text:
Local refugee women earn $10,000 by upcycling plastic bags! | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Why Not Now Missions
April 4, 2019
Milwaukee’s Newest Artisans comprise a group of 12 women originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who now live in Milwaukee. Beautiful handmade baskets, mats, and tote bags are created by upcycled plastic bags. They are supported by one of Milwaukee’s Newest Nonprofits, Why Not Now Missions, whose mission is to empower vulnerable populations to reach their full potential.
As a group, they recently surpassed the $10,000 mark in sales in less than a year of participating at events throughout the city. As of April 3, 2019 they have sold 514 baskets,saved 31,980 plastic bags from going into the landfill, and earned $10,375. Every single penny goes to the artisan who made the item, but more importantly they learn new skills and are filled with a new sense of hope. The women are proud to share their talents with a community that has been so welcoming to them and are very grateful for the support they’ve received..
Milwaukee’s Newest Artisans are currently looking for opportunities to sell their baskets at wholesale. Contact them via their website or email for inquiries:

author: Why Not Now Missions


text:
Five ways to find a job in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
April 5, 2019
A quick Google search is an easy way to find job fairs in the area. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
Finding a job can be overwhelming, but not impossible. There’s plenty of jobs out there and lot of employers hoping to fill those job vacancies. The first step on a job search is having an up-to-date resume and cover letter. The second step is knowing where to look.
1. Online
Going online is a great way to get stared. Nowadays, companies are more likely to post job openings and applications online. A business may post directly on its website or social media platforms. Otherwise, websites such as indeed.com, milwaukeejobs.com and employmilwaukee.com post job openings and event fairs.
At some job fairs, professional assistance is provided to curate a polished resume or cover letter. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
2. Job Fairs
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Job fairs or career fairs occur all the time. At a fair, a bunch of employers set up a booth and use the time to explain their business and meet with potential employees. Participants are encouraged to bring their resumes with them and dress in appropriate business attire. At some fairs, participants can receive help on their resume, fill out the job application, learn interview techniques and even be hired on the spot. Upcoming jobs fairs include the Teen Job Fair on April 24, Military Veterans Fair on May 16 and the Milwaukee Career Fair on June 17-18.
3. The business itself
Some businesses will post about job openings in a window or a display. Another way to find out is by speaking with the manager. A manager usually knows what jobs are available and when the business is more likely to hire someone.
4. Friends and family
Friends and family are a great resource when it comes to finding a job. If they’re already employed, they can help facilitate connections and often hear about job opportunities at their place of business before the general public.
5. Employment with a record
Second Chance Jobs for Felons is a website specifically designed to help former felons find a job. It also hosts job fairs for people in the trades and workshops. The workshops help participants with their resume, interviewing techniques and how to budget.

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 4, 2019

author: Adam Carr


text:
5 things you need to know this week in Milwaukee: April 8 through April 12 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Elyse McFeggan
April 8, 2019
Performance artists Kima Hamilton and Dasha Kelly Hamilton will star Thursday in the multimedia show, “Home: An exploration of sovereignty, history and home.” (Photo courtesy of the Marcus Center for Performing Arts)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include the correct address  for the location of the Milwaukee Youth Green Jobs Summit.
1. City of Milwaukee raises littering fines to $500 starting Monday, April 8
Starting Monday, April 8, the city will charge anyone caught littering a $500 fine. The fines used to range from $25 to $50. The new policy was approved by the Common Council in February. Aldermen hope the fine will limit littering and help to beautify Milwaukee.
2. Ignace Youth Center hosting after school activities: Tuesday, April 9 and Thursday, April 11
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
All April long, Gerald L. Ignace Youth Center will host after school programs on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Native American youths ages 7 and older are welcome to join culture classes, art classes, participate in homework time and games. The program is located at 930 W. Historic Mitchell St. and takes place from 3 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. To register your child, call Katy LaRoque at (414) 316-5110
3. Community mural workshop: Tuesday, April 9
Community members are welcome to attend a workshop to share ideas on a mural expansion. Community muralist Tia Richardson will lead the event, which is being hosted by Muskego Way Forward and Milwaukee Christian Center. The event will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at South Division High School, 1515 W. Lapham Blvd. For more information, call Tia Richardson at 414-793-6825.
4. “Home: An exploration of sovereignty, history and home:” Thursday, April 11
Performance artists Kima Hamilton and Dasha Kelly Hamilton will star in a multimedia show exploring sovereignty, history and home. Featured performers include Bennie Higgins, Kimi Evelyn, B Free and Evan Sandherr. The show will begin at 7 p.m. at Rehearsal Hall A on the Marcus Performing Arts Center’s fourth floor. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit the Marcus Center’s website.
5. Milwaukee Youth Green Jobs Summit: Friday, April 12
This free event, hosted by Cream City Conservation and TRUE Skool Inc., will connect youths to environmental organizations. It will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Wisconsin Black Historical Soiety/Museum, 2620 W. Center St. Youths (high school and college aged,) along with educators and community members, are welcome to attend. This event will connect youth to environmental organizations. You can register here.

author: Elyse McFeggan


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 7, 2019


text:
Colectivo Coffee partners with Next Door on community book drive in April | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Next Door
April 8, 2019
(Photo courtesy of Next Door)
Next Door – a leading provider of high quality early childhood education in Milwaukee – is thrilled to partner with Colectivo for the non-profit organization’s 50th Anniversary this year. The company’s partnership will feature a three-week-long book drive supporting Next Door’s Books for Kids program. Books for Kids collects donated books from the community and distributes them for free to Next Door students and children across the city to help them build home libraries and enjoy story time with family.
“Next Door’s mission to support Milwaukee children and families is a wonderful fit for Colectivo and our goal of giving back to the local community,” said Ramie Camarena, Events and Communication Manager for Colectivo. “We hope cafe customers and coworkers will consider contributing to the Books for Kids program, and we congratulate Next Door on their milestone 50th anniversary!”
“We are so fortunate to have this support from Colectivo to get more books into the hands of Milwaukee’s youngest learners,” said Next Door President Dr. Tracey Sparrow. “The more books we can expose them to early on, the more likely they are to enjoy reading and be ready for school.”
Here’s what you need to know:
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Next Door’s Books for Kids program started in 1990 as a way to increase access to books for children living in Milwaukee’s central city. Next Door receives books through individual and family donations, community book drives and financial gifts. The books are distributed for free to Next Door students and children across the community during visits to our libraries and our Books for Kids Mobile Library. Last year, Next Door collected nearly 100,000 books from the community and had 129 book drives.

author: Next Door


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 8, 2019


text:
Governor Tony Evers to speak at newsmaker luncheon hosted by Milwaukee Press Club and WisPolitics.com | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Press Club
April 8, 2019
Gov. Tony Evers will be the featured speaker at a Newsmaker Luncheon, hosted jointly by the Milwaukee Press Club and WisPolitics.com, on Tuesday, April 30.
Evers, a native of Plymouth, Wisconsin, was elected in November. Prior to his election, Evers was the state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction. After being appointed deputy superintendent in 2001, he was elected superintendent in 2009 and reelected twice, in 2013 and 2017.
Evers received bachelor (1974), master (1976) and doctoral (1986) degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He began his professional career as a teacher and media coordinator in the Tomah school district. He later served as principal of Tomah Elementary School and Tomah High School. Evers also was superintendent of the Oakfield school district, superintendent of the Verona school district and administrator of the Cooperative Education Service Agency (CESA) in Oshkosh.
Evers will take questions from a panel of journalists and from the audience at the luncheon, set for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Turner Hall Ballroom,1040 Vel R. Phillips Ave., in Milwaukee.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
The panel of journalists:
Sydney Czyzon – Managing Editor, Marquette Tribune
Charles Benson – Anchor/Reporter, Today’s TMJ4
Victor Jacobo – Capitol Reporter, CBS 58/Telemundo Wisconsin
Patrick Marley – Reporter, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Milwaukee Press Club’s Newsmaker Luncheon Series is sponsored by the Medical College of Wisconsin and SpectrumNews 1.
WisPolitics.com partners with the press club for this luncheon as part of its ongoing event series in Milwaukee, sponsored by UW-Milwaukee, Wisconsin Academy of Global Education and Training, ELEVEN25 at Pabst, Milwaukee Police Association, The Firm Consulting, Medical College of Wisconsin and Spectrum.
Event hosted by: The Pabst Theater Group
Press club Newsmaker Luncheons are held to shed light on issues of the day. The cost for the lunch and program is $25 for MPC members, $30 for non-members and $20 for students.
Seating is limited and we anticipate high attendance, so register early. Advanced registration and payment are required. Registration deadline is Friday, April 26.
To register online, go to www.milwaukeepressclub.org.  Checks may be mailed to the MPC at PO Box 176, North Prairie, WI  53153-0176. Cancellations will be accepted up to 48 hours in advance for a full refund.
Questions? Please contact Joette Richards, Milwaukee Press Club executive director, at joette@milwaukeepressclub.org or call 262-894-2224.

author: Milwaukee Press Club


text:
‘I was once a destroyer. Now I’m a rebuilder:’ How a Milwaukee violence prevention program hopes to reduce gun violence | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
April 8, 2019
Chris Conley, 414 Life outreach and resource coordinator, Uniting Garden Homes, standing with the “interrupters” team, speaks to the press at the Froedtert Cancer Center. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Keyon Jackson-Malone got involved in violent activities when he was a young man even though, earlier, he had helped resolve disputes as a peer mediator at Morse Middle School.
Seven years ago, he “had an epiphany” and resolved to turn his life around. Since then, Jackson-Malone, now in his early 40s, has been working as a “violence interrupter,” first at a grassroots level and now in the Office of Violence Prevention’s 414 Life program. His past is an important part of what makes him effective in that role, he said.
Reggie Moore, the city health department’s Office of Violence Prevention director; Jeanette Kowalik, Milwaukee health commissioner; and other city and program leaders announced last week new partnerships with Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin and Ascension Wisconsin to combat gun violence. They also introduced the first team of interrupters at a news conference at the Froedtert Cancer Center.
Ten interrupters trained by Cure Violence, a successful violence prevention effort based in Chicago and implemented in multiple cities around the world, started working in the Old North Milwaukee and Garden Homes neighborhoods on the city’s North Side in November.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Keyon Jackson-Malone, community activist and 414 Life interrupter, talks with attendees at the Office of Violence Prevention news conference. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
On call 24/7, they have interrupted 26 potentially violent situations and have built a caseload of 35 individuals who receive mentoring, said Derrick Rogers, the site director leading the team.
Cure Violence, founded as “Ceasefire” in 2000, takes a public health approach to “curing” violent behavior. Milwaukee’s Blueprint for Peace, released in November 2017, also is rooted in the proposition that violence operates like a contagious disease.
“If people are not safe from physical, psychological and emotional trauma everything else in irrelevant,” Kowalik said.
The Cure Violence model employs community members such as Jackson-Malone, who have relationships with neighborhood residents and can relate to people struggling with violence.
Through the new partnerships, violence interrupters will be trained to provide support to families, friends and survivors of gun violence in hospitals and the surrounding communities.
The cost for 414 Life is estimated at $500,000 annually at its current scale and is funded on a year-to-year basis, Moore said. The city has budgeted $280,000 and an additional $200,000 has been raised from foundations this year, he said.
Moore aims to expand the program to the Hampton Heights neighborhood on the North Side and to neighborhoods on the East and Near South Sides by 2021.
This work is about individuals helping those at the highest risk for violence change their behaviors and the community’s norms, said Jackson-Malone, adding, “I was once a destroyer. Now I’m a rebuilder.”

author: Andrea Waxman


text:
Local Milwaukee educator, Ann McClain Terrell, elected President-Elect of NAEYC Governing Board | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
National Association for the Education of Young Children
April 8, 2019
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is pleased to announce the election of Ann McClain Terrell as President-Elect to the association’s national governing board. She will serve a 4-year term beginning June 1, 2019.
Ann McClain Terrell has 45 years of professional experience in the field of education, primarily in early childhood education. She is now an adjunct early childhood education professor for Concordia University after serving as the executive director of the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation, Inc., and an administrator in the Milwaukee Public Schools district, leading the departments of Innovation and Early Childhood Education. Additionally, Ann mentors emerging early childhood leaders.
Ann earned a Master of Science degree in educational leadership from Cardinal Stritch University, a Master of Science degree in cultural foundations of education from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, a Bachelor of Science degree in education from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and an associate degree in early childhood education from Milwaukee Area Technical College.
Ann’s board service includes the Educare Milwaukee Shared Governance Committee, Cardinal Stritch University College of Educational Leadership Advisory Committee, Lakeland University Board of Trustees, the National School Foundation Association Board of Directors, and the Urban Ecology Center Board of Directors. Previously she also served on the NAEYC Governing Board and the Wisconsin Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
In 2016 Ann was recognized as one of the most influential African Americans in Wisconsin. Ann received the Black Women’s Network Legacy of Leadership in Education Award in 2008; the National Black Child Development Institute Milwaukee Affiliate Early Childhood Recognition Award in 2007; and the Community Brainstorming Conference Children’s Advocacy Award in 2004. She was appointed chair of Governor Doyle’s 2004 Quality Counts Early Childhood Task Force, which led to the creation of YoungStar, Wisconsin’s child care quality rating and improvement system. In 2000 she was selected as a Children’s Defense Fund Early Childhood Leadership Fellow. Ann is the author of the recently published book, Graceful Leadership in Early Childhood Education.
Founded in 1926, the National Association for the Education of Young Children promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.
The NAEYC Governing Board provides mission-based leadership and strategic governance. Officers and most Board members are elected by the association’s 60,000 members. Candidates for the competitive slate are chosen for their broad-based knowledge of issues affecting high-quality early learning and the early childhood profession. Rhian Evans Allvin, NAEYC’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are delighted to have Ann join the board. Her demonstrated high-quality leadership, commitment and ability will help NAEYC further its mission and vision.”
Elected along with Ann were Anthony Broughton, Assistant Professor/Early Childhood Coordinator, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC, was elected as Board Member At-Large; Nicol Russell, Deputy Associate Superintendent of Early Childhood and Head Start State Collaboration Director, Arizona Department of Education, Phoenix, AZ, was elected as a Board Member At-Large; Yohana I. Quiroz, Chief Operations Officer, Felton Institute and Doctoral Student, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, was elected Student Board Member.  A newly appointed member will also join the 17-member board in June:  Uhriel Bedoya, Country Manager for Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Bermuda and Haiti at Mastercard, Miami, FL, will serve as a Board Member At-Large.


text:
Non-profit collaboration earns national award for distributing mobile literacy apps in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
YWCA Southeast Wisconsin
April 8, 2019
Milwaukee Knowledge Exchange (MKE), a partnership between Literacy Services of Wisconsin (LSW) and YWCA Southeast Wisconsin (SEW), was announced as a finalist Monday (April 1st) in the Adult Literacy XPRIZE Communities Competition. The $1 Million Communities Competition is an important piece of the $7 Million Barbara Bush Foundation Adult Literacy XPRIZE presented by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The Communities Competition incentivizes organizations, communities, and individuals to recruit adult learners to download and use the apps developed by four of the finalist teams in a previous XPRIZE competition phase.
The Communities Competition $1 Million prize is awarded in two parts: $500,000 in milestone awards for teams that submit the most innovative, feasible and scalable plans, and another $500,000 prize purse for teams that go on to recruit the most adult learners to download and use the apps. An independent panel of judges determined that 24 teams had the best proposals and will split the $500,000 milestone award. MKE is honored to be named as one of the top 24 teams.
MKE, a partnership between LSW and YWCA SEW, seeks to maximize the scope and reach of the XPRIZE applications to adults with academic needs and those facing barriers in southeast Wisconsin. MKE serves 1,700 adult students each year at 11 sites and accounts for over 40% of the GED/HSED outcomes in the region.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
MKE has recognized leaders within the adult education field with expertise in andragogy, program design, and assessment. Holly McCoy, Executive Director of LSW, holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Secondary Education and a Master of Arts in Adult Education/ Organizational Development, both from Alverno College. Jacob Gorges, Adult Education Manager at YWCA SEW, holds a degree in Adult Education, from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and has nearly 15 years of experience in working with Milwaukee’s inner city adult education students.
“Our approach to recruitment and application utilization is to integrate application use into existing adult education programs. Additionally, as leaders in the adult education community, we will leverage this position to maximize exposure to individuals who are not currently students in our programs but who, nonetheless, need access to adult education.”
MKE plans to reach current students by refining enrollment and assessment processes to include app integration. All students of Literacy Services and YWCA SEW will have free, unlimited access to these apps, which they may use to supplement their individual learning. Additionally, app use will be made available to friends, family, and others in the MKE community at large. Our intention is to spread the use of these apps to any and every individual who may want to learn something new, sharpen their skills, or just enjoy educational games. Learn more about the apps and the competition at literacyservices.org/xprize/.

author: YWCA Southeast Wisconsin


text:
SDC seeks candidates to run for Board of Commissioner position, fight poverty | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Social Development Commission
April 8, 2019
It is one of the most effective ways to fight poverty in Milwaukee County.
The Social Development Commission is seeking candidates to fill six district seats on the SDC Board of Commissioners.
“People living in poverty know exactly what they need to improve their condition,” says SDC’s CEO George Hinton. “That’s why it’s critical people in poverty are represented at the highest levels of this organization. Their voices need to be heard. We need people in the community to tell us the solutions, not the other way around.”
Elected Commissioners influence policies and programs that impact Milwaukee County residents living in poverty. Elected Commissioners serve on behalf of low-income residents living in Milwaukee County. Community members interested in fulfilling SDC’ s mission to empower Milwaukee County residents with resources to move beyond poverty must complete an application for candidacy.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
The application and nomination packet can be picked up from the Social Development Commission located at 1730 West North Avenue in Milwaukee. Candidate packets may be picked up Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Interested candidates must provide photo identification and proof of address.
To qualify as a candidate, an individual is required to be 18 years of age or older and have maintained residency in the district they wish to represent for at least ten days prior to the election. Candidates must get at least 50 signatures from residents within their district. False signatures will be discounted. Collection of additional signatures is encouraged.
For more than 50 years, the Social Development Commission (SDC) has served as a community action agency in Milwaukee County. SDC serves as a planner, coordinator, and provider of human service programs for low-income individuals and families residing in Milwaukee County. The agency is an intergovernmental commission and is governed by a board of 18 citizens from Milwaukee County, each holds the title of “Commissioner.”
For more information on SDC’s programs and services, visit cr-sdc.org.
ELECTION FACTS AT-A-GLANCE
To run for a seat on the Board of Commissioners to represent the low-income community, candidate must be:
Employees of the Social Development Commission, its delegate agencies, and elected officials are not eligible.
Role of Commissioner: Elected Commissioners are expected to represent their constituents by attending monthly board meetings and committee meetings they are assigned to.
To Become a Candidate: To have a candidate’s name appear on the ballot, candidates are required to collect at least 50 signatures from residents in their district. Candidates are urged to collect at least 50 additional signatures in case of discounted names. Nomination forms used to collect signatures can be picked up at SDC located 1730 W North Avenue between 8 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Important Dates:
Monday April 15, 2019
Nomination packets and signatures due by 5 p.m.
Signatures are to be collected and returned to SDC’s Executive Department.
Tuesday May 7, 2019
Election Day
Voting will take place from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
There will be one voting site for each of the six districts. Polling site locations TBA.

author: Social Development Commission


text:
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers to host Latino Health Equity Summit | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers
April 8, 2019
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers today announced it will host its 2019 LATINO Health Equity Summit, “,” on April 9 from 8:00am-3:00pm at the Italian Community Center. The second annual Summit is bringing together the biggest names in healthcare, key business and city leaders, and top area funders to ignite a conversation around Latino health equity and develop a real-time roadmap through policy, community-based strategy and cross-sector collaboration for a healthier tomorrow. Every speaker will offer a recommendation to create an action plan that the Milwaukee Latino Health Coalition will take back to work through as part of their priorities. The Summit is being presented in collaboration with the Milwaukee Latino Health Coalition.
“The Latino community with its rapidly growing population is, in many ways, the future of Milwaukee. It’s important we prepare now for the changing health needs of the city,” says Dr. Julie Schuller, President and CEO of Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers. “Strategies, policy and funding will help ensure it is a future of opportunity and health. I’m excited to bring alive this conversation and movement to action through our second annual health equity summit.”
Key speakers include Mayor Tom Barrett and Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm.
The Summit is being presented in collaboration with the Milwaukee Latino Health Coalition.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
The full slate of scheduled speakers include:
Latino Health: Laying the foundation
Dr. Julie Schuller, Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers
Health System Perspectives and Strategies
Andres Gonzales, Froedtert Health
Seth Teigen, Ascension Health
Policy Makers and Elected Officials
Jeanette Kowalik, Milwaukee Health Commissioner
Andrea Palm, Department of Health Services Secretary
JoCasta Zamarripa, State Representative
Trauma and Mental Health in the Latino Community
Martina Gollin-Graves, Mental Health America
Amy Lovell, REDgen
Maria Perez, Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers
The State of Latino Milwaukee
Marc Levine, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Local Leaders Answer Community Questions
Ivan Gamboa, Tri City National Bank
Cristy Garcia-Thomas, Advocate Aurora Healthcare
Amy Lindner, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County
Social Determinants of Health: How housing impacts health
Rafael Acevedo, City of Milwaukee
Mark Rakowski, Children’s Community Health Plan
Raphael Ramos, Legal Action of Wisconsin
Kori Schneider-Peragine, Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council
Latino Employers Health and Workplace Strategy
Griselda Aldrete, Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee
Rolando Rodriguez, Marcus Theatres
Closing
Mayor Tom Barrett
Sponsors for the 2019 Latino Health Equity Summit include Children’s Community Health Plan, Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin, Wells Fargo, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, Aurora Health Care, Ascension, TriCity National Bank and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.
About Sixteenth Street
For 50 years, Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers has been building a healthy community, providing quality, family-based health care, health education and social services free from linguistic, cultural and economic barriers. Nearly 40,000 individuals rely on Sixteenth Street for adult and pediatric medical services, behavioral health counseling and treatment, substance abuse treatment, chronic disease management, supportive social services, health education and community empowerment.


text:
Spring has sprung at the corner of 6th & Canal as the Harley-Davidson Museum celebrates Milwaukee Day | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Harley Davidson Foundation
April 8, 2019
Spring and the sounds of Harley-Davidson motorcycles roaring to life are in the air. Now that Milwaukee has awoken from its winter slumber, it’s the perfect time to visit the world’s only Harley-Davidson Museum for unique events, mouthwatering eats and legendary displays.
On April 14, the place to be to celebrate Milwaukee’s favorite holiday is the H-D Museum campus for special ticket offerings and a campus full of fun activities for the whole family on Milwaukee Day. Hometown pride will also be on the display as two local high school teams unveil their entries into Harley-Davidson’s Battle of the Kings bike build off. Plus, the kitchen at MOTOR® Bar & Restaurant is turning out dishes inspired by some of America’s favorite outposts. And while the snow is now in the rear view, be sure to check out the “Snow Bike,” fresh from the Aspen X-Games, currently on display.
$10 Tuesday are back!
Don’t forget: Museum admission on Tuesdays through April is just $10, no reservation required. Plus, a Hamilton gets you the juicy MOTOR Burger at MOTOR Bar & Restaurant. There are only five more opportunities to take advantage of this special deal, so make tracks to the H-D Museum.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Milwaukee Day
Sunday, April 14, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
It’s Brewtown’s favorite holiday: Milwaukee Day! And come April 14, the center for all your Milwaukee Day celebrations will be at the world’s only Harley-Davidson Museum, 6th & Canal, Milwaukee, USA. Here’s your chance to be a tourist in your own town and learn more about Milwaukee’s most iconic export.  Admission to the H-D Museum is $4.14 all day long. Gather your family and friends and head down to the museum for an authentic Milwaukee experience. While you are on campus, be sure to pop over to The Shop for souvenirs and gifts, as well as special savings items for just $4.14. All this fun will have your group hungry! Grab some great eats at MOTOR® Bar & Restaurant. You can enjoy a cheeseburger (w/cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and onions) in MOTOR for just – you guessed it – $4.14 (dine-in only).
Battle of the Kings Launch Party
Thursday, April 18, 5-9 p.m.
On Thursday, April 18, 2019, make plans to visit the Harley-Davidson Museum as the Hamilton High School Robotics Team, under the guidance of Milwaukee Harley-Davidson®, takes center stage alongside the Wisconsin Lutheran High School Team, working under the tutelage of West Bend Harley-Davidson®, unveil their entries into Harley Davidson’s global custom bike build competition known as the H-D® Battle of the Kings.
The 2019 Battle of the Kings features hometown Harley-Davidson dealers teaming up with the next generation of welders and wrenchers found at local trade schools in a competition that looks to discover the coolest custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The Reveal Party begins at 5 p.m. as we shine a spotlight on these two Milwaukee-area competition bikes before they take on the world. MOTOR® Can Room will be the spot to get up close to the bikes and the teams that brought these beauties to life.
MOTOR’s Thirsty Thursday concert series features live music by Joey Gleesing (from The Now Band), $3 koozie beer specials and $4 Good City Brewing beers and the chance to win exclusive prizes. Arrive early and take advantage of MOTOR’s Happy Hour from 3-6 p.m., featuring BOGO monthly cocktail specials.
Free Admission FridayFriday, April 26, 5-9 p.m.
Visit the H-D Museum for FREE on Friday, April 26. Presented by the Historic Third Ward Association, Gallery Night & Day is the two-day premier art event in Milwaukee for both the experienced artist and beginning admirer. Tonight at the Harley-Davidson Museum, be sure to check out “Taming the Road in Style,” a temporary exhibit that examines the pursuit of marrying styling and comfort. Free Friday night Museum admission from 5 – 9 p.m.; regular Museum admission applies on Saturday.
2018 Harley-Davidson Street Rod “Snow Bike”
Used to transport athletes between events at the 2018 and 2019 Winter X-Games in Colorado, this custom machine was hand built by brothers Shaun and Aaron Guardado. The duo modified a 2018 Harley-Davidson Street Rod with a track and ski kit made for dirt and motocross bikes. The additions brought the overall length of the vehicle to more than 11.5 feet.
LiveWire™ 2015 Prototype
The Harley-Davidson Museum is chronicling the next chapter of H-D history by displaying one of the original 80 LiveWire demo bikes that Harley-Davidson took around the world for riders to try in 2015.
The LiveWire Project’s engineers and stylists were challenged not just to make an electric motorcycle, but to make a Harley-Davidson electric motorcycle. This prototype won praise for its power, quickness, and look, but it was still a work in progress.
The final version evolved after several years of gathering feedback from riders, data analysis, and redesign work. The result of an unprecedented development process, the 2020 LiveWire will be available in Harley-Davidson dealerships in the fall of 2019. See this landmark development in electric vehicle technology while it’s on display in the H-D Museum lobby.
Temporary Exhibit
“Taming the Road in Style” (open now)
The earliest Harley-Davidson motorcycles had the same suspensions as bicycles of the time: none at all. The roads were a hodgepodge of dirt, stone, and other materials. Bumps were everywhere; suspension was needed. Comfort became a never-ending challenge for Harley-Davidson engineers. It was redefined by each new generation of rider and changing environments: over the decades, roads were paved, engine power and speed increased, and motorcyclists traveled faster over longer distances and craved smoother rides. In response, Harley improved the seats, redesigned many frames, or added new suspension systems. Sometimes these changes were small, sometimes dramatic. These tweaks and additions added up over the years. The first Harley-Davidsons resembled bicycles. Years later, bicycles and motorcycles looked nothing alike. The pursuit of comfort had transformed motorcycles.
The Harley-Davidson Museum’s newest exhibit, “Taming the Road in Style,” examines this history, drawing a line from the dawn of the bicycle to the launch of present-day Harley-Davidson Softail® models.
SAVE THE DATES
Bike Night Concert Series returns Thursday, May 9, 5-9 p.m. (and every Thursday throughout the summer)
Inside H-D: All-Day Experiences return May 15 (available through Sept. 11)
Bikes Brats & Beer Tours return June 6 (available through August 29)
2nd Annual Ride with Pride, June 8 at 10 a.m.
Daredevils: A century of spine-tingling spectacles, June 15-Sept. 8, 2019, special summer exhibit.
Daredevils have thrilled audiences for centuries. What began with horse trick riders in circuses inspired new generations of entertainers on bicycles, motorcycles and cars. From touring thrill shows to Hollywood movie stunt work, the exhibit celebrates the exciting history of these death-defying performers.

author: Harley Davidson Foundation


text:
A Trump-backing pastor is latest to declare candidacy for Ald. Donovan’s 8th Aldermanic District seat | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
April 9, 2019
Three candidates have filed the paperwork to run for Ald. Donovan’s 8th District Aldermanic seat. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Eduardo Loera, a pastor at Iglesia Apostolica Nueva Vida and a reported supporter of President Donald Trump, is the latest to file paperwork to run for the 8th Aldermanic District — a seat held by only two people in the last 48 years. Ald. Robert G. Donovan announced in March that he would retire when his term ends in 2020.
Loera’s decision to run has drawn traffic on social media, with some criticizing him while sharing a picture of him wearing a MAGA hat in front of the White House, while others praised his decision to run.
“Red alert: A Trump supporter is running for the 8th Aldermanic District,” read one post on Facebook, while another stated, “Pastor Eduardo [Loera] will do us a great service in District 8th.”
Trump has been viewed as an anti-immigrant president who recently repeated his threat to shut down the U.S./Mexico border, during what some are calling a migrant crisis. The 8th District has a large Hispanic population, including many who are immigrants.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Loera entered what is becoming a crowded field.
The first to declare her candidacy for the 8th District seat was current State Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa, who made the announcement shortly after Donovan announced his plans to retire.  Zamarripa recently announced that she had been endorsed by six sitting alderpersons, including Nikiya Dodd, Nik Kovac and Tony Zielinski and Jose Perez, who both represent sections of the South Side.
Community organizer and political operative Justin Bielinski announced his candidacy last week. Bielinski ran against Donovan in 2016, falling 158 votes short of unseating the longtime alderman. Bielinski served as a campaign manager for now Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and more recently as a senior adviser/consultant for Bob Peterson’s successful bid for an at-large seat on the Milwaukee Public Schools’ Board of School Directors.
Bielinski, who moved to the 8th District since 2007, said he didn’t have much to say about his opponents other than that he believes that Zamarripa has not lived in the district recently.
“Ultimately, the voters will decide whether that is important to them,” Bielinski said.
Zamarripa denied his claim.
“Yes, I live in the district and I am proud to have represented the Latino community and the district in the state Assembly,” she said.
About Loera, Zamarripa said she didn’t know much about him yet, but considers the fact that multiple people are running for the seat as a positive.  Loera did not immediately respond to an NNS request for comment.
According to Patty Doherty, longtime aide to Donovan, the alderman would not be endorsing anyone.
She added, “The reason he announced a year in advance that he wasn’t running was so that anyone from the district who wanted to run would have enough time to get out in the district and introduce themselves at the doors. His feeling is ‘the more, the merrier.’”
The winner of the 8th District Aldermanic seat will be decided during the Spring 2020 elections.

author: Edgar Mendez


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 9, 2019


text:
In recognition of national crime victims’ rights week from Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office
April 9, 2019

author: Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office


text:
The road to becoming a U.S. citizen | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
April 9, 2019
More than 120 individuals take part in a naturalization oath ceremony, the final step to become a United States citizen. (Photo provided by MATC)
Last month, more than 120 people in Milwaukee became citizens of the United States.
Although the actual ceremony took a couple of hours, the process of becoming a citizen can take years. In order to become a U.S. citizen, individuals must prove that they can understand and communicate basic English, display a basic understanding of America’s history and “be a person of good moral character.” On top of that, they must fill out an application for naturalization (Form N-400), get fingerprinted and be interviewed before they can pledge allegiance to the Stars and Stripes.
How long does it take to become a U.S. citizen?
For adults living in the United States who want to become a citizen the process may take longer than people expect. Before filling out an application, an individual has to make sure they are eligible. First, individuals must be at least 18 years old. They must be a permanent resident and green card holder for at least five years. During those five years, they must live in the country for at least 30 months. Finally, before they apply, they must prove that they’ve lived in the state or district where they’re applying for three months. If the individuals can prove all that, then they can apply and proceed with the next steps.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
How much does it cost to become a citizen?
Judge Beth E. Hanan swears in individuals from 47 different countries. (Photo provided by MATC)
The application process costs $725, including $640 to process the application and $85 for the biometric service (fingerprinting). The fee is nonrefundable even if an application is denied. In some cases, the fee may be reduced or waivered. If they are eligible for a reduced fee, individuals must submit a Form I-942 with the Form N-400.
Can a naturalized citizen be deported?
While the 14 Amendment protects natural-born citizens, there isn’t such protection for a naturalized citizen. Naturalized citizens can have their citizenship revoked, which could lead to deportation. Denaturalization can occur if a person falsifies or conceals information on her application, refuses to testify before Congress, is a member of subversive groups or is dishonorably discharged from the military.
When can a person be sworn in?
Once an application has been approved and the individual has passed the remaining qualifications, the final step is to attend a naturalization oath ceremony. In some instances, a naturalization ceremony may take place after the interview. Otherwise, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will schedule the ceremony and send a notification. In Eastern Wisconsin, the naturalization ceremony schedule shows the dates for four months at a time. A ceremony is usually held in the Centennial Courtroom at the Milwaukee Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 517 E. Wisconsin Ave.
Does a green card guarantee citizenship?
Despite the effort and time, applications can still be denied. This may be because individuals didn’t pass the examination portion of the test. In some situations, they may get a second chance at the English exam and the U.S. history and government exam. It should be noted that being denied citizenship does not mean a person loses their green card, otherwise known as a permanent resident card that allows the holder to work and live in America.
Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services


text:
A West Allis resale shop has become ‘a store that means more’ to its community | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
April 10, 2019
(Photo courtesy of St. Charles Youth and Family Services)
Sweaters, jackets, blouses and other items hang neatly in rows of clothing racks throughout the resale store.
Furniture and lamps fill the outskirts of shop’s room, and framed artwork lines the gray walls as sunlight pours in from adjacent windows. Throughout the store, employees are eager to assist clients.
But this store is different from other shops.
If you visit the St. Charles Furniture & Thrift Store, you may be assisted by one of the young Milwaukee students it employs. The resale store moved to its current location at 6731 W. Greenfield Ave. in West Allis last month.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Some thrift store employees participate in the St. Charles Youth Employment Services (YES) Program, which allows Milwaukee County youths to get work training and resume experience.
Student employees and mentors gather at the ribbon cutting. (Photo courtesy of St. Charles Youth and Family Services)
“The work program offers employees a fresh start and clean slate, from any circumstances they had been in or continue to struggle through,” said Scott Carpenter, vice president of St. Charles Youth & Family Services.
The Youth Employment Services Program and thrift store began eight years ago in partnership with WRAPAROUND Milwaukee, an organization that connects Milwaukeeans to personal service programs. Since its beginnings, the program has helped and employed more than 1,000 young students in Milwaukee.
“This is a voluntary program,” Carpenter said. “Kids opt into this, and that is a real positive thing for them in their journey in becoming adults.”
Employees are responsible for sorting, organizing, and stocking items, handling the register, and basic customer service and retail skills. Carpenter said the YES program not only gives students entry-level work experience, but also prepares students with personal skills for lifetime employment.
At the store’s grand opening in March, community well-wishes illuminated a whiteboard. “It’s all about promising futures.” “The store brings wonderful energy and I wish the youth well on this foundation that has been built.” The board also displayed some students’ remarks: “We learned patience.” “It’s made me feel good and more confident.”
St. Charles Furniture & Thrift Store accepts donations of clothing and home and office furniture. The store is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

author: Bridget Fogarty


text:
NNS on Lake Effect: The future of Wisconsin’s youth criminal justice system | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
April 10, 2019
Milwaukee County has released a visual rendering of its proposed facility to replace Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake youth prisons. (Image courtesy of Milwaukee County)
NNS reporter Allison Dikanovic recently joined Lake Effect’s Joy Powers on WUWM to discuss the future of the youth criminal justice system in Milwaukee and Wisconsin, especially in light of suggested changes proposed in Gov. Tony Evers’ budget. The state is slated to close its two youth prisons, Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake by 2021, but Evers’ transition into office has renewed debate about what changes should be implemented and how to fund them.
The two talked about how we got to this point, what has gone wrong in the youth prisons and how the current law would shape the coming reforms. Dikanovic laid out what the proposed plans have been, shed a light on some points of confusion and shared perspectives she’s heard in her reporting about what kinds of new facilities, programs and resources leaders, advocates and community members want to see put in place to replace the prisons and support some of the city’s most vulnerable young people.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Filed Under: Lake Effect Radio, Multimedia, NNS on the Radio

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 10, 2019
“0403b”.


text:
Discover a new favorite dining spot during Black Restaurant Week | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
April 11, 2019
BlankSpaceMKE co-founders Bridget Robinson (left) and Symphony Swan work to build community by supporting creatives and entrepreneurs. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Here’s an opportunity, and an excuse if you need one, to indulge in great local food and support black entrepreneurship.
On Sunday, April 14 BlankSpaceMKE will launch its fourth annual Black Restaurant Week.
Through April 20, the urban arts organization will promote and celebrate more than 20 local black-owned eateries.
(Click to enlarge)
Symphony Swan and Bridget Robinson founded BlankSpaceMKE in 2015 to connect artists in the community and give them a platform for sharing information about creating and branding their businesses. They describe it as “a grassroots organization aimed at developing organic methods to marry the concept of art and activism.”
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Swan and Robinson also want to demonstrate “the power of the black dollar” and they will give prizes to Black Restaurant Week attendees who respond to a survey on the BlankSpaceMKE website after patronizing a participating restaurant.
“Black Arts Week (held in June for the last two years) and Black Restaurant Week are our most significant and prominent programs, but we spend a lot of time doing education in the community,” said Robinson. The two go into schools and help students learn how they can get involved in and support the arts, she said.
Last year, BlankSpaceMKE partnered with Black Lens, the segment of Milwaukee Film’s annual festival that focuses on films created from black perspectives, to bring awareness to the festival itself and to encourage folks to support the artists, Robinson said.
The public is invited to a free kick-off celebration with owners and chefs from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 14 at the Bronzeville Collective, 339 W. North Ave.
BlankSpaceMKE also will host a wrap-up forum from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 20 at Vibez Creative Art Space, on the second floor of the Sherman Phoenix, 3536 West Fond du Lac Ave.
More details are listed on BlankSpaceMKE’s website.


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 10, 2019


text:
Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDI) announces 2019 winners for improving Milwaukee neighborhoods | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
LISC Milwaukee
April 14, 2019
The Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (known as the MANDIs) celebrate the “good news” of successful efforts to revitalize neighborhoods and strengthen the community.
LISC appreciates the opportunity to recognize what’s happening on the ground in Milwaukee neighborhoods. People are working hard to create safe, healthy, vibrant neighborhoods for their community. This year MANDIs celebrated its 20 year anniversary. It continues to showcase the efforts of those to make our neighborhoods stronger and economically viable. The winners and finalists and the works they do every day offer all of us inspiration and hope for an equitable economic future for all.” said Donsia Strong Hill, Executive Director of LISC Milwaukee, the nonprofit host of the MANDIs.
From public nominations, a volunteer Selection Committee named 12 finalists in December, and winners were announced Thursday, April 11, an audience of 760 community leaders at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
The event was emceed by Shannon Sims, Anchor and Reporter for Todays’ TMJ4, and welcoming remarks were made by LISC National President and CEO, Maurice Jones, Wisconsin Governor, Tony Evers, City of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett; presenting sponsor Suzanne Zwaska, Vice President, US Bank; Roger Sandell, Vice President, Johnson Bank and Chair of the LISC Milwaukee Advisory Board.
Awarded for commitment and effectiveness over time, the BMO Harris Bank Cornerstone Award was presented by Paul Fehrenbach, BMO Harris, and Vice President of Community Investments.  This award was given to Running Rebels Community Organization.
Awarded to a public space that builds community, the Brewers Community Foundation Public Space Award was presented by Cecelia Gore, Executive Director for the foundation. This award was given to Multi-Sport Complex at Browning Elementary and Silver Spring Neighborhood Center.
Awarded to an individual for leadership, the Northern Trust Navigator Award was presented by Jamie Reeve III, Sr. Vice President of Northern Trust.  This award was given to Susan Lloyd for her work with the Zilber Family Foundation.
Awarded for innovation, the Associated Bank Trailblazer Award was presented by Brad Amundsen, Senior Vice President of Associated Bank, a new award sponsor this year. This award was given to the MATC Promise program.
Awarded for a real estate project that improves the community, The State Farm Building Blocks was presented by Holly Anderson, Community Specialist, for State Farm. This award was given to Welford Sanders Historic Lofts and Enterprise Center.
Awarded for nonprofits that collaborate and align, The Northwestern Mutual Collaboration Award was presented by Audra Brennen, Senior Director, Strategic Philanthropy was presented to Reclaiming Our Neighborhoods (RON) for a partnership between Sherman Park Community, Washington Park Partners, Riverworks Development Corporation and Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative.
The Chase Economic Development Award, was presented by Brian Grossman, Managing Director and Regional Manager for Chase. This award was given to Blue Skies Landscaping, a program of Walnut Way Conservation Corp.
Three winners were named for the Wells Fargo People’s Choice Award, an online social media campaign to select public picks for three winners across all award categories. These awards were presented by Dan Sweeney, Vice President and Community Development Officer at Wells Fargo. Sweeney was joined by Dionne Grayson, Co-founder and Executive Director of Lead2Change. The three winners included Running Rebels, MATC Promise and Washington Park Wednesdays.
All winners received a trophy and $1,000 contribution.  Finalists and winners are selected by a volunteer selection committee comprised of forty private, public and government volunteers.

author: LISC Milwaukee


text:
Milwaukee receives $5 million grant to focus on maternal-infant health | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Health Department
April 14, 2019
A coalition of Milwaukee organizations has been awarded a $5 million, five-year grant to implement a Milwaukee County Healthy Start Program that will support maternal-child health for African American women.
The coalition includes the City of Milwaukee Health Department, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Community Services, Black Child Development Institute-Milwaukee, Birth in Color Initiative, Easter Seals and other community stakeholders.
The program will support pregnant African American women, fathers and their infants ages 0-18 months who are at the highest risk for poor maternal-child birth outcomes. The grant will allow for:
“The Milwaukee Health Department is fully committed to supporting the implementation and execution of this Healthy Start project, which will decrease black infant mortality in Milwaukee County,” said Jeanette Kowalik, Milwaukee health commissioner. “Furthermore, Healthy Start will strengthen the connection between the city and county; this is essential to the health of black moms and babies for years to come.”
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
According to the Milwaukee Health Department’s 2017 FIMR Report, black infants in Milwaukee are three times more likely to die before their first birthday than white infants in Milwaukee, one of the largest health disparities in the country.
The city of Milwaukee has not received federal funds to address infant mortality for the past five years. The coalition’s latest grant application received a perfect score and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin will be the fiscal agent for the grant.
“At Children’s, we are as committed to helping kids start their lives healthy as we are to treating them when they are sick,” said Wanda Montgomery, director of community partnerships at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. “That means helping all families in our community get the care they need, and this grant will help us work toward eliminating perinatal health disparities for African American women and children in Milwaukee County.”
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, in Milwaukee County, 7.9 percent of African American women received either no prenatal care or no third trimester care. The program will serve African American families, including 300 women prenatally, 300 infants and 100 fathers/partners annually. Ultimately, the program will work toward a reduction in infant mortality, improved birth outcomes, and improved maternal, child and family health.
For more information on the City of Milwaukee Health Department, visit www.milwaukee.gov/health and for more information on Healthy Start, visit www.mchb.hrsa.gov/maternal-child-health-initiatives/healthy-start.

author: City of Milwaukee Health Department


text:
5 things you need to know this week in Milwaukee: April 15-April 20 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Elyse McFeggan
April 15, 2019
Black Restaurant Week includes a variety of eateries across the city, like Coffee Makes You Black, where this tray was photographed. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some events that can enrich your week. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put 5 things in the subject line.
1. This week is Black Restaurant Week, April 15-19
BlankSpaceMKE is launching its fourth annual Black Restaurant Week. The weeklong event aims to celebrate local black-owned businesses. It features 23 restaurants. There will be prizes for attendees who take a survey after visiting any of the featured restaurants. Here is a more detailed story about the event. To take the survey for prizes after eating at a featured restaurant, visit BlankSpaceMKE’s website.
2. Intersectionality in Black Male Achievement event, Wednesday, April 17
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Ubuntu Research and Evaluation is hosting an event to discuss how to best serve, support and advocate for black boys and men. The event will take place from 9 a.m. until noon Wednesday, April 17 at the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County Volunteer Center, 200 W. Pleasant St. The event is free to attend and space can be reserved here. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.
3. Pantry and Mobile Health and Resource Fair, Tuesday, April 16
Community Task Force MKE and New Hope Youth and Family Services are hosting a pantry and mobile health/resource fair Tuesday, April 16. The event will take place from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Carter’s Christian Academy, 2004 N. 33rd St. All residents in need are welcome to attend. There will be food and opportunities to sign up for additional services/resources. For more information, visit the event Facebook page.
4. Milwaukee County Zoo to host Egg Day, Saturday, April 20
Milwaukee County Zoo will be hosting Egg Day. Children under the age of 8 can come to decorate a set of bunny ears, get their faces painted, watch a parade, see special shows, and watch the animals participate in an egg hunt. The event is included in regular ticket purchases for the day. The event will take place from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, April 20 at the zoo, 10001 W. Bluemound Road. For more information, visit the event website.
5. Free yoga at the Mitchell Park Domes, Saturday, April 20
The Mitchell Park Domes and MKE Yoga Social will host a free yoga class open to all residents. The event includes free entry to Greenfest at The Domes. To participate, register on Eventbrite. The event will take place from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20 at The Domes, 524 S. Layton Blvd. For more information, visit the event Facebook page.


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 14, 2019


text:
26009821570_b7aa04e2be_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 14, 2019


text:
Teens Grow Greens is growing… to the South Side of Milwaukee! | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Teens Grow Greens
April 15, 2019
(Photo courtesy of Teens Grow Greens)
We are excited to announce that the recruitment process for our South Side Pilot Internship has begun! Attached, you will find the South Side TGG Employment Application. Please distribute it to south side high school students (or those working with high school students) who may be interested in participating in a 12-week paid internship, emphasizing leadership, urban agriculture, and entrepreneurship!
Our recruitment/program timeline is as follows:
Start Accepting Applications: Tuesday, April 9th, 2019
Application Deadline:
Interview Notification: Friday, May 10th, 2019
Interviews Scheduled: Monday, May 13th – Friday, May 24th
Internship Orientation: TBD
Start of Internship: Tuesday, June 4th, 2019
End of Internship: Thursday, August 22nd, 2019
We are very excited to partner with you in recruitment for this endeavor…and look forward to an exciting Summer 2019!!
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!

author: Teens Grow Greens


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 15, 2019


text:
NNS reporter Andrea Waxman goes live on WGLB 1560AM | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
April 15, 2019
Chris Conley, 414 Life outreach and resource coordinator, Uniting Garden Homes, standing with the “interrupters” team, speaks to the press at the Froedtert Cancer Center. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
NNS reporter Andrea Waxman recently joined WGLB-AM 1560’s “Morning Mix” to talk about the Office of Violence Prevention’s 414 Life program that trains neighborhood violence “interrupters” in the Cure Violence model. Known as Ceasefire, in Chicago, where it was launched in 2000, the program approaches violence as a contagious disease and addresses individuals and communities as health professionals would treat victims of an epidemic. Waxman also talked about Black Restaurant Week.


text:
190407_1917 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 15, 2019
“190407_1917” by My Recording.


text:
NNS Video: Riverside’s RoboTigers robotics team roars its way to world championship | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Cynthia Crawford
April 15, 2019
After beating more than 50 teams to reach the finals of their regional competition in Chicago, the Riverside University High School RoboTigers are on their way to the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)
Robotics world championship in Detroit later this month.
About half the team members are girls, which is rare in the robotics world. The students design and operate their robot. With support from businesses, teachers, alumni and mentors, the students of Riverside Robotics have created a nationally competitive robot. This is the third consecutive year the RoboTigers have made it to the robotics championships, which attract more than 70,000 people from around the world – plus 1,300 robots.
The RoboTigers need to raise an additional $10,000 for their trip to cover costs for hotels, meals and transportation. Corporate donations from Rockwell Automation, GE Healthcare and other companies are covering the team’s entrance fee but more is needed.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!

author: Cynthia Crawford


text:
Women on F.I.R.E. nominees sought for My Sistas KeepHer F.I.R.E. Awards by April 21 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
My Sistas KeepHer
April 15, 2019
My Sistas KeepHer is seeking nominations and sponsors for its fourth annual F.I.R.E. (Females In Recognition of Excellence) Awards slated for the evening of Sunday, June 30, at Renaissance Place, 1451 N Prospect Ave.
Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized for her tireless work in the community? Maybe a young lady who is using her gift of dance, drawing, acting etc. to make her mark on Milwaukee (ART). Have you met someone who has overcome many obstacles and turned tragedy into triumph (PERSEVERANCE)? Nominate her on this form no later than April 21, 2019.
The Red Carpet event is designed to bring the community together to celebrate the amazing work being done by women in the following categories: ARTS. ENTREPRENEURSHIP, IMAGE, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, PERSEVERANCE and SISTAHOOD. One youth and one adult will be honored in each category. The event seeks to bridge the gap between youth and adult trailblazers and to inspire others as the honorees share their stories on stage.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
My Sistas KeepHer’s mission is to encourage and inspire young girls to love themselves and each other through the art of positive self-expression. It uses poetry as a tool to show that when you stand and share your story in an empowering way, it not only heals you, but may heal someone else.

author: My Sistas KeepHer


text:
20 Corporate sponsored teams play soccer for Milwaukee’s underserved youth | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
America SCORES Milwaukee
April 16, 2019
On Saturday, April 27th, the 14th annual SCORES CUP will feature 20 adult, corporate sponsored teams playing in a fun and friendly indoor soccer tournament in front of hundreds of supporters and spectators at Uihlein Soccer Park (7101 W. Good Hope Road).
The unique fundraiser supports Milwaukee’s underserved children and allows more than 1,000 to participate in youth-development programming and life-changing activities during high-risk after school hours.
“One hundred percent of the proceeds provide youth in Milwaukee’s urban neighborhoods with free programming that incorporates soccer instruction, promotes academic achievement, and teaches the importance of community service through area service projects and learning initiatives,” said Kate Carpenter, America SCORES Milwaukee Executive Director. “We are grateful for and appreciate these corporations and players whose participation supports us in providing a curriculum that encourages Milwaukee Public School students to become caring and confident contributors in their schools and our community.”
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Corporate sponsored teams include Baird, Briggs & Stratton, Crescendo, Empower, Fiduciary Management, Meijer, MGS Manufacturing, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, Northwestern Mutual, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Quarles & Brady, Sobelman’s Pub & Grill, Solstice Consulting, Superior Die Set, ULINE, UPS, WaterStone Bank, and We Energies. Additionally, two individually-fundraised teams from the Milwaukee chapter of the American Outlaws soccer group and Milwaukee Public Schools will be playing.
To learn more about the program’s life-changing impact, be a sponsor or make a donation, visit www.americascoresmke.org/scores-cup.html.

author: America SCORES Milwaukee


text:
Children’s books inspire top Milwaukee chefs to create culinary masterpieces for SHARP Literacy fundraiser | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
SHARP Literacy
April 16, 2019
Children’s books are inspiring top Milwaukee chefs to flex their creativity in the kitchen for a fundraiser for SHARP Literacy on Thursday, May 16 at The Ivy House, 906 Barclay Street, Milwaukee. These “cooks for books” will turn core ingredients, donated by McDonald’s Restaurants, into culinary masterpieces inspired by four children’s books that are currently used as part of SHARP’s foundational literacy program which impacts more than 8,500 elementary school students in 42 of Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties’ most at risk schools. Steve the Homer True, ESPN Radio on-air personality, will emcee the event.
Now in its fourth year, the fundraising event “SHARP Unwrapped” will closely tie to the mission of the organization through the focus on SHARP’s We Love to Learn books. Based on educational standards and grade-appropriate goals, the SHARP books are designed around themes that Milwaukee-area educators have brought to the nonprofit. Following the initial planning phase, SHARP students collaborate in the process by researching topics, writing original content and producing artwork and graphics before the book is printed and distributed. These locally produced books are serving as the basis for recipe development for the fundraiser.
Participating chefs and selected books for “SHARP Unwrapped 2019: Books & Cooks” include (in alphabetical order):
Tickets for SHARP Unwrapped can be purchased at: sharp-unwrapped19.eventbrite.com.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Just as SHARP students improve their literacy skills through creative approaches to learning, the Unwrapped chefs were charged with thinking about recipe development in a completely new way. With a totally blank slate in front of them, the chefs reviewed the children’s books and were asked to imagine new food creations based on the wide variety of storylines, characters and settings. The end results are delectable and visually beautiful entrees, appetizers and desserts that ultimately reflect the vision of SHARP students and educators.
“While each book that SHARP produces takes shape a little differently, all books have one thing in common: they reflect the hopes and dreams of children in our community,” said Lynda Kohler, president and CEO of SHARP Literacy. “For Milwaukee’s top chefs to turn the students’ vision into art with food, we are able to take our mission to the next level and see the imagination of our students come to life in yet another creative way.”
Chef Jarvis Williams of Milwaukee’s premiere steakhouse, Carnevor, has participated in the Unwrapped event every year since its inception. A Milwaukee native and father, he found inspiration in SHARP’s Aloha Adventure: A Story of Two Friends, which tells the tale of two friends, one in Wisconsin and one in Hawaii, who learn about kindness and respect even though they live thousands of miles apart. For the event, Chef Jarvis will blend the distinct taste profiles of the two very different states by creating a Hawaiian donut, called Malasada, and accenting it with a cranberry-maple jam. Chef Jarvis will be assisted on the night of the event by two students currently enrolled in Milwaukee Public School’s ProStart program, which provides high school students with on-the-job culinary training.
Chef Jarvis and the other participating chefs will serve their creations at food stations and an estimated 250 guests will be able to sample as many as they like. The evening will also include silent and live auctions with a variety of themed prizes.
At the event, SHARP will recognize Coca-Cola and Breakthru Beverage Group with the “Partner of the Year” awards. On the national level, Coca-Cola has supported the event since its inception with in-kind donations. Milwaukee’s own Breakthru, a leading North American beverage wholesaler, has a long history of support for the charity and will commemorate the partnership at this year’s event with a specialty cocktail inspired by SHARP Literacy’s We Love to Learn book, All About Wisconsin.
The co-chairs of the 2019 event are Marshall Chay, Brittany Lopez Naleid and Tom Naleid, and Paul and Megan Salb. SHARP Literacy wishes to thank this year’s event sponsors including EmPower HR, Park Bank, Peter Schwabe, Inc., Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren SC, SHARP Young Professionals Board, Town Bank, and Tyson Foods, among others.

author: SHARP Literacy


text:
City of Milwaukee General Labor & Construction Jobs Recruitment Event: Wednesday, April 17 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Milele A. Coggs
April 16, 2019
WHAT: Learn more about the general labor and construction job opportunities with the City of Milwaukee at this recruitment event sponsored by UMOS, the Wisconsin Department of Children & Families, Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, the Milwaukee Urban League, the City of Milwaukee Community Development Grants Administration, the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works, and Compete Milwaukee.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 17 – 2:00-4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Milwaukee Urban League, 435 W. North Ave.
WHO: Eligible future workers must be 18-64 years of age and have been unemployed for four (4) weeks. Jobs pay $11.32/hour for 40 hours per week. These jobs may lead to permanent employment with the city. Former offenders are welcome to attend.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
DETAILS: Brandy Murrell – (414) 374-5850 ext. 104 or bmurrell@tmul.org

author: Ald. Milele A. Coggs


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 16, 2019

author: Adam Carr


text:
City of Milwaukee Health Department honors National Black Maternal Health Week, April 11 – 17, 2019 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Health Department
April 16, 2019
This year marks the second annual Black Maternal Health Week, organized by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance.  This national designation serves to invest in systematic, institutional, and individual level approaches to improve health outcomes for Black families. This includes dismantling all levels of racism in government and individual level bias between providers and clients.  Since Commissioner Kowalik joined the City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD), she has worked diligently to bring additional resources and awareness to Milwaukee.
Last week, Commissioner Kowalik attended the Best Babies Zone annual meeting along with stellar Housing Authority and United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County staff.  Best Babies Zone is a place-based infant mortality eradication initiative and predominately serves Black families in the Westlawn neighborhood; it has been active since 2018.  This meeting reinforced the commitment Milwaukee is making to increase the quality of life for Black families.  Many zones across the country work closely with their local Healthy Start projects and some even have their local children’s hospitals or academic centers as the lead agencies while empowering staff and clients to live their best lives.
Within the last two weeks, there have been formal updates on service expansion and innovation to eradicate Black infant mortality in Milwaukee.  The MHD added a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinic, a nutritional public health program, to Ascension St. Joseph’s on April 1.  This site will predominately serve Black families and provide access to a cadre of resources.  On April 2, Mayor Tom Barrett, Alderwomen Milele Coggs, Alderman Khalif Rainey, County Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic, and Commissioner Kowalik hosted a press conference to highlight additional funding for MHD’s new doula project entitled, Birth Outcomes Made Better (BOMB), specifically for 53206, another predominantly Black area.  The BOMB doula program will employ a program manager, four (4) doulas, and one (1) outreach liaison.  MHD will begin recruitment for these historic roles in the coming month.
Another notable investment in eradication of Black Infant Mortality is Healthy Start, a federal infant and maternal mortality initiative that has been absent in Milwaukee for years.  Last month, MHD learned Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin (CHW) was awarded Healthy Start for Milwaukee County.  Through this award, MHD will receive $595,208 over the next five (5) years to sustain its fatherhood initiatives.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!


text:
MATC open house for prospective students scheduled for April 25 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Area Technical College
April 16, 2019
Prospective students are invited to Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Open House, from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, April 25, in the Student Center at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus, 700 W. State St. Free parking is available in the parking structure at the northwest corner of 8 and State Streets. Attendees who plan to apply for admission are encouraged to bring a copy of their high school or college transcripts and financial aid applications.
Participants will learn about MATC’s 200 academic programs and meet with faculty and staff. Representatives from MATC’s four campuses – Downtown Milwaukee, Mequon, Oak Creek and West Allis – will share details about campus-specific programs and activities. Staff from admissions, registration, financial aid, counseling, and student life will be on hand to answer questions and talk about student organizations and athletics. Representatives also will be available to discuss options for students interested in continuing to four-year colleges and universities after earning an MATC associate degree; GED, HSED, English as a Second Language and college preparation programs.
Attendees can learn about the MATC Promise, which means free tuition for eligible new high school graduates and eligible adult students.
For more information, visit https://www.matc.edu/openhouse/  or call (414) 297-6228. To RSVP, visit https://matcopenhouse.eventbrite.com/.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!

author: Milwaukee Area Technical College


text:
Milwaukee teens add their voices to storytelling community | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ex Fabula
April 16, 2019
Every teen has a story inside them waiting to be shared! And for first time ever- Ex Fabula holds its inaugural Teen StorySlam! This free, all ages, and noncompetitive StorySlam will be held at Velobahn Coffee Shop on Friday April 19 located in the Silver City Neighborhood; doors open at 4pm, event goes until 7pm. Although tickets are free, space is limited and advance reservations are encouraged atwww.exfabula.org/goat
Throughout the evening, attendees will hear true, personal stories that explore the full range of human emotions and experiences. Some of the teens telling stories onstage were selected in advance; they are currently working with Ex Fabula storytelling coaches to prepare true stories on the theme of G.O.A.T or Greatest of All Time. There will be a few storytelling slots available for teens who want to sign up at the event.  Audience members can also participate by submitting UltraShorts, which are brief, true personal stories written on slips of paper and then read onstage by the emcee.
Milwaukee teens are involved in many aspects of this event – both onstage and off. Escuela Verde’s youth-led pop-up café, Sabor Verde will be plating culturally conscious vegetarian and vegan food. DJ Joaquin, a youth DJ from the afterschool program Scratch Sessions will be providing music throughout the evening. Milwaukee Youth Council President, Bria Smith, will emcee for the night. At the event, Ex Fabula will also announce opportunities for Milwaukee teens to shape future programming.
Story. Stage. You. These three elements bring Milwaukee youth and community together at G.O.A.T or Greatest of All Time – to listen, to learn, and to find common ground. Join Ex Fabula to kick off its first – but not last – Teen StorySlam!
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!

author: Ex Fabula


text:
Teen Job Fair 2019 from Milwaukee Public Library | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Library
April 16, 2019
Don’t miss your chance to meet hiring managers and apply for a job! Both summer and year- round employers will be ready to meet you and get you set on applying for many positions. This free event is just for TEENS ages 16-19. Come prepared with your resume and business-appropriate dress attire. Resume and application help will be available during the job fair.
Center Street Branch | 2727 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
Wednesday, April 24 | 4-6 p.m.
The following employers will be on-site:
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!

author: Milwaukee Public Library


text:
The one test no one wants to fail: Resources for sexually transmitted diseases | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
April 16, 2019
With the growing rate of STD cases in Milwaukee, people are encouraged to get tested. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
When it comes to sex, it’s easier to act now and think of the consequences later.
In recent years, though, Milwaukee has seen a rapidly growing rate of sexually transmitted diseases cases. According to AIDS Vu, there are roughly 3,000 people living with HIV in Milwaukee. This past spring, the Journal Sentinel reported that 125 people had contracted HIV and/or syphilis.
With the growing number of cases, sexually active persons are encouraged to get tested and know their status.
Where do I go to get tested?
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Getting tested for an STD can be relatively easy. Nowadays, places such as the Keenan Sexual Health Clinic at 3200 N. 36 St. offer tests without an appointment. The clinic is aimed at people who are uninsured and underinsured. People can find the clinic closest to them through the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. After getting tested, most clinics will let the patient know his or her results as soon as possible. In some cases, no follow-up call signifies a clean bill of health.
The Keenan Health Center at 3200 N. 36th Street offers STD testing. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
How do I get treatment?
Patients diagnosed with an STD can learn more about treatment options through his or her testing center or by contacting a physician. The cost of treatment may range per diagnosis and depend on the clinic. It may be free or offered at a reduced cost.
How do I obtain protection?
Sexually active individuals should always use protection, even if test results deemed them STD free. Testing centers such as Planned Parenthood or the Keenan Sexual Health Clinic offer male and female condoms. In addition to condoms, some places offer lube. 414ALL Milwaukee created a list where people can obtain free condoms at bars, clinics, community organizations and local businesses.
Where can I learn about STDs?
Before engaging in sexual activity, it’s best to be informed about STDs and how they get passed on. In 2016, the Milwaukee Health Department released a report detailing the number of cases in Milwaukee where someone was diagnosed with an STD or HIV. The department created a page to explain each STD, the common symptoms and how it can get passed on.
Where can I find additional support?
Once an STD is detected, a person can receive the proper treatment to eradicate the disease. In some cases, STDs such as HIV, herpes and syphilis are diseases for life. Places such as the AIDS Resource Center for Wisconsin, Sixteenth Street Community Health Center or the Wisconsin Department of Health Services connect with individuals to help them adjust to life with HIV.

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


text:
Alert Neighbor Program application process now open | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Milele A. Coggs
April 17, 2019
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs and Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II invite community members to apply for the Alert Neighbor Program by June 14, 2019.
The Alert Neighbor Program is a pilot collaborative initiative that will assist neighborhood block clubs to identify and implement strategies, such as reporting criminal activity, holding regular neighborhood meetings, and planning neighborhood improvement projects, to reduce safety concerns. Additionally, the Alert Neighbor Program will provide funding for physical improvements in the neighborhood that will range from crime watch signs and porch lighting to security cameras installed around the community.
Anyone interested in applying should download and fill out the application form that can be found at https://city.milwaukee.gov/ANP-application.pdf.
For additional information please contact City of Milwaukee Community Outreach Director Patricia Ruiz-Cantu at 414-286-5626.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Alderwoman Coggs said, “This program will be increasing the participation in everyday neighborhood communication, safety, and engagement by more community members and that is a positive step toward improving blocks across Milwaukee.”
Alderman Stamper echoed that view in saying, “We are optimistic that the Alert Neighbor Program will stimulate greater neighborhood engagement on public safety and overall communication issues.”


text:
Groups continue to accuse city of obscuring truth about lead in the water | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
April 17, 2019
A crew replaces a lead water service line in Milwaukee. (Photo courtesy of Milwaukee PBS)
Last month’s special meeting of the Common Council’s Public Safety and Health Committee was hailed by Ald. Bob Donovan as a chance to “get to the bottom” of concerns related to the city’s lead crisis.
But critics of the city’s handling of the issue continue to raise questions and seek answers.
“The City has continually attempted to dismiss our findings and . . . these dismissals continue to distract from the issue of toxic lead whether it come from paint, soil or lead laterals,” the  Freshwater for Life Action Coalition and Get The Lead Out groups wrote last week as they detailed their responses to  statements made by city officials during the meeting.
The two groups have bashed leaders over their handling of the lead crisis and accused the city of doctoring maps to give residents false impressions about lead. They contend that a spike in infant deaths along North Avenue could have been caused by lead exposure.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Health Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik, who replaced Bevan Baker after he was forced out over his handling of lead; Karen Dettmer, superintendent of Milwaukee Water Works — who replaced Jennifer Gonda after she resigned in October; and Martha Brown of the Department of City Development were  among the city leaders who attended the March 22 meeting.
According to a letter from city department heads to the Common Council, information being presented by the groups is “not factual or based on a current understanding of science.”
City leaders disputed the infant mortality maps the groups point to as evidence that main replacement projects and partial lead service line removals led to a spike in deaths.
Spectators at City Hall listen intently to a presentation about lead poisoning in Milwaukee in February. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Those maps do not point to specific blocks on North Avenue where deaths occurred, the city contended. Rather, they show that the deaths occurred within a one-square mile radius of North Avenue.
The city also said that although water mains were repaired on North Avenue, the work was completed in 2009, three years before the rise in infant deaths. A 2016 study by Milwaukee Water Works found that lead levels reduce to preconstruction levels within 30 days of a water main replacement or other construction project.
That study led to a decision not to allow repairs or partial lead service line replacements since the beginning of 2017 and also to provide water filters and filter vouchers to residents affected by lead service line replacements or other constructions for the duration of the project and up to 30 days afterward, said Brian DeNeve, communications officer for the City of Milwaukee.
But if water is not the cause of the rise in infant deaths, then what is?
Geoffrey Swain, medical director for the Health Department, said during the meeting that 60 percent of infant deaths in the city are related to complications of prematurity, with others due to birth defects and unsafe sleep issues, and not lead.
The groups pointed out that without proper follow-up from health officials of those who have tested high for blood lead levels, an issue that forced Baker out of office and has led to local, state and federal investigations, how can that statement be made with certainty.
According to FLAC and GTLO, the number of children with lead poisoning increased last year, as did the number of water main replacement projects.
In fact, the number of children hospitalized for lead poisoning has increased since 2013, according to testimony delivered during the meeting from Heather Paridis, medical director of community services for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.
As far as the maps depicting lead poisoning density, which the groups contend have been doctored by the city, health officials explained that the scales on the map were changed to avoid violation of federal privacy regulations. The old map could reveal the locations of some lead-poisoned children, they stated.
FLAC and GTLO still believe that the maps were only altered after public pressure on the city for its handling of lead, rather than as a precautionary measure.
Another issue addressed during the hearing was whether the city was selling its foreclosed properties, which were then reconnected to dormant lead water lines, a practice that could result in elevated levels of lead in the water.
Brown said once the city takes ownership of a property, it assumes that any property built before 1961 has lead and then takes steps to remove it. In homes that are vacant, the city addresses lead concerns before selling and in those that are occupied by renters, the city enters into a lease agreement and issues work orders to a contractor to address safety concerns, including those related to lead exposure.
Overall, the groups contend, the city has failed to conduct adequate investigations into the causes of the increase in lead poisoning among children, create a safer means of delivering water and create a comprehensive plan to remove lead water pipes.

author: Edgar Mendez


text:
OPINION: The fight against ‘medical red-lining’ on the North Side | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jack Hanson
April 18, 2019
(Photo by Sue Vliet)
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.
This story has been updated to reflect the piece’s authors.
Jack Hanson is the research and policy analyst for the Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Organization, Rick Banks serves as political director/organizer for Black Leaders Organizing for Communities and Nate Gilliam serves as organizer for Wisconsin Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals.
Almost one year ago today, Ascension, the largest non-profit health system in the U.S., announced its plan to greatly reduce the services offered at St. Joseph Hospital. St. Joe’s is the only remaining general hospital on Milwaukee’s North Side. Many of us in the community saw this as the first step toward closing the hospital.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
There was good reason to be worried, because Ascension has done the same to hospitals in cities around the country: first claim that the hospital is no longer needed to meet patient demand, then reduce services, finally shut it down. Ascension very recently pushed a similar narrative at Providence Hospital in Northeast Washington D.C., a predominantly African-American neighborhood. That hospital is now closing, despite heavy community opposition and a city lawsuit.
The racial aspect of Ascension’s machinations is undeniable. At the same time that Ascension proposes closing the sole hospital in predominantly black neighborhoods, it invests millions into Columbia St. Mary Hospital on the predominantly white East SIde. Although Ascension cited St. Joe’s financial woes as a reason for the proposed cuts, Columbia St. Mary’s was losing even more money.
Many African-Americans residing on the North Side were either born at or have had children born at St. Joe’s. The hospital is the closest facility for expectant mothers and those with complex medical needs who rely on a nearby hospital to manage their conditions.
There are deep racial issues in this great city of Milwaukee, and its reputation as one of the worst places in America for Black people is well known. According to the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, Milwaukee ranks barely ahead of Menominee County, a Native American reservation, as the county with the worst health outcomes in Wisconsin. Health disparities weigh heavily on Black residents of Milwaukee. The lived experience of African Americans in this city is one of great inequity and lack of access to appropriate health care services. The North Side is still impacted by the closing of St. Michael’s Hospital in 2006. We simply cannot afford to lose the only remaining full-service inpatient health facility in the area. The North Side needs St. Joe’s.
Thankfully, residents and community organizations came together last year to form the “Save St. Joe’s Coalition” to stop Ascension from closing the hospital. We went door to door to hear from the community and to ask residents what they want and need from St. Joe’s. We held town hall meetings and Ascension was forced to listen. We heard heartbreaking stories from residents about the likely impact of healthcare cuts and a hospital closure. In the end, all of Ascension’s planned service reductions were halted publicly.
We are now a year beyond the proposed cuts, and we are renewing our fight to retain — and strengthen — St. Joe’s. Milwaukee’s North Side needs more health care infrastructure — more in-patient beds, an urgent care facility, more clinics — not less.
The Save St. Joe’s Coalition is now SJAC, the St. Joe’s Accountability Coalition. Our goal is to ensure that Ascension respects the will of the community — by improving care and adding services at St. Joe’s, rather than reducing services. But we can’t do this alone. We need all hands on deck to hold Ascension accountable.
We need visionary leadership from our elected officials and real resource commitment from Ascension. As the health care access crisis heats up in cities and states across the country, Ascension is not alone in pursuing a corporate strategy that shifts resources away from struggling urban neighborhoods toward affluent suburban neighborhoods where the patient population is well-insured. This profit-chasing market model of health care delivery in the U.S. endangers the health — and the very lives — of many of us in urban neighborhoods.
We are fighting for public policy to protect the most disenfranchised communities in Milwaukee and to change dismal health outcomes in our city. We invite residents, health care providers, and concerned citizens to join us in charting the way forward.
SJAC is hosting a community meeting from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18 at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, 2620 W Center St.

author: Jack Hanson


text:
hansonbanks | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 17, 2019


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 18, 2019


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 17, 2019