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Post from Community: YWCA Southeast Wisconsin announces eliminating racism and racial justice legacy award recipients | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
YWCA Southeast Wisconsin
November 29, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
YWCA Southeast Wisconsin (SEW) named Erica Turner and Gary Hollander, PhD as recipients of its two distinct racial justice awards. The awards presentation will take place during the 15th Annual An Evening to Promote Racial Justice celebration on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at the Marcus Performing Arts Center. The event begins at 5:00 p.m. with a welcome reception for guests.
Erica Turner, co-creator of grassroots organization, Bridge the Divide has won YWCA SEW’s Eliminating Racism award for her significant work in the community as an advocate for building a world of justice and equity. Erica often sponsors racially literate podcasts, educational programming, community projects, film series’ and book studies to promote lasting, cross-cultural connections in Southeast Wisconsin. Her goal is to facilitate community conversations that launch joint, achievable, sustainable solutions, especially in the North Shore suburbs and exurbs.
Erica was also the recipient of the Spirit of Unity and NAACP Game Changers awards in 2018.
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“Erica is committed to interacting with love, listening while reserving judgment, fostering healing from racial injustices, and waking up apathetic attitudes.” stated Heidi Erstad “We are proud to support Erica in all that she does to improve the community.”
The second award will honor Gary Hollander, PhD, Founding President and CEO, Diverse and Resilient, Inc. and President and principal consultant for Gary Hollander Enterprises. Gary Hollander will receive the Racial Justice Legacy award presented by YWCA SEW President and CEO, Paula Penebaker. This legacy award recognizes the many distinctive ways Gary has given back to our community with a focus on justice for the vulnerable. He has been deeply involved in board service to the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin, Human Rights League, Wisconsin HIV Planning Consortium, Wisconsin AIDS Fund, Milwaukee Teen Pregnancy Prevention Oversight Committee and the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Committee of United Way Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County.
He has received many awards over the years, many of which recognize him for his teaching and excellence in clinical care, philanthropy, service, allyship and youth advocacy. Most recently, Gary received a Proclamation from Mayor Tom Barrett to acknowledge June 9, 2015 as Gary Hollander Day.
“I could not think of an individual more deserving of this honor than Gary.” expressed Paula Penebaker, president and CEO of YWCA Southeast Wisconsin “His personality is larger than life, and his heart beats so that he can live to enrich the lives of others. I am blessed to know him and we are all fortunate that he commits so much to the community.” To learn more about the 15th annual An Evening to Promote Racial Justice, visit our website www.ywcasew.org. Ticket sales end on Monday, December 2, 2019.
# # #
About YWCA Southeast Wisconsin
With a bold mission to eliminate racism and empower women, YWCA SEW’s work has three focus areas shared by YWCAs nationwide: racial justice, economic empowerment, and health/safety of women and their families. Serving 12,000+ individuals annually, YWCA SEW equips and challenges our community to commit itself to peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Through its distinctive economic empowerment program services, as well as racial justice thought leadership and community engagement, YWCA SEW is focused on building a more just and equitable Southeast Wisconsin.

author: YWCA Southeast Wisconsin


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image007 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 29, 2019

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: November 29, 2019

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

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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image008 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 29, 2019


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image009 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 29, 2019


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‘You don’t have to walk through two football fields to find what you’re looking for’: How to support entrepreneurs of color this weekend | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
November 29, 2019
Lilo Allen (in gold) discusses the Bronzeville Collective MKE to a group of youths from Neu-Life Community Development in summer of 2019. The collective is one of several minority-owned businesses that will be hosting special holiday shopping events this weekend. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Walk into the Bronzeville Collective MKE, and every item, from the merchandise sold to the paper flowers decorating the wall, is authentically curated or handmade.
Even the colorful tapestries that adorn the tables and rest under merchandise have a story. They are souvenirs that the collective’s co-founder and Milwaukee native Lilo Allen brought back from her travels in Turkey, London and across Europe.
“It’s our Amazon-free model,” Allen said. “You don’t have to walk through two football fields to find what you’re looking for.”
Allen, who also owns Papyrus & Charms, is one of the 25 creatives of color who sell their merchandise at the collective, which is just one of dozens of businesses in the Central City that will be taking part in events this weekend to kick off the holiday shopping season.
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Here are some ways to support entrepreneurs of color:
Vendors of Botanica Galactica, 719 S. 5th St., are “shimmying back your way” to their Small Business Saturday market, Sábado Soul.  Join in the fun from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to celebrate and support local business owners. From bakery items to Tarot card readings, there are ways for you to treat yourself while you shop for gifts. Click here for more information.
The Bronzeville Collective MKE, 339 W. North Ave., will host an entire weekend of shopping, featuring discounts on handmade items from more than a dozen black-owned Milwaukee businesses.
Deals begin on Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., continuing Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, click here.
The Sherman Phoenix: One Year, Still Rising
Sherman Park’s entrepreneur hub has plenty to celebrate this weekend, including its one-year anniversary. The Sherman Phoenix, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., will be hosting a Black Friday marketplace on Friday, Nov. 29s from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Phoenix will also host a Small Business Saturday marketplace from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with an anniversary celebration to follow from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here for the free event.
Located in the Sherman Phoenix, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., Vibez Creative Arts Space will be teaming up with the Milwaukee Brotherhood of Firefighters for their Black Friday event on Nov. 29. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., stop in to enjoy a raffle, free gift wrapping, music and local vendors. The Milwaukee Brotherhood of Firefighters will also provide on-site registration for the fire cadet program. Click here for more details.
Vibez also will partner with other businesses on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the “Shop With US” market. Featured products for sale by local vendors will include spa manicures, all-natural soy candles, handcrafted accessories, gourmet sauces and more. Check here to learn more.
All three Pop-Up MKE shop locations will host Small Business Saturday events to kick off holiday shopping in the community. Here’s information about two events:
1. Marketplace BID #32, 1860 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
This Pop-Up MKE location is home to two participants: The Classic Shoppe and Elevated Healing & Massage. The marketplace will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Click here for more information.
2. LUNA, 1037 S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive
Latinas Unidas En Las Artes, or LUNA, will be hosting Shop Small Saturday at its pop-up storefront. The day will begin at 10 a.m. with light refreshments. Stop in for one-of-a-kind art, clothing and jewelry created by local Latinx artists.
Bonus: Recycle the Black Dollar: The Holiday Edition
This event brings a collection of local black-owned businesses together. It will be hosted by United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County at the Johnson Controls Volunteer Center, 200 W. Pleasant St. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14.

author: Bridget Fogarty


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 27, 2019

created: November 27, 2019

author: Adam Carr


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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: Dec. 2 to Dec. 7 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
December 2, 2019
Fathers Making Progress and Ex Fabula are hosting the “Fatherhood Experience” on Thursday. (Photo provided by Fathers Making Progress)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some events we think you shouldn’t miss. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by
Ald. Chantia Lewis, Ald. Cavalier Johnson and Ald. Nikiya Dodd are presenting an update on business opportunities for the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Small business owners will be able to learn how they can benefit from the DNC. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required by Monday, Dec. 2. To register, click here. The event will be held at the Granville Connection, 8633 W. Brown Deer Rd., from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
2. Readings from “Green Card Youth Voices”“Green Card Youth Voices: Immigration Stories from Madison and Milwaukee High Schools” is a collection of 30 personal essays written by young immigrants who consider Wisconsin their home. Authors Aziz Kamal, Bibi Sadeeqa Sulaimankhel and Juweriya Hassen will each read an excerpt from the book on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Madison Poet Laureate Oscar Mireles will host and moderate. The event will be held at the Woodland Pattern Book Center, 720 E. Locust St., and begins at 6:30 p.m.
Ascension St. Joseph, 5000 W. Chambers St., is offering free flu shots on Wednesday, Dec. 4. The shots will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This offer is available to all those who haven’t received a flu shot yet.
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4. The “Fatherhood Experience”Fathers Making Progress and Ex Fabula are hosting the “Fatherhood Experience” on Thursday, Dec. 5. Milwaukee fathers of color are invited to share their stories and experiences during an Ex Fabula workshop at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 1531 W. Vliet St., from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event is free, but registration is required. To register, email FMPMKE@gmail.com.
5. Youth and young adult resource fairThe Coalition on Lead Emergency is hosting a resource fair for youths and young adults on Saturday, Dec. 7. Information on programs, services and employment opportunities will be provided. Various organizations will be in attendance, including Public Allies, Earn & learn, Employ Milwaukee, MPS Youth Apprenticeship and more. The fair will take place at the COA Goldin Center, 2320 W. Burleigh St., from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, click here.
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is a nonprofit news organization. In order to survive, we rely on donations. Consider making a donation to our NewsMatch campaign, which ends Tuesday, Dec. 31. When you donate, NewsMatch will match your donation up to $1,000. Click here to donate.

created: December 2, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 1, 2019

created: December 1, 2019


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OPINION: Confessions from a 40-year-old ‘senior’ who’s thisclose to getting his undergraduate degree | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
December 2, 2019
Adult learners get their day in the sun during a special ceremony at MATC in May. (File photo by Mark Doremus)
Editor’s note: Got something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Dwayne Burtin, deputy editor for digital at the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, writes about his decision to complete his degree as an adult student.
Why bother?
I’ve asked myself that question many times. It’s often given me pause and consequently caused several delays in the completion of my degree.
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I found myself taking multiple semester breaks off, citing life and work as the reasons. There were always big projects that needed extra attention. Being a single parent didn’t make it easier. There was always a large demand for my time.
Fortunately, I got it together and got back on track. I’ll finish my final three credits in January.
As this part of my journey ends, I thought about a few of the takeaways I’ve gained through my experience. Here are five of them:
My kids have always seen me work hard. I’ve tried to be a good example of a father, a man and a human being in general. I’ve made many mistakes; I’m human. Sometimes the best lessons we can give are birthed from our mistakes. Through them we learn to be resilient. We learn to rise and follow through.
My kids have seen me study. Complain about homework. And now they can see me walk the stage in my cap and gown knowing that I never gave up. That’s powerful.
Being that I’m an adult working professional I’ve had to develop a lot of my soft skills in the real world. Some of what my classes had to offer I admittedly didn’t need.
However, my core studies and many of the other specialized courses I took were invaluable to me immediately.  I learned lessons that I could use in real life, at work, at home, even in my personal relationships.
“My kids have always seen me work hard. I’ve tried to be a good example of a father, a man and a human being in general. I’ve made many mistakes,” says Dwayne Burtin, pictured with his daughter, Angel, a freshman at Marquette University. Burtin will graduate in January. (Photo provided by Dwayne Burtin)
My daughter is now a freshman in college. I hear all the horror stories about students barfing all over campus and throughout the dorms. Newfound freedom plus alcohol equals lowered inhibitions — and did I mention barfing?
Those are 20-year-old problems. As a seasoned vet you already know your limits and you shouldn’t be out drinking with 20-year-olds anyway.
Younger me hated being in school. There were so many other things I wanted to do with my time that were way more interesting than sitting in a class.
Older me loves being in class learning new things. Gaining new insight.
College has increased my world view.
I’ve always been considered smart, and I’ve always been good about seeking out information on my own. But there’s only so far you can go on your own without a tour guide.
The directed learning helps give meaning and focus, and a more seasoned student can soak up more than a traditional college undergrad.
It’s definitely something to be proud of. If you’re an undergrad in college and you are 40+, it’s likely that you weren’t on an easy path in life. You worked hard. You gained some real-world experience. You’ve seen some things. Done some things, too.
Yet here you are.
In college, finishing your undergraduate degree. Who wouldn’t admire you for that?
It takes guts.
Admiration itself should never be the goal. Realistically, you should always be striving to become a better version of you.
But going back to school and completing a degree at 40 makes you a damn hero, and we all admire heroes.

author: Dwayne Burtin


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angel-and-wayno | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 1, 2019


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‘A big win’: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service selected to host Report For America journalist | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
December 3, 2019
The NNS newsroom will get even bigger next year. We will host a reporter from Report For America. Our reporter, the first full-time journalist in our history, will cover health and faith. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service has been selected as one of the winning newsrooms to host a reporter for Report for America, which places talented emerging journalists in local newsrooms.
An initiative of The GroundTruth Project, Report for America addresses an urgent need in journalism at a time when news deserts are widening across the country, leaving communities uninformed on local issues and threatening our democracy like never before.
“This is a big win for NNS because it will allow us to have our first full-time reporter,” said Ron Smith, editor of the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, a local nonprofit newsroom housed in the Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University. “It’s a win for the community we love so much.”
The NNS newsroom consists of six paid part-time reporters and editors and a talented cohort of community volunteers and student interns.
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Newsrooms were selected through a rigorous national competition. Each application was evaluated at least four times by some 50 judges—industry leaders who included former editors and reporters, journalism professors and more.
Report for America said it will field 250 journalists in 164 host news organizations to serve local communities across 46 states in the coming year.
This is more than four times the size of the 2019 class, who have been reporting in some 50 local news organizations across 28 states and Puerto Rico. Monday’s news marks the single biggest hiring announcement of journalists in recent memory—and comes as a direct response to the worsening crisis in local news across the country, according to Report for America leaders.
In addition to NNS, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and WTMJ (Channel 4) also will host Report for America journalists in Milwaukee.
The NNS reporter will cover health, looking at access to care, chronic diseases, mental health and other issues, as well as the role faith plays in our communities.
“Some of our readers are literally dying because of a lack of knowledge. We want to connect them with resources, illuminate issues and continue to celebrate the ordinary folks who are doing extraordinary things,” Smith said.
The dramatic expansion of the corps was made possible by leadership support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Facebook Journalism Project, the Joyce Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, the Google News Initiative, the Ford Foundation, Heising-Simons Foundation, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, the Tow Foundation and many more.
“Report for America is strengthening local journalism by placing talented journalists in communities and statehouse bureaus that are in need of rigorous reporting,” said Jennifer Preston, Knight Foundation vice president for journalism. “The expansion of the journalist corps is essential to inform and engage residents at the state and local level and sustain quality journalism to build a healthy democracy.”
Report for America is funding these new positions with more than $5 million in direct support to newsrooms. This investment leverages a unique funding model in which RFA  pays half of a corps member’s salary, while asking its local news partners to contribute one-quarter and supporting them in getting local and regional funders to contribute the final quarter. The goal of the model is to expand the number of local reporting positions permanently.
“We offer a pretty simple fix for news holes in communities throughout the country—local reporters on the ground, who hold leaders accountable and report on under-covered issues,” said Steven Waldman, president and co-founder of Report for America. “The editors we’ve met during our application cycle have shown us amazing passion, commitment and sharp ideas for how to better serve their local communities.”
“Report for America is about serving these communities and helping to restore the pipeline for a new generation of journalists. We understand our program may not fix all that is broken in local journalism, but we are honored to be part of a wider community directly confronting the crisis and doing everything we can to restore journalism from the ground up,” said Charles Sennott, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of GroundTruth, which launched Report for America in 2017.
Corps members will attend Report for America’s intensive training in June, at a site to be determined, before joining their newsrooms to launch their first year of service. The 2020 newsrooms hosting corps members can be found here.
This is the second major win for NNS this year. In October, it was announced that NNS would join forces with two other nonprofit newsrooms to launch News414, a Google-funded project to learn what residents want to read and then to send those reports to their phones via text messaging.
Help us keep the momentum going by donating during our annual (and crucial) fund-raising campaign.

created: December 3, 2019

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 2, 2019


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NNS Spotlight: Program fosters friendship, empathy among diverse students | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
December 3, 2019
Eighth graders from the Indian Community School and the Milwaukee Jewish Day School participate in an exercise that raises awareness of how different cultures’ social rules affect relationships between different ethnic, racial and religious groups. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to correct Mark Denning’s name and status and to say that Repairing Together is a program of the Milwaukee Jewish Day School.
Editor’s note: This story is part of an  occasional series  that highlights groups and people worth knowing in Milwaukee. To nominate a person or a group, email  info@milwaukeenns.org  and put “Spotlight” in the subject line.
When students graduate from the Indian Community School, located on a wooded campus in Franklin, they leave a close-knit environment, where Native cultures, languages and values are woven into their education. They spread out to high schools across the Milwaukee area, where they are thrown into contact with students from different cultural, racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Last year, through a program called Repairing Together, the classmates learned about the lives of Jewish, Latinx and African American students.
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Jason Dropik, the head of the Indian Community School, believes the program will help his K-8 graduates make friends and more easily navigate the transition to high school and beyond.
Dropik said “people can be placed in groups and pitted against each other, and there can be a sense that you have to isolate to really thrive.” But getting people together to know and accept each other helps them to be more empathetic, more forgiving and more patient, he said.
Repairing Together was launched by founder Elsien Crawford at the beginning of the 2016 school year. Eighth graders from Milwaukee College Prep’s 38 Street campus, where most students are African American, and seventh and eighth graders from the Milwaukee Jewish Day School were the first to participate. Repairing Together is now a program of the Milwaukee Jewish Day School.
Nicole Becker’s third graders from Milwaukee College Prep’s 38th Street campus and their partners from the Milwaukee Jewish Day School make paper from scratch using local wildflower seeds at the Urban Ecology Center. (Photo by Mascha Visser)
The program brings students from different backgrounds and neighborhoods together to work on service-learning activities. The goal is to give them opportunities to share their own experiences and to provide a forum for understanding one another’s world views.
Crawford, a native of the Netherlands, moved to Milwaukee after marrying a local man. She is multilingual and grew up valuing her experience with diverse friends she met at school and while traveling.
Starting with 80 eighth graders, she used professionally prepared evaluation tools to measure shifts in attitude and empathy and discovered the biggest impact showed up among the youngest students.
The following year, Bruce Guadalupe Community School, whose students are mostly Latinx, joined the program, and it expanded to more grades.
By the end of this school year, Crawford expects more than 1,500 will have participated.
Her goal is to start with K4 students at all four schools and take them through eighth grade so that they will have spent 10 years together by the time they enter high school.
“By then, people of other traditions, cultures and races won’t hold any mystery or fear anymore,” said Crawford, who’s enlisted the help of service organizations.
Organizations that have participated include the Victory Garden Initiative, Serve 2 Unite, Urban Ecology Center and Arts @ Large.
Native American and Jewish eighth graders learn about free and low-cost sources for groceries and practice combining them to feed a family living on a low-income budget. The exercise was part of a service-learning project at the Hunger Task Force Farm in Franklin. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
On a recent morning, Native American and Jewish eighth graders gathered at the Indian Community School. In small groups, they rotated between activities — a food justice activity at the nearby Hunger Task Force Farm, an exercise on how different social rules in different cultures affect people’s interactions and a third in which students used art to talk about the top issues on their minds.
Mark Denning, a lacrosse coach and professional educator, led the art project. Together students painted images that represented their concerns on an 8-foot fiberglass polar bear. Some of the images were joyful and others worrying, Denning said. They included allusions to bullying, the impact of cancer among family members and the importance students placed on love.
“We can get into some serious conversations by using art rather than sitting in a circle and saying ‘please share your deepest concern,’” Denning said.
In a game led by diversity educator Reggie Jackson, another group of eighth graders separated into the Rebas and the Amblers, two fictitious cultural groups with different social behaviors.
After briefly learning their group’s social rules, they reassembled at a “party” and attempted to socialize. Rebas, who value being outgoing and friendly, showed it by shaking hands, standing very close and looking deeply into the eyes of whomever they were talking to. Amblers, on the other hand, believe that proper behavior includes being quiet and reserved.
The exercise concluded by asking participants to consider how their interactions made them feel, how diversity can create communication barriers and how they might overcome these barriers and communicate effectively.
Nicole Becker, a third grade teacher at Milwaukee College Prep, whose class participated with students from the Milwaukee Jewish Day School and Bruce Guadalupe Community School last year, said the students were shy at first.
“They didn’t know quite what to do, but through prompting and questions and different experiences, they were able to relate to each other.”

author: Andrea Waxman


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Post from Community: Southside community forum and training on hate crimes | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Southside Organizing Center
December 3, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Southside Community Forum & Training on Hate Crimes
December 7, 2019 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
What should you do if you suspect a threat, are a victim, or witness a hate crime?
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Join us to learn and take action together to show that we are a unified community that will not tolerate attacks on any immigrant or other members/groups of our communities!
This forum will provide information, resources, training, and action including:
– Hate crime training
– Trauma training
– Immigrant rights training
– Resource Tables
– Small Group discussion for action
Light refreshments will be provided!
Interpretation available (English / Spanish)
Any questions? Call SOC’s office at (414) 672-8090!
~~~~~~
¿Qué debe hacer si sospecha de una amenaza, es una víctima o es testigo de un delito de odio?
¡Únase a nosotros para aprender y tomar medidas juntos para demostrar que somos una comunidad unificada que no tolerará los ataques contra ningún inmigrante u otros miembros / grupos de nuestras comunidades!
Este foro proporcionará información, recursos, capacitación y acciones que incluyen:
– Capacitación sobre delitos de odio
– Capacitación sobre traumas
– Capacitación sobre derechos de los inmigrantes
– Tablas de recursos y discusión en grupos pequeños para la acción.
Se proporcionarán refrescos ligeros!
Interpretación disponible (inglés / español)
Preguntas?¡Llame a la oficina de SOC al 414-672-8090!
414-672-8090
socmilwaukee.org
travis@socmilwaukee.org
(414) 383-9526
https://gliihc.net/

author: Southside Organizing Center


text:
Southside 1 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
December 3, 2019


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Southside 2 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
December 3, 2019


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Post from Community: UMOS TechHire re-entry program | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
UMOS
December 3, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
TECHHIRE:  MORE SKILLS, MORE MARKETABILITY
Overview
The UMOS TechHire Program provides technology training based on employers’ needs.
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The program provides accelerated training, hands-on experience in web and software application development, web development, help desk analyst, Microsoft Office  Specialist, CNC, AutoCAD and more.
For employers, benefits include screening, recruitment and training, pipeline to potential employees, paid internships, coaching and support.
For program participants, benefits include a flexible learning environment, free classroom based and virtual training options, hundreds of industry standard technology certifications, enhanced portfolio for more marketability, as well as direct connection to potential employers.
Re-entry Program
Knowing the ABC’s of CNC..Before Release
The UMOS Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) program is accelerated coursework that provides technical skill development in blueprint reading, metrology, introduction to CNC programming, manual vertical milling and CNC Vertical machining…..before an inmate is released. The 14-credit course leads to a technical diploma in CNC vertical  machining.
The course is open to anyone between the ages of 17-29. However, UMOS has formed a creative partnership with the House of Corrections to provide re-entry training to inmates  they are released. This gives ex-offenders a better chance of finding family supporting employment sooner when they return to their communities.
There have been several CNC graduating classes from MATC. Each student has their own unique story. Below are a few.
Brandon Cheng – House of Corrections, release date: March 2019, considered one of the top students, is sought after by a couple of the employer partners. Internship/employment with Trace-A-Matic or RTD. Parents are super proud, and his father is a machinist. His plan is to assist his parents with helping out with his younger siblings, he has five younger siblings. He is the youngest of the CNC participants.
Justin Simpson – House of Corrections – release date January 2019, Justin released early, homeless for a period of time, without transportation or food as well but kept attending class. Other students brought food for him (other inmates saved their HOC lunch and would give it to him at class) during class periods, another student had a relative assist him with a room until he found a landlord that would help him in Feb. He receives bus passes from TechHire, rental assistance and has landed some carpentry/construction work to get by. He will be interning/employment with RTD.
Jerome Fox – House of Corrections, release date, March 2019, considered on of the top students, is sought after by two employer partners. Will be interning and become employed with RTD. Jerome plans to continue with CNC career, as a brother did a similar path. He looks forward to a better life and plans to marry upon his release in the spring.
Kristopher Kolhouse – Marty’s Place, is a transition/re-entry living home for men on the southside. Chris would like to intern/be employed with RTD. His plan is to move back to the southside and assist his elderly mother as he pursues his career in CNC programming.
Travell Quinn – Travell was a referral from a MATC instructor, who was struggling financially to pay for CNC training. Travell completed the coursework and his plan is to go straight into job placement. Travell will work with Goodwill Industries “TalentBridge” program to become employed with CNC employers who are located on the Milwaukee bus lines.
Scott Mathis – Referred by House of Corrections staff, a young man, living on the northside of Milwaukee. Very motivated and interested in a CNC programming career. Scott is looking to intern/work for RTD or Trace-A-Matic to support his young family and build his career. Scott has a one-year old son, Scott, Junior.

author: UMOS


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Post from Community: United Way, Ascension St. Joseph, Office of Violence Prevention & The Sherman Park Community Association receive BUILD health challenge award | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County
December 3, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County and partners Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital – St. Joseph Campus; City of Milwaukee Health Department, Office of Violence Prevention; and The Sherman Park Community Association, Inc.have received the BUILD Health Challenge® award.
The award provides $250,000 in funding and additional resources to support community-driven strategies in the Sherman Park neighborhood. The overall objectives of the project are to increase resident well-being and prevent violence by advancing strategies in Milwaukee’s Blueprint for Peace.
In addition, Ascension Wisconsin has committed to provide $336,000 in matching support to
ensure the project’s success.
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The project will be called BUILD Sherman Park.
“BUILD is a national program designed to support the kind of partnerships United Way invests in every day: collaborations between community-based organizations, health departments, and hospitals that address important health issues in our community,” said Nicole Angresano, vice president of community impact at United Way.
Milwaukee’s Sherman Park neighborhood, long associated with the systemic inequities its residents experience, is poised for rebirth. BUILD Sherman Park will engage community members around The Milwaukee Blueprint for Peace, a community-driven agenda for addressing the complex factors that drive violence in our city.
“With trauma finally being acknowledged as a public health issue and epidemic in this community, we must invest in our ‘human resources (people)’ to address the complete health of residents,” said Mabel Lamb, executive director of The Sherman Park Community Association, Inc. “The BUILD Health Challenge will focus on the social, environmental, and economic factors that have the greatest influence on the health of our community.”
“We’re excited about this opportunity to actively partner with United Way, The City of Milwaukee Health Department Office of Violence Prevention and The Sherman Park Community Association, Inc. to address some of the toughest issues that lead to health inequity,” said Bernie Sherry, senior vice president, Ascension, and ministry market executive, Ascension Wisconsin. “Together, we are creating an innovative model of care to achieve our shared vision of a healthy, safe and prosperous Sherman Park community.”
Strategies for engagement will focus on fostering safe, strong neighborhoods, as well as strengthening capacity, coordination, and collaboration for health and safety.
“The Milwaukee Health Department is elated to partner on this national funding opportunity which will help build capacity by supporting community partners, including our Office of Violence Prevention, serving Sherman Park,” said Dr. Jeanette Kowalik, commissioner of health for the City of Milwaukee. “The Sherman Park community has been hit hard by a number of disparities related to the Social Determinants of Health (e.g. healthy and safe housing, unemployment, healthy food options). However, we remain committed to addressing these issues and supporting the work in this area.”
“We are honored to be a part of this cross-sector partnership to strengthen resident-led strategies to advance safety and wellbeing in Sherman Park,” said Reggie Moore, injury and violence prevention director for the City of Milwaukee Health Department, Office of Violence
Prevention. “Advancing the Blueprint for Peace requires partnerships and engagement from every segment of our community. The BUILD Health Challenge is a bold example of that.”
Those interested in getting involved are invited to save the date for the BUILD Sherman Park Kickoff event, to be held on Tuesday, December 17, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. at the Sherman Phoenix.
For ongoing updates on this project, please share your contact information at UnitedWayGMWC.org/BUILD-Sherman-Park
ABOUT UNITED WAY OF GREATER MILWAUKEE & WAUKESHA COUNTY
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County fights for the health, education, and financial stability for every person in our local community.
ABOUT THE BUILD HEALTH CHALLENGE
The BUILD Health Challenge is a unique national program focusing on bold, upstream, integrated, local, and data-driven projects that can improve community health. The BUILD Health Challenge award provides funding, capacity building support, and access to a national
peer learning network to enhance collaborative partnerships here locally to address our community’s most pressing health challenges. Special thanks to the BUILD Health Challenge for its support of this initiative.
The BUILD Health Challenge is made possible with the support of: BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, Blue Shield of California Foundation, Communities Foundation of Texas, de Beaumont Foundation, Episcopal Health Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., New Jersey Health Initiatives, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
ABOUT ASCENSION WISCONSIN
In Wisconsin, Ascension operates 24 hospital campuses, more than 100 related healthcare facilities and employs more than 1,300 primary and specialty care clinicians from Racine to Eagle River. Serving Wisconsin since 1848, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization
committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is one of the leading non-profit and Catholic health systems in the U.S., operating 2,600 sites of care – including 150 hospitals and more than 50 senior living facilities – in 20 states and the District of Columbia.
ABOUT SHERMAN PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
The mission of Sherman Park Community Association is to make Sherman Park an attractive, interesting neighborhood where people of all races, religions, and national origins come together to celebrate and respect our differences, as well as our shared values.
ABOUT THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE HEALTH DEPARMENT, OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION
The Office of Violence Prevention provides strategic direction and oversight for City efforts to reduce risk of violence through linked strategies in partnership with government, non-profit, neighborhood, and faith organizations.
http://www.unitedwayGMWC.org/BUILD-Sherman-Park
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‘One thing can follow someone for a really long time’: How to get your record expunged in Wisconsin | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
December 4, 2019
Danasia Robbins hopes to get her record expunged so she can attend nursing school. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
Danasia Robbins has always wanted to be a nurse. Growing up, she helped care for her grandma by making sure she took her medication and accompanying her to doctor visits. It’s in her nature to help people, she said.
But Robbins can’t realize her dreams until she fixes a mistake from her past.
Robbins has a charge of petty theft on her record. At the time, she was hanging with an old friend from high school when she got caught, she explained.
Soon she’ll be interviewing for nursing programs, and she’d like to have the charge expunged from her record.
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Megan Morrisey, the coordinator of the Milwaukee Justice Center Mobile Legal Clinic, explained that under Wisconsin’s statute 973.015(a), there are four criteria for adult expungement.
The criteria for expungement
Maddie Bitto says a person’s record doesn’t just go away, but places like the Mobile Legal Clinic can help. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
To reach all four criteria is rare, Morrisey said. At the time of the sentencing, a judge is punishing someone for committing a crime and is not always thinking of that person’s future.
Morrisey, who was previously a public defender in Milwaukee, said that during sentencing, she would request that the judge for expungement.
“If I’m asking for it, I’ve determined that they [my client] is eligible,” she said.
If a person is eligible for expungement, then they need to petition the court to ask that the conviction be expunged. Morrisey explained how the expungement process works.
1. If you were sentenced to a term of probation, then you must complete it successfully, meaning that you were discharged and completed all conditions.
2. If you were sentenced to a term of imprisonment, followed by extended supervision, then you must successfully complete the terms and conditions of your extended supervision.
3. You must ask the Department of Corrections to submit a form called a DOC 2678. If you failed to complete the terms and conditions of probation, then the department will submit a DOC 2678 A, the failure form.
4. All restitution and court costs must be paid in full. If there is an outstanding balance, expungement will be denied.
5. You must submit an expungement request in person or by mail to the Criminal Clerk of Court’s Office at the following address:
You will be asked to provide your name and date of birth.
6. Note that there is no timeline or deadline in place. However, the Post-Conviction Office will only communicate via mail and requires a valid and secure mailing address.
Maddie Bitto is a second-year law student at Marquette University. She currently works for the Milwaukee Justice Center Mobile Legal Clinic.
Bitto said that the Wisconsin expungement law is tough. A common misconception is that many people believe that the charge will come off their record given enough time. That is not the case. People need to go through the expungement process.
“What’s heartbreaking is that one thing can follow someone for a really long time,” she said.
Having a record can prevent someone from gainful employment or safe housing, Bitto said.
If someone isn’t eligible for expungement, it’s possible to apply for a pardon if there is a felony conviction. Expungement seals the record so no one can see it. A pardon doesn’t vacate the sentence, but it reinstates one’s civil rights, Bitto said.
As for Robbins, she advises people to think about their future before committing a crime and to hang with the right crowds.

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NEIGHBORHOOD LENS: Mr. Dye’s Pies: A true slice of heaven in Granville | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 4, 2019
“Neighborhood Lens” is an NNS feature that provides a visual-driven platform for local photographers to tell the stories of people and groups in our neighborhoods Let us know who you would like to see featured next in the comments or by emailing us at info@milwaukeenns.org.
On Tower Avenue in Granville, amid massive industrial buildings that produce metal and medical goods, there’s a somewhat unexpected product being made — homemade pies.
Although Mr. Dye’s Pies is a mainstay at many markets around town, it’s been harder to find since the business moved from its North Avenue location in 2017.
The current home, a commercial kitchen at 8103 W. Tower Ave., has allowed the owners to scale up their operation while staying true to the recipes and family spirit that originally helped the business to grow.
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In this photo gallery, Johnathan Dye gives a behind-the-scenes look at how the bakery makes its pies.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 4, 2019


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Clarke Square will get new clinic that emphasizes behavioral and mental health services | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
December 5, 2019
The Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers will open its eighth clinic next summer in this building located at 1635 W. National Ave. in Clarke Square.(Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Twenty-five years ago, when Julie Schuller began her career at the Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, the South Side nonprofit ran just one clinic and had about 10 doctors.
“We were pretty small then,” said Schuller, who served various roles at the organization before becoming president and CEO in 2017.
That’s not the case anymore. Sixteenth Street recently announced that it will be opening an eighth clinic, to be located at 1635 W. National Ave. in Clarke Square. The new clinic will focus on providing same-day access to a variety of community-based behavioral and mental health services. It is scheduled to open in late 2020 and will serve at least 1,000 additional patients, Schuller said.
The clinic is being funded through a $3.7 million donation from Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin health network. Through a partnership between the nonprofit and Milwaukee County, which also will provide services there, Sixteenth Street will own the 32,000 square foot building while the county will rent 5,000 square feet of space.
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Both entities will provide walk-in services, including early intervention, substance use services, case management and other behavioral and mental health services, Schuller said. Another benefit, she said, will be that patients can work with care coordinators and receive peer services from someone who has experienced or experiences a mental illness.
“They can walk side by side with a person who is currently dealing with similar problems, and who is bilingual and better understands their culture,” Schuller said.
Dr. Julie Schuller, the president and CEO of Sixteenth Street Community Health Center, talks with state Rep. John Nygren (right) at the grand opening of the Layton Clinic in May 2018. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
The goal is to help meet a significant increase in the demand for behavioral and mental health services over the past five to 10 years, she added. Last year, she said, Sixteenth Street served 40,000 clients and had over 150,000 visits, but it still had difficulty meeting the needs of those seeking help.
“People are more aware of mental illness, and there is also more acceptance of it. That has led to more demand and need for mental health services,” Schuller said.
Access to healthcare, mental health and substance abuse services were three of the top five health concerns facing the community, according the 2018-2019 Milwaukee County Community Health Needs Assessment.
In the past, many in the county received mental health services at the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division complex on Watertown Plank Road. But several years ago,  there was a push toward community-based mental healthcare, said Michael Lappen, behavioral health administrator for Milwaukee County.
“We wanted to provide access closer to where people live,” Lappen said.
The latest partnership is one way to make that happen, said Mary Jo Meyers, director of the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services.
“Our partnership with Sixteenth Street is a critical part of Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services’ efforts to increase early intervention services and create an equitable and responsive system of care in Milwaukee County that is accessible to all of our communities,” Meyers said.
Originally, the Behavioral Health Division considered opening county access hubs in Milwaukee’s Central City, but after discussions with the community and other stakeholders, leaders learned that people wanted care from places they were more familiar with and that the trusted, Lappen said.
“Sixteenth Street clinics are well established in the community and it’s a trusted place,” he said.
The latest news follows a late October announcement of another clinic, which also will be located in Clarke Square. It also will be funded through a multimillion dollar investment from Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin health network. That clinic, located at 1135 S. Cesar Chavez Drive, will provide community-based primary care, dental hygiene and pharmacy services and also is expected to open in 2020.

created: December 5, 2019

author: Edgar Mendez


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41211994205_39b1c69575_k (2) | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 4, 2019


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41211994205_39b1c69575_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 4, 2019


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Post from Community: Alverno College’s Bestowing of the Kente will celebrate 25 Years | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Alverno College
December 5, 2019
(Photo courtesy of Alverno College)
Editor’s note: Our Posts from Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Alverno College’s Bestowing of the Kente is one of the oldest ceremonies of its kind in Wisconsin, and will be celebrating its 25th anniversary on December 8.
The Bestowing of the Kente is a rite of passage recognizing African American students who are graduating seniors, earning a master’s degree, or completing a certification program. Each honoree is presented with a Kente cloth – a hand-woven ceremonial stole featuring bright colors that honor West African heritage. During the ceremony, the students honor and thank the loved ones who have supported them on their educational journeys. The event is a way for African American students and their families to celebrate their heritage as well as their achievement. To date, more than 750 people have taken part in the ceremony. A reception in honor of the 25th anniversary will take place immediately following the ceremony.
Alverno is one of only a handful of colleges in the U.S. that recognize African American graduates with the Bestowing of the Kente ceremony separate from graduation. In all, 18 women will be honored at this semester’s Bestowing of the Kente ceremony.
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About Alverno College
Founded in 1887 by the School Sisters of St. Francis, Alverno College promotes the academic, personal and professional development of its students in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Undergraduate programs for women are offered in more than 60 areas of study, and graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology, school psychology, music therapy, music and liturgy, and business are open to women and men.
A leader in higher education innovation, Alverno has earned international accolades for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, which emphasizes hands-on experience and develops in-demand skills. The college, Wisconsin’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution, ranks among the top schools in the Midwest for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and innovation by U.S. News & World Report. For the past two years, The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education named Alverno the country’s most inspiring college.
Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Alverno College is a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college.

author: Alverno College


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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December 5, 2019

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Post from Community: Fair Housing Search App available for homeseekers | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council
December 5, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
The Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council is proud to announce the creation of a new, free housing search app for mobile phones and tablets: Fair Housing Hunt.
Links to install the app are available here:
https://www.fairhousingwisconsin.com/housing-search-app
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Designed for use throughout Wisconsin, Fair Housing Hunt allows users to quickly and easily record information about their rental housing options, and then compare units based on characteristics like size, cost, and location. It also contains important information about fair housing laws, and how homeseekers can stand up for their rights if they experience discrimination.
“This app is the very first of its kind in the nation,” says Erika Sanders, the Fair Housing Council’s Director of Program Services. “It’s an empowering tool housing consumers can use to make informed choices about where to live. Further, it will make sure that homeseekers are prepared to protect their fair housing rights if they encounter discrimination during their search.”


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app image.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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December 4, 2019


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Post from Community: Youth & Young Adult Resource Fair THIS SATURDAY! | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Community Advocates
December 5, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Youth & Young Adult Resource Fair
Saturday, December 7, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
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COA Goldin Center, 2320 W. Burleigh St., Milwaukee
Young people ages 16 to 24 are invited to attend a resource fair designed just for them. The Youth & Young Adult Resource Fair will provide information on education, services, training, and employment opportunities for young people seeking to make the most of their time and talents.
This new resource fair was created by the Coalition on Lead Emergency (COLE) workforce development committee, made up of members of Community Advocates Public Policy Institute, Milwaukee Water Commons, and Sherman Park Community Association. It will be held on Saturday, December 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at COA Goldin Center, 2320 W. Burleigh St., Milwaukee. It’s free and youth and parents are welcome to attend.
“Young people are interested in getting a head start on their career and education, but they say that they aren’t aware of all of the opportunities available to them in Milwaukee,” said Terri Irving, Public Policy Associate at Community Advocates Public Policy Institute. “We created this resource fair so they can get information, meet with organizations that are actively looking for new participants, and begin creating a foundation for a good career.”
Participating agencies include America Works of Wisconsin, AmeriCorps, Career Pathways at MATC, Employ Milwaukee, Covering Wisconsin, Earn & Learn, Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission, MPS Youth Apprenticeship Program, Public Allies Milwaukee, Volunteers of America, and more.
Media are welcome to attend this resource fair. Contact Terri Irving at 414-793-0138 ortirving@communityadvocates.net with questions.

author: Community Advocates


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 5, 2019


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COLE resource fair December 2019 header.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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December 3, 2019


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5 things to do this weekend: Dec. 6 to Dec. 8 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
December 6, 2019
LADAMA will be performing classic Latin songs with a twist as well as original compositions. (Photo provided by LADAMA)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some events that can enrich your weekend. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Social Development Commission open house: Friday, Dec. 6
The Social Development Commission, 1730 W. North Ave., is hosting a holiday open house. All are invited to attend. The open house will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6. There will be door prizes, opportunities for family photos and more. The first 300 guests will receive dinner.
2. Hip-hop paint and trivia night: Friday, Dec. 6
Hip-hop fans are invited to a night of hip-hop music, trivia and painting at Vibez Creative Art Space, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. Tickets cost $35 and includes the painting materials and a complimentary drink. To purchase a ticket, click here.
3. LADAMA performance at Latino Arts: Friday, Dec. 6
LADAMA, a group of four female musicians hailing from Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and the United States, will be performing from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. The group offers a modern twist on classic Latinx songs and will be performing in Spanish, Portuguese and English. The performance will take place at Latino Arts, 1029 S. 9th St. Tickets can be purchased here.
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4. Holiday family arts day: Saturday, Dec. 7
Families are invited to Holiday Family Arts Day at Arts @ Large Community Center, 1100 S. 5th St. Art day will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Participants will be able to make their own ornaments, sing Christmas songs, decorate cookies and more.
5. Forum and training on hate crimes: Saturday, Dec. 7
The Southside Organizing Center is hosting a community forum and training session on hate crimes. Topics covered will include what to do if you suspect a threat or are a victim or witness a hate crime. The forum will take place at the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center, 930 W. Historic Mitchell St., from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. To register, click here.
Bonus: Panel discussion on domestic violence: Sunday, Dec. 8
Survivor’s Journey to Peace is hosting a panel discussion on the intersection of domestic violence, family violence, mental health and the impact on the community. The discussion will take place at the Milwaukee Public Library Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave., from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. To register, click here.
Bonus: Milwaukee NNS fundraising campaign: Now through Tuesday, Dec. 31
Yep. We (still) out here begging. Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is a nonprofit news organization. In order to survive, we rely on donations. Consider making a donation to our NewsMatch campaign, which ends Tuesday, Dec. 31. When you donate, NewsMatch will match your donation up to $1,000. Click here to donate. Every dollar counts.

created: December 6, 2019


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OPINION: Here’s how Milwaukee can truly benefit from the Democratic National Convention. (Hint: It’s not by bringing more big conventions downtown.) | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Barbara Richards
December 6, 2019
(Photo by Wes Tank)
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Barbara Richards is a retired MPS Montessori teacher, environmental advocate and facilitator. She critiques the Democratic National Convention coming to Milwaukee in 2020 and proposes sustainable investments that could help those who need it most.
Recently, I went to an event — the UWM Alumni Association’s “Master Chats Series presents Milwaukee on the National Stage: What the 2020 Democratic National Convention Means to Our City and UWM.”
This panel discussion included representatives from the DNC organizing committee, UWM’s Department of Political Science and local community leaders.
Well, I heard what I feared I would hear. The four days will be a challenge, but if done well — and it WILL BE DONE WELL — it will bring more of the same: more massive conventions downtown.
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The panel paid lip service to the disparity in our community, and as many from their vantage point believe, that better ways of doing business will impact the neighborhoods not a part of the downtown BOOM! Touted are the diverse contractors and workers for the Fiserv Forum and Northwestern Mutual Tower. Since those jobs are over, to keep those workers going with sustaining jobs, we would need to build more of the same. How can that be? In the world in which I live, that seems impossible.
The panel is wise so I suspect they heard that the latest reports of the International Panel on Climate Change and National Climate Assessment have given our individuals, governments, businesses and nonprofit organizations 10.5 years to radically change every aspect and every system of modern convenience/consumer culture. There are voices that say we need to act as if our house is on fire, because it is.
Here are some changes that seem both possible and resilient to me:
What if we could use the DNC to leverage a whole new fleet of electric buses for MCTS? Or build the newly approved Bus Rapid Transit service with sustained green jobs for installation and maintenance of charging stations? Or if we trained workers with skills to build the infrastructure needed for other non-automobile transportation, or even energy efficient affordable housing?
What if all 2,000 venues for events got all their supplies from wholesale suppliers that only source compostables or recyclables?
What if all the DNC and other local food venues sourced their foods from local urban agriculture and CSA farms? Let’s grow that capacity now to build a local resilient food system.
What if we thought about what jobs will remain in our city that can change the planet? What neighborhoods can we empower after the four days are over? What if we redefined growth to be growth in wisdom, friendship, relationship both to neighbor and the earth?
A question came from the panel to the audience: “Who wants to volunteer for the convention?” I did not raise my hand. I raise my hand to work toward “capturing the flag” for a resilient future that reaches the whole Milwaukee community, directly and without the trickle down promise.
A promised dream that will again be deferred, unless…

author: Barbara Richards


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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: Dec. 9 to Dec. 14 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
December 9, 2019
The Greater Milwaukee Complete Count Committee is inviting Milwaukee residents to learn how they can support the 2020 census. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some events we think you shouldn’t miss. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Lindsay Heights community meeting: Tuesday, Dec. 10
Lindsay Height residents, business owners and partners are invited to a community meeting and holiday gathering starting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10. The gathering will be a place to share ideas, learn about resources and enjoy a meal. It will take place at North Division High School, 1011 W. Center St. RSVP’s are encouraged but not required.
2. Census training sessions: Tuesday, Dec. 10 and Thursday, Dec. 12
The Greater Milwaukee Complete Count Committee is inviting all Milwaukee residents to learn how they can support the 2020 census. Wisconsin ranked No. 1 in census responses for 2010 and the goal is to do it again. Training sessions will be offered from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10 and Thursday, Dec. 12. The sessions will take place at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, 101 W. Pleasant St., Suite 210. Click here for more information. Here is an NNS article that explains the importance of the census.
3. “Black Nativity” performances: Thursday, Dec. 12 to Sunday, Dec. 15
“Black Nativity,” a play by Langston Hughes, will be performed at the Marcus Performing Arts Center from Thursday, Dec. 12 to Sunday, Dec. 15. The play is a retelling of the Nativity story with an entirely black cast. It will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, Friday, Dec. 13 and Saturday, Dec. 14. A matinee showing at 3 p.m. will be performed on Sunday, Dec. 15. For tickets, click here.
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4. Alice’s Garden holiday tea tasting and pop-up: Thursday, Dec. 12
Alice’s Garden will be at The Bronzeville Collective MKE, 339 W. North Ave., from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12. This is an opportunity to sample Alice’s Garden’s holiday tea blends and check out its pop-up shop.
5. C-Space with LIT: Friday, Dec. 13
LIT, or Leaders Igniting Transformation, will be hosting C-Space. This is an opportunity for creatives of color to come together to network, build a community and create. C-Space will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 at 2201 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.
Bonus: Milwaukee NNS fundraising campaign: Now through Tuesday, Dec. 31
Yep. We (still) out here begging. Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is a nonprofit news organization. In order to survive, we rely on donations. Consider making a donation to our NewsMatch campaign, which ends Tuesday, Dec. 31. When you donate, NewsMatch will match your donation up to $1,000. Click here to donate. Every dollar counts.

created: December 9, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 8, 2019

created: December 8, 2019


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Post from Community: Alverno College will hold its 160th commencement on December 14 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Alverno College
December 9, 2019
(Photo courtesy of Alverno College)
Editor’s note: Our Posts from Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Alverno College will hold its 160 commencement on December 14 as 139 bachelor’s and associate students, 76 master’s candidates and three doctoral candidates walk across the Pitman Theatre stage to receive their degrees. The graduate ceremony will take place at 11:00 a.m., followed by a reception. The undergraduate ceremony will take place at 2:00 p.m., and will also be followed by a reception.
Commencement activities for undergraduates will begin on Friday, December 13 with a Baccalaureate Mass at 4:00 p.m. in the Alverno College chapel, followed by a reception for degree candidates and their families. The undergraduate commencement introduction will be given by Leticia Escobar, who will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Adult Education. The undergraduate invocation will be given by Feige Bates, who will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Elective Studies. The student address, “The Recipe I Discovered at Alverno,” will be given by Brianna Walker, who will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. The graduate commencement invocation will be given by Jennifer Phipps, who will receive a Master of Business Administration. Escobar and Bates are Milwaukee residents, Walker is from Tomah, Wis., and Phipps lives in McFarland, Wis.
About Alverno College
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Founded in 1887 by the School Sisters of St. Francis, Alverno College promotes the academic, personal and professional development of its students in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Undergraduate programs for women are offered in more than 60 areas of study, and graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology, school psychology, music therapy, music and liturgy, and business are open to women and men.
A leader in higher education innovation, Alverno has earned international accolades for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, which emphasizes hands-on experience and develops in-demand skills. The college, Wisconsin’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution, ranks among the top schools in the Midwest for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and innovation by U.S. News & World Report. For the past two years, The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education named Alverno the country’s most inspiring college.
Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Alverno College is a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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December 9, 2019


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‘She just knew how to make people happy with her music’: Legendary Milwaukee musician Mary Davis dies at 73 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
December 9, 2019
Mary Davis was known for her musical gifts – and for her humanity. She died on Black Friday at age 73. (File photo by Mitchell Mittelstedt)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include information on services for Davis.
R&B singer and songwriter Chazz Dixon still remembers being first introduced to musician Mary Davis more than 40 years ago.
“We instantly clicked,” said Dixon, CEO of Da’ Soul Recordings. “She had a perfect pitch and could call a note out of the air.”
Davis became his go-to person, playing second keyboard and helping make sure every instrument and musician in the band was ready to perform and technically correct, he said.  Over the course of 25 years, they toured the country playing gigs in Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis and elsewhere when they weren’t filling “all the reputable” clubs in Milwaukee or performing at the Pabst, Riverside or Summerfest, Dixon said.
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Davis, who sang R&B, jazz, blues and soul and was a keyboard legend, lit up the stage for more than 50 years. She performed internationally, nationally and locally with her brothers James and Ralph, other artists and headlined her own shows. She died on Black Friday at age 73.
Her legacy and impact on music will live on, according to the many fans and admirers who followed her career.
One of them was Linda Cooper, a talent producer and former marketing and sales coordinator for the Black Arts Festival.
“She provided foot-stomping, toe-tapping, hand- clapping, finger-snapping kind of music,” Cooper said.
Cooper said she first saw Davis perform in the ‘70s at a club called the Main Event on North Third Street and West Atkinson Avenue.
“She was a legend and a showstopper even back then,” Cooper said.
Born in Memphis on March 16, 1946, before moving to Milwaukee with her family in the ’50s, Davis was best known for her vocals and her talents on the keyboard, but she perfected many other instruments as well. One was the guitar, said her son, Gabriel D’Angel, a former radio DJ.
“I just saw her messing around with it, and next thing you know she was playing.” he said. “She was just one of those people who could pick up any kind of instrument and play it well because of her ear for music.”
A relative to world-renowned musicians India Arie and the late Koko Taylor, Davis played for Mayors Henry Walter Maier and Tom Barrett, Gov. Scott Walker, among many other elected officials and social elites, according to those who knew her. In July, she gave a farewell performance at Summerfest, Davis said.
“She just loved music and loved performing,” he said.
She was a crowd pleaser, said fellow musician Sam Belton, who performed for years with Davis, including many times at the Silver Spring House, among other local joints.
“She just knew how to make people happy with her music,” Belton said. “She was an entertainer besides a great musician.”
Local jazz musician Adekola Adedapo said the only other thing as big as Davis’ knowledge of music was her heart.
“She was just one of the most generous musicians I ever knew. Always wanting to help other people,” Adedapo said.
Davis’ health had been falling in recent years, said her son Tracey Davis. And just one week before her death, she lost her brother Ralph, whom she had been caretaker of.
“She was known for giving people her last and was very genuine in what she did,” Tracey Davis said.
It’s those traits that Dixon will miss most.
“She was such a pure, honest hearted, talented and unselfish person,” he said. “She was absolutely the best.”
In addition to her sons, Davis is survived by her daughter, Crystal Corday; two grandchildren; and brother James.
Services for Davis will take place Dec. 28 at Grace Fellowship Church of Milwaukee, 3879 N. Port Washington Rd. Visitation will be at 11 a.m., followed by the funeral at noon.


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Causey’s Career Corner: Your new place for job tips, motivation and career advice | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Damia S. Causey
December 10, 2019
I am Damia Causey, a lifelong resident of Milwaukee. I am the mother of a blended family of FOUR daughters. I am the wife of an amazing journalist. I am a reader. I am a crafter. I am somewhat introverted but working on stretching myself beyond my comfort zone.
A product of Milwaukee Public Schools, I developed an early interest in reading. My mother worked in Ready Reference (the original Google) at Central Library, and I spent many hours in the youth section reading books and watching educational films. During my teen years, libraries became my hangout spot of choice. I continue to enjoy the written word, and you’re likely to find me at a bookstore nearly every weekend. I dabbled in journalism during high school but didn’t realize it was a career option for me. Until now.
I am honored to join the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service family. What I hope to be is an employment resource offering a unique look at not just jobs but different types of career opportunities. The purpose of this space is to showcase what is possible in employment. Just because the road you travel may have detours and drop-offs doesn’t mean you won’t reach your destination. My own journey is far from traditional. And yet, I’m here.
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I will share stories of those who have taken a nontraditional approach to employment or an unusual career path. I will also list employment information such as job fairs, resource fairs and job training events. I encourage community organizations to email me at damiacausey@milwaukeenns.org with career information.
Milwaukee is my home, and I care about the residents and what happens here. The people of Milwaukee are talented, creative and resilient. And I want to showcase that.
We read and hear enough about the not so good stuff. I get to highlight more of the positive parts of our city.
So, y’all ready? Let’s get started!
Leonard W. Wilson (in gray), 53, is a fitness trainer who finds joy in helping others achieve their goals. (Photo provided by Brian Farley)
CAREER SPOTLIGHT
Name: Leonard W. Wilson
Age: 53
What he does: Fitness trainer
Number of years in field: 13
Education: Attended UW- Milwaukee
Neighborhood: Riverwest
What sparked your interest in this field?
I always loved to work out and had a passion for fitness. Gym was my favorite class in school. However, I have a background in social services. I later realized that fitness training is what I wanted to do. I trained a few coworkers, and one of my coworkers lost 65 pounds in five months, and that’s how it started.
How did you learn of what steps to take to become a fitness trainer?
The first thing that I did was to do my research. I Googled “fitness trainer certificates” and then I went and received my first personal fitness training certificate through ISSA, or the International Sports Sciences Association.
I took a part-time job as a fitness trainer at Bally Total Fitness and there I received certification with NASM, National Academy of Sports Medicine. I also watched, spoke with and studied other fitness trainers.
What advice do you have for aspiring fitness trainers?
Research, study, speak with and watch other personal fitness trainers to get as much experience as you can.
What is most challenging in this work?
For me, the most challenging thing about fitness is having enough time. I love what I do, but there isn’t enough time in a day to get everything done. Time management is key.
What advice would you offer someone interested in this field?
My advice to anyone interested in this field is to love what you do. Be patient. Work hard. Do not quit. Most importantly: You can do this!
What is the best thing about your job?
Seeing people reach their goal whether it is weight loss, changing how they eat or increasing energy levels and living a healthy lifestyle. Just to see people transform their life and  continuing to be in the best shape of your life is the most fulfilling part about doing what I do.
*Answers have been edited for clarity
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Register with www.jobcenterofwisconsin.com to attend various Job Service Workshops in the Month of December 2019 at Job Center Central (4201 N. 27Street) or at Job Center Southeast (2701 S. Chase Ave.). Workshops include walk-in resume critiques, interviewing, introduction to computers and more.
Marcus Hotels & Resorts posts weekly updates on their part-time and full-time hiring needs. To apply visit www.marcushotels.com/careers. For instant career updates on Marcus Hotels & Resorts & Hotels, connect with them on Facebook & Twitter!
United States Census 2020 will conduct a series of training sessions on Dec. 10 and Dec. 12 and on Jan. 9 at Greater Milwaukee Foundation: 101 W. Pleasant St., Suite 210, Milwaukee.
America Works of Wisconsin will be hosting and lending advice to parents with child support enforcement orders. Plan to attend an information session on Dec. 13 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 at 310 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 300 E on the mezzanine level. Lunch will be provided.
—Provided by Common Council – City Clerk’s Workforce Development Office
HELP ME SPREAD THE WORD
I encourage community organizations to email me at damiacausey@milwaukeenns.org with career information.

created: December 10, 2019

author: Damia S. Causey


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 9, 2019


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WILSON | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 9, 2019


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NNS on WGLB radio: Reporter Ana Martinez-Ortiz discusses the struggles of expungement | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
December 10, 2019
The Mobile Legal Clinic offers expungement clinics to help people seeking expungement. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
During our first interview at WGLB’s new studio, NNS reporter Ana Martinez-Ortiz speaks with Saryea Murchison and Dennis Walton about expungement and the resources available for those seeking to have their record expunged.
Read the full article here.
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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 10, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 10, 2019
“Track 2” from Untitled – 12-06-19. Track 2.


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Partnership sponsors affordable swim lessons to decrease drowning rates in poor communities | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Claudia Delgadillo
December 10, 2019
(Photo provided by the American Red Cross)
Milwaukee has been selected through the American Red Cross to be part of its Centennial Campaign, which funds swimming programs in underprivileged communities that exceed the national drowning average.
Starting Tuesday, Dec. 10, $5 can pay for eight weeks of swim lessons through Milwaukee Recreation.
“The only way that drowning rates will change is if more classes are available at affordable rates that families can commit to,” said Nicole Jacobson, who has been a Milwaukee Recreation aquatics supervisor for 15 years.
In Milwaukee, the $5 offer only is available at James Madison High School, 8135 W. Florist Ave.; North Division High School, 1011 W. Center St.; Milwaukee High School of the Arts, 2300 W. Highland Ave.; and Vincent High School, 7501 N. Granville Rd.
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(Photo provided by the American Red Cross)
“We are targeting underprivileged communities and people of color because we learn that our people of color just don’t have the same opportunities as our Caucasian peers have,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson said statistics show that 8 out of every 10 kids in a household that makes less than $50,000 have little or no swimming ability. “And if we think about it, a family that needs to eat isn’t worried about taking their kids to recreational activities.”
Normally, it would cost $36 to register a family for swim classes once a week for an eight-week terms through Milwaukee Recreation.
Classes offered at Centennial locations include family classes, youth classes and “tiny tot” classes for parents or guardians with toddlers.
The Centennial Campaign refers to the 100 years of water safety programming from 1914, when inaugural lessons launched, until 2014. In 2014, the American Red Cross unveiled the 100-year water safety campaign to reduce the national drowning rate.
According to the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, in the United States, drowning takes an average of 3,500 to 4,000 lives per year.
“Milwaukee is surrounded by water, as the largest provider of water safety lessons in the region, our mission is to reach as many individuals as possible,” Denzel Shareef, aquatics supervisor for Milwaukee Recreation, said. “Our hope is this partnership will spur further interest and awareness and make accomplishing our goals much easier.”

author: Claudia Delgadillo


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Post from Community: “Last Chance” events to sign up for health insurance before Dec. 15 deadline | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Enrollment Network
December 10, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
As the Dec. 15 deadline looms for individuals to secure 2020 coverage through Healthcare.gov, enrollment experts in Milwaukee are working night and day to meet the demand for consumers looking for help.  In the last week of the open enrollment period, a dozen events, open to the public, are scheduled throughout the Milwaukee area to offer assistance.
“There are only a few days left to sign up for health insurance on HealthCare.Gov,” said Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm.  “In Milwaukee, there are more than 100 local enrollment experts ready to help residents enroll in affordable plans available in the health insurance Marketplace to keep you and your family healthy. Just call 2-1-1 to get help.”
To meet the demand for ‘last minute’ enrollment for health care coverage in Milwaukee, consumers may drop in at these events, but are encouraged to schedule an appointment by calling 211:
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Thursday, Dec. 12
South Milwaukee Public Health 2424 S. 15th Ave. South Milwaukee                   8am-12pm
Central Library                          814 W. Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee                     9am-11am
Community Advocates              728 N. James Lovell St. Milwaukee                     9am-4pm
Center Street Library                 2727 W. Fond du Lac Ave. Milwaukee                10am-12pm
Oak Creek Public Health            8060 S. 6th St. Oak Creek                                  1pm-4pm
Tippecanoe Library                    3912 S. Howell Ave. Milwaukee                         2pm-4pm
Mitchell Street Library               906 W. Historic Mitchell St. Milwaukee              2pm-5:30pm
Friday, Dec. 13
Community Advocates              728 N. James Lovell St. Milwaukee                     9am-4pm
Zablocki Library                         3501 W. Oklahoma Ave. Milwaukee                   1pm-5pm
16th Street Health Center          1032 S. Cesar Chavez Dr. Milwaukee                  4:30pm-7pm
Saturday, Dec. 14
Community Advocates              728 N. James Lovell St. Milwaukee                     9am-5pm
Sunday, Dec. 15
Community Advocates              728 N. James Lovell St. Milwaukee                     9am-5pm
The Milwaukee Enrollment Network reminds consumers to be prepared when signing up for healthcare coverage, and to have the following information about themselves and their household:
Consumers can learn more about enrollment in the health insurance Marketplace as well as Medicaid, by visiting healthcare.gov or calling the Health Insurance Marketplace national call center at 1-800-318-2596.  To get connected to free help from an insurance expert in Milwaukee County, consumers should call 2-1-1, or go to coveringwi.org/enroll.
Adults with income below 100% of the federal poverty level ($12,140 per year for an individual) and children and pregnant women in households with income under 300% of the poverty levels ($75,300 for a family of four), may enroll anytime in BadgerCare Plus.
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About Milwaukee Enrollment Network
Sponsored by the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership and Covering Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Enrollment Network is a consortium of more than 100 organizations committed to promoting adequate and affordable health insurance coverage, with a focus on low-income uninsured and underinsured people in Milwaukee County.

author: Milwaukee Enrollment Network


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ACLU presses city to step up implementation of stop-and-frisk settlement | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
December 12, 2019
The ACLU of Wisconsin has stated that it is concerned that the city, including the Milwaukee Police Department and Fire and Police Commission, is not meeting the terms of the stop-and-frisk settlement. (File photo by Jabril Faraj)
Nearly a year and a half after the Milwaukee Common Council approved a historic $3.4 million settlement that mandated sweeping reforms of stop-and-frisk practices, little progress has been made, leaders from the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin say.
Karyn Rotker, senior staff attorney for the ACLU of Wisconsin, called on city leaders to take ownership and put “the settlement into practice.” Rotker made her comments last week during a Facebook Live update on the progress of the settlement.
The mayor’s office and the Fire and Police Commission declined to be interviewed or provide a statement for the story. Milwaukee Police Department spokeswoman Sheronda Grant said in a statement that the MPD was taking the reforms mandated in the settlement seriously and is committed to fulfilling the agreement.
The class-action lawsuit, filed in February 2017, was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin and the law firm Covington and Burling., representing Charles Collins and eight other Milwaukee residents. Collins, a military veteran and longtime Milwaukee resident in his late 60s, was pulled over by MPD officers while driving home with his wife after visiting their son in 2014. Like the other plaintiffs, he broke no laws and was never charged.
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In addition to the city, the Milwaukee Police Department and Fire and Police Commission were included in the lawsuit.
During the Facebook broadcast, the ACLU outlined several deadlines it says city leaders have not been met. They include a failure to provide adequate supervision of MPD staff, an insufficient review of body and dash cam footage and a failure to share information on each stop and frisk made by Milwaukee police.
The ACLU added the commission has not met requirements regarding the review of dash and body cam footage and has not been auditing all complaints from members of the public and officers within MPD who report police misconduct. The ACLU contends that the failure by the city, MPD and the FPC to meet deadlines have hindered the ability to determine whether issues that led to the lawsuit are being addressed.
Failure to meet those terms by July 2020 could result in legal action from the ACLU, which agreed to a grace period of two years from the time when the agreement was finalized.
“At that time, we will have to review the City’s actions and compliance and determine whether to ask the court to intervene,” Rotker stated to NNS.
The ACLU’s allegations are largely based on the findings of the Crime and Justice Institute, the independent agency contracted by the city that released a report on the agreement in September.
The Crime and Justice Institute report found that from  January to June 2019, nearly 1,800 members of the MPD, including officers and supervisors, were trained on the requirements of the settlement agreement and that internal affairs officers received training on complaint procedures.
But that training needed to be followed by the installation, monitoring and enforcement of new policies and regulations, which also involves increased attention to and collection of data.
Meeting those standards will be difficult, given the staffing shortages and limited financial resources of both the police department and the fire and police commission, the report said.
Grant said the police department “has been working in earnest to achieve the requirements and expectations of the Agreement.”
Grant also referred to other findings from the report as evidence that MPD had been making progress toward meeting those requirements.
“To date, CJI has witnessed an authentic commitment on the part of MPD to the goals and tasks that are outlined in the Settlement Agreement,” according to a statement from the report.
The ACLU criticized the department’s failure to issue a “Community Policing Status Report,” which was supposed to happen twice a year, and the underutilization of the Community Collaborative Committee and other avenues for increased community engagement, as examples.
“The Milwaukee Police Department has come very far in rebuilding trust with our diverse community,” Grant wrote.
The Fire and Police Commission has come under fire recently, with multiple reports of disarray and staff turnover connected mainly to the appointment of Griselda Aldrete as commissioner in August. The latest bombshell was a resignation letter from longtime investigator Cheryl Patane to the Fire and Police Commission and Common Council, citing a “frightening ignorance of FPC operations.”
The ACLU and others have also accused Aldrete and the commission of deterring public input by changing the public comment process at public hearings.
Aldrete, during a Steering and Rules Committee hearing on Dec. 4, defended her leadership of the commission. She said despite recent resignations and ongoing staffing shortages, the commission had been busy reviewing disciplinary appeals and standard operating procedures as well as handling open records requests and conducting several investigations.
In terms of staffing shortages and financial constraints of the FPC and other city entities, Rotker stated that the costs associated with the settlement reforms are not a surprise and that city officials need to reallocate existing resources to ensure compliance and not violate the agreement.
“It’s clear and it’s always been clear that they needed additional staffing in getting up to speed in terms of the auditing and some of the other requirements,” she said.

created: December 12, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 11, 2019

created: December 11, 2019


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5 things to do this weekend: Dec. 13 to Dec. 15 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
December 13, 2019
UMOS is hosting its annual Breakfast with Santa this weekend. (Photo provided by UMOS)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some events that can enrich your weekend. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Health insurance enrollment: Friday, Dec. 13 to Sunday, Dec. 15
The deadline to enroll in health insurance for 2020 is Sunday, Dec. 15. Enrollment experts will be at various locations on Friday, Dec. 13, Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 15. Click here for the full list of locations and additional information. Individuals can drop in but are encouraged to schedule appointments by calling 211 or going online. To learn more about healthcare, click here.
2. Milwaukee entrepreneurs meetup: Friday, Dec. 13
Rotary Club of Milwaukee’s Invest in Milwaukee Committee wants to know how it can offer resources to new and emerging businesses in Milwaukee. Local entrepreneurs are invited to a discussion at No Studios, 1037 W. McKinley Ave., from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13. The goal is to help grow investment in Milwaukee and generate new ideas. Tickets are free and can be found here.
3. Winter wonder woods: Friday, Dec. 13 and Saturday, Dec. 14
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Take a hike through Hawthorn Glen, 1130 N. 60th St., beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 and Saturday, Dec. 14. Approximately 20,000 lights have been used to illuminate the woods making it a great place to hike at night. There will also be a fireplace and seasonal music. On-site registration begins at 5 p.m. and tickets cost $2 for all ages.
4. Breakfast with Santa: Saturday, Dec. 14
UMOS is hosting its annual Breakfast with Santa from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. McDonald’s Restaurants of Southeastern Wisconsin will provide over 2,500 parents and children with a hot pancake breakfast for free. The breakfast will take place at South Division High School, 1515 W. Lapham Blvd. Santa, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer, football players and more will be there to visit with the children.
5. “That Christmas” with Joel Boyd: Saturday, Dec. 14
Joel Boyd is hosting the third annual MKE Holiday Turn-Up from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. It will be a night of jokes and music with featured special guests. All the proceeds will go toward CHURCH Inc. MLK Scholarship Fund of Milwaukee and the First Stage Kid-2-Kid Fund. The show will be hosted at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, 325 W. Walnut St. Tickets can be purchased here.
Bonus: Art therapy collective grand opening: Friday, Dec. 13
The Milwaukee Art Therapy Collective, 9224 W. Burleigh St., is hosting is grand opening from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13. All are welcome to join. The opening will feature an art show with pieces from students and art therapists.
Bonus: Milwaukee NNS fundraising campaign: Now through Tuesday, Dec. 31
Yep. We (still) out here begging. Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is a nonprofit news organization. In order to survive, we rely on donations. Consider making a donation to our NewsMatch campaign, which ends Tuesday, Dec. 31. When you donate, NewsMatch will match your donation up to $1,000. Click here to donate. Every dollar counts.

created: December 13, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 12, 2019