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How to get a COVID-19 shot in Wisconsin: Vaccine hunters share tips | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bram Sable-Smith (Wisconsin Watch/WPR)
March 16, 2021
RobinDavis was thrilled to learn that Wisconsin deemed her family eligible forCOVID-19 vaccinations starting March 1. That offered hope that she and herchildren could soon safely venture outside their Milwaukee home.
Forthe past year, the 56-year-old has mostly hunkered down with her son, 26, anddaughter, 23 — both of whom are on the autism spectrum.
Thathas proved lonely and difficult, Davis said, but ultimately worthwhile. Herhusband of 30-plus years died of pneumonia in 2019, and she fears catchingCOVID-19. She remains the legal guardian of her adult children, responsible formedical and financial decisions.
Davishas her own physical disabilities, and the family participates in IRIS, Wisconsin’s self-directed programfor frail elders and adults with disabilities. That’s why all three qualifiedto receive vaccinations this month.
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ButDavis wasn’t sure how to book an appointment. The signup websites she foundfailed to demystify the process.
That’swhen she saw a TMJ4 News story about a Facebook group called Milwaukee & WI
Area Vaccine Hunters and Angels, where Wisconsinites share tips forsnagging appointments.
Shejoined the group and posted her story. That connected her with group founderBob Orech, who said he made it his “personal mission” to find vaccines for theDavis family. Orech linked her to a Walgreens pharmacist he met through thegroup. Davis and both children received their first shots the next day.
“Ithink that’s one of the stories I’m most proud about,” said Orech, 47, a retailregional manager in Germantown, Wisconsin.
Thefast-growing Facebook group has helped many Wisconsinites navigate the state’sCOVID-19 vaccine bureaucracy. Wisconsin is among the nation’s
leadersin distributing inoculations to those who want them, but demand still outpacessupply, and some eligible residents still struggle to find appointments.
TheFacebook group is among dozens popping up nationwide in which members share insights forbooking vaccinations. Some, like Orech, even schedule appointments for others.They are known as “angels.”
Orechstarted the group in late February after members of a Chicago Facebook grouphelped him find appointments for his parents in suburban Chicago. If thatapproach worked in Chicago, he figured, why not Wisconsin? As of Thursdayafternoon, about 2,700 people had joined the Milwaukee group.
Wisconsinhas administered more than 1.8 million vaccines as of Thursday. About one infive Wisconsinites has received at least one vaccine dose, and more than one in10 is fully vaccinated, according to the
Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Wisconsin Watch and WPR spoke toeight residents who received vaccines. Here are their insights.
Work with a medical provider
LisaKirchberg, 67, didn’t have much trouble getting vaccinated in Milwaukee. Herhealth care provider — which is connected with Froedtert and the MedicalCollege of Wisconsin — sent her a letter in February saying that she waseligible and could book an appointment over the phone.
Shefollowed the instructions and received her first vaccine dose on Feb. 13 andscheduled her second shot for March 15.
“Ireally want this. I’ve never been afraid of it,” said Kirchberg, adding thatshe has closely followed COVID-19 protocols while living in a building with 500people.
Research when and where to sign up
Eachmedical provider has its own system for booking vaccine appointments.
DHSmaintains a searchable map of vaccine providers in Wisconsin,which displays vaccine registration websites for health care providers, countyhealth departments and pharmacies. Some local governments offer their own
portalsto sign up.
Butappointment slots can fill up fast. Orech said members of his group gleanedpatterns revealing the best times to book at certain locations. Walgreens, forexample, seems to begin accepting new appointments daily at 6 a.m., offeringearly birds a leg up. Other pharmacies like CVS, Walmart and Meijer are movingtargets, Orech said.
Manywebsites require vaccine seekers to create an account. Orech suggests doingthat early to shave off precious time once bookings open.
Be willing to travel
Onesupply chain worker in Madison qualified for vaccination on March 1 whenWisconsin expanded eligibility to non-frontline essential health care workers.The 24-year-old asked not to be named saying he feared negative attention frompeople who might deem him undeserving because of his age. He triedunsuccessfully for three days to schedule an appointment at a Walgreens inMadison.
Onthe fourth day — as he lay half-awake, acquiescing to his Australian cattledog’s demand to go outside — he realized that scheduling an appointment in hishometown of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, might be easier. He booked a Walgreensappointment there on his first try.
Hesaid the hour-long drive last week was worthwhile. But he feels guilty aboutgetting a shot while his father — who is younger than 65 but consideredhigh-risk for COVID-19 — still is not eligible.
OnThursday, Wisconsin announced it would expand vaccine eligibility to peoplewith certain medical
conditionsbeginning March 29. DHS expects to make all residents ages 16 and oldereligible sometime in May.
Ask for leftovers
TomKastle, a 64-year-old Madison folk singer, actor and tall ship sailor, earnedmuch of his pre-pandemic income from concerts he played at nursing homes in andaround Wisconsin. That businesses dried up as long-term care facilities— now linked to 30% of COVID-19-related
deathsin Wisconsin —  barred visitors tocontrol spread of the disease.
Afriend and fellow folk singer recently sent Kastle a postcard billing himselfas “vaccinated, masked and performing live.” Another friend told Kastle thatnursing homes were vaccinating their independent contractors. Kastle put twoand two together. When a nursing home solicited him for a St. Patrick’s Dayconcert, Kastle asked about getting vaccinated. He received his first dose on Feb.24.
Othershave managed to score leftover vaccines.
Orechsaid his Facebook group members have called pharmacies at day’s end to ask forleftovers that might otherwise expire and be thrown away — due to missedappointments, for example.
“Pharmacistslove their customers. They really do,” Orech said. “They look out for ourfamilies more than we ever realize it.”
Somevaccination sites offer standby lists for people who agree to show up quicklyfor a leftover dose. Other vaccine hunters have shown up to vaccination sitesunprompted to inquire about extras near closing time. More than a millionpeople have also signed up for extras through Dr. B, a nationwide web startup that matches people with localproviders.
Find walk-in appointments
Manyvaccine hunting tips involve time, technology and resources, illustrating howvulnerable communities could lose out. Hashim Zaibak, a founder and pharmacistat Hayat Pharmacy in Milwaukee, sees that problemclearly.
Thelimitations of poor internet access surfaced earlier in the pandemic, Zaibaksaid, when Gov. Tony Evers’ administration unveiled a COVID-19 testingregistration website that required an email address. Hayat, which has more thana dozen locations, also offers testing to residents — some of whom lackaccess to a smartphone, email address or any internet access at all. Some donot speak English.
That’swhy the pharmacy hired employees to register community members for testing.
“Wetold our employees, ‘Hey, this platform was meant for somebody who’s young,tech-savvy, knows how to maneuver the internet. But people in our community maynot be able to do that. So help them,’ ” Zaibak said.
Vaccineaccess poses a similar challenge. Hayat’s solution: offer walk-in appointmentsat several locations, including six days a week at 813 W. Layton Ave. inMilwaukee, the pharmacy’s headquarters.
“We’vehad slow days when we just vaccinated 50 or 60 people, and we’ve had somereally, really busy days that we were getting close to 1,000 a day,” Zaibaksaid.
Zaibaksaid Hayat has administered more doses than the state expected it would, andthe pharmacies have not wasted doses. If extra doses remain near the end of theday, staffers immediately call eligible people waiting on Hayat’s standby list.
Searching for a second dose
Davis,the Milwaukee widow, looks forward to completing vaccinations for her family.She looks forward to going outside more often with her children and friends andbreathing fresh air. Her daughter works 15 hours a week at Goodwill. Davishopes the vaccine will provide enough protection for her son to start workingpart-time again.
Butfirst, they need a second round of doses, and they have yet to schedule thoseappointments. The Davis family initially received the Moderna vaccine, and thecompany recommends waiting a month between doses.
Asthat date approaches, Davis is again hunting for appointments.
This story comes from a partnership
of Wisconsin Watch, Wisconsin Public Radio and NPR. Bram Sable-Smith is WPR’s Mike Simonson Memorial
Investigative Fellow embedded in the newsroom of Wisconsin Watch (www.WisconsinWatch.org), which collaborates
with WPR, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the University of
Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works
created, published, posted or disseminated by Wisconsin Watch do not
necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its
affiliates.

author: Bram Sable-Smith (Wisconsin Watch/WPR)


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DavisFamily | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 15, 2021

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Dwayne Burtin


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HashimZaibak1 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 15, 2021


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HashimZaibak2 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 15, 2021


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VaccineTips1 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 15, 2021


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VaccineTips2 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 15, 2021


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After last year’s record number of homicides, this group is looking for solutions from teens | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
March 17, 2021
WAVE interns, seen here at the Wisconsin Capitol in 2018, have been organizing for solutions to gun violence for years. (Photo provided by Deja Garner)
A year after Milwaukee set a record for homicides, the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, or WAVE, is forming a council of young people to generate and act on solutions to gun violence.
The council, called the WAVE Youth Advisory Council, will be made up of five to seven “committed young leaders.” Eligible applicants should be from 16 to 21 years old, live in Wisconsin and able to meet scheduling requirements.
The deadline to apply is at 5 p.m. Friday, March 19.
There were 189 homicides in Milwaukee last year, the deadliest year on record. Biluge Ntabala, an award-winning essayist on the impact of gun violence and a Marquette University student, said the issue of gun violence is a reflection of larger societal failures.
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“Shootings happen a lot, from police brutality, gang shootings, mass shootings, suicides,” Ntabala said. “But exploring the contributing factors to shootings tells us about what we can do as a society to stop the next one before it happens.”
Deja Garner, WAVE’s director of equity and outreach, said that the goal of the Youth Advisory Council is to generate solutions to gun violence based on the lived experience of the council members, as well as to develop council members’ capacity as organizers.
“We know that young people, particularly young people of color, experience gun violence and violence-related trauma at high rates,” Garner said. “Knowing this fact, we know how important it is to provide a platform for youth to use their voices to be the change they want to see.”
You may know Tatiana Washington from her role as an advocacy associate with March For Our Lives, a youth-led movement against gun violence that formed following the February 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. She was also the executive director of 50 Miles More, a five-day march from Milwaukee to Madison last summer demanding a special legislative session on gun violence, among other demands.
But it was a WAVE internship in 2018 where Washington learned how to organize effectively against gun violence, after her aunt was killed by her husband, who was a police officer. While she had been involved in a school walkout protesting gun violence before, she said it was WAVE that gave her the tools to grow as an organizer.
“I was given the space to try things out and how to organize a protest, and get other people involved,” she said. “It was an amazing support system to have.”
In addition to mentoring, former WAVE intern Tyler Kelly highlighted his exposure to new ideas from other interns.
“Interning with WAVE taught me about the power of diversity of thought,” Kelly said. “We used everyone’s experiences to come up with solutions to problems that affect everybody.”
WAVE will still be offering its regular summer internship in addition to the Youth Advisory Council. The internship usually begins around June each year.

author: Sam Woods


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 16, 2021

author: Adam Carr


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Community groups, Milwaukee leaders once again at odds over plans to expand I-94 East-West Corridor | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
March 17, 2021
Traffic has decreased since the pandemic began, causing some city and community leaders to question the need to expand the I-94 East-West Corridor. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Opponents are once again lining up against the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s plan to expand the I-94 East-West Corridor from 16th Street to 70th Street.
Their concerns include whether an expansion of the freeway is necessary with traffic down since the pandemic began, the environmental impact of the project and whether it is equitable to communities of color in Milwaukee.
Some of those same groups spoke against the plan in 2016, before then-Gov. Scott Walker shelved it. The current $1.1 billion project, most of which would be covered using federal funds with the rest coming from the state, sat dormant until Gov. Tony Evers revived it in July.
The project would involve expanding a section of the freeway from six to eight lanes and other engineering changes and would take three years, said Brien Bliesner, WisDot project director for the Southeast Region Design Team.
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Bliesner said the plan would increase safety and traffic flow for the many Milwaukee area travelers who use it and would connect two recent highway projects — the Marquette and Zoo interchanges. It would also create jobs, he said.
Ald. Robert Bauman, who sits on the Common Council’s Judiciary and Legislation Committee, is against the plan. He said the pandemic has changed many aspects of everyday life, one of them being fewer people on the road. Bauman and others contend that spending funds to expand the freeway while traffic has decreased is unnecessary.
“The pandemic has impacted work patterns and travel patterns and a whole host of issues,” he said.
Ald. Michael Murphy, who also sits on the Judiciary and Legislation Committee, said he believes reductions in traffic patterns will continue even after the pandemic ends.
“I don’t think it’s temporary. Working from home will be much more pronounced for residents of Southeastern Wisconsin,” Murphy said.
Bliesner acknowledged that the pandemic has changed traffic patterns, but he said that section of the freeway is still heavily used.
“It’s in the range of 140,000 to 160,000 cars a day,” he said. “It’s a very important economic driver for the city and provides access to several different neighborhoods.”
The City of Milwaukee remains on the record in opposition to the plan. Bauman and others have asked the Federal Highway Administration, or FHA, to reject the state’s plan to go forward with construction.
In 2016, the city also asked the FHA to halt progress on the project by rescinding its Record of Decision, which green lighted the opportunity to seek federal funds for the project. The Department of Transportation is asking for that decision, which was based on findings of an environmental impact study used in 2016, to be reissued. This would again open the door to seek federal funds.
“At minimum they need to do a new environmental study to justify the Record of Decision, which was based on a document that is at least five years old and used data from 2013 and 2014,” Bauman said.
Transportation officials said their justifications to expand that section of the freeway remain the same: high traffic volumes, an antiquated engineering design and crash rates that are much higher than the state average.
Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope, or MICAH, is among the groups that have voiced opposition to the project.  Joyce Ellwanger, secretary of MICAH’s Transportation Task Force, said transportation officials have not taken account of the impact of the plan on people of color and those who live in poverty.
Instead of another freeway project, which she said had historically displaced and negatively impacted communities of color in Milwaukee, more public transportation and other alternatives should be explored. MICAH was also outspoken against the original plan when it was first announced in 2012, according to Ellwanger.
Bliesner said he wants residents of Milwaukee to know that this project was created to benefit them.
“About 75 to 76 percent of this traffic is coming from within this corridor,” Bliesner said. “It’s not just Joe Suburbanite using this road, it’s someone from Holly Road or someone that lives on the east side and works at the VA in Milwaukee.”
MICAH has raised equity concerns before with another freeway project. MICAH and the Black Health Coalition successfully sued the state in 2012, winning a $13 million settlement after judges agreed that the $1.7 billion expansion of the Zoo Interchange discriminated against urban minorities in Milwaukee. Those funds were used to create JobLines bus routes that connected area residents to jobs in Waukesha County. Those routes were later canceled — damned in part by a lack of support from the suburban counties’ and low ridership.
Ellwanger said original plans to reconstruct the freeway outlined several alternatives to a full reconstruction, and that those ideas should be revisited. Her group is also calling for a new environmental impact study that looks at changing traffic patterns, pollution and issues around equity.
“Who are we considering to be of value and who is going to benefit from this expansion,” Ellwanger said.
Environmental groups Milwaukee Riverkeeper, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Environment, and Sierra Club Wisconsin have also publicly opposed the project, echoing MICAH’s equity concerns while also stating that the project would increase pollution and stormwater flooding. Some unions and other groups, however, have expressed support, including the Wisconsin Laborers’ District Council and Iron Workers Local 8.
Meanwhile, transportation officials continue to seek public support and gather input for the project, Bliesner said. He said the department has sponsored about 100 different small outreach meetings virtually and held a large-scale public information meeting for March 16. Individuals can submit public comments related to the project online.
Bauman called the DOT’s public outreach efforts weak and said they’re also sharing misleading information with the public.
“They’re spoon feeding everybody with their propaganda,” Bauman said.
As far as what happens next, both the city, DOT officials, and groups including MICAH are awaiting a decision from the FHA. One thing is clear. This issue will not be resolved soon.
“What MICAH is saying is it’s time to stop,” Ellwanger said. “We want the money spent wisely and equitably.”

author: Edgar Mendez


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Post from Community: Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition of Wisconsin releases statement on shootings of Asian Americans in Atlanta | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition of Wisconsin
March 17, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
The Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Coalition of Wisconsin today released a statement on the shootings of Asian American women in Atlanta.
It is with heavy hearts that the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Coalition of Wisconsin mourns the lives lost in the shootings that transpired on Tuesday evening in Atlanta, GA. There have been more than 3,800 hate incidents committed against the AAPI community since the pandemic began. This level of communal trauma has had a significant impact on Asian Americans.
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Much like Georgia’s AAPI leadership, the AAPI Coalition of WI is calling for a community-centered response that will center the voices of the victims and their families. We are calling for our allies to stand with us in our collective grief and demand leadership denounce the scapegoating of AAPIss for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other anti-Asian rhetoric.
Racism and hate have no place in Wisconsin. While data irrefutably shows that hate crimes committed against the AAPI community have been on the rise since last year, including verbal assaults, physical violence, and a disproportionate number of attacks directed towards AAPI women, we have not seen our leaders offer sincere concerns nor plan of action.
For these reasons the AAPI-WI is offering the following calls to action:
The Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Coalition of Wisconsin unites AAPI leaders throughout the state, serving as a conduit for AAPI communities and local/municipal/state resources to come together to stand against Hate and Racism. Born out of a rise in anti-Asian sentiments tied to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, our coalition inspires action in, and across, all communities by confronting racism, connecting resources and serving those affected by hatred and xenophobia.
The AAPI Coalition of Wisconsin will be hosting a vigil Thursday, March 18th, at Milwaukee City Hall 200 E Wells St, Milwaukee, WI 53202 at 5:00 PM. Please join us as we mourn the lives of the victims and fight against racism in our communities.


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104653571_136721358049481_7900068886778113426_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
March 18, 2021


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Post from Community: General registration is now open for First Stage Summer Theater Academy 2021 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
First Stage
March 17, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Name of Event: First Stage Summer Theater Academy 2021
Date: General registration is now open. Session dates are Monday, June 14, 2021 – Friday, August 13, 2021.
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Time: Class times vary
Locations: Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, 325 West Walnut Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212 and Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, 3270 Mitchell Park Drive, Brookfield, WI 53045 (June 28 – July 9, 2021 only).
Description: First Stage Theater Academy, the nation’s leading high-impact theater training program for young people, is offering its Summer Academy programs in-person this summer, with classes beginning Monday, June 14, 2021 at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. Summer Academy classes will follow First Stage’s curriculum of Acting, Musical Theater, Improvisation and more led by professional theater artists, fostering life skills through stage skills. Classes are available for students entering grades K3 – 12 this fall.
Summer Academy classes will also take place at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield, June 28 – July 9, 2021.
Summer Academy classes for young people on the autism spectrum – part of First Stage’s Next Steps program – will be held August 9 – 13, 2021 at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center.
Many of the safety precautions in the past year due to COVID-19 will remain in place. All in-person classes will be capped below room capacity to allow for appropriate social distancing. Students and staff will complete a daily health screening form and will be required to wear an appropriate CDC face covering at all times. Rehearsal halls will be cleaned and disinfected throughout each day. Final presentations will continue to be shared with friends and family virtually. In the event it is unsafe to carry out in-person classes, Summer Academy classes will transition to a virtual platform.
Cost: $90 – $635 depending upon the length of classes. Payment plans are available. Families that enroll in multiple classes for one student or enroll siblings will receive $10 off per class, if registered by April 15. Financial assistance is also available.
Website: To view the list of summer classes, please visit: www.firststage.org/summer
To view the full Theater Academy Course Catalog, please visit: www.firststage.org/courses
Phone: (414) 267-2970

author: First Stage


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Post from Community: SEWRPC seeking resident input through COVID-19 remote work survey | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
March 17, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission is conducting a public survey to understand the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on employee commuting and remote work trends in Southeastern Wisconsin. All working-age residents (approximately 18-65 years old) in the seven-county Southeastern Wisconsin Region are invited to provide responses at www.sewrpc.org/C19Survey. The survey will be open for responses through Friday, April 23. All responses are completely confidential.
About the Survey
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
The COVID-19 pandemic that started in 2020 rapidly changed the way employees work, with many having to quickly shift to working from home and/or adapting to stricter workplace safety guidelines. Survey responses will help SEWRPC understand remote work adoption rates and help guide strategies for regional alternative transportation programs in a post-pandemic future. The survey applies to all working-age residents (approximately 18-65 years old) in the seven-county Southeastern Wisconsin Region, regardless of their level of experience with remote work. The survey consists of 12 questions and will take about 5-10 minutes to complete. An analysis of the survey results will be posted to SEWRPC’s website later this spring or summer.
About SEWRPC
The Regional Planning Commission is the official areawide planning agency for infrastructure and land use for Southeastern Wisconsin. The Commission serves the following seven Southeastern Wisconsin Counties: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha. Under State law, Commission plans are advisory to local and State governments.


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Causey’s Career Corner: How COVID-19 forced 4 small-business owners to think big | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Damia S. Causey
March 18, 2021
Leonard Wilson of DI Fitness, Marjorie Rucker of Bado Buna (at table) and Jamila Riley of J. Riley (left) with her mother, Pam McCreary of At Peace Designs. (Wilson and Riley-McCreary photos by Sue Vliet; Rucker photo provided by Marjorie Rucker)
Damia S. Causey
Jamila Riley, owner of J. Riley, which sells crochet fashion and accessories, suffered a tough mental year.
Not only did she deal with the impact of COVID-19 on her business, she also lost her son to gun violence.
On March 11, 2020, most of the U.S. came to a screeching halt with the rapid spread of the coronavirus. Riley, who was operating her business out of the Sherman Phoenix, had no idea of how long it would be shut down or what long-term impact the pandemic would have on her financially.
It was a scary time as she waited for her permanent space to be finished at The Underground, which is in the basement of the Phoenix.
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Before the pandemic hit, Riley was building up her customer base and planning spring and summer events to introduce more people to her crochet products. When things shut down in March, everything stopped.
“The first two weeks of lockdown, I didn’t touch anything that had to do with J. Riley at all,” she said. “The third week I said, ‘OK. This is something that’s clearly going to be here, so how do I adjust?’”
As Riley set about the business of implementing a new marketing strategy, she had no idea how much her life was really about to change.
On April 11, Riley’s son, Rashad Buggs-Barnett, 23, was shot and killed on Milwaukee’s North Side.
“Not only was I dealing with the new normal of COVID but dealing with the new normal of my son is not here. That had the potential to make or break my business.”
As she still copes with his death, Riley presses on, saying: “I would not allow the enemy to steal my joy. I know my son would want to see me succeed.”
Riley and others local business owners I interviewed have overcome a lot during the pandemic. All spoke of resilience and new things they learned about themselves during the past year.
I wanted to hear how Riley and others made it through the year. In addition to Riley, I also talked to Leonard Wilson, personal trainer at DI Fitness; Marjorie Rucker, owner of Bado Buna candles and accessories; and Pam McCreary of At Peace Designs.
Here’s what they had to say:
Jamila Riley of J. Riley (left) with her mother, Pam McCreary of At Peace Designs. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
I had to really do social media. I’m a pen and paper girl. It challenged me to learn a lot of things about social media marketing. The different times of day and where to post. Who was my target audience? Who are my followers? I had to learn how to build a relationship with customers online.
Not being able to interact with people. The Sherman Phoenix is a nonstop block party, and we had all these ideas of hosting fashion shows and having guest DJs and then we can’t. I love my people and I’m a hugger, so that was probably the most difficult part for me.
Social media. I’ve learned how to network in different arenas, and cross-marketing. Being able to share who I am and what my passion is with other people through social media has been really cool.
Deep cleaning. Keeping hand sanitizer at the door. This year really exposed just how unclean stuff is.
1. Put God first. We can have the blueprint as much as we can with our carnal human minds, but He is the blueprint.
2. Be yourself. There are a million people out here and many may be doing the same thing, but be your authentic self and don’t try to mimic what someone else is doing. There could be 27 people selling Tupperware, but no one is going to sell it like you when you put your personal spin on it, so be yourself.
3. Be patient. Be patient with yourself, others and the process. You’re not going to make good money right away or see the money you spent come back right away. That takes time. As you embark on your next big thing, all sorts of roadblocks will be thrown at you. But you gotta stay the course.
Leonard Wilson of DI Fitness. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
Personal trainer , owner of DI Fitness, had to change his hands-on, in-person fitness training to meet the new normal during the pandemic by switching his sessions to Zoom meetings. Here’s what he said:
I had to try something I hadn’t done before, which was Zoom, in order to still reach people to get them healthy.
The challenge was being more technical and using online platforms. Being more involved in social media.
Just people coming together to support one another was huge. In some of those low moments you start thinking, “OK, I need to figure something else out. Maybe a different profession.” And all of a sudden you receive something from someone, and you realize why you do what it is that you do.
I like the Zoom. Being able to use that on rainy days or days without gym availability. I’ve also been doing some podcasting and will definitely keep that going. I was reluctant last year to go outside, but I’m going to spend more time training outside this year. And take advantage of outdoor space.
I’m more focused. I never had a direct target group. Now, I’m working with more people who have Type 2 diabetes, [are] recovering from cancer or are overweight. I’ve created a new business structure and renewed my LLC and put things in better business order.
Be flexible. Be open to learn new things and continue to push through.
Marjorie Rucker of Bado Buna. (Photo provided by Marjorie Rucker)
sells candles and accessories at Bado Buna. Rucker said the most rewarding thing that occurred during the pandemic was gaining a new customer base of people wanting to support Black-owned business due to the racial equity and injustice climate.
I sell most of my products at in-person events like fairs and markets and distribute at retail locations. This made it hard for me to be visible in the spaces that I thrive in. It’s been a burden financially, like it has been for every small business.
The first was how to pivot . . . The other is the additional pandemic we have with racial equity and injustice.
Learning how to increase my online presence and work on building my brand in the way that I want to. It gave me time that I needed that I don’t think I would’ve taken had I been at markets and fairs. I’ve worked on my branding and repackaging. My Instagram following started at 254 last year and is now over 5,000.
I will definitely keep my social media and [solidify] my branding and continue to expand my line.
Be seen. You must be visible. Be consistent. Start keeping your financials in order. Whether you want to grow your business or keep it as a sophisticated hobby, know your numbers. There are a lot of opportunities and grants to help small businesses, and if you’re filing it on your taxes anyway, you can get a lot of opportunities and grants if you’re keeping books; but if you are not, it’s virtually impossible.
owner of At Peace Designs jewelry and accessories (and mother of Jamila Riley of J. Riley), located in The Underground at the Sherman Phoenix, said adjusting to the volatility of the retail market was challenging:
It was like dealing with a death almost. Once you get over the shock of it all, you say, “OK. I have no income coming in.” It took me a couple of weeks before I said, “OK, I gotta move. You gone have to figure out somehow to get a revenue stream going.”
I already had an online presence, but I had to change my way of thinking. I had to start pushing people to my website and start thinking of things people could do at home. Kids were home and parents needed things to do with them, so I started creating bracelet kits. Something to generate revenue. You have to be creative.
2020 was most challenging for me not because of COVID-19, but because I’d never worked in retail before. Always being on and dealing with people who aren’t always pleasant was an adjustment.
The last year has been a blessing and a curse. The pandemic is a horrible, horrible thing. The Black Lives Matter movement and protests have brought the Sherman Phoenix to the forefront as people are looking for Black businesses to patronize.
The regular cleaning down of everything now that the habit is there. Our online presence will definitely stay there. We will also keep our pop-up shops for other vendors.
Things look promising. I’m an optimist and I’m always looking for the silver lining. Things look positive, and I am looking forward to seeing what the summer is going to bring.
1. Don’t go in it for the money. You have to find something you are passionate about that brings you joy.
2. Get your team together. Surround yourself with positive, like-minded individuals.
3. Make sure you get your business set up correctly. Protect your intellectual assets like your logo and business name. What I found during the whole pandemic is that if you don’t establish a business correctly, when you apply for grants you don’t have the things they are looking for, because you didn’t do those things. That was a hard lesson to learn, but I definitely learned it.
I will share stories of those who have taken a nontraditional approach to employment or an unusual career path. I will also list employment information such as job fairs, resource fairs and job training events. I encourage organizations to email me at damiacausey@milwaukeenns.org with career information.

author: Damia S. Causey


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51023587031_b811470f30_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 17, 2021


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 17, 2021


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OPINION: The road to being an ally for racial equity begins with a stop in front of the mirror | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dominique Samari
March 18, 2021
(Photo provided by Dominique Samari)
Dominique Samari is the co-founder of P3 Development Group, a Milwaukee-based consulting firm that designs strategic solutions for clients seeking to drive equitable and inclusive change, and the creator of the Belonging Project and Kin, a platform designed to authentically connect individuals across real and perceived differences.
In the past few weeks, I have been thinking and talking (my preferred way of thinking) about my own complexity and the complexity of humans in general. I have been working on myself lately, and inside this work I’ve had to uncomfortably rest in the idea that all my pieces add up to a wonderful, contradictory and complicated mess of sorts. I am getting to a place where I lovingly and compassionately accept that this human complexity is my — and our — universal truth. And as always, I am interested in translating my insights to the racial equity work that I do with organizational leaders and teams.
I don’t know about you but, as a young person, I was raised by my parents and encouraged by peers to put my best face forward. Sometimes explicitly, but often implicitly, I was encouraged to tuck away the less acceptable parts of myself. And not just the weird, quirky parts of myself, for which I am now, as an adult, so very thankful. I am talking about the parts that my mom thought would make me a “bad person” as an adult.
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So I tucked those parts away, but just because I tucked them away, did not mean those pieces ceased to exist. They, of course, remained. And, as a result, I spent endless time and effort continuously hiding, burying, explaining away or getting defensive about large swaths of my individual human fabric. But at some point, I became aware that it was preventing me from reaching the vision I had of my best and highest self (Hey Oprah!). It took tons of courage and curiosity to look at the whole picture of who I am, but it is what I needed to do to be who I wanted to be in the world.
My own self-exploration allowed me to see that I am many, many contradictory things and those things change, sometimes by the moment. I am lazy and hard-working. I am confident and insecure. I am genuinely kind and have been absolutely horrible to people. I have a deep heart for the poor in the world and sometimes get annoyed by beggars. I abhor violence, and I own guns. I am outgoing and introverted. I am honest, and I lie. I am brilliant in some spaces and absolutely dumb in others. I am impatient and hate rushing (and even more, hate being rushed). I am a really intentional listener but often find myself ‘spacing out’ in conversations. I root wholeheartedly for those I love, and I get jealous of those I love. The list goes on and on. And on.
For a long time it was difficult for me to reconcile the conflicting parts of myself because it caused discomfort. The pieces I thought of as unacceptable or problematic, were just not in line with who I thought I was or who I wanted to be. For example, I liked to think of myself as a loyal and supportive friend and family member. And yet, sometimes, I got jealous of those same people. I would hear good news and get both excited and jealous at the same time. What the hell? Once that green-eyed monster emerged, I would spend the next half hour justifying it to myself and spinning an internal narrative that allowed me to push the emotion down (my mom raised me well) and move swiftly back to the safe harbor of my vision of myself as a genuinely supportive person who did not get jealous of the people she loves.
It was so uncomfortable for me to think of myself under the raincloud of the condemned action, that I had to convince myself that I was not the thing – not a person who gets jealous of the people I love and support. But this is the thing, I am a loyal and supportive friend and family member, I am sometimes jealous of those I love. That no longer feels uncomfortable to say out loud. I am getting better at accepting the whole reality of who I am in the world. And this is the thing: I do not have to love it to accept it. All of my actions are not in alignment with who I want to be in the world. That just is what it is – because I am human. But if I refuse to see and accept those “unacceptable” parts of myself I will, a) waste time spinning internal narratives to explain them away and b) cannot authentically grow or move closer to who I truly want to be.
The gifts of humor and curiosity have helped. Since fully accepting this part of myself, I have noticed that I sometimes have a feeling of jealousy over things that I do not want in my life. For example my brother recently got a promotion, and I felt a tinge of that familiar jealous feeling. But when I stopped myself for a moment to explore and unpack the feeling, I realized that if someone told me at that very moment that I had been named the Senior This or That of IT at my brother’s company, I would die. In reality, and this is only a slight exaggeration, it sounds like a fate worse than death to me.
Creating the curious space allows me to bring a dollop of humor to the situation. It is like once I see it clearly, it somehow becomes humorous. Like what are you doing, crazy girl? And over time and with awareness, the tendency has significantly diminished. As it turns out, most times when I get that feeling, it is not about being jealous at all. It is about a sense of worthiness (we will talk about that another time).
In the recent past, the vision I held of myself only included the “good things.” But that vision did not acknowledge all of me, and so I could never achieve it. I envisioned a version of myself some time in the distant future without any of the traits I abhorred in the present moment. On the rare occasion when I tried to hold a whole vision of myself (one that included all of my traits – good and bad) it was only for a moment and only in an effort to devise a plan to remove the undesirable traits.
But now that I am in possession of 40 plus years (I am a quick study and “slow on the uptake”), I realize that all of the pieces are me. All of them. Some of them are here to stay, some of them will evolve and some of them will be shed over time. Some of them I adore and others not so much.
But just part of us cannot live this life powerfully, honestly and authentically. When we do not embrace our full selves, we do not create the space for the highest possibility of who we can become and the highest contribution that that individual is able to make in this world.
So how does this insight translate to racial equity and inclusion work? Get to your point, Dominique!
For white people, especially those who say they are committed to racial equity in this country, it is impossible to show up around this work powerfully and authentically without coming to terms with your whole self – and that includes the parts of yourself that are rooted in racism.
So you are an ally in the BLM movement, and you are uncomfortable around groups of young Black men in hoodies –and maybe even those in suits? Yup. You are pushing for diversity in your workplace, and you are concerned about the capabilities of the Latinx woman interviewing for a high-level management position? Yup.
These contradictions don’t make sense. And, yup, they all represent pieces of who you are and how you see the world, and how you make decisions about where you live, and who you want in your workplace. They are perceptions and perspectives rooted in racism that most don’t want to own. But if we are to make real progress toward racial justice, acknowledging racist perceptions and understanding how they cause harm to individuals and contribute to systemic inequity is essential.
If you are brave enough to look, you can see racism hiding out with all the other “unacceptable” parts of yourself that you push down, and right alongside your desire for justice, your desire for peace, and all of the other beautiful parts of you. You will see that you, like all of us, are a big ball of human complexity that can only rise to its greatest potential when all of it is acknowledged.
White people also often avoid their hidden racist parts because looking at them brings up feelings of guilt and shame. But guilt and shame will not serve you on your racial equity journey. They are stumbling stones on your path, and you must be aware of them if you don’t want to continuously trip and fall over them.
Instead, when guilt or shame arise in the context of racism, take note and get curious. You are being presented with an opportunity to learn about your complex self and grow closer to the leader you want to be. If you can understand your psyche to be a complex human mix of admirable and problematic tendencies and beliefs, you don’t have to be so afraid to examine and own the darker parts.
Ask WHY you hold a particular racist viewpoint. When was the first time you heard someone else express it? Who was it? Why did/do you believe it? What do you gain from holding onto it? Who do you harm? How can you change? If you choose curiosity as the lens through which you look at your darker parts, it can be easier to explore and dismantle the roots of your racist patterns and beliefs. And isn’t that the goal?
The humans are a curious bunch. While it was once my tendency to quickly bury my ‘negative parts’ and push to the visible front my ‘better parts,’ my default mode with the other humans was to quickly label them by their ‘negative parts’ and push to the side their ‘better parts.’ By doing this, I froze people, even those I loved dearly, within the one-dimensional frame of my judgment.
When I gave myself the gift of seeing my own complexity, I simultaneously gave the same gift to everyone in my life. The process of forcing myself to be honest about, explore, even appreciate, my own complexity, allowed me to more easily extend grace to others. This doesn’t mean that I never think of someone as a jerk or a bigot or a misogynist. It just means that I can now provide some space for that person to be more than that.
If I experience someone as a jerk on Wednesday, now it’s easier to hold a space for the possibility of who that person will be on Friday. And even if my experience of someone remains the same from one day to another, I still know that this is not the full extent of who they are in the world. They, like me, are complex creatures grappling with their own set of experiences, perceptions, fears and failings.
Dealing with complexity involves multiple ways of knowing. It involves acknowledging the full range of our human experience and being willing to flow with the currents of change. Allowing for complexity provides a clearer picture of each one of us; a picture that includes our common failings and our common humanity.
The gift of complexity is the only space from which we can be wholly accountable for our actions and harm. You can’t take responsibility for something you have yet to acknowledge, even to yourself.

author: Dominique Samari


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P3_Development_web-2-5597 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 17, 2021


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5 things to know the weekend of March 19 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
March 19, 2021
Youth Empowered in the Struggle is leading a justice leadership summit at Alverno College this Saturday, March 20. (File photo by Adam Carr)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Webinar on pandemic benefits for parents: Friday, March 19
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is hosting a Pandemic-EBT Town Hall with Gov. Tony Evers and the Department of Health Services from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 19. The event will provide answers to frequently asked questions and preview what Pandemic-EBT will look like for families with children in child care. You can click here to join the webinar.
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READ: How parents can get up to $1,248 per child to offset costs of meals during virtual learning
2. Natural and Human History Hike: Saturday, March 20
The Urban Ecology Center, 3700 W. Pierce St., is leading a hike through Three Bridges Park from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 20. Participants will learn about the natural and human history while taking a leisurely stroll. Tickets cost from $15 to $20. To register, click here.
3. Youth justice summit: Saturday, March 20
Youth Empowered in the Struggle, or YES, is inviting youth and adult leaders to join the “Organizing for Justice Leadership Series.” Participants will learn how their stories can impact the movement. The summit will take place at Alverno College, 3400 S. 43rd St., from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 20. Click here to register for in-person spots and here to join virtually.
4. Danceworks studios: K-pop workshop: Saturday, March 20
Alex Vanissaveth is teaching a K-pop workshop where participants will learn choreography from popular Korean artists, including BTS. The class will be offered in-person and virtually. It will take place at Danceworks, 1661 N. Water St., from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 20. Tickets cost $16, to register, click here.
5. Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival’s virtual series: Saturday, March 20
The Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition is hosting a screening of the documentary film, “White Right: Meeting the Enemy.” The screening is a part of the Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival. It will take place on Facebook at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 20. The documentary follows Deeyah Khan, an acclaimed Muslim filmmaker, as she meets with U.S. neo-Nazis and white nationalists during the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017.
Bonus: The Wisconsin Policy Forum will host its next installment of “Forum Friday,” a virtual event series, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 19 featuring a discussion between state Superintendent of Public Instruction candidates Deborah Kerr and Jill Underly. The two will face off for Wisconsin’s top education post in the spring election on April 6. Forum Senior Researcher Anne Chapman and City Forward Collective Director of Policy and Advocacy Colleston Morgan Jr. will challenge the candidates to address several pressing statewide K-12 education issues, including state support for students and schools as they struggle to emerge from the pandemic; ongoing efforts to meet the needs of students with disabilities, English learners and students in poverty; equity challenges surrounding academic opportunity and teacher diversity; and changes in the amount and distribution of K-12 school funding proposed by the governor in the new state budget. You can register by clicking here,

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 18, 2021


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Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin warn residents of COVID-19 vaccine phone scam | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
March 19, 2021
Patients of Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin reported calls last week from scammers, who claimed to be representatives of the health network, asking for financial information as a step toward getting the coronavirus vaccine.
Those affected said the calls appeared to come fromthe health system, and that the name “Froedtert Systems” appeared on the callerID. The scammers then asked for credit card information.
Steve Schooff, director of external communications forFroedtert Hospital, said the health system was only aware of a few incidents ofthe scams but wanted to keep people from making the mistake.
“We would not ask for credit card information over thephone related to vaccine appointments,” Schooff said in an email.
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Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin officialsurged anyone who receives such a  phonecall to hang up and not provide any information. They also suggest individuals takedown the telephone numbers and reach out to local law enforcement.
If you have received a call from a scammer, you canalso contact the Wisconsin
Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protectionfor information and tips.
The website advises you close any compromisedfinancial accounts, put a fraud alert on your annual credit report, and sign upfor the Wisconsin
Do Not Call Registry.
Lisa Schiller, director of investigations and mediarelations for the Better Business Bureau Serving Wisconsin, urged people to doresearch and be skeptical of anything they receive that might seem too good tobe true.
She also recommended directly contacting your doctor’soffice or health care provider before giving any personal information. Shewarned that scammers can make emails and phone calls look and sound legitimate,like the caller ID details on the Froedtert calls.
“This scam is particularly heinous because so manypeople are in the process of getting vaccines or waiting for more information,”Schiller said.
Schiller recommended bbb.org/coronavirusfor anyone who wanted to learn more about scams related to COVID-19.

author: Matt Martinez


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OPINION: ‘I’m done keeping my head down’: Why we must stop the hate against Asian Americans (and everyone else) | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Alex Hanesakda
March 19, 2021
Alex Hanesakda’s son and mother share a moment at his son’s Baci, a ceremony common in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. (Photo provided by Alex Hanesakda)
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Alex Hanesakda grew up in Burlington, Wisconsin, in one of a few Lao families there. He spent weekends on Milwaukee’s South Side, where the majority of his family lived and where he moved at 19. He currently lives in Racine and is founder and owner of SapSap, which creates Lao-inspired cuisine.
I have an elderly mom who I worry about.
I have a son.
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I have a big family and I love all of them.
It hurts me to see the spike in hate crimes against Asians, and hate crimes against anyone.
I don’t talk about my experiences much as a refugee kid growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood. I’ve faced a lot of racism from all races.
Racism like abuse from someone who lumped me into a group identity because of the color of my skin and the shape of my eyes.
And I’m not interested in anyone’s politicized redefinition of racism, thanks. This is a spiritual problem, not a political one.
My father would always tell me that we had to behave because this wasn’t our home. I would always ask him, “Well, where is home then?” He would respond by telling me to keep my head down and try to stay humble.
I remember clearly when I was a kid — we were pulled over and the officer pointed a gun at us. We had to get on the ground. My father spoke very little English, and the cop seemed threatened by him. I was around 8, the same age my son is now. I was terrified as I did my best to translate for my dad, just hoping that the cop wasn’t going to hurt us.
That’s one of many experiences.
I don’t think the answer is to shuffle the hate and separatism around, but to practice actions that destroy them. My Lao parents taught me to love and forgive, to share and be grateful. That’s what breaks down hate.
We can do that and at the same time speak up for all the Asians who try and keep their heads down.
Violence against Asians, or anyone else yoked with a group identity, is unacceptable. All human beings share an equal capacity to harm or heal. Violence happens when we convince ourselves otherwise.
So humbly, as Dad liked, I’m speaking out.
But I’m done keeping my head down.
Share stories. Share food. Share art. Share music. Share culture.
Share love.
Let’s bring about a world where my mom and my son and everyone else’s loved ones can live free from fear.
Love is the only thing that can do that.
Stop the hate.

author: Alex Hanesakda


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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: March 22 to March 27 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
March 22, 2021
Officials have extended vaccine distribution to include individuals with chronic health conditions or those living in certain ZIP codes. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center vaccine event: Tuesday, March 23 through Thursday, March 25
The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center is hosting a Native community COVID-19 vaccine event from Tuesday, March 23 through Thursday, March 25. Pre-registration is required. To register, click here or call 414-316-3737. Individuals must have a tribal ID or proof of descendancy to register. The health center will be administering the Pfizer vaccine to individuals who are 16 and older.
2. Healing Spaces Initiative virtual kickoff: Tuesday, March 23
The Healing Spaces Initiative is launching this week in Harambee. The kickoff event will take place virtually on Microsoft Teams at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 23. To register, click here. Milwaukee’s Neighborhood Development Corporation will lead this effort, which is designed to help residents create relaxing natural environments on city-owned vacant lots.
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3. Exploring public transit in Milwaukee: Wednesday, March 24
Metcalfe Park Community Bridges is hosting a conversation on public transit in Milwaukee. The talk will explore the major changes happening in transit and will feature Rick Banks of MKE Black; Jacqueline Zeledon, community outreach and internal communications coordinator, Milwaukee County Transit System; and Nick DeMarsh, an organizer of the Milwaukee County Transit Riders Union. The conversation will take place on Facebook Live from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24.
Read: Bus routes throughout Milwaukee County will change beginning March 7. Here’s what you need to know.
4. Thriving Communities advisory council meeting: Wednesday, March 24
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Thriving Communities Advisory Council is hosting its first quarter community gathering this month. The meeting will take place on Zoom at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24. Click here to register. The council serves the Sherman Park East and North Division neighborhoods. The meeting will give an overview on the neighborhood projects supported by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, look at available resources and go over the grant application process.
5. Girls’ Day at City Hall: Thursday, March 25
The City of Milwaukee is hosting its 11th annual Girls’ Day at City Hall. This year, the event will take place virtually from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 25. Girls’ Day is designed to expose young women to strong female role models in political leadership positions and careers in public service. Registration is required by Wednesday, March 24.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 21, 2021


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OPINION: Don’t use my Black ancestors’ history as a weapon to justify inequities during this pandemic | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Melody McCurtis
March 22, 2021
(Photo by Wes Tank)
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
(Photo provided by Melody McCurtis)
Melody McCurtis is the deputy director of priorities and organizer at Metcalfe Park Community Bridges. Since the start of the pandemic, McCurtis has been working to provide mutual aid to her community.
I was terrified to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Although scared, I got the vaccine because my state tried too hard to not vaccinate me and people who look like me.
The pandemic has been catastrophic not only to me personally, but to my community. Since March 2020, I have directly supplied mutual aid to my neighbors, despite all of the health risks for myself, my family and my community.
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In March 2020, I lived in a multigenerational household. My mother has an enlarged heart and other health risks that COVID-19 could have had a field day with. My household also included my two children, ages 9 and 5, and my 14-year-old brother.
I and other members of my community showed up to deliver food directly to our neighbors’ homes, also distributing PPE, hygienic goods, resources and registering our folks to vote. We had no other choice but to go door to door, because no one else was coming and making sure Metcalfe Park residents had what they needed to survive during a pandemic.
In 2020, Metcalfe Park had a population of almost 8,000 — 98% of whom are Black folks — and I encountered most in some capacity. By the grace of my ancestors, I never contracted COVID-19.
When we showed up to the doors in March, many in our community had no real knowledge about COVID-19 because all the information was online. Community members and Metcalfe Park Community Bridges had to create and distribute that resource. Everything shut down on Metcalfe Park, and we were left to fend for ourselves.
Yet again, a Black community had to come up with ways to keep ourselves safe.
2020 didn’t give us a new normal — it showed us the conditions that Black folks in Milwaukee have had to survive through forever. It highlighted how we are not valued, not seen as humans and that we simply do not matter.
So, it’s not surprising that even though BIPOC, or Black, Indigenous, People of color, folks were contracting and dying from COVID, they were not prioritized in a real way when the vaccine arrived. For me, it would have made more sense as a statewide strategy to begin with the first batch of the vaccine going to seniors, BIPOC and homeless populations. Period.
If we know that Black folks in Milwaukee are the most incarcerated, have the lowest wealth and wages, live in predatory housing and have no real access to health care and fresh food, why did it take so long for us to be prioritized?
It is true that the government has exploited Black folks when it comes to health and their access to medical care. Yes, Black folks are skeptical, and yes, some don’t want the vaccine. Yes, some of us are terrified, and yes, some of us want to wait to see if people start mutating, turning green or have a tracking device inserted.
I know these reasons might sound comical, but it is our reality, and yes, we have the right to feel like this. Our history is ours, and it gives our state no right to use our history as a tactic to not do what’s necessary. Historically, because of atrocities like the Tuskegee experiment and others, we have no reason to just accept what’s given to us by these institutions.
Our history and current conditions of health and health care access should mandate our state to go above and beyond and be radical. We want a process that is rooted in seeing and treating us as human beings, centered in our dignity.
Personally, I am scared of the vaccine; I, too, didn’t want to get the vaccine. I share those same feelings of skepticism that my community has. The bottom line is that I ultimately got the vaccine because I would rather die trying to live if that means it makes my community and family safer. Everything in this world is directly or indirectly designed to kill me as a Black person.
Despite my concern, I’m officially half vaccinated. I got to my vaccination site 45 minutes early and was greeted by Black folks who were validating parking and directing traffic.
I then went through two waiting stations where I was sitting in joy because I saw so many of my Black elders coming to get this vaccine. The news has been portraying a different story, so it brought me joy that they were rolling in.
At the second station, the white director asked the white woman in front of me whether she was there to get the first or second shot. She answered and she moved to the next station.
I approached him and he asked, “Are you an educator?” I said no. He said, “Are you a daycare worker?” I said no. I told him that I had an appointment and was cleared to go through this round. I asked, “Do you want to see my confirmation?” He began to get red, pull his hair and I said, “Do I need to call the state?” After that he said, “No, go ahead to the next station.”
The next station I went to I had a similar encounter with a white woman.
The bottom line is that I was not leaving — they were not going to turn me around. The whole process took about two hours, even with me coming early. I only encountered one BIPOC person who was a nurse, and otherwise, white people were in charge of my care, experience and health.
I was not in the comfort of my community on the North Side.
It’s 2021. My ancestors mattered and what they endured is still rooted in everything that happens today when we think about health and health access for Black folks. I matter, my community matters, All Black Lives Matter.
When will we be valued? When will the failed attempts and excuses stop? When will we matter when decisions are being made?
I am committed to the liberation of all Black folks, especially here in Milwaukee; this city and this state need to be committed, too.

author: Melody McCurtis


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Post from Community: Jerrilynn Freelon joins Walnut Way Conservation Corp. as associate director of operations | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Erica Heisdorf Bisquerra
March 22, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Walnut Way Conservation Corp., a nonprofit neighborhood organization known for its innovative and groundbreaking work in wellness, economic and environmental justice, today announces its hire of Jerrilynn Freelon as Associate Director of Operations.
Freelon brings to Walnut Way over 40 years of experience in the Milwaukee community as a teacher, leader, coach, advocate, mentor, and philanthropist. Prior to joining Walnut Way, Freelon worked at Northwestern Mutual where she held a variety of diverse and progressive roles over a tenure that spanned nearly four decades. Most recently, she had served as the Assistant Director of Human Resources and the HR Assistant to the President, where she supported the organization in setting strategic direction.
Parallel to her professional work, Freelon has given back to the community in a variety of ways, especially when it comes to enhancing the quality of life for women and youth. She is an award-winning YMCA Adult Achiever, and her class of Adult Achievers started the Black College Tour in 1990 to encourage high school students to explore Historically Black Colleges and Universities as an educational option. She is a proud member of the Gamma Pi Sigma Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho, where she has been a member for over 40 years. Her experience in a leadership role with Walnut Way began in 2017, when she was asked to serve on the organization’s Board of Directors.
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“Jerrilynn is such a natural fit for our mission,” says Antonio Butts, Walnut Way’s Executive Director. “Her leadership, mentorship, and passion will be instrumental as we complete  The Innovation & Wellness Commons and embark on our permanent home for our social enterprise, Blue Skies Landscaping. We have big plans – and I’m excited Jerrilynn will be part of this journey and help guide us.”
“What I appreciate most about Walnut Way is that they’re equally focused on the ‘what’ of individual and community transformation as well as the ‘how.” Freelon says. “The future is bright for this organization, and I’m looking forward to helping to grow and develop the long-term vision of what Lindsay Heights can be.”
Freelon holds an MBA with an emphasis in Human Resources and Finance from Marquette University. She also received her Bachelor’s degree in Economics with a minor in Business Management from Alcorn State University, an historically Black college in Alcorn, Mississippi. She is a proud member of the Gamma Pi Sigma Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho.
More on Freelon’s experience and story can be found at: https://www.walnutway.org/about/meet-our-associate-director-of-operations/.

author: Erica Heisdorf Bisquerra


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Picture1.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
March 22, 2021

author: Name *


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The NNS coronavirus update for week of March 22: Milwaukee Health Department implements new order; eligibility for vaccine widens | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
March 22, 2021
COVID-19 vaccine eligibility opens for new groups this week, but supply can’t yet meet the demand. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Here’s the latest update on COVID-19 in Milwaukee and the resources you need to combat it.
The Milwaukee Health Department announced a new public health order last week that relaxes requirements for area businesses during the pandemic.
Under the new order, which went into effect Friday, businesses will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity without an approved health plan.
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Indoor gatherings will be permitted at 75% capacity, with a maximum of 750 people. Outdoor events will allow up to 1,000 people to gather.
Museums and child care organizations will be allowed to open at full capacity.
Under the new order, businesses will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity without an approved health plan.
Indoor gatherings will be permitted at 75% capacity with a maximum of 750 people gathered. Outdoor events will allow up to 1,000 people.
The City of Milwaukee announced last week that it is expanding eligibility for vaccines to 10 ZIP codes.
The program previously covered the 53204 and 53206 ZIP codes, which had been selected based on a need for equity in distribution.
Beginning Monday, March 22, people aged 18 and over in the following ZIP codes will be eligible for the vaccine: 53204, 53205, 53206, 53209, 53215, 53216, 53218, 53223, 53224 and 53233.
The Milwaukee Health Department will be in charge of distribution at the sites at North Division High School, 1011 W. Center St., and South Division High School, 1515 W. Lapham Blvd. Those in priority ZIP codes do not have to register as walk-ins will be accepted beginning Monday, March 22.
These sites will have the Pfizer vaccine, which is approved for use in those 16 and older.
Appointments can be made for these sites at Milwaukee.gov/covidvax or by calling (414) 286-6800.
These sites will run from March 22 to April 19. They will then be replaced by permanent sites at the Northwest Health Center, 7630 W. Mill Rd., and Southside Health Center, 1639 S. 23rd St.
The Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management will be in charge of distribution at the Kosciuszko Community Center, 2201 S. 7th St. Appointments will be required for this site and can be made on by clicking here.
Those eligible at the Kosciuszko site include:
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced last week that people ages 16 and older with certain medical conditions are eligible starting Monday, March 22 for the vaccine.
Roughly 60% of the state will qualify based on these parameters, according to Department of Health Services officials.
The following conditions will give someone eligibility:
Vaccine data:
As of March 19, 190,358 people in Milwaukee County had received one dose of the vaccine. This includes 64% of the 65+ population, which amounts to 85,763 people.
The state of Wisconsin has fully vaccinated 780,152 people with both doses of the vaccine. The state has administered at least one dose to 1,340,704 people.
Seventy percent of Wisconsinites over the age of 65 have received the vaccine, for a total of 716,525 people.
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To obtain a free mask, residents can visit these sites:
NNS reporters also gathered a list of where to buy locally made masks if you’re looking to show some local business love when masking up.
Check the City of Milwaukee Health Department’s website for the most updated facts and answers to questions about the mask ordinance.
Look here for up-to-date statistics on COVID-19 in the county. More precautions on how to stay safe and information on COVID-19 can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Contact your health provider, call IMPACT 2-1-1 or take a look at the county’s testing site map to find a testing center near you. The free community testing sites at the Northwest Health Center, 7630 W. Mill Rd., and Southside Health Center, 1639 S. 23rd St., are now open and operating. American Family Field (formerly Miller Park), 1 Brewers Way, is also open as an effective testing site.
For more information on testing, including how to identify symptoms and when you should get tested, visit TestUpMKE.com. Available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Burmese and Arabic.
For more information on vaccine distribution and where to find it, visit HealthyMKE.com. Available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Burmese and Arabic.
Check out our continuing coronavirus coverage.
Looking for more personalized direction to resources and information during the coronavirus crisis? Get connected with News414, a texting-based news resource from Milwaukee NNS, Wisconsin Watch and Outlier Media. You can text MILWAUKEE to 73224 and begin to receive free, personalized data via text messages.


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‘God provides the cure before the disease’: One clinic’s approach to serving Harambee residents | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
March 23, 2021
Dr. Robert Fox, founder of Shalem Healing, treats a patient. The clinic offers services in acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, exercise, lab analysis and primary care, among others. (Photo provided by Shalem Healing).
Erica Arfsten lived most of her life without anxiety.
As a flight attendant with Midwest Express Airlines, she regularly flew between Des Moines, Iowa, Milwaukee and Washington, D.C.
One morning, though, her flight never left the Des Moines airport. The plane was grounded, and she looked on in horror with the rest of the world as two planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
After that, things were never quite the same. She would wake up with anxiety attacks at 4 a.m. And she dealt with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder every time she went to work.
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“I thought I’m either in the worst place I can be or the best place,” she said. “They’re either going to attack here first or last.”
Her uncertainty about continuing was compounded by the route she had to take: Every day she flew to Washington, D.C., where a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside the district on 9/11.
Arfsten turned to Shalem Healing in the Harambee neighborhood to manage her post-traumatic stress disorder in the aftermath. Twenty years later, every member of her family has received care at the clinic, and she’s gone from patient to employee.
Dr. Robert Fox, the founder of Shalem Healing, said the nonprofit clinic takes a holistic approach to health care by attempting to treat the cause rather than the symptom of health issues. It specializes in serving uninsured or underinsured members of the community.
The clinic offers services in acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, exercise, lab analysis and primary care, among others. Jonathan Gelfman, Shalem Healing’s director, puts it all under the umbrella of family medicine.
The clinic’s goal is to address the mind, body and spirit, said Fox, who holds a doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese medicine.
Gelfman said the clinic also runs Refua Medicinals, a business that combines Chinese herbs grown by Fox with modern nutritional science.
“God provides the cure before the disease,” Fox said, explaining why he trusts natural remedies.
Arfsten said her 11-year-old daughter, who has autism, has benefitted greatly from herbal medicine from Shalem, which helps her manage her anxiety.
The medicine is meant for more than just physical ailments. Fox uses Eastern healing methods, like acupuncture, to treat anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. He said he can use acupuncture to give somebody a “true perception of feeling relaxed,” which can yield surprising results for first-time users.
“You can use it to create a deeper memory of what it feels like to be relaxed,” Fox said.
Arfsten said acupuncture has helped her to be aware when anxiety is coming and stop it before it occurs.
Fox tries to inform the community around the center of the benefits of these methods. He’s spoken at Bader Philanthropies in the past about using herbal medicine to treat diabetes, hypertension and obesity.
“These issues are common in underserved, underinsured neighborhoods, but they don’t have to be,” Fox said.
He said the clinic hosts nutritional classes and helps to educate people about chronic diseases such as diabetes.
The clinic is more than just Fox. Dr. Erica Linn, who has a doctorate in nursing practice from UW-Milwaukee, sees patients of all ages. She specializes in brain health and works with children with autism. Arfsten began as a volunteer and helps out as “an extra set of hands and feet” for the clinic’s COVID-19 response, as the center has offered testing since the summer.
Gelfman said Shalem plans to add a behavioral health provider to the team in the next few months as well.
Fox said he wants the clinic’s services available to everyone. Shalem treats people regardless of their insurance status.
Shalem Healing and Refua Medicinals, along with Sam’s Place, an eatery and jazz café; are tenants at 3338 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. The building has been undergoing significant renovations since September 2019. The ideas for the three businesses came directly from Harambee residents through a series of “Chat with Bader” events organized by the Bader Foundation to get to know neighbors and hear ideas on what would enhance their quality of life.
Fox said the clinic has one simple goal: to be a resource for the community.
“Our goal is to help as many people as possible,” Fox said.
For more information
You can contact Shalem Healing at 414-640-5433 or click here to reach its website.


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shalem | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 22, 2021


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OPINION: Not everyone is in a rush to be vaccinated. Here’s why. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Clarence Montgomery
March 23, 2021
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Clarence Montgomery is an advocate, trainer and developmental leader as well as a case manager and licensed counselor at Children’s Wisconsin.
Today’s challenges are difficult for those who have lost loved ones, those who are still suffering from and those who still live in fear of the COVID-19 virus. COVID-19 has been around for more than a year, and as I write this, the virus has killed more than 527,000 men, women and children in the United States.
Over the last two plus months, three vaccines have been developed to minimize the effectiveness of the virus. Yet some populations are very apprehensive, if not downright reluctant, to get vaccinated. This includes Black and Brown individuals, whose reluctance is well-founded. The feelings of mistrust have a history of damage that’s historical in scale. The culprits are medical systems that have inflicted human experiments, both surgical and psychological, as well as trials or tests including the testing of vaccines.
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It’s not too hard to find historical context for the apprehension toward vaccines in communities of color, from well-documented stories passed down from generation to generation to recent reports of the lack of efficacy in access to the vaccine.
This mistrust stems from people like Dr. J. Marion Sims, who in the middle 1800s bought African American women from plantations owners for “experiments.” He butchered them to create a surgical tool that’s used today by gynecologists around the world. Sims, who is described as the “father of modern gynecology,” is not the only example of “the ends justify the means” excuse used by medical systems at the expense of human beings.
Another notable set of examples are the horrific Tuskegee syphilis experiments, which lasted for more than 40 years. Doctors sponsored by the United States government infected thousands of African American families in the South with syphilis from the 1930s to the 1970s. Some died as a result, some infected their partners, and others suffered as a result of the disease even after the cure of penicillin had been developed.
African Americans’ reluctance in accessing the vaccine is well-founded. In Congress, a Democratic Staff Report was commissioned  in 2020 titled “COVID-19 & Achieving Health: Congressional Action Is Necessary to Address Racism and Inequality in The U.S. Health Care System.” The report found that “The American health care system has a shameful legacy of racism and exploitation that is often unacknowledged . . .  it is important to recognize that others participated in the abuse of people of color by experimenting on their bodies, denying or providing treatment without consent, stealing genetic information, and more.”
There are many more examples of medical misconduct, from tissue theft of African Americans to sterilizing women of color without consent, which, in fact, was being done as recently as last year by the United States government.
Reluctance is one thing, but access is another. Communities of color are having a difficult time accessing the vaccine unlike some populations in the United States, even as there are more than 2.3 million individuals being vaccinated each day.
A segment Thursday, March 11 on CNN’s “Inside Politics” provided a graph that showed the numbers for those who have had the two doses necessary: 67.6% were white and the nearest group came in at 7.3% for Hispanics and 6.4% for African Americans.
On Feb. 13, the Washington Post reported, “a lack of pharmacies, hospitals, providers and transportation has emerged as an equally significant concern in those communities, where COVID-19 has wrought its worst damage.”
A quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. describes the warranted feelings of people of color: “Of all the forms of inequality and injustice, health care is the most shocking and inhumane.”

author: Clarence Montgomery


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 22, 2021


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Post from Community: Local teens learn leadership and career skills from new advisory board | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ovation Communities
March 23, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
To bridge the generation gap and inspire positive change, Ovation Communities has organized a new teen led organizational board. The newly formed board, called Teen Ovation, is designed to teach leadership and career skills, while fostering relationships with other teens and with seniors.
Through the Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation, the up to 20-member teen board will participate in discussions and activities to hone their leadership skills. Teens of all faiths and backgrounds ranging in age from 13 to 19 are eligible to apply.
“We are very excited about getting younger people involved in the decision-making process,” said Julie Shlensky, Posner Chair for Intergenerational Programming. “We are encouraging all teens in the community to apply and serve on this board. We want to give everyone an opportunity to have their voices heard.”
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Working directly with the Ovation Communities Resident Advisory Committee, the teens will organize programs, get involved in fundraising and take a leadership role within the organization.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know our residents and gain real world experiences while bettering our community,” Shlensky said. “There is so much we can learn about life by just being around them.”
Operating under the guidance of Shlensky, the Teen Ovation board will learn a variety of the day-to-day operations of senior living facilities. From sensitivity training and ageism, to career building and fundraising, the teens will participate in seminars that will give them the skills and expertise needed to complete multiple projects, including the planning, organization and running of a fundraiser.
“One of our objectives is to help guide these teens into leadership roles while bettering themselves and their community,” Shlensky said. “Whether they are interested in a career within healthcare, senior living communities, or business and finance, this board will help give them the guidance and direction they need to be successful.”
The first Teen Ovation board meeting will take place in April. To apply and learn more about Teen Ovation please visit https://ovation.org/foundation/teenovation. The deadline to apply for admission into the program is Monday, April 5.
About Ovation Communities
Founded in 1906, Ovation Communities is a Jewish faith-based organization, and offers a full continuum of senior living and care options, from independent apartments to rehabilitation and skilled nursing services. Comprised of two locations – Ovation Jewish Home and Ovation Chai Point – Ovation Communities provides outstanding care and vibrant living environments intended to celebrate independent lifestyles. Ovation Communities welcomes residents of all faiths. For more information visit www.ovation.org.

author: Ovation Communities


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Post from Community: Seeking nominees for Robert H. Friebert Social Justice Award | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jewish Community Relations Council
March 23, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation is seeking nominees for its seventh annual Robert H. Friebert Social Justice Award. The award will be given to an individual who has demonstrated leadership, courage and compassion as a social justice advocate, while working to eliminate discrimination and injustice in the greater Milwaukee area. Nominees’ professional and personal contributions to social justice will be considered. Previous honorees are James H. Hall, Danae Davis, José A. Olivieri, Reggie Jackson, Fran Kaplan, Pardeep Singh Kaleka, Arno Michaelis and Anita Johnson.
The honoree will be recognized at the JCRC’s virtual Annual Meeting on June 17, 2021. Nomination forms can be found online at MilwaukeeJewish.org/Friebert. The deadline for submission is April 16, 2021.
This award was created in memory of prominent Milwaukee attorney and activist, Robert H. Friebert. He was driven to pursue social justice through the law and public service, and he believed deeply that everyone deserves equal social, economic and political rights.
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Bob Friebert (1938-2013) dedicated himself to the pursuit of social justice and the Jewish value of tikkun olam (repairing the world). A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, Friebert was a founding partner of the law firm Friebert, Finerty and St. John S.C. He argued four cases in the United States Supreme Court, addressing the rights of teachers to organize, due process for federal youthful offenders, reproductive rights of women and the rights of people to vote in primary elections. He served as the first public defender for the State of Wisconsin from 1966-1968.
Friebert became active in local, state and national Democratic politics in his pursuit of social justice. He served several terms on the Democratic National Committee and as an advisor and consultant to numerous Democratic presidential candidates. Friebert enjoyed political debate and was respected for his strongly held views by Republicans and Democrats alike. Friebert was president of the JCRC, formerly the Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations.
About the Jewish Community Relations Council
Founded in 1938, the Jewish Community Relations Council, the public affairs arm of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, advocates for the rights and values of Jews individually and collectively, here and abroad. The Council implements a coordinated program of education, action, and advocacy for the Jewish community. For more than 100 years, the Milwaukee Jewish Federation has been dedicated to building a strong Jewish community. We distributed $19 million last year to Jewish and non-Jewish organizations locally and around the world, and manage philanthropy through our $200 million Jewish Community Foundation.

author: Jewish Community Relations Council


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Milwaukee Urban League pilots program to provide residents with transportation to jobs | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
March 24, 2021
Through its employment programs, such as the Graduate to Employment shown here, the Milwaukee Urban League learned that transportation plays a role in whether someone can access employment opportunities. (Photo provided by the Milwaukee Urban League)
It can be hard just to land a job.
But getting to work creates even more challenges if you don’t have transportation.
The Milwaukee Urban League has launched a pilot program to help residents overcome this hurdle.
The Leading Access to Success Transportation program, better known as the L*A*S*T* Mile Program, provides Milwaukee Urban League clients with temporary transportation to their job sites. The program launched Jan. 25.
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“Two of our major focus areas are education and employment,” Eve Hall, president and CEO of the Milwaukee Urban League, said. “And what we’ve learned through employment is that while there are opportunities, transportation has been an issue, especially for those who had job opportunities on the outskirts of Milwaukee, where public transportation is rather limited.”
Shirron Hines, director of programs, said the program picks up clients from the Milwaukee Urban League, 435 W. North Ave., or Vincent High School, 7501 N. Granville Rd., and takes them to their employers.
It is open to any Milwaukee Urban League client who successfully completes program participation requirements before job placement and has an identified transportation need. The L*A*S*T* Mile provides transportation to employers not accessible by public or other transportation services.
The program was made possible thanks to a $50,000 grant the Urban League received from its partner Stella & Chewy’s, a pet food supplier based in Oak Creek. The Milwaukee Urban League is working with the transit company American Transit Team to provide transportation.
Hines said the pilot program is projected to last about seven months.
“To have a good thriving transportation program, it will run anywhere between $250,000 to $300,000 per year, if it’s a good program,” Hines said.
The program has 75 slots available, said Sakuri Fears, the empowerment services manager.
Hall said the hope is that other companies, especially those interested in diversifying their workforce, will partner with the Milwaukee Urban League to financially support the L*A*S*T* Mile program.
“Our goal is always to create independence for the people who come to our doors,” Hall said. “Or that through our own work and policy and advocacy efforts, that we can help influence a continued improvement in public transportation.”
Education and employment
The program is a part of the Milwaukee Urban League’s overarching mission: to help African Americans achieve economic equity through education, employment training and advocacy work.
Trying to close the economic divide means making sure individuals have access to jobs that pay $15 an hour, Hall said.
The organization’s programs focus on education, youth and workforce development. The programs include Project Ready, which helps high school students balance employment and education; Graduate to Employment, which prepares students for tech school or trade work; Employment Assistance Program, which helps individuals train for and identify employment opportunities; driver’s education classes and more.
The programs are free, but Hines said she asks that clients come with a willing attitude and a commitment to succeed.
While economic disparities still exist, Hall said there is an intentional effort in Milwaukee to close the gap, now more than ever.
“I see there being greater activity and more collective thinking and problem solving around what needs to happen,” Hall said. “I’m seeing companies really step up to the plate with trying to support organizations like ourselves who are doing the grassroots work.”


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 23, 2021