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Pete’s Pops wins “Rev-Up MKE” | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Near West Side Partners, Inc
September 28, 2016
(Photo courtesy of Near West Side Partners)
Near West Side Partners, Inc. (NWSP) today announced that Pete’s Pops has been named the winner of the inaugural Rev-Up MKE small business competition, and will locate their business in an empty storefront in the Near West Side. The winner was announced on Tuesday, September 27, 2016, at the conclusion of a “Shark Tank”-style live pitch event in which all eight finalists presented before a unique panel of judges and the public at The Rave. In addition, Funky Fresh Spring Rolls was named as the runner-up and recipient of $4,000 in start-up finds and they were named the “WaterStone Audience Choice” and will receive an additional $1,000 to support their growth. In addition, Doug Gordon, CEO of Waterstone Bank announced they would provide $2,000 to a third place contestant, naming WasteCap Resource Solutions/Milwaukee Community Service Corps.
“Pete’s Pops will now join the ranks of some of the world’s greatest start-ups located in the Near West Side – startups that are now recognized iconic brands like Harley-Davidson and MillerCoors,” said Keith Stanley, Executive Director of NWSP. “We’re excited Pete Cooney will bring more than just unique flavored popsicles to area residents and employees in our neighborhood of neighborhoods.”
Pete’s Pops is a local, Milwaukee company offering fresh fruit and cream popsicles (otherwise known as paletas) in many unique flavor combinations. Pete Cooney plans to keep creating new flavor combinations in his new storefront, now beyond his current 7-month season. He aims to create more positive experiences working to build a better community. Learn more at petespops.net/.
“I can’t wait to get to work on moving my business into the Near West Side,” said Pete Cooney of Pete’s Pops. “And I’m thankful to the Near West Side partners for putting together this great Rev Up MKE competition”
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“We feel Pete’s Pops is a great example of the renewed entrepreneurial endeavors taking place in the central part of our city,” said Doug Gordon, CEO of Waterstone Bank – a major prize contributor. “We are hoping many more business owners find success here, bringing new jobs and new vibrancy to the commercial corridors of the Near West Side.”
As part of the evening, guests enjoyed the Taste of the Near West Side, which included complimentary food samples and drinks from Near West Side restaurants, including: Five O’Clock Steakhouse, MillerCoors, Miss Katie’s Diner, Daddy’s Soul Food and Grille, Troop Café and Envoy Restaurant & Lounge, located inside the Ambassador Hotel.
Background on Competition
Leading up to this announcement, all eight finalists have been participating in hands-on business training, with technical assistance and mentorship from a number of organizations in Milwaukee, including: WWBIC, BizStarts, and the Marquette Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic.
“We were thrilled to have such a great group of finalists, who have done tremendous work to prepare for the live-pitch event,” said Kelsey Otero, Associate Director of Social Innovation at Marquette University and Rev-Up MKE organizer. “We know that each and every one of our finalists would be a great addition to the Near West Side and wish all of them great success.”
Pete’s Pops will receive significant resources to support his venture, which will be located in a Near West Side storefront, including:
Judges from the event included:
“The Near West Side has been home to some of Milwaukee’s greatest entrepreneurs – from William Harley and Arthur Davidson to Fredrick Miller, said Paul Jones, Vice President – Strategy & Sustainability for Harley-Davidson. “We are proud to welcome and support the next generation of entrepreneurs in the Near West Side.”
For more information about the competition and photos from the event, visit us online at: www.nearwestsidemke.org/revupmke/

author: Near West Side Partners, Inc


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 28, 2016

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: September 28, 2016

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

author: Adam Carr


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Strong Baby Campaign to promote home visiting for Milwaukee families | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Health Department
September 28, 2016
(Courtesy of City of Milwaukee Health Department)
From push-ups and chin-ups to karate kicks and more, Milwaukee’s Strong Baby campaign has celebrated its miniature stars’ acts of strength for a very serious cause. On September 28, Mayor Tom Barrett and Commissioner of Health Bevan K. Baker were joined by partners from the Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families at United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County as well as Serve Marketing to release the latest phase of the iconic campaign.
“I want every baby in Milwaukee to be a Strong Baby,” said Mayor Tom Barrett. “Strong Babies start at home. By supporting parents and families, our City of Milwaukee Health Department’s Home Visiting Programs help families achieve healthier birth outcomes and child development. But, more importantly, the moms and dads we serve become more equipped and confident with the skills needed to create families where children feel loved, safe and supported.”
The campaign is aimed at increasing awareness for the City of Milwaukee Health Department Home Visiting Programs. The programs, which serve pregnant mothers, fathers and their families through the prenatal period and after the child is born, support healthy birth outcomes, child development and family self-sufficiency.
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“The City of Milwaukee Health Department’s home visiting programs have proudly served hundreds of families annually with exceptional results,” said Commissioner of Health Bevan K. Baker. “By partnering pregnant women and soon-to-be fathers with trained home visitors, we help support families achieve better health outcomes and meet their own personal goals.”
Outdoor and bus advertisements featuring families served by the programs will begin appearing in targeted locations this week with the message “Home visits help support stronger families.” A new website will be launched and Facebook, Twitter and Instagram messages will provide information and resources to Milwaukee residents.
“Our goal with the newest Strong Baby effort is to make sure that every Milwaukee parent knows how amazing Milwaukee Home Visiting programs are and what they can do for families,” explains Gary Mueller, founder of Serve Marketing. “It’s time someone shined a light on these programs that have operated under the radar far too long.”
The campaign is part of the communitywide effort to reduce infant mortality in Milwaukee. Each year, an average of 100 infants die before their first birthdays. Complications of prematurity is the leading cause of infant deaths, contributing to more than 60% of all deaths.
“This is the most critical outcome we strive for at United Way—working to ensure that babies reach their first birthdays,” Nicole Angresano, Vice president of Community Impact,  of United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, which leads the Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families. “United Way is very proud to partner with the City and others to play a role in helping women and men be strong parents, raising strong, healthy babies.”
(Courtesy of City of Milwaukee Health Department)

author: City of Milwaukee Health Department


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Tropical Dome reopens at Mitchell Park; long-term future of Domes still unclear | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
September 28, 2016
The second of three Mitchell Park Domes, the Tropical Dome (pictured right), reopened recently after being shuttered in February. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
The Mitchell Park Domes Task Force, composed of county supervisors, local leaders and residents will meet for the first time on Oct. 12, and expects to make recommendations on the future of the conservatory within a year, according to Jason Haas, task force member and county supervisor for the 14 District.
The announcement from Haas comes days after the Tropical Dome, closed since February due to safety concerns, was reopened to the public after installation of mesh safety netting was completed on Sept. 23.
Fallen chunks of concrete from the ceiling of the Desert Dome led to the closure of the Mitchell Park Domes, igniting a controversy about the long-term viability of the South Side landmark. The Show Dome reopened ahead of schedule in late April, and construction is continuing on the Desert Dome, which should reopen in early November, according to county officials.
During a public hearing in February regarding the future of the Domes, Milwaukee County Parks Director John Dargle estimated the cost to reconstruct the Domes at between $61-70 million, though other estimates have been higher.
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The Fall Harvest Festival seasonal floral display featuring chrysanthemums is running in the Show Dome until Nov. 6. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
County officials acknowledged that the recent repairs are short-term fixes. The Domes Task Force was created by the county board in March to gather public input and help plot the future of the attraction.
According to Haas, the repairs on the Domes have extended its usability for several years.
“I think the Domes and all of our County Parks are in need of ongoing, sustained funding, ideally the sales tax voters asked for eight years ago,” Haas said in a statement. “At the same time, I’m open to exploring ideas to bring in more revenue such as improved concessions, and ongoing collaboration with outside organizations. The Domes are a major tourist attraction. It’s in our mutual best interests to keep them alive and well.”
The county board has convened listening sessions, the last of which was held in April, and invited residents to participate in the Mitchell Park Domes Survey. The survey asks participants to consider numerous options for the future of the Domes, in addition to other questions.
According to William H. Lynch, task force chairman, input from the listening sessions and how to proceed with the survey will be discussed during the upcoming meeting. As for his personal preference, Lynch stated, “It is too early in the process for me to determine a preference for the future of the Domes.”
Peggy A. West, county supervisor in the 12 District, which includes Mitchell Park, said she is excited to reopen the Tropical Dome to the public and to help determine the future for the conservatory, which opened in the 1960s.
“I am looking forward to continue working with the Domes task force to plot a course for a long happy life for the Domes,” West said.
Repairs on the Tropical Dome were completed on Sept. 23. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Clarke Square resident Elizabeth Ascencio, who was at the Domes Monday with her four young children, said she hopes the Domes will stay open for years to come.
“This is a place where families can go and where parents can teach their children how to take care of nature,” Ascencio said in Spanish. She said she and her kids visit the Domes at least twice a year.
Carol Paulson of South Milwaukee, decided to visit after learning the Tropical Dome had reopened. Accompanying her was Kibum So, a foreign exchange student from South Korea who Paulson sponsors. Both described the Domes as a wonderful and beautiful place.
She called for the Domes to be repaired and preserved. “It’s a treasure; and it’s equally important as a multimillion-dollar basketball stadium,” said an animated Paulson, referring to the Milwaukee Bucks stadium being constructed downtown.
A grand reopening event for all three Dome is being planned for early December and will be sponsored by Northwestern Mutual, according to Melissa Baldauff, director of communications for the county.
Currently, the Show Dome is highlighting a fall harvest theme, featuring scarecrows, cornstalks, a pumpkin patch, chrysanthemums and other flowers, as well as ornamental vegetables such as kale, said Domes artist Burt Gross.
Gross said attendance at the Domes this year had been lighter than in prior years, since only the Show Dome has been open. But he said that after the Tropical Dome opened over the weekend, attendance had picked up.
“It’s nice to see more people back here again and to see the community excited about the reopening of the Tropical Dome,” Gross said.

author: Edgar Mendez


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 27, 2016

created: September 27, 2016


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UNCOM’s 9th annual Walk for Wellness steps off at COA Goldin Center | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sharon McGowan
September 28, 2016
United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee (UNCOM) and its member agencies recently participated in the ninth annual UNCOM Walk for Wellness, hosted by COA Youth & Family Centers.
The walk, which promotes the importance of healthy eating and active living, took place at the COA Goldin Center, 2320 W. Burleigh St.
Participants received brightly colored t-shirts and a healthy meal. Entertainment was provided by the Figureheads, and Mind Body & Soul Urban Line Dancers led a “movement for wellness.”
UNCOM member organizations are Agape Community Center, COA Youth and Family Centers, Journey House, Milwaukee Christian Center, Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, Next Door, Northcott Neighborhood House and Silver Spring Neighborhood Center.
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author: Sharon McGowan


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HKE MKE draws hundreds to Riverside branch of Urban Ecology Center | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mitchell Mittelstedt
September 29, 2016
More than 400 people attended the recent HKE MKE (Hike Milwaukee) benefit for the Urban Ecology Center, up from about 200 at the inaugural event last year.
“One of the things I think that’s unique about HKE MKE is that it’s not just a hike; there’s different activities along the way, and so there’s something for everybody. It’s a hike with a twist,” explained Jamie Ferschinger, branch manager of the Riverside Park UEC.
Volunteers facilitated activities scattered throughout the paths. Participants were invited to visit the River Revitalization Foundation, which offered educational games. Equipped with binoculars, walkers learned about birds native to Wisconsin at the bird-watching station. At the end of the walk, hikers who completed the 2.5-mile journey assisted in painting a mural to be displayed at the center.
Many of those in attendance, including the Pierce family, were repeat visitors.
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“I think we’re lucky that the weather’s been perfect,” said Craig Pierce. We just like to be outside, look at the flowers in bloom at the time, the river, any animals we might see. It’s fun even just following the signs with our little guy.”
Pierce’s son Nash, 4-1/2 years old, added, “My favorite part was going to the river.”

created: September 29, 2016

author: Mitchell Mittelstedt


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Plymouth Church conference focuses on ‘reviving peace’ | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sharon McGowan
September 29, 2016
Building on last year’s conference on “Reviving Justice,” Plymouth Church, UCC, hosted a two-day event on Sept. 24 and 25 called “Reviving Peace.”
About 140 people attended the conference, which sought to provide opportunities for attendees to learn about diverse spiritual traditions, and to make new connections for peace work.
The conference included a symposium for Christian clergy on “Christianity in a religiously diverse world.” Speakers included representatives of the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faiths, as well as presenters from the ACLU of Wisconsin, MICAH, UWM School of Freshwater Sciences and Fair Wisconsin.
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Stay young, don’t smoke! | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Danielle Foster
September 29, 2016
Many of my teenage peers don’t think about it, but one day we will be old! It’s crazy to think about that when you still haven’t graduated from high school or even drive a car yet, but it’s true. September is actually Healthy Aging Month. An important part of aging is trying to maintain as youthful a look as possible, which is tough to do for smokers.
Using tobacco can turn your skin grey, add premature wrinkles, thin out your hair and yellow your teeth. Most of these things are things can happen naturally as a part of aging, but when you use tobacco you speed up that clock and things can happen faster than they normally would.  One way that I plan to look and feel my best as I age is by not using tobacco.
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin my FACT group spreads the truth about tobacco among our peers. Recently, we spread that message to members of the St. Mark AME Church Karate Club and Milwaukee’s Top Teens, both local youth groups. Part of the message we shared was through a scratch-off game that reveals the deadly chemicals that are in tobacco products. It is those cancer causing and sometimes deadly chemicals that help accelerate the aging process, not just appearance wise, but more significantly, what happens inside your body.
A face this good looking isn’t going to wrinkle early because of tobacco. Getting old happens, but I want to fend off some of the outward and, more importantly, inward signs of aging for as long as I can. I want to be a healthy, active adult without a tobacco related disease holding me back from experiencing all of life’s milestones to the fullest.
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For more information on the FACT Movement or to join a local group, please visit FACTmovement.org.
Danielle Foster
Nicolet High School
Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network FACT

author: Danielle Foster


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On the Block: Finding the right path | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jabril Faraj
September 30, 2016
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James King was no stranger to discipline as a child — his father’s belt was always nearby. Still, he acted out at school and at home, failing to heed his father’s warnings. Now, King, who works with incarcerated men, has begun listening to others’ experiences in an attempt to avoid their missteps.
Read more about James King at milwaukeestories.org.
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created: September 30, 2016

author: Jabril Faraj


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 29, 2016


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Rake your leaves into the street beginning October 1, 2016 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works
September 30, 2016
Gladys Carroll-Weathersby and Jack Hill raking leaves on the 2400 block of N. 16th Street
The City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW) announces that residents may rake their leaves into the curb lanes beginning Saturday, October 1 and ending Tuesday, November 15, 2016.
Leaves and brush, along with other yard waste, are banned from landfills and must not be placed in garbage or recycling carts. DPW collects leaves, brush and yard waste separately from garbage and composts it, which conserves natural resources while saving the City money. Residents are also encouraged to mulch leaves, and leave grass clippings on the lawn. This saves time and money, and adds nutrients to the soil.
Tips for a successful fall leaf collection:
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Sanitation staff collects an average of 15,000 tons of leaves each year between mid-October and the first week of December. Last year 16,507 tons of leaves were collected.
By mid-October, all City of Milwaukee households of four or fewer units should receive a DPW Fall 2016 newsletter in the mail. This newsletter includes important information on:


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 1, 2016

created: October 1, 2016


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Victory Garden Initiative launches fifth annual orchard contest | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Victory Garden Initiative
September 30, 2016
Volunteers plant an orchard as part of the Fruity Nutty Five Contest at Centro Hispano’s Guadalupe Head Start Program on Milwaukee’s south side. (Photo by Hannah Kiger, Victory Garden Initiative)
For the fifth year in a row, Victory Garden Initiative (VGI) is giving away five community orchards through the Fruity Nutty 5 Contest. Communities in Milwaukee County are encouraged to apply to win up to 30 fruit and nut trees to cultivate beautiful local food sources and pockets of edible abundance in the city we call home. To date, VGI has planted 23 orchards across the County. VGI’s mission is to build communities that grow their own food, creating a community-based, socially just, environmentally sustainable, nutritious food system for all. Planting these five orchards is key to that fruitful work.
This year’s Fruity Nutty 5 Contest will launch on October 1, 2016. Gather your neighbors and find the application on VictoryGardenInitiative.org/FruityNutty. Apply via mail or email by February 1, 2017, to win up to 30 fruit and nut trees: hazelnuts, cherries, peaches, pears, apples, plums and more. Winners will be announced at VGI’s Fruity Nutty Affair in February 2017, and volunteers will plant the orchards on Earth Day, April 22nd. This is one of VGI’s most inspiring events of the year, and they look forward to putting the power of growing your food back in your hands.
“I am very pleased and pleasantly surprised at the very positive response to the orchard from the neighborhood, the community in general and even outside of the community,” said one 2015 Fruity Nutty 5 winner. “We have gotten to know many of the neighbors and they have been very helpful in providing water for the trees. Your concept of helping to build community really does work!”
Neighborhood orchards provide more than delicious, organic, local fruits and nuts—though they do that as well. They cultivate roots for closer communities. They supplement grocery bills. They get our neighbors outside, enjoying and preserving our environment.
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To learn more and apply, log on to VictoryGardenInitiative.org/FruityNutty or call (414) 431-0888.
Boy scout troops helped plant trees at a location in Hales Corners. Hales Corners Environmental Committee was one of 2016’s Fruity Nutty Five Contest winners. (Photo by Hannah Kiger, Victory Garden Initiative)
Volunteers plant a pear tree in a vacant lot in Hales Corners as part of the Fruity Nutty Five Contest in April, 2016. (Photo by Hannah Kiger, Victory Garden Initiative)

author: Victory Garden Initiative


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 30, 2016


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Frank Lloyd Wright, housing and community well-being | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Margaret Rozga
October 3, 2016
Docent Michael Lilek shows a poster of the interior of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed American System-Built home at 2714 W. Burnham. (Photo by Margaret Rozga)
Margaret Rozga is a poet, civil rights activist and professor emerita of English at UW-Waukesha. The opportunity to visit a Milwaukee home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright prompted her to contemplate how the model could be applied today.
“Right here,” docent Michael Lilek says, lifting his hand to shoulder height and pointing to the home behind him, “is the only example of this Frank Lloyd Wright-designed model known to still exist.” Mr. Lilek is also curator, American System-Built Homes, at Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin. The model he points out with obvious pride is the American System-Built B1 model, a single-story, two-bedroom, 800-square-foot home at 2714 W. Burnham St.
The occasion that brought me to this tour was this year’s Doors Open Milwaukee, the highly successful annual project that offers Milwaukeeans and interested people from the metropolitan area and beyond opportunities to get better acquainted with many of Milwaukee’s treasures.
I looked forward eagerly to this particular opportunity. My grandmother lived three blocks from these homes. They were part of the Sunday evening ritual of my childhood. My dad would take my three siblings and me to visit his mother. Our route included passing these Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes on Burnham Street. Every week my dad would point them out and name the architect with something like Michael Lilek’s pride.
From the outside with their flat rooflines and many rectangular windows, these homes look different from others in the neighborhood. I had long wanted to see the inside. I didn’t want to miss this chance. Approaching the neighborhood, I could see more traffic and less parking than usual. Obviously many other people for their own reasons shared in this interest.
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Volunteers from WrightInMilwaukee prepared well for the crowds. They had four or five stations set up, a docent at each one, each telling part of the story of these homes. Groups of eight to 12 people moved about every 10 minutes from station to station so that when there was room inside the home for more people to enter, we had already been given much of the background story and had multiple chances to have our questions answered.
Lilek’s was the second to the last station before entering the home. He took a large poster-sized picture of the home’s floor plan firmly in hand and held it up for the 10 of us clustered in front of him to see. Wright designed many homes for wealthy clients, he said. But he also wanted to create homes for moderate- and low-income families. Wright “believed his designs could make our lives richer by nurturing and sheltering our families, and bringing us closer to nature.” Such homes would help build strong communities.
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The floor plan of the Frank Lloyd Write-designed home. (Photo by Margaret Rozga)
Provide comfort, build strong communities: the philosophy behind the Frank Lloyd Wright design caught my attention. As much as I loved seeing the inside of the building, I love thinking about the concept of building homes designed to offer comfort, and the solace inside the home as a factor in the well-being of citizens, citizens who then see their city in those terms.
The afternoon on Burnham Street became more than an opportunity to satisfy a childhood curiosity, or a desire to indulge in nostalgia. It offered a lens through which to view 21 century Milwaukee. It offered a contrast with the Milwaukee depicted in Matthew Desmond’s book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City that documents how people’s need in Milwaukee for housing has become an opportunity for the ruthless to exploit the poor. Housing in need of fundamental and extensive repair does not provide a home. It is not a source of comfort and solace. Quite the contrary. It may breed the violence everyone deplores. It doesn’t have to be this way. Milwaukee’s past offers a different vision, one that we could still learn from.
To see the beauty Frank Lloyd Wright not only imagined but offered an affordable way to construct, you need not wait until next year’s Doors Open Milwaukee. The Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin Heritage Tourism Program’s WrightInMilwaukee service offers tours monthly on the second and fourth Saturdays.
I urge you to go see for yourself what the fine thinking a century ago produced. Support, if you can, the work of those who make the model of this thinking available to us. Then let us think again about what could be possible with housing in Milwaukee today, if we’d only dare imagine the possibilities.

created: October 3, 2016

author: Margaret Rozga


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 2, 2016

created: October 2, 2016


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Milwaukee Rep program gives teens a chance to take to stage as paid performers | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Allison Steines
October 3, 2016
The Milwaukee Repertory Professional Training Institute meets the third Monday of each month. More than 200 people auditioned and 17 performers were cast. (Photo by Allison Steines)
Braylen Stevens started acting in the fourth grade at First Stage Children’s Theatre. His earliest productions included “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “A Midnight Cry.” He has since starred in numerous church and community shows, as well as “A Raisin in the Sun” and “The Color Purple” at Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
Stevens said that recreating believable moments on stage is what fuels his love for acting. He is one of 17 teens chosen out of 200 contestants to participate in the Professional Training Institute (PTI) at The Rep.
Stevens recalled one incident in which he ate oatmeal on stage that had come right off the stove. “I was in the middle of delivering a line and I picked up the spoon full of oatmeal and stuffed my mouth not realizing how hot it was,” he said. “My words just turned into a blur. It was such a memorable funny moment. I think the audience got it too.”
At the first PTI session on Sept. 19, all of the young performers pulled red-cushioned chairs into a circle, sat down facing each other and introduced themselves. A black curtain draped the outer edges of the room, creating a warm theater ambiance; a buzzing energy filled the space.
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“The program exists to showcase the talent among young people in Milwaukee,” said Community Engagement Director Leda Hoffmann. “At auditions I said, ‘show us your best talent.’ I got a lot of singing and dancing. I also got some stilt walking. There was a contortionist. One person even sang while taking apart a Rubik’s Cube.”
PTI participants meet at The Rep for a master class on the third Monday of each month from 5 to 8 p.m.
Alexis Roston, the actress who plays Billie Holiday in “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” tells young performers about her personal experience in show business. (Photo by Allison Steines)
“Each class is taught by different professional artists and will emphasize performance training,” said Hoffmann. “The teachers will create what they want the class to be.”
Alexis Roston, the actress who plays Billie Holiday in “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” and Abdul Hamid Royal, the musical director, taught the first master class on the realities of show business.
“This is a business, and the people I know in this business that are successful aren’t halfway in,” said Royal. “There will be a day when you get through the awards, the applause, you finish bowing and you still have to figure out…how am I going to pay the mortgage, the kids are going to private school, I want to get my teeth done, a pedicure sounds nice, or hey it’d be great to eat something other than peanut butter and jelly.”
Royal started the class by asking the participants why they perform and what they would do if they couldn’t perform. Answers ranged from Kai Liebenstein’s response: “Performing is my center” to Chantae Miller’s: “It just makes me happy.” But all the actors had one thing in common: they hesitated before answering what they would do if they couldn’t perform. Each reply included sighs and silence.
Sam Landmark put it this way, “If I couldn’t perform the first thing I would do is die.”
“Yeah, for real… I’d just be dead,” joked Roston.
Landmark lives in Kenosha where he attends Tremper High School. Six of his 11 siblings were involved in theater for a long time, which inspired him to give it a try. Landmark’s passion for theater manifested at an early age; at 8 years old he landed his first role as a fish in “Seussical” at Spotlight Youth Theater. Since then, he has been cast in 25 musical productions.
“The most memorable was probably when I was in Godspell,” said Landmark. “We were doing a number and I did the splits and my pants ripped.” Landmark said he ran backstage after the mishap, but because his song was next, there was no time to fix the tear. His pants were taped back together and he had to waddle around on stage afraid to separate his legs. Landmark remembers the experience as nerve wracking.
(From left) Shontra Powell, Zoe Powell, Cole Hines and Janel Hines share a laugh when introducing themselves. (Photo by Allison Steines)
Roston advised performers to use the unexpected to their advantage within show business. For her, the unexpected is that she is 4’10” with a booming voice. She said the moments and qualities that set you apart also make you stand out.
Roston also told the performers to nurture their passions and set goals for themselves. “Maybe you’re thinking ‘I want to be on Broadway’ or ‘I want to have performed at all the regional theaters in my town.’ Whatever it is, set a goal and get to it.”
Liebenstein has been working on her theater goals since she was 6 years old, starting at the former Modjeska Youth Theater. She saw her cousin in the role of Peter Pan there, which inspired her to join the theater. Liebenstein, a junior at Milwaukee High School of the Arts, was adopted from China when she was 1 year old and has lived in Milwaukee ever since.
“When I was in ‘Christmas Carol’…the first time I saw the curtain go up and I saw the audience and how huge it was… it was outstanding,” said Liebenstein. “I was so happy my dream had come true and I was going to be performing on a main stage at the Pabst. It was a breathtaking moment for me.”
Throughout the program PTI performers will be challenged to improve their skills by working on body movement, voice, dialect, character development and more, according to Hoffmann.
“Our goal at the end of this is the summer performance in which all of the kids will be paid as professionals,” Hoffmann added.
The final performance will take place in mid-July 2017. The production and director have not yet been selected.

author: Allison Steines


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29901777771_d77cde2bc0_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 2, 2016


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St. Ann Center launches free health speakers series | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care
October 3, 2016
Children play inside the expansive atrium at the St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
Start off your week on a healthy note at St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care-Bucyrus Campus. Starting on Monday, October 3, the center’s medical clinic will sponsor a free . Focusing on a variety of health-related topics, the series will run weekly, 4 to 5 p.m., at 2450 West North Avenue.
The primary focus of St. Ann Center’s new medical clinic is providing comprehensive care and health education to Milwaukee’s north side community. The speakers series was developed based on surveys assessing neighborhood health concerns.
Topics for October include:
October 3: The Silent Killer: High Blood Pressure. DeDe Williams lost her father to high blood pressure and now works with the American Heart & Stroke Association to help others avoid losing loved ones to hypertension, a chronic condition for one in three American adults.
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October 10: Preventing Fatigue. Running on fumes? About 20% of Americans claim to have fatigue intense enough to interfere with living a normal life. As we head into the hibernation season, Hayat Pharmacies will discuss the causes of fatigue and simple ways to boost energy.
October 17: Have a Healthy Heart. Learn about heart disease and your personal risk for developing this serious illness, the leading cause of death among American men and women. Lisa Neal, R.N., a clinical nurse educator in the Intensive Care Unit at Aurora Sinai Medical Center, will lead the session, including goals for making heart-healthy life changes.
October 24: Advance Care Planning. At any age, a medical crisis could leave you too ill to make your own healthcare decisions. Marcia Isherwood, R.N., and Aurora parish nurse, will review points to cover regarding the care you’d want to receive if you were unable to speak for yourself, how to discuss the subject with loved ones, and creating your plan.
October 31: Healthy Eating. Learning to make healthy food choices is vital to achieving a healthy lifestyle. This session, offering simple steps to good nutrition, will be presented by Samuel L. Thurman, assistant manager at Fondy Food Market, the largest farmers market in Milwaukee.
The Healthy Mondays Speakers Series is co-sponsored by the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Outpost Natural Foods, the American Heart Association, Fondy Food Center, Hayat Pharmacies, and the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation’s GrapeVine Project.
For more information on St. Ann Center Medical Clinic-Bucyrus Campus or the speakers series, contact Stephanie Ghojallu at (414) 210-2430, sghojallu@stanncenter.org.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 3, 2016


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Alverno College launches new Doctorate of Nursing Practice | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Kelly Fay
October 4, 2016
In response to demand and the increasingly complex health care landscape, Alverno College is launching a post-master’s Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree and the first doctorate offering at the college. The program is for nurses looking to increase their marketability and maximize their potential for career growth. Alverno’s JoAnn McGrath School of Nursing is fully accredited and widely recognized as one of Wisconsin’s top nursing programs.
“We are excited to offer a doctorate degree to our nursing students and to advanced practice nurses in the community who are looking to advance their careers and earning potential,” said Margaret Rauschenberger, MSN, RN, interim dean of the JoAnn McGrath School of Nursing at Alverno College. “I often hear employers say they can always spot the Alverno graduates, and now we can offer our exemplary education to those wishing to earn a terminal degree.”
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reported substantial growth in DNP programs between 2006 and 2014. In that time, the number of programs increased from 20 to 264. From 2013 to 2104, the number of students enrolled in DNP programs jumped from 14,688 to 18,352. Advanced practice roles for nurses include clinical nurse specialists (CNS), nurse practitioners (NP), certified nurse midwives (CNM) and certified nurse anesthetists (CRNA). Nurses with a DNP will be able to assume leadership roles in complex clinical environments, lead the development of health care policy and serve as expert clinicians in health care.
Open to both women and men, Alverno’s DNP will launch in January and will offer two tracks, leadership and direct care. The leadership track requires 32 credits to complete, and the direct care track requires 30 credits to complete. Twelve courses will be offered in a flexible hybrid format that blends online and classroom education, and a cohort model will offer year-round courses in eight-week blocks. Students can choose to attend full or part time, and can complete the program in 18 months with full-time attendance.
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Alverno College has educated nurses for more than 80 years and is home to one of the largest undergraduate schools in nursing in Wisconsin. Students interested in applying for or learning more about the Doctorate of Nursing Practice program can find more information at https://www.alverno.edu/admissions/dnp/ or call the admissions office at 414-382-6100.
About Alverno College
Alverno College, a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college for women, exists to promote the personal and professional development of its students. The college has earned accolades and respect internationally for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, and has consulted with three U.S. presidential administrations on accountability and outcomes in higher education. For the last seven years, Alverno College has been ranked one of the top five schools in the Midwest doing “the best job of educating undergrads” by U.S. News & World Report. Educators from throughout the world visit Alverno to learn about its proven, student-centered teaching methods.
Alverno offers more than 60 major areas of study, including graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology and business that are open to women and men. For more information about Alverno, visit www.alverno.edu or call 414-382-6100.

created: October 4, 2016

author: Kelly Fay


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ob-students-2 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
October 4, 2016

author: Name *


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City of Milwaukee Operations Driver Worker job openings | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee
October 4, 2016

author: City of Milwaukee


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 4, 2016


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Make A Difference Day comes to Sherman Park | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee
October 4, 2016
Sherman Park (Photo by Adam Carr)
An unprecedented collaboration of nearly a dozen groups invites participation of neighbors in Sherman Park, especially the ”Tri-Block” area from North 51st to North 60th Streets and Center to Burleigh Streets, to join together on Sunday, October 23rd, to prepare streets and alleys for fall and winter weather. The day will culminate with a free community celebration and resource fair for neighbors and their families.
Fueled by the belief that our community is stronger when we know and are connected to each other, those interested in participating in the clean-up up (11:00am-1:00pm) or providing a resource table or other service to the community celebration (1:00pm-3:00pm) should contact Meagan Holman at the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee. Activities will be based out of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 2862 N 53rd St, Milwaukee, WI 53210.
This partnership of the Sherman Park Community Association, Tri-Block Neighborhood Organization, Safe & Sound, Common Ground, Sherman Park Action Network, Sherman Park Association of Religious Communities, Sherman Park/Northwest Interfaith Program for Older Adults, Center Street Marketplace Business Improvement District, and Burleigh Street Business Improvement District, is funded in part by the Nonprofit Management Fund and organized by community leaders and the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee.
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author: the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee


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NNS on Lake Effect Radio: Doulas of Color Collective | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
October 4, 2016
NNS reporter Naomi Waxman goes on the air with Lake Effect’s Joy Powers to talk about Doulas, pregnancy, and infant health and mortality.
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author: Dwayne Burtin


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Teens hear message of forgiveness from Israeli and Palestinian parents | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Naomi Waxman
October 4, 2016
Students from Messmer High School, Milwaukee High School of the Arts and Rufus King International High School gather to discuss the meaning of forgiveness and forging paths to peace. (Photo by Naomi Waxman)
At Rufus King International High School, two student organizations, Jew Crew and Friends of Islam, defy stereotypes by meeting regularly to dialogue and foster unity.
“Any time interfaith happens, that is a sacred thing,” said Kelly O’Keefe-Boettcher, an English teacher at Rufus King and faculty advisor to both student groups. Quoting American writer Alice Walker, she added, “Peace will come wherever it is sincerely invited.”
Students from Rufus King, Messmer High School and Milwaukee High School of the Arts recently gathered in the Rufus King auditorium to hear Bassam Aramin and Robi Damelin share their experiences with violence, loss and forgiveness. The Jewish Community Relations Council and Serve2Unite helped facilitate the event.
Damelin and Aramin are members of the Parents Circle – Families Forum (PCFF), a nonprofit organization uniting more than 600 Palestinian and Israeli families who have lost close relatives in the ongoing conflict. Established in 1995 by Yitzhak Frankental, an Israeli whose son was kidnapped and killed by Hamas, PCFF does not take a stance on possible solutions to the conflict, but endorses dialogue as an alternative to hatred and revenge.
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In 2007, Aramin’s 10-year-old daughter, Abir, was shot to death by Israeli soldiers at a border checkpoint. Five years earlier, Damelin had received word that a Palestinian sniper killed her son David, a reservist in the Israeli Defense Force.
“It is the worst thing to lose a child,” said Aramin, “but you cannot lose your mind.”
Aramin shared his own history as a young Palestinian man throwing rocks and later brandishing weapons at Israeli soldiers. Incarcerated at age 17, he languished in prison for seven years. This experience led him to the understanding that teaching yourself to talk to your enemy is a long process. He urged young people touched by violence to create a new future, quoting Mahatma Gandhi.
Rufus King sophomore Alesha Colbert thanks speakers Bassam Aramin and Robi Damelin for sharing their experiences with Milwaukee high school students. (Photo by Naomi Waxman)
“Be the change you want to see in the world,” he said.
Damelin and Aramin are proponents of reconciliation, a process utilized in South Africa after apartheid was abolished in 1994. Victims of human rights violations, as well as perpetrators, testified before the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, now the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, in public hearings. The successful establishment of democracy in South Africa is attributed in part to reconciliation practices.
Damelin was raised in South Africa during apartheid and is well acquainted with the profound consequences of segregation. “When you are separated from other people, you learn to fear each other,” she said. “That fear turns to hatred, hatred to violence.”
This sentiment resonated deeply with students. Milwaukee, according to 2010 census data, is one of the most segregated cities in the country. The city’s legacy of segregation gained national attention after the recent shooting death of Sylville Smith by a Milwaukee police officer and subsequent unrest in the Sherman Park neighborhood.
Damelin recounted her experience watching parents onstage at the Democratic National Convention whose unarmed African-American children were killed by law enforcement. She recalled thinking, “It would be amazing if mothers of officers killed would stand up and say ‘no more violence.’”
After Aramin and Damelin’s presentation, students gathered in a Rufus King classroom to share their emotions and process their own experiences with death and violence.
Fardowsa Mohamed, a 17-year-old senior at Rufus King and member of Friends of Islam, said that the organizations invited the PCFF speakers to send a message of peace and unity. “I thought it was really interesting that after going through tragedy they decided to look for peace instead of trying to get revenge,” she said.
She hopes that hearing Damelin and Aramin’s perseverance in the face of adversity will inspire young people in Milwaukee to look toward a brighter future rather than focusing on negativity.
Jacob Jones, a 17-year-old senior at Milwaukee High School of the Arts, agreed with Mohamed. “People our age should hear more about issues from around the world,” he said. “It’s important to have big perspectives on life.”
Jones was touched by Damelin’s idea to bring mothers of slain African-Americans and law enforcement officers together. Communication, he believes, can lead to forgiveness, while retaliation creates further division in Milwaukee and around the country.
Dosia McKinney, 17, a member of Jew Crew and junior at Rufus King, said she was pleased that the stories told by Aramin and Damelin helped students gain a better understanding of global issues.
“It’s much harder to forgive than to just lash out at someone,” she said. “That message is powerful.”

author: Naomi Waxman


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Sacred Garden and 100 Thousand Poets for Change host joint open mic at Arts @ Large | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mitchell Mittelstedt
October 5, 2016
Sacred Garden and 100 Thousand Poets for Change teamed up recently to present an intergenerational open mic at Arts @ Large, 908 S. 5th St.
Sacred Garden Open Mic Night is a youth-led open mic experience at Arts @ Large that allows students from around Milwaukee to share their artistry — including music, song, dance, spoken word, comedy and more.
Begun in March 2011, 100 Thousand Poets for Change is a nonprofit organization and global movement of poets, musicians and artists that organizes poetry readings, music and dance performances focused on issues of peace, justice and sustainability.
Margaret Rozga, co-organizer of the open mic on Sept. 23, said she approached Arts @ Large about hosting an event sponsored by 100 Thousand Poets for Change. At the time Rozga didn’t know Sacred Garden met at Arts @ Large. “I got to know Michaela (Lacy) and Symone (Leonard), and they right away said that they’d like to help.”
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Lacy, Leonard and Saleaqua Winston of Sacred Garden co-organized the event.
According to Lacy, Sacred Garden held its first open mic about a year ago. “It was supposed to be just a test run, and the room was packed. Artists came and blessed the stage and just started spitting just pure truth, and ever since, month after month after month has just been a completely successful, running open mic.”
While most of the work presented at the intergenerational event was original, some people recited the works of other poets, before passing the microphone to the next person.
“The intergenerational aspect of it, particularly, was important to me,” said Rozga. “A lot of poetry events that I go to are with people near my age, and I love them dearly, but I think we need an infusion of new energy, and that has certainly happened here.”

created: October 5, 2016


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And the Nonprofit Excellence Award Winners are… | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee
October 6, 2016
We’re excited to announce the winners of the
1: Organizational Leadership Winner: Dawn Nouffer / Down Syndrome Association of WI (DSAW)
2: Community Leadership Winner: Fill the Gaps / Arts @ Large
3: Philanthropic Leadership Winner: Max Ramsey / Friedens Community Ministries
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4: Catalytic Leadership Winner: Zilber Family Foundation, Neighborhood Investment
Emerging Leader Award Winner, sponsored by YNPN: Audra O’Connell, Executive Director, Walker’s Point Youth and Family Center
The winners will be recognized on October 13th at the NPC Nonprofit Lea dership Summit. Watch a VIDEO about the Summit, get the full agenda, and see the finalists for the disruptive leadership competition here.
Our Leadership Summit partners are UW-Parkside, UW-Milwaukee, IFF and the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network.

created: October 6, 2016


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City program saves low-income homeowners big bucks on repairs for housing code violations | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
October 6, 2016
The Department of Neighborhood Service’s Code Loan Program provided a no-interest deferred loan of more than $12,000 for repairs on Maria Alvarado’s home, including a new deck, stairs and a brick retaining wall. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
In late 2014, Maria Alvarado bought her first home, a foreclosed duplex in the Burnham Park neighborhood that she knew was a fixer-upper.
“We had the ceiling, floors and walls repaired, put in new doors and fixed a lot of other things,” said Alvarado in Spanish.
Later, contractors were hired to reinforce the deteriorating porch and balcony leading to an upper entrance. That’s when Alvarado’s problems began. She never secured a permit for the work, which was not in compliance with the city’s fire code. Eventually, an inspector from the Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS) levied a $1,430 fine against Alvarado and ordered her to rebuild the porch, among other fixes.
She was devastated. Already in debt from the other repairs, she put in extra hours at work to earn the money to pay the fine. That put a huge strain on her budget and knowing that a new porch would cost thousands more put a strain on the rest of her life.
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“I couldn’t sleep at night. I thought that just having steps that got me downstairs was enough and now I had to pay for a new porch with no money,” Alvarado said.
Across the city in a home near Rufus King High School, Joann Henning, 74 years old and retired, was mired in similar circumstances. A contractor she hired to repair her roof never finished the job. She lives on a fixed income, and didn’t have the financial means to complete the repairs. The unfinished roof netted Henning code violation fines along with fines for her water heater and gutters.
Maria Alvarado stands at the base of the staircase and upper deck built with funds provided by the Department of Neighborhood Service’s Code Loan Program. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
“I’d already used up the little monies that I had on the people who didn’t finish the roof. I didn’t know what to do,” Henning said.
Both women were urged by the inspector to apply for the city’s Compliance Loan Program (CLP), a DNS program started in 2014 that helps owner-occupants by providing a no-interest deferred-payment loan to finance repairs needed to bring homes up to code. Their orders to repair were put on hold during the application process and months later, both were accepted into the program.
The program covered more than $12,000 in repairs on Alvarado’s home, including a new staircase, front porch, handrails, retaining walls for the driveway, a chimney and new gutters. It covered nearly $15,000 in repairs to Henning’s home, including replacing the roof down to the shingles, doing gutter work, and repairing a bathroom floor and a broken water heater
The homeowners won’t have to make any payments as long as they don’t sell the home.
“They can deed it down to other family members who won’t have to pay it back unless they sell the house,” said CLP coordinator Ross Matters.
This year 35-40 homeowners will benefit from the program. Loans range from $1,000 to $15,000. The applicant’s total household income may not be greater than 50 percent of the County Median Income (CMI) based on current federal HUD thresholds. In 2015, 50 percent of the CMI for a household of four was $36,650. Homeowners must also be up to date on all utility payments and property taxes and meet other eligibility guidelines, including having an open code violation order.
Funding for the program is slated to increase from $500,000 in both 2015 and 2016 to $800,000 next year based on the proposed city budget. It began in 2014 with a budget of only $65,000.
Once a homeowner is accepted into the program, the city inspector creates a scope of work, which contractors bid on.
“The repairs they do are not Band-Aids or patchwork; these are long-term products that help improve the look of the homes and the neighborhood,” Matters said.
According to Ian Bautista, executive director of the Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative, the repairs are the result of effective DNS outreach in the community. Bautista said Matters regularly attends meetings of Rebuilding Our Neighborhood, a four-neighborhood partnership that meets to strategize and work together on housing efforts.
“Ross has been very accessible to all of us and very eager to come to our neighborhoods, meet with neighbors, answer questions and to assure that the neighbors know that the city is there to help them, not punish them for challenges they may be facing,” Bautista said.
Matters attended a recent housing resource fair at Journey House, encouraging neighbors to make exterior improvements to their homes, especially for properties that have code violations.
According to Stephanie Samarripa, DNS community outreach specialist, the department is making a concerted effort to be visible and active in the community, attending events such as housing fairs and informing residents of the many housing resources available in the city.
“We want to let as many residents as possible know about programs like CLP,” Samarripa said.
For Alvarado and Henning, those outreach efforts could have been the difference between keeping their homes or being forced to sell them.
“I felt so blessed to not have to worry about losing my house that I lit a candle and thanked God. Look how great everything looks,” said Alvarado, while standing on her new deck.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 6, 2016


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Milwaukee County Announces new milestone in efforts to end chronic homelessness | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chris Abele, Milwaukee County Executive
October 6, 2016
Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele and the Department of Health and Human Services Housing Division, in partnership with Cardinal Capital Management, Inc. and Wisconsin Community Services, today announced the grand opening of the Thurgood Marshall Apartments, Wisconsin’s first Harm Reduction housing development to serve low-income adults who are chronically homeless and suffer from chronic alcoholism.
A grand opening event, including tours, a short presentation and a speech from a Housing First participant will be held at the Thurgood Marshall Apartments today, October 6th, at 11 a.m. The media and community are invited to attend.
“Last July, we made a pledge to end chronic homelessness in Milwaukee County. The commitment of our partners and community members in the Thurgood Marshall Apartments is a significant step in reaching this goal,” said County Executive Chris Abele. “We are now able to provide safe housing to some of our most vulnerable homeless population as they begin their journey to stability and recovery.”
Milwaukee County, the City of Milwaukee and multiple community partners launched Milwaukee County’s Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, a Housing First approach to homelessness, in the summer of 2015 with the goal of ending chronic homelessness by 2018. Housing First is based on the idea that a homeless individual or household’s first and primary need is to obtain stable permanent housing, only then can they find stability and begin rebuilding their life.
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The Thurgood Marshall Apartments are located at 1918 N 6th Street and will provide 24 one-bedroom units of permanent, supportive housing for low-income adults who are chronically homeless and suffer from chronic alcoholism. Wisconsin Community Services will provide on-site social service support seven days per week, 24 hours per day. The supportive housing combined with support services is a harm reduction strategy that reduces the risks and harmful effects of substance use and guides an individual’s recovery.
“Milwaukee County, City of Milwaukee, WHEDA, PNC, First Business Bank, Wisconsin Community Services, and Halyard Park Neighborhood Association came together to make Thurgood Marshall Apartments a reality,” says Erich Schwenker, President of Cardinal Capital Management. “This building will serve as a path from addiction to recovery and offer individuals in need a home, as well as a chance to get their life back. It is an important step towards ending chronic homelessness in Milwaukee. Cardinal Capital was grateful to work with such wonderful partners.”
A Milwaukee County Innovation Grant in the amount of $500,000, a City of Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund award in the amount of $385,000 and $300,000 from the Milwaukee County Housing Division for services were leveraged along with $2.75 million in low-income housing tax credits awarded by WHEDA and purchased by PNC Bank, and a $1.2 million construction loan with First Business Bank to create this innovative and important way to show that Housing First works in Milwaukee.
Other partners in this effort include the Halyard Park Neighborhood Association, Milwaukee 6th District Alderwoman Milele Coggs, Milwaukee County Supervisor Willie Johnson, Housing and Urban Development, the Milwaukee County Housing Division, the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division and many others.
A grand opening event, including tours, a short presentation and a speech from a Housing First participant will be held at the Thurgood Marshall Apartments on Thursday, October 6 at 11 a.m. The media and community are invited to attend.

author: Chris Abele, Milwaukee County Executive


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Layton Boulevard West Tour of Homes to feature attractive homes, homebuying resources | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Layton Boulevard West Neighbors
October 7, 2016
Attendees enter a home during the 2013 tour. (Photo by Maggie Quick)
Layton Boulevard West Neighbors (LBWN) and Johnson Bank invite homebuyers from throughout the greater Milwaukee area to join them for a FREE Tour of Homes for sale in the diverse and vibrant neighborhoods of Silver City, Burnham Park and Layton Park.
Saturday, October 8th
10:00am-12:30pm
Urban Ecology Center
3700 W Pierce Street, Milwaukee, WI 53215
Pre-registration preferred: www.lbwn.org or 414.385.5300
At the Tour, attendees will walk through a variety of homes ranging from move-in ready homes to fixer uppers, and everything in between. In addition, they will learn about valuable homebuying resources, including:
In addition to learning about resources, tour participants will witness first-hand the many amenities that make Silver City, Burnham Park and Layton Park ideal places to purchase a home and raise a family, including:
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Layton Boulevard West Neighbors, Inc. (LBWN) builds strong and healthy communities in Milwaukee by stabilizing and revitalizing the Silver City, Burnham Park and Layton Park neighborhoods on the city’s South Side.

created: October 7, 2016

author: Layton Boulevard West Neighbors


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2016-fall-tour-of-homes-flyer-copy | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 7, 2016

author: Adam Carr


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2016-fall-tour-of-homes-flyer-copya | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 7, 2016


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 7, 2016


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City of Milwaukee Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault announces Domestic Violence Awareness Month | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Health Department
October 7, 2016
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the City of Milwaukee Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault is bringing attention to an issue that affects far too many victims through local activities and events to raise awareness and support those affected by domestic violence.
Domestic violence is the use of a pattern of abuse to maintain power and control in a relationship. It impacts people across all populations. On average, 20 people per minute are victims of physical violence by an intimate partner in the United States. The abuse is not always physical; it can include emotional, financial, sexual, and spiritual abuse.
Milwaukee has made considerable strides in efforts to address domestic violence; however, the work is not yet done.
The most recent mid-year report from the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission showed a significant increase in intimate partner homicides and shootings in the city of Milwaukee. The closing of vital resources, like Asha Family Services, an agency that supported victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking around the state for nearly three decades, represents a devastating loss of culturally-specific services for some of our community’s most vulnerable members at a time when they are needed most.
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We must act collectively to end domestic violence. The membership of the Commission remains committed to working together toward a future free from violence and calls on all community members to join this work.
Friends and family members are essential resources, who can reach out to victims, offer to be part of their safety plan and, above all, reassure them that the violence is not their fault. They are not alone. Help is available.
Violence is a learned behavior. For those who want to change their abusive behavior, resources are available. Children living in violence can experience trauma and are at risk of learning that violence resolves conflict. We must address the impact of domestic violence and trauma on children, and connect them with comfort and support to initiate their healing.
Milwaukee offers quality and confidential resources for those affected by domestic violence. A listing of resources is available through the Milwaukee Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault’s “You Are Not Alone” brochure, which is available in English and Spanish. Find this and a list of resources at Milwaukee.gov/staysafe.
Preventing violence before it starts is key. We advocate for interventions that address the root causes of violence. That conversation can begin during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The Milwaukee Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault is participating in the 2016 National Week of Action (October 16-22) and its #PurpleThursday campaign on October 20, organized by the National Network to End Domestic Violence. We encourage others to join us. Please find additional opportunities to raise awareness below.
Housed in the City of Milwaukee Health Department Office of Violence Prevention, the Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault was founded by the Milwaukee Common Council in 1979 and is a multidisciplinary board representing the many systems that serve families impacted by violence in our community to improve the local response to domestic violence and sexual assault. For more information, visit Milwaukee.gov/health.
2016 Domestic Violence Awareness Month – Activities and Events

author: City of Milwaukee Health Department


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Community organizations to Common Council: ‘More police is not the answer’ | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jabril Faraj
October 7, 2016
Patricia McManus, president of the Black Health Coalition, addresses the Public Safety Committee. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
Community organizations from across Milwaukee sent a clear, unified message to the Common Council at a recent Public Safety Committee hearing: more police will not be sufficient to reduce violence and crime in the city.
The packed hearing was called to solicit feedback on the committee’s draft public safety plan, which was released shortly after violent demonstrations ripped through the Sherman Park neighborhood in response to the police shooting of Sylville K. Smith, a 23-year-old black man. The plan recommends adding 280 police officers, 150 sheriff’s deputies and increasing time behind bars for juvenile offenders. Four additional hearings will be held to collect resident feedback.
Ald. Bob Donovan, chair of the committee, defended the plan and its focus on law enforcement. “This is just one in a series of plans that will be coming out of the Common Council,” he said, adding that other plans will focus on jobs and economic development, youth and education, and community engagement.
Many organizations that are a part of the Community Coalition for Quality Policing, including the ACLU of Wisconsin, Milwaukee NAACP, Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH) and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) raised specific concerns about the tactics and strategies of the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD).
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“The answer to the unrest in Milwaukee in August of this year, and to the violence in Milwaukee in general, is not more police,” said Joseph Ellwanger, a former pastor of Cross Lutheran Church representing MICAH. “We need a change in police strategy.”
A crowd largely made up of individuals representing community organizations looks on during a Public Safety Committee hearing to solicit feedback on the its draft public safety plan. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
Wisconsin ACLU Executive Director Chris Ahmuty criticized the use of pretextual stops — traffic stops for minor infractions, meant to deter more serious crime — saying the practice undermines the good things that are happening in terms of community engagement, on the part of police.
According to MPD standard operating procedure as of August 2014, MPD uses the stops to “make contact with citizens, target commonly stolen vehicles and focusing our efforts in those neighborhoods most afflicted by crime victimization. The preferred outcome of our trafﬁc stops in which no crime has been interrupted or discovered is a warning.”
A 2011 Journal-Sentinel analysis of traffic stops made by MPD showed that black drivers were seven times more likely than white drivers to be pulled over by police; Hispanics were pulled over nearly five times as often as white motorists. As many as 200,000 stops occur yearly.
“This city’s already fearful of police officers, and a lot of the time these officers are saying things to people that are making people even more fearful,” said Malcolm Hunt, a bishop at Least of These International Ministries who was a Milwaukee police officer for 25 years and works with families affected by homicide. He said residents don’t talk to officers because of a lack of sensitivity and confidentiality on the part of police.
The draft plan cites a recent increase in the number of violent crimes, including a 70 percent increase in homicides from 2014 to 2015 and a 68 percent increase in auto thefts since 2013, as a reason for the recommendations. The Milwaukee Police Department’s 2016 operating cost of $277 million is 45 percent of the city’s total $615 million budget.
A 2016 analysis by researchers from the University of Cincinnati that looked at 62 studies and 229 findings of police force size and crime between 1971 and 2013 found that “there is no good reason to suspect that marginally more police reduce crime at a meaningful level.” The paper concludes that “changing policing strategy is likely to have a greater impact on crime than adding more police.”
Community Coalition for Quality Policing members cited Cincinnati as an example of a community that is approaching policing in the right way. After riots in 2001 that resulted from 15 police killings of black men in a five-year period, police agreed to be more transparent, better discipline officers, establish a Citizen Complaint Authority, adopt new use-of-force policies and establish a mental health response team.
The new strategy called for fewer arrests, instead focusing on solving the problems that cause people to commit crimes. Jeanne Geraci, executive director of the Benedict Center, suggested MPD implement a street-level pre-booking diversion program that would reduce arrests and get people help.
In Cincinnati, between 1999 and 2014, police use-of-force incidents dropped 69 percent; citizen complaints declined 42 percent; citizen injuries were down by more than half. Violent crimes declined by almost 50 percent and misdemeanor arrests dropped from 41,708 in 2000 to 17,913 in 2014.
“That’s significant; that’s impactful. You talk about data-driven results. That’s something that I think that we could benefit from,” said Milwaukee NAACP President Fred Royal.
“The Milwaukee Police Department has been using problem-oriented policing strategies for decades in many different forms,” said MPD Sgt. Timothy Gauerke. “The Milwaukee Police Department has been and continues to be engaged with all residents of Milwaukee.”
Gauerke added that citizen complaints decreased 38 percent between 2013 and 2015; use-of-force incidents were down 25 percent over the same period. The number of citizen complaints in 2014 was slightly above 2001 levels, due to a spike in complaints between 2007 and 2012, according to the City of Milwaukee’s most recent budget.
“There are some things that are in place that they are trying to do,” said Brenda Hart-Richardson, an Amani resident who has been through abbreviated police training. “But, when they’re on the street, are they practicing what they’re being taught?”
Octavia Parker, also an Amani resident, suggested more regular contact with officers might help to decrease fear, both for old and young residents. “We had beat officers that walked the beat,” she said. “It wasn’t about the baseball cards (that officers handed out to children) — it was about the relationship that they had with the neighbors and the children. I think we need to get back to that.”
The draft plan recommends more walking and biking beat patrols. Royal also said body cameras that cannot be turned off could help improve relations.
Rethinking public safety
The plan cites “multigenerational poverty, joblessness, breakdown of the family, widespread drug abuse, a challenged education system and the lingering effects of the housing foreclosure crisis” as the root causes of Milwaukee’s situation. However, it provides no recommendations to address these issues.
“Police can’t do it all, and shouldn’t be expected to do it all,” said Elysse Chay Wageman, chair of the public policy work group for Beyond the Bell.
Added Sarah Milnar-McLaughlin, director of partnerships and community engagement at the Center for Youth Engagement, “We need to change our definition of public safety, as it is reflected in this plan, and as it is reflected in the city budget.”
“The key to preventing darkness and destruction in the City of Milwaukee is to attack the conditions of misery and want,” said Mose Fuller, pastor of St. Timothy Community Baptist Church, 3701 N. Teutonia Ave.
Fuller said there needs to be investment in economic opportunity across the city, not just in particular neighborhoods. Other individuals who testified pointed to creating living-wage jobs, providing effective drug treatment and more accessible mental health services, investment in youth programming and changing the narrative around young people. Some said real conversations and community building are necessary.
“We spend way too much time on rituals and politics than on problem-solving, when it’s obvious how hungry everybody is for the solutions,” said Tammy Rivera, executive director of the Southside Organizing Committee. She added that city leaders must make difficult decisions and sacrifices now.
Jay Holmes, who lives in Sherman Park, criticized the committee, saying it should have asked for resident feedback before releasing the plan. He said not enough has been done to provide opportunity and address the conditions people in Milwaukee face.
He added, “You’re not going to be able to talk your way out of this problem, and you’re not going to be able to pray your way out of this problem. It takes real action. The first action is: give everybody justice.”
Additional hearings for resident input will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, at Marshall High School, 4141 N. 64th St.; Saturday, Oct. 15, at Obama High School, 5075 N. Sherman Blvd.; Saturday, Oct. 22, at South Division High School, 1515 W. Lapham Blvd.; and Saturday, Oct. 29, at Pulaski High School, 2500 W. Oklahoma Ave.


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Mayor Barrett announces grant from United Way and Milwaukee Health Care Partnership to support reduction of childhood lead exposure | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Health Department
October 8, 2016
On Thursday, October 6, Mayor Tom Barrett and Health Commissioner Bevan K. Baker gathered with leaders from the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County and the health system members of the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership – Aurora Health Care, Ascension Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, and Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin – to announce funding support totaling $75,000 to the City of Milwaukee for efforts toward lead risk reduction.
“The City of Milwaukee has aggressively worked to reduce children’s exposure to lead hazards, and can report we are seeing the lowest levels on record today,” said Mayor Tom Barrett. “As we work to drive down rates even further by minimizing exposure to all lead hazards, I thank our dedicated community leaders for stepping forward to support this work.”
Through its Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and the efforts of community partners, the City of Milwaukee Health Department reports that the prevalence of blood lead levels of 10 ug/dL in children under 6 has decreased by 90 percent since 1997, and blood lead levels of 5 ug/dL have decreased by 64 percent since 2003.
As of 2015, 3 percent of Milwaukee children under 6 have blood lead tests at 10 ug/dL and 11.6 percent of children have blood lead tests at 5 ug/dL.
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“The City of Milwaukee Health Department is committed to making Milwaukee lead safe for all residents,” said Commissioner of Health Bevan K. Baker. “Through lead paint abatement, effective water treatment, and the control of lead hazards in soil, toys, food and other sources, we can continue to eliminate or reduce exposure to lead in our environment.”
Lead is not found in Milwaukee’s source water or public water system. However, lead can enter water as the result of the wearing away of materials containing lead, such as in internal plumbing fixtures or in the service line that brings water to a home. When water stands for several hours or more in fixtures or pipes that contain lead, the lead may leach into the water.
Since 1996, Milwaukee Water Works has safely treated its water to reduce the risk of lead exposure, and Milwaukee water continues to meet EPA testing guidelines. Along with this step, residents who live in homes with lead service lines can take additional steps to reduce their risk of lead exposure, including the use of cold water for cooking and drinking, flushing plumbing when water sits for an extended period, and the use of a water filter certified to remove lead. This is recommended for residents in homes with lead service lines and vulnerable populations in the home.
“Filters are especially important for our most vulnerable populations like young children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers,” said Nicole Angresano, vice president of Community Impact for United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County. “We knew it was important to step up and be part of the solution to ensure the health and safety of our community members.”
The United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County’s grant of $15,000 launched funding support from the area’s four major health systems.
Nick Turkal, MD, CEO of Aurora Health Care, who sits on United Way’s Board of Directors, recognized the importance of the grant and Aurora Health Care immediately matched United Way’s grant amount.
“Clean water is a fundamental component of good health and well-being and everyone deserves access to it,” said Nick Turkal, MD, CEO of Aurora Health Care. “We are proud to work with United Way in taking the lead on this very important cause, and are pleased that the other health systems are following suit to help address this critical issue in our community.”
“As a healthcare leader in Wisconsin, we are committed to compassionate, personalized care for all, especially those who need it most. Access to healthy drinking water is no exception,” said Bernie Sherry, Senior Vice President, Ascension Health/Wisconsin Ministry Market Executive. “Ascension is proud to proactively address viable solutions to childhood lead exposure, which aligns with our mission and the needs of the local community.”
“With their small, still-developing bodies and minds, children are uniquely affected by lead exposure. We at Children’s Hospital see that impact first hand,” said Peggy Troy, President and CEO, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. “The vision of Children’s Hospital is to make sure Wisconsin’s children are the healthiest in the nation. And that starts with safe drinking water. We are pleased that the area’s health systems have come together for the health and wellbeing of our children and the community.”
“Reducing barriers to health and quality of life is a vital responsibility of health care leaders,” said Cathy Jacobson, president and chief executive officer of Froedtert Health. “We are proud to be part of this partnership that reflects a deep commitment to a strong future for our city.”
The City of Milwaukee is currently developing a plan to make filters accessible to residents who live in properties with lead service lines and have vulnerable populations of children under 6, especially bottle-fed infants, as well as pregnant or breastfeeding women, in the home and may not be able to afford a filter. The City of Milwaukee Health Department and Milwaukee Water Works websites have lists of retail faucet filters certified to remove lead.

created: October 8, 2016


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Mellowes, Penebaker honored by Greater Milwaukee Foundation | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
October 10, 2016
Two women whose passion and leadership have uniquely enhanced the greater Milwaukee region and expanded opportunities for many throughout the community were honored Thursday by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation for their service.
Linda Mellowes, volunteer and philanthropist, received the 2016 William C. Frye Award for her deep commitment to the community. The Greater Milwaukee Foundation board is among the seven nonprofit boards Mellowes has chaired through the years, along with United Way of Greater Milwaukee, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Columbia St. Mary’s and others. Her philanthropic impact has been vast through family giving, contributions from the Charter Manufacturing Company Foundation and her tireless championing of fundraising campaigns that strengthen community organizations in greater Milwaukee.
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s William C. Frye Award honors those who through their volunteer work have made the region a better place. Frye was a prominent community leader who served as chairman of the Rex Chainbelt Company and the Foundation’s Board.
Paula Penebaker, president and CEO of YWCA Southeast Wisconsin, received the 2016 Doug Jansson Leadership Award. Penebaker has been with the YWCA in a leadership capacity since 1999, following a career in the for-profit sector. She has shaped how the organization promotes and advances racial justice, economic empowerment, and health and safety for women and field of color. She has served as chair of the YWCA USA board of directors as well as the boards of Professional Dimensions, Public Policy Forum and Milwaukee County Federated Library System.
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The Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Doug Jansson Leadership Award was created in honor of the longtime Foundation president. It recognizes local nonprofit leaders, especially those engaging underserved communities.
Both awards were presented at the Foundation’s annual Lunch with the President event.

created: October 10, 2016

author: Greater Milwaukee Foundation


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Police chief discusses ‘crisis of legitimacy’ facing law enforcement officers | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Naomi Waxman
October 10, 2016
Police Chief Ed Flynn (right) chats with former Milwaukee Press Club president Wayne Youngquist after speaking at the Newsroom Pub. (Photo by Naomi Waxman)
Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn is critical of elected officials who he says are taking “the easy way out” when it comes to blaming police for society’s ills.
“[They] don’t have to talk about education, don’t have to talk about employment, don’t have to talk about mental health, don’t have to talk about substance abuse, because those are messy, hard and expensive,” he added.
Flynn maintains that the state legislature bears part of the burden for disinvestment in services such as the mental health care system and substance abuse treatment. “We’ve managed in the last 30 years to disinvest in the social safety network,” he said. “The urban issues have been taken off the national and state agenda for the last 30 years.” He cited Milwaukee and Kansas City, Missouri, as examples of cities facing “legislatures [that] are actively hostile to urban interests.”
Both Milwaukee and Kansas City are among the most segregated cities in the country.
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Speaking at a recent Milwaukee Press Club luncheon, Flynn also asserted that media coverage of police-community relations has encouraged non-compliance among citizens.
Police Chief Ed Flynn talks to TMJ 4’s Andrew Triplett after a Q&A session. (Photo by Naomi Waxman)
“Stories beat data, which just kills you when all I’ve got is data and all [the media has] are stories. Where can we meet where stories and data coexist in a way to give information to the public to make rational policy decisions?” said Flynn.
For example, he stated that when the media show slow-motion videos of a police officer using force, it appears that the officer had ample time to make a decision when, in fact, choices must be made in mere seconds.
Addressing the recent proposal by the Common Council’s Public Safety Committee to implement new law enforcement policies as well as adding 150 sheriff’s deputies and 280 police officers, Flynn said, “Sure, more cops would help.” However, he added, “The local taxpayer shouldn’t have to foot 100 percent of the bill when the entire state depends on Milwaukee’s productivity. The entire state uses its amenities.”
Forty-five percent of the city’s budget, $277 million of a total $615 million, goes to the police department, according to an analysis of the city budget by the Public Policy Forum. The department also received nearly all of the city’s 6 percent increase in expenditures between 2011 and 2015, $3.8 million in total. The forum added that in light of expiring federal grants, this money was needed to maintain existing levels of sworn law enforcement officers.
“Maintaining sworn strength levels will not require as big a financial commitment in the future… however, the pressures associated with replacing retiring officers, modernizing technology, and accommodating natural growth in police salaries and benefits still could crowd out other needs,” the forum wrote.
Flynn also addressed the tensions between communities and police departments across the country. “American policing, despite the fact that it’s more diverse, more selective, more highly trained, more restrained in the use of force with higher levels of integrity than in any time in it’s history, is facing a crisis of legitimacy,” he said. “Most tragically, it’s facing a crisis of legitimacy in those very neighborhoods that historically and continually need us the most.”
A new study published in the American Sociological Review found that residents of black neighborhoods were less likely to report crime after wide media coverage in the wake of the police beating of Milwaukee resident Frank Jude in 2004.
“Controlling for crime, prior call patterns, and several neighborhood characteristics, we find that residents of Milwaukee’s neighborhoods, especially residents of black neighborhoods, were far less likely to report crime after Jude’s beating was broadcast,” researchers wrote. The study of call data, by researchers from Harvard University, Yale University and the University of Oxford, estimated that 22,200 fewer calls were placed than would have been made otherwise, and this effect lasted more than a year after the attack.
When asked what the forthcoming Department of Justice’s collaborative reform initiative report will show, Flynn said he believes the finding will be “needs improvement.” The collaborative reform initiative is a voluntary review by federal authorities who are examining police policies, training and practices and will make recommendations. Police departments in Baltimore, North Charleston and St. Louis are among those that have also undergone this federal review after accusations of excessive use of force.
“I’m hoping they’ll recognize the things that we do and I recognize they’ll make recommendations to do things better, particularly… in terms of community outreach and communication,” Flynn said. “Everybody can get better at that or should get better at that.”


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 10, 2016


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Read Anywhere: Partnership for Literacy launch event and citywide photo campaign | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
COA Youth & Family Centers
October 10, 2016
The Read Anywhere: Partnership for Literacy launch event will be held this Monday, October 10 at COA Youth & Family Centers’ Goldin Center (2320 W Burleigh)  from 5 – 6:30 p.m. as part of the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) Program Family Gathering Night. Clifford the Big Red Dog will be handing out books and taking pictures with families enrolled in the HIPPY – Milwaukee program. There will also be a meal, arts and crafts, a magician, and a giveaway of book bags donated by Sam’s Hope Literacy Foundation, Scholastic, and the Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation.
Read Anywhere is launching a photo campaign asking parents to take pictures reading with their children around Milwaukee to post on social media. All Milwaukee families are encouraged to participate, be creative and post photos to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #ReadAnywhereMKE.  The Read Anywhere: Partnership for Literacy is between HIPPY – Milwaukee, Sam’s Hope Literacy Foundation and Scholastic Book Fairs and is designed to bring greater access to books and promote literacy for young children and families, with a specific emphasis on at-risk communities. Future plans for the partnership include read-ins at local landmarks, libraries, museums, schools, and other venues focused on young children.
The HIPPY Family Gathering Night is a unique opportunity to interact with participants and educators in the internationally-recognized early education program that provides hundreds of Wisconsin families with free in-home instruction, curriculum, supplies, and of course, books. COA’s HIPPY Program serves parents with children ages 3-5, and features a 30-week curriculum with age-appropriate activities and lessons that can be adapted based on each child’s developmental progress. Last year, 99% of parents in the HIPPY program believed that participating in HIPPY would make their children more successful in school.
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Margie Margolies, Board Chair of HIPPY U.S.A. and ardent supporter of early education in Milwaukee, said “HIPPY focuses on empowering parents to be their children’s first, most important teachers and emphasizes the importance of spending time together reading every day. The new Read Anywhere partnership will help promote literacy by encouraging parents to read with their children and giving them access to great books.”

author: COA Youth & Family Centers


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On the Block: ‘Tenfold’ reward | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
October 11, 2016
Two 11-year-old brothers came to the attention of Betty Glosson and her neighbor when the twins rescued residents of a nearby apartment building that had caught fire by kicking in the door. Glosson and her neighbor in Midtown each took in one of the boys, but their parents showed up not long after Glosson formally applied for a foster license.
Back with their parents, the twins eventually ended up in prison, one with a life sentence for a serious crime. Glosson feels that if she had more time to influence the boys’ lives, the outcome would have been much more positive. Glosson has since fostered many children. She said the reward for fostering comes back tenfold.
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created: October 11, 2016

author: Andrea Waxman


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Sixteenth Street helps community members take control of their sexual health in honor of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers
October 11, 2016
On Friday, Oct. 14, Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers will host a Sexual Health Awareness event in honor of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, which falls on Oct. 15. Located at Sixteenth Street’s Greenfield clinic (1337 S Cesar Chavez Drive), the event will include a grill out, community education and free rapid confidential HIV, Hep C and syphilis testing from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
“National Latino AIDS Awareness Day calls the community to join together to further awareness of HIV infection and stigma, encourage HIV testing and work to build a community empowered in its health care,” said Jennifer Ward, manager of the HIV department at Sixteenth Street.
According to Wisconsin Department of Health Services, in 2015, 62 percent of new HIV diagnoses were among racial minorities, despite minorities making up just 17 percent of Wisconsin’s population. During 2011-2015, the HIV diagnosis rate for males was 13-fold higher among Blacks and six-fold higher among Hispanics. For females, the rate was 25-fold higher among Blacks and eight-fold higher among Hispanics.
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With HIV infection disproportionately affecting racial minorities, AIDS awareness is a key focus for Sixteenth Street’s patient population who are Hispanic and live in underserved areas throughout the south side of Milwaukee.
Sixteenth Street staff members also will be distributing Prevention 101 handouts, information on medicine used to prevent infection like PEP and PrEP, and safe sex kits at the event. We invite you to join us on Oct. 14 to see first-hand how the community health center is raising awareness of and helping to prevent HIV and AIDS.