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Salvation Army chaplains join Milwaukee police on the front lines of tragedy | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
July 6, 2021
Salvation Army chaplains attend a balloon release for a young shooting victim in Milwaukee. “I say a prayer for me and whoever I come in contact with once I’m on scene,” says chaplain Melvin Reese, 69. “The role of the chaplain is to give spiritual and emotional care to any citizen that is suffering from grief or trauma.” (Photo provided by Salvation Army)
When Melvin Reese, 69, hears his work phone ring, he knows someone in crisis needs his help.
“I say a prayer for me and whoever I come in contact with once I’m on scene,” said Reese, a member of the Salvation Army Milwaukee Chaplaincy Program. Reese and other chaplains in the program, a partnership with the Milwaukee Police Department, are trained to respond to violent and often tragic scenes.
Sometimes they’re called to a murder scene. Other times they respond to suicides, vehicle accidents or any other situation that officers feel their services are needed. The chaplains also provide follow-up care to those in need.
“The role of the chaplain is to give spiritual and emotional care to any citizen that is suffering from grief or trauma,” said Reese, who also serves as a deacon for the Lamb of God Missionary Baptist Church in Milwaukee.
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What they do once on-scene depends on the situation, according to Reese, but many times it includes talking and praying with a victim’s family at a moment where emotions and despair run high.
Milwaukee’s chaplaincy program, which started six years ago, was launched at the request of the police department during a time of increased crime and violence in the city, according to Pastor Veloris Brooks, the Milwaukee Chaplaincy Program coordinator.
Currently, the team consists of 53 chaplains, Brooks said.  Thirty, including Reese, are on call and rotate an emergency phone that can ring at any hour and any day of the year.
“They bring a calming presence to a really bad situation,” said Eric Pfeiffer, captain of Milwaukee Police District 4, which works with Reese and his team of chaplains. “Our ultimate goal is to stop that violence from continuing.”
Knowing that chaplains are there can be reassuring to both the community and police officers, Pfeiffer added.
“When someone puts on that chaplain vest, people know what they’re out there doing,” he said. “We’re really grateful for their help.”
In addition to providing emotional support, chaplains serve as a bridge between law enforcement and the community, which helps officers focus on solving crimes.
Sometimes that means, for example, explaining why a murdered relative’s body is being left out in the cold.
“You feel for the loved ones, but you have to explain that the police are not being disrespectful and that it’s part of the investigation,” Reese said.
“These chaplains are responding to a different type of disaster in our community,” Brooks said.
To become a chaplain, applicants must pass a background check and complete several courses, including training for the MPD Citizen Academy, and shadow a senior chaplain for the first 30 days.
The courses they take provide training on spiritual and psychological first aid, suicide prevention and teach the chaplains to help people deal with tragic situations. Their belief in a higher power supplements that training.
“I fall back on my belief in God and strengths,” said Reese, before reciting Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Not every call involves violence.
Reese recalls one incident when he went to check on a resident. The man had late-stage prostate cancer and was mourning the death of his wife, which had occurred several years earlier.
Reese ended up taking the man to Southridge Mall to have his glasses repaired. There, the man saw a sign featuring a paraplegic with no legs.
“He said: ‘That guy has a problem, and my problems are nothing compared to his,’” Reese recalled. That statement stuck with Reese, who also has to find ways to address his own challenges while empathizing with those of others.
To unwind from the misery he sees on a regular basis, Reese retreats to his prayer room when he gets home.
“I can go into that room and just meditate —cry—think about the family members I was just involved with and also focus on myself and my well-being,” he said.
Reese also attends an empowerment and prayer service just for chaplains every other month. Brooks said she organized the special service to ensure they have support specific to their experiences as chaplains.
“I am not to assume they are being spiritually equipped for the job we do,” she said. “Those who serve also have lives, situations and tragedies that they go through.”
The pandemic created new challenges for the chaplaincy program. Most chaplains, including Reese, took themselves off the call rotation out of fear of contracting the virus and bringing it back to their families or others.
“I said to myself that well, the police are still calling for chaplains, but we’re not responding because we’re afraid,” Reese said. “I took a six-month sabbatical until I was comfortable.”
Some have still not returned, and the chaplaincy program is recruiting others to fill the void. Officials recently hosted two open houses so that interested individuals could learn about the program, Brooks said.
As for Reese, there’s no telling when he’ll be called to the scene of another tragedy. But when it happens, he said, he’ll be ready to respond.
“I don’t want to sound morbid, but I enjoy helping people even though sometimes there’s a death involved,” he said. “I feel like it is part of my calling for the community.”


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 5, 2021

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Dwayne Burtin


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Untitled design | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 5, 2021


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Post from Community: More than 50 creative portfolios showcase MATC student and recent graduate talent | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Area Technical College
July 7, 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.
Photo illustrating this news release by MATC 2021 photography graduate Claire Kotlowski.
Open portfolios at  student portfolios.matc.edu.
More than 50 portfolios created by current students and recent graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Creative Arts, Design & Media Pathway are now available for online viewing.
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At studentportfolios.matc.edu, community members and business leaders can check out the work of MATC students in these programs — and learn more about the skills students learn in each along with connected careers:
“We are excited to share the impressive work of our students in a virtual format this year,” said Dr. Brian Carlson, dean of the Creative Arts, Design & Media Pathway. “Our graduates have the hard and soft skills ready to start a career on day one and that’s more than evident in their work. I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to explore their cutting-edge talent!”
The online showcase continues a years-long tradition started with a Portfolio Night to connect graduates to the community and businesses in creative industries.
Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. More than 30,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 170 academic programs; and transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 40 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

author: Milwaukee Area Technical College


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Claire-Kotlowski-Smp2-e1621305462258.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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July 7, 2021

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Post from Community: Next Door celebrates 30 years of Books for Kids | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Next Door
July 7, 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.
Next Door is celebrating one of its flagship programs this summer with a 30 birthday celebration for Books for Kids. For three decades, Books for Kids has provided more than a million free books – through community donations – to Next Door students and children across Milwaukee to help them build their home libraries, early literacy skills and a love of reading.
As part of the birthday celebration, Next Door is hosting its largest ever book drive from July 12-23. The agency’s goal is to provide three books a month per child for more than 1,300 children across Next Door’s early childhood education programs in the upcoming school year. The celebration will culminate in a virtual event on July 28 celebrating the program’s history and announcing the results.
“Support for Next Door’s Books for Kids program is needed now more than ever as Next Door prepares to resume 100% in-person programming for the upcoming school year,” Next Door President Dr. Tracey Sparrow said. “Ensuring our children have access to more books at home is part of the critical transitional support our team will be providing them after a difficult year.”
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Here’s how you can help:
Next Door would like to give a special thanks to the Presenting Sponsors of the Books for Kids 30 birthday celebration – Linda and Michael Groth and Mary and Ted Kellner. We would also like to recognize Brenda and Matt Levatich, Executive Women International and Quarles & Brady LLP for their generous sponsorships.
About Books for Kids
Books for Kids was founded in 1990 by Mary Kellner – a long-time Next Door champion and former Next Door Board Director. The program began by inviting teachers to come to Next Door and select free books for their classrooms. Today, Next Door continues to invite teachers and community members at large to visit Next Door’s library for books; distribute books to Next Door’s center-based and home-based students during library visits; and give away more books to Milwaukee children through a mobile library and special requests from organizations like pediatrician offices and fire departments. Learn more about year-round programming and volunteer opportunities with Books for Kids at https://www.nextdoormke.org/get-involved/booksforkids/
About Next Door
Next Door supports the intellectual, physical and emotional development of children by partnering with their families for success in school and the community. Next Door serves more than 1,300 children a year, from birth to five years old, with two locations in Milwaukee and 11 early childhood partnership sites in the community. Through home- and center-based programs, Next Door strives to create a strong foundation for success by closing the opportunity gap for children from under-resourced families. Next Door’s highly qualified team provides critical educational support during a child’s most important developmental years with a focus on academic achievement, building social-emotional skills, and helping children become better prepared for school. Learn more  about Next Door at www.nextdoormke.org.

author: Next Door


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Books-for-Kids-30th-logo_265-circle_clr.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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‘There’s a person in need, so provide’: How Milwaukee Bread of Healing Clinic helps those who are uninsured | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
July 7, 2021
Bread of Healing Clinic, which has three locations, provides medical services to underserved communities in Milwaukee. (Photo by Matt Martinez)
When Dr. Barbara Horner-Ibler was in residency at Aurora-Sinai Hospital, she began to notice a gap that needed to be filled.
While patients were able to get treated at the hospital, they were being discharged into the community with almost no affordable resources, Horner-Ibler said. After seeing people return with the same treatable conditions, she decided enough was enough.
“There’s a person in need, so provide,” Horner-Ibler said. “It’s our responsibility to take care of each other.”
Horner-Ibler co-founded Bread of Healing Clinic with fellow physician Dr. Tom Jackson and nurse and clinic manager Rick Cesar in 2000. Their goal? To provide medical services to underserved communities.
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The clinic, located in the basement of Cross Lutheran Church, 1821 N. 16 St., administers the Community MedShare program, which provides free and low-cost prescription drugs to those without insurance. It has two other locations, and its partners include United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Aurora Health Care.
The clinic also is a main hub of the Milwaukee Free and Community Clinic Collaborative, a group of community-based centers that offer free and low-cost medical services.
The clinic’s patients are screened to determine if they’re eligible for BadgerCare, Obamacare and other forms of health insurance. They might also be enrolled in patient assistance programs from pharmaceutical companies.
Andrea Bachal, a masters-level social worker at the clinic, said she connects clients with resources for energy assistance, rent assistance and food programs as well.
“We try to make sure we’re not giving people another dead end,” Bachal said. “A lot of times, because they’re uninsured by the time they get here, they’ve been told no again and again.”
Dr. Barbara Horner-Ibler is a co-founder of the clinic and continues to work as a physician. (Photo by Matt Martinez)
After the screening, patients will see a clinician to identify their needs. The clinic mainly helps people with medication for blood pressure, asthma, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.
However, it’s not always as simple as writing a prescription.
Many of the drugs prescribed at the clinic are generic or less expensive than name-brand ones. At times, staffers at the clinic may need to get creative with substitutes.
Horner-Ibler said this provides a teaching moment for resident physicians that they might not get elsewhere.
“You become aware of what things cost,” Horner-Ibler said. “Why do you think a patient isn’t getting that? Maybe because it’s $140 a month . . . You have to think about those things. A lot of times in a practice you don’t. You assume people have insurance and it covers that, but it doesn’t always.”
Sean Stevens-Fabry, operations manager, said before the pandemic, Bread of Healing served 1,800 individuals and is slowly rebuilding that base. According to a 2019 annual report, about 95% of patients at the clinic had incomes below the federal poverty line.
Formerly a Presbyterian minister and social worker, Horner-Ibler said the clinic provides help people can’t get elsewhere.
And that it’s a two-way relationship.
“Our patients are bringing their own gifts to this relationship,” Horner-Ibler said. “Working to get healthy, sharing their joy with us in their efforts. It’s just a great place to be.”
About Bread of Healing Clinic
Bread of Healing Clinic has three locations and operates on appointments. In addition to the Cross Lutheran Church location, there also are two other locations at Eastbrook Church, 5835 N. Green Bay Ave., and Florist Clinic at Traveler’s Rest Ministries, 5975 N. 40th St.
To make an appointment at Cross Lutheran Church, call 414-977-0001.
To make an appointment at Eastbrook Church, call 414-228-5220, ext. 107.
To make an appointment at Florist Clinic at Traveler’s Rest Ministries, call 414-216-3459.

author: Matt Martinez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 6, 2021


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FEMA offers generous funeral aid to those grieving COVID-19 deaths. Getting it isn’t easy. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Noelle Alviz-Gransee (Wisconsin Watch) and Kristin Byrne (TMJ4 News)
July 8, 2021
ShenoraStaten-Jordan felt lost when her father, Gary Lee Staten, died of COVID-19 inMay. She hadn’t expected to lose him so soon at age 61 — or for acontagious disease to hinder her goodbye.
Allof that only strengthened her Milwaukee family’s wishes to give Staten — abeloved father and grandfather who spent 30-plus years serving Milwaukee PublicSchools — the type of homegoing service he deserved, she said.
“Welook at the news every day and we are seeing numbers of COVID-19 cases, andpeople that have lost their lives to COVID-19,” Staten-Jordan said. “And who hewas as a person is minimized.”
Butthe service, burial and extra expenses set the family back $21,000.
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Arelative told Staten-Jordan about a Biden administration program that mighthelp. The Federal Emergency Management Agency in April began accepting
applicationsto help cover funeral and burial costs for those who have died of COVID-19since Jan. 20, 2020.
Theprogram, created and expanded through two stimulus bills enacted by Congress,aims to ease the burden of memorializing hundreds of thousands of Americanslost to the coronavirus.
Applicantsare eligible for up to $9,000 per funeral through the FEMA program and up to$35,500 for people who pay for multiple COVID-19-related funerals. That’s justbelow the $9,135 national median cost of an adult funeral with burial, according to a 2019
National Funeral Directors Association estimate. The median adult funeral withcremation was $6,645.
Staten-Jordanhoped the application process would be straightforward, allowing her family tomove on with their lives. It was anything but, she said.
“Ibegan to call (FEMA) to see if those funds could be available to me, how itworked, what I needed to submit. I was just kind of really confused,” she said.“And that’s when I started the journey of not being able to speak to anyone.”
Concernshave echoed nationwide about confusing bureaucracy and waits as the agency wades through
thousands of applications. After all, as of July 1, the pandemic had killed more than602,000 people in the United States, including 7,300-plus in Wisconsin.
FEMA is initiating applications only over the phone,
and Staten-Jordanstruggled for weeks to reach an operator. She recalls making about eight calls in May and June
before reaching an employee who estimated that it would take three to five days forFEMA to approve the receipts she uploaded and as many as 90 additional days todeliver the reimbursement.
“Itwasn’t a readily available resource for me during a very traumatic time of mylife and my family’s life. And my heart goes out to those families who areabsolutely depending on this resource,” Staten-Jordan said, adding that she was“blessed” she could afford her father’s service without too much financialhardship.
DanShulman, a FEMA Region 5 spokesperson, acknowledges hiccups early as the agency— which had never previously run a call-in-only operation, let alone onsuch a big scale — struggled to handle a crush of calls. But the agency hassince added employees and improved the process, he said.
“Inthe first day or two, I’m sure you heard from people that tried to call in. Wereceived more than a million phone calls that first day,” he said. “Wequickly were able to work with our technical partners to address the technicalproblems, and since then, from a technical standpoint, we’ve been able toaccommodate people with very, very minimal delays.”
$6 million in aid to Wisconsinites
Asof June 28, FEMA has delivered $447 million in assistance to 66,800 peoplenationwide, agency data show. It distributed about $6 million to872 applicants in Wisconsin, about 23% of the 3,734 who have called to startthe application process. Fewer than 10 applicants in the state were ruledineligible as of mid-June, Shulman said.
Hesaid processing times range from two weeks to 30 days after an applicantsubmits receipts and other required documentation — including evidencethat COVID-19 caused the death. But some applications are more complicated thanothers, Shulman said, making individual wait times hard to predict.
Callersnow wait less than a minute on average to connect with an operator, hesaid.
Staten-Jordanhad a much different experience beginning in May. During her first two calls,she waited for almost 50 minutes before the calls ended abruptly, she said. Inone case, the phone just rang. In the other, she recalled hearing nosound.
Shetried again on a Monday morning, she said, and waited more than an hour on holdbefore getting disconnected. A handful of additional disconnected calls later,Staten-Jordan finally reached a staffer whom she called “very professional andpatient.” The operator showed her how to upload receipts and other documents.
“I’mused to using technology to get things done. My dad, or my mom or mygrandmother or other people that are not as technologically savvy, they wouldhave struggled with that process,” Staten-Jordan said. “It’s already atraumatic experience, an abrupt experience, and to be greeted with so manyhurdles to receive this resource, it’s unfortunate.”
Whydoes FEMA initiate applications only over the phone? Shulman offered severalreasons. It allows operators to approach applicants with compassion and preventconfusion, particularly since the format of death certificates varies fromstate to state. Employees manually process each application — includingthose with handwritten documents that an automated system might fail torecognize, Shulman said.
Whensomeone calls, Shulman said, an operator walks them through the process,including what documents are needed. The agency follows up with a letterformally requesting that information, which can be mailed,
faxed or uploaded to a government web portal.
WhenFEMA launched the program, it required all applicants to submit a deathcertificate listing COVID-19 as a cause of death. The agency announced on June29 that it eased rules for applicants who lost loved onesbetween Jan. 20 and May 16, 2020 — an early stretch of the pandemic thatpredated widespread COVID-19 testing and federal guidance for documenting thedisease as a cause on death certificates. Those applicants now may qualify bysubmitting a signed letter from a coroner, medical examiner or official whocertified the death certificate that links COVID-19 to the death.
Spreading the word
Shulmansaid the agency needs help in its goal to reach everyone who is eligible.Congress did not cap total payouts from the program, so applicants are notcompeting for funds.
“Wedon’t just reimburse family. We will reimburse anybody that incurred funeralexpenses as a result of COVID-19,” he said. “So it could have been yourneighbor, it could have been a long-time friend, it could have been somebodythat you didn’’ know that you just felt the generosity to help cover the costof their funeral.”
Theagency, however, can only reimburse a single applicant — the person whopaid the bill — for each funeral, Shulman added.
“Wecan’t bring back your loved one, but we can help ease the financial burden ofthe loss,” he said.
EllenMcBrayer, executive vice president of Jones-Wynn Funeral Homes and Crematoryoutside of Atlanta, Georgia, and a spokesperson for the National FuneralDirectors Association, said she hopes that more will apply for funeral aid, butgrief may be preventing some people from doing so.
“Whenpeople see that and they’ve suffered a loss, emotionally, it would have to behard to take another step,” she said. “Families have just been devastated.”
SheilaReid-Johnson, who operates Reid’s New Golden Gate Funeral Home in Milwaukee andRacine and owns another funeral home in Chicago, said some clients are aware ofthe aid program but arrive with misperceptions. Some incorrectly think thatFEMA will pay their bill upfront rather than later reimburse costs or — they incorrectly assume that multiple family members can recoup costs for thesame funeral, she said.
Reid-Johnsontries to clear up confusion — help that Staten-Jordan said she hopes funeralhomes will continue to offer grieving families as they navigate FEMA’sbureaucracy.
“Wewere blessed that we had themeans to lay my father to rest and to give him a wonderful homegoing experience— for myself, for my children, for my brother and the rest of our family,”she said. “For those that (depend on this money for a funeral), my prayers andmy thoughts are with them, and I hope that they keep the faith.”
Noelle Alviz-Gransee is a Reynolds Journalism Institute
Innovation fellow for Wisconsin Watch, working with its News414 collaboration.
Kristin Byrne a consumer reporter for the TMJ4 I-Team. The
nonprofit Wisconsin Watch (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates
with WPR, Wisconsin PBS, 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.
__________________
Navigating FEMA’s COVID-19 funeral assistance program
Who is eligible: People who paid for funerals/burials for COVID-19 deathsin the U.S. on or after Jan. 20, 2020 — and who can present receipts anddocumentation of a the cause of death. The death certificate must indicate thedeath was caused by, “may have been caused by” or “was likely a result of”COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms. For deaths that occured between Jan. 20 andMay 16, 2020, a signed letter from a coroner, medical examiner or official whocertified the death certificate that links COVID-19 to the death suffices asdocumentation. Non-U.S. citizens may apply.
How much aid is available: Applicants are eligible for up to$9,000 per funeral through the FEMA program and up to $35,500 for people whopay for multiple COVID-19-related funerals. Congress did not cap total payoutsfrom the program.
What costs are covered: A range of items, including funeral services, cremations,transfers of remains, caskets/urns, burial plots/cremation niches, gravemarkers/headstones. More examples are listed here.
What info/documents are needed: Social Security numbers (for the applicant/deceased),dates of birth (for the applicant/deceased), applicant’s mailing address andphone number, location/address where death occured, information about anyburial or funeral insurance policies or other funeral assistance received,routing and account numbers for applicant’s checking or savings account ifdirect deposit is requested.
How to apply/send info:
Call 844-684-6333. Anoperator will outline the application process and record information. Documentsmay later be submitted through mail, fax, or an online portal at DisasterAssistance.gov.
For more information: Visit this website or callthe Funeral Assistance Helpline at 844-684-6333.
Other help: Those who are ineligible for FEMA assistance can ask their funeral home or service providers about the Wisconsin Funeral and Cemetery Aids Program. Eligible applicants can get up to $1,500 for funeral/burial expenses, and up to $1,000 for unmet cemetery/crematory expenses. Find more information here.


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5 things to know the weekend of July 9 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
July 9, 2021
The life of Quanita “Tay” Jackson, who was killed in 2019, has inspired a project to redesign the basketball courts at Moody Park. (File photo by Mark Doremus)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as you prepare for the weekend.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon .
Hip-hop education nonprofit TRUE Skool is collaborating with Activate MKE and artist Art Fu Yung to redesign the basketball courts at Moody Park, 2201 W. Auer Ave. The project is inspired by the life of Quanita “Tay” Jackson, who was killed in 2019, a day after she helped organize a basketball tournament in Moody Park. The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, July 9 at TRUE Skool, 161 W. Wisconsin Ave. Unit #1000. RSVP to the event here.
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The Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative and Safe & Sound are hosting a cleanup in Clarke Square starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 10. Buckets, pickers and masks will be provided. Social distancing is encouraged. For more information, contact Arielle Mayer at 414-308-4772.
MPS is hosting a listening session to gather community feedback on how it should spend money it recently received from the federal government. This listening session will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 10 at North Division High School, 1011 W. Center St. Registration is not required. The dates and times for other listening sessions can be found here.
Check out the Advanced Child Tax Credit Event hosted by the Internal Revenue Service and the Milwaukee Stakeholder Partnerships Education and Communication  branch from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 10 at the Milwaukee walk-in Taxpayer Assistance Center, 211 W. Wisconsin Ave. Eligible families can receive advance payments of up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child 6 and older. : UPDATE: Make sure you file early to get expanded child tax credit.
As part of the 30 birthday celebration of its Book for Kids program, Next Door is hosting its largest ever book drive from July 12 through July 23. The agency’s goal is to provide three books a month per child for more than 1,300 children across Next Door’s early childhood education programs in the upcoming school year. The celebration will culminate in a virtual event on July 28 celebrating the program’s history and announcing the results. Click here for more information.
In case you missed it: NNS Summer Survival Guide: 15 things to do in your neighborhood

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 8, 2021


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NNS on ‘Lake Effect’: 5 things to do and know this July in Milwaukee neighborhoods | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
July 9, 2021
(NNS file photo)
NNS’s Adam Carr joined WUWM and Joy Powers of “Lake Effect” for the July installment of our monthly “5 Things” feature.
This month includes the mobile Washington Park Wheels concert series; Rhythm and Blooms in Havenwoods; the 9 annual Heal The Hood Block Party; Frida Fest MKE 2021 at the Farmhouse Paint Bar & Banquet Hall; and a food truck and beer tasting event from ElevAsian at Gathering Place Brewing Company.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 9, 2021
“0707b1”. Released: 2021.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 9, 2021


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Post from Community: Milwaukee banks to support civil justice | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Benson Gardner
July 9, 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.
Two financial institutions in Milwaukee have joined a group that help Wisconsin residents access legal information, advice, and representation when facing life-altering challenges.
CIBC Bank USA is located downtown, while First Federal Bank has branches downtown, on Historic Mitchell Street, and in Bay View. The two banks are among three new “Prime Partners” of the state’s civil legal aid funding channel, the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc. (WisTAF).
WisTAF welcomed a total of three new “Prime Partners” to the state’s Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program. The designation means the two Milwaukee banks as well as West Pointe Bank in Oshkosh will help ensure Wisconsinites can access legal representation, advice and information when facing life-altering challenges.
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“This is laudable private support that helps make justice available regardless of how much money you make, while ultimately saving money for taxpayers,” said April Rockstead Barker, president of the WisTAF Board of Directors. “Providing legal interventions, for example, to a survivor of domestic abuse can stop her problems from escalating, preventing the need for the public to provide shelter. Prime Partners help everyone in Wisconsin.”
While most people know of the Constitutional right to an attorney in criminal cases, no such guarantee exists in civil matters, even though civil law covers many situations impacting people’s fundamental needs. When people can’t afford a lawyer, they often struggle to navigate the legal system’s complexities, finding justice and stability elusive.
Nonprofit law firms and others address the issue through civil legal aid: online information, advice and legal representation for people who couldn’t otherwise afford a lawyer. Funding is pursued through public and private efforts.
The IOLTA program is one of those efforts. Established by the Wisconsin Supreme Court and administered by WisTAF, the program relies on a collaboration involving financial institutions and lawyers. The arrangement revolves around attorneys’ trust accounts, which they open at financial institutions in order to hold funds for clients. In cases where client funds are not large enough or would not remain in trust long enough to generate interest for the client, attorneys pool the funds into a single, larger IOLTA account with greater interest potential. Banks remit the interest earnings to WisTAF, which in turn administers grants that provide civil legal aid in every part of Wisconsin. People at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible to receive IOLTA-funded services.
The banks join a list of 12 institutions named “Prime Partners” because they go above and beyond IOLTA’s threshold participation requirements, voluntarily paying higher interest on the accounts as a form of community support.
“We are pleased to be recognized as a ‘Prime Partner’ by the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation,” said Brant Ahrens, president, CIBC US retail & digital banking. “CIBC works every day to strengthen our communities and our IOLTA accounts are an important part of our efforts, along with our affordable banking programs, investments in community development and contributions to organizations making a difference in our neighborhoods.”
“First Federal Bank of Wisconsin is excited to be able to offer IOLTA Trust accounts as part of our ongoing expansion of commercial account offerings,” said Brian McManus, senior vice president of lending at First Federal. “Being part of the Prime Partner program ensures that we can support funding for civil legal aid in communities throughout Wisconsin.”
“We are honored to be a part of the Prime Partner program with WisTAF,” said Brent Heiges, vice president and risk officer at West Pointe Bank. “As the oldest, locally-owned community bank in Oshkosh, we support nonprofits in our area focused on helping the underserved. Providing representation to those in need is critical to a highly functioning justice system. Thank you for welcoming West Pointe Bank to the IOLTA Prime Partner Program. We look forward to working with our attorney partners.”
CIBC Bank USA provides personal and private banking, small business banking and commercial banking solutions in Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri and Michigan. First Federal Bank is a $340 million community bank headquartered in Waukesha, with branch locations in Bay View, Brookfield and Milwaukee. West Pointe Bank is Oshkosh’s oldest locally owned, independent, full-service bank.
Established by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, WisTAF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works with civil legal aid organizations in the state to increase access to justice. WisTAF oversees funds and invests in services to help people resolve legal problems.

author: Benson Gardner


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Program builds community while teaching Black prostate cancer survivors new skills | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
July 9, 2021
Participants engage in physical exercise and take informational classes in the Men Moving Forward program. (Photo provided by Sophia Aboagye, Medical College of Wisconsin)
Michael Dozier needed a kidney.
After six years on dialysis, he was able to get on the list for a transplant. The wait was nearly over.
“That was my main focus, because I was trying to stay alive,” Dozier said. “But you know the old saying: ‘God works in strange ways.’”
During a physical examination during the process, Dozier had “a ton of bricks” dropped on him. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
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After months of treatment and operations, Dozier began the long road to recovery and learning to live with a new challenge.
It wasn’t easy, but he didn’t have to do it alone.
Dozier was approached by Tina Johnson, a community program coordinator with the Medical College of Wisconsin, about joining Men Moving Forward, a program aimed at improving cancer outcomes for Black men. For 16 weeks, Dozier would learn about lifestyle changes to help him recover from the disease, including physical exercise and making changes to his diet.
But perhaps, most importantly, he was introduced to eight other prostate cancer survivors. Dozier said the participants bonded over their trials and their strengths.
“It was incredible to see how many issues we shared,” Dozier said.
He said that the participants grew close during the program , and they shared messages of encouragement while holding each other accountable for workouts and nutrition.
“We became a village,” Dozier said.
Dr. Melinda Stolley, associate director of prevention and control at MCW’s Cancer Center and lead researcher of Men Moving Forward, said the program was started in 2019 in hopes of reaching those most affected by prostate cancer in Milwaukee: Black men.
Black men are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than their white counterparts. In Milwaukee, maps made by MCW’s Kirsten Beyer revealed a high incidence of cancer and a high mortality rate in predominantly Black neighborhoods.
Because of the disparity, the program is aimed specifically at Black men. The groups usually number from 10 ton15 at a time. Twice a week, men come together to work out and have conversations about their health and lives in recovery.
Participants in the program have their body composition, or the amount of muscle and fat in the body, measured before it begins. They also are given blood tests and strength training, Stolley said.
Once they know what muscles to build, the work begins.
Leonard Wilson, owner of Divine Intervention Fitness, curates workout plans for the program that works every muscle unit. Participants exercise for an hour each week before group discussion.
“A lot of the guys are coming at different levels of fitness, so we want to get them really acclimated to the mindset of working out,” Wilson said.
The program also introduces mindfulness, led by Ambrose Wilson-Brown, a Milwaukee-based health and fitness coach. Wilson-Brown said he helps lead brief meditations and breathing exercises that many participants take with them and practice on their own.
“We don’t spend a lot of time on it, but I think the physiological experience of feeling more confident, more relaxed sticks with a lot of the guys,” Wilson-Brown said.
That relaxation can be necessary for another aspect of the program: diet changes.
“There’s good science to show that when you’re stressed, it’s hard to make lifestyle change,” Stolley said. “When you’re stressed, you’re drawn to foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar. Those are chemically soothing.”
That can be a challenge for a program aimed at getting men to “eat more plants” and build muscle mass. The program brings in nutritionists like Bridget Wilder to host cooking classes and help the men learn healthy recipes.
“It’s not something that we just tell them, it’s something that we teach them,” Johnson said.
Stolley said that doctors and other health care professionals come in and offer advice on topics such as surviving cancer and sexual health. They tailor the services offered to what the participants ask for, she said.
“When you’re in a clinical setting, you feel more intense, intimidated, but they’re sitting in a gym and then the doc is sitting there and it’s usually pretty casual,” Stolley said. “It’s different than sitting on a table in a paper gown.
For Dozier, the environment relaxed him enough to open up and ask important questions.
Since exiting the program, Dozier has become a recruiter for Men Moving Forward. Still working alongside the team, he never misses an opportunity to thank them for their work.
“If I can encourage just one man to come into this program, I’ve done a fantastic thing,” Dozier said. “I’ve created a miracle within someone else.”
The program is currently accepting applicants for October. Those interested in applying can call 414-955-4095 or email mmf@mcw.edu. The program also has a Facebook page. Participants can choose between meeting on Tuesday and Thursday each week or Thursday and Saturday.
Participants must be African American and must be out of treatment for at least six months, or under active surveillance in treatment. The program is free of charge.


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Where struggling residents can find food in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
July 9, 2021
If you’re hungry, help is available in many forms in Milwaukee right now. You can get food delivered to you, stop by pay-what-you-can restaurants and produce stores, or visit food pantries such as this one at the Milwaukee Islamic Dawah Center. (File photo by Mark Doremus)
If you or someone you know needs food, here is information on where to find food pantries, meal distribution sites and meals for children as well as pay-what-you-can options, meal delivery programs and information on how to get money for buying groceries. This information will be updated regularly.
Do you know of a resource that is not listed here? Text “MKE” to 73224 and let us know!
Aggregated resources
If you are looking for food now, the best place to start is by using the following resources. These resources can connect you to food pantries and meal sites within your ZIP code.
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The Hunger Task Force has created an interactive map complete with soup kitchens, MPS meal sites, non-MPS meal sites, mobile markets, meal sites for seniors and more. You can search by ZIP code or by resource type to find what you are looking for at a location near you. The map is updated daily but call the location before you visit to make sure it is still open.
Feeding America also has an interactive map of food pantries and meal programs located across Wisconsin. The map is updated regularly but call the location before you visit to make sure it is still open.
Use the 2-1-1 Wisconsin website to find the food pantry in your neighborhood.
Call Impact at 2-1-1, which can connect you to food pantries and meal programs in your area. You can also text your ZIP code to TXT-211.
Do I need a photo ID to go to a food pantry?
For some, yes. This is because some pantries are restricted in the areas they can serve and are required to verify that you live in the area. However, not all pantries require an ID.
If you are not sure if you need an ID, call the food pantry directly or text “MKE” to 73224 and a reporter can get you the information you need.
Pay-what-you-can
Some restaurants and grocery stores allow customers to pay only what they are able to pay for food, even if that is $0. However, there is also a suggested price for those who want to support these efforts.
Tricklebee Café, located at 4424 W. North Ave., is a community cafe offering vegan and gluten- free options. The café is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Call 414-488-2477 to order for pickup or dine-in starting on July 7.
greater good(s) MKE, located at 5205 W. North Ave., is a pay-what-you-can produce store open every Wednesday from noon to 7 p.m. and every Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon. Order online for pickup here.
Get free or low-cost food delivered to you
Milwaukee County families with children 18 and younger can get seven-day meal packs delivered to them weekly at no charge through the Gorilla to Go program. The program is a joint effort between the Hunger Task Force and Gourmet Gorilla, a kids meal supplier based in Chicago. To be eligible, parents only need to live in Milwaukee County and have at least one child who is 18 or younger. Currently, the program is adding new applicants to a waitlist due to overwhelming demand. You can sign up here.
For those who are 60 or older, Meals on Wheels will deliver meals to you and anyone living with you who also qualifies. You can view eligibility requirements and apply here and view this month’s menu here.
Additionally, for those 60 or older and/or a qualifying disability in the 53204, 53215 and 53224 ZIP codes, Friedens Community Ministries will deliver food from one of its four pantries. Call 414-289-6030 to sign up.
Get money for food
Those making less than the maximum income requirements can get EBT credit to buy food through Wisconsin’s FoodShare program. You can check to see if you are eligible here, and instructions on how to apply here.
Parents of children who receive free or reduced-price school meals may also be eligible to receive credit to buy food through the Pandemic EBT, or P-EBT, program. Three P-EBT programs focus on school-age children, children under 6, and summer meals, respectively. You can view eligibility for each program here.
If you are eligible but have not received any funds or a letter saying you are eligible, either fill out an application here or call 833-431-2224 and email PEBTsupport@wisconsin.gov.

author: Sam Woods


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Post from Community: Digital Bridge hits major milestone to bridge digital divide | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Digital Bridge
July 10, 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.
Digital Bridge of Milwaukee was joined by state Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velvez, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and leaders from Spectrum to celebrate a major milestone in efforts to close the digital divide across Milwaukee. The partnership includes the distribution of 2,000 refurbished electronic devices since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
Digital Bridge of Milwaukee is a nonprofit working to refurbish donated computer technology and make it available to area families in need. Its work to serve the Milwaukee community has intensified since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with more adults needing devices to work from home and students needing devices to learn remotely.
“Prior to the pandemic, we would partner with like-minded nonprofits to provide onsite training and support to their clients in need through our Bridge Milwaukee program,” said Jeff Hanson, Digital Bridge Executive Director. “When the pandemic hit, onsite trainings and equipment distributions didn’t happen like they normally would. We needed to change gears quickly to find an alternate distribution model to get our equipment out safely to those in need.”
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That’s where a recent $30,000 Spectrum Digital Education grant was used to cover increased shipping and delivery costs to distribute computer devices directly to those in need in a safe manner.
Since its inception, Digital Bridge has received $87,500 from Spectrum through the Spectrum Digital Education grant program, including first-year funding that was used to support the development of the Bridge Milwaukee program.
“We’re pleased to support the valuable work Digital Bridge is doing,” said Rahman Khan, Vice President of Community Impact for Charter Communications, Inc., which operates the Spectrum brand of TV, Internet, Voice and Mobile products. “We credit them for their responsiveness to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. They didn’t pause their program – but quickly recognized the need to pivot to provide those in need with the resources to navigate the challenges of the digital age – especially during a heightened time of need.”
Spectrum has surpassed its multi-year commitment to award $6 million in cash and in-kind donations to support broadband education across the company’s 41-state service area. Spectrum Digital Education is one of several philanthropic programs developed by Charter to support the communities in which Charter provides service and where its employees live and work. Since its inception in 2017, Spectrum Digital Education has benefitted more than 56,000 individuals in 17 states and Washington, D.C. More information on Spectrum Digital Education Grants can be found at https://corporate.charter.com/digital-education/grants.
“The last year has made digital literacy even more important in our underserved communities,” said Rep. Ortiz-Velez. “I commend Digital Bridge of Milwaukee on this important partnership and for distributing 2,000 devices during these trying times.”
To learn more about Digital Bridge or to support their continued outreach efforts, visit  https://www.digitalbridge.ngo/ or contact Jeff Hanson at (608) 751-9139. To learn more about Spectrum Digital Education, visit https://corporate.charter.com/digital-education.

author: Digital Bridge


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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: July 12 to July 16 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
July 12, 2021
Take a free yoga class at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 13 at Alice’s Garden Urban Farm, 2136 N. 21st St. (Photo provided by Alice’s Garden)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as you prepare for the week.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon .
1. Facebook Live on the science behind violence prevention as a public health issue: Tuesday, July 13
Reggie Moore, the director of the Division of Violence Prevention in the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Comprehensive Injury Center, will explore the science behind violence prevention during a Facebook Live presentation from noon to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 13. You can watch the event on the MCW Facebook page,  EXCLUSIVE: Reggie Moore’s journey of a lifetime: Working to build a safer city
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2. “Brew City black ball: The untold story of Black baseball in Milwaukee”: Tuesday, July 13
Learn about the significant contributions made by Black people in Milwaukee during the era of segregated baseball at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 13. UW-Milwaukee PhD student Ken Bartelt will deliver a virtual presentation about the McCoy-Nolan Giants and the Milwaukee Bears, two all-Black professional teams that called Milwaukee home during the 1920s. The event, which you can access here, is sponsored by the Milwaukee County Historical Society.
UCC’s “Summer Social”
The United Community Center’s “Summer Social” takes place from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 14 at Indeed Brewing Co., 530 S. 2nd St. The event  will support UCC with raffles, camaraderie and great beer. Guest bartenders include: Santiago Navarro, Bruce Guadalupe Middle School principal; and Shaba Martinez, instructional technology and innovation specialist. Not able to stop in? Order ahead or pick up some beer to go. UCC will also receive proceeds from all to-go orders. Click here to RSVP.
4. “Rhythm and Blooms” concert: Thursday, July 15
This week’s “Rhythm and Blooms” concert takes place from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 15 and features De La Buena. It will be held at the Green Tree Community Garden, 6767 N. 60th St. The concert series is sponsored by the Havenwoods Neighborhood Partnership.
5. Drive-through job fairs Thursday, July 15
The City of Milwaukee Office of Workforce Development will be holding north side and south side drive-through job fairs on Thursday, July 15.
The job fairs will focus on neighborhoods within the 9th, 12th and 15th Aldermanic Districts. All attendees will receive a no-contact bag packed with information on employment assistance programs and employers hiring right now, and the events will feature employers from manufacturing, office, health care, retail, transportation/logistics and more.
They will take place from noon to 4 at the following locations:
Parking lot of Employ Milwaukee, 2342 N. 27th St.
Parking lot of Social Development Commission, 9155 N. 76th St.
Parking lot of Basilica of St. Josaphat, 2333 S. 6th St.
Parking lot of Serb Hall, 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave.
The job fairs are co-sponsored by Milwaukee Common Council, Direct Connect Milwaukee, Northwest Side CDC, State Department of Workforce Development, Job Center of Wisconsin, Employ Milwaukee, The Milwaukee Urban League, Milwaukee Public Schools and the City of Milwaukee.
Yoga In Alice’s Garden:
Take a free yoga class at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 13 at Alice’s Garden Urban Farm, 2136 N. 21st St. You must bring your own mat, and no plastic water bottles are permitted in the garden.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 11, 2021


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Milwaukee stilt walker stands tall after video goes viral | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
July 13, 2021
Allenton Riley, 18, shows off his talents as a Moko Jumbie. “There’s so many things in Milwaukee that’s the same,” he says. “But this is something you don’t usually see. It’s different and should be embraced.” (Photo provided by Stacy Letrice)
This story has been updated to correct the name of Stacy Letrice’s company.
At first, the young man crossing the streets on stilts in a viral video appears to be out having fun and doing something different.
But there is more to his story.
Allenton Riley, 18 and a recent Milwaukee High School of the Arts graduate, said he has been practicing Moko Jumbie since he was 6.
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Twelve years later, he’s known as “Milwaukee’s Moko Jumbie.” Moko Jumbie is a tradition that extends back hundreds of years and originated in West Africa and is now practiced there, in the Caribbean and in the United States. Standing 10 to 15 feet high, Moko Jumbies were seen as protectors who looked over the village and participated in celebrations.
For Riley, Moko Jumbie is a way to stay out of trouble as well as a way to stand out. A video of him on stilts went viral last month after he was caught practicing for a Juneteenth performance.
“There’s so many things in Milwaukee that’s the same,” he said. “But this is something you don’t usually see. It’s different and should be embraced.”
Riley said when he was 6, he broke his leg practicing tae kwon do and ended up on crutches. After he healed, he fastened his crutches into stilts and began walking around on them. He already knew about Moko Jumbies from his cousin and from West African classmates.
He hid his talent from his parents for almost five years for fear they would disapprove of him practicing in the house.
“When I was 11 or 10 and I told them about stilt-walking in the house, they were like: ‘Oh, that explains this spot in the living room and these scuff marks in the basement,’” Riley said.
Soon, though, Riley let more people see his talent. He began performing at middle school events and connected with a group in New York called the Brooklyn Jumbies. Its members gave him tips and introduced him to other jumbies across the world.
Riley said he has been invited to carnivals in New York, Houston, Miami, and Trinidad and Tobago but has been unable to go, usually because he lacked funding. After performing in Milwaukee last month for Juneteenth Day, he was asked to teach his art to youth in Chicago with the Juke Boxx Mas Band.
When practicing for his Juneteenth gig, Riley was waiting to cross a street when someone started recording him on their phone.
“I was at a stop sign doing the ‘you go . . . no you go’ thing,” Riley said. “Next thing I knew I went viral, and my dad was upset with me for crossing streets I was not supposed to.”
Riley’s viral moment was not all it was cracked up to be. He found that most people commenting on the video did not know anything about Moko Jumbie and were instead just interested in teasing him.
Stacy Letrice, CEO of Dance Jukeboxx and founder of Team Jukeboxx Mas Band, saw herself in Riley’s viral experience. In her past, she had been recorded doing dancehall, a type of Jamaican music and dance, without her permission and had thousands of people online completely missing the context of her art.
“It was exactly what happened with Al where people didn’t understand that this is actually Jamaican culture and instead just think you’re weird,” Letrice said. “When you actually understand the richness of it and the meaning behind it, it’s not weird at all.”
Stella Nathan, who was Riley’s college and career adviser in high school, also saw the viral post. At first, she was happy to see one of her students getting recognition. Until she started reading the comments.
She jumped into the comments section and tried to explain the context, but the task of educating strangers on the internet quickly became overwhelming.
“A lot of people joke and make fun of things they don’t understand,” Nathan said. “What I want people to take away from this is to stop and think before we turn everyone and everything into an internet joke or meme.”
Though he was disappointed to see people not understand his art, Riley remains determined. He wants to travel with the UniverSoul Circus and start a Moko Jumbie group in Milwaukee someday.
He also plans to keep practicing in Milwaukee this summer. He said Moko Jumbies in Trinidad are known to walk up to 14,000 feet at a time, so he needs to build his stamina.
He offers this advice for onlookers.
“If you see me and want to record, first off make sure you get a good angle. Second, ask questions and learn a little bit about why I’m on stilts and what it means to me,” he said.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 12, 2021


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OPINION: ‘I thank God because some people didn’t make it’: Saryea’s journey with kidney failure | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Saryea Murchison
July 13, 2021
(Photo provided by Saryea Murchison)
From the marathon of dialysis to the uncertainty of multiple transplants, Saryea Murchison has battled kidney failure for over a decade.
And she’s still going.
In this audio “Community Voices” piece, she shares her journey with kidney failure in her own words.
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author: Saryea Murchison


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 12, 2021
“audio_only”.


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Post from Community: City of Milwaukee’s disparity study public hearings | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Griffin and Strong, P.C
July 13, 2021

author: Griffin and Strong, P.C


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 13, 2021


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Post from Community: UW Credit Union reduces all overdraft fees to $5 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
UW Credit Union
July 13, 2021
(Photo provided by UW Credit Union)
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.
Effective today, UW Credit Union will cut its overdraft (OD) and nonsufficient funds (NSF) fees by more than 80%, from $30 per occurrence to $5. The simplified policy creates a meaningful reduction for members and supports national shifts designed to create more equitable banking.
The average NSF/OD fee in the U.S. was more than $33 in 2020, up from $30 in 2010, according to Bankrate.com. UW Credit Union’s new, industry-low fee applies to all its accounts, including checking, savings and money market transactions. UW Credit Union will continue to provide a (-)$10 threshold, under which no fees will be charged, as well as limit fees to a maximum of one per day. UW Credit Union eliminated overdraft fees related to everyday debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals in 2010. These practices remain uncommon among most financial institutions.
While the annual number of NSF/OD fees UW Credit Union charges is low by industry standards, 8% of its 300,000 members pay one or more NSF/OD fees per year, with an average of nearly four fees per year. The new policy could save these members approximately $100 annually. For some, the actual amount will be much higher.
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“Everyone comes up short sometimes,” said UW Credit Union President & CEO Paul Kundert. “From a student managing their first bank account to families who lose track of their current balance, our goal for all members is to help them accumulate wealth, not erode it. While some fee is necessary to discourage behaviors that may harm local businesses and other members, it should be reasonable and applied equitably.”
According to The FinHealth Spend Report 2021, low- to moderate-income (LMI) households are nearly twice as likely to overdraft than non-LMI households.
“Aggressive penalty charges are part of the reason that so many community members are unbanked or underbanked,” said Constance Alberts, Bank On Greater Milwaukee program manager. “Overdraft policy changes that include significant fee reductions or the elimination of fees can make a big difference. Equally important is that financial institutions work as partners to their members, providing real-time support and safeguards to avoid fees in the first place. People need more transparency, more resources and more touch points to help them take more ownership of their finances.”
With industry overdraft revenue climbing upward of $31 billion, according to financial data firm Moebs Services Inc., reducing this income is long overdue. Actionable fee prevention efforts may help bolster these policy changes. UW Credit Union members can set up automatic alerts to notify them when an indicated account dips below a specified balance or when a transaction greater than a specified amount clears an account. The alerts are free, immediate and easily adjusted at any time. The credit union also offers a variety of in-person and virtual educational finance events to help people build their budgeting skills, track personal spending and set realistic financial goals. Events are free and open to the public.
UW Credit Union’s substantial fee reduction reinforces its pro-consumer position when it comes to sustainable banking. In 2018, the credit union introduced its Clear, Launch and Encore accounts for individuals who prefer to have no overdraft-related fees. All transactions that could cause an overdraft are returned unpaid, free of charge. Today, 25% to 30% of all new accounts opened are one of those account types.
To learn more about the recent rate reduction, visit https://www.uwcu.org/checking/overdrafts/.
About UW Credit Union
UW Credit Union is a growing, federally insured financial institution and a leading provider of a full range of financial services to University of Wisconsin communities. UW Credit Union’s more than 800 employees serve the financial needs of over 300,000 members through world-class technology systems and through a convenient network of 29 branch locations and over 100 ATMs. With assets exceeding $4.6 billion, UW Credit Union is ranked nationally among the leading credit unions. Founded 90 years ago by members of the University of Wisconsin faculty and staff, UW Credit Union continues to operate as a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative with locations in the Madison, Milwaukee, Stevens Point, Green Bay, Oshkosh, Whitewater and La Crosse areas.

author: UW Credit Union


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How to get rental assistance in Wisconsin | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Vanessa Swales, Wisconsin Watch
July 14, 2021
If I haven’t applied yet, am I still eligible and what help can I get?
Yes. Eligible applicants may receive up to 15 months of aid in a combination of rental payments and/or security deposits. These payments will be paid directly to the landlord on behalf of the tenant. To apply, applicants must:
How do I apply?
There are two programs in Milwaukee:
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If you do not live in Milwaukee County, there are other agencies that can help you.
The Wisconsin Community Action Program Association (WISCAP) coordinates the program through its member agencies. Most agencies offer online applications, but some instruct applicants to send an email requesting a WERA application. Apply at the agency that serves your county, as outlined below:
If you live in Brown, Dane and Waukesha counties and the city of Madison, here’s where renters there can go:
To apply you must provide the following information and documentation:
If I’m in Milwaukee, should I apply to both SDC and Community Advocates?
SDC and Community Advocates have recommended against applying to both programs, because it would add to the backlog of cases still needing to be processed by the agencies. Representatives of the Milwaukee Autonomous Tenants Union, however, have recommended that residents apply to all programs they are eligible for because one application could be processed much faster than the other.
Am I eligible if I am undocumented, a non-citizen or have no Social Security number?
Rental assistance funds come from the federal government, and Congress left eligibility open to non-citizens — including those who lack Social Security numbers or are undocumented. Neither states nor local governments may impose their own immigration restrictions in lieu of the federal government, according to a National Housing Law Project fact sheet.
Wisconsin residents can apply for rental assistance as long as they meet income-related requirements.
Applicants will not be asked about their immigration status at any point during the process.
Accepting rental assistance should not harm an immigrant’s application for legal status under the concept of the “public charge,” legal experts say.
What do I do if my application is still pending and my landlord still hasn’t received payment?
Try asking the organization you applied to for an update.
If you’re a Milwaukee resident struggling to get a hold of a representative, contact the Milwaukee Autonomous Tenants Union at 414-410-9714 or via email outreach@matunion.org to speak with volunteers who can directly reach out to their contacts at either SDC or Community Advocates.
Alternatively you can contact us, News414, by texting “MKE” to 73224. For Spanish, text “MKEESP” to 73224. We will try to connect you with the right folks to get an update on your application and any other information you might need.
Who else can I contact for help?

author: Vanessa Swales, Wisconsin Watch


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rental_assistance_rental_sign02 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 13, 2021


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‘It’s all about love’: The Office of Violence Prevention’s Arnitta Holliman shares her vision for Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
July 14, 2021
Arnitta Holliman, director of the Office of Violence Prevention, brings a clinical psychology background to her new position. (Photo provided by Arnitta Holliman)
Against a tide of negativity, Arnitta Holliman has always remained positive.
Holliman, the newly named director of the Office of Violence Prevention in the Milwaukee Health Department, has consoled victims and helped people find a more meaningful life off the streets. Through it all, she’s never lost her vision.
“Fundamentally, it’s all about love,” Holliman said.
Holliman acknowledges that it might not always be easy but teaching people to love themselves helps bring love to their communities.
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Mayor Tom Barrett appointed Holliman to lead the Office of Violence Prevention in May after the departure of Reggie Moore in April. Before this role, Holliman, who has a background in clinical psychology, led outreach efforts for street-based sex workers at the Benedict Center.
Her vision
Holliman said she does not plan on making sweeping changes in the Office of Violence Prevention, or OVP, but hoped to grow its size and capacity.
She would like to see more “healing hubs”– spaces where community members can gather and be heard — across the city.
The hubs reflect Holliman’s focus on healing trauma in the community.
Ed de St. Aubin, a psychology professor at Marquette University who taught Holliman in graduate school, said Holliman “understands the wider context that many people committing violence are traumatized themselves.”
Holliman, who grew up on North 12 Street and West Atkinson Avenue in the 53206 ZIP code, said some people don’t realize the effect that early life experiences have on them.
“I received messages of hope and that I could be whatever was best for me . . . No one should grow up without these messages,” Holliman said.
Creating environments for young people where they can learn to manage anger is key, Holliman said.
“Violence is a learned behavior,” Holliman said. “You can unlearn it or learn new ways of processing your emotions, new ways of handling situations that would otherwise lead to violence.”
But the work needs to extend past young people as well, she said.
“It’s important that we’re also giving those same messages to mothers and fathers and grandparents and aunts and uncles. Those people who are no longer a child, they’re no longer a young adult, but they didn’t get the support, the resources, the help, the healing that they needed,” Holliman said.
David Muhammad, deputy director of the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services and a former Office of Violence Prevention team member, said one of Holliman’s greatest strengths is her ability to see what people need.
“She moves without judgment,” Muhammad said. “She does not move with condemnation. She sees human need before aberrant behavior.”
Dr. Kweku Ramel Smith, founder of BLAQUESMITH Psychological Consultative Services who has done contract work for the office, said he was excited to hear about Holliman’s new role.
“OVP doesn’t rebuild, they reload,” Smith said. “They replaced a dynamic leader with another dynamic leader.”
Holliman readily admits her new role is not for the faint of heart. She, too, has lost loved ones to violence.
“I don’t want someone to ever experience losing a loved one or having someone harmed as a result of something that could have been prevented,” Holliman said. “So I take this work extremely seriously.”
Which leads Holliman back to some of her main principles: making people feel seen, loved and heard.
“At the end of the day, everyone wants to be loved,” Holliman said. “Even if they don’t really know for sure what that’s supposed to look like.”


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51277734659_63f057e7fe_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 13, 2021


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Long waits for federal rental assistance leave Milwaukee-area residents fearing eviction | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Vanessa Swales, Wisconsin Watch
July 14, 2021
Freda Young had to move quickly in November. A dispute with her upstairs neighbor made staying in her home unsafe, she said. The Milwaukee woman was juggling moving and caring for her daughter, who suffers from seizures. Three months had passed without an update on the status of her application for thousands of dollars in rental assistance. Young was terrified she and her two children would be left homeless.
A couple who asked to be identified as Ester and Jose Pérez because they lack permission to be in the United States also waited months to learn whether their request for assistance under a pandemic relief program was granted. They wondered: Should they reapply in hopes of a better chance at getting help?
Heather Hanson applied in April for the second round of rental assistance that the federal government released. After not hearing back for months, she brainstormed other ways to help pay her rent.
These are but a handful of Milwaukee County residents interviewed by News414 — a service journalism collaboration between Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and Wisconsin Watch —  who are struggling to navigate rental assistance programs offered through Milwaukee County and the city of Milwaukee.
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Statewide, rental assistance disbursement is handled through the Wisconsin Community Action Program Association (WISCAP), 13 of its regional agencies and Energy Services Inc. From March through late June, the state program distributed almost $35 million in federal funds to just over 10,000 households — of the $322 million available from the federal government that must be disbursed by the Sept. 30, 2025 deadline. The program, which Gov. Tony Evers launched in February, does not require that recipients have legal residency in the United States.
The city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County run their own housing assistance programs financed in part by the federal government. They collectively received more than $32.5 million in the latest federal package to help tenants struggling with rent. Brown, Dane and Waukesha counties also run separate aid programs, as does the city of Madison.
Community Advocates, which provides rental assistance to Milwaukee and Waukesha counties, says it has yet to tap the latest batch of federal funds as it works with county and state officials to secure leftover dollars from an earlier round of pandemic relief that expires sooner. Securing those funds will allow Community Advocates to serve additional renters in Milwaukee, where the need will remain incredibly high, explained Deborah Heffner, the agency’s housing strategy director.
The Social Development Commission (SDC), which began disbursing its latest round of aid in May, said it had sent about $4.1 million to 1,036 Milwaukee households as of July 9. Community Advocates since March 1 has distributed more than $10.8 million to 3,700 Milwaukee County households and nearly $1.3 million to 360 households in Waukesha County.
Brad Paul, WISCAP’s executive director, said his agency will ensure that all federal dollars  provided to the state to help Wisconsin renters is disbursed.
“Housing insecurity remains a serious issue in Wisconsin, so unless, or until we solve that, the money will continue to serve a critical need right up to the deadline,” Paul wrote in an email.
George Hinton, CEO of SDC, blames delays in processing applications on the slow appointment of his agency as the citywide agency. Renters flooded the group with inquiries after learning that Milwaukee had funds for another round of assistance  — but before SDC was set up to take applications, creating a long waiting list. Hinton believes SDC is making progress and aims to start distributing $1 million in aid each week. Heffner says her agency is processing applications from Milwaukee County as quickly as possible.
Moratorium set to expire
The assistance comes at a critical time. A nationwide U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention moratorium on certain evictions is set to expire on July 31. That means potential hardship for millions of struggling renters across the country.
With long lines for rental assistance and the growing tide of evictions looming, some renters are questioning how Milwaukee County and the city will keep thousands of residents afloat.
Young, who works as a medical assistant for Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and lives with her two teenage children, applied for rental assistance back in November to cover the costs of being furloughed and renting another apartment in West Allis. She said she felt unsafe in her previous home.
While her new landlord readily agreed to accept the first month’s rent and security deposit through Community Advocates, payments were delayed. Young did not know why it was taking so long to get the assistance. Young’s landlord didn’t receive payments until January.
“It was hard — that’s why some people are skeptical about taking payments from Community Advocates, because they feel like it’s going to be a long time or they’re not going to get paid at all,” Young said.
The moratorium, which was established nine months ago, protects renters, who expect to earn less than $99,000 in income this year (or less than $198,000 if filing a joint tax return) and are behind on rent due to the pandemic and sign an affidavit. Tenants must attest that they have sought rental assistance and, if evicted, would likely become homeless or would be forced to live in close quarters with other people. In all, Congress has sent out $46.5 billion in two waves of funding to the states to help renters stay in their homes.
‘Tsunami’ of evictions expected
Despite the moratorium, Milwaukee County has seen hundreds of eviction filings each month. Between March 1 and July 8, there were 2,270 evictions filed and judgments in 56 cases — with more than a dozen judgements involving multiple tenants. But the numbers remain far below pre-moratorium levels.
“Moving into 2021, not only do you see sort of a reduction in filings, but you also see a reduction in essentially, how many evictions are actually resolved with a judgment for eviction,” explained Branden DuPont, a data analyst at the Medical College of Wisconsin which runs the Milwaukee Evictions Tracker.
Many ascribe the downturn to the many efforts to prevent evictions, either through rental assistance or mediation provided by service agencies. Renters fear the end of the moratorium will hasten eviction filings and spur more landlords to knock at their doors demanding overdue rent.
“There’s a tsunami of evictions coming,” said Amara Lang, a member of the Milwaukee Autonomous Tenants Union — an all-volunteer organization fighting to end housing insecurity. “There’s gonna be a massive reckoning in this nation with a housing crisis.”
“There are already evictions filed waiting for this to expire. I don’t think the city is prepared,” Lang added.
The Pérezes, who live with their three young daughters and her parents, never heard back about an application they submitted in November to SDC. But due to the agency exhausting previous rounds of money and a waiting list that surged to about 4,000 people in November, Hinton suggested their application likely was not processed and they would have to reapply to the new round of rental assistance.
The Pérezes fell into financial trouble when COVID-19 hit. Ester Pérez lost her job after the school where she worked shut down. Her husband’s hours at a restaurant were also reduced. Jose Pérez had to take on extra part-time jobs doing cleaning and working outside to make enough money to get by.
After News414 and Wisconsin Watch interviewed Hinton and notified him of the Pérezes’ case — and the couple also called the agency — they were told that they would shortly receive a new application and a phone call regarding their request.
“I hope they don’t take too long,” Ester Pérez wrote in a text message.
Navigating ‘bottlenecks’
In April 2020, Karianne, who asked that her last name be withheld, was facing an eviction. She applied for rental assistance through SDC, Community Advocates and a formerly federally financed rental assistance program through Hope House of Milwaukee. She said she didn’t hear back from any of them, despite numerous attempts to contact the agencies. Karianne was ultimately served with an eviction notice and had to go to court to stay in her home.
“There are so many people that need help right now, unfortunately. And I think it’s just a matter of the system is just so backlogged, and so they’re just drowning right now,” said Karianne, who now volunteers with the Milwaukee Autonomous Tenants Union.
Community Advocates says its turnaround time for applications to be processed is between 21 and 30 days. But that does not include the time between residents submitting their applications and contact from a case manager to begin processing the request. For Hanson, the delay pushed her to the edge financially.
Hanson lives with her two daughters in South Milwaukee. She applied for rental assistance through Community Advocates at the end of April. While she has kept her bills and expenses to the bare minimum, she was forced to consider taking on a part-time job to make ends meet. But with homeschooling her children and working a full-time job already, it didn’t seem feasible.
“I couldn’t work a part-time job and then be able to help them with their homework,” Hanson said. “I was trying to think of another solution, but I think just working Saturday and Sunday would not have been enough to cover it. And then I would never have had time with the kids.”
In June, Community Advocates finally notified her that she was eligible and needed only to provide a little more documentation to start the process. Hanson hopes it won’t take long.
“Our goal right now is just to make sure that we review everyone in the portal,” Heffner said. “We’re just trying to work through the applications as much as possible and look at any bottlenecks and address anyone that, for one reason or another, they’re still in queue.”
The nonprofit Wisconsin Watch (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with WPR, Wisconsin PBS, 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.


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rental_assistance_Community-Advocates | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 13, 2021


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rental_assistance_Karianne | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 13, 2021


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rental_assistance_Milwaukee-Autonomous-Tenants-Union | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 13, 2021


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rental_assistance_rental_sign01 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 13, 2021


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Post from Community: Free Breakfast and Lunch program from Cristo Rey Jesuit Milwaukee High School | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Cristo Rey Jesuit Milwaukee High School
July 14, 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.
Cristo Rey Jesuit Milwaukee High School is participating in a Free Breakfast and Lunch program for the current school year 2021-2022.  This alternative is referred to as the Community Eligibility Provision.  All students enrolled at the following school(s) may participate in the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program at no charge.  Household applications are not required to receive free meals, but applications may be distributed by the school to collect household income data for other programs that require this information.
All students will be served breakfast and lunch at no charge at the following sites:
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1818 W. National Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53204
For additional information please contact: Cristo Rey Jesuit Milwaukee High School, 1818 W. National Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53204, 414-436-4600, mainoffice@cristoreymilwaukee.org.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1)  mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

author: Cristo Rey Jesuit Milwaukee High School


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Post from Community: Nō Studios announces PhotoMKE call for artists | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Nō Studios
July 14, 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.
WHAT: Nō Studios today announced a call for photographers to be featured in its first annual PhotoMKE festival in early September. Nō Studios PhotoMKE will activate six Milwaukee neighborhoods – Clarke Square, Harambee, Layton Boulevard, Lindsay Heights, Metcalfe Park and Muskego Way – with outdoor photo galleries. The galleries will feature photography from residents representing what love, beauty, resilience and happiness looks like to them, where they live. By inviting locals to reclaim and represent their communities through visual art, Nō Studios PhotoMKE aspires to affirm the value of these Milwaukee neighborhoods through the lens of those who live there.
WHEN: Photo submissions are due July 31.
HOW: For information on how to submit a photo, visit https://www.nostudios.com/photomke. Photographs should be uploaded digitally at 300 dpi and include the story behind the image. Nō Studios will host a virtual real time Q+A Monday, July 19 at 6 p.m. to answer questions about the submission process.
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DETAILS: Photographs must represent one of the six participating neighborhoods. They can be new or existing images covering a variety of subjects, including but not limited to buildings/architecture, people, objects, historical landmarks, elder statesmen, or an event/moment. Eight photos will be selected to represent each neighborhood by community leaders and MIAD faculty. Winners will receive a $300 stipend, along with 50% off rental equipment from MKE Production rentals.
Artistic support for Nō Studios PhotoMKE has been provided by True Skool and MIAD.
ABOUT NŌ STUDIOS
Founded by Academy Award winner and Wisconsin native John Ridley, Nō Studios is both a member-driven physical space based in Milwaukee as well as a digital platform geared toward artists and art lovers. Nō Studios is dedicated to supporting talent, elevating artists, and most importantly to bridging communities through the shared appreciation of interpersonal expression. www.nostudios.com

author: Nō Studios


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NNS Spotlight: ‘Sisterhood is key’: Daughters of Tradition offers a safe space for Indigenous girls | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
July 15, 2021
During the summer, Daughters of Tradition gather weekly at the HIR Wellness Institute. This summer, the girls are working on a podcast. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
When Danii Delgado, 13, feels stressed, she does meditation exercises such as flower hands and square breathing. She learned the practices last spring after joining Daughters of Tradition.
“My mom had been looking for us to do after-school activities and she found Daughters of Tradition,” Danii said. “She said, ‘This will be good for you and your sisters.’”
Daughters of Tradition began in 2017 under the HIR Wellness Institute, 3136 W. Kilbourn Ave. The intergenerational group is a sacred space for Indigenous girls ages 3 to 18 where they can share their stories, learn about their cultures and create lasting bonds while promoting social justice.
Through conversation, beading, painting, storytelling and more, participants learn the Ojibwe Grandfather Seven Sacred Teachings of love, respect, humility, honesty, truth, wisdom and courage.
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Currently, Daughters of Tradition has 25 members. It consists of little sisters, big sisters, mentors and ambassadors. During the school year, the group meets on Mondays after school, but during the summer it meets during the day.
Lea Denny, the CEO, founder and clinical director of HIR Wellness Institute, wanted to give Indigenous girls a seat at the table, where they could advocate for themselves and feel empowered.
“When you offer the medicine that is within you to others, it is a gift,” Denny said.
Lea Denny, the CEO and founder of HIR Wellness Institute, says Daughters of Tradition is about empowering Indigenous girls by giving them a voice. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
Everybody has the skills and capacity to take care of each other when the community prioritizes the individual, she said. The group’s healing circles offer an opportunity for participants to express themselves and for the others to show support.
The intergenerational model is key to the group’s success. People learn through mentorship and modeling, Denny said. The little ones go from running around to joining the circle and eventually leading it, she said, while the older ones realize the responsibility they have to the younger ones.
“We work with the girls on building their voice and their empowerment,” Denny said. “The girls learn that their decisions matter; that their ability to make decisions for the whole and to do it collectively starts when they’re three, when they start talking.”
Asia Banda, 11, joined the group for the sisterhood aspect.
“My dad thought it was good for us because I’m the only girl in the house,” Asia said.
“Sisterhood is key in building those positive relationships and for building ourselves,” Malia Chow, a community healer and advocate, said.
Chow officially joined the HIR Wellness Institute two years ago after being a longtime volunteer.
“I think the group is mandatory for the community for Indigenous survival,” Chow said. “I think for all people to survive and thrive, we are going to have to mainstream Indigenous principles and norms.”
Children will make more of an impact than adults, she said.
Ribbon skirts represent tradition, Elena Romo says, and are an important part of Indigenous culture. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
Elena Romo, 14, who has been with the group since it started, enjoys the traditional activities such as beading and making dreamcatchers. Her mom thought it would be good for Elena to join the Daughters of Tradition and learn more about her tribe, the Menominee.
“This group helps me a lot,” Elena said. “Even though I’m going through hard times, sometimes, when I come to this group it helps me to forget about the hard times and make good times.”
“Any of the activities we do, we will bring in a cultural piece,” Chow said. “We’ve done corn husk dolls, which you find that throughout many First Nations tribes and groups of people, and we’ve done lei making, which has a lot of cultural implications in Hawaiian cultures.”
In June, the girls painted rainbows. Rainbows represent Pride Month, Chow said, and in Native Hawaiian culture, they are viewed as pathways to divine spiritual or ancestral guardians.
The group recently started a podcast, “N8V-T,” to help raise funds for a trip to Washington D.C., where the girls hope to meet with national leaders and advocacy groups.
This summer, the girls are interviewing community leaders, and the episodes will air this fall. The outcome is multifold: The girls connect with community advocates and learn the history and tradition of their ancestors while memorializing it.
“If we think about the whole,” Denny said. “And we come together, and we hold space together, and we know it’s not just about me and my story, but it’s about our story. Then we start to take care of each other differently and see each other differently.”

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 14, 2021


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Post from Community: Milwaukee area’s largest used book sale turns books into food | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Hunger Task Force
July 15, 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.
For the 40 year, All Saints’ Cathedral, the home of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee, is hosting its’ annual Great Hunger Book Sale. The book sale has raised more than half-a-million dollars over 39 years, providing support to 19 local, national, and international programs that provide food for the hungry. The sale expects to raise another $20,000 this year.
“Hunger remains a major issue for many children and families in Milwaukee,” said Suzanne Cornell, coordinator of the book sale. “All of our books are donated by Milwaukee area residents who want to stop hunger and provide food for everyone in our community. Working with our partner food agencies, we are all making a difference.”
The Hunger Book Sale takes place from Friday, August 6 through Tuesday, August 10, at All Saints’ Cathederal, 818 East Juneau Ave., Milwaukee WI 53202. There is a special opening night on Thursday, August 5 from 6 – 9 p.m. For a donation of $5, book lovers will have the first opportunity to view and purchase more than 50,000 books from a variety of categories including cookbooks, fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, poetry, foreign language, and religious. Some rare and collectible books are also available in addition to CD’s, audio books and DVD’s.
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There is no admission fee August 6 – 10 and it is open from 11 am – 6 pm. A book discount coupon – valid for August 6 and 7 only – can be found on the All Saints’ website.
Organizations benefiting from The Great Hunger Book Sale include The Gathering, St. Benedict’s Community Meal, Hunger Task Force, Interchange Food Pantries, Salvation Army Summer Lunch, Sojourner Truth House, St. John’s Cathederal Open Door Café, Feeding America, The Episcopal Relief Fund, and other local, national and international organizations with food as part of their mission.
Due to Covid, the Book Sale was cancelled last year but books and donations were still collected and stored.  This year will be an even bigger event with 2 years of books for sale.

author: Hunger Task Force