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Can Milwaukee’s communities of color cash in on the Democratic National Convention? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
April 18, 2019
Fiserv Forum, the new home of the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team, will be the main venue for the Democratic National Convention, slated for July 13-16, 2020, (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
It’s more than a year away, but Milwaukee is preparing for perhaps the biggest party it’s ever thrown.
More than 50,000 visitors are expected to attend the Democratic National Convention at the Fiserv Forum from July 13-16, 2020, bringing with them an estimated $200 million in convention dollars.
And the city’s minority business leaders are making sure their communities won’t be left out.
Thirty community members attended a workshop this week sponsored jointly by the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerceand the American Indian Chamber of Commerce on how to prepare for the city’s moment in the national spotlight.
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“We want to take full advantage of the DNC coming here next year,” said May Yer Thao, executive director at the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce. Milwaukee has the third-largest Hmong community in the U.S.behind California and Minnesota.
With most of the community’s businesses located on the Northwest Side, Thao said, her organization is looking for ways to entice visitors from downtown to attractions such as the Asian Market Phongsavan, 6300 N. 76th St.
Ossie Kendrix, who leads the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin also envisions offering a series of sessions to help business owners get their piece of the convention dollars.
Denise Thomas, a communication business owner, organized an event for teen girls in December 2017. Thomas hopes the city’s African-American community can play a pivotal role in shifting “the negative mindset that Milwaukee is a terrible place for black people to live” during the convention. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Others see the convention as a chance to influence national discussion.
Denise Thomas, owner of The Effective Communication Coach, LLC, said the DNC offers African-Americans the chance to shift “the negative mindset that Milwaukee is a terrible place for black people to live.”
Thomas, who has held corporate executive positions at MillerCoors and several other large companies, noted that across the U.S., there is “inequality across education, across mass incarceration, across workforce development” that need to be addressed.
Milwaukee’s African-American community needs to “take advantage of having an audience that will be in Milwaukee for at least two weeks, who are the most influential decision makers in our government, both African-American and non-African-American,” she said.
Thomas would like to see the community engage the political leaders socially — through conversations, through panels, through dinners, through community forums — to build “interest and respect for our community.”
There’s at least one group in town, however, that’s too busy to even think a year ahead.
Nelson Soler, president of the Latino Chamber of Commerce of SE Wisconsin Inc. and CEO of the Multicultural Entrepreneurial Institute Inc.has his hands full with a more immediate concern:  The League of United Latin American Citizens, the largest and oldest Hispanic organization in the U.S., is holding its 90 annual national convention in Milwaukee in July.
That convention is expected to draw 17,000 to 20,000 people over five days.

author: Andrea Waxman


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38106612085_8a5b9d0e5d_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 17, 2019

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Adam Carr


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 17, 2019


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40665975183_7b5a8f47a1_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 17, 2019


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“Green-Ribbon” status of the Lindsay Heights neighborhood grows with new green infrastructure, solar installations and Eco Tour designation | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Walnut Way
April 18, 2019
(Photo courtesy of Walnut Way)
Today, Walnut Way Conservation Corp., a neighborhood-based nonprofit known for its innovative work in economic and environmental health and wellness, and the City of Milwaukee’s Environmental Collaboration Office, hosted a ribbon cutting at Fondy Market to celebrate the completion of green infrastructure and clean energy projects in the Lindsay Heights Neighborhood, as well as the city’s first Eco Tour designation.
“Environmental stewardship and climate resilience are critical to the overall revitalization of the Lindsay Heights neighborhood, and mitigating the effects of poverty and disinvestment from the ground up. Walnut Way is honored to help drive this important work through our social enterprise, Blue Skies Landscaping, and many cross-sector partners locally and nationally. In this regard, we hope Lindsay Heights can be a model for the City of Milwaukee,” said Antonio Butts, Executive Director of Walnut Way.
In 2017, Walnut Way Conservation Corp. and the Lindsay Heights neighborhood were selected by the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC), based in Montpelier, Vermont, for a highly competitive national initiative to support community-based climate resilience. The neighborhood was one of two communities nationally to receive ISC’s Partnership for Resilient Communities (The Partnership) award. The Partnership provided technical resources, access to a large national network of sustainability experts and peers, and provided $150,000 for Walnut Way to expand its work on climate resilience, specifically regarding energy and water.
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“The Institute for Sustainable Communities is excited to partner with Walnut Way to support the realization of these valuable community assets. Every community deserves to have assets that promote health, safety, economic opportunity and that help make for a fun place to live. ISC is committed to supporting communities that are often overlooked when it comes to these types of investments. We tremendously value our partnership with Walnut Way and applaud their hard work and dedication. Congratulations!” said Sarita Turner, Director for Inclusive Communities at the Institute for Sustainable Communities.
The initiative mobilized Walnut Way’s social enterprise, Blue Skies Landscaping, to complete the green infrastructure projects at Fondy Park, Greater Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, and Alice’s Garden rainwater harvesting project. The projects capture and divert storm water from the sewer system to be used as a resource rather than redirected as waste. Blue Skies Landscaping provides job training in landscape horticulture and infrastructure for individuals who have traditionally faced employment barriers.
“The City of Milwaukee is working to make Milwaukee a world class eco-city, and that starts in our neighborhoods,” said Erick Shambarger, Director of Environmental Sustainability for the City of Milwaukee’ Environmental Collaboration Office. “We’re proud to partner with Walnut Way because of their grass roots leadership and success in creating local green jobs.”
Additionally, with the support of the City of Milwaukee’s Milwaukee Shines program, Walnut Way and its partners contracted with Arch Electric and Mindful Staffing Solutions to install photovoltaic solar systems at four neighborhood sites. These systems convert sunlight to electricity; the systems at three sites lowers billed electricity, and at Alice’s Garden, the system provides off-grid stored power. Solar systems were installed at Walnut Way, 2240 N. 17th Street; the Innovations and Wellness Commons, 1617 W Fond du Lac Avenue; Fondy Farmers Market, 2200 W. Fond du Lac Avenue; and Alice’s Garden, 2136 N. 21st Street.
“These solar panels prove that renewable electricity is truly universal. Walnut Way and Alice’s Garden are not only taking the initiative to be more self-sufficient, but more importantly, they’re improving the health of the entire community by cutting carbon emissions, reducing stormwater runoff into lakes and streams, and growing nutritious food right in their own neighborhood,” said Sam Dunaiski, Program Manager for Renew Wisconsin/Solar for Good who provided additional funding for the solar projects.
The Partnership also helped Walnut Way collaborate with the City of Milwaukee’s Environmental Collaboration Office to certify Lindsay Heights as the first ECO neighborhood and Eco Tour destination in Milwaukee. The Eco Tour route highlights the significant environmental interventions in the neighborhood through signage.
Many additional partners helped bring these projects to fruition, including Arch Electric, the Fund for Lake Michigan, GZA Engineering, Mindful Staffing Solutions, ReFlo, Milwaukee JobsWork, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), Rivet LLC, Rozga Plumbing & Heating Corp., Social Development Corporation, Solar for Good, MorganDezine, and the Wally Schmidt Redevelopment.

author: Walnut Way


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 18, 2019


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Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm to speak on “justice reinvestment” at MATC’s West Allis Campus April 25 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Area Technical College
April 18, 2019
John T. Chisholm, Milwaukee County district attorney since 2007, will speak on “Justice Reinvestment” from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, April 25, in Rooms 107/117 at Milwaukee Area Technical College’s West Allis Campus, 1200 S. 71 St. He will discuss how communities can do a better job of reducing prison admissions, so the state can redirect the cost savings back to the communities to invest in neighborhood programs.
His presentation is free and open to the public, and will be followed by a question-and-answer period. For more information, email Jacquelyn Oliveira, MATC social science instructor, at oliveirj@matc.edu.
Wisconsin’s largest technical college and the most diverse two-year institution in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. More than 35,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers 200 academic programs; transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 40 four-year colleges and universities; and a Pre-College Education division that assists people to complete high school, prepare for college or enter the workforce. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the national standard for academics and student services.
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author: Milwaukee Area Technical College


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Police chases nearly triple since change in Milwaukee pursuit policy | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
April 18, 2019
Vehicle pursuits in Milwaukee last year increased by 155 percent. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Editor’s note: This story was updated to include an MPD statement and to make clear the fatal accident last week involved the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department and not MPD.
Milwaukee police chases increased from 369 to 940 from 2017 to 2018, with more than one-fourth of those chases resulting in accidents, according to a report that will be discussed Thursday, April 18, during the Fire and Police Commission meeting.
Law enforcement pursuits continue to be an issue in Milwaukee. An accident last week claimed the life of a 25-year-old man who was killed by a fleeing motorist on West Morgan Avenue. Pedro L. Colon-Ortiz died last Thursday after being struck by a suspect fleeing a Milwaukee County sheriff’s deputy who observed him driving recklessly on I-43, according to prosecutors.
In MPD’s case, the increased numbers coincide with a change in policy that allowed pursuits to occur in incidents involving reckless driving or drug dealing. Sixty-seven percent of police chases last year were initiated by reckless driving, according to the “2018 City of Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission Vehicle Pursuit Report,” which was first detailed in a blog by the Wisconsin Justice Initiative.
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The number of vehicle pursuits dipped to just 50 in 2012, two years after MPD limited its pursuit policy to only incidents that involved a violent felony after several police chase deaths occurred. The change in policy resulted in an atmosphere where criminals assumed that police wouldn’t give chase, according to some local elected officials.
“I was seeing people encourage it on Facebook: ‘Keep going, don’t stop,’” said Rep. Kalan Haywood in an interview with NNS in 2018.
The change in policy also resulted in an increase in what police described as “rolling drug houses.” As a result, MPD stiffened its pursuit policy in 2015. Since then the number of chases has skyrocketed from fewer than 100 in 2014 to their current level. The number of injuries as a result of chases increased from 50 in 2017 to 163 in 2018.
A suspect was injured in 112 chases last year, while 38 pursuit victims were classified as third party and 13 were police officers, according to the report.
One of those officers was Charles Irvine Jr., who died after rolling off the road near an overpass while pursuing a suspect in June. Irvine, 23, was the first MPD officer to die in the line of duty in 22 years.
Last year ended with a horrific crash that occurred during a police pursuit on Milwaukee’s South Side, in which three people died, including the 29-year-old driver, a pregnant 19-year-old and her 2-year-old daughter Annamelia Hernandez.
In total there were five fatal injuries that occurred as a result of police pursuits in 2018.
The majority of police chases last year (353) were terminated by law enforcement while the suspect escaped in 218 other cases. The violator stopped in only 131 chases.
MPD spokeswoman Sheronda Grant stated in an email to NNS that the department is not currently seeking to reverse its pursuit policy.
“Fleeing from police is a felony and it is inherently dangerous. When a motorist chooses to engage in this type of reckless activity, they place their lives and the lives of others at risk,” wrote Grant.

author: Edgar Mendez


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So long to traditional senior centers? Policymakers rethink how to best serve an aging population | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Analise Pruni
April 19, 2019
Washington Park Senior Center is one of five county-run centers that will need major repairs or replacement by 2022. (Photo by Analise Pruni)
On any given day at Washington Park Senior Center, community members can be found piecing together a puzzle, dropping in for a quick Zumba exercise class or challenging others to a Wii video game.
“I think people really find these places to be of great value,” said Lorrie Pardo, manager at the center.
However, the days of large, more traditional senior centers may be dwindling.
Officials estimate by 2022, the five county-owned senior center facilities in Milwaukee will need to be replaced for the combined costs of around $24 million. The county currently pays $1.1 million annually to service these centers.
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The potential cost of these new facilities has prompted the Milwaukee County Department on Aging, which funds and oversees the centers, to investigate possible alternatives for providing senior center programming and infrastructure in the coming years.
A Wisconsin Policy Forum report released this week examined senior center models of five peer counties, mostly in the Midwest, to provide examples of funding, program priorities and processes that could offer Milwaukee policy-makers and residents insights on the issue.
“It’s a highly political issue,” said Wisconsin Policy Forum researcher Sue Moeser, who worked on the report. “The seniors that go to the senior centers love their centers and they don’t want them taken away.”
Despite Milwaukee’s senior population steadily increasing, attendance at the centers has declined in recent years and sits around 4 percent of the county’s estimated 172,000 seniors in 2018.
Community members socialize after lunch at the Washington Park Senior Center. (Photo by Analise Pruni)
The five centers, all located within county parks, are Clinton Rose, Kelly, McGovern, Washington and Wilson. The combined annual attendance is 6,608 individuals. The centers are from 35 to 61 years old.
The report found that given the cost, one of the most difficult options would be for the county to continue to pay for and operate large facilities that are exclusively meant for older adult services.
“I have to say over the years we have lost quite a few of our individuals who would spend the majority of their day here,” Pardo said.
Reassessing the use of senior centers means looking for the most effective ways to increase accessibility to services surrounding wellness and nutrition, transportation, work and volunteer opportunities.
Although other counties offered different approaches to prioritizing the needs of older adults, this multigenerational approach reflects a shift in demographic changes that’s part of a national trend.
Census Bureau reports show older adults are living longer, are more educated and have higher incomes.
“They’re more conscious of the environment, of politics, of the health of the community,” Pardo said.
This shift has created three distinct cohorts of older adults that have different needs.
Moeser said the people who retire at 55-60 are young and often still want to give to their community, travel or work. “Then you’ve got on the other end, the frail elderly who probably need help and then you’ve got the ones that are kind of in between and they have really different needs,” she said.
in Virginia, the only other county-run model in the report, uses a multigenerational approach.
in Pennsylvania has a performance- based contracting system where senior center facilities and services are consolidated into low-cost spaces.
“They are putting senior centers in storefronts in strip malls and pay a dollar a year for it,” Moeser said. Other spaces such as schools or churches are also utilized.
in Wisconsin prioritized focal points for services such as nutrition or adult day care where contracted service agencies are responsible for providing and maintaining their own facilities.
Ohio, local municipalities run senior centers and provide framework for programs for older adult services.
Minnesota senior center facilities are not central for services. The county uses a statewide senior call line that connects residents with providers that follows up to ensure seniors are being served.
has a similar 211 social services hotline and senior center staff can help connect the older population with services as well.

author: Analise Pruni


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City of Milwaukee Health Department urges precaution as measles activity continues | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Health Department
April 21, 2019
The City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) is reminding area residents that it’s not too late to get vaccinated for measles.  With cases on the rise surrounding the state of Wisconsin, the department strongly recommends residents to review their families’ immunizations to ensure they are protected against measles. Increased travel around the holidays raises the risk for transmission of measles.
To protect yourself, your family, and those around you, MHD recommends the following:
MHD provides the measles vaccination to eligible residents.  Residents are encouraged to contact the Immunization program at 414-286-8034 to check their eligibility.  For more information about measles infection and vaccine go to: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization/measles.htm
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author: City of Milwaukee Health Department


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5 things you need to know this week in Milwaukee: April 22-April 27 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Elyse McFeggan
April 22, 2019
Jordan, Mary and Holly Schmidt (from left) pick up trash last year in Washington Park. (File photo by Talis Shelbourne)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the day for Earth Day events being sponsored by the Urban Ecology Center.
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some events that can enrich your week. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put 5 things in the subject line by noon Fridays
There are tons of ways to all around Milwaukee. This week the Urban Ecology Center is hosting an Earth Day of Service event at all three of its locations
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The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission will hold The first meeting will take place from  at the Mitchell Street Library Community Room, 906 W. Historic Mitchell St. The second one occurs , at the Milwaukee Public Library-Martin Luther King branch, 310 W. Locust St. The meetings are being hosted by the African-American Civic Engagement Roundtable. For more information, visit the event Facebook page.
at an event hosted by the Nonprofit Academy of Wisconsin  at the  Art Bar, 722 E. Burleigh St. To learn more or register, visit eventbrite.
The Board of Supervisors will consider a resolution by Supervisors Steven Shea and Sequanna Taylor to Currently, five privately operated Milwaukee-area warming centers open when the temperature falls below 20 degrees. The resolution does not allocate any additional county funding for the expanded services, but it calls upon corporate and philanthropic donors to support the initiative. in Courthouse Room 200, 901 N. 9 St.
The application deadline for the Community Work Experience component of the city’s Earn & Learn Summer Youth Internship Program is . The program provides youth employed through Earn and Learn with a seven-week work experience that pays $7.50 per hour for 20 hours each week, along with work- readiness skill development and training. Milwaukee residents from the ages of 14 to 24 are eligible to participate. Call (414) 270-7550 for information or e-mail  earn.learn@employmilwaukee.org.
Teens from ages 16 to 19 are invited to participate in the Milwaukee Public Library’s Teen Job Fair 2019  at the Center Street Branch, 2727 W. Fond  du Lac Ave. Come prepared with your resume and business-appropriate dress attire. Resume and application help will be available during the job fair.

author: Elyse McFeggan


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 21, 2019


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Council leaders ask DA to consider prosecuting health officials over handling of lead | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
April 22, 2019
Health Commissioner Bevan Baker was forced to resign over his department’s handling of the city’s lead crisis. Officials say the problems occurred late in his tenure. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Two city leaders have asked the Milwaukee County district attorney to consider prosecuting health officials over their handling of the lead crisis.
Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton and Ald. Bob Donovan said in a letter Monday to Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisolm that something went “dreadfully wrong” with the Milwaukee Health Department’s oversight of its lead abatement programs.
“While we continue to wait for an audit of the Health Department to begin in the coming weeks, we also thought prudent to contact you and ask if there were any circumstances that you believe could rise to the level of prosecutable offense,” they wrote.
City officials say the problems occurred late in the tenure of ousted Health Commissioner Bevan Baker. Although no other health official was named in the letter, it did state that other top administrative officials were also to blame.
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Earlier Monday, the members of Freshwater for Life Action Coalition and Get The Lead Out, two groups that have criticized the city’s handling of lead, called out Common Council members for not responding to questions they had after meeting with top health officials last month.
City officials said the groups’ information was “not factual or based on a current understanding of science.”
The city Health Department, the district attorney’s office and Mayor Tom Barrett did not immediately respond to an NNS request for comment.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 22, 2019


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39445533600_ca5e13a216_o (1) | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 22, 2019


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Local youth provide testimony on dangers of tobacco to Joint Finance Committee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Lorraine Lathen
April 22, 2019
Members of the Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network (WAATPN) and Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Poverty Network FACT groups, joined hundreds of Wisconsinites last week to provide a testimonial to the state’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC). Their message for JFC, ‘we’re worried about losing a whole new generation of kids to tobacco.’
“As long as we continue to allow the tobacco industry to market candy and fruit flavor tobacco products to us, things aren’t going to get any better,” said Christiana, whose been a member of FACT for five years.
Christiana, who grew up in a household of smokers, said she joined FACT because of the negative impact that smoking had on her health.
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“I have asthma and it didn’t help that as a child I was exposed to secondhand smoke every day,” she told the committee.
FACT member Nia also testified to the JFC that day, talking to members about a friend who she challenged to try to quit vaping for a week.
“She didn’t last a day,” she said.
Nia also thanked the state legislators for their efforts to decrease the impact of tobacco.
“I want to thank the state for helping us to work towards creating a generation of tobacco free kids, and the support they provide us to spread the truth about tobacco to our peers,” she said.

author: Lorraine Lathen


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
April 22, 2019

author: Name *


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On the Block: Back to safety and how we once were | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
April 22, 2019
Kellie Carson, aka djkelc, has lived and worked in Milwaukee her whole life — except for her college years at Grambling State University in Louisiana.
After graduating, she returned to teach at the middle school she attended — then Parkman, later renamed Andrew S. Douglas School. Now a 23-year veteran of MPS, Carson teaches special education and holds a master’s degree at Cardinal Stritch University.
The Northwest Side resident gravitated toward special education because it allows her to work more intensively with smaller groups of students. She believes that having the time to form deeper relationships with kids facing many challenges helps her make a bigger difference in their lives. She would also like to see them, and everyone, living in a stronger, safer community.
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Social Development Foundation hosts “Plated” April 25th | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Social Development Foundation
April 22, 2019
According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 28% of Milwaukee County residents live in poverty. However, many people outside this group have no idea what poverty feels like.
Plated, is a powerful event designed to change that.
On Thursday, April 25, The Social Development Foundation will host a unique, interactive experience in which everyone lives in poverty. With “role-playing” and the guidance of University of Wisconsin Milwaukee experts, Plated participants will actually feel what people experience in poverty. Does a participant portraying a senior citizen pay for expensive medication or housing? Does a single mother pay for childcare or miss a day of work? Plated attendees will make these tough decisions as part of this poverty simulation exercise.
Why are we doing this?
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Plated will inspire change and generate innovative solutions to help eliminate poverty in Milwaukee County.
This is an experience that brings statistics to life.
Visit https://sd-foundation.org/events/plated/ to purchase your ticket and learn more about the Social Development Foundation.

author: Social Development Foundation


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Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin hosts May drive in Milwaukee County | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin
April 22, 2019
Together, Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin and blood donors across the state make a life-saving impact through the gift of blood donation. Patients in need of blood tomorrow rely on the generosity of blood donors today.
Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin is calling on the community to make a life-saving donation this May. Donations of all blood types are needed, but especially type O negative blood, which is the universal blood type given to patients in emergency situations and those undergoing surgery.
Milwaukee County blood donors can help patients in need at Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin’s upcoming blood drive Wednesday, May 22 from 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 9303 S. Chicago Rd., Oak Creek.
Donors can schedule an appointment by calling 1-877-BE-A-HERO (1-877-232-4376) or visiting versiti.org/BCW.
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Anyone 17 or older who is in good health and meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to donate blood. Appointments are preferred, but walk-in donors are also welcome. Parental consent is required for 16-year-olds to donate. The entire process takes about an hour. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes birth date.

author: Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin


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DA confirms ongoing investigation into Health Department over handling of lead | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
April 23, 2019
Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, shown in 2016, says his agency will release findings to the public once its investigation of the Milwaukee Health Department concludes. (File photo by Allison Steines)
Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm confirmed on Tuesday that his office is investigating the Health Department’s lead abatement programs.
In a letter to Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton and Ald. Bob Donovan, Chisolm said: “My office, and the State of Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation, commenced a joint investigation several months ago, which continues at this time.
“Upon conclusion of the investigation, my office will report to the Milwaukee Common Council and the public our findings and any appropriate next steps.”
The two city leaders asked the Milwaukee County district attorney on Monday to consider prosecuting health officials over their handling of the lead crisis.
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A letter Monday from Hamilton and Donovan to Chisholm stated that something went “dreadfully wrong” with the Milwaukee Health Department’s oversight of its lead abatement programs.
“While we continue to wait for an audit of the Health Department to begin in the coming weeks, we also thought prudent to contact you and ask if there were any circumstances that you believe could rise to the level of prosecutable offense,” they wrote.
City officials say the problems occurred late in the tenure of ousted Health Commissioner Bevan Baker. Although no other health official was named in the letter, it did state that other top administrative officials were also to blame.
In an email to NNS, Diamond Hanson, communications officer for the Health Department, said: “Our job here at the department is to reassure the public that we have made significant progress in rebuilding the program, and that we have a comprehensive program in place to respond to lead poisoned children.”
Mayor Tom Barrett has not responded to an NNS request for comment.
Also on Tuesday, representatives of Freshwater for Life Action Coalition and Get The Lead Out, two groups that have criticized the city’s handling of lead, issued a statement supporting an investigation into the Health Department.
“Too much harm has been done in recent years to simply count on the assurances of city leaders. We believe a rigorous investigation would be a critical step forward in repairing this harm,” it read.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 23, 2019


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CHISOLM2016 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
April 23, 2019

author: Dwayne Burtin


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Mission: Healthy Kids recognizes top Wisconsin schools completing the Healthy Schools Challenge focused on nutrition | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mission: Healthy Kids
April 23, 2019
Mission: Healthy Kids, a partnership of Kohl’s Cares® and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, offered a free Healthy Schools Challenge program to Wisconsin schools that focused on nutrition. The purpose of the Challenge was to provide an engaging way for educators to introduce or continue to implement nutrition education in their classrooms. More than 14,000 students at 150 schools in 44 counties signed up to participate in the Challenge that ran from February 4 through April 1.
Educators chose from three outlined challenges – Just TRY IT! Fruit and Vegetable Challenge, MyPlate Challenge and Healthy Food Pantry Challenge – or created their own. Guidelines included a rubric to help educators implement the Challenge. After the challenge, educators completed and submitted a Challenge Summary to qualify for classroom awards.
School Award Winners:
The following 10 schools, which completed the Challenge, were randomly selected to receive $500 Challenge Grants to continue their nutrition education work in the classroom:
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The following 25 schools were recognized for their outstanding work in completing the Healthy Schools Challenge:
The schools received classroom kits with educational materials to continue their nutrition awareness work in the classroom.
One in five kids between the ages of 6-19 are obese. Children with obesity are at a higher risk for other chronic health conditions and diseases, are more often bullied and teased, and are more likely to suffer from social isolation, depression and lower self-esteem. Research shows that a proper diet can help kids pay attention and improve their academic success.
In partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin School Health Wellness Awards, Mission: Healthy Kids promotes policy, systems and environmental changes in schools. The program connects schools and families to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin’s e-learning health education programming and provides free resources on nutrition, physical activity and healthy minds. More information, including resources for parents and educators, is available at missionhealthykids.org. Mission: Healthy Kids is made possible through a grant from Kohl’s philanthropic program, Kohl’s Cares®, which sells children’s books and toys and donates 100 percent of the net profit to charitable initiatives nationwide.

author: Mission: Healthy Kids


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NNS video: Of truth and consequences: Teen tells his story | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mark Doremus
April 23, 2019
Editor’s note: The text in this video has been updated to correct the misspelling of the name of the coffee shop where Ex Fabula’s teen story slam took place.

author: Mark Doremus


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 22, 2019
“ex_fabula_joshua(1)”.


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OPINION: White Milwaukee, America’s Black Holocaust Museum is for you, too | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Rick Deines
April 23, 2019
(Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Editor’s note: Got something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Rick Deines, a conversation facilitator with The Zeidler Center for Public Discussion, writes that the Milwaukee Film Festival provided an opportunity for Milwaukeeans to be around one another and interact as they reflected on films that teach about the challenges and opportunities of life.
How exciting it would be for a broad base of metro Milwaukee citizens to claim America’s Black Holocaust Museum as a kind of “magnet school for racial reconciliation.”
America’s Black Holocaust Museum will officially open sometime this year. It is a gem, embodying the potential as an action center for beautiful, cultural interdependence.
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The urban unrest in July of 1967 ignited on Third Street (now MLK Drive) was devastating to our community.
How appropriate that Bronzeville and the ABHM can become the place where a new community is formed.
Large numbers of us from mixed racial backgrounds could return to that exact spot 52 years later for acts of reconciliation.  It can be an act of repentance that doesn’t play on guilt or cheap forgiveness.  It can call us to specific forms of responsible living in a newly aware community.
“Magnet” schools draw students eager to expand their understanding and practice in a particular area of interest and concern.
The museum has the potential to be a magnet school that draws people together from across the cultural and racial spectrum for meaningful dialogue, understanding and a visible presence of that action.
ABHM’s mission statement says: “We envision a society that remembers its past to shape a better future-a nation undivided by race where every person matters equally.”
This could be “the” space where uninformed stereotypes give way to reality and truth.
This could help replace the too often quoted description of Milwaukee as “the most segregated metropolitan area in the country” with something like “A City Where Equality Matters.”
Think of the impact this could have on those attending the Democratic National Convention in 2020.  Convention attendees invited to see “what Milwaukee looks like” when the prejudices are stripped away?
Hope for the city and the entire nation showcased in Bronzeville!
The nation is stepping up its opportunities for awareness through Mississippi’s Civil Rights Museums, Birmingham’s Civil Rights Institute and the most recent Montgomery’s National Memorial for Peace and Justice.
Add to that list, Milwaukee’s Black Holocaust Museum in the heart of the city.
The ABHM can be an important player and partner in changing our knowledge of history, our sense of community, and our own value as awakened human beings.
A few weeks ago, the accomplished historian, writer and head griot, Reggie Jackson, guided three of us through a partially finished exhibit. I was reminded that engaging this part of American history over and over again is one important necessity for dealing with racial understanding and reconciliation in this time, in our city and beyond.
Too few of us “go public” in accepting responsibility for the ongoing “nothing ever changes” perception that dominates the narrative about race.
We white Americans do not see ourselves as “bad” people.  Why do we allow this to pass without comment or action?  The ongoing incidents of racial ignorance (blackface, racial taunts at sporting events) remind us that our whole history is NOW.
The ABHM can be our “magnet school” for awakening, nurturing and connecting all Milwaukeeans.
It’s OUR museum!  It is our history.  All of us.  It is OUR hope. It is  OUR opportunity for action.
The ABHM can be the intersection for healthy relationships to emerge. It will take intentional commitment from those of us who live in largely white settings to first visit the museum ourselves.
The next step may be the most important.  Spread the word.  Invite, invite, invite and accompany.
It will be a new day. It will come.
For general information about the New ABHM, call (414) 374-5353 or write to chargro@abhmuseum.org

author: Rick Deines


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Southeastern Wisconsin’s foremost local voices spotlight the crisis of kids and mental health | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee PBS
April 23, 2019
Two media outlets that are committed to providing a local view and a platform for southeastern Wisconsin – Milwaukee PBS and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – have teamed up to shine a light on a growing crisis among the community’s children – mental illness.
10thirtysix, Milwaukee PBS’ local news magazine, presents a powerful one-hour special, “.” Based on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK – Wisconsin’s award winning Kids In Crisisseries, “” will air on Thursday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. on Milwaukee PBS Channel 10. The special begins with a gripping and inspiring half-hour documentary about four local young people and their experiences with mental illness and suicide. The second half features interactive discussions with mental health professionals and others who have experienced the effects of mental health issues.
The goal of Milwaukee PBS and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is to increase awareness of this issue locally, but they will also make the 10thirtysix special – and the critical information it presents – to communities throughout the nation. A live feed of the broadcast will be made available to all USA TODAY NETWORK sites across the country for streaming on their websites, along with ideas and opportunities for reporting locally on efforts to prevent teen suicide.
In order to increase the local impact of this program and partnership, Milwaukee PBS and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel will hold a public preview event and community resource fair. The public is invited to a special screening of “.”  Held on Tuesday, May 13, the resource fair will offer information presented by local mental health organizations, and the screening will be followed by an interactive panel discussion with mental health professionals. The resource fair will begin at 6:00 p.m. with the program to follow at 7:00 p.m. This event will be held at Pius XI Catholic High School’s Fr. Robert V. Carney Performing Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets must be obtained in advance, at bit.ly/notalonepremiere.
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For more information on the May 13 community event, or the May 16 broadcast of 10thirtysix’s “,” visit www.MilwaukeePBS.org.

author: Milwaukee PBS


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Red Cross urges blood donations to help trauma patients | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
American Red Cross
April 24, 2019
There’s no way to predict when or where an accident will happen. That’s why the American Red Cross needs donors to give blood and platelets during Trauma Awareness Month this May and throughout the year to help ensure that trauma centers are prepared the moment an injured patient arrives.
In December 2017, Jeff Gosliga was rushed to the hospital following a car accident. To treat his serious injuries, he needed 11 units of blood – about the amount of blood in an average adult’s body.
“I never had reason to think a lot about blood, where it came from or how it arrived at hospitals; my accident changed all of that,” said Gosliga. “It was touch-and-go for a while, and because the blood that I needed was available, I’m here today. I am so grateful to all of the volunteer blood donors who give of themselves so generously. I will never forget them or take blood donation for granted again.”
Donors of all blood types are urged to give now to help meet the needs of trauma patients and others with serious medical conditions. Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
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In thanks, all those who come to donate blood, platelets or plasma with the Red Cross now through June 10, 2019, will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. (Restrictions apply; see amazon.com/gc-legal. More information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.)
When every second matters
Major traumas can quickly deplete a hospital’s blood supply. By giving blood, platelets or plasma regularly, donors can help ensure that enough blood is on the shelves for patients when every second matters.
In trauma situations, when there’s no time to check a patient’s blood type, emergency personnel reach for type O negative red blood cells and type AB plasma because they can be transfused to patients of any blood type. Less than 7 percent of the population has type O negative blood, and only about 4 percent of the population has type AB blood.
Platelets may also be needed to help with clotting in cases of massive bleeding. Because platelets must be transfused within five days of donation, there is a constant – often critical – need to keep up with hospital demand.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities May 1-23
4/30/2019: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., UWM Student Union, 2200 Kenwood Blvd
5/2/2019: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., AO Smith Corp, 11270 W Park Pl
5/3/2019: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Marquette Gymnasium, 1508 W. Clybourn Street
5/7/2019: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lutheran Chapel of the Cross, 3353 S. Whitnall
5/8/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., UWM Student Union, 2200 Kenwood Blvd
5/24/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Milwaukee Fire Department – Engine 6, 1693 N Franklin Pl.
5/24/2019: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Milwaukee Fire Department – Engine 31, 2400 S. 8th St.

author: American Red Cross


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“Women in the Trades” Lunch and Learn | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Social Development Commission
April 24, 2019
SDC will be hosting ,”WOMEN IN THE TRADES, Lunch & Learn Event on Wednesday, May 8th, 2019 at 1:00pm at the Social Development Commission – Main Office, 1730 W North Ave., 53205.
Come hear about being a  in this field and hear from studnts who have taken the training class and  who work in this field. It is great opportunity to learn about the trades and the advantages of completing training in the construction field.
Lunch will also be served.
There is NO registration fee to attend. Registration must be returned no later than
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If you have any questions please contact:
Tyrone McKee – Program Manager, Workforce Development & Training 906-2714
Courtney Kelly, Job Developer , Workforce Development & Training 906-2826

author: Social Development Commission


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AIDS Ride Wisconsin: July 26-28, 2019 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin
April 25, 2019
An exciting ride. A vital cause. An extraordinary community cycling toward a world free from AIDS.
The 17 annual AIDS Ride Wisconsin (ACT 17 Ride) is an all-inclusive, fully-supported ride through beautiful southern Wisconsin.  Designed for every cycling level from novice to veteran, riders choose from ½, 1, 2 or 3-day rides and 25, 100, 175 or 275 mile routes.  AIDS Ride begins in Madison on Friday, overnights at Carroll University in Waukesha (100 N. East Avenue, Waukesha, WI  53186) for those who wish to participate multiple days, continues on Saturday to Lake Geneva, and returns to the Madison area on Sunday.  Food, route and mechanical support, housing, entertainment, rest stops and more are provided.  AIDS Ride Wisconsin is produced by the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW), raising critical funds to support life-saving HIV health care, social services and prevention efforts.  All proceeds from AIDS Ride Wisconsin 2019 stay in Wisconsin for the fight against AIDS.
July 26, 2019 beginning at 6:00 A.M. ending July 28, 2019 at 3:30 PM
$35-80 registration fee, minimum fundraising total required (please see website).
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For more information visit www.aidsridewis.org or contact Tricia Mallett,  Director of Special Events, AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin, 820 N. Plankinton Avenue, Milwaukee, WI  53203.

author: AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin


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Noted sociologist and MacArthur Fellow Dr. Rebecca Sandefur will go ‘On the Issues’ April 26 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Marquette University
April 25, 2019
Dr. Rebecca Sandefur, recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship whose research focuses on increasing access to legal services for low-income people, will be the next featured guest in an upcoming “On the Issues with Mike Gousha,” Friday, April 26, at 12:15 p.m. in the Lubar Center at Marquette University Law School’s Eckstein Hall.
Sandefur will discuss how to best address the civil legal needs of low-income people. Her research on access to civil justice sheds light on how legal services are delivered and consumed by low-income people. While the outcomes of civil cases are potentially life-changing—including eviction, loss of custody of a child, wage garnishment, or loss of government or insurance benefits—at least one party lacks legal representation in more than three-quarters of all civil cases filed in state courts today.
Sandefur is a faculty member in the department of sociology and the college of law at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She was one of 25 MacArthur Fellows in 2018 as a legal scholar. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.
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Gousha, an award-winning journalist, continues his “On the Issues” series of provocative and insightful interviews with local and national public officials, journalists and other newsmakers throughout the year. A complete schedule is available online.
Through public programming such as the Marquette Law School Poll, debates featuring candidates in significant political races, Gousha’s “On the Issues” conversations with newsmakers, public lectures by leading scholars and conferences on significant issues of public importance, the Law School serves as the region’s leading venue for serious civil discourse about law and public policy matters.
The event is open to members of the general public at no cost; registration is required and is available online. Members of the media who are interested in attending should contact Kevin Conway, associate director of university communication, at kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.

author: Marquette University


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OPINION: It’s time for facts to prevail: There is no reason why anyone should ever get the measles | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Earnestine Willis
April 25, 2019
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says measles are on the rise. (Photo courtesy of the CDC)
Editor’s note: Got something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Earnestine Willis, MD, MPH, a Kellner Professor and vice chairwoman of Diversity and Inclusion in the Department of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin and director and founder of the Center for the Advancement of Underserved Children, writes that misinformation is hindering efforts to combat measles, a highly preventable disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a resurgence of measles cases continues to increase in the USA.
This highly contagious disease is characterized by a fever that increases stepwise and is associated with an elevated body temperature as high as 103-105F. Besides fever and a rash, other symptoms include onset of cough, runny nose and/or conjunctivitis, “pink eyes.”
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The rash typically lasts four to seven days and usually begins at the hairline and involves the face and upper neck. This airborne virus can linger in a room or on a surface for up to two hours after the infected person has left.
Yet a vaccine for the measles virus, MMR, is incredibly safe and has been available since the 1960s.
In fact, it is recommended that children receive their first does of the MMR vaccine between the ages of 12-15 months and a booster at ages 4 through 6.
In addition, studies have consistently demonstrated that there is no association between the MMR vaccine and autism.
There are members of social networks who are hesitant to vaccinate their children. This misunderstanding that MMR vaccine is associated with autism has resulted in a decline of MMR vaccinations in certain communities.
It is time to move beyond the spread of false information about the risks of vaccinations. Parental concerns should be addressed by building trust with the community and identifying effective, culturally appropriate ways to address questions, concerns and misinformation about the MMR vaccine and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
It is imperative that public health officials and other key community leaders disseminate culturally appropriate educational materials and create opportunities for open dialogue about measles vaccine and other known effective vaccines.

author: Earnestine Willis


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 25, 2019

author: Adam Carr


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 24, 2019


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Summer food service program at Camp Umoja Summer Camp | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Camp Umoja Summer Camp
April 25, 2019
Stressing the importance of offering nutritious meals to children during the summer months, Camp Umoja Summer Camp announces the sponsorship of the Summer Food Service Program.
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, provides nutritious meals to children during the summer, when free and reduced school meals are typically unavailable. Free meals will be made available to children 18 of age or under. Persons over 18 years of age who are determined by a state or local public educational agency to be mentally or physically disabled and who also participate in a public or private non-profit school program during the regular school year may receive free meals as well.
We plan to provide meals to children at the following location:
2669 N. Richards Street
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Milwaukee, WI 53212
Meals are provided to eligible children regardless of race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability and there will be no discrimination in the course of meal service.
This is the third year that Camp Umoja is making the food on site. We are excited to provide quality food that kids want to eat and is good for them too. We are very fortunate to have a partnership with Feeding America. This reduces cost and waste.
Non-discrimination Statement: In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at:
http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Each site will serve breakfast from 8:30 to 9:30 am and a lunch from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Meals for our program will be prepared in St. Marcus Kitchen. The feeding program will operate from June 17th through July 26th.

author: Camp Umoja Summer Camp


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What every Milwaukee teen needs to know to find (and keep) a summer job | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
April 25, 2019
The Milwaukee Public Library held a summer job fair for teens this week. It has resources for both adults and youths looking for employment. (Photo courtesy of the Milwaukee Public Library)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct wording in the first paragraph.
Summer is the season for students to kick back and enjoy a break from homework.
Or maybe even get to work on building a resume.
In 2018, Pew Research Center found that only 35 percent of teenagers in the U.S. worked a summer job.
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Although that rate may seem low, it represents a rise in teen employment, which dipped after the recession.
Fortunately, for teenagers living in Milwaukee, there’s a plethora of summer jobs available.
WHERE TEENS CAN FIND HELP
Milwaukee Public Library: The library has a variety of resources to help teens.
Employ Milwaukee: Employ Milwaukee helps young adults find jobs based on their interests. Currently, Employ Milwaukee is accepting applications for its Earn & Learn program until 3 p.m. Saturday, April 27. Toni White, the program manager for adult and youth services, said the organization has young adult employee opportunities year-round.
Teens Grow Greens is expanding to the South Side and is on the look for teens with ambition. (Photo courtesy of Teens Grow Greens)
Neu-Life Youth Workforce Innovation: Neu-Life recently launched a workforce initiative aimed at young adults. As part of the launch, Neu-Life opened a new center at 2014 W. North Ave. Teens will help out on projects.
Teens Grow Greens: For six years, Teens Grow Greens has been working with students who live on the North Side. This summer, the program will expand to the South Side. Charlie Uihlein, the executive director, said he is looking ambitious teens. Those who wish to apply can email teensgrowgreens@gmail.com for an application.
Personal network: Asking relatives, neighbors and friends about job openings is one of the best ways to find a job. When people start joining the workforce, they start cultivating resources and forming connections. This turns into a network of people who know how to find a job worth seeking.
ADVICE EVERY TEEN SHOULD HEED
Once teens are hired or if they’re still looking, there’s some advice they should heed.
Acing the application and interview: An application is a legal document, White said. That means everything needs to be truthful. It’s important to fill out every part of the application and seek advice when clarification is needed. White added that using correct punctuation and grammar is essential.
Practice, practice, practice: Petra Duecker, the teen education specialist for Milwaukee Public Library, said doing practice interviews can help teens prep for the situation. For many young adults, summer jobs are their first experience in the workforce.
Think outside the box: Duecker encourages teens to think beyond the stereotypical teenage jobs. Young adults should think of their long-term goals, she said. For example, if they want to be a nurse, they should look for jobs that can help them earn a certified nursing assistant.
“Try new opportunities, even things you don’t think you’ll like,” Uilhein said. High school is the time to explore new things and think beyond one’s boundaries, he added.
Sweat the small stuff: Showing up on early and making a point to communicate with the supervisors shows commitment, Uilhein said.
“Be aware of your social media and how to utilize it,” White said. All companies and organizations have an image. When they hire someone, they want someone who can represent the brand in a positive light.
Be teachable: The point of having a job as a teenager is to learn and acquire skills for later employment. “Accept coaching and don’t look at it as criticism,” Duecker said.
Come prepared to work: Arriving to a job ready to work means limiting cellphone usage while working, White said. She added that being prepared means having the appropriate attire, attitude and ethic, which means being on time and doing the full shift.

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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NNS spotlight: The Milwaukee Chinese Community Center | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Xiao Liu
April 26, 2019
The Chinese Spring Festival Gala is one of the center’s signature events. (Photo courtesy of the Milwaukee Chinese Community Center)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the date of the Milwaukee Dragon Boat Festival Races.
Editor’s note: This is the first in an occasional series that highlights groups and people worth knowing in Milwaukee. To nominate a person or a group, email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “Spotlight” in the subject line.
About 25 years ago, on a Saturday night in the basement of a home in Milwaukee, a group of Chinese-American parents gathered to begin teaching Mandarin to their young children.
The parents felt forgetting their native tongue was shameful, and they were afraid their children would lose their connections to a country 7,000 miles away.
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Led by their passion for Chinese cultural identity, this volunteer teaching group eventually formed the Milwaukee Chinese Community Center, a community-based nonprofit organization.
The center serves as a platform to showcase Chinese culture while embracing Milwaukee’s cultural and ethnic diversity.
Zhehui Ni, second from left, served as a host of the 2019 Chinese Spring Festival Gala in February. (Photo courtesy of the Milwaukee Chinese Community Center)
The center also sponsors a school, the Milwaukee Modern Chinese School, which uses Lalumiere Language Hall at Marquette University as its teaching space.
Volunteers educate anyone interested in learning about Chinese culture. They teach Mandarin and such things as writing brush calligraphy, playing the game of Go and playing Chinese classical instruments.
The center also sponsors the Milwaukee Dragon Boat Festival Races, held each year at Lakeshore State Park, just east of the Summerfest grounds. Half of the profits are donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities. This year’s event takes place Aug. 10.
It also contributes to other charity events. In 2017, it raised $10,062 for Hurricane Harvey relief, donating the money to the American Red Cross.
Jianguo Sun, the center’s president, said his organization focuses on helping the community.
“Community service helps improve the engagement of the Chinese community into mainstream society,” Sun said. “From Chinese community service, Americans get to know Chinese, accept them and like them. Kindness is a virtue we all welcome.”
Sun came to Milwaukee in 1992. At that time, the number of students from China was not as large as it is today. There were few connections and resources for Chinese to find material and psychological support. Sun hopes that through the efforts of the center, the new generation of Chinese newcomers faces fewer difficulties than those who came earlier.
“It’s our obligation to return to society. We’re not only Chinese, but also human, the same as everyone in this world,” Sun said.

author: Xiao Liu


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Remembering Dontre Hamilton: Dontre Day takes place Saturday, April 27 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
April 26, 2019
Dontre Hamilton was shot and killed in Red Arrow Park by a Milwaukee police officer. Since his death, his family has pushed for peace in Milwaukee. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Nate Hamilton tries to treat people with the same love and respect his brother, Dontre Hamilton, gave him.
Five years ago, Dontre was shot and killed by a police officer in Red Arrow Park. He was 31. Since then, Hamilton and his family commemorate Dontre’s life with Dontre Day.
“[We] take that pain that we felt and turn it into something positive,” Hamilton said.
This year, Dontre Day will take place noon Saturday, April 27 at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, 2620 W. Center St.
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The event will feature music and speakers. In addition, there will be homemade food, art for the kids and meditation.
Hamilton said the purpose of the day is to spread love, respect and above all, unity. Everyone should feel welcome, he said, because Dontre always went out of his way to engage with and help people.
“People miss out on who Dontre really was,” Hamilton said.
Every person suffering from mental health is different, but everyone deserves to be treated with compassion and understanding, Hamilton said.
After Dontre’s death, Hamilton began the Coalition for Justice, an organization that works to bring awareness to injustices in Milwaukee. In addition to events such as Dontre Day, the Coalition for Justice works to engage the Fire and Police Commission.
“The conversation is still being had,” Hamilton said. “We want to remain on top of things and continue to engage with them.”
Hamilton is encouraging communities to make a more concentrated effort to engage with police officers.
“To not fear us they have to know us,” he said.
He added that neighborhoods need to strive toward nonviolence. It’s not just going door-to-door in neighborhoods, it’s about getting neighbors to talk with one another. There needs to be more engagement and people need to be held accountable for their actions.
Milwaukee has the potential to be a great place, but its residents need to educate themselves and push for change, he said.
Reggie Moore, the director for the Office of Violence Prevention, said although there’s been a decrease in fatal shootings and homicides, there’s still work to be done.
One of the city’s initiatives to help reduce violence is the Blueprint for Peace.
“We want to do everything possible to reduce gun violence across the board,” Moore said.
The blueprint calls for an expansion of conflict training for MPD officers and security guards so that they can be better equipped to deescalate a situation. It also wants more support when it comes to mental health services for families and restorative practices for officers struggling with trauma.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 26, 2019


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What you need to know about the St. Joseph Hospital controversy | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
April 26, 2019
The Wheaton Franciscan nuns who founded St. Joseph Hospital moved it from
North 4th Street and West Reservoir Avenue to Sherman Park in 1930 when they needed more space. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
Mention St. Joseph Hospital, and you are bound to hear grumblings from some residents who are upset about changes.
Since St. Michael’s Hospital closed in 2006, St. Joe’s is the only hospital serving the predominately African-American neighborhoods between and north of Aurora Sinai Medical Center downtown and Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa.
Many residents are displeased that the hospital, located at 5000 W. Chambers St. in Sherman Park, has cut services in recent years, said Danell Cross, leader of the Metcalfe Park Community Bridges resident association. Ascension said about two-thirds of St. Joe’s is vacant and “available for partner organizations.”
News last spring that St. Joe’s planned to cut inpatient beds and surgical services raised fears that Ascension’s ultimate goal is to close the hospital.
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Here’s an explainer to catch you up on the controversy:
Danell Cross chairs Metcalfe Park Community Bridges. (Photo courtesy of Danell Cross)
In early April last year, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the planned cuts by Ascension, the largest nonprofit health system in the U.S., were “part of a long-term plan to lessen (St. Joe’s) financial losses and transform the Milwaukee hospital’s role in the largely low-income neighborhood.”
There was an immediate response from leaders, including Mayor Tom Barrett, Ald. Khalif Rainey, State Sen. Lena Taylor and others. They asked Ascension to “pause” the changes, which they said would negatively affect the health of a community already suffering significant disparities. Ascension agreed to delay the changes indefinitely.
Grassroots groups representing residents and healthcare workers joined forces as “Save St. Joe’s Coalition,” since renamed the “St. Joe’s Accountability Coalition,” to demand that Ascension seek the active participation of community members in decisions about the hospital’s future. The coalition also organized volunteers to go door-to-door in Sherman Park to alert residents about developments at St. Joe’s.
The coalition includes Black Leaders Organizing for Communities, African American Roundtable, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Sherman Park Community Association, Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, Wisconsin Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals and Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Organization.
In addition, statements by Ascension that St. Joe’s is losing money, together with reports about a pattern of reductions in service that have led to Ascension hospital closings in other cities, further alarmed some in the community.
In particular, Ascension’s Providence Hospital in the largely African-American Northeast section of Washington D.C., announced in 2017 that it would cut hospital services and “(transition) away from acute care toward outpatient services.” Despite strong pushback from residents and the city, which filed a lawsuit to stop the closure, Ascension prevailed and will close most of Providence Hospital’s services on April 30. Ascension said the move to shrink its offerings at Providence was “an effort to better align with community demand and better serve the population’s needs.”
Ascension executives have never said they intend to close St. Joseph, and they continue to say they do not plan to do so.
They point to recent added services at St. Joe’s, including Milwaukee Health Department nutrition and violence prevention programs Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and 414 Life, which will train emergency room staff to connect patients who have gunshot wounds to the violence interruption program. Other new programs offer help with opioid addiction, prenatal and parent education and food assistance for senior citizens.
“We recognize Ascension St. Joseph is an anchor in the Sherman Park community,” not only as a healthcare provider but as an employer and driver of economic development, said Reggie Newson, Ascension’s chief advocacy officer.
In addition to the current services being offered, Newson said, Ascension is considering what other services it can add or enlist partners to offer.
In the year following the announcement of cuts and subsequent pause, Ascension Wisconsin undertook a series of meetings with community leaders. The process included 161 interviews with individuals and community organizations, 27 stakeholder meetings, a Community Health Needs Assessment and seven community conversations, Newson said.
Ascension hears the community’s “clearly expressed need for traditional healthcare services along with more access to programs that address health and wellness differently,” Newson said.
He said Ascension will consider the information gathered from the community and ideas for improving health equity in the Ascension St. Joseph service area in the coming months.
Markasa Tucker, director of the African American Roundtable and a participant in the initial talks with Ascension, said communication with the healthcare organization has dropped off since January.
Ascension has not provided the coalition with a Power Point presentation, which she said was delivered too rapidly to absorb, and information Ascension collected from the community, as it promised it would, Tucker said.
Newson said Ascension is still gathering information and will make it available to the public when the process is complete. It also plans to reconvene the initial group of community members to report its findings, he said.
Its latest Community Health Needs Assessment, which is updated every three years, will be posted on Ascension’s website by June 30.
“The vast majority” of St. Joe’s patients are on Medicaid, uninsured or under-insured, Newson said.
Coalition leaders argue that Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital on the East Side, which serves a more affluent clientele and where Ascension initially said it would shift St. Joe’s surgery patients, also is losing money.
An Ascension Wisconsin spokeswoman confirmed the East Side hospital lost $3.9 million in 2018. St. Joe’s lost $31.6 million during the same year, she said.
Coalition representatives also note that Ascension receives tax benefits from its nonprofit status and pays its executives well. They suggest that if the company is losing money, it might reduce some of its highest-paid executives’ salaries.
In February 2017, Healthcare Finance reported, “The largest salary among the 20 largest hospital systems belonged to Ascension Health CEO Anthony Tersigni, who earned more than $17.5 million.”

author: Andrea Waxman


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5 things you need to know this week in Milwaukee: April 29-May 4 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Elyse McFeggan
April 29, 2019
Ex Fabula presents a special StorySlam on Thursday at Journey House, which will be the site for “Neighborhood,” an evening of true and personal stories told by community members. (Photo courtesy of Ex Fabula)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some events that can enrich your week. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put 5 things in the subject line by noon Fridays
Milwaukee Public Schools will host  at the Harley-Davidson University Building, 3800 W. Juneau Ave., from  The fair will allow students to explore IT, computer science and engineering careers. There will be opportunities to demonstrate FabLab equipment, talk about internships and share app designs. There also will be workshops, business booths and industry professionals to meet.
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The Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force  “The event, co-sponsored by MKE Turner Confronting Mass Incarceration Committee, takes place at IndependenceFirst, 540 S. 1st St. . For more information and a list of panel members, visit the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force’s website. Registration is required.
Journey House, 2110 W Scott St., will be the site for “Neighborhood,” . For this noncompetitive curated Slam, the storytellers are selected in advance, and each teller works with an Ex Fabula storytelling coach to prepare a story on the theme “Neighborhood.” Audience members can also participate in the storytelling by submitting UltraShorts, which are brief, true personal stories written on slips of paper and then read onstage by the MC.
The , 524 S. Layton Blvd., will have free admission for all Milwaukee County residents  In addition, the 800 W. Wells St., and  700 N. Art Museum Drive, will have  for visitors.
Coffee Makes You Black is hosting its  There will be a variety of books by local black authors for sale, live music and prizes. The pop-up will take place at Coffee Makes You Black, 2803 N. Teutonia Ave., For more information and to register for the free event, visit eventbrite.

author: Elyse McFeggan


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 28, 2019


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A quick guide to understanding marijuana laws | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Analise Pruni
April 29, 2019
Dry and trimmed cannabis buds stored in a glass jars.
MORE ON MARIJUANA: Is Wisconsin “behind the curve”  on marijuana laws?
Under federal law, marijuana has been classified as a “Schedule I” drug since 1970. It is illegal to use, possess, distribute, or sell Schedule I drugs such as heroin, LSD and ecstasy.
However, the federal government largely allows states and municipalities to have some authority to regulate marijuana at a local level. (Interestingly enough, cocaine is classified as a “Schedule II” drug with hypothetically lesser penalties for use as well as some accepted medical benefits. )
Marijuana is a widely used term to describe the plant Cannabis Sativa. The plant contains more than 100 different chemicals called cannabinoids. The most active of these are Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC and cannabidiol or CBD.
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THC is the psychoactive element that causes users to feel a “high” sensation. CBD does not contain the psychoactive element that THC does and is a legal and potentially lucrative market in Wisconsin. Hemp is a material drawn from the fibers of the cannabis plant and used to make rope, strong fabrics, paper and other goods. Hemp cultivation is also a legal industry in the state.
According to an AMA Journal of Ethics report, medical or medicinal marijuana can be recommended by a doctor to alleviate pain or symptoms of conditions that are “qualified” by state laws as acceptable cases for medicinal treatment.
Some of these qualified common uses are aimed at reducing nausea and vomiting because of chemotherapy; easing muscle spasms and aches from MS or cancer symptoms; reducing or controlling epilepsy or seizure symptoms, or counteracting sleeping and eating disorders. Marijuana and marijuana products can be smoked, ingested in an edible form, or applied topically.
Sources:
AMA Journal of Ethics
Wisconsin Policy Forum
National Institute on Drug Abuse

author: Analise Pruni


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Dry and trimmed cannabis buds stored in a glas jars. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 29, 2019


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Discovery World and USDA Forest Service partner to provide free community access on May 5 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Discovery World
April 29, 2019
Discovery World will open its doors to the community on Sunday, May 5, offering free admission all day in partnership with the Forest Service.
Visitors of all ages are invited to join Woodsy Owl on Milwaukee’s lakefront to enjoy interactive exhibits, pet stingrays in the Reiman Aquarium, create nature-themed projects with the Kohl’s Design It! Lab, and participate in fishing tutorials courtesy of the Future Angler Foundation.
The partnership with Forest Service allows Discovery World to further its mission to provide fun and educational experiences through interactive exhibits and educational programs for families and students in Milwaukee, the region, and the state of Wisconsin.
“Discovery World is thrilled to open our doors for full a day of community access alongside our partners from the USDA Forest Service,” said Discovery World’s Paul Fladten. “It’s truly amazing to watch the passion and excitement for STEM education be unlocked on days like these where you’ll witness thousands of children touching lightning, virtually exploring new worlds, and discovering science in a way previously thought unimaginable.”
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Access to Discovery World in partnership with the Forest Service generates excitement for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math for members of the community who need it most. This event is intended to provide a fun day of science in Milwaukee while igniting the spark for careers in the minds of children and young people, while playing a vital role in the workforce development pipeline.

author: Discovery World


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Is Wisconsin ‘behind the curve’ on marijuana laws? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Analise Pruni
April 29, 2019
Rodney Hudson received a felony conviction for marijuana possession. Such sentences concern community advocates who say criminal and municipal marijuana records can greatly affect people’s chances of gaining employment, finding a place to live or even going to school. (File photo by Edgar Mendez)
MORE ON MARIJUANA: Find out what you need to know to understand marijuana and how it’s regulated.
Editor’s note: This story has updated to correct the title of Alan Robinson.
Milwaukee Ald. Nik Kovac feels Wisconsin is “way behind the curve” when it comes to marijuana laws.
The state is one of 17  in which the possession, sale or cultivation of marijuana in any amount can result in criminal prosecution.
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“White people are doing as much marijuana as non-white people,” Kovac said. “They’re just not getting arrested for it.”
To remedy this, Kovac co-sponsored an ordinance in 2015 that would reduce municipal ticket charges for first-time possession offenses from $250 to $500 to $0-$50.
The ordinance passed the Common Council, 10-3 and it is now in effect.
Issues of disparities are the partial focus of Gov. Tony Evers’ 2019 budget proposal, which introduced plans to officially decriminalize small possessions of marijuana as well as to create a path to legalized medical marijuana for the state.
Wisconsin Policy Forum researcher Betsy Mueller said the current understanding of the law is fragmented, and a change at the state level could clarify the rules.
The Wisconsin Policy Forum has released two reports that compared Milwaukee’s marijuana policy to national standards and also the arrest trends in Milwaukee.
Researchers Joe Peterangelo (left), Public Policy Forum president Rob Henken and Jeff Schmidt found in 2016 that racial and socioeconomic disparities exist in the enforcement of marijuana laws in Milwaukee. (File photo by Edgar Mendez)
Senior researcher Joe Peterangelo, who worked on the report, said that enforcement was inconsistent and also deprioritized here.
Although marijuana-related arrests were decreasing, the report still cited clear racial disparities within those trends. One review of MPD arrest data showed that African-Americans and individuals who live in poorer areas of the city are more likely to be arrested for possessing marijuana.
African-Americans were the subject of 72 percent of the 3,903 arrests that occurred in the city from 2012 to 2015, when the possession of small amounts of marijuana was the only charge, the report noted. Blacks made up 39 percent of the city’s population at the time.
Opposition to a policy change remains strong, and many political observers do not believe these initiatives will make headway in the Republican-controlled legislature.
Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos released a statement after Evers’ budget proposal that said the plan “goes too far.”
“It makes it easier to get recreational marijuana and provides a pathway to full legalization, which I do not support,” Vos said. “I’m open to medical marijuana when it’s prescribed by a doctor, but it has to be done in a targeted way without allowing recreational use.”
Alan Robinson, executive director of NORML Wisconsin, said his cannabis lobbying group promotes “full recreational freedom of the plant.”
Robinson is a veteran who suffers from anxiety, depression and PTSD. He argues that the medicinal properties of the plant can help ease these symptoms.
Not only does he advocate for legalization, but he also thinks that Wisconsin lawmakers are ignoring their responsibilities by not regulating the substance to make sure that people use marijuana responsibly.
“It can’t kill you, but you can be uncomfortably high. It is my belief that cannabis belongs behind the counter, not on the corner,” Robinson said. By regulating marijuana, the potency and purity of the plant can be monitored and also help to deter sales to minors.
Kori Ashley, a staff attorney in Legal Action’s Road to Opportunity Project, said marijuana convictions pose barriers for those seeking to work with children and other vulnerable populations, and the convictions should be expunged.
Criminal and municipal marijuana records can greatly affect people’s chances of gaining employment, finding a place to live or even going to school, Ashley added.
One of the priorities for Shanyeill McCloud is providing expungement services. She’s the founder of Second Chance Staffing, which helps connect those in prison and ex-offenders with employment opportunities.
“It’s not just a Milwaukee thing, it’s not just a black thing, it’s everybody from all walks of life,” McCloud said.
Expungement applies to state charges, not municipal violations, and McCloud is working with Ald. Milele Coggs to introduce an ordinance that could help expunge these local tickets.
There’s also an age definition for expungement of state charges. People are eligible only if they were younger than 25 years old when they were charged and only if the offense happened in 2009 or later.
Kovac said such rules send conflicting messages. On the issue of arresting people for small marijuana possession, he said: “If we agree that it was wrong now to do it, wasn’t it wrong 10 years ago to do it?”
McCloud said she is working with state representatives and other policymakers to have the expungement age limit eliminated and also to apply retroactive expungement to those who were convicted before 2009.
“The only way that I’ll be OK with the legalization is if the people that were impacted are a part of that conversation as well,” she said, “because if you’re not talking about expunging those records and giving people that have been systematically disenfranchised and marginalized from economic opportunity, there’s no way I’m for it.”
“If black people aren’t a part of that conversation, I’m not a part of that conversation.”


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 29, 2019


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Jobs That Help, Milwaukee-based nonprofit jobs website, expands statewide | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jobs That Help
April 30, 2019
Jobs That Help, the specialized Milwaukee-based jobs listing website for nonprofit organizations and job seekers, is announcing its statewide expansion.
Jobs That Help was launched in February 2019 by a team of Milwaukee nonprofit professionals in order to provide nonprofit organizations and job seekers with a high-quality, specialized, and accessible jobs listing website.
Previously listing job openings on its website (www.JobsThatHelp.com) that were solely at nonprofits in the greater Milwaukee region, Jobs That Help will now list nonprofit job openings throughout the state.
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All services of Jobs That Help continue to be offered for free to the community.
The website currently draws thousands of visitors each week to its job listings, and is now the largest job board that is exclusively for nonprofit career opportunities in the state.
“Whether our job-seeking visitors are experienced professionals or enthusiastic newcomers, they come to Jobs That Help because they are mission-driven candidates who are looking specifically for the nonprofit job opportunities that we list,” says Ben Hastil, who founded and operates Jobs That Help.
Currently, the website (www.JobsThatHelp.com) features over 250 job openings in the state from more than 70 nonprofit organizations, with more job openings from nonprofit organizations being added every day.
For more information about Jobs That Help, visit www.JobsThatHelp.com, contact the Jobs That Help team at info@jobsthathelp.com, or connect with them on Facebook, on Twitter, or on LinkedIn.

author: Jobs That Help


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Jobs That Help logo.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
April 30, 2019

author: Name *


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Open House for i.c.stars |* Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
i.c. stars
April 30, 2019
Are you ready to become the next star in Business, Leadership, and Technology?
Join us for our Open House for i.c. stars|* Milwaukee!
THURSDAY May 23rd, 2019 from 1-4pm
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(Come anytime between these hours)
*4 month paid internship, 16 month residency
*Coding bootcamp
Are you able to figure out creative solutions to problems? Do you think outside the box? Is the next successful business venture locked in your brain?
Once you complete the program, our staff will work with you as you seek to begin your career in business or technology, coaching you along the way, and making connections where possible with our network of business leaders.
Requirements:
-High school diploma or GED required
-A needs-based program, geared toward people with partial or no college
-Six months of work experience needed
-NO Technology experience needed
-Availability 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday for 16 weeks
Ready to be the change you want to see?
Register for our Open House today!

author: i.c. stars


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
April 30, 2019


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‘They’re not appetizing’: MPS students head to Madison to lobby leaders about school lunches | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Analise Pruni
April 30, 2019
About 100 MPS students headed to Madison on Tuesday to lobby for better school lunches. (Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Public Schools)
A simmering debate about lunches in Milwaukee Public Schools is moving from Milwaukee to Madison.
“I haven’t eaten an MPS school lunch since two years ago,” said Leticia Alavez, a student representative for Leaders Igniting Transformation, or LIT, a group that seeks to transform communities by promoting leadership abilities of youth of color.  “They’re not appetizing.”
About 100 students were scheduled to go to Madison on Tuesday afternoon to lobby leaders at the Capitol on the issue and to push for more funding for MPS schools.
They also will be asking elected leaders for more funding for counselors in MPS and also to defund school police.
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LIT youth organizer Cendi Trujillo Tena voiced several concerns about MPS food.
“The quality, the amount, the lack of knowing what’s even in the food,” she said. “It also doesn’t respect the dietary needs and religious beliefs of many of the students at MPS.”
Concerns about portion sizes, healthier choices and high fructose corn syrup were debated at a December school board meeting. Students and others argued that MPS wasn’t living up to the nutrition expectations it had promised.
Leticia Alavez, student representative of Leaders Igniting Transformation, believes academic success and overall wellness begins with better school lunches. (Photo by Analise Pruni)
After the meeting, Alavez said that school board director Larry Miller reached out to her.
“He wanted our feedback and how lunches were,” she said. “He explained to us how everything works, where the money comes from for lunches, and he wanted to see where we could go next from there.”
At a school board meeting in March, Director Wendell Harris and other school board members asked Renee Dudley, who was representing MPS’ Department of Nutrition Services, what the issues were and what progress was being made.
“Just how far away are we from having a nutritional meal that’s in our schools?” Harris asked. “I know there’s been a lot of talk for a few years now.”
“Staff are working to identify product specifications that meet USDA guidelines, reduce processed sugar and are cost compliant and will be student acceptable,” Dudley said.
She added that the district has been expanding fresh fruit and breakfast options, but additions were on a school-to-school basis and not every school is receiving the same treatment.
Several students had expressed the concern that kindergartners are receiving the same portions as high schoolers. Although Dudley refuted that claim, she said that one barrier is USDA regulations.
She added that USDA calorie maximums limit portion sizes and that older students have “a la carte” options as well. “All of our menu items are meeting USDA regulation, so we consider them to be healthy, but we are trying to exceed that standard,” Dudley said.
Director Tony Baez, who had previously gotten into a social media debate with students and others over providing solutions to these issues, said student input was crucial.
“We need to do our best to listen to young people’s concerns about the quality of what we do and what we give them,” Baez said. “Not that we’re going to resolve all the issues and all the problems immediately but that we’re working toward that.”


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 30, 2019


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City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works to host 8th annual compost bin and rain barrel sale | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works
May 1, 2019
The City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works will host its 8 annual backyard compost bin and rain barrel sale this June with bagged organic compost and compost bin kits now available.
The details:
Earth Machine™ compost bins and SYSTERN rain barrels will be available for $50 and $69 respectively (including tax), a significant savings from regular retail prices of $100 and $120, respectively. Organic compost comes in 25-pound bags (approximately one cubic foot per bag) for $10 per bag ($8 for current organics pilot participants).
Are you a beginner composter? Visit milwaukee.gov/CompostBinSale for more information.
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Composting and rainwater harvesting go hand in hand. One inch of rainwater falling onto a 1,000 square-foot roof yields up to 600 gallons of water saved from our storm water sewer systems. Residents can use this harvested water for their lawns and gardens without turning on the tap, which conserves our natural resources and helps save money on their water bills. To learn more about rainwater harvesting, visit freshcoast740.com.
Visit MilwaukeeRecycles.com for more information or call (414) 286-CITY (2489).


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Connect with Alderman Stamper every First Friday | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Russell W. Stamper, II
May 1, 2019
Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II’s 15 District Office Hours every First Friday of the month offers residents a great way to connect with him without having to travel to City Hall or attend a meeting. The flyer below contains the full First Friday schedule for 2019.
“I look forward to meeting residents every first Friday in the district, and I encourage anyone with questions or issues to stop down and see me. We can discuss city services or problems on your block – whatever topic that’s important to you,” Alderman Stamper said.
“We often speak of politicians as being inaccessible. My colleagues and I are looking to change that. I am coming to you as I should. So meet me at First Friday at Coffee Makes You Black!” he said.
What: Community Office Hours in the District with Ald. Stamper
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When: Friday, May 3 – 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: Coffee Makes You Black – 2803 N. Teutonia Ave.

author: Ald. Russell W. Stamper, II


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 1, 2019


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Gathering Art, Stories and Place artist bookshelf unveiling and celebration at Mitchell Street Branch | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Library
May 1, 2019
Celebrate the unveiling of a new addition to the Mitchell Street Branch! Since January 2019, Artist-in-Residence Celeste Contreras has been hosting book-making workshops in the Northwestern Mutual Foundation Studio M Makerspace as a part of the Gathering Art, Stories and Place project.
To showcase the amazing books that have been created, Celeste designed an artist bookshelf that will be added to the makerspace. Join us for: • The unveiling of artist bookshelf • Free food • Art Projects with Artists Working in Education Inc. Truck Studio • Ex Fabula UltraShorts Storytelling Booth. For more information on Gathering Art, Stories and Place visit: mpl.org/gasp
Tuesday, May 7, 5:30-7:30 pm
Mitchell St. 906 W. Historic Mitchell St.
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author: Milwaukee Public Library