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MPS defends decision to keep schools open despite storm | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
January 23, 2019
A student makes her way toward South Division High School, 1515 W. Lapham Blvd., at about 10 a.m. Wednesday. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
It would be safe to say that many parents reached for their phones first thing Wednesday morning to check whether the Milwaukee Public School district, which serve more than 75,000 students, would be closed due to inclement weather.
Judging by the reactions of hundreds who commented on a post on the district’s Facebook page announcing that schools would be open, most were not happy. Among them was Sheila Martinez, whose children take a school bus to U.S. Grant School, 2920 W. Grant St.
“I didn’t want to put my children’s life in the hands of a school bus driver in such bad condition that the roads were in this morning. I felt like it was bad judgment by the school district to stay open,” said Martinez, who decided to keep her kids home.
The post garnered more than 700 comments, most of which were from upset parents, who questioned why MPS was open when most of the surrounding school districts were closed.
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“Get on the same page as the rest of the county,” wrote one person.
Even a few individuals who identified themselves as MPS teachers shared their frustration on Facebook.
“As an MPS parent and teacher, I disagree with this decision. My children will be home today and I will get to work when I get to work,” wrote one frustrated educator.
Many surrounding school districts, including West Allis/West Milwaukee, Brown Deer, Wauwatosa and Menomonee Falls were closed, as well as most of the local private schools. MPS spokesperson Andy Nelson issued the following statement regarding the district’s decision to keep schools open.
“The decision to close or remain open due to weather is never an easy one.  The primary focus is always the safety and well-being of our students and staff.  This decision was made by MPS administration in consultation with surrounding school districts, the Department of Public Works and Milwaukee County Transit System.
“Decisions on possible closures are not made lightly and MPS takes into account how this may affect all children, families and staff.  MPS respects the decision of families to keep their children at home due to the weather.  We ask that families call their school to inform them of the decision.”
Road conditions were sloppy and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation issued warnings to drivers about the hazardous conditions, which were expected to affect the evening commute. A few teachers, who chose not to be identified, said class attendance was sparse Wednesday, and that some students riding buses arrived hours late.
Joe Jeanguenat, terminal manager at Dairyland Buses, said his company serves about 145 MPS schools and confirmed there were delays.
“Most [buses] were running behind schedule, some more severely than others, but some were running on time,” he said.
He added that some bus drivers didn’t show up to work and that the roads were slick, but that they managed.
Not everyone was upset that MPS stayed open. Jamie Berta Gilane said Wisconsinites should be used to snow and prepared to handle it.
“We get this weather on a yearly basis. The snow isn’t deep and how can we prepare our children how to survive in this weather, walk, drive or anything if we keep them out of it,” she said.
Tatiana Joseph, a former MPS school board member and professor of Curriculum and Instruction at UW-Milwaukee, was among those who defended the decision to stay open.
“MPS is more than just a school district; it is also a safe haven for many families who are experiencing difficult circumstances … and a daily meal. Maintaining the district open gives parents the opportunity to decide what is best for their children, based on their circumstances,” said Joseph, a mother of three.
Though the brunt of the current storm seemed to pass by mid-afternoon, temperatures are expected to dip into the single digits Friday with the lowest wind chill readings in the minus 19-29 range, according to the National Weather Service. Parents, educators and others, including Robyn Krimke, will be keeping a close watch to see if MPS is open that day.
“Maybe they opened today thinking there is a possibility of closing Friday because of the bitter cold?” Krimke said.


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39889358013_7b654d664e_b | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
January 23, 2019

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: January 23, 2019

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

author: Dwayne Burtin


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 23, 2019

author: Adam Carr


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Nine tips for safe winter driving | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office
January 23, 2019
The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office offers the following tips for safe driving in winter conditions:
1.Remember that excessive speed and following too close contribute to crashes in winter weather. Reduce your speed to match road conditions. Double or even triple your following distance: instead of keeping two car lengths between you and the car in front of you, maintain a following distance of four or even six car lengths.
2. Wear your seatbelt. It’s the law.
3. Make sure that your headlights are on.
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4. Slow down and prepare to stop. When stopping your vehicle, don’t wait until the last possible second. Four-wheel drive may help get your vehicle moving, but it doesn’t help you slow down or stop.
5. If you are in a ditch: Turn on your hazard lights, remain in your vehicle, and call 911.
6. If you are in a crash and your vehicle is still drivable: drive off the freeway to the nearest available exit. Once you have removed your vehicle from the freeway, call 911 or MCSO’s non-emergency number, 414-278-4788.
7. If you are in a crash and your vehicle is not movable, or you are injured, turn on your hazard lights, remain in your vehicle with your seatbelt on, and call 911. You may self-report a crash using our online reporting system within 24 hours of the incident. Go to mkesheriff.org and, under the Quick Links header, click “Report a Crash or Accident.”
8. Remember to move over for emergency personnel: The Move Over Law requires all drivers to move over or slow down for emergency vehicles and personnel working on the freeway.
9. Be aware that all disabled vehicles must be towed during snow conditions.

author: Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 22, 2019

created: January 22, 2019


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‘The Color of Law’ event spurs school curriculum effort | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
January 23, 2019
The curriculum on the government’s role in segregation will be designed for middle and high schools students such as these at Carmen High School of Science and Technology South Campus. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
When organizers invited author Richard Rothstein to Milwaukee to speak about his book, “The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America,” they hoped that the presentation would lead to action. At the conclusion of the October event, they asked attendees to vote on which of 13 proposals they would like to see implemented.
The 183 attendees who responded voted overwhelmingly for creating a curriculum to teach middle and high school-age children the history that Rothstein laid out, said Kori Schneider-Peragine of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council, which sponsored Rothstein’s appearance along with LISC Milwaukee, AFT Local 212 and MATC.
Some other potential actions listed on the ballot (in order of votes received) included: an exclusionary zoning ban; inclusionary zoning; and creating affordable housing units with the development of market–rate units.
Schneider-Peragine noted that almost everyone who voted said they were willing to work on some of these initiatives.
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Three people, all of whom are white, contacted Schneider-Peragine to volunteer to lead the effort to create a school curriculum that teaches the history of deliberate segregation.
Glendale resident Heidi Erstad said she has worked in education for more than 30 years as a teacher, curriculum director and consultant.
(From left) Jarrett English, a community organizer, and Reggie Jackson, head griot at America’s Black Holocaust Museum, lead a panel discussion with author Richard Rothstein following his presentation on Oct. 16. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
Erstad, together with volunteers Steve Miner, assessment commissioner of the City of Milwaukee, and Steve Schaffer, an archivist at the Milwaukee County Historical Society, are still in the early stages of the project, Erstad said.
They have just begun to define “the scope and shape of (the curriculum) so that we can more clearly describe it” when others who signed up to work on this initiative join in, Erstad said. They are investigating what materials are available to help them localize ‘The Color of Law” in an engaging way for middle and high school students, she said.
Among their early efforts are preliminary discussions with people who have primary resources or deep knowledge of the history of segregated housing in Milwaukee, according to Erstad. Those include Reggie Jackson, head griot at America’s Black Holocaust Museum and librarians from Milwaukee Public Library.
Erstad, Miner and Schaffer are also investigating instructional frameworks, such as Teaching Tolerance’s “Teaching Hard History: American Slavery,” that might be useful in designing teaching materials. Teaching Tolerance is a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center whose mission is to prevent the growth of hate. It develops materials for educators and offers educator grants.
Erstad said she volunteered to work on the project because she feels she needs to help make amends for hypocrisy and omissions in the way the country’s racialized history is taught. “I’m … disturbed by my own complicity in furthering half-truths and mistruths as an educator and throughout the majority of my adulthood,” Erstad said.
“This book, in particular, revealed the active role of government, across all levels, in creating enormous economic benefits for its white citizens on the backs of its black citizens,” she said.
Schaffer said he has always been interested in race in the U.S. but, like many Northerners, he thought racial segregation was only practiced in the South. After forming a group of archivists to participate in the “community-wide book read” of “The Color of Law,” he realized his mistake.
“Rothstein’s book is a real slap in the face for people like me,” who believed Milwaukee was different, Schaffer said.
He plans to research pertinent documents and other resources at the Historical Society and, with Erstad and Miner, figure out how to incorporate them in school curricula.
Schaffer also said he is particularly interested in making the Historical Society more relevant to all Milwaukeeans. Rather than engaging only those who want to look back on the city’s history nostalgically, he hopes to show “some of the hard history” and engage minority residents who also have a history in Milwaukee.
Rothstein has continued to be involved in the response to his book and his presentation in Milwaukee, checking in and connecting volunteers to people working on related initiatives in other cities, Schneider-Peragine added.
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Fair Housing Council has no staff or funding to pursue follow-up initiatives to “The Color of Law” event, according to Schneider-Peragine. However, she said the staff decided that “when you have people motivated and ready to be engaged … it’s a really beautiful thing” and they want to cultivate that to the extent that they can.

author: Andrea Waxman


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Artwork representing river deities beautifies parkway along KK River | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sue Vliet
January 24, 2019
Exciting things are happening on an otherwise ordinary section of parkway along the Kinnickinnic River in Pulaski Park.
Gabriela Riveros, a Milwaukee-based illustrator, has created an art installation through the Watermarks project, a collaboration among three long-time partners — Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and KK River Neighbors in Action — as well as Haggerty Museum of Art.
Riveros, who grew up in Milwaukee and attended the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, teamed up with Patrick Elliott, project manager at MMSD, to implement the project. Elliott is overseeing part of the KK River revitalization. MMSD is replacing the river’s concrete banks with a wider, more natural channel to considerably lower flood risks and enhance the river’s environment.
The public art installation will be up for five years, during the revitalization project. Riveros’ art installation was chosen by KK neighbors at a community event. Riveros said she enjoys working with mythology and cultural identity, and wanted to represent the neighborhood through illustrations of river deities. As different immigrants moved into the neighborhood throughout Milwaukee history, they brought their river gods with them. With the installation, they live together and protect the river, she said.
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Riveros said she is thrilled that the Sixteenth Street community was so receptive to her ideas. “As a Latina artist, representing a mostly Latino neighborhood with my art feels good,” she added.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article inadvertently omitted KK River Neighbors in Action. We apologize for the error.

created: January 24, 2019

author: Sue Vliet


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CORE El Centro focuses on healing from the inside out | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
January 24, 2019
CORE El Centro clients sit in a yoga pose during a recent class. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Editor’s note: This article is one of an occasional series profiling the 12 finalists for the Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDIs). CORE El Centro is a finalist for the BMO Harris Cornerstone Award, which recognizes commitment and effectiveness over time.
Often, when clients show up at CORE El Centro, a Walker’s Point nonprofit that provides natural healing and wellness services, they arrive wounded, according to Rosa Veloz, a health navigator for the organization.
Sometimes they’re struggling with physical ailments, but they also could be suffering from the effects of domestic or sexual violence, depression, isolation or other psychological or personal issues. The trauma they’ve suffered keeps the body and spirit from mending, and the chakras — focal points in the body used in different forms of meditation — from churning positive energy, Veloz said.
“Trauma or even something like not having food in the house can keep someone from being active or seeking help for problems they are having,” Veloz said in Spanish.
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A health navigator’s role is to identify those obstacles and help clients address them so the natural healing services the center offers can be more effective, said Veloz, who first became involved with the organization 10 years ago. As a survivor of sexual abuse, Veloz said she understands the importance of providing an integrative health approach that addresses a wide range of needs. She credits CORE El Centro with providing her the tools to begin her healing process, and empowering her to help others improve their lives.
Madeline Gianforte, executive director of CORE El Centro, said traditional western health systems such as hospitals are not always equipped to take a multi-faceted approach.
“You go see a doctor and in 15 minutes you’re done,” Gianforte said.
Madeline Gianforte, executive director of CORE El Centro, co-founded the organization in 2002. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
She said that many ailments can be treated naturally. But those treatments, and sometimes traditional health care, are not accessible to everyone, which is why she knew there was a need for CORE El Centro.
Perhaps it was fate that Gianforte met co-executive director Jayne Ader, who had a similar vision. Supported by a grant from the Sisters of St. Agnes, the women founded CORE El Centro in 2002. The organization was considered almost radical at the time, according to Gianforte. It started out humbly in a small space at the former Esperanza Unida building at 611 W. National Ave.
“We had two tables, a few chairs and a phone line,” said a smiling Gianforte, describing the original headquarters.
CORE served 60 people and provided 600 hours of service that first year. The natural healing center moved to its current “green” headquarters, which features a rooftop garden, in 2012.  Last year the organization served 5,000 people and provided 21,000 hours of service, according to Gianforte.
Among the services it provides are acupuncture, therapeutic massage, movement, yoga and dance classes, including one for individuals with special needs, as well as the “Thriving with Cancer” program. CORE has a paid staff of 24, and many of its services are provided by professional volunteers. These volunteers, including massage therapists, interpreters and bodywork practitioners, donated $500,000 worth of services last year, according to Gianforte. The majority of clients, most of whom are low-income and pay on a sliding fee scale, are Hispanic, which is reflective of the surrounding community, Gianforte said.
The needs of the Hispanic clientele are increasing, according to Maria Miramontes, also a health navigator.
“Many are fearful of deportation and the future of their kids, or maybe they don’t have insurance to go to the doctor,” Miramontes said.
CORE has responded to changing needs by expanding its services. One of the additions is a Children’s Wellness Program, which includes activities such as ballet, yoga and capoeira (a type of martial arts), as well as camp in the summer.
Services are available to individuals of all ages, and families of clients are encouraged to become involved as well, Miramontes said.
“It’s always better to involve the family because that’s more support for the individual and then they all can heal together,” she said. The health navigators are tasked with suggesting natural healing treatments that could benefit clients, she added.
Marilu Luna came to the center because the medications and treatments her chiropractor and other doctors prescribed were not reducing the pain she felt in her neck and shoulders.
“I couldn’t even hold my purse,” Luna said.
Health navigators recommended acupuncture and massage therapy. After three weeks, her pain was gone, she said.
She’s no longer taking medication, and is still receiving treatment at CORE to keep the pain from returning, she said.
“If I hadn’t come I don’t know where I would be. I was feeling depressed about the situation but am much happier now,” Luna said.
Her story is common at the center, according to Gianforte, who believes that natural healing will become even more commonplace in the coming years.
“The type of work we’re doing here is the future of medicine,” she said.

author: Edgar Mendez


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Youth shoveling program details to be shared during news conference | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Cavalier Johnson
January 24, 2019
Alderman Cavalier Johnson is announcing Project Andrew, a new youth snow shoveling program named in honor of late Milwaukee crossing guard Andrew Tyler.
Alderman Johnson said the Department of Public Works (DPW) and Milwaukee Community Service Corps (MCSC) are employing 15 Milwaukee youths with paid snow shoveling assignments during this winter season as part of Project Andrew. He said the young people will assist Milwaukee residents in their neighborhood who have been verified by DPW as having disabilities or other impediments that prevent them from shoveling their own sidewalk.
“Andrew Tyler (who passed away late in 2017 from injuries he received in a hit- and-run incident while he was helping students cross near Kluge School) displayed his commitment to service and safety every day, and it is fitting to remember him with this program to serve residents who truly need help,” Alderman Johnson said.
“This is a great opportunity for young Milwaukeeans youth to help the community, be physically active and earn a fair wage. I encourage all young people to apply,” he said.
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A group of young people who have applied to take part in the program are expected to join Alderman Johnson during tomorrow’s news conference.
Milwaukee residents who are between 15-20 years of age are able to apply for the shoveling positions. Residents interested in having a Project Andrew participant shovel their sidewalk should email sanitation@milwaukee.gov or call 414-286-CITY(2489).
Shovelers will be assigned to such properties within approximately a five-block radius of their home. MCSC will take applications, assign youth participants to hardship properties, supervise their work, and ensure the youths are safe while working. The salary is $2.75 per sidewalk segment, or approximately $11.00 an hour.
Interested participants should contact Milwaukee Community Service Corps for an application at: Milwaukee Community Service Corps 1441 N.7th St, Milwaukee, WI 53203. Or contact Mike Consiglio at 414-372-9040. Email: mconsiglio@mcscwi.org.

author: Ald. Cavalier Johnson


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Historic designation for Washington Park sparks spirited conversation on public land use | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Analise Pruni
January 25, 2019
Snow covers the lagoon behind the Urban Ecology Center in Washington Park. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
While strolling through the rolling vistas that wind throughout Washington Park, one might encounter people kayaking on the lagoon, attending a nature class or viewing the abundant wildlife such as warblers nesting in tree groves during an early morning bird walk.
A lesser-known aspect of the park is that it was designed in the late 1890s by renowned American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, whose parks have historic designations in cities around the nation, including Milwaukee’s Lake Park on Lake Michigan.
A proposal to secure a permanent historic designation for Washington Park has evolved from what Ken Leinbach, executive director of the Urban Ecology Center (UEC), initially called “an awkward situation,” into a conversation about how public land should be used.
UEC, a nonprofit that serves neighborhood schools and community members with a wide variety of programs and activities, opened its facility within the park in 2007. During the past two years, UEC and District 5 County Supervisor Marcelia Nicholson organized a series of public community meetings with neighborhood residents to discuss UEC’s plans to invest in the park.
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“We’re a community organization and we’re a transparent organization so we sought community input in terms of … what we do…in Washington Park,” Leinbach said.
In July, county supervisors tentatively approved the terms for a 25-year lease that allows UEC to expand its existing building — originally a boathouse — at 1859 N. 40 St. UEC is leasing the building and the land beneath it.
The Urban Ecology Center in Washington Park plans to expand its building to serve more community members. (Photo by Analise Pruni)
The lease terms include two automatic renewals, as long as both parties are in compliance. UEC intends to raise $12 million to renovate and expand the building, and $2 million for other improvements such as repairing the lagoon footbridge and building a new parking lot, according to a news release from Nicholson.
Terry Evans, UEC branch manager at Washington Park, noted that the boathouse building is not just for UEC; “it’s a building for the community.” Expanding it would allow UEC to increase the number of schools it works with from 14-16 to close to 40, he said.
The proposal to designate Washington Park a historic site was submitted by Dr. Michael Carriere, an urban historian and Washington Heights resident, to the Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) in December.
He said he wants the historic designation to honor Olmsted’s vision for the park, create guidelines for organizations investing in the park and potentially leverage funds.
If the park is granted permanent historic status under the 42-page set of guidelines developed by the Historic Preservation Commission, UEC may have to alter its plans.
UEC representatives said at the initial HPC meeting in December that they were concerned the language in the proposal would prohibit them from expanding the boathouse building. The guidelines set limitations on the height and “footprint” of expanded structures.
Carriere said he worries about the park’s future if it continues to lack a historic designation because the County Parks System has publicly stated that it does not have enough money to maintain it.
“I’m not suggesting that historic designation is a silver bullet,” Carriere said. “But it does provide some stability for a park and it also can be used as a fundraising mechanism.”
Urban historian Michael Carriere has proposed that Washington Park, designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, be approved for a permanent historic designation. (Photo by Analise Pruni)
An article by Carriere published by Urban Milwaukee in August questioned the county’s decision to “cede” land to UEC “for redevelopment without any stated intent to retain existing elements of Olmsted’s design.” However, Leinbach said the article included misinformation; specifically that the county was ceding land to UEC, and that UEC was carrying out its plans without public oversight.
“The [county] park isn’t giving us any land,” Leinbach said, adding, “We don’t do anything without approval and public oversight.”
“I love Urban Ecology Center,” Carriere said. “My intent was never to stop UEC’s efforts in Washington Park.” However, he said the terms of the lease were “very open ended, and my concern was that it would become a template for other potential groups to offer partnerships with the park system and do things that may not be as nice.”
Ald. Russell Stamper, whose district includes the park, said he began receiving calls from residents expressing the desire for a historic designation about four months ago, including from Carriere, the Historic Preservation Commission and others.
He added that UEC has been an asset to the community, especially with youth in the summer. “They [UEC] want to upgrade and make it better, but we want to make sure that we respect [all] the residents,” Stamper said.
According to Leinbach, UEC staff walked Carriere through the park and explained the plans to expand the boathouse facility, implement a land restoration plan to restore natural species and fix the footbridge over the lagoon.
“I wanted to make sure that the history of the park was present during all of these discussions,” Carriere said. “That doesn’t mean that I think UEC disparages that history. I’m talking with them now about ways we can do this collectively.”
Retired social worker Mike Howden has lived with his wife across from Washington Park for 50 years and calls the neglected park paths and bridges “break-a-leg walkways.” He said he has been involved in neighborhood organizations, including Washington Park Partners. Despite his commitment to the park, he said that he, like some other residents, does not know what a historic designation would mean and to what extent it would limit UEC’s plans.
“I know some of the people who are historians and history buffs on the Olmsted Parks and I can certainly agree with them and a lot of what they do,” Howden said. “But it would be very sad if the UEC would leave because they couldn’t come to terms.”
Dave Boucher, who has lived in Walnut Hill, an adjacent neighborhood, for more than 20 years and has a degree from UWM in urban studies, sent a letter to the preservation commission supporting the designation. He also served on the Steering Committee for the “Washington Park Revitalization Plan” in 2000. He said many of the goals to improve the park haven’t changed in the last 19 years.
Boucher raised concerns about the potential consequences of UEC’s land management plan to restore some of the natural species. He said that changing the original “low-maintenance landscaping,” may invite invasive species such as buckthorn, nightshade or garlic mustard to take over. UEC has “naturalized” eight acres of land and the new county-approved restoration plan would add 12 acres.
According to Evans, “We want to keep that Olmsted feel, but we also want to bring back a lot of the natural insects and plants, that are no longer there due to man.”
Leinbach noted that the 20 acres managed by UEC make up less than one-fifth of the park.
Leinbach, Nicholson and County Executive Chris Abele, among others, initially wrote strong letters of opposition to the historic designation. However, Leinbach now says, “We would like to be able to support this [historic designation] concept because we are proponents of Frederick Olmsted; because we feel like we’ve been honoring his work.”
The preservation commission has postponed making a decision so that all parties can collectively discuss the best way to balance the historic, social and ecological aspects of the urban public space.
“It’s very exciting what’s happening now because there is a means by which it is possible to have communications instead of just setting up battle lines,” Boucher said.
The fact that Washington Park meets the requirements for permanent historic designation is uncontested among all parties.
“Under our ordinance, if one or more of the criteria for historic designation are met, this commission has essentially no choice but to grant historic designation,” said Ald. Robert Bauman, chair of the HPC. The decision would then go to the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee and ultimately to the Common Council, which has a broader set of criteria by which to examine historic designation, Bauman added.
Sarah Toomsen, manager of planning and development at Milwaukee County Parks, added that the park system is willing to work cooperatively with UEC and supporters of the historic designation to create guidelines for plans in Washington Park.
Evans said that community members want to see UEC’s work move forward. “Maybe we just need to set up those guidelines together as a group and then move forward: Mr. Carriere, the county, the city and UEC.”
According to Leinbach, UEC is looking for the best way to make Washington Park “sing in a way that it accomplishes both social and ecological good and honors the history: the whole history.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect that the 42-page set of guidelines was developed by the Historic Preservation Commission, not by Michael Carriere. We apologize for the error.

created: January 25, 2019

author: Analise Pruni


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 24, 2019


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How College Possible coach honors Dr. King | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Tia Powell
January 25, 2019
(Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
Tia Powell, a graduate of Aurora University who is currently completing a term of service with AmeriCorps as a College Possible coach, explains why she chose to join AmeriCorps.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” This quote speaks to the reason I chose to sign up for a term of service with AmeriCorps.
When I was a junior at Hamilton High School I started in a program called College Possible. I wanted to go to college but didn’t really think I could do it. I was smart but not motivated. My College Possible coach saw that darkness in me and transformed it into light. She pushed me and made me believe that I could go to college. She gave me light but also showed me love. When I finally graduated college, I decided that I wanted to give back to the organization that helped me. I felt like I owed them my life. I too wanted to be that light. I want to make an impact in the lives of my students.
When I first started working at College Possible, I had my pick of any position: working with high school students, planning events or supporting students in college. I chose to become a college coach. In this role, I check in with students and help them with anything that might get in the way of their continuing college. I also reach out to students who have left college to see if they want to go back to school and if they need help to do so.
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I chose the position because I believe a college coach is like a candle; a light that is there when you need it. I was wrong though. A college coach’s light is bigger than a candle, more like a light post. A college coach is a light that is bright and guides students through the darkness.
What I have also come to realize is that even though I picked the position of college coach, that is not all I am limited to. This is best described by one of College Possible’s guiding principles, the idea of “striving to be delightful.” This means we go above and beyond, in the name of being delightful and working to solve problems.
As a college coach I help college students, but it is also part of my job to substitute for high school coaches if someone is out sick. We are involved in recruiting new students into the program. We lead talks to eighth graders and freshmen on the importance of college. We also help out in the community.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day all of us went out into the community and served our community. A day of service to me is the definition of striving to be delightful. We are all taking the day off and giving back. We are in public showing how delightful we can truly be. Apart we are not as bright, but together we are the bright light that drives out the darkness.

author: Tia Powell


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 25, 2019


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TOMORROW: Attend the MKE Business Now Entrepreneurship Summit | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Milele A. Coggs
January 25, 2019
The MKE Business Now Entrepreneurship Summit, a FREE showcase of resources available to help launch Milwaukee’s next great business ventures and an opportunity to connect with established local professionals, takes place TOMORROW – Saturday, January 26th at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School, 3275 N. 3rd St.
This event, sponsored by Milwaukee Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, the City of Milwaukee, the Historic King Drive BID #8, and U.S. Bank, runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Vendors and organizations will showcase the resources they can provide to local entrepreneurs, including workshops that begin at 10:30 a.m. and a panel discussion scheduled for 1:00 p.m. All parts of the event are free and open to the public.
“Ideas and vision can help transform a city, and we know that ambitious Milwaukee entrepreneurs are eager to move our city forward,” Alderwoman Coggs said. “It is my hope that the MKE Business Now Summit can connect our entrepreneurs with the resources they need to thrive.”
The summit’s feature event is a panel discussion from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. moderated by Andrea Williams of Jammin’ 98.3. Panelists include Tiffany Miller (owner, FlyBlooms and The Bronzeville Collective), Terrelle Harris (owner, Words & Images – Milwaukee State of Mind), Johnathan Dye (owner, Mr. Dye’s Pies), Nick Robinson (owner, Dream Builders, LLC), Joanna Brooks (owner, Embody YOGA), and Trueman McGee (founder, Funky Fresh Spring Rolls).
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Four workshops begin the summit: “Options for Business Financing” at 10:30 a.m. presented by U.S. Bank and the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC); “Navigating the Tech Space” at 11:15 a.m. presented by Khalif & Que El-Amin, owners of Young Enterprising Society; “Grants, Contracts, and More…” at 11:15 a.m. presented by the Office of Small Business Development, LISC, and the Department of City Development; and “Followers, Fans, and Funds: The $ Impact of Social Media IRL” at 12:00 p.m., presented by Ebony Ssali, owner of Ssali Media Group.
Additionally, staff members from the following organizations will be on hand to answer questions including:

author: Ald. Milele A. Coggs


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MLK Day breakfast brings together Milwaukee leaders to celebrate Dr. King | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Cynthia Crawford
January 26, 2019
Monique Ross and Chauntee Ross of SistaStrings perform the black national anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” (Photo by Cynthia Crawford)
Live music, award presentations and spoken-word performances were all a part of the 22nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration breakfast sponsored by the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee.
The event’s theme was based on a quote from King: “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
About 700 community leaders, elected officials and students filled the ballroom of the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., on Jan. 21. Mayor Tom Barrett, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and County Executive Chris Abele were among the officials in attendance.
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Emcees Judge Derek Mosley and Mary Panzer, president of Panzer Consulting, said they were proud that Milwaukee sees MLK Day as an “on day” instead of an “off day.”
“When we work together in unison, we move our communities, our neighborhoods and ourselves to a better place,” said Chief Judge Maxine White of Wisconsin’s 1st Judicial District.
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes speaks to guests about how Milwaukee can improve opportunities for young African-Americans. (Photo by Cynthia Crawford)
“Today we are all here in Dr. King’s spirit,” said White. “We must work together to grow our strong community and make it stronger.”
Barrett, Abele and other speakers reflected on King’s legacy. They called for change and progress toward a more inclusive Milwaukee.
“Wisconsin has a lot of statistics and numbers and outcomes that we shouldn’t be proud of,” Abele said.
“Dr. King reiterated that the most effective way to make change is to lead with love.”
The three winners of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Spoken-Word contest sponsored by Northwestern Mutual passionately performed their pieces.
Tyrone Morris, 12, told the audience, “We must prove our love to each other through our actions and words. We must prove our commitment through peace and justice and the way that we serve.”
Tyrone is a seventh-grade student at St. Catherine Catholic Elementary School, 2647 N. 51st St.
Barnes, the first African-American lieutenant governor in Wisconsin, spoke about King’s fight against segregation. Milwaukee is often cited as one of the most segregated cities in the United States.
“We want to change not only what is possible, but what is expected here in the city of Milwaukee,” said Barnes.
Ronald Perez, interim dean of the UWM Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, accepted the “Healthy Living” award given by GE Healthcare. Reggie Moore, director of the Milwaukee Health Department Office of Violence Prevention, accepted an award for social responsibility from Potawatomi Hotel & Casino.
“After we leave here we set off and do projects in the city to make this a better place for everyone who lives here — what Dr. King would want us to do,” Mosley said as the event ended.

created: January 26, 2019

author: Cynthia Crawford


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 26, 2019
“MLK Audio_cc_final”. Released: 2019.


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Milwaukee County reveals potential locations for youth secure residential facility | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Allison Dikanovic
January 28, 2019
Gwendolyn Bivins, a middle school teacher and Milwaukee County resident, listens to the county’s presentation on its newly proposed youth secure residential facility.
Milwaukee County will open a new secure residential facility for youth on the far northwest side of the city in the Havenwoods neighborhood after Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake close in 2021.
Representatives from the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services announced the potential sites for the new facility — 6101 W. Mill Road or 6600 N. Teutonia Ave. —  at a community meeting Thursday at St. Peter-Immanuel Lutheran Church, 7801 W. Acacia St.
Act 185, the state bill that will close Wisconsin’s youth prisons by 2021, mandates that Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake be replaced with a smaller state-run facility for those in the Serious Juvenile Offender (SJO) program, as well as with smaller regional facilities throughout the state that will be run by counties for youth with less serious offenses.
A regional facility run by Milwaukee County will be built and located at one of the two Havenwoods sites. The county considered renovating the existing Vel R. Phillips Youth Detention Center, but leaders concluded that it would be more expensive than building a new facility that better accommodates its needs. The two potential sites are now home to a parking lot and an open field.
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The state-run facility also may be located in Milwaukee, according to recommendations submitted to the state Department of Corrections by the Juvenile Corrections Study Committee, but state officials have not made a final decision.
Milwaukee County officials said they are taking this opportunity to create a new model for youth justice in Milwaukee that is intended to reduce recidivism and promote positive outcomes for youth while maintaining neighborhood safety.
“These are our children,” said Joe Donald, presiding judge of Milwaukee County Children’s Court. “We want to teach them to be responsible and empathetic.”
The county-run facility will be for youth who have been convicted of lower classifications of felonies such as battery or theft, and youth who have been convicted of non-felony offenses, such as petty theft, disorderly conduct or drug possession, but are still deemed to require secure placement. If the facility were to open tomorrow under these criteria, 56 Milwaukee youth who are at Lincoln Hills would be placed there.
According to Mark Mertens, administrator of the Milwaukee County Division of Youth and Family Services, the facility will emphasize youths’ reintegration into the community.
“Lincoln Hills is going away,” said Mertens. “That model is not coming to Milwaukee.”
One of the most obvious differences is the location of the facility. Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake are more than three hours away from Milwaukee. Proximity to youths’ families and existing support systems were important considerations when identifying potential locations, according to Mary Jo Meyers, director of the Department of Health and Human Services for Milwaukee County.
In addition to looking for a site within the City of Milwaukee, where most adjudicated youth come from, Mertens said the county sought a site on surplus county-owned land that was least five acres, easily accessible to public transportation and close to other community resources for youth.
David Muhammad, deputy director of the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), shows that the majority of youth from Milwaukee who are at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake live near the newly proposed facility locations.
David Muhammad, deputy director of the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), said the new facility will not look a prison and will be “homelike.” He said that county officials are considering models from places such as New York and Washington, D.C., where recidivism rates dropped dramatically in recent years.
Mertens said that there will be no use of pepper spray or solitary confinement in the county-run facility, referencing a recent report that showed the continued use of such restraints in Wisconsin’s youth prisons.
“The way that we will maintain safety is by establishing positive relationships with youth,” Mertens said.
Sumaiyah Clark, enterprise project administrator at HHS, said the facility will build these relationships through practices such as restorative justice circles, meditation, yoga and arts for healing. It will also include programs to prepare youth for the workforce.
She said the county will look to hire staff who can build relationships with youth based on common experiences and who look like the youth they are serving.
“We will be selective with hiring,” Mertens added. “It will be more of a youth development job than a corrections job.”
Mertens said the new county facility will utilize multi-systemic therapy, a form of treatment that involves a young person’s family and is individualized for each youth. The approach is being used in the new county-run residential care facility, Bakari Center.
A lot of programming and facility-related specifics are still unknown, including details about the education that will be provided and the number of beds the facility will hold.
Said Gwendolyn Bivins, a middle school teacher who lives near the proposed facility locations, “It’s not about the facility, but it’s about what the facility is going to stand for.” She said she hopes to see adequate mental health support available.
Aaron Kelly, a correctional officer at the Vel R. Phillips Youth Detention Center, said that he hopes the families of youth directly affected by the system are included in conversations about the new facility. His sister, Jasmine Kelly, said she thinks it would be good to talk to or survey incarcerated youth about what they would like to see changed.
Both of the proposed locations for the new county facility are in County Supervisor Sequanna Taylor’s district.
Taylor and other county officials said they want to hear residents’ feedback on the proposed facility. A community input session hosted by Ald. Chantia Lewis will be held on Thursday, Jan 31, at 6 p.m. at Direct Supply, 6663 Industrial Road.
Under the state legislation, Milwaukee County needs to submit a grant proposal by March 31 to receive funding from the state for the facility. Gov. Tony Evers was recently quoted saying that the state may consider pushing back the deadline, but Mertens said that Milwaukee County is advocating to maintain the current timeline.
“We want to bring our youth home from Lincoln Hills as soon as possible,” he said.

created: January 28, 2019

author: Allison Dikanovic


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 27, 2019

created: January 27, 2019


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Abele declares Winter Weather Emergency for Milwaukee County employees Wednesday and Thursday | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chris Abele, Milwaukee County Executive
January 29, 2019
Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele has declared a winter weather emergency for Milwaukee County employees from 6 p.m. tonight through 6 p.m. Thursday, based on the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Wind Chill Warning.
Pursuant to this declaration, Milwaukee County circuit courts and Milwaukee County government will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday for the safety of employees and the public. All non-essential personnel are not to report to work. At this time, Milwaukee County plans to resume normal operations Friday, Feb. 1, and all County employees will report to work as usual.
NWS is forecasting air temperatures of -10°F to -35°F, combined with 10 to 20 mph westerly breezes to produce wind chill values of -35°F to -55°F. Wind chills of this magnitude will result in a considerable risk for hypothermia and frostbite in just a few minutes on exposed skin. This is a life-threatening situation for those without proper clothing and/or shelter.
“We do not make decisions like this lightly, and we look at every possible option when we are considering closure,” said Abele. “But the fact is that the weather in the next two days creates dangerous conditions for people to be outside. We are mindful of our role as stewards of taxpayer funds, but we are also not going to risk the health and safety of our employees and the people we serve. The clear, safe choice for us is to close both Wednesday and Thursday.”
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Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is closely monitoring the weather conditions and will continue to update personnel on additional closures and hazards. OEM has been in contact with Wisconsin Emergency Management and will request state support if necessary, pursuant to Gov. Tony Evers’ executive order declaring a state of emergency for Wisconsin.
Residents are urged to check in frequently on family and neighbors. Anyone needing emergency shelter should call 211 immediately.
Courts will not be in session Wednesday and Thursday. Jurors and reserve jurors scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday are not to report; your jury service is now complete, and you cannot be called again for at least four (4) years. For additional information, visit county.milwaukee.gov/EN/Courts or call 414-985-6200.
Thursday’s meeting of the County Board of Supervisors’ Finance and Audit Committee, including the public hearing regarding inmate medical services, is rescheduled to Friday, Feb. 1, at 9 a.m. in Courthouse Room 203-R.
Residents are urged to stay off the roads, travel conditions are extremely dangerous. Salt treatments become ineffective at these bitter cold temperatures, and black ice may form. Milwaukee County Fleet Management and Highway Maintenance Staff will be on call to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) through the duration of this weather emergency. MCSO will continue to patrol freeways and County roads.
Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) buses are expected to be running, though weather-related delays may be possible depending on travel conditions. Riders are encouraged to check ridemcts.com for the latest information.
Gen. Mitchell International Airport (GMIA) remains open, with maintenance crews working around the clock to keep runways available. Travelers are encouraged to confirm arrival and departure information with their airline.
Milwaukee County will provide updates on its websites, county.milwaukee.gov and readymke.org, and social media channels.

created: January 29, 2019

author: Chris Abele, Milwaukee County Executive


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Community meeting on youth facilities POSTPONED due to weather | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Chantia Lewis
January 29, 2019
Alderwoman Chantia Lewis has POSTPONED a 9th District community meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 31 regarding a proposed State Juvenile Offender Facility at N 73rd St. and W. Mill Rd. and a proposed secure care center for youth at N. 62nd St. and W. Mill Rd. because of forecasted inclement (dangerously cold) weather.
The meeting had been scheduled to start at 6 p.m. on Thursday at Direct Supply, 6663 N. Industrial Rd. Alderwoman Lewis has indicated she will work to reschedule the community meeting and will notify constituents when a new date, time and location are secured.
Regarding the 73rd and Mill Rd. facility: As part of Act 185, the State has mandated that the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake juvenile offender facilities close by January 2021. Additionally, Milwaukee County is planning a new secure care center for youth with less- severe offenses, with at least one location in the 9th District under consideration at N. 62nd St. and W. Mill Rd.
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author: Ald. Chantia Lewis


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Lyft offering free rides to warming centers in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Lyft Milwaukee
January 29, 2019
In Milwaukee, we’re providing free rides using code WIJAYDEN19 for those seeking transportation to a warming center, up to $25 per ride, valid through Friday, February 1 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Please see here for a list of warming center locations provided by United Way’s 2-1-1 program. United Way will also be prepared with these codes for distribution.
Please find more information in our blog post, including how we’re helping those impacted move around in additional impacted parts of the Midwest.

author: Lyft Milwaukee


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NNS reporter Andrea Waxman goes on Lake Effect | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
January 29, 2019
NNS reporter Andrea Waxman recently sat down with Lake Effect’s Mitch Teich on WUWM to talk about the Zilber Neighborhood Initiative (ZNI), which recently drew to a close. The 10-year initiative was intended to improve the quality of life in Lindsay Heights, Clarke Square and the Layton Boulevard West neighborhoods of Silver City, Burnham Park and Layton Park.
The two talked about the impact ZNI had on the neighborhoods — particularly the biggest projects: the Innovations and Wellness Center on North Avenue, the Journey House/Longfellow School campus and the LBWN’s Turnkey Homes project. They also discussed the challenges caused by deindustrialization, the foreclosure crisis and the recession.
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author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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0128b | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 29, 2019
“0128b”. Released: 2019.


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 29, 2019


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On the Block: Snow day at Walgreens | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
January 29, 2019
While Milwaukee Public Schools and county courts closed due to inclement weather, Walgreens employee Kiwan Epps showed up for work. The South Side native said that although getting there in a snowstorm is a challenge, it is important that the store at Wisconsin Avenue and 16th Street stays open for customers.

author: Bridget Fogarty


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 28, 2019


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Rep. Moore announces cancer in remission | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Congresswoman Gwen Moore
January 29, 2019
Today, during the first House Committee on Ways and Means hearing of the 116th Congress, Protecting Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) announced she is living with Small Cell Lymphoma. Congresswoman Moore released the following statement:
“Today, as Ways and Means Democrats gear up our fight to restore quality, affordable coverage for all Americans, I feel the time is right to announce that, for the last 10 months, I have battled Small Cell Lymphoma. This is a cancer I will live with for the rest of my life, but, because of my high-quality healthcare and insurance coverage, it is not a cancer I will die from.
“Ways and Means Republicans have voted to defund, undercut, and undermine our country’s health care system. They have made it clear as day that they care more about the cost of the ACA than the value of human life. I am announcing my remission today to remind everyone on this committee that I am a living example of the lifesaving value of essential health benefits. For my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren that is a cost worth paying.
“Democrats now have the gavel and are on the offensive. We are fighting so that no American has to choose between seeking healthcare and providing for their families. With a united voice, we are moving to ensure that no parent, child, or loved one is denied the chance at a healthy and productive life.”
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author: Congresswoman Gwen Moore


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San Quentin Prison exhibit shows boys stark portrait of life gone wrong | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
January 29, 2019
Fourteen-year-old Luis Ortiz surveyed the collection of photographs that hung on the Milwaukee Art Museum wall before choosing an image of two prison inmates in a vacant gym. “This one,” he said, pointing. “The eeriness of this photo tells me something went wrong.” As the Hope Caritas School student described what he thinks the photograph means, eight of his peers huddled around the image and listened intently.
Nine middle school and high school-age boys participating in the Saving Our Sons Movement (SOS), a new faith-based nonprofit, attended the organization’s kick-off event. They explored the museum’s art collections and viewed Nigel Poor’s San Quentin Project. The exhibition presents life inside the California maximum security prison through documents, photographs and the podcast, “Ear Hustle.”
Led by SOS founder Lance Ambrose and the art museum’s Senior Director of Education Brigid Globensky, the group discussed life in prison and how they can avoid it, as they stood in a circle with dozens of detailed photos of San Quentin prisoners surrounding them.
Ambrose, dressed in a light blue plaid suit jacket and sporting a contagious smile, encouraged the SOS members to express their personal opinions, questions and comments on each piece of art. “They were just lighting up,” he said. “To give them a voice, to let them know they can be heard; it was just a heartfelt experience.”
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Ambrose said he got the idea for the nonprofit in 2017 when he saw a spike in the Milwaukee crime rate and felt he needed to try to change the future for his own sons and others. The organization welcomes boys in the Milwaukee area of all ages, schools and backgrounds, and offers a positive environment to go “through the hardships of life” with encouragement, support and love, said Ambrose.
“We want to tear down the misconceptions and stigmas that are prevalent in the Milwaukee community,” he said. Ambrose emphasized that he felt obligated to show the young boys that they have many options, despite what society may say.
According to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee data, Wisconsin has the highest rate of incarceration of black men in the country, 10 times higher than their white counterparts. In Milwaukee County, more than half of all black men in their 30s and 40s have served time.
Ambrose said there is an immediate need to let men of all ages know that they don’t have to become a statistic. The San Quentin exhibit gave Ambrose, who was formerly incarcerated, an opportunity to share his observations about prison with the group.
Ambrose asked each boy to choose one photo and explain why he chose it, and what he thought the message was behind it. The students were eager to share their ideas, some even offering advice to the photo’s subjects.
Luis Ortiz said the message of the photo he chose is to “stray away from negativity and those bad roots that get you in trouble.” When asked how to avoid that negativity, he said he would “become a mentor and go into jails” to talk with those incarcerated.
The boys said they enjoyed the photo exercise. “You get to show people what you think about it all,” said Kynyel Pittman, 13. “Then you can have, like, a debate about the pictures you saw and come to agreement about what you think it means.”
Ambrose said he wants his organization to serve as “a lifeline and a long-term relationship” for the young men. His plans include more scheduled events and a summer program of camp days, field trips and fun activities.


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31899109927_a44913e13f_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 28, 2019

author: Adam Carr


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Farewell and carry on! | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sharon McGowan
January 30, 2019
When the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service launched nearly eight years ago, I couldn’t have guessed that this project would quickly become a labor of love for me and our amazing staff of part-time professional reporters, web/social media directors and interns. Although many things have changed over the years, our passion to provide a more complete and balanced picture of the city’s central city neighborhoods than is available in other media has only intensified.
During my tenure, we have published thousands of stories focusing on the neighborhoods’ many strengths, as well as their sometimes-daunting challenges. Thank you for telling us your stories and allowing us to share them.
NNS has won numerous journalism awards and our articles are republished by respected local outlets and news organizations throughout the country. But I am most proud that in a small way, we have contributed to changing the narrative about city neighborhoods and the people who live in them. It has been an honor to do this work.
Beginning Feb. 1, NNS will be in the highly capable hands of Ron Smith. I wish Ron and the staff the very best of luck, and I know they will take the organization to even greater heights.
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I will close with one of my father’s favorite quotes from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam: “The moving finger writes; and, having writ, moves on.” It is time for me to move on, and for NNS to carry on.

created: January 30, 2019

author: Sharon McGowan


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
January 30, 2019

author: Dwayne Burtin


text:
sharon | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 31, 2019

created: January 31, 2019


text:
Untitled-1 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 31, 2019


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How to stay safe when temperatures plummet | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Health Department
January 30, 2019
(Photo by Adam Carr)
Wind chills as cold as 45 to 55 degrees below zero are possible Wednesday, which will
be close to an all-time record cold. Frostbite can occur in as little as five minutes. It’s important to be prepared.
The City of Milwaukee Health Department encourages community members to take extra care when traveling, limit outdoor activity whenever possible and keep the following tips in mind to stay safe:
During cold weather, it is also very important to check on family members and neighbors who may be at risk for cold-weather illness or injuries, especially young children, the elderly and those with chronic illness.
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Dial 2-1-1 for information about places to stay warm, including warming shelter options.

author: Milwaukee Health Department


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Light & Unite Red educates young people about substance abuse | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
January 30, 2019
Mary Ousley, a teenage ambassador for Light & Unite Red, hands out resource bags. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
A few weeks ago, Mary Ousley, 15, decided to join Light & Unite Red, an annual campaign to reduce and prevent substance abuse started by Milwaukee County’s Behavioral Health Division. Her involvement was in part due to her mother, who used to smoke marijuana, but has now been clean for eight years.
“If my mom can do it, I know other people can do it,” said Mary, a student at Bradley Tech High School.
The campaign focuses on educating people on the dangers of substance abuse while also connecting them with treatment and preventive options. BHD aims its efforts at youth since addiction often starts young. This year, BHD recruited youths such as Mary to advocate against substance abuse among their peers.
Last week, BHD coordinated several events to mark National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, which started Tuesday, Jan. 22. On Thursday, BHD held a dance-a-thon and community wellness fair at the COA Goldin Center, 2330 W. Burleigh St., where attendees could dance, enter raffles and play games such as Jeopardy.
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Almost every aspect of the program was designed to “shatter the myth” about substance use, according to BHD prevention coordinator Nzinga Khalid, who chairs the Light & United Red committee. The committee focuses on all dangerous substances. The Milwaukee County Substance Abuse Prevention coalition focuses on preventing and reducing marijuana use among teens and reducing prescription drug overdoses. Other groups target alcohol use or synthetic marijuana such as K2 and Spice.
Nzinga Khalid (center) and her co-workers hit the dance floor for health and wellness. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
In addition to organizing events, Light & United Red also utilizes social media to provide the facts about different substances.
“It’s all about getting that information in the hands of the kids and families,” said Khalid.
The teenage ambassadors, such as Mary, also posted on social media. When they joined the team, the ambassadors researched particular topics based on what they are seeing in their community. For example, if they are concerned about alcohol abuse, their research and posts targeted that issue.
Mary focused on drugs such as marijuana and heroin. She talked to her friends and family, specifically her younger brother, about how substance use affects brain development. Not everybody appreciated her posts, she said, adding that teens don’t always care.
“I can’t control anyone’s opinion on what they think narcotics and drugs can do to them, because that’s not me,” Mary said. “But I can try to help.”
Charles Clark, 16, said he hasn’t noticed substance abuse problems among his peers. The Washington High School student has been coming to COA since he was a child. He attends most of the events COA hosts.
A lot of people may not recognize substance abuse because it’s changed so much, according to Dylan Keller, a business development associate at Starting Point, an agency that teaches schools and families about substance abuse prevention.
“Five years ago, we beat tobacco,” Keller said. “It felt like it was just not in high schools anymore, and then came along these vape pens and JUULs.”
Keller was formerly a high school teacher at West Allis Central High School, but he joined Starting Point a year ago after realizing how much substance abuse has increased. He wanted to educate people, especially teachers, on how to recognize tobacco, drug and alcohol use.
Teachers don’t even know what to look for anymore because vape pens look like actual pens, Keller said. He added that people are often misinformed about the amount of tobacco in an e-cigarette pod. One JUUL pod has the same amount of tobacco as a pack of cigarettes, Keller noted.
Opioid addiction can also start at a young age. When a student-athlete is injured he or she may be prescribed pain medication, which can lead to dependence. However, Keller noted that substance abuse can decrease.
“It takes … people knowing what this stuff is, knowing what it does to your body and what it does to a developing brain,” Keller said.
Khalid said BHD conducts prevention and education efforts all year. Some of its events include Prevention Week in May, which is also Mental Health Awareness Month, and Recovery Month, which is in September.

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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5th annual “Phobruary” in Silver City | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Layton Boulevard West Neighbors
January 31, 2019
Beat cabin fever this February in Silver City with the sixth annual “Phobruary.”  This year, Silver City participating restaurants include Bamboo Restaurant, Thai Bar-B-Que, and Vientiane Noodle Shop (all supplied by the Asian International Market). Each restaurant will offer Pho at a special price of $5 per bowl; Monday through Friday, dine-in only.
The Silver City District, nestled between Miller Park and the Mitchell Park Domes on National Avenue, features three authentic international restaurants participating in Phobruary every Monday through Friday in February:
Bamboo in Silver City | 3427 W National Avenue | 10:30am – 9pm
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Thai Bar-B-Que | 3417 W National Avenue | 11:00am-10:00pm(closed Tuesdays)
Vientiane Noodle Shop | 3422 W National Avenue | 10:30am-8:30pm
After trying the various Pho options, individuals may vote for their preferred restaurant on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LaytonBoulevardWestNeighbors/. The winner will be recognized at the end of Phobruary.
So, what is Pho? It’s a soup native to Vietnam, common in Laos and Thailand, which delivers a complex combination of flavors that dance on the tongue’s taste buds. It combines noodles with a choice of thinly-sliced beef, chicken, vegetables or tofu, and also offers a multitude of garnishes and fresh herbs to tailor the soup to individual preferences. These typically include Thai Basil, sprouts, cilantro, limes, jalapeño, sauces, peppers, and other items. This delicious combination of flavors will satisfy your hunger by the time you get to the bottom of the bowl.
Looking for ways to take your love for Pho (pronounced “fuh”) up a notch?
The first three people to eat at all three Phobruary spots in one day will receive a $25 gift certificate to the Asian International Market AND a signed Certificate of Excellence for your incredible work and stamina. To enter, you must submit receipts and picture of yourself with each bowl of pho to celia@lbwn.org*
* By submitting photos participants agree to let LBWN post and use photos for promotion. For details on the Pho Challenges and other Phobruary details visit http://www.lbwn.org/phobruary.
The Silver City Business District, located just minutes from the Menomonee Valley, I-94, and downtown Milwaukee, offers amenities such as the Hank Aaron State Trail, the Urban Ecology Center, Three Bridges Park, Miller Park, and the Mitchell Park Domes. Silver City is one of Milwaukee’s most diverse and vibrant neighborhoods, blending historic architecture with exciting retail and ethnic dining opportunities. With its rich collection of international restaurants, one can travel the world without leaving the neighborhood. For more information visit www.lbwn.org/silvercity.
Layton Boulevard West Neighbors stabilizes and revitalizes the Silver City, Burnham Park and Layton Park neighborhoods of Milwaukee through a variety of strategies including promoting small business development, job creation, and strengthening commercial corridors. For more information, visit www.lbwn.org.

author: Layton Boulevard West Neighbors


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 31, 2019


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Vital services put on hold as deep freeze grips city | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
January 31, 2019
Temperatures dropped to 20 degrees below zero Wednesday with wind chills in the minus 40s. (Photo by Adam Carr)
No doubt about it: dealing with sub-zero temperatures has been tough for Milwaukee residents, but some residents are having a harder time than others. Vital services, including mail delivery, homeless and elderly meal programs, schools, community centers and other institutions that thousands of residents rely on, are shut down, victims of an arctic blast that will stick around through much of Thursday.
“It is clear that this is a generational experience that we are undergoing right now… minimize the time you spend outdoors … frostbite can occur within minutes,” said Mayor Tom Barrett during a press conference Tuesday.
Non-essential City of Milwaukee services were shut down Wednesday, as were all Milwaukee area libraries, schools, museums, the YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs of Milwaukee and hundreds of other organizations. Some organizations, including Milwaukee Public Schools, have announced that they will also be closed Thursday.
“Many of the places where people hang out to stay warm or eat free meals are closed, which is making things tough. A lot of the safety net services set up for the elderly and low-income are not available,” said John Hyatt, president and CEO of IMPACT, which runs IMPACT 2-1-1, an access point for people in need.
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By noon Wednesday, IMPACT had received more than 250 calls from individuals looking to get out of the cold or find out whether certain services, including meal programs, were available. Residents who contact Impact seeking refuge from the cold are referred to area warming centers and shelters that are not at capacity. IMPACT cancelled its on-site programming Wednesday.
According to Hyatt, if you receive meal or other services from an organization and are wondering if it’s closed due to the cold, call on the phone. If there is no answer, most likely the facility is not open, he said. He urged those who need help to continue to reach out to IMPACT, but also to family or friends.
“This is really a time when families and people that care about each other need to step forward a little bit,” Hyatt said.
Goodwill of Southeastern Wisconsin’s day service programs and “Meals on Wheels” program were suspended Wednesday. Employees were able to conduct wellness checks on Tuesday and plan to do so again when the meal delivery program, which serves about 1,400 individuals in Milwaukee County, resumes Thursday, according to Cheryl Lightholder, a Goodwill spokesperson.
“We ask them about their food and whether their heat is running or high enough,” she said.  Goodwill representatives also ask whether individuals have family members or neighbors who are checking in on them, Lightholder said.
“These are dangerous situations so we have to make sure to take care of those around us,” she added.
In terms of how the weather is affecting the city’s infrastructure, most systems were holding up well as of Wednesday morning. According to Brian DeNeve, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Works (DPW), as of 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, two crews were investigating possible water main breaks at locations on Forest Home Avenue and Water Street, while other crews were looking into leaks or frozen pipes at customer properties.
“This is roughly the same amount of activity we’ve seen all week and we are not trending upward at this time. We may possibly see an uptick when temperatures warm,” wrote DeNeve in an email to Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.
He added that people who had concerns about their water service should contact the city’s 24-hour Control Center at (414) 286-2830.
In terms of road conditions, traffic volume is down and no closures or other major problems have been reported, according to Michael Pyritz, a spokesperson for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) southeast region.
“No news has been very good news,” Pyritz said.
He cautioned drivers to beware of black ice on the road caused by blowing and drifting snow, and asked everyone on the road to be extra careful.
“Keep your distance, drive slowly and make sure your car is in good shape if you hit the road, and that you have a phone with a fully charged battery,” he added.
But, the best way to remain safe, according to Barrett, is to heed two simple words.
“Stay inside.”

author: Edgar Mendez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 30, 2019


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Warming shelters expand hours as brutal cold descends on city | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
February 1, 2019
Brother Rob Roemer serves lunch at St. Ben’s, which expanded its hours due to Milwaukee’s extreme cold. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
For the past three years, James Bredmore, 30, has eaten his meals at St. Ben’s Community Meal program, run by the Franciscan Capuchin Friars at St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church. While Bredmore, who is homeless, typically comes for food, this past week he’s been staying in the program’s warming room.
On Wednesday and Thursday, temperatures reached a record low when Winter Storm Jayden settled in Milwaukee. City officials advised against going outside, which posed a challenge for the 900-plus people living on the streets.
St. Ben’s opened a warming room a year ago and is used when temperatures reach 10 degrees or colder. Due to the extreme cold, St. Ben’s expanded its hours of service to 24 hours a day until noon Friday, Feb. 1.
Brother Rob Roemer, the ministry director, said last year the most people St. Ben’s served in a single day in the warming center was 67. On Tuesday, that number reached 103. Roemer said the project has worked well so far, with men sleeping in the cafeteria area and women sleeping in the new warming area.
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“We thought our capacity was 80, but we don’t want to turn people away,” he said. “We have people sleeping in corners, nooks and crannies.”
Roemer said WE Energies and United Way recently donated $100,000 to help fund shelters and warming spaces as part of the Continuum of Care campaign. St. Ben’s received $18,000, which will help fund the staff and keep the space open an additional 30 days. The funds also will allow St. Ben’s to open its warming room even when temperatures hit 20 degrees.
James Bredmore, who’s been homeless for several years, said he frequently comes to St. Ben’s. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
On Tuesday, Roemer put out a call for donations on Facebook in light of the decision to stay open 24 hours. “Due to unforeseen circumstances Capuchin Community Services St. Ben’s Warming Shelter doesn’t have breakfast or lunch tomorrow for over 100 guests. Please consider donating oatmeal, cereal, donuts, soup and sandwiches.”
The response was so great that St. Ben’s was flooded with donations.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response of the community,” Roemer said, adding that surplus donations have been shared with other shelters and warming rooms, such as House of Peace.
“The reality is that those shelters fill up fast in times like this,” said Jeanne Geraci, executive director of the Benedict Center.
The Benedict Center runs the Sisters program, which helps homeless women who work in the sex trade. At most, the program typically sleeps six to eight women a night. On Monday night, 10 women slept at the shelter, Geraci said. No one was turned away this week, although beds may not have been available for everyone.
Like St. Ben’s, the Benedict Center also expanded its hours of operations during the day. However, Geraci said it’s been a struggle to remain open, especially since the center hasn’t reached its funding goal.
“It’s always hard to say ‘we’ve reached our capacity’ or to say ‘it’s Saturday morning and we don’t have enough funding to stay open,’” Geraci said. Despite its limited resources, Geraci said the center is making it work, by hiring temporary employees and asking for donations.
According to Roemer, most people walk to St. Ben’s, but in the past few days, some have been dropped off. Police officers, volunteer drivers and employees of Street Angels, a homeless outreach program, have been diligent about picking people up off the streets and bringing them to safety.
People also can call 2-1-1 for help finding shelter. Emily Kenney, a coordinated entry program director at IMPACT 2-1-1, explained that people can learn which shelter is closest to them and even get a ride there. The service runs year-round and 24/7, she said.
On Wednesday IMPACT 2-1-1 and United Way announced a partnership with Lyft to provide free rides to warming centers, with the offer code WIJAYDEN19. The cost can’t exceed $25.
“Now that it’s this cold, people are taking us up on rides; otherwise they usually figure out a way,” Kenney said.
Darnell Hudson, 30, has been staying at St. Ben’s for the past week. He walked to the warming room when temperatures started to drop. He vouched for Street Angels, but said a lot of homeless people are wary of going with the police.
Temperatures in Milwaukee are expected to rise to a high of 19 degrees on Friday and 36 on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

created: February 1, 2019


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Why I’ve spent 10 Februarys sharing Black History | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Judge Derek Mosley
February 1, 2019
Detail of artist George Gist’s mural at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum. (Photo by Allison Steines)
Municipal Court Judge Derek Mosley reflects on the personal significance of his longstanding commitment to sharing history throughout Black History Month. NNS will share his facts on Facebook throughout the month.
It’s February, and like every February for the last 10 years, I will roll out a Black History fact each day for the next 28 days. What started as a way to provide historical information to those I was acquainted with on Facebook has grown into something much larger. My goal was to not only provide information to my social circle, but to also have them share it with their circles, and so on. I went from posts being shared by 20 people to a post about Henrietta Lacks being shared over 70,000 times.
Although these facts are United States history, many are hearing about them for the first time. These stories have been erased from the historical record and omitted from the curricula of our schools. However, today, more than ever, we have the resources at our disposal to reach millions. If the collective education system of this country will not share these stories, then it is up to us to complete the historical registry.
Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History Month, once said: “If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.”
I was fortunate to have parents that felt our history was important and needed to be shared and taught. They instilled in me this thirst for knowledge of self. This journey has given me a better understanding of my people and has allowed me to share the struggles, perseverance and greatness with my children and humankind.
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Please come along with me on this journey and share these American stories. Use this month to inform, entertain and enlighten. Black History is more than a glamorous fact, it is a historical truth. As Dr. Maya Angelou stated: “No man can know where he is going, unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place.”

author: Judge Derek Mosley


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 1, 2019


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DerekMosley | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 1, 2019


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Leaders criticize Evers’ suggestion to delay closing Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake youth prisons | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Allison Dikanovic
February 2, 2019
(Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Local advocates pushing for youth justice reform in Wisconsin expressed opposition to Gov. Tony Evers’ suggestion that it may take up to two years longer to close youth prisons Lincoln Hills School for Boys and Copper Lake School for Girls.
The suggestion came out of a committee meeting in Madison on Tuesday.
“We are disappointed, more than anything, that the state is not looking at this as a more urgent matter,” said Sharlen Moore, co-founder of advocacy organization Youth Justice Milwaukee (YJM), emphasizing that the governor recently visited the youth prisons. “Given the abuse that is still going on, this is an urgent matter that needs to be taken care of right away. Lincoln Hills needs to be closed as soon as possible.”
State Rep. Evan Goyke called the meeting during which Evers reportedly expressed concern about the current timeline laid out in a state bill. The legislation calls for closing the youth prisons by 2021 and replacing them with smaller regional facilities run by counties and a state-run facility for those who committed serious offenses. Goyke gathered a group of legislators, officials from the Department of Corrections and Evers to discuss potential adjustments to Act 185 to be included in new legislation that he is drafting with Rep. Michael Schraa of Oshkosh.
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“Where the question of the timeline came in was not necessarily a goal or a plan of the governor’s, but a conversation about how state government builds things,” Goyke said. He added that the group discussed potential backup plans if the state or counties run into obstacles that prevent them from closing by 2021, such as unforeseen environmental remediation that could slow the building process. As is, counties need to submit grant applications for the smaller regional centers by March 31.
The discussion of a potential delay comes after a recently published report found continued use of pepper spray and isolation tactics against youth in Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake. It additionally pointed to delayed staff responses when youth sought assistance, and noted that rooms are not suicide-resistant. The report was conducted by a court-ordered monitor as part of the $18.9 million settlement between the DOC and youth represented by the ACLU, one of whom attempted suicide while at Copper Lake.
“To best protect these children, we believe that the state needs to move forward, expeditiously, to move as many of these young people as possible out of Lincoln Hills and back to their homes and communities, and to develop more humane and better facilities and services for the kids who remain in its care,” said Karyn Rotker, a staff attorney at ACLU of Wisconsin. “We would be very concerned with any kind of delay in that process.”
A unit of 22 cells surrounds a common area at the Vel R. Phillips Youth Detention Center, a Milwaukee County alternative placement to Lincoln Hills. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
The discussion of delaying the timeline also follows Milwaukee County’s recently announced plans to build its small regional secure facility in the Havenwoods neighborhood. At a community meeting last week, county officials noted that the state was considering delaying the process, but said Milwaukee County was prepared to meet the current deadlines and would “aggressively advocate” to stay on track.
“We want to bring our youth home as soon as possible,” said Mark Mertens, administrator of the Milwaukee County Division of Youth and Family Services.
Goyke said that no one in the meeting disagreed with the plan to close the youth prisons and replace them with, “smaller, closer to home, trauma-informed, and evidence-based alternatives,” adding, “It was a conversation of how do we do this within practical limits.”
According to Goyke, the legislation he’s drafting to adjust Act 185 does not pose any “substantive changes” to the bill and does not have any funding implications, but rather clarifies how to implement the bill’s requirements. He noted that Act 185 adds major responsibilities to the counties and changes the role of DOC in the youth justice system, so stakeholders had questions about some of the specifics.
“The idea that the timeline in Act 185 needed an adjustment has been a conversation for a number of months,” Goyke said. “I don’t believe that it needs to be two years, but we do need to have an open discussion.”
According to Melissa Baldauff, a spokesperson for Evers, “The governor, members of the legislature, and stakeholders have all been consistent in saying that the state needs more time and money to safely and responsibly close Lincoln Hills. We are now working with stakeholders to determine a realistic timeline.”
Fred Royal, president of the Milwaukee NAACP, served on the state Juvenile Corrections Study Committee that provided recommendations to DOC regarding Act 185. He said he was “taken aback” by the governor’s suggestion to delay.
“When you’re talking about bricks and mortar versus children’s lives, I can’t see any contingency plans that would outweigh the need for these children to get the adequate support they need to become productive citizens,” Royal said.
Moore said that Youth Justice Milwaukee hopes to see community members from Milwaukee, whose youth make up the majority of those at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake, included in conversations before the state considers such a delay.
“Based on people we know who are in communication with these young people who are currently incarcerated, Lincoln Hills is not a safe place for children,” she said. “So we have to start listening to the voices of these young people who are being impacted. I’m sure they wouldn’t say, ‘Oh yeah, give me another two years here.’”
The state legislature would need to approve any changes to Act 185 before they would go into effect. Goyke suggested these conversations would continue as legislators deliberate the state budget next month.
“My goal is to keep the timeline as intact as possible, to be both pragmatic and [keep] it moving forward,” Goyke said. “My goal from the beginning has been to close Lincoln Hills and to institute wider youth justice reform. … It’s our one shot in a generation to get this right.”

created: February 2, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 4, 2019

created: February 4, 2019


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A rising Phoenix shows us what is possible | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ellen M. Gilligan, Greater Milwaukee Foundation
February 4, 2019
Opening night at Sherman Park Phoenix (Photo by Ana Martinez Ortiz)
Ellen Gilligan, President and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, reflects on the Sherman Park Phoenix, the model of development it demonstrates and how philanthropy can support community-led efforts.
I don’t have a crystal ball, but if I did, I expect it would show me how the Sherman Phoenix pioneered a model for economic inclusion and building community wealth that will be replicated in neighborhoods throughout Milwaukee.
The new development is magnificent not only for what it is, but how it came to be. Purposeful investment supported a visionary idea capable of meeting a neighborhood’s need while also fulfilling a community’s aspirations. For the Sherman Phoenix to realize its potential as a community hub providing economic benefit to tenant businesses and the surrounding area, philanthropy was essential: Close to a quarter of the funds for the multi-million-dollar project flowed through the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and our donors.
We should both memorize this roadmap and create ways to make it easier for others to follow.
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Sherman Phoenix opened in November, providing modern and vibrant commercial space for nearly 30 small businesses owned predominantly by people of color. The effort transformed the former BMO Harris Bank building, which was damaged by fire in the wake of a fatal police shooting in the Sherman Park neighborhood.
It has fast become a signature gathering place in which residents take genuine pride. It offers food, cultural, and health and wellness options valued by community members. Through mentoring and coaching, it helps local entrepreneurs grow their passions into viable businesses while creating new jobs for youth and others in the neighborhood. In addition, it’s a destination, capable of introducing more people to a part of the city they may not have otherwise visited. That makes it a catalyst for further economic activity.
Neighborhoods like Sherman Park – with 95 percent residents of color – were hit particularly hard by the loss of nearly half of all manufacturing jobs in Milwaukee between 1979-2000. The legacy of that loss is still felt in a neighborhood that has a disproportionate, 16 percent unemployment rate. Job creation and growth here could have a life-changing effect for many, which is why it is a focal point in the Foundation’s efforts to advance racial equity.
The rising of the Phoenix builds on a deep history of intentional investment. In Sherman Park, the Foundation has been an enduring presence – before, during and since the unrest that drew new attention to the neighborhood.
For years, Sherman Park was part of the Foundation’s Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative, which provided significant funding supporting residents’ leadership and improving the livability of their community. Amid the unrest in 2016, the Foundation created the Reasons for Hope MKE Fund, which has provided 71 grants totaling more than $291,000 to support community-led solutions toward peace and relationship building. Many of our donors contributed to growing this fund for greater impact.
Looking forward, the Foundation is engaged in a new body of work, co-created with residents, to increase opportunities in neighborhoods facing barriers to revitalization. In Sherman Park East, residents have chosen youth engagement as their top priority for Foundation investment.
Sherman Park telegraphs the promising future of Milwaukee, where the economic engine hums not only downtown but across the metro area. I’m optimistic for many reasons:
I don’t have a crystal ball, but if I did, I’m confident I would see a greater Milwaukee where opportunity, prosperity and quality of life are rising. And I’m certain we’ll have gotten there by joining together.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 3, 2019

created: February 3, 2019


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44330635760_d9f1f34dbc_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 3, 2019


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EllenGilligan_GMF_crop_sm.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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February 1, 2019

author: Name *