March 9, 2022
Community Leaders, Spectrum and Ovation TV present a check to the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center (Photo provided by Spectrum)
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Spectrum today announced Milwaukee Youth Arts Center (MYAC) will receive $10,000 through the 2021-2022 Stand For The Arts Awards, a partnership with Ovation TV that recognizes local arts, cultural and educational organizations and programs. Since the initiative started in 2017, Ovation TV and Spectrum have given out 50 awards totaling $500,000 towards art education.
Spectrum and Ovation TV representatives presented the award to the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center  Student Advisory Board during its debut event on Tuesday, March 8, where the organization also unveiled The Burke Foundation mural and celebrated its completed renovation and expansion.
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“By increasing access to the arts and arts education, Milwaukee Youth Arts Center is doing outstanding work to enrich the lives of Milwaukee residents,” said Adam Falk, Senior Vice President, State Government Affairs for Charter Communications, Inc., which operates the Spectrum brand of Internet, TV, Mobile and Voice services. “Our engagement in this initiative and the meaningful support we get from programming partners like Ovation is yet another avenue for Spectrum to help make a positive impact in the communities it serves.”
In collaboration with First Stage and the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, the MYAC is an arts-in-education facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A performing arts education and rehearsal facility for the young people of southeastern Wisconsin, it provides opportunities for children to express themselves through the arts in a multicultural environment.
“We are honored to be recognized as one of the 15 arts and culture organizations in the United States to be a recipient of this prestigious award,” said Del Wilson, Executive Director of Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. “Funds from this grant will directly support MYAC’s mission to provide Milwaukee’s youth with an opportunity to develop their talents and form a life-long appreciation for the performing arts.”
Select arts organizations are awarded Stand For The Arts contributions based on the following criteria: support of creative/artistic communities via economic and/or mental health recovery connected programs, commitment to accessibility and equity in the arts, and advocacy for underserved populations in their communities.
“We’re beyond thrilled to be recognizing Milwaukee Youth Arts Center through our Stand For The Arts awards initiative with Charter,” said Sol Doten, Senior Vice President, Content Distribution and Partner Marketing for Ovation TV. “It is imperative that we continue to support local arts organizations like Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, as they continue to inspire children to discover and develop their talents through performing arts education and programming. We applaud their hard work and support our shared missions of arts access for all.”
“I commend Ovation and Charter for their support in recognizing the important work organizations like Milwaukee Youth Arts Center does to promote arts in the City of Milwaukee ,” said State Sen. La Tonya Johnson. “Accessibility to the arts provides direct economic growth for local communities and makes the region a more attractive place to live and work.”
More information about Stand For The Arts and the Stand For The Arts Awards is available at:  www.standforthearts.com.

author: Spectrum


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 9, 2022


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Doula program puts focus on 53206 ZIP code in effort to reduce infant mortality | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
March 10, 2022
Former Mayor Tom Barrett addresses doulas of color and the public in April 2019, when the legislation to fund doula positions to serve 100 mothers in the 53206 ZIP code originally passed. (NNS file photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
Leer en español: El programa Doula se enfoca en el código postal 53206 en un esfuerzo por reducir la mortalidad infantil
The City of Milwaukee’s Birth Outcomes Made Better Doula Program will be zeroing in on the 53206 ZIP code in an effort to reduce infant mortality.
Erica Olivier, deputy commissioner of community health with the Milwaukee Health Department, said the infant mortality rates for the ZIP code were among the highest in the city over the last five years.
In 2017, the ZIP code recorded an infant mortality rate of 29.1 per 1,000 live births, the highest in the city, according to health department data. In 2018, the year before legislation was introduced to fund doula positions, it was 23.4 per 1,000 live births, again the highest in the city.
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Focusing on 53206 means addressing the root causes behind the higher rates. Leading factors for infant mortality in the area include the lack of access to quality health care, unhealthy behaviors and poverty, she said.
“These are people that are wonderful and loving and want to have nothing but healthy families and to be successful,” Olivier said. “They’re not afforded the same access to all the things that do make other areas more successful.”
Officials hope to serve 50 mothers from the 53206 area, and the initiative is being funded through a $52,000 grant from the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Service.
The 53206 ZIP code is situated on the North Side of the city and includes the Sherman Park and Amani neighborhoods.
Nicole Miles, BOMB Doula Program manager, said the health department has four doulas in its program, and there are two community-based doulas embedded in 53206 for a total of six available for the effort.
A doula is meant to support young mothers and their families throughout the pregnancy, offering guidance, resources and helping to create a delivery plan for young mothers.
Although they do not provide clinical support, they guide women through pregnancy and provide advice in these areas.
Miles said the concept for doula work comes from community birthing, where women in an area would support each other during the pregnancy. The idea is to rekindle relationships with mothers in the same way to help increase healthy birthing patterns.
“Traditionally we gave birth at home,” Miles said. “People who live in your community, like whether it was your sister-in-law, whether it was your neighbor, whether it was your aunt, these people came to your home and provided that support to you. We’re trying to bring that back.”
Olivier said that although the program is fully staffed, it has been challenging to recruit doulas who can effectively connect with the community.
“We’re looking for people that are ideally grassroots, that have been living in Milwaukee, that live and breathe this community, that probably had babies themselves, that are people of color,” Olivier said. “That’s really whittling down the pool from if you just have an application up on Indeed.”
Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic, chairwoman of the Public Safety and Health Committee for the Milwaukee Common Council, said she was excited to see the program gaining steam. During her time on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, Dimitrijevic helped author the program.
As most of the city health department’s resources have been dedicated to COVID-19, she hopes to see more programs to address underlying issues.
“It’s time for us to get off the ropes a bit,” Dimitrijevic said.
How to get involved
To enroll in the program, visit the BOMB Doula Program website or call 414-286-8620. On the website, you’ll find the Home Visitation Program Referral Form, which you can fill out and submit to MCHHVRef@milwaukee.gov


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Milwaukee prepares for aftershocks caused by January’s deluge of evictions | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
March 10, 2022
Evictions remain a key issue for the city as Berrada Properties’ deluge of evictions in January affects large numbers of families. (NNS file photo by Adam Carr)
The City of Milwaukee will face a punishing fallout from Berrada Properties Management’s recent deluge of evictions.
That fallout will mean not just pain for the families affected but will impact neighborhoods, agencies that deal with displaced families and the need for funding as those evicted scramble to get roofs over their heads.
This domino effect from Berrada’s evictions was the focus Wednesday of the Common Council’s Community and Economic Development Committee, which met virtually to discuss anti-eviction strategies.
The consensus: There will be pain ahead and a pressing need for various agencies and the city to deal with the aftershocks.
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In January, Berrada Properties Management Inc., a landlord with thousands of rental units across the city, filed about 1,000 eviction cases in a matter of weeks, pushing the caseload above pre-pandemic levels.
Earlier, an attorney for Berrada told Milwaukee CBS affiliate WDJT-TV (Channel 58) that the firm had to act.
“Berrada Properties Management, Inc. has gone to great lengths to work with tenants who want to pay their rent and can’t – including creating an eviction diversion program – but unfortunately some tenants have not sought the help available and left us no choice,” said Joe Goldberger, Berrada’s attorney.
He said many tenants had incurred balances of unpaid rent of as much as $17,000.
Colleen Foley, the executive director of the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, an organization that provides legal assistance to residents in need, said the filings have systemic ramifications that have and will affect everything from emergency rental assistance to the judicial system and shelters in coming months.
Both the Social Development Commission and another agency that deals with housing issues, Community Advocates, will dispense emergency rental assistance, helping those in the eviction pipeline first.
The Legal Aid Society continues to run its new program, Eviction Free MKE, providing legal services to Milwaukeeans facing evictions.
The Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center, a collaborative designed to provide assistance and resources to both landlords and tenants, will also step in.
District 6 Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs said she put the eviction issue on the committee’s agenda because evictions are now even more a key priority due to Berrada’s recent actions. This, she said, affects large numbers of families and disrupts neighborhoods.
Coggs said the city has received significant American Rescue Plan or ARPA, funds to assist those who have been evicted.
“It’s important for the council to receive an update of where we are at in the city with evictions – as well as outcomes – from the organizations that are supposed to be helping residents deal with eviction,” she said.
According to LaToya Jones, the business service manager at the Social Development Commission, her agency has disbursed seven percent, or about $3 million, of the commission’s funds since 2020 to Berrada Properties in the form of rental assistance.
Community Advocates has disbursed a large portion of its rental assistance funds to Berrada as well.
“When we are providing service, we are providing to the tenant that needs our help,” said Maudwella Kirkendoll the chief operating officer for Community Advocates.
Committee members said they now understand that evictions will need to be a topic of discussion for future meetings.
“The onslaught has not fully started yet. As time goes on, we will see more individuals in unique situations,” said Steven Mahan, director of the Community Development Grants Administration, a city department. “We need to be flexible and ready to move with additional funds as things progress.”
Resources to consult if you’re worried about eviction

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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Need help with your taxes? These organizations offer free services for those who qualify | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
March 10, 2022
Through the Volunteer Tax Assistance Program, low-income individuals can receive help with their tax returns for free. (Photo provided by Social Development Commission)
Leer en español: una versión traducida de este artículo está disponible debajo de la versión en inglés.
It’s a new year and with it, comes a new tax season. While filing taxes can seem overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be thanks to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program or VITA, which helps low-income individuals file their state and federal tax returns for free.
Various local organizations offer the VITA program and individuals can sign up for an appointment to receive help.
This year’s tax deadline is Monday, April 18. Click here to see what documents you should bring to your VITA appointment and look below to see the list of organizations that offer the VITA program.
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Did we miss a program that offers free tax services? Post it in the comments below or send an email with the subject line ‘Free Tax Services’ to amartinez-ortiz@milwaukeenns.org.
Riverworks Development Corporation
Riverworks Development Corporation, 526 E. Concordia Ave., offers the VITA tax program year-round through its financial clinic. To schedule an appointment, click here. The Riverworks Development Corporation is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
To learn more about the Riverworks Development Corporation’s financial clinic, read NNS Spotlight: Riverworks clinic teaches financial literacy.
Social Development Commission
The Social Development Commission’s VITA program started on Monday, Jan. 31. To qualify, the household income must be $66,000 or less. SDC offers a drop-off and pickup model. Individuals can fill out the required forms and drop off the forms and tax documents at a SDC location of their choosing. The forms can be found online or at one of the following SDC locations.
North Avenue Office: 1730 W. North Ave.
Teutonia Avenue Office: 6848 N. Teutonia Ave.
Chase Avenue Office: 2968 S. Chase Ave.
Northwest Office: 9155 N. 76 St.
The offices on North Avenue, Teutonia Avenue and Chase Avenue are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.
The Northwest Office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, but VITA services are by appointment only.
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee Area Technical College is partnering with Get Your Refund, a national nonprofit group, to help low-income individuals file their taxes for free. Accounting students and volunteers will be doing all the work, individuals simply need to submit the correct documents. Click here to get started.
Individuals without access to technology can drop their documents off at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus, 700 W. State St., between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Mondays. The Oak Creek Campus, 6665 S. Howell Ave., will also be accepting drop-offs from noon to 2 p.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.
In case you missed it, read this explainer on how the VITA program works.
Es un nuevo año y con él, llega una nueva temporada de impuestos. Si bien la declaración de impuestos puede parecer abrumadora, no tiene por qué serlo gracias al Programa Voluntario de Asistencia con el Impuesto sobre la Renta o VITA , que ayuda a las personas de bajos ingresos a presentar sus declaraciones de impuestos estatales y federales de forma gratuita.
Varias organizaciones locales ofrecen el programa VITA y las personas pueden solicitar una cita para recibir ayuda.
La fecha límite de impuestos de este año es el lunes 18 de abril. Haga clic aquí para ver qué documentos debe traer a su cita de VITA y mire a continuación para ver la lista de organizaciones que ofrecen el programa VITA.
¿Nos perdimos un programa que ofrece servicios de impuestos gratuitos? Publíquelo en los comentarios a continuación o envíe un correo electrónico con el asunto ‘Servicios de impuestos gratuitos’ a amartinez-ortiz@milwaukeenns.org .
Riverworks Development Corporation, 526 E. Concordia Ave., ofrece el programa de impuestos VITA durante todo el año a través de su clínica financiera. Para programar una cita, haga clic aquí . Riverworks Development Corporation está abierta de 9 am a 5 pm de lunes a viernes.
Para obtener más información sobre la clínica financiera de Riverworks Development Corporation, lea NNS Spotlight: Riverworks clinic enseña educación financiera .
El programa VITA de la Social Development Commission comenzó el lunes 31 de enero. Para calificar, el ingreso familiar debe ser de $66,000 o menos. SDC ofrece un modelo de entrega y recogida. Las personas pueden completar los formularios requeridos y dejar los formularios y los documentos fiscales en la ubicación de SDC que elijan. Los formularios se pueden encontrar en línea o en una de las siguientes ubicaciones de SDC.
Las ubicaciones y el horario de oficina de SDC:
Oficina de North Avenue: 1730 W. North Ave.
Oficina de Teutonia Avenue: 6848 N. Teutonia Ave.
Oficina de Chase Avenue: 2968 S. Chase Ave.
Oficina Noroeste: 9155 N. 76 th St.
Las oficinas en North Avenue, Teutonia Avenue y Chase Avenue están abiertas de 8:30 am a 4 pm los lunes, miércoles y viernes y de 10:30 am a 6 pm los martes y jueves.
La Oficina del Noroeste está abierta de 8:30 am a 4 pm de lunes a viernes, pero los servicios de VITA son solo con cita previa.
Milwaukee Area Technical College se ha asociado con Get Your Refund, un grupo nacional sin fines de lucro, para ayudar a las personas de bajos ingresos a declarar sus impuestos de forma gratuita. Los estudiantes de contabilidad y los voluntarios harán todo el trabajo, las personas simplemente deben enviar los documentos correctos. Haga clic aquí para comenzar .
Las personas sin acceso a la tecnología pueden dejar sus documentos en el campus del centro de Milwaukee, 700 W. State St., entre las 11:30 am y las 2:30 pm los lunes. El campus de Oak Creek, 6665 S. Howell Ave., también aceptará entregas desde el mediodía hasta las 2 pm y desde las 4:30 pm hasta las 6:30 pm los martes.
lee este explicador sobre cómo funciona el programa VITA

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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5 things to know and do the weekend of March 11 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
March 11, 2022
Tarsha Wiggins hosts another session of Trap Therapy this Sunday, utilizing hip-hop to drive conversations about mental health. (Photo provided by Tarsha Wiggins)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here.
1. Open jam session with R.A.T.M.A.N.: Friday, March 11
Join the funk band R.A.T.M.A.N. for a jam session that is open to anyone. The open jam will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday March 11 at Arts @ Large, located at 1100 S. 5th St. More information here.
2. Demonstration for peace in Ukraine: Saturday, March 12
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A rally organized by Peace Action Wisconsin for an end to the war in Ukraine will be held starting at noon on Saturday, March 12 at the corner of North Sherman Avenue and West North Avenue.
3. Harambee Neighborhood Improvement District Meeting: Saturday, March 12
Residents of the Harambee neighborhood are invited to learn more about what a Neighborhood Improvement District is, how it benefits neighborhood residents and to vote for the board. The meeting runs from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 12 at Ebenezer Ministry and Family Worship Center located at 3132 N. Martin Luther King Drive. Learn more about the candidates here.
4. Ujima Reading Circle: Saturday, March 12
Pick up a copy of “The Sum of Us” by Heather McGee and take part in a reading circle facilitated by Damia Causey. Light snacks, coffee and tea provided. The event starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 12 at The Table, located at 5305 W. Capitol Ave.
5. Trap Therapy: Sunday, March 13
Hip-hop and mental health come together in this seminar, running from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. this Sunday, March 13 at Gee’s Clippers, located at 2200 N. Martin Luther King Drive.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 10, 2022


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Mayoral candidate Bob Donovan plans a focus on crime if elected | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
March 11, 2022
Mayoral candidate Bob Donovan sat down with Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service to discuss his plans if elected mayor. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Mayoral candidate Bob Donovan said Thursday that crime – fear of it and perceptions of it – is a major factor contributing to Milwaukee’s lack of jobs and economic development in areas of the community that need both.
During a wide-ranging, hour-long interview with the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service on topics of interest to the city’s North Side and South Side, Donovan made crime a recurring theme.
“We can’t dance around these issues,” said Donovan, who served 20 years as the alderman for the Eighth District on the South Side. “If you are truly serious about restoring order and stability and safety to our streets, that cannot be done without the appropriate level of manpower in the police department.”
Donovan, 65, linked crime to jobs, particularly on the North Side and South Side.
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He used vacancies in the Century City Business Park project, at 3025 W Hopkins St., as an example.
“The reason Century City sits vacant is generally because of the crime in that area,” he said. “That is the sad reality. When you look at any business who (is) considering settling in a community, the first thing they look at is the crime.”
Donovan said the city needs old-fashion beat cops both to combat crime and to foster better police/community relations. He also called for more police resource generally to combat crime.
On another crime issue, Donovan said reckless driving is a symptom of “the lawlessness that has taken over Milwaukee.”
And, he said, the death of George Floyd sparked anti-police rhetoric, which has caused low morale in the police department and a deterioration of police staffing.
“I’m not convinced we need additional laws,” Donovan said. “I am convinced we need to enforce the laws we already have.”
As the city grapples with unprecedented incidents of violence, Donovan expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the city’s Office of Violence Prevention, which has overseen Milwaukee’s first community-driven comprehensive violence prevention plan, known as the Blueprint for Peace,
“I am not at all convinced that the Office of Violence Prevention … has proven its success. It’s imperative that any agency that we fund can show us as a community what they’ve accomplished, I haven’t seen that information,” he said.
Views on housing, education and health
Pointing to a lack of affordable housing, Donovan said he would create something akin to a housing czar to coordinate the efforts in the many city entities tasked with addressing the problem.
“There are north of 20 agencies that work on housing. All of them do great things,” he said. “But they’re not necessarily working together. The role of that housing director would be to bring them together and coordinate a plan and strategy to address that.”
Donovan said education also is a key issue for him, though the city’s mayor does not control Milwaukee Public Schools. That is left to the district’s school board. Nonetheless, he said as mayor he would weigh in on issues.
“Education is the ticket out of poverty. Whoever will be the mayor should have a hands-on approach with schools,” he said. “I would create an educational advisory board to address issues with our schools.”
He also said he does not favor the breakup of MPS as recent state legislation calls for and is in favor of the community’s choice and charter schools.
Donovan said the city needs to be more active in its approach to the city’s health needs and neighborhood services. He suggested a more active public health nurse initiative and a mobile clinic to serve health needs in under-served areas.
He also discussed the city’s problem with service lines that are lined with lead, called lead laterals.
“Milwaukee is currently looking at a 70-year replacement plan for lead laterals,” he said. “I believe we can get it down to a 10-year replacement plan.”
He said he would call on the city’s congressional delegation for help in this regard as well as those from the state and the private sector.
He also suggested creating a health advisory committee to address the city’s pressing health and mental health challenges.
On other issues, Donovan said, “As far as I’m concerned COVID is over. We need to get used to it.”
He added, “Working from home isn’t getting anything done, city employees need to be back in the office.”
He said this partly in the context of city employees physically returning to work.
Asked what innovative program he would champion that sets him apart from his opponent, Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson, he said he would set up a scholarship fund for Milwaukee’s students.
Donovan also said government isn’t the answer to all the city’s problems and said city red tape is an impediment to business creation.
The mayoral election is April 5.
In case you missed it: Mayoral candidate Cavalier Johnson plans focus on jobs and economic growth if elected


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Post from Community: “Black Birth” symposium employs healing power of storytelling to address racial disparities in maternal and infant health | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Film
March 13, 2022
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
On Monday, Non-profit arts organization Milwaukee Film announced its plans to host its first-ever symposium on pregnancy-related mortality among Black women on March 26, as a part of World Doula Week. Drawing on the relationship between arts-based pedagogy and healing, the “Black Birth” maternal health symposium, presented by the Milwaukee County Office on African American Affairs, is a one-of-kind public health forum employing visual storytelling to address racial health disparities and promote emphatic learning.
“For those unfamiliar with our work, it might seem odd for an arts and culture organization to host a conference on healthy birth outcomes,” said Geraud Blanks, Milwaukee Film’s Chief Innovation Officer. “But we’ve curated these types of events for years. In fact, this is the third or fourth time we’ve hosted a conversation around the topic of Black maternal healthcare.”
A 2019 collaboration with a local health network, Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, established the Minority Health Film Festival–a platform that generated critical dialog around collective wellness, public health equity, and determinants of health in Milwaukee’s communities of color. Shifting to a virtual format in 2020, the festival screened Black maternal health documentary The American Dream, hosted a related conversation with Jennie Joseph of Commonsense Childbirth, Inc., and a panel featuring local doulas called “Birth Workers On The Front Lines.”
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Rebranded the Cultures & Communities Festival in 2021, last year’s hybrid event included an in-person screening of Haimy Assefa’s short film “Black Birth,” followed by a panel discussion with area clinicians. “We didn’t choose the topic of Black maternal healthcare. It chose us,” Blanks says jokingly about the organization’s extensive programming dedicated to Black women’s reproductive health.
For Blanks and his team, it has not gone unnoticed how the topic of racial disparities in birthing outcomes have special resonance for care providers in Milwaukee, given Wisconsin’s maternal mortality rate for Black women ranks among the highest in the country. “After the 2021 festival, medical professionals and community advocates from every sector of the city reached out, explaining to us just how urgent these types of discussions were,” Blanks recalls.
Responding to the request of local care providers and community advocates, Milwaukee Film expanded the original Black Birth forum to what is now an all-day interactive conference featuring a variety of short film presentations integrated into various breakout sessions. Split into panel and roundtable formats, morning “Inclusion & Equity” forums pair leading experts and advocates from around the city representing both medical and emotional models of perinatal health, while afternoon “Learning & Healing” sessions center the lived experiences of birthing people and their families through facilitated story sharing.
The symposium’s lunchtime keynote conversation features actress and maternal healthcare advocate Christina Elmore in a candid discussion with TMJ4 anchor Shannon Sims about onscreen representations of Black motherhood, including her own recurring role as “Condola” on HBO’s popular series Insecure. Keeping with the theme of storytelling and sharing, Elmore will talk openly about her pandemic childbirth journey, specifically how the death of George Floyd led her to choose an all-Black midwife team for the birth of her second child.
“Black Birth: A Symposium on Black Maternal Health” takes place at Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel on Saturday, March 26. Pre-registration begins Friday, March 11. Visit mkefilm.org for more information. Registration for the all-day conference is free and open to the public thanks to the generous support of long-time partners Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, Inc., Wellpoint Care Network (SaintA), as well as new partnerships with Greater Milwaukee Foundation Columbia Health System Endowment Fund for Women’s Health, United Healthcare, and Progressive Health Centers.

author: Milwaukee Film


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5 things to know and do this week in Milwaukee: March 14 to March 18 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
March 14, 2022
Science Strikes Back, the community science fair hosted by Escuela Verde, takes place this week. (NNS file photo Adam Carr)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here.
1. Tour the Community Within the Corridor: Wednesday, March 16
Tour the new affordable housing development, which includes a daycare, community spaces and basketball and futsal courts, before it opens this summer. Tours are open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16 at 2784 N. 32nd St.
2. Milwaukee Mayoral Candidate Forum: Wednesday, March 16
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The two mayoral candidates, Cavalier Johnson and Bob Donovan, will speak on the issues at this mayoral forum. The forum runs from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Turner Hall Ballroom, located at 1040 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave. The forum, co-hosted by the Milwaukee Press Club, WisPolitics.com, the Pabst Theater Group and Listen MKE (a collaboration among the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WUWM 89.7 and Milwaukee PBS), will be free and open to the public. Registration for in-person attendance is required and seating will be limited. The event will also be livestreamed on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Facebook page.
3. Deadline to register to vote before Election Day: Wednesday, March 16
The deadline to register by mail, online or at the library to vote in the April 5 election is Wednesday. After this deadline, you can still register in person at your polling place on Election Day. This election will include voting for the next mayor. For more information, click here.
4. Support Group Sessions with Hmong American Friendship Association: Wednesday, March 16 and Friday, March 18
The Hmong American Friendship Association is hosting two support group sessions, one on developing self-worth and confidence and one on overcoming fear. The developing self-worth session takes place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16, and the overcoming fear session takes place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 18. Both sessions take place at the Hmong American Friendship Association, located at 3824 W. Vliet St. To register, email pkyang@hmongfriendship.org or call 414-344-6575 ext. 238.
5. Science Strikes Back!: Thursday, March 17
The annual science fair hosted by Escuela Verde is open to the public from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 17 at Escuela Verde, located at 3628 W. Pierce St. RSVP to attend, volunteer or donate here. Masks are required, and there will be free COVID Antigen testing from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
BONUS: PrEP consultations at Holton Street Clinic: ongoing
When taken correctly, PrEP can reduce HIV transmission through sexual contact by up to 99%. If you are interested in learning more about PrEP but are concerned about doctor visitation fees or costs due to lack of health insurance, the Holton Street Clinic offers free consultations at 3251 N. Holton St. More information here.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 13, 2022