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Looking to save on food? Here’s a way to grow your own or buy affordable local produce | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
April 30, 2020
You don’t have to live on a farm or in a rural area to grow food.
The Milwaukee Extension Garden Rental Program allows residents to rent county-owned plots to grow fresh produce for as little as $25.
The program has been in existence for 48 years, although this year might be its most important, given rising unemployment and increased concerns of food insecurity because of the coronavirus.
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“Access to land for growing food can be a challenge for many residents in the county,” said Dennis Lukaszewski, coordinator of the Extension Urban Agriculture Program.
“For some, it is the only way they can afford to feed their family healthy food. We expect this need to increase as COVID-19 has put so many people out of work,” Lukaszewski said.
Lukaszewski said about 80 acres of land across Milwaukee County are managed through the program, and rental plots vary in size from 200 feet to 10,000 square feet.
The plots are located across the county, including in the Havenwoods neighborhood, in Timmerman Garden near N. 93rd Street and W. Appleton Avenue, and in West Allis, among other areas.
The Extension also works with local organizations to coordinate projects such as the Gerald L. Ignace Native Wellness Garden, the Lincoln Village Planter Project and Our Common Home Community Garden.
Vegetables that are ready to plant in April and May include tomatoes, carrots, onions, leaf lettuce and spinach.
“Gardening can be inexpensive and easy. You just need a container, a mound of soil and some patience,” Lukaszewski said. To learn more about the program, locations of plots or to rent a plot, email the Extension program here.
For those looking for low-priced local produce and who also want to support local businesses, “Drive Thru at the Farm” is preparing for its fifth weekend.
Run out of the site of The Farm Collaborative, 5500 W. Silver Spring Drive, the Drive Thru team has been selling produce boxes to residents who preorder through the online pay site Venmo on Fridays. Those who visit the site Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. can pay with cash or use credit/debit cards.
Rachel Fell, a spokeswoman for the Drive Thru team, said that Thomas Schmidt, owner of the Farm Collective, came up with the idea to sell the produce boxes as a way to support food suppliers and provide residents with affordable and healthy food.
“The suppliers are able to keep moving produce and food from farmers, and consumers get a new access point to affordable, perishable food that otherwise has nowhere else to go because it would normally go to businesses that sell or provide food that aren’t currently operational,” Fell said, adding that the main supplier has been Sysco East Wisconsin.
The $20 produce boxes contain 35 or more pieces of produce, including such items as oranges, carrots, celery, onions and six pounds of prepared mashed potatoes. The $30 box contains all of those items plus either ham steaks or pork chops, and bacon. There is also an option that substitutes pork products with roast beef. In addition, the pricier option also includes butter, string cheese and yogurt.
Fell said the Drive Thru offers customers a safe alternative to in-person shopping.
“Lots of folks who are elderly, have underlying conditions or are immunocompromised are nervous about shopping for food right now, and rightfully so,” Fell said. A drive-through model allows them minimal contact and exposure to collective or more crowded spaces like grocery stores, which is extra important for them at this time.”

author: Edgar Mendez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 29, 2020

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Adam Carr


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Post from Community: Property assessments can be appealed – important information for residential and commercial property owners | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Common Council
April 30, 2020
(Photo by Adam Carr)
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
With the recent mailing of new assessment notices to Milwaukee property owners, we have received numerous inquiries about increases in the assessed value of properties across the city. We are also concerned, and the City Assessor is expected to appear in a matter of days before a Council committee to explain the process and answer questions from Council members.
In the meantime, it is important for property owners who believe their new assessment is off base to be aware of the assessment appeals process. Property owners can contact the Assessor’s Office to file an objection and have until May 18th to do so.
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Step 1: Contact the Assessor’s Office:
Web: Ask the Assessor
Email: assessor@milwaukee.gov
Phone: (414) 286-6565
Monday – Friday 8:00AM – 4:45PM
This number is only available April 27-May 18, 2020
Step 2: Fill out an appeals form. All appeals forms must be filled out in full. Please include a telephone number and/or email address on fully completed form.
The statutory deadline to return appeals form(s) is 4:45 pm, Monday May 18, 2020.
Appeals forms can be returned by:
Milwaukee City Hall, 5th Floor 200 E. Wells St., Room 507
NOTE: Evidence must be included with your appeal, and that can include a copy of a recent appraisal for your property and/or a recent market analysis completed by a real estate agent. For commercial properties, appeals should include an income and expense statement for the property. Interior and exterior photos are also examples of evidence.

author: City of Milwaukee Common Council


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 30, 2020


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5 things to do and know the weekend of May 1: The COVID-19 edition | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
May 1, 2020
Those looking to grow their own vegetables can purchase a plot through the Victory Garden Initiative. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Health centers expand testing for COVID-19
Several health centers in Milwaukee have expanded their COVID-19 diagnostic testing. Testing is by appointment only. There are no insurance, income or immigration restrictions. If someone is experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of smell and taste, body aches and more, they can call the Milwaukee Health Center closest to them or dial 2-1-1. The health centers include Milwaukee Health Services, Outreach Community Health Services, Progressive Community Health Services, Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center and Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers.
2. Webinar with Walnut Way’s Antonio Butts: Friday, May 1
Antonio Butts, the executive director of Walnut Way is hosting a webinar at the Bridging the Virtual Gap at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 1. The webinar, titled Connecting Climate Optimists in Times of Crisis, will cover topics such as Walnut Way’s history, green infrastructure and renewable energy, social enterprise and community leadership solutions to environmental issues and more. The presentation is free and those interested can register here.
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3. Sojourner offers resources to victims of domestic violence
Sojourner Family Peace Center, which provides domestic violence prevention and intervention services in Wisconsin, is offering tips and resources to those living with domestic violence. The organization has created several bulletins available in English, Spanish and Russian. The bulletins cover warning signs, safety tips and numbers to call for assistance. For additional help visit the Sojourner website. In case you missed it: Places in Milwaukee where you can find help for domestic violence
4. Available plots at the Victory Garden Initiative
The Victory Garden Initiative has four plots available for purchase for the season at its Community Garden, 220 E. Concordia Ave. Plots are $10 for Harambee residents and $30 for residents outside the community. To learn about additional ways to grow your own food, read Edgar Mendez’s latest article.
5. Confectionately Yours in need of donations for its cookie drive
Every week, Confectionately Yours, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., has a cookie drive for essential workers. It relies on donations to make 500-600 cookies a week. Those interested can send donations via the mail to the Sherman Phoenix, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., Suite 112, Milwaukee, WI 53216 or via Cash App to $cy3g or via Zell or Apple Pay to (414) 617-7575.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed on coronavirus by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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5 things to know the week of May 4 in Milwaukee: The COVID-19 edition | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
May 4, 2020
Walnut Way is accepting applications for its Growing Youth Leadership internship program until May 26. (Photo provided by Walnut Way)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Don’t forget about the census
Back in March, the U.S. Census Bureau mailed invitations to households throughout the country to participate in the census. Over 50% of households have responded, with Wisconsin being among the top five states for responses. The bureau is sending a postcard reminder to households to respond online or via the mail. Those who do not respond will be visited by an in-person census taker in the summer. Learn more about the census and why it should matter to you.
2. Zócalo food park is open for business
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Zócalo food park, 636 S. 6th St., is open for business. While the picnic area remains closed, customers can enjoy food from some of their favorite food trucks, including Anytime Arepa, Mazorca, Foxfire Food Truck and several more. Zócalo’s current hours of operations are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday through Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Orders must be placed ahead of time. For additional information, visit the park’s Facebook page. Speaking of good food, don’t forget our list of restaurants offering curbside service and delivery.
3. This is Milwaukee Talking: an online conversation: Monday, May 4
This is Milwaukee Project is hosting an online conversation featuring Joey Zocher, Pardeep Kaleka and Cree Myles (facilitated by NNS’s Adam Carr) from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, May 4. Space is limited and viewers can reserve their spot using the “Find tickets” tab on the event’s official page. The conversation will touch on the health crisis, the heroic work being done in our communities and what it means to be a Milwaukeean.
4. Walnut Way accepting applications for youth internship program
Walnut Way is accepting applications for Growing Youth Leadership, a summer teen internship program that engages Lindsay Heights teens in intensive urban agriculture education, leadership development and job training. Teens grow  chemical-free vegetables and fruits in production gardens on Walnut Way’s environmental campus and sell their harvest at local farmers markets. They also participate in weekly learning labs and community service projects. Applications will be accepted until May 26. For more information, click here.  For other job opportunities, read Damia Causey’s latest Causey’s Career Corner.
5. Voces de la Frontera’s new office space
Voces de la Frontera is planning to purchase a new building that doubles as a sanctuary space and an office. The new building will allow for classroom and meeting spaces as well as a kitchen, storage space and a place for groups such as Youth Empowered in the Struggle. To learn more about the new building, click here. To donate, individuals can go online or send a check with “Building Fund” in the memo line to 1027 S. 5th St., Milwaukee, WI 53204.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 3, 2020


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NNS on ‘Lake Effect’: 5 things to do away from a screen this May in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
May 4, 2020
(Photo by Adam Carr)
NNS’s Adam Carr spoke with WUWM and Joy Powers of “Lake Effect” for our monthly “5 Things” feature, focusing things you can do away from screens while remaining “Safer at Home.”
This month’s list includes the Jump for Joy Facebook group, the #MaskUpMKE Challenge, our Social Distancing Block Bingo card, multiple ways to grow and get fresh food and delicious ways to support local restaurants.

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 4, 2020
“0504c”. Released: 2020.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 4, 2020


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Post from Community: Greater Milwaukee Foundation secures $1 million grant from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for collective impact response to COVID-19 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
May 4, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation has received a $1 million grant to its MKE Responds Fund from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as part of the national philanthropy’s $50 million effort to provide humanitarian aid to help some of the families and communities feeling the greatest strain under the COVID-19 health emergency.
“We are honored to be chosen by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for this award and very encouraged to be attracting this significant investment to our community,” said Ellen Gilligan, president and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. “This grant is an acknowledgement of the Foundation placing racial equity at the forefront of our work and a reflection of the collective approach our region and partners have embraced to address the pandemic and ensure that our efforts focus on identifying and addressing the systemic inequities that have resulted in the tragically disparate impact of this crisis on communities of color.”
GMF organized and is helping lead a cross-sector coalition to strategically, equitably and rapidly respond to the COVID-19 outbreak in our region. This MKE Civic Response Team is developing new systems to identify greatest needs, align resources and coordinate relief efforts around the critical and intersecting priorities of food, housing/shelter, physical health, mental health, early childhood education and K-12 schools to ensure greater Milwaukee’s economic recovery and overall well-being now and in the future.
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The MKE Civic Response Team is focusing specific attention on the disproportionate impact the pandemic is having on communities of color in and around Milwaukee. The already present health and economic inequities that especially disadvantage black and Latinx residents predispose these communities to severe illness from COVID-19, which has led to an elevated death rate. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s commitment will mean more resources can be dedicated to reducing those negative outcomes.
Joining the Foundation in providing key leadership for the MKE Civic Response Team are United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, Zilber Family Foundation, City of Milwaukee, Medical College of Wisconsin, Bader Philanthropies, Teach for America, Milwaukee Public Schools and Milwaukee Succeeds.
Among the resources GMF brings to the coalition is the MKE Responds Fund, which supports Milwaukee-area organizations providing relief and recovery efforts for communities disproportionately impacted by the health and economic consequences of the coronavirus. Including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant, the Fund has now received more than $3.2 million in gifts and commitments. To-date, the Fund has made more than $850,000 in grants to community organizations.
In addition to the MKE Responds Fund, Foundation donors have recommended nearly $900,000 in grants directly to COVID-19-related causes. The Foundation has awarded more than $1.8 million in Board-directed grants directly to COVID-19-related causes in addition to the MKE Responds Fund. Taken together, the Foundation’s total commitment to COVID-19 relief in our region through donor, Board and external gifts through GMF is over $5.5 million and is continuing to grow.
Learn more about the Foundation’s response to COVID-19 and our community’s collective effort on the Responding Together pages of our website.
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
For more than 45 years the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has worked to improve health and health care. We are working alongside others to build a national Culture of Health that provides everyone in America a fair and just opportunity for health and well-being. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter at www.rwjf.org/twitter or on Facebook at www.rwjf.org/facebook.
About the Greater Milwaukee Foundation
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation is Wisconsin’s largest community foundation and was among the first established in the world. For more than a century, the Foundation has inspired philanthropy by connecting generous people to community needs that align with their interests. The Foundation was founded on the premise that generosity can unlock an individual’s potential and strengthen the community as a whole for everyone who lives here. We work in partnership with those who are committed to ensuring greater Milwaukee is a vibrant, economically thriving region that comprises welcoming and inclusive communities providing opportunity, prosperity and a high quality of life for all.
greatermilwaukeefoundation.org  | @GrMKEFdn  |  facebook.com/GreaterMilwaukeeFoundation

author: Greater Milwaukee Foundation


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GMF-2016-Logo.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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May 4, 2020

author: Name *


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Post from Community: Matilda Ward Youth Empowerment Association receives small grant to fund summer meal program at Butterfly Park | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Arthur Ward
May 4, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
The Matilda Ward Youth Empowerment Association Board of Directors are proud to announce the organization has received $750 in funding through the Community Connections Small Grants Program. The funds are provided by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Zilber Family Foundation, and Northwestern Mutual Foundation and will be used to support the “Supper in the Park” project at Butterfly Park, 3717 W. Meinecke, Milwaukee, WI 53210, on Friday, July 17, from 3:00-6:00pm.
Arthur Ward, executive director of non-profit Matilda Ward Youth Empowerment Association, with board members and volunteers, has been providing free meals in Butterfly Park to residents of Metcalfe Park Neighborhood for more than 10 years.
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author: Arthur Ward


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ArthurWard-1.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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April 28, 2020


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Post from Community: Seeds of Health Charter Schools design new admin office with a focus on social distancing and safety | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Olivia Algiers
May 4, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Looking ahead to next fall when school is back in session, parents of Seeds of Health (SOH) students can rest assured the staff is ready to provide a safe, healthy, and progressive learning environment for their children. That’s because Seeds of Health is ahead of the curve in terms of creating safe, healthy, and innovative environments for students and staff alike.
In the meantime, when the administrative office staff returns to work late this spring, they’ll find themselves in newly remodeled office space that was fortuitously designed with social distancing in mind. The new central office at 600 E. Wells St. allows SOH to quickly address the “new normal” in office practices brought on by COVID-19.
Executive Director Marcia Spector made the decision to move administrative personnel to one location in order to free up space at Tenor High School on Jackson St. for expansion and control the number of visitors each day. The move is especially significant in this new climate calling for a reduction in foot traffic and unnecessary interactions in our professional environments and schools.
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The move helps SOH admin staff work safely and effectively on many levels. Careful attention was given to design and layout of the space to allow for social distancing, technology implementation, and effective work practices.
To begin, staff and visitors will enter through one entrance, featuring a large foyer and a waiting space that allows for proper distancing. Meetings will take place in the large conference room with room for ample spacing between its occupants. The room includes a large screen, and Zoom technology, making it unnecessary for the admin team to have teachers, students, or visitors physically present for meetings. This supports efforts to make social distancing a priority and helps all involved work more efficiently by eliminating the need to travel between SOH schools and its central office.
The floorplan of the office was designed so that each person would have their own office, far enough apart from the rest of their team to effectively social distance on a daily basis, yet close enough to maintain an office atmosphere.  State of the art technology allows the key personnel to function individually without having to work closely together.  This includes multiple printer and copy stations throughout the space to discourage grouping at one station.
Hand sanitizer stations are not new to SOH, as measures like this have been implemented in the past, but the new office space features an increased number of stations, safely spaced apart.  Signs and posters throughout the space (and schools) offer messages reinforcing the need to wash hands often. In addition, all finishes throughout the space from the new blinds to the carpet tiles that can easily be cleaned or replaced have been updated with materials that are easy to keep sanitized and disinfected. A remote security system allows staff to access security from their desks, a measure that adds to the overall safety and security of the office occupants in general and cuts down on the need to leave one’s office.
Refreshment stations are dispersed throughout, allowing staff to distance themselves. While SOH had previously abandoned disposable coffee cups and utensils in favor of sustainability, coffee will now be served in disposable cups to mitigate the transfer of disease. In addition, updated cleaning protocols will be implemented in the new office and all SOH schools to address the new hypervigilant climate focused on reducing the risk of virus transmission.
The SOH new central office certainly comes in a timely response to the new requirements of functioning in a new system. But in reality, the space is just another example of the risk management protocol awareness that SOH has consistently implemented to keep staff and students healthy throughout the flu season and all year long.
Moving forward, SOH will continue to work hard to be sure protocols are in place so that students, teachers, and staff remain as safe and healthy as possible.
Social distancing is here to stay, and Seeds of Health is ready to safely lead its staff, families, and students into this new frontier.
About Seeds of Health, Inc.
Founded in 1983, Seeds of Health, Inc. is the only K-12 charter school agency in the state of Wisconsin serving approximately 1,300 students in four high schools and a K-8 elementary program. The five individual and unique education programs serve a broad range of student needs – from at-risk to the college bound. Seeds of Health is Milwaukee’s innovative “home grown” answer to imaginative, collaborative and cutting-edge education options, with the vision to positively impact the growth and development of urban children. For more information, please visit www.seedsofhealth.org.

author: Olivia Algiers


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SOH-Logo.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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April 28, 2020


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Post from Community: Young Enterprising Society (YES) prepares for the 5th cohort of The Blueprint | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Khalif El-Amin
May 4, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Young Enterprising Society (YES), a Milwaukee-based entrepreneurial organization, today announced the next round of its Blueprint accelerator program will run from May 11, through July 28, 2020. The Blueprint provides $100,000 in seed capital, entrepreneurial and technology training for promising, urban Milwaukee startups.
YES launched the Blueprint program in 2018 with support from the City of Milwaukee, Northwestern Mutual, Milwaukee Institute and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to develop a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in the areas of technology, eCommerce and advanced manufacturing.
“In order for Milwaukee residents to contribute fully to the economy, their skills in technology and innovation need to be cultivated,” said Khalif El-Amin, Co-founder of YES. “The Blueprint develops these skills while increasing tax base through employment, a self-sustaining Central City, and a more diverse population of professionals.”
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The Blueprint has graduated four cohorts of 34 total entrepreneurs to date, including two in the latest cohort, Safety4Her founded by Melissa Gaglione and Ready, Set, Staff founded by Selwyn Jarvis, whose companies were offered angel investment from Alchemy Angel Investors, headed by Dana Guthrie.
“The experience and connections that I’ve gained from the Blueprint have been invaluable,” said Jarvis. “I can’t stress enough the importance of this program for any entrepreneur who’s serious about their business and wants to set a trajectory for success.”
Cohort four ended in a Demo Day on January 16, 2020 after a 12 week Market Validation training based on the Kauffman Foundation’s Founder Series preparing the businesses for revenue growth and gaining seed investment. The six companies that completed the 12 week
Cultivator program included:
Safety4HerCohort four was led by Sanmitra Iwanski and each participating company was provided a dedicated mentor. Additional support for specific facets of business was provided by Godfrey and Kahn, Band of Coders, Husch Blackwell and Duquaine, Melka, Koplin CPAs & Business Advisors.
For more information about the Blueprint including important dates and application instructions please visit FollowTheYES.com/the-blueprint.
About Young Enterprising Society
The mission of YES is to be an international epicenter for financially, politically and socially progressive individuals. Serving as a hub, YES mobilizes people, information, resources and capital for the greater good of its members and society at large.
YES has three primary initiatives, Project Management, Community Orchards, and a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) program. Its STEAM program has educated thousands of students, exposing them to the latest trends and processes in technology and entrepreneurship. Since 2012, YES projects have helped hundreds of businesses grow and develop while equipping them with the necessary tools and resources to be successful.

author: Khalif El-Amin


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Resources for homeowners who need to make crucial repairs during the coronavirus | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
May 5, 2020
Many nonprofit agencies are offering help for critical housing repairs during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo provided by Revitalize Milwaukee)
As COVID-19 keeps folks confined to their households, homeowners may be staring some much-needed repairs right in the face.
To help, many nonprofit agencies and city programs continue to offer services for critical housing repair. Here is a list of resources.
Revitalize Milwaukee
Revitalize Milwaukee provides free emergency home repairs in Milwaukee, and it is still open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Services offered include restoring hot water, plumbing repairs, installing safety precautions such as handrails, secure storm doors and more.
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For more information on emergency repairs, see here.
Homeowners can apply here. For more information, call (414) 312-7531.
The City of Milwaukee’s Neighborhood Improvement Project
The Neighborhood Improvement Project assists eligible owner-occupants in repairing their homes. Repairs are based upon health and safety concerns and municipal building code violations.
To comply with social distancing regulations, inspectors are currently not going into the home unless it is an emergency situation. However, homeowners can still begin the application process by checking the website to see if they are eligible for this grant program.
Repairs include general maintenance of windows and gutters, painting the exterior of the home, masonry and checks for lead paint hazards. No interior work will be done unless it is an emergency situation.
Call (414) 286-2163 for more information or to be referred to an agency in your area.
Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation
Affiliated with the City of Milwaukee’s Department of City Development, the corporation works with community-based agencies, local foundations and residents to improve neighborhoods.
The Targeted Investment Neighborhood initiative focuses on six to 12 blocks of specific areas of the city for three years. See which neighborhoods have been mapped as Target Investment Neighborhoods here.
Homeowners living in those mapped neighborhoods may qualify for home rehabilitation from the TIN Loan Program, which gives partially forgivable loans for home improvements. Homeowners can apply here.
Great Midwest Bank Home Improvement Loan
If you own a home in the Silver City, Burnham Park or Layton Park neighborhoods, you may qualify for the Great Midwest Bank Home Improvement Loan. This program provides loans for interior and exterior home improvements.
For more information contact Cinthia Hernandez, the Layton Boulevard West Neighbors Housing Outreach Manager, at cinthia@lbwn.org.
Compliance Loan Program
The Compliance Loan Program assists homeowners in fixing code violations on their property by providing 0% interest, deferred payment loans.
Call (414) 286-2567 or check the website for more information.
Lead Paint Hazard Reduction Program
The Lead Paint Hazard Reduction Program is run through the Home Environmental Health Division of the City of Milwaukee Health Department as one of four programs aiming to keep households safe for families. To learn more about the program, call (414) 286-3521.
Bonus: Milwaukee County Energy Assistance Program
The Milwaukee County Energy Assistance Program continues to help connect people with energy assistance benefits over the phone. This one-time annual payment helps qualified residents make heating and electric bills more affordable.
The Milwaukee County Energy Assistance Program’s May 15 season end date has been extended to September 30.
In response to COVID-19, new income guidelines for Energy Assistance benefits have been approved, which ask for only one month of income rather than the three months of income that was previously required. The one month of income counted for eligibility does not count unemployment compensation or stimulus payments as income.
Call (414) 270-4653 or go to KeepWarmMKE.org for more information.
Did we miss a group offering critical housing repairs for homeowners? Post it in the comments below or send us an email at info@milwaukeenns.org with the subject line “Homeowner Repairs.”

author: Bridget Fogarty


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Checking in: ‘We didn’t get the high school experience they had’: Seniors tell us about their memorable school year | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
May 6, 2020
As high schools in Milwaukee close for in-person instruction for the rest of the school year, typical milestones such as graduation, prom and saying final goodbyes are in limbo.
We checked in with three high school seniors in a group interview to see how they are coping with the challenges brought on by the coronavirus. Tiangelique Dunigan, Jonathan Rogers and Charmeka Wells are all members of Urban Underground, a youth leadership development organization.
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Tiangelique Dunigan is a graduating senior at Milwaukee High School of the Arts. (Photo provided by Urban Underground)
, Milwaukee High School of the Arts:
“I had everything planned out. I am in a program called M, which I took college credits with. I was going to graduate with 19 credits, graduate with honors and have a big graduation party. Basically live the senior dream.”
, Nova High School:
“I was looking forward to it. I never had a graduation, so this was going to be big for me. Now I never will, it is what it is.”
, MC High School:
“I was looking forward to a lot this year and had all these plans. I had my prom dress; I had just taken my senior pictures and was looking forward to graduation. Recently my school sent a letter saying we might have a graduation virtually, which makes me feel sad because it’s not the same energy as an actual graduation. I just see people on a screen.”
: “Yes I feel the same way. I go to a performing arts school, so graduation was going to be this big shebang, basically something out of “High School Musical.” The choir students were going to perform, the creative writing majors were going to write these beautiful speeches, possibly a dance performance, and there were going to be over 200 of us graduating.”
“So being together all four years and then completing something in-person together would’ve been a great experience. Virtually, I don’t really see the point. Some people might want it because at least it’s something, but I don’t really see the point.”
: “Yeah I agree with what everyone else said.”
Charmeka Wells is a graduating senior at MC High School. (Photo provided by Urban Underground)
: “I feel like it’s not for adults in my family but more for adults that run our school. I say that because they’re just telling us ‘you graduated, here’s your ticket, see you later.’ For parents, they want to see their kids walk across the stage, and you can’t do that. It’s just not the same energy.”
: “I see what Charmeka is saying but I do think it is partly for us. Maybe they feel bad that thousands of students didn’t get to see each other one last time? So I think giving us a virtual graduation gives us that chance.”
: “Yeah I think it is for us, but, you know, they may also feel bad. Because we didn’t get the high school experience that they had.”
: “Usually when we have a graduation or big family achievement, we have a big family party with everyone. Now we’re just having a household party. Which is sad because I wanted to see my friends and people I haven’t seen in a really long time. Yes, celebrating with people in my house is special, but I also just wanted to celebrate with everybody. It’s not as happy as I wanted it to be.”
: “My family hasn’t really done much in keeping traditions. We’re kind of on the other side of the spectrum where we’ve accepted it just isn’t happening.”
Jonathan Rogers is a graduating senior at Nova High School. (Photo provided by Urban Underground)
: “My plan is to go into the Army and then go to school. I feel like it’s going to go well after this. I’m home all day and can work out and get my cardio ready for the Army. So it’s good for me, even though for everybody overall it’s not a good thing.”
: “My plan was to attend UWM for atmospheric science. It’s kind of up in the air for me because the place I want to go is already taking precautions and people are saying the second wave is going to be worse. So I’m getting ready for a repeat of what just happened, even though I don’t want to go to college only for everything to get cancelled again. I just don’t want to get my hopes up too high only for everything to get devastated again.”
: “My plan after graduation is to attend Washington University in St. Louis. So far my plan hasn’t changed.”
: “I’m happy I don’t have to go to school anymore, but I’m also going to miss it. Basically it’s the last few months of high school and I was looking forward to them.”
: “When Governor Evers extended the ‘Safer at Home’ order, I had a mental breakdown: I was crying, I was angry, I was throwing things. I was just really upset because I thought that everything was getting better, and I was like ‘I don’t want to stay in the house any longer, I was to go outside.’ But I also take this as a message from God that there was something wrong with our world and that this is our chance to fix it, or a time to be thankful for what we do have.”

author: Sam Woods


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 5, 2020


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Adam Carr
May 5, 2020


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Post from Community: Sojourner Family Peace Center awarded $10,000 donation | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jackie Rodriguez
May 6, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance announce a $10,000 donation to Sojourner Family Peace Center– nominated by Nicholas Starr of The Starr Group – as part of an Emergency Community Support Grant to help independent insurance agents give back to their local community during the COVID-19 crisis. The donation will go directly to Sojourner Family Peace Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the safety of victims of family violence and providing a pathway out of violence for victims and abusers through opportunities to make positive and lasting changes for themselves and their children.
“My team and I have recognized the hard work and dedication performed by Sojourner Family Peace Center during this pandemic and we are incredibly thankful for Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance for providing extra funds to help the community when we need it most,” said Starr with The Starr Group. “Sojourner Family Peace Center has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and the $10,000 donation will help them continue to make a difference to the community they serve.”
The $10,000 donation will assist Sojourner Family Peace Center in addressing the needs of domestic violence survivors and their families that will increase with the continuing pandemic. Sojourner will continue to provide emergency crisis services such as safety planning, emergency shelter, advocacy and support services with an increased attention to cleaning and sanitization to safeguard clients and staff from COVID-19.
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“The goal of the Emergency Community Support Grants is to help our independent agents make an immediate impact during this critical time in the local communities where they live and work,” said Alexis Holzer, Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance Independent Agent Giving Program Manager.
The Milwaukee community can get involved and give back to Sojourner Family Peace Center by spreading the word that Sojourner is open and available to assist with the critical needs of domestic violence survivors and their families. Their hotline is open 24 hours a day at (414) 933-2722 and for more information, visit https://familypeacecenter.org/.
“Domestic violence survivors need us now more than ever,” said Carmen Pitre, President and CEO of Sojourner Family Peace Center. “The stress and uncertainty of living amid COVID-19 makes it extraordinary difficult for survivors to seek safety and support and has had a devastating economic impact on agencies such as ours. This generous donation will help is remain operational and available to people living in violence. We are grateful for The Starr Group, Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance’s commitment to our community.”
Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance have a rich history in supporting local and national causes on the corporate level with the Liberty Mutual Foundation, Safeco Foundation, the employee involvement program Liberty Torchbearers, as well as through its Independent Agent Giving programs. In addition to $1 million for the emergency community support grants, Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance already committed to invest $375,000 into local nonprofits in 2020 through the Independent Agent Giving programs, Make More Happen and Change Agents.
For more information, visit www.agentgiving.com.
About Liberty Mutual Insurance
Liberty Mutual’s purpose is to help people embrace today and confidently pursue tomorrow. The promise we make to our customers throughout the world is to provide protection for the unexpected, delivered with care.
In business since 1912, and headquartered in Boston, Mass., today we are the fifth largest global property and casualty insurer based on 2018 gross written premium. We also rank 75 on the fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2018 revenue. We employ nearly 50,000 people in 30 countries and economies around the world. We offer a wide range of small commercial insurance products and services through our independent agent partners, including business owners policy, comprehensive business package, inland marine, workers compensation and more.
About Safeco Insurance
In business since 1923, Safeco Insurance sells personal automobile, homeowners and specialty products through a network of more than 10,000 independent insurance agencies throughout the United States. Safeco is a Liberty Mutual Insurance company.
You can learn more about us by visiting www.Libertymutualinsurance.com and www.Safeco.com

author: Jackie Rodriguez


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Post from Community: Nonprofit Acts Housing sees increased interest in homeownership during COVID-19 crisis | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
ACTS Housing
May 7, 2020
(Photo by Adam Carr)
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Acts Housing, a nonprofit which makes home ownership possible for families with income, credit, language, and other barriers, has seen a dramatic increase in homeownership interest during the COVID-19 crisis. With the launch of online orientations, virtual one on one counseling and homebuyer education, Acts has attracted a record number of participants.
“While our response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been evolving in real time, we have found safe and innovative ways to continue serving families that traditionally have been locked out of the homeownership market,” said Acts Housing President & CEO Michael Gosman.  “During this time of great stress and uncertainty we have seen some amazing bright spots. Families are still closing and moving into homes. More than two dozen rehabs continue. And, we’re reaching a broader number of renters looking to transition to homeowners.”
In April, 272 individuals participated in Acts’ newly launched online English and Spanish orientation sessions compared to the monthly average of 80 who participated in 2019. The number of individuals who participated in one on one counseling sessions increased to 183. And, the nonprofit also saw more than a doubling of participants in its new online home buyer education program that launched in January.
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Gosman believes the increased interest is primarily due to renters confined in close quarters during the Safer-at-Home Order that want to create a brighter and more spacious future. “It’s caused people to look inward, to think about their own families, their own homes, and the importance home has and to build that for a better future.”
The only nonprofit of its kind in the US, Acts provides one-stop-shop support to prospective homeowners including financial and homebuyer counseling, real estate brokerage, rehab counseling, loans and grants, and post-closing services. In 2019, the nonprofit helped 183 families become homeowners. Since its inception in 1995, Acts families have purchased over 2,600 homes and reclaimed nearly 900 foreclosed properties.
Acts is also working closely with alumni families who have experienced a disruption in income to help them maintain their homes through the present crisis.  Historically, only 6 percent of Acts alumni have experienced a foreclosure (a 94 percent success rate). The low-to-moderate income families Acts serves frequently save hundreds of dollars per month as compared to renting. This partially explains the historical success as well as why only 1 out of 100 Acts Lending borrowers was delinquent on their March mortgage payment.
“We do not want even one of our alumni to lose a home because of this pandemic. We are here to assist our Acts alumni families to help them navigate this challenging period,” Gosman said. “As an organization, we will come out of this better and stronger as we permanently adopt technology and processes that have gotten us through the past month. We are solidly positioned to provide increasing quality and quantity of support to renters who dream of becoming homeowners in Milwaukee and Beloit.
Acts Housing has not had to lay off or furlough any employees and continues to hire and build their team.

author: ACTS Housing


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 7, 2020


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5 things to do and know the weekend of May 8: COVID-19 edition | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
May 8, 2020
Leaders Igniting Transformation is hosting a weekly webinar on Instagram Live. (Photo by Adam Carr)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 .
The Milwaukee Public Library is offering contactless pickup. Patrons can call the library at (414) 286-3011 and request up to five items from the Milwaukee Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave. They will then be given a pickup time. Materials can be picked up at the drive-up window on Eighth Street between Wisconsin and Wells avenues. The library’s hours of operations are noon to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
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The City of Milwaukee Health Department recently launched a new website. The website was designed to be more user friendly. The new layout makes it easier for users to find the information they need with an option to receive email or text updates. Click here to view the new website.
Recent high school graduates (2018-2020) can enter Ald. Milele Coggs’ 12th annual Freedom Essay Scholarship contest. College-bound students who graduated from Milwaukee high schools can enter to win a $500 scholarship. Students are challenged to analyze the concept of “freedom” in 1,000 words or less. Additional information on the prompt can be found here. The application deadline closes on Friday, Aug. 14.
Leaders Igniting Transformation is hosting episode six of its weekly webinar, “Staying Lit,” at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 8. This week, Hilary Vang, a LIT College Fellow at UW-Stout, will be talking with Catera Hubbert, a college student and owner of Catera Imani Fitness, about the college hustle. The conversation will take place on Instagram Live.
5. Young Enterprising Society announces next Blueprint Bootcamp
Young Enterprising Society, a local entrepreneurial organization, is bringing back its Blueprint Bootcamp program for its fifth cohort. The program gives entrepreneurs a chance to receive $100,000 in seed capital and entrepreneurial and technology training. Program space is limited and those interested can apply here. Read how the Blueprint Bootcamp inspires black and Latinx entrepreneurs.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed on coronavirus by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.


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Post from Community: No Menthol Sunday efforts kick off in Wisconsin | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network
May 8, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
No Menthol Sunday, a national day of observance led by the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network (NAATPN) and supported locally by the Wisconsin African-American Tobacco Prevention Network (WAATPN), kicked off in grand fashion last week.
“It is my pleasure to welcome tobacco prevention advocates and faith leaders from across the state and region to the kickoff for No Menthol Sunday, a national day of observance aimed at increasing awareness about the impact of menthol and other tobacco on Black Health,” said Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes during his opening remarks.
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No Menthol Monday will culminate on May 17, 2020 with online sermons, media interviews, through social media, and various other activities that will take place virtually as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Menthol is a peppermint flavored anesthetic tobacco companies added to reduce the harshness of cigarettes and other tobacco products. Menthol tobacco, a product used by 8 of 10 African-American adult smokers, makes smoking easier to start and harder to quit.
Although adult smoking rates have decreased in recent years in Wisconsin, according to State Health Officer Jeanne Ayers, not every community is seeing those gains.
“We still face large disparities in terms of tobacco use and nowhere is that more evident than in our communities of color,” said Ayers during the kickoff meeting.
Also participating in the kickoff meeting were emcee Vivian King, poet La’Ketta Caldwell, Demonte Jefferson, executive director of the NAATPN, Bishop John Franklin White from the AME Fourth District Church, and pastors from several local churches.
Gov. Tony Evers has declared May 17, No Menthol Sunday in the State of Wisconsin and Mayor Tom Barrett,  has issued a similar proclamation for the City of Milwaukee.
For more information on how your congregation can observe “No Menthol Sunday” visit waatpn.com.


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Youth internship program canceled because of coronavirus concerns | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
May 8, 2020
The Earn and Learn Program employs 1,000 young people each summer. (Photo provided by Earn and Learn)
Since 2004, Milwaukee’s Earn and Learn program has been a consistent community fixture, giving thousands of young people a summer job, money in their pockets and a role in the community.
But with uncertainty over whether youths will be able to work in offices given the “Safer at Home” mandate, officials have canceled the Summer Youth Internship Program, a component of Earn and Learn.
“Departments just are not in a position to begin hosting interns by next month,” said Vanessa Armstrong of the Department of City Development, which oversees the program.
The Summer Youth Internship Program was planning to place 110 interns in various roles in city government this summer. Interns were set to work 20 hours per week at $11.52 an hour for eight weeks. It’s one of three components of the overall Earn and Learn program.
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Typically, the Earn and Learn program employs over 1,000 young people each summer through its Summer Youth Internship Program, Community Work Experience and Private Sector Job Connection components. All three place young people within city government, local nonprofits and community groups, and the private sector, respectively.
The Community Work Experience typically places 800 to 1,200 young people each year, according to Employ Milwaukee, which oversees the program.
Tim McMurtry, community relations manager of Employ Milwaukee, said Community Work Experience is still taking applications from youths. The deadline is 3 p.m. Saturday, May 9.
“Our expectations for summer youth programming is to continue to follow our typical model as best we can,” McMurtry said.
“It’s still a ‘play-it-by-ear’ type of thing,” said McMurtry. “Everyone has their fingers crossed that the governor will lift the ‘Safer at Home’ order after May 26, and they’re banking on people being able to go back to work this summer.”
Community Work Experience matches those ages 14 to 24 with employers in the nonprofit, community and faith-based sectors. Employees earn  $7.50 per hour for 20 hours per week, though prior participants like Simone Lewis-Turner remember the intangible benefits of participating in the program.
“We learned how to be in a professional culture, how to do interviews, build a resume, say an elevator pitch, code-switch, things like that,” said Lewis-Turner, a graduating senior who has participated in the program since her rising freshman summer at placements including Lead2Change, Urban Underground and Vincent High School’s agricultural program.
“I was able to help provide for my family,” she said. “I was able to earn some money and put food on the table.”


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Post from Community: United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee supports Milwaukee’s urban community during the COVID-19 crisis | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee
May 10, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
The United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee (UNCOM) has increased its efforts to assist our community during the COVID-19 – Safer at Home period. In a typical year, UNCOM agencies serve over fifty thousand (50,000) people in Milwaukee. Through increased efforts to ensure the families we serve are safe and well, multiple agencies report that they have more than doubled the number of people they are serving amidst this crisis.
COA Youth & Family Centers and Silver Spring Neighborhood Center both reopened their early childhood centers on May 4. Both agencies are enforcing strict guidelines to ensure the safety of the children and families they are serving as well as the safety of their employees. “We know that high-quality early childhood care is difficult to find right now. However, many of the essential emergency workers who live in the community are now utilizing this care at our two (2) early child education centers. It’s nice to see these young faces in our centers again. Having access for essential workers (medical personnel, law enforcement, firefighters, etc.) is essential, and it also brings a sense of security and comfort during a very abnormal time,” says Tom Schneider, COA Youth & Family Centers, Executive Director.
All eight (8) of the UNCOM agencies (City on a Hill, COA Youth & Family Centers, Journey House, Milwaukee Christian Center, Neighborhood House, Neu-Life Community Development, Northcott Neighborhood Center and Silver Spring Neighborhood Center) are offering food to our families in need through various food programs. In April, COA Youth and Family Centers food pantry served 3,389 people and the number of people they serve grows week over week.
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“Many of our children are accustomed to receiving breakfast, lunch and dinner at their school. Food is a basic necessity and UNCOM is working hard to meet our community’s needs. We can now direct families to one of our eight (8) full partner UNCOM agencies to get fresh, healthy food for themselves and their families,” says Renée Logee, Executive Director, UNCOM.
The United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee are doing their best keeping Milwaukee’s urban families fed, safe and connected.
For more information on how UNCOM agencies are supporting the community, check out the following websites.
www.cityonahillmilwaukee.org
•COA Youth & Family Centers www.coa-yfc.org
•Journey House www.journeyhouse.org
•Milwaukee Christian Center www.mccwi.org
•Neighborhood House of Milwaukee www.neighborhoodhousemke.org
•Neu-Life Community Development www.neu-life.org
•Northcott Neighborhood House www.northcotthouse.org
•Silver Spring Neighborhood Center www.ssnc-milw.org
•United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee www.uncom-milw.org


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5 things to know the week of May 11 in Milwaukee: The COVID-19 edition | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
May 11, 2020
Acts Housing is providing virtual services for those interested in owning a home. (Photo provided by Madee Saenphonphakdee)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center weekly town hall meetings
The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center is holding weekly virtual town hall meetings with Dr. Lyle Ignace. The meetings take place on Zoom at 3 p.m. on Thursdays. The topics deal with the coronavirus and range from testing to proper cleaning and hygiene procedures. Click here to attend.
2. Rebroadcast of a SistaStrings performance: Tuesday, May 12
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A performance by SistaStrings will be rebroadcast from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12. To catch the performances of Monique and Chauntee Ross, listeners can go to WMSE website or check it out on 91.7 FM.
3. Alice’s Garden herbal CSA sign-up
Alice’s Garden is offering Milwaukeeans a chance to participate in its Community Supported Agriculture program. On a weekly or biweekly basis, participants can receive a box of fresh herbs and herbal products during the growing season, which takes place from June through October. Those interested can purchase a half share for $150 or a whole share for $280. To sign up, visit the Alice’s Garden website. To discuss a payment plan or for more information, email Venice Williams at venicewb@gmail.com.
4. Salsa 101 with Wanyah Frazier and Nō Studios Unplugged: Wednesday, May 13
Wanyah Frazier, the owner and founder of WoLF Studios is partnering up with Nō Studios Unplugged to teach Salsa 101. The class is free, but contributions are strongly encouraged and can be sent to Frazier through Venmo @Wanyah-Frazier. The class will be streamed on Nō Studios Facebook page from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13. RSVPs are encouraged.
5. Acts Housing providing virtual services
Acts Housing is offering virtual services including orientations (available in English and Spanish), one-on-one counseling and homebuyer education classes. Acts also is also working with alumni families experiencing financial difficulties at this time. In case you missed it: From renting to owning: How to get a home in Milwaukee.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 10, 2020


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Post from Community: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee surpasses 100,000 meals served to Milwaukee youth | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee
May 11, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
On Monday, May 11, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee (BGCGM) will reach a major milestone in our meal distribution program: surpassing 100,000 meals distributed to Milwaukee’s youth during the COVID-19 pandemic, a marked example of how BGCGM is committed to serving the needs of youth in Milwaukee’s most under-resourced communities especially during times of crisis.
“At the beginning of this health crisis, we had no idea what this journey would look like. We just knew that we had to pivot quickly to continue taking care of Milwaukee’s youth just like we have been for the past 133 years,” said BGCGM President and CEO, Kathy Thornton-Bias. “We knew that without the traditional Club experience, youth would still need to depend on us for a sense of security, especially when it came to nutrition.”
Providing nutritious meals is not something new for BGCGM. The Clubs serve nearly 1 million healthy meals and snacks to Club kids each year to ensure those who are food insecure are properly nourished. The meal distribution program BGCGM launched at the beginning of this health crisis, however, has required our Clubs to work under unprecedented circumstances. We had to quickly build a large-scale program that served not only our Club members but all Milwaukee youth who needed us. We implemented stringent safety measures like requiring staff members to wear masks and gloves. As the severity of the health crisis grew, we quickly modified our program to distribute food just once per week in an effort to reduce the number of trips families had to make outside their homes and reduce contact between Clubs staff and the families we serve, and we have continuously increased our supply of food as the need for food assistance increases in Milwaukee. These efforts are a reflection of BGCGM’s commitment to do whatever it takes to ensure kids in under-resourced Milwaukee communities thrive academically, socially, and personally, especially during times of crisis.
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Families can visit one of the following BGCGM Clubs distributing meals every Monday from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm or while supplies last. Each family is provided with three meals per day for seven days for each child 18 and under in their home for a total of 21 meals per child.

author: Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee


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NNS news and notes: Free COVID-19 testing; virtual town hall on the coronavirus; MATC Promise deadline extended; and don’t forget the census | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
May 11, 2020
Carissa Peters says she’s grateful for MATC Promise, which provides free tuition. Before she was accepted, Peters “had to work and go to school, which was tough because my classes were so demanding.” (File photo by Edgar Mendez)
Free COVID-19 testing begins Monday in 2 locations
Free COVID-19 testing for Milwaukee’s communities of color begins Monday, May 11 as part of Gov. Tony Evers’ initiative to stem the number of cases of the coronavirus across the state.
Testing will take place at 2701 S. Chase Ave. and 5760 W. Capitol Drive. Both locations will be open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. seven days a week
African Americans and Latinos account for about half of all coronavirus cases in Wisconsin, health officials say. Latinos make up less than 7% of the state’s population, but account for 29% of the COVID-19 cases. African Americans make up only about 6% of Wisconsin’s total population but account for 21% of the confirmed cases statewide.
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Medical College hosting virtual town hall on the coronavirus
The Medical College of Wisconsin will host the next in its series of weekly virtual community town halls at 6 p.m. Monday, May 11 to talk about the coronavirus, staying safe and healthy, and to answer your questions. This week the panel will also share information about COVID-19 testing. The event is free and you can register here. A recorded version of the town hall will be uploaded to MCW’s YouTube channel.
Deadline for MATC Promise is July 17
The deadline to apply for Milwaukee Area Technical College’s MATC Promise for new high school graduates is July 17.
The program offers eligible students from the high school Class of 2020 free tuition for up to 75 credits after federal and state financial grant aid has been applied.
“We  believe this opportunity is more important now than it’s ever been amid the economic challenges we are facing in our community,” Dr. Vicki J. Martin, MATC president, said in a news release. “The MATC Promise helps us break down financial barriers and ensure students are able  to access a quality, in-demand education.”
To qualify, students must be eligible for federal Pell grants as determined by the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid; earn a grade point average of 2.0 or higher in the first semester of their senior year; graduate from a high school in the MATC District or live in the MATC  District; and enroll in at least 12 credits at MATC in fall 2020.
For more information, click here. In case you missed it: MATC Promise program gives thousands an education lifeline
Don’t forget the census
The Census Bureau has extended the deadline to self-respond to the census until Oct. 31. But why put off for tomorrow what you can do today? It only takes 10 minutes to complete the questionnaire and you can do it online, by calling (844) 330-2020 or by mail. In case you missed it: Why the 2020 census should matter to you


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NNS on WGLB radio: Columnist Damia Causey talks jobs and unemployment | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
May 11, 2020
(Photo by Adam Carr)
Columnist Damia Causey discussed her recent jobs and career columns with Saryea Murchison and Dennis Walton of WGLB.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 11, 2020
“Neighborhood News Interview May 8”.


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OPINION: ‘What is the measure of a man?’ Remembering Muhammad Sabir | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Akua Oladunjoye
May 11, 2020
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Akua Oladunjoye remembers her late husband, Muhammad Sabir, a teacher, man of faith, community leader and sensei at his dojo, Sabir’s Karate and Fitness. Sabir died May 1, 2020.
This piece has been updated to reflect Sabir’s correct number of siblings.
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A child was born into life on Sept. 3, 1948, and grew to become a man named Clayton Jackson, one of five from the union of Beulah and Gus Jackson. He converted to Islam and became known as Muhammad Sabir (meaning “praiseworthy” and “extreme patience”) in 1974. His entire life, he worked for his community physically, morally and spiritually. Many knew him from the neighborhood’s playgrounds, schools, run-ins and just fun times.
He was an alumnus of North Division High School with the nickname of “gator.” His pursuit of knowledge and educational advancement led him to his ultimate goal of attending a university. He was UW-Milwaukee alumnus, completing his undergraduate, master’s and Ph.D., all in education. He became a devoted elementary school teacher for Milwaukee Public Schools until retirement.
What is the measure of a man? By definition, the word “measure” means: to put a degree of standard onto something; to assure what is right and exact; to use a tool of standards. This is a generic definition, however, seeing it put into practice consistently produces an epic outcome. Muhammad Sabir practiced these ideals with divine knowledge in his daily mode of operations. One did not need or always agree with him, however you felt the test of standards in his presence, from academia to karate and all in-between.
The mind of this man was ever ready to engage in topics crossing the globe without dismissing a person’s intellectual standing or purpose in life. He ran for public office, coached individuals toward higher education, was a founding member of African World Festival, worked with community organizers for multicultural outreach programs, served as a community instructor for the GED program, worked with the Milwaukee Urban League for community advocacy and was a founding member of Community Call to Vote. He also was known for the public access show “Islam Live,” where views were strongly discussed, with humor.
However, he was measured and known for his skills in karate. He started the Community Martial Arts and Fitness Center, now known as Sabir’s Karate and Fitness. He trained adults and children in the areas of physical fitness, self-discipline and protection. He was known for the trademark Black Karate Gi, and when he and his students strolled into a tournament, the trophies were the only goal. He has trained over 1,000 students in the art of Kempo Goju Karate, nationally and internationally.
One of his students describes his teacher: “Sensei helped to form the foundation of who I am as a man. Islam and karate saved my life. The discipline I developed from the time I was 4 until 11 carried over into so many other aspects of my life that I don’t know where I’d be without it . . .  Also, although he was a hard teacher, I always felt that he was proud of me and my accomplishments in the dojo. It helped give me the confidence in life that I needed that ultimately carried over into my poetry, speaking and community activism.”
Words cannot describe the atmosphere of being in his presence. Physically he stood 5’11, about 230 pounds, with the broad shoulders of a weightlifter and the strong, solid stance of sixth degree martial artist.
His school was known to produce strong fighters, well-rounded citizens and morally upright students. He also served as father, supportive guide, an open-hearted helper, kind, tough disciplinarian and mentor to many children. Families trusted his authority and his strict martial way, scary yet without malice. Karate was not just another job — it was his passion.
One of his students wrote: “As people get older, they wonder what kind of legacy they will leave behind. I don’t think you have to worry about that. Your legacy is engraved in stone and it may be years before people truly understand what you did for a little black inner-city kid such as me.”
Some of Muhammad’s students had behavioral and emotional concerns and he provided a safe place to work those issues out and receive psychological support at the karate school without label or shame. Even after his older son was killed in an auto accident, Muhammad did not forsake the families that relied on him.
Another student wrote: “Sensei is and always will be the building block to the person I have become. He believed in me when I had no one else. He was a father I never had  . . .  he gave me so many skillsets that I use in my everyday life. Because of you Sensei, I am strong, proud and the father I am today . . . you are my greatest teacher.”
Another passion of his was traveling and he always encouraged individuals to get a passport. His love for life and the world took him to Canada, England, France, India, Japan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia (he made Hajji twice), Spain and no doubt other private places. Everywhere he traveled someone would call his name and say “my brother, the Karate Man.” He also developed an international martial arts program under the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community movement.
Sabir’s Karate and Fitness has been located at 4813-17 West Center for 30-plus years. One would see his vehicle, or just the light on, and knew all was well on the block.
His obi’s (karate belts) still hang in the dojo training hall door as a reminder to the students to keep self-motivated and steadfast in their training, to achieve their ultimate aspiration. His motto reads “Protect yourself, no one else will.”
How does one measure this man? By observing his walk, which matched his talk.
Written February 1, 2020 and updated on May 5, 2020.

author: Akua Oladunjoye


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sabir | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 10, 2020


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‘I won’t feel safer until this is all over’: Checking in on essential workers. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
May 12, 2020
(Photo by Adam Carr)
Although many of us continue to practice social distancing and work or stay at home, scores of essential employees remain on the front lines, risking exposure to COVID-19 every time they leave their residence.
A month ago, we talked to some of them, and today we check in on the  group of essential workers who shared their stories with us. (Editor’s note: The names of individuals and some details have been withheld or altered to protect their identities and jobs. The stories have been edited slightly for clarity.)
One month ago, according to Lisa, seven residents at her facility had been taken out for COVID-19 symptoms. Other staff members had gotten sick as well. She works at the facility with her daughter.
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Four out of the 12 people who had been taken out of the facility for the virus have died and the rest have returned. Another has passed from cancer. Everyone that has come back has to have their own room, so no roommates. They cannot come out of their rooms until they have not had any symptoms for 72 hours.
We have to feed them on disposables and anyone who enters their rooms has to be covered fully. A few more staff have contracted the virus, including another one of my people in the kitchen. We pretty much lost half the staff at one point, though many are starting to return. At this point for me, it’s not as scary anymore.
But there are still certified nursing assistants and aides that are in constant contact with the residents and still worried for their well-being. We had a crew come in and fog the entire building. We are constantly cleaning and disinfecting. It seems like we reached our peak and now it’s hopefully getting better. With all the residents being quarantined in their rooms and on their floors, no one is really around the kitchen and dining area, so that’s a plus.
Some supplies are getting a little bit easier to order such as face masks and gowns. I have a problem now getting certain food items from my distributor, so that’s not fun. But all in all, things are more calm around the workplace. The only thing all the staff is upset about is not getting hazard pay or some kind of raise for the ones who have been coming in since the beginning. It’s definitely not fair that we get nothing extra for putting our lives on the line and also our families’ lives to take care of these people.
At home everyone is still good. My oldest daughter and I are still the only ones going out. My 14 and 13- year-old gave up on their online schoolwork. It’s like they’re in the depression stage of this quarantine. They really miss school.  My 14- year-old starts high school in fall and is worried about jumping from this to that and not finishing eighth grade.
As far as opening some places back up, I mean if you take the necessary precautions, it should be fine. I still have no plans of doing anything but home, work and the store for necessities for a while. People are crazy out there!
Late March: “I sit on the edge of my bed thinking … is this the day? Will I bring it home today?
I still have anxiety, but not as much as before. Now it’s more about symptoms. Oh I coughed and it was dry. Is it COVID? Headache. Arm twitch with pain. Runny nose. COVID? I am a supervisor in a clinic and part of the anxiety I had before was also related to keeping my people safe without proper supplies. Mostly, disposable gowns are lacking. We use white lab jackets instead. We have plenty of surgical masks, face shields and gloves. But we are running out of disinfecting wipes. We keep disinfecting supplies on lockdown. People have to ask when they need alcohol wipes, hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes.
We reduced our hours and only see patients with conditions needing immediate attention. I was talking to one of the other nurses and she said she’s feeling less anxiety too.  I’ve also heard of several people (including myself) who have had meltdowns. We need to remind ourselves that these are extraordinary times. As we are on the front line, I think we always have fear of getting coronavirus. Luckily, we are a specialty clinic and don’t have to worry about people coming to us because they are sick with COVID-19.
I would like to see restrictions in place longer. I don’t think things are calm enough yet, but I also realize there are people who need to pay rent, make car payments and other bills. I enjoy being in lockdown after a stressful day. I hope banks, landlords and others will consider this the period where “time stood still” and will have mercy on debtors and say, “never mind those three months you are behind, we’ll just forget it’s tardiness.” At some point we will have to move on – even with COVID-19.
We had plans for adding services at the clinic, so I have begun pushing for those again. Why wait three to six months when things won’t be much different? Someone posted on Facebook, “I’ve never felt so blessed, or terrified about going to work.” Yeah, that.
It was rumored that COVID-19 had just claimed the life of a coworker.
Not that much has changed. Worry and fear follow us around daily. Especially knowing a virus is out here killing people. The day we last spoke, I went into the emergency room to get checked for COVID-19. My family and I were so worried that I had to take the initiative to make sure I didn’t have the virus.
I mean, I was working in the same work area/station that the other employee that died of COVID-19 was in. So after the hospital visits, I had to self-quarantine.  I returned to work after two weeks. The company has taken SOME steps since then. They have face masks available when a worker needs them, and they have some at the main door. They do temperature checks every shift.
The company also confirmed that the employee died due to COVID-19. As of right now, I firmly believe we should continue the “safer at home” order until we find something that will stop COVID-19 or slow it down. As far as whether I feel safer than I did a month ago? No. I won’t feel at ease or safer until this is all over.
Maria has not had the opportunity to hold her first grandchild who was born a month ago .
I still have not met my granddaughter. I am so looking forward to it. I am around too many people to take that chance with her life. At my tax preparation company, they have done a really good job on keeping us safe. Walmart has stepped up as well. We have masks and gloves that are supplied by them. They also close at 8:30 p.m. every night to give us a break from customers, time to put things away, and to stock and clean. The store gets really messy and it’s sad. We have really good customers, but there are some who are rude and treat you badly.
A lot people are ready to get back to their regular everyday life. They are missing getting their nails done and hair, and fishing and going to the bars. But then there are the ones who need to go to work to pay their bills to take care of their family. I am proud of our governor for trying to save lives and keep us safe. I am also so very thankful for our healthcare workers. You all are amazing. We all really need to work together so we can get back to some kind of balance.
“It’s a little scary going to work, having to be in the warehouse where a lot of other people are and touching cars and packages that other people are touching.”
The driver-to-route ratio at Amazon is still high because of so many people out of work. Amazon has actually updated their app for drivers stating that you have to take your temperature, and that face masks are required now. I think it’s too soon to open up our state. I don’t feel any safer now than I did a month ago. If it wasn’t safe a month ago, what makes it so safe now? People are still contracting the virus.
Although happy to be working, Ofelia was worried about infecting her family with COVID-19.
My husband and I are still working through the pandemic. We make sure we are taking all the necessary precautions once we come back home so we don’t put our children at risk. We’re only conducting phone job interviews at my staffing company at this point. I think that it is too soon to open up the state. But I do feel safer now than I did a month ago, with more stores practicing social distance and better hygiene.


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OPINION: An open letter to healthcare executives: You hold the power to keep your employees safe and paid. Do better. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jamie Lucas, Jeff Weber & Nate Gilliam
May 12, 2020
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
(Lucas, Weber and Gilliam)
Jamie Lucas is executive director of Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (WFNHP); Jeff Weber is president of WFNHP; and Nate Gilliam is lead organizer of WFNHP.
Last month, leaders of Milwaukee-area health care corporations wrote a letter to the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service readership called “We need your help to keep our caregivers safe: A letter to our community about COVID-19.” This piece, while perhaps well-intentioned, was offensive, disrespectful and wholly inappropriate. This week is Nurses Week, and the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals has a message about what nurses and our community really need.
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The truth is, CEOs and executives who signed this letter: Your employees need your help to stay safe.
There are housekeepers in Ascension hospitals sent in to clean the rooms of COVID patients without N95 masks. There are nurses in Advocate Aurora rationing masks for over a month. There are lab techs at Froedtert, working for the for-profit Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories, working this entire pandemic without any hazard pay and have taken losses on their paycheck through no fault of their own. If we’re all in this together, as you say, prove it to your employees first before coming to ask help from a community who needs support. Then, give more to those who need it. After that, your request for help will mean something so much more.
Here’s another truth: These health care corporations are pretending like everything will be fine as long as we all follow certain guidelines. The reality is, none of these corporations have done enough to keep their own employees safe. While nurses and doctors are reusing N95 masks and working in incredibly dangerous conditions, these corporations and their executives are sitting on billions of dollars.
That’s not hyperbole. Looking at only Advocate Aurora, Ascension, and Froedtert – just three of the 13 healthcare corporations signed onto this letter – there are billions of dollars in these so-called “not-for-profit” health care corporations that could and should be reprioritized to provide Milwaukee’s frontline caregivers with proper protective gear, hazard pay, no-fault sick leave, no-cost medical coverage and pay continuation if they’re furloughed. There is not a single employee in any of those three systems who have all five of those basic protections — protections that would be infinitely more helpful than “thank you” or calling them “heroes.” Heroes deserve action, not just words.
A significant portion of these billions are required by law to be reinvested into the communities they serve because they’re all not-for-profit corporations, which means they do not most pay local, state or federal taxes. Advocate Aurora, Ascension and Froedtert have these tax statuses so that, in theory, they can focus their resources on providing health care and do good within the communities they serve. Whereas the rest of us might think this means they provide a significant amount of “free or low-cost health care,” they do a pitiful amount – roughly 2.49% of Ascension’s national operating revenue went to community benefits in 2018. There’s no real accountability on how they give back to our community or how much care they provide.
At a time when all of us need to do something to stop the spread and devastation of this virus, those who have the most resources need to do more. If people do not have the means to stay safer at home, it is unreasonable and disrespectful to tell them to stay home to help your employees. We all should be doing everything we can right now, which is why our union, the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, sent Advocate Aurora, Ascension and Froedtert a request for partnership that would have granted paid leave, hazard pay, childcare coverage and medical coverage for all frontline health care workers in their direct employment.
We requested partnership to lobby the state and federal government for monthly stipends and a moratorium on mortgage and rent payments so people could stay in their homes safely and give our society a chance to recover.
None of these healthcare corporations answered this call to action in full. None.
Some have taken tepid half-measures to provide some people some additional pay — Advocate Aurora and Froedtert, until the latter took it away suddenly for reasons that are unclear. Ascension even had the gall to ask for donations from individual people to help pay for childcare for their own employees. As if they couldn’t afford it on their own!
Ascension, headquartered in St. Louis, paid its CEO $59.1 million between 2014 and 2017, according to Forbes. Advocate Aurora established a supplemental retirement plan for approximately 15 executives in 2017 at the cost of over 1 million dollars – over a million bucks for a few people who already made several hundred thousand dollars per year and already presumably had a retirement account. Froedtert reported $961 million in assets in tax filings for 2017, yet they cut differential pay for certain nurses in 2019. Those are outrageous amounts of money for already wealthy people to be paid, and when juxtaposed against what they’re paying people who are actually on the front lines, it’s unfathomably inhumane. Clearly, there is money. Please put it back into our community.
Our union is a founding member of the community-led St. Joe’s Accountability Coalition (SJAC). We advocate for an expansion of health care services on Milwaukee’s North Side. The coalition believes medical redlining is the reason for disparate impacts of negative health outcomes, as hospital systems have more services in more affluent white parts of the state, and fewer services in areas where people of color live. This pandemic exacerbates that problem, and again these hospital systems can do more, because they have the resources.
Looking specifically at the neighborhoods served by the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, Ascension employs many people in the neighborhoods around St. Joe’s. Collectively, these three corporations employ thousands of people in Milwaukee. The standards of how much they are paid, what kind of health insurance they are offered, and how families of employees are cared for can literally set the standard of living and employment in this city and county.
We implore you, executives of these three systems: look within at your own practices, do better and provide your employees with what they actually need. If you are a part of this community as much your ads and sponsorships of our sports teams try to convince us, then please lead by example and show up for our community in a real way when we all need it most.
Instead of asking people who can’t stay home to stay home, this is how you should first support these dedicated, skilled, and compassionate caregivers – the nurses and housekeepers, respiratory therapists and nursing assistants, doctors and food service workers, laboratory technologists and nurse practitioners and everyone else working in a health care facility.
They deserve better. After all, they are heroes, right?

author: Jamie Lucas, Jeff Weber & Nate Gilliam


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 12, 2020


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 11, 2020


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Untitled design-4 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 12, 2020


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Post from Community: Now hiring for July cycle of i.c.stars |* Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
i.c. stars
May 12, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Inner City Computer Stars Milwaukee trains adults in Technology, Business & Leadership to help them launch a career!
The program is completely free other than your time and brain power.
We pay you $150/week for 4 months and help you find a job after completion.
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Information Technology is booming career field, have you wanted to learn a skill that you can apply to almost anywhere.
IT is where that begins!  Next cycle begins July 2020!
We are making change agents in technology for Milwaukee!
Do you have what it takes?  Were you unable to complete your college degree?
Find out more at one of our Virtual Information Sessions!
Hosted weekly, Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 2pm on Google hangouts!
RSVP for the link to jump online!
Program requirements:
•18-24 years of age
•High school or GED completion
•Motivated for social change
•Availabilty from 8am-8pm for 4 consecutive months
•Partial to no college preferred
•Income guidelines do apply
Check out our website here:  http://icstars.org/

author: i.c. stars


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Ready-for-a-change_-2.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
May 12, 2020


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Checking in: How are you doing as we confront the coronavirus? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
May 13, 2020
So, how are you doing?
We continue to check in with our community as we learn to live with the challenges of COVID-19.
‘Focus on the things that really matter to you’
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
(Photo provided by Pete Cooney)
Who: Pete Cooney, owner of Pete’s Pops
Neighborhood: Near West Side/Martin Drive
How has your life been since we’ve been told to stay indoors?
It has been a wild ride. On the personal side, it has been scary. But there have also been aspects and moments of slowing down that have been really nice. On the business side, it has been incredibly stressful. However, the challenge of navigating a business through COVID-19  is something that I am trying to embrace and use as an opportunity to adapt in ways that will have a long lasting positive impact into the future whenever things return to “normal.”
What do you feel you need more of?
Sales. I’m concerned about revenue with all of the canceled events this summer.
What do you need less of?
So much has already been stripped away.
Say something to inspire your neighbor.
Whether it’s your family, your health, your community, or your business, now is a time to focus on the things that really matter to you. I think if you can do that, then you will be able to get through this trying time and come out the other side stronger.
‘Take time to breathe’
(Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Who: TrueMan McGee owner and head rollmaster of Funky Fresh Spring Rolls
Neighborhood: Sherman Park area
How has your life been since we’ve been told to stay indoors?
Life has changed but goals of making delicious healthier options, engage in the community and loving the world are the same.
What do you feel you need more of?
Personally, I have been spending a lot of time getting in shape, eating healthier and spending time with family.
What do you need less of?
Worrying.
Say something to inspire your neighbor.
If you are doing a lot to prepare yourself for a magnificent comeback for when this pandemic is over or not … there is no right or wrong answer. Take time to call and check on family. Be empathetic. Take time to breathe. We are all in this together.


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49856325537_7d2039caa7_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
May 12, 2020

author: Adam Carr


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Post from Community: Got caring individuals in your neighborhood? Nominate them for a mini-grant to continue their good work | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Leah Cashaw
May 14, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Love Your Block MKE’s Caring Community Mini-Grant provides up to $500 for people helping their community during COVID-19.
Are you or someone you know helping the Milwaukee community during COVID-19? Apply for Love Your Block MKE’s Caring Community Mini-Grant for the chance to receive up to $500 to continue the good work! This includes sewing face masks, making CDC-approved hand sanitizers, or creating something that benefits the well-being of their neighbors’ physical, mental and/ or emotional health. Click here to learn more!
Mini-grants will be awarded as they are approved and accepted. The last day to submit an application (as funding allows) is . Applying does not guarantee mini-grant funds. The full list of rules and conditions can be found here.
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All applicants (mini-grant recipients and non-recipients) with amazing stories on how they are helping the community will receive a mention on our Facebook and Instagram  pages (@NIDC_Milwaukee). They will also be featured on Love Your Block MKE’s website.
If you are interested in applying and / or have any questions, feel free to email us at: loveyourblock@milwaukee.gov or call 414-708-6270.

author: Leah Cashaw


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article-banner.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
May 13, 2020