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Adams Garden Park expected to open by summer | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
November 16, 2018
Adams Garden Park will comprise the redeveloped building at 1836 W. Fond du Lac Ave. and the adjacent parking lot and land. (Rendering courtesy of Sharon Adams)
A year and a half after they acquired three vacant city-owned lots next to a building and land they already owned, Sharon and Larry Adams have changed the plan for their Lindsay Heights development project, Adams Garden Park.
The original plan to redevelop the building they own at 1836 W. Fond du Lac Ave. and adjacent land into a garden center has evolved into a development to house several environmental organizations.
In 2016, after they stepped down from running Walnut Way Conservation Corp. and started to think about Adams Garden Park, the couple envisioned local entrepreneurs selling plants and offering related services to urban gardeners.
From the beginning, their goals for the project were to transform under-utilized and vacant properties, create an environmental hub adjacent to the Walnut Way campus and create pathways to environmental engagement that would lead to academic, employment and business development, Sharon Adams said.
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The Adams’s plans evolved when they found that the Milwaukee Environmental Consortium (MEC) was interested in renting the redeveloped building to relocate its offices and those of two of its member organizations, Milwaukee Water Commons and Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters. The nonprofits have since signed a letter of intent and plan to join Blue Skies Landscaping as tenants on the property. Blue Skies is a landscaping training and employment company that Larry Adams incubated at Walnut Way.
Sharon Adams, Adams Garden Park co-developer, talks with Jermajesty Smith at a fundraising dinner and concert at the MSOE Todd Wehr Auditorium. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Adams Garden Park is now on track to become a home for environmental stewards including teachers, residents, neighbors, scientists and advocates, Sharon Adams said.
Martha Spencer, executive director of MEC, an umbrella organization that rents space and provides accounting and other services to 17 member organizations, said MEC had outgrown its space on Farwell Avenue and had been looking for a new home for two years without success. During that time, several of its members, including Milwaukee Riverkeeper and Victory Garden Initiative, found new homes elsewhere but they are still engaged members interested in MEC’s work in Lindsay Heights, she said.
“We plan to continue offering co-working spaces” at Adams Garden Park, Spencer said.
Sharon Adams said that she and her husband are working with Juli Kaufmann, president of Fix Development, whom she described as the assistant developer. She added that they still need to raise $425,000 to meet the project’s $700,000O goal.
“Our fundraising strategy is reaching out to people who care about our environment and care about the neighborhood having access to scientists and teachers and advocates,” Adams said.
At a recent fundraising dinner and concert, which drew more than 90 people, Adams and her team unveiled renderings of the redeveloped building, which will offer two floors of offices, and other conference and work spaces.
It is likely that the land, which contains trees and a hoop house, will contain  gardens but the land use design has not been finalized, Adams said. “It will be a beautiful green space that will support activities, such as water demonstrations,” for the building tenants’ environmental programs, as well as those of others working on sustainability projects in the neighborhood.
She expects that new tenants can be welcomed to the site in spring or summer 2019. Spencer is hoping to be able to move there on April 1, she said.
Adams noted that the neighborhood’s commitment to health and environmental stewardship has become central to its identity. Walnut Way, Neu-Life Community Development, Running Rebels and Marketplace Business Improvement District 32 all contributed to creating and building that identity. The process was “organic and it was intentional,” she said, adding that many MEC member groups have also contributed.
“One of the joys of being in Lindsay Heights is that we work collectively,” she said.
Kirsten Shead, co-director of Milwaukee Water Commons, said equal access to water and other environmental justice issues are central to her organization’s mission.
She said the Milwaukee Water Commons wants to complement the innovative environmental work that’s already happening in Lindsay Heights, citing Walnut Way, Sharon Adams, Venice Williams at Alice’s Garden and the Tandem restaurant. “I think there is a natural connection,” Shead said. “We’re going to need … everyone to come up with the solutions (to environmental challenges) … or the solutions are going to be flawed.”
Spencer said the environmental movement has shifted away from an issue-based approach. “We would like to anchor our efforts to communities like Lindsay Heights with a new emphasis on caring for people so they can care for the environment.”
The Lindsay Heights community has been doing that and “we would love to join with the residents there to advance a sustainable community,” she added.
Spencer said she and her fellow tenants are honored and excited to be working in Lindsay Heights, which has become a prominent national model for sustainable neighborhoods.

created: November 16, 2018


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 15, 2018

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: November 15, 2018

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

author: Adam Carr


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Council approves key budget item to encourage entrepreneurship to address food deserts | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Khalif J. Rainey
November 16, 2018
During the Common Council’s budget adoption meeting earlier this week, my colleagues approved an important budget amendment I offered that should help continue the momentum we need to battle Milwaukee’s food desert problem.
The amendment that was approved will increase by $200,000 our seed fund to encourage entrepreneurialism in providing healthy food options in food deserts. The funding works to find creative ways for grocery and food businesses to provide healthy, nutritious foods in neighborhoods where no grocery stores are currently located. Our effort to attract these businesses is critical and must be sustained as we do our due diligence to properly nourish our next generation of leaders and difference makers across Milwaukee.
Just as we work to reduce lead risks and protect our city’s children from environmental hazards, we must also do all we can to make sure they grow up with strong bodies and minds fueled by nutritious and healthy foods.
The measure approved earlier this week will tap best practices and only rewards entrepreneurs if they have a sustainable business model. Additionally, the philanthropic community is also involved as the American Heart Association has indicated they can match those dollars (this is significant as I believe the amount needed to fully address this problem would be $2 million).
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I want to thank my colleagues for their support with this important budget item, and I look forward to continuing to do all I can to bring healthy food options to every corner of my district and across Milwaukee.

author: Ald. Khalif J. Rainey


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Free pre-Thanksgiving meal of African and Jamaican cuisine for 400 needy | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jeff Bentoff
November 19, 2018
(Photos by Jeff Bentoff)
Hundreds of area residents in need were treated to an early Thanksgiving meal of African and Jamaican cuisine Saturday morning thanks to the generosity of a restauranteur and food pantry.

created: November 19, 2018

author: Jeff Bentoff


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 19, 2018


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Legislation Designating the Vel R. Phillips Post Office building in Milwaukee passes the Senate | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin
November 19, 2018
Last night, the Senate passed legislation designating the U.S. Post Office located at 2650 North Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Drive in Milwaukee as the “Vel R. Phillips Post Office Building.”
“Vel contributed so much at every level and paved the way for other Wisconsinites to help make a difference in people’s lives,” . “She was a leader in engaging the Milwaukee grassroots in dialogue with the Community Brainstorming conference and she encouraged everyone to join her on the march for social justice. Vel had a lifelong passion of doing right by others, and I’m proud to honor her memory and do right by her and her family by designating this Milwaukee building in her name.”
Senators Baldwin and Ron Johnson introduced legislation in September to secure this designation at the Post Office location on MLK Drive. A companion bill, led by Congresswoman Gwen Moore, passed in the House of Representatives in September. After passing the Senate on Thursday, this legislation honoring Milwaukee’s pioneering civil rights activist who passed away earlier this year, now heads to the President’s desk.
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Velvalea “Vel” Phillips was the first woman judge in Milwaukee County and the first African American elected to the Milwaukee Common Council and to statewide office in Wisconsin. Following Vel’s passing in April, Senator Baldwin authored a resolution in the Congressional Record to honor her life of public service and her many contributions to the state of Wisconsin and as a civil rights leader.
An online version of this release is available here.

author: U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin


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Milwaukee Excellence is the highest rated school in the City of Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Excellence
November 19, 2018
The Milwaukee Excellence Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Milwaukee Excellence is the highest rated school in the City of Milwaukee according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Milwaukee Excellence scored 94.3 out of a possible 100 points, earning the school a five-star rating also known as “significantly exceeds expectations” on its state report card released on November 13.
“We are thrilled to have achieved these results after only two years of operation,” said Maurice Thomas, founder, Milwaukee Excellence Charter School. “Our students, parents, and teachers should all be proud of this accomplishment.”
Milwaukee Excellence students take 120 minutes of math and reading each day in order to close enormous learning gaps identified when students enter the school. Additionally, more than 100 students participate in afterschool tutoring each day. All students take coding and computer science class through a generous gift from the Northwestern Mutual Foundation.
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About Milwaukee Excellence Charter School:
Milwaukee Excellence Charter School is a sixth through twelfth grade school located at 4950 N. 24th St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53209. Milwaukee Excellence is a proud Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) charter school. Milwaukee Excellence currently serves 325 sixth through eighth grade students. Milwaukee Excellence will use a slow growth model, growing one grade at a time until reaching full and maximum capacity of 960 students in 2022.
Maurice Thomas is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is a graduate of Rufus King High School and the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

author: Milwaukee Excellence


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More than Half of the State’s Charitable Giving Organizations Plan to Increase Grantmaking in 2018 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wisconsin Philanthropy Network
November 19, 2018
Wisconsinites continue to invest heavily in the cultural and economic vitality of their communities through philanthropy, and the momentum appears to be gaining as the state heads into the giving season.
In a new survey from Wisconsin Philanthropy Network, more than 78 percent of survey respondents said they are looking to increase partnerships and collaborations, and at least 56 percent said they are planning to increase grantmaking. Both of these numbers represent year-over-year increases from 2017-2018.
The 2018 Wisconsin Gives Report provides readers with an in-depth look at the state’s philanthropic sector. The biennial report compiles information from numerous national studies and sources, and is supported by data collected through WPN’s survey of Wisconsin grantmakers.
The survey gathers feedback on topics such as the type and level of support awards; projections for the upcoming year; and funders’ perceptions of the overall health of Wisconsin’s nonprofit groups. As a result of the survey feedback, the report also provides philanthropic best practices, trends and benchmarks.
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“The goal of the Wisconsin Gives Report is to provide our statewide network of philanthropic partners, as well as other stakeholders, usable data and in-depth information on national and regional trends, while deepening the understanding of Wisconsin philanthropy,” said Tony Shields, WPN President and CEO. “As one of the most charitable states in the nation, it is an honor to represent these organizations, capture some of the ‘why’ behind philanthropy, and benchmark the generosity overall of our state’s residents and corporate citizens.”
The report’s findings reflect national philanthropy trends which have attributed increases in charitable giving to the current political climate, a strengthening economy, and a rise in “everyday philanthropists,” especially among Millennials.
Key findings in 2018 include:
Download an electronic version of the 2018 Wisconsin Gives report, here: https://wiphilanthropy.org/learn/wisconsin-gives/.
This report is generously supported by the Mathematics Institute of Wisconsin, Northwestern Mutual, Alliant Energy Foundation, Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, National Guardian Life, Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, Madison Community Foundation, Rockwell Automation, National Investment Services, Northern Trust, Helen Bader Institute for Nonprofit Management, Herb Kohl Philanthropies, Racine Community Foundation, AFP Southeastern Wisconsin and AFP Greater Madison.
About Wisconsin Philanthropy Network
Wisconsin Philanthropy Network is a nonprofit professional membership association of philanthropic organizations. It is Wisconsin’s only statewide association for private foundations (family, independent, and corporate), corporate giving programs, community foundations, donor-advised funds, charitable trusts, university and healthcare foundations, and individual philanthropists who together represent over $7 billion in assets and invest over $600 million annually to improve the quality of life for Wisconsin residents. For more information, visit http://wiphilanthropy.org.

author: Wisconsin Philanthropy Network


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WPN_Infographic.Resized.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
November 19, 2018

author: Name *


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Positive relationships with adults key to preventing youth violence, panelists say | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Grace Connatser
November 19, 2018
Audience members watch as the panel discussion unfolds. (Photo by Grace Connatser)
When Andre Lee Ellis began We Got This Milwaukee’s community garden at 9 and Ring streets, the area had one of the highest crime rates in the city, he said. But through his work instilling respect, trust and work ethic into young boys, he said the community has become safer and healthier. “We’re no longer on the list because the community did it,” he said. “The main problem is resources. We have to bring the resources to the block.”
Ellis was one of four panelists at a recent discussion called “Healing a Traumatized Community and Building Relations, held as part of a full-day Restorative Justice conference at the Marquette Law School. He was joined by Reggie Moore, director of the city’s Office of Violence Prevention; Maritza Ugarte, District 2 neighborhood safety coordinator at Safe & Sound; and Billie Ellis, a Milwaukee Police Department officer. The panel was moderated by William Lipscomb, assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The conference also featured the film “Torn by Trauma: Restoring Community One Life at a Time,” as well as sessions on childhood trauma and trauma through a criminal justice lens.
Andre Lee Ellis is used to being a role model as the grandfather of 13 children. He founded We Got This in 2014 by building a community garden open to neighborhood boys, who do garden work every week throughout the summer in exchange for payment. Ellis encourages them to work, rather than get involved in neighborhood crime. The program started out small, with only a few boys, but soon grew to 100 or more participants on the weekends. Ellis said starting the program was especially important for the kids who don’t have father figures in their lives.
“I asked (100) little black boys 12-16 (years old) if they didn’t have a dad, and 90 raised their hand,” Ellis said. “I asked if they knew their dad but didn’t have a relationship with them, and five more raised their hand. I said I can’t be your birth dad, but I can be your earth dad.”
The chronic absence of fathers in the Harambee neighborhood exacerbates the effects of trauma and the crime lifestyle, Ellis said. He noted that because of the family structure and poverty experienced by many of these families, violence arises at an early age, leading teens to turn to crime before they can process the effects that lifestyle would have on them. It’s also difficult to leave the lifestyle because their peers and family are also practicing it, he said, and a criminal record prevents them from getting adequate housing and jobs and even forming relationships.
Panelists Maritza Ugarte, Reggie Moore, Andre Lee Ellis and MPD officer Billie Ellis discuss youth violence. (Photo by Grace Connatser)
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Moore agreed that patterns of violence get passed from generation to generation, and it’s also caused by systemic and structural discrimination against blacks. “It’s the conditions that create the behavior,” he said. “We are in a state of crisis in this city.”
Despite the bleak outlook, Moore believes there’s hope. The city’s anti-violence plan, called Blueprint for Peace, covers many different types of violence, including gun, gang, sexual, domestic, structural and self-directed violence (suicide). According to OVP, 139 people were murdered in 2016, many of them in gun-related incidents. Part of the plan is to increase the number of counselors available to victims of violence, including those committing the crimes. Moore said the most important aspect of the project is to spur investment in efforts to change the crime culture in Milwaukee inner-city neighborhoods, because recognition of the problem doesn’t mean it’s being resolved.
“(Youth) need to learn what healthy manhood looks like,” Moore said, adding that younger people need help from friends and family members of older generations who step in as father figures.
MPD officer Ellis, who works in District 5 in the Harambee neighborhood, said her relationships with community members are contentious at best, and violent at worst. To combat distrust, she visits kids at school and walks the streets to make police officers look friendlier. She acknowledged that the relationship between people of color in inner-city neighborhoods and law enforcement officers is difficult, but she said it “comes down to trust and respect.”
“They think we’re out to get them,” Ellis said. “What we want to do is start building relationships and figure out where the disconnect is.”
Andre Lee Ellis suggested police officers have a “town hall” meeting with community members to sort through the issues. Officer Ellis supported the idea, saying that it would help humanize officers and help community members realize there aren’t many differences between them. They live in the same neighborhood and deal with the same everyday issues, only from two different sides of the same coin. “They don’t see us as being human beings,” she said. “With the open dialogue, they’re starting to see that we have family, we have kids.”
Andre Lee Ellis said the bottom line is community members should know and help each other. Through building healthy relationships that draw upon respect, trust and open communication, he said the city can work through its violence issues through nonviolent means. “If we know each other, we won’t be mean to each other.”

author: Grace Connatser


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 18, 2018

created: November 18, 2018


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Rufus King students respond to Baraboo hate message with portrait of their own | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Allison Dikanovic
November 20, 2018
Students at Rufus King took a photo showcasing their diversity, positivity and compassion in response to a racist photo that got national attention. (Photo courtesy of Joe Brusky)
If a photo of students doing a Nazi salute can spread around the country, maybe a photo of students showing the American sign language symbol for “I love you,” could have just as much influence. At least  that was the hope of students at Rufus King International High School.
After the bell rang on Friday afternoon, rather than heading out to the rows of school buses lined up out front, a group of more than 60 students piled into room 308 at Rufus King, 1801 W. Olive St., to make a statement.
They gathered to create a response to a photo that garnered nationwide negative attention online about high school students in Wisconsin. The photo showed about 50 high school boys standing in front of the Sauk County Courthouse in Baraboo, with half of them appearing to salute Hitler.
“We wanted to show the country and the world that this Baraboo picture is not what we think of when we think of our community,” said Alice McGuinness, a 17-year-old senior at Rufus King. “We wanted to offer our representation in contrast to the very hateful symbol displayed… We wanted to create something that was positive and full of love and represents Wisconsin in a positive light.”
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Before they began discussing what they wanted to express in the photo, students from the Jew Crew and the Friends of Islam groups opened the meeting with a blessing. They then decided that they wanted to use the hashtag #WIUnitedInLove to represent the image.
The photo depicts students of various races, ethnicities, religions and genders showing hand signals for peace and love. Students are wearing shirts that say, “Black Lives Matter,” “Rufus King Interfaith,” and a rainbow rendition of the school’s logo, representing the gay-straight alliance.
Joe Brusky took the photo and a video of the gathering and shared it on the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association Facebook page on Friday, which now has more than 18,000 views.
Estella Ramirez, 17, said she was inspired to show up after a conversation in her English class. When she walked into class last Monday, the photo from Baraboo was on the board.
“We’re trying to recognize that these things need to be talked about in order to change them, and we need to recognize these things and these issues that we have, because if we ignore them, then we’re not going to make a difference,” she said.
From left Estella Ramirez, Kenadee Henderson, Jaycelan Stewart and Hannah Olenchek discuss the importance of students speaking out against injustice. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
Her English teacher, Kelly O’Keefe-Boettcher, invited the class to meet after school on Friday to create a Rufus King response.
“I thought, if there is a picture rooted in hate, then what’s the alternate?” she said. “What’s the opportunity? The opportunity is a photo rooted in love.”
In the video, O’Keefe-Boettcher promises to protect her students’ physical safety as well as their spirits and their minds in the face of hateful acts.
“For me personally, it was important to participate because I know what it feels like to be singled out or to be attacked,” said Kenadee Henderson, 16, of the hate expressed in the photo. “We wanted to let everyone know how we felt about the situation. We told our friends, teachers, everybody.”
Hannah Olenchek, 17, got up in front of her chemistry class to invite her peers to join her in attending Friday’s meeting. She said that she was frustrated that incidents such as the photo can be dismissed as a joke, and she said she felt that people needed to realize the harm that it caused.
“Us confronting it and bringing it to the table shows that we want to make sure that people know that this isn’t okay,” she said. “This is something that needs to be addressed, not something to just be shocked by.”
Jaycelan Stewart, 14, said that so far in her freshman year at Rufus King, she has learned to use her voice.
“At this school there are kids with two pairs of shoes and kids with 20, but what brings us together is standing up for what we know is right, and even if it’s a small group of people, it does matter,” she said.
Rufus King’s diversity is another reason why O’Keefe-Boettcher said she felt that the school had a responsibility to show another version of Wisconsin. According to the Public School Review, Rufus King has one of the most racially diverse student bodies in the state.
“We are gifted with incredible diversity in this building: cultural diversity, religious diversity, socioeconomic diversity, religious diversity, gender identity diversity,” she said. “We are at an advantage, and we want to share that.”
O’Keefe-Boettcher added that she hopes the photo fosters “dialogue and discussion.” Students said that the video was already sparking conversations in their classrooms and in the hallways at school Monday.
Ramirez said she hopes students around the country have safe spaces in school to learn about and talk about current events and issues.
O’Keefe-Boettcher sees her duty as a teacher to create spaces for students to talk about painful events happening in the world, to be able to process them and to have a platform to take action.
“Schools are responsible for loving young people into the world, so when I know that there is violence or something rooted in white supremacy or racism, my first thought is always going to be my students,” she said. “What is our responsibility as educators to respond to that?”

created: November 20, 2018

author: Allison Dikanovic


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Homeless Sanctuary encourages individuals to find their worth, dignity | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sarah Lipo
November 21, 2018
The MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary distributes free clothing to people who are needy. (Photo by Sarah Lipo)
Men, women and children dart in from the cold into the dimly lit and drafty back room of the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary. They gather in a prayer circle to give thanks and hear the rules before they are allowed to shop for produce, clothing and furniture — all free of charge.
Charles Preston said he has been coming once or twice a week since the sanctuary opened in June 2017. He said he enjoys getting produce such as bananas, apples and oranges twice a week.
Latoya Tompkin, who lives on East Burleigh Street, gets fresh produce and clothes from the sanctuary. She said she was raised on hand-me-downs, and as she grew up she realized that everybody needs some sort of help.
The sanctuary at 24 and Center Street is housed in a five-story old furnace factory built in 1927. Sister MacCanon Brown said she is restoring the 35,000-square-foot building floor by floor. “We invite people to support the construction,” she said, adding that recently a donor replaced the roof.
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A “doorway” ministry, in which people come to the back door to get supplies, is open every Tuesday and Thursday. Brown said the sanctuary is “gearing up to move the doorway ministry into a heated area on the front part of the first floor with a bathroom.” She added she is hoping that work will be underway within three months. When construction on the building is completed, it will house an emergency warming center, a medical center, employment help, aquaponics gardening and agriculture.
Brown, a member of the Sisters for Christian Community, was one of the founders of Repairers of the Breach, a nonprofit that provides daytime refuge for the homeless. She is now president and CEO of the homeless sanctuary.
Kattina Brown, a volunteer at the sanctuary, packs up fresh produce from Feeding America. (Photo by Sarah Lipo)
The sanctuary does not usually offer shelter at night, but Brown said she plans to put pallets in during the cold winter months.
The sanctuary provides a place for people to go during the day “to work on their lives,” she noted, adding, “We are not solving the problem of where people sleep at night.”
“We provide a daytime refugee center, where they can focus and get … access to resources” such as employment help and medical care, Brown said.
She pointed out that homelessness is a bigger issue than providing a place to stay at night. “Wherever you sleep, wherever you wake up in the morning, you’re still homeless.”
The sanctuary benefits residents of the Amani neighborhood, which has a 48 percent poverty rate and is a food desert, according to the sanctuary website. Amani is in the 53206 ZIP code, which is ranked third for requests for housing and shelter in Wisconsin in the last year, according to 2-1-1 Wisconsin.
Sanctuary volunteer Kattina Brown said that even though she has been living in the neighborhood for a long time, “I didn’t really realize how many people needed help.”
“Sometimes when sandwiches don’t come in, you can see the hurt look on their face because they were depending on those sandwiches,” she added.
The sanctuary usually gets food from Feeding America of Eastern Wisconsin, a leading hunger-relief organization that supplies food banks. University School of Milwaukee also provides food and has a garden that helps feed the Amani neighborhood.
While Sister MacCanon Brown has 26 years of experience working with the homeless population, she said she cannot fix people. “Come in our door when you’re ready to make changes in your lives,” she tells them.
“In my experience, many, many homeless people have checked out of society because they think nobody cares, or because of trauma,” she said.
Volunteer Steve Connor said individuals who need help come into the shelter. “I truly respect what MacCanon Brown is doing. To me, she is another Mother Teresa,” Connor said.
He added that individuals are falling through the cracks, and there are needs in many Milwaukee neighborhoods that are not being addressed by public programs.
Connie Moorer, a sanctuary volunteer, said she thinks its mission is important for the entire community. “Sister MacCanon’s philosophy is that we don’t take care of people, we just give them a hand up,” she said.
“Sometimes you hug people and you know people haven’t had a hug in a while,” Moorer added.
She volunteers on Sunday and Friday, sorting clothing. When she is available on Tuesday and Thursdays, she helps out at the doorway ministry.
“When we come out with kindness, and give them free food, fresh produce, household items, bikes,” Moorer said, “the people are just amazed it is free and they are surprised it is given out in kindness.”

created: November 21, 2018

author: Sarah Lipo


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 20, 2018


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How to get children involved in serving others | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Stephanie Shabangu, Penfield Children’s Center
November 21, 2018
Volunteering to serve a meal at a food pantry or church is a great way to get your family involved in helping others this holiday season. (Photo by Analise Pruni)
Families who volunteer together are often strengthened by serving others and when parents model positive behavior, children learn to incorporate these values into their own lives. In addition, taking the focus off receiving gifts and promoting a season of giving enhances your family’s beliefs regarding the “reason for the season.”
Here are five ideas for getting into the spirit with your little ones:
Encouraging children to volunteer and get involved with the community shows how they, although young, can make a big difference for those in need. Service work also allows children to develop a sense of responsibility for helping those less fortunate.
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New report reinforces urgent need for Office of African American Affairs | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Khalif J. Rainey
November 21, 2018
Once again Milwaukee has been ranked one of the worst cities in the nation for black people. The news site 24/Wall St. ranks Milwaukee number two in the Worst Cities for Black Americans stating the typical black household in Milwaukee earns just $27,834 a year — 42.5% of the $65,568 white median household income. While the white poverty rate in Milwaukee of 7.6% is one of the lowest in the country, the black poverty rate of 36.4% is among the highest.
The report lists factors behind these disparities including segregation, while an expounded article in USA Today lays out day-to-day implications of segregation and its impact on the labor market. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/11/16/racial-disparity-cities-worst-metro- areas-black-americans/38460961/
As the City of Milwaukee is profoundly affected by segregation and structural barriers surrounding race, this report speaks to the need to establish an Office of African American Affairs (OAAA) as soon as possible. I successfully sponsored legislation two years ago to create the OAAA. I am very thankful Mayor Barrett included $800,000 in the proposed 2019 city budget which was passed by my colleagues on the Common Council last week.
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With the location established at 4830 W. Fond du Lac Ave. the OAAA will be a one-stop shop promoting equal opportunities for African American residents in areas including business ownership, job creation, job training, home ownership, health care and education. While building renovations could begin early next year, I cannot emphasize enough the urgent need to develop this center and to maintain if not expand its momentum to be a positive force for better and richer lives.


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On the Block: Construction on Greenfield Avenue | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
November 21, 2018
Naser Asad, owner of Richard’s Food Market, 2438 W. Greenfield Ave., said sales have slowed since construction on Greenfield Avenue began in March. The biggest problem has been with parking, he said. Some businesses, including a restaurant across the street from his store, have closed since the construction project began, Asad said.

author: Edgar Mendez


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UMOS & Lotus Legal Clinic receive $800,000 federal grant | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
LOTUS Legal Clinic
November 21, 2018
UMOS and LOTUS Legal Clinic have received an $800,000 grant to provide enhanced legal services for victims of sexual assault and trafficking in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. This new award, underway in December 2018, will provide civil legal assistance to victims.
Wisconsin consistently ranks among the top ten states in the nation concerning human trafficking.  Victims of both sex and labor trafficking experience high rates of sexual assault due to their vulnerability, and these individuals suffer extreme secondary trauma from within the legal system; victims frequently report this secondary trauma is as harmful to them as their incidents of assault have been.
Funding from this award will allow the partners to:
Working in partnership with Milwaukee Police Department Sensitive Crimes Division, Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, Appleton Police Department, Outagamie County District Attorney’s Office, Racine Police Department, and Racine County District Attorney’s Office, UMOS will help identify and provide support and advocacy services to victims and LOTUS will provide highly specialized legal services for these individuals.
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“Victims of human trafficking should be provided with the highest levels of supportive and legal services to transition from victims to survivors,” states Lupe Martinez, President and Chief Executive Officer, UMOS. “We are excited about the opportunity to provide both through our partnership with LOTUS Legal Clinic.”
Said Kent Lovern, Chief Deputy District Attorney for Milwaukee County, “This collaboration between UMOS, LOTUS and public safety professionals in Eastern Wisconsin will provide critical legal and advocacy services to some of the most vulnerable people in our midst.  Our partnership through this grant will bring necessary resources to victims of sexual assault and trafficking and make our communities safer.”
The Legal Assistance for Victims Grant (LAV) Program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. § 20121. The program is designed to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance programs for adult and youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who are seeking relief in legal matters relating to or arising out of that abuse or violence, at minimal or no cost to the victims. Eligible applicants are private nonprofit entities, Indian tribal governments and tribal organizations, and publicly funded organizations not acting in a governmental capacity, such as law schools. OVW funds projects that provide legal services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking through direct representation and/or cooperation between victim service providers and legal assistance providers.
For more information, or to refer a potential client for these services, please contact: Mariana Rodriguez at UMOS,  at 414-389-6500; or Rachel Monaco Wilcox at LOTUS, , or call 414-885-1469.

author: LOTUS Legal Clinic


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Happy Thanksgiving! | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
November 22, 2018
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service wishes you and your family a happy and festive Thanksgiving.

created: November 22, 2018

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 21, 2018


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Final council committee approves New State Theater project | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Max Nawara
November 23, 2018
The future home to the New State Theater, located at the corner of 27th and State streets. (Photo by Max Nawara)
The Milwaukee Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee has passed a resolution to allow a team of developers to purchase an abandoned theater on Milwaukee’s Near West Side. Approval is still needed from the Common Council and the mayor, but developers are already gearing up to purchase the building as the home of the New State Theater. The Common Council is scheduled to vote on the matter on Nov. 27.
The theater, located on the corner of 27th Street and State Street, will be an all-ages music venue with a focus on teaching young musicians about sound recording, playing musical instruments and working in the music industry. The backers of the project are raising $2.5 million for renovations to the building and an additional $1 million to support West Side Arts Unlimited, a nonprofit organization behind the project’s education and training program.
Janice Vogt, a co-founder of FREESPACE Milwaukee, a partner on the project, said she’s excited about the opportunities that the theater will bring to the Near West Side.
“[The project] will become an economic driver for the area,” she said. “We’ll be servicing a group that can’t be serviced elsewhere in the city. We’re hoping to bring a lot of youth and excitement to the neighborhood, just bringing more life to that area of the Near West Side.”
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Vogt, who said the project has become “my baby,” co-founded FREESPACE in 2015 to give local musicians of all ages a place to network, perform and learn about the business. She said FREESPACE has been a huge success, but she noticed that Milwaukee lacks a physical space dedicated to this expression of the arts.
– The New State Theater is located in the SOHI district of the Near West Side. (Photo by Max Nawara)
FREESPACE is a monthly concert series held at The Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood. The goal of FREESPACE is to connect youth with Milwaukee-based artists and musicians to encourage free thinking and dialogue.
“We’ve had so much fun and success doing FREESPACE,” Vogt said, noting that Milwaukee has fewer and fewer all-ages venues. “There are so many young artists who want to get involved and do more things, but the opportunities just aren’t there.”
This realization led her to start working on the business plan for a FREESPACE venue in August 2017. So, when the New State team — consisting of developer John Hennessy, architect Allyson Nemec and record label owner Dima Pochtarev — reached out to her, she was ready to start moving forward. Together, they started West Side Arts Unlimited.
As the lead developer on the project, Hennessy has big plans.
“We’re going to do a complete historic renovation on the theater,” he said. “There will be 400-plus seats and three recording studios in there. Mammyth audio, which is a for-profit recording studio, is going to be moving their business there. There’s also going to be classroom space and a store for performers to sell T-shirts, hats and CDs.”
The theater, which hasn’t been used in about 20 years, was built in 1915. Originally, it showed silent movies. After some time, it became a dance club and eventually turned into different music venues such as the Electric Ballroom and the Palms in the 1980s. These venues hosted punk-rock groups such as AC/DC, Metallica, the Ramones and countless others as they were becoming famous. Eventually, the owner passed away and a strip club, called Hoops, opened up. The neighborhood didn’t support the strip club, so the building closed down and sat vacant.
The theater, which is two stories tall and has 10,000 square feet, caught fire in February 2017. According to Hennessy, the city planned to tear the building down. He organized the New State Theater project and the team that is now setting out to purchase the theater and surrounding empty lots.
“There’s three land parcels: the one that has the theater on it, the alley behind it and a vacant lot where we’re going to put a pocket park, said Hennessy. “The idea is that there’s going to be a stage there. It’s all going to be very music oriented.”
Local hip-hop artist Elijah Herriges, who goes by the stage name Dubb Saq, said he wishes that Milwaukee had something like the New State Theater when he was growing up.
Herriges, 18, has been performing with FREESPACE for a year and a half. He said he’s excited to see it expanding beyond its home in Riverwest and wants young people, like himself, to take advantage of this opportunity.
“When I found FREESPACE I kind of kicked myself for not going to it earlier,” he said. “I believe it’s helped me grow as an artist because you’re surrounded by other creativity. You leave with something. There’s energy there.”

created: November 23, 2018

author: Max Nawara


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 23, 2018


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Psychosis affects three out of 100 people | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dr. Steve Dykstra Clinical Psychologist, Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division
November 25, 2018
The teen years can be stressful for any adolescent, but an episode of psychosis can be downright scary. You may think psychosis is incredibly unusual, but the National Institutes of Mental Health reports nearly 100,000 adolescents and young adults in the U.S. experience psychosis each year. That’s three out of every 100 people.
But what is psychosis? It’s a medical condition that interferes with the brain’s ability to understand what’s real, causing disruptions in thoughts and perceptions. Symptoms of psychosis include hallucinations, delusions, unusual thoughts, disorganized thinking/speech, fixed/false beliefs, and/or disruption of self-care. Psychosis can come on slowly or suddenly; it varies from person to person. Adolescents who experience psychosis may be frightened and confused or withdrawn.
The first time someone experiences this condition, it’s called first episode psychosis or FEP. Recent research has proven early intervention and treatment of first episode psychosis increases the chances of individuals returning to a healthy, productive life. This is why the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division created a program to help youth and adolescents who are experiencing or have experienced FEP. This program is called the Coordinated Opportunities for Recovery and Empowerment (CORE) program. CORE is dedicated specifically to supporting youth and young adults, ages 12-23 experiencing first episode psychosis. CORE is comprised of a five-person team that focuses on providing the services needed to meet the needs of each young adult.
Part of the Behavioral Health Division’s challenge is getting the word out about CORE.
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We want to make sure their families know support is available, and that their loved ones can get connected to help they need. If a family or physician reaches out to CORE, we can begin the screening process with the adolescent, and answer any questions individuals or their families may have about first episode psychosis. We can also connect them to resources, usually at little to no cost. Our teams work directly with teens who are struggling. They are dedicated to that adolescent, which prevents the youth from being bounced around from team to team.
CORE is a completely voluntary program designed to work in partnership with primary care physicians to reach people at earlier stages in their psychosis. In doing so, they increase the chances of youth they work with returning as healthy and productive members in their communities.
While psychosis is not preventable, individuals and families can take positive steps to help youth manage their futures and improve outcomes.  We also encourage anyone who wants to learn more about the signs of psychosis or want to schedule a screening for their loved one to call the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division’s CORE program at 414-257-7607.

created: November 25, 2018


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American Heart Association commends Common Council for attempting to lay groundwork to expand healthy food access | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
American Heart Association
November 26, 2018
The American Heart Association commends the Milwaukee Common Council, with leadership from Alderman Khalif Rainey, for supporting the Healthy Food Establishment Fund to assist in building a healthier Milwaukee.  Now the organization hopes members will override Mayor Barrett’s veto of this important initiative.
“We want to thank Alderman Rainey and the Common Council for investing in strategies to improve access to healthy and affordable foods in Milwaukee,” says Thomas Windsor, Milwaukee resident and Board Member for the American Heart Association. “We ask the Council to override the Mayor’s veto to ensure this remains a priority for the City.”
The 2019 City of Milwaukee budget amendment allotted $200,000 to create healthy food retail opportunities in neighborhoods throughout Milwaukee that do not have access. These areas, commonly referred to as “food deserts,” are filled with fast food restaurants and other unhealthy options. This investment will help create more healthy outlets where residents can purchase food necessary for a nutritious diet. Unfortunately, the Mayor vetoed this appropriation.
“Tremendous progress has been made across the country to improve access to healthy foods, and best practice models exist for Milwaukee to replicate. Now we just need to ensure funding exists for this vital work,” says Windsor. “While we were disappointed in the Mayor’s veto, we are hopeful the Council will see the value in and need for this investment.”
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As part of the MKE Elevate project, the Milwaukee Health Department conducted a survey of over 3,000 Milwaukee residents. Of those surveyed, nearly 40% responded that “access to affordable and healthy food” is the biggest barrier impacting their health. “We all know the importance of eating healthy, but nutritious options are not readily available in all parts of Milwaukee,” says Windsor. “It’s time we change that. Your access to healthy food should not depend on your zip code.”

created: November 26, 2018

author: American Heart Association


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Mercy Housing Lakefront convenes panel discussion to explore solutions to poverty in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mercy Housing Lakefront
November 26, 2018
Peter Edelman, Judge Derek Mosley, Joanne Lipo Zovic and Chad Wilson (Photo by Nairn Olker of Alloy Photography)
On Thursday, Nov. 15, nearly 200 people gathered at the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center for Mercy Housing Lakefront’s 2018 Live in Hope Reception, which focused on the impact of the justice system on those with limited economic means and actionable solutions to poverty in Milwaukee and across the country. The event featured a keynote address by Peter Edelman, who has spent more than 50 years in the public and private sectors working to create a more just America, and a panel discussion led by several local experts on poverty and the criminal justice system.
Edelman is the Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Law and Public Policy at Georgetown University and the author of the recently released, “Not a Crime to be Poor: The Criminalization of Poverty in America.” During his speech, he discussed the evolution of poverty in the United States and the ways in which the justice system helps reinforce the cycle of poverty for low-income Americans.
“In the United States, a system of modern peonage – essentially, a government-run loan shark operation – has been going on for years,” Edelman said, citing the suspension of drivers licenses for non-moving violations, exorbitant fines and fees for minor offenses and cash bail systems which make it extremely difficult for poor defendants to get out of jail and back to their jobs and families, among other examples of the disproportionate burden placed on those experiencing poverty. Highlighting the need to educate people about the impact of these types of policies and inspire them to take action in their own communities,. Edelman said, “we’re not all guilty, but we’re all responsible.”
Following his remarks, Edelman joined a panel discussion moderated by Marcus White, Vice President of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, to explore the impact of the judicial system on those experiencing poverty, what’s being done to address the criminalization of poverty locally and how concerned citizens can contribute to solutions. In addition to Edelman, the panel included Judge Derek Mosley, local attorney Joanne Lipo Zovic and community activist Chad Wilson.
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In many respects, Milwaukee is a model for the decriminalization of poverty. Highlighting the fact that Milwaukee is the only municipal court system in the country in which all judges are people of color, Mosley discussed the steps that have been taken to reduce the burden placed upon poor Milwaukeeans by the legal system. These include regular warrant withdrawals, the dismissal of driver’s license suspensions, legal assistance paid for by the court for every defendant, no matter the charge, and specialty courts for those experiencing homelessness and veterans which prioritize mental health services and job referrals, among other support mechanisms.
Closing the discussion, the panelists emphasized the value of having difficult conversations about poverty, race and the criminal justice system, and encouraged Milwaukeeans to seek out those with whom they disagree to discuss such challenges.

author: Mercy Housing Lakefront


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 26, 2018


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Omar’s journey with mental illness | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Brenda Wesley
November 26, 2018
Brenda Wesley serves on the Milwaukee County Mental Health Board and also developed the first African-American mental health outreach program in Milwaukee. Brenda’s son, Omar, is currently living at Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison.
A few weeks ago, the American Psychological Association released a study that found about 37 percent of young adults in America reported receiving help or treatment from mental health professionals. Two decades ago this wasn’t the case.
More than 20 years ago I noticed my son Omar was struggling. He was a teen at the time, and having problems in school. Looking back, I believe it is what we now call ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder). We thought everything would be OK because he was taking special classes to help him focus. But Omar also struggled with depression, and his erratic behavior and lack of control led to multiple suspensions from school.
Early on, I knew something wasn’t quite right. Omar had been bullied in grade school, and we thought his behavior was related to the trauma he endured. My son later told me he started hearing voices in his head around age 13. But Omar was afraid to tell us that something wasn’t right. He didn’t understand it, and we didn’t understand it. No one talked about mental illness back then.
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My son continued to get in trouble and ultimately was sent to Ethan Allen School for Boys, a reform school that used to be in Delafield. The front door to treatment should not be incarceration. His paranoia increased, and he felt like the police were out to get him, his family was out to get him and the world was out to get him. We still loved him, but he thought we hated him. At one point, Omar thought he could read our minds. He would say, “Why are you thinking that about me?” Looking back, I really think it was true paranoia.
Omar was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia when he was 21. At the time, he was going back and forth between the County Jail and an outdated mental health system. He based his aggressions on the fact that he thought people were out to get him, and he kept hearing voices. He was prescribed medication, and that came with side effects.
It’s now 20 years later, and we have a lot more information available about mental illness and paranoid schizophrenia.  I wish I could say Omar was better, but he still struggles. He still cycles in and out of jail. Over the years he’s been traumatized. After one arrest in Chicago, he was placed in solitary confinement for months, and left in the darkness of his illness.  He was beat-up, abused and tased, driving him further and further into darkness. It took a toll on him as a human being.
For more than two decades I was torn and conflicted. People called my son bad, and labeled him a junkie and other negative words. At times I thought they might be right. But I loved my son (and still do), and I just couldn’t walk away. He has mental illness, and we need to look at him differently, and try to understand his struggles are linked to his mental illness.
We also need to identify and treat mental illness at the onset. Evidence shows people who are treated for first -episode psychosis when it occurs have much better outcomes and ability to manage the illness. This means getting the community involved and helping parents understand they have to parent differently. This means getting people to understand mental illness is real and not a character defect. And this means we need to stop using the word “crazy” and develop empathy.
Part of the challenge is recognizing the signs of mental illness. When people experience their first psychotic break, they don’t understand they are sick. The sooner a person gets treatment, the better quality of life they can have.
As I have learned more about mental illness and its effects on people, I am no longer ashamed of my son. It’s quite possible Omar’s life may have been drastically different if we had identified his mental illness at an early age. But one thing remains, a mother’s love for her son.
I urge any parents who think their child may be experiencing psychosis to get help and call the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division’s CORE program at 414-257-7607. An early assessment, coupled with the support of the community and family, may lead to a much better outcome.

author: Brenda Wesley


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 25, 2018

author: Adam Carr


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Participants invest in future with financial education program | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Analise Pruni
November 26, 2018
New graduates of a financial education program proudly display their certificates. (Photo by Analise Pruni)
Jasmine Rolland was attending Concordia University, running out of financial aid and raising two children when she decided to take a semester off and enroll in a financial education program. Rolland graduated from the program, “Make Your Money Talk,” in 2016 and used funds she received in 2017 from a match savings account to go toward her education.
She recently spoke to new graduates at the program’s 2018 graduation ceremony, held at the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) Community Services building, 650 W. Reservoir Ave. There were 150 graduates this year.
“To make a long story short, I used the funds to pay a semester of my tuition, which was really helpful because I didn’t have any money,” Rolland said from the podium.
She was greeted by loud applause from the crowd when she announced that she is now a registered nurse at Froedtert Hospital.
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Make Your Money Talk, which began in 2004, is a partnership between HACM and the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp. (WWBIC). Instructors teach about personal finances, including creating household budgets, improving credit scores and identifying “spending leaks” in funds and savings.
“It opens doors for our residents to better opportunities and to be able to increase their self-sufficiency and gain access to things they normally wouldn’t be able to,” said Amy Hall, communications coordinator at HACM.
Participants who reside in HACM’s public housing or receive rent assistance can open an Individual Development Account or IDA, in which their savings are matched from a fund supplied by HACM.
Jasmine Rolland, a 2016 participant in Make Your Money Talk, congratulates new graduates and shares her own success story. (Photo by Analise Pruni)
Since 2004, the program has had 2,331 graduates; 1,083 of whom opened an IDA.
IDAs can be used for purchasing a home, paying off debt, funding education, opening a business or buying or repairing a vehicle. In total, 147 graduates financed a home, 81 put funds toward their education, 67 toward a business, 18 toward a vehicle and 22 to pay off debt.
Kayla Grant, 20, is one of the new graduates. She attends MATC for business management and would like to apply her new finance skills toward opening a “beauty bar” salon franchise that would begin in her neighborhood on the North Side.
“The best thing I think I learned from the program is that you define your own success,” Grant said. “Nobody can really make that for you; it’s up to you to win or lose.”
Shelina Harvey, the financial capabilities coach at WWBIC, teaches personal finance strategies, giving participants the saving and investment skills they need.
She said if she could teach them only one thing, it would be to “face your finances.” She found that some people are afraid to check to see how much money they have in the bank.
“It’s about being transparent and willing to do the work,” Harvey said.
Harvey and others involved in the program emphasized small, everyday tips for managing finances. They include understanding “needs versus wants” and avoiding the word “budget” in favor of “savings and spending plans.”
Amber Miller, senior project director at WWBIC, said that something as small as making coffee at home, rather than purchasing it at McDonald’s, can make a big difference. “Now they can put that dollar in their savings account and that’s huge,” she said.
Antonio Pérez, secretary-executive director of HACM, said that the program isn’t successful because of a “Eureka!” moment organizers had about financial education. It is successful, he said, because of the strength of the partnership between HACM and WWBIC and the perseverance of the program’s participants.

author: Analise Pruni


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SHARP Literacy announces details of 2018/2019 reading programs with Marquette and Carroll Universities | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
SHARP Literacy
November 26, 2018
SHARP Literacy announced details of student athlete reading programs in partnership with the Marquette Golden Eagles men’s basketball team, and Carroll University Pioneers men’s basketball and football teams, and women’s basketball and soccer teams. The two programs, Reading with the Golden Eagles and Reading with the Pioneers, began last month and will continue through the 2018/2019 school year.
The partnership provides elementary students participating in SHARP Literacy’s educational program in Milwaukee- and Waukesha-area schools the opportunity to meet and read with Marquette University and Carroll University student athletes. As part of the program, athletes spend time reading with 4K – 5 grade students in the classroom and discuss the importance of reading in all aspects of their education. Athletes also share their special childhood reading experiences with students and answer their questions. The reading session is capped off with an enthusiastic visit from university mascots, and a special treat for the students. This is a unique educational opportunity for SHARP’s young students, according to Lynda Kohler, president/CEO of SHARP Literacy. “Our students are awe-struck and inspired when the athletes walk into their classroom. As athletes share their personal stories, the children see what a difference reading has made in their lives. It’s an inspirational experience for students, and for athletes, too, as they are given the wonderful opportunity to serve as mentors and give back to their community.”
The reading partnership program with both universities will include the participation of approximately 60 student athletes and 1,200 students in seven Milwaukee-area schools including Brown Street Academy, Catholic East Elementary School, Elm Creative Arts School, La Causa Charter School, Messmer St. Rose, Notre Dame School of Milwaukee, and School for Early Development & Achievement, and four Waukesha-area schools including Banting Elementary School, La Casa de Esperanza, Summit View Elementary School and Whittier Elementary School.
Both university partnership programs are rooted in community service. “I am very proud of our partnership with SHARP Literacy and their mission to help children become lifelong learners,” said Steve “Wojo” Wojciechowski, men’s basketball coach at Marquette University.  “Our players thoroughly enjoy the ‘Reading with the Golden Eagles’ program and making a positive impact in the Milwaukee Community.” Carroll University’s partnership with SHARP is now going beyond men’s basketball, according to Paul Combs, men’s basketball coach at Carroll University. “This year, football, women’s basketball and women’s soccer will be joining men’s basketball, allowing us to expand our impact and reach in visiting elementary schools and sharing a love of learning and reading with students. Service to community is an important part of what it means to be a Pioneer and our partnership with SHARP Literacy helps us put that tradition into action.”
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SHARP Literacy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Milwaukee nonprofit educational program whose mission is to enhance future life success by energizing urban children, motivating them to identify themselves as confident, capable scholars and lifelong learners by inspiring engagement in reading, writing and research through hands-on interaction and visual arts. The primary goal of SHARP Literacy is to provide elementary school students with an imaginative learning experience that builds confidence, self-esteem, and a greater awareness of the world. This year SHARP Literacy, Inc. will impart foundational literacy skills to over 8,000 elementary school students and educators in 43 of Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties’ most at-risk schools.  For more information, visit www.sharpliteracy.org.

author: SHARP Literacy


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ACLU organizer known for strong relationships in community | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Carly Wolf
November 27, 2018
The falling leaves of late October reminded Jarrett English of his days growing up in Sherman Park. They helped paint the picture of the one night each year that the streets were blocked off for hundreds of kids going door to door trick-or-treating. It’s among his fond memories and a reminder of why, one day, he wants to move back to the neighborhood that helped raise him.
English, senior field organizer for the ACLU, now resides on the East Side, a few blocks from where he studied electrical engineering at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. While he grew to appreciate working with mechanical systems, he now values working within Milwaukee community systems.
“I still love applied sciences; one day I’ll go back to it,” English said. “But now, I feel the need is for me to do what I’m doing.”
English began his career organizing for political campaigns, starting as a volunteer organizer for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. Because of his experience and a reputation in the organizing field, English was recruited to apply for a youth and programs organizer position at the ACLU in 2014. His role quickly transformed to his current position when English was selected to be the lead organizer on the suit against the Milwaukee Police Department for unconstitutional “stop and frisk,” the practice of stopping and patting down people with no cause.
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The genesis of the lawsuit began years before English arrived at the ACLU. A national investigation into racial disparities among arrests for marijuana possession sparked the inquiry into additional areas of racial disparity in law enforcement. An analysis of MPD data found that 350,000 stops made by MPD between 2010 and 2017 failed to show reasonable suspicion of a crime. This number is more than half the population of the City of Milwaukee.
After surveying people and looking at data on the demographics of unconstitutional stop and frisk cases, the ACLU concluded that stops targeted black and Latino people at higher rates than they targeted white people, suggesting racial and ethnic profiling.
“Even though we filed the case, and we, for a very long time, worked on it, this is something that the community has been asking for, for a very long time. There’s been activists and organizers from other organizations doing a lot of work to try to hold the MPD accountable,” English said.
Emilio De Torre, director of community engagement at the ACLU of Wisconsin, said that English’s work on the case was pivotal in understanding how Milwaukee communities are affected by unconstitutional stop and frisk.
“We started the project prior to his arrival, but it certainly bore fruit because of his strong relationships with the community, his ever presence at community meetings, community groups and meeting with folks,” De Torre said. “People jokingly call him the mayor of Milwaukee because so many folks know him and respect him.
English’s office is uncharacteristically disorganized. Mounds of papers stack atop boxes of pamphlets and fliers. He hasn’t had a chance to clean up since finishing “The Justice Tour,” a discussion event on race-based policing and mass incarceration in Wisconsin. Plaintiffs in the stop-and-frisk lawsuit had the opportunity to share their stories and discuss the settlement of the lawsuit that was signed on July 23.
The terms of the settlement require MPD to undergo reform in an effort to eliminate unconstitutional stop and frisks conducted without reasonable suspicion and/or based on race and ethnicity. In addition, MPD is also now required to seek community input on police operations from the Milwaukee Collaborative Community Committee.
Tammy Rivera, executive director of the Southside Organizing Committee and treasurer of the Collaborative Community Committee said that community oversight is vital to resolve tensions between police and community members.
“If you’ve never experienced a particular issue, you’re not understanding the nuances of that lived experience,” Rivera said.
Rivera’s work in MPD District 2 has shown her that improvement in police and community relations on the South Side could spread to rest of the city in light of MPD changes within the last year, including the appointment of Chief of Police Alfonso Morales.
“The current chief was the former captain of District 2, and we’ve had the opportunity to work with him for several years with the community and law enforcement collaboration grassroots model and have had a lot of success,” Rivera said. “Right now, there’s a sense of things improving because of our first-hand experience with the former captain.”
English personally understands that improvement in police and community relations is still needed throughout the city. In late August 2016, English and State Rep. Jonathan Brostoff were taken to the ground, arrested and briefly detained while they were talking to residents and observing activities in Sherman Park a few weeks after unrest in the neighborhood resulting from the police killing of Sylville K. Smith. Police did not give a reason for the arrests.
“It’s important to bring up not because of me, but because those things happen to people all the time,” English said.  “And it’s not something that is uncommon for people of color to be arrested wrongfully or be accused wrongfully or be harassed or even brutalized.”
According to English, unlawful police practices affect all people regardless of race, due to expensive police settlements paid to victims of misconduct by the city. That’s part of why he believes his work is valuable and important for all people to understand. While today his top priority is ensuring that the terms of the stop-and-frisk settlement are fully implemented, going forward, English hopes his work will continue to push forward other civil rights and liberties.
“A lot of times people refer to social justice work as the ‘good fight,’” English said. “I’m not here to do a good fight; I’m here to win.”

created: November 27, 2018

author: Carly Wolf


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On the Block: Out and about | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Analise Pruni
November 27, 2018
Chatting on the sidewalk with a friend on a recent, chilly November afternoon, Anthony “Tone” Bolden said he likes to be out and about to greet the people he knows. He has lived in Harambee for more than 40 years and considers the people in the neighborhood his extended family. He has no brothers or sisters, but he likes to play dominoes when the “fellas” are willing.


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How to volunteer in December | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Martha Cannon, Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee
November 28, 2018
Capuchins Community Services’ ministry director Brother Rob Roemer prays over a donation of toys.
Get into the holiday spirit this December by volunteering! Volunteer Milwaukee, a service of the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee features a calendar of events for volunteers, both one-time and ongoing. Here are a few of the opportunities in December and beyond.
Holiday Toy Drive
Donate new toys this Christmas season for children ages birth to 10 years old or give out toys to families for Capuchin Community Services; ideal project for churches, schools, businesses and families. See toy list.
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Contact Mike George at CapHolidayDrives@thecapuchins.org or 414-933-1300 ext. 1113.
Shelter receptionist
Answer phones, check in visitors and interact with homeless adults experiencing mental illness and addictions weekdays at The Cathedral Center’s homeless shelter.
Contact Ana Treptow at atreptow@cathedral-center.org or 414-831-0394.
Community Winter Clothing Bash
Sort and label winter clothing, serve snacks and beverages and help families select clothing for Our Daily Bread Community Outreach Center Saturday, Dec. 1 at Villard Street Library; 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Contact Georgetta Jones at ourdailybreadmil@att.net or 414-755-0535.
Get Certified in Tax Preparation
Riverworks Development Corporation is offering free certification in tax preparation starting Dec. 3 (evenings and/or Saturdays) so that you can help Milwaukee residents file taxes from Feb. 1 to April 18.
Contact Coretta Herring at corettah@riverworksmke.org or 414-906-9650.
Holiday Helpers
Pick up, deliver and organize holiday donations for youth dealing with homelessness, crisis or trauma served by Pathfinders; Dec. 2-21 with hours on weekdays, evenings and/or Sunday mornings.
Contact Susan at sraines@pathfindersmke.org or 414-988-6870.
USA Weightlifting Finals
Help with set-up, registration, hospitality and more at USA Weightlifting Finals Dec. 5-9 at the Wisconsin Center; various shifts throughout the day and evening.
Sign up here.
Delivery Day at Food Pantries
Food needs to be unloaded and stocked on the shelves for Friedens Community Ministries Thursday, Dec. 6, 8:30-11 a.m. at Hope House or Thursday, Dec. 20 at Zion Rock, 10 a.m.-noon.
Contact Volunteer Coordinator at Volunteer@FriedensPantry.org or 414-289-6030.
Annual Wrap Party
Spend two hours wrapping donated holiday gifts on Saturday, Dec. 8, at Don & Sallie Davis and Mary Ryan Boys & Girls Clubs; morning or afternoon shifts.
Contact at  or 414-267-8100.
Holiday Traditions
Assist with registration, holiday activity tables and clean up after the holiday event at Neighborhood House of Milwaukee on Friday, Dec. 14, 5-6:30 p.m.
Contact Tasha Parker at tparker@nh-milw.org or 414-933-6161.
Gymnasium Renovation
A group of 20 or so volunteers are needed to paint the Salvation Army Citadel gymnasium to be used for youth programming in January. Group can choose Dec. date and plan for 6 to 8 hours of work; supplies and food provided.
Contact Nancy Zompolas at nancy_zompolas@usc.salvationarmy.org or 414-302-4300.
Family New Year’s Eve Celebration
The Friends of the Domes need your help with admissions, managing the dance party and balloon drop and assisting guests at their New Year’s Eve celebration Monday, Dec. 31, 5:15 -9:30 p.m.
Contact Carrie Kelroy at domesvolunteer@gmail.com or 414-257-5600.

created: November 28, 2018


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 27, 2018


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MLK students share stories of ‘discovery’ at Ex Fabula story slam | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 28, 2018
From left: Tamara Hogans, lead artist Blanche Brown, Chartena Nicholson, DahiyJa Scott, Davonis Johnson, author Elizabeth Brown and Kani Woolridge pose after the Ex Fabula event. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
Chartena Nicholson was playing hide-and-seek with her cousins one day in a dark basement. On the verge of being caught, she made a dash for a new spot when she tripped over something. That something turned out to be a pool table, and at that moment, Nicholson discovered the game of pool.
Nicholson, along with several other Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School students, shared their discoveries during a recent Ex Fabula StorySlam hosted at the school.
Deaduri Gales, the parent coordinator at MLK Elementary, reached out to Ex Fabula earlier this year and together they began putting together a series of six workshops led by Blanche Brown, an Ex Fabula fellow and storytelling coach.
“For us, it’s really important that the coach matches the background of the individual served,” said Megan McGee, a founder of Ex Fabula.
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MLK Elementary has a predominantly black student population and it focuses on African-American heritage. During the school’s morning meeting – called a mbongi in African tradition – the students were introduced to Brown. She shared her story and encouraged students to sign up for the workshops.
“Everybody relates to stories and stories are a part of our lives,” said Brown.
Tamara Hogans tells the story of how the unrest in Sherman Park in 2016 led to her current position as community engagement coordinator for Bader Philanthropies. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
“When people tell a story, they’re sharing a piece of their personal life with the audience, she said. A story may resonate with an audience member because it is similar to his or her own, she added.
Ex Fabula began in 2009 as a grassroots program, when five strangers decided that Milwaukee needed a storytelling initiative. Megan McGee, one of the founders, explained that they had all been to storytelling events in other cities and they listened to podcasts. So they organized a story slam and eventually that turned into Ex Fabula, which is Latin for “from stories.” In 2014, Ex Fabula began hiring staff members.
“Once we started having staff, that started allowing us to do more of these collaborations,” said McGee. “At first we were just doing these story slams for adults in bars.”
While the events were successful, Ex Fabula recognized that it was only reaching a small percentage of the city. The goal was for people to not only share their stories but to listen to what others had to say, McGee said. Eventually, Ex Fabula began creating workshops and organizing storytelling events for adults and teens.
Brown said each workshop at MLK began and ended with an icebreaker to encourage the students to relax. Each week, five different students — known as scholars — participated in the workshop. As time went on, Brown noticed that more children became comfortable with the process, and helped each other formulate their stories.
Eventually, nine students were selected to perform their stories, although only five chose to participate. Brown said that the students were excited and nervous.
“It’s a story about discovery [and] all of us have had a discovery,” she told them. “You just have to figure out which one you want to talk about.”
The magnitude of the discoveries varied. DahiyJa Scott, a fifth-grader, discovered that she had a nut allergy after eating some pecan pie. Imani Trummell discovered that if she put forth the effort she could shuffle — a type of footwork — and then teach the skill to her friend.
Although not all the students who participated in the workshop shared their stories, Rubie Mizell, secretary of arts at MLK, said the students learned a lot, including how to speak and how to weave a theme throughout a story. During the workshops, students also learned how to focus, write, enunciate and project their voices.
According to Mizell, MLK is part of a national program started by former first lady Michelle Obama called “Turnaround Arts.” The purpose is to boost academic achievement through integrating art into the curriculum.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct Tamara Hogans’ last name. We apologize for the error.

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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Forum surfaces ongoing controversy over prime cause of lead poisoning in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Abby Ng
November 29, 2018
Carmen Reinmund answers a question from the audience. (Photo by Abby Ng)
Wisconsin is 48th out of 50 states in per capita public health spending, which makes it challenging to address the problem of lead poisoning in Milwaukee, according to Helen Meier, an assistant professor at UW-Milwaukee’s Zilber School of Public Health.
“How are we going to address serious health inequities when we’re 48th out of 50?” she asked, speaking to a group of about 50 people at a recent public forum on lead issues hosted by the League of Women Voters (LWV).
Lack of sufficient resources is among the barriers to lead poisoning prevention in the city, Meier said, noting that community members and the local government must work together to address these barriers.
In addition to LWV members, the audience included representatives of the Freshwater for Life Action Coalition (FLAC) and Get the Lead Out Coalition. With presenters from the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD), Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers and UW-Milwaukee, the goal of the forum was to provide information from a variety of perspectives and encourage lead prevention advocacy.
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“We wanted to bring together groups to move forward on the lead issue,” said Carol Diggelman, who organized the event. “We all need to advocate for evidence-based actions and policies.”
Carmen Reinmund, lead outreach program coordinator at the Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, stressed the importance of engaging families in high-risk areas through education, incuding teaching them about lead safety and water filters.
Forum attendees listen and take notes during the presentation. (Photo by Abby Ng)
Residents should also advocate for more research in Milwaukee, Meier recommended. Researchers have studied causes of lead poisoning nationwide, statewide and in Madison, but not as extensively in Milwaukee, considering how prevalent the issue is in the city, she said.
At least 2,851 children under the age of 6 in 2016 had elevated blood lead levels, according to city data. A 2014 Wisconsin Department of Health Services report shows that nearly half of the children who tested positive for lead in the state are black.
The Milwaukee Health Department estimates that removing every lead service line and making every building in the city lead-safe would cost nearly $2 billion. Without that much money available, the city has taken a targeted approach, focusing on children under 6, lead paint hazards, areas with high poisoning burdens and those with lower incomes, according to MHD public health planner Michael Stevenson.
The city has allocated $20 million in its 2019 budget for lead-risk reduction. In the short term, MHD plans on abating lead-based paint hazards and providing cleaning kits to the most at-risk areas.
“We need to be coming from a health equity framework and focusing our resources on the most vulnerable among us,” Meier said.
She added that institutional trust must be improved. Former Health Department commissioner Bevan Baker resigned after it became known that thousands of residents were not contacted when their children tested positive for lead. Now with a new health commissioner and case tracking systems in place, MHD is hoping to regain the public’s confidence, said Stevenson.
“We are doing our best to rebuild this program,” Stevenson said. Jeanette Kowalik was confirmed by the Common Council as the city’s health commissioner in September.
Robert Penner, a member of the Get the Lead Out Coalition, said he thinks the department’s efforts “are a good step forward,” but he remains skeptical about the city’s intentions.
While improving outreach, research, resources and trust are important steps toward a lead-safe city, Meier said progress cannot happen without cooperation among community members, interest groups and government officials.
“What concerns me most is that we don’t all necessarily share all the same information,” she said.
The Health Department has long argued that lead paint is the main cause of lead poisoning in the city, while advocacy groups such as FLAC and the Get the Lead Out Coalition believe that lead in the water is the primary cause
According to the city, in February 2018, there were 76,244 lead service lines in Milwaukee. The city has replaced 764 lines so far this year.
Of 121,240 houses that were built before 1978, when paint containing lead was banned, the city has made 18,147 of them lead-safe. Homes built before the 1950s are reported to likely have lead-based paint and lead laterals or plumbing.
In an opinion piece for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, Yanna Lambrinidou and Paul Biedrzycki wrote, “Framing the argument as ‘paint vs. water’ reduces a complex problem to distracting finger-pointing, obfuscates what is known and not known about different exposure pathways, and leaves residents sub-optimally equipped to protect themselves, their families, and their communities from preventable exposures.”
They also point out that “a growing body of evidence suggests that both paint and water are implicated in childhood lead poisoning.” Lambrinidou is a founding member of the Campaign for Lead Free Water and Biedrzycki formerly served as a director at the City of Milwaukee Health Department.
Everyone agrees that no amount of lead exposure is safe. Elevated blood lead levels are associated with permanent neurological and behavioral disorders, especially in young children. Lead also poses a risk to pregnant women and women of child-bearing age.
“There needs to be more cooperation between people who think paint is the issue and that water is the issue,” Penner said. “We need to come together to come to a consensus.”
Reinmund added, “It’s everyone’s problem. We have a lot of work to do.”

created: November 29, 2018

author: Abby Ng


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 28, 2018


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2-1-1 Wisconsin Joins State in New Addiction Recovery Helpline Initiative | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
2-1-1 Wisconsin
November 30, 2018
2-1-1 Wisconsin is bringing its statewide network of staff and resources to support Wisconsin’s new Addiction Recovery Helpline. The free, 24/7 service is confidential and connects people struggling with substance use to local treatment services and recovery resources. Supported by the Department of Health Services (DHS), the Helpline is accessed by dialing 2-1-1 or 833-944-4673.
A brand-new website—addictionhelpwi.org—has also been launched for the service. The site allows people to reach the helpline in four different ways (i.e., call, text, chat and online) and is another streamlined access point to the treatment services and resources available. Fully focused on recovery, the new site lets visitors access resources for signing up for insurance, browse treatment options and learn more about recovery.  A guided search function is also available to walk visitors through the site’s resources.
“We want people to know that recovery is possible, and the service is meant for anyone–whether you’re struggling personally or calling for a friend or loved one,” said United Way of Wisconsin Executive Director Charlene Mouille. “These resources are local, so we’re able to connect people with services right in their communities to help them get on the road to recovery.”
To support rural and urban communities statewide, there are seven contact centers throughout Wisconsin. Staffed by trained information and referral specialists, the Helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. By leveraging United Way’s local connections to service providers and the existing 2-1-1 service, the Helpline connects residents with local resources using a database of both public and private programs.
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Resources include crisis and detoxification services, assessment, counseling, medication-assisted treatment, and both residential and outpatient services, among others. The Helpline also provides follow-up services for callers and helps them remove barriers to getting treatment, such as navigating payment options available through health insurance and helping to remove barriers such as transportation challenges.
While the Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline is inclusive of all types of substance use disorders, the Helpline was created in response to the alarming number of opioid-related deaths in recent years. In 2017, 916 people died in Wisconsin due to opioid overdose—more than the total number of deaths in car crashes. 39 local United Ways together invest $109 million annually to help communities solve local problems and change lives throughout Wisconsin.
For more information, go to www.addictionhelpwi.org. If there are any resources in your community that are not listed on the website, please let 2-1-1 Wisconsin know by completing the Contact Us form at the bottom of the web page. To find out more about Wisconsin’s opioid crisis, visit https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/opioids/index.htm

created: November 30, 2018

author: 2-1-1 Wisconsin


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Important state employment opportunities information from the Common Council and City Clerk | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Common Council
November 30, 2018
Governor-elect Tony Evers and Lt. Governor-elect Mandela Barnes are looking for talented individuals from diverse backgrounds who may have an interest in joining their new administration. They are seeking professionals at a variety of skill and experience levels who want to drive change and help tackle the problems facing Wisconsin’s residents.
Interested candidates can apply for a job at http://evers.wi.gov.
Applications will be considered both immediately by the transition team and also in early 2019 as the new leadership teams at various state agencies continue to round out their own teams. Governor-elect Evers and Lt. Governor-elect Barnes are committed to providing a professional working environment free from harassment and discrimination where all people willing to serve are welcome. Employment decisions will be based on individual qualifications and job requirements. The State of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to a diverse and talented workforce. If you’re willing to serve Wisconsin, come as you are. You can learn more about the work of Wisconsin’s state government at http://www.wisconsin.gov.
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author: City of Milwaukee Common Council


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Medical College of Wisconsin and Greater Milwaukee Foundation pursue new community-based partnership | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Medical College of Wisconsin
November 30, 2018
Recognizing an opportunity for enhanced impact around aligned goals, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) are evaluating a significant partnership to advance joint efforts designed to improve health and strengthen the community.
The collaboration will enable MCW and the Foundation to join forces, share expertise, and accelerate investment to better serve the people of Milwaukee. The Flourishing Lives Initiative intends to better understand and address health disparities through civic and community engagement, research and policy change. With more than a century of philanthropic impact and deep roots in the community, the Foundation is committed to focusing on the most critical issues of today while continuing to invest wisely and equitably for future generations.
Together, the Foundation and MCW are evaluating co-location that will house GMF staff and operations as well as select MCW departments and programs. The common location will serve as a catalyst and a community hub benefitting the immediate area and beyond. Alignment of MCW and GMF missions is strong around such priorities as advancing community health, neighborhood and workforce development, affordable housing, economic security, safety and education. Future opportunities for convening space, programming and additional local partners would amplify collective impact.
“Collaborating with like-minded partners helps create solutions for our community’s biggest challenges, and we are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation,” said John R. Raymond, Sr., MD, president and chief executive officer of MCW. “This collaboration aligns our missions and will spark catalytic changes in the community through addressing social, economic and environmental factors that are key to improving health.”
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“Through each era of our history, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation has invested in strengthening our region and addressing the greatest needs of the times,” said Ellen M. Gilligan, president and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. “We are committed to ensuring access to opportunity and a high quality of life for all people, in neighborhoods throughout our community, a goal we can best achieve by working together. This partnership is a perfect example of our enduring investment in place. The missions of the Foundation and the Medical College of Wisconsin complement one another well, and we look forward to applying our respective expertise and knowledge for greater collective impact.”
Through qualitative and quantitative examination of a variety of potential locations, both independently and collaboratively, the partners have narrowed the options to several finalist sites based on a range of thoughtful criteria. The finalist sites are in the greater community of Halyard Park / Haymarket / Hillside, the traditional neighborhoods as defined by the city of Milwaukee.
Essential next steps will include ongoing invitations to community residents and stakeholders to participate in the discovery process through discussions and workshops. This inclusive approach draws on the Foundation’s relationships and deep investments in Milwaukee neighborhoods fostered over decades. This approach includes a keen commitment to ensuring community members are at the center of decisions that affect them, and that opportunity is ample for participation in designing, building and implementing specific strategies to address barriers to prosperity and vitality.
MCW and GMF plan to bring the recommendations to their respective boards for consideration in early 2019. As a reminder, no final location has been selected.

author: Medical College of Wisconsin